Author's Note: Oh, Lord, it feels like forever since I updated this story. Trying to burn through as much as possible before the big premier. Moving right along…

I'm not a huge fan of this chapter, but we are slowly getting there. And it is Hermione and Ron fluffy goodness, which never hurts!

Ron entered the Library the next afternoon. He walked over to where Hermione was doing her work and sat on the table. Hermione looked up when he sat down.

"Ron!" she said, startled.

"Good afternoon," he said pleasantly, looking into her face.

"How do you feel?"

"Oh, as well as can be expected; still a little tender, but nothing I can't handle. I've suffered severe head trauma before," he said with a smile. Suddenly Harry appeared behind Ron.

"Well, if it isn't Scuba Ron. You've really mastered that 'Dead Man's Float,'" he said, sitting down beside Hermione, who gave him a dirty look at the comment. "How's the head?"

"Ok," said Ron, touching his forehead gingerly. Harry laughed.

"Don't worry. Only the coolest kids have scars on their heads," laughed Harry.

"Yeah," replied Ron, "I was thinking that Hermione and I haven't really spent a great deal of time together lately, what with Quidditch practice, and her duties as Head Girl, school…" Hermione looked at him strangely and Harry just stared at him, "so I was thinking that I could teach you to swim."

Hermione sat back.

"How did you know I can't swim?" she asked.

"Harry told me," Ron looked at Harry.

"Oh, yeah, I told him," said Harry after the prompt.

"When did this happen?" asked Hermione, crossing her arms over her chest and giving Ron a disbelieving look.

"Last night. He came to bring my toothbrush and a change of clothes. I was awake, so we talked for awhile."

"I see," said Hermione, looking sad.

"So, what do you say?"

"Well, I have so much work to do…" she evaded.

"Hermione, the work will still be here when you get back," said Harry, taking books and closing them.

"Come on, Hermione, you'll have a good time."

"Ok," she said in defeat.

"Go get your suit. I'm only giving you five minutes."

Hermione headed for her dorm.

Five minutes later, they were in the hall heading away from Gryffindor tower.

"Ron, where exactly are we going to swim? Not in the lake, I hope."

"Absolutely not! That water is entirely too cold. And I have already been in there twice more than for my liking."

"So where are we going?" she asked again. They stopped in front of the Prefects' washroom.

"Isn't being a prefect grand?" asked Ron as they entered the room. He walked over and began turning on faucets. Then he took off his robes and bent to remove his shoes. Hermione stared at him.

"What?" he said, looking up at her odd look, "I'm not swimming with my clothes on."

"No. You need to turn around," she said, hugging her towel.

"Hermione, I'm going to see you in two minutes anyway."

"I don't care. Turn around."

"Oh fine," Ron said. He turned and smiled to himself as he removed the rest of his outer clothing and made his way to the tub. Still keeping his back to her, he slid in and swam to all the faucets to turn them off.

Hermione sat on the edge of the pool and put her legs in the water.

"I'm done," she said so quietly that Ron could barely hear her. He swam over and held onto the edge very close to her legs.

"Are you going to get in?"

"No. You teach, I'll watch."

"That's not going to work," he said, taking her hand. When he had a good grip, he pushed off the wall and yanked Hermione into the water. She screamed and went under.

Ron pulled her up after she had been under for a few seconds. When she reached the surface, Hermione wrapped every appendage she had around Ron's body in a death grip.

"Hermione," he rasped, "you have to let go a little bit or we are going to sink." She slightly loosened her arms and legs so that Ron could swim over the edge. Hermione hugged the lip of the pool for dear life and looked as though she was going to cry.

"Are you alright?"

"That was a nasty trick, Ronald Weasley."

"I had to get you in the water somehow. And you didn't die, so we can start fighting your fear." He smiled at her; Hermione couldn't help but smile back.

At the end of two hours, Ron was able to sit on the ledge while Hermione did a rudimentary free style from one end of the pool to the other.

"Well, you'll be swimming the Channel before too long. Ready to get out? I think we are starting to prune."

"Sure." Ron stood and reached down to help Hermione get out. She swam over, took his hand, smiled wickedly, and yanked. Ron fell in the water. Unfortunately, he fell directly on her and they began to sink very quickly. After a few seconds, Ron realized what was happening, grabbed Hermione, and swam to the surface.

"Hermione, are you alright?"

"Why is it that everyone feels the need to save me lately? I have survived thus far on my own."

"Well, excuse me, I was only trying to help. And you haven't always been so indestructible. But I am too much of a gentleman to bring up the troll."

"Oh, ha ha." They laughed at their foolishness and splashed each other. Finally, they got out of the water and collected their clothing.

"Crap," said Hermione suddenly, looking at her clothing.

"What's the matter?" Ron asked, still stunned that she had used the word "crap."

"Somehow my shirt got wet. I can't wear it."

"Is that all? Here, you can wear this one of mine," he said, handing her a dark orange long-sleeved Chudley Cannons tee-shirt. Hermione took the shirt and held it in her hands as Ron went into a changing room. Despite herself, she had to fight the urge to smell the shirt. Oh, what is wrong with me?

Later that evening, Ron and the rest of the Gryffindor seventh year boys were in their dormitory. Dean busied himself with the "Operation" game that Seamus had gotten him. Neville was pruning his bonsai trees. Seamus was on his bed reading. And Harry examined his broom. Gryffindor had a match next weekend. Ron was busy searching for something.

"Ron, what are you doing?" asked Harry.

"Looking for something."

"Yes, I can see that. What are you looking for?"

"My lucky shirt. I have to wash it before our next match."

"Well, where was the last place you had it?" asked Harry, getting off the bed to help in the search.

"I was wearing it today when I took Hermione swimming," he stood up, "Oh…I know where it is."

"Where is it?"

"Hermione has it. Her shirt got wet so I lent it to her." Seamus snickered from the corner.

"You'll never see that shirt again," said Dean.

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you know how many articles of clothing I have 'lent' Lavender? She must have acquired half my wardrobe."

"Yeah, but Lavender is your girlfriend…" said Ron.

"Exactly," replied Dean. Harry bit his lip to keep from laughing at Ron as his ears turned red.

"Don't fret, Ron," said Seamus, "maybe that shirt will make you 'lucky' again." Harry couldn't take it anymore as Ron's blush spread from his ears to his face. He and Dean burst out laughing.

"You had better watch it, Finnegan," Ron bit out as he moved away from them, trying to hide his blush.