AN: This is my first fic I'm trying to make when they're all done with the war. I hope you enjoy my new update on my Christmas. I hope you enjoy this new story!

Disclaimer: I Own Nothing

~ Xx Wilting Rose xX

How much more broken could she be? The love her life was getting married. And it was entirely all her fault. She had missed three whole years that they could have been together. But that was lost in the fabrics of time. Right now, all she wanted to do was turn back the time she had lost. Three years ago, he had told her everything. He told her he loved her. He told her he had fallen for her. But she had never re-acknowledged these feelings because at the time, she was asleep in the Hospital Wing. Not only that, but fear had plagued her. She was deadly afraid that if they had ever gotten into an enormous row that could tear them apart, they would be ruined forever. Their friendship would be in ruins. Not to even mention their love they had shared. However, now, she so dearly wished she could take that time back. She wished she could have taken that chance with him. But she never voiced how she felt for him. But he voiced his.

Ronald Billius Weasley would be coming over to her flat in a few hours to share a few old photos with her. She couldn't wait, but at the same time, she couldn't want something to not occur so soon. It's too hard for her to face him when she heard only days ago about the engagement. But she'll suck it up. She'll suck it up for him. Taking a deep breath, Hermione Jean Granger stood from her kitchen table and walked up her stairs and to her bathroom. She gladly took a long bath to calm herself before she had to face Ron. After a long soak, she climbed out of the tub , drained the water, and went to her room to put on some clothes.

Fifteen minutes later, she emerged from her room in blue denim jeans, and a thin purple blouse over a black, spaghetti strapped tank top and no shoes. She decided to cook something for them to eat. Upon looking through an old cook book, Hermione chose to make the two of them chicken and dumplings. Digging through her pantry and refrigerator to find the correct ingredients, she couldn't stop the excitement and dread building up in her. Finally, she had dinner ready when there was a knock on her door.

" 'Mione? You in there?" Ron asked though the flat door separating him and Hermione. She smiled slightly to herself when she heard hi, use her nickname he had given her.

On the other side if the door, the Weasley boy smirked to himself. "If you don't open this door, I'll have to break it down to save you from a deatheater." Ron joked.

Inside her flat, Hermione was taking a few breathers. But when she heard : "Okay, 'Mione, I guess I'm going to have to break this bloody door down." From the impatient Weasley on the other side, she assumed she should, probably, open the door.

"Alright, alright, Ronald, I'm coming, I'm coming." Hermione called to him from her side of the door. She opened the door and revealed 6' 2" Ronald Weasley, wearing jeans, a white button up blouse, and orange sneakers. Years they've been with each other she's always been shorter than him. She's only 5'7", but it's always worked out.

"Hey, 'Mione," Ron said pulling her into a tight hug. As she embraced him back, as she inhaled she could smell his hair. Yeah, that sounds strange, but she's always loved this smell. This only reminded her of their sixth year.

"Hi, Ron, congratulations!" She replied to his greeting. Though she gave him a smile today, saying her congratulations, she felt her soul break a little bit.

"How are you?" He asked as he stepped inside her flat.

"Good. I know you're wonderful." She stated in a matter of fact voice with a grin on her face.

"Gee, 'Mione, how'd you know that?" Ron said sarcastically joking with her.

Hermione swatted his arm playfully and laughed lightly. "Maybe if your mother and sister would keep their mouths shut, owls, and quills to themselves I could be surprised by the person who has the greatest news." Hermione joked.

Ron chuckled whole heartedly. "It's a Weasley women thing."

"I figured that out in our second year." Hermione said with a smile. She sighed, "I made dinner. Hungry?"

"Always." Ron confirmed as they went to sit down at Hermione's kitchen table.

Dinner plates were placed in the kitchen sink as well s the glasses they drank from. Now, they sat on the floor of Hermione's living room with photo's scattered all around Ron and Hermione. Ron was holding a stack of old pictures in his right hand as he flipped them every once in a while to a new photo. Hermione sat inches away from the youngest Weasley boy.

"Hey look at this one." Ron said grabbing Hermione's attention abruptly. Ron held up an old photo of him and her in their third year. His leg was in a cast due to the injuries Sirius Black had left on his leg. But he was smiling with her by his side. She sat on the side of his hospital bed in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They were so close their shoulders nearly touched the other's. Stitches were binding the cuts and gashes on their faces and limbs. "Do you remember this picture?" Ron asked.

Hermione thought for a moment. She remembered who took the picture ( Harry ), she didn't remember posing for it. "Er... sort of." She said with a little giggle. "But I remember who took the picture clear as day. Do not give Harry a camera for your wedding. I think he goes a little snap happy." Hermione said with a smirk as she recalled Harry's evil grinning face as he snapped the picture.

Ron began to flip through the pictures behind the previous one. They were more from the first one taken by (you guessed it!) the Boy Who Lived. "You know, I think you're right, 'Mione," Ron said amused. Hermione giggled as she slowly started to lean against Ron's arm. "Harry did, and probably still does, have photography issues. He'd totally went snap happy."

"Obviously not the first time either." Hermione said showing him another stack of pictures in his hands. These were in their fourth year. Hermione and Ron were fighting after the Yule Ball and Harry had decided then and there to start snapping pictures. "Look at my face." Hermione commented as she pointed to her face on one of the pictured that had been super shot exceedingly fast.

Ron chuckled. "Look how big my mouth is in this one," Ron said as he placed his finger on his face in the moving photo. Both laughed loudly at the fourteen year old Ron Weasley frustrated beyond belief. Though at the time it was annoying as hell and humiliating as shit, it's funny to laugh at now, six years later.

"Hey, he was right, it is fun to laugh at now." Hermione stated as they continuously flipped though old photos. They found one of Harry, Hermione and Ron standing with Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Ron's sister Ginerva Weasley ( aka Ginny Weasley ) in front of the old castle. It was after Sirius's death, and Umbridge's rule. Everyone was trying to smile their best, but they tried.

"That was the worst year ever." Ron commented with a groan.

"No kidding. I'm pretty sure most of our students were scarred, if not, all of them." Hermione said with a horrified toned voice. "I'm glad harry taught us DA."

Somewhat reluctantly, Ron looked over at the clock. The digital, red numbers read '3:58' in the morning. He looked over at Hermione. He couldn't help but think she was ... stunning. Her wild hair was amazing, her beautiful brown eyes were intoxicating, and her pretty plump lips shone in the dim lamp light. He sighed sadly and pressed his lips together. " 'Mione," He addressed her.

"Mm?" She groaned in response.

Once again, he sighed. "I... I have to go." Ron said in a disappointed voice.

"Oh, okay." Hermione said sitting up. She smiled sadly at him, "Well, congratulations, again. I'm so happy for you both."

"Er, thanks, 'Mione." Ron said as they stood up.

Hermione stretched as she stood up. She looked around them seeing old photos scattered around themselves. "I-I'll owl the photos back to you." She said blushing a little bit.

"That's okay. i'll come back over tonight and we'll finish looking over them, alright?" Ron asked with a smile.

"Okay, i'll see you later then?" She asked with a little hope.

"Absolutely." Ron confirmed.

Ron out his coat on and headed for the door. Without thinking Ron lowered his head, and his lips met her cheek for a split second. Both froze, blushing furiously.

"I ... er ..." Ron stuttered.

Hermione starred at him with shock and a little anticipation. "Ron..."

"I... I'd better go, 'Mione." He flashed one of his famous lop-sided grins nervously and slowly closed the door.

As soon as he left, Hermione pressed her back against and slid down the wooden door. A single tear slid down her flushed cheeks. "I'm sorry, Ron... I should've said this a long time ago... I love you..."

Ron got back to his flat. All the lights were out. He made his way to the bedroom door and opened it slowly. Asleep on the right side of the bed, lay a girl with long, auburn hair and long eyelashes. She's a little pale and skinny, but she's a little on the taller side.

She groaned slightly, "Ron? Is that you?"

"Yeah, Barb, it's me." He confirmed. As he sat down on his side of the bed, Ron turned to face her. "Goodnight." He mumbled before falling into a deep sleep.

Fifth year started in three days. Ron, Hermione, and Harry, who were now fifteen years of age, all had their trunks pack and ready for boarding the Hogwarts Express. Everyone was meeting at Ron's place (the Burrow) for their day in Diagon Alley. After the Yule Ball incident, Ron felt horrible for treating Hermione the way he had treated her. She didn't deserve to be yelled at for his foolishness, and she didn't deserve that Dumstrang Git either. She deserved better. Ron sighed. He was a little nervous about talking with Hermione again. Of course they patched everything up during the school year, but he was afraid of screwing up again. The red headed wizard groaned as the thought of an angry Hermione directed straight at him. 'Such a lovely and inspirational thought, you prat.' Ron thinks sarcastically to himself with a hand running through his fiery red hair. Honestly, right now, he just wants to see her. After all, one gets lonely when you spend an entire summer with two annoying twit brothers and a sister. He's missed Hermione a lot... he's missed Harry too! ''Course I missed Harry.' He tells himself in his mind.

"Ron!" The voice of Ronald's litte sister, Ginny, reached his ears and caused him to sigh with annoyance and groan as well.

"What is it, Ginny?" Ron asked with obvious annoyance in his voice. He knew Ginny was ready for school as well. She had been just as bored as he had every house of every day in the damned summer heat, as all four Weasleys degnome the garden.

"Have you seen my Hogwarts robe?" She inquired him with hastiness in her voice. Ginney was, if you couldn't tell already, very ready to go back to school to see her friends.

He can't blame her the slightest bit. He, actually, wants to returned to his second home as soon as they can! "No. Has mum done any laundry lately? I think she said something about washing our robes for this year." Ron replied to his sister.

Ginny slowly nodded her head, and turned to walk away from Ron's room. She murmured a quick 'Thanks' under her breath and went to interrogate her mum about their robes for their departure to Hogwarts in three days.

Ron rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands and groan again as he fell back onto his bed on the orange quilt. "I can't wait until there's a little more action for me to get used to." Ron said out loud. Lately, Ron has been plagued with different emotions towards his ingenious friend, Hermione Granger. For one, he can't get her out of his thoughts. And two, he can't help but feel the urge to, at least, be with her. Even if it's to do school work, or go to the library. He just wants to be with her. He will soon. Soon enough.

Ron sat up abruptly in bed.

'Just a dream...' He thought sadly to himself. It was a memory. Fifth year. They were going back to Hogwarts. After an entire summer without Hermione, Ron was excited to see her again. He remembered wanting nothing more than to return to Hogwarts.

He looked over at his muggle clock.

Five o' two in the morning. He groaned as he fell back into the covers.

'Marvelous.' Ron thought sarcastically to himself. 'Wait, why am I dreaming about 'Mione.'

Hermione shut the doors to her Muggle closet. She can't seem to find her Hogwarts school robe. She has re-checked her Muggle dresser, closet, and her parents closet (just in case). Unfortunately, she had not been able to obtain the clothes she acquires. She sighed in slight annoyance and fell back on her own bed, exasperated. "Why can't I seem to collect myself right now?" She thought out loud in the silence of her room. She needed to have everything packed. Her parents were letting her go to the Burrow tomorrow by Floo powder. She couldn't wait. She was finally going to see Ron after so many weeks! Oh, and Harry. Of course she'll get to see Harry.

"Hermione?" Her mother called to the bright witch.

"Yes, Mum?" Hermione inquired in reply to her mother's calling.

"Would you mind getting your school robe out of the kitchen, please? I need to fix dinner." Mrs. Granger stated in the same matter of fact tone Hermione used.

"Yes, Mum!" Hermione silently cheered. At least she knew it was downstairs.

Hermione woke with start. Tears began streaming down her pretty cheeks. She had fallen asleep with her back pressed the door. "I wish you were still here, Ron..." She whispered as fresh tears began to fall freely onto her flushed cheeks and pretty skin.