The clock stopped chiming, and they eventually pulled apart, with half hearted murmurs of "It's late" and "Really should be getting to bed."

"Night, Harry. Thanks for…everything. I had a fun time," she said warmly, trying to fix her hair a bit.

"Night. See you tomorrow, Hermione."

For the first time in his four years at Hogwarts, Harry was not woken up by Ron's exuberant cry of "PRESENTS!" on Christmas morning. He showed about as much interest in Harry and Hermione as he would a flobberworm that day. Despite Ron's recent actions, they'd hoped he'd be in a better mood on the holiday, and they could have a normal Christmas, but no such luck.

Later on, after a late lunch, Harry accosted Fred and George when he spotted them putting Stink Pellets in a suit of armor on the first floor. "Look, can you two please try to talk some sense into Ron?" he got right to the point. "He's being a prat, whenever Hermione or I try to deal with him, it goes totally wrong…I think he'd at least consider listening to you."

The twins regarded him with raised eyebrows. "You don't know what's eating him?"

Harry nodded, jaw clenched. "Yeah, I went to the Yule Ball with Hermione, big deal. Apparently I was supposed to magically know he wanted to go with her…" He gave a frustrated sigh.

"Now, Harry, don't take this the wrong way, but you're not always the brightest bulb," George's tone was serious, but, as usual, he was grinning. Pretty much anything he said was at least partially a joke. "But blimey, I'm surprised Hermione hasn't picked up on it!"

"On what?"

"Why, ickle Ronniekins is jealous!" Fred crowed, clutching his stomach as he laughed.

"Of what?" Harry still didn't get it. "The Yule Ball's come and gone, just one dance, what's it matter?" he asked indignantly.

"Oi, get your brain checked, Potter." Fred rapped his knuckles across Harry's forehead. "I'll spell it out for ya: Ron. Likes. Hermione."

"Why do you think he's always taking the mickey outta her?" George asked.

"And now that she's your girlfriend…well, he's not handling it too well, as you may have noticed," Fred smirked.

"She's…she's not my girlfriend!" Harry sputtered out a protest.

The twins exchanged a look.

"Come off it!" they chorused. "You must've at least snogged a couple times?"

Harry's face went pink.

Fred and George shared a look of delight.

"It's nice being right, isn't it, Fred?" George asked.

"Quite delightful, I do declare," Fred replied merrily.

"So yeah, that's what pissing Ron off so much," George finished. He clasped his hands to his chest and adopted a mock dramatic tone. "His poor little heart…shattered into a million pieces…" His monologue dissolved into laughter after a few seconds.

Harry laughed, but the dilemma was still there. What could make Ron less angry? "Look, could you tell him…"

"To stop being a prat?" George suggested.

"To get over it?" Fred supplied.

Harry laughed. "Well…yeah. In nicer terms, if you can manage it."

They threw him a salute. "Aye, aye, sir!"

"Thanks, thank you so much," he smiled gratefully.

"No problem," Fred answered brightly. "Sometimes, only Weasleys can sort each other out." They deposited the last Stink Pellet into the suit and left. "Say, when we get more of these, want to try to feed one to Mrs. Norris?" George asked.

"Definitely," Fred grinned. "I'd say…in return for our wonderful help, lending us your Invisibility Cloak to feed Mrs. Norris a special treat wouldn't be out of the question as a repayment, would it, Harry?"

"Nah, that'd be fine, just let me know when you wanna do it." He certainly wouldn't mind seeing Filch's cat in a bit of distress. The twins went off down the second floor to perhaps make more mischief, while Harry kept climbing stairs to the common room.

"Happy Christmas!" they all called to each other as they split up.

George smirked and winked. "Oh, and say hi to Hermione for us."

As Harry entered the common room, Ron exited. Hermione was sitting on the couch, her face flushed.

"So…" Harry didn't know what to say.

"He's being a bit more civil, at least," she sighed. She looked up at Harry. "Can we go somewhere to talk?" she asked quietly. "Alone?" With the Yule Ball and the excitement of the Triwizard Tournament, the common room was unusually crowded during this particular Christmas Day.

"Sure," he murmured. After last night, everyone was staring at the pair as if they'd sprouted two heads each. "Cloak. Broom. Pitch." He whispered. She nodded. He went back to his room, held his Firebolt tight to his chest, and threw his Invisibility Cloak on with his free hand, then slowly walked back down the stairs and out of the room, undetected. A few minutes later, he and Hermione were walking out the doors of the Great Hall. She did her Warming Spell again, and they were off to the Quidditch pitch.

"Good choice," Hermione nodded. "I could do with getting away from people right now."

"You don't say?" Even being with Hermione couldn't completely alleviate his sour mood. He sighed. "Just once, it would be nice if things in my life were normal, y'know? Like this…this sneaking around, just to get a bit of time together, you shouldn't have to put up with it."

"I'm not complaining right now, Harry." She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his back. "But, yes," she admitted. "I imagine Rita Skeeter will have a field day with us." She sat up, curiosity piqued by her own statement. "What is 'us,' anyway? Are we…together, friends, a bit of both? I'm not really sure. And I'm not sure what I want, either," she confessed.

He slowed the broom down a great deal-didn't need another Hermione related mishap, especially with her onboard this time-and turned around. "I…I don't know either," he said quietly. "I don't really know how this started. I mean…nothing against you, but when I asked you to the ball, it was strictly as friends, just cause I needed a date." She nodded. "But then, I thought about it more, you know, cause everyone was talking about it. And I realized…" He paused, wanting very much to find the right words. "I realized I couldn't find a downside to going with you. I mean…you're my best friend, you're usually nice, you're witty, you're funny-"

"Only USUALLY nice?!" She snapped, but it was a joke. "Watch your mouth, or I may have reason to knock you off your broom."

"Okay, almost always nice," he laughed. "And you're really attractive." He smiled. "Really…what more could I have asked for?"

Hermione kissed him. "Thank you," she whispered.

"It's just…" she tugged at her coat. "I don't know what I'd do without you. If we…"

Her chocolate eyes finished the sentence for her. "I know," he nodded. "I'd…I'd go mad without you," he answered honestly.

"So…just friends, then?" she asked.

He nodded. "Just friends who-" He initiated this kiss.

"Do this-" Second.

"In private." Third time's the charm.