A/N: Alright guys, here is the final chapter. This story really got away from me. Ron and Hermione just wouldn't behave lol. Thanks for sticking with it those of you who got this far. Be sure to let me know what you think :) Thanks for reading!
"Hermione?" my father called.
I bit my lip, my mind racing through my options as footsteps approached. Abruptly, I grabbed Ron's arm, pulling him down with me as I crouched onto the ground. Whipping out my wand, I quickly whispered the incantation for the Disillusionment Charm once again, effectively camouflaging us.
"She must have gone out," I heard my father call to my mother after a moment.
"She didn't leave a note," was my mother's response from the doorway.
"I'm sure she'll be back soon, honey, don't worry. She's probably just taken a walk down to the library." I held my breath as the footsteps retreated.
"You're probably right," I heard my mother say before the door closed behind them.
"Finite," I whispered, Ron's laughing face reappearing before me.
"It isn't funny," I said, guilt swirling in my stomach. "I shouldn't have lied to them."
"You didn't lie to them, Hermione," Ron said reasonably, "You didn't say anything."
"Well, it feels like a lie," I insisted.
I looked back toward the house, anxiety gnawing at me as I wondered how I came to be in this situation – crouching behind the shrubbery with a boy in my own backyard, while my parents thought I was at the library.
I was distracted from my thoughts as Ron's thumb tapped the space between my eyes, smoothing out the wrinkle there as it ran over my forehead. I looked over in time to catch the lopsided smile on his face as he said, "You're cute when you worry, you know."
I was thrown by his words, my parents completely forgotten as I felt a blush creep over my face. I slid my eyes away from him, unable to meet his gaze. My mind went blank as I tried to think of something to say, my mouth opening, then closing again.
I felt his fingers curve over my cheek and lifted my eyes to meet his. "You're cute when you're speechless, too," he said, grinning.
Then his mouth was on mine, rendering words unnecessary. My eyes closed as I let my lips speak for me. I found myself swept away in the moment, unaware of my surroundings or the passage of time. My consciousness was a jumble of fragmented parts; a tangle of limbs, warm lips, heartbeats thumping, hands exploring, faint moans, bodies shifting, and soft, gasping breaths. I was awash in a sea of new and novel sensation, buoyed up by waves of bliss and longing and exhilaration.
When I finally resurfaced, opening my eyes, I found I was lying on the ground, soft grass beneath my back, the light growing dimmer as the late afternoon stretched into evening. I looked up into Ron's deep, blue eyes as he hovered over me, my hands resting on his shoulders, knees bent, thighs pressed against his hips. His arms were wrapped around me, his elbow propping him up as one hand rested underneath my head, the other roaming beneath my shirt. I ran my hands across his shoulders, down his arms, and back up again. He lowered his head into the crook of my neck, his lips brushing against my skin, voice breaking on the word as he moaned, "'Mione."
I felt the breath leave my lungs in a whoosh of air, my back arching itself toward him in a seeming disconnect from my brain. I threaded my fingers into his hair as he kissed his way across my throat to the other side of my neck, his nose brushing against my ear, fingers resting in the curve of my waist. He sighed, his breath hot against my skin. With his mouth pressed to my throat, I felt, rather than heard his words, as he mumbled, "I want you."
I bit my lip as a surge of longing reverberated throughout my body at his words, a low, inarticulate sound catching in the back of my throat. I drew in a sharp breath as Ron lifted his head, the desire evident in his bright, blue eyes. I reached up and held his face in my hands. He leaned in, kissing me slowly, deeply, before pulling away to look at me again. My breath came in shallow bursts, my heart beating an erratic rhythm inside my chest as he gazed down at me.
I opened my mouth, the words seeming to move through me as I whispered, almost inaudibly, "I want you, too."
A soft breeze swept past, ruffling his hair. I ran my thumb over his bottom lip. His eyes floated closed, opened again. I bit my lip, released my hands from his face to cover my own and took a deep breath, sighing it out as I closed my eyes.
"Ron," I said from beneath my palms.
He lifted his body up, separating from me slightly. Then I felt the gentle pressure of his lips against my hands as he kissed each finger covering my eyes.
I slid my hands down to look up at him, curling them beneath my chin. He rolled onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow, his head resting in the palm of his hand as he lay in the grass beside me. I turned my body to face him. He gently traced a finger across my forehead and down the curve of my cheek before placing a soft kiss on the tip of my nose.
I took his hand, holding it in both of mine as I brought it to my lips, placing a kiss against his fingers before clutching it to my heart.
He blew out a breath. "Blimey, Hermione…" he murmured, "you drive me mental."
I smiled at him. "That's nothing new," I teased.
He let out a soft laugh as he sat up, pulling me up with him. He leaned his back against the fence, knees bent as his feet rested on the ground. I slid in next to him, resting my back against the wooden boards as I dropped my head onto his shoulder. His arm wove under my own as he captured my hand in his, threading his fingers through mine. I sighed, scooting my body in closer to his. He dropped a kiss onto the top of my head.
"I don't want you to go," the words left my mouth before I realized what I was saying. I pressed my lips together as though to prevent more words from slipping out.
His hand gripped mine more tightly, his head leaning against mine as he said quietly, "I wish I didn't have to."
After a moment, I sighed, disentangling our hands as I lifted my head from his shoulder. As he looked over at me, I placed a brief kiss against his lips before pulling myself to my feet. I offered him a hand, helping him to stand as I said, "You should probably get going before it gets dark."
"Yeah," he said, pausing as he looked down at me. "I s'pose so."
Noticing the fading light in the sky, I was suddenly concerned about his long flight home. "You'll be okay, won't you," I asked, "flying at night?"
"'Course," Ron said with a crooked smile, "Done it loads of times."
"Hmm, well…" I said, "if you say so."
"Don't worry about it," Ron said as he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me, his chin resting on the top of my head. I slid my arms around his waist, my cheek pressed to his chest.
"I'll miss you," I said, muffling my words in his shirt. Though the sentiment was true, I felt a bit silly for saying it out loud.
"I reckon I miss you already," he said with a laugh.
I smiled, a warm rush of pleasure flowing through me at his words. "It's going to be a very long week," I told him.
"I know," he said, pulling away, "but I'm really glad you're spending the rest of the summer at the Burrow."
"Me too," I said, laughing as I added, "Maybe we can go flying again."
Ron grinned. "Definitely," he said. "I'll send you an owl, okay? Let you know what time Dad'll be setting up the Floo so we can come pick you up."
"Okay," I said.
The silence stretched between us as we looked at each other, neither of us wanting to say goodbye.
Finally, I turned away. "Where's your broom?" I asked, my eyes searching the ground.
"Er," said Ron, "I must have dropped it over by that tree."
I found it lying on the grass where he said it would be and picked it up, turning to hand it to him. His fingers brushed mine as he took it from me, eyes warm in the dim light.
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against my lips, his hand curling around the nape of my neck. As he broke away, I pressed my fingers to his lips, his mouth curving into a smile beneath them.
Then, I withdrew my wand from my pocket, casting the charm for him once more to camouflage him for his flight.
"Thanks," he said.
I watched the faint outline of his near-invisible body as he mounted the broom.
"Be safe, okay?" I said, stepping back as he prepared to take off. "I'll see you next week."
"Yeah…next week," he said, his hand reaching out to brush against my cheek. "See you, Hermione."
Then he kicked off the ground, rising into the air. After a moment, I heard him shout from above, "Love you!"
"Ron!" I whispered urgently, afraid someone would hear, "Hush!" But, he had already flown away.
I felt a warm smile spread over my face. Pressing my fingertips to my lips as I slowly walked back toward the house, I thought, It's going to be a good summer.
