Disclaimer: The only HP things I own are books, DVDs, and a Chudley Cannons T-shirt. Not the whole she-bang.

Ron sat at the table of the flat he shared with George, and sighed deeply. He kept poking at his toast, which was a clear sign to everyone who knew Ron that something was wrong.

He rested his head in his hand, picking apart the bread crust, looking but not really seeing, what he was doing.

Hermione would be home soon for the Christmas holidays. He was excited beyond belief… but he was terrified that he wouldn't be good enough for her anymore. After all, he had essentially dropped out of school, and she was just getting smarter and smarter. Not that he expected any less from her. He was proud of his genius girlfriend.

Still, he couldn't help but feel her inferior. Once again.

George strolled into the kitchen, whistling. His pleasant mood annoyed Ron infinitely.

"Hello, little brother," he said, and stuck his head in the cupboards, looking for things to eat. Ron scowled at his back. "How are you on this fine morning?"

Ron grumbled something unintelligible, and George turned around to study his younger brother's face. Clearly, something was upsetting him.

"Tell Georgie what's on your mind," he teased.

"Eff off, George."

"My, my, what attitude. What's got you down? I hear a young Miss Granger is coming home soon for hols. What could be wrong with that?"

Ron shot him a pained look. "I'm not good enough for her, George." His tone was mournful.

"What are you talking about?"

"She's so bloody smart. And I'm a nobody. I mean, I work in a bloody joke shop. That's what I am. A joke. She's way too good for me."

"OK, I'm going to ignore your unjustified attack on our shop, and go straight to the crux of the problem. For some bizarre reason unknown to me, she wants you. You, Ron. She's known you long enough to know what a git you are, and she still likes you. Still loves you. And she's always going to be bloody smarter than you. So don't be an arse."

Ron cursed at George under his breath, but knew that he was right. Hermione was the smartest witch, well, ever, and that was one of the reasons he loved her so much.

And had she ever given him reason to doubt her feelings for him since she went back to Hogwarts? No, he acknowledged. They talked as often as possible, mainly through the Floo Network McGonagall allowed Hermione to open to keep in contact with her "parents." Hermione split the time between catching up with her parents, and talking to Ron. They also sent owls to each other nearly every day.

Ron loved every time he opened a letter and saw Hermione's neat, tidy scrawl. She would always tell him what she was doing in her classes, how her Head Girl duties were going, and how much she missed him and loved him.

Once, he was lucky enough to get a letter from her that detailed a very naughty dream in which they were together again.

His ears burned scarlet at the memory. It had taken several cold showers, and finally a desperate wank to get those images out of his head, and it seemed as though he'd need another to recover.

George looked at Ron in fascination. He could pretty much read each thought going through Ron's thick skull at every passing moment. At the moment, George could see that Ron was justifying himself as a man… a man who was good enough for Hermione Granger.

In the next moment, an owl swooped down and landed on the outside of the kitchen window. George got up to let it in, and it flew directly to Ron and held its leg out expectantly. Ron untied the letter from the owls leg.

He opened the letter in haste, and relaxed when he saw Hermione's tiny print.

Dear Ron,

I'm coming home tomorrow! McGonagall released me from my Head Girl duties a bit early- something about needing to reconnect with my parents. But that also means that I can see you earlier than expected. I can't wait to see your family… and you, most of all. I've missed you so much. I can't wait to be in your arms again.

Love always, Hermione.

George watched as the excitement spread across Ron's face.

"Good news, I take it?"

Ron merely grinned and nodded. George fought the urge to laugh. It was so easy to make Ron happy sometimes. A little food, a little sleep, a little Hermione… The man had simple needs, and it seemed like all of those needs were about to be met.

Ron jumped up to grab some parchment and a quill, and wrote back a quick response. His hand moved so quickly across the paper, little splashes of ink flew everywhere, including on his maroon Weasley sweater. He ignored this, and rolled up the parchment and tied it back to the owl's leg, telling it where to go. After feeding it a few treats, the owl ruffled its feathers and flew back out the open window.

He had a dreamy look on his face, and again, George had to fight with himself to stop laughing.

"Good letter?" he asked, smirking.

"Yeah. Very good. Hermione's going to be home tomorrow. I have to go get ready."

George watched in disbelief and amusement as Ron ran to his bedroom, slamming the door hard behind him. George could hear him muttering to himself about getting a haircut, and which shirt he should wear the next day.

Git's gone over the deep end, George thought, but he smiled nevertheless, and continued his search for something to eat.