Cookie Dough

"Cookie Dough"

Hermione and Ron walked down the hallway to Hermione's kitchen.

"You know, I've never done this before."

"It's easy. I'll show you."

He laughed. "Thanks for inviting me."

"It's quite alright. It's nice having a- friend around." She turned away, blushing.

Ron cleared his throat. "So how do we do this, anyway?"

"Well, first we need the recipe, silly," she said as she pulled an overstuffed folder out from a cupboard.

"Then what?"

Hermione put on an expression of mock-concentration. "Hmm, let's see, then we'll need the ingredients, the measuring cups, and. . . yes! The oven." She smiled teasingly. "Don't you know anything about baking?"

"Honestly, no," said Ron, running his fingers through his flame-red hair. "At the Burrow, either my mum bakes the cookies, or she just conjures them up."

"I can see we have a lot to cover." Hermione smiled. "Here, how does chocolate chip sound?"

"Delicious." He laughed again.

"Well, we'd better get started."

. . .

"I never knew the dough tasted so good!"

"Well, it only comes with actually baking the cookies," said Hermione, licking off her spoon. As she stuck it back into the remnants of the dough, she was seized with a mad idea. She scooped up a spoonful of dough and hit Ron in the face with it.

"What the-"

"It becomes you." She laughed.

Ron's look of surprised indignation turned to one of mischief. Moments later, Hermione was covered in cookie dough as well. Laughing as one, the pair attacked each other, shrieking when hit, cheering when splattering their targets.

"We look f-frightful!" gasped Hermione, tears rolling down her face. "Let's get cleaned up." She stood and crossed the kitchen, grabbing a rag from under the sink.

"Here." She sat back down and wiped the cookie dough slowly from his face, her brow furrowed. Ron's throat felt dry as she leaned closer to get a spot on his forehead.

"My turn." He took the cloth from her hand and began to clean off her face. She wiggled. "Hold still!"

"Sorry." She stopped, and while he wiped away the cookie dough on her nose, she stared avidly at him, drinking in every freckle on his face.

Their noses brushed as he wiped her cheek clean.

She heard him swallow as his hand stopped moving and dropped to her knee, their faces still touching. Hermione slowly reached out her hand and took his, and she could feel it shaking. He moved an inch closer, and their lips brushed. He stopped, then hesitantly pressed his mouth to hers. For a moment she sat there, tasting the cookie dough still on his lips, then slowly kissed him back.

He pulled her closer, running one hand through her hair, while the other held her waist. The hand in her hair ran down her shoulders like a spider, resting on her lower back as she shifted into his lap.

Slowly, as though preparing her, he leaned forward, causing her to lie back until her hair spread out upon the table. Hermione slid her hands from his chest to his back, allowing him to press against her, their kiss never breaking.

Just as they could not get any closer, a small beep echoed through the kitchen. Hermione pulled herself away ever so slowly, wetting her lips to speak.

"The cookies are done."

Ron pulled away as well, offering his hand to help her stand. She took it, taming her hair as she crossed the kitchen to the oven and took out the cookies. Carefully she picked one up and broke it in two. She walked back to Ron, her hand outstretched.

"Here, try it," she said, and sat down next to him. "Careful, it's hot."

He took a small bite, then closed his eyes. "Perfect."

"Yes, it is good, isn't it?"

He grinned. "I- meant you."

"Oh." Hermione's face turned beet red, but she didn't look away. "Thank you."

. . .

"Hermione, Ron, these are delicious!"

Ron and Hermione smiled as Mr. and Mrs. Granger ate.

"Ron, I hear this is your first time baking cookies the muggle way. Sorry if our slower methods aren't to your liking."

"No, not at all," said Ron, slipping his hand into Hermione's underneath the table. She smiled at him.

He returned the grin in response. "Cooking them was my favorite part."

The End