I know a few of you- okay, just about ALL of you- were not pleased by my ending. I'm sorry... I just wanted to be different. Okay, okay... here's a sickingly romantic ending for all of you unhappy customers. Enjoy!
The Alternative Ending
Ron's lip trembled. He almost just dropped to the floor and went to pieces crying, but he didn't. Even though his legs were jelly, his nose ran, and he could hardly speak, he stood looking her right in the eye. He gulped. After a few deep breaths, he could muster one word.
"Okay."
Hermione looked at the floor. She sniffed and wiped away tears. "I'm sorry, Ron. I just... can't..." She snapped. Hermione ran out of the room. She couldn't take it. What had she done? She had hurt Ron so badly... and herself. Nothing would ever be right again. Nothing.
·~··~··~·
A week past. Ron avoided Hermione ever since his confession. She and Harry stuck together wherever they went. Ron just stayed in the shadows. More than once Harry had attempted to talk to him and maybe, just maybe get him to talk with Hermione. Ron always refused. He said he would be fine by himself. Though he wasn't himself. He never said a word and he slouched every place he went with his head down.
One evening Hermione watched Ron from a distance in the common room. He was at a table by himself, of course. His lonely eyes shone in the low candle light. His colorless face sagged low from not smiling in so long. His red hair was the only part that still seemed alive. He would always have that red hair. That soft, sweet, bright red hair. His face didn't fit his hair, though. It belonged on a face that laughed, that smiled, that loved. Oh, what Hermione would give to make that face right again. But there wasn't a way. Well, there was a way, but it would never happen. Of course not. If Hermione just said she loved him back, everything would be okay. But how could she?
The common room slowly emptied. Harry finally yawned and said goodnight to Hermione, who claimed she had a long essay to finish in Arithmacy. But that claim was false. She just didn't want to go to bed and leave Ron.
A grandfather clock in the corner chimed eleven. Ron looked up. It was then he realized how late he had been working. He gathered his things then rubbed his eyes. He blinked a few times, then saw Hermione looking at him. He didn't say anything other than clearing his throat and throwing his bag over one shoulder. Now was Hermione's only chance.
She stepped over to him. He looked at her but still didn't speak. His eyes shone as if he would cry yet again, but he held back.
Hermione drew a sharp breath. "Do you want to go for a walk?" she asked.
Ron bit his lower lip as if thinking hard, but still didn't look away. After a few moments he breathed, "Okay." His bag slipped down his arm and he headed towards the portrait hole.
They walked through the castle without a word. Perhaps this was a good thing, so not to attract Filch or Peeves. But the silence continues out onto the grounds, aorund the lake, near the forest.
"Ron," Hermione started. They stopped out in a patch of moonlight. Stars shone up ahead. Thousands. It was so beautiful.
Hermione couldn't think of anything else to say. She knew what she wanted to say, but she couldn't. The truth was for the past few days, she felt differently towards Ron. And it wasn't just pitty. She smiled when she thought of him laughing, or joking, or just being himself. Maybe she loved him back... maybe. There was no way to know for sure. Unless...
"Ron, when you confessed... you know..." Hermione looked away for a second. Then back in his eyes. "Did it come as a surprise, or did you know you loved me?"
"To be honest, it was a surprise. I always felt... strange towards you, and I thought maybe I liked you, but I blocked it out of my head. It was only when the spell was performed when I accepted it," Ron said. He wasn't lying.
Hermione swallowed. Maybe she felt the same way? Did she like him, and never admitted it to herself? If she was under the spell, would she find she liked him, too?
Without thinking too much, and just listening to her heart, Hermione pointed her wand to her chest. "Honestiluccia," she muttered.
An icy surge spread through her body. It was now or never. "Ask me. Ask me if I like you," she whispered.
Ron sighed. "Hermione, I-"
"Do it," she muttered, her eyes watering.
He asked.
She took a while. Instead of a lengthy explaination, she just said 'yes'.
Yes.
It was as simple as that.
She returned to her normal state. Ron looked at her and smiled. She looked back and smiled.
"Guess we're both in the same boat," Ron smiled.
Hermione laughed. They couldn't have been happier.
A shooting star passed. Ron closed his eyes.
"What did you wish for?" Hermione asked.
"That you would kiss me."
She smiled. "Me too."
It was like they were waiting to do this from the moment they met. Maybe they had been. All they knew, as their lips were together, their hand around their backs, was that this was the way it should be. This was the way it would be. Forever.
Unclean! Unclean! This is NOT my style of writing! You reviewers have turned me into a mushy, gooshy, fluffy, sappy, softy, sweet cream puff! Yuck! Enjoy it while you can. Now I'll go write about a bloody horror scene... that's better. Hope you liked it... I suffered a lot while writing this. Now I have to go settle my stomach.
