The clock blinked 12:07 when Ron raised up from the spot on Hermione's bed. Rubbing his face with his hands he looked down at her still sleeping rather peacefully too. Sighing he stood and looked over to see if his sister was in her bed wondering why no one had woken them up not even for dinner. To his surprise Ginny was sleeping soundly. Shrugging Ron took one last look at Hermione bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead and left the room shutting the door quietly behind him. Walking up the stairs to his attic room he pushed open the door to find Harry sitting up in his bed reading a book.
"Nice nap?" Harry asked grinning sitting the book down beside him on the bed. Ron smiled blushing and walked over to his bed sitting down and taking off his shoes.
"How come no one woke us up?" Ron asked tiring to avoiding looking at Harry's laughing face.
"Your mum thought we should leave you guys alone. You have been emotionally exhausted and it's not like you did it on purpose…did you?" Ron's head shot up watching Harry swing his legs over the side of the bed and looked over at Ron.
"No! Of course not."
"Good. But anyways what are you going to do about tomorrow? You think she will remember?"
"No idea." He ran his hands through his hair and let out a loud sigh. Harry copied his movements running a hand through his hair and sighing before getting up to go over to the window looking out at the dark summer sky.
"It can't be as bad as your thinking it will be Ron. She is your best friend and she will be ok with it if she does remember and besides maybe…just maybe she feels the same for you."
"Who said I liked her?" Ron snapped willing himself not to blush. Harry gave a small laugh then crossing his arms over his chest he grinned over at Ron before speaking.
"Oh come on Ron. I know you've been in love with her for years I can't blame you she is the perfect girl, smart, beautiful, caring, sweet…just perfect." Ron looked over at Harry feeling a little uneasy at his words.
"You don't like her do you?" Ron asked fearing the answer. Harry gave a shrug and turned back to the window. "I mean you don't want to go out with her." Ron finished his leg started to shake at Harry's turned back.
"Well honestly I do love Hermione but not the way you do. I mean I am very protective of her and want the best for her but I just want her to be happy. Plus I want the same thing for you, you know your happiness." Harry turned from the window looking back at Ron. "What I feel for Hermione is complicated because it's not a love just between a man and a women its more. You love her the way she need to be, you could make her happy something I could never do. Do you understand what I'm trying to say Ron?"
Ron stared at Harry for a long time not really sure what the hell just came out of his mouth. He really didn't know what he was talking about. Either you love someone or you don't and Harry just made the pain behind Ron's eyes worse with his little speech. Harry laughed loudly at Ron's expression which he was sure was one of surprise and confusion.
"Never mind Ron I should have said that you love her more than I do in the way of…sexually. I guess I love her but not the way you do…I don't know how to explain it. Oh Ron just try to understand." Harry through his arms up and moved back to his bed sitting down heavily. Ron nodded wishing he had never asked the bloody question.
"So anyways how do you think I should go about asking her if she remembers or do you think I should see what she does?"
"Just wait mate. Don't embarrass yourself or her if she doesn't remember save yourself the heartache." Harry said lying back on his bed Ron doing the same.
"Your right, just see what happens." Ron folded his arms behind his head staring at the ceiling.
"Well at least you guys didn't end up shagging or anything." Harry laughed and Ron blushed so red he was sure that Harry could feel the heat across the room.
"Don't think she would forgive me for that friends or not." Said Ron joining in with Harry laughing but the both boys jumped when they heard a loud knock at the bedroom door.
"Your mum probably wants us to shut it." Said Harry sitting up still laughing Ron nodded laughing as well then getting up from the bed and walked over to the door to open it. The laughed died instantly seeing Hermione standing at the door tears running down her face her body shaking.
"Hermione what's wrong?" Harry asked jumping up from his bed and ran to the door stopping beside Ron who was staring at her bewildered. She looked between both boys and then suddenly she reached for Ron pulling him into a death gripping hug. Ron looked over at Harry eyebrows raised.
"I thought the potion was so supposed to wear off at midnight." Ron said quietly over Hermione head. He heard her sniff and then she pulled away from him smiling slightly not looking at either boy. Wiping her eyes she took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"It has Ron. I'm so sorry for having to put you through that. I just wanted to come apologize for doing what I did." Hermione said walking away from them and taking Harry's previous seat by the window. Harry look at Ron who was pale as Draco Malfoy and could see his hands shaking.
"So you remember everything do you?" Said Harry pushing Ron to sit on his bed and taking a seat beside him. Ron was staring at the floor and Harry noticed that Ron's whole body had seemed to start shaking along with his hands. Harry placed a hand on Ron's shoulder, Ron turned to him and Harry gave a smile and whispered so that Hermione wouldn't hear. "Calm down."
"Well to tell you the truth I don't remember everything. I remember bites and pieces of what I've done. Just little things. Oh but Ron I'm so sorry for this I really am." Hermione said looking back over at Harry and Ron. She watched Harry grin at her and Ron hands shaking try to give her a small.
"It's ok Hermione sorry you had to fall in love with me." Ron said harshly without really meaning to. Something flashed through her eyes and she stood from her spot and walked quickly over to the door. Harry jumped up from the bed and grabbed Hermione's arm.
"You two need to talk about this. I'll leave you guys alone. Hermione please talk to him, don't just leave." Harry said pleading with Hermione. She sighed knowing he was right and nodded. Harry looked over at Ron gave him a quick thumbs up and left the room closing the door behind him. Hermione looked at the door then looked back at Ron who was now standing looking extremely uncomfortable.
"Well…remember anything embarrassing about me?" Asked Ron trying to make a joke about the whole thing. Hermione stared at him for a moment before answering. She walked over to where he was standing and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Just that you were a wonderful gentleman and a good friend." She smiled up at him and he returned it scratching the back of his head.
"I do try." He said and they began to laugh.
"I do remember one thing that may embarrass you though." Said Hermione through her laughter, Ron stopped laughing at once and looked down at her with fear. Oh no she remembers me telling her I really do love her. Or worse the conversation I had with mum while she was sleeping.
"Oh yeah? What would that be?" Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and to Ron's complete and total shock she leaned closer to him their noses almost touching.
"You are a really good kisser." Her voice was low and Ron could have fainted right there on the spot. Not sure to kiss her or not he stood there waiting for her to make a move.
"That's not embarrassing that's rather good to know." Ron whispered wishing she would just close the distance between them and kiss him already. Hermione nodded smiling like crazy. Giving up on any chance of her moving closer he went to lean forward when at that moment the bedroom door opened and they jumped apart.
"Sorry just wanted to…" Harry trailed off looking at his friends guilty faces. He started grinning like mad. "Didn't mean to interrupt just wanted to grab my book I didn't know how long you two would be. Just grab it and leave."
"Oh don't worry Harry where done. Its ok, we're ok. I'll just head back to bed. I'll see you guys in the morning. Night." Hermione head to the door and with one look back at Ron she turned and left the room. Harry walked over to Ron and punched playfully on the arm.
"Looks like things are really ok." Harry said raising his eyebrow knowingly. Ron glared at Harry and punched him back on the arm a lot harder. Harry grabbed his arm. "Ouch what the bloody hell was that for?" He asked rubbing his arm.
"You just had to come barging back in here didn't you? We were about to kiss you prat." Ron said almost yelling and flung himself back on the bed.
"Sorry mate but hey at least she's not mad or anything plus now you know she likes you." Ron smiled at that and Harry sat back on his bed and picked up his book.
"Yeah you've got a point. Maybe we can you know…start dating or something." Ron found he could not stop smiling and Harry went back to his reading. Ron wondered what Hermione was doing if she was able to sleep…if she was thinking about him…about their almost kiss. Would she have kissed him maybe she was just playing. No Hermione's not like that thought Ron she is a friend she does not hurt people on purpose or out of spite.
"Harry?"
"What?"
"Do you think she would…have…you know…kissed me?" Ron sat up in his bed and looked over at Harry who still was looking at his book. Harry ran his hand through his hair and looked up at Ron.
"I think so…I've always thought she liked you. I thought you guys would have gotten together ages of ago. Just give her some time Ron she just like not even an hour ago mate got off of that potion." Harry finished and went back to reading. Ron stared at him and then started laughing causing Harry to look at him again.
"What?"
"When did you start giving advice on relationships?" Harry reached behind his back pulled a pillow out and through it at Ron. Ron caught it before it him and tossed it back on Harry's bed.
"That would be when Hermione started giving me advice on all my girl troubles. Go to sleep Ron stop worrying about it. Just talk more with her tomorrow." Harry replied. Listening to Harry's words Ron sighed and fell back on the bed staring at the ceiling.
"Harry mate I'm not tired now." Ron said and Harry through another pillow at him hitting Ron this time.
"Fine! Then go see if she is still awake just leave me alone I'm reading" Said Harry.
"That's actually a good idea. See you later then." Ron hopped up from the bed and quickly walked to the door.
"Oh and Ron" Ron turned back to Harry "try not to be a complete prat with her." Rolling his eyes Ron left the room Harry smiling at his best friend. Ron ran back the stairs to his sisters and Hermione's room stopping outside the door. He raised a nervous hand to the door and knocked softly. He noticed that his hands were sweating. He heard a shuffle behind the down and almost turned to leave feeling nauseas. The door opened and Hermione looked at him surprised. Ron's breath caught in his throat at the sight of her. She had changed into a white dressing night gown and her hair was down around her shoulders. The gown was a low cut and came down to show the top of her chest and Ron swallowed hard and snapped his eyes back up to hers.
"Ron?" Hermione's voice sounded so far from him that he just looked into her beautiful brown eyes drowning in them. Then he did the only thing his body would let him the only thing that made any sense at the moment. There were no words he could speak to make her understand to make himself understand what he felt. He did what his mind was screaming for him to do.
He kissed her.