Right, fair warning. I've rewritten this scene quite a bit, as my original intention was an M rating for the fic. I didn't want to restrict the viewing so much though, so I changed it to T. This means, although there are scenes with adult themes here, I don't go in to detail. I may post the original chapter as a oneshot in the future though, if anyone is interested. I had to cut it down quite a lot. (EDIT: This has now been posted under the name The Tone of Surpise as requested by some of the reviewers. Enjoy and don't forget to review!)

I apologise for the delay on this chapter. As I mentioned last time, I've been away for the week (in which I visited the Harry Potter Studios!) and haven't been able to update. The next week might be a little hectic too, as I'm doing the last of my assignments, but I'll try to get chapters uploaded. My work will be my priority though.

The next few days passed without any notable events. Harry had returned back to the Burrow to spend some more time with Ginny and to ensure all possible protection was around her at all times, and Hermione barely left the side of her bed where Ron lay, sleeping most of the time.

As the time passed, Ron was getting more and more alert, but still struggled to talk about what had happened in the last few years.

Hermione had filled him in on her life. Ron stayed silent as he listened intently to her talk about how she had become an Auror, though winced slightly when she mentioned the locket. In a bid not to force Ron into any discussions he wasn't ready for, she moved on to tell him about Hornrock and how he had almost sent Hermione and Harry on a quest for the hat of Anala.

"Then we... found you." Hermione trailed off. She wanted to tell him about how the locket had led her to him, but she had to wait. Unfortunately, she also had the foreboding feeling that they were running out of time.

"C'mere." Ron croaked, motioning for Hermione to join him on the bed. As she crawled next to him, leaning her head on his chest, he began to stroke her hair gently.

"I love you." Ron breathed into her hair, then kissed the top of her head.

"I love you too." Hermione choked into his chest. It felt surreal to be lying next to him, talking to him and having the chance to be with him again.

Hermione still worried that someone would take him away from her again, and she didn't think she could survive it this time. She had been a shell of herself for years, just as far gone from everyone else as he had gone from her. The one thing Hermione knew, was that things felt right again being in his arms.

"I thought about you. The whole time." Ron whispered softly, gazing down weakly at her.

Hermione froze. She didn't want to ruin the moment they were having, but she wasn't going to stop him if he felt like he wanted to talk about things. She sat up, gently resting his head on to her chest and wrapped her arms around him gently, trying not to hurt him. He looked so fragile.

"I missed you so much." Ron continued, a tear glinting in his eye. "I thought I would never see you again. Or that you would have moved on-"

"Moved on?" Hermione interrupted, feeling a little offended. Didn't Ron realise by now that she could never imagine being able to move on from him? She never believed in soul mates, but she and Ron had become close enough.

"Found someone better." He mumbled sheepishly.

Her face softened, and her lip twitched. Ron glanced at her hesitantly, unsure of what her reaction would be. He looked relieved, however, as Hermione began to buckle with laughter.

"Have you gone mad, woman?" Ron laughed too, enlightened by the smile on Hermione's face.

"Better? Someone better?" Hermione choked out between giggles. "Ronald Weasley, when will you get it? I don't think anyone is better for me than you are." She kissed his nose gently. Ron, however, moved his face so that her lips were on his, locking her into an very intimate and lingering kiss.

His hand stroked down the left side of her head, playing with her bushy curls gently, as he moved so that he was pressed against her fully.

Sensing Ron wanted more than just a kiss, she pulled away from him, searching his eyes. Ron was looking at her with that familiar hungry look she remembered so well. He wanted her as much as she wanted him, but she didn't want to take the risk of hurting him.

When Hermione told him this, it was Ron's turn to let out a small laugh. Hermione always loved his smile, and he knew it drove her crazy.

"I want to be with you, Hermione. I know you won't hurt me." Ron paused, then fixed her with a serious look. "But if you're not ready yet, that's fine too."

"Oh, Ron, you know I want you." Hermione replied just as seriously. "But you're too weak."

Almost as though to prove himself capable, Ron pressed his lips hungrily on Hermione's lips, massaging her tongue furiously with his own. Hermione, completely lost in the moment, responded by rolling on to her back so that Ron lay on top of her, stroking her leg upwards until he reached the button of her jeans. He looked at her as though for permission, to which Hermione nodded. This seemed to be enough reassurance for him.

Before they knew it, they were lying next to each other unclothed feeling lighter than air. Hermione pulled the cover over them and kissed him, gentler this time. Ron murmured into her lips. "Hermione, you are bloody amazing, you know that?"

"Always the tone of surprise." Hermione laughed, pressing her forehead against his. Ron chuckled.

The couple froze as there was a knock on the door. Scrambling quickly to gather up her clothes, and throwing some clothes on the bed for Ron to put on, Hermione pulled herself quickly back into her jeans and t-shirt. When she turned back to Ron, he was fumbling with his own t-shirt, pulling it clumsily into place.

Hermione squeezed her eyes together as she moved to answer the door. Surely whoever was on the other side would suspect something. It wasn't like they were too young, she just wasn't up for discussing the matter with her parents. She could only imagine that they would be mortified. Her heart loosened a little as she opened the door to see George's face, which looked as though he was sharing a private joke with himself.

"Alright, little brother?" George grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at the couple. "Sorry to interrupt."

Ron grumpily threw a pillow at him, which missed George and hit the shelf behind him. Thankfully, the shelf was so packed with books that it just sat still.

"You need to sort out your aim, mate." George grinned at his little brother. Hermione couldn't remember George being this happy since Fred. She knew, though, that this had a lot to do with Ron being found. Despite all their joking around, Hermione knew that the Weasleys all cared deeply for one another, as a family should.

Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek, ignoring George's mocking. "I'll wait outside and let you two talk." She didn't want to get in the way when the Weasleys came to visit. They deserved as much alone time with Ron as she did.

George winked at her as she left. Hermione stifled a laugh, trying not to give herself away, even though George clearly knew what she and Ron had been up to not long before he knocked on the door. She closed the door, went to the bathroom, fixed her hair and her clothes, then sat downstairs with her parents for the couple of hours that George visited for. She was glad to see him acting like himself again. He, like her, had been renewed by Ron's safety.

As per usual, please review. I hope I managed to keep it clean enough without cutting too much out. Next update will be posted ASAP.