Warning, this story will be dark. I'm hoping to make this one long and detailed, since those are my favorite sorts of fics to read and I haven't come across many new ones about these favorite characters of mine. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way! In the meantime, I'll be working on this story. This first chapter is Hermione POV, but that will change, as well as chapter length (this will be the shortest of them all). Please let me know what you think.
"C'mere," he called hoarsely, pulling her from her reverie. The tingling sensation shot up her calf muscles from sitting on the hard floor too long as she neatly folded clothes back into her bag. Just three days had she been away from school, and she had been silly enough to pack enough for a week in her hurry to arrive at Grimmauld Place. Knowing that Ron would never forgive her if she brought along homework, Hermione had at least managed to complete all her her assignments before leaving Hogwarts, ensuring that her pack was much lighter as well without multiple books.
The lanky wizard was sprawled out across the dusty, colossal bed that narrowly filled one of the many bedrooms in the old house he shared with their other best friend. The familiar grey shirt that once drowned him was now pulled tightly across his chest. His hair was growing quite long, but still shorter than she remembered it being at school. Ginger stubble appeared more easily now as well, scratching her face lightly when she was close enough. Bright blue eyes met brown with a shock of intensity. Hermione still couldn't quite believe this was real life.
"Sorry," she whispered, breaking contact with his gaze to stand shakily. Her clean uniform was laid out on the velvet armchair, ready to be worn early the next morning. After a quick bath earlier, she managed to get her hair in good enough shape that she should be able to wake right up without having to stop by her dormitory for Sleekeazy's. Transfiguration was first thing, luckily. The new professor who had taken Minerva's post was a far cry from her predecessor, often asking Hermione to demonstrate the more difficult spells for the other students as a somewhat obvious guise for being unsure of them herself. Hermione had actually taken pity on her. While continuing to study under McGonagall would have been preferable, at least the current situation allowed the young witch certain privileges. Such as long weekends with Ronald Weasley.
With three steps she was by his side, unable to hide the smirk on her face as his lopsided grin grew two sizes. He made her so… giddy. It was maddening.
The entire weekend had been simply glorious. Long, slow afternoons filled with early October sunshine as they strolled around the neighborhood and nights spent flirting over hot chocolate in the library. He'd listened patiently to her updates about the state of the school and the new suite for Muggle Studies and the tutoring program she had started with the other prefects to serve the overload of muggle-born students who had been denied access to their magical education last year. He seemed proud of her for what she was doing at Hogwarts. She took comfort in his affirmation, as many days she wondered if she had been insane to go back. Especially without her two best friends.
Harry had splurged on renting a cottage in Hogsmeade with Ginny, giving his best mates the run of the house in London. It had been the first uninterrupted time the couple had had together since Hermione had left in September. Despite all of the responsibility to distract her, the witch had vastly underestimated how much she would miss Ron for those stretches of time in between.
"I see you've made yourself quite comfortable in my bed. Any room for me here?" she teased, leaning in towards him. His eyes shone mischievously. The calloused hands that had been clasped behind his head reached out and pulled her up. Hiking a leg up onto the bed and rolling towards him dramatically, Hermione then nestled her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Her heart twisted painfully as she thought of having to return to her lonely four-poster the next day. As if in reply, she felt Ron exhale deeply beneath her.
When hurriedly packing just days ago, the brunette had failed to consider possible sleeping arrangements. Those long months in the tent last year had seen Hermione through two very threadbare sets of pajamas, which had grown so faded that she was downright delighted to be reunited with her storage trunk of old clothing. The cool autumn nights at Hogwarts were nothing compared to the frigid winter the year before, when even the most powerful of warming spells and layers of socks couldn't bring feeling to her numb toes. When she had visited a few weeks prior to celebrate her birthday, she found to her delight that Ron and Harry had rolled out lumpy sleeping bags. The familiar snores of her two favorite people in the world had lulled Hermione to sleep immediately, but this time around she slept cuddled up next to Ron Weasley in "her" room. He hadn't left her side since she appeared in the adjacent alleyway three days prior.
She felt Ron's large hand slide up her arm, creeping under the fabric of her long sleeve. A delicious shiver came over her, causing the redhead to squeeze her a fraction tighter. Acting on impulse, she planted a wet kiss firmly on the column of his neck.
"Gonna miss you," he murmured, cold nose coming into contact with the top of her head. They lay still for several moments. Hermione wondered if he had fallen asleep until she felt his other hand pull her long hair to the side, massaging the back of her head lightly. The tenderness with which he showed his affection made her heart swell ten sizes.
Ron had grown up before her very eyes. His muscles, his jaw, his voice even – all were so much more defined in the past year. His confidence had developed as well. Gone was the insecure, jealous boy who acted out of impulse. Hermione saw a kind of transformation in his character as he began the auror training programme and stepped in to help his parents get back on their feet. He was even helping George clean up the old shop on the weekends. He wrote her the cheekiest of letters without fail every other day, but ensured that at least one long paragraph detailed how much he missed having the witch by his side. She reread every one several times before falling asleep in Gryffindor Tower each night, surrounded by sleeping classmates.
"I miss you already," she whispered, surprising both of them as her voice broke. She felt him pull back, gently using the hand tangled in her hair to bring them face to face. Hermione shifted so that her cheek rested on the pillow but averted his eyes. Hers were already beginning to brim with emotion.
"Hey," he whispered, bringing an arm securely over her waist. "It'll just be a few weeks, yeah? I'll get a day off at Halloween."
Hermione suppressed her groan of displeasure. That was 27 days away. Instead of responding, she burrowed her face in his neck again and breathed in his Ron-ish scent – sugary, minty, clean. Their hands met and her fingers interlocked with his, holding tightly. He read her well enough to know she needed a distraction as he sought out her lips with his own. He tasted so wonderful and sweet. Oh, Merlin. Why had she ever signed up for another year of school?
They eventually pulled apart long enough for Ron to turn off the light and Hermione tucked her legs under the heavy covers. While she couldn't see the wizard, she felt an incredible peace wash over her as the mattress dipped even lower behind her and he drew her back snugly against his chest. She tried to match her breathing with his own, copying his steady, measured exhales.
She woke with a start, momentarily forgetting where she was. It was still dark, though she could make out the inky blue pre-dawn from behind the thick satin curtains. Her heart thumped with dread, knowing she would soon kiss the handsome sleeping wizard to her left and make her way back to Hogwarts. He radiated warmth, making it even harder for her draw back the blanket and slip out of bed to get ready in the bathroom down the hall.
The witch returned a few moments later, fully dressed in uniform. Ron had sat up and turned on the light, though his squinting eyes indicated that he had not yet fully woken up. She wished she could stay long enough to make him breakfast.
"Good morning," she said brightly, feigning cheer. "Go back to sleep. You've still got time before work." Her bossy tone was already making an appearance in preparation for the inevitable commands that came with being Head Girl. She knew she needed to hurry in order to make it back on time.
His presence was magnetic, however, and she found herself pausing, glancing back at him, and then quickly making her way back to bed and climbing into his lap. A sad little smile crossed his face as his hand smoothed her skirt, eventually resting on her stockinged knee. A series of light kisses ghosted against her temple.
Right as she was about to tell him she should go, his lips found hers in a dazzling kiss that made her dizzy. The witch wanted nothing more than to straddle his waist and fall back into the cozy sanctuary behind them. Hogwarts be damned.
"Love you," he said sleepily, resting his forehead against hers. She panted, still trying to breathe properly after such a kiss. After another moment they both seemed to sense the urgency of time. The portkey wouldn't wait for her.
Ron helped her to her feet and they made the short trip down the stretch of creaking stairs, through the front door, and around the corner, her bag draped over the redheaded wizard's shoulder. Hermione glanced at her watch, noting that she had about a minute before the ornate, heavy lantern would enchant her back to the glimmering grounds of Hogwarts Castle. She really did owe Professor Lenore several favors at this point. The lantern had brought her here a few weeks prior for her birthday as well as this weekend, giving back the time that would have otherwise been spent sitting on the train instead of with the boy she loved.
The brunette straightened her sweater and checked her watch again for good measure, knowing that she would need to move quickly in order to make it to class without rousing suspicion from the other students. She hadn't even told Professor McGonagall, knowing that the headmistress would surely disapprove.
With a sniff, Hermione turned to her boyfriend and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. His hands immediately found her waist and he held her tightly, breath tickling her ear. "Take care, love," he whispered before letting go.
She could already sense the powerful magic radiating from the glimmering lantern. Taking her bag in her right hand and wiping back a loose tear with her left, Hermione stepped forward with a shaky breath. She reached forward and grasped the handle of the object, readying herself for the nausea that came from traveling via portkey.
The familiar alley began to spin; however after a few seconds of chaos, Hermione sensed that something had gone very, very wrong.
A/N: Please follow along with this story if you're intrigued. I'd love reviews to see what you all think of this one so far!