The Note

The Note

Hermione sat at rapt attention writing vigorously every word that came from the teacher's mouth. Harry snored softly at the end of the table and Ron divided his time equally between staring at Harry's watch and Hermione's profile.

It was their last year at Hogwarts, but History of Magic seemed to go in the same pattern it had since the end of their fourth year. They came in, took the three seats farthest in back, Hermione took out quill and parchment and began scribbling notes. Harry promptly fell asleep, and Ron studied Hermione with an attention (and interest) he rarely showed.

It had shocked Ron at first when he'd caught himself staring after Hermione as she walked away--admiring the way her hips and backside swayed as she hurried away--more likely than not to the library; how when she skipped meals to study, he missed her presence horribly. What shocked him the most, other than catching himself doodling her name on spare bits of parchment, was the fact that he was saying sorry when they fought. Ron's world had gone crazy. He decided in that instant it was time to act on his feelings. Getting out parchment and a quill, he quickly jotted a note to Hermione, and then slipped it to her.

Startled that Ron had awakened from his stupor of staring past her, Hermione pulled it towards her and read it.

Hermione,

Meet me in the Room of Requirement during break,

please. But don't tell

anyone, o.k.? Let me know if you'll be there.

Ron

Hermione glanced at Ron, who was eagerly awaiting her reply. With a sigh she scribbled back a reply in her neat tiny hand writing.

Ron,

Yes, I'll meet you, but what's all this about? Why can't I tell anyone?

Hermione

She slid the note to him, after reading it he looked at her and shook his head. Just as she was going to question him further, the bell rang and they hustled out of the room and headed to their last class of the day, in which they wouldn't be together in the same classroom. All through her class Hermione wondered about Ron and his strange behavior earlier in the afternoon.

Finally, the class ended and Hermione hurried back to the dorms and dropped off her books, then rushed toward the Room of Requirement. As Hermione rounded the corner she slammed right into Harry.

"Oh, Harry, I am so sorry! I was just in a hurry to me--to get the library," she cried in surprise.

"It's alright, Hermione, um, I'd love to stay and chat but I'm meeting Ginny down by the lake," he said with a grin. Hermione smiled back and then they both went on their way.

As Hermione slipped through the door se wondered again what all the secrecy was about. She sighed 'Well,' she thought, 'I guess I'll find out soon enough.'

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Hermione checked her watch again. He had said during break, maybe he'd meant tomorrow's break. Leave it to Ron; it was just like him to leave out such vital information such as the date! She picked up her book bag to leave just as the door opened.

"Sorry I took so long, Mione. I had to avoid Filch," Ron said as he walked in.

"Alright, Ron, it's break, I'm here, what on earth is going on?" she demanded, her fist planted on her hips.

"Are you dating Krum?" he said bluntly.

"That's what this is all about?" she asked, her mouth hanging open. "And his name is Victor."

"Well are you dating him?" he demanded.

"I don't see how that's any of your business, Ronald!"

"Trust me, it is!"

"Why, Ronald, why is it any of you're business?"

"Be-because," he sputtered. "It can make or break something I want to do."

"Whatever, no, I am not now, nor have I ever dated Victor Krum."

"Good." He grinned wolfishly, and began to walk towards her. The room around them changed from an empty classroom to a very tiny dimly lit room.

"What- Ron, what are you doing?" she asked, backing up.

Ron laughed when her back hit the wall. Hermione glared at him.

"What's so funny?" she snapped, her voice like ice.

"You are- you're acting like you're afraid of me, love." Hermione's brain came to a screeching halt; did Ronald Weasley just call her love? Before she had time to get her thoughts back on track, he was standing there, mere inches away.

"Have you been testing potions on yourself, Ron?" She reached up and placed her hand on his forehead. He grabbed her hand with his left one and twined their fingers together. His right hand came to rest on her hip.

"Ron?" she whispered faintly.

"Mione, love," he whispered, she looked up at him her eyes wide. "Shut up."

Before she could protest his mouth was crushing down on hers. Startled, at first she didn't respond, then realizing that a boy she was crazy for was kissing her, so she kissed him back. A few moments later she suddenly pulled back.

"Ron....what are we doing?" she asked.

"Smartest witch at Hogwarts and you can't tell that we're snogging?"

Her free hand snaked up to tangle in his hair, her lips pressed against his, sucking on his full lower lip. Hermione was lost in him, she couldn't think, couldn't breathe, she could only feel. All too soon Ron pulled away from her.

"You stopped." She pouted playfully.

"Well, oxygen was becoming a problem."

"Ron, what are we doing?" she asked again.

"Didn't we have this conversation not too long ago?"

She swatted him on the arm.

"No, Ron, what are we doing?"

"Well, you see love, I have this problem."

"Yeah, so do I, you stopped kissing me."

"Hermione, I'm serious, I have very romantic feelings for my best friend."

"Yeah well, that's too bad for Harry, I'm pretty sure he's very into your sister, and I really like kissing you." She smiled shyly up at him and he pulled her closer.

"You know good and well I mean you!" He kissed her again. "Damn!"

"I'll say," she replied to his very loud cursing.

"What about the others?"

"They can't have you, I'm selfish."

"Are we going to tell them?"

"How about you tell me and then we can figure out what we're going to say to them, then get back to more entertaining things."

"Uh, o.k. How about I'm in love with you and I want you to be my girlfriend?"

"That's it?"

"For now, I'm pretty sure the ring part comes when we're a little older." She looked at him with a look of pure love. He leaned down and kissed her softly, gently, and her knees promptly turned to rubber.

"Umm." He sighed as he pulled away. "How about we just tell him we're dating and if they don't like it to stick it up their..."

"Ron! That plan is fine except for the sticking part."

She grinned.

They continued to kiss, occasionally breaking apart for air, until loud voices filled the hallway outside the room that was their own little world. Ron chuckled slightly and leaned his forehead against Hermione's. The sound of happy chatter could be heard just beyond the hidden door.

"C'mon," he said, taking her hand. "Let's go to the common room and find Harry and Ginny."

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"Harry, look," Ginny tugged at her newly acquired boyfriend's hand. "There's Ron and Hermione."

"Uh, Gin, are they holding hands?"

"He finally did it!" Ginny muttered more to herself than the dark-haired boy beside her. "He actually asked her out!"

FIN