Author note: Sorry it took me so long to update I've been really busy at school. Anyway there will be a second part to this chapter later but for now this will have to do. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter. Damn it!

Time for a bit of lust

The summer holidays were full of laughter, jokes and everything that brought about the allusion, for whatever short amount of time it would last, that everything was right with the world. If it wasn't for the fact that everyone knew that Voldermort had returned, after the fight at the Ministry there was no use denying that anymore, you would assume that the Weasley family was a normal family enjoying the time they spent with each other, not that this was all a charade to try and hide the fear that they were all feeling.

Ron was trying to make the most of this summer, spend as much time with his family as was possible, knowing that the future held no certainty. Yet his thoughts kept straying to his two best friends, Harry and Hermione. He would always worry about Hermione, he loved her with all his heart and he would do anything in his power to try and ensure her safety. She was, would always be, constantly on his mind. He worried about Harry, the Boy Who Lived, for the simple fact that he seemed to have the weight of the Wizarding World on his shoulders. Harry had lost so many important people in his life. Sirius, his godfather and the only real family he had, was now dead and he had never really known his parents. Ron, having never lost someone he loved, didn't see how one person could go through so much; lose so many people close to you. He couldn't see the justice and he knew that he would stick by Harry no matter what, he would die for Harry it was as simple as that. Thankfully both Hermione and Harry would be at the Burrow soon and Ron would be able to spend a few blissful days with them, without worrying, without homework and without Voldermort.

"Bloody Snape," Ron snarled as the walked out of the classroom, "What does Dumbledore think his doing making that great slimy git the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher?" he asked incredulously. Harry merely shrugged, deeply locked in his own thoughts.

"Dumbledore knows what his doing Ron," Hermione said, rolling her eyes, "He wouldn't give Professor Snape the job if he didn't believe he was capable, honestly,"

"Blimey 'Mione, are you unable to say a bad word about a teacher! Dumbledore may be a brilliant wizard but you can't say he hasn't made mistakes, remember Professor Quirrel" Ron retorted turning to face Hermione. Merlin why does she always have to look so bloody brilliant, he thought as he continued to stare at her, her eyes ablaze with passion, her cheeks flushing the slightest shade of pink and her hair spraying in all directions. He loved getting her riled up, loved seeing her get so passionate. He just wished that maybe, just maybe, she would one day get this passionate about him. How can someone look so…snogable when they're yelling? He wondered and had a sudden urge to just lean forward and capture her lips with his own. Then he realised that she was waiting for him to speak, he'd have to try and maintain control of that particular desire. Unsure what she had just said, and unsure about what they were arguing about in the first place, Ron simply stormed of and attempted to catch up with Harry.

Ron hated the fact that he wasn't allowed to go to all of Slughorn's parties. He hated the fact that Harry took pity on him and didn't go to the parties. But most of all he hated the fact that Hermione went to them and had a good time without him. Sure she had every right to be there, having fun without him, but to Ron this just didn't seem right. I should just stop being a prat and find my Gryffindor courage and ask her out, he thought to himself as he sat down to Herbology. He was seriously considering this thought when Hermione plopped down next to him, her thigh touching his and causing a jolt of energy to rush through his body. It was so hard to hear what she was saying when she was sitting so close to him, touching him, so Ron simply stared at her, absorbing her presence, her warmth. Then he heard two words that immediately grabbed his attention, Slug Club.

"The Slug Club," he snapped sarcastically, "what sort of name is that?"

"Honestly Ronald, I didn't invent the name. It's what Professor Slughorn calls it," she snarled back, turning angrily towards him.

"Well have fun your little party, maybe you should try and get together with McLaggen and then maybe Slughorn will make you both King and Queen Slug," Ron retorted, feeling slightly guilty about his harshness when he saw a flash of hurt pass through Hermione's face.

"We're allowed to bring someone and I was going to ask you," Hermione yelled back. This hit Ron like a tonne of bricks. Is she asking me out? Ron though, in complete shock, No she couldn't be, she couldn't want anything in a great bloody prat like me…… But maybe she is. Maybe 'Mione actually likes me, his thoughts continued, a slight miniscule new found hope overcoming him.

"You were going to ask me?" he asked incredulously, his tonne soft and full of hope

"Yes I was, but if you'd rather I tried to "get together" with McLaggen…" she trailed of, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks.

"No, I wouldn't," he whispered, wanting to say more when he heard a cough and turned around to see Harry sitting awkwardly on the other side of the table. Ron stole one last, blushing, glance at Hermione and then turned back to his work, filled with a hope he had never dared to have before.

He couldn't believe that Hermione didn't believe in him, didn't think he had it in him to win a Quidditch game by himself. There I was thinking that she fancied me when she doesn't even think I'm capable of playing a simple game of Quidditch without assistance. Ron thought glumly to himself as he and Harry continued their walk towards the dormitories. Ron had just won a Quidditch match, saved almost every single goal, and he was depressed and grumbling. It just didn't make any sense. Why does Hermione have to make everything so difficult, I just won a Quidditch game for Merlin's sake and instead of celebrating I'm upset at a stupid girl. Ron was completely absorbed in his thoughts, his ever confusing thoughts about Hermione, the girl he had always loved. Sighing, he turned into the shortcut towards the Gryffindor tower only to be shocked out of his thoughts by the site before him. Locked in a fierce embrace with his roommate, Dean Thomas, was none other then his baby sister, little naïve innocent Ginny. At this sight Ron lost control, a boiling pot of anger exploding inside him, and he began snarling at his little sister, unsure what he was saying or why he was even talking. He was sure that this wasn't just his natural brotherly instinct to protect Ginny; it was something deeper, something that drove him to scream out a torrent of abuse. He couldn't hear what was being said as he watched Ginny throw back at him what she was receiving, she had always been the feisty one- she was almost able to give Mrs. Weasley a run for her money with her steely eyed glare. But then something caught his attention and the words that came out of Ginny's mouth pierced him through the heart.

"Harry kissed Cho and Hermione kissed Krum. You're just jealous as you're the only one who hasn't had a proper snog!" she screeched at him, causing all the fire to leave Ron's eyes and his heart to shatter into a million pieces. He had finally been pushed over the edge.

The celebration party had been in full swing when Ron and Harry had finally made it to the Gryffindor common room and Ron was currently sitting silently staring at the fire, completely oblivious to the music and laughter surrounding him. I can't believe I was such a git. Offcourse 'Mione would have kissed that ruddy pumpkin head. Him being an international Quidditch star and all. Why did I think she could ever fancy me when she could have the likes of Krum. Merlin I'm an idiot, he thought glumly to himself as a solemn tear slid down his cheek. He was just about to get up and head towards his dormitory when he felt something warm on his arm. He turned his head to see Lavender Brown standing next to him, her hand resting gently on his arm.

"Hey Ron," she greeted; blushing slightly as she slowly moved her hand up and down his arm.

"Hey, Lavender," he squeaked back, unsure of what was happening, "did you want something?"

"Not really, just thought I'd tell you that you were fantastic today," she practically purred, causing a shiver to tingle its way up his spine.

"Um…thanks Lavender. That's….ah….really kind of you," Ron responded. By this stage Lavender had begun fiddling with Ron's hair, twisting it around her fingers. Ron gulped. What the hell is she doing? Is Lavender trying to flirt with me? Ron thought, completely startled by the attention he was receiving.

"No problem. I've always thought you were an incredible player," she whispered in his ear, her warm breath causing something to stir within Ron- something that had previously only been caused by Hermione. All the anger and hostility that had been cursing through Ron disappeared at Lavender's sweet words, his wounded ego healed and his heart mended. For the first time that night Ron didn't think about Hermione. There was a girl standing before him that clearly fancied him, someone who was pretty and sweet and actually liked Ron. Without thinking, without planning anything, Ron leaned forward and gently pressed his lips onto Lavender's. Forgetting Hermione and all his other concerns for that split second as his concentration remained solely on the girl pressed against him, the girl that was currently easing his pain.

"Won-Won!" Lavender squealed as she plopped herself onto Ron's lap and proceeded to plant her lips on his in what seemed like a desperate attempt to suck his face off. Ron quickly pulled away, mumbling a hello. Ron and Lavender had been dating for a few months now and ever since that fateful night at the Quidditch party Lavender had been increasingly growing on Ron's nerves. When Ron had decided to kiss her he had never imagined that this would happen, that he would be spending every waking moment with a girl attached to his face and that Hermione would ignore him, severe their friendship. That was the worst part. He has always thought that he could cope with anything but having Hermione, his 'Mione, ignoring him was the one thing that he was struggling to cope with. If he had known that a simple thing like kissing Lavender was going to ruin the one thing he valued above everything else, his relationship with Hermione, than he would take it all back, he would do anything to have Hermione again. Lavender, completely oblivious to the fact that she was being ignored by her boyfriend, was currently filling Ron in on all the latest gossip that surrounded Hogwarts. Ron wasn't paying attention to the girl on his lap, though he nodded occasionally and smiled, but was currently staring at Hermione, silently watching her work. All he could hear was the scratching of her quill across the parchment and all he could see was her flushed face, illuminated by the fire, her sparkling chocolate orbs as he focused on her teeth chomping down on her sweet, soft looking lip. The girl in his lap was irrelevant, he loved Hermione and that was all that mattered.

Where am I? Ron thought to himself as he sat up, rubbing his eyes groggily. Quickly he looked around the room and gathered that he was in the hospital wing. Though his first question had been answered numerous others came to his mind as he wondered what had happened that would lead him to be lying in bed in the hospital wing. The last thing he remembered was something about proclaiming his love for some girl, Romilda someone or other, before blacking out. Still pondering these confusing thoughts Ron felt something move in his hand and looked down to see a small, warm hand clutching his own. It was Hermione. The girl that for months had not uttered more then a sentence to him was sleeping next to him as he rested in hospital, her hand clinging to his as if her life depended on it and her head resting gently on the side of his leg. She looks so beautiful when she's sleeping, Ron thought to himself as he silently gazed at her and subconsciously moved his had to her hair, stroking it gently. Sensing his movement she immediately jumped up, startled, and looked into his eyes, a smile warming her own when she saw him.

"When did you wake up?" she asked, concern obviously etched in her voice

"Just then," he responded, " 'Mione, how long have I been here for?"

"Three days. Umm…Ron…do you…remember what happened?" Hermione asked timidly, a hint of fear evident. Ron searched his mind in a desperate attempt to discover what had happened that would have cause him to lose consciousness, yet nothing came to his mind so he merely shock her head at her.

"No, I don't," he responded, "but I don't want to talk about that right now 'Mione, we can clear it up later. There's some stuff I need to explain to you first," he added when he saw her mouth twitch, a clear indication that she was thinking about to interrupt him. Hermione, looking utterly perplexed, merely nodded, signalling for him to continue. For some strange, unexplainable, reason Ron needed to tell Hermione why he had gone out with Lavender, he needed to fix their relationship and reassure her that one day he would ask her out. He was certain now that this was what she wanted to, after all why would she have been there when he woke up if she didn't deeply care for him.

"It's…well…I mean to say that…ah… the thing is Lavender doesn't really mean that much to me. I mean sure she's pretty and all but…blimey this is difficult," he began, running a hand through his already wild hair, "she isn't as important to me as you are, 'Mione. I dated her because…well I was trying to make you jealous, as stupid as that sounds. I know I've been a git…more then a git a great bloody prat but I want you to forgive me," he added, a blush creeping onto his cheeks as he stared into her chocolate eyes in an attempt to gauge what she was thinking. Hermione's smile grew and she wiped a few tears from her eyes before laughing.

"Of course I'll forgive you," she laughed, wrapping him in a tight embrace before quickly letting go, much to Ron's disappointment, and getting up, "but it looks as though you have some things you have to sort out," she added, giving him a knowing look. He knew that she meant Lavender and Ron smiled to himself; certain for the first time that he would win Hermione; as he watched her walk out the door.

Author Note: The fight at Hogwarts and Dumbledore's funeral and more will be in the next chapter. Please Read and Review or Flame I don't care either way works. Cheers!