In Between

Author's Note: Hi again! This is the next installment in this series. Having such a lovely time revisiting this world. Fluff and mature moments ahead!

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read, leave a review and follow this story. Please do leave any ideas for moments you might like to see written between Ron and Hermione.

It goes without saying that nothing pertaining to Harry Potter belongs to me and is the work of J.K. Rowling.

Please review!

Chapter 10: Hogsmeade Visits

For the third time in the past ten minutes, Ron checked his watch and saw that exactly no time had passed since the last time he'd looked. He blew out a sigh as he turned his attention back to the box of skiving snackboxes he was stacking in the backroom. It was finally a Hogsmeade weekend for Hermione and he was due to meet her in just under a half hour. He was buzzing. He had promised George he would finish unpacking one last delivery before going to meet her even though he was supposed to have the entire day off. He didn't mind though, otherwise he wouldn't have agreed to it. It was fine because he was going to have almost all day with Hermione.

It had been far too long since they had seen each other. Her birthday, 4 weeks and 2 days ago to be exact. He missed her so bloody much. Especially after that fucking fantastic night and morning they had when he'd gone to see her. She'd given him enough wank material for a lifetime with that visit, though really, he had plenty of that already. When he thought about some of the things he'd witnessed her doing, saying, experiencing with him, it made all the blood rush south. She was so unbelievably hot and she really had no idea. And the fact that she not only trusted him enough to do any of those things with him, but that she had only ever done them with him and only ever loved him made him happier than he'd ever admit to anyone but her. Bloody hell, he couldn't wait to see her. He checked his watch again. Okay, if he finished this last box he could go and meet her. Or wait anxiously for her at the Hogsmeade entrance. Same difference, really.

He emptied the last box quickly and grabbed his coat off the hook behind the door, making his way through the store. "George! I'm leaving. Going to meet Hermione!" He called through the shop, not even bothering to really look at George, too focused on getting to Hermione.

"Enjoy, Ronniekins! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" George called as Ron passed. Ron gave him a rude gesture with his hand and left through the door, making his way to the gate where he was supposed to meet Hermione. And Harry and Ginny, of course.

He found himself early, for the first time in his life, and tapped his foot as he looked at the entrance, trying to see above all the people and find that bushy head of hair he loved so much. He checked his watch again. Bloody hell, was time standing still or something?

Then he spotted her. Walking next to Ginny and Harry, her hair was tied back in a plait and she was searching the crowd with her eyes. When they landed on him waiting for her, she broke out in a smile and a grin appeared on his face to match hers.

"Hermione!" He called and suddenly she was leaving Harry and Ginny behind and taking off in a run towards him. He grinned even wider. Harry and Ginny were laughing and shaking their heads.

Then a moment later he had two arms full of Hermione Granger and he couldn't be happier. She had run at him and leapt into his arms so fast that he'd almost fallen over and staggered with the sheer force of it. He buried his face in her neck and wrapped his arms around her.

"Missed you so bloody much." He muttered into her skin. She hugged him tightly before pulling back to look at him.

"Hi," she said softly, grinning at him and he matched her smile.

"Hi." He replied, the world around them fading she launched herself forward and kissed him.

She couldn't believe she was finally seeing Ron in person after over a month. A month! She didn't know how she survived it really. Especially after all these years of seeing him every day and that was only as friends. They were so much more now and that made it all the more difficult to be apart. It had been far too long. She kissed him with such intensity that she forgot the world around her, forgot where she was or who was watching. Her arms tightened around his neck and she poured every emotion she was feeling into the kiss, forgetting they were standing in the middle of the Hogsmeade entrance.

"Oi, lovebirds!" Came Harry's voice from behind them, "Wanna save the rest of that for behind closed doors? You're giving everyone quite the show!" Ginny snickered beside Harry, clearing her throat loudly.

Hermione flushed and broke apart from Ron, hiding her face in his chest for a moment.

"Sorry," she murmured.

Ron shook his head and glared at Harry and Ginny. "Don't apologize, love, everyone else is just jealous." She laughed and shook her head.

"I'm Head Girl! I should be setting an example."

Ron rolled his eyes. "I hardly think you kissing your boyfriend after not seeing him for a month is that scandalous." He rubbed her back with the hand that was around her as she leaned into him now. "Harry can shove it."

Harry rolled his eyes and Ginny piped up. "Oi! I know you and Hermione are sickeningly in love and all that shite but Harry and I missed you too, you know."

"Yeah, yeah, sure you did." Ron said with a laugh and a shake of his head as he released Hermione for a moment and went over to hug Harry and his sister hello. The moment he was done, his arm was around Hermione again.

"Well, Harry, let's give the lovebirds some time alone, shall we? Why don't we meet at The Three Broomsticks in an hour for lunch?" Ginny suggested, looking over to Harry and then to Ron and Hermione.

"Brilliant. Ron? Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Sounds great, mate. 'Mione?"

"Of course!" She said, nodding, "sounds lovely." She smiled at all three of them and blushed when Ginny wiggled her eyebrows. She gave her a slight glare, in too much of a good mood to do anything else. Harry and Ginny headed down the road and she turned to Ron.

"Alone at last." Ron breathed in relief, grinning at her. "C'mere." He said, taking her hand and tugging her into a nearby alleyway, away from prying eyes. He had missed her too much not to snog her but he knew she would be uncomfortable doing so out in the open where anyone could see so he decided to remedy that.

"Ron! Where are we going? Honestly!" She pretended she was exasperated, but she wasn't and it came out in more of a laughing tone than anything else.

"Well, didn't want the entire world to watch us snog, did I?" He said with a smirk and then after a quick glance around them, he dipped his head down and latched his mouth onto the only exposed part of her neck visible to him with her coat and scarf. "Missed you so much," he muttered against her skin, kissing and nibbling his way up her neck and across her chin and cheek.

"Mmm," she sighed breathily, letting her eyes fall shut and her hand slide up around his neck, one immediately going to his hair. "Missed you too." She barely got the words out before he was attaching his lips to hers, kissing her like there was no tomorrow. She could feel the desperation radiating off him and she knew exactly how he felt. It had been too long since they had been together in person. And the last time they were was so memorable that it made it even more difficult to be apart.

He felt like he had finally come home, kissing Hermione, like he was returning from a long journey and finally returning to where he belonged. Hermione was his everything and being away from her was so hard. He walked forward a bit, so she moved backward and pressed her back against the brick wall behind her. He was going to get carried away soon and forget they were outside, in an alleyway, in Hogsmeade, where anyone could walk by and see them.

She parted the kiss to take in a huge breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly breathlessly as she tried to catch her breath. She placed a kiss on his nose and then his cheek and then to his lips again before smiling. "Ron, we're going to need to stop, I think."

He smiled at the cute little kisses to the various parts of his face and then groaned when she stated the obvious. She was right, of course, but he didn't have to like it. "Yeah, you're right. Always the responsible one." He tilted his head at her with a smile.

"We have all day." She reminded him, happy that it was the case. The Head Girl didn't have to be back at the castle until dinner.

"That we do," he stole one more kiss and then took a step back so he wasn't trapping her against the wall anymore. "So, what do you want to do until we meet Harry and Ginny for lunch?" He slipped an arm around her waist as they started walking out of the alley to join the crowds of Hogsmeade again.

"We could go to Honeydukes? Or Zonko's?" She suggested, snuggling into his side, threading her fingers with his on the hand that was around her waist.

"Let's go to Honeydukes then." He said, "I go to Zonko's all the time now. The novelty has worn off."

"Honeydukes it is." She agreed, falling into comfortable silence as they walked. She tried to ignore some of the stares they got from the other students. You think by now people would be used to seeing them together but apparently not.

They made their way to Honeydukes where Ron bought more chocolate than he could ever possibly need and had it sent to his flat above the shop so he wouldn't have to carry it around. He tried to send Hermione back to school with some chocolate frogs but she declined. He didn't, however, take no for an answer when they spotted the sugar quills and insisted on getting Hermione a few of those as he knew she secretly loved them. He had caught her a few times over the years chewing on the end of them while she was studying. She accepted those, reluctantly, and they headed out back into Hogsmeade.

"You didn't have to get me those sugar quills, Ron." She told him and before he could protest, she added, "thank you though. I do like them." This made Ron smiled.

"I know you do. S'why I got them for you."

She glanced at her watch. "Almost time to meet Harry and Ginny. Shall we go early and grab a table?" She suggested, gesturing to the Three Broomsticks.

"Yeah, reckon that's a good plan. It's a madhouse at lunchtime." He took her hand and started walking to the Three Broomsticks. "So, do you think we'll have enough time after lunch for me to show you the flat?" He asked, turning his head to look at her.

She nodded. "I hope so! I want to see it."

"Just see it?" He leaned over and whispered in her ear. He smiled at the goosebumps that formed on her neck where his breath touched her skin. He could see her blush and it made him smiled even more. After everything they had done together, you'd think she'd stop getting flushed when he said things like that to her.

"Well, that'll depend on how much time we have, won't it?" She asked, giving him a shy smile.

He stopped walking and pulled her to him by her waist, leaning in close. He growled low in his throat. "Then we had better rush through our lunch, shouldn't we?" He stole a kiss that was rough and passionate but forced himself to pull away before he got carried away in the middle of the road again. When he pulled back and looked at her, she was smiling at him and her cheeks were deliciously pink.

"Ron!" She admonished, smacking him lightly on the arm. "We're in public!" She hissed.

"Yeah, yeah." He grinned and released her but threaded their fingers together again as they reached the Three Broomsticks.

They got themselves a table and good thing too because a few moments later the entire place filled up and there wasn't a seat to spare. Harry and Ginny arrived moments later and the four of them enjoyed a lunch with lots of stories of school, Hogsmeade and catching up. They had a few butterbeers, laughed and enjoyed being together as a group without any other worries getting in the way of things. After lunch, they parted ways with a swift reminder from Ron to Harry to behave to which Harry responded with the same reminder to Ron, his comment being "Hermione's my sister, remember that." Hermione had laughed, shaking her head. Boys.

Ron glanced at his watch. "How much longer before you have to be back at the castle?" He asked, wondering if she'd have to be the first one back because she was Head Girl.

Hermione took Ron's wrist in her hand and looked at the watch herself. She looked up at Ron. "I have a few hours." She said with a smile. Ron broke out in a grin, grabbed her hand and practically dragged her towards his flat. She laughed, almost losing her footing he was dragging her there so fast.

He stopped them in front of a door beside the WWW's window as he pulled out a key and unlocked it. Once behind it, he pulled her up the stairs and down the hall before stopping at the front door.

"Now, don't get all Hermione on me if it's not the cleanest in there, alright? I tried to tidy up for you but I'm not exactly the best at these things." He paused a moment, looking at her, for some reason a little nervous to show it to her and then opened the door and walked in, holding the door open for her before shutting it behind her. "This is it. It's not much but I like it." He shrugged.

She looked around as she removed her coat, Ron taking it from her hands the moment it was off her body and hanging it by the door. "It's cozy!" She commented, looking around. She was standing in the living room and the kitchen was to their right, small but useful.

"The bedroom's down that hall there and the bathroom's right next to it. George stays on the pull-out sofa when he stays, which isn't often but happens once and a while. And then that's basically the whole place."

"It's great, Ron! Perfect for you. I like it." She could already picture nestling on the sofa with him, cooking meals together when she visited… she felt comfortable there already.

"Yeah, you like it?" He asked, looking around then back at her.

"It's great." She repeated, moving over and linking her arms around his neck. His arms snaked around her waist.

"Finally alone." He breathed. "I barely slept last night thinking about today, you know? I'm a right crazy grump when I don't sleep. Or eat. In any case, George wasn't thrilled with me yesterday. I could barely focus thinking about today." He leaned down and kissed her neck again, loving how soft the skin was there. She was soft everywhere.

She sighed. "Me too. Well, the sleep part. I was doing so well too! Then I couldn't stop thinking about seeing you so I finally took a potion to help me get some rest." She tilted her neck to give him better access, leaning into his touch.

"Mmm, you said we have a few hours?" He said against her skin, kissing up her neck to her jaw.

"Yes, yes we do." She said softly, her eyes closing.

"Brilliant." He said softly, moving his kisses across her jaw to her lips and finally snogged her with all the pent up passion that he had been holding onto for a month.

She met his passion with as much passion of her own, if not more. Merlin, she had missed him. Missed this. It was so weird not having him with her everyday but she wasn't worried, they'd get through this year and then they could be together everyday, wake up together everyday like he'd said.

He walked backwards, pulling her with him until they reached the sofa and he tugged her down to sit with him on it, holding onto her tightly, limbs tangling together as they landed on the cushions, lips never leaving each other's.

They snogged for what seemed like hours, sprawled out together on the sofa, Ron hovering above her delicately, hands traveling all over each other's bodies, tongues battling fiercely. Shirts were unbuttoned, pushed off shoulders but not completely discarded, hanging off arms, tangling beneath the two of them.

When his lips left hers, she began to protest but then opened her eyes to see him trailing kisses down her body, over the skin revealed by her open blouse, down her stomach stopping at the waistband of her skirt and she knew what he was doing. She shivered in anticipation.

"Fucking love it where you wear skirts." He muttered hotly, lifting the hem of her skirt and bunching it at her waist but not bothering to take it off. He didn't have the patience for that right now. He snaked his hands up and found the waistband of her knickers and tugged them down her legs. He placed a few kisses on the insides of her thighs before pressing his tongue to her, his hand coming up to slip two fingers into her at the same time.

She cried out, her back arching as one hand found it's way into his hair and the other grabbed the material of the sofa cushion beneath her. She moaned as his tongue and mouth worked their magic, his fingers moving in and out of her in a rhythm.

He felt himself harden at the sounds of her moans, needing nothing else but her sounds of pleasure to arouse him. He was straining against his jeans but he didn't care. It was all about Hermione right now. He kept at it, varying the pressure of his tongue and the speed of his fingers, revelling in the sounds she was making and the way her hips were arching into his mouth.

"Ron, I'm…" She didn't get to finish the sentence as her orgasm came over her in a wave and she rode it out in pleasure, moaning softly as she slumped against the cushions. Her chest was heaving up and down as she breathed heavily and her eyes opened and she looked at Ron in wonderment. He'd only ever done this for her twice and it blew her mind every time. She tugged on the neck of his shirt so he'd come up to her and when he did, grinning like an idiot because she knew he always felt proud when he got her to her peak. She pulled him to her and kissed him, adjusting their positions on the sofa so she was hovering over him this time. She pulled back from the kiss to look at him and smiled. "Your turn." She said simply, urging his back against the sofa.

He watched in wonder as she took control, kissing down his body this time. He was in such awe of her in moments like these especially but usually all the time, really. She reached for the button of his jeans and undid it, pulling the zipper down and he lifted his hips to help her get the jeans down his legs. A moment later she was taking him into her mouth, her hand grabbing the base at the same time, moving both her hand and her mouth on him simultaneously.

"Fucking hell, Hermione!" He groaned, his hand slipping into her hair and gripping it in his fingers.

She smiled from around him, loving that she could make him feel the way he made her feel. She swirled her tongue around him, as her hand gripped him and moved in time with her mouth. She looked up at him, watching as his eyes closed and his head fell back on the sofa.

Merlin, she was so much more amazing that she knew. She had to know she was the only person who made him feel like this. He could feel that familiar pressure building in his abdomen and he groaned, lifting his head from the sofa to warn her.

"'Mione…" When she looked up and met his eyes he told her silently and she gave a slight nod. His eyes closed again and in another minute he felt that rush and he came with a grunt and a moan, exploding into her mouth because she never did pull away, even when he warned her. "Bloody hell," he said after, breathing heavy.

She smiled at him and tugged his pants and jeans back up before crawling up his body and settling against him on the sofa.

He smirked. "So, good first visit?" He asked with a sly grin.

"Ron!" She chastised, pinching his stomach but laughing the whole time.

"Oi! Ouch, Hermione, that hurt!" He said, rubbing the spot she pinched but still smiling. She rolled her eyes at him but leaned down and pressed a kiss to his stomach. "Much better." He said with a nod. He glanced at his watch again and sighed. "You have to get back soon, don't you?"

She nodded sadly. "Yes."

"And you can't stay the night?"

She shook her head. "McGonagall wouldn't agree to it. Especially since last month's visit was cancelled for security and safety reasons." She pouted.

He kissed that pout. "Such bullocks." He commented. "Maybe next time?"

"I'll ask again before next Hogsmeade weekend." She told him with a nod. He nodded in response.

"Well, alright. Reckon its about time I let you get back, innit?" He sighed but stretched his arms a bit as he sat them both up properly. He reached down to the floor, grabbing her knickers and holding them out to her. "Your knickers, miss." He said with a grin.

She shook her head and with a slight glare, snatched them from his hand, standing to slide them up her legs and back on under her skirt. Once she had done so, she moved to the hall where a mirror hung on the wall and straightened herself up, buttoning her shirt back up and sorting her hair out, so she didn't walk out of there looking thoroughly ruffled.

Ron stood, doing his pants up and doing up the buttons on his shirt. He rand a hand through his hair because there wasn't much else he could do for it and went to the door, grabbing their coats. He held Hermione's coat up so she could slip into it and then threw his on too.

"Well, let's go then, before I decide you're never leaving."

She checked her pockets and made sure she had her wand before nodding sadly and following him out the door. "Harry and Ginny promised to meet me at the gate." She told him as they walked down the stairs and out onto the street.

He nodded and took her hand again, holding on tighter than he had before, as if the tighter he held her hand, the longer she could stay with him. They made their way to the gates and found Harry and Ginny waiting for them there.

"Took you long enough!" Harry commented. Ginny didn't comment. She could see how tough it was for Ron and Hermione to have to constantly say goodbye. Her and Harry were lucky. They didn't have to do that.

"See you next Hogsmeade weekend, Ron. Unless you're coming for the quidditch match before that." Ginny said, looking at her brother.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be there." He said softly.

"Nice seeing you, mate. Say hi to George for me." Harry said, giving Ron a quick hug. Ron nodded in response.

"Will do. Bye Gin, nice to see you brat." He said, hugging his sister. Harry and Ginny turned to go.

"Go on, guys, I'll catch up in a minute." Came Hermione's voice from beside Ron. They nodded and waved before heading down the path towards the castle, walking slowly so Hermione could catch up.

She turned to Ron. "I'll write to you tomorrow. And then it's only a few weeks until the match." She said, her eyes filling with tears. She was being ridiculous. They'd been apart for longer than a few weeks.

"Yeah." He said, looking at his shoes. He looked back up at her. "I love you, Hermione." And his voice was so honest and soft that it made her heart jump.

"I love you, too, Ron." She said softly, standing on her toes to kiss him and then pull him into a hug. She held onto him for a few moments, not caring who saw them. "I should go." She said as they pulled away.

"Right, yeah, okay. See you soon, okay?"

"See you soon." She nodded, pressing one more kiss to his lips and one on his cheek before turning and running down the path to catch up to her friends. He sighed, watching her go. Only two weeks. He could do two weeks. It wasn't so bad.