This oneshot is for articcat621 as my December gift for the Gift Giving Extravaganza of 2020. These are the prompts I used: romoine, first kiss, and hogsmeade. I don't remember if Hermione and Ron went to Hogsmeade without Harry in their fifth year but in here they do :) It makes sense given all the detentions Harry had. And their first kiss happens much sooner than it does in canon. I hope you enjoy!

Word count: 1094

Ron watched Hermione sip her Butterbeer across the table. It was cold out and her cheeks were rosy pink. It made her look very pretty indeed.

"Ron!" Hermione waved her hand in front of his face. "Are you listening to a word I'm saying?"

He tried to look as though he hadn't been watching her for the past five minutes without hearing a word she said. "Yes, of course, I was."

She set her Butterbeer down and crossed her arms over her chest. "So what was I walking about, then?"

He felt himself flush. "Fine, you're right. Sorry, I was a little distracted."

Her face softened. "Of course, I'm so sorry. You must be worried sick about Harry. I am as well."

Actually, he hadn't been thinking of Harry at the moment at all. But she didn't need to know that. Besides, he was worried about his best friend. It was just that he was also a little preoccupied.

He just happened to be preoccupied with noticing how pretty Hermione looked all bundled up in a jacket and scarf.

"I'm worried about him as well."

"Yes," Hermione fretted. "He really ought to tell someone about those detentions. I'm sure they're against the law."

He glanced around to make sure no one could hear them. Luckily, the usually crowded Inn was nearly empty, save an elderly wizard seated across the Inn. "Well, the Ministry doesn't believe a word he's saying about You-Know-Who. They think he's a liar. Besides, I'm sure it's the Ministry that's making Umbridge treat him so badly anyway."

"Well, the Ministry aren't the only people who can make a stand, Ronald. Dumbledore could help too."

"Yes, but he won't talk to Harry, remember?" He wasn't sure why but Hermione immense worry over Harry was annoying him a bit.

"I know," she sighed. "I just wish we could find a way to help him, that's all."

"Well, he's very lucky that we care so much about him."

She looked puzzled. "What are you going on about, Ron? Of course, we care about him."

He looked down, fighting back the sudden wave of jealousy he felt. "You seem to care a little too much, wouldn't you think?"

Hermione's mouth fell open. The two stared at each other in silence. Ron tried not to notice how adorable this made her look. He really needed to stop thinking this way about her. She was Hermione, for Merlin's sake! The girl who was always on his back about finishing his homework and the one who was a stickler for the rules.

But she was also the one who stayed with him in their first year after the chess game. She was also the one who understood his side of things last year.

She made him feel in a way no one else could make him feel.

"What are you talking about, Ron?" Hermione broke the silence hesitantly. "He's our best friend."

"Really?" he shot back. "Just your best friend?"

She looked confused at this seemingly sudden turn of conversation. She didn't know that he had been fighting these feelings since they first met.

Harry was always the better one. Harry had everything Ron had ever wanted. Harry was his best mate but Ron always thought it was unfair that Harry had everything without even wanting it.

Hermione stood abruptly and walked until she was standing right in front of him. She was fuming.

"Of course, he's just my best friend. He likes Cho for Merlin's sake!"

He stood as well. "That doesn't mean you don't like him."

She stared at him long enough that he began to feel uncomfortable. He couldn't draw his eyes away from hers.

With a huff of annoyance, she grabbed his hand and drew him outside. It was snowing and snowflakes were falling into her hair. His hand itched to brush them away.

"Where is this coming from?" she asked in a low voice. He had to lean in just to hear.

He glanced around again but the area was surprisingly empty for a Hogsmeade day. He looked down. He couldn't tell her. Wouldn't tell her. He'd just make a fool of himself. She could never ever feel the same way. He was just Ron. No one special.

Hermione used her fingers to tilt his chin up so he was looking back into her gorgeous eyes. He felt jittery all over.

"You think I don't like you?" she asked, her voice quiet.

"Why would you?"

"You haven't noticed?" she asked incredulously. "I've been there for you as much as I can. I always want to be around you. I was waiting for you to ask me to the Yule Ball."

He frowned. He hadn't noticed that.

"If anything," she went on. "I thought that you didn't like me. Not the other way around."

"Why?" It was the only thing he could think to say when she was so close.

She laughed a short, husky laugh. "You called me a nightmare, Ron."

He flushed. "That was in our first year!"

He didn't think it was possible for her to get closer but she did. "So what do you think now?"

How could he put all his thoughts together. "Brilliant, Mione," he said. "I think your brilliant."

She grinned but she also looked surprised. "Really?"

"Of course. And what do you think of me?"

"I think you're the most amazing person I've ever met. You're loyal and brave. You make me laugh when no one else can."

Ron felt as though he were floating. "But what about Harry?"

"He's my best friend, Ron. But you're so much more."

There was still snow floating down above them. This time, he lifted his hand and brushed it away from her beautiful curls. A snowflake fell to her eyelash and he couldn't draw his eyes away.

"Ron?"

"Mm-hmm?"

She sounded shy all of a sudden. "Do you want to kiss me?"

The fireworks in his stomach exploded. "Yes."

Her smile could light up the sun.

He leaned forward just the smallest amount and suddenly their lips were touching. Even though it was cold out, he felt warm all over. Like he had swallowed a mouthful of that Butterbeer he had left in the Inn.

She was breathing softly and he let his arms wrap around her in a deep embrace. He didn't care about anything else except the feeling of her in his arms. This was what he had been waiting for his whole life.

It was everything he had ever dreamed it would be.

It was perfect.