Written for the rhr100 Livejournal R/Hr drabble community using the prompt "hug" based on this picture (which you should go see because it's awesome). It can be found at hito76 (dot) deviantart (dot) com/art/Calin-51514457
"'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach--'" Ron stops and snorts, shaking his head.
"What?" Hermione asks.
"This poem... it's ridiculous," he scoffs.
"Then why did you buy me a book of them?" She counters.
Ron shrugs. "Girls like mushy stuff like this. I never thought that you'd want me to read them to you."
"You do have the emotional range of a teaspoon," Hermione huffs, crossing her arms.
"Just because I don't fancy reading flowery words, doesn't mean I don't love you."
"You love me?" Hermione stares at him in obvious shock.
"Of course," he replies, a bit confused. After the "Lavender Fiasco", he didn't have any doubts as to his feelings for Hermione. That's why he had given her the book for Valentine's Day. A book that he would never admit that he's read from cover to cover. A book that he originally bought for her the year before but couldn't work up the nerve to give her. Instead he settled for a bottle of perfume that she had deemed 'unusual'.
Hermione launches herself at him, hugging him tight. "Me too."
"You... do?" He asks uncertainly.
"Of course," she repeats his earlier words. "We've both made mistakes in the past. But we're together now and that's all that matters." Hermione kisses his cheek and settles close.
"Well then," he says, thumbing through the pages to find a suitable poem. "Ah here we go. 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"
Hermione's hold on him loosens.
"Thou art more lovely and more temperate..."
Her touch is gone and Ron looks up in concern. He's alone.
"Hermione?"
He stands and the book falls to the ground.
"Hermione?"
"HERMIONE!"
.
"Er-my-nee."