Chapter 15: Distraction
*
Disclaimer- Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.
*
AN- OK so this is just a little bit of fluff to bridge the gap between the last chapter and the next. I like the idea I use in this chapter and am planning a short piece that evolves around the idea of My Hermione. It will be called the Possessive Noun.
*
The next day Ron insisted on escorting Hermione to the Institute.
"I've owled Sirius asking him to send him a squad of bodyguards, till then I'm afraid I'll have to do!" He said giving her a lopsided grin.
"I'll be glad of the company," Hermione said dryly.
"Lonely work?"
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
Hermione wouldn't say anything else; the truth was she couldn't tell herself just how lonely. Only that having Ron around was starting to make her realize that it was lonely.
Work that day was impossible. Ron distracted her. He fidgeted, made jokes and worst of all stared at her. Just like those long afternoons in the Gryffindor common room; Hermione trying to get Harry and Ron to do their homework. Them playing chess instead. If only Harry were there to play chess with Ron so that she could get on with her work.
It was nearing the time when the Institute caretaker would come round and chase people out of their offices when Ron came out with:
"I missed you."
Hermione looked up from her work in surprise. The bright blue of his eyes bored into her, she tried to escape his stare but found herself trapped by it. For a minute he had her captivated. Tall redheaded Ron Weasley had her under his spell. She tried to speak but couldn't find the words.
"Not like my Hermione to be lost for words." He said.
Who knows what would have happened then if Senior Miranus the elderly caretaker hadn't came along to chase Hermione home? But Hermione couldn't drive the incident from her head. 'My Hermione,' He had said. What did he mean by that? My Hermione? Of course he had called her that before, just the once but that once was very memorable. It was on the night before Harry's death.
* START FLASHBACK *
Despite the fear that surrounded them, Harry and Ginny's engagement party was turning out to be quite and enjoyable event. It was taking place in the Great Hall at Hogwarts with all the students invited.
The happy couple was the centre of attention, not even the thought that they could come face to face with Voldemort at any time could quell their joy on that evening.
Ron and Hermione were ecstatic for their friends and more than a little caught up in the mood of the occasion. They found themselves escaping form the crowded hall and stepping out into the cold January air. Hermione shivered despite the warm black cloak she was wearing. Her robes were all black but a dark orange jumper knitted by Mrs. Weasley brightened the outfit up a little. Her brown eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed and her mass of ringlets spilling messily over her shoulders.
Ron was similarly attired, his jumper was maroon and he wore jeans rather than robes but he too had a black cloak on. He picked up a handful of snow and threw it at her playfully. She fought back and her snowball landed spot bang, exactly on his nose.
He blinked at her in surprise then his face broke into that good tempered grin that Hermione found so endearing.
"Are you all right? Your nose has gone bright red!" She said rubbing his nose with her gloved hand.
"I'm just in shock; it's not like my Hermione to aim accurately." He said.
She blushed and went almost as red as his hair, and as she moved to take her hand away he caught her by the wrist.
"Mt Hermione?" She asked timidly.
"Yes my Hermione." He said before leaning down to kiss her and to her intense surprise she found herself kissing him right back.
When they broke apart they stood in red faced embarrassment. Ron opened his mouth but was stopped by the sudden appearance of Hagrid who grinned when he saw their red faces.
"Sorry to interrupt but Harry n' Ginny asked me to find you both." He said with a chuckle.
"What just happened?" Hermione asked as they re-entered the hall.
"I don't know," He said. "Let's talk about it later."
* END FLASHBACK *
But that conversation never happened, the events of the next day had pushed them apart: until now.
She reflected on this as she sat on the window-seat in the main lounge. It was peaceful, yet the serenity of the quiet room was sharp broken by a rather distraught Ginny.
"What's the matter?" Hermione asked her.
"The stalker.he was following me!" Ginny said panting, fear evident in her face.
"But why?" Hermione asked.
"Any of a number of reasons," Ron said appearing in the doorway, "Her connection with Harry, you know a punish him further sort of thing. Or more likely they wanted her for ransom, her in exchange for information on what the runes said."
The doorbell range, Ginny shrieked the others jumped. Ron drew his wand out and went to the door, Hermione started to follow him but Ginny stopped her.
"The bodyguard squad!" They heard Ron say in relief.
* Later that evening the bodyguard squad had set to work and Hermione and Ron had escaped the crowded house for a walk along the beach.
The air was hot and the night sky a dark blue colour unspoiled by any clouds and decorated with winking stars.
"Hermione." Ron said. She looked up at him, was that hope he detected in her dark eyes?
"Yes?"
He stole himself for what he was about to say,
"It's been a lonely few years and well this is the best time I've had for ages even with the runes and the stalker. I really, really missed you, I don't know why I kept you out of my life, I've been so stupid and I'm sorry."
"Oh Ron, I've been just as stupid as you. None of this is your fault." Hermione said.
"But still I can't help wondering what would have happened if.if Harry hadn't died. What would have happened to us?"
"I don't know." She sighed, "What I do know is that Harry would have wanted us to be happy."
She had stopped walking and had turned to face him, "Which is something I've never really been since he died, since I left you behind."
"Me neither." Ron said. Her words had given him a wild hope, could it be possible that she felt as he did? Gingerly he took her hand in his and held it up; her brown eyes were fixed on him.
* Hermione felt her heart beating faster.
"Ron?" She asked him, staring into his eyes.
"Hermione, I don't know how long its taken me to say this to you but I love you, I have done for ages and when we were apart I don't think I ever stopped."
She gasped, she watched her on tender hooks, he looked so frightened, frightened that she wouldn't feel as he did. Oh but she did.
"Oh Ron! I. me too," She said.
He beamed at her, a gaze that was full of adoration she smiled back. She allowed herself to be drawn into an embrace and kissed over and over again.
When he let her go she said, "I'm sorry."
"What for?" He asked.
"For ever leaving in the first place."
He laughed and planted a kiss on her forehead. The moment however was spoiled for suddenly Ron said, "The stalker, come on we better get home."
*
If Ginny or any of the others noticed Ron and Hermione's mood they didn't say anything.
"Goodnight," Ron said as he left her outside her bedroom.
"Goodnight." She said going into her room.
As the door closed he thought, "Sleep well, my Hermione.
AN- OK so this is just a little bit of fluff to bridge the gap between the last chapter and the next. I like the idea I use in this chapter and am planning a short piece that evolves around the idea of My Hermione. It will be called the Possessive Noun.
*
The next day Ron insisted on escorting Hermione to the Institute.
"I've owled Sirius asking him to send him a squad of bodyguards, till then I'm afraid I'll have to do!" He said giving her a lopsided grin.
"I'll be glad of the company," Hermione said dryly.
"Lonely work?"
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
Hermione wouldn't say anything else; the truth was she couldn't tell herself just how lonely. Only that having Ron around was starting to make her realize that it was lonely.
Work that day was impossible. Ron distracted her. He fidgeted, made jokes and worst of all stared at her. Just like those long afternoons in the Gryffindor common room; Hermione trying to get Harry and Ron to do their homework. Them playing chess instead. If only Harry were there to play chess with Ron so that she could get on with her work.
It was nearing the time when the Institute caretaker would come round and chase people out of their offices when Ron came out with:
"I missed you."
Hermione looked up from her work in surprise. The bright blue of his eyes bored into her, she tried to escape his stare but found herself trapped by it. For a minute he had her captivated. Tall redheaded Ron Weasley had her under his spell. She tried to speak but couldn't find the words.
"Not like my Hermione to be lost for words." He said.
Who knows what would have happened then if Senior Miranus the elderly caretaker hadn't came along to chase Hermione home? But Hermione couldn't drive the incident from her head. 'My Hermione,' He had said. What did he mean by that? My Hermione? Of course he had called her that before, just the once but that once was very memorable. It was on the night before Harry's death.
* START FLASHBACK *
Despite the fear that surrounded them, Harry and Ginny's engagement party was turning out to be quite and enjoyable event. It was taking place in the Great Hall at Hogwarts with all the students invited.
The happy couple was the centre of attention, not even the thought that they could come face to face with Voldemort at any time could quell their joy on that evening.
Ron and Hermione were ecstatic for their friends and more than a little caught up in the mood of the occasion. They found themselves escaping form the crowded hall and stepping out into the cold January air. Hermione shivered despite the warm black cloak she was wearing. Her robes were all black but a dark orange jumper knitted by Mrs. Weasley brightened the outfit up a little. Her brown eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed and her mass of ringlets spilling messily over her shoulders.
Ron was similarly attired, his jumper was maroon and he wore jeans rather than robes but he too had a black cloak on. He picked up a handful of snow and threw it at her playfully. She fought back and her snowball landed spot bang, exactly on his nose.
He blinked at her in surprise then his face broke into that good tempered grin that Hermione found so endearing.
"Are you all right? Your nose has gone bright red!" She said rubbing his nose with her gloved hand.
"I'm just in shock; it's not like my Hermione to aim accurately." He said.
She blushed and went almost as red as his hair, and as she moved to take her hand away he caught her by the wrist.
"Mt Hermione?" She asked timidly.
"Yes my Hermione." He said before leaning down to kiss her and to her intense surprise she found herself kissing him right back.
When they broke apart they stood in red faced embarrassment. Ron opened his mouth but was stopped by the sudden appearance of Hagrid who grinned when he saw their red faces.
"Sorry to interrupt but Harry n' Ginny asked me to find you both." He said with a chuckle.
"What just happened?" Hermione asked as they re-entered the hall.
"I don't know," He said. "Let's talk about it later."
* END FLASHBACK *
But that conversation never happened, the events of the next day had pushed them apart: until now.
She reflected on this as she sat on the window-seat in the main lounge. It was peaceful, yet the serenity of the quiet room was sharp broken by a rather distraught Ginny.
"What's the matter?" Hermione asked her.
"The stalker.he was following me!" Ginny said panting, fear evident in her face.
"But why?" Hermione asked.
"Any of a number of reasons," Ron said appearing in the doorway, "Her connection with Harry, you know a punish him further sort of thing. Or more likely they wanted her for ransom, her in exchange for information on what the runes said."
The doorbell range, Ginny shrieked the others jumped. Ron drew his wand out and went to the door, Hermione started to follow him but Ginny stopped her.
"The bodyguard squad!" They heard Ron say in relief.
* Later that evening the bodyguard squad had set to work and Hermione and Ron had escaped the crowded house for a walk along the beach.
The air was hot and the night sky a dark blue colour unspoiled by any clouds and decorated with winking stars.
"Hermione." Ron said. She looked up at him, was that hope he detected in her dark eyes?
"Yes?"
He stole himself for what he was about to say,
"It's been a lonely few years and well this is the best time I've had for ages even with the runes and the stalker. I really, really missed you, I don't know why I kept you out of my life, I've been so stupid and I'm sorry."
"Oh Ron, I've been just as stupid as you. None of this is your fault." Hermione said.
"But still I can't help wondering what would have happened if.if Harry hadn't died. What would have happened to us?"
"I don't know." She sighed, "What I do know is that Harry would have wanted us to be happy."
She had stopped walking and had turned to face him, "Which is something I've never really been since he died, since I left you behind."
"Me neither." Ron said. Her words had given him a wild hope, could it be possible that she felt as he did? Gingerly he took her hand in his and held it up; her brown eyes were fixed on him.
* Hermione felt her heart beating faster.
"Ron?" She asked him, staring into his eyes.
"Hermione, I don't know how long its taken me to say this to you but I love you, I have done for ages and when we were apart I don't think I ever stopped."
She gasped, she watched her on tender hooks, he looked so frightened, frightened that she wouldn't feel as he did. Oh but she did.
"Oh Ron! I. me too," She said.
He beamed at her, a gaze that was full of adoration she smiled back. She allowed herself to be drawn into an embrace and kissed over and over again.
When he let her go she said, "I'm sorry."
"What for?" He asked.
"For ever leaving in the first place."
He laughed and planted a kiss on her forehead. The moment however was spoiled for suddenly Ron said, "The stalker, come on we better get home."
*
If Ginny or any of the others noticed Ron and Hermione's mood they didn't say anything.
"Goodnight," Ron said as he left her outside her bedroom.
"Goodnight." She said going into her room.
As the door closed he thought, "Sleep well, my Hermione.
