Note: Hey sorry this is a little bit short. I'm trying to work on making longer chapters. Enjoy!
Hours passed before Hermione picked herself up, dusted herself off, held her head high, and looked around. She wasn't quite sure where she was but it was now dark outside and even though she knew she probably wouldn't be in any immediate danger, the effects of the past year wore her down and the thought of being alone at night was scary. She did the only thing she could think of and quickly apparated back to the Burrow, ending up in the front of the house. The second she walked inside she was attacked by Mrs. Weasley.
"Where have you been?" she asked loudly. Hermione was so taken back by the sound of her voice she nearly fell over. She fidgeted with her hands awkwardly.
"I er...I went for a walk and-"
"Ginny and Harry have been out looking for hours! They've only just come back!" Mrs. Weasley replied shrilly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause any trouble I-" she stopped when Harry and Ginny walked into the room looking relieved.
"Mum, it's fine. She's back that's what's important." Ginny interjected.
"Don't you think we've got enough to worry about without you disappearing?" Mrs. Weasley snapped. Hermione nodded quickly.
"Mum!" Ginny said, trying to defend Hermione. Mrs. Weasley gave her one last dirty look before turning and walking into the kitchen. Ginny followed her as Harry walked over to Hermione.
"I didn't mean to make her mad..." Hermione whispered to him. He batted his hand.
"Don't worry about it, I don't think she's really mad at you. It's just everything going on. And Ron still hasn't come inside." he replied quietly.
"Where is he?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"Dunno. We were looking for him too while we were out but Ginny said she didn't think he'd be anywhere here. She thought he'd have apparated somewhere else." Harry said, a mix of annoyance and worry playing at his voice. Hermione stared out the door and squinted. She thought she could make out the outline of someone sitting by the lake.
"Do you think Mrs. Weasley would be upset if I went out and looked?" she asked. Harry looked hesitant but shook his head.
"Actually it would probably do some good if you could find him. But Hermione be careful." he said. She nodded and he pulled her into a quick hug before walking into the kitchen where everyone (with the exception of George) was helping to prepare dinner.
Hermione quickly slipped out the front door and started walking to the edge of the dock where sure enough, Ron was sitting with his legs dangling over the side of it, staring down into the black looking water. He didn't turn around or tell her to leave so she sat down beside him, hanging her legs over the edge too. It took him a few minutes to speak and when he did, his voice sounded as if he'd been crying all day.
"I'm sorry." he whispered, so quietly she could barely hear it.
"What?" she asked. He took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I am really. I've been a git all day and this morning I said we could face everything together but then it all just hit me so fast and I sort of just freaked out and I'm sorry." he said, turning to her. She didn't look at him though. She couldn't. Because although she was relieved he had apologized she was scared. If this was going to be what happened every time something in their lives went wrong she wasn't sure her heart would be able to take loving him. She was scared it would end up breaking her. But she couldn't tell him that so instead she managed a weak nod and continued staring at the water.
"Say something." he urged quietly.
"I don't know what to say." she replied honestly.
"You could yell at me and tell me what an arse I am." he suggested sounding dead serious. She fought back a smile and finally looked up at him. Big mistake. One look into his eyes and she felt herself melt a little.
"I'm scared, Ronald." she said quietly. He frowned slightly, looking concerned.
"Of what?" he asked.
"You."
"Me?!" She nodded and a look of hurt crossed his face.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because one day of you not speaking to me and I'd felt like I'd lost my mind. I ran into a field, threw myself on the ground, and cried for hours! And that's not the sort of behavior that-any respectable person would have! And because I don't want to lose you and I don't want you to keep being sad! And because I've never felt...I've never felt the way I feel about you about anyone else before and it's scary! Because no book I could ever read could be able to tell me how to deal with it and-" but she was unable to finish because he had quickly crashed his lips onto hers. She was about to pull away and reprimand him for it but it felt too good and her heart felt like it was about to beat our of her chest with excitement so instead she wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer to him.
This kiss wasn't like their first. It was slow and felt like fire but in a good way. He was the one that deepened it but she sure as hell was not complaining. He gently nibbled her bottom lip and granted him entrance. He pulled her so close that she was now essentially sitting on his lap, neither of them ever breaking their kiss. It was only when they needed to catch their breath that they pulled apart. He rested his forehead against hers and they both laughed happily. She couldn't believe how up and down they'd been in the last twenty four hours but that kiss- it was perfect.
"Does that mean I'm forgiven?" he asked quietly.
"I don't know Ronald..." she trailed off. Of course he was actually forgiven but after the way he'd been treating her she deserved to make him a little nervous. But if it made him nervous he didn't show it. In fact it somehow seemed to spark even more confidence in him.
"Going to make me beg are you?" he asked. She smirked and shrugged.
"Please." he said softly, kissing her quickly on the lips before placing a trail of light kisses down her jaw to her neck.
"Please." Kiss. "Please." Kiss. "Please." Kiss. "Please." he said, gently biting her neck over so slightly, so she could barely feel it on the last "please." She gasped quietly and put her hands on either side of his face, guiding his head upwards so he was looking at her.
"You're forgiven. But seriously Ron...you can't do that to me again. I know you're going through a lot and I know everything's overwhelming but don't do that...don't shut me out." she said, hating how desperate she sounded. How vulnerable she felt.
"I won't." he replied with conviction looking into her eyes with a look of determination on his face. She smiled and leaned in kissing him softly.
"We should probably head back right?" she asked. He groaned and rested his head on her shoulder dramatically.
"Your mum's worried!" Hermione laughed.
"I don't want to deal with all them. I'd rather stay out here with you. Maybe snog some more." he said, a sly grin spreading across his face. She lightly hit his shoulder and giggled, standing up and holding out her hands. He took them and hopped up, comfortably draping an arm around her as they made their way back to the house. Hermione bit back what she was sure was a smile that would be so big it would go off her face. She knew things still weren't going to be perfect or easy but right now she was too happy with him. She'd worry later.