Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters.
Prompt: "Would you like to stay?" Shell Cottage missing moment.
Written for the lovely be11atrixthestrange. Happy birthday, my friend!
A Happy Memory
Hermione feels the cold, salty wind on her face from the breeze filtering in through the open window. When she looks outside, she's greeted with the pleasurable view of the vast open sea from the cottage's vantage point atop a lone cliff.
The world is quiet in the evenings, and she finds peace in the silence and the subtleness of the shell-embedded walls. It's as close to home as they will get for now.
Ron stands from his position next to Hermione's bed, and after being reassured by her that she is warm and has enough blankets, he makes his way to the door.
The words escape her mouth before she can even process their true intentions. "Would you like to stay?"
Ron's hand stills on the doorknob, and he slowly turns to face Hermione. His eyes are questioning, like he's fighting to figure out which choice to make — the right choice.
Decision made, he withdraws his wand from his back pocket and throws a silencing charm on the door before shuffling over to the chair he's spent so much time in over the last few days.
Hermione isn't quite sure what compels her to make such an intimate request, but she's patting the empty space next to her on the bed.
"You don't have to stay that far away...if you don't want to."
Ron's eyes widen, an expression that morphs into an amusing flush with the way his cheeks redden.
Hermione waves her hand, feeling the heat on her own cheeks as she averts her gaze down to a stray thread hanging off her blanket. "Silly of me. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"Yeah, okay."
When she snaps her head back up, the penetrating blue of his eyes finds hers, making her lips turn up as she lifts the blanket to allow him to slide in.
The option of closeness upon them, Hermione is unable to pry her eyes off of Ron as he draws near. Her heart pounds within her chest, accepting the impending level of intimacy — physical intimacy.
Since arriving at Shell Cottage, something in her relationship with Ron has shifted, leaving her unable to focus whenever he held her hand within his, or used his soft, low voice that he reserved for the many times he's asked how she is feeling.
Ron's knees and shoulders bump into hers as he nestles underneath the blanket, wiggling around until he finds a comfortable spot on the tiny bed. Hermione pushes away the small bit of guilt she experiences over the lack of room he has available to stretch his legs, and instead focuses on figuring out what on Earth she's supposed to do with her hands.
Ron clears his throat, his gaze traveling, with unnerving thoroughness, along the length of their bodies wrapped within the same tattered cloth. The fact that they're seated cancels out their usual height difference.
A wave of bravery courses through her, and Hermione nudges Ron's elbow before leaning forward, silently indicating her invitation to wrap his arm around her shoulder. He takes the bait, and Hermione nestles into the crook of his arm.
He's...so warm, and her hand rests on his chest as she listens to his soft breathing, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Ron's fingertips graze across her hand on his chest, his reassuring caresses transporting Hermione to a serene space as she closes her eyes.
"What's going to happen next?" she mumbles on a loud exhale, releasing any tension remaining in her weakened state.
Ron's sock-covered feet play with hers until they become intertwined. "What's going to happen right now?" he challenges back.
Hermione's attention focuses on the movements of Ron's fingers as he continues to trace the lines on her palm. She catches his hand mid-movement, feeling his body go rigid when she interlaces their fingers together.
"I-I think," Hermione stammers, "I think we both know what we want to happen."
His ragged breath hits against the soft tuft of curls on her head. "I think you're right, as always."
Hermione smiles into the wool of his jumper, a sense of pride rolling through her from his compliment.
She's not sure how long they sit, cuddled together in a comfortable and welcomed silence, but it's the most at peace she's felt since the start of the war.
It would be so easy to tilt her head up and fall into every single sensation she's wanted to experience with Ron for longer than she can remember, but she doesn't. She takes her time processing and indulging in this new, refreshing dynamic to their complicated relationship as the trauma from recent events clears away from her immediate conscience.
Hermione is desperate to transform the many days of sadness into a happy memory. This is a pretty brilliant start.