A/N: Thanks for the reviews folks; I'll keep writing for you. I know Hermione seemed a little…unlike herself, don't worry, there's a reason. Hehe, k, onwards!

"Hermione!" Ron had finally reached the castle when he saw Hermione making her way for the swiveling staircases. She had a good head start and the blankets he had slowed him down.

"Ron Weasley!" Ginny ran up to him. "What did you do to the poor girl?"

"Look, Gin, I don't have time. I've gotta talk to 'Mione," he tried to walk away but she blocked his path.

"What did you do! I'll not move until you tell me, or if I lose my patience first and jinx you into oblivion," she looked serious. Her hair was long and shaggy looking instead of being pin-needle straight.

"She was just…I mean, we were out there and everything was fine and then–" could he really tell Ginny this? Ron didn't even think he could say the words aloud to anyone.

"You were snogging," Ginny said matter of factly.

Ron nodded and blushed. How was it that his little sister knew of these things?

"And…?"

"And…she just got up and stormed toward the castle!" Ginny gave him a fierce expression. "What!"

"Ron. You are clueless when it comes to women and even more clueless when it comes to love; though I've gotta give you points for that necklace. Regardless, you said something to make her cry and I'm going to find out what it is," Ron's expression softened at Ginny's last words. He didn't mean to make her cry…

"Will you please, Gin? Just remind her, I was only trying to help, to let her know–" Ginny cut him off.

"Yeah, bro. I'll take care of it,"

When Ginny reached the common room, Hermione had just left a small crowd of confused people in her wake. Ginny knocked on the Gryffindor prefect's room and the door opened. Hermione sat back down on her bed and continued to sob.

"How did you know it was me?" Hermione sniffled and looked up at Ginny.

"You're the only one I know who would be brave enough to see me like this," Ginny smiled.

"You know you can tell me what happened…" The best way to get anyone to open up is to give them options when they think they don't have any… Ginny sat on the bed behind the balled up Hermione and slowly started rubbing her back.

"I just wanted to get…get close…you know?" Hermione's cheeks grew redder from the topic she was brushing. This certainly wasn't her daily conversation material, unlike Lavender or Parvati's.

"I mean, it's our one month anniversary and after all these years of, uhm…sexual tension I guess…I just, I thought that's what supposed to happen. I thought that's what he wanted…" Hermione cried at her foolishness. Maybe Ron didn't have those kinds of feelings for her after all.

"Oh, Hermione…" Ginny cooed, "Something as big as shagging in a relationship can't have a due date. You can't rush these things, no matter what you've heard. Dean and I waited about three months until we were really sure it was what we wanted…" Hermione stopped suddenly and looked up at Ginny who was now blushing.

"BUT ANYWAYS…..This is about you, not me. Uhm, doot da doot… oh yes! Maybe my brother isn't as dense as he seems then,"

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"Well, don't you see? He only had your best interests in mind out there. After all, he could've just taken up your promiscuous offer and who knows…you might live to regret it and then bam! My brother becomes the jerk who stole your flower,"

Hermione had managed to stop crying but her face was still splotchy. Everything Ginny said to her made sense…Maybe Ron wasn't a completely insensitive git. He even came chasing after her to the castle like in the muggle movies she watched when she was younger.

"Thanks, Gin… I'd probably be crying all night if it wasn't for you," Hermione smiled and gave Ginny a hug.

"Ah it's no problem. I don't like to see my brother or my best friend sulking…Especially when the two are involved, then that's really bad. But really, you should talk to him because this…really isn't something I should be talking to my older brother about," the two shared a little laugh before Ginny left Hermione alone to clear up her smudged eyeliner.

Hermione opened her room door and saw Ron staring into the giant fireplace below. Most of the students were in their own dorms doing homework or getting ready for bed. Ron was the only person downstairs aside from a handful of fourth years that were off in a far corner writing some essay. (( – that's what happens when a writer gets too lazy to describe a small setting))

Ron's face had a pensive look. His features were illuminated in the warm light when he let out a little cough and wiped his nose. Oh, why is he so handsome? I could watch him all night… Hermione knew they needed to talk about what happened earlier. It was embarrassing, but she agreed with Ginny, she did jump the gun on the whole situation.

"Ron…" was all she could whisper. She didn't think he heard her when his head suddenly whipped around and a look of relief crossed his face.

"Hey," was all he could manage.

"Look, Ron, about earlier…" Hermione's eyes were cast at the ground as she twirled her fingers on the banister. She heard Ron get up from the couch and walk towards her in a few long strides and looked up at him.

"I didn't mean to ruin our anniversary, 'Mione. Please forgive me, I know I messed up and I'm terribly sorry for that. Please, give me another chance," he held her waist in his arms, awaiting her answer when she let out a tiny giggle.

"It's not the end of the world, Ron. I have absolutely no intention of leaving you, not today anyways," she winked at him and he relaxed. "Look, Ron we should talk though, I need to get something off my chest,"

"Oh, ok, shall we go to your dorm, then? There's too many ears around," Hermione agreed and led Ron up to her dorm and placed an Imperturbable Charm on the room as they sat across from each other on her bed.

"Well, first off, I'm terribly sorry for my behavior. I was very, uhm….forward and I shouldn't have reacted in such a matter. I guess I was just….oh what is it…?"

"Anticipating something to happen?" Ron interrupted her train of thought. She looked at him and his eyes seemed sad. They didn't reveal exactly what he was thinking, but Hermione could tell he was a little heart broken.

"Ron, are you okay?"

"I don't know, 'Mione. I mean, you're so wonderful, brilliant really…and you're always number one at everything and you have no idea how proud that makes me but…" he looked pained and embarrassed.

"What is it, Ron?"

"I just, I don't want to disappoint you, alright?" he looked at Hermione with red cheeks and watery blue eyes. "I don't want to come up short and have you think you made a mistake…" his eyes seemed glassy now as his eyebrows furrowed together. Ron was being sincere and was baring his feelings to her. This is new…

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione threw her arms around his neck. "Please, don't worry about that. That's a dreadful thing to worry about…Look," she put his face in her hands, "I wanted to give you something dear to me earlier today because I thought I had to. There's always so much talk going on about those…activities…I guess I just felt like we had to, you know? You were the one who kept your head clear, not I," Ron gave Hermione a little smile and a kiss on the tip of her nose.

"I understand, in that case would it be too much to boast that I had finally thought logically?" Hermione grinned and pinched his arm.

"Yes, in these circumstances…though I suppose I could give you a little credit," the two of them kissed shortly and pulled apart, staring at the other for a few minutes.

"I think we should wait a bit more, before moving further, you know?" Hermione was the first to speak. Ron nodded right away and pulled back the corner of Hermione's bed comforter.

"And I think we should snuggle up like we did that night a month ago, except on a bigger, softer surface, and where there's a bit more privacy," he looked at Hermione then at the bed then back at Hermione and then the bed again. She just laughed out and walked to bathroom to change quickly.

When she came out, Hermione was in a pair of shorts and a tank top. It wasn't her normal flannel pants and t-shirt, but she wanted to feel Ron beside her. He was wearing his plain white t-shirt that would normally go under his button-up shirt and had (horribly) transfigured his trousers into shorts when she had gotten out of the loo.

"Come, my fair lady, to this fine bed where we shall slumber until the morn'," Ron smiled at Hermione as she crossed the room and laughed.

"Okay okay, my Prince….Prince, or knight?"

"Uhm…knight,"

"Right, uh hem! Okay, good knight, I shall rest my eyes with thee until the sun rises upon us both," Hermione said as she waltzed towards the bed and laid down beneath the duvet next to Ron.

"Hey, 'Mione…"

"Yes, Ron?" she flicked her wand and all the candles blew out by themselves.

Ron spooned Hermione and together they were a perfect fit. Everywhere his body bulged out from either fat or muscle, hers had a crevice or curve to compliment it. He hesitated before speaking again.

"Sweet dreams,"

"Sweet dreams…." Hermione yawned sleepily, "my knight…"