A/N: Well folks we have reached the end, it's quite a long one, so take your time reading and enjoy it! See you on the flipside laters! (Don't ask! lol)

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I sat in the chilly dungeon with Harry at our usual table at the back. Snape was standing at the front of the classroom, currently giving an amazingly boring lecture about milkweed and how it could be used to stop Dementors getting asthma or something like that.

Anyway, the point is I wasn't paying attention and Hermione, sitting in front of us at a table with Neville, was providing the perfect distraction. I slumped down onto my desk and gazed at her shiny hair cascading down her back.

I knew her as well as I knew Harry and yet I still couldn't tell her one stupid thing! I sighed, watching the way she brushed her hair out of her eyes as she asked a question (and she did that a lot!).

I looked sideways at Harry, who was yawning and doodling on a spare bit of parchment. I looked more closely to see what the doodle was. Oh of course…it was Ginny's initials! 'Stupid Harry…all loved up with my sister', I thought, exasperated. He just told her! Why couldn't I do that? But oh no, stupid Ron Weasley keeps his mouth shut and stays miserable.

I glanced dejectedly around the classroom. Dean and Seamus were sniggering about something; Parvati and Lavender were currently looking at Neville, who was being asked a question by Snape. He looked utterly terrified and kept glancing at Hermione as if she could telepathically send him the answer.

I looked down at the desk and sighed inwardly. Even Neville had a girlfriend! I looked at him again. 'He's not exactly the kind of boy girls go for…girls prefer the tall scruffy Quidditch Keeper look', I thought to myself. Then again, Luna wasn't exactly normal either. Nice but not entirely normal.

I sat up straighter in my seat, suddenly determined. If Neville could get a girlfriend the surely I, Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team could tell Hermione one measly thing? I looked at her hopefully.

'Ok,' I thought to myself, 'What's the harm in telling her? Best case scenario: she tells me she feels the same and we go out. Worst case scenario: she turns me down.'

'Oh well,' I thought, 'If she does that then I'll just laugh it off and pretend it was a joke!'

(A/N: Reeaaaaaal sensitive Ron! Lol)

I had nothing to lose! Ok, apart from my pride, reputation etc etc, but let's not quibble over details. But how to tell her?

I shifted in my seat, pondering various options. What about a candlelit dinner? Urgh no, too cheesy and expensive. Go to a party? No, we never have any parties now that Quidditch season is over. Just go up to her randomly and snog her? Hmmm…no too abrupt.

I drummed my fingers on the desk impatiently, looking at the old clock on the wall above Snape's head while he talked about the importance of making a good Speech potion for NEWTs. All these ways required me to wait until after class or the weekend but I was fired up and ready NOW.

I sighed impatiently, staring at the back of Hermione's head. If only there was a way I could communicate with her now! Then it hit me: Notes! I could send her a note now! It would save me the embarrassment of actually saying it to her face and I could have time to carefully decide what I was going to say.

I glanced at Snape apprehensively. Passing notes in Potions was generally considered suicide but I wanted to take the risk. I was full of adrenaline and ready for anything!

Before I could chicken out, I grabbed some of my parchment and a quill. At my sudden movement Snape eyed me suspiciously. I quickly pretended to be making notes on milkweed. Harry looked at me, confused because I wasn't actually writing anything. I just pointed to his doodles and he blushed and turned away. Ha ha! I'm super Ron; I can do anything!

As soon as Snape's eagle eyes had moved on and he had carried on talking, I wrote a quick introductory note:

'Hermione, I need to tell you something important!'

I folded up the parchment and glanced warily at Snape. After a moment or two, Snape turned to the board and began to write on some instructions. Seizing my chance, I quickly leant forwards and poked Hermione in the small of her back. She span around, glaring at me.

"Ron! What do you want?" she whispered, her eyes darting from Snape to me. God she was beautiful. Especially when she was angry. Luckily Snape was still writing on the board.

I handed her the note and sank back into my seat just as Snape turned around.

"Well class," he said slowly, "It appears that Miss Granger finds it acceptable to talk to Mr Weasley during my class."

'Oh damn', I thought, 'Stupid Snape and his bat-like hearing!'

Hermione flushed a deep red and twisted her hands nervously. She hated being told off in class.

"But Professor…" she began, but Snape cut her off mid-excuse.

"Miss Granger, go and sit next to Miss Parkinson," he said, gesturing at a seat over the other side of the classroom, "Perhaps there you will learn to behave yourself."

Hermione gave me the worst look she could muster and gathered her books to sit next to old pug-face Parkinson, who snickered as she sat down and whispered something to Malfoy.

Snape resumed the lesson with a satisfied smirk on his face. I cursed inwardly. Now it would be twice as hard and twice as dangerous to send her that crucial note! Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Hermione surreptitiously opening and reading my first note. She looked cross and exasperated.

"What did you want to tell her?" Harry mouthed at me, whilst we pretended to copy out the method of a speech potion. I shrugged my shoulders non-comittingly. He would find out soon enough!

Despite the many difficulties thrown into my path, I wasn't about to give up. Perhaps I was a little crazy that day or perhaps I hadn't got enough sleep. Whatever it was I was acting recklessly, but in my eyes it was the only way I could tell her without exploding with embarrassment.

Steeling myself and trying to think of romantic things to say (Romance does not come naturally to me!) I wrote Hermione a note. After much head scratching and crossings out I managed to come up with this, which I was satisfied with:

'Hermione Granger, ever since 5th year I have really really liked you. Not just as a friend…but as something more. Do you understand what I'm trying to say? Me neither! Ok…well…I think I love you. This is the only way I could pluck up the courage to tell you and I understand if you don't feel the same way. And if you do then maybe we could go out some time…but only if you want to! Because I really would like too…ok now I'm rambling, so the thing I'm trying to say is…I love you.

Ron'

I studied it carefully and folded it up, away from Harry's prying eyes (he was trying to pretend he wasn't looking) and took a deep breath. Why was I so nervous? My adrenaline was fading fast and I needed to do it now before I could chicken out. I put the words 'To Hermione' on the front.

Steeling myself, I waited until Snape had turned around again, before chucking the note, the note that would make or break my life as I knew it, to Neville. Neville looked terrified and quickly passed it to Parvati who was sitting behind him. Parvati hurriedly hid the note under her book as Snape turned round and passed it on Dean using the Levitation charm when Snape's back was turned once more.

I watched fearfully as the note made its painfully slow way around the classroom. I watched the Slytherins carefully, as they had been known to snitch on us to Snape many a time. But they seemed to have not noticed, a fact that I was very thankful for.

At last, the note reached Rosie, the well-known klutz of Gryffindor. I held my breath as she leant back in her chair to discreetly pass it to Hermione. The chair rocked a little as she fumbled in her pocket for the note. I sucked in my breath in horror. The chair was going to fall! Snape would catch us!

But the chair did not fall and Rosie managed to pass the note to Hermione, admittedly knocking a bottle of ink to the floor but that, if anything, served as a helpful distraction. Under the cover of Snape's shouts, I watched Hermione pick up the parchment and begin to unfold it. My heart pounding, I breathed out in a sigh of relief. She had got it! Everything was going to be all right!

"Accio note!"

Snape's menacing voice cut through the happy haze in my mind. Everyone in the room winced inwardly as the piece of parchment flew into Snape's hand.

My head was suddenly filled with a roaring sound. 'Oh god,' I thought desperately, 'Just throw it away please for the love of Merlin!'

There was utter silence in the room as Snape unfurled the note slowly and began to read. After about half a minute or so, he looked up, clearly relishing the effect he had created.

"Well…" he said slowly, "This note seems to be have written by Mr Weasley…" The whole class turned to look at me, some sympathetic, some snickering.

"Perhaps he should share with the class what he is obviously so desperate to tell Miss Granger…" Snape continued, a smirk appearing on his lips, "Come up here Weasley!"

Numb with horror, I shook my head slowly. I couldn't…I wouldn't…I would die first.

"Weasley, you will come up here NOW or it will be 100 points off Gryffindor." said Snape smoothly, "If I have to wait any longer it will be 200." Everyone in Gryffindor gasped, the Slytherins laughed and high-fived each other.

Harry nudged me. I turned to look at him. He gestured towards the front of the class, a sympathetic look on his face. My stomach churned. It was all very well for him to say I should go, he didn't know what was in the note!

Slowly, very slowly, my head filled with a roaring noise, I stood up and walked towards the front, meandering my way around the desks. 'This can't be happening', I thought, 'It's a bad dream! Even Snape couldn't be that evil!' Well on second thoughts, maybe he could.

Snape handed me the piece of parchment that I now wished with all my heart that I hadn't written.

"Read it out loud," he ordered, smiling menacingly. I decided to stall for time. I faced the class and pretended to read.

"Um…it says…Hello Hermione…what was the Charms homework?"

Snape interrupted me.

"50 points of Gryffindor Weasley and it will be another 100 if you don't read it properly!" The Gryffindors exclaimed angrily, including Harry who had stood up in his seat, but they fell silent as Snape glared at me.

I looked down at the note, my hands sweating. At least I would finally tell her, even if it would cause me total embarrassment! I looked at Hermione, she looked annoyed but she half-smiled at me sympathetically.

That smile was enough to kick-start my resolve. 'Oh what the hell,' I thought desperately, 'Just do it and get it over with!'

So, with the whole class staring at me and Hermione's beautiful brown eyes looking at me, I quietly read through the note, my eyes never leaving the parchment. It sounded ten times worse read out loud and the jeers and laughs started around the second line.

There was a wolf-whistle from Seamus, a snort of contempt from Pansy and howls of laughter from the Slytherin side of the classroom.

But all these reactions I couldn't care less about. As I finished reading, I hardly dared look at Hermione. Snape looked satisfied though.

"Back to your seat." He said icily, a small smirk on his lips.

"Ron…" came a voice from the other side of the classroom. My head shot up. It was Hermione! To my surprise she was standing in her seat, looking at me eye to eye.

"Did you mean that?" she said, seeming to tremble slightly. The whole class was silent now, looking at either Hermione or me.

"Ur…" I panicked inside. Snape was still glaring at me and everyone seemed to be waiting on bated breath for my answer. I bit my lip and made the tiniest of nods. 'Oh damn,' I thought, 'I've done it now!'

----------------------------Hermione's POV---------------------------------------------------------

I stood stock still behind my desk, staring at Ron in amazement. I know it's a cliché, but time seemed to stand still and my brain barely registered the fact that Snape was telling me to sit down.

A million thoughts were swirling around in my head, making me barely able to breathe, let alone think rationally.

Ron loved me!

Ron loved me!

I met Ron's gaze, he looked shell-shocked, hopeful, worried…the list could go on and on. He was my best friend…and he loved me! And did I love him too? Snape's icy voice cut through the happy daze in my brain.

"Miss Granger, sit down NOW."

At Snape's words I should have just sat down like a good girl, like the Hermione I was, utterly petrified of provoking any teacher's wrath. But something inside me seemed to stir as I looked at Ron's bewildered and utterly helpless face.

'Do I love him?' I thought happily, though I already knew the answer.

----------------------------------Ron's POV----------------------------------------------------------

'AGGGH!' I thought, 'Why isn't she responding? Oh god, what have I done?'

But suddenly, just as Snape was walking towards Hermione to tell her to sit down, she pushed her desk away and bolted across the room towards me, to the utter amazement of Snape, the class and me.

Before I had time to think, 'What on earth?', she had flung her arms around my neck and we were suddenly, wonderfully, magically KISSING!

It was everything I'd dreamed of and more, it seemed to last forever and the world around us seemed to fade away. We broke apart slowly, Hermione looking amazed and slightly stunned at what she had just done and me just, well…ecstatically happy!

"Right!" said Snape, quivering with rage, "DOUBLE DETENTION both of you!" He swept over to us and dragged us both to the corridor outside.

"Wait here until the end of the lesson!" he hissed. As he closed the door behind him, I saw Harry giving me the thumbs up and grinning and I heard most of the class muttering and going, "Finally!"

I grinned and turned to Hermione who gave me a shy smile back.

"I've just realised…" she said, "Ginny was right all along! You did give me the Valentine's card!"

"She's a perceptive one, that Ginny," I said smiling, "You…ur…didn't mind the note being read out in class? I tried to get it to you the best I could!"

Beaming, Hermione shook her head. "It was romantic!" she said.

"So…ur….where do we go from here?" I asked, looking down at my feet in embarrassment.

"Oh Ron! You're such a prat!" said Hermione happily and we started kissing again, and we didn't stop till Snape came back…

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There was spontaneous applause in the crowded living room at the Potter residence. Hermione looked at Ron happily. "Remember the next day after that?" she asked coyly, "The detention?"

Ron grinned back at her, whilst the children mimed being sick. Laughing, Harry sank back into his chair.

"It's certainly been a long story!" he said, looking at his watch. "It's almost 7 o'clock!"

Hermione laughed and looked around at her nephews, friends, daughters and her son and last of all her husband Ron. She felt warm and contented inside and she took Ron's hand.

"I love you." She whispered, squeezing his hand gently. Ron squeezed back. "I love you too!" he said quietly.

Hermione cleared her throat loudly to attract the attention of the children, who were still chatting about the story.

"I think we should have a name for this story!" she said, looking over at Harry and Ginny.

"What about 'A fond flashback'? It certainly has been one!"

There was general consent from around the room and the story of Ron and Hermione had a name.

And what a fond flashback it was. The story had been one of highs and lows, secrets and lies, kissing and flying. As the years went by, the story was never forgotten, because the story was written down and told to my children and my children's children. Now as an old lady, I write this, hoping that the story of the fond flashback will be kept alive.

It will passed through the generations, and I, the scribe, am proud to be part of such a story.

Jane Harriet Weasley

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A/N: Ta da! Sorry about the cheesy ending everyone, but I couldn't resist! Awww so they finally got together!

What did you think of Ron's notes? lol I wanted an unorthodox way of him telling her!

I would just like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story. I have over 250 reviews! When I first published it, I thought I would get 3. Seriously!

So, if you are reading this now, PLEASE give me a long last review and you can tell me your fave moment from the story!

I might publish another story sometime, but for now I think I will have a break and just read other people's wonderful stories!

Click the little purpley/blue button at the bottom of the page people!

Lizzy xxx