Hi everyone! Thanks to those who added my story to their Favorites or Story Alerts. And ESPECIALLY thanks to those who reviewed! I've had over 300 hits but somehow only four reviews so far, which is a little disappointing because I love to hear your feedback and ideas. So please review, and I'll update as soon as possible for all of you.
Thanks to inspiration-arts for your advice, and I agree with you. I'll make your wish come true:)
This chapter is beginning RIGHT where the second chapter left off, so I advise that you go refresh yourself on what happened in the last chapter if you need to. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it!
--------------------------------------
Ron grinned, nodded, and began kissing her again. Hermione wondered why his smile seemed forced and his kisses weren't as deep and passionate as before...
"Ron," said Hermione, pulling away, "what's wrong?"
Ron closed his eyes and sat away from her, but immediately pulled her closer again, letting her head lean against his chest. "I don't know about this, Mione. It just...wouldn't feel right yet."
Hermione gazed up at him, her chin resting against his chest. "It wouldn't?"
"I...I don't want to screw this up by going too fast or doing something we'll regret, Hermione."
Hermione smiled and kissed him sweetly, letting her lips linger on his.
"I understand, Ron." She beamed. "That's sweet. And you're right. I got caught up in the moment."
Hermione was a little ashamed of herself. She'd been swept up by her love for Ron. She'd almost made a stupid choice.
But that was something Hermione loved most about Ron; he knew her better than she knew herself. And he'd never let her do something she didn't want to.
They slowly redressed, leaned back against each other, and pulled the blanket over them again.
"I love you, Ron."
"I love you, Mione."
They fell asleep as the sky grew darker.
--------
When they woke up in the morning, stiff from the hard ground beneath them and tired from a late night, they both picked up their blankets and walked back to the Burrow, falling fast asleep once again in their respective beds with a goodbye kiss on the landing.
It was nearly one o'clock when Hermione, finally waking up from a full night's rest, wandered into Ron's bedroom to find the still fast asleep eighteen year old snoring with his pillows and blankets askew.
"Ron," said Hermione with a chuckle, sitting on the edge of his bed and shaking him. "Ron, it's late, wake up."
Ron stirred, his groggy eyes lighting up when he spotted her on his mattress. He pulled her closer and set himself up against his pillows, holding hands on top of the covers.
"So," Hermione said, "do you remember our conversation last night?"
"Um, which one...?" he asked, raising one eyebrow suggestively.
Hermione laughed. "Not that one, Ron, we pretty much came to a closed agreement on that," she said with a chuckle. "I meant on you finally starting your Auror training."
"Oh," said Ron, sitting up and straightening his sweatpants. "Well. Erm. Yeah. Auror training."
Hermione tsk-ed under her breath.
Ron let out a groan and cocked his head to the side in annoyance. "Bloody hell, Hermione, I'm too young for this. I helped the Chosen One defeat Voldemort just months ago and now I'm expected to go out and start my career? Don't I get a bloody break?"
Hermione stood up, taking her hand roughly out of his, snapped, "Fine, Ronald, please excuse me for taking an interest in your well-being," and stormed out of the room.
Outside on the landing, Hermione thought with dull humor the irony of where the same conversation had gotten them last night and where it had led this morning. She rolled her eyes, knowing her and Ron would be on good terms again in a few hours' time, and went downstairs to see what she could put together for some lunch.
------------------
A/N: Sort of a short chapter, I know, sorry. I'll try to make it longer next chapter, which will focus on Harry and Ginny since this chapter was all about Ron and Hermione. Review please!