I Should Have Opened My Eyes Sooner
By: Heather-Bether









"Honestly," George said, glancing back at Hermione and Ron. The Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione had journeyed to Diagon Alley that day to get their Hogwarts things. After they had made up, Ron and Hermione hadn't gotten in a single row. "I liked it better when they were fighting constantly." He sighed, making a disgusted face. "It's just to strange to see them getting on so well."

Ginny frowned. "George, you know how Ron-" She stopped, looking at Harry. "H-how he can be agreeable one moment, and fiery mad the next."

The raven haired boy furrowed his brow, looking from the twins to Ginny. "Do you guys know something I don't?"

Ginny wrung her hands together, looking nervously back at Ron and Hermione. "N-not exactly."

Fred let out a chuckle, leaning over to George to whisper to Harry, "Isn't it obvious?" He clutched onto his twin, sighing dramatically. "Ickle Ronniekins is in looooove," he swooned.

Harry choked back a laugh. "W-what?" He looked back at Ron and Hermione. His tall red-haired friend was smiling shyly at the bookworm, causing a slight blush to form on her cheeks. "R-ron.. he fancies Hermione? Why wouldn't he tell me?"

"Because you are her best friend too," Ginny said, shaking her head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "My stars, do you all walk around with your eyes closed? Do you see the way he looks at her?"

Harry shook his head. "I never paid much attention." He shrugged as they walked into Flourish and Blotts where Mrs. Weasley was waiting for them.. He stopped in the doorway and mused to Ginny, "I guess I should have opened my eyes sooner."


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"Look at her! She's already reading this year's spell books," Ron said with a mixture of disgust and admiration. He stuffed a chocolate frog into his mouth and turned to his best friend. "All right there Harry?"

His dark-haired friend nodded. "Ron, can I ask you something?"

Ron nodded, ripping open another packaged frog. "Sure mate." He took a large bite from the chocolate frog and cocked his head at Harry, raising an eyebrow.

"Do - do you fancy Hermione?" he asked in a low voice, careful not to draw attention from Hermione herself. He had figured that Fred and George were only messing with him, but he had to be sure.

Ron's face dropped, and his half eaten chocolate frog fell to his lap. He swallowed hard, the tips of his ears turned red as his hair. "H-hermione? N-no, of course I don't. She's our best friend Harry!" He shook his head, laughing nervously.

Harry furrowed his brow. Ron was a terrible liar. But then - that meant that he did fancy Hermione. "All right Ron," he said, going back to his Quidditch book. He glanced up at Ron's guilty face and smirked.

Ron sighed. "How'd you know?" he asked quietly.

"The twins... and Ginny," he added, cautiously. Ginny and Hermione had become very close over the last couple of years. If his sister knew, there was a good chance that she would tell Hermione. The last thing Harry wanted was for Ron to worry about this. It was obvious that Hermione liked Ron as well, but of course Ron wouldn't see that.

"Ginny told you?" Ron said, looking over to his only sister as she asked Hermione a question about her Charms essay. Harry nodded, closing his book.

"I reckon you should tell Hermione anyhow," he advised, putting his book on the table next to his chair. Harry had spent the afternoon putting together all of the signs that Ron and Hermione fancied each other. He felt rather dense; he had missed it all of those years.

Ron looked faint by the simple thought of doing so. "T-tell her?" He shook his head quickly. "No Harry. Do you know what she would do to me?"

Harry shook his head dishonestly. Kiss you that's what she'd do, he thought. He was surprised that the thought of such a thing didn't cause him to shudder. Ron and Hermione just seemed so perfect for each other. From the way they defended each other to the way they constantly fought. They were honestly made for each other.

"I'm sorry mate, I just can't do it." Ron stood up and shrugged. He stole a glance at Hermione before rushing into the kitchen. By the sound of the back door shutting, Harry guessed Ron had retreated outside.

Ginny looked back at Harry and raised her eyebrows at him. Harry simply shrugged in response, going back to his Quidditch book. Unlike the boy, Ginny wasn't going to sit around and wait for Hermione and Ron to grow out of their stubbornness. The small red-head cleared her throat, demanding Hermione's attention.

"I think Ron wants to talk to you," she said, pointing out the window.

Harry and Hermione both looked at her curiously. Hermione closed her spell book and craned her neck to see Ron, laying lazily in the yard.

"Ginny, are you sure?" she asked, furrowing her brow. She glanced back at Harry as the Weasley girl confirmed the statement. Harry shrugged, not knowing what to say. Of course there was something Ron needed to tell her, but it was the fact that he didn't want to.

Hermione, still looking slightly confused, made her way through the kitchen to the back door. She took one last look at Harry, as if something horrible were awaiting her on the other side, before slipping out.

The gleam of the setting sun met her, along with the friendly hoot of Pig as he flew about. Crookshanks purred from his perch on the window sill, glancing up to see who had disturbed his sleep yet again . He let out a long yawn and blinked his eyes closed.

The sun was just above the horizon, leaving the sky with brilliant shades of red and purple mixed with the usual blue. Each beam of sunlight seem to hit everything just right, causing the shabby Weasley yard to look like it belonged in a magnificent painting of a romantic sunset.

That was what this was, romantic, she thought. Hermione spotted Ron looking quite comfortable, stretched out on the ground. She approached him quietly, not wanting to disturb him. She smiled to herself, studying him.

His eyelashes laid carefully on his freckled cheeks which were tinged with pink. His shaggy Weasley red hair fell scruffily onto his forehead. His dark blue shirt was lifting from the waist of his pants, showing a bit of his flat stomach. Hermione blushed, looking back up at his face. She wanted to lean down and kiss him so badly. Letting go of her inhibitors, she began to do just that. She carefully knelt beside him; it was impossible to get close without doing so.

Her face was only inches from his own. His lips were parted slightly, simply inviting her to meet her own. She could smell him, that unique scent that was only Ron. She could detect a hint of spice. She smiled again, closing her eyes to take it in. She slowly opened her eyes after a short moment.

She nearly lost her balance, finding that that two blue eyes were staring at her intently. She blushed deeper than she ever had before in her life. She pulled away quickly, realizing that she had about kissed Ron Weasley.

Ron was blushing just as deeply as his friend, straight to the roots of his hair. He smile slightly, waiting for her to say something. But, words (for once) seem to be alluding Hermione.

"Youwantedtotalktome?" she choked out all rather quickly.

He stared up at her, amused. "What was that?"

"Did you want to talk to me?" she said, considerably calmer that time. She had to clasp her hands together to keep them from shaking. Why was he suddenly having this effect on her?

Ron furrowed his brow. "No," he said, bluntly, wondering who had told Hermione to come out here. He realized that it had sounded rude and quickly sat up. "I'm sorry Herm. I meant, that I hadn't asked you to come out for a certain reason. But, you can stay. If you want that is."

She nodded before glancing back at the house. In the window of the living room, four faces were pressed against the window. The twins smiled cheekily at her just as Ginny and Harry fled away from sight. Soon, the twins were pulled away by who Hermione guessed was Ginny or Harry.

Ron cleared his throat nervously. What if Harry was right? What if he should just tell Hermione and get it over with? What was the worst that could happen? He shook his head; that was certainly the wrong question to ask oneself when one is about to confess his love to his best friend.

"Erm... Hermione?" he began, feeling his heart speed up. She looked at him expectantly, causing Ron to doubt himself. What if he wasn't what she wanted? He would only disappoint her. I'm just dumb ole' Ron Weasley, why would she want me. She could have Victor Krum, Ron thought gloomily.

"Yes Ron?" she prompted him out of his begrudging thoughts. Her hair was half pulled back, leaving several curls to cascade around her face. Causing her to look rather nice, Ron thought.

He cleared his throat again. Perhaps he could say he had to run to get a glass of water, and then simply not come back. No, no, he scolded himself. He couldn't do that to her.

"Hermione," he repeated. "I- I think-" Hermione nodded, leaning forward with a small smile forming on her lips. "I... I think.... I think Mum needs help with dinner," he finished in a rush.

Hermione's face fell, sending her back onto her legs tucked under her. "All right then. Shall we help her?"

Ron nodded, feeling worse than he had before. He stood up and helped Hermione to her feet and began to walk towards the house. His heart felt heavy as he looked at her disappointed face. Disappointed? She was disappointed? A sudden wave of happiness washed over Ron. She didn't want that rotten Krum. She wanted good ole Ron! Ron who never said the right thing, who never got the top marks. Just Ron. Ron who could eat a whole shelve of chocolate frogs, just to get the cards, who would burp up slugs just to defend her honor.

As her small slender hand reached for the door knob, he intercepted it, pulling her away from the house again. He held her hand tightly in his and took her other into his empty hand. He took a deep breath, deciding he was going to do it.

After all of those years, they had finally opened their eyes.

Ron leaned down, close to her. His warm breath against her soft cheek. He stared into her brown eyes, bringing his barriers to a crashing fall. Slowly a tear fell from her eye, which he quickly wiped away with a sweep of his hand. Never in her life did she think she would see awkward Ron doing all the right things. He smiled at her nervously. "Hermione, I-" Their lips met before another word could be said.

After all of those years, they had finally opened their eyes just so for a completely different reason they could close them again.


Disclaimer: I, of course, do not own this. JK Rowling does. All bow down to the great woman who gave us this wonderful world to run rampant in.

Author's Note: I had so much fun writing this last chapter. After months and months of finding a good style, I was proud to post this chapter. I must sadly say that this is the last chapter of this fan work. But, if I get enough encouragement and possible ideas, I may write a sequel.. perhaps a Harry and Ginny? ::nods:: Agree? Yes?