Love Will Find A Way

~Chapter IV~

-dutchtulips-

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AN ~ as this chapter is the end, it's a little shorter than the others. enjoy :)

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Hermione's heart was leaping like a jackrabbit as she sat at the Gryffindor table, eating the evening meal. In an hour she would be leaving for Hogsmeade and the Three Broomsticks to elope with Daniel. She was trying to stretch the banquet as long as possible.

Ron and Harry sat across from her, eating their baked chicken and roasted potatoes in silence. Hermione didn't speak either. She just picked at her vegetables, every so often glancing up at them. Letting out a long breath, she finally said, "You're not mad at me, are you?"

"Why would we be mad at you?" Harry asked.

"You're just not speaking very much," she answered. "I was afraid something was wrong."

"No, not that I know of." Harry put on a smile that Hermione was almost sure was forced.

She glanced over at Ron, whose eyes held the two locked in a stare. Finally she blinked and looked away. I'm doing the right thing. . .I'm doing the right thing. . .

~*~

Sometime later, Hermione stood in front of her full length mirror, staring at the reflection of herself in her wedding dress robes. Her heart was still pounding as she smoothed the folds in the white silk. Well, I don't look too bad as a bride, Hermione thought to herself. She glanced at her watch. Half an hour left until it was time to depart.

Hermione walked over to her wardrobe to get a ribbon for her hair. She snatched one and closed the doors, simultaneously revealing Keppler, who was now sitting at her windowsill. Hastily tying her hair with the ribbon, she walked briskly towards the window.

"Keppler, you silly bird. You sure do have a tendency to pop up at interesting times," she remarked curtly, then saw he had another letter for her.

Hermione took it quickly and unrolled it. She stared down at the green inked words on the page.

Herm -

Slight change of plans. We're still getting married tonight, worry you not, but I thought it would be better if we not stray to London. There's a small chapel here in Hogsmeade that we can elope at. See you at nine o'clock at Three Broomsticks.

Daniel

Hermione's hands suddenly crumpled the scrap of parchment. She was beginning to feel very different about getting married. He keeps making all of these decisions without consulting me. . .he doesn't ask me how I feel, or what I think about. . .anything! How in the world did I ever come to accept his marriage proposal?

But Daniel loves me. He's so easy to talk to and he's such a friendly man. And I told him I would marry him! I just can't not show up tonight! And I do want to get married, don't I? Daniel is going to be a good husband. And he can support us.

Hermione blinked out of her thoughts and stepped up to her mirror again. She straightened her hems and tried to push away her doubts. Just go and get married Granger. You wanted to be married for such awhile. You have it now. You have Daniel, who wants to marry you. You have Daniel, who loves you. . .

"But Ron loves me, too," she whispered, staring at her reflection now, only to see her dejected face staring right back. Hermione suddenly stamped her foot in exasperation. Who am I mad at here? Daniel, for pushing me into this marriage? Ron, for telling me he loves me? Or myself, for not knowing how to handle this situation?

Abruptly, Harry's words came drifting back to Hermione.

"You've got a problem in which the answer doesn't come from a book. It comes from your heart."

"And what is my heart telling me?" Hermione asked her reflection. She blinked, the answer sweeping her up like a tidal wave. She nodded slowly to herself and ambled hurriedly out of the room, pulling on her cloak.

~*~

"Hermione?" Ron said, a confused look on his face. "What - what's. . ."

"Can I come in for a minute?" She asked him, biting her lower lip.

He opened the door to his room wider. "Sure." Ron closed the door firmly behind Hermione as she came in. She sat down on his four poster and looked up at him, not seeming to know what to say. "Where's Harry?"

Ron sat down next to her, laying the issue of Quidditch Weekly he had been clutching down on his nightstand. "Said something about paying Dumbledore a visit. What's up?"

"N-nothing," she stammered. "W-why do you ask?"

"Well, don't you have to be leaving for Hogsmeade?" He replied.

"I - I suppose so. . ." Hermione mumbled, then she stood up. "Can I get your opinion about something?"

Ron shrugged. "Er, sure. I reckon."

Hermione slowly pulled off her purple cloak, revealing her white silk wedding dress robes. Turning to face him, she said, "H-how do I look?"

Ron's eyes were wide, captivated by the sight of her. "Astonishing, 'Mione. You're absolutely stunning."

"Really? You really think I look all right?" She asked.

" 'Mione! You look a million times better than 'all right.' You're sensational." Ron smiled at her.

There was a long silence and then Hermione let out a shaky breath, trying to calm her hammering heartbeat. "I - I suppose I should be getting out to Hogsmeade now."

Ron's eyes lowered. "Yeah. . ."

"And I have one thing I'd like to ask from you before I do, Ron." Hermione felt as if her nerves were shattered but she stood as still as she could.

He looked up at her. "Anything."

"Stop me from going."

The next second, Ron was standing in front of her, so close they were almost touching. He didn't breathe a word; just stared into Hermione's eyes as if he were trying to read her mind.

"I - I got a letter from Daniel right before I came here," she said softly. She paused, trying to find the words she wanted to say. "He - he doesn't ask me about how I feel about things. What I think about things. He makes decisions without saying anything to me. He only seems hung up on getting married and not getting married to me."

Silence. "I haven't known Daniel since I was eleven years old. He never tried to hurt Draco Malfoy because he insulted me. He never tried to chase Viktor Krum away from me. He hasn't been my best friend for twelve years. He doesn't call me 'Mione, his own special name for me. He's not - he's not Ron Weasley," she whispered. "Ron Weasley and I have a history together."

Ron put on his lopsided smile and reached for Hermione's hand. "You don't want to marry Daniel anymore." It was more of a statement.

"I realized tonight that - I'm not in love with Daniel. And even though I knew this already, I'm in love with - you," Hermione smiled. She looked down at she and Ron's hands. "We used to matter to each other very much once - but it hasn't gone away. I thought it had. I hoped it had, because of Daniel. But now I don't. I love you, Ron. I did then - and I - I still do."

" 'Mione?" Ron said softly.

"Hmm?" She replied, looking back up at him.

He answered her with a kiss - long, deep, and full of love. And Hermione kissed back, wrapping her arms around him so tight nothing could pry the two of them apart.

She broke it off a few minutes later. "I - uh, had better send Daniel an owl, you know. . .to let him know I won't be - coming."

Ron arched an eyebrow, but he was smiling.

~*~

Monday evening, Ron stood down the hall from Hermione's room, staring at it as if he were standing sentry. He'd already been there for about ten minutes, waiting and watching, and then finally, the door opened and Daniel walked out. Head down, his hands stuffed in his pockets, he disappeared in the opposite direction down the corridor.

Ron shifted his gaze back to Hermione's door. It was still open, and she was standing in the threshold, watching him. "Are you trying to spy on me, Mr. Weasley?" She scolded playfully.

He headed towards her. "I don't know, am I?" Ron came inside and she closed the door.

There was a short pause as the two of them sat down on Hermione's bed. She cleared her throat and said, "Well, Daniel and I have - parted ways. I told him that I. . .didn't want to get married to him anymore. And, well - that was it."

"Are we free to fall in love?" Ron smiled.

Hermione rolled her eyes, smiling. "Oh, worry you not, we already have."

That was when they kissed - another deep, long-lasting kiss, holding each other close. The kiss of two people in love.

Ron was the first to break it off, but still held her close. He had that classic lopsided grin on face as he stared into her eyes. "Would you do something for me, 'Mione?"

She beamed. "Of course, Ron."

"Anything, 'Mione?" He arched his eyebrows.

"Certainly."

"Would you marry me?"

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el fin

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golly, I'm sorry folks, but my story must end! please review!! if you really liked this last chapter, maybe I'll write a sequel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .