Prompt: Ron/Hermione fail at teacher/student roleplay.

Era: Post-Hogwarts
Rating: T

Exceeds Expectations

Ron and Hermione try to roleplay, and it is not Outstanding.

"Well Miss Granger. It appears that you've failed your NEWTs. I'm assuming you're here to discuss options?"

"Yeah. Um… I guess I….failed everything." She sighed and glanced away and Ron saw her lip tremble. Then she hastily brushed a tear away from her face.

Hold on, was she actually crying?

"Shit. Hermione, We took it too far, didn't we?"

"No, no, it's ok. I can do this," she said as she caught her breath. "Just, what if, instead of failing everything, I just received Exceeds Expectations. Instead of Outstanding."

Ron sighed. "Ok," he said skeptically. "Let's try this again then?"

"Sure." Hermione readjusted her old school robes, and took a deep breath. "Keep it together Hermione," she said mostly to herself. Ron couldn't help but smile.

He cleared his throat. "Miss Granger. It seems that you may have been slightly less prepared for the latest exam. Your marks were-"

"Ok stop, stop," she stammered.." I can't do this."

Ron groaned.

"Sorry! I just can't help it!" she shrugged. "If I panic at the thought of failing school, I fail at roleplay. I can't win. This is supposed to be fun." Her face was pink, and her eyebrows knit together in anxiety. More softly, she continued, "I don't want to fail you."

Ron smiled to himself, and held his arms out for her. She approached and collapsed into him, resting her head on his shoulder. It was very on-brand for Hermione to be upset by pretending to fail school, even in the hypothetical sense. "Would you rather be the professor?" he murmured into her hair.

Hermione's face lit up. "Yes! I mean… if that's ok with you."

Ron laughed. "Of course. You could have just said that."

"I'm not sure my school robes make sense anymore," she said anxiously, looking down at her clothing..

"That's ok. I can pretend."

"Hold on," Hermione looked at him curiously. "You never cared about your marks, I have a hard time believing you'd be this motivated to change them," she said, gesturing to herself.

"I guess you've rubbed off on me," he said with a smirk. "Now I want to do anything I can to get my grades up. Anything. Professor Granger." He reached a hand to her face and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, letting his hand linger there.

Hermione blushed.

"I mean, if you're available for any private tutoring, I'm sure you could help me bring that 'acceptable' grade," he drew his finger from behind her ear to her collarbone, "up to an outstanding."

Hermione paused and looked up at him, straight-faced. "Mr. Weasley, I'm sorry I can't do this," she put her hand on his chest and gently nudged him away. "You're my student, and I could get in so much trouble."

"I'm willing to risk it," said Ron quietly. He reached his hand behind her waist, and tugged her closer to him. As he leaned in for a kiss, Hermione turned her head to the side, and his lips brushed against her cheek. He felt her stiffen and suck a breath in.

"Ron, really, I can't."

"I won't tell…"

"Teaspoon."

Ron paused at the sound of their chosen safe word. "Ok, what's wrong now?" he asked, his lips still on her cheek.

"I just can't stand the thought of doing anything that might get me fired. Even hypothetically."

Ron pulled himself away, and looked into her eyes, which were starting to shimmer with anxious tears again. He smiled reassuringly at her. "That's perfectly ok."

"What if…," Hermione glanced away in thought. "What if I was the Quidditch Captain, and you desperately wanted to make the team? I'm ok with risking that."

Ron grinned and pulled her back in. "What if we were just Ron and Hermione?"

"Well, sure. I just thought you wanted to try rolepl-"

He interrupted her by pressing his lips to hers. Reaching his hands behind her hips, he hoisted her up and pulled her to him. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

When Ron broke this kiss, he rested his forehead against hers. "We did try. Thank you for that,' he said sincerely. He gently lowered her to his bed, and crawled up next to her. "I just really love us. Exactly as we are."

She smiled at him and reached her hand behind his head, tangling her fingers in his hair. 'Thank you. I don't really want to pretend you're anyone else, anyway," she told him before kissing him deeply. She pulled away and added in a whisper, "You've far exceeded my expectations."

Ron smiled, and returned her kiss with enthusiasm. Same, he thought.

Thank you for reading, as always!