(A/N: This series of stories was inspired by the songs of singer Josh Groban. This chapter is the song "So She Dances" from the album Awake. Thank you to my beta and fellow Grobanite, Adreon.)

So She Dances

The band began to play a waltz as his eyes glanced at the door and like magic there she was. She was arm in arm with his little sister. The two had undoubtedly been off to the ladies room and from the way they were giggling there was not telling what they had been talking about. She laughed, pushing a stray curl out of her face. As soon as they neared the dance floor they were stopped by Harry and George. Ron couldn't hear what was being said over the music, but apparently they'd asked the girls to dance.

Ron watched, green with envy, as his older, more suave brother danced with Hermione. His eyes followed her as she swayed along to the music. They flowed around the crowed dance floor like they were gliding. The shadow she cast in the candle light on the floor was like a figure from a dream.

The longing Ron felt for her was almost unbearable. There was something about Hermione that just drew him in. It was always like this when he was around her, which was quite often. Something seemed different about tonight though. Perhaps he was feeling the loneliness that must come with watching a sibling get married when you yourself are alone. Perhaps it was that Hermione looked so beautiful in her bridesmaid's dress. Whatever it was, Ron hadn't been able to take his mind off of Hermione through out Bill and Fleur's wedding.

He'd looked at her across the room as he'd stood at his brother's side during the ceremony. In his mind he could imagine it being the two of them up there saying their vows. He quickly shook this idea from his head though, considering he'd never told her how he felt for her. He'd come close this past year. After all that mess with Lavender and him nearly dying, he'd felt like he could finally bring himself to do it, and yet fear and uncertainty got the better of him.

Fear and uncertainty, those were beginning to become common feelings for him. Whenever he thought about telling Hermione, there they were those thoughts inside his head screaming at him not to do it. They told him he wasn't good enough. Hermione was to far out of his reach. He was poor. That would be enough of a reason not to but throw in the fact that, next to Hermione, he wasn't very bright either, he felt as if he were doomed before he spoke.

So, he'd talked himself out of it all those times before and was very close to doing it tonight, but there she was. She was dancing. Dancing like she didn't have a care, like there was nothing but this night. It took his breath away to walk it.

He willed himself to step forward, to cut in and ask for a dance. He could hear his heart beating inside his head, the rhythm keeping time with the music. Thump-thump-thump, thump-thump-thump. He approaches them and taps his brother on the shoulder, swallowing hard, trying to find the words.

"May I cut in?"

"Why should I let you?"

Ron's ears pinked. He could feel the heat of embarrassment rising into his face.

"Only joking," George laughed. "I was going to go for a drink anyway." He bowed to Hermione, the clapped his younger brother on the shoulder. "She's all yours Ron."

All yours, if only, He thought as Hermione let him place his hand on her waist. In the magic of the moment he imagines that it's their wedding day instead. The floor is clear but for the two of them. The moon shines through the window like a spotlight and shines brightly on them. She's angelic in a white dress and all his.

"Lovely reception isn't it?" Her voice breaks his vision.

"Huh, oh, yes lovely." Ron looks around the hall around them, "hard to believe it's only a tent in the garden."

"Magic does wonderful things, besides," she added, "I'd prefer a tent in your garden to a lavish ballroom any day. It's the company that makes it lovely."

From his considerable height above her Ron can watch her as she dances. There is unmistakably a smile on her face. He felt hat pang of hope twinge inside him. He could feel himself being pulled back into his daydream. A vision of watching her forever, dancing and smiling like this. Determined he shook the vision from his head. Taking her hand from his shoulder into his he stops the dance.

"Hermione, can we take a walk or something?"

He looked confused but agreed.

They left the room, probably unnoticed and made their way down the moonlit path towards the small pond in the back of the house. There was silence as they walked. It was only when they reached the pond that Hermione spoke.

"Ron, is everything alright? Why did you want to leave the party?"

"I needed some air and I…" he stalls, "I wanted…I needed…to tell you something."

"What is it Ron? You can tell me anything."

"I know, but this is a little difficult to say."

"Ron," she forces you to look at her, "what's going on."

"Well, you see…the thing is…I…kind of…love you."

In the shock Hermione somehow managed "kind of?"

To which Ron replied, "Actually, completely. Hermione, I'm in love with you."

Her silence was agony. He could hear all of the negative responses in his head. He'd imagined it a million times, the disgust or laughter that would come with her reaction. He'd known it was going to be like this. He just wished she'd get on with it, crush him now and leave him to suffer.

"Please speak," he begged when the silence became unbearable.

She looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes and without a word her lips covered his. The kiss was tender and timid, nothing like the feverish snogging he'd done with Lavender. This was special; this was something he could get use to. It ended all too soon and Hermione looked up at him once more.

"I've been waiting years for you to say that."

Ron had no words. He couldn't believe that after all that time of worrying she felt it too. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up into a kiss. In the stillness of the night the music from the tent drifted around them as they swayed in a loving embrace. Ron could have watched her dance forever, but he quickly learned that dancing with her was much more fun.

(I hope you enjoyed it. If you're not familiar with Josh Groban please check out his music. This song came from his latest album "Awake." Please Review, let me know what you think.)