AN: I wasn't going to add another chapter, but since this story got some good feedback, and I actually thought of something to add, I didn't think it would be a bad idea. Thanks for all the nice comments! Please review again!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 2: Not So Different
Ron woke in his four-poster bed feeling like he had the best of dreams last night. It all came back to him in a wonderful sense of reality and it took the appearance of Harry to remind him where he was. "Are you coming to breakfast?" Harry asked as he pulled on his socks.
Ron was just about to nod when something occurred to him. He had kissed Hermione Granger yesterday and there was no turning back. Sure, they would still be friends and always would be, but there relationship existed at a new level now and there was no way to clean the slate. Not that I want to, Ron added silently, but the mere thought of going down there and facing her was terrifying. "Not yet," He replied.
What was he supposed to do? What was he supposed to say? Was he allowed to hold her hand in public? Could he come up with the courage to hold her hand in public? Could he ever kiss her again? Did he have to ask first? Would everything have to change? Was he even allowed to eat and breathe the same way? It was amazing how many unanswered questions his mind could come up with. "Relationships are confusing," He muttered out loud to the empty dormitory.
Two hours later, Ron had read the only book that he could find that suited his interests (Flying with the Cannons), which he had stolen from Harry's bedside table. He had also finished the essay that Professor McGonagall had assigned over the holiday break. Now he sat on his bed listening to his stomach growl, and thinking longingly of the sandwiches that were probably being served in the Great Hall right at that moment as it was now lunchtime.
His mind was divided. One side of him was convinced that he needed to see her (and maybe do a little more than look). The other part was completely embarrassed by the events that had taken place. Finally, with a particularly large grumble from his stomach, Ron decided he needed to go downstairs, if for no other reason than he didn't want to starve to death.
With espionage in mind, Ron stealthily crept downstairs, hoping he would not run into Hermione before he could get something to eat. Thankfully the common room was vacant except for a few stragglers who had not made their way to lunch yet.
He jogged towards the Great Hall, thinking that it would not be very hard to be with Hermione if Harry was there too. At least there would be no awkward pauses. When he reached the Great Hall, however, his plan was thrown out the window. Harry was not there and Hermione was. How would he talk to her? He almost ran back out the door, but it was too late. Hermione had caught sight of him. He cleared his throat nervously and walked towards the Gryffindor table, trying to do so in a nonchalant way. "Hey," Hermione greeted him softly when he sat down.
"Hello," Ron said, his voice sounding oddly high. Mentally, he kicked himself. The point is to try and not attract attention to yourself, you prat, Ron reprimanded himself. "Er…how's the pumpkin juice today?" He asked pointing to her glass and feeling like a first class idiot as soon as the words came out of his mouth.
Hermione didn't seem to think this was such an odd question. "Oh," She began sounding thankful to have something to say. "It's rather good. Cold and…erm…pumpkiny."
Ron stared at her for a moment, and then it finally registered that 'pumpkiny' was not a word. He made no attempt to hold in his laughter. She stared at him with he eyes narrowed in what was clearly an expression of indignation.
"What's so funny?" She asked sounding annoyed. Ron grinned. This was the Hermione he knew. He knew how to deal with her. Suddenly things didn't feel quite so different.
"Pumpkiny?" He laughed softly again. "What dictionary are you reading? Did you not get to the 'P' section yet to find that pumpkiny is not a word?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What would you know about dictionaries? I'm surprised you've even heard of them."
"Hey!" Ron shouted, feeling somewhat insulted himself. "I happen to have a very extensive vocabulary."
"No," Hermione said smiling. "You just happen to be extremely self-assured. Has anyone ever told you that?"
"I tell myself that everyday, actually." Hermione rolled her eyes again and Ron laughed. This was what he enjoyed. Bickering was fun and Hermione was the only one who could challenge him. She could take it and give it back too. Maybe that was why he found her so irresistible. "Do you want to go for a walk?" He asked, no longer thinking about awkwardness or being uncomfortable.
Her eyes lit up, or maybe he had imagined it. "Sure," She said. They walked casually out of the Great Hall and towards the lake, neither saying a word. The silence was rather welcome, in Ron's opinion. He liked just enjoying her company. About halfway across the lake, their hands collided accidentally, and Ron found himself holding on. Her small hand fit nicely into his larger one, and he felt an odd feeling of protectiveness surge through him.
They flopped down on the grass, lying beside each other. Ron was just thinking about how he could go about kissing her when she began talking. "So did you read that book that I gave you?" Hermione asked.
Ron nodded. "I…um…read it this morning." That was a lie. He had stayed up last night and read it. But he didn't want to sound too pathetic.
"The whole thing?" Hermione said sounding impressed.
"Well, not actually. I read a lot last night and finished it this morning." Ron muttered, blushing to the tips of his ears. He was pathetic.
Apparently, Hermione didn't think so. She was smiling. "Did you find anything that suited you?"
Ron thought for a moment. "There were a few things actually. Being an Auror could be interesting. Though we've done so much dealing with dark stuff that I'm not sure I'll want to continue that after school. Maybe I'll work at the ministry somewhere. Law was quite intriguing."
Hermione sat up and faced him. "Really, you think law is interesting?" She asked.
"Yeah, but there are a lot of things that seem quite cool. I didn't even mention Quidditch! After reading that book, I don't know…I guess I realized there are a lot more options out there than I thought. It was a great gift." Ron finished and noted with satisfaction that she turned away looking a bit bashful. " So how about you?" He asked sitting up as well and inching closer to her. He needed to kiss her. He stared at her lips as she talked.
She sighed. "I'm not all that sure. Law always interested me too, but like you said there is just so much out there. It's almost," She looked down nervously as if not wanting to continue. "It's almost scary." She said quietly.
Ron nodded feeling like he could completely relate to her. Voldemort and the dark times had forced them to grow up earlier than they should have, but he was still intimidated by the world that existed outside of the safe confines of his school. "I know what you mean." He whispered.
The questions his mind had raised before about kissing were now surfacing once again. Should he ask her first? He shot down the thought as soon as it had come from his brain. No way was he going to sound that stupid.
He glanced at Hermione and was surprised to see her looking at him as well. They locked eyes for a moment and Ron knew that he had to do it now. He leaned and she did as well. Their lips met softly. Ron wondered why he had waited until yesterday to do this.
They broke apart, a little breathless. That had been way better than the first time. Especially since Harry had not been there. Note to self, Ron thought. Kissing Hermione is better when no one else is there. He grinned wryly at the odd thought. If every kiss was better than the last, then Ron wasn't sure if he ever wanted to stop.
Ron was just thinking about plucking up the courage to kiss Hermione a second time, when he felt her lips touch his unexpectedly. Her right hand played with the hair at the nape of his neck, while the other hung loosely at his shoulder. He rubbed her back as they kissed, and when Hermione moaned he filed what he was doing away in his brain. This is correct, he told himself. Ron was just starting to get even more wrapped up in this universe that contained only himself and Hermione when he heard voices. Hermione grabbed his hand and led him away from the lake towards a group of trees.
They watched two people come around the bend. "Harry and Ginny," Ron whispered. "What is he doing with my sister?" For a moment he was infuriated. Harry, damn you! Come up with a pastime besides interrupting me when I'm doing something important. He started walking towards them, but Hermione grabbed the collar of his robes.
"Leave them alone." She said. "They're just walking and talking." Ron nodded. For the moment he was satisfied. Besides Hermione was there and there were better ways to occupy his time than thinking of Harry and Ginny. "C'mon, let's go back to the castle." Hermione muttered. "They're almost done circling the lake and we need to be there when they get back."
"Why?" Ron asked, not really caring what anyone thought.
"Because Ron, I don't want them thinking…things about us. Anyways we can't dump Harry off on Ginny. He's our friend. We can't go sneaking around all the time and leaving him in the dust." She said sounding quite exasperated.
"Alright," Ron gave in. "You're right. Besides I haven't beaten Harry at chess in awhile. My self-assurance is beginning to fade." He snickered as Hermione rolled her eyes at him for the third time that day. "I'll race you back up to the castle." He said and took off.
No, he thought to himself as he ran a bit slower to let Hermione catch up. This wasn't so different after all.
AN: I was thinking of writing a companion piece to this story involving what Harry and Ginny were doing when Ron and Hermione were alone. What do you think? Please review!