Come Fly With Me

AN: I don't own the characters just the sweet little scene. Another lovely Ron and Hermione moment. Let me know what you think.

It was a warm September evening as Hermione wandered the grounds of Hogwarts. School had started just last week and therefore she did not have much homework. The common room had been loud and she had been searching out some peace. The grounds of Hogwarts had been the perfect solace. As she headed back up to the main entrance, she noticed someone on the Quidditch pitch. She stopped for a moment and saw the flyer move back and forth in front of the goal posts as a red quaffle ball flew zigzagged at them. She noticed a flash of red hair on the rider and knew in an instant who it was.

"What is he doing out here all alone?" She wondered out loud. She smiled a little and let her feet lead her to the pitch.

As she walked out on to the pitch, she saw Ron save a few more shots against the charmed quaffle. She smiled up and began to clap. Ron's broom stopped and he looked around for the clapping. He spotted the lone figure in the middle of the pitch. He immediately recognized the bushy haired witch, smiled and flew down to her. He hopped off his broom and stuck it up next to him in the grass.

"What brings you down to the Quidditch pitch, Hermione?" Ron asked, smiling at her.

She grinned back. "I was just out for a walk on the grounds. It's a beautiful evening." She said looking up and indicating the warm air and sun.

"It is a beautiful evening," He agreed with a smirk. "For Quidditch."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Why is it always quidditch with you? I don't see what so great about it." She replied.

"Hermione," Ron began, leaning against his vertically standing broom. "We've had this conversation before. You just don't understand Quidditch."

"Yes, so you say, but I still don't understand why you love it and flying so much."

"It's freedom, Hermione. Wind in the hair, going where you want to, being victorious." Ron replied in a passionate voice. He looked over at her, catching Hermione's eyes. "Don't you see? Freedom."

Hermione shrugged. She could hear the passion in his voice. She knew how much Quidditch and flying meant to him. She just didn't get it herself because of her feelings about flying. "I guess."

"Hermione, why don't you like flying? You haven't been on a broom since 1st year when we had our flying lessons." Ron asked still gazing into her eyes. He was always curious about her indifference to flying. He knew if he wanted an answer, he might have to stare her down.

Hermione looked down and tried to avoid his eyes. Her foot began to fidget, kicking at the grass. But she could feel those blue eyes boring into her. "I just don't."

"Hermione," Ron said accusingly. "I know that's not it. I can tell. I know you too well and you know that."

Hermione looked up. She sighed. He did know her well. Her answer was not going to cut it. "Alright, I don't like it. I can't control it. I'm not good at it. And I might have a little thing about heights." She blurted out. She looked into his eyes for a second then her eyes shot to her feet. Her cheeks flushed a little. There wasn't much that she couldn't master, but flying a broom was one of them.

"The brilliant Hermione, not good at something?" Ron mused, rubbing his chin. Hermione looked up and glared at him. He laughed. "Ha! I never thought I'd see the day! I finally found something I'm better at then you."

Her eyes narrowed even more. "Did you even hear the part about not liking heights? You can be such a jerk sometimes." She shot at him then turned swiftly and took a step away.

Ron jumped forward and grabbed her hand. "Wait!" He said pulling her to a stop. She turned around and looked at him, anger still on her face. While she could admit it to herself that she wasn't good at something, other people poking fun at her for it still hurt. "I'm sorry, Hermione. That was kinda rude of me."

Hermione's face softened some. "It was." She mumbled.

Ron smiled one of his wicked smiles at her. "It is true, though, that there isn't much I'm better at then you. Can you blame me to saying so?"

Hermione huffed. She pulled her hand from his and smacked him on the arm. She started to head away again but Ron caught her hand again. This time even tighter. Hermione turned and looked down at their clasped hands. Her heart beat sped up a little and goosebumps appeared on her arms. They had never held hands like this.

"Come fly with me, Hermione?" Ron asked, looking into her pools of chocolate eyes.

"No."

"Come on. Just one ride. I'm an experienced flyer. I know how to control a broom." He coaxed. He stared deep into her eyes. He really wanted her to say yes. He really wanted to show he something new, something she didn't already know. Which was hard, because she knew everything. "I promise to keep you safe. Trust me." He gave her hand a little squeeze.

Hermione looked down at their clasped hands. Her heart was beating a bit faster. She didn't like the heights. She didn't really like the uncontrollability of brooms. But she did trust this red haired boy. She trusted him so much that she wanted to give him her heart. While her logical side said don't do it, her heart whispered Trust him. Slowly her eyes came back up to meet his. She looked deep into them, took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."

Ron smiled wide, squeezing her hand again. He led her by the hand back to his broom a few steps away. He reached for his broom and let go of her hand. He threw his leg over the handle and slide back a little, leaving some room for her just in front of him.

"Ready?" Ron asked holding his hand out for her. She looked at the broom apprehensively. Her stomach was feeling unsure but when she looked up into his face, she found herself nodding and stepping closer, placing her hand into his. Ron smiled wide.

"You're going to love this. You'll see." Ron said leading her forward. Hermione stepped closer to the broom, a sense of shyness washing over her. "Here, sit in front." Ron sat up and scooted back at little more to make room for her.

Hermione slowly lifted her leg over the handle and sat in front of him. She felt him readjust himself, bringing his chest up against her back. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest now as their bodies were touching. His hands brushed against her sides, causing tingles to spark throughout her body, as he encircled her waist and put his hands on the broom in front of her.

"Put your hands on top of mine. Then you can feel how I control the broom." Ron encouraged speaking softly in her ear. His breath sent shivers down her spine. Her brain was quickly losing control of what was going on as her body became more and more aware of how close they were. They had been close before when they hugged but this felt different. There was a static charge to this closeness.

Hermione gently placed her hands on top of his which were arranged one above the other on the handle of his Cleansweep II.

"Okay, lean over a little and we are going to kick off." Ron said, again right beside her ear. She leaned forward some, Ron leaning forward with her so their bodies were still touching. "I'm going to count down from three and then we will kick off. 3… 2….."Hermione's heart was beating fast. She was scared for the take-off but also excited about how close they were.

"…1!" Ron shouted and kicked off hard from the ground. Hermione's eyes flew closed tight and she heard a scream rip from her mouth as they sped up into the air.

Ron took his left hand off the handle, causing Hermione's hand to slip off and then grab the handle so tight that her knuckles were white. She shrieked again when her hand lost connection with the broom. Ron wrapped his arm around her waist, knowing that this would help her feel safer. Not only that but it felt good to hold her so close that he could smell the scent of her hair. He inhaled as he flew the broom up to just above the highest seats in the Quidditch arena and then made it hover. "Open your eyes," he whispered in her ear.

Hermione shook her head and kept her eyes closed. She was breathing heavily; her heart was beating rapidly in what felt like her throat and she could feel every inch of Ron that was touching her.

Ron hoovered the broom for a moment or two, so Hermione could get used to being up high. Then he asked her again to open her eyes. "Open your eyes, 'Mione. I won't let you fall." He said tenderly near her ear.

Hermione took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes. A grasp escaped her lips as she took in the sunset lit grounds around her. She could see the lake off in the distance and even Hagrid's hut. The forbidden forest stretched out in front of them.

"It's beautiful!" she said in awe. Ron smiled behind her and gave her waist a little squeeze. Hermione gasped again.

"I knew you would like it. I bet you haven't seen Hogwarts like this before, have you?" he said urging the broom to move ever so slightly in a circle so she could see the 360-degree view.

Hermione shook her head as she gazed at the changing view. It was so beautiful and it wasn't a view of her beloved Hogwarts that she had ever seen before. "It is amazing Ron. Thank you for taking me up to see it." She turned her head so she could look back at him. This put their faces only inches apart, so close that if one were to move just fraction of a bit, their lips would be touching. Hermione felt her cheeks turn pink at the thought.

Ron smiled at her. "Would you like to see more of the grounds? I could take you on a tour." He offered.

Hermione paused for a moment before she nodded. "I think I would like that. But not too fast."

Ron's smile widened. "I promise." He said with a little laugh. "I'm going to have to let go of your waist. It's easier to steer with two hands. Will you be okay just holding on?"

Hermione's heart fell a little at the thought of him letting go but she nodded. His arms around her made her feel safe and she just liked the feelings of being in his arms. It was something she had daydreamed about for quite a while.

Ron slowly removed his arm from her waist and placed his hand back on the handle right below hers. He then urged the broom forward and they began to fly over toward the greenhouses.

Ron directed the broom around the Hogwarts grounds. He took them up to the Owlery and flew in and out of the towers. He whisked them past the library windows and skirted the tops of the trees in Forbidden Forest. He brought the broom down low over the lake as they sun was making its final decent on the horizon. He paused the broom in a hover and they watched it set.

"Oh!" She exclaimed as the fiery orange sphere disappeared below the horizon. She turned her head again to look back at Ron. "Thank you, Ron. For showing me this. For encouraging me to come up with you. It has been beautiful."

Ron smiled. "You're welcome, Hermione. I'm glad you enjoyed it." He said, looking into her cocoa eyes. He could see the true joy from the flight in them. "Maybe now you won't give me so much guff about flying?"

Hermione smiled back. "I wouldn't count on it." She replied.

Ron threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh. "That's my Hermione!" he proclaimed. Hermione caught his eyes as they both realized what he had said. Silence fell between them as they tried to read each other's thoughts through the recesses of their eyes.

Suddenly an owl hooted on its way out of the Owlery and across the lake. The spell between them was broken as they both looked up at the darkening sky.

"We should head back. It's getting dark and I've got to put the quidditch balls away." He said looking back down at her. She nodded, looking anywhere but his eyes. There had been a moment and now it was gone. A corner of her heart ached with sadness for the loss.

Without saying anything further, Ron prompted the broom to turn up and back toward the Quidditch pitch. Hermione faced forward and took note of how they seemed to be flying just a little more slowly then they had been through the tour, almost like a hesitancy to return.

Once they reached the pitch, Ron gradually brought his Cleansweep II down to the ground until their feet met with the grass. Ron slowly took his hands off the handle and slid his arms back away from Hermione. She took this as a hint that it was okay to get up. She swung her leg over and tried to take a step away from the Cleansweep. However, as she did so, her legs wobbled and she stumbled. Ron caught her in his arms as she did, allowing his broom to drop to the ground. As Hermione stood up straight from her stumble, Ron kept his arms around her. She looked up at him with her hands resting on his chest as he looked down at her.

"Are you okay?" he asked when she was standing up straight. He did not let go or step away. Hermione nodded, her voice seemed to have taken a holiday. Ron smiled down at her. "I'm glad."

Hermione smiled too. Then she caught his eyes again. His deep blue, lake eyes and she was lost. Silence fell again between them. There they stood on the quidditch pitch on a warm September night with the stars popping out in the sky above them just gazing into each other's eyes, trying to see what the other was thinking.

Suddenly, Ron leaned down and pressed a kiss to Hermione's lips. As he did so, he brought a hand up to cup her cheek and pulled her closer with the hand still on her back. Hermione's heartbeat skipped and began to race as she found herself pushing into the kiss and grasping tightly to Ron's light blue t-shirt. As she held tight to his shirt, Ron deepened the kiss, a need arising in him. He pushed harder as the passion streamed though him. Hermione was sure that fireworks were flying above them as she let him take her lips with his.

Slowly, after a minute or two, Ron gently slid his lips from hers. As their connect broke, both opened their eyes to see into the others. Ron's blue has turned deep and dark while Hermione's had a lustful quality about them. Again, they stood, just gazing for a moment until another owl hooted loudly above them.

They both jumped apart. Hermione felt her face turn red as she looked down at her feet. Ron, however, watched her. He was dying to know how she felt about what had just happened but he couldn't figure out how to ask. Part of him was afraid to ask.

"Hermione…." He found himself saying. His voice was quiet but deep. He reached a hand out to take hers again. The words from his heart were flowing to his lips. He could sense that he was about to spill his true feelings for her.

"I … um… I um… have to go." Hermione spat out as she turned and headed off toward the entrance to the pitch. She was scared and unsure. Her mind was racing along with her heart and she couldn't figure out what was going on. As she rushed off the pitch, she did feel a few small tears slip from her eyes. Did I just ruin everything by running away?

Ron stood and watched her go. A sadness washed over his body as another chance to tell her had slipped away. He sighed as his heart ached.

"I love you," he whispered to himself as he watched her slip between the stands and disappear.