Ron and Hermione

 Here's a fic I wrote for an exchange on livejournal. [btw, if you have a livejournal you should really checkout rwhgficexchange it's only r/hr fics and on the same order hpgwficexchange is the same for h/g.]

 anyways...this fic is of course r/hr and also has some h/g in it. hope you like!

  To sit down on the train that day brought sheer happiness to Hermione. Of course, she would miss Hogwarts during the time she spent away from it for Christmas break- but not that much. Her mind raced through all the things that could happen at the Weasley's.  And she grinned. To think, her friendship with Ron had been increasing each day...Oh, how much she just wanted to shout her growing love out loud for everyone to hear! But all of her thoughts shattered to the ground when she needed them the most.  Ronald and Harry entered the cabin where she was sitting alone. As they laughed with one another, she lost all confidence, and instead murmered a quick hello and flipped open a book.

She read for what seemed like forever, until her eyes were blurring beyond belief, but she hadn't read more than a single page. All she could think about was how she could confess her love to Ron, but unfortunately, had gotten no where.  She glanced up to see that her two friends were just minding their own buisness nibbling on their sweets, in the midst of chocolate frog, licorice wand, and drewbal packages. Ron noticed her watching him. He quickly grabbed all the wrapings arround him and shoved them down the side of the seat, attempting to tidy up. He smiled, then patted the seat next to him,  motioning for her to scoot closer. Hermione's heart skipped a beat, as if she had just missed a step down the stairs, as slowly scooched over. 

"I never did get the chance to ask...How are you?" He asked quietly.

"oh, um, I'm fine. I'm, uh, Looking forward to our little time off, actually."

For the first time, Hermione was actually feeling nervous about talking to Ron. She felt a longing for something to happen between them, that sort of blocked her ability to speak. But, she knew she had to do something, or it would just remain a longing forever.

"Cold, isn't it?" She said in a sweet, quiet voice. She rubbed her arms, as if were cold.

"Here." he said as he put his arm around her.  He pulled her close, and she didn't object. Hermione's heart started to beat faster, and faster. It felt so good to be wraped in his arms. She layed her head on his shoulder and felt her eyes start to close. As she drifted off to a dreamy state  she wondered about how Harry would take it-Her being with Ron that is- but ultimately, she really could care less what he thought.

Little did she know,  Harry thought it was sweet. He glanced over at the newly formed couple and smiled. Deep down inside him, he longed to have something like that with the girl he had been dreaming of for longest time. Ron's sister- Ginny. He imagined her beautiful Red hair, and her adorable freckles and blushed. If only he could have her in his arms, just as Ron had Hermione. He stared into the distance, deep in thought.

"Hi, Harry." said a passing voice from outside the cabin.

It was her. His hands felt clammy, and he felt a drop of sweat dripping down his forehead.

"oh, erm, hi-" but by the time he reached the 'erm', she had already passed the doors, and had continued down the hall.

Stupid! He thought. I've seen her a million times passing in school. Why can't i muster up a simple 'Hi'? He thought about the burrow, that he was heading to this very moment. He imagined himself and Ginny sitting together by the warmth of the fire, and as she would look up he could see himself move closer and touch her lips for the first time. Oh how that would feel! He let out a sigh, hoping with all his heart that the scene wouldn't just be stuck in his mind for much longer. If only something might happen between them at the burrow,  that, he thought, would be the most wonderful Christmas ever.

***

It was snowing heavily outside as it neared Christmas time, but the Inside fire kept the freezing out. Harry could barely keep his soup from dripping all over himself at the dinner table. He was sitting accross from Ginny and  was more nervous than ever. Ron was sitting next to him, and was deeply involved in Hermione. They sat accross from each other as well, and as they sipped their soup they would stare at each other and smile in between bites. Under the table, their feet were entwined with each other as they played footsie. Harry wished he could be doing the same. He lifted up his foot and moved it around under the table as if he were involved in a game as well. His foot striked something - or rather someone, and Ginny looked up suddenly. He glared into her eyes as they widened . She blushed, bit her lip and then rapidly looked down to focus back on her food. Harry did the same.

The awkwardness stopped short, as Fred and George burst into the room. They were carrying a large barrel of butterbeer. Mrs. Weasley stood up to object.

"Mum!" they said in unison.

"It's Christmas eve!" Fred said.

George added, "It's time for us to get together and have some-"

"Holiday celebration!" Fred chimed in loudly to help George complete his sentence.

"Oh, alright. Be sure not to drop it boys. Here. Set it over here. Oh wheres- Arthur! Come, come help them set it down."

The four at the table looked up at the the barrel. They looked very excited to see it. Ron and Hermione went through the doors into the kitchen to wash out there dishes. Harry and Ginny were left at the table feeling uncomfortable to be alone with each other. Harry finally got up the confidence to say something.

"Oh, erm, Ginny. Would you like some butterbeer?" He asked.

"Oh, Harry I ate so much soup, I don't think I could drink anything else."

"Oh, um, alright."

 He got up, and was sure that must have meant something. Why else wouldn't she want me to get her some, he thought. He stood up and walked over to where the butterbeer barrel was. He felt completely depressed now. Ron, on the other hand, looked like he felt exactly the opposite. He had just walked through the doors from the kitchen to where Harry was standing. He had a faint outline of lipstick smeared all over his mouth.

"Harry!" He said positively over-joyed. He moved closer to him and said in a lowered tone, so not to be heard by others, "I did it! I finally went for it. You know, Hermione really knows what she's doing with those lips." He laughed.

"Oh, thats, um, fantastic." He said. Ron was completely oblivious to Harry's lack of enthusiasm. He just walked away with a really large grin on his face to get a butterbeer for himself and Hermione.  Harry glanced back over to the table, and saw Hermione talking to Ginny. She looked as though she were talking a million miles a minute, and had the same overly large grin that Ron had on her face. Ginny excitedly listened. Harry got his butterbeer  and went to sit down in a chair way over away  from the kitchen and watch the fire flicker.

Why? he thought. Why is Ron getting all of this and I get nothing? He really was trying not to be jealous, but he couldn't help it. He sat in the chair for the longest time, unaware of what the  rest of the world was doing, thinking.

After an hour or two, everything had been cleaned up and the whole family seemed to have disappeared. Ron and Hermione were sitting at the table next to each other. They had been talking for a while, but now, there actions consisted of no talking. Hermione had moved over to sit on his lap. They were now deeply tangled up in each other. Harry, still in his chair, still had not finished his butterbeer. He watched as Hermione and Ron lovingly snogged, then sipped the last drops, and turned back to the fire. He layed his head down on the arm of his chair and closed his eyes and attempted to fall asleep.

He opened them, and some time had gone by, but he hadn't gotten an ounce of sleep. Ron was sleeping soundly on the couch accross from Harry's chair, and Hermione lay with him wrapped up, asleep in his arms. Oh, how Harry envied their relationship. He glanced at the clock and it was a quarter to 1 in the morning. He couldn't believe how awake he felt at this hour. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Sure enough, like an answer to his hopes and prayers, it was Ginny. She walked over and sat down on the arm of Harry's chair.

"Oh, hi." He said. suprised that he had actually gotten the words out this time.

"Hi Harry, you're still up too? I cannot get any sleep as hard as I try."

"Yea, erm, I'm going into the kitchen to put this glass back, would you like anything?"

To Harry's suprise Ginny replied, "Well actually, I came down here craving some hot chocolate. If you'd  like we can make some together."

Harry's Heart leaped. He couldn't imagine replying with anything other than Yes.

They walked into the kitchen together and as Harry put his cup in the sink, Ginny grabbed the package of Hot Chocolate mix.

"Oh, I really can't wait until I am allowed to do magic outside of school Harry." Ginny said. "This is really quite...messy." She flicked chocolate powder in Harry's face and laughed. Harry felt himself loosen up as he grabbed some chocolate powder out of the package and flicked it at her. They both laughed uncontrollably, and flicked the powder for what seeemed like forever. They opened up a new package after all the old powder was gone, to finish their hot chocolate.

Back in the room where Ron and Hermione were still sleeping, Ginny quietly went over by the fire and sat on the floor. Harry followed her lead.

"Mmm, this is good Harry. And there was no magic involved!" She giggled and they both took a sip. They continued to talk and sip and started up some really good conversations about magic and quidditch and how much Snape's butt moved back and fourth when he walked. They laughed and the hours passed. The clock chimed 2 a.m, then 3 a.m. and they were still talking. Harry felt so much more comfortable around her than ever before. When Ginny brought up the subject of relationships, Harry felt himself tense up.

"Oh Harry, look at Ron. He looks so adorable with Hermione." She said. She continued quietly, "I wish I could have that.."

Harry said, "Well, erm-"

Ginny cut him off, "...with YOU Harry."

Harry blushed. He could really feel the moment, the snow outside, with the warm fire inside. It was cozy. --It was just right.

Harry just went for it. "You do." He said, and without hesitation he leaned in and kissed her. His heart leaped higher than ever before, and what he didn't know, is that Ginny's leaped even higher. They stayed with their lips touching for a moment then pulled out. They both smiled at each other, then kissed some more. They went on for awhile, together in their own little world.

When Harry layed down on the floor, Ginny did as well right up next to him. He grabbed the blanket from the chair above him and pulled it on top of them. He kissed her one last time and then drifted off to sleep. Hermione opened one eye from accross the room and saw the two. She was as happy for them as she was for herself and Ron.  And as she and Harry both drifted off to sleep they both thought in unison, I dont think this night could get any better.