Renewal
It was over. They had won. And yet, somehow, there was still a spot missing in the recently renewed feeling of safety in Ron's mind. He was missing Hermione. He didn't know what it was, but without her, he couldn't bring himself to celebrate or mourn. Or anything. The pain from losing Fred was clouded by his worried thoughts of Hermione. Where had she gone?
It was only when he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady that he came across the brown-haired girl that he adored so much.
"Mione" He started in a gentle voice "What are you doing here?"
"I, I was trying to go to bed, but I d-don't know the password to get in" she sputtered
"Don't worry" he said as he put his arm around her waist and looked up at the Fat Lady. "Renewal" he said clearly to her. "A fifth year told me" he said to Hermione after she gave him a puzzled look. They stepped slowly into the common room that they had not seem for a whole year. Nothing had changed, and Ron was glad, he had been worried that Hermione would not have been able to endure the sight of their precious Gryffindor Tower blown to pieces. Ron walked all they way up the steps to the dormitories with Hermione, but started to turn away as he reached the door on the boys side that was marked "Seventh Years"
"Ron" Hermione whispered, Ron stopped moving instantly as if his only desire in the word was to hear her soft voice.
"Yes?" he murmured back.
"Ron, can I stay with you, I, I don't want to be alone right n-" But she didn't even have to finish her sentence, Ron stepped toward her and put his strong arms around her, breathing her scent in deeply.
"Of course, Mione, anything" He whispered to her through her bushy hair. He then pushed open the door and led her inside. As he passed the beds, he longed for the nights which he had spent there, worry free, and filled with laughter. Now as he passed the beds of his roommates, he felt all the hurt that the past year had left. As they neared his bed, they saw Harry and Ginny, curled together on Harry's bed, fast asleep. 'They look so peaceful' Ron thought as they passed the two, it didn't even anger Ron to see Harry with his sister. 'This is who she's meant for' he thought, and he knew instantly that it was true.
He pulled the curtains to his bed and helped Hermione climb up, he then shut the curtains and murmured a quick silencing charm so as not to wake Harry and Ginny. He looked at Hermione, she still looked so beautiful, even with a face streaked with dirt and tears.
"I'm sorry if you wanted to be alone" she started "But I just can't handle that right now."
"Mione" he said, looking at her seriously "don't think that I don't want you here, not even for a second. There is no place I'd rather be than here with you. I'd do anything for you Mione, don't you know that?"
"I don't know" She sniffled.
"Sweetheart," he whispered softly "I always want to be with you, no matter what."
"But what about you family, F-Fred?" As she said Fred's name, a pained look of anguish came over Ron's face.
"He's only been gone a few hours," he said, with raw grief very apparent on his voice. "and I miss him so much. I'll always miss him, but I ache for you, Mione. It's enough just to be here with you."
"Ron, about before when I, I k-kissed you, I don't know what came over me. I'm so sorry if I made you uncomfortable, it doesn't have to happen ever again-" But Ron silenced her but putting a finger to her lips, and then slowly drawing her closer to him, and slowly pressing his lips to hers in a tender kiss. When they broke apart he was looking at her with radiant eyes.
"Now why on earth would we want that not to happen again?" She laughed through her tears and just looked at him as he took both her hands in his. "I love you, Mione" he said, with more emotion in his voice than she'd ever thought possible of him.
"I love you too, Ron" she whispered, and then laughed softly, a warm smile breaking in to her face "But I never thought I'd hear you say it back. He looked at her warmly, so much compassion and tenderness in his eyes.
"Are you kidding? It's always been you, Mione" He pulled her back into a kiss, starting out slowly, and firm, but soon heating up into a fiery, passionate kiss as they had shared during the battle. As her felt Hermione lean into the kiss, he pulled her closer, on arm tightly around her waist, and the other behind her head, tangled in her hair. They broke apart and just looked at each other, both feeling warm and safe. Ron took Hermione in his arms, slowly tracing circles on her back as leaned back with her and sunk into the numerous pillows that he had propped up on his headboard. And, feeling calm with the world, and real love between them, they too, fell asleep.
