Wherever You Will Go
Ron pulled away, both of them gulping in air, too shocked to say anything.
"Gwen... I love you. I have since third year." He blushed again, turning crimson for the fifth time that night, at least.
She smiled, feeling as though her head was merely attached to her shoulders by a cotton string. Gwen was wonderfully dizzy, her head spinning from the kiss and the fact someone loved her. The fact that a certain redheaded boy she'd loved since the end of second year loved her.
She ran the thought through again. Ron Weasley loved her.
"I - I love you too." Her eyes blurred slightly. Maybe she had found a cure to the pain. Maybe Ron was the one that she could tell her secrets to.
Ron laughed slightly, bending his head down to rest his forehead against hers. "Now we won't feel so alone when Herm and Harry sneak off to have a snogging session." It was now Gwen's turn to turn scarlet. She playfully smacked him on the shoulder.
"Honestly, Ron..." He leaned in again, this time the kiss soft and tender. Their lips brushed a final time, both solemnly pulling away.
"'Night, luv." She opened the door quietly, climbing into her four-poster and drawing the curtains closed.
That next morning, Gwen felt as though the sun was shining particularly bright that day.
"G'morning. What were you up to last night?" A sly smile played across Hermione's face.
"How'd you know?" Gwen blushed again. She had to control the blood flow to her cheeks, if just thinking about kissing Ron was turning her crimson, she was going to have permanent stains.
"Let's just say I'm a light sleeper."
After Gwen told Hermione the whole story, blushing furiously during the kissing parts, Hermione let out an excited squeal.
"I knew it! Harry kept dropping hints that Ron fancied you! Oh, this is extremely wonderful!" Hermione gave Gwen a small hug, then they decided they'd probably be late for breakfast if they didn't hurry.
Running down the stairs, their robes flailing out behind them, Gwen and Hermione almost plowed down the only two people left in the Gryffindor common room. It was Ron and Harry, waiting for their girlfriends, both wearing goofy grins.
Harry must've heard the story from Ron, because as soon as Hermione came within an arm's reach, he grabbed her forearm and dragged her quickly through the portrait hole, sensing that Ron and Gwen wanted to walk alone.
"G'morning." Ron grabbed for her hand, and Gwen let his fingers intertwine with hers comfortably. He swung their connected arms back and forth before leaning in for a kiss. Their lips pressed together, and all of the emotions from the night before rushed upon them once again.
They hurried down to the great hall, hand in hand, not really caring if any of the other students saw. When Gwen and Ron sat next to each other, some of the more gigglish girls began whispering. Ron just snorted with laughter at the thought that they thought he and Gwen couldn't hear them.
After most of the fourth years worked out that Gwen Healy and Ron Weasley had finally admitted to liking each other, breakfast quieted down. Fred and George kept winking heartedly and making strange clicking noises out of the sides of their mouths, which Ron accepted as signs of approval. Ginny grinned widely at him from across the table.
Gwen, Ginny, and Hermione had grown rather close over the past year, and Ron decided that Ginny had known he adored Gwen for a long time. Ron came to the conclusion that Ginny had inherited his mum's sense for love connections...
Later that day, Hermione and Gwen had Ancient Runes together. They were both rather brainy, and Hermione loved that Gwen would gladly join her anytime in the library for a bit of studying. Since their male friends were preoccupied discussing the wonders of Quidditch, that is.
While discussing the final exams that were slowly approaching, Draco Malfoy rudely smashed into them, purposefully knocking their books from their arms.
"Rumor has it that you're going with Poor Boy, Healy." Draco drawled, not even bothering to help them pick up their scattered belongings.
"Well, the rumor's true." Gwen huffed, slinging her stuffed bag over her shoulder again.
"You know, you could've been on our side. My dad's told me stories... But no, you had to join the Dream Team, and make kissy faces at a Weasley. Sickening..."
"Come off it, Malfoy." Gwen put as much venom in her voice as she could. "I haven't a clue what you're rambling on about. Why would I want to be on your side?" Without even waiting for an answer, she pulled Hermione off towards the classroom.
"What was he talking about out there?" Hermione asked, looking as puzzled as Gwen felt.
"I seriously have no idea. Lucius Malfoy telling stories about what? That has no relation to me. I swear, the fumes he inhales from being in Potions is really effecting his mental capability..." Gwen really didn't know what he was talking about. She was sure that any wizarding family knew of Gwyneth Healy before she began attending Hogwarts.
Hermione and Gwen both shut up quickly as the Ancient Runes professor entered the room.
The day was indeed a long one and Gwen and Hermione sat by the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, doing homework for the classes they had together. Ron and Harry were playing chess, sniggering towards their girlfriends.
"That's what you get for taking difficult classes..." Harry whispered. They had both hastily made up predictions for Divination so they could get in a couple games of wizard's chess before dozing off.
Gwen decided that maybe Harry and Ron should know about Draco's strange behavior that afternoon. Although, she quickly thought she'd leave out the Poor Boy part, Ron didn't need to hear that.
"Guess what Malfoy did this afternoon."
"Knight to F7." Ron laughed as Harry lost another piece. He turned towards the fireplace. "Hrm, what'd he do now?" He had always been bitter towards Malfoy when Gwen came up, Draco hated her and Hermione because they were Muggle-born, but especially Gwen because she was also American. But, Ron thought Gwen had settled in England nicely, and she stopped using confusing American phrases back in the beginning of first year. Now she even had taken on a bit of a British accent, a couple more years and she'd hardly sound American.
"He was acting so strange today. First, he knocked our books out of our arms," She pointed to Hermione and herself. "Then he started asking if I was involved with you." Ron's faced glowed red, both with embarrassment and anger at Malfoy. "I told him yes, and he said I could have joined his side. Said his dad told him stories or something like that. I really don't know what he was talking about."
Harry shrugged, sighing in defeat as he lost the chess game. "Malfoy's always been bit loony, maybe he just went over the edge."
Hermione smiled and yawned. "I'm exhausted." She turned her attention to Gwen. "We'll finish the Ancient Runes assignment tomorrow, right? I think we should complete it at least a week before it's due, so we can start studying." Gwen smiled back.
"'Course."
"'Night." Hermione walked up to Harry, planting a kiss on his cheek. Yawning again, she walked slowly towards the dormitory.
Summer was soon creeping upon Hogwarts, as did finals. Gwen and Hermione had done hours of studying, both completely ready for the tests. They had managed to drag Harry and Ron into the library a few times, for they were stubborn boys who thought that studying wasn't necessary.
The finals week came and went, the students welcoming the warmth of summer. Most were excited that holidays were coming, but not Gwen.
Gwen didn't want to go home at all and face her father. She didn't want to be beat for no reason and most of all, she didn't want to leave Ron. She still hadn't told him about what her dad did to her, and thought it was for the best. She didn't want him to get scared and break up with her before summer or dwell on the subject over holidays.
She'd tell him later. That was the thing running through Gwen's mind mostly, now that the information needed for tests could be wiped away. After many sleepless nights, she came to the decision that she'd tell him, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny when he invited them to the Burrow over summer like he said he would.
Hogwarts was subdued on the last day, many Hufflepuffs wearing black in honor of Cedric. The Triwizard Tournament had been horrible for Harry, but Hermione had helped him through it. Gwen had let Harry know that she was there for him multiple times, she never wanted Harry or the rest of her friends feel alone with despair like she did at home.
The ride home was quiet, most of them thinking about how weird it would be without each other there every morning. They had grown incredibly close fourth year.
Ron squeezed Gwen's hand as the train slowed to a halt. She brought her lips up to his, both releasing their passion for each other. She loved him so much, she had no idea what she'd do without him.
"I'll write to you. And remember, you're coming at the end of summer. You promised."
"I know, I will. You have to write first, I don't have an owl, I'll have to use Pig." She felt slightly uncomfortable, for the Weasley's were looking at them.
Not really caring, Ron leaned in for a final kiss. Gwen swore she heard an "Aaawww." from Mrs. Weasley.
"Bye." She whispered weakly, letting go of Ron's hand as he disappeared into the barrier.
She was now alone. Gwen looked back towards the Hogwarts Express, sighing heavily as she began to walk to her house in London.
She braced herself for her father.