"But obviously, if you'd rather I hooked up with McLaggen…"

"No, I wouldn't."

"You-you wouldn't?"

He wouldn't? Does Ron Weasley actually like me? Me, Hermione Granger, bookworm, Ron and Harry's best friend?

"Okay, everyone, time's up! Kindly take off your gloves and take your things with you, and I'll see you tomorrow!"

That night, Ron and I were in the Gryffindor common room with Harry. We weren't really saying anything much, and Harry decided to go to bed and let us talk it out.

"Okay, see you two in the morning!" Harry left.

"Ron, what were you saying earlier? In Herbology?" I asked.

"N-Nothing…don't worry about it," he replied.

I've liked him for five years. The closest I ever got to telling him my true feelings was today. Am I just going to let that slip by? For how long? Another day? Another five years? Until Ron gets married to someone else? But what if he doesn't like me? What if he was just joking this morning?

"Ron, I'm about to do something totally stupid," I said.

Am I going to kiss him? Could I be that bold? That risk-taking?

"What?" he asked.

I can't. I just can't. What if it ruins our friendship?

"Forget it, Ron, I'm just going to bed,"

That night, I had a dream of me kissing Ron. He totally pushed me away and ignored me for another two weeks. Worse, he told some girls and they were laughing at me! Needless to say, that didn't do much for my confidence about telling Ron.

Finally, three nights later, I got the chance to talk to Harry alone. We were in the common room after Ron had gone to bed.

"Harry?"

"Yeah, Hermione?"

Should I confide in him what I really think? I know he trustworthy; he won't tell Ron, but what if Ron only likes me as a friend? I don't want Harry trying to get us together or something…However, if Ron does like me, Harry would know. Oh, I'll just ask and get it over with. I never thought that I would be so obsessed with a boy…this is really weird to me. The only time I remember being this worked up over something is right before our O.W.L.s came! Or after all exams, and before them, really…

"Do you think Ron likes me?"

Okay, I've gotten it out there…come on, Harry, talk!

"Well…"

"Okay, Harry, let me just say one thing, I like Ron. I've liked him for ages. Since our second year. I never thought he liked me until the other day in Herbology. You remember that, don't you?"

"Alright, Hermione…Ron really does like you. He never thought you'd like him, though. He still thinks you only have eyes for Viktor Krum…"

"Seriously?"

"Yes," Harry replied exasperatedly.

I went to bed, feeling the best I've felt in awhile.

That night, I had a dream about me kissing Ron…and the whole thing was the best dream I ever had. He kissed me back, and we started going out…

A week later, Harry left the common room a bit early, as we had planned, so Ron and I could be alone.

I struggled with this before…just DO it, Hermione, you KNOW he likes you…just DO it!

"Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"I know I asked you this one other time before, but can I do something really stupid?"

"Sure, I guess,"

I was already sitting next to him. I moved closer, tilted his head back, and kissed him, just barely.

Then he kissed me back…

.fin.