Ron/Hermione
Right After the Battle of Hogwarts
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Soot is everywhere, like the gods have decided to put a black blanket over the world. Bodies lye scattered on the floor, each one of them mangled in some sort of way. Most of the survivors gather in the Great Hall. A few brave souls are extracting the wounded from the dead and tending to them openly on what used to be the tables where I ate during my six years at Hogwarts.
I watch everyone cry and mourn over the loss of their loved ones. Sitting in the corner, distinguishable by their famous red hair, are the Weasleys. Fred lies on a table and Mrs. Weasley is on top of him, sobbing, while Mr. Weasley strokes her hair, tears falling down his face like raindrops. Harry is over there too, one arm around Ginny. Ron is sitting at the table with his head down, probably sleeping.
In that moment, everything seems surreal. Did we really just defeat Voldemort and the Death Eaters? Did Fred, Lupin, Tonks, and so many more die an early death, trying to protect the greater good?
I let out a choked sob and dash from the Great Hall. I can't take it anymore.
I run outside, jumping over randomly skewed bodies. One of them moans as I accidentally graze my foot upon their chest.
I reach my destination, my favorite tree right by the Black Lake. Tears fall freely down my face now. I let them. I cry for Fred. I cry for Tonks. I cry for all the lost until I am out of tears. Then I just lay there, shivering whilst the sun goes down.
I ball up and stare at the Black Lake. I remember when Harry had to go save Ron from the murky depths during the Triwizard Tournament. I blush as I remember Rita Skeeter (that witch!) catching a snapshot of me and Harry together and posting on the front page of the Prophet, saying we were lovers.
For a while, I tried to convince myself that I was in love with Harry. It didn't work out too well, though. My thoughts would always stray back to Ron. Ron with his perfectly messed up hair and goofy smile. Ron, who got jealous when I went out with Viktor. Ron, who I kissed just this morning during the battle.
Ron, who I wonder if he loves me in return.
As if on cue, I hear footsteps come up from behind me. I don't try to look up and see who it is; I already recognize who would be coming to see me at this time of night.
I feel him sit down next to me. " 'Mione? You okay?" Ron asks stupidly.
I sit up and for some unknown reason, anger washes over me. "Does it look like I'm okay, Ronald?" I questioned. "I've been out here all day, sobbing my eyes out. No, Ron, I am not okay," I snap at him but then begin to sob, once again.
He gathers me up in his arms. We just sit there for a while. At one point I feel Ron's tears hit the exposed part of my neck that my hair isn't covering.
I look up and see him, indeed, crying.
"Why are you crying?" I ask him.
He smiles at me. "Because you are and it hurts me to see you so upset like this."
That was a very emotional sentence for somebody like Ron. He normally never admits his feelings.
He leans down and kisses my temple. "Everything will be okay," he whispers.
And, at that point, I begin to realize what a great relationship we are going to have.
A/N: Please Review! All Reviews welcome!