Ron's POV

I'm not weak.

Hermione passed the locket to Harry, apparently it was his turn to bear the responsibility of keeping it safe and his turn to suffer through the darkening mood wearing it brought. The fact the two of them still wouldn't let me wear it pissed me off. I was back on my feet, eating and drinking and speaking like I had been three days ago. I'm not weak. Even though I was determined to take my share of the responsibility, I dropped the argument. It was annoying her.

I saw Harry's shadow slump down outside the tent and then I watched Hermione make her way over to her trunk. She pulled out her supple leather boots and slid them on, threw her thin jacket over her shoulder, snatched up her wand and made her way for the tent doors. I bolted upright but suddenly felt a searing pain shoot through my arm. I tried...and failed to let it show but she's heard my wince and hurried over to me.

"Sleep." she commanded, I shook my head and sat up properly.

"I'm alright." I told her, "Where ya going?"

"I'm just going to take a walk," she beckoned to the entrance of the tent,

I slid my shoes on, "I'll go with you," She sighed and shook her head,

"Ron, no. You need to rest," Hermione tried guiding me back to bed but I shook my head and stepped away from her for the first time ever.

"No, I need to go for a walk. My legs are all stiff and I'm boiling in here. Cold air will do me good," She went to protest but Harry ducked his head in through the tent doors.

"He'll be alright, Hermione, he's doing quite well to say not three days ago half of his arm was taken off," Harry reached for a book on the ground and pulled it out and begun to read. I turned back to Hermione who sighed and I took her silence to be an okay. I tugged my jacket on and followed her out. I shuddered from the Intense excitement of being alone with Hermione, it was the first time in days we'd had a chance to be alone, I had either been sleep when she went out, or physically too damaged to get out of bed. But now we had our chance…and I would confess something I had wanted to for a long time.

The air was cold, colder than expected, though it was nice against my cheeks. Hermione kept glancing at me, making sure I was okay. I smiled and nudged her. "I'm fine, really." I told her, she smiled and carefully nudged me back.

"I know, I'm just worried about you. I'm, again, so sorry Ron, I honestly am." before she finished I put my finger to her lips.

"Shush." I said, a rattling breath broke through her soft lips. She smiled and wrapped her arm in mine as we walked. Being this close, only made my love for grow wings and soar. Then I remembered what she said, about it meant nothing to her. But the truth had to come out. I looked around at the tall, thin tree's were all so beautiful, no life could be seen in the forest at night but it could certainly be heard.

As we walked, silently into the forest I could hear a few birds, the trickle of water from a stream nearby, an owl, hooting as it took flight. It was a beautiful night. I took in another deep breath, we were far away from the tent now, not to far we left the enchantments, but far enough not to be heard. I took in a deep breath, the air was refreshing and pungent. I sat us down on a log, Hermione admired her wand, her eyes not meeting mine.

"We need to talk, uh-about something." I started, wow, just saying that made me nervous, I felt my throat would close up if I spoke another word.

"A-about what? Ron?" she asked, innocently. I reached over, and held her hands in mine, the action didn't seem to freak her out, or worry her, in fact she clung to my hands just as much as I did to hers.

"Well, it's about…that kiss," I said, she suddenly looked heartbroken and was about to say something. "Let me finish!" I urged quietly. She nodded and looked at the floor, silent. I looked around then looked back at her, when I didn't speak at first her gaze came up to mine and I lost myself in her eyes, those mesmerizing big brown eyes that illuminated in the night, they fought away the nerves in me, she reassured my confidence and then, I spoke.

"Hermione Granger, that night…when you snuck into my room, and when…you kissed me, I realized something. I know when we spoke about it at Grimmauld Place you told me it meant nothing to you." -repeating the words that tore my heart into fragments hurt, bad-"But..uh-well, the k-kiss didn't feel that way to me." I breathed, she froze, looking confused. Oh how uncomfortable she must feel! But I had to go on. "It didn't mean nothing to me, to me it wasn't a kiss of humble friendship like it was too you. It meant more to me and it still does. I..I like you, Hermione, more than you've ever known, or I've ever known. But I know now that I've felt this way for some time." She went to speak, tears already pooling in her eyes.

"It…meant everything to me. Now, I know you don't feel the same, heck at one point I even though you were going to end up with Harry but-" Hermione scoffed when I said Harry's name, then she just reached up, let out a high and happy laugh before her fingers brushed through my hair and forced me closer.

Oh god.

Hermione and I connected in that one second, that tiniest fraction of a second out lips kissed I knew it was meant to be and I found myself unable to pull away. Our lips, they molded together, as if made perfectly, carved by angels to only match each one another. Her lips were soft against mine, but she kissed my harshly. My skin tingled, those fragments of my heart vibrated, lifting. I smiled as we kissed.

"Lies!" she cried, "They were lies, everything I told you at Grimmauld place were lies, I feel the same way, I have since our sixth year! Oh Ron!" she wept, she wrapped her arms around me,

"Really?!" I exclaimed, those fragments of my broken heart soared higher…and higher..

"Yes!' she kissed me again. "Oh yes!" I pulled back.

"Hermione..Hermione…I-I think I love you." She squealed and wrapped her arms around me, crying, though this time in happiness.

"I love you too!" Fragments? No. A whole, beating, love filled heart. Despite my shoulder, I wrapped my arms' around her waist and hoisted her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist, and we kissed again, her tumble of hair exploded behind her as I swung us on the spot. My kisses moved from her lips, to her chin, to her jaw line…then I moved my whisper of little pecks up to below her ear, then back down her neck to the hollow of her throat. Hermione shuddered, and her lips sought out mine. The smell of her perfume was strong, very strong against my nose but I didn't care. It was her smell, and it made me just want to kiss her even more.

"Ron? Hermione?" Harry's voice broke the silence that was out love and we both pulled back. We turned, through the trees; Harry was looking from the entrance of the tent, he could not see us but we could see him.

"Uh, coming, Harry!" Hermione called. I lifted her off the log, and she crashed her lips against mine again. "Uh, Ron, I don't think we should tell Harry?"

"Why not?" I asked, was she ashamed, no. She loved me!

"Because, there is too much going on at the moment, he is stressed, very and I don't want to put more things on his mind, you and me being together, like this together-" she beckoned to our bodies, up against each other, our hands holding each other close. "-it will only remind her of his love for Ginny, and how he's already gone this long without seeing her, once this is over, then he can know…" she said, She was right, I nodded, blushed and kissed her again. We then made our way up towards the tent, and our hands reluctantly broke apart and we walked inside, acting normal but knowing that other loved them deeply.

I…was in love. She loved me…I suddenly felt complete.

FanWriter's Note:

Hey guys, this chapter's not as long or as detailed as the others but I think it's okay to get across what's happening. Hope you enjoy

~FanWriter~