Now and Again
by LondonWitch
A/N: This is a short first part to a two-part story. Next, and last, I'll write when Ron actually says it again. No, I don't own any of the characters, but I do own the plot, thanks to those nice little people in my brain. I appreciate any reviews!
Part One: Now...
"Hermione...I know you can't hear me, but..."
Ron was sitting alone, well, not technically alone, in the Hospital Wing at Hermione's bedside. It was their second year, and she had been paralyzed by Slytherin's Heir not even two hours ago. Harry was somewhere, he didn't know where. Ron'd just said he was going to go to find Percy (who'd mysteriously disappeared), and then had gone straight to the Hospital Wing.
Ron reached out, gently touched Hermione's stiff hand. Slowly, he fit his hand into hers, and gave one small squeeze. He stared blankly down at her wide, glassy mousse-brown eyes, frozen in time. It was as though he was frozen, all his thoughts and feelings, with her.
"I...er...um....I need help on my Potions homework! That's it, I just wanted to tell you that I," Ron said, his voice falling as he stopped for a moment to ponder his idiotic excuse, "...need help with Potions."
Never letting go of her hand, he took his other and literally smacked himself in the forehead. Stupid, dumb...why had he even come here in the first place? She couldn't even hear him...he could be speaking Troll for all Hermione knew right then.
In actuality, Hermione could hear him faintly, and could feel his warm hand in her cool one. She knew it was the Basilisk, and oh why, oh why, couldn't she just talk to him? Tell him the Basilisk...no, that, too, was stupid. She just wanted to tell him that she – er – loved him. Yes, she really loved Ron Weasley
"Hermione, the real reason isn't Potions homework. Not that I don't need help on it or anything," Ron admitted aloud, checking around for any sign of Madam Promfrey, "But I had to tell you how I feel about you. I was going to tell you sooner or later, I swear. But I 't bear...you. Here, like this."
In her faint, misty world of being paralyzed, Hermione's heart gave a leap. This was it, this was the moment he would say...
"I love you, Hermione."
That was it. Magic. Pure and utter magic. What amazing power those four words held, down deep in the heart of them. It was better than anything she's ever heard before. Hermione felt the blood rushing, pulsing through her veins. He really loved her, like she loved him, Ronald Weasley. She had for all of eternity; well, from the first time she had met him on the Hogwarts Express.
"I've loved you ever since that day on the train. You were a pain-in-the- butt, and I liked how your eyes twinkled and you ruffled your hair when you were annoyed. And I know you can't hear me..."
Oh, Ron, but I can hear you! You, speaking these words that I've been waiting for! Hermione thought, wishing with all her might that she had just gone to the Quidditch match earlier that day, and not the library. Maybe then she wouldn't be paralyzed...but then maybe she wouldn't have heard this.
"Hermione, I'll tell you all this again one day. Someday. Now...now and again. And when you get mad at me, which I know you will, please don't stay that way for long. And don't ever fall for some foreign Quidditch player, okay? Because I love you," Ron breathed, hoping against hope that she could actually hear him.
I'll be ready, thought Hermione. I promise, I'll be there and ready, and I'll tell you I love you forever. But for now, I won't say a word.
Ron smiled down at her, and placed his other hand in her empty one. He squeezed, again, with both hands, and whispered those same words:
"Because I love you."
And slightly, ever so slightly, he could have sworn he felt a soft squeeze in return.
A/N: On to Part Two!