Disclaimer: I do not own rights to the Harry Potter books or any of the
characters therein. If I did, I'd already know the details of Book 5,
instead of waiting impatiently for midnight tonight like everyone else.
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. Real life reared its (sometimes) ugly head. This chapter will complete this fanfic. Thanks for all the reviews! I just wish I could see all of them, but for some reason, I apparently have 19 reviews and can only see 12.
It was going on midnight, and the Yule Ball was over. The Gryffindors had gathered in their common room, some chattering excitedly about the ball, others (mostly boys) quietly thankful it was over. Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny were sitting over near the fire, talking and laughing with their other housemates. Hermione had been mildly amused to see Lavender and Parvati giving her suspicious, not-too-friendly looks--apparently, they were finally putting two and two together about what had happened to their hair earlier.
The common room gradually started quieting down, as people went up to their respective dorm rooms to go to sleep. Finally, only the four friends were left. Harry had been nervous about this part of the evening all night--he needed to say good night to Ginny, but should he kiss her? Apparently Ginny was getting nervous, too. She had been very quiet for the last few minutes, and a telltale blush was starting to creep up her face. She stood up abruptly.
"Well, I'd better go to bed. Good night, Ron, Hermione." She glanced at Harry and turned to walk to the steps leading up to her dorm.
Harry stood, too, and with a nervous glance at Ron and Hermione (especially at Ron), he followed. Ron, sitting on the sofa facing the fire, turned completely around to watch them over the back of the couch.
"Ron", Hermione said, gently.
"Hm?", Ron answered without looking at her.
"Ron!", Hermione said more forcefully. "Give them some privacy!"
Ron finally turned to look at her. "Privacy? But it's my sister and...."
"Our best friend, Harry. Remember? You can trust him. You know Ginny's been crazy about him since our first year." She smiled as Ron scowled. "She'll be good for him. He needs someone--a girlfriend--to distract him from all that's been going on. And he'll be good for her...and to her."
Ron sighed. "OK, OK", he muttered, facing the fire.
*~*
As they reached the foot of the steps, Ginny turned to face Harry. "I had fun. Thank you for taking me to the ball", she said quietly, wishing that, just once, she could stop that stupid Weasley curse of blushing.
Harry smiled. "I had fun, too. Thanks for going with me." They stood there awkwardly for a moment, not looking at each other. "What do I do now?", Harry wondered to himself. This hadn't been an issue last year because his date had ditched him before the end of the ball.
"Well, good night", Ginny said, deciding that he wasn't going to kiss her. She started to turn to go up the steps, and Harry grabbed her hand. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the cheek, then he straightened up and looked into her eyes. Hoping he was doing the right thing (and hoping he wasn't about to be killed by his red-headed best friend), he slowly leaned back down and kissed her on the lips. They stood like that for a moment, then he gently pulled away.
"Good night, Ginny". She smiled at him, and he smiled back, relieved. Still beaming, she turned and hurried up the steps, and Harry turned to rejoin his friends in front of the fire.
He was happy to see that Ron apparently hadn't been spying on them, and he knew he would have to thank Hermione tomorrow for that. He stopped in front of the couch and faced them, watching Ron nervously. Ron was sitting slumped on the sofa, his arms crossed on his chest.
"Kissed her goodnight, did you?", Ron grunted.
"Er...yeah", he muttered, wondering if maybe Ron had been spying after all.
Ron sighed, straightened up and uncrossed his arms. "All right, mate. I guess if she has to go out with someone, I'm...glad it's you", he said, fixing Harry with a warning look. "But just remember, that's my little sister. And Fred and George's little sister, too", he added.
"I won't forget", Harry said, grinning at Ron. He was relieved when Ron grudgingly returned the grin. "Well, I want to get to bed", he said, yawning. "Are you two going to...stay down here for a while?", he couldn't resist adding with a mischievous look at Ron.
Ron suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Umm...yeah. For a bit...I think", he said, glancing at Hermione.
"Good night, Harry", Hermione said, not noticing Ron's discomfort. "I'm so happy about you and Ginny".
"Yeah, me too. Good night." With a wave, Harry headed up to his dorm.
"I think it's great about Harry and Ginny, don't you, Ron?", Hermione said brightly, turning to him. She was suddenly aware of what Ron had already noticed: they were completely alone in the common room. She became quiet, looking almost as uncomfortable as Ron.
They sat for a bit, staring into the fire, not saying anything. Each felt acutely aware of the other and the fact that they were alone. Even when they had "forgotten" everyone else out on the balcony, they had still subconsciously known that there were others around--this was different.
Ron broke the silence first. "Umm, Hermione...I want to apologize for how I acted last year. I never should have asked you to the ball as a last resort. You deserve so much better than that. And I'm sorry for how I acted at the ball last year, too. I don't blame you for going with Vick...Viktor. He realized how special you are, while I was too bloody thick to admit to myself that I had feelings for you...as a girl...and as more than my friend."
Hermione smiled, her eyes shining. "Thank you, Ron. That means so much to me", she whispered, putting her hand on his arm.
Ron was finally able to meet her eyes. "I guess I owe Viktor my thanks...for making me realize...so much", he trailed off, moving toward Hermione, suddenly mesmerized by her eyes as she leaned closer to him. Their lips met, gently for a moment, then with more urgency. Ron put his arms around Hermione's waist, pulling her closer as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Hermione was truly glad they were sitting down; she felt so weak she was sure she couldn't stand. She put one hand on the back of Ron's head, pulling him into a deeper kiss. They leaned back against the couch, still entrenched in a deep kiss that was quickly becoming passionate. Ron raised one hand and cupped the side of Hermione's face. He pulled back for a moment to catch his breath. "Oh, God, Hermione, I love you", he whispered, not realizing he had been about to say it.
"What? Ron, what did you say?", Hermione sat back a little and looked at him, sure she had heard him right, afraid she hadn't.
For a moment, Ron wasn't sure what he had said, he had been so caught up in that kiss. He looked stricken as he suddenly realized. "Um...well", he stammered. "I said....I love you", he whispered, looking up and meeting her eyes. "I just didn't mean to say it this soon."
Hermione searched his face, tears coming into her eyes. She knew him well enough to know he meant it. Ron, seeing her tears, got the wrong idea.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. Yes, I love you, but if you don't feel the same way..." She interrupted him by grabbing him in a tight hug.
"Don't you dare feel sorry for saying that you love me!", she whispered fiercely in his ear. "Because I love you, too!", she finished, crying openly now.
"You do?", Ron breathed, not quite daring to believe it.
She pulled back from him and looked into his eyes. "Yes", she nodded. She smiled at the surprise on his face. "Why are you so surprised? Ron Weasley, you really can be thick sometimes!", she teased, wiping tears from her face.
"I guess I'm just surprised because you picked...me", he said. "I mean...you could have had Viktor Krum...he's an international Quidditch player. You know he'll be wealthy someday".
Hermione put her hands on her hips and glared mildly at Ron. "You know those kinds of things mean nothing to me", she huffed.
"I know, but still...and you could have fallen for Harry. He's the bloody hero of our world, for crying out loud..."
"And I don't envy him that honor, poor Harry. Besides, I do love Harry...like a brother", she quickly added, seeing a mild look of alarm on Ron's face.
"But you love me, like....?", Ron asked.
"Like this". She put her arms around his neck again and pulled him close, kissing him passionately. This time it was Ron who was glad they were sitting down. He moaned softly as she lightly ran her fingertips across the nape of his neck and up into his hair. Hermione broke the kiss and looked into his face. "Now would I kiss my brother like that?", she asked, grinning.
Ron, still mildly flustered from that kiss, said, "I don't know, but he'd be one lucky bloke." He smiled at Hermione's laughter. Looking into each other's eyes, they suddenly turned serious. They met in another kiss, this one much less frenzied than before, more loving and content.
"Mr. Weasley! Miss Granger!" They jumped apart, expecting to see Professor McGonagall again. They turned to see....Harry, smiling mischievously, trying not to laugh.
"Harry, you great prat!", Ron yelled, hurling a small pillow at him. Harry ducked and burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, but I just couldn't resist! And you must admit, I did a remarkable impression of McGonagall", he laughed, walking over to the couch. Ron and Hermione, getting over their initial shock, were finally able to smile weakly.
Harry was still dressed in the robes he had worn to the ball. "I thought you were going to bed", Ron said.
"I sat down and started a letter to Sirius", Harry said, quietly saying the name of his godfather, "and now I'm hungry. I came down to see if you two wanted to sneak down to the kitchens for a snack. But if you're otherwise engaged..." he finished, breaking into a grin.
"Harry, don't you think those poor house elves have had enough to do tonight without feeding us, too?", Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips. "I mean..."
Ron interrupted her. "Come on, Hermione, you know the house elves love taking care of us. They like work!" he added, shaking his head at the thought of anyone liking work. "Besides, I'm hungry."
Harry snickered. "Yeah, it looked like you were working up an appetite..."
Ron glared at him. "And that's enough out of you!" Harry managed to quit chuckling, knowing that Ron wasn't really mad. But he decided to drop the subject of their snogging on the couch...for a while.
With a sigh, Hermione stood up. "OK, let's go", she said, starting toward the portrait hole. "You better hope we don't get caught, Harry. The three of us can't fit under your invisibility cloak anymore."
"We'll be careful, Hermione", Harry said, following her across the room. Ron came along behind him, picking at Harry's robes and looking at them closely.
"Ron, what are you doing?", Harry asked, somewhat exasperated.
"Looking for thorns....."
A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. Real life reared its (sometimes) ugly head. This chapter will complete this fanfic. Thanks for all the reviews! I just wish I could see all of them, but for some reason, I apparently have 19 reviews and can only see 12.
It was going on midnight, and the Yule Ball was over. The Gryffindors had gathered in their common room, some chattering excitedly about the ball, others (mostly boys) quietly thankful it was over. Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny were sitting over near the fire, talking and laughing with their other housemates. Hermione had been mildly amused to see Lavender and Parvati giving her suspicious, not-too-friendly looks--apparently, they were finally putting two and two together about what had happened to their hair earlier.
The common room gradually started quieting down, as people went up to their respective dorm rooms to go to sleep. Finally, only the four friends were left. Harry had been nervous about this part of the evening all night--he needed to say good night to Ginny, but should he kiss her? Apparently Ginny was getting nervous, too. She had been very quiet for the last few minutes, and a telltale blush was starting to creep up her face. She stood up abruptly.
"Well, I'd better go to bed. Good night, Ron, Hermione." She glanced at Harry and turned to walk to the steps leading up to her dorm.
Harry stood, too, and with a nervous glance at Ron and Hermione (especially at Ron), he followed. Ron, sitting on the sofa facing the fire, turned completely around to watch them over the back of the couch.
"Ron", Hermione said, gently.
"Hm?", Ron answered without looking at her.
"Ron!", Hermione said more forcefully. "Give them some privacy!"
Ron finally turned to look at her. "Privacy? But it's my sister and...."
"Our best friend, Harry. Remember? You can trust him. You know Ginny's been crazy about him since our first year." She smiled as Ron scowled. "She'll be good for him. He needs someone--a girlfriend--to distract him from all that's been going on. And he'll be good for her...and to her."
Ron sighed. "OK, OK", he muttered, facing the fire.
*~*
As they reached the foot of the steps, Ginny turned to face Harry. "I had fun. Thank you for taking me to the ball", she said quietly, wishing that, just once, she could stop that stupid Weasley curse of blushing.
Harry smiled. "I had fun, too. Thanks for going with me." They stood there awkwardly for a moment, not looking at each other. "What do I do now?", Harry wondered to himself. This hadn't been an issue last year because his date had ditched him before the end of the ball.
"Well, good night", Ginny said, deciding that he wasn't going to kiss her. She started to turn to go up the steps, and Harry grabbed her hand. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the cheek, then he straightened up and looked into her eyes. Hoping he was doing the right thing (and hoping he wasn't about to be killed by his red-headed best friend), he slowly leaned back down and kissed her on the lips. They stood like that for a moment, then he gently pulled away.
"Good night, Ginny". She smiled at him, and he smiled back, relieved. Still beaming, she turned and hurried up the steps, and Harry turned to rejoin his friends in front of the fire.
He was happy to see that Ron apparently hadn't been spying on them, and he knew he would have to thank Hermione tomorrow for that. He stopped in front of the couch and faced them, watching Ron nervously. Ron was sitting slumped on the sofa, his arms crossed on his chest.
"Kissed her goodnight, did you?", Ron grunted.
"Er...yeah", he muttered, wondering if maybe Ron had been spying after all.
Ron sighed, straightened up and uncrossed his arms. "All right, mate. I guess if she has to go out with someone, I'm...glad it's you", he said, fixing Harry with a warning look. "But just remember, that's my little sister. And Fred and George's little sister, too", he added.
"I won't forget", Harry said, grinning at Ron. He was relieved when Ron grudgingly returned the grin. "Well, I want to get to bed", he said, yawning. "Are you two going to...stay down here for a while?", he couldn't resist adding with a mischievous look at Ron.
Ron suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Umm...yeah. For a bit...I think", he said, glancing at Hermione.
"Good night, Harry", Hermione said, not noticing Ron's discomfort. "I'm so happy about you and Ginny".
"Yeah, me too. Good night." With a wave, Harry headed up to his dorm.
"I think it's great about Harry and Ginny, don't you, Ron?", Hermione said brightly, turning to him. She was suddenly aware of what Ron had already noticed: they were completely alone in the common room. She became quiet, looking almost as uncomfortable as Ron.
They sat for a bit, staring into the fire, not saying anything. Each felt acutely aware of the other and the fact that they were alone. Even when they had "forgotten" everyone else out on the balcony, they had still subconsciously known that there were others around--this was different.
Ron broke the silence first. "Umm, Hermione...I want to apologize for how I acted last year. I never should have asked you to the ball as a last resort. You deserve so much better than that. And I'm sorry for how I acted at the ball last year, too. I don't blame you for going with Vick...Viktor. He realized how special you are, while I was too bloody thick to admit to myself that I had feelings for you...as a girl...and as more than my friend."
Hermione smiled, her eyes shining. "Thank you, Ron. That means so much to me", she whispered, putting her hand on his arm.
Ron was finally able to meet her eyes. "I guess I owe Viktor my thanks...for making me realize...so much", he trailed off, moving toward Hermione, suddenly mesmerized by her eyes as she leaned closer to him. Their lips met, gently for a moment, then with more urgency. Ron put his arms around Hermione's waist, pulling her closer as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Hermione was truly glad they were sitting down; she felt so weak she was sure she couldn't stand. She put one hand on the back of Ron's head, pulling him into a deeper kiss. They leaned back against the couch, still entrenched in a deep kiss that was quickly becoming passionate. Ron raised one hand and cupped the side of Hermione's face. He pulled back for a moment to catch his breath. "Oh, God, Hermione, I love you", he whispered, not realizing he had been about to say it.
"What? Ron, what did you say?", Hermione sat back a little and looked at him, sure she had heard him right, afraid she hadn't.
For a moment, Ron wasn't sure what he had said, he had been so caught up in that kiss. He looked stricken as he suddenly realized. "Um...well", he stammered. "I said....I love you", he whispered, looking up and meeting her eyes. "I just didn't mean to say it this soon."
Hermione searched his face, tears coming into her eyes. She knew him well enough to know he meant it. Ron, seeing her tears, got the wrong idea.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. Yes, I love you, but if you don't feel the same way..." She interrupted him by grabbing him in a tight hug.
"Don't you dare feel sorry for saying that you love me!", she whispered fiercely in his ear. "Because I love you, too!", she finished, crying openly now.
"You do?", Ron breathed, not quite daring to believe it.
She pulled back from him and looked into his eyes. "Yes", she nodded. She smiled at the surprise on his face. "Why are you so surprised? Ron Weasley, you really can be thick sometimes!", she teased, wiping tears from her face.
"I guess I'm just surprised because you picked...me", he said. "I mean...you could have had Viktor Krum...he's an international Quidditch player. You know he'll be wealthy someday".
Hermione put her hands on her hips and glared mildly at Ron. "You know those kinds of things mean nothing to me", she huffed.
"I know, but still...and you could have fallen for Harry. He's the bloody hero of our world, for crying out loud..."
"And I don't envy him that honor, poor Harry. Besides, I do love Harry...like a brother", she quickly added, seeing a mild look of alarm on Ron's face.
"But you love me, like....?", Ron asked.
"Like this". She put her arms around his neck again and pulled him close, kissing him passionately. This time it was Ron who was glad they were sitting down. He moaned softly as she lightly ran her fingertips across the nape of his neck and up into his hair. Hermione broke the kiss and looked into his face. "Now would I kiss my brother like that?", she asked, grinning.
Ron, still mildly flustered from that kiss, said, "I don't know, but he'd be one lucky bloke." He smiled at Hermione's laughter. Looking into each other's eyes, they suddenly turned serious. They met in another kiss, this one much less frenzied than before, more loving and content.
"Mr. Weasley! Miss Granger!" They jumped apart, expecting to see Professor McGonagall again. They turned to see....Harry, smiling mischievously, trying not to laugh.
"Harry, you great prat!", Ron yelled, hurling a small pillow at him. Harry ducked and burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, but I just couldn't resist! And you must admit, I did a remarkable impression of McGonagall", he laughed, walking over to the couch. Ron and Hermione, getting over their initial shock, were finally able to smile weakly.
Harry was still dressed in the robes he had worn to the ball. "I thought you were going to bed", Ron said.
"I sat down and started a letter to Sirius", Harry said, quietly saying the name of his godfather, "and now I'm hungry. I came down to see if you two wanted to sneak down to the kitchens for a snack. But if you're otherwise engaged..." he finished, breaking into a grin.
"Harry, don't you think those poor house elves have had enough to do tonight without feeding us, too?", Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips. "I mean..."
Ron interrupted her. "Come on, Hermione, you know the house elves love taking care of us. They like work!" he added, shaking his head at the thought of anyone liking work. "Besides, I'm hungry."
Harry snickered. "Yeah, it looked like you were working up an appetite..."
Ron glared at him. "And that's enough out of you!" Harry managed to quit chuckling, knowing that Ron wasn't really mad. But he decided to drop the subject of their snogging on the couch...for a while.
With a sigh, Hermione stood up. "OK, let's go", she said, starting toward the portrait hole. "You better hope we don't get caught, Harry. The three of us can't fit under your invisibility cloak anymore."
"We'll be careful, Hermione", Harry said, following her across the room. Ron came along behind him, picking at Harry's robes and looking at them closely.
"Ron, what are you doing?", Harry asked, somewhat exasperated.
"Looking for thorns....."
