At times she wished that she and Ron had never broken up. It pained her to remember those memories; those moments where she truly felt happy. His arms would wrap around her, embracing her in the most pleasing way. He would whisper a future full of promises, and she would believe him. As they embraced, his hands would caress her brown tresses lovingly.
Yes, she missed those days, when everything felt like it would last forever. Maybe she had been stupid to believe in forever, but the times when she was with Ron, she believed in eternity every second of the day.
Even though the Great War ended and everything felt peaceful compared to the barbaric conditions of the Wizarding World before the war, Hermione and Ron were unable to stay together. It just didn't happen. They had their differences, and they had to separate.
She was invited to the Burrow today, to celebrate George and Angelina's engagement. It wasn't going to be a big deal – just family and a few friends, but she couldn't help but swallow up a bolus of fear. Ron would be there and she wished that she could stay home, but she couldn't. Molly would be expecting her! And so would Harry and Ginny. She couldn't disappoint them.
Hermione made her way to the mirror and sighed, her eyes staring soullessly at the figure in the mirror who was staring right back.
She hadn't seen him in eight months. He'd gone off to Auror training with Harry, and they were to finish yesterday. The training was one of the reasons for their breakup. The other reason was Hermione's decision to go back to school.
FLASHBACK
She held his hand and laid her head on his lap, breathing deeply. "But Ron, don't you think you should go back to school? After all, you did miss seventh year."
He shook his head defiantly. "No way Hermione! The Ministry's offering us Auror training right away without finishing school. You got an offer too! You know what I'm talking about. So why would I waste a year going back? I have nothing against you going back , but I'm not going to waste my time."
Hermione got up and glared at him.
"Fine, waste your education. You couldn't even pass Hogwarts," she said dryly, mocking him.
"That was mean," he snapped back.
"Good," she said, "It's what you would be. A Hogwarts dropout."
Then she removed her hand from his and got up off his lap.
"I don't know who you think you are Hermione," Ron snarled.
She glared at him. It was obvious who she was. She was his sodding girlfriend! And if he didn't like it, nobody was forcing him to stay with her.
"I was only talking about your best interests," she said, in her defense.
"My best interest is not to go back to school. It's to become an Auror Hermione!" Ron argued.
Why couldn't Ron see her point of view? Why didn't he understand?
"Ron, you could do that after your seventh year!"
Ron got up, angry.
"You know what Hermione, I hate this constant nagging from you after I've made my decision. The decision is final, and I'm not going to change it. It's your own problem if you don't like it. But, I hate how you're sticking your nose in my decisions like this. It's my own choice, leave it!"
"If you hate it, why are you still here Ron? Why are you still with me? Who told you to stay!" she yelled, tears forming on the outer corners of her eyes.
"Good point," he simply said, then turned around. "I guess we aren't compatible then. It isn't meant to be."
She wasn't sure if it was just her or his voice was quivering.
"Are you – are you breaking up with me?" she whispered, her eyes taken over by tears.
She heard Ron sigh.
"Y – yes," he said, his voice still quivering.
She heard the words right in her heart. Her world felt like it came crumbling down at that moment.
"Ron," she whispered.
His back was turned to her, and before anyone said one more word, he turned and walked away, out of the room.
That was the last she'd heard or seen of him. And she missed him so much that it hurt. She was certain that he missed her too, because she had faith that his feelings were true and pure. She had dragged the matter for no reason. When he told her to stop, she didn't. He got angry. And she got angry. She was the one who provoked him to break up when it came down to it.
She wore a sleeveless black v-neck dress that reached the middle of her thighs and left her apartment to apparate to the Burrow.
Outside the burrow, she felt her heart beating frantically and her palms getting sweaty. She slowly knocked on the door, shutting her eyes tightly begging for it to not be Ron who opened the door. Anyone but Ron, she thought to herself.
To her luck, it was Mrs. Weasley. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief when Molly engulfed her in a tight hug. "Hermione dear, welcome!" she said, smiling. "Everyone's here already, we were waiting for you!"
Hermione genuinely smiled at Molly. "Thank you Molly," she said courteously.
She stepped inside the place that felt so much like home and followed the mother of seven children into the kitchen where everyone was seated. She saw Ron staring straight at her. She tore her gaze away, because it felt painful to look at him. There was a blonde girl sitting next to him. And on the other side of him was Harry, his Auror companion. Beside Harry sat Ginny, his girlfriend. Hermione felt jealous sometimes, seeing them together. After all, they had been in the same situation she and Ron had been in, and those two made it through.
Hermione took her seat next to Ginny. George and Angelina were on the other side of the table, looking in love and truly happy. Hermione felt happy for them, but her thoughts were too busy focusing on Ron.
"Hermione dear," Molly said, sitting next to George. "That's Lorraine, Ron's friend."
Hermione forced a smile. "Hi," she said through gritted teeth.
Ron's new girlfriend, probably. She could not control the jealousy she felt at this point. She missed Ron and he already gave his heart away. Her heart ached. She just wanted Ron back. But, if he truly loved this Lorraine girl then she supposed she would try and be happy for his sake. Even if she seemed she was contradicting herself by saying it, she really did want Ron to be happy.
Once dinner was over, music started playing in the background and people came pouring in the door.
"Hurray! George is getting married!" called out Lee Jordan, bringing in a parade of people. "We have to celebrate!"
Molly looked furious, "George, you invited all these people and didn't tell me?" she asked.
George shook his head, grinning. "Nope," he said, smugly, "My true friend Lee did."
Lee nodded his head proudly.
Molly sighed. Hermione knew she was trying not to get mad during her sons engagement. "Very well. Take this to the garden. There isn't enough room in here," she told him.
Before everyone left the Burrow, Hermione looked around for Ron. He was nowhere to be seen. Nor was Lorraine for that matter. Hermione's heart beat quickly, as she made her way to Ron's room. She had to find out. Until now, she had hope that they might just be friends, but she wasn't sure anymore. She needed to know if they were in his room… together.
She ran up the stairs, fearful of what was to come. Ron's door was nearly closed; just a tiny crack was visible. Hermione peeked through the crack and saw that they were both on his bed. Lorraine was holding Ron's hand, stroking it.
She suddenly felt nostalgic. She used to do that to Ron all the time. She could feel her eyes tear up as she watched the scene ahead of her unfold.
"I'm here for you," Lorraine said.
"I know Lor," Ron replied, "Thank you for being there."
Lorraine smiled at him. Hermione stared at the two, engrossed.
Ron leaned closer to Lorraine and Lorraine leaned closer too. Hermione instinctively dug her nails into her palm and pushed through the door.
She had tears in her eyes. Lorraine looked up at her and so did Ron, both looking shocked.
"Hermione?" Ron asked.
"You were going to kiss her?" Hermione replied, the tears falling down her cheeks.
She felt betrayed, and she knew she had no reason to. She had no right to. Hermione knew that she wasn't supposed to be acting like this.
She saw the hint of a smile playing at his lips. "And you find this situation funny," she added.
"I was going to fix her hair," Ron laughed.
Hermione did not find this situation funny at all. "Right," she said trying to sound indifferent but failing.
"I swear," Ron said, laughing uncontrollably.
"Um – I will just go," Lorraine said, not sounding too comfortable with the situation. She disappeared from the room.
Hermione shut the door behind her and inched closer to Ron. "You and her are together, you were about to kiss her!"
Ron shook his head, looking at her in admiration. "No, Hermione, no I wasn't."
"And you find lying funny?" she snarled. "Why are you lying?"
"I'm not," he replied, getting up from the bed and walking to Hermione.
She looked into his eyes and she became convinced. The way he looked at her passed on a message. It was the same way he used to look at her eight months ago. The same look he gave her when he promised her he would always love her.
"Prove it," she whispered, suddenly wanting him closer to her.
"Because," Ron whispered back, "You're the only one for me."
Hermione moved closer to him. They were only a few centimeters apart, and she didn't mind the closeness at all. It was all too familiar, and gave her a sense of happiness. It made her feel like things might get better.
Ron took her hand and she suddenly felt calm and relaxed. She had missed this feeling so much. She wanted her hand to be held by Ron. She wanted him to be there, to have him touch her soul. He pulled her in a tight embrace and Hermione held on to him, not wanting to let go of him. She just missed him way too much.
"I miss you," she whispered, closing her eyes, not wanting to wake up from this dream.
He kissed her cheek. "I miss you too," he admitted.
Then they loosened their grip and moved their heads back to look each other in the eye. They both tilted their heads on the side and moved forward to touch lips. It was like they had rehearsed this hundreds of times.
Then, coming to her senses, Hermione staggered backwards. "No!" she yelled.
Ron looked at her confused.
"No, you left me Ron!" she yelled, "You left me and it hurt."
"I left you because you were nagging me. I already have a mom; I didn't need you to start too!" Ron said defensively.
"And I'm sure you wouldn't leave me this time when I nag you? Just because I only want the best for you and you can't accept that?" she snapped.
He walked towards her and she kept moving backwards, away from him. When she finally hit the wall, and Ron was nose to nose with her, did her breath catch in her throat.
"Hermione, I can't make any promises. And I'm sure you can't either. We saw how our promises turned out last time… but I'm willing to try it out again. Because I love you. I really, truly do."
She looked into his eyes, feeling deeply touched by his words. Then she leaned slightly forward and kissed him. It was a sweet kiss, passionate and lingering but not heavy.
Ron placed both of his hands on the wall on either side of her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him again, this time more passionately. He kissed her back, opening his mouth slightly to allow more heat to develop. As the kiss got more intense, Hermione's grip on Ron became tighter.
He pulled away and took her hand, leading her to the bed. They both sat on it, immersed in each other. "I love you," Hermione whispered.
"I love you too," Ron said, cupping her cheek and kissing it. "I don't ever want to be separated from you again."
"I don't want to be apart either," she said, squeezing his hand.
She lay on the bed, pulling him on top of her, kissing him again. His hands moved up her legs, under her dress and she emitted a soft moan.
"Ron," she whispered, looking up into his eyes. "Please don't stop."
And that night, both their bodies and souls became one.
Five years later
Hermione awoke to the sun blinding her eyes. Opening her eyes, she turned her head to see the redhead beside her. She loved this redhead very much and wouldn't be able to live without them. This was the redhead who gave her a reason to wake up every day, even if her whole world was falling apart. She kissed their forehead and ran her fingers through their hair.
"I love you Sarah," Hermione whispered, stroking her hair.
A/N: How did you like the chapter? Please leave a review! They're really good for motivation. I've already finished most of this fanfiction, so you have my guarantee that this will not be an abandoned fanfic! Other than that, more reviews = faster chapters! :)