The clock started to chime one, two, three… oh no they were suppose to be in the common room by now. As head boy and head girl they were suppose to set an example. Finally after running the seven flights to the common room they reached the inside of the portrait hole, gasping for breath. Thing suddenly went quite in the common room, heads turned abruptly towards them. Ron and Hermione slowly crept up to their rooms to secretly celebrate.

The next day Ron really didn't know how to act around Hermione. We snogged each other and here I am afraid to touch her. The day past as if nothing had happened the night before, yet things were very awkward between them. Is this how love is or is it just me being a git? Why would she snog me if she didn't mean it? Ron's thoughts were interrupted when a knock came to his door. "Come in" he called. To his utter amazement he watched Hermione walk in closing the door behind her.

"Hi Ron I umm… wanted to tell you that I'm sorry… about last night. It was totally my fault and I really hope that it doesn't change anything between us."

"Oh…" Ron said with a hint of disappointment. "No problem."

"Thanks for being so understanding Ron." With that Hermione turned to leave.

"Hermione!" Ron yelled after her, "I have to tell you something before I loose the nerve and become a selfish prat." He took a deep breath and went on "Hermione I love you, and I always have, I was just too stupid to realize that until it was almost to late. I know that you probably don't feel the same but I feel it would be unfair to me and horribly unfair to you if I didn't tell you."

Hermione just stood there too dumbfounded to say anything and too stunned to move. Ron just stood there waiting for her to say something, anything.

The initial shock began to wear off and Hermione finally spoke, "Ron I know how you feel about me, I've known for quite some time. I have been the stupid one ignoring the signs, because I was afraid. Afraid that if you knew that I feel the same in return, that things would change between us, that maybe we would have to stop being friends. That things would change so drastically that I couldn't tell you. Ron I do love you, trust me Harry and I have had many midnight discussions on that matter. He has told me to tell you but I couldn't bring myself to tell you."

"Same here." Shouted Ron "How could Harry know how we both feel and not even give me a hint that the feelings were mutual?"

"But he did Ron, he was continually telling me to tell you and things would be alright did he not do the same to you?"

Ron jolted awake totally in shock had it all just been a dream? A sinking feeling overwhelmed him and he knew all too well that it had in fact just been a dream he still faced the horrible task of telling Hermione how he felt, how she made him feel. When the time came could he really go through with it could he really say those vital words? Could he ever say, "I love you?"

He rolled out of bed and got dressed. Slowly heading down to breakfast most of the younger students had left the night before and the ball was tomorrow evening. Ron started to feel butterfly's appear in his stomach as he walked in the great hall, and saw Hermione. She looked so beautiful, she looked so ah…He sighed deeply not knowing that anyone cold hear or see him, all he cared was he could see her, be with her now and forever. His one wish was that he could dance with her all night whenever he felt like. He was going to get his wish tomorrow night.

He crossed to where she was sitting and mumbled a question to her that sounded like a grunt mixed with a mumble. Needless to say Hermione didn't understand a word. Finally she asked, "I'm sorry Ron what was that?" Why did this happen every time he talked to her lately?

"What time did you want to meet to go to the Christmas Ball tomorrow?"

"Oh umm well the Ball starts at 7:00, so why not meet me in the common room at 6:45?"

"Sounds great Hermione see you tomorrow night if not sooner." Ron's ears turned a bright red matching his hair. He turned to walk away when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Ron pst Ron meet me in your room in five minutes tell Hermione to be there too." Ron knew that voice it was Harry. Ron turned around again and said "Hermione can I have a chat?"

Five minutes later Ron and Hermione were racing up to the dormitory and suddenly heard Harry's voice. "Hurry up get in the room we need to talk. I need to catch you up on stuff, and I need you to do something for me."

The door slammed shut and Harry took his invisibility cloak off revealing himself to his dear friends. Had it really been four months since they had seen or even heard from Harry. The first thing either of them noticed was that Harry had grown a good six inches again. Hermione was the first to break the silence, in no kind way. "Harry why have you been keeping us in the dark? Do you think you are some how protecting us, by not telling us what Voldermort is up too? Why are you being such a prat thinking that if you don't say anything that we will stop worrying about you? Why are you staying away from us? Its hard enough seeing people we know listed as dead in the Daily Prophet."

Ron was flabbergasted he had seen Hermione mad before but he had never seen her fly off the handle like this that quickly. Harry looked down at his feet as if ashamed that he had ever thought he was right for doing such a thing. Finally he spoke "Hermione I was keeping you in the dark because I could never forgive myself if anything happened to you or Ron. You two are my best mates; I was a prat for keeping you in the dark I know that now but at the time I thought I was right. No I didn't think that if I didn't tell you what Voldermort and I are up to you would stop worrying. I know you better then that. But that is why I am here it is time that you knew what I have been doing and time that you helped."

Hermione looked shocked as if just now realizing what she had just said. Could it honestly be that Hermione the one person Ron knew that was blunt enough to point out your weaknesses was holding back? Just then something clicked "Help? You need our help, mate? How are we suppose to help you when umm Hermione and I are here at school?"

"That's exactly it Ron you are here at school. This last summer we were tracking down Voldermort's hexocruxes well there are two left the snake being one of them. And there has been a few rumors that there is one here inside Hogwarts itself. That is were you come in. Seeing as I am not a student and that I have no access to many parts of the castle it is up to you."

"Harry you are talking about a castle, it could be anywhere, it could be anything. The castle has so many enchantments we don't even know if we have found all the rooms yet, and we are seventh years."

"Yes I know Hermione but I have limited it down to a two places it could be. The Library and the room of requirement, before you say anything I do not know what it is. Besides who knows the library better then you Hermione? Before Dumbledore died he told me that Voldermort never used the same item twice and that they were things of magical history and importance. Everything except his snake that is. So it is not a diary, a ring, a cup, or a snake because that's his last one. We are looking for something that belonged to Griffindor or Ravenclaw. The Order has made the request that you look for the last hexocruxes. If you either need help or find the hexocrux, Headmistress McGonigal is here and you know were to find her."

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry as if he were crazy could he honestly expect them to find the last hexocruxes without knowing what they were looking for? It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Finally Hermione took a deep breath and said "alright Harry we'll do it. When did you want us to start looking for it?"

"After the new year, the Order want to give you some time to think about what you are looking for and the possibilities of what it could be."

With that Harry pulled his cloak around him and said I have to go and speak to Professor McGonigal before I leave, but if you need to find me talk to McGonigal she knows were to find me. It's not safe to send an owl, but be careful what you say around anyone. Bye!"

With that Harry opened the door and left, leaving Ron and Hermione looking at each other dumbfounded. Had Harry really just asked them to do what they thought he had? Why them? "Why us Hermione?"

"Harry trusts us and knows that we will do what we set our minds to. He also knows that we will do it because he is our mate." With that Hermione went to leave and turned around as to say one last thing "Ron I will see you tomorrow evening around 6:45 right?" Her checks turned a brilliant pink that reminded Ron of a rose.

"Right" Ron replied. With that she turned and exited the room.

As Ron drifted off to sleep he couldn't help but think Hermione will be getting dressed up for him Ron, not Victor Krum. She will be doing her hair and makeup for me! She will be dancing with me not some other guy that he would be jealous of. He fell asleep smiling and knowing that the next night would work out all right.

The next morning there was little time to worry about anything, even before Ron woke up Pig was pounding his arm he had a note tied to his left leg. Who in the right mind would send an owl this early in the morning on Christmas? As he untied the note from his leg he recognized Hermione's handwriting, what on earth does she want this early in the morning? She's going to change her mind he thought frantically. Why didn't she just come and tell me herself. As he unrolled the parchment he read the words that were unmistakably her writing.

Ron,

I wanted to be the first one to tell you Merry Christmas. I hope that you slept well last night, to tell you the truth I didn't sleep a wink. I mean after Harry visiting last night and giving us that chore well I guess it wasn't Harry it was the Order. How could I sleep after that? Who in their right mind would give that assignment to us? I would think they would have someone more trained in the dark arts that could deal with it. Or someone in the order I mean its not like they can't get in here and can't see the same things we see. Especially since it's the room of requirement and library.

Anyways back on track, sorry about that as I'm sure you are now busy with your yearly Christmas gifts from your family and friends I hope that you will notice that there is one missing from amongst your pile. (Mine) Ron glanced at the pile at the end of his bed. In fact there was no present from her.

That is because you have to work for it this year. I know in years past I have given you planners and things of that nature but I thought that since you are doing just splendid on your own that you might not need it this year. Yes a great disappointment I know. This year you have truly earned your Christmas present more then I even thought possible. You have been doing wonderfully in your lessons this year. I am very proud of you.

Ron I was hoping that you could meet me down in the common room in 3 minutes. I have a few reasons for this, yes I know I could have brought you this letter my self but this way was a little bit funnier and I know Pig will make sure you are awake plus I didn't get blamed for waking you up! Sorry about that.

Thank you. See you at 8:35.

Hermione

Ron looked at his clock he was late; he was late to meet Hermione the one person he never wanted to disappoint or keep waiting for that matter. With that he grabbed his robe and ran down the stairs two at a time until he reached Griffindor common room. He glanced around not the common room and at fist glance it seemed to be empty, she had given up on him and returned to her room. Then he saw her it was Hermione. Was it possible that anyone could look so beautiful in their robe as she did standing there next to the fire? Slowly he approached her, the fire's light radiating off her beautiful face.