Ron was not very happy with Madam Pomfrey at the moment. Not very was actually an understatement. Hermione had found out everything. What if this ruined their friendship? He hoped that Hermione would just forget everything that had happened. Maybe she would.
Ron, not looking where he was going, bumped into Madam Pomfrey. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Why is your hair wet?" she asked suspiciously.
Ron hastily dried his hair, but he refused to answer.
"Have you been kissing the Granger girl?"
No answer.
"You didn't wake her up when your face caught on fire did you?"
No answer.
"Are you going to answer me or do you prefer to finish your detentions with Professor Snape?"
"I'd rather spend detention with Snape than with you."
"Thank you for answering Weasley, I will allow you to remain in the hospital wing. Please take this glass of water to the ninth bed on the right hand side. Thank you."
Ron grumpily continued his chores, and after thirty minutes, every patient in the wing had drunk a glass of water. Except Hermione. He was sort of scared to go in there. Finally, he gathered up the courage and took the plunge.
"Hey," he stammered nervously. "I'm supposed to make you drink this."
"Ok," Hermione said politely. She took the glass of water and drank it in three gulps. She gave it back to Ron and looked at him expectantly. Oh, she was expecting him to say something.
Ron felt horrid. If he didn't say every word exactly how he needed to, everything would end up the wrong way. He knew he was supposed to say something, but he didn't even know what he was supposed to say. He couldn't get this wrong, he just couldn't!
"Um, well, I guess I'm supposed to say something," he stammered, then Oh stupid Ron! I can't believe you actually did that. That isn't how you begin a conversation at all!
Hermione laughed. Ron was a bit surprised, but at least she wasn't mad at him, yet. "I suppose you are," she said cheerfully, "but what are you supposed to say?"
Ron relaxed visibly. "Um, I don't know."
"Me neither."
"Well, um, the weather's nice today,"
Hermione giggled again. Boy, she was in a good mood today. "Well, why did you kiss me?"
Ron stiffened. He would tell the truth, but not all the truth. Not the parts she might be mad at him for. Not the parts he didn't want her to hear yet.
"Um, well, because you looked so pretty lying there sleeping and because you, well, I guess you looked like you needed a kiss. I don't exactly know why I did it."
Hermione seemed to be thinking this over. This was very uncomfortable, just standing here while Hermione judged him. Her expression changed to a soft, sort of unreadable expression. She smiled sweetly.
"Thank you Ron," she said.
"For what?" he asked, as he felt the tips of his ears turn red.
Hermione blushed. "Um, for waking me up."
"Oh, yea, ok," Ron said. This was getting a bit awkward, just standing here.
"WEASLEY! YOU BETTER NOT BE WHERE I THINK YOU ARE!"
"Oh, I have to go."
"Of course."
Ron stumbled through the curtains again, but this time with a smile on his face. Hermione wasn't mad at him! It even looked like the distance that used to be between them was fading away. It looked like it.
You know, Ron didn't hate Madam Pomfrey as much as he thought he did after all.
Author's Notes: The end is near. If you all really liked it, I MIGHT write a sequel, but right now I'm working on something else you might like...