Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter including the characters, the setting, and all that gewd stuff. All that belongs to J.K Rowling :)

The Spell That Binds

Chapter Three: The Plan

The torches cast shadows upon the stone walls of the dark hallway as the trio were walking back to the Gryffindor dormitories. Since their encounter with Malfoy, the three had remained silent. Every now and then Hermione and Ron had been stealing quick glances at eachother, looking away before the other caught their eye. However, none of this went unseen by Harry.

When they reached the portrait, Hermione stopped suddenly, causing Ron and Harry to collide.

"What was that for 'Mione?"

'Hehe.. He called me 'Mione!'

'What's your point? So does the rest of Gryffindor.'

'Who're you?'

'You. Geez, and I thought you were smart!'

'…'

'You should probably answer him you know… You're staring again and if I'm correct, they're talking to you. I bet you look crazy right now!'

"Wha?" Hermione said stepping out of her trance.

"Are you ok? You kind of just stopped suddenly then zoned out." Harry said with a smirk noticing Hermione had been staring at Ron the whole time smiling.

"Yeah. I'm fine Harry." She said going back to the fat lady.

"Password?"

"Fairy Lights." As Hermione began stepping through the portrait, she remembered what she was supposed to ask Harry.

"Harry…"

"Yeah 'Mione?"

"Who…Who's filling in for Ginny?"

"Why?" His face was now slowly twisting into a grin. They took their common seat on the couch by the fire. The fire was slowly dieing, but still emitting enough heat to make the spot compfortable. Ron plopped down on the couch next to Hermione then turned to Harry.

"I'm curious to know too mate. Dean is at his grandmother's funeral, and Seamus has detention with Snape for the next 3 weeks for shrinking Malfoy's head." He laughed at the last comment with the other two, remembering the falsetto voice that accompanied Malfoy's shrunken head.

"Hmm? Oh Hermione's going to fill in Ginny's place." Hermione's eyes widened as she stood up quickly.

"WHAT? You can't make me play! I can barely ride a broom let alone play quidditch!"

Harry motioned an over exaggerated gasp when Hermione had finished speaking.

"Did Hermione Granger just admit to not being able to do something?"

"Oh shut up Harry! You know very well that I haven't been able to fly a broom since first year."

"So?"

"Simple, I'm not going to play tomorrow."

"Well, you kind of have to. I mean, I certainly can't let Neville play and it was your fault that Ginny can't play."

Hermione bit her lip. She needed to think of a reason that would get her out of playing quidditch but she couldn't think of anything. She looked to the window hoping Harry and Ron wouldn't see her stressed look when she saw something tap on the window. Ron turned his head to the noise.

"What the-"

"Oh look Harry it's an owl!" Hermione said running over to the window at a chance to come off of the current argument. She opened the window, letting the owl in. The owl nodded to her as if thanking her then flew over to the table infront of Harry.

"There's some parchment on its leg Harry!" Hermione pointed out.

"Really Hermione? I wondered what an OWL would be doing at HOGWARTS." Ron said sarcastically.

"Oh hush," Hermione laughed as she sat back down on the couch and leaned against Ron. Ron tensed up suddenly, but lost the tenseness when Harry had unrolled the note and began speaking.

"It's from McGonagoll.

Dear Harry,

Madame Pomfrey has informed me of what happened in the common room this evening involving Miss Granger and Mister Weasley. I fully agree with your suggestion. For Miss Granger's punishment, she will be filling in for Miss Weasley. Aside from that, she will be serving a week of detention with me starting after the game tomorrow. As for Mister Weasley, he will be joining Miss Granger in detention. I acknowledge that Miss Granger is not specifically experienced in quidditch, so I expect Ronald to take her out tonight to the qudditch field to show her some simple maneuvers and how to shoot. The two have my permission to go out outside of curfew for this night. Please inform your friends of their punishments, and make sure Mister Weasley and Miss Granger practice tonight for I have no intentions of losing to Slytherin tomorrow.

Best of luck to you tomorrow,

Minerva McGonagoll "

Hermione's mouth was now gaping open as she looked at Ron, then back to Harry. Harry still hadn't lost the grin on his face.

"So…I have-I have to play tomorrow?"

"Yep! So, you and Ron better get going if you plan on getting any sleep tonight!

Ron gulped as he looked at Hermione nervously. Hermione slowly closed her mouth and stood up turning to Ron.

" Let's go then Ron…"

"Right…"

The two walked out of the common room, leaving Harry behind on the couch who still remained grinning like a madman.

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Hermione and Ron stepped out onto the quidditch field. Quidditch gear had been left by the stands by McGonagoll for them to use. The sky was clear of clouds and the night was pitch black, but there was enough light from the moon and stars for them to see every inch of eachother face. Hermione was the one to break their gaze when she walked over to the two brooms and case containing the quaffle, the bludger, and the snitch, leaving a sighing Ron staring at her longingly.

"So 'Mione, before we let out the quaffle and bludger, I want to make sure your not going to fall off your broom first." He said smilling. Hermione's eyes grew wide with fear. She slowly inched away from the brooms and back to Ron.

"I-I can't!"

"Well, you're going to have to, other wise you'll never survive tomorrow's quidditch match."

Ron walked over to where Hermione previously was and picked up a broom. He swiftly swung his leg over it then gently flew over to Hermione.

"See? There's nothing scary about it. If you want you can, er, fly with me for a bit to get used to it."

Hermione bit her lip and stepped towards Ron, reluctantly placing her hand on the broom.

"I gu-guess so…" She spoke shaking slightly. As Ron lowered the broom, she hopped on behind him, quickly clinging to his waist. Ron's ears turned redder than his hair (A/N: If that's even possible!) at the slight contact.

"You ready 'Mione?" Ron said turning his head back to Hermione.

Hermione nodded her head as Ron kicked off. As soon as they had moved, Hermione had clung to him even tighter. After a few minutes he slowed down a bit.

"How are you doing 'Mione?"

"Fine… I thought this would be so much worse really." She smiled lightly. Under the moonlight, she could see every strand of his red hair blowing behind him in the wind.

"Think you're ready to try flying by yourself now?"

Hermione frowned at the thought of letting go of him but nodded her head anyways.

"Yes."

Ron lowered the broom over by the equipment then stepped off. Hermione quickly clung to the broom as if her life depended on it. Ron chuckled a bit then grabbed the other broom that was rested against the wall then walked back over to her.

"Lean down on the broom and push the handle down slightly to go forward. Pull to either side to turn, and pull up to slow down or stop. Sound simple enough?"

"Yeah, but how am I supposed to through the quaffle and such if I'm working on riding?"

"Don't worry. We'll work on that in a minute."

He mounted his broom so he was now riding next to Hermione.

"Try moving forward a little now."

Hermione shifted on the broom and leaned forward slightly as Ron had previously told her. She smiled at her success, and feeling a little curious tried to turn around, only to collide into Ron knocking both of them off of their brooms.

As she opened her eyes and shook her head, she connected eyes contact with Ron. Her brown hair fell in small curls around her face and then bent over, folding around Ron's shoulders. His blue eyes were so entrancing. Damn them. Then she realized she was laying down. On top of Ron.

Quickly, she scrambled up, both of them strongly blushing.

"Ron! Oh my god… I-I'm sooo s-sorr-ry!" She managed to stutter.

Ron looked up at her. His mouth was moving, but all that was coming out was air until he finally managed to speak.

"I-It's ok."

They both stood up brushing themselves off. Ron walked over to the case and opened it up, taking out the quaffle.

"We should probably get to the harder stuff now." He said still blushing.

The most Hermione could do was nod and smile.

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After practicing for about two hours, the two friends dismounted their brooms for a light rain had started.

"Come on Ron! We better get some sleep plus I don't want to get soaked!" She yelled over to him laughing. The rain had started to get heavier as they ran to the door laughing.

"Yeah. You did great by the way! No way is Slytherin going to win tomorrow!"

"Really?"

"Of course! No one is going to expect you being able to play so well tomorrow."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She said accusingly when they had reached the doors.

"N-Nothing! I mean, I-It's just that-"

Hermione laughed at Ron and hit his arm playfully after she opened the door.

"I'm just kidding!"

"Oh...heh… right," He laughed nervously.

They walked down the dimly lit corridors, still stealing glances every now and then when Ron stopped.

"Hermione?"

"Yes Ron?"

Ron paused for a minute. He had wanted to tell her for so long, but something held him back. He was afraid. Afraid that by telling her, if she didn't feel the same way, it would permanently ruin their friendship. Little did he know that the girl he held feelings for was waiting right in front of him waiting to hear the words she had wanted him to say for so long.

"Ron?"

"Huh?"

"You wanted to tell me something?"

"What? Oh, I just…wanted you to know that I…"

"hmm?"

"I LIKE FISH!"

Hermione's face fell and her jaw dropped.

'What in the name was that?'

'I was wondering the same thing… You have an odd taste in guys.'

'Oh shut up, we're still the same person so that means that you like him too!'

'Oh yeah! Hehe..'

Hermione continued walking again, her pace slightly faster than before. Behind her, Ron smacked his forehead.

'I like fish? Where did that come from?'

'Your mouth apparently. Oh look, there she goes. You better go catch her.'

Hermione stopped at the portrait entrance.

"Fairy lights!"

"Hermione wait!"

Ron finally caught up to her when they had got inside of the common room.

"What Ron?"

"I'm sorry," He said looking her straight in the eyes.

"For-For what?"

"Everything…All of our fights, I'm really sorry."

She smiled at him. Even if all of the fights weren't his fault and he was an enormous git, here he was epoligizing when it wasn't even his fault.

"Don't be. It was my fault too." She smiled and brought him into a hug by surprise. He tensed up at first but then loosened up and returned the hug. They hadn't realized it before, but their faces stood inches away from each other. They remained staring at one another for a few more seconds before Ron spoke.

"So… I suppose we should get some rest. With the game being tomorrow and such…"

Hermione jumped at his voice.

"Oh…yeah, I guess we should."

Unwillingly, they broke their embrace. Hermione walked up the stairs to her dormitory with Ron watching her still. She stopped at the top of the stairs.

"Goodnight Ron."

"Night 'Mione"

Once the door to her dorm had shut, Ron went up to his own dorm. Little did the two of them know, that someone had been watching them the entire time, smiling to himself.

" My plan worked after all"

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update again! I tried to make up for it by about doubling the length! Next chapter will be long too, but not quite as long.

Review before I update  I want atleast two new people reviewing before I update!