Authors note: Once again, more dialogue and a bit more of the plot in HBP is brought out..

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Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the rest of the afternoon with Hagrid, who was in his cabin, planning lessons for the rest of the term. Harry and the others had dropped Hagrids Care of Magical Creatures class this year, and he had been a little angry at them for it.

" We don't have to explain anything to him. It's not like we were going to take it forever!" Ron argued when Hermione explained that they were just going to say their apologies. "Well, we were his favorite students! How do you think that makes him feel?" Harry had been quick to take Hermione's side. "Besides", he continued, "he's one of my best friends."

Harry and Ron and Hermione walked the rest of the way to the cabin in silence. When they got there, Hagrid was not to excited to see them. But after a while, the three turned his attitude around.

It was getting close to five and Ron wanted a little time with Harry before he went up to detention to raise his spirits. "Well - er - we have to go now, Hagrid. I've got a detention to do and we've got an essay to finish up." Ron smiled sheepishly. He wasn't a good liar. Hagrid gave him a look, but said his goodbyes to them and they made their way to the base of their favorite oak tree by the lake.

The three sat down, Harry in the middle and Ron and Hermione on either side of him. "So, how are you two?" Hermione asked out of the blue. "Oh - er- us, or us?" Ron looked confused. "Well, both, I guess" Hermione looked from one to the other. "Good. Detention with Snape wasn't as bad as I thought it would be", Harry smiled. "Yeah. Easy for you to say. Yours is already over!" Ron argued

They spent the rest of the time until Ron's detention talking about Dean and Seamus and the Half Blood Prince.

"SectumSempra?" Hermione looked thoroughly confused. "That's not an incantation I'm familiar with..."

"Well, no, it wouldn't be..." Harry tailed off. "What do you mean?" Hermione ventured. "Well, it's just that this particular curse is...well...it's a curse..." Harry tried in vain. Hermione gasped and cupped a hand over her mouth. "Harry! You're messing with the dark arts! Harry, I told you it wasn't a good idea...this Half Blood Prince is dangerous!"

"No, it's not! It's a cutting curse, that's all. There are other curses that do the same thing. The Half Blood Prince only figured out a new way to do the same old tricks. Without your enemy knowing the incantation that you're casting, how can they block it? Genius really!" Harry sat up straight, wearing a wide grin. Hermione dropped the subject quickly.

Ron looked strangely depressed when it came time for him to make his way to Snape's office. "We'll walk with you!" Harry offered, but Hermione insisted they go alone. "I've got to finish up an essay for Ancient Runes." Hermione made up a quick excuse when she saw them both waiting for her to follow.

"I wonder what's gotten into her.." Ron trailed off.

"She just wants us to have as much time with each other as we can. Next year's our last here together and she's upset that we took so long to be together."

"Why? It wasn't her fault."

"I know. Hermione just thinks that she's been the one holding us back."

Ron looked at his feet guiltily. "Well, she's the one who pushed me to tell you how I felt."

"I know."

"Well, here we are." Ron looked grudgingly up at Snape's office door. "It won't be too bad, love" Harry tried to reassure him. "Well, I'll see you tonight." Ron put his hands around Harry's waist and pulled him close for a quick kiss before knocking and disappearing behind the door. I hope he gets out soon, Harry found himself already missing Ron. Ron met up with Hermione for dinner and they took their usual seats next to Dean, Seamus, Neville, and Collin Creevy.

"Hermione."

"Yes?"

"You don't have to give me and Ron so much space all of the time."

"I don't know what you're talking about", Hermione returned to her food.

"We want you around, Hermione. Just because we're together now, doesn't mean that Ron and I don't want to be friends with you anymore." Harry took a large bite out of a potato.

"Well, Harry, if I had been there with you two, would you have kissed each other goodbye?

"I - I don't know. I've never really thought about it. I suppose it would be kind of awkward around you, but…Wait, how did you know we did?" Harry looked surprised. "Well, Harry, it's common sense. The two of you love each other more that most peoples parents I know. And now do you see? I would be keeping you two from expressing your feelings for each other." Hermione said. Now they had caught the attention of Dean and Seamus.

"No you wouldn't!" Harry said defensively.

"Well answer me this, then. Why didn't you and Ron hold hands or flirt or kiss each other once while we were sitting under that oak tree earlier today? Don't tell me you didn't want to at times. I'm just the third wheel!" Hermione pushed back her bench and swiftly stalked out of the great hall. When Harry looked around for support, Dean and Seamus seemed to have become suddenly interested in their untouched chicken.

"She is NOT the third wheel!" Ron sighed as Harry finished explaining why Hermione had suddenly been ignoring him again. "I was just getting used to her actually talking to me again, when this happens!" Ron said and flopped down on the edge of his bed. Harry lie down on it behind him and patted his flame haired boyfriend on the back. "I know, I know. We have to show her that we're not afraid to flirt around her. I didn't even think of it like that until she said explained it to me. I thought we were just being considerate of the fact she was there." Harry closed his eyes and felt Ron climb on top of him.

Harry heard the curtains around Ron's four poster close. "Harry. Let's not worry about anything right now. It's back to classes tomorrow and I want some time with you." Ron whispered. Harry smiled, and, keeping his eyes closed, licked his lips in an invitation Ron couldn't refuse.

Ron licked Harry's bottom lip and then moved on to his ear. He's teasing me! I hate this!

"Ron!" Harry moaned and Ron responded by biting down a little on his ear. Harry moaned louder. Ron stopped to shush him and then lifted off his and Harry's shirts. He stopped for a moment to look at the raven haired boys pale skin, his toned abdominal muscles and his evergreen eyes and smiled. "What?" Harry looked bewildered. Ron answered with a kiss; long and passionate, while Harry felt his way over every inch of his lover's exposed skin.

For a second, Harry wanted to stop everything they were doing and lie there together, holding each other and talking. He knew that when they were done they wouldn't have the energy to do any of that. "R- Ron?" Harry broke their kiss and considered what he'd thought just seconds ago. "Yes, Harry?" the redhead grinned. "Well, I don't know.. never mind, Won Won." they both laughed and went back to what they were doing. I wonder if Harry is having second thoughts about this…maybe we should stop. Ron fought back and forth in his mind for the next minute or so.

"Harry?"

"Yes, Ron?"

"If- If you want to stop, it's fine, love."

"No, that's okay. I was just thinking. That after we do this…"

Ron looked guilty for a second. "No, no! It's not that I don't want to, Ron, I do!" Harry was quick to bounce back. "But, I wanted to talk to you and umm.." Harry hesitated. "And?" Ron asked, unsure. "And cuddle." Harry finished quickly. "Oh. Oh, is that it? Hawwy, we can stop if you want to. It's no big deal to me. We'll get to it, eventually. I promise." Ron laughed and lie down next to Harry. "Hey! Stop mocking me!" Harry laughed, emerald eyes dancing and smiling just the same.

Harry and Ron lay there for the rest of the night. Harry kept his head buried in Ron's broad chest.

"Harry?" Ron asked when they were almost asleep. Harry jolted awake. "Yes, Ron?"

"Promise me nothing will come between us."

"Nothing except Voldemort." Harry joked and Ron stiffened up at the name.

"Not even him, Harry."

"Not even him, Won Won."