Chapter 25: Confession

A/N: The spider is still at large! Honestly, I'd so be in Gryffindor, the amount of courage I've got! (Laughs) Yeah, sure. I actually have go idea what I'd be in- every test I do comes up with a different house!

Ooh, OOH! Idea, idea! Based on a question my friend asked me, 'Kat, d'you reckon Voldemort's a virgin?' I came up with the idea for a short-ish fic called, 'the girl who loved Tom riddle?' Anyone interested? Any more ideas? Put it in a review!

Anyways, this is short but sweet. Enjoy! Long live Ron and Hermione!

.o0o.

"No."

"Come on, 'Mione-"

"No."

"Please?"

"Can't we just apparate?"

"What if I splinch? You know I'm prone to it."

"So? Let's go by Floo Powder instead."

"I think I'm asthmatic," he coughed pathetically. "And your home isn't hooked up to the Network."

"Honestly, Ron-"

"Come on! It'll be romantic."

Hermione laughed. "Ron Weasley, you haven't got a romantic bone in your body."

Ron looked slightly annoyed. "I can change!"

Hermione sighed, rubbing her forehead in defeat. "Alright, but if you drop me-"

Ron hit the air in triumph and squeezed Hermione unexpectedly. "I won't! Of course I won't! Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?"

Judging by Hermione's scowl, there clearly was.

Ron collected his broom. "Front or back?" he asked.

"Er, front. So I can see where we're going!"

Ron groaned. "Whatever. Come on, or it'll be too dark."

Grudgingly, Hermione climbed on in front of Ron and held on for dear life. Suddenly, she wished she'd gone on the back.

"Ready?"

"No."

But Ron had already kicked off. Hermione squealed, tightening her grasp, wishing there were more to hold onto. Ron just laughed as they spiraled above the Burrow, up towards the snowy clouds.

"Honestly Hermione, people would think you'd never flown before!"

"I don't like flying!" she shrieked, "Especially not on a flimsy piece of wood!"

"But isn't it nice? Just look down-"

"I rather not!" she squeaked.

"Look up, then. Look at the clouds."

Hermione, shivering in the cold, looked to her side where huge white clouds flew passed her, glimpses of silver sun peeping through. She could reach out and touch them- even the faint moon seemed within reach.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

But Ron wasn't looking at them when he replied, "Yeah, sure is."

The journey went on, Hermione gazing at the sights around her, starry-eyed. It now seemed completely natural to be miles above the white-capped countryside, passing as a blur beneath her. Best of all were Ron's arms wrapped around her, holding her and the broom. Despite the cold air beating her face, Hermione felt untouchable, safe, for the first time in ages.

The journey ended all too soon; Hermione's bright window swimming into view. She'd left it open in her absence. Snow fluttered through the gap as she eased herself off the broomstick onto her windowsill, pulling Ron in behind her.

"Well, if you insist- ah!" Ron tripped on her curtains, and went flying through the air. Hermione cushioned his fall as he landed awkwardly on top of her. The two of them fell apart laughing, until one of them (they were never saw quite who) starting kissing the other.

The sound of the fall must have alerted the occupants to an intruder- footsteps came running along the corridor. A second later, Mr and Mrs Granger were staring, open-mouthed, at their daughter rolling around on the floor with a young man.

Embarrassingly, neither one of them noticed there presence until Ron accidentally rolled under her desk and hit his head. "Ouch, that- oh, dear…"

"Hermione!" Shrieked Mrs Granger.

Quick as Luna Lovegood trying to catch a Wrackspurt, Hermione and Ron leapt to their feet. Ron looked like a living beetroot.

"Er, Mum, Dad, hi!" Hermione giggled nervously. "You remember Ron, of course…"

"Ron Weasley, eh?" Mr Granger seemed to be subtly punching one hand in the other. Ron swallowed nervously.

"The idiot who made you miserable half your time at Hogwarts?" Mrs Granger looked as if she were searching for the nearest thing to hit him with.

"Er, yes." Hermione flushed a deep shade of pink. "The very same. Not all that much improved, either."

Her parents made a step towards them, Hermione instinctively stepped in front of Ron, as though shielding him from any attack. "B-but I like Ron!" she said hastily. "We're together now, and we don't generally kill only daughter's boyfriends if we can possibly help it."

"And what," growled her father, "is he doing in your room?"

Hermione looked genuinely very angry. "He was taking me home," she said stiffly. "And even if it were something else, it wouldn't matter! I'm nineteen years old, for Christ's sake! I can do whatever I want." Her eyes flashed a dangerous colour, and once more Ron thanked God she was on his side.

"How dare you speak to your father like that!"

"How dare he speak about Ron like that!"

"He's your father-"

"And Ron's my boyfriend!" There was an angry pause. Mrs Granger seemed to fume. "Furthermore, he's one of my best friends, we've been through Hell together, and –with the exception of a few times he's apologised profusely for- he's always been there for me!"

"He'll hurt you." Said her father bitterly.

Hermione looked at Ron. "Maybe," she agreed, "But he won't mean to. Either way, he's worth the risk."

Ron looked at her, blinking. "Am I?" he sounded stunned.

Hermione smiled. "Yeah, Ron, you are."

The two of them were looking at each other so deeply now, that they'd become oblivious to their audience. Mr and Mrs Granger looked at each other with wide, dumbfounded stares.

"Well, I-" Started Mr Granger, but Mrs Granger silenced him.

"I think it's best we leave now, dear, we can talk about it later."

Shocked, the two of them crept away, leaving the door open behind them. It took Ron and Hermione a while to realise they were alone again. By that time, the skies were nearly dark, and they had precious little time left.

Ron was still staring at Hermione when she went to close the door.

"I'm really an idiot, aren't I?"

Hermione turned around. "Why do you say that?"

For the first time in his life when placed in such a position, Ron's ears didn't go red, his face didn't turn scarlet, and he didn't, in any shape or form, completely mess it up.

"Seven years- seven years of liking you and I never did anything about it. I hardly ever realised it. I mean, I'd never even been friends with a girl before, so you –and the feelings I had for you- were knew to me. You know, unknown and stuff. I didn't even understand them until I'd messed something up."

"Oh, Ron-"

He silenced her, bringing her mouth up to his unexpectedly. Hermione let out a little squeak of surprise before she wrapped her arms around his neck. After several good moments, Ron parted slightly. "Your parents… they don't hate me, do they?"

Hermione laughed. "Even if they did, I wouldn't care. They'll just have to get used to you."

"Oh, I hope so, because I'm not letting you go to any famous Quidditch player ever again!"

"Really, Ronald?"

"Oh yes, really. If he comes near you again, I'll hit him."

"Ron, you don't have to be so jealous-"

"You went to the Yule Ball with him, over me!"

"You never asked!"

Ron nodded grimly. "Hence my saying I was an idiot."

Hermione leapt up and kissed him again. It was a while before they noticed how dark it was.

"I should get going," Ron sighed. "But I'll see you soon."

It took Ron several kisses and a bit of harmless tickling before Hermione finally gave him back his broom. All too soon, thought Hermione, Ron had disappeared off into the night. Still, smiling from ear to ear, Hermione closed her window and flopped onto her bed, beaming.

"Oh, Ron, you're such a loveable idiot!" she sighed characteristically.

Suddenly, there was a knock on her window. Hermione leapt up and ran to open it. Ron hovered there, as breathless as though he'd been running.

She frowned. "I'm sorry, have you forgotten something?"

"Yeah," Ron looked as confused as her, at least until he grabbed her hands with both hands and kissed her, long, deep and hard. It was the kind of kiss that took you a moment to recover from, but Hermione was wide awake, listening to what Ron said next. "I shouldn't need a final battle to kiss you for the first time," he gasped. "Or a near-death experience. I shouldn't need to ask you out, to wait for a moment, to ever have waited to begin with. And I'm not waiting for another moment to tell you I love you when I have for so long already. I mean, who knows when one of those is going to happen? I should just say it, because I need-"

"Ron-"

"-I need you to know that I'm-"

"Ron-"

"I've nearly finished, hang on. Because I-"

"Ron, shut up and kiss me, you stupid, ridiculous, time-wasting, arsehole of a loveable fool!"

"Er-" Ron didn't get the chance to say much else, because Hermione was kissing him wildly.

"You love me?" she gasped.

Ron's ears went red. "Did I say that part already?"

"Yes- why? Didn't you mean it?"

Hermione was teasing him, Ron knew, but he strangely didn't mind, although he knew his face was getting redder.

"Honest to God, Hermione, I don't think I've ever meant anything more."

Hermione made an odd sound between a squeak and an exclamation, and then forced him inside again. His hands were in her hair, her arms round his neck. Ron lifted her off the floor, and she hugged him tightly, whispering into his ear, again and again, words that she'd kept buried for so long.

Ron didn't return back to the Burrow until very late that night.

.o0o.

A/N: Once more, apologies it's so short, but I wanted it to be a chapter on it's own. I loved writing it, these two BELONG together! So, what did they do? Make up your own mind!

Why did these two get their confession before Harry and Ginny, you ask, when Harry's trying so hard? Simple, these two have had it going longer, so I think seven years is long enough to wait! I simply loved Ron's decisiveness. Seeing as we all knew this two were in love since, ooh, I don't know, the fourth book? Possibly the FIRST? I figured this confession was well overdue. I didn't see any inconvenient interruptions happening for them.

Hmm… we already know who has kids first, but who gets engaged first, or married? Votes, anyone?

I don't think I've got much more left of this fic to do! Quidditch, memorial, bit of George and Teatrina, New Order again, leave school- would anyone object to me creating a random plot twist which ends in another battle? I'm in two minds. I could always save that till a later fic.

Reviews!