Disclaimer: I own none of the characters you see before you. So if they rob a liquor store, call J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed my L/J short story, the first chapter of this 'It Was Meant To Be' collection. This is just another one of those quick 'how they got together' stories. You know, no background, no other crazy plot, no action or mystery. Just a short story on how two characters got together. I'm a R/H shipper all the way, so this is my version of how they got together. Takes place in their Seventh year and I'm going to assume that you've read the books and know where they are so I don't have to go into that. Be prepared for a D/G story coming out soon, and then, who knows? Oh, and I'd really apreciate if you'd review after every chapter so I know which story you're reviewing.
Experimenting With Love
For years people had been saying that Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were the perfect couple. The only problem was that they weren't a couple. As they had been protesting for years, they were "just friends", nothing more. No one believed them, not even their other best friend, Harry Potter. Other students would come up to Harry and ask him if it was true that Ron and Hermione liked each other. Harry would simply smile and say, "What do you think?"
It annoyed Ron and Hermione no end that people were constantly whispering and pointing at them. It seemed that they couldn't be friends without people assuming there was more. To be fair to everyone else, there was a lot of evidence that pointed to mutual attraction. No one in Gryffindor would forget the Yule Ball during the Triwizard Tournament. It was apparent to everyone, especially Harry, that Ron had been extremely jealous over Victor Krum and Hermione only accepted the Bulgarian Seeker's invitation because Ron was being stubborn and wouldn't ask her. Hermione's words on that occasion were quite memorable: "Well if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you? Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!"
Still, nothing came of that occasion. Ron went on completely oblivious to what that enigmatic sentence meant and Hermione seemed to forget about it. They continued on as friends, and to everyone's disappointment, they were still only friends by their seventh year. At the beginning of the term, Seamus Finnigan opened bets on what month of the year Ron and Hermione would become a couple; if you guessed correctly down to the week, the payoff was pretty high.
As the now annual Yule Ball approached, Ron and Hermione were getting pretty fed up with the stares and not–so–veiled hints. They met in secret one day in November to discuss possible solutions to the problem.
Ron was the first to arrive at the arranged meeting place. Ron Weasley had only changed a bit in his seven years at Hogwarts. He finally stopped growing, but eventually the rest of him caught up with his height. He was the same good-humored, red-headed boy he had been in his first year—with the same temper. Ron was always quick to defend his family and friends, but he was also easily offended. Most of the time, however, Ron was a nice chap with a good-natured smile. He had a lot of girls chasing after him, despite Hermione.
Hermione arrived a few minutes later. Now, Hermione Granger had changed a lot in her seven years at Hogwarts. Her front teeth were normal size ever since the incident with Malfoy in their fourth year. Her once bushy hair had become sleek and smooth after continuous and liberal amounts of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. She grew a little taller and her figure developed nicely. Her mind was the same as always, forever buried in a book, but she had loosened up some more and was much more fun to be around. Like Ron, she had many suitors asking to take her out.
"Hello, 'Mione," Ron said casually.
"Hello, Ron," Hermione replied. "Now, what are we going to do about our problem?"
Ron shrugged. "Ignore it and hope it goes away?" he suggested, half-heartedly.
Hermione shook her head. "You know that won't work. We've been trying that approach for more than three years! It doesn't work, especially if our own best friend fuels the gossip! I don't want to have to suffer through another Yule Ball with everyone assuming we'll go together! I think it scares other potential dates away."
"You're right, Mione," Ron said with another shrug, "but what can we do about it? We've told them time and time again we're nothing more than friends, but they don't believe us! Hell, even some of the Professors are starting to believe it. Professor Trelawney told me that she foresaw our wedding in my tarot cards."
Hermione snorted. "I still don't understand why you and Harry still take that daft course."
"Because all we have to do to get a good grade is predict our own deaths. It's easy, even if it is boring."
Hermione bit her lip. "Ron, I really didn't want to have to resort to this, but I think I have a solution."
"Really? What is it?" Ron asked curiously.
"Maybe if we stop spending time together, the rumors would stop," Hermione said in a rush.
"What! You mean, stop being friends?" Ron exclaimed, shocked.
"Well, sort of. I just think that if we aren't seen together all of the time, everyone will stop thinking we're an item."
"Hermione, that is the stupidest idea I've ever heard from you! Don't you realize that's like letting them win? Letting them know that they got to us? I don't want to stop being your friend just because some stupid kids are a group of gossips!" Ron said angrily.
"Oh, I knew you wouldn't understand!" Hermione said furiously. "You can't understand how horrible this experience is for me! Ron, I'm worried that eventually the pointing and the staring would really get to us and we'd have a huge argument and never speak to each other! This way, we're doing it on our own terms and we can still be friends. We just won't spend time together."
Ron's shoulders sagged. "Well, I guess, if this is what you really want, Mione." He sounded like he hoped it wasn't.
Hermione nodded. "I think it's for the best, Ron."
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before running back to the castle, brown hair flying behind her. Ron watched her leave with an increasing feeling of depression. Why couldn't he tell her the truth? How he really felt? But it was obvious that she didn't feel the same way and no good could come from expressing his true feelings. He hadn't meant to fall in love with his best friend. It hadn't happened until the end of last year, until then Ron meant it when he said they were just friends. Ron sighed and walked back to the castle, preparing himself for life without Hermione.
* * *
Weeks went by and on the outside everything was going smoothly. Ron and Hermione were perfectly cordial to each other, but they avoided being seen together. It put a lot of strain on Harry, who had to choose between his two best friends—again. He tried to spend equal time with them both, but he didn't understand why, if they weren't angry at each other, they wouldn't spend time together. Hermione tried to explain it to him, but he refused to understand.
"That is the stupidest idea I've ever heard from you!" Harry shouted, sounding exactly like Ron. Hermione cringed. She hated being called stupid.
"No, it's not. It's the only way, Harry."
Harry shook his head. "Obviously you're not as smart as I thought you were or you would realize that in this very school there is a boy who is absolutely in love with you and you're currently making him miserable!"
Hermione blushed. "Ron does not love me! We're just friends, and this is precisely why we're doing this! Oh, forget I ever said anything, Harry."
The Yule Ball came ever closer and Hermione accepted an invitation from Terry Boot. Ron decided to go with Padma Patil yet again. She had begun to like him a lot more since sixth year. But Ron didn't want to go with Padma. He really didn't want to go with her when he saw Hermione come down the stairs on the night of the ball. She looked beautiful.
She was wearing sparkly lavender robes with white strappy sandals. Her hair was coiled up on top of her head with a few curled strands hanging down and she must have let Lavender apply some makeup. Best of all was her bright smile and the way her eyes softened. She looked almost angelic and Ron completely forgot that they weren't supposed to be seen together. He practically ran over to the bottom of the stairs.
"Wow, Mione, you look brilliant!" Suddenly Ron remembered the arrangement. "Terry Boot is a lucky fellow. Have a good time."
Ron flinched and turned away. He sounded like her father. Hermione walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ron, wait." Ron turned and Hermione bit back the apology that was on the tip of her tongue. Instead she said, "Thank you. Have a good time yourself."
Then she turned away and walked through the portrait hole. Ron collapsed in a nearby armchair. Harry showed up a moment later, looking very handsome in his green robes.
"Looking good, Ron. Blue is your color," Harry said lightly. Ron only frowned. "Oh, come on. Have fun tonight. Forget Hermione for one night."
"Forget Hermione? What do you think I've been trying to do for the past month? It doesn't work, Harry. She's unforgettable."
Harry hated to see that anguished look on his best friend's face. "Come on, the girls are probably waiting."
Harry was going to go with another Ravenclaw in their year named Lisa Turpin. They had become good friends since last year when Lisa joined the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
"Alright," Ron grumbled, "I'm coming."
Harry stopped short. "Look, I'll tell Padma you're sick if you're going to act like this. It isn't fair to her that you're in love with another girl."
"Stop, stop," Ron said, holding up his hands. "I promise to behave myself."
With a sigh he left the common room and Harry followed. Padma and Lisa were waiting for them by the Great Hall. Both girls looked very pretty and Ron tried his best to be polite. He held out his arm for Padma and they walked into the Hall. The room was lit up with sparkly lights, snow was falling from the ceiling and there were a few sprigs of mistletoe hanging over certain spots. As they entered, Ron could feel numerous eyes on him, but he only looked for Hermione.
And there she was. She and Terry Boot were out on the dance floor, and Hermione was laughing at something he said. Ron felt a knot in his stomach and tried to look away. Padma was already beginning to look sulky so he asked her to dance. She accepted happily and they moved out onto the floor. After a few fast songs and one slow one, where Padma put her head on his shoulder, Ron excused himself and went to get a drink.
Slowly sipping a butterbeer, Ron surveyed the room. Harry and Lisa were dancing with great panache, looking like they were having fantastic fun. Seamus and Lavender, Dean and Parvati were sitting at a table across the room, talking and laughing. Professor Dumbledore was doing a strange jig with Professor Vector, who taught Arithmancy. Ron could tell she was trying hard not to laugh at the Headmaster who looked completely ridiculous, but also seemed to be having a terrific time. Ron also spotted his sister Ginny dancing with Neville Longbottom.
So busy looking for her, Ron didn't even notice when Hermione glided up next to him and poured herself a drink.
"Hello, Ron," she said softly.
Ron jumped slightly. He pretended to be very interested in the tablecloth when he responded. "Hello, Hermione. Are you having fun?"
Hermione didn't really know why that question bothered her so much, but it did. Ron wouldn't look at her, but she loved the way his hair fell across his face slightly and the freckles across his nose. She knew him so well, and she knew she was hurting him so much. She choked back a sob and replied. "I suppose so. Terry's a rather dull chap. Excuse me."
Then she ran out of the Great Hall. Ron had no idea what he said to make her so upset, but he started to feel guilty. Terry Boot started walking in his direction.
"Hey, what happened to Hermione?"
"I don't know," Ron answered honestly.
Terry shrugged and walked away. A moment later he asked a Hufflepuff to dance. Ron's blood boiled and he was about to give Terry a piece of his mind when Harry came up to him.
"How are you doing, Ron?" Harry asked, grabbing a bottle of butterbeer.
"Not very good," Ron admitted. "Hermione came over to get a drink, and I don't know what I said, but she ran out of here really upset!"
Harry shook his head. "I'm sorry if the behavior of students at this school made Hermione think you two can't be friends. And I'm sorry that you're so miserable."
Ron shrugged. "I'm going to see if I can find her. I'll be back later."
Harry nodded at watched as Ron left the room. He continued to stand there and drink his butterbeer, obviously thinking hard about something.
* * *
Ron wasn't exactly sure how he knew where Hermione would be, but somehow a hidden instinct led him to the Astronomy Tower.
Usually it was filled with couples snogging in the dark, but because of the ball it was empty, except for the lone figure standing in the corner staring out at the night sky. Hermione's hair was coming down, and her eyes looked a trifle red, but otherwise she seemed perfectly composed.
"Hermione?" Ron said softly.
She turned abruptly and Ron could see that she had been crying. "What are you doing here, Ron? How did you find me?"
"We're best friends, Mione, I always know where you are," Ron replied. "What did I say to make you so upset?"
"It wasn't you, not really. It's just...no, I can't!" Hermione wailed.
"Can't what, Mione?" Ron asked as he stepped closer. The moonlight lit a glow around Hermione once again making her look like an angel. Only her brown eyes were looking down and her lips were tremulous.
"I can't fall in love with you!" she cried, and turned away from him.
Ron had not been expecting that. He was sure that Hermione only had platonic feelings for him.
Stepping even closer so that he could reach out and touch her shoulder, Ron said in barely more than a whisper, "Why not?"
Hermione turned on her heels so that their faces were little more than an inch apart. She lifted her brown eyes until they were looking into his.
"Because you're my friend. I thought if I distanced myself from you, I could stop it, but it's not working! I can't fall in love with my best friend!" she sobbed.
"Yes you can," Ron said gently, but Hermione shook her head violently.
"No! What happens if we fight and break up? I'd lose more than a boyfriend. And you know how much we fight. We couldn't make it work."
Hermione stopped, as though she suddenly realized she had just poured her heart out without thinking about Ron's reaction. She tried to turn away, but Ron grabbed her by the shoulders.
"I love you, too, Mione. I tried not to, but it's too hard to fight. I know that's rather cliche," Ron said with a slight smile, "but it's how I feel. Don't shut me out."
Hermione had frozen from shock. "You—you love me? Really? But no, we can't! I don't want to lose you as my friend!"
"You won't," Ron promised. Then, realizing he was still holding her by the shoulders, he leaned forward and kissed her. Hermione froze again, but after a moment she relaxed and kissed him back. After a few more moments the broke apart and Hermione staggered.
"Wow," she said breathlessly. "That was—"
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "So, I might as well do this properly." Ron took a deep breath. "Hermione, would you like to go to the ball with me?"
For a moment Ron thought she was going to refuse, or burst into tears, but she just smiled.
"Yes, Ron. I would love to go with you."
Ron grinned broadly and Hermione couldn't help thinking that he had never looked more handsome. He offered her his hand and they walked down to the Great Hall. As the entered, a few people looked, but mostly they were busy having fun. Ron was relieved to see that Padma had found someone else to dance with. As soon as they reached the drinks table, Harry found them.
"Good, you're back. I wanted you to hear this."
Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance. Harry cleared his throat, muttered, 'Sonorous', and spoke, his voice magically echoed through the entire hall causing everyone to stop and look.
"I just wanted to tell all of you what I think of your behavior regarding my best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger," Ron and Hermione turned red and tried to stop Harry, but he kept speaking. "It is very possible for a boy and girl to just be friends. None of you are suggesting that Hermione and I should be a couple. Ron and Hermione are just friends, and I suggest you just leave it at that. Because of your narrow-mindedness, they have had to stop being friends! Which is not fair to them. So I say, forget your bets," Harry glared at Seamus who just grinned cheekily back at him, "your gossip," Harry gave Parvati and Lavender a look, "and your predictions." Harry's glance passed briefly over Professor Trelawney. "They are just friends. Understood?"
Ron smothered a laugh and tapped Harry on the shoulder. "Er, not quite, Harry."
With that, Ron grabbed a slightly surprised (and by then, a very red) Hermione, dipped her and held her in a lingering kiss. Harry's jaw dropped. After a moment's silence the Hall burst into tumultuous applause, excluding the Slytherins, of course. Even Professor Dumbledore was applauding loudly as he wiped tears from his eyes.
Harry was still in shock as Ron finally released Hermione from the kiss. Eventually he shook himself and shrugged.
"Oh well," he said and waved his wand. From the end burst confetti and balloons floated down from the ceiling, mixing nicely with the snow.
Amidst the chaos and ecstatic cheering, while people came up to congratulate Ron and Hermione, Neville was looking incredibly surprised. In a voice just loud enough to be heard by most people, he said, "Hey, it looks like I won the bet!"
Ron and Hermione just laughed and kissed each other again. While balloons, snow, and confetti floated around them, Hermione whispered in Ron's ear.
"Thank you for everything."
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed my L/J short story, the first chapter of this 'It Was Meant To Be' collection. This is just another one of those quick 'how they got together' stories. You know, no background, no other crazy plot, no action or mystery. Just a short story on how two characters got together. I'm a R/H shipper all the way, so this is my version of how they got together. Takes place in their Seventh year and I'm going to assume that you've read the books and know where they are so I don't have to go into that. Be prepared for a D/G story coming out soon, and then, who knows? Oh, and I'd really apreciate if you'd review after every chapter so I know which story you're reviewing.
Experimenting With Love
For years people had been saying that Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were the perfect couple. The only problem was that they weren't a couple. As they had been protesting for years, they were "just friends", nothing more. No one believed them, not even their other best friend, Harry Potter. Other students would come up to Harry and ask him if it was true that Ron and Hermione liked each other. Harry would simply smile and say, "What do you think?"
It annoyed Ron and Hermione no end that people were constantly whispering and pointing at them. It seemed that they couldn't be friends without people assuming there was more. To be fair to everyone else, there was a lot of evidence that pointed to mutual attraction. No one in Gryffindor would forget the Yule Ball during the Triwizard Tournament. It was apparent to everyone, especially Harry, that Ron had been extremely jealous over Victor Krum and Hermione only accepted the Bulgarian Seeker's invitation because Ron was being stubborn and wouldn't ask her. Hermione's words on that occasion were quite memorable: "Well if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you? Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!"
Still, nothing came of that occasion. Ron went on completely oblivious to what that enigmatic sentence meant and Hermione seemed to forget about it. They continued on as friends, and to everyone's disappointment, they were still only friends by their seventh year. At the beginning of the term, Seamus Finnigan opened bets on what month of the year Ron and Hermione would become a couple; if you guessed correctly down to the week, the payoff was pretty high.
As the now annual Yule Ball approached, Ron and Hermione were getting pretty fed up with the stares and not–so–veiled hints. They met in secret one day in November to discuss possible solutions to the problem.
Ron was the first to arrive at the arranged meeting place. Ron Weasley had only changed a bit in his seven years at Hogwarts. He finally stopped growing, but eventually the rest of him caught up with his height. He was the same good-humored, red-headed boy he had been in his first year—with the same temper. Ron was always quick to defend his family and friends, but he was also easily offended. Most of the time, however, Ron was a nice chap with a good-natured smile. He had a lot of girls chasing after him, despite Hermione.
Hermione arrived a few minutes later. Now, Hermione Granger had changed a lot in her seven years at Hogwarts. Her front teeth were normal size ever since the incident with Malfoy in their fourth year. Her once bushy hair had become sleek and smooth after continuous and liberal amounts of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. She grew a little taller and her figure developed nicely. Her mind was the same as always, forever buried in a book, but she had loosened up some more and was much more fun to be around. Like Ron, she had many suitors asking to take her out.
"Hello, 'Mione," Ron said casually.
"Hello, Ron," Hermione replied. "Now, what are we going to do about our problem?"
Ron shrugged. "Ignore it and hope it goes away?" he suggested, half-heartedly.
Hermione shook her head. "You know that won't work. We've been trying that approach for more than three years! It doesn't work, especially if our own best friend fuels the gossip! I don't want to have to suffer through another Yule Ball with everyone assuming we'll go together! I think it scares other potential dates away."
"You're right, Mione," Ron said with another shrug, "but what can we do about it? We've told them time and time again we're nothing more than friends, but they don't believe us! Hell, even some of the Professors are starting to believe it. Professor Trelawney told me that she foresaw our wedding in my tarot cards."
Hermione snorted. "I still don't understand why you and Harry still take that daft course."
"Because all we have to do to get a good grade is predict our own deaths. It's easy, even if it is boring."
Hermione bit her lip. "Ron, I really didn't want to have to resort to this, but I think I have a solution."
"Really? What is it?" Ron asked curiously.
"Maybe if we stop spending time together, the rumors would stop," Hermione said in a rush.
"What! You mean, stop being friends?" Ron exclaimed, shocked.
"Well, sort of. I just think that if we aren't seen together all of the time, everyone will stop thinking we're an item."
"Hermione, that is the stupidest idea I've ever heard from you! Don't you realize that's like letting them win? Letting them know that they got to us? I don't want to stop being your friend just because some stupid kids are a group of gossips!" Ron said angrily.
"Oh, I knew you wouldn't understand!" Hermione said furiously. "You can't understand how horrible this experience is for me! Ron, I'm worried that eventually the pointing and the staring would really get to us and we'd have a huge argument and never speak to each other! This way, we're doing it on our own terms and we can still be friends. We just won't spend time together."
Ron's shoulders sagged. "Well, I guess, if this is what you really want, Mione." He sounded like he hoped it wasn't.
Hermione nodded. "I think it's for the best, Ron."
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before running back to the castle, brown hair flying behind her. Ron watched her leave with an increasing feeling of depression. Why couldn't he tell her the truth? How he really felt? But it was obvious that she didn't feel the same way and no good could come from expressing his true feelings. He hadn't meant to fall in love with his best friend. It hadn't happened until the end of last year, until then Ron meant it when he said they were just friends. Ron sighed and walked back to the castle, preparing himself for life without Hermione.
* * *
Weeks went by and on the outside everything was going smoothly. Ron and Hermione were perfectly cordial to each other, but they avoided being seen together. It put a lot of strain on Harry, who had to choose between his two best friends—again. He tried to spend equal time with them both, but he didn't understand why, if they weren't angry at each other, they wouldn't spend time together. Hermione tried to explain it to him, but he refused to understand.
"That is the stupidest idea I've ever heard from you!" Harry shouted, sounding exactly like Ron. Hermione cringed. She hated being called stupid.
"No, it's not. It's the only way, Harry."
Harry shook his head. "Obviously you're not as smart as I thought you were or you would realize that in this very school there is a boy who is absolutely in love with you and you're currently making him miserable!"
Hermione blushed. "Ron does not love me! We're just friends, and this is precisely why we're doing this! Oh, forget I ever said anything, Harry."
The Yule Ball came ever closer and Hermione accepted an invitation from Terry Boot. Ron decided to go with Padma Patil yet again. She had begun to like him a lot more since sixth year. But Ron didn't want to go with Padma. He really didn't want to go with her when he saw Hermione come down the stairs on the night of the ball. She looked beautiful.
She was wearing sparkly lavender robes with white strappy sandals. Her hair was coiled up on top of her head with a few curled strands hanging down and she must have let Lavender apply some makeup. Best of all was her bright smile and the way her eyes softened. She looked almost angelic and Ron completely forgot that they weren't supposed to be seen together. He practically ran over to the bottom of the stairs.
"Wow, Mione, you look brilliant!" Suddenly Ron remembered the arrangement. "Terry Boot is a lucky fellow. Have a good time."
Ron flinched and turned away. He sounded like her father. Hermione walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ron, wait." Ron turned and Hermione bit back the apology that was on the tip of her tongue. Instead she said, "Thank you. Have a good time yourself."
Then she turned away and walked through the portrait hole. Ron collapsed in a nearby armchair. Harry showed up a moment later, looking very handsome in his green robes.
"Looking good, Ron. Blue is your color," Harry said lightly. Ron only frowned. "Oh, come on. Have fun tonight. Forget Hermione for one night."
"Forget Hermione? What do you think I've been trying to do for the past month? It doesn't work, Harry. She's unforgettable."
Harry hated to see that anguished look on his best friend's face. "Come on, the girls are probably waiting."
Harry was going to go with another Ravenclaw in their year named Lisa Turpin. They had become good friends since last year when Lisa joined the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.
"Alright," Ron grumbled, "I'm coming."
Harry stopped short. "Look, I'll tell Padma you're sick if you're going to act like this. It isn't fair to her that you're in love with another girl."
"Stop, stop," Ron said, holding up his hands. "I promise to behave myself."
With a sigh he left the common room and Harry followed. Padma and Lisa were waiting for them by the Great Hall. Both girls looked very pretty and Ron tried his best to be polite. He held out his arm for Padma and they walked into the Hall. The room was lit up with sparkly lights, snow was falling from the ceiling and there were a few sprigs of mistletoe hanging over certain spots. As they entered, Ron could feel numerous eyes on him, but he only looked for Hermione.
And there she was. She and Terry Boot were out on the dance floor, and Hermione was laughing at something he said. Ron felt a knot in his stomach and tried to look away. Padma was already beginning to look sulky so he asked her to dance. She accepted happily and they moved out onto the floor. After a few fast songs and one slow one, where Padma put her head on his shoulder, Ron excused himself and went to get a drink.
Slowly sipping a butterbeer, Ron surveyed the room. Harry and Lisa were dancing with great panache, looking like they were having fantastic fun. Seamus and Lavender, Dean and Parvati were sitting at a table across the room, talking and laughing. Professor Dumbledore was doing a strange jig with Professor Vector, who taught Arithmancy. Ron could tell she was trying hard not to laugh at the Headmaster who looked completely ridiculous, but also seemed to be having a terrific time. Ron also spotted his sister Ginny dancing with Neville Longbottom.
So busy looking for her, Ron didn't even notice when Hermione glided up next to him and poured herself a drink.
"Hello, Ron," she said softly.
Ron jumped slightly. He pretended to be very interested in the tablecloth when he responded. "Hello, Hermione. Are you having fun?"
Hermione didn't really know why that question bothered her so much, but it did. Ron wouldn't look at her, but she loved the way his hair fell across his face slightly and the freckles across his nose. She knew him so well, and she knew she was hurting him so much. She choked back a sob and replied. "I suppose so. Terry's a rather dull chap. Excuse me."
Then she ran out of the Great Hall. Ron had no idea what he said to make her so upset, but he started to feel guilty. Terry Boot started walking in his direction.
"Hey, what happened to Hermione?"
"I don't know," Ron answered honestly.
Terry shrugged and walked away. A moment later he asked a Hufflepuff to dance. Ron's blood boiled and he was about to give Terry a piece of his mind when Harry came up to him.
"How are you doing, Ron?" Harry asked, grabbing a bottle of butterbeer.
"Not very good," Ron admitted. "Hermione came over to get a drink, and I don't know what I said, but she ran out of here really upset!"
Harry shook his head. "I'm sorry if the behavior of students at this school made Hermione think you two can't be friends. And I'm sorry that you're so miserable."
Ron shrugged. "I'm going to see if I can find her. I'll be back later."
Harry nodded at watched as Ron left the room. He continued to stand there and drink his butterbeer, obviously thinking hard about something.
* * *
Ron wasn't exactly sure how he knew where Hermione would be, but somehow a hidden instinct led him to the Astronomy Tower.
Usually it was filled with couples snogging in the dark, but because of the ball it was empty, except for the lone figure standing in the corner staring out at the night sky. Hermione's hair was coming down, and her eyes looked a trifle red, but otherwise she seemed perfectly composed.
"Hermione?" Ron said softly.
She turned abruptly and Ron could see that she had been crying. "What are you doing here, Ron? How did you find me?"
"We're best friends, Mione, I always know where you are," Ron replied. "What did I say to make you so upset?"
"It wasn't you, not really. It's just...no, I can't!" Hermione wailed.
"Can't what, Mione?" Ron asked as he stepped closer. The moonlight lit a glow around Hermione once again making her look like an angel. Only her brown eyes were looking down and her lips were tremulous.
"I can't fall in love with you!" she cried, and turned away from him.
Ron had not been expecting that. He was sure that Hermione only had platonic feelings for him.
Stepping even closer so that he could reach out and touch her shoulder, Ron said in barely more than a whisper, "Why not?"
Hermione turned on her heels so that their faces were little more than an inch apart. She lifted her brown eyes until they were looking into his.
"Because you're my friend. I thought if I distanced myself from you, I could stop it, but it's not working! I can't fall in love with my best friend!" she sobbed.
"Yes you can," Ron said gently, but Hermione shook her head violently.
"No! What happens if we fight and break up? I'd lose more than a boyfriend. And you know how much we fight. We couldn't make it work."
Hermione stopped, as though she suddenly realized she had just poured her heart out without thinking about Ron's reaction. She tried to turn away, but Ron grabbed her by the shoulders.
"I love you, too, Mione. I tried not to, but it's too hard to fight. I know that's rather cliche," Ron said with a slight smile, "but it's how I feel. Don't shut me out."
Hermione had frozen from shock. "You—you love me? Really? But no, we can't! I don't want to lose you as my friend!"
"You won't," Ron promised. Then, realizing he was still holding her by the shoulders, he leaned forward and kissed her. Hermione froze again, but after a moment she relaxed and kissed him back. After a few more moments the broke apart and Hermione staggered.
"Wow," she said breathlessly. "That was—"
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "So, I might as well do this properly." Ron took a deep breath. "Hermione, would you like to go to the ball with me?"
For a moment Ron thought she was going to refuse, or burst into tears, but she just smiled.
"Yes, Ron. I would love to go with you."
Ron grinned broadly and Hermione couldn't help thinking that he had never looked more handsome. He offered her his hand and they walked down to the Great Hall. As the entered, a few people looked, but mostly they were busy having fun. Ron was relieved to see that Padma had found someone else to dance with. As soon as they reached the drinks table, Harry found them.
"Good, you're back. I wanted you to hear this."
Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance. Harry cleared his throat, muttered, 'Sonorous', and spoke, his voice magically echoed through the entire hall causing everyone to stop and look.
"I just wanted to tell all of you what I think of your behavior regarding my best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger," Ron and Hermione turned red and tried to stop Harry, but he kept speaking. "It is very possible for a boy and girl to just be friends. None of you are suggesting that Hermione and I should be a couple. Ron and Hermione are just friends, and I suggest you just leave it at that. Because of your narrow-mindedness, they have had to stop being friends! Which is not fair to them. So I say, forget your bets," Harry glared at Seamus who just grinned cheekily back at him, "your gossip," Harry gave Parvati and Lavender a look, "and your predictions." Harry's glance passed briefly over Professor Trelawney. "They are just friends. Understood?"
Ron smothered a laugh and tapped Harry on the shoulder. "Er, not quite, Harry."
With that, Ron grabbed a slightly surprised (and by then, a very red) Hermione, dipped her and held her in a lingering kiss. Harry's jaw dropped. After a moment's silence the Hall burst into tumultuous applause, excluding the Slytherins, of course. Even Professor Dumbledore was applauding loudly as he wiped tears from his eyes.
Harry was still in shock as Ron finally released Hermione from the kiss. Eventually he shook himself and shrugged.
"Oh well," he said and waved his wand. From the end burst confetti and balloons floated down from the ceiling, mixing nicely with the snow.
Amidst the chaos and ecstatic cheering, while people came up to congratulate Ron and Hermione, Neville was looking incredibly surprised. In a voice just loud enough to be heard by most people, he said, "Hey, it looks like I won the bet!"
Ron and Hermione just laughed and kissed each other again. While balloons, snow, and confetti floated around them, Hermione whispered in Ron's ear.
"Thank you for everything."