Hermione and Ronald

Part the Third

Ron had been tugging nervously at the collar of his robes all morning. When it was finally time to go down for breakfast, Harry practically had to carry him down the stairs to the Great Hall.

"Harry, what if she doesn't remember?"

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Oh yes, Ron. Lavender's just told me that Hermione suddenly got a case of amnesia, and she has no idea who you are."

Ron's eyes widened in fright.

Harry laughed aloud.

"You, you great stupid prat!" Harry gasped, in between gales of laughter. "Ron, you've got to relax, mate."

Ron looked angrily at Harry, and muttered things to himself quietly until they reached the entrance to the Great Hall. Harry thought he heard the words "Hermione", "amnesia", and, "not funny."

X*X*X*X

Hermione pulled her bushy hair back into a tight bun for the first time that morning. It proved to be a difficult task, as her hair kept popping out of the elastics that she tied it with. To soften her face, she let a few thin, wispy strands hang loose around her forehead an ears. When she was satisfied, she stopped for a minute or two to gaze thoughtfully at herself in the mirror, which was in the girls' bathroom.

That was where Parvati found her.

"Hermione, it's time to go down to breakfast. I bet Ron is waiting for you."

Hermione shot an angry glance at the other girl and stalked out of the bathroom. Parvati waited for her.

"So, what are you going to say?" She prompted. Hermione was disgruntled. She had not given any thought to the matter.

"I don't know. Maybe, 'Good Morning'?". Although the remark was meant to be sarcastic, Parvati did not catch it.

"Alright, but are you going to kiss him good morning?"

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks; the idea of kissing Ron in front of the entire school had not even made it's way into her thoughts. At least not the ones that she bothered to consider.

Forcing her voice to be controlled, Hermione said, " I don't know. Maybe."

Parvati snatched up the opportunity.

"Alright then, Hermione. Kiss him. I dare you."

Although Hermione never took dares, especially not ones that came from somebody as silly as Parvati, she was, for some odd reason, tempted this time. It was uncharacteristic of Hermione to leap before she looked, which is why Parvati was surprised when she responded, "OK, Parvati. I'll kiss him."

What am I saying? thought Hermione, panicking. I can't kiss him!

But Parvati was beaming at her, and Hermione knew, she just knew, that Parvati was about to go and tell every girl in Gryffindor about it. This prediction was proven to be correct when Parvati, moments later, broke out into a run and dashed down several more flights of stairs, bypassing several boys, and stopped next to Lavender Brown. She whispered something in her ear that made Lavender giggle.

Hermione sighed wearily.

X*X*X*X

Ron kept craning his neck to see the entrance to the Great Hall, which annoyed Harry greatly, and Ron kept leaning in front of Ginny, with whom Harry was attempting to have a polite conversation.

"Ron! She'll come soon, Ok? I promise! Just eat!"

Ron shot one last anxious look towards the doors before inhaling his porridge, toast, and nectarine with alarming haste.

Moments later, Ron pushed back the bench upon which he, Harry, Ginny, and Dean Thomas were seated (causing them all to spill one thing or another) and turned to leave.

Just as he spun around, he collided with Hermione, who had been approaching him from behind. For a moment Ron simply stared, dazed, at Hermione, much to Harry's, Parvati's, and Lavender's amusement.

Several awkward seconds passed before Hermione spoke, her voice resolutely clear and calm.

"Good Morning, Ron."

X*X*X*X

Although Hermione was sure that Ron could hear her heartbeat, which was as loud as a drum, she refused to be flustered.

When Ron did not say anything, she almost felt annoyed.

You great idiot, say something! She felt like shaking him and yelling.

Instead, she took a step forward, grabbed the front of his robes, and pressed her lips firmly against his. For a moment, everybody was silent, except the teachers, who seemed quite determinedly oblivious to the entire situation.

When Ron pulled back, Hermione was afraid that she had spoiled everything, but his eyes were brimming with a mixture of relief and amusement. He cupped his hands around her cheeks, and kissed her happily.

She giggled, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

At that moment, he picked her up, and carried her out of the Hall by her waist, as though she were a sack of potatoes. She began squealing in protest, but he only held her tighter. When they had both gone, a ringing silence broke out before Ginny let out an audible snicker. Harry joined in, and soon everyone was chortling.

Ron had carried Hermione outside, into the deserted courtyard. He set her down on a stone bench, and seated himself next to her. She looked up at him questioningly.

"Well, I wanted to snog you in private, that's all!"

Hermione laughed, and allowed Ron to kiss her silly.

X*X*X*X

Ok, end of this chapter.

Like it? Love it? Hate it!

Please comment – 'tis my first chaptered story and I am a little nervous.

comments are appreciated, but I know how it feels to like a story but not want to bother too click the right button and type out your opinion. LOL.