After a long and thorough day of stunning, hexing, disarming and casting spells in the room of requirement, the classmates all made their way back to their common room. It had been a day full of success and a few failures. Neville managed to produce his patronus, whilst Ron got advice from Hermione on how to disarm Nigel as he was struggling.
The three best friends were always the last to leave the Gryffindor common room at night, mostly because Ron would fall asleep half the time when Hermione and Harry were doing some kind of reading or writing, whether academic or not. This particular night, they were all shattered from the long day they had working for Dumbledore's army. Hermione was sitting up right although clearly tired, she was managing to make her way through a thick book on house elves. When sitting opposite the spitting fire was harry, mostly staring into space as Ron was snoring lightly to the right of him, he had his arm swung over the arm of the chair dangling as he dozed.
The Gryffindor common room always created such a soothing vibe for the students. The atmosphere was quiet and relaxed, it was never a bright sunny kind of room. It was usually very dim but always a delicate kind.
By this point everyone had left for bed apart from Harry, Ron and Hermione, they chatted casually every now and then, but for some reason this particular night Harry sensed some tension between the three. He wasn't sure why but felt the best thing to was let it shrink overnight. So with that he stood up, nodded Hermione goodnight, he nudged Ron too though he didn't wake and strolled of up the stairs to his dorm.
Hermione tutted when she saw Ron sleeping again like always, although part of her couldn't help noticing how peaceful and calm he looked. She hadn't taken her eyes of his sleeping face and without realizing her foot had knocked an empty glass of the low wooden table in front. It made a smashing sound and Hermione shrieked quietly, as it shattered into pieces on the tatty rug in front of her. Ron, across from her stirred but didn't move much, his eyes opened sleepily and he made out a blurred scurrying figure. He soon realized it was Hermione as his eyes focused, he saw her panicking and instantly jerked up. He spoke yawning mid-way, 'Wha-what happened?' Hermione's head struck up at him with her fuzzy hair all in her face. 'Oh, oh um... don't worry Ron, I just, I just knock-' she exclaimed but Ron cut her off as he saw her hand reach for a large piece of glass. 'DON'T touch that!' he shouted at her, but her tiny palm was already sliced open as blood started to pour out. She shrieked again only louder this time from Ron's shouting and the pain that struck up her hand and arm. 'Hermione I told you not to touch it! He shouted again, he instantly felt horrible as he saw a tear drop to her lap and her lip quivered. The room fell quiet for a few seconds as Hermione sat on her knees in shock from Ron shouting. He sat with each hand beside him, rapidly thinking of what he should say. 'Hermione I-I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you I just didn't want you to hurt yourself' he spoke gently this time looking straight at Hermione. Looking back she saw the sorrow sitting in his blue eyes. 'Ron its-it's okay I shouldn't have- oh don't worry I-I'll just find some dittany' she sobbed, as the palm of her hand still leaked with blood. She went to stand up but Ron insisted, 'Hermione, I'll get it, just come and sit down and breathe.' She didn't speak back like she normally would, she just walked over and sat down where Harry previously sat, still sobbing a bit. Ron headed over to a cupboard to search for some dittany. He found a little bottle labelled "essence of dittany" he saw there wasn't much left but it should have been enough. He grabbed the bottle and walked back to where Hermione was sitting opposite the fire place.
'I've found some' he spoke as he started to unstopper it. 'I think there should be enou- Hermione?' Her head turned to him, her eyes widened, showing she wasn't paying attention. 'Oh, sorry' she said, her lip still quivering a bit. 'Its fine Hermione, I was just saying I found some dittany' 'Oh, good' she replied, looking down at her blood stained hand.
Ron felt panicked as he saw Hermione's pain, and he clenched his face and teeth. He sat himself next to her, opposite the fire that was still alight. Hermione felt Ron's side skim hers as he sat, which helped her sobbing dissolve more and more. Though Hermione would not admit it she always adored Ron's comfort and tenderness his presence gave of, it made her feel safe. Ron tried not to show his guilt for the incident but he couldn't help thinking it was all his fault. I mean after all I shouted at her which is probably why she cut it so bad, he thought.
He faced towards Hermione a bit awkwardly and asked, 'Um did you want be to have a look, I can put the dittany on it for you?' he held his hand out shyly to take a look. 'Oh, yes please' she replied, trying to avoid showing Ron her teary face. She moved her hand to Ron's and he gently held the back of her hand, trying not to increase the pain she was already in. She relaxed at his touch, and Ron felt it too. He stretched his finger out under her hand towards her wrist and just stroked it subtly, as he prepared the dittany in his right hand. 'I'm sorry if it hurts but it shouldn't take too long, also you can look this way, I have seen you cry before you know?' Ron exclaimed with a laugh at the end. 'I know Ron, but never like this!' she faced right towards him 'Look at me. I'm a mess!' she said sternly trying to hold her tears back. 'You do NOT look a mess Hermione' he said certainly and looked her right in the eyes. In fact, Ron thought Hermione was really quite beautiful. He adored all of her features, her hair especially. He wasn't sure why he couldn't tell her this, maybe he would make a fool of himself.
Hermione blushed underneath her puffy skin, at Ron's mild compliment. 'Um should I do it now?' Ron asked, changing the subject. 'Oh, um yes' she replied. 'Tell me if it hurts too much and I'll stop okay' Ron said with a smile. 'Okay' she replied and smiled back feeling her stomach churn at the soft look on his face. He started to tip the bottle but then- 'Wait!' Hermione exclaimed which made Ron flinched as he brought the bottle back up. 'I need something to squeeze when it hurts, I know it's silly but it helps and might stop me from crying more and making myself look a bigger mess!' 'Stop saying that! And, umm... you could take my fore arm if you want?' he said as looked down his left arm and saw that he was still stroking Hermione's wrist. 'O-or you could use a pillow or something, I can get you one?' he spoke rapidly realizing how weird it sounded asking a friend to squeeze his arm, the tip of his ears turned read at his embarrassment. 'Ron, it's fine really' and she placed her right hand on his fore arm and smiled up at Ron's freckly face. He felt goosebumps rise on his skin and the pair locked eyes until Hermione said 'you can do it now Ron' and nodded towards her hand which half of the blood had already dried.
Ron tipped the dittany drop by drop onto Hermione's small hand, as he held it still. She flinched at each drop and clenched her teeth whilst lightly squeezing Ron's arm. She felt his muscle and couldn't help but feel butterfly's squirming around her stomach. It took a couple of minutes for the whole cut to heal, and it turns out it was pretty deep. Once it faded, Ron smoothed his finger over the area to make sure it didn't hurt. They sat awkwardly for a moment there arms and hands tangled in some way. 'Oh, I'll just go put this in the bin since we used it all, lucky there was enough aha' he laughed trying to wear of the awkwardness though Hermione didn't respond. When Ron returned from the bin he heard a sob and hurried straight to Hermione. She was in the same position but help her head in her hands as tears leaked through them, her back moved up and down as she wept. 'Hermione, Hermione what's wrong? I-Is it your hand, D-did I do something, are you okay?' his voice fell quiet as he stopped stuttering. Ron didn't know how to act because they'd never been the most affectionate pair, but he wanted badly to comfort her. He sat back down next to her and gently placed his hand on her back, she hitched a breath and slowly uncovered her face as Ron began to rub her back in comfort. 'Hermione?' 'It's, It's just everything!' she sobbed 'All these owls are so stressful and Umbridge is doing my head in with her pathetic rules. I just feel so stressed, all the time! And now I feel bad for keeping you up over my clumsiness.' and her eyes filled up with tears again and she burst into tears, panting heavily this time. Ron was in shock and felt horrible for not noticing Hermione's stress earlier on. All he wanted was her to feel content and safe and Hogwarts like previous years, and everything was the complete opposite of that. He was frozen in shock. He wanted to show Hermione the feelings he had for her only they were buried deep inside him and never expressed them. Although he knew this wasn't the time to do so he still wanted to show Hermione that he understood and give her the affection she needed. So he found the feelings inside him and spoke soothingly 'Hermione, I don't want you to feel like this you just, you just don't deserve it. First of all you're going to smash you owls! And please don't stress about Umbridge, she's a total git' he said and moved closer to Hermione still running his hand around her back. Her breathing settled down at his warm touch and she turned her head to him without speaking.
'And, don't worry about the DA your brilliant at all of it! I mean look at me, I can't even disarm Nigel unless I have your guidance. And that's saying something!' He smiled at her as she faced him. She adored his skin and how much he showed he cared. She caught her self dazing at him again then said 'You think I'm brilliant at it, I didn't think you payed any attention to me?' 'Of course I do'. Hermione blushed again and her cheeks turned rosy, Ron saw this and grinned. 'Also, don't worry about keeping me up either, I only would have woken up later? Besides I needed to help you'. He still spoke gently with his deep voice. Ron gave Hermione a squeeze and carried on rubbing her back.
They had never felt this close to each other before, physically as well. They sat in silence now. This time it wasn't awkward and neither of them felt as nervous like before. They sat and enjoyed the peacefulness that the common room and each other's company gave of. Then Hermione looked at Ron and spoke clearly 'Thank you so much , Ron' and she grasped her arms around his back and hugged him tightly, even though it was only a hug Ron wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not. He felt her torso collapse into his as her head and fuzzy hair lay on his chest. He wrapped his muscly arms around her, shut his eyes and hugged her tightly back. Ron dragged his left arm up her arm too her shoulder then her hair. The bushy ringlets swirled around his fingers as he stroked her hair gently. Hermione took in Ron's smell and held his body tightly, she relaxed in all the warmth his body gave of. The pair sat in more silence still enjoying their closeness. Neither were sure were this moment and whole night would lead them but all that mattered to Ron especially was that Hermione knew he was there for her, forever. 'Hermione, I know I don't give the best advice and I'm not the best with feelings but I will always be here for you, no matter what' Ron said as he stroked her hair still. 'You too Ron, and thank you again' she whispered as she moved her face back to his chest to indulge his smell again.
THE END!
For now.