A/N: Warning! Fluffiness ahead! The title of this story is subject to change at any time since I don't really like it. And please forgive my lame attempts at subtle romance.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Thanks for reminding me...

So Sick of It
KiahWMConnie
Chapter 3

After they apparated into a dim-lit hallway, Hermione led him inside her apartment. It wasn't very large, but it was larger than Ron's tiny room. Ron scanned over the rooms. There was a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom and two bedrooms. Everything was set perfectly in place. There wasn't a speck of dirt to be found.

"You haven't changed much, Hermione," Ron smiled slightly as he looked around.

"You, on the other hand," Hermione replied, "Have changed a lot. Physically anyways."

"Oh?"

"Yes, you're definitely taller than you've ever been. Your voice is also deeper than I remember. Come on, I'll show you your room."

She led him to his room. There was a single bed with dark blue sheets, one lamp, and a closet. Hermione walked over to the the closet and opened it to reveal several mens' shirts and sweatpants.

"These were here when I moved in. They should be big enough. I'm sorry you'll have to wear someone else's clothes-"

"Nah, I'm used to it."

"Oh, right," she blushed slightly, "By the way, why are you damp?"

"Oh, it's raining back at the Burrow. At least, it still was when I left."

"Well, you'll catch a cold if you stay in those clothes much longer," Hermione said very matter-of-factly. She tossed Ron a soft shirt and sweatpants, "Take a shower and put these on. I'll wash your other clothes later."

"Hermione," Ron began softly, "You have no idea what all this means to me."

"Don't mention it," Hermione smiled, "Just get some rest. You still have to go to work tomorrow, don't you?"

Ron thoroughly enjoyed the hot shower, even though he wasn't too excited about the pink towels or lufas that surrounded him.

Meanwhile, Hermione gathered Ron's damp clothes along with the other clothes in the closet. She decided that if he was going to wear a stranger's clothes, they should at least be fresh and clean. She'd also wash his bedsheets sometime soon.

He was really going to stay with her, wasn't he? Hermione expected to feel like a person taking in an injured puppy or something. However, she couldn't help but feel that this would benefit her as well. Ron was anything but an injured puppy. He had grown into a man. He was so tall...his muscles were more defined now. His red hair was thick and vibrant and his eyes were the most beautiful blue she'd ever seen. And at that very moment, he was in her shower...

Hermione caught herself blushing. She shouldn't think of Ron like that! Then...how should she think of him? He was definitely a man now, and he was definitely her best friend. Was that all they'd ever be? Hermione should've been satisfied with the promise of always having Ron as a friend. However, the thought was somehow dissappointing. Why was she having such mixed emotions? This was Ron she was thinking about: her best friend! There was that word again: friend.

"HERMIONE!" a loud yell echoed throughout the apartment.

Hermione raced from the bedroom to the bathroom door, "Ron! Don't yell like that! You'll wake the whole building u-" she stopped once she laid eyes on the funniest thing she'd seen in ages.

Ron stood in his new clothes and a red face. The sweatpants seemed fine, the shirt however was too small. The bottom of the shirt stopped a good three inches above the top of the pants. The sleeves were meant to come down to the wrists, but stopped instead at slightly past Ron's elbow. The shirt was overall extremely tight-looking.

Hermione gave several snorts of laughter as she said, "Um...is it..a little snug?" she barely contained her laughter.

"Don't make me hex you," Ron warned.

"Oh! That's another thing! Be very careful about using magic because this is a Muggle apartment."

"Muggle?" Ron cried, "And you apparated right there in the hallway?"

"I'm just that good," she replied with a smirk. Ron really was a bad influence on her in school, "But that shirt is not good," she began to laugh again, "You look like a grown man trying to fit into a kid's shirt! Hahahaha!"

Ron's ears went slightly pink with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Ron, I don't mean to laugh," She still giggled slightly, "It's just that I've missed you so much! You always made me laugh!"

Ron's ears were still pink, but he did give a small smile.

"You don't have to wear the shirt! I'll let you get to bed though. It's getting pretty late," and with that, she took her laundry and went back to her own room.

Hermione finally dragged the last load of laundry out of the dryer and headed back to her apartment. She passed several of the old Muggles that shared the building. It was still pretty early, and she might've done all the laundry before Ron woke up.

She was very relieved to make it back to her own apartment. She noticed Ron's door was still closed.

"Ron!" she knocked on the door, "Time to get up! I'm about to make breakfast."

Leaving the basket of clothes in her room, she went to the kitchen and began making breakfast. She decided eggs would be as good as anything. Remebering the appetite Ron usually had, she decided to make extra, just in case.

Hermione was just finishing up cooking when she heard a long yawn. She looked up and immediately turned beet red.

Ron was awake. He still had on his sweatpants, but he was completely shirtless. Hermione almost dropped the dish she was holding.

"R-Ron!" she gasped, still red.

"What?" He said. It was apparent that he was still half-asleep. As if a bullet had hit him, his eyes snapped open.

"AH!" he crossed his arms over chest and sprinted back to his room.

Full of awkwardness and embarrassment, Hermione closed her eyes and tried not to think about what she just saw. It was too late. The image was burned into her mind. He had lovely pale, freckled skin with muscles that Hermione was sure weren't there when she last saw him. Shaking her head, she went back to her room and grabbed several of his shirts.

"Ron," she called out with a shaky voice, "Here's some of your shirts," she opened his door quickly without looking in, dropped the shirts on the floor, and quickly closed the door.

At least ten minutes later, Ron emerged from his room with a shirt, still very pink. Hermione quickly filled his plate with eggs.

"Um, Herm," he said sheepishly, "Sorry about that. I forgot I was still here for a second."

"That's fine," she replied, "So...that shirt fits?"

"Oh, ya, this one does. There are still several others that are still too small, though."

"Oh, well, eat your breakfast. You'll need your strength."

"Breakfast?" he looked down at the plate Hermione was holding and his face brightened, "Wow! That looks delicious! You made some for me?"

"That's why I offered it," she handed Ron the plate with the mountain of eggs, "Now sit and eat. Go on, the table won't bite."

Ron and Hermione ate in silence for a while. Before long, Ron's plate was clean. He had quite the appetite since he hadn't eaten since breakfast the day before.

"Um," Ron began, "Sorry about this morning, again. I'm sure that was a rude wake-up call."

Hermione giggled, "Don't worry about it. You'll be living here for a while, won't you? You can walk around in your underwear for all I care," she lied, but tried to make the conversation lighter.

Ron tried very hard to ignore her last sentence and failed by turing pink again. Nonetheless, he spoke up, "That reminds me...um...how long do you expect me to stay here?"

Hermione was quiet for a while. Then, she thoughtfully said, "I'm not sure, Ron. I didn't really think about it. How long do you expect to stay?"

"I don't know," he twiddled his fingers, "I thought maybe I could stay here until I get enough money from my job to get my own place...but that could take ages! Afterall, I'm still just training."

"Ron, I'm going to tell you the truth," she stated, "I don't care how long you stay here. I told you last night, you're my friend and I'd be glad to help you out because you have no where else to go..."

Ron was quiet for several moments. He mumbled to the side, "I just...hate mooching off people..."

"I know, Ron," Hermione smiled sweetly, "That's why I don't mind you staying here. I know you're not going to pull anything that would bring someone harm."

Ron smiled warmly, "Thanks, Hermione. You really are a true friend."

Hermione began to go a little pink. Suddenly she noticed the clock, "Ah! Ron! We'd better hurry or we'll both be late!"

"Oh, great!" Ron ran back to his room to put his shoes on while Hermione ran to get in her work clothes on herself.

Ron arrived at his office at last with only a few minutes to spare. A sudden, chilling thought ran across his mind. What if he saw his father or his brother, Percy at work? Would they try to contact him or avoid him?

After the stunt he pulled back at the Burrow, Ron was certain he'd be avoiding them. He thanked Heaven that the Ministry building was an extremely large place. He was thankful that the places where his father and brother worked were all the way at the other end ofthe building.The risks of running into a family member was low. He was also thinkful that his office was very near to a friend's office.

"HARRY!" he grabbed his friend from behind and spun him around.

"WHA-?" Harry yelled, "RON? Don't scare me like that!"

"Harry! You won't believe what happened last night!"

"That's right! How did things work out with your family?"

"Mate, do I have a story to tell you..."

They slipped into Harry's office as Ron began to tell the whole story. The whole thing took almost half an hour to explain. Harry was speechless by the end.

"Let me get this straight," Harry said after a few stunned moments, "You actually punched Fred?"

"I did," Ron replied, "And the scary thing is, it felt good. After almost two decades of nonstop teasing, all the frustration just kind of...came out. I couldn't stop myself!"

"And you apparated to that horrible deserted street," Harry continued, "And Hermione, either by a subconcious sixth-sense or sheer, dumb luck, was there as well. And she invited you to stay with her until you can get back on your feet?"

"That's pretty much it, yes," Ron conformed.

"Wow," Harry leaned back against his desk, "I mean...wow..."

"I know, I'm sure it's a hard story to take in, but that's what really happened."

"Ron, this may seem off-topic, but why didn't you just come to me? I would've been happy to help as well."

"I know you would be, Harry, and don't think I'm not grateful! But...Hermione got to me first. And I'm kind of stuck. You know how she hates the word, 'no'."

Harry smiled to himself, "So she's really Hermione, huh?"

"The one and the same."

"So...your bithday turned out to be a good one, right?"

Ron shrugged, "Interesting, anyways. Listen, I'd better get back to my own office. See you at break time," and with that, Ron rushed to his own office to begin the daily mountain of work.

A/N: This chapter was a bit boring, I know. But the next one will be better. I look so forward to it. :)

Everytime you don't leave a review, JKR kills off another character. Please...think of us fans.