Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters, but its kinda fun to pretend I do, and control their lives for a bit. MUA-ha ha ha!

Oh. And I also don't own the song "Transatlanticism," or any song for that matter.

Chapter Seven: Snog His Brains Out

"Ron?" Hermione gently knocked on his door. She got no reply. She opened the door a crack.

"Ron?" She stepped inside the door. Ron was sitting on the edge of his bed, just staring at the floor.

Unfortunately, he had put a shirt on. Unfortunately?

Hermione sat next to him and took a closer look at his face. HIs eyes definitely looked a little wet, but he seemed to be having an internal struggle about whether or not to let hte tears fall.

Hermione put an arm around his shoulder. He jolted at the tought. Am I that disgusting to touch? ... Now's not the time to think about that.

Then he seemed to relax. He leaned his head onto her shoulder, and she gently rested her chin on the top of his head. Somehow their free hands found each other, and Ron was absently stroking Hermione's hand with his thumb.

Hermione let the hand on his shoulder wander to his hair to play with it slightly.

When Ron finally spoke, his voice was hoarse. "'Mione..."

"Shh..." she whispered soothingly, before kissing the top his head comfortingly. "It's okay."

Ron looked at her with disbelieving eyes.

"It will be okay," Hermione backtracked. "It will all be okay" she whispered again, mostly for her own benefit.

They sat in silence for a while until Ron sighed and got up. Hermione couldn't help but feel disappointed.

As she moved to leave, Ron grabbed her wrist and held her back. He pulled her into a hug.

Hermione was surprised. Yes, she had hugged Ron before, but this was different. This was... intimate. Wishful thinking.

Or was it? Ron had buried his face in her neck, and she did the same to him. Their bodies were pressed tightly against each other, their arms starting to ache from the grip. Yet Hermione felt a longing. She wanted, needed, to pull him in, closer, tighter, and never let go.

Thankfully, Ron didn't pull away quickly.

"Thanks," he murmured almost inaudibly into her neck. She felt his lips move against her skin, and fought the urge to shiver.

"It's what I'm here for," Hermione whispered quietly. She suddenly noticed he had an awful lot of goosebumps. It's nearly 80 degrees in here.

She heard (and felt) Ron sigh contendedly, and she could have sworn he gave an extra tight squeeze before letting go.

Neither of them took more than half a step back. Hermione was searching Ron's face, and noticed he was doing the same to her. She saw him shift.

You're making him uncomfortable.

But was she, really? They had certainly shared an intimate moment just then...but...even if he wanted the same thing to happen right now, she didn't want it to happen like this. He was emotional. He was vulnerable. He might not even know what he was doing, if he snogged her just now. Hermione didn't think she could handle getting an apology paired with an "I didn't mean it" from Ron.

"I have to pack," she said quietly, casting her eyes down. She peeked up for a second in time to see Ron nod slowly.

Hermione turned and walked out the door, willing herself not to look back.

Ron stared at Hermione's retreating back. He felt a needing more than he had ever had before.

So close. He thought woefully, as he shoved a sweatshirt in a trunk.

Not close enough. His mind added bitterly.

Harry felt terrible as he rand around gathering his belongings. What if he was wrong about the attack?

He knew he wasn't. But these were the people he loved most in the world, the closest thing he had to a real family. He couldn't stand being the bringer of all this pain. He felt the pang in his heart that was becoming quite familiar, lately.

It was the pain of wishing to be somebody --anybody-- other than Harry Potter: The Chosen One. The Boy Who Lived.

The wedding! Harry realized with a start. Where will it be now? He thought with panic. He dropped his trainers and ran downstairs.

"Mrs. Weasley!" he gasped, panting. "Wedding...where...packing..."

"Slow down, dear."

"Where...will the wedding...be held now?" He managed to choke out.

"Dearie, back in May, Bill and Fleur decided to get married at the famous Winslow Garden. It's beautiful, really. You'll see." Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly. "Don't you worry about that, honey."

Harry wished he could take her advice. Instead, he nodded dumbly and climbed back up the stairs.

After Hermione's "encounter" with Ron, she did not go to pack as she said. Instead, she found Ginny and dissolved into tears in Ginny's arms.

"What?" Ginny asked, bewildered. "What is it?"

Hermione was sobbing too hard to answer right away. After she regained control of herself, she grabbed a few tissues and cleaned up her face.

"Ok." said Ginny. "Now...what is it?"

"I just..I love Ron!" Hermione said, still sniffling.

Ginny paused, thinking there was more.

Okay girl, you can explain why youre hysterical any day now.

"I know that..." Ginny prodded gently. "And..?"

"I... didn't...realize how much, I guess..." faltered Hermione.

Ginny paused again. She was getting quite tired of Hermione not explaining herself.

"When I was hugging him... I felt like I...I don't know. Like...needed him closer and...you don't want to hear this." Hermione said slowly.

"I'll pretend he's not my brother."

Hermione looked skeptical.

"Who else are you going to talk to about this?" Ginny inquired.

Hermione started again after a moment's thought. "I didn't feel... complete. This sounds so dumb, but I felt very close to completeness, but like I could feel..completely complete if he was closer."

Ginny was in a daze from how many "completes" were thrown around there. She couldn't believe Hermione Granger of all people couldn't find a more eloquent way to put such obviously deep feelings into words.

"Diagnosis...randiness!" Ginny proclaimed, teasing.

Hermione was indignant. "I most certainly was not randy." She even stomped her foot. "I wasn't thinking of it in a...sexual...way. Just more in a general way..."

"Whoa there...I was just kidding, you know."

Ginny thought. "I think you want to be closer to him spiritually and physically."

Hermione looked thoughtful.

"So go snog his brains out!"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Ginny's exclamation.

"What?" said Ginny, mock-hurt. "It's a good psychoanalysis for 15 second's work!"

Hermione nodded slowly, her mind obviously elsewhere. She finished packing her trunk and threw it by Ginny's already packed things. The sight of the near-empty room made Ginny's heart hurt.

A/N: Hola! Sorry it took me a while to update. And now ( if you're astute) you know how the title ties in, a little bit. Don't read the part just below if you don't care about my life. just skip down a bit.

On Thursday I had no time to write, I had to go shopping. I got a skirt for 4 dollars, and some pretty neat Flying V shaped guitar earrings, and a present for one of my best friends' birthday. (a cd by Cake. They're so cool)

Then I watched the O.C. It was pretty drama-filled...yay! If any of you follow the show, I just wanna say that that was the first time I have ever felt bad for Julie.

On Friday morning I was wayyy too tired to type, so instead of getting up at 5 am to write a chapter for you guys, I let myself sleep in an hour. Hope you can forgive me.

Friday night- Jessica's birthday party! Started at 6 p.m., went to 11:30. oh man, it was sooo fun. Lots of music, running, dancing, screaming, bouncing on a trampoline. A bunch of people couldn't go, so there was only about 30 people there...but it was really, really fun. Lots of candy, too. haha.

Either today or tomorrow, im going shopping for my homecoming dress. No date, but im going with a bunch of friends, and i get a cute dress, so who cares?

And that ends the segment about my life.

About the story. I'm going to pick 3 reviews from each chapter to comment on...but since this is the 7th, I'm going to just pick 6 from all the chapters to comment on for this one. But 3 lucky reviewers for chapter 7 will get a shoutout with a comment. Ask a question, I'll be sure to answer it. Let's start.

RonMione4eva - you were my first review, so I thought it was appropriate for a thank you! thanks for taking the time to read this story, and for getting the ball rolling (haha)

Sugarquill824- That really is the highest compliment you could have given me, comparing my writing to Ms. Rowlings. Thanks, and that comment really made me happy.

Loonygrl90- I like you. You're really random and fun, and you remind me alot of my friends.

Hermoine-Hermine- Kind of an ouch. But thanks for the first bit of criticism, I suppose.

paulalou- haha. dont worry, though, we're just reviewing measuring and stuff. (beginning of the school year, you know) I have an A+ in that class, even though I hate science...a LOT! So don't be expecting to see me on the cover science weekly or anything, (if that exists) I have other plans for my future.

Charlie- yes indeedy, Ron's real middle name is Bilius. Pity him. haha.

TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS REVIEWED: I appreciate you and your reviews. I really do. But responding to every review would take a lot of time, effort and space. So review often if you want a shoutout. I know I like getting shoutouts. I really do love that you guys read and review. I love you all for doing that.

All comments from previous chapters still stand.

Love.