A/N: As per request, here's a super long chapter. Enjoy! I did writing it :)
Chapter 28 – All I Want Is You
If I told you that I want nothing more,
All those dreams of riches I'd abandon on the floor,
Then would you see, lying here with me,
That all I want is you.
Is you.
Lavender hurriedly fixed her tie as she ran down the corridor to her next class. She overslept and now was really hungry. She heard her stomach grumble and was glad that her first class was Magical Culinary Skills.
She stopped just before she ran into the person who had suddenly walked out of a…closet?
'Oh.'
"Hey Hermione," she greeted.
She gasped when she saw the girls face.
"What's wrong?" she asked in concern walking with Hermione down the hall.
"Nothing," Hermione replied though Lavender saw her try to hide the tears in her eyes.
She sighed.
"What did he do now?"
Hermione stopped instantly and looked at her. Hermione looked at her with a mixture of surprise and suspicion.
"I gave him pretty simple advice about how to go about it – but he is a boy after all – he probably ignored everything I said," Lavender sighed.
"What do you mean?" Hermione continued looking at her strangely.
"Well – he told you liked you right? How did he say it?" Lavender questioned equally as confused as Hermione appeared to be.
"He – told you he liked me?"
"Likes? 'Likes' doesn't do it justice," Lavender giggled as she remembered Ron's face when he talked about Hermione, "Infatuated is a better word."
Hermione simply stared at her blankly.
"But – you two…"
"We're just friends – oh wait, did he say something stupid about me and him?" Lavender sighed, "That boy is hopeless."
"No, nothing like that…I just assumed," they continued walking, "You went on that date and-"
"It wasn't a date, he just felt sorry for me...but we did end up having fun - before he was attacked by that dog."
"But when I came in you were hugging him -"
"And you've never hugged Harry before?" Lavender questioned raising an eyebrow at Hermione.
She stopped and grabbed Hermione's hand to stop her too. She looked at Hermione seriously.
"Who do you think you're fooling?" she questioned slightly annoyed now.
"What do you mean?" Hermione questioned.
"I know what you're doing," Lavender said releasing Hermione's hand and folding her arms in front of her chest, "Stop trying to make excuses or explain the fact away – just accept that he likes you."
Hermione's eyes widened in shock.
"What?" Hermione whispered back at her.
Lavender was furious now.
"You have the sweetest, funniest and most devoted guy in the world head over heals for you and you're trying to explain it away by saying that he's likes me or that it's all in your head!"
Lavender took a step away and looked at Hermione with a stern expression.
"Do you know how lucky you are?"
"That's why it can't be true," Hermione replied instantly.
"Well it is, so stop complaining about it and just admit that you like him too, before everyone around you goes stark raving mad at the thought of you two dancing around each other and the issue for any longer."
"But –"
"Are you serious?" Lavender said in disbelief, "I would kill to have any guy be that devoted to me and you're running around saying he's in love with other girls? How do you think that makes him feel?"
Lavender saw Hermione start at her words.
"Maybe that's why he's acting that way…"
"What way?" Lavender questioned curious now.
Hermione looked up at her and smiled.
"Thank you Lavender," Hermione quickly hugged her.
Lavender hugged her back, committing this moment to memory. She had never been hugged by anyone – she has hugged other people before yes, but this was the first time someone has hugged her. She smiled at the thought of having a friend who was a girl – no more backstabbing and bitchy-ness.
"We'd better get to class," Hermione said once she had stepped away.
"Class? – Oh no! We're late!" Lavender cried horrified.
Hermione laughed as they ran down the hall to their classroom.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked Ron as they sat down at the Gryffindor table of the Great Hall for breakfast.
"What do you mean?" Ron questioned grabbing a sandwich and biting into it.
"You know what I mean," Harry said before leaning across the table so Ron was the only one who heard him, "You've been avoiding her."
"Have not," Ron replied.
Harry almost laughed. Almost. But he knew how upset Hermione was right now.
"Are you that upset about sharing a room with her? I thought its what you would have wanted," Harry said in surprise.
Ron looked up from his sandwich and glared at him.
"You have no idea what you're talking about," Ron said before turning and talking to Neville beside him.
Harry stared at his friend in confusion.
'What?'
Ginny stared in shock at the sight before her.
Slowly, she walked towards the two girls who were talking with each other at the end of the Gryffindor table, a large distance away from everyone else. She slid into the seat beside Hermione.
"Hello," she said cautiously to the pair.
"Ginny, thank Merlin you're here, she just won't listen to reason," Hermione said with a giggle.
"Oh don't drag her into it," Lavender huffed though she had a smile on her face the next second.
Hermione laughed at her.
"You are just a big hypocrite," Hermione said to Lavender.
Ginny watched the two talking and felt a pang of jealousy. Hermione was her friend, why was she talking to Lavender as though she had completely forgotten all the rotten things she had done.
"Hermione," Ginny pulled her friend by the sleeve before whispering in her ear, "Why are we sitting with Lavender?"
"Ginny," Hermione replied with genuine surprise, "She helped us save Ron, she has a good heart."
Lavender looked at Ginny.
"It's alright, I understand that you can't trust me straight away, but like I said, I'll prove to you that I've changed," Lavender said with a determined look.
Ginny watched her for a moment before turning back to look at Hermione.
"So how did you save Sirius? Harry wasn't too clear about the details."
"We can talk about that later, and somewhere where people aren't listening in," Hermione said pointedly to some girls staring at them from the Ravenclaw table.
"But for now, help me convince Lavender to ask Allan out on a date," Hermione said before drinking some juice.
Lavender made a face at her and Ginny couldn't help but laugh.
"So who's Allan?"
Hermione yawned and fell into her seat in her DADA class just before Remus walked in.
"You alright?" Harry questioned beside her.
She simply nodded her head before taking her books from her bag.
Unfortunately they weren't doing anything all that interesting this lesson, they were simply revising the theories of the past few weeks. And before she knew it she was leaning onto Harry's shoulder and taking a short nap.
She heard Remus say something to Harry.
"Still tired from the other night. Are you alright?" he asked the teacher.
"My last day I'm afraid," Remus sighed.
Hermione would have listened more but she really was exhausted having just had a whole day of classes of Hogwarts Girls.
What felt like a few seconds later, Harry was waking her up for their next class.
"Come on, we got Herbology next," he said dragging her up from the seat.
She yawned and began to walk out of the room but stopped when she realised that Harry was no longer with her.
"Just going to talk to Remus," he said before disappearing back into the classroom.
She rubbed her eyes and followed the crowd down to the green houses.
"You alright?" Neville asked in concern, grabbing her arm just before she tripped down the stairs.
"Just tired," she yawned again before straightening up.
"What did you do to Ron?" Neville asked as they walked outside.
"Nothing," she replied instantly looking around to find the red head.
"Are you sure?" Neville questioned, "He looked like he was going to stab you and Harry with his quill."
"What?!" Hermione said in alarm.
"Didn't you notice us behind you?"
"You were sitting behind me?" Hermione said in surprise.
"Yeah and Ron was clenching his quill so tight I'm surprised it didn't break," Neville said before saying in concern, "So what did you do to him?"
Hermione didn't reply but her eyes instantly searched for Ron's when she entered the greenhouse.
"I'll go talk to him," she said to Neville before walking over to Ron.
Ron was prodding a plant on the table in front of him but then his eyes looked up and met hers. He saw her walk towards him and he froze instantly.
Professor Sprout walked in just as Hermione stopped beside him. Hermione opened her mouth to say something but when she looked back at him he was gone.
She looked around her and realised that he had somehow managed to get across the room from her and was now standing leaning against the entrance to the greenhouse his arms folded across his chest and looking anywhere but at her.
'Everyone keeps telling me that you like me but you are acting like you can't even stand to be in the same room as me.'
Hermione began cutting the little slippery seeds on her cutting board.
'What am I supposed to do?'
"Ow," Hermione looked down and realised that her hand was bleeding.
"You alright?" Dean asked in concern lifting her hand up to look at it.
"Fine," she said, "it's not that deep."
She placed the knife back down on the desk and sucked on her finger. She caught Ron's eyes and he glared daggers at her before turning away again.
She sighed and took out the handkerchief in her pocket and soaked the small amount of blood on her finger. It was only then that she saw the initials stitched into the corner.
R.W.
She had completely forgotten that Ron had given this to her. She hugged her handkerchief covered hand to her chest and closed her eyes.
"No day dreaming Mr Granger," Professor Sprout said just as she passed by her desk.
Hermione apologised before continuing cutting the little seeds.
She met Harry at the Gryffindor table after Herbology.
"How's Remus?" she asked in concern.
"Packing," Harry sighed.
"Oh no," she said sadly, "That's not fair."
"What's not fair?" Neville asked taking a seat across from them.
"Remus is leaving," Harry said wearily.
"No," Neville said in alarm, "Just because he's a werewolf? Who's going to take DADA for the rest of the year?"
"Don't know," Harry replied poking at the pasta on his plate.
"Wait," Hermione said looking at Neville, "How do you know why he's leaving?"
"Hermione," Harry spoke as he continued poking his food, "We – OWW!"
Hermione had stomped down hard on Harry's foot causing him to shout out in pain.
"What!" Harry stared at her angrily before realising what he had just done, "Oh…"
They both looked at Neville but saw he was too busy talking to Dean to even notice what had passed between them.
"Idiot," she grumbled under her breath before biting into her apple.
She noticed Harry staring at something down the hall. She followed his line of vision and saw Ron standing up from the table and running out of the Great Hall.
She turned back to look at Harry.
"Do you know what's wrong with him?" Hermione questioned, "I don't understand what I've done to make him so upset with me."
Harry watched Ron leave before turning back to his lunch. Hermione thought she heard him say something under his breath.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much," Harry replied with a chuckle before digging into his pasta.
"But –"
"Seriously, trust me on this, he's not angry."
She simply stared at Harry in confusion but he smiled and continued eating.
'I still don't understand boys,' she thought to herself before pouring herself some coffee.
"Are you serious?" Lavender said in disbelief.
"Yeah, and then he says 'You're just a kid, you shouldn't be dating anyone', can you believe that?" Ginny said in exasperation.
She wouldn't have believed it herself but she was actually enjoying Lavender's company. They were sitting in the abandoned courtyard that Fred and George had destroyed when they left Hogwarts. Lavender had been showing her the drawings in her sketchbook which she had hidden away behind a loose brick in the wall of the courtyard. Lavender was a very good listener and she actually seemed to understand Ron and Hary better than either she or Hermione did.
"Hmm…" Lavender said thoughtfully.
"What?" Ginny said curiously.
"Well he was obviously jealous," Lavender replied as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What? No he wasn't, he was just being overprotective," Ginny sighed, "He treats me like a little sister."
"Are you sure?" Lavender questioned.
Ginny nodded her head at her.
"Well we could always test that theory," Lavender replied smiling.
"What's with that smile?" Ginny said cautiously, she knew that smile, it was the smile Lavender had when she planning something bad.
"Let's compare Ron and Harry's reactions," Lavender said thoughtfully for a moment, "We have to figure out a way to make Harry jealous."
"I'm telling you he won't be," Ginny sighed.
"And I'm telling you he will," Lavender grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the seat, "Come on, we need Hermione if we're going to pull this one off."
Hermione was walking down the hall with Harry, Neville and Dean when they ran into Remus.
He was holding a box in his hands and didn't notice them until they stopped in front of him.
"Oh Professor," Hermione said tearfully, "I'm so sorry."
Remus smiled and placed the box on the ground.
"It's quite alright, I'm used to it by now," he said with a warm smile patting her head.
"But it's not fair, you shouldn't have to 'get used to it'," she replied angrily, "Those stupid peacocks at the Ministry -"
"Actually, I'm resigning, this had nothing to do with the Ministry," Remus explained, "It's easier for Dumbledore this way, he said he would fight for my cause but I've done all I can – I think I could use my skills for a greater cause."
"But who will take your place?" Neville questioned.
"You'll see, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. You all take care of each other alright, I'd better be going now."
Hermione instantly hugged the professor, she stood up on her tip toes and whispered in his ear.
"Thank you so much for everything."
"You're quite –"
Hermione gasped when she was suddenly jerked away from Remus, she thought she would trip but someone held her with a vice like grip.
Ron glared down at her his teeth clenched together.
He didn't say a word before he dragged her down the hall.
"Ow! Ron that hurts," she cried trying to pull her hand free.
She looked back to see Harry and the others watching her leave.
"Harry!" she cried for help but he smiled at her and waved.
'Help me you jerk!'
She gasped when she was suddenly shoved into a room. She hit the back wall of the very small supply room painfully and watched Ron warily. He was standing the small distance away from her and he looked like he was about to hit her. Instead he spun around and cast a spell on the door.
She panicked.
"Ron, whatever I did I'm sorry!" she said desperately, she felt herself trembling with fear.
Ron turned around and she saw his chest rise and fall from the small light above them. Within one step he closed the gap between them
Hermione squeaked in surprise when he crushed her lips with his. She felt his arms wrap tightly around her and push her back against the wall.
She couldn't breath and she couldn't think.
'Who needs air,' she thought to herself as she felt Ron's lips trail down her neck.
She moaned and pulled him closer to her.
She heard him whisper her name over and over as he kissed her and she sighed with contentment.
She pulled his shirt free and trailed her fingers up and down his back. She felt him shiver and she smiled at the effect she had on him.
Her smile disappeared and her breath hitched when she felt his hands move up her legs.
Suddenly Ron stopped and pulled away. He didn't look at her but he quickly moved his arms and placed them on both sides of her against the wall. He slammed his fists against the wall and she closed her eyes tightly in fear.
"Get – out," she heard Ron say through clenched teeth.
She opened her eyes to find Ron staring down at her furious.
'Not this again!'
"What did I do to make you so angry!" She screamed back at him.
"Angry?! You think I'm angry!" he screamed just as loudly back at her.
"Yes, you've been glaring daggers at me all day."
Ron shook his head at her in disbelief. He hit his head against the wall.
"Stop it," she held his face in her hands to stop him from hurting himself.
He pushed her away.
"I said get out!"
"Not until you tell me what the bloody hell is going on!"
She saw Ron smile when she adopted his favourite phrase but the next instant his face was stern again.
"Hermione please," he begged her and she cold see his face was contorted in pain, "I don't want –"
He took a deep breath and turned to stare at the wall.
"I can't control myself around you. So unless you want our first time to be in this supply room you will get the hell out of here now!"
Hermione gasped and stumbled backwards.
"Before I change my mind," he said and she saw him trembling as he stood his hands clenched on both sides of his body.
"Now!"
Hermione didn't need to be told again, she spun around and bolted from the small room. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her until she found herself near the Quidditch pitch. She fell to the ground physically and emotionally exhausted.
Ron hit the wall again and again to beat the frustration out of his body.
"Damn it!" he screamed before collapsing on the floor.
He held his face in his hands and wondered how he had ever gotten into this mess in the first place.
24 hours earlier….
"Hermione I –"
"When did you notice?" Heremione cut him off.
"Notice? Notice what?"
"That I was a girl?" Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
He avoided her eyes.
"Oh that…"
'She's gonna go bonkers when I tell her I've known all along that she's a girl.'
"I mean, I don't even remember when the potion wore off. Must have been when we were talking to Sirius because I was definitely back to normal when Remus walked in."
'What? What is she talking about?'
"Do you mean," he said slowly looking at her cautiously, "when did I notice you had changed back to being a girl in the shrieking shak?"
Hermione nodded her head at him and he smiled in relief.
'This is great, she thinks I only just found out, now she won't think I'm a perv.'
"Oh well, yeah that sounds about right, during the time we were talking to Sirius but before Remus came in."
Hermione stared at him. His smile slid from his face.
"What?"
"Are you angry with me?" Hermione questioned.
"What? No!" Ron looked at her with shock.
'Angry? What is she talking about?'
"So you don't mind the fact that you've been sharing a room with a girl for half the year?"
"Err…well…" Ron trailed off looking away form her and running a hand through his hair.
'Mind it? I've bloody loved it! Better not tell her that – yep defiantly not a good idea.'
"I knew it, you are mad," Hermione said dejectedly.
"I'm not mad," Ron replied vehemently.
"I just want you to know…I won't stand in your way," she looked up at him.
'Oh Merlin, is she crying…hang on what did she just say?'
He stared at her in confusion.
"You and Lavender."
His eyes widened in surprise.
'Is she mental? Doesn't she know I'm crazy about her?'
"I just want you to be happy Ron," Hermione continued, "I care about you so much…and its not like we were dating or anything – never got the chance really…"
"Hermione I –" he tried to stop her and explain but she cut him off.
"No, let me finish," she sniffed and looked away from him before continuing, "I just want you to know that your friendship has meant more to me than any relationship I've ever had and that no matter what I want us always to be friends."
'She's so incredible,' Ron thought to himself. He watched her talking about Lavender, a girl who had no doubt caused her to become the emotionally damaged girl he met last year and yet here she was talking about getting to know her – all because she thought it would make him happy.
'I love you.'
Ron's heart stopped.
'What?! What??!'
"…but if you like her I'll do my best to get to know her better from now on."
'WHAT?! Hold on – what did I just…'
"I just always want to be part of your life that's all, even if it's just as a friend – or even as your little sisters friend."
He looked up at her and saw the tears falling down her face. He reached into his pocket and handed her his handkerchief.
He felt as though is fingers were on fire when he touched her skin and he pulled back suddenly. He had trouble breathing and he turned away.
"Thanks," he heard her say.
When he looked at her he felt his body tense. He looked at her lips and felt his breath leave his body.
'Oh Merlin, this is bad.'
"Is that all?" he said through gritted teeth not wanting to show her what he was really thinking.
"Y-yeah," she replied in surprise.
'Just go so you don't have to see me like this. Before I…'
"Well then do you mind leaving so I can get some rest?"
He winched when he saw her cry.
"I'm so sorry," she cried before running out the door.
Ron screamed and grabbed the nearest thing to him, it was a vase, he threw it across the room in anger and frustration.
After being submitted to a torture by Madame Pomfrey he was allowed to return to his dorm room. What he didn't expect was to find Hermione sprawled across her bed. She was sound asleep, and the light from the candle beside her desk made her face look angelic.
He groaned and moved to the nearby window. He pushed open the window and threw his head out into the open night air. He sighed when he felt himself cool down and he sat down on the window seat.
'What am I going to do? I can't react like this every time I see her.'
He turned to look at Hermione once more before turning back to look out the window.
'I love her…' he said to himself in amazement.
He knew he liked her a lot but love?
He slammed his clenched fist against the windowsill.
'It can't be – '
He groaned before standing up and heading to the bathroom. He needed a cold shower.
'Study, that's what I need to do. Lots and lots of studying,' Ron said to himself when he awoke early the next morning.
He startled Madam Pince when he ran into the library the instant she opened the doors. He felt the cool air wash over him.
'Peace at last.'
Or so he thought.
Of course, twenty minutes later he realised that it probably wasn't the brightest idea to go to the library if you wanted to forget about Hermione Granger.
He sighed, grabbed a few of the books on the table and returned to his room.
'Okay, prepare yourself,' he told himself as he took a deep breath and opened the door to their dorm room.
He looked around and noticed the room was empty.
'Excellent, she must be go-'
All thought left his mind as he saw Hermione dripping wet and wearing only a towel. Her hair falling in wet curls across her face and down her back.
He couldn't breath.
He thought of every swear word he could think of as he stared at the girl in front of him. He took a breath when he realised his lungs needed air and he slammed the door – hard.
The sound distracted him long enough to pick up the books off the floor.
He threw the books onto the bed not caring what happened to them before storming out the room.
"Can't you be more bloody careful?!" he screamed taking out some of his frustration on her.
He slammed the door closed before falling to his knees outside the room.
'Cold shower – now!'
He had been able to recompose himself in time for class but his composure didn't last very long.
Ron saw Hermione rush into the classroom with concern.
'She's going to collapse with exhaustion is she doesn't…'
Ron's train of thought vanished when he saw Hermione lean over and rest her head against Harry shoulder.
'What the hell?!'
He felt Neville nudge him but he ignored his friend. He clenched his fists tightly at the sight in front of him and he felt the broken pieces of the quill dig into his hand.
'Get off of him!' he screamed internally.
He let out a low growl causing Neville to jump and shift away from him in fear.
The instant class was over he grabbed his things and stormed out of the room and Merlin help those that stood in his path.
'This is bad,' he ran a hand through his hair and he waited for their Herbology lesson to start, 'I can't control these feelings I have…and worse I can't seem to control how I act when she's around. I wanted to kill Harry for just touching her.'
He sighed and gripped the table in front of him.
'This is really bad…' he said for the thousandth time before he began prodding the plant in front of him, it bit at the spade that he was poking at it causing him to drop it. When he looked back up he saw Hermione heading towards him.
'Bugger, if she comes close to me again I don't know what I'll do…'
Before she could stop him he ran across the room and was about to escape the room but he heard Professor Sprout begin to give them instructions.
'Don't look at her - If I don't look at her I won't have the uncontrollable need to sweep her off her feet and kiss her senseless - if I don't look at her…'
"Oww!"
His head snapped up when he heard Hermione's voice. He began to move towards her but stopped when Dean grabbed her hand.
'Get your bloody hands off my girl!'
Ron dropped the seed and knife in his hands.
"Whoa! Careful Ron," Neville said from beside him.
But he wasn't listening he was staring at Hermione.
'W-what did I just say?'
Hermione looked over at him and he froze.
'Don't look at me with those eyes.'
He instantly looked away from her.
'Definitely bad – I need to get control over this before I do something I regret.'
Ron was happy to escape the confines of the greenhouse which seemed hotter than usual and he bolted out of the room and away from Hermione.
'What am I going to do?' He ran a hand through his incredibly messy hair and poured some juice with a shaking hand as he contemplated his options in the Great Hall.
'Will she think I'm crazy if I suddenly tell her I'm in love with her? Heck I'm going crazy from even thinking it…'
Ron spat out the juice to the annoyance of the Gryffindors around him. But he ignored them all.
Hermione was biting into a deep red apple and his eyes were glued onto her mouth. His mouth hung open.
'Merlin help me!' he screamed internally before fleeing from the room.
After a painful day Ron dragged his feet back to the Gryffindor Tower.
He groaned when he saw the group ahead of him.
Hermione was standing with a few of the guys and they were currently talking to Remus.
Ron felt his heart leap out of his chest when she hugged Remus. He felt the familiar growl erupt from his throat and he ran over and pulled her away from Remus.
…End flashback
It had taken all of his strength and will to allow her to escape that small room and not chase after her.
'Now what do I do?' Ron wondered to himself as he lay on the floor of the supply room.
If I kissed your lips and promised eternally,
What place steals your heart becomes a home for me,
Then would you see, lying here with me,
That all I want is you.
Is you.
I can't keep it locked inside,
These feelings I can't hide,
If I lost you then I would surely die,
Now can you see, how it steals the words from me,
And all I want is,
All I need is,
All I want is you.
Is you.
Is you...
A/N: Why did this chapter take only a few hours to write? Well cause this is the chapter I've been planning for since the beginnning - now you guys better go cool off, maybe follow Ron's lead and take several cold showers before commenting lol. If you wanna hear the song, go to the following link, just replace the underscore _ with full stops:
au_youtube_com/watch?v=-DWAu7GGmMU
