Post-HBP
PG
After a battle Hermione is harmed and when Ron comes to see her, words are finally said.
We Can't Do This
Hermione sat on the large sofa treating her burns and cuts form the previous battle. As she looked up, Ron crawled into the tent.
"Hey." he greeted her awkwardly from the entrance.
"Hey," she replied "Thanks for… you know… saving my life back there."
Ron relaxed a little and sat on the other end of the sofa as if he had to get something off his chest.
"Hermione we need to talk." he muttered after staring silently at his shoes.
"Sure," she said, putting her wand down "What's up?"
"Well," he paused and took a long deep breath "You know… that I care… for you…"
"How could I not?" Hermione laughed, but her heart rate increased "We are best friends."
"No I meant…" He looked at her. They paused stared at each other.
"More?" she breathed. She had known for so long but could barely believe it was finally actually happening.
They edged slowly closer until they were only inches away from each other. Finally their lips touched tenderly. Hermione found Ron's fingers in her hair and she found her fingers in his.
"Ron? Hermione?" came a voice and they sprung apart. A second later Harry crawled in.
"What you guys up to?" he had obviously not seen.
"Nothing!" replied Ron a little too quickly.
"Ron was just…" Hermione started in a high-pitched voice. She coughed and returned to her normal voice "Ron was just helping me with my burn."
"Okay." said Harry looking suspiciously at his friends "I'm just off to get some food. You guys want anything?"
"No thanks!"
"Could we get some more biscuits? I'm starving!" Harry rolled his eyes at Ron's bottomless stomach and leaving a very awkward silence.
"That was close." whispered Hermione.
"Yeah." replied Ron. They sat in silence for a minute before Ron sighed.
"That shouldn't have happened." he stood up and stared at the floor "We can't do this. Harry was right with Ginny; it would put you in more danger if… Voldemort knew… that I…"
"Cared for you more than a friend." she finished. Ron started towards the exit; Hermione wondered how hard it must be for him to break her heart, again.
"Harry's wrong, you know." Hermione said suddenly. Ron turned with a confused look on his face.
"Voldemort will still know how much we care and will still use it against us." she explained. Ron nodded.
"I just don't want to chose between my best friend and my girlfriend." she smiled at this.
"Neither do I." she returned to her healing and he ran after Harry, as eager as ever for the war to be over soon.