Chapter 4

"So … erm … yeah." Ron blushed crimson at his inability to string two words together in a sentence. He suddenly became very interested in his shoes and had Hermione not been a bundle of nerves herself, she would have laughed.

"You have any … idea what that git was talking about?" Ron shook his head 'no'. "Come on, let's get ourselves out of here then." With a defiant look, Hermione strode over to the door and whipped out her wand. Trying the door she found it locked, as she had expected. "Alohamora." Nothing happened. Slightly more frustrated, Hermione tried again, "Alohamora." Nothing happened. "ALOHAMORA!" Nothing happened.

"Umm … 'Mione? Nothing's happening."

"DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT RONALD?!" Realizing how she'd sounded, Hermione screwed up her face as if she had tasted something sour and sank to the ground, leaning up against the door. "Sorry Ron … I didn't --"

"It's fine, 'Mione." He smiled as he joined her on the floor; he could see his Hermione peaking through amidst the makeup, trying to fight it's way out. But he could also see her being pushed back down with a vengeance. "I guess we're not getting out of here anytime soon, then."

"No, I suppose not."

Ron sighed; he certainly didn't get anywhere with Hermione by changing himself. Hell, he'd probably gotten farther away, considering they could barely have a conversation about anything real anymore. He was defeated; that was all there was to it. He needed to just tell her everything and get it over with, then she'd tell him that she just wanted to be friends and at least they'd go back to being friends. Because he couldn't go on acting like something he wasn't. He couldn't go on wondering whether or not he'd ever have her. He couldn't go on lying to her and Harry like this. He just couldn't go on living … well, living this way.

"Hermione, I … umm, I need to tell you something."

"I suppose I have something to confess as well, Ron."

Ron took a deep breath and stared at his shoes for a moment. Suddenly, finding his Gryffindor courage, he looked up and said, "I love you Hermione," only to find that Hermione was looking at him and had said, "I love you Ron," at the exact same time.

"What?!" they both yelled simultaneously.

"You first," Hermione stated stubbornly. Ron, feeling slightly encouraged at Hermione's words, cupped her face in his large, callused hands. She gave him a confused expression as the corners of his mouth curved up into a smile. After a moment of hesitation, Ron leaned forward and kissed her gently.

He pulled back, grinning like an idiot, but seeing the scared look in Hermione's eyes, he came crashing back down to earth. What were the chances that she was going to like him … hell, she was probably disgusted. "I … I love you, 'Mione. I always have. I know you don't feel the same way, I wish you did, but I'd rather know you as my friend than not know you at all."

Ron turned away, staring at the wall in front of him. But Hermione put her hand on his cheek and pulled his face back to hers, kissing him sweetly. "Who said I didn't feel the same way?" she asked coyly when she had pulled out of the kiss.

Ron gave her a confused, hesitant look. "Do you mean –"

"Yes, Ron. I've loved you since the day I met you. Only … I never thought you felt the same way, so I didn't want to tell you."

He laughed heartily and Hermione's eyes started to well with tears. "Merlin! I thought you were the one that didn't feel the same way. That's why I never told you. I was so bloody scared that you'd …" Ron trailed off as he started to stare at his shoes.

"That I'd what Ron?"

"That … that you'd … reject me or something. And then I wouldn't even have a friendship." Hermione chuckled, shaking her head.

"I would never reject you Ron … but … if we take this step, we're crossing the line from friends to something more. And we can't ever go back to the same way we were if we do." Hermione's voice sounded sad, hopeful, and scared all at the same time. Ron cupped her face in his hands and smiled.

"I think we've already crossed that line. But …" Ron's smile fell. "If you want to go back to the way we were before … I guess … I can … who am I kidding? I won't be able to handle that and I know it. But I can't push you into doing something you don't want to do." He let his hands fall back into his lap. Hermione smiled and took his hands in hers.

"I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page." She smiled warmly and ran her hands through his hair. Ron looked up and, meeting her gaze, grinned like a fool.

"So, if we're on the same page, does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?" Ron asked, his grin melting into a sheepish smile.

"Of course I will, Ron." Hermione smiled before leaning forward to kiss Ron.

"Want to go for a walk?"

"Umm, Ron, we can't get out, remember?" Hermione said with a giggle.

"Oh, right."

Two Hours Later

"Oy! Are you two an item yet so that I can let you out?"

Ron and Hermione unglued themselves for long enough to yell, "Yes!" back to Harry. They heard the door unlock, but not open. Yet, they weren't paying much attention to anything except each other.

"I'm not taking the chance of coming in, in case you two are snogging each other's brains out. I'd rather not see that. I'll see you in the Common Room." They heard Harry laugh heartily and his footsteps progressively get softer as he walked away.

"We should probably go down to dinner, yeah?" Hermione asked softly.

"I think a stop in the Gryffindor Tower would be good, considering our appearance," Ron answered with a chuckle. They both blushed and laughed as they looked down at their rumpled clothes. Hermione's hair was back to frizzy and Ron's was sticking out at all sorts of strange angles, which was understandable considering how many times Hermione had run her hands through it.

"I think you're right."

The Great Hall

"Hello, Harry!" Hermione said cheerily as she and Ron sat down across from their best friend at the Gryffindor Table, having fixed their hair and clothes.

"Hey mate."

"So, Hogwarts' newest couple finally came out of the broom closet long enough to eat, eh?"

"Harry!" Hermione leaned over the table to smack Harry upside the head. "If I do recall, it was you who locked us in the bloody Room of Requirement in the first place. Not that I'm complaining mind you." Hermione's eyes widened, as she realized what she had said, and she promptly turned a lovely shade of red.

"I do believe, that you two owe me a 'thank you'. Come on now, you can do it. Say it with me 'thank you Harry'. Come on." Harry, grinning madly, was thoroughly enjoying this.

"Thank you Harry," Hermione and Ron repeated in monotone voices, both rather red.

"I knew you could, I like the way you say that." Harry dissolved into a fit of laughter as Hermione and Ron shot him looks that could kill. "You'd think two people would be happier after snogging each other senseless."

"Harry, what were you saying about Ron and Hermione snogging?" Lavender asked. It would, undoubtedly, be all over the school before they fell asleep that night.

Hermione groaned and smacked Harry again, just for good measure. She'd never live it down in her dormitory. While Ron, on the other hand, just continued grinning like a maniac.

A/N: OMG! I am so so so sorry! I am appalled with myself at how long it took me to update! I'm really angry with myself for making you all wait so long. I feel like a horrible author! shakes head sheepishly The reason for it is because I was having a terrible case of writer's block with this story. I've decided that there will be one more chapter and an epilogue. I'm also sorry that this was so short, but I didn't want to go into the next part because that all belongs in the next chapter. Furthermore, I'm sorry that I only alluded to Ron and Hermione's snogging session, but I didn't really care to write about it, so I'm sure you can all think up something. Use your imaginations! LOL. Please review, even though I'm a horrible person for not updating. I promise I will update this by the end of next weekend. If I don't you can tar and feather me.

Aleskris: Thanks so much! I know its short, but I intended this to only be a short story and I don't really have time to expand it. However, I am writing an AU about Ron and Hermione. Its not posted yet, but it will be as soon as I finish "I'm Still Here", so look for that. Merci, merci!

Bhekie: Yay, I'm glad you liked it. Yeah, as you probably noticed, their issues about changing themselves haven't been resolved yet. So look to the next chapter for that! Merci!

Beckysue2: Yay! It makes me happy that people liked it even though it wasn't the original plan. Haha, I tried that too, but I guess we just don't have talent like Harry, eh? LOL. Merci!

Disclaimer: When everything seems to be going great, your world comes to a screeching halt and you find out that you, indeed, do not own Harry Potter. Damn.