This chapter was really hard to write. Hope you like it. Sorry it took me so long to update. Oh and everything belongs to J. K. Rowling.
Diagon Alley looked almost as beautiful as it used to be.
Some places were still closed but the change was evident. The dark days were over.
Hermione wanted to buy her books first. She was really excited. It was the first time in months that Ron was seeing her so happy.
In a few weeks she would go back to Hogwarts and Harry and Ron would be training to be Aurors.
Returning to Diagon Alley felt like a trip to the past. Ron was happy that he was trying to be friends with Hermione and Harry. He was tired of being mad at them. He really missed their friendship.
That day, after dinner, they spent hours talking in the kitchen.
They talked about their time at Hogwarts, all their adventures… Ron felt like he had never been mad at them at all. It felt like they were back at Hogwarts and they were kids again. The war, all the deaths, it almost seemed like they didn't happen.
But they did.
After a while Harry decided to go look for Ginny. He hadn't been with her all day. Ron was alone with Hermione now.
She was looking down. Ron could tell she wasn't sure what to do.
"So… are you excited?".
"What?". She looked at him.
"Your last year at Hogwarts".
"Oh. Yeah. I can't wait". She took a deep breathe before continuing. "I'm going to miss you, though… You and Harry, I mean". Her face was red.
"You won't have time to miss us. You'll have a lot to study". He smiled. She smiled back at him.
He knew she wanted to say more but she wouldn't. She agreed they would be friends. So she just smiled.
Ron was happy she wasn't pressuring him anymore. It felt better this way. They could just be friends like before and see what happened.
"How are you?".
He knew she was talking about Fred.
"I'm better".
"You know you can talk to me".
"Yeah. I know. Thank you".
They said goodnight to each other and went to bed.
Ron, Harry and Hermione spent the next days together. Sometimes Harry had to leave them to be with Ginny. It was going to be really hard for them to be apart. Ginny was going to go back to Hogwarts and Harry was going to stay and become an Auror. They wanted to spend some time together before that.
In those times, Ron had to be alone with Hermione. They started to talk more. It was easier now for Ron. They were just friends. He started to tell her how he felt about Fred's death. He was better now, mostly because of all the Quidditch games with Katie. But he didn't tell Hermione that. He just talked about his nightmares and she confessed she had them too sometimes. The war had left some scars.
The night before September 1st, Ron and Hermione were in the kitchen talking. Harry was with Ginny. He was also going to miss Hermione but those were his last hours with Ginny. Hermione and Ron understood. Charlie was in Romania again.
"Are you and Harry going to be alright on your own?".
"Don't worry. We have Kreacher so we won't starve to death".
"Yeah. And don't forget to study".
"You already said that, Hermione".
"I know but… You have to be really good if you want to be an Auror".
"I know".
"I'm sure a lot of people will be there tomorrow… wanting to be Aurors. You and Harry have to be better than them if you want to complete the training. They aren't going to let you all be Aurors".
"Don't worry. We're going to study. We have your books".
"Oh and don't forget that a lot of people are older than you. Most of them have completed their seventh year at Hogwarts. They know more spells and…"
"Hermione. I'm sure you'll have a lot to worry about at Hogwarts. Don't worry about us. We know we have to be really good for them to choose us".
"I know". She smiled. "You know you're really smart, right Ron?".
"Me?". They laughed.
"I'm serious. You can do it. I know you can. You can be better than them".
"Thank you". It was the first time Hermione was saying that to him.
"I'm going to bed. We have to wake up really early tomorrow".
They left the kitchen. They arrived at the door of Ginny's room and Hermione stopped.
"Ron?"
"Yeah?"
"You're really special. I always knew. Since the first time I saw you on the train… Goodnight". She entered the room.
Ron stood staring at the door for a while. She's liked me since the first day of school. He wasn't expecting it. He knew he used to hate her back then. They only became friends when he and Harry saved her from the troll on the girls' bathroom. And she liked him all that time. Why?
He went to his room but he couldn't sleep.
She's been waiting for me all this time and I just ignored her.
He felt more pressured than ever. He had to make a decision. She was going to leave the next day.
She said that because she wants me to make a decision. And she's right. I have to. She already waited all this time. I have to figure it out. Do I love her?
He knew there was only one way to find out. He had to kiss her. For real this time. He finally fell asleep.
Ron didn't have time to talk to Hermione at the Burrow. They were already late and they couldn't miss the train. He didn't mind. He wasn't in a worry to do what he had to do. He was really nervous about it.
They arrived at King's Cross Station 10 minutes before 11AM.
Ginny and Harry were looking really sad. Ron thought that she still might quit and stay with him. But Ginny was strong. She wasn't a quitter.
The train was almost leaving. Ron hugged his sister. He was really going to miss her. She knew exactly what he was going through. But he had to let her go.
It was time to say goodbye to Hermione. He was finally going to find out how he felt about her.
Why didn't I think about this before? I'll just kiss her and I'll know.
Hermione was coming in his direction. She didn't have time to say a word. She was about to say goodbye when he did it.
Review please! I really want to know your opinion.