A/N: The long awaited part 3 of my little epic. This might be the last too, unless you guys are nice and review. But as you know, this is based on my own love life (or lack thereof…) so it's not like I'll be making any of you happy. I don't know – haha… why don't you read and review and we'll go from there?
Disclaimer: Yeah… if I owned Harry Potter I wouldn't be writing this – I'd be at the bank withdrawing a couple thousand dollars for a shopping spree.
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He came into the room and Hermione looked up shyly. She didn't want the sixth year boy to think she was a freak. She and Ryan were good friends but her crush on him was to remain a secret. He was, after all, a year younger than she was. At the same time, it felt good to actually like someone again. Harry was a thing of the past.
"Hey 'Mione," he said as he sat down. Hermione fought the urge to giggle. She was seventeen… she had to be mature.
"Hey Ryan," she answered, "how has Snape been treating you lately?"
He groaned in frustration. She simply laughed.
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The group sat around the fireplace in the common room. Hermione sat between Ron and Ginny. Ron kept whispering sarcastic comments in her ear as the others talked about much more serious matters. Hermione frequently found herself laughing at inopportune times. Since their two best friends had started dating, Ron and Hermione had become closer than ever. It was something that happened when they were constantly forced together. Ginny had even once questioned if there was a chance of a relationship between them, to which Hermione gave a definite no.
She looked across the room to where Ryan was sitting. His face was twisted in concentration. Hermione lost track of the conversation as she thought how cute he looked while he did that.
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Ginny leaned over to Hermione at dinner. "You've got two guys liking you and you aren't going for it?!?!" she hissed.
Hermione looked at her, shocked, "Two?"
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Ryan and Ron. Count 'em. Two."
"I don't like Ron though. Not like that. As for Ryan… I'm thinking that we wouldn't last long…" she paused, "Besides, he has a girlfriend!"
Ginny grinned, "No he doesn't."
"Oh…"
Maybe she did have a decision after all.
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"Ahhhh! RON!"
Hermione tried to yell more but she was laughing too hard. Hanging over her best friend's shoulder did not help matters.
"Aww, 'Mione, you aren't any fun," Ron complained but even though she couldn't see his face, Hermione knew he was laughing too.
He carried her over to the fireplace and set her down in the armchair oblivious to the stares of the other Gryffindors. She feigned annoyance, "When I said my feet were tired you didn't have to carry me all the way from Transfiguration!"
Ron grinned and pulled her onto her feet again. "Come here, I wanna show you something." He led her to the window that looked out to the stormy sky.
She frowned, "I don't see anything."
"Be patient," he responded. He took out his wand and murmured a spell. A spark of energy flowed from the tip and wove itself into the sky. After about thirty seconds, Hermione could tell what it said.
Hermione, will you be my girlfriend? The words hung there for a moment and she smiled. Turning to Ron, Hermione received a rose as well. She looked at him as she pressed her nose to the fragrant petals. Finally, she couldn't stand his anxious stare any longer and hugged him.
"Yes," she whispered. As he hugged her back, she knew she had made the right choice. Ron was the one who made her laugh; the one who she felt comfortable and warm with. She kissed him softly.
And outside, the clouds parted and the sun shined through.