Through The Years (Ron and Hermione Short Stories)

Late Night Talk

In the process of re-reading the 5th book when this short story happened. It's nothing spectacular, but hey, we can't all be genius writers like Mrs. Rowling.  

"Ron and Hermione's prefect duties also became more and more onerous as Christmas approached...and to patrol the corridors in shifts with Argus Filch." ~ HPOoP  p.451

Because of the fast approaching Christmas season, the prefects had been given extra duties, including but not limited to, decorating the castle and doing late night patrols with Filch.

It was a particularly dark night and Ron and Hermione were on one such patrol on the sixth floor. It was a boring job, although it wouldn't have been so terrible if they hadn't been accompanied by Filch and his orange-eyed cat, Mrs. Norris.

Ron checked his watch. It was nearing one in the morning. Anyone would have to be mental to be wandering the corridors at this hour. After all, Ron gave a huge yawn, why would anyone be lurking around a dark castle when they could be sleeping?

"Hermione," Ron muttered out of the corner of his mouth, "can't we ditch him?" He gestured to the hunched figure of Filch, "I'm exhausted."

Hermione looked as if she was about to argue but a large yawn escaped her before she could say anything. "It's our job as prefects. We can't just abandon it."

"It's stupid." Ron shoved his hands in his pockets moodily.

"It's our responsibility." Hermione huffed back at him.

"You have your teacher's pet reputation to live up to, that's why it's your responsibility." Ron flung at her, "I'm already horrible at everything, nobody cares if I fail at prefect duties too."

This last statement was rather loud causing Filch to glare at them. They lapsed into silence until Filch had moved further along the corridor.

"You're not horrible at everything." Hermione whispered back at him.

"Oh yeah, prove it." Ron glared at her.

"You're great at chess and—

"Chess, yeah, a real life accomplishment there." Ron interrupted her.

"I have more to say if you'd stop complaining for one second."

"Oh"

"And you're incredibly loyal, and funny, even when you don't think you are, you're one of the bravest people I know, you can be really kind when you try. You're amazing at being a good friend, which is more important then how many classes you pass." Hermione finished shortly. Her cheeks flushed as if she really hadn't intended to say all that.

Ron had no answer to this. The tips of his ears glowed red. Did she really think all that about him?

The walked forward in silence, their feet echoing on the stone passage. Their wand-tips made paths of blue light for them in the darkness. Far ahead of them Filch's lantern bobbed back and forth like a glowing orange sphere.

"Thanks."

"What?" Hermione stopped short.

"Thanks for saying all that." Ron murmured, speaking to the floor.

"I just wish you wouldn't tear yourself down all the time." Hermione spoke quietly.

"It's hard when your best friends are a genius and the bloody Boy-Who-Lived." Ron spoke bitterly.

Hermione reached out and touched his arm. She didn't try to comfort him, or reprimand him for his particular choice of words, in fact, she didn't say anything at all. She didn't need to.

Ron couldn't help thinking how wonderful it would be if he just bent down and kissed her... 

What!? 

This was Hermione Granger he was talking about. You couldn't just bend down and kiss Hermione Granger. His sleep-deprived brain must be turning on him. 

But would it really be that bad? 

He'd been having a lot of thoughts like this recently. Especially since she had kissed him on the cheek before his first Quidditch match. Just remembering the feeling of her lips touching his face made him blush.

He stared at her hand that was still resting on his forearm. Was it just him or did she seem to be moving closer? Yep. She was definitely closer then she had been a second ago.

"Hermione..." His voice was oddly strangled.

"Move it or I'll have you both punished! Helping patrol corridors, more like taking a moonlit stroll. If I had my way you'd be  walking behind a cracking whip. That'd keep you movin.' " Filch limped up to them grumbling threats.

Hermione pulled back her hand and the two of them stepped apart.

"We should keep going."

Ron nodded and fell into step beside her.

With a growling Filch leading the way, they moved off down the corridor; the memory of what had almost just happened replaying itself in their minds.