CHAPTER 7: Release
It didn't take too long following the victory against Voldemort for Ron and Hermione to carry on where they'd left off during the battle. In fact, it only took three days, after the shrieking and jumping and dancing had eased just enough for Ron, Hermione and Harry to pull out their earplugs without threat to their hearing.
"'Scuse me, 'scuse me," said Ron, pushing through students gathered in clusters in one of the least damaged hallways at Hogwarts. He darted, faster than he had ever possibly darted before, into the Room of Requirement, slamming the door behind him in relief.
"Thank God," he mumbled, heaving against the door. "Trying to get through that mob was like…like…I dunno." His voice trailed off as he stared at Hermione, who was perched on the edge of a huge, soft couch, thumbing through a book whose title he couldn't read. She didn't appear to have heard him.
"Hello?" he said, but there was still no answer. Finally, with a great grunt of frustration, he threw himself beside her and snatched her book away.
"Ron! You've made me lose my page. You horrible, nasty –"
Ron, with relish, threw the book onto the floor. "That's what I think of your nasty book!"
"Good thing it's not a Monster book, then," Hermione mumbled angrily. "Might've chewed a hole through your ankle. What a shame that would've been!"
"Yeah," said Ron. He'd stopped paying attention to the argument at hand and had suddenly noticed her appearance. She'd scraped her hair back into a loose bun, and was wearing a black jumper and jeans. She was barefoot, which was uncharacteristic for Hermione. There was something about the way she looked at that moment that made him forget everything about her that frustrated him; all he could do at that moment was remember the times he'd lay awake in bed, thinking about her and wishing that he could sift out his feelings for her; the time he'd spent alone after storming out on Harry and Hermione, and how he'd realised how badly he needed her, and how badly he wanted her. He'd decided then and there that if he ever found them again, if they survived this war together, then one day he'd actually get it right, and tell her how he felt. There were still unspoken things between them; they'd shared a rather fervent kiss, but nothing had been resolved.
"Hermione –" he began, but she cut him short.
"Don't interrupt me, Ron! I'm trying to tell you something important!"
"Oh. I – well – I wasn't listening."
"Well, thank you. Really nice to know I'm worth listening to –"
It was right at that moment that he grabbed her face with his hands and rather firmly pulled her to him. Their lips met and suddenly the world was on fire; everything dissolved away into oblivion. Ron thought he could hear the ticking of a clock somewhere in the distance, but then he realised that it was his own heart pounding like a metronome deep inside his chest.
Eventually, after what seemed like hours, they detached themselves from one another; Hermione's hair had come loose and her cheeks had reddened. Her previous frown had morphed into a soft smile, the kind of smile that made Ron's skin tingle.
"Well…um…that was nice," Ron mumbled.
Hermione giggled.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked, almost defensively.
"No…nothing. It's just that…well…you're bright red. I never thought you'd go bright red over me."
At those words, Ron felt his face fill with embarrassed heat.
"It's okay," she said quickly, seeing his discomfort. "You don't have to be ashamed or anything. I think it's kind of…sweet."
What a horrible word, Ron thought to himself, reeling from the idea of it. Sweet. But it was true, wasn't it? Hermione had made him go soft. Suddenly, he was a walking, talking bag of mush. His mind was consumed by thoughts of her. He couldn't hold a conversation with somebody without seeing her face in his head. He couldn't talk to her without an insatiable impulse to just kiss her.
"Hermione…" he said, his voice trailing off. Suddenly, he felt as though his throat had been attacked by sandpaper, or some other nasty material which prevented sounds from escaping. He cleared his throat, trying desperately to speak normally again. "I…I need to tell you something."
She stared at him with her great big eyes, and he suddenly felt like he was melting. The sensation was so real, in fact, that he wondered if he'd end up a great big puddle on the floor.
"I love you," he blurted suddenly, without realising he'd actually said it. He felt horrified, but now that the words had come out, he had to keep going. "I've…um…really loved you for a long time…but – well – I only just sort of realised it. I've been a bit of a prat to you…well, a big prat really…I'm sorry I abandoned you and Harry, but…but after I left, I felt sick because I thought I might lose you, that Vol – that You-Know-Who might find you. And I was so jealous when I thought you and Harry might – might be together, that you didn't need me anymore. I love you, Hermione. I think I always will."
There. He'd said it. It felt like something had been released, not just verbally but physically. He'd finally gotten this thing – this horrible, painful, all-consuming thing – off his chest.
Hermione stared at him for a few minutes, staring into his eyes and he into hers. Wordlessly, she took his hand in hers and intertwined their fingers, her body snuggled into his, her head resting on his shoulder.
Finally, she said the words he desperately wanted to hear.
"I love you too."
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It was several days later, and the Great Hall was filled with joyous chatter as the staff of Hogwarts hosted a celebratory feast to mark the victory against Voldemort. The room was packed with not only students and their families, but also the staff and their families. The Slytherins looked less than amused by the whole affair, primarily because of their families' split loyalties, but they still, albeit half-heartedly, joined in.
"Look at Malfoy," Ron muttered to Harry. "He doesn't know what the hell to do with himself. I'm surprised he's still here. I thought Daddy Malfoy would come and yank him out as soon as old Voldy was bumped off."
It was decidedly odd that now everybody was referring to the Dark wizard as 'old Voldy' or 'Tommy'; not even a week earlier, he was the most terrifying element in the wizarding world; now, he was just a long-forgotten bad guy.
Malfoy was sitting glumly at the Slytherin table. It appeared that an internal battle was being waged; on one hand, Harry Potter had indirectly saved his life; on the other, Harry Potter had indirectly saved his life. The two concepts seemed too much for him, and he'd barely spoken to anybody for days because of the severe bruising to his pride.
Hermione leaned over and whispered something in Ron's ear. He laughed, threw a quick kiss on her cheek, and squeezed her hand under the table so that the probing eye of Filch wouldn't catch sight of it.
"Could I have your attention, please," announced Professor McGonagall suddenly. She'd stepped onto the platform at the front of the room. Everybody went quiet at her words. She still commanded attention, and particularly since she'd managed to stand up to the Carrows. She'd become one of the most popular teachers at Hogwarts as a result.
"I'd like to have a minutes' silence to remember those who have perished at the hands of Voldemort," she said, as a low murmur rippled through the crowd, "and to celebrate their bravery and loyalty.
"Now, I need to let you all know how severely Hogwarts has suffered these past two years. After Professor Dumbledore's death, and the terrible coup staged by the Carrows, Hogwarts became a shadow of what it used to be.
"Because everything has been in such disarray, Hogwarts, as of next week, will be closed for redevelopment. It will take some time to even magically repair the building, along with time for staff and students to recover from the stresses they have been under, and to redevelop the curriculum and recruit new staff.
"I have arranged for the Hogwarts Express to depart next Friday at 9 o'clock. All students will need to leave and I have sent owls directly to each parent so they know to expect you. We don't know exactly when Hogwarts will reopen; rest assured that you will be the first to know.
"Students who were in either of the two final years over the course of this year are welcome to repeat their studies when Hogwarts re-opens, given the obvious distractions that were faced.
"I would also like to announce that, on your return, I will be taking on the role as Headmistress. I look forward to leading Hogwarts in a new era.
"Thank you once again to everybody who fought during the battle, helped in some way, or simply to those who remained strong and loyal. The future of the wizarding world is now secure, thanks to you and, of course, our very own Harry Potter."
A roaring of applause erupted in the room. Ron slapped Harry on the back, while Hermione gave him a hug.
"No Hogwarts," said Ron, grinning, to Harry, when the applause had died down. "You'll have to come and live with us then, mate."
Author's Note: Some might not see the following as an answer to the 'cliffhanger.' Unfortunately it's not the kind of situation that can be answered in one chapter. To understand the cliffhanger a context needs to be built for it. This means that answers won't come immediately. I'm sorry if you hate me for it, but that's the way it goes!
