A/N: Hello again. It's been years, but as a treat for myself (and you) I thought I would write another chapter this afternoon. I've really enjoyed doing this, so maybe I should find more time to continue... Hope there are still people out there to read it! Please let me know what you think!

As the black-clad clan walked back to the Burrow, Ron could still feel the heavy load of his brother on his shoulders.

Molly halted at the gate and turned to address her family.

"One week," Molly said. "You all- we all need to rest. So I am asking you to stay for one week. After that…"

As she trailed off, Arthur spoke up, "These seven days will not include any ministry-related work, joke shop inventing, or plans to save the world, understood?"

The Weasleys, both natural and honorary, nodded their consent.

"You know you can only have one or the other, don't you?" Hermione said casually.

"Hmm?"

Ron stood by the window of his room, seemingly glancing out as he continued to unpack his clothing into an already bursting drawer.

"I said, you can only have one of the other," she asserted.

"What do you mean?" He shook his head, as if trying to dislodge numerous filthy Hermione-related daydreams filling up his mind. Suddenly he found himself very concerned that she might have become a Legilimens.

"You can either spy on Harry and Ginny or spend time with me. If you're more interested in what they're doing, I'll go get my book." She got up from her seat at the end of his bed and headed towards the door.

"Sorry," Ron said shoving the drawer shut, "Let's go outside and get some fresh air. Maybe we could go for a quick fly?"

He didn't bother to correct her assumptions, already thinking of the opportunities for physical contact that sharing a broom might provide.

Ron swung the shed door open.

"Bloody hell!"

No. No. No. His specky git of a best friend was not getting his broom polished by his baby sister in the family broom shed.

"Is everything alright?" called Hermione, walking towards him with a look of concern on her face.

"Actually, I think you're right," he said grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the yard. "A walk is a much better idea."

Ron walked Hermione to the far corner of the south field where a rust red Cortina sat at the foot of an oak tree. The car was without wheels and missing its backdoors, but perfectly positioned so that the leafy branches of the tree gave some relief to the sun's heat.

"I meant to bring you out here last summer, but Mum was all over us about the wedding..." Ron said wistfully. "Fred always said I should bring you out here."

"Really?" Hermione said perplexed. "Why would he have suggested that? I don't think we ever spoke about cars."

"Oh, well he told me that muggle-born girls love the backseats of cars."

Hermione spat out the water she was drinking in shock.

"Bugger!" Ron cursed. "What have I said? It's rude, isn't it?"

"That fucking... He knew I'd make an arse of myself… Completely ruin things…" he trailed off realizing that Hermione was not upset, but in fact howling with laughter.

"Don't swear," she hiccoughed, wiping tears from her eyes. "Luckily for you, I do so enjoy proving your brothers wrong."

Capturing his lips with hers, she initiated a deep kiss, breaking it only to pull his t-shirt over his head. Chucking his shirt to the side, Ron grinned at Hermione only to be met with an expression of deep concentration. With the slightest hesitation, she unbuttoned her shirt.

As badly as he wanted to take in the sight of her, as she pushed the blouse off her shoulders, Ron lost all self control. Launching himself at her, he began to cover her neck and shoulders with kisses. When he reached her breasts, he decided he would never be coming up for air and mumbled something of the same sentiment into her chest.

Despite being half naked, Hermione felt warmer than ever. Wherever Ron's lips touched her body immediately burned as though it were on fire. Fingers tangled in his hair, she pulled a dazed and drunken Ron up towards her. His mouth met hers and a battle for control began.

The pair rolled off the seat and onto the floor of the car, Hermione landing on top of Ron. It wasn't until Hermione grinded herself against him, that Ron finally broke their kiss to gasp.

"Fucking hell," he panted, propping himself up on his elbows. "I might need to take a break."

They both pulled themselves back onto the seat, Hermione leaning against Ron. They sat silently together as their breathing synchronized. Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione and gave a quiet sigh.

"What are you thinking?" she whispered.

"That maybe muggles are right about this car thing. There's no way we could have done that on a broom."

Harry at least had the decency to avoid eye contact with Ron throughout the evening meal. Ginny, as always, wore an expression of defiance that dared Ron to broach the subject

It wasn't until they had retired to bed and turned off the lights that Harry regained the ability to speak to Ron.

"Ron, I'm, uh, really sorry about this afternoon," he muttered in the direction of his friend's bed.

Ron was silent for a moment before replying, "It wouldn't have looked good to murder my best friend days after he defeats the most powerful dark wizard of all time. That Chosen One shit won't stop me next time though."

"Fair enough. Thanks for that."

"You know what's really scary?" Ron yawned, "You're not even the first person I've found in an awkward position this week. I really hope I'm not getting used to this."

"What?" Harry sat up in bed, "Who else have you walked in on?"

Ron groaned, "On our way down to the Chamber, we caught Bill and Fleur going at it in one of the girls' lavatory stalls. In the middle of the battle! Heat of the moment, I guess."

"Well, it must run in the family. 'It's now or never'?" Harry smirked.

Ron blushed in the dark.

"I can't believe it's taken so long. Do you think we would have had an easier time of it if we'd actually talked about girls in the first place?"

"I doubt it. Let's blame our romantic failures on the whole saving the wizarding world thing."

"You know, I love her, right?"

"I think I knew before you did, mate." Harry said rolling over onto his side, "Just don't forget to tell her that."