Author's Note:  Hey everyone.  I'm kind of sad because I got one particular bad review for my last story, "Questions Unanswered."  That particular reviewer didn't like my ending.  Well Oh well.  Just don't read any of my stories anymore.  That's all you have to do.  Hehe. 

              And so, this is my newest story.  I hope you all enjoy it.  I'm trying a Ron/Hermione story now because I haven't done one in awhile.  I think. Ha.  It won't be as dramatic as my last story; I hope it turns out to be a little more humorous.  Okay, I'll talk to you guys later! Email me at [email protected] if you want to review personally or have any ideas if I get writer's block! Thanks!

              By the way, this story will be told in both Ron and Hermione's POVs (Point of Views). Every chapter will switch.  K? TTYL! 

 Summary: It's the gang's fifth year.  Harry and Ginny have finally been found out that they are going out after Ron intercepted a letter from Harry to Ginny.  Hermione and Harry are visiting for the last week of summer before their new year starts at Hogwarts.  Ron learns a little about a boy named Kyle that Hermione met during her  visit to Australia, and he doesn't like the sound of him. 

Secrets Kept Chapter 1

(Ron's POV)

By happythoughts

         Ron and Harry were walking through the crowd of people on the streets of Diagon Alley.  They were heading to Gringotts, where they would be meeting Hermione and getting their money together.  Ron saw her first, waving madly at the first step leading to the doors.  He almost didn't see her; she looked so different.  Not bad different … just, different.   

       "Ron! Harry! Over here!" she screamed.

       Ron and Harry ran over to her.  She surprisingly grabbed them each into a friendly hug.  "Oh! I've missed you two so much! You hardly returned my letters, Ron."

       Ron gaped.  What was she talking about?  They had been owling each other back and forth since the second week of June! It was almost as if they had become better friends through letters, instead of talking. 

       "What are you talking about? We've owled each other since the second week we got out of school! How else do you think I invited you to the Burrow?" asked Ron incredously.

       Hermione pursed her lips.  To Ron's outrage, she entwined fingers with Harry, who blushed deeply.  "Now, Harry," she said, stressing his name, "owled me every single day.  And we have something to tell you, Ron." 

       Ron opened his mouth and shut it several times.  Could he possibly be hearing what he was hearing?  Was this really happening?

       "We're an item, now, Ron.  We finally declared our love to each other and we're going to be married in 5 days at the Burrow.  We already planned everything with your mum and dad," said Harry happily.

       "Isn't it wonderful, Ron? We decided to do it on my birthday.  It's the most wonderful present I could ever have," said Hermione sighing happily, looking deep into Harry's eyes.  Hermione, who was about two inches taller than Harry, bent down to quite closely to Harry's face.  They couldn't be … it's impossible … they wouldn't … Harry raised his own head to meet Hermione's … 

Suddenly, Ron fell to the floor of his hard wooden floor. 

"Oof," he grunted sleepily. 

       Harry, who was sleeping on a cot next to Ron's bed, woke up from the loud thump and raised his head amidst the piles of pillows on his head.  "Ron, stop thrashing around! What are you trying to do? Wake the whole house up?" 

       "Sorry," muttered Ron.  That was odd.  Ron usually wasn't the one who had the nightmares, if you wanted to call it that.  That was usually taken care of Harry, what with Voldemort and all.  But it seemed like ever since he had started going out with Ginny, his nightmares had stopped.  Ron frowned.  Were they really that serious?  Serious enough for Ginny to get rid of Harry's old nightmares?  Ron shuddered.  Was it possible that now Harry was dreaming about … Ginny?  Ron shook his head to get rid of the thoughts in his mind. 

       His thoughts returned to the dream he had had about this very day.  Today was the day that they would be meeting Hermione at Diagon Alley, and then she would be staying at the Burrow for the last week of summer vacation.  How could he dream about something like that?  It was … impossible.  Harry and Hermione couldn't have possibly been owling each other every single day of the summer.  Not when … Ron felt himself blush.  Not when Ron had been owling her since the second week they got out of school.  His excuse was that he had nothing better to do and there was nothing to do around the house.  Sure … nice excuse, Ron.

       Another reason it was impossible was because he knew for a fact that Harry had been owling Ginny for quite a long time behind Ron's back.  Boy, had that been a big row between him, Harry, and Ginny.  He remembered his reaction when he had found out that Harry owled Ginny instead of him.  He had read the letter … really, it was an accident … could have happened to anyone …

       An snow-white owl flew into the open window of the Burrow into the kitchen, where Ron was eating lunch with his sister, Ginny. 

       "Hedwig!" Ron exclaimed, jumping out of his seat.  He didn't notice the red creep up into Ginny's neck. 

       "I haven't heard from Harry all summer!" said Ron excitedly, "Maybe he's telling me that he can come for the week!"

       "Ron … I don't think that's for you …" said Ginny quietly.  But Ron ignored her.  He had already ripped open the letter, and was reading it, his eyes scanning the piece of parchment.  Ginny saw his face turn from the tan color he was to purple.  His eyes bulged as he read the last line, "I can't wait to see you for the last week of summer.  Love, Harry."

       Ron sputtered.  LOVE? Love, HARRY? This had to be some sort of joke.  His head jerked up to where Ginny was sitting, her whole face bright red and staring down at her hands. 

       "WHAT is Harry doing owling YOU instead of ME?" bellowed Ron.

       "Ron, calm down.  It's just a friendly letter.  We've just been owling each other a lit-," started Ginny quietly.

       "Owling each other A LITTLE? Gin, this letter has profanity in it.  It's … It's ..."

       "It says the word 'love' in it, Ron.  That's not profanity. Get a hold of yourself!"retorted Ginny angrily.

       "I can't believe this! H-harry? Owling you? This can't be happening.  Now watch you go and tell me that you've been secretly seeing each other some how … I don't know HOW, but you probably have been, god knows WHAT you've been DOING--,"

       "RON! How dare you! I am 14 years old, I KNOW how smart I am, and I'm not as dumb as you think! Harry likes me, Ron! I like him! We like each other! And yes, we have decided to try going out, okay? Get OVER it!" yelled Ginny angrily.

       Ron laughed quietly to himself.  That fight had lasted for a week.  As soon as Ron and Ginny had finished their fight, Ron and stormed up to his room and owled Harry himself, demanding to know why he was owling Ginny instead of him, and why they had been going out secretly without Ron's consent.  Harry had merely replied with two sentences.  "We like each other.  Get over it." 

       As much as it angered Ron that Harry didn't care what he thought about this whole situation, he had gotten over it, true to Harry and Ginny's words.  He was still healing, but he was getting through it, with help from Hermione's comforting letters.  Ron shook his head.  He got up from his bed and walked over to his open window, the wind playing with his hair.  It was a nice, sunny day, perfect for staying inside doors and shopping for school.  Yeah … right.  Ron groaned inwardly. 

       His wonderful moment enjoying the weather was interrupted by the shouts of Mrs. Weasley yelling for the boys and girl to come downstairs and start getting ready to leave. 

       "All of you! Out of your beds! NOW!"

       Ron padded over to Harry's cot.  He threw the covers off of Harry, who was lying sprawled on his stomach, smiling.  "Stop dreaming about Ginny and get that stupid grin off of your face," said Ron loudly, smacking Harry's head.

       "Ow! I was not dreaming about Ginny," said Harry, arguing with Ron.  It was hard to believe him, what with that stupid foolish grin plastered across his face. 

       "Yeah, and I wasn't dreaming about …" Ron caught himself before he said anything else.  He was glad he had muttered that, and not said it out loud. 

       "What was that?" asked Harry, putting on his glasses and getting his eyes into focus.

       "Nothing.  Get changed," said Ron, who had already thrown a shirt on over his boxers and was looking at himself in the mirror.  It talked to him quietly.  "I like your new hair cut, Ronnie.  You sure have grown up a bit this year.  You're a young man now."

       Ron flushed.  "Yeah well … wanted to try something new, you know," he said sheepishly.

       "Mmhmm … or you could just be trying to impress a certain girl …"

       "Shut up!" said Ron.  He threw a random shirt over the mirror, to stop it from saying anything else.  He groaned exasperately when Harry wouldn't stop laughing.   "I'm going downstairs.  Come down when you're ready," he grunted, practically running out of the room. 

~*~*~

       "I don't know what came over me! I must have been so tired from making that big dinner last night … must have gotten to me.  No wonder I overslept!  Oh but don't worry, Harry!" said Mrs. Weasley as she saw Harry's guilty face, "I always enjoy making big dinners.  But if I could get some help from some of the boys who are walking around the house lazily instead of helping their poor old mother," she added, looking at the guilty faces of Ron, Fred, and George.

       "Mum! We asked you if you needed any help--,"

       "You most certainly did not! You three walked into the kitchen asking me what you could do with your boring lives, and when I asked you politely to set the table outside and peel the potatoes, you all groaned and pouted!" retorted Mrs. Weasley. 

       "Oh, but, nevermind.  We're going to be late! I hope Hermione isn't already waiting there!"

       "Mum! It's only 10! We're not supposed to meet her until 11!  It'll take seconds for us to get ready, honestly!" exclaimed Ginny.

       "No it won't! Ron has so preparations to do before he see Her-,"

       Harry was cut off abruptly by Ron's hand in front of his mouth.  He grinned and tried biting into Ron's hand.  "Ow! Watch it, will you?" demanded Ron as everyone snickered into their food.

       "Oh shutup!" exclaimed Ron exasperatedly, "I'm gonna get ready now," he mumbled.  He stormed out of the kitchen angrily. 

       "I told you!" said Harry as soon as he thought Ron was upstairs. 

       "I TOLD YOU TO SHUTUP!" everyone heard Ron scream from upstairs. 

~*~*~

       "Okay, is everyone ready?  Harry, are you there? Okay, why doesn't Ron go first and then you can go after him? Is that alright with you?" asked Mrs. Weasley caringly. 

       Everyone knew that in real life, Mrs. Weasley would have told Harry go to first with the floo-powder because he was the guest.  But this time it was different.  She was more cautious about Harry because she was constantly worrying about him being attacked by Voldemort. 

       Ron nodded and took a pinch of the powder, and threw it into the burning fire.  "Diagon Alley!" he bellowed.  He automatically thrusted his arms to his side so his elbows wouldn't hit the chimney.  He felt the sharp wind whipping at his face. Unlike Harry, Ron was use to this type of traveling, and didn't get sick every time he did it.  He fell feet first into the fireplace of the bookstore.  He stepped out of the chimney and brushed the soot that was all over his clothes.  So much for going for the clean look, huh? He thought to himself frustratedly.

       He heard Harry come from behind him with the sound of "OUCH!" escaping from his mouth.  Ron turned around and laughed at Harry, who had fell flat on his face.  "I'll never get use to this, will I?" muttered Harry angrily. 

       They waited for the rest of the Weasley's to appear.  When everyone was gathered around Mrs. Weasley, she spoke to each of them sharply.

       "Fred and George.  You know the rules.  No, Knockturn Alley.  And please don't forget to buy your new books this time, okay?  You gave us such an embarrassment last year when we had to owl your books over to you."

       "Ginny, will you be going by yourself again?" she asked her.

       "Er, no, Mum.  I'm going to go with Harry this time," She said sheepishly, looking up at Harry.

       Ron let out a noise of disgust.  Notice that she didn't even mention his or Hermione's name in that sentence. 

       "Oh, all right then," said Mrs. Weasley knowingly, "Stay together, you three.  And do be careful, will you, Harry?"

       Harry nodded fervently.  "Mum, don't worry about him.  He'll be okay with us," said Ron, with a tone of voice that said, "Stop, Mum, you're embarrassing him."

       As soon as they were allowed to, the three walked out of the bookstore.  They headed towards Gringotts.  They were about a quarter early still, so they decided to just wait on the side of the steps and chat.  They talked about nothing in particular, mostly just about the new school year and who they thought would try out for the position of Keeper, since Wood had left two years ago. 

       "Are you going to try out this year, Ron?  You should, I've seen you practicing outside," said Ginny hopefully.

       Ron flushed.  Why did Ginny have to say that right in front of Harry?  He dared to look at Harry's face.  He saw that it was surprised and shocked.  "You never told me you wanted to try out for the position of Keeper, Ron! Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

       "Oh, I don't know.  It was only a thought," said Ron.  He glared at Ginny, who quivered. 

       The conversation was dropped and Ron looked at his watch.  His stomach gave an unusual large lurch.  It was only three minutes until it was 11 o'clock.  He would be seeing Hermione in exactly three seconds.  He self-consciously smoothed his inch long hair.  He didn't listen at all to Harry and Ginny's animated conversation … it was something about the Chudley Cannons or some team like that … all he could think about was seeing Hermione—

       "Ron! Harry! Ginny!"

       Ron's head jerked up.  There she was.  She was trying to run towards them while dragging her trunk along with her.  She kept stopping after every few seconds, when finally she abandoned it just started running towards them, hair flying behind her.  They all stood up when she reached them, flinging her arms around all of them separately.

       "Oh, I've missed you so much!" she exclaimed.  "Harry, you hardly returned my letters!"

       Ron shook his head.  Hadn't he just gone through this experience?  He was just about to open his mouth to protest when he caught himself.  She had said Harry's name, not his.  He breathed a sigh of relief and took the view of Hermione in. 

       She was standing there in black robes and a dark red shirt underneath them.  She was wearing a cute summer skirt with it and her left foot was tapping quickly in white flip-flops, listening to Harry trying to explain himself. 

       "See, the Dursleys wouldn't let me send out any mail so I couldn't return any of your--,"

       "That's not what I heard from Ron. I heard that she got quite a few letters from you this summer," said Hermione teasingly with a questioning eyebrow.

       Harry turned on Ron.  "You told her?"

       "Well of course I did, Harry.  Didn't you know? I thought that we had agreed on telling her," said Ron like it was no big deal.

       "No we didn't! You're the one who owled me practically writing like it was some sort of Howler or something.  You had specifically stated that Hermione was going to flip and she would side with yo-," began Harry.

       "Okay! I think that's enough …" said Ron embarrassedly. 

       "Don't worry, Harry. I'm just happy for you two, that's all," said Hermione, laughing it off.  Ron noticed that something was different about her.  She seemed more … oh, he didn't know, confident? Yes, that was the word.  Confident.  Of course, she had always seemed confident, but that was only when she was in school.  She usually wasn't that confident when she was around him and Harry.  It was weird. 

       "Ron! I haven't even said 'hi' to you! How are you? I'm just so glad that my parents allowed me to come this summer, I thought you would never ask me!  I swear, I was going crazy in the Muggle world.  Help me with my trunk, would you?" she said in one go.

       "Er, sure.  I'll go get it," Ron answered.  He trotted over to where the trunk stood in the middle of the street, people taking no notice of it.  He began dragging it over to where Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were still standing, talking.  Hermione turned back around to face Ron.  "Got it? Okay, just leave it over there in the corner," she ordered, taking no notice of the beads of sweat forming on Ron's forehead and his heavy panting. 

       "Geeze, what have you got in here? Bricks?" he asked her.

       "Why, no, they're just all my books and things," said Hermione.

       Ron just shook his head and gave one final thrust of the trunk into a dark corner.  It would be okay there.  He was grateful when they entered the bank.  The darkness and coolness came over him and he took a deep comforting sigh.  He listened to Hermione talk excitedly.

       "Oh, my summer was wonderful.  My parents and I decided to go to Italy for two weeks during July, and then we went to Australia for awhile! It was so beautiful there, all of this wildlife and it was just so picturesque.  I even met another wizard my age at the hotel I was staying at …" as soon as Hermione mentioned the wizard, she stopped talking.  Ron even saw her blush. 

       "Another wizard? What was his name?" he asked her.

       "Kyle.  Kyle Clemmings," answered Hermione, blushing even more deeply.

       "What about him?" asked Harry.

       "N-nothing.  I was just telling Ron that I met him while I was staying in Australia.  He goes to a school over there.  He was so nice.  We've been owling…" once again, to Ron's outrage, she trailed off and a faint smile escaped onto her lips. 

       This wasn't a good sign at all.  Ron didn't like the sound of this Kyle kid.  And he most certainly didn't like how Hermione blushed every time his name was mentioned, or how they had been owling.  He didn't like it one bit. 

~*~*~

Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling

Author's Note: Hey! Whaddya think? Who is this mysterious Kyle kid? Don't worry, he's not going to be a big character or anything.  Just a little conflict between Ron and Hermione, of course.  The next chapter will be Hermione's POV. Please Review! Thanks!