A/N: Hey, everyone! Sorry it took longer for me to get this chapter out. I was sick for a little while and after that I had to help with a church VBS thing. I think I officially hate toddlers now. So I haven't had much time to write lately.

Big Note: Okay, folks, I just found out 182 cm is actually more around 5'6" (headdesk) please ignore that. I am never, EVER trusting my so-called math whiz of a friend again! I should've just followed my instincts and just put 6'3". Wow...I feel like an idiot now. That's why I replaced the chapter. I just couldn't stand it anymore. Sorry 'bout that.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine, nor are any of its characters. I'm just another fan.

So Sick of It
KiahWMConnie
Chapter 6

Ron scratched his head as he rose out of bed. The events of last night came rushing back to him. He had hugged and cried in front of Hermione. He had the day off. He almost admitted his feelings for her. It all came too fast. Ron had to sit back down on his bed before he got his head together. When he finally got up, he searched through his new clothes for something comfortable to enjoy his day off in. Afterall, he hadn't taken off since he started working for the Ministry.

He chose a simple pair of grey sweatpants and his favorite shirt in his collection. Hermione was skeptical to let him have this particular shirt, but she was getting paid back, so she eventually gave in. Ron practically beamed as he put it on.

Ron would feel rather awkward in Hermione's presence now. He couldn't believe he actually cried in front of her! Even if it was just a tear or two. Sure, he was comforted, but he had the feeling that he sacrificed a bit of his manliness for it.

"Good morning, Ron," Hermione greeted him as if the strange events of last night hadn't happened.

"H-hey," Ron managed to get out, but not without a blush.

"Are you-oh..." she spotted his shirt and couldn't conceal a pitied smile.

The shirt was a good fit on Ron. It was all black, and on the front, in big white letters was printed: SAVE A BROOM, RIDE A KEEPER. The store also had ones for the other Quiddich positions, but Ron chose the obvious.

"This is still my favorite shirt," Ron said, seeming to read her mind.

"I still can't figure out who possibly came up with that," Hermione replied, shaking her head.

"I'm pretty sure it's an American influence."

"Go figure," she said as she began to walk out, "Enjoy your day off. You deserve it," she added her kindest smile before she shut the door.

"Did you hear me Hermione?" Emily spoke loudly.

"Oh! S-sorry," Hermione snapped out of her thoughts and stopped twirling the quill in between her fingers.

They were on their break at St. Mungo's and had sat down at a table for coffee. Emily had caught Hermione drifting off with her thoughts.

"Goodness, Herm," Emily said with a mixed expression of confusion and awe, "What's with you these days? First you start coming to work later, then you get lost in your own thoughts in the middle of conversation! And now, you're twirling your quill in a very girly, un-Hermione-like manner. What happened?"

"N-nothing!" Hermione lied. In the back of her mind, she knew exactly what caused her sudden change in mood, but she'd never tell anyone.

"Oh, come on, Hermione," Emily put her hand on her hip, "We're both nurses. We both know that there's always a reason for a change like this. Tell the truth. What's happened to you this week?"

"W-well..." Hermione bit her lip, "It's nothing really...I've just been...helping people a lot more recently and...I just feel...happy, is all," she prayed that would be enough to satisfy her friend.

"Sooo," Emily drawled out, then suddenly asked, "Who's the guy?"

"W-what?" Hermione jumped and went red.

"AHA!" Emily laughed triumphantly, "So there is a guy! Who is he? How long have you been together? Is he handsome?" she bombarded her friend with questions.

"N-no! I mean...well, he is...but w-we're not together! It's just a friend that I'm doing a favor for!" she said quickly.

"Uh-huh," Emily said sarcastically, "So, just what favors are you doing for this friend?"

"Emily," Hermione exclaimed defensively.

"Come on, Herm, tell me the story," Emily pleaded.

"Alright, alright," Hermione began, "Well, back at Hogwarts, two guys were my friends, and one of them was Ron, the one I'm helping. And, well...we've been through a lot together. Well, he's one of the youngest in his family and he's always been rather bitter about the way they treat him. Monday was Ron's birthday and his family forgot about it. Ron finally snapped later that night and had a huge ordeal with his family that resulted in him being out on his own. I happened to find him on the street and he was completely broke with no where to stay," Hermione explained quietly, remembering the state of desperation Ron was in.

"Oh, how sad," Emily commented, "What did you do then?"

"Well, since we were friends, I offered him a place to stay until he could make enough money to get his own place."

"Aw, that was so sweet of you, Hermione," Emily said, "So, what's this Ron like?"

"Well, he's very kind, even though he can be an idiot sometimes," she added with a chuckle, "We argued quite a bit back in school. He tends to wear his emotions on his sleeve. But we are still friends after all this time. He's very easy to talk to," she finished with a small smile.

"Is he handsome?" Emily asked excitedly.

Hermione blushed, "W-well. Yes. I suppose he is. He's very tall and has recently gotten muscular. He's got red hair and freckles and his eyes...are very blue, almost a sky-blue."

"Just how tall is he?"

"I believe he told me he was almost 6' 3"."

"Are you joking? That's tall! Hermione, he sounds gorgeous! And you're sure you don't love him?"

"Emily!" Hermione interjected, turning very red, "I...I did like him once, back in our sixth year. But it's different now! I mean, I still have some feelings for him but...I-I just...Ron's just a friend is all!"

"Hermione..." Emily sounded like a mother catching a child in a lie, "Don't give me that."

"Look, Emily, I'm not in love. I just...I think I still like him, is all."

"That's all huh?"

"Yes."

"You really like him?"

"Y-yes."

"Oh, no."

"What?" Hermione began to get frustrated with her friend.

"You're in love," Emily almost giggled, "No one can have an opposite-sex friend that close, that long, and not fall in love!"

Hermione blushed even harder. She opened her mouth to argue, but for the first time in her life, she couldn't find anything to say back. Nothing would come out. Her brown eyes narrowed slightly and she dropped her hands. Emily was right...

Emily spoke softer, "Hermione, have you told him yet?"

"W-what? N-no. There's nothing to tell," she finished quickly.

"Nothing to tell? Hermione, you need to get ahold of this guy before he's gone!"

"Enough, Emily," Hermione said quite seriously, "He won't be going anywere anytime soon."

Hermione got up from the table and headed back to work before Emily could respond. Today would be quite stressful from now on.

'What's wrong with you, Hermione?' she mentally scolded herself, 'How could you let yourself fall in love with him? He was supposed to be just a friend. You weren't supposed to fall in love! He was just going to stay for a short while, then move on, and so were you!' Tears began to sting her eyes, 'But...I don't want him to go. I'm afraid that he will move on and then forget about me...I...I think I really do love him...'

Ron paced back and forth as the clock struck six. Outside, the sky had darkened with thunderclouds. Hermione would be home any second and he still hadn't figured out a way to thank her. He was still broke, and there was no way Hermione would like his cooking. Ron could hardly stand it himself. A meal was out of the question.

'Maybe cleaning up? No, what am I thinking? This place is spotless as it is,' Ron thought frantically, 'anything else would require money, which I don't have. Wait. I get paid tomorrow!' his face brightened, 'I'll be able to buy her something then!'

'You really love her don't you?' a small voice said out of nowhere.

Love. So it was official now...Ron Weasley had fallen for his best friend.

"Yes, I suppose I do," he sighed, answering the voice in his head. There was no use in ignoring or arguing with it anymore. Damn, he hated his conscience sometimes.

The sound of an unlocking door interrupted his thoughts. Hermione walked through.

"Welcome home," he greeted warmly.

She had her head down and a sad look on her face. When she met Ron's eyes, she straightened and went slightly pink. He was still wearing that stupid shirt. That was Ron: goofy and innocent.

"You okay, Hermione?" Ron asked concernedly.

"Y-yes, just a rough day at work. The weather doesn't help either," she lied. The truth was, ever since she admitted to herself that she loved him, she would blush every time he crossed her mind.

"Oh," Ron said, "Well, if it makes you feel any better, my day off was extremely enjoyable. That is, except for the part when Crookshanks sharpened his claws on my leg..."

Hermione couldn't help but chuckle at his last sentence. She could hear the rain begin to fall outside.

"That cat never really cared for me," he added with a smile of his own.

Hermione began to silently walk to her room, not really feeling comfortable in Ron's presence at the moment.

"Hey," Ron caught her by the wrist as she walked by, "Are you sure you're okay, Hermione?"

"I'm fine, Ron," she said rather harshly, hiding her new blush in her hair, "Now let go."

"You're acting really weird, Hermione," he told her, not letting go, "Yesterday, you were all comforting and supportive. You even hugged me! What's wrong today?"

Hermione looked Ron in the eye. Her eyes were slightly red and for a second, seemed extremely sad and worried. Suddenly, she angrily yanked her wrist out of his grip, "I said, I'm fine," she rushed into her room and slammed the door.

"Hermione!" Ron called after her, "Oh, no. Hermione! I-I'm really sorry! Did I say something wrong?" he pleaded outside of her door, "Hermione! Please answer me! I said I'm sorry! What happened?"

Inside her room, Hermione leaned against her door and wrapped her arms around herself. Was he actually pleading outside of her door? What was wrong with her? Why did she have to be so mean? Ron didn't do anything wrong. She was rude out of her own selfish reasons. She really did love him...

Outside, Ron slumped, "Damn it," he whispered to himself. This was certaintly a great way to thank her for her hospitality, by making her angry. Ron felt horrible. This was the girl that he just admitted to himself he loved, and she was angry at him for a reason he didn't know.

"Hermione?" Ron called out one more time. There was a long pause. Ron began to turn away, but just as he did, the door creaked open.

"Ron?" Hermione almost whispered. Her eyes were red and watery and she bit her lower lip.

He turned around, "Hermione, I-I'm really sorry-"

"Ron," she said more firmly, "I'm sorry. That was really selfish of me."

"What happened?" he asked as he walked up to her, "Did I do something?"

Hermione looked up at Ron. He had gotten so tall and handsome. She felt so small compared to him. She felt so bad about concealing her feelings. He deserved to know.

"It's not you, Ron," she finally said, "But...then again it is."

Ron looked worried. What had he done this time?

"Oh, Ron," Hermione almost cried, "I-I don't know how to say this..."

"Say what?" he asked, "Hermione, you can tell me anything. That's what I'm here for."

She looked up at him and opened and closed her mouth a few times. She couldn't seem to put three words together to save her life. After a very long pause, she finally spoke.

"You're my greatest friend," she began frantically, and continued with a fast voice, "And you'll always be my greatest friend! And don't think for a second that you're a burden! No matter what happens with you and your family, I'll always be here. But I-" she suddenly stopped, "I don't want you to go! I don't want you to leave me once you get your life together!" she began to stumble on her words.

"H-Hermione?" Ron asked with a very confused face.

"I don't want to lose you again!" she yelled as tears formed in her eyes.

There was another long pause. After many breaths, Hermione found her voice again.

"R-Ron..." she began very shakily, "I think...I think I love you."

Time stood still around them. Ron was speecless. He was sure his breathing had stopped as well as his heart. Did she just say what he thought she said?

"H-Hermione..." he barely whispered.

"I'm sorry," she looked away, "It's just that we've been through so much together. You were always there for me no matter what my faults were. I don't think I can't love you..." she began to cry. She had never felt so embarrassed as she began shaking.

"Hermione," Ron grabbed her shoulders and made her look him in the eye, "Is this true?" he asked with very wide, blue eyes.

She couldn't find her voice. Roughly, she nodded her head. Ron let go of one of her shoulders and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Ron, I'm sorry," she began to apologize again, but Ron stopped her.

"Sorry?" he repeated, "Hermione, you have nothing to be sorry about. I'm the one who should be sorry!"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Hermione..." he whispered, "I...I think...I love you, too."

She gasped.

"It's just..." he began awkwardly, "Ever since our sixth year at Hogwarts, I've liked you, possibly even before then. I've just...I've just been too afraid to lose you as a friend. And then the war started and my feelings got-"

"Got pushed aside, and we drifted apart after that," Hermione finished for him.

Ron looked surprised, yet relieved, "Hermione, can you ever forgive me for not telling you sooner?"

Hermione smiled sweetly, "Only if you can forgive me for the same reason."

"Hermione..." he almost whispered, "I don't know what to say..."

"You don't have to say anything, Ron," she stood on her tiptoes and gently tugged Ron's ridiculous shirt, lowering him.

Ron bent down and sealed his lips over Hermione's. He had never felt happier in his life. He had waited for the moment for so long in his life. Her lips were soft and warm. Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione to bring her closer, deepening the kiss.

Hermione felt dizzy. She couldn't believe she was actually kissing the man she loved. Just one week ago, she was worrying about making enough money to pay the rent and looking for Crookshanks a new collar. Now, that world seemed so far away. All Hermione could comprehend at the moment was the taste of Ron's kiss, the feeling of comfort in his arms, and the sound of thunder somewhere in the distance.

A/N: OMG! Were you guys waiting for this or what? I don't think I like this chapter as much. It just seems too rushed. But, I kinda had to rush it a little bit or I would NEVER get to the next chapter.

(Runs off singing Save a Broom Ride a Keeper to the tune of Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy)