"What is?" Ron asked leaning over her shoulder.
"Potions" Hermione replied staring at her friend, about a week ago she had begun to notice how tall he was becoming, something that made her blush with embarrassment whenever he was close to her.
"Don't tell me your having trouble with homework" said Ron in mock horror.
Hermione gave him one of her looks, "Maybe," she said evasively. Ron flashed her a smug grin.
"Here lets see if I can help" he said sitting down next to her. Even though Hermione's mind was on her homework she couldn't help but notice how close Ron's knee was to her own. "Lets see" he said, "remind me again, what exactly is our homework?"
"Don't tell me you haven't started yet" said Hermione clearly scandalized, Ron gave her a guilty grin before quickly looking back to the book he had been studying.
Hermione sighed and settled back into the common room couch. "Our homework is to write about the effects of love potions and the reasons they were outlawed" she recited flawlessly. "I'm almost finished, it's just the last bit I'm stuck on."
"What bits that?" asked Ron, Hermione blushed.
"Well I have to compare the artificial feelings stimulated by a love potion to real love" she said blushing more profusely. "I'm fine writing about the artificial feelings of a love potion because Snape explained all that in class, but when it comes to writing about true love I'm�. a little inexperienced" Hermione finished lamely, she could have kicked herself for saying it out loud but luckily Ron seemed to have understood what she meant. Hermione was especially glad that he hadn't started laughing or making jokes like Fred or George would have surely done, instead Ron remained serious and composed.
"Well lets see" he said putting down the book he was holding and looking into her eyes. Oh God, his eyes were beautiful they were such a calming shade of blue. Ron continued to look at her and she almost forgot why they were sitting together, but when he spoke she was reminded, "love is not only loving someone for who they are, but what you are when you're with them."
"Right" said Hermione her heart skipping a beat, what he had said was so romantic. Hermione felt she had to reply, she softly said "Love is a sense of warmth, not in your head but your heart."
"Absolutely" said Ron his eyes fixed upon her own "love is friendship only with more affection and passion" he volunteered all the while not shifting his gaze.
Hermione felt her heart racing and she was finding it hard to breathe. "Love is pure faith and harmony, in amidst a busy world" she said, wondering why she hadn't noticed before now the way Ron's hair cutely flopped into his eyes.
Ron looked as though he was deciding something and when he spoke his tone was so gentle it almost made Hermione start, "When your in love sometimes kisses are the only way to say it all." Then without warning Ron leaned over and softly kissed her and suddenly she found herself kissing him back, running her fingers through his hair, silently making him understand what she felt for him. When the kiss ended she found with some surprise that her lips were tingling and her heart pounding, they sat there like that for some time, simply smiling at each other and enjoying the moment.
Hermione could have stayed where she was all-night, not speaking or moving, but when she spoke her words made them both smile. "Wow, so this is love."