"Earth to Hermione!" Ron waved his free hand energetically in front of her face. "Care to share your sudden discovery?"

"I hope she hasn't left yet," Hermione mused, chewing her lip. "I'll be right back," she suddenly said to Ron, briefly kissing him on the lips and then dashing off through the staff common room's entrance and down the hall. She skidded around a corner, down two flights of stairs, and came to the entrance to the dungeons.

Hermione stared at the cold, stone steps leading down to the dungeons. They stared back at her. Without another moment of hesitation, she hurried down the stairs and into the cold dampness of the dungeons.

Hermione turned left instead of directly into the Potions classroom, and stopped in front of a familiar door. Her breath materialized in front of her face in the frigid air of the dungeons, and Hermione briefly wondered how anyone could work down there. She pushed the door open, only to find the office's occupant rummaging through drawers in a small desk, periodically sending objects flying into a nearby trunk. The office would have been neat had it not been for the objects sailing through the air and the trunk splayed haphazardly on the floor. Its walls were bare, and apart from the desk, a bookcase stuffed neatly with old and ragged-looking books was the only piece of furniture. The office looked and felt cold, but Hermione couldn't help but think that it suited its occupant.

"You're going," Hermione said, amazed.

 
Diana Drago jumped at her words, swiftly drawing her wand. She relaxed somewhat when she saw it was only Hermione, and smiled wryly. "Potter made me an offer I couldn't refuse," she replied with a slight shrug, continuing to dig through the drawers.

Hermione couldn't stop the grin tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're just going to leave? Just like that? Before exams?"

"It's now or never," Diana replied, her voice muffled as she practically stuck her entire head inside a drawer, searching around for something. "Ah ha," she said triumphantly, emerging with a Sneakoscope. It sailed across the room and into her trunk as Diana delved into the desk once more.

"What about - ?" Hermione began.

"I've arranged it all with Dumbledore."

Hermione shook her head slowly. "Why, though? I thought you loved teaching…"

"I do," Diana replied simply. "But I figured that it's time for a change of pace. I was getting a bit restless, cooped up in this big, old castle. I need to get out, have some misadventures," she said with a wry grin. Something suddenly flashed in her cold eyes, and she turned serious. "I want to make up for the mistakes my father made," she said firmly.

Hermione smiled at the Potions Mistress, beginning to back out of the office. "Tell Harry I say hello," she said. "And good luck."

Diana glanced up once more, seeming to size Hermione up as her eyes briefly scanned her co-worker's face. "Thanks, Granger," Diana said shortly, before quickly returning to searching through her desk. Hermione nodded and left the room, softly closing the door behind her. She trudged up the dungeon steps, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Ron was waiting for her in the staff common room, stretched out on the sofa in front of the fire, looking puzzled. He opened his mouth to speak as Hermione approached, but before he could ask any questions Hermione sat down, placed her hands on his chest, and kissed him. Ron's confused look disappeared as he returned the kiss, slowly and softly.  Then, quite suddenly, the kiss turned from innocent to passionate, as Ron eagerly kissed her even more deeply, sparks seeming to fly between them. Hermione felt her face burn red as she suddenly found her back pressed up against the arm of the sofa, and Ron's body pressed up against hers. Her head was swimming, and a thrilling sensation was working it's way through her veins. Hermione abruptly pulled away, gasping for breath. She could see that Ron's red hair was tousled, and realized that she'd been running her fingers through it.

"What?" Ron asked, out of breath. "Is everything okay?"

"Did you quit for me, or did you quit for yourself?" Hermione whispered, frowning slightly. "I don't want you to be miserable because you stayed here because of me."

Ron smiled and lightly kissed her cheek, then trailed kisses down her neck. "I quit because I wanted to," he murmured, then brought his face level with hers. "You were just an added bonus," he said with a wink.

Hermione smiled, satisfied with that answer. Eagerly, Ron leaned towards her to continue the kiss. His lips seemed to be burning; they left a trail of warmth on her neck, her forehead, and her own lips. Ron suddenly pulled back, momentarily looking exactly like the shy teenager Hermione remembered so vividly.

"I love you," Ron blurted out huskily. Hermione felt a thrill run through her again at the three words.

"I love you, too," she responded softly, feeling her cheeks glow. She softly kissed Ron's neck and then re-arranged herself on the sofa, resting her head on his shoulder.

Hermione suddenly laughed. "I do hope everyone's gone to bed," she whispered, snuggling against Ron's warm body. "Can you imagine if Professor McGonagall walked in here and we were – "

A loud snore from Ron cut her off. Furrowing her eyebrows, Hermione sat up and stared at him.

Ron was fast asleep, his mouth hanging open. He snored loudly again.

Hermione suppressed laughter and relaxed, resting her head on Ron's shoulder again. Feeling perfectly at peace with the world, and not caring what the consequences would be should their colleagues find them in that very position the next morning, Hermione drifted into sleep.

***

"Dungeons," Harry said. The Gryffindor common room was quiet, as if lying in silent wait for the momentous events that night would inevitably bring.