Hello, humanity. This was written for halffictionalprincess' The Card Will Tell Your Fate Challenge. I was tasked with writing a romance story featuring Ron and having to use the quote, "I know you well enough to recognize your footsteps when you come down stairs." I admittedly took a few liberties with the word order, but it's the same meaning.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Good luck.
XXX
He had been sitting at the fireplace for what felt like a few minutes, but when Ron at last came to his senses the common room - which had before been packed full of what must have been every Gryffindor that resided in the tower (except for the second-years, who were taking their evening nap before they forced themselves to bundle for the cold air they would have to face in Astronomy) - was completely and utterly devoid of all life, except for himself.
The grandfather clock by the entrance hole said that it was half-past two, but he couldn't possibly bring himself to care. Now that his mind was catching up with him he couldn't even recall what it was he had been thinking about (assuming he had been thinking about anything at all). Ron was about to stand and head to the stairs that would lead him to his nice, warm bed (on second thought, perhaps he did care that it was half-past two), when he heard footsteps.
He cocked his head to the side so that he could hear better, but he did not have to focus his energies for long: by the soft, precise thump, thump, thump, he knew it was Hermione. It occurred to him that he knew her so well after their four years of friendship that he had the ability to recognize the sound of her footsteps when she was coming down the stairs, as opposed to one of the other students.
Ron would never admit it to anyone, but he felt just then as if though his own heart was synchronized with Hermione's own footsteps. That was such a soppy thing to think that he blushed, so that by the time she finally reached the floor of the common room his ears were as red as a pair of radishes.
"Ron?" she asked, surprise clear in her voice. There was also something else, but he wasn't sure what.
"Hi."
"What are you doing down here so late?"
"I just dozed off. I was about to head back up, actually." After a moment's thought, he added, "What are you doing down here so late?"
Hermione gestured towards her bag that was swung over her shoulder, which Ron hadn't noticed until then. "I was having trouble sleeping, so I've decided to finish that essay for Professor Binns. I didn't want to bother the other girls with the light."
It was a very simple explanation, and it was one that Ron believed completely. He nodded. "Alright. Well. . . ."
"You should go get some rest, Ron."
"So should you."
"Essays, remember? Very important."
There was no arguing with her.
XXX
Remind me to try to avoid writing Romione in the future. This was hard!