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Hermione POV

I made my way back to the Gryffindor common room after my conversation with Draco in the library. I had a feeling Ron would be waiting for me to have this little talk. I was really hoping he had resolved to let me make my own decisions like Draco had mentioned. There was only one way to find out though.

I pushed through the common room door and found Ron sitting on the couch near the door, clearly waiting. "Hermione!" he said when his eyes landed on me.

"Ronald," I give him a polite nod, still slightly mad at him for everything he'd done last night, but if he really was going to back off I'd be able to get over that pretty quickly.

Ron stands from the couch and awkwardly scratches the back of his neck. "Umm, could we maybe talk?" his voice was unsure as if he thought I was going to smack him or something. He would have been right that I would have smacked him an hour or so ago.

"Sure," I nod. "Let me go drop all of this in my room," I gesture to my bag and books.

Ron just nods and watches as I make my way over to the steps. I pause and turn back to face him. "Actually, why don't we just talk in my room," I suggest. "We won't have to worry about anyone overhearing then," I say.

"Sure," Ron nods, rubbing his neck again. It was obvious to tell he knew he'd messed up and hoped he could get things back on track. I was going to let him keep thinking that I was pissed at him for a little while longer. It just seemed right that he had to question himself.

Ron silently followed me into my room and closed the door behind him while I dropped my bags near my desk. I turned back to face him and found him standing awkwardly by the door. "You can make yourself at home Ron," I laugh. "It's not like you've never been in here before." For some reason I found it funny seeing Ron so unsure of what to do next. He knew he was on thin ice, but I didn't expect him to completely clam up.

"Umm, right," Ron nods as he walks farther into the room and just stands there. I just smile to myself as I sit cross-legged on my bed and face him.

"So, what did you want to talk about Ron?" I ask, I was going to let him be in charge of this whole conversation. After all, he was the one who should be apologizing for how he acted last night.

"I'm sorry about what I did last night," he mumbles, not meeting my eyes. The red blush that was taking over his cheeks told me he was embarrassed about how he'd acted and he had every right to be.

"Yeah, you kind of acted like a complete arse," I looked up at him. It was true and I wasn't going to hold much back. If Ron and I wanted to get passed this whole thing, then I was going to say it like it was. We needed to get everything out in the open if we wanted to move on, but first I needed to figure out if that was what Ron really wanted or not.

"I know and I'm sorry," Ron repeated, this time looking at me. "I talked to Draco and I know I didn't really screw anything up for you, but I'm still sorry," he mumbles, wringing his hands out nervously. I knew this wasn't easy for Ron, but I was glad he was doing it anyway.

"I know," I say with a slight smile as Ron's face turns to confusion. "I talked to Draco," I add as clarification.

"Oh, right," Ron runs a hand through his hair. "You two are together," he says almost to himself as he stares at the ground.

"Yeah, we are," I nod as I wait for Ron to continue.

"Umm, that's actually what I wanted to talk about," he says slowly, his eyes flicking up to meet mine.

"What about?" I ask, raising my eyebrows in a warning, but from the way Ron is acting I can tell he's not going to go back on what he said to Draco.

"Do you love him?" Ron blurts out, his eyes meeting mine.

I was caught completely off guard; I hadn't actually considered the fact that I might love Draco. I knew I'd fallen for him, but how hard? "Umm…" I muttered, speechless. "Why?" I ask slowly, not wanting to answer the question because I didn't know how to answer. Did I love Draco? I wasn't sure. I'd never felt this way about anyone before, but was that really love?

"Because he-" Ron abruptly stops as if he was about to say something he shouldn't.

"He what?" I ask, my interest piqued.

"Nothing," Ron shakes his head. "Draco said he was going to fight for you, that's all," he mumbles as he runs his hand through his hair again and doesn't meet my eyes.

"Umm, okay…" I trail off, feeling like there is more to what Ron was about to say. It was almost as if he was about to say that Draco loved me, but I knew that couldn't be it. First off, I wasn't exactly sure how Draco felt and I didn't really think he knew either. Second off, if Draco did love me, he wouldn't have told Ron. I shook the thought out of my head and focused on the important part, trying to stay friends with Ron.

"Anyway," Ron starts back up. "You want to be with Draco?" he asks, his eyes meeting mine again.

I could tell that he was hopeful that I would say no, but it also seemed that he knew I wouldn't. "Yes, I do," I nodded. "He makes me happy," I add as I shift on the bed so my legs are hanging over the edge, feet on the floor.

Ron nods as he chews on the inside of his cheek. "Okay, then," he says. "I just want you to be happy. I'll back off," he says quietly.

"You're okay with Draco and I being together?" I ask as I stand from the bed and look up at him.

"No, but I want you to be happy and if he makes you happy then I won't say anything. It's more important that I keep you as a friend," Ron says, his eyes on mine as he reaches out and grabs my hand. I don't say anything and he continues. "There's no chance we'd ever get together, right?" he asks, reluctantly.

I see the hope in his eyes and hate the idea of crushing it, but I can't lie to him. "No, I'm sorry Ron. You're too much like a brother to me," I answer resting my hand against his chest. His face doesn't crumble like I was expecting. He already knew my answer but had to hear it for sure.

"Okay," Ron nods. "If Draco hurts you, I will kick his arse," Ron says as he pulls me into a hug.

"I wouldn't expect anything less," I laugh into his chest as I hug him back. This is nothing like hugging Draco, I feel nothing but friendship with Ron.

When we finally pull apart Ron looks down at me and asks, "So, am I forgiven?"

"Of course," I smile as I playfully hit him. "But don't ever interfere in my love life again, got it?" I give him a stern look.

"Got it," Ron smiles down at me.

"So, we're good?" I ask hopefully. It feels great to actually be talking to Ron again like friends.

"We're good," Ron nods. "But can you help me with one more thing?" he asks, running a hand over the back of his neck, once again awkward.

"Of course, what it is?" I ask.

"Since I clearly have no shot in hell with you, do you think I may have a shot with Pansy?" he asks, his face turning pink again.

"Pansy, as in Parkinson?" I ask in shock, how great would it be if Ron actually wanted our help getting him and Pansy together?

"Yes," he nods.

"I think you do," I smile at him. "Do you want me to have Draco talk to her and see?" I offer, finding a different use for our original plan. It was clear we weren't going to have to manipulate them into getting together to get them off our backs, but that didn't mean they still wouldn't be a great couple.

"Would you mind?" he asks, chewing on his cheek again.

"Not at all," I smile.

"Great, thanks Mione," Ron smiles as me and just like that we are back to how we were before everything with Draco started. We are best friends again and I am still with Draco. In the back of my mind I haven't pushed away the thought of being in love with Draco, was I or was I not? That was going to have to be something I figured out and quickly before I was in too deep. I would need to talk to Ginny asap. I was also going to have to get the ball rolling to get Pansy and Ron together, but first I was going to enjoy a moment of happiness before trudged on into the never ending drama that seemed to be my life lately.

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