Chapter 10

Life was getting different. Much more so then over the summer and Ginny was thrilled. Of course, she was scared for Harry's life, but now that he had confinded in her something that he had never told anyone else she felt as if they were much more then pretending. She only hoped that it would turn into a real relationship instead of a pretend one in the end.

However, the relationship of topic right now was not that one. It was Hermione and Ron.

"I think that if we locked them in a closet together they would snog the heck out of each other!" Seamus said with a smile, as he popped a chocolate frog into his mouth. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"That's not going to work right away, Seamus. You are such a git!"

"Yeah, well... That's the way life is," Seamus said, flashing her a goofy smile. Ginny shook her head.

"Ginny's right. They need to have a common activity," Lavendar said.

"They do have a common activity. They're both prefects," Neville pointed out.

"No no no... they need an activity that is besides that. Like flying," Ginny said.

"Oh," Neville said, his face falling.

"Hermione will never consent to that," Luna said from behind her upside down Quibbler.

"Yeah she will when we tell her it is all a part of the plan," Ginny pointed out.

"But we can't offer to fly with her when she asks Ron. Understand?" Harry said, looking around the room to make sure that each person understood what he was saying. They nodded brightly.

"We understand. But I think that it should happen near dusk. That's so romantic," Lavendar said and sighed. Seamus rolled his eyes.

"Why is it you are always thinking about romantic stuff?" He asked her. She shot him a dirty look.

"Because I'm a girl and I wish that someone would take me flying at dusk." Seamus rolled his eyes again and looked away from her.

"Now isn't the time to fight amongst ourselves. This is Ron and Hermoine. Plan starts tomorrow." They nodded and dispursed to their correct towers.

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The next evening came swiftly, finding the sneaky Gryffindors sitting in the Gryffindor common room. Ron was playing wizarding chess with Harry. Ginny had told Hermione of what the plan was. However, she was sitting at the table along with Ron and Harry doing her homework. Harry, who happened to sit on the other side of the table of Hermione, kicked her shin to get her attention. Hermione looked up and saw Harry giving her a distinct look. Hermione sighed as her heart raced. She put her stuff into her back pack and leaned against the back of her chair.

"I wish I knew how to fly," she said softly. Ron made no movements. He was too deep in thought to even hear her. Harry looked at her as if to say, try again.

"I wish I knew how to fly," Hermione said louder. That finally snapped Ron out of his ravine.

"Why? You said that you hate flying and will never ever ever get on a broomstick as long as you are alive and well," Ron asked her, a confused look on his face.

"Oh well, I was just thinking that maybe it would be good to know. Instead of sitting and watching you guys fly during our free time, I could fly with you," Hermione said simply. Her cheeks were slightly pink.

"Well, Harry could teach you," He said before looking at the board. Harry looked at his watch.

"Actually, I promised Ginny I would help her with her homework," Harry lied. Ginny came up behind him.

"Yeah so he can't teach her," Ginny added in. Ron looked at them suspiciously.

"I don't think it's homework... but whatever. Well, I guess than I'll have to teach you." Hermione smiled.

"Okay. Let's go."

"Right now?"

"Yeah of course!" Hermione exclaimed. Ron looked over at Harry.

"You can use my broom. Go ahead. I'll put the chess board away." Ron nodded and then followed Hermione out.

"Okay, everyone out to the Room of Requirement right now!" Ginny exclaimed. The group waited for a moment before heading to the Room of Requirement.

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"Okay, so all you have to do is swing your leg over the broom and push against the ground," Ron said, showing her how to do so. Hermione nodded and swallowed hard before doing as he told her.

As she left the ground she let out a squeal of fright. Ron was instantly by her side, holding her arm.

"Just hold on. You're doing fine."

"I'm afraid, Ron."

"You'll be all right, Hermione."

"What if I fall?"

"I'll catch you."

"Promise?" Hermione asked him, her brown eyes pleading to his very soul. His heart twisted in his chest.

"Of course. Forever and for always," he vowed. She nodded.

"Okay, now, whenever you want to move forward just lean forward." Hermione nodded, but leaned too far and rocketed away, screaming her head off. Ron zoomed after her and stopped her, pulling her back up.

"I don't know if I want to learn how to fly any more," she said shakily. Ron nodded.

"Well, you're doing great, but if you don't want to. I understand..." Ron trailed off. Hermione looked at him and mentally kicked herself.

"No, I want to. I'm just afraid that's all. I don't want to go that fast yet."

"Maybe it would be easier if you got on my broom and I show you how to. That way you'll be okay," Ron suggested.

"Yes, that's a great idea," Hermoine said. Ron helped them to the ground and looked at the brooms.

"We probably should use Harry's. It's much better," Ron said. Hermione just nodded and handed Ron the broomstick. Ron got on and then patted the broomstick in front of him.

"Come on. Get on in front." Hermione's heart pattered wildly in her chest, but she did as he told her. His arms came down upon hers and together they held onto the broomstick, her hands underneath his. Hermione's cheeks flamed brightly.

She could feel the hot tingle of his breath upon the side of her neck and the slight pressure of his chin upon her shoulder.

"Okay, on three we'll push off. Okay?" Ron asked her. She nodded, unsure of how her voice would come out at this point.

"One, two, three," Ron counted off and instantly they were off the ground. They hovered high up in the air, but Hermoine wasn't sure she wanted to look down. Against her better judgement she did and sat backward, knocking the back of her head with the front of his.

"Ouch!" Ron said behind her, loudly in her ear.

"Sorry, sorry. Are you okay, Ron?" She asked.

"What did you do?"

"Looked down."

"Well don't do that again, okay?"

"Okay."

"You're too tense, Hermione. You have to lose up. Flying isn't suppose to be tense. It's suppose to be lose and free," Ron instructed.

"I don't think I can't not be tense, Ron," she said through clenched teeth. Ron chuckled behind her and took his arms away from her.

"Close your eyes."

"Close my eyes! But I'll fall!" Hermione protested.

"No you won't. Just trust me, 'Mione." She swallowed hard and nodded.

"Okay, I closed my eyes. Now what."

"Just breathe," he said softly in her ear. Shivers fell up and down her spine. She did as he told her and breathed in slowly. She could feel some of her tension falling away, but not all of it. Then all of a sudden she felt his hands massaging her shoulders gently.

"You got to let everything be lose. Let go of everything," he said softly. He stopped, much to Hermione's dismay, and then took each of her arms and put them out to her sides.

"What are you..." She started, but she could feel his finger press against her lips.

"Shh..." He whispered.

Then she felt it, the sensation of flying that Ron and Harry always talked about with this mystical look upon their faces. The sense of freedom and happiness. She opened her eyes and smiled.

"Ron this is wonderful!" She exclaimed. She heard him chuckle into her hair.

"Guess your lesson is over," Ron said wistfully. She turned her head to look at him.

"Can't we stay for a moment longer?" She asked, her brown eyes pleading with him once again. He smiled.

"Sure." They sat up there, slowly circling the Quiddtich pitch, watching the sun set.

"You want to know something," Hermione said softly.

"Sure," Ron said.

"I love sunsets. I've always imagined that one day I would look out at it and it would signify the end of my waiting for the one man that I have always loved. That the next sunrise would indicate the beginning of our lives together. Silly isn't it?"

"No. It's romantic." Hermione looked at him, a smile played upon her fair lips.

"Romantic. How would you know anything about romance, Ronald Weasley?" She asked him, a teasing twinkle in her eye.

"Well, believe it or not, but boys can be romantic too. It's just we are romantic for an entirely different reason."

"And do tell what this reason is."

"You girls love romantic things because of the happy, light feeling you feel. You know you're loved. Us guys like romantic things because then you girls are happy with us and will snog us for a while."

Hermione laughed, pure and bright at his words.

"Is that all you boys think about? Snogging and jumping girls bones?"

"No. Some boys think about the girl they love and wonder if they'll ever have the courage to get together with her."

"You sound as if you speak from experience."

"No. Just watching Harry with Ginny a while."

They fell into a comfortable silence, just watching the sun set.

"It's time we get to our prefect duties, 'Mione," Ron said, his voice slightly wistful.

"Can we have another lesson tomorrow evening?" She asked him, hoping he would say yes.

"Yes, tomorrow evening." Hermione smiled as Ron guided them back to the ground. They walked back to the castle, extremely close to one another.