Just when you think it is safe...I start writting again! Mwhahahaha!

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"I think this was a mistake."

Ron peered around the corner nervously, his gaze focusing on the door to Ginny's room. Hermione. She was in there, just yards away from him. And as far as he knew, still mad as heck.

Ho boy.

"Aw, come on Ron," George said, rolling his eyes at his younger brother. "This is no time to turn cowardly on us."

"Yeah, go talk to her!" Ginny agreed. "She deserves to know why you acted like such a jerk."

"Thanks for the encouragement, Ginny," Ron snapped.

"Go on," urged Harry, hoping Ron would just ignore his siblings and get this whole thing over with.

Ron looked at his best friend. He wouldn't put it past the others to try to make him do something foolish, but Harry wouldn't do something to make him look bad. Often, anyway. He looked again at the door that separated him from Hermione and swallowed hard. His fear, which had swiftly been getting the better of him, finally took control.

"I've changed my mind guys. This was a bad idea. Look, I even admitted it!" he started to back away from the three of them. "So, I'll just be off then and-"

Ron smacked into something as he backed up, stopping mid-speech. He looked up, confused as to what he had run into, and tilted his head up to see Fred, who had stayed behind him, blocking his only escape. Ron was now fully convinced Fred had learned to read minds. He smiled sheepishly as Fred glared down at him.

"Oh no you don't!" Fred began, grabbing Ron by the arms. Ron tried to break loose as Fred started to push him towards Ginny's room in a businesslike fashion, continuing his speech. "We have worked far to hard for you to run away from Hermione with your tail between your legs. So, unless you don't want to have a tail, and believe me," he assured. "George and I could arrange for you have one for a good long while,-you will suck it up and ask her out!"

They had reached the door and Fred released one of Ron's arms. He knocked on the door loudly, as Ron tried once again to squirm free. "Hermione!" he called out in a singsong voice. "Your dear Ronnikins is here to see you!"

"Fred!" Ron exclaimed. "You-Why I'm going to murder-Hey!"

Ron stumbled forward as Fred shoved him towards the door. At the same moment the door opened and out came Hermione. Ron saw her and tried to catch himself, but it was too late. He slammed right into her and the both of them toppled over onto the floor.

"OOF!"

Ron sat up and rubbed his head, still reeling slightly from the fall. He grimaced as his hand went through the oily mess Fred and mixed into his scalp, and reached down absent mindly to wipe it on something soft underneath him.

"Ron!"

Ron froze, snapping back into reality. He looked down to see himself sitting directly on top of Hermione, who was glaring up at him. A large, greasy streak now ran down her the middle of her head, flatting her normally bushy hair.

"Uh...oops..." he stuttered, hiding his hand behind his back.

"Ron?"

"Uh...yeah, Hermione?"

"Please get off me."

"Ah. Right." Ron, nodded, starting to get up. He began to move but then paused, thinking. If she got up she would probably go into Ginny's room and slam the door in his face. He couldn't blame her after all, since today he had both insulted her and now smushed her.

And if that happened...who knew when he would get the courage again to tell her how he felt?

"No, Hermione," he said, folding his arms across his chest and looking down at her. "I'm sorry, but I've got something to say to you first."

"Ron-"

"No."

"But Ron, I-"

"Please Hermione. Don't interrupt, or I won't get it all out." He looked down at her, his face serious. She stared at him for a moment, taking in his solemn demeanor. "Ok," she nodded. "But make it quick."

"Ok," Ron said. "Hermione, I..." he trailed off, not knowing how to begin. "You see, it-well, I-"

"Yes?" Hermione asked him patiently.

Ron looked down at her and paused, collecting himself. It was now or never.

"Hermione, I like you."

She stared at him.

"I mean, I really like you. I've like you for a long time, ever since second year-I've just been too scared to tell you." He took a breath, trying to slow himself and keep his feelings from all coming out in one huge burst. "And I guess I just thought I had all this time to tell you how I felt, and was waiting for the right moment, but-" he paused, causing Hermione to look at him curiously. "But then Krum came along."

Hermione's eyes widen as he looked at her, making him feel uncomfortable. Ron lowered his eyes and looked away for moment. "I guess, well...first, he took you took you to the Yule Ball, and then you were writing letters to him, and now," he sighed, scratching his head. "Now you're visiting him at his home..."

"So that's it?" Hermione asked, looking up at him with understanding.

"Yeah," Ron replied, nodding his head in shame. "I just-Hermione," he said, looking down into her brown eyes. "I just couldn't stand the thought that you liked him back. That's why I've been acting like such an ass. I-well, I couldn't help it. I just like you so much-I-I lost it."

And then Ron said something he had never said before, at least with sincerity.

"Hermione, I'm sorry."

Hermione's eyes grew even bigger. He hadn't just said that. Ron never apologized. Maybe she was going deaf. She was convinced she must have misheard. "I-what did you just say?" she asked, looking up at him with confusion.

"I'm sorry Hermione." he said again, even more sincerely than the first time. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, I'm sorry acted like such a jerk and said you weren't smart, I'm sorry for everything I've ever done that offended you. I'm sorry I hurt you Hermione,-I never, ever, wanted to do that."

He then picked up her hand off the ground and took it in his. "Hermione," he began, looking down into her into face, the same sincerity he had just apologized with still in his own. "I know this is probably kind of sudden, and-you-you probably won't want too-but-" he paused, looking down at her hand for a moment, still in his, then back at her face. "...Would you-would you like to go out with me sometime?"

Hermione sat there for a minute, processing everything Ron had just said to her silently. After a few seconds Ron was beginning to feel uncomfortable again, but when he looked down at her, she was smiling up at him. The first real smile she had smiled since their fight earlier. "Yes Ron. I would love to go out with you sometime."

Ron eyes widened in surprise as Hermione spoke. "Really? That's-I mean-it's just-" he searched for words, but none seemed to describe the feelings of surprise, excitement, and just overwhelming happiness he felt inside him. "That's just great Hermione," he said smiling, the look on his face telling Hermione how happy her response had made him, more than any words Ron could have ever said to her. She smiled warmly back at him, her face glowing with the same happiness as his. "I think it's great too Ron," she said softly, and Ron understood. Both sat there, hands entwined, staring at each other, understanding perfectly.

Ron then stood up, offering his hand to Hermione in the most gentlemanly way he knew. Hermione took his hand as he pulled her up gentley off the ground, setting her carefully on her feet.

Ron saw something move out of the corner of his eye and moved his head slightly to see what it was. His free hand began to clench into a fist as he realized Fred and George were peering out at he and Hermione as they held hands. He shot them a glare as they waved.

"Ron? Are you ok?" Hermione asked, turning his attention away from the twins. "Is something the matter?"

"Wha-ah-nothing," he said quickly, making a mental note to kill Fred and George later. "Nothing's wrong. I just..." he paused and scratched his head, trying to think of something to say. "I just..."

He trailed off as he caught sight of Hermione staring up at him, her soft brown eyes looking into his. A warm smile was on her face. He smiled back at her, suddenly not caring who else was there. "I was just thinking again how great things are right now."

"Ron, you and I know that things aren't great," Hermione replied, getting a surprised look from Ron. She then took his arm in hers, leaning her head into his arm and sighing happily. "They are wonderful."

Ron smiled down at her warmly as he looked at her leaning into him, her arm wrapped around his own. Hermione was always right.

Both stood there contentedly for some time, blissfully unaware of anything but each other, totally oblivious to the cheers and gagging sounds coming from the wall behind them.

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Only one more chapter to go! whoo!