Chapter Three: In Which Ron and Hermione Cease To Be Funny

"Merlin, that girl's hair looks like a rat's nest!" whispers a first year, giggling, oblivious to the fact that Hermione has pulled out her wand. She whispers something and all of a sudden, the first year is donning a new (an improved, by Hermione's standards) hair do.

Hermione had been doing really well with her "sustain all dirty and inappropriate thoughts" program, but Ron intervened and without warning Hermione was just too tempted. That lollipop had it in for her, and all she could see before her outburst was his tongue sliding over it, with the smallest gleam in his eye. Her mouth watered immediately and she nearly died with that overwhelming craving. All she wanted to do now was sit on his lap and go at it. She shakes her head as someone walks towards her.

"Something bothering you, Hermione?" Justin walks over to her, seeing her nose scrunched up and her eyes squeezing shut, he thinks she ate something bad.

"Thank you, no Justin, I'm fine. Sorry," she rushes on. The only real reason that these thoughts bother her so much is that they come in flashes and she wishes so much that they would happen. And she knows that no one really knows what she's thinking, but being the cautious one, she wants even her thoughts to be discreet. It really is frustrating being Hermione.

Having walked off enough steam, Hermione returns to the compartment, ready to apologize, when she finds Ron asleep with his face pressed up against the window and Harry gone. Her mind half –halts, but her feet do not and they carry her to Harry's seat across from Ron. A bombastic, erratic thought seizes her and she reaches out to graze Ron's brow. He moans and she jerks her hand away, but reaches out again to touch his cheek. Barely breathing, she leans in a bit more, sliding her hand down his face, wanting so much to just lean a bit more and kiss him. Even that is too much for Hermione and she can't do it. But she stays where she is, letting out a sigh of risk that has had it's success.

Without warning, there is a quiet thud on the compartment door and Harry opens it slightly. Before Hermione can move, his eyes have popped open and he hustles out of the way, mortified that he walked in on whatever she was doing.

Out in the hallway, Harry tries with much difficulty not to laugh. There has always been something between his two best friends, but he never suspected Hermione to be the one to act on it. Before, he deemed it cute that they had that love/ hate relationship, now it seems rather sweet, and he can just imagine them getting married and… no that really is too much. He must have been blind not to see it earlier, but now Harry realizes the error of his ways and what was once a laughing matter now seems more like a duty, and Harry takes his duties seriously. Despite all clichéd plots, he takes it upon himself to play cupid. Beginning tomorrow, of course.

"Sorry to intrude, dear friend of mine, but I need to change and I know that wouldn't bother you if it were Ron doing the changing, but I like my privacy, thank you," Hermione jumps out of the way as Harry opens the compartment door, looking completely horrified that he will wake Ron up.

"Harry, I didn't mean anything by it, honest. He had a spot on his nose, I swear!" Her claims are futile and although Harry lacks any Leglimens capabilities, this blatant lie is not that difficult to read and he simply smiles.

"Even if you're not lying, I'm still kicking you out." Hermione complies quickly and leaves.