Disclaimer: I own something now! This Mountain Dew I'm currently drinking from! Still don't own Harry Potter and his friends, though. Oh well, maybe J.K. will give him to me for Christmas. : )

WARNING!!! This story is rated T for a reason!!!!!!!!!!!

"Harry, I still love her, and she despises me!" Ron put his face in his hands. The last thing he wanted was for Harry to see him cry. Just two weeks ago, he had been sure that nothing would happen in the coming month but Ginny and Harry's wedding. Seven days ago, he had been positive that he would never speak to Hermione. Today, he was sitting on his old bed, wondering if his life was about to come crashing down completely around his ears. "Mum made it so that Hermione and I have to sit next to each other for Renard's birthday dinner. What am I going to do?"

"Try to be nice?" Harry offered sympathetically.

Ron lifted his face out of his hands enough to reply. "I tried that. It blew up completely in my face. Asked he how she had been, and next thing I knew, I was being yelled at for dating other people. It made me so angry with her that I blew up too and told her I never want to speak to her again. I'm hopeless, Harry, positively hopeless." He sunk back into his still awaiting hands, and a distinct whimpering cry could be heard.

"I haven't a clue what to do, mate." Harry glanced at the door nervously, "I think Ginny's calling me." That said Harry retreated from the room, leaving Ron alone to do whatever he pleased.

Ron stretched himself face down into the bed. Perhaps he would skip the one-year-old's party. He considered this for a moment before deciding that it was out of the question. If he skipped his nephew's dinner, he would have missed two family events in a row, and he would never hear the end of it from his mother. No other options presented themselves, as Fleur had been quite clear on telling everyone that their seats were permanent. All hope lost, Ron looked out the window. The sky outside was rather clear, only a few clouds here and there. He got out of bed, and decided to take a walk to clear his head.

He wandered until he came to a stop about 20 feet from the first tree in the wood. Approximately 10 feet in, Hermione sat against a tree doing what she did best. She was reading. However, she wasn't reading just any book, it was his book she had spread open on her lap. If she hated him as much as it seemed that she did, why would she be reading a book mostly about him?

Ron turned around, intent on going to the pond instead. A pair of smirking twins hindered his progress. Fred and George were grinning, with a finger in front of their mouths, indicating that he keep silent. George dropped his finger to give Ron a beckoning signal. Nothing else to do, Ron followed the now strutting twins.

The two stopped behind the trees that hid the quidditch pitch, and wheeled around to face a rather confused Ron.

"I see you have a slight problem, little brother." said Fred.

"Yeah, you two gits." Ron retorted hotly.

"No, the other problem. The one where our advice would be rather beneficial to you. I do believe you are in need of it, Ron."

Ron considered his options. Figuring that he may as well take his chances with Fred and George, he spoke. "Of course I have a problem. I'm the idiotic prat brother, remember?"

Fred looked at George quizzically, and George did the same back. Fred then stated, "I was fairly certain that honor belonged to Percy."

George nodded in agreement. The twins looked back at Ron. George spoke this time. "Our advice is fairly straightforward, little brother. Firstly, do not bring up past relationships, on either of your parts. It has proved disastrous for you in the past."

Ron had to say, this was the most valuable stuff he had ever gotten out of the twins. He gave a shrug to mean 'go on', and the twins continued speaking in turns.

"Second, act nice. If you are polite and considerate, she has noting to complain about."

"Third, ask questions and answer in ways that are fairly predictable. Avoid bad subjects. Talk positive."

"Lastly, and this is important, do something surprising for her. Something that says, 'I know I did wrong, but I want to make it up'. Something she'll remember, too."

Fred and George then turned on their heels and walked away to the house. Ron stood on the grass for a moment, considering what he would do.

Later that day

The birthday party was coming to a close, and so far Ron had managed stick to the twins advice. When he had sat down for dinner, she was already seated, and deep in conversation with Lupin about a new treatment method for werewolves that her friend in creature bites had developed. Ron listened intently as she spoke. Later during dinner, when Hermione had finally noticed him, he asked her some more questions about her work. She answered at length, and when he was questioned in return, he thought out his answers before speaking. They sat, talking, as the rest of the party began to leave.

"So, that's why we had to move them all to a whole new ward. Obviously, we couldn't have all the unforgivable curse victims in one ward. The imperioused people would try to strangle the people that had damage from crucio. It was a total mess." said Hermione. She was getting that look in her eyes she got when talking about something she was particularly proud of doing.

"Yeah, that would create a problem. I do think that my people got the mass of those who had created the situation." Ron said.

Hermione looked around, "We should be heading inside. Most of the party seems to have left." Actually, only a few people remained outside. Mrs. Weasley was stacking dishes by wand to take inside for washing. Hermione got up and turned to face the ever-mounting stack of dishes. "I'll wash those, Molly. You look exhausted."

Ron's mum peaked out from behind the mountainous pile. "Are you sure, dear?"

"Oh, yes. I can have those cleaned in a jiffy."

"I'll just put them inside for you then, Hermione." Mrs. Weasley flicked her wand, and the dishes made their way into the house. "Goodnight!"

After Ron and Hermione had bid her goodnight in reply, Mrs. Weasley went inside, leaving Ron and Hermione alone outside. Hermione motioned toward the kitchen and said simply, "Care to help?"

Ron nodded and followed her inside. Now was his chance to follow the twin's last piece of advice. However, he had no idea what he was going to do. Hermione started doing the dishes the muggle way, and Ron was completely amazed. He was told to dry and put them away as she washed. After Ron's initial amazement wore off, they continued in silence. He didn't mind, he liked just being in her presence. The time he had left to surprise her was running out, only a few dishes remained in the sink.

Hermione broke the silence as she rinsed off the last pot. "I'm glad we had a chance to be civil. It really is nice just to talk with you, Ron." She handed the pot to him. "I suppose I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight."

Ron put the pot in its proper place and then turned to face her. She was still in the kitchen, and staring at him. She quickly recovered from her embarrassing pose and he spoke, "Hermione, I do like talking to you. I really didn't mean what I said the other day." His mind clinked into place. He knew what he was going to do. "We should do this again sometime, to catch up for the last few years. It feels like I rediscovered a whole part of my life."

He approached her slowly. She looked up at him. He could feel her breath on his skin. He leaned down a bit, and then kissed her. At first, she resisted slightly, but then he deepened it, and she put her arms around him. He pulled her closer to him, trying to get as close to her as humanly possible. He could feel her put one of her hands through his hair as his tongue begged for entrance into her mouth. She obliged. He deepened to kiss even further, letting all his passion for her spill into it. She moaned a little in the back of her throat.

Ron then pulled away. Her eyes were still closed. He got very close to her lips again, brushing them as he spoke. "Goodnight."

He walked out of the room, making sure not to look back at her. He felt that if he did, he might just run back and do it again.

A/N: Hahaha! They kiss! It's amazing, or at least I hope. I hope it reads like I imagined it. It would really suck if you people can't imagine this happening. Thank you for reading…now please REVIEW!