Hey guys! I know that I may have been confusing about the time period in which this story is set. I just wanted to clarify that the Trio is about 22 at this point and that Ron and Hermione have been in the safe house for about three months now. Chapters 9-17 have taken place over a time period of a few days. I hope that helps! As always, please review and enjoy!

Nerd and 1/2

Many hours passed and they still hadn't reached any concrete decision concerning Harry's relationship with Ginny. They advised him on possible strategies he could use. Ron coached him on groveling. Hermione told him how he could earn forgiveness, and Thomas advised him on gifts he could buy her. With all of their advice, Harry had decided on a very rough plan for how to get Ginny to forgive him. After Harry had gone home and Thomas had headed back to bed, Ron and Hermione had lain together discussing the newly imposed "rules."

"Hermione." Ron whined flipping onto his back and sticking out his bottom lip. "Is this really necessary?"

"Oh, please. You are acting like a child who's grounded from his sweets." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"No, I'm grounded from yours!" Ron pouted. Hermione laughed at his comment and his brow furrowed.

"Ron this is not that big of a deal."

"Hermione! We have no idea how much longer we'll be in here and we've only had about two or three days together!" Hermione bit her lip, thinking about the last week. Was that accurate? Only a few days? It seemed like a year ago, she and Ron were caught by Harry and Thomas joined them at the safe house. Hermione snapped her head toward him.

"Whose fault is that?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I would have been happy to start this sooner but you," she tapped him on the nose causing him to frown, "wouldn't do it."

"Well, I changed my mind didn't I?"

"Yes, and it was great. But for now…" Hermione trailed off. Ron realized quickly that he wasn't going to get his way using logic. He flipped her so she was pressed against him. His hands glided up her sides, pulling at the fabric. He leaned toward her neck and pressed his lips to the base of her throat. He could feel her heart quicken, beating against his chest at an unsteady rhythm.

"Ron…" She warned.

"You didn't say anything about kissing, Hermione." Ron reminded her looking up at her, innocently. Hermione bit her lip, fighting an internal battle. Her mind was telling her that whatever Ron was planning could not be good and would ultimately weaken her resolve. Her body, on the other hand, wanted to find out what that may be. She could already feel her heart racing in anticipation. Stop this! Get up, right now, and take a cold shower. Her mind screamed.

"I guess you're right." As soon as the words left her mouth she knew she was asking for trouble. Not just asking but expecting it. She could see Ron smirk, thinking he got his way. Maybe he did. She hadn't decided yet. This is going to be harder than I thought. His hands caressed her shoulder as he brushed a few stray strands of hair of her shoulder. Hermione shut her eyes and turned her head to the side allowing Ron better access. Hermione could feel Ron's hot breath on her when he bent down to kiss her shoulder. The hand that had drifted to her hip lifted her to meet his body, pressing them closer. His other hand had slipped inside her shirt and was resting on her ribs, his fingers tracing patterns across her ribcage roughly. It didn't hurt her; it just made her painfully aware of how badly he wanted to get his way, and how hard it would be not to give in. She tilted her head to meet his lips trying to distract herself from the other overwhelming sensations.

As the kiss intensified, Ron slid his hand behind her and crushed Hermione against him. She couldn't help but move her hips into his, causing him to groan in response. Her hands ran through his hair wildly clutching him to her. Hermione was gasping for breath when he broke away from her lips and continued to guide his lips across her skin. He sucked lightly on her neck, eliciting a moan from her. He smiled and guided his hands over her legs.

"Ron, stop. We have to stop." She whispered feebly, opening her eyes. He paused for a moment staring at her, and then bent down to run his tongue over her ear. She shifted underneath him and shuddered.

"You don't really want me to stop," He whispered huskily into her ear, his lips brushing against it as he spoke. He plucked the button of her jeans open and he slid his hand inside. "Do you?" Hermione shut her eyes more tightly and opened her mouth to respond. She arched her back up and grabbed his shoulder to steady herself. Her mind wanted her to say, 'Yes I do.' 'Stop this instant.' 'We shouldn't be doing this.' Any of those would be the appropriate response even logical under the circumstance. But she was no longer sane. The combination of Ron's mouth and hands on her were irrisitable. It was unbelievable to her that after the absurdly excessive amount they had been together lately he could still arouse her so thoroughly and with most of her clothes still on for god sake.

"No." She breathed.

"No what?" Ron teased, still rubbing her.

"Don't stop."

"Are you sure? Because I don't want to make you do anything you don't want to do." Ron smirked. He began to remove his hand until she stopped him.

"I want to. Now stop being an ass."

"Yes ma'am." He grinned and leaned back in to capture her lips.

Ron leaned back with his hands behind him, grinning smugly. He watched Hermione redressing but made no move to dress himself. Hermione turned around to look at him and rolled her eyes.

"What now?"

"Come back to bed." He patted the spot next to him.

"No, Ron." She said seriously "That's not going to happen again."

"We'll see." He stated confidently.

"I'm serious."

"I know, I know." Ron laughed.

"I don't think you do." She shoved her sweater over her head. "That was the last time."

"Do you honestly believe you'll have enough self-control?" He joked. Hermione felt her anger rising. He wasn't taking her seriously. Of course, she couldn't blame him, she had given in. Not given in, you made your own choice and you definitely wanted to go through with it.

"You aren't as irresistible as you think you are." Ron snorted in response but looked a little irritated at the comment.

"Like you can sleep with me every night and not try anything."

"Well then I won't sleep in here." She threw her hands up in an exasperated manner.

"What?" Ron sat up quickly.

"Yes," She replied thoughtfully. "I think that is the perfect solution."

"You're joking." Ron looked at her incredulously. Hermione shook her head.

"Hermione what are you playing at?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Ronald."

"That's okay. I was planning on telling you." He spat standing up so he could look down on her. "One day, you are all over me trying to get me to sleep with you and now you are completely against it. What the hell, Hermione? You need to make up your damn mind about sleeping with me."

"Sleeping isn't the problem, Ron." Ron's nostrils flared in anger.

"Fine. What term would you prefer? Making love? Having sex? Fucking?"

"Ronald!"

"I'm sorry does that offend you Hermione?" Ron questioned angrily. He stood up and threw on his boxers.

"You don't have to be so crude. I understand that you're upset but-"

"But what? You're making me sound like some pervert who's taking advantage of you."

"No I-"

"Just leave, Hermione. I am beyond irritated right now."

"Can't we-"

"What? Talk? No." Ron rubbed his temples. He was tired of talking. It was giving him a headache.

"You are being so immature."

"Okay? And?" Ron walked to the door and opened it. He lifted his hand in the direction of the door, implying she should leave.

"Ugh!" Hermione threw her hands in the air. "You act like I don't want you just as badly as you do me! Jesus, Ron, for once thinking of someone besides yourself. Maybe you should realize that I'm embarrassed!" With that, she stormed past him and out the door before he could stop her.

Embarrassed? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Ron wondered. Was she embarrassed about the people watching? Or was it that she was being intimate with him, Ron Weasley, a loser. No she would never say that. Ron pressed the palm of his hands to his face in annoyance. He was irritated that Hermione could make him feel terrible like this. Should I feel bad about what happened? Did I pressure her? He wondered and then he angrily reasoned, Even if I did, which I didn't, she pressured me for weeks. How is that fair? He could hear a snotty voice in the back of his head say, life's not fair, Ron. It sounded like Hermione.

"Shut up." He murmured to himself. He slumped his shoulders and sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Why did it always come to this? A fight. He was literally exhausted from fighting. Fighting was amusing and a little fun when they were teenagers but now, it was just stressful. Just like when he was a teenager, he didn't want to be the first to concede. Now though, he was worried what Hermione was thinking. When he was younger he couldn't see past his own anger to really care much about her side.

Ron let out a frustrated huff, and shuffled to the bathroom. Once inside he stepped into the shower letting the hot water run over him and calm him down. After about a half of an hour, Ron pushed open the shower door and started to step out when his foot hit a particularly soapy patch of time. It slipped out from underneath him causing him to clutch the walls to no avail. Her lost his balance and went down hard.

"Fuck!" Ron yelled. "God, damn it!" Thank God they can't see me in the shower. How embarrassing. Then a thought dawned on him: the shower. Perfect. No cameras. And you have to take one everyday… Why hadn't he though of that before? Unconventional but effective.

Ron was lost in thought when he realized he was running back to his room for clothes. Calm down. He told himself. First things first. Let's take care of Hermione's feelings before you suggest this. She could be totally against it. The more he thought about it the more he began to feel a little uneasy thinking about only being with her in the shower. His shoulders hunched in defeat. What the hell was wrong with him? Could he really not go that long without it? Hermione deserved better. His internal dialogue continued as he dressed himself preparing to end this ridiculous fight. This really needed to stop. He and Hermione needed fix the communication problem. Fighting was too exhausting and it made him weary. He looked at himself in the mirror before turning to the door. Here we go again.