Just One Kiss

Ron entered the common room and paused, transfixed by the first thing he saw. Hermione was stretched out on the couch, asleep, with a table full of books and parchment beside her. She had obviously been working like mad on homework, as usual, and the late hour had caused her to fall asleep. Ron had been patrolling the halls on prefect duty, and had just gotten off at midnight. He hadn't expected to find anyone in the common room that late at night, but here was Hermione asleep on an overstuffed sofa. Ron crept across the room to where she lay, and began to run up and down her body with his eyes.

Damn, she is sexy, he thought, drool running down his mouth.

That she was. Ron had always considered Hermione pretty, but by the age of sixteen she was positively enchanting. Her hair was still brown and curly, but it had grown in such a manner to be gorgeous. Those cinnamon eyes and soft, pink lips made her face the pure radiance of beauty. And her body, oh, her body. Ron could go on forever about it. Under normal circumstances, no one would notice her body under the thick drapery of robes, but to those select few who saw her otherwise, it was stunning. She was tall and slender, and every curve of her body was perfect. Her massive breasts were perfectly shaped, and many Gryffindor boys had been guilty of peeking down her blouse on occasion, Ron included. Long, toned legs protruded from beneath her skirt, attached to the most wonderful hips that Ron enjoyed to watch sway back and forth as she walked. Hermione was the idol of most of Hogwarts's teenage boys, and the envy of all the girls.

Despite the fact Ron was turned on by Hermione's blossoming body just like every other hormone-driven boy in the school, he was able to see past it all into what lay beneath the skin. Hermione was a kind, loving, helpful, loyal friend and she meant more to Harry and Ron than any other woman in the world. Ever the perceptive, Hermione was always on top of things and had been by their side through every obstacle they had faced through the years. She had skill, determination, beauty, love, loyalty, and a will to help others in need. These were all the things that Ron loved about her, the things that had made him fall in love with her. It was his secret dream for Hermione to feel the same way about him, for them to get married and have children, but her knew it was just a dream. He seriously doubted a gorgeous young woman like her would ever go for plain, old, boring Ron. She probably liked Harry, just like a hundred other girls in that school, because he was everything that Ron wasn't: brave, daring, athletic, charming, and good-looking. Nevertheless, Ron continued to admire Hermione from afar, dreaming, hoping, and fantasizing. There was always hope, right?

Now, as he looked down upon Hermione's sleeping form, he wanted so much to just lean over and kiss her, wishing that she might wake up and kiss him back, saying she loved him just like he loved her, but he knew that was a foolish desire.

Just then she stirred on the sofa and her eyes fluttered open.

"Ron?" she yawned. "Did I fall asleep? What time is it?"

Ron helped her sit up.

"It's after midnight, 'Mione," he answered. "I think you got tired doing all this work."

She glanced at the mess on the table.

"Oh no!" she cried. "I've got to finish my essay!"

"Hermione," Ron said softy. "It's Friday. That essay's not due until next week. Leave it. You need to go to bed."

She opened her mouth as if to protest but the look on Ron's face stopped her.

"Alright," she said. "Have it your way."

She got up, smoothed out her skirt, and made for the girls' dormitory.

"Goodnight, Ronald," she called before climbing the stairs.

"Night, 'Mione," Ron said.

He sighed to himself before returning to his own dormitory.

***

"Hey Ron, I've got a bone to pick with you," Harry grumbled as he made up his bed the next morning.

"What's wrong, mate?" Ron yawned.

Harry threw an Advanced Charms book in his face.

"What are all your school books doing under my bed? And why do they all have Hermione's named written all in them with little hearts around it?"

Ron blushed the color of his hair.

"Sorry, mate," he said.

Harry fixed his eyes on him.

"You didn't answer my question. Why is Hermione's name written in it?"

Ron didn't answer, but instead concentrated on repositioning his pillow.

"Wise up, Harry," Seamus chuckled. "The lad is head over heels for her!"

"Shut up!" Ron snapped. "I am not!"

"Sure," Seamus teased. "I'm sure her name just wrote itself."

Dean and Neville began to laugh as well.

"Not that I blame you," Seamus continued. "That Hermione is a fine girl."

Ron's face was growing redder.

"Sod off, Seamus," Ron hissed.

Seamus simply continued to laugh to himself.

Ron returned to his cleaning, but felt Harry's eyes still on him.

"What?" he said hotly.

"Is it true?" Harry inquired. "I mean, do you really have a thing for Hermione?"

"Of course not!" he said, drawing himself to up. "What would make you think that?"

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Oh come off it, Ron. Do you know how you act around her? Always making goo-goo eyes and drooling all over your books when you watch her in class? Not to mention that big picture of her you keep under your pillow."

Ron glared at him, but did not reply. Instead, he grabbed his cloak and took off out of the room.

***

Ron returned an hour later after a long walk around the lake to find the common room practically empty except for a few first years and... Hermione. She was sitting on the same couch as the night before, but this time she was writing diligently on a piece of parchment. He strolled over behind her, assuming she was still working on essays, and intending to invite her to go to the lake with him.

"What're you doing, Hermione?" he asked from over the top of the sofa.

"Writing to Viktor," she replied, not looking up.

Ron was instantly filled with jealousy and anger.

"Krum?" he said. "What happened to your essay?"

"Already done," she said, pointing to a neat stack of parchment on the table.

Ron shook his head and sat down beside her.

"I just don't get why you keep writing to that lughead anyway," Ron snorted.

Hermione glared up at him.

"He is not a lughead, Ronald! He happens to be a very intelligent young man."

Ron rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, and I'm surprised that his broom can haul that big, egotistical head of his around!"

"Ron!" Hermione snapped. "That was extremely rude! He is nothing of the sort. Just because you are jealous of him doesn't mean you can insult him!"

"Jealous?" Ron barked. "You think I'm jealous of a spoiled rat like him?"

"How dare you, Ronald!" she hollered, jumping up and knocking her letter to the floor. He stood up as well, and they were now both fuming and glaring at eachother. The first years cowered in the corner of the common room.

"You sure as hell act like!" she hissed. "Admit it! Admit you're jealous!"

"NEVER!" Ron roared. "I'd never be jealous of Krum. What's so special about a self-important jerk like him anyway?"

"He's kind, intelligent, handsome, charming, and he understands me, unlike you!"

At that moment the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and Harry and Ginny entered, hand in hand. Ron and Hermione, in their rages, did not notice them. The couple was instantly made aware of the fight, and backed against the wall to avoid confrontation. Both Ron and Hermione's faces were now flushed with anger.

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" Ron hollered. "HOW CAN ANYONE UNDERSTAND SOMEONE AS COMPLICATED AS YOU?"

Hermione had fire in her eyes.

"WELL IF YOU JUST TOOK A MINUTE TO LISTEN TO ME YOU MIGHT!"

"LISTEN TO WHAT?" he screamed. "ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR RAMBLINGS?"

"RON! WILL YOU STOP BEING SO IMPOSSIBLE?" Hermione yelled as loud as she could. "WHY DO YOU ACT THIS WAY? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"

At these words, Ron's expression completely changed. His hunched shoulders suddenly lowered and his hands, which had been balled into fists, unfolded. Some of the redness drained from his face as he looked intently on Hermione. She was still in a rage, but he could see in her eyes that she wanted an answer. What did he want from her? He knew exactly what. It was what he had wanted from her for years. He focused one her soft, pink lips. A kiss. That's all he wanted. Just one kiss.

"This," he said softly, coming nearer to her.

He leaned in quickly and placed his mouth over hers, which was slightly open from her screaming. The kiss was quick, but it was deep and satisfying. He had what he wanted for that brief moment before he pulled away, not believing what he had just done. His face flushed a deep red again, but this time it was out of embarrassment rather than anger. Hermione's eyes were wide with shock as he drew back, and her mouth was still agape. It didn't take her long to recover, but Ron did not want to stick around for her when she came to. He turned and quickly dashed off to his dormitory, leaving three baffled people behind him.

"Well," Harry spoke from his place against the wall. "There's something you don't see every day."

Hermione turned to look at him and Ginny, her hand over her mouth.

"W-why did he do that?" she asked in a shaky voice.

Harry shook his head.

"Isn't it obvious, Hermione? He's in love with you."

Hermione gasped, and began to cry frantically. Ginny went over and tried to comfort her, patting her shoulder and offering words of help.

"It all m-makes sense n-now," she choked. "He w-was jealous of V-viktor, j-just like I w-wanted. He l-loves me! I c-can't believe it."

"Hermione, are you saying you love him too?" Ginny asked.

She could seem to speak, so she nodded.

"Merlin's beard," Ginny said, looking to Harry. "All in a matter of time."

Hermione continued to sob, and Ginny helped her to sit back down on the sofa.

"I'll stay with Hermione," she said to Harry. "You go talk to Ron."

Harry nodded and hurried up the staircase.

***

Ron was lying out on his bed with the curtains drawn when Harry entered. He could tell by the heavy breathing that was drifting out of the four-poster. Most knew it unwise to disturb Ron Weasley when he was in this state, but it was necessary for Harry to talk to him. He pulled back the curtains to see Ron on his side with his back to Harry.

"Ron?"

"I don't want to talk about it, Harry," Ron said coolly.

Harry sighed,

"We need to talk about it, Ron. Why did you kiss Hermione?"

"I don't know," Ron grumbled

"Yes you do," Harry said. "You just don't want to tell me."

Ron remained silent.

"Come on, mate," Harry persisted. "No one else is here to find out."

After a moment of brief silence, Ron rolled over, looking slightly annoyed.

"Fine," he said. "I'll tell you. Seamus was right. I'm over the moon in love with Hermione and I wanted so bad to kiss her. So I did. There, you happy?"

Harry gave him an "I told you so" look and laughed.

"I'd be a lot happier if you'd go tell Hermione that," he replied.

"Not a chance," Ron said, turning to lie on his back. "She already doesn't love me back, and now she's going to hate me for what I did."

Harry laughed harder.

"Come on now, Ron!" he exclaimed. "Don't tell me you're that thick. Of course, Hermione loves you! She just said so downstairs."

Ron eyed him curiously.

"You're making that up," he stated flatly.

"I swear I'm not," Harry said. "If you go down there now you'll find her crying over you. I don't know which one of you is crazier in love. Go and see her, Ron."

Ron's face was strangely blank, and Harry could tell he was thinking hard. To his dismay, Ron shook his head and drew the curtains closed once more.

"I just can't, Harry. You wouldn't understand. Besides, I seriously doubt she loves me the way I do her."

Harry threw up his arms in disgust.

There's just no talking to this guy, he thought.

So, realizing that Ron was not going to listen to him, he returned to the common room to find that Hermione had stopped crying, and she and Ginny were whispering back and forth. When they heard him enter, Hermione looked up hopefully, but when she saw Harry was alone her face fell. She had apparently been expecting Ron to come down.

"So where is he?" Ginny demanded.

"He refused to come down," Harry sighed. "He wouldn't listen to me."

Ginny's expression became angry.

"We'll see about that," she said. "He will come down here or I'll have his head mounted on the wall!"

She stormed off up the boys' staircase, leaving Hermione and Harry alone.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Why didn't you just tell Ron you loved him?" he asked.

She buried her face in her hands.

"I was afraid he wouldn't feel the same way?"

Harry laughed yet again.

"Are you nuts, Hermione? You've seen the way he acts around you. And besides, most of Hogwarts male population had got their eye on you. What makes you think Ron would be any different?"

She stared at him quizzically.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Harry. Why would guys like me?"

Harry popped himself on the head in frustration.

"Hermione! You're gorgeous! Have you taken a look in the mirror lately? I think you and Ginny ought to enter a beauty contest together. It would be a landslide victory for the both of you!"

Hermione was about to speak again, but suddenly a loud "OOOWWW!" could be heard coming from the boys' dormitory, and a moment later Ginny appeared, tugging Ron along by his ear.

"Hush, Ron!" she snapped. "I don't care what you say, you and Hermione are going to have a talk!"

She forced him to sit down in a chair across from Hermione and motioned for Harry to get up.

"Now," she commanded. "I want you two to tell each other how you really feel, and no skipping on the details. If you two aren't a couple by the end of the night I will have you both locked in a broom closet. I'm going to be right over there, watching, so no funny business!"

She grabbed a bewildered Harry by the arm and pulled him to the corner.

Ah, he thought. I love a woman who takes charge.

Once Ginny and Harry had left, Ron immediately tried to cover up his actions.

"Hermione, I'm sorry-"

"Why did you kiss me, Ron?" she interrupted.

"What?"

"I want to know why you kissed me. I mean, one minute you're yelling your head off at me and the next you're trying to snog me. Why?"

Ron could not speak. Here was Hermione, calm as could be about what had happened, and it was all he could do to not run away in embarrassment.

"I-, I-," he stammered.

She grabbed his hand, causing him to jump slightly and his heart was racing even faster. He cleared his throat and drew up every ounce of courage he had left.

"I'm in love with you, Hermione."

She gazed at him intently for a moment, and then she did the last thing he ever expected her to do. She kissed him deeply on the mouth. He hesitated at first, but gave into the kiss, and it quickly became more passionate as Hermione moved to sit on top of him. The held the kiss for several minutes, but soon had to part for breath.

"Whoa," Ron panted. "What was that for?"

Hermione smiled.

"Don't be thick, Ron. I love you too. I'm still upset about your behavior earlier, but Viktor couldn't hold a candle to you."

"Do you mean that, Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Yes, Ron, I do."

He beamed at her.

"What do you say to Hogsmeade next weekend?" he said.

"Sounds great," she replied.

They exchanged another kiss, which, to their annoyance, was disrupted.

"Alright, now that's more like it," Ginny giggled. "What did I tell you?"

Ron and Hermione both rolled their eyes.

"Can it, Ginny," Ron said.

Come on, Gin," Harry said. "Let's leave the two lovebirds alone for a while."

He grabbed her hand and tugged her out through the portrait hole.

Ron watched them go and then turned back to Hermione.

"So," he said. "Does this mean you won't be writing to Viktor anymore?"

"Of course not," she giggled.

"What?" Ron exclaimed. "But I though-"

"Oh hush, Ron," Hermione laughed. "I'm just joking. There was never anything between Viktor and I. We're just kind of like pen pals now. No need to get all worked up."

She stroked his hand gently while he gave her an annoyed look.

"Say," he said. "It's a beautiful day outside. How about a swim?"

She smiled and kissed him.

"Can I take that as a yes?" he asked.

"Absolutely," she said, jumping up and heading for her dormitory.

As Ron headed for his own room, he smirked devilishly at the thought of Hermione in a bikini. He wondered if maybe he could talk her into a game of strip poker afterwards, but he knew Hermione wasn't that kind of girl. Even so, he loved her more than anything, and he was glad he finally had her love in return.