What You See Is What You Get...

That evening when everyone met back at the Leaky Cauldron, there was much excitement about Sirius and Hermione's baby brother or sister. Percy decided to show up and look supportive of Sirius ("I knew he was a good chap all along."), most likely to try to get back on Hermione's good side. But everyone was so happy, not even Fred or George made any sarcastic comments about it.

Later that evening, after Mrs. Weasley had shooed everyone up to their rooms to get ready for bed, Ron and Harry were discussing the day's events.

"Right. Enough about me, Ron; what exactly did Hermione have to show you in Flourish and Botts?" Harry asked suggestively.

"Oh, just a bit of porn," Ron answered casually.

"What?! You've got to be joking!"

"No! I'm absolutely serious! There's this hidden room in the back that she broke us into - it takes a special key to get in supposedly - and it's full of smutty books!"

"Smutty?" Harry laughed.

"Oh, come off it, it's just the word Hermione used."

"Right. So you're in the porn section, and?"

"And, well, she rammed me up against all these book shelves and kissing me! Then there was this hidden door that she accidentally pushed us through and we were all of a sudden outside. Then she tore her shirt off! And then along came Hagrid and ruined it all. It was completely mad!"

"I'll say, a bookworm like her doing something like that to you?! Insane!" Ron got up to smack Harry upside the head when the door flew open.

"Harry, I'd like a word."

"Well hello to you too, Luna," Ron said.

"Oh, hi Ron. Having a good chat with Harry are you?"

"Yes, in fact. But I guess that's over for now. Keep it at a PG level, will you Harry?"

"Bugger off, Ron!" Harry snorted as Luna began to lead him by the arm out of the room. Ron went over to his bureau and pulled out some clothes to change into. He was pulling off his shirt when there was another rap-tap-tap at the door.

"Who's there?"

"Hermione."

"Just a min - I mean, come in!" After tossing his shirt on the bed, Ron went to meet her as she shut the door behind her, taking her in his arms and bending slightly over for a kiss. He pulled back and smiled widely at her. "Hi."

Hermione giggled and kissed him again. "Hi yourself."

"You know, I've been thinking about your parents' news all night."

"Yes, and?"

"Well, I think we should make a little baby of our own. What do you think?" he asked as he gently pushed her onto his bed and laid down on top of her, nipping at her ear. Even though she knew he was joking about getting her pregnant, Hermione scooted out from under him.

"That's what I came here to talk to you about, actually," she said, sitting up.

Ron sat up and put his hand on her inner thigh. "Right. So we're not ready for children. But there are ways around that you know." He slid off the bed and onto his knees in front of her, leaning in to catch her lips once more, but what he got was Hermione's hand in his face.

"Ron I'm serious! Can you just stop for one second and listen?" After nodding and trying to apologize with his lips muffled by her hand, Hermione chuckled and took it away from his face.

"C'mon Hermione, I thought you were trying to be serious?"

"I am, I am! Okay, no more being cute for you. Promise?"

"Yes, I pwomise."

"Stop!" Hermione grinned.

"Sowwy."

"Ron, please," she said, the smile fading from her face.

"Sorry. Go on."

"Thank you." She cleared her throat and recomposed herself. "Right. Earlier today I know things got a little... wild in the bookstore but I would like to sort of, settle the terms between you and I before things get carried away. Do you agree? Is that all right?"

Ron thought about this for a moment and realized he hadn't ever actually thought of this part of the relationship he had wanted with her for so long. Settling the terms? What did that mean? he asked himself. "What exactly do you mean by that, Hermione?"

"Well, what are we exactly? Two friends who snog; a couple of people who just happen to find each other attractive; a couple romantically involved; a fling?"

"I thought we were that second to last one there: romantically involved, or whatever. I mean, if that's what you want."

"Yes, yes, of course. I don't take just anyone to the back of Flourish and Blotts, you know," she smirked.

"You mean there's been others that you - well, you know."

Hermione blushed. "No, no. Just,...just you." Ron looked relieved and she continued. "Right. So we're romantically involved. Now the other part of this is, er... to be completely honest..."

"What?"

"Well, it's sort of important to me that, that I not go too far... physically. Not that I don't want to be physical. Especially with you! I mean, yes definitely with you. But just not anything that... er... well I just don't want to have any regrets and -"

"Hermione," Ron said, taking her cheeks in his palms and grinned. "I understand."

"Thanks, Ron."

He kissed her lightly and continued in a joking manor. "I understand that you don't want any hanky panky and that - tha..."But Ron had just remembered the Weasley gene and its effects, and suddenly really didn't want to risk her finding out about it, and his face went blank.

"What?"

"Oh.. er.. nothing. Well glad that that's settled then. Good night Hermione." Ron stood her up, much like she was a doll, pecked her on the forehead and rushed her out of the room. He shut the door on her as she dubiously said good night in return, and plopped back down on his bed, face down into his pillows. After a few moments he turned onto his back and stared up at the ceiling.

Why did he freak out like that? It's not like he was that concerned about it, right? Of course he loved her, but first loves like that are hardly ever the one people end up marrying... right? But that's hardly what Ron wanted to believe. He heaved a sigh and closed his eyes. After a moment of rest his eyes popped wide open.

"Fred, George?"

-POP- -POP-

"Yyyyyyessss?" The two asked, Extended Ears version 3.5 in their hands, giant sneers on their faces, quickly breaking into a roar of laughter.