I take a sip of my butterbeer, drinking in the friendly sounds of The Three Broomsticks at the same time. Harry is out shopping and Ron has just walked in the door. I wave at him and he comes to sit down across from me. His face is flushed from the cold winter air.

"Do you want a butterbeer?" I gesture at my own bottle. Ron nods, out of breath, and I move to stand, but Ron touches my arm and says, standing, "It's okay, Hermione, I'll get it." He pauses. "You look like you're about ready for another one. Shall I go get it for you, then?"

I'm surprised both that he is being so polite and that a pleasant shiver went down my spine when he touched me. I smile quickly and say, "That'd be great!" Ron grins back and walks towards the counter.

This is completely contradictory to our usual interactions. I thought I pretty much had us figured out: Remarkably, we are best friends despite a tendency to have rows. I did notice a change in our relationship during fifth year. Ron and I grew a bit closer over the summer with the Order. Other than that, things stayed the same between us.

Ron comes back carrying two bottles and sets one down in front of me, He seats himself and takes a drink of his butterbeer with a satiated sigh. "Thanks," I say. He just nods once and smiles drinking a little more butterbeer. "How long do you think Harry will be out?" I ask casually. "Did he say when he passed you?"

"Yeah, he doesn't think he'll be long. After all, he only has three people to buy presents for," Ron's eyes narrow. I know he's thinking about Harry's third recipient, Draco Malfoy. Ron never really approved of Draco and Harry's relationship, but he tries to pretend that he does. Just like me, he has had no problem with Harry being gay, although we were both very surprised by it. Unlike me, however, he can't accept Harry and Draco's love for each other. I think their relationship is wonderful because, not only will it unite the four houses but, it just makes Harry happy. Draco seems to be the only peace Harry finds in these tough times. Sometimes I wish I had an escape like Harry has.

I realize I've been staring at my butterbeer as I think and I look up. There's a strange look in Ron's eyes that I've never seen there before. It's very soft with a hint of longing in it. As soon as Ron notices that I've seen him looking at me that way, he blushes a violent red.

"Er…I, er…" Ron stutters, looking rather uncomfortable. Just now, Harry appears by the table with rosy, wind-whipped cheeks.

"Hi," he says. "I tried to get your attention through the window, but you didn't see me, he explains. "You two ready to go?"

"Yeah," Ron and I say at the same time. We both get up and follow Harry outside. We are all bundled up in our cloaks and snow flurries are falling gently, sticking in our hair and resting on our shoulders. We wander down the street just talking about school and Quidditch. As we pass by an alley, I notice a shadowy figure hiding in its recesses. Harry notices the person, too, and stops. He glances around then whispers to Ron and I, "I'll meet you in the front of Zonko's in about two hours."

"Right," I say, "see you then." Harry's eyes sweep the street again to make sure no one is watching and disappears into the alley. I see the dim figure of Harry meet the other silhouette and their forms seem to melt together. I can't see, but I know Harry is kissing Draco. I feel a sudden swell of sorrow that they have to hide.

I turn back to the street and continue walking with Ron. We're silent for a while, but we resume talking as we reach the potion supply store, Eyere's. We spend some time there, picking out the supplies I need to restock. It's warm inside, so neither of us is in a hurry to leave. We finally do, though, and turn back onto the street in the bitter wind.

"Oh, my hands are so cold! I forgot to bring my gloves with me," I say after a few minutes.

"Here," Ron says, holding out his palms, "give me your hands." I comply. He takes my small hands and rubs them. My hands, as well as my face, begin to grow warmer. I look at Ron's face and he looks down into my eyes. Slowly, he stops rubbing my hands and simply holds them. I see the same foreign look in his eyes again. He leans down towards me, and, by instinct I suppose, I tilt my face up to him. As he inches closer, I can feel his hot breath on my lips. I close my eyes lightly and his lips touch mine ever so tenderly. He just barely pulls away, and then I feel his mouth on mine more certainly this time.

For the first time in my life, there are no thoughts, only feelings, as his tongue caresses my lip. A tingle runs down my spine and my lips part. Shyly, Ron's tongue begins exploring my mouth. He drops my hands and I reach up, placing my arms around his neck. Ron takes my waist in embrace and I pull him closer, enjoying the warmth of his body so near to me and the sensations in my mouth.

Suddenly, Ron leaves me and I open my eyes. He is blushing a deep crimson. "I, er…Hermione…er," he says. I'm as surprised as he is at what just happened, but I am sure of myself. I stroke his fiery hair with my right hand and lean in to him again. I place my lips on his, already parted, and kiss him. Reassured that it is what I want, he kisses back harder now. This kiss is not soft like the one before, but rough and exciting. I am breathing hard through my nose and Ron's arms pull me so close, his hands roaming across my back.

I feel, rather than hear, a low rumble in Ron's chest. His lips stray from my mouth and travel to my neck. I gasp at the shocking new sensation. I hear my breath release in a pleasant sigh. There's a jolt as I feel cold brick against my arms and Ron's back is pressed against the outside of a shop wall. He stops where he is, halfway down my neck. His hands rest on my hips and I pull back with my hands on his shoulders. Ron looks down to my eyes again and smiles spread across both our flushed faces. There is still no need for real, formed thoughts or words, so I slide my left hand down Ron's arm and take his hand from my waist. He links his fingers through mine and turns to the street.

The two of us walk along for a while, hand-in-hand. We stop in front of store windows and jovially discuss their contents. As we are walking, Ron unexpectedly stops and says, "Hermione, wait here!" I look up at him, puzzled, but he just grins and unlaces our fingers. He starts to walk away then says, "oh, and face that way." He points in the direction from which we came. Now I'm sure he's going to surprise me somehow. Of course, one would think that he's going to buy me a present, but I don't know if he has enough money to do that. I smile and do as he says.

I wait for several minutes, watching all the other Hogwarts students passing through the streets of Hogsmeade. I wonder if any of them saw Ron and I kissing or walking together. As far as I can tell, though, no one noticed. The students don't seem to notice Ron and I much outside of class or when we're not with Harry. I don't quite know how people will react to us because I have never really considered this possibility before. They'll be surprised, I expect, but pleasantly or horrifically?

Finally, Ron comes up behind me, drapes one arm loosely over my shoulder and presents a small bouquet of flowers with his other. I take the flowers and spin around to face him. "Do you like them?" he says hopefully. In response, I kiss him.

"I love them," I say. I'm so impressed with his behavior today: so sweet and thoughtful. "How did you know that petunias are my favorite flower?" I ask.

Ron looks startled. "They are?" he exclaims. "They just reminded me of you somehow. I didn't even know that they were called 'petunias' until the shop lady told me."

I laugh and start walking again, his left arm now laid across both my shoulders. Holding the bouquet in my right hand, I reach up with my left to take his and notice his watch. "Oh no! We're late meeting Harry!" Ron glances at his watch as well and steers us back towards Zonko's joke shop.

When we're almost to the door, Ron says, "What will we say to Harry?"

"I think he'll be able to figure out that we're together pretty easily," I laugh.

Ron opens the door and we walk inside the store. Harry is examining some items at the front, looking tired but pleased. I blush a little when I think of what made him look that way. My mind, of course being so incredibly logical, strays to wondering where Harry and Draco could possibly have found a place to… I squash the thought before I get to the operative word. I don't need to be thinking about that right now, it's too distracting.

"Harry!" Ron says. "Harry, sorry we're late." Ron tightens his arm around me.

Harry looks up. "Hey mates," he says distractedly, then I watch as comprehension dawns on his face. "You…are you…?"

Ron is a little worried at Harry's reaction. "Yeah, Harry, we're a couple now, I guess…" I say a little shyly, looking back up to Ron. He smiles at me and I'm at peace that it was intention to date.

"Wow, this is incredible!" Harry cries, causing a few faces to glance his way. "I thought you two would never get together!"

"What?" Ron and I stay instantly. I was not expecting that reaction at all from Harry and apparently neither was Ron. "I never said…how did you…?" Ron stammers, dumbfounded.

Harry just laughs, "How about a couple of butterbeers?" and leads us out of Zonko's towards The Three Broomsticks.

JJ's note - Ok, sorry about all the fluff in this chapter to those who don't like fluff. I do hope, however, that I can satisfy both fluff and non-fluff lovers. I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do yet, but I definitely have things in mind, just not sure if I want to go extreme about it or not…evil laugh I shall never tell!