Hermione turned her head around quickly. A man, tall with a boyish face, red hair and freckles was looking at her with his deep blue eyes.
"R-Ronald?" she questioned. "Is that you?"
"Why yes it is," he replied sarcastically as he let out a small laugh. Hermione smiled slightly.
Leaning towards him, she put her arms out awkwardly, expecting a hug in return. But at the last possible second, right before they were going to embrace, she placed one arm back at her side, and opted for a quick handshake, then looked away.
"How have you been?" she asked not looking him in the eye. She could still feel his gaze examining her, but couldn't bring herself to look up.
"It's been going pretty well. You know, just helping George around at the shop. Business is booming!" Ron smiled, yet again then looked down at his feet.
They stood like that in silence for what seemed like ages. For both of them, it was so hard to imagine that there was not much to say between the two of them. It made them especially uncomfortable.
Finally Ron asked, "Would you like to go for a walk, and, I dunno, grab a bite for lunch?"
"Okay," Hermione said. This was definetly more like the Ron she knew, always waiting for food. She smirked to herself as they walked out of the shop onto the cobbled roads of Diagon Alley.
For a while, just as they did in the shop, they barely looked at each other, making only one worded comments about things they were seeing. Finally, they reached a newly opened restaurant at the end of the path, to the left of Gringotts Bank, called The Firecrabs Tavern. They sat down ordered drinks and food, and waited quietly for something to happen.
After a long time in silence, Ron asked, "Why did you leave me?"
Hermione looked up. This question caught her by surprise. She knew he was going to ask why she left, of course, considering she didn't even know the answer to that one. But he had to add me to the end of that phrase. A twinge of guilt accumulated in her stomach, and she felt nasuous for a second before she felt she could answer.
"I," she began, unable to spit the rest of her words out. "I guess I just needed something new." That was all she could say. Luckily, before she had to go into more detail the food came and distracted Ron for about five minutes.
"So I wasn't good enough for you then?" he said after a few minutes.
She stopped eating all together, and saw the hurt in Ron's face. She knew he didn't mean to ask it like that, but at the same time, it angered her. Why would he say something like that? He was all she ever wanted and-
"I am so sorry," He told her after he had seen the look of horror on her face. "It didn't mean to come out like that. I just didn't know how else to put it."
"It's alright, Ron. I know I was wrong to leave you. I know it, but something was going on inside of me that I am unable to explain."
"What do you mean?"
She then proceeded to tell him of the feelings she'd gone through after her last year of school, all the way to the move, leaving nothing out (except her few boyfriends she had over the years). When the story was finished, Hermione was out of breath, but felt happier then she had in years. For the first time, she told someone who cared her story, and it felt amazing.
"I'm sorry if any of that was caused by me," Ron said apologetically. He then put is hand over Hermione's. At that moment, something in Hermione's chest began to burst and she couldn't breathe for a moment. She looked Ron directly in the eye, and felt her face burn as she removed her hand from underneath his, then called out the waitress for the check.
A short while later, they walked out of the restaurant laughing and joking just like they used to. Hermione couldn't help but notice their fingers brushing together whenever they got too close. Something about that scared her, so when they were almost holding hands, she would move slightly to the right, causing Ron to move closer again.
They spent pretty much the entire afternoon talking, and catching up on old times. When it was around 3:30 pm, Hermione decided she should probably go off to her apartment and see if there was any work to be done there. As Hermione put her hand out for a shake, Ron grabbed her and gave her a friendly hug. He held on a bit to long, but it was alright, because (although she wouldn't admit it) Hermione enjoyed it.
She turned and headed up the road once again, but was stopped by Ron's voice echoing "Wait Hermione!"
"What?" She called out.
Ron ran through the bustling crowds to catch up with her once again. "Come to the Burrow for dinner. Mum and Dad would be thrilled to see you. Plus, Harry and Ginny will be there too."
The thought of seeing every single person she'd hurt by leaving in one day was a thought she didn't want to think. It was already difficult enough seeing Ron, but Ginny might not be as forgiving.
She sighed, "Oh Ron, I don't know if it's such a good idea."
"Come on," he said, "What's the worst it could do? Besides, you know you want to!" He punched her in the arm at this remark, making her blush, and finally give in.
"Alright...," She said, still not conviced that she was ready for this.
"Great! We can apparate together, just meet me outside your apartment at 6:30."