Disclaimer: Still don't own the characters, though I wish I did!

Post Goblet of Fire, Pre Order of the Phoenix.

I am aware that it doesn't quite fit bearing in mind the order of events at the end of GOF and the beginning of OotP but I just felt that it was an idea I couldn't just forget about so please read with an open mind.

Enjoy!

August 21st

There was a chill in the air at The Burrows, Ron and Hermione weren't speaking and Ron blamed Harry for it. They had all been avoiding each other since 'the kiss' the day before. Tension was building and you could literally feel it in the atmosphere of the small family home.

Harry felt guilty for coming between Hermione and Ron, Ron was angry with Harry for ruining his chances and Hermione didn't see what the fuss was about.

Of course, the twins had welcomed the story with open arms and had now found a new way to irritate everybody in the household yet again just by mentioning the odd word or two of what they had heard from the portrait of their great uncle which hung on the wall of the living room.

Ron had isolated himself in his room since the incident that morning and was going to be cautious as to when he would take visits to the bathroom or kitchen depending on where Hermione was at the time.

However, the fourth time he tried to get out he was unfortunate in his timing and exited his room just as Hermione was leaving Ginny's. With a startled look he began to bolt along the landing, trying to pass her as quickly as possible. At the same time, Hermione calculated the moment that he would pass her and promptly placed her left hand on the wall to block his route then backed him into an alcove.

'It was just a kiss, Ron,' Hermione addressed him, planting her right hand firmly against the wall next to his left shoulder, 'just a friendly kiss, not a big deal.'

'No,' Ron shook his head violently, 'you see, it is a big deal to me. People don't kiss other people for no apparent reason, especially like that. Don't you see, Hermione? It must have meant something.'

'There is such a thing as a friendly kiss, Ronald!'

'As I said, not like that! I was there; there was some sort of passion in it! You must have felt it.'

'I didn't, I like someone else for God's sake.'

'Oh, and that makes it all alright, does it?'

'It should for you, yes. You should be happy that I haven't fallen for one of my best friends.'

'Then is there a reason that the kiss happened?'

'It was just friendship, reassurance. It wasn't meant to hurt anyone.'

'Which is why it was in the middle of my living room, where anyone could have walked in.'

'As I recall, that's exactly what happened. We were interrupted in the middle of a private conversation…'

'Conversation!'

'… and now you're embarrassed, blaming Harry when it wasn't his fault and avoiding me so that the same thing doesn't happen again.'

'Oh, forget it Hermione! It's forgotten, it never happened.'

'No! I don't want it thought of having never happened, I want it cleared up so that we can all be friends.'

'Well, maybe after what you've said to me I want it forgotten because it hurts too much for me to think of it.'

'Hurts? Ron, what are you…'

Ron looked at the ground reluctantly.

'What do you mean?'

'Maybe I don't have the same feeling for you as you evidently have for me,' Ron snarled at Hermione as he pushed her backwards lightly to escape the corner he had been forced into.

Hermione watched in amazement as he bolted down the hallway and disappeared down the staircase. What had she done? It had been a friendly kiss, nothing more and Ron had misinterpreted it for something more intense.