CHAPTER TWO: IN WHICH HERMIONE AND RON CONFESS

Author's note: This is an embarrassing chapter, but there was no other way I could get them together unless everyone was there...

Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliff sat on the end of the Gryffindor table, watching it fill itself up. Rupert groaned as he looked at the far end of the table, but smirked as he saw Ginny making out with Neville. Daniel was gloomily eating a bowl of weetbix with a spoon, obviously disliking the taste. He felt a tap on the shoulder, and gratefully turned away from the soggy mess. Ron stood behind him, glowering, in a very bad mood.

"See that old sod kissing my sister?" he spat. Daniel turned and squared himself with Ron, lest he look weak.

"Yeah, so what?" he said, immediately regretting it. Whack!

"That's my sister!" he yelled. "I don't care if you play my friend in the movies, I don't like you!" he said as he walked away. Rupert helped Daniel up, glaring at Ron's back.

"Very tactful!" said Rupert. "He probably came over here to tell you he was sorry for putting Madame Skavinski's Balding Cream on your head last year." Daniel put a hand on his head, covering a nearly unnoticeable bald patch covered by a clever comb over. Malfoy was on the floor laughing, food scattered all over the chair in front of him. Daniel sent over a fowl look. Daniel stood up as Stephanie walked past him. She dodged him with obvious distaste, and kept walking. As she passed Malfoy on her way out, he blew a kiss to her, and she sent off the middle finger.

Professor McGonagal screwed up her face, giving Hermione the impression of a dry, wrinkled old prune. They sat in Transfiguration, Neville trying hopelessly to turn his frog into a saucer. Ron had a fowl look on his face, and Hermione tried desperately to cheer him up. She nudged him, and he moved slightly over, making Hermione testy. She tried, and failed, until... She leaned over and kissed Ron on the cheek. He jumped up, and Scabbers went flying to the ground. His face went scarlet, and Hermione looked at him. He was unaware of the catcalls, and ran out of the classroom.

After Transfiguration ended (and a lecture from the professor) Hermione sought Ron out down by the Black Lake shore.

"You didn't have to do that!" he exclaimed as she came through the willows to the left of him.

"Yes, I did. And besides, I can't hide it any longer! I love you, Ron." She admitted. She realised it was not only to him she had admitted, but to herself as well.

"I had to hear you say it before I could" he said. "I realised a long time ago, but I didn't know how to tell you. I love you too, Hermione!" He hugged her, and she sighed. They kissed as the sun began to set.

A new week started as a newly engaged couple entered the Great Hall Monday morning. Ginny and Neville walked in, hand in hand with big smiles on their faces. On Ginny's left hand she wore a diamond ring, sparkling in every angle of light, and Neville wore a plain gold band with I Love You engraved on the inside. A cheer went up from the Gryffindor table, and a mixture of hisses and jeers from the Slytherine table. Stephanie nudged Dean meaningfully, and he smiled vaguely. She sat down, crossed her legs and pouted. Malfoy, in turn imitated her, causing her to throw a knife at him, hitting him in the shoulder. Rupert stood up and grinned at Ron, who in turn flexed his 'muscles', ready to hit Rupert or Neville, whichever came close, and Daniel because he felt like it. A new student had come, Cho Chang had returned from her mysterious and unexplained absence, and Sam had come out of the hospital wing after a 'deadly dose of Polyjuice Potion'. He smiled at Cho before he joined Dean and Steph.

"Your back!" exclaimed Dean.

"What happened to you?" asked a curious Steph.

"Um, 'bad dose of Polyjuice Potion' if you get my meaning!" he said. In fact, he had used a love potion to get Cho Chang, but it backfired and she fell for him. Literally. When she saw him coming she would fall, and in the end she tripped him down the stairs. "What's going on?"

"Everything" said Steph. "Malfoy's after me ..." Dean turned and gaped at her.

You didn't tell me that! Why, I could have stopped him for you!" he said menacingly.

"I, um, kinda like it!" she mumbled. Sam laughed, but stopped as Dean hit him over the head.

"You what?" he exclaimed. "You like it? God, Stephanie..." she smiled.

"Payback!" she said simply.

"Fair enough, but be careful. He's cute, but not smart." warned Dean. Steph kissed him.

"I knew you wouldn't mind."