Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, though I wish I did.
CHAPTER X: SAYING GOODBYE
"Boys, there are fifteen minutes till it is time to board the Knight Bus. Please hurry up and say your last goodbyes," McGonagall's voice boomed through the imaginary megaphone in the field outside Hogwarts.
All the students were gathered outside the school, as they wished a happy farewell to the boys leaving to fight against Voldemort. Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny had been sitting together on the bench, as they cherished the last few hours they had together.
"So Weasel, leaving the dear Mudblood, so you can earn some glory for your family?" Malfoy drawled at the redhead, as he and his stooges approached them.
"Yea, maybe I am. There's nothing with that. By the way, why are you going? Just to prove you're not connected to the Death Eaters," Ron replied evenly, as he protectively draped an arm around Hermione's shoulder.
Malfoy's eyes narrowed, as he muttered, "C'mon," to Crabbe and Goyle. Grunting in response, they left the four friends and went and joined the other Slytherins.
Harry shook his head. "No matter what happens, Malfoy's attitude will never change." Ron chuckled, as the field started to empty.
"I think now would be a good time to say our personal goodbyes," Ginny suggested, as she pulled Harry to his feet.
"Bye," Harry called over his shoulder, as Ginny dragged him over to a private spot, leaving the two friends behind.
"So," Hermione started uncomfortably, dangling her feet on the bench.
"Mione, look at me," Ron ordered gently. She turned to him and watched his eyes rest his gaze on her face.
"What are you doing?" she inquired giggling as his eyes traveled all over her face.
"I'm memorizing your face," he replied quietly as he leaned back and closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them and stared at her. "I'll never forget that face," he murmured trailing a finger across her cheek, which came away wet.
"Aw Mione, don't cry," he whispered as he drew her close to him. She buried her face in his chest, allowing the fresh tears to flow. "I'll be back soon," he mumbled in her bushy hair, planting a kiss on her head.
"How long is soon, Ron?" she answered, stifling the sobs that were erupting inside of her.
"I don't know, but," he paused and lifted her face up by the chin, so they were face-to-face. "I will never ever forget you," he finished.
She managed to give him a weak smile as she pulled away from him and brushed away the tears. "I know you won't forget me because," Hermione broke away from the sentence, as she rummaged in her rucksack. "I've got a going-away present for you."
"Really?" Ron remarked disbelievingly. "When did you get it?"
"I got it on our last visit at Hogsmeade," she answered, handing him the tiny navy-wrapped gift.
"Hermione, you shouldn't have," he said, as he started to open it. "What'd you get me, anyway? A spew badge," he teased, looking up at her intent face.
"Ron, for the last time it's S-P-E-W, and no it's not a badge, it's something much better," Hermione responded, as Ron pulled out a golden locket dangling on a golden chain.
"Oh Hermione," Ron gushed as he admired the locket.
"Open it," she commanded, leaning towards him eagerly. Eyeing her suspiciously, he slowly unfastened the clasp revealing a compass and a Muggle picture of Hermione, sitting up with her two hands clasped together, touching her cheek, her brown hair falling around her face, her cinnamon eyes radiating with beauty.
"Wow," he muttered, as he fingered the picture. "Which picture is this?" he questioned her, who was glowing with delight that her present had been approved.
"It's a picture my mother took of me during the summer holidays at my grandparent's farm," she answered. "I wanted to get you a compass with the North Star, also known as the Polaris, indicating north. I thought this way you would never lose your way when you're on the battlefield," Hermione ended.
"Hermione, you are my Polaris," Ron remarked, causing Hermione to blush deeply but Ron had more to say. "And with this picture I would never lose hope wherever I was," Ron reassured her, tucking the compass into his robes and pulling her into a breathtaking kiss.
"That is one memory I'll never forget," she murmured breathlessly against his lips as she brought her lips again against his.
They were interrupted by the sound of clearing throats. "Excuse me," Harry began, struggling to hold back his laughter. Ron and Hermione pulled away reluctantly, facing Harry and Ginny.
"You guys had better quit it, because McGonagall's looking plenty mad and we still have to say good bye to you," Ginny mentioned, as they stood up.
"Come here, sis," Ron exclaimed, grabbing her arm and engulfing her in a deep hug, while Harry bid farewell to his other best friend.
"Take care of him, Harry," Hermione whispered in his ear, as she tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Don't worry, Hermione. I won't let anything happen to him," Harry reassured his overly anxious friend.
"I don't want anything to happen to him," she continued, as she pulled away and looked directly into his eyes.
"Do you not want anything to happen to me as well?" Harry pouted, as Hermione gave a little laugh.
"Of course I don't, but its Ron, who usually loses control and tries to act braver than he is," she explained.
Harry gave a grin as he lightly kissed her forehead. "Take care of Ginny, okay?" She smiled and nodded her head firmly as he gently gave her shoulder a tight squeeze.
Meanwhile, Ron and Ginny were engaged in a sibling talk. "When you meet my other brothers, make sure you remind them about their darling sweet sister," she ordered her favorite older brother.
Ron waved his hand in the air distractedly. "I will, Ginny, but you have to promise me one thing."
"What is that?" she remarked, eyeing him suspiciously.
He lowered his voice and whispered quietly, "Promise me you'll look after Hermione while I'm gone."
"Oh Ron, of course I will," Ginny comforted him, holding his hand decisively. "But I want you to promise me something."
"Sure," Ron replied, not releasing his grip on his sister.
"Promise me you'll watch over Harry like a guardian angel and will bring him home safely," she commanded, wagging her finger at him.
Ron merely smiled and embraced her tightly. "I promise," he murmured in her hair.
"I don't want You-Know-Who to take him just when I've learnt how much I love him," she continued. His heart gave a sudden leap at the fact that Ginny loved Harry, but he chose to ignore it as he released her.
"Don't forget my promise, little sis," Ron commented.
"And don't forget mine," she remarked, as he ruffled her hair playfully and replied, "Don't worry about it."
"The rest of the boys, please wrap up your goodbyes and climb aboard the bus," Professor Snape called loudly, interrupting his serious talk with Professor Dumbledore.
"Harry, give me one last hug, until you leave me all alone," Ginny remarked innocently. Harry pushed his glasses up and gave his girlfriend a warm hug, which seemed to last forever. They didn't want to pull away, but when they did, she brushed away the large mass of black hair that was falling on his head, as he kissed her slowly but passionately.
"Hey, can we please stop. That's my sister you're kissing," Ron groaned.
"Hey, I don't groan when you're kissing Hermione," Harry protested evenly, as he gave Ginny a quick kiss on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "Watch out for Hermione. She's going to miss Ron terribly."
She nodded her head and mouthed, "I will," as he led her away from Ron and Hermione.
"Well, um, I guess this is it," Ron spoke to Hermione, as they remained the last few kids' left to leave. Most of the crowd was dispersing but Hermione didn't want to leave so soon.
"Yea," she nodded her head, clapping her hands together. "This is it."
Ron stared at her confused. "What do you want me to do now, Hermione?" he questioned desperately.
"I just want you to kiss me," Hermione blurted out suddenly, and immediately clapped her hand over her mouth. She had meant to say a simple hug would be nice, but she had said the most outrageous thing, instead. Surprisingly, however, a small smile was creeping at his lips.
"I think that can be arranged," he muttered, as he grasped her tightly by the waist and tilted her body down. Leaning towards her, he dipped her head down and lowered his lips onto hers, amidst the wild cheers that erupted from the bus, while McGonagall shook her head disapprovingly. Harry and Ginny were amazed and amused at Ron's action.
Hermione, however, was in a state of shock. The wind seemed to be knocked out from underneath her feet, as he devoured her completely. Her brain commanded her to pull away, but her instincts went against them and instead secured their arms around his neck, as he traced his finger down from her ear to the nape of her neck. Finally, after what seemed like ages, Ron breathless for air drew himself away.
"That better," he gasped, as he helped her gather herself up.
She seemed rather dazed as she collected her thoughts together. "Yea it was," she admitted breathlessly.
"I'm going to miss you like hell," Ron murmured, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Me too," she agreed softly, as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, memorizing everything about him; his smell, his touch, his warmth.
"Hey, Mione." She pulled away slowly. His eyes were twinkling but she could have sworn she saw water in them. "You're going to have to let go off me now."
She gave him a small smile, as he led her to the bus with him. Dumbledore was waiting patiently for Ron. "Write as much as I can," Hermione advised. Ron crossed his heart and gave her a final hug. "I will, and look at this when I'm gone," he muttered, clasping his hands with hers and placing in it a little object. He gave her a slow lingering kiss and then parted from her embrace. With that he was gone, leaving her for Heaven knows how long.
Ginny appeared at her shoulder. "They'll be okay," she remarked, placing her hand on her shoulder.
Hermione sighed. "I know they will."
"What did Ron give you?" she asked curiously.
She slowly opened her closed hand. In her palm lay a tiny golden heart dangling on a silver chain. Shaking her head, she muttered, "I guess some people will never change."
***
CHAPTER X: SAYING GOODBYE
"Boys, there are fifteen minutes till it is time to board the Knight Bus. Please hurry up and say your last goodbyes," McGonagall's voice boomed through the imaginary megaphone in the field outside Hogwarts.
All the students were gathered outside the school, as they wished a happy farewell to the boys leaving to fight against Voldemort. Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny had been sitting together on the bench, as they cherished the last few hours they had together.
"So Weasel, leaving the dear Mudblood, so you can earn some glory for your family?" Malfoy drawled at the redhead, as he and his stooges approached them.
"Yea, maybe I am. There's nothing with that. By the way, why are you going? Just to prove you're not connected to the Death Eaters," Ron replied evenly, as he protectively draped an arm around Hermione's shoulder.
Malfoy's eyes narrowed, as he muttered, "C'mon," to Crabbe and Goyle. Grunting in response, they left the four friends and went and joined the other Slytherins.
Harry shook his head. "No matter what happens, Malfoy's attitude will never change." Ron chuckled, as the field started to empty.
"I think now would be a good time to say our personal goodbyes," Ginny suggested, as she pulled Harry to his feet.
"Bye," Harry called over his shoulder, as Ginny dragged him over to a private spot, leaving the two friends behind.
"So," Hermione started uncomfortably, dangling her feet on the bench.
"Mione, look at me," Ron ordered gently. She turned to him and watched his eyes rest his gaze on her face.
"What are you doing?" she inquired giggling as his eyes traveled all over her face.
"I'm memorizing your face," he replied quietly as he leaned back and closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them and stared at her. "I'll never forget that face," he murmured trailing a finger across her cheek, which came away wet.
"Aw Mione, don't cry," he whispered as he drew her close to him. She buried her face in his chest, allowing the fresh tears to flow. "I'll be back soon," he mumbled in her bushy hair, planting a kiss on her head.
"How long is soon, Ron?" she answered, stifling the sobs that were erupting inside of her.
"I don't know, but," he paused and lifted her face up by the chin, so they were face-to-face. "I will never ever forget you," he finished.
She managed to give him a weak smile as she pulled away from him and brushed away the tears. "I know you won't forget me because," Hermione broke away from the sentence, as she rummaged in her rucksack. "I've got a going-away present for you."
"Really?" Ron remarked disbelievingly. "When did you get it?"
"I got it on our last visit at Hogsmeade," she answered, handing him the tiny navy-wrapped gift.
"Hermione, you shouldn't have," he said, as he started to open it. "What'd you get me, anyway? A spew badge," he teased, looking up at her intent face.
"Ron, for the last time it's S-P-E-W, and no it's not a badge, it's something much better," Hermione responded, as Ron pulled out a golden locket dangling on a golden chain.
"Oh Hermione," Ron gushed as he admired the locket.
"Open it," she commanded, leaning towards him eagerly. Eyeing her suspiciously, he slowly unfastened the clasp revealing a compass and a Muggle picture of Hermione, sitting up with her two hands clasped together, touching her cheek, her brown hair falling around her face, her cinnamon eyes radiating with beauty.
"Wow," he muttered, as he fingered the picture. "Which picture is this?" he questioned her, who was glowing with delight that her present had been approved.
"It's a picture my mother took of me during the summer holidays at my grandparent's farm," she answered. "I wanted to get you a compass with the North Star, also known as the Polaris, indicating north. I thought this way you would never lose your way when you're on the battlefield," Hermione ended.
"Hermione, you are my Polaris," Ron remarked, causing Hermione to blush deeply but Ron had more to say. "And with this picture I would never lose hope wherever I was," Ron reassured her, tucking the compass into his robes and pulling her into a breathtaking kiss.
"That is one memory I'll never forget," she murmured breathlessly against his lips as she brought her lips again against his.
They were interrupted by the sound of clearing throats. "Excuse me," Harry began, struggling to hold back his laughter. Ron and Hermione pulled away reluctantly, facing Harry and Ginny.
"You guys had better quit it, because McGonagall's looking plenty mad and we still have to say good bye to you," Ginny mentioned, as they stood up.
"Come here, sis," Ron exclaimed, grabbing her arm and engulfing her in a deep hug, while Harry bid farewell to his other best friend.
"Take care of him, Harry," Hermione whispered in his ear, as she tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Don't worry, Hermione. I won't let anything happen to him," Harry reassured his overly anxious friend.
"I don't want anything to happen to him," she continued, as she pulled away and looked directly into his eyes.
"Do you not want anything to happen to me as well?" Harry pouted, as Hermione gave a little laugh.
"Of course I don't, but its Ron, who usually loses control and tries to act braver than he is," she explained.
Harry gave a grin as he lightly kissed her forehead. "Take care of Ginny, okay?" She smiled and nodded her head firmly as he gently gave her shoulder a tight squeeze.
Meanwhile, Ron and Ginny were engaged in a sibling talk. "When you meet my other brothers, make sure you remind them about their darling sweet sister," she ordered her favorite older brother.
Ron waved his hand in the air distractedly. "I will, Ginny, but you have to promise me one thing."
"What is that?" she remarked, eyeing him suspiciously.
He lowered his voice and whispered quietly, "Promise me you'll look after Hermione while I'm gone."
"Oh Ron, of course I will," Ginny comforted him, holding his hand decisively. "But I want you to promise me something."
"Sure," Ron replied, not releasing his grip on his sister.
"Promise me you'll watch over Harry like a guardian angel and will bring him home safely," she commanded, wagging her finger at him.
Ron merely smiled and embraced her tightly. "I promise," he murmured in her hair.
"I don't want You-Know-Who to take him just when I've learnt how much I love him," she continued. His heart gave a sudden leap at the fact that Ginny loved Harry, but he chose to ignore it as he released her.
"Don't forget my promise, little sis," Ron commented.
"And don't forget mine," she remarked, as he ruffled her hair playfully and replied, "Don't worry about it."
"The rest of the boys, please wrap up your goodbyes and climb aboard the bus," Professor Snape called loudly, interrupting his serious talk with Professor Dumbledore.
"Harry, give me one last hug, until you leave me all alone," Ginny remarked innocently. Harry pushed his glasses up and gave his girlfriend a warm hug, which seemed to last forever. They didn't want to pull away, but when they did, she brushed away the large mass of black hair that was falling on his head, as he kissed her slowly but passionately.
"Hey, can we please stop. That's my sister you're kissing," Ron groaned.
"Hey, I don't groan when you're kissing Hermione," Harry protested evenly, as he gave Ginny a quick kiss on the cheek and whispered in her ear, "Watch out for Hermione. She's going to miss Ron terribly."
She nodded her head and mouthed, "I will," as he led her away from Ron and Hermione.
"Well, um, I guess this is it," Ron spoke to Hermione, as they remained the last few kids' left to leave. Most of the crowd was dispersing but Hermione didn't want to leave so soon.
"Yea," she nodded her head, clapping her hands together. "This is it."
Ron stared at her confused. "What do you want me to do now, Hermione?" he questioned desperately.
"I just want you to kiss me," Hermione blurted out suddenly, and immediately clapped her hand over her mouth. She had meant to say a simple hug would be nice, but she had said the most outrageous thing, instead. Surprisingly, however, a small smile was creeping at his lips.
"I think that can be arranged," he muttered, as he grasped her tightly by the waist and tilted her body down. Leaning towards her, he dipped her head down and lowered his lips onto hers, amidst the wild cheers that erupted from the bus, while McGonagall shook her head disapprovingly. Harry and Ginny were amazed and amused at Ron's action.
Hermione, however, was in a state of shock. The wind seemed to be knocked out from underneath her feet, as he devoured her completely. Her brain commanded her to pull away, but her instincts went against them and instead secured their arms around his neck, as he traced his finger down from her ear to the nape of her neck. Finally, after what seemed like ages, Ron breathless for air drew himself away.
"That better," he gasped, as he helped her gather herself up.
She seemed rather dazed as she collected her thoughts together. "Yea it was," she admitted breathlessly.
"I'm going to miss you like hell," Ron murmured, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Me too," she agreed softly, as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, memorizing everything about him; his smell, his touch, his warmth.
"Hey, Mione." She pulled away slowly. His eyes were twinkling but she could have sworn she saw water in them. "You're going to have to let go off me now."
She gave him a small smile, as he led her to the bus with him. Dumbledore was waiting patiently for Ron. "Write as much as I can," Hermione advised. Ron crossed his heart and gave her a final hug. "I will, and look at this when I'm gone," he muttered, clasping his hands with hers and placing in it a little object. He gave her a slow lingering kiss and then parted from her embrace. With that he was gone, leaving her for Heaven knows how long.
Ginny appeared at her shoulder. "They'll be okay," she remarked, placing her hand on her shoulder.
Hermione sighed. "I know they will."
"What did Ron give you?" she asked curiously.
She slowly opened her closed hand. In her palm lay a tiny golden heart dangling on a silver chain. Shaking her head, she muttered, "I guess some people will never change."
***