A/N: Hey, this is my first posted fanfic… please give it a chance? It's taken me forever to actually post something, so it would be great if you could give me some feedback…preferably positive… -big puppydog eyes-

Quality Time

Chapter 1: Wooly Socks

By FF-Rules

"Come on, Ron. Harry should be done soon," a brown-haired girl said impatiently, standing by the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

"Bloody Charms essay!" muttered the redhead vehemently while throwing down his messy parchment and quill.

"If you would have done it yesterday, like I told you to, it would've been done by now!" retorted Hermione, pushing through the opening and waiting for one of her best friends to follow.

Their other best friend, Harry Potter, was serving detention with Professor Snape in the dungeons. The potions teacher had walked in on one of Harry and his enemy's many fights, just in time to hear the Boy-Who-Lived trying to send a retaliatory hex at Draco Malfoy. Snape had declared it inappropriate behavior and promptly told "Potter" that he had detention the following evening.

Ron and Hermione were on their way to meet Harry after whatever task Snape had set him was completed, still bickering.

"But Hermione," Ron whined. "Yesterday was perfect for playing quidditch, and I need all the practice I can get before the game."

Yes, you do, the female thought, but didn't say. It was a little too mean for their usual arguments. Besides, Ron really had improved a lot. She couldn't say that either, so Hermione settled for snorting and replying, "Oh yeah, because quidditch is so much more important than schoolwork."

The pair's shadows danced along the stone wall in the flickering light of the dungeons.

The increasingly heated debate stopped as they reached the door to Professor Snape's office. Peering in, His Royal Maliciousness was seen sneering at a peeved looking Harry. Obviously Snape was goading him, but Harry just stared determinedly at the work in front of him.

Ron let out a low whistle, the signal for Harry to tell them if he would be done soon. The duo had just enough time to see said wizard shake his head twice, indicating at least two more hours, before Snape's eyes flicked to the door, trying to see what caused the interruption. After deciding it was nothing, the teacher smirked once again at Harry.

"Let's go, I'll help you with your essay," Hermione said tiredly. Ron opened his mouth to ask why, but quickly shut it again. It was better to just take the help while it was offered.

Nothing was spoken on the way back except a quiet "sorry" from Ron and an "it's okay" back from Hermione when the taller boy accidentally bumped into her. Hermione chanced a glance at him then, after studiously avoiding his gaze, and saw he was innocently looking at the paintings with a light blush on his cheeks.

"Wooly socks," Hermione said to the Fat Lady with the confidence Ron admired in her.

Both teenagers looked around in surprise at the empty common room. Sure, not many people had been there when they left, seeing as it was pretty late, but now there was nobody. However, the fire still burned behind the grate and Ron had homework to finish.

Hermione kept her cool exterior and made her way over to one of the plush couches in front of the fire, all the time thinking about how she was alone with Ron. She picked up his sad-looking essay and began editing it. Soon a depression in the couch next to her alerted Hermione to Ron's presence. She could feel her cheeks turning red as he stared at her correcting his essay.

"What?" Hermione questioned, not being able to stand his silent look for any longer.

"Huh?" Ron responded intelligently, still thinking about the glow of the firelight on Hermione's hair.

Yes, it was true, Ron had liked his best girl friend for a long time now. He wasn't positive when it happened, but he did know how she made him feel. That is to say, excited, nervous, and warm, all at the same time.

Hermione stared at her ginger-haired friend intentionally, waiting for an answer. Once Ron realized this he quickly stammered out, "Oh, uh, I was just wondering why you decided to help me…"

"Because we're friends, Ronald," Hermione stated simply.

To Be Continued…hopefully sooner with many, many, reviews! I'll give you sugar quills!