I Do Not Own Harry Potter.
All Characters Appearing In This Work Are Fictitious. Any Resemblance To Real Persons, Living Or Dead Is Purely Coincidental.
Before the Epilogue.
Honesty is the Best Policy.
Ron led Hermione to an empty classroom. Out of habit, Hermione locked the door and cast all the usual barriers and wards, before joining Ron on the floor. She studied Ron's facial expression and body language, in an attempt to figure out what his emotions and what he was thinking. Without realising what she was doing, she quickly kissed him on the lips. He eagerly returned, but only briefly, before Hermione pulled away, breaking the kiss. Again she looked him, and sighed.
"Ron whatever this is between us is still very new and I don't want to make a decision to continue, if it's going to end up ruining our friendship…" she took a deep breath, before continuing, "so we need to be honest with ourselves and each other, ok?" She looked at him waiting for his reaction. Ron simply nodded. She took this as an opportunity to go first.
"To start with, I need to know that this is going to be a real relationship and not just some trial or experience, because I can't lose you again.
Second, I know that you were jealous of Harry and Viktor Krum because of my relationship with them and I need you to know that while it's true I did have a crush on and snog Viktor Krum in my fourth year; that is all it was a crush and that is where it ended. There is no need to be jealous of anyone because of the sort of relationship I might have with them.
Harry is like my brother, I can't have you jealous of him, because it will ruin all of our friendships. It will ruin the friendship between you and him and the friendship between me and him, on top of me and you. The three of us will fall apart.
My next question is what do you expect out of our relationship? Finally, I know this shouldn't matter, but how far did you go with Lavender Brown?" She stopped and glanced at him.
Ron considered his answers before replying. When he had finally decided on what he was going to say, he looked directly into Hermione's eyes. "This is not a fling, nor temporary. The feelings I have for you are real and although I'm not sure what they all mean, I know I really like you.
Not just because of the fact that you are beautiful beyond compare, but because you aren't afraid to point out my failures and mistakes, you aren't afraid to stand up and fight for what you believe in. you are the smartest and one of the most caring people I know. You have sacrificed so much so that you could to help Harry. You were brave and strong and did what had to be done. These feelings I have for you have been developing and increasing since I first met saved you from that blasted troll, these feelings aren't going to fade away, in fact if anything they will only increase
Its part of the reason I could never handle things realistically when it came to you. I know you're relationship with Harry is like brother and sister. But because of my hard headedness and misplaced jealousy made me stupid and angry at everything, I am starting to understand now that me being jealous of Harry would be like you being jealous of Ginny, so you don't have to worry about that, but I have my reasons for not liking Krum and maybe in time I will overcome it, but let's see what happens, I won't make any promises I cant keep.
Not to mention there's the problem that red-heads are known to be hot-headed, so it's hard for me to see you with other guys. I know I have many flaws and I just don't want to lose you, but I will promise to at least try to not act like I have done in the past."
"As for your question about Lavender and I, why does it make a difference? She was just a distraction and a way for me to feel like a girl actually liked me for who I was."
"Please Ron, I just need to know, to put my own insecurities at rest. H-how far did you go with Lavender? D-did you go all the way?"
Ron's ears turned red as he answered, "No, I did not have sex with her because my conscience would not allow it. Although Lavender was more than eager and willing to take that step, I was not ready for that step."
He paused.
"However, I have to admit that I did feel up her breasts under her shirt a few times, but after a while I just lost interest. I guess even then, while I was busy snogging Lavender, I would have rather been snogging you.
Not to mention doing all kinds of unspeakable sexual things to you." The red-head finished in a husky voice, causing the quiet, polite, bookworm to blush. He then leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against hers, but she used the last ounce of her self-control to push Ron's face away from her.
"No, Ron. Not yet, not until we have sorted all our questions. Now it's time for you to ask me what you want and I promise I will answer them honestly." Ron looked at her as she contemplated the different questions he might have asked.
"What if I don't have any question? What if all I want is to snog you senseless until you can't even remember your own name?" Ron smirked before leaning into the bushy haired girl once again and pressed his lips to hers.
Hermione's mind was at war – the rational side against the hormones. Her hormones were begging her to give in and melt into the kiss, but that was hard when her rational mind was focusing on clearing the air. However, like always, her logical side won and, with more difficulty than she could have imagined, she pushed Ron away from her. "No! Ron we have waited for 7 years to snog each other senseless and be together, I'm sure we can wait for ten more minutes. I am sure you have questions as well, so ask them." She huffed.
Seeing that, being the stubborn person she had always been, she wasn't going to give up, he admitted defeat and sighed. "You're right Hermione, I'm sorry I should not have pushed you like that, it's just that part of me still thinks this is a dream, but your right I do have questions that need to be answered. What do you want and what are you expecting out of this relationship and why me? I am sure there are many more guys out there who would kill to have a chance at dating a beautiful and smart girl like you. I mean I'm not exactly a prince. I'm tall and lanky, I'm always hungry, not to mention I'm always arguing and bickering with you. I'm not smart or rich or even famous I have nothing to my name except for my red hair and these freckles."
Hermione sighed, looked at Ron and said "Ron I don't care about any of that. I like you because you're kind, caring, brave and loyal. You always try to do the right thing, not to mention that you actually like me for me and not as some kind of trophy or some kind of challenge to be won.
I respect you immensely for the fact that every single time when the going got tough, you stuck with your friends no matter what. That counts for a lot in my eyes; Ron Weasley, and as for the question of money, I could care less if your family is rich or not.
I have no doubt that when you finally put your mind to it you can do anything so finding a job and saving enough money will not be difficult. I assure you Ron Weasley that this is not a dream I will not leave you for anyone or anything and if you will allow me I can help you save and invest your money wisely so that you won't have to worry about it, besides Bill works for Gigots, so I am sure he can help you with Investments with wizarding money and gold in the Muggle world is a very valuable commodity and with the difference in exchange rates we can find smart ways to invest your money there as well." She paused and looked at him suddenly changing the topic. "Do you want to know what I saw when I destroyed the cup with the Basilisk fang?"
Ron's eyes widened when he heard Hermione talk about the experience she had in the Chamber of Secrets. He knew it had been very difficult for Hermione, because after destroying the cup she had fell into his arms and started crying nonstop.
Hermione did not miss the myriad of expressions Ron's face turned when she mentioned it but continued nonetheless only so as to convince Ron that he was the only one for her.
"I saw a vision of you snogging Lavender Brown before proposing to her, and then you turning to me that you could never like an insufferable know it all Mudblood; who only seemed to have eyes for the rich and famous and that the only thing I would ever be good for besides helping somebody with their homework was lying naked on my back and my legs open, you told me that no wizard in his right mind would even consider having a relationship with me. Before you started snogging Lavender and touching her intimately. You have no Idea how much I care for you Ron, I am in love with you and have been ever since you saved me from that troll all those years ago."
Ron was struck dumb at Hermione's revelation, but before he could even say a word Hermione kissed him on the lips before continuing what had now become a full on rant. For once Ron was content to have Hermione just speak, he would listen. For years he had spoken and she had listened now it was his turn to listen while she spoke.
Hermione took a breath before continuing "As for what I expect from this relationship, it's simple Ron, I want us to be a couple and by that I mean boyfriend and girlfriend. I want to actually feel like a girl for once on my life, I want you to take me out on dates and meet my parents, and also if we are going to be together you need to be part of my world, the same way I have been in yours since the second year of Hogwarts.
I want you to meet my Muggle friends and family. I want you to be equally at ease in the Muggle world as you are in the wizarding world because like it or not Ron I am a Muggle born witch and the Muggle world is as much a part of me as is the wizarding world. However, despite all this I want you to still be my best friend and treat me like I am my own person. I want us both to be equal partners in this relationship.
Just because we are in a relationship does not mean we will not be friends anymore or we have to agree with each other just because we feel we have to. I also enjoy snogging you and I certainly plan on taking it further than that, but only when I am good and ready.
I will not tolerate you or anybody else forcing me to take a step I am not ready for. I eventually want to marry you and start a family, but only once we are both ready for it. T-That I-is o-of c-course if you want to." Hermione stuttered hesitantly as she looked into Ron's eyes to find her answer as she felt her natural insecurities creeping up on her.
When Ron saw Hermione looking so insecure, he could not help but see his own self-doubt reflected in her eyes. The insecurities and feelings her face showed were the exact same that Ron himself had experienced and saw within him. Without even thinking about it he bent down to Hermione and kissed her hard on the lips, his kiss trying to convey all his emotions and unspoken words into the kiss.
As if Hermione understood what Ron was trying to convey, she deepened the kiss by opening her mouth to allow his tongue access into her mouth. Ron obliged by bringing his tongue into her mouth and the kiss deepened.
Their hands were in each other's hair until Ron broke the kiss to catch his breath. "Bloody hell, if I knew snogging you would have been so much fun I would have done it ages ago."
Hermione giggled and said in a naughty voice with her eyebrows raised "Well at least you know what's in store for you Ronald." Ron looked at her like she was an alien and then started laughing.
He laughed so hard that his chest hurt and tears started falling from his eyes, it was at that moment that his grief hit him in full force.
He realised that while he was busy laughing and snogging Hermione, his family was distraught and sad at having lost a brother and a son, it was at that moment he realised he would never see Fred again, that not only Fred but so many of his friends had lost their lives in this war.
At that moment of time his laughter and joy gave way to sorrow and tears, and for the first time in his life he broke down and started to cry in earnest. His tears flowed freely as his pent up grief finally found an outlet. Hermione was not surprised, she had read in a book that these kind of things could happen.
She took Ron's head and put in her lap and stroked his hair. Ron cried into Hermione's lap like a baby, all the while Hermione's tears also flowed freely. Finally, after what seemed like hours but had only been 15 minutes, Ron's tears stopped and his grief gave way to anger.
He took his head out of Hermione's lap and walked over to the back of the classroom. He then took a deep breath and screamed in rage, before taking out his wand and started firing curses and hexes at the tables and chairs inside the classroom.
With each spell that hit its mark, the chairs and tables would shatter into a thousand pieces and Ron's anger subsided a little. Hermione just held back and allowed Ron to work through his rage and grief.
Ron kept on shattering boulders with curses and hexes until there were none left. Eventually, when the last table and chair were reduced to woodchips, Ron's anger abated and he fell to the ground exhausted.
He took Hermione's hand in his and while stroking her cheek with his finger and said softly "Hermione since we are being honest with each other I want to tell you something. I want to be completely honest with you Hermione, so that there are no misunderstandings later on in our relationship.
The truth is that I love how we bicker over everything, but I hate it when we actually fight and say and do hurtful things to each other. Can we avoid that, and if it means we have to talk through it or even seek help I am willing to do that.
Merlin knows if I am actually willing to swallow my pride and embarrassment to talk to my dad and Bill about this or even read a book on dating, I know I will do anything. I will do anything, because you are the best thing that ever happened to me Hermione Granger and I will always do everything within my power to keep you in my life.
If that means marrying you and starting a family, I am more than happy and willing to do that, but again only when we are both ready ok?"
Hermione smiled and nodded her head. It warmed her heart to see Ron taking this seriously and actually trying to be clear about his intentions. It seemed that he had matured a lot within this past year.
Ron continued his rant. "You once asked me what I saw when I destroyed the locket. The locket showed me my greatest fears. First it showed me spiders, then it told me that my parents never loved me and that they were happier without me, and then finally it showed me my greatest fear; losing you, it showed you and Harry in an intimate position sharing a kiss." Hermione opened her mouth to say something but Ron silenced her with a raised hand, "No, Hermione let me speak."
"I now understand these fears are unfounded, but the locket and this war have made me realize something. I have always shirked my responsibility to my family, letting my brothers do all the hard work and just complaining about the situation I was in. Its time I grew up and helped my family.
I have decided that I will go with you to Australia and help find your parents. However, after that I need to be there for my family. I have lost a brother and my parents have lost a son, so first things first, I'm going to get serious.
I'm going to help George in his joke shop. It was Fred's dream to buy Zonkos and open the second branch of Weasleys Wizardly Wheezes. After I have done that, I'm going to study to become an Auror.
I know it means I will have to study hard, but it will all be worth it. You know Hermione, once upon a time I wanted to be an Auror because Harry did.
However, now I want to be an Auror, but not to imitate Harry, but to protect the people I love." Ron said looking straight into Hermione's eyes, his eyes speaking of many unsaid things.
"Merlin knows I'm a prat with a tendency to put my foot in my mouth, not to mention I have the emotional range of a teaspoon.
I guess what I'm trying to say is will you go out with me and officially be my girlfriend?" Hermione looked at Ron with a smile that looked like it could have lit even the Great Hall of Hogwarts and replied "Well it seems you have grown Ron Weasley, congratulations you now officially have the emotional range of a Tablespoon."
She continued, "And thank you for volunteering to come with me to Australia, I was hoping you would say that. Thankfully while modifying their memories I put in magical safeguards to help me find them easily in case we won and I ever had the opportunity to find them.
I Understand that this is going to be a difficult time for you Ron, I appreciate that you trust me enough to be a part of your life and also help you during this time. To answer your question yes, I will be your girlfriend Ronald Weasley."
Ron grinned. "Wicked, let's seal the deal with a kiss then Ms. Granger." with that said Ron closed in to kiss his girlfriend Hermione on the lips. His girlfriend Hermione, how he loved the fact that it was true.
A/N: Well what do you think? Leave a Review.