CHAPTER FIVE: A DAWN OF CHANGES

When Ron woke up in the morning, it took him a while to figure out what felt different. He physically didn't feel any different from the previous morning, and as he lay there in bed with his eyes closed, he couldn't for the life of him figure out why he had this strange feeling in his gut. But the moment he opened his eyes he knew.

With his bed curtains not shut the night before, sunlight poured over Ron's bed, making the thing in it, that he currently had this legs and arms somewhat wrapped around, shine brightly. His hand felt something silky that he immediately recognized as hair, and he shifted to get a good look at the girl in his bed.

His breath, on the way out through his nose, stopped where it was and went the other direction, creating a whirlpool effect inside Ron's lungs that made him almost cough. Bloody Hell Ron thought to himself, She's never had that effect on me before!

With the sunlight shining upon her, wrapping her body up in a warm glow, and catching the color of her dark brown hair just perfectly, the angel image that he'd seen in her last night, didn't seem enough to describe the way she looked right now. And he simply sat there for several minutes staring at her, taking in everything about the beauty he felt privileged to see.

He was torn. Ron knew Hermione, and he knew that she would want to be up and about early enough to get ready for class, with as few people as possible seeing her exit the boys dormitory. But on the other hand…she looked so peaceful. So content with her surroundings, so—

"Ron?"

"Yea?" He replied, drifting out of his thoughts suddenly; the remains of his previous smile still faintly on his lips.

"What time is it?"

"We've still got two hours before breakfast" He answered slowly, not wanting her to go

She nodded her head and sat up, looking around. "Why are you up so early? You always are the last one awake!"

"I forgot to draw the bed curtains last night, the sunlight woke me up"

"Oh I'm sorry, I should have reminded you"

"No it's fine. This way you can be out before anyone realizes you were here. People might jump to the wrong conclusions."

"Yes, Hogwarts is known for its gossip" Hermione said, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and standing up. "Well I guess I better get going then…"

"Yea" He said, but neither moved.

An awkward silence followed. Think of something to say! He screamed at himself.

"Thanks again Ron." Hermione said slowly, her mind obviously elsewhere

"For what?" Ron snapped out of his thoughts

"For being so good to me, especially since it was a silly nightmare"

Ron blushed and he knew it. "It was nothing really. Just doing my duty as a friend, Harry would have done the same I'm sure" The moment the words left his lips, he knew they were the wrong things to have said.

Hermione chose her words carefully, "I don't remember letting me crash in your bed and making you take care of me all night, being part of the job description." She teased "And it wasn't Harry that did it, it was you… so thanks."

"Anytime. You know I mean that don't you? Anytime something like this happens again, you can come to Harry or me." Ron wasn't exactly sure why he kept bringing Harry up, it certainly seemed to make things more awkward and he certainly didn't like it.

"I know" This time a true smile graced her lips. "Bye" she whispered as she snuck out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Ron sighed and lay back in his bed in a feeble attempt to fall back asleep, but he couldn't chase the feeling in his stomach away. He had been right, something had changed between himself and Hermione but he couldn't put his finger on it. But the more he lay there and the more he reflected upon the previous night, the closer he came to finding it.

And then suddenly Ron sat straight up in his bed; he knew…He was in love with Hermione!

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"Weasley!!"

"Mm?"

"Weasley!"

No response.

"WEASLEY!!!!"

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU WANT SEAMUS?!"

"Good! You're awake!" The sandy haired boy said happily, sitting on the edge of his own bed that was next to Ron's.

"I'd prefer to be asleep," The red head snapped, grouchily

"My my aren't we crabby this morning!"

"Sod off Finnegan, I didn't get any sleep last night"

"I'm sure" He grinned evilly "That's what I wanted to ask you about"

"Let me get this straight. You woke me up in the morning to talk when you knew perfectly well I got no sleep last night?"

"I woke up this morning after having some weird dream that Hermione came into our dorm at night all deranged and hysterical. It was pretty funny when the rest of us all remembered having the same dream." Seamus said pointedly, ignoring Ron's last comment

"Maybe your minds are connected" Ron said in a fake excited voice that was dripping with sarcasm

"Maybe, but that's not the point" The Irishman played along "I want to know why Hermione was in our room in the first place."

"Do you have to be such a nosy git?"

"Hey! It's my dorm too! I deserve to know why random girls are bursting through my room at night!"

"Hermione's not just a random girl," Ron said calmly, picking through his dirty laundry for a clean shirt, but his stomach flipping with mention of her and the realization he'd made last night.

"That doesn't give her reason to be here. I mean I don't care really. If you two want to shag on school nights, fine by me, but I need to know"

Ron had whipped his wand out so fast; Seamus barely had time to react. Face as red as his hair, he said through gritted teeth "Don't you dare say something like that ever again!"

"Okay, okay I get it. So, why was she acting crazy?"

"After the shit you just pulled you'd be lucky if I told you anything!" He said angrily

"C'mon Weasley…you've got nothing to hide. Unless, I was right before" He smirked

C'mon Ron…take a deep breath…its just Seamus trying to piss you off. You have to keep your cool. Ron told himself. He wasn't entirely sure why he was so set against anyone but Harry knowing the real reason Hermione came to him, but it just felt right.

"Where are the others?" Ron asked, completely ignoring Seamus' last comment

Seamus practically choked he was so surprised, "W-What? No punch in the face? No death threats? No hexes?"

Ron raised his eyebrows. "You looking for a fight Finnegan?"

"Well no but--"

"Well than let's get down to breakfast! I'm famished!"

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"Hey Hermione" Harry said, kissing the top of Hermione's head before sitting down for breakfast in the Great Hall.

She smiled brightly. Harry didn't show very much emotion in public anymore, so it was rare to get anything more than a hug from him. "Hey Harry."

"How are you 'Mione?" Harry asked, staring at her intensely.

"I'm fine Harry. Really." She added when he gave her a look.

"What happened last night?" He whispered.

She smiled sadly. "I had a nightmare, that's all."

"You seemed pretty upset. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen you like that, in all the years we've been friends"

"Yes well it was a pretty terrible nightmare," She said as she poured herself some pumpkin juice.

"I don't mean to pry, but what was it about?"

Hermione sighed and hesitated. "T-The war, and seeing the two of you dead"

"That's why you were so frantic to see us," Harry said to no one in particular.

"Yes, it felt so real" She whispered sadly

Harry took her hand and squeezed it gently. "I was real worried about you. I tried to stay up and find out what was wrong but I fell asleep. I felt so bad, I wanted to be there, I really wanted to help you."

"Its okay Harry" Hermione said, touched

"So Ron was good then? He has some trouble with the emotional stuff sometimes."

"Ron was wonderful," She said, her stomach doing a flip-flop with the mention of him, that she chased away with a bite of food.

"Good."

"Hey you two! Is breakfast over yet?" Ron asked, his voice booming into the Great Hall, a smile on his lips.

"Yeah it is but I saved you a plate" Harry said

"Thanks" Ron said, taking his fork and shoving huge amounts of food into his mouth.

"Where were you?" Harry asked, in between bites.

"igawtstokvifseamus"

"Don't talk with your mouth full" Hermione said more out of habit than anything else.

Ron swallowed. "I got stuck with Seamus. Bloody git woke me up"

"I told him to leave you alone" Harry sighed, "What did he say?"

"Um…" Ron looked uneasily at Hermione. "Just nonsense really. I was half asleep while he was jabbering"

"Oh, that's funny. I would have thought he'd pester you about last night. He was practically jumping up and down when he realized that last night wasn't just a dream of his. You know Seamus, wanted to know every detail, bloody annoying really. Couldn't seem to believe that Hermione would rush into our dorm, tear down my bed curtains, practically attack Ron, and then spend the night in his bed with him" Harry said

To this, Hermione blushed and both desperately avoided eye contact with the other.

Harry noticed and fell silent for several minutes, thinking and studying the two.

"Pass me the eggs." Ron said to Harry.

Harry obliged and Ron began piling spoonful after spoonful onto his plate. And then he began eating them.

Hermione was so surprised she almost choked on her pumpkin juice

"Ron! What are you doing?!" She yelled

"Eating my eggs like you tell me to" Ron shrugged.

Hermione and Harry sat there staring at him like they'd never seen him before.

"You can't be serious" Harry exclaimed

"Why not? Eggs help me pay attention in Quidditch Harry. You should try some sometime"

Flabbergasted, and with nothing to say back since his mouth wouldn't seem to close enough to form words, Harry sat back and said nothing, but watched every move Ron made like a hawk.

Once he was done, Ron cleared his throat and stood up. "Well I better go and finish my Charms essay. I meant to do it last night and need it for this afternoon. I'll see you both in class."

"Okay." Harry mumbled, somewhat still caught in his world of thoughts.

Once Ron left the Great Hall, Harry turned his attention onto Hermione, studying her carefully. It was several minutes until he finally spoke. "Hermione?"

"Yes Harry?" She asked politely, taking another bite of her breakfast, still trying to shake the feeling she'd gotten with Ron's new display, away.

"Is there—I mean…. Did something happen last night?" Harry asked, almost timidly

"Something happen?" Hermione asked confused, putting her fork down to look at Harry, and purposely ignoring her pounding heart.

"Between you and Ron" Harry clarified

"Between me and Ron?" She asked, her stomach twisting a bit, but her face remaining the perfect image of surprise and confusion that Hermione had to use all of her strength to keep in place.

"Yes"

"Why would you say something like that?"

"I don't know. Things just feel…different this morning."

"It's probably because we're tired. Waking you two up at three o'clock wasn't very considerate of me." She tried to sound convincing.

"Maybe…" Harry said uneasily, not really accepting her logic "I can't put my finger on it, but are you sure?"

Hermione's stomach was now feeling very uncomfortable. "I—of course. Everything is fine. Ron was only being a good friend, and I know you would have done the same."

"I'll take your word for it then"

"Good. We better get going if we want to get to class on time."

"Alright" Harry said, standing up and gathering his books.

As the two left the Great Hall and headed down the long corridor towards Transfiguration, the feeling in Hermione's stomach faded away with each step she took, but she couldn't for the life of her understand why she felt like she was lying to her best friend.

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(A/N: I know, I know, not much R/Hr stuff this chapter but I promise more is on the way! Stay with me! Hope you liked this chapter, and thanks so much for the feedback from last chapter! An update should be expected around Friday-ish. The chapter I'm working on is taking a while! Hugs, Haystack)

ShimmeringEvil: So glad you thought last chapter was my best!

cumbacksirius: I was very unsure whether or not to add that tickling scene in, but thanks for letting me know you liked it!!

Legofiance: Thank you so much for reviewing! It's so nice to meet new reviewers! My plans for R/Hr are a bit complicated but I've mapped most everything to the end. As you saw in this chapter, it seemed like Ron and Hermione were fine and nothing but friends again, but trust me, I won't let them forget! Hope the update was soon enough!