[Step lightly, Hermione. He wasn't looking at her, but she was busy staring him down. Was...this really what he meant? It didn't seem possible; she knew Ron had issues from his childhood about people loving him and then abandoning him when things got hard. She knew that he put everything into relationships that were stable and that he was loyal almost to a fault sometimes.

But love? What did that really mean? She was almost too convinced that he was just blurring the line still. It was easier to assume that was it than face her own wants and fears when it came to her best friend.]

It's different. Love and caring for someone. I know you care about me a lot, Ron, really I do, and I know you'd do anything to protect me, but that...[She stops. She is actually at a loss for words and she's kind of curious if he'll agree with her.] It's different.