Chase after her.

What?

Ron's conscience urged him on eagerly.

Go after her! You two have to talk. Aren't you sick of waiting? You just can't let fate do all of the work. Run after her!

"Hermione!" he called, and raced to catch up with her. He knew he could; he had longer legs and had more endurance. But gosh, she looked nice when she ran.

He's chasing after you.

I…I know.

This is what you want! And yet you keep running? You have to talk with him; things are getting too messed up! Harry even told you he liked you and you still didn't believe it, although you had been hoping he did. Stop now and see what he has to say!

Hermione stopped, although she didn't turn around. Ron slowed to a walk and approached her carefully. "'Mione? You okay?"

He walked around her to find that she was smiling. "Ron, I'm so sorry," she murmured, shaking her head.

"What for?" he asked gently.

"For…for everything. I keep running away, and I don't know why…I guess I'm scared."

"Hermione, if anyone has any reason to be sorry it's me. I've been acting like a stupid, selfish brat and—well, yeah. But what are you scared of, and why?"

Hermione pondered that for a moment. "I'm scared of love, Ron. It's just…I've never felt like this and it's scaring me because I don't know what I'm supposed to do, what I'm supposed to say, how I'm supposed to act. I'm not sure if I want out or if I want to keep on going and hope that he loves me back, although I think that he does," Hermione added. "It's not something I can study or learn about from reading a book…"

Ron's heart sank. So she does like Victor…

What do you mean?

She said she thinks he loves her back. And clearly Victor does.

…I thought I actually had a chance with her…

Ron muttered, "I know he does."

"What?" Hermione asked. "I didn't hear you."

"I know he loves you, Hermione. He's always waiting on you hand and foot. He'd die for you, you know."

Ron…waits on me hand and foot?

I WISH.

"What?"

"VICTOR!" Ron shouted. "I'm sorry that I'm not as good as him!"

There was a long silence.

Hermione sighed. "Ron, I'm not talking about Victor. I'm sick of all this pretending. Ron…I love you. Do you know that Victor never visited me once while I was in the hospital? Actually, I haven't seen him in more than a week…I actually think he might like Vera in Ravenclaw. But anyway…you were always there for me." Hermione looked away from the redhead, not able to muster the courage to see his reaction. "And you found bipatens limus, you really saved me. Sure Harry helped, but you—you were my hero, Ron." Hermione finished, her voice shaking slightly as another tear fell slowly down her cheek.

She loves you.

I love her.

WELL THEN, IT'S HAPPILY EVER AFTER! GRAB HER AND KISS HER! CELEBRATE, BECAUSE YOU JUST BEAT AN INTERNATIONAL QUIDDITCH PROFESSIONAL!

Geek.

"Hermione, I…I love you too." Ron blurted.

Hermione turned to face him, smiling and surprised. Ron gently wiped away the tear with his hand.

"I fell in love with you—well, I thought I fell in love with you that day in autumn when Harry had to sit next to Crabbe—or was it Goyle?—in class. But I just realized that I didn't fall in love then. I only realized I love you then."

Ron stared at her, stared at her eyes, her beautiful hazel eyes. And then suddenly, magically, there was no distance between them and Ron's lips were clashed against hers and he tasted her and wanted her and had her and loved her. She was kissing him back and her arms were wrapped around his neck and she pulled him closer. Ron's hands were on her waist and they stood there in the hall kissing so passionately, enjoying it every bit possible.

Harry ran around the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. Was that…Hermione! And…Ron!

Well, at LAST!

Harry, grinning like an idiot, walked away to leave them in peace together by themselves.

There'd be no problem having double dates now, that was for sure.

Unless Ron doesn't like the idea of you and Ginny…

We can forget about that for right now, okay?

As Ron and Hermione broke apart, Hermione let her head rest on her lover's chest. Ron held her at last, able to truly and finally express his deep emotions for her. Hermione, likewise, was glad that now her sentiments could come to rest.

I guess it's just another tale of love and chance.

What, you know other stories like this?

We're not in a story. How could we be in a story?

Sigh.

Well, aren't you just Mr. Romantic!

No, Mr. RONantic.

Oh, very funny.

Thus, all in all, it was just another tale of love and chance.

(A/N: YAY! I'M DONE! UNLESS YOU ALL HAVE SUGGESTIONS…PLEASE REVIEW, ITZ DONE, YAY ME! YAY READERS! YAY REVIEWERS! Now on to decaf-latte's story—check hers out, k? AWESOMENESS CKONTOWDERDON, ITZ OVER!)