I wasn't planning to post chapter 5 yet, but I really like this story. Guest appearance this chapter!!! However, I'm gonna be really really busy this weak, so I don't think you'll see chapter six for a while. Anyway, here goes.
Disclaimer: I. Do. Not. Own. Harry. Potter.
Chapter 5- Forever in His Arms
"Ron?" Hermione whispered. The footsteps halted, and he threw off Harry's Invisibility Cloak into the snow. He looked a bit irritated.
"All right, I'm here. Come out right now or I'm leaving."
Hermione pushed down the hood of her cloak. Ron froze, staring at her. "You sent that note?"
Instead of answering, Hermione demanded, "I want you to tell me right now, looking me in the eyes, whether you're in love with me." She could not believe she was doing this.
Ron stared some more. She thought he might not answer. Then he said quietly, "I am in love with you, Hermione."
Hermione was not sure what happened at that moment. She had known alrealy, from the spell, but hearing Ron admit it was almost shocking. Now she returned his state, trying to speak. At last she managed a word. "When?"
"Christmas morning, when I saw you in that dress," he said without hesitation. He blushed. "I've liked you for a while, but…hell, you were so beautiful. I had trouble breathing. I fell in love with you the moment I saw…well, I guess you know now. I don't expect anything from you."
Hermione continued to stare. She could not speak, she could not move. She know she loved him back, but her mouth would not work. She was not sure why tears welled up at that moment. Ron looked on uncertainly as she cried. He did not look as though he wanted to be there. Hermione resolved to change his mind.
Before she could give it a second thought, Hermione threw her arms around his necks and pressed her lips to his. After a moment, his arms encircled her waist, and his lips moved in synchronicity with hers. Their tongues found each other, caressing gently within each other's mouths. When they finally parted, they only moved their faces a few inches from each other. She looked into his eyes, filled with passion. There was no turning back now. "I love you, Ron Weasley. God knows why, but I love you."
He smiled. "I think I need more proof."
When Hermione shoved him lightly, he lost his balance and fell into the snow, dragging her down on top of him. She caught herself an inch from his face. In a few seconds, they were embracing in fits of laughter. Hermione had never been so happy. She brought her head down and planted a gentle kiss on Ron's lips.
They started back to the castle under Harry's cloak, walking much closer than they normally would have. They stopped every few feet to kiss. In this manner, it only took them three hours to get back to the common room. Ron quietly took the cloak back up to the boys' dorm, and returned with the blanket from his bed. He sat in an armchair in front of the fire.
Hermione curled up in his lap and drew the blanket up around them. The chair was actually larger than it looked, and she finally understood why Harry and Ginny always sat in the same chair.
They sat there, talking about anything and everything. Sometimes they trailed off midsentence to gaze into each other's eyes. Hermione knew then that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Ron.
She nestled against Ron's chest. *mmm…* she thought. It was a strange thought, but she didn't care. It was what she felt. She realized that Ron had fallen asleep, and let herself drift off in the warmth of his arms.
Hermione awoke when Ron kissed her forehead. She peered groggily into his smiling face. "Wake up, my darling." Hearing giggles, she turned to see Harry and Ginny standing a few feet away, trying to appear not to be looking at them. Hermione flashed them a wicked smile and kissed Ron on the lips. Ron, of course, did not complain. Harry and Ginny laughed harder.
"I'm going to change, then we can go down to breakfast." She climbed off his lap and started up to the dorm, where Lavender and Parvati were putting on their clothes for the day.
"Where were you last night?" Parvati asked, wrapping a hair elastic around the end of her long braid.
"I slept in the common room," Hermione said casually. "With Ron."
The girls glanced at each other, then settled their eyes on her expectantly. She smiled sweetly at them as she took out a fresh shirt. Impatiently, Lavender said, "Well, what happened?"
Hermione tried and failed to be casual. She giggled unintentionally. "We're in love." She did dress casually, as though nothing were out of the ordinary. They prodded with very audacious questions, but she gave no more details. Exasperated, they followed her down to the common room. Ron waited for her, having decided to wear the same clothes for another day. Holding hands, they went down to the Great Hall.
Breakfast was quite an amusing affair, to all those watching. Hermione and Ron stared mushily at each other from opposite sides of the table, occasionally reaching across to feed each other. They looked at least as goofy as Harry and Ginny when they had started going out, if not more ridiculous.
Fluttering her eyelashes at Ron, Hermione left the table, making for the door. She knew he followed without even turning around. She led him through a maze of hallways before entering an empty room. It was an old classroom that no one used anymore.
"What are we doing in here?"
"Just a little bit of…" She brushed her lips against his neck.
"I see," Ron murmured, drawing her close. He kissed her deeply, his tongue sliding in between her lips. She moaned softly under his mouth, breathing deeply. His mouth moved down to her neck, and she tangled her fingers in his hair.
Hemrione estimated two hours later they emerged from the room, looking as though they had just been talking. They had magically straightened their clothes and hair, and Hermione had gotten rid of the "love-bites" that would be readily visible.
"What happened to you?" Harry asked, a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Nothing, why?" Hermione said, her voice dripping nonchalance.
"Ron's hair is too neat."
Hermione looked at Ron. His hair *was* neater than usual. She shouldn't have used that spell on him. Instead of telling Harry anything, they both grinned back at him and kissed.
When Ginny showed up, her hair wet from the shower, Harry said, "Let's go."
"Go where?"
"Lunch, Ron. You guys were gone for hours."
Ron and Hermione looked amazedly at each other. They had not realized it was so long. But they were hungry, so they followed. "That kind of thing is exhausting," Ron muttered into her ear as they walked. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her giggles.
"What did you say, Ron?"
"Nothing, Harry. Nothing at all."
All of them were very eager to get to the food. The person Harry sat next to turned and greeted them. Harry's jaw dropped. "Wood! What are you doing here?"
Wood glanced around. "Well, it won't be secret much longer. The English Quidditch Banquet. All English and Irish teams are invited. Ludo Bagman asked Dumbledore if we could use Hogwarts… Dumbledore agreed, naturally, but he said it could not be during classes. So Bagman said, how about Christmas break! He's been talking about you a lot lately. I think he knew you'd be here…" He trailed off as Bagman approached them.
"Harry Potter!" he exclaimed. He shook Harry's hand enthusiastically. "How's the Hogwarts champion?"
"Please, Mr. Bagman," Harry said forlornly, "don't remind me." Hermione gave him a sympathetic look, and caught Ron imitating her. They knew Harry still blamed himself for Cedric's death.
"Yes, well, sorry about that, Harry." Bagman cleared his throat. "How 'bout this? I thought you'd enjoy seeing this." His hand swept around to include the now crowded room.
Ron and Harry's eyes both went wide. Hermione tried to see what they were looking at, but Ron's head blocked her view. She found out soon enough.
"Harry, that's-"
"The Irish National Quidditch Team!" Harry finished. To their hyperventilation, the Irish National Team took seats at the Gryffindor table. Hermione rolled her eyes at the pair of them, acting like star struck little girls. She said this to them, and they tore their eyes away, both glaring at her. Ron's stern face melted when she kissed him.
"Harry, this is the captain of the Puddlemere United reserve team." Wood nodded to the burly man on his other side, who nodded. This had been Wood's team since before their fourth year.
"Oh, so this is Harry Potter," the man said gruffly. He was in his mid twenties, larger than many Quidditch players, but Hermione did not know whether this was good or bad. Despite his rough voice, he had a friendly face. "Wood hasn't stopped talking about you since he joined the team. Annoying really. Nice to meet you. I'm James Lito." Hermione laughed. He made Wood sound like Ginny a few years ago.
Harry shook his hand across wood. "Nice to meet you."
"Any chance you'll look into professional Quidditch when you graduate?"
"Chance? Are you kidding? It's a fond fantasy of mine."
Hermione and Ginny snorted into their plates.
"I wouldn't laugh."
Harry turned to see who had spoken. Ron's jaw had dropped, and even Hermione stared. She recognized him from two years ago. "You're the Irish Seeker. Lynch." Harry's voice was barely audible.
"That's right. And you're Harry Potter." Lynch's voice held a note of disbelief. "Not only famous since you were too young to remember, you were the youngest seeker in a century. Chosen to play for the Gryffindor team in your first year. I didn't play until third year. Dumbledore tells me he's not sure which of us would win, even with the difference of experience."
Harry could not speak. Ron's mouth hung wide open. Hiding a smile, Hermione closed it with a finger.
"Bagman holds you in high esteem as well. I think you definitely have a career in professional Quidditch." Lynch looked amused but gratified by their admiring looks. Seamus kept shooting envious glances at Harry.
Embarrassed, but highly flattered, Harry said, "This is my best friend, Ron Weasley. He's our keeper. We've never lost a game since he played."
Lynch held out a hand to Ron, who shook it slowly. He stared at his hand when they let go. Hermione rolled her eyes and giggled at the same time. The Irish seeker sauntered away from their table.
"So, you took my place," Wood commented to Ron.
"Yup," Ron said happily.
"I might even go so far as to say he's better than you," Harry said casually. Wood immediately launched into a discussion about Quidditch tactics, brooms, bludgers, and all the Quidditch formalities Hermione cared nothing about.
In a few minutes, Ron had managed to bring the subject around to his favorite story. "I was not sure what I was going to do before our first match. I had borrowed the Firebolt for tryouts, no one could hope to get past me. But I didn't have a reliable broomstick of my own. Then…well, let's just say a 'friend' gave me a present."
He went on to describe his Lightning, a one of a kind custom made broomstick. It could match the Firebolt for speed. He had actually never told Hermione where he got the broom, though he had told the story countless times.
Wood seemed as impressed with Ron as he had always been with Harry. You had to play Quidditch if Wood was to notice you. Hermione rolled her eyes again.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Ron. Just eat your lunch." It was unnecessary for her to say this, as he had not even paused in chewing to speak to her.
Just before Hermione took out her book, Dumbledore stood. "It gives me great pleasure," he announced, "to inform all you students that the English Quidditch Banquet is to be held here tonight at seven o'clock, and you are all invited to attend. It gives me even greater pleasure to welcome all the English and Irish Quidditch teams attending. For those of you…"
Hermione's mind wandered hopelessly. All she wanted to do was kiss Ron, to caress him. She laid a hand atop his and leaned her head on his shoulder. Couldn't she just skip the rest of her life, and spend forever in his arms?
"I would like to say a few more words. Agog. Knobbly. Rubber baby buggy bumpers. Thank you for your attention."
End Chapter 5
Hehe. I had a lot of fun with this chapter. I thought it would be kind of pointless to put in the Quidditch Banquet because nothing really happens during that time. It's like the Yule Ball, but with a bunch of Quidditch players instead of students, and a great deal less dancing or music… and a lot more fun for Harry and Ron. The important part was Lynch speaking to Harry. For those of you who have been waiting to see Ron and Hermione kiss, I hope you're satisfied now. As I said earlier, the story is far from over…
Please, please Review. Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please Review. I think that should be enough. Wait, I lied. Please Review.
Disclaimer: I. Do. Not. Own. Harry. Potter.
Chapter 5- Forever in His Arms
"Ron?" Hermione whispered. The footsteps halted, and he threw off Harry's Invisibility Cloak into the snow. He looked a bit irritated.
"All right, I'm here. Come out right now or I'm leaving."
Hermione pushed down the hood of her cloak. Ron froze, staring at her. "You sent that note?"
Instead of answering, Hermione demanded, "I want you to tell me right now, looking me in the eyes, whether you're in love with me." She could not believe she was doing this.
Ron stared some more. She thought he might not answer. Then he said quietly, "I am in love with you, Hermione."
Hermione was not sure what happened at that moment. She had known alrealy, from the spell, but hearing Ron admit it was almost shocking. Now she returned his state, trying to speak. At last she managed a word. "When?"
"Christmas morning, when I saw you in that dress," he said without hesitation. He blushed. "I've liked you for a while, but…hell, you were so beautiful. I had trouble breathing. I fell in love with you the moment I saw…well, I guess you know now. I don't expect anything from you."
Hermione continued to stare. She could not speak, she could not move. She know she loved him back, but her mouth would not work. She was not sure why tears welled up at that moment. Ron looked on uncertainly as she cried. He did not look as though he wanted to be there. Hermione resolved to change his mind.
Before she could give it a second thought, Hermione threw her arms around his necks and pressed her lips to his. After a moment, his arms encircled her waist, and his lips moved in synchronicity with hers. Their tongues found each other, caressing gently within each other's mouths. When they finally parted, they only moved their faces a few inches from each other. She looked into his eyes, filled with passion. There was no turning back now. "I love you, Ron Weasley. God knows why, but I love you."
He smiled. "I think I need more proof."
When Hermione shoved him lightly, he lost his balance and fell into the snow, dragging her down on top of him. She caught herself an inch from his face. In a few seconds, they were embracing in fits of laughter. Hermione had never been so happy. She brought her head down and planted a gentle kiss on Ron's lips.
They started back to the castle under Harry's cloak, walking much closer than they normally would have. They stopped every few feet to kiss. In this manner, it only took them three hours to get back to the common room. Ron quietly took the cloak back up to the boys' dorm, and returned with the blanket from his bed. He sat in an armchair in front of the fire.
Hermione curled up in his lap and drew the blanket up around them. The chair was actually larger than it looked, and she finally understood why Harry and Ginny always sat in the same chair.
They sat there, talking about anything and everything. Sometimes they trailed off midsentence to gaze into each other's eyes. Hermione knew then that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Ron.
She nestled against Ron's chest. *mmm…* she thought. It was a strange thought, but she didn't care. It was what she felt. She realized that Ron had fallen asleep, and let herself drift off in the warmth of his arms.
Hermione awoke when Ron kissed her forehead. She peered groggily into his smiling face. "Wake up, my darling." Hearing giggles, she turned to see Harry and Ginny standing a few feet away, trying to appear not to be looking at them. Hermione flashed them a wicked smile and kissed Ron on the lips. Ron, of course, did not complain. Harry and Ginny laughed harder.
"I'm going to change, then we can go down to breakfast." She climbed off his lap and started up to the dorm, where Lavender and Parvati were putting on their clothes for the day.
"Where were you last night?" Parvati asked, wrapping a hair elastic around the end of her long braid.
"I slept in the common room," Hermione said casually. "With Ron."
The girls glanced at each other, then settled their eyes on her expectantly. She smiled sweetly at them as she took out a fresh shirt. Impatiently, Lavender said, "Well, what happened?"
Hermione tried and failed to be casual. She giggled unintentionally. "We're in love." She did dress casually, as though nothing were out of the ordinary. They prodded with very audacious questions, but she gave no more details. Exasperated, they followed her down to the common room. Ron waited for her, having decided to wear the same clothes for another day. Holding hands, they went down to the Great Hall.
Breakfast was quite an amusing affair, to all those watching. Hermione and Ron stared mushily at each other from opposite sides of the table, occasionally reaching across to feed each other. They looked at least as goofy as Harry and Ginny when they had started going out, if not more ridiculous.
Fluttering her eyelashes at Ron, Hermione left the table, making for the door. She knew he followed without even turning around. She led him through a maze of hallways before entering an empty room. It was an old classroom that no one used anymore.
"What are we doing in here?"
"Just a little bit of…" She brushed her lips against his neck.
"I see," Ron murmured, drawing her close. He kissed her deeply, his tongue sliding in between her lips. She moaned softly under his mouth, breathing deeply. His mouth moved down to her neck, and she tangled her fingers in his hair.
Hemrione estimated two hours later they emerged from the room, looking as though they had just been talking. They had magically straightened their clothes and hair, and Hermione had gotten rid of the "love-bites" that would be readily visible.
"What happened to you?" Harry asked, a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Nothing, why?" Hermione said, her voice dripping nonchalance.
"Ron's hair is too neat."
Hermione looked at Ron. His hair *was* neater than usual. She shouldn't have used that spell on him. Instead of telling Harry anything, they both grinned back at him and kissed.
When Ginny showed up, her hair wet from the shower, Harry said, "Let's go."
"Go where?"
"Lunch, Ron. You guys were gone for hours."
Ron and Hermione looked amazedly at each other. They had not realized it was so long. But they were hungry, so they followed. "That kind of thing is exhausting," Ron muttered into her ear as they walked. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her giggles.
"What did you say, Ron?"
"Nothing, Harry. Nothing at all."
All of them were very eager to get to the food. The person Harry sat next to turned and greeted them. Harry's jaw dropped. "Wood! What are you doing here?"
Wood glanced around. "Well, it won't be secret much longer. The English Quidditch Banquet. All English and Irish teams are invited. Ludo Bagman asked Dumbledore if we could use Hogwarts… Dumbledore agreed, naturally, but he said it could not be during classes. So Bagman said, how about Christmas break! He's been talking about you a lot lately. I think he knew you'd be here…" He trailed off as Bagman approached them.
"Harry Potter!" he exclaimed. He shook Harry's hand enthusiastically. "How's the Hogwarts champion?"
"Please, Mr. Bagman," Harry said forlornly, "don't remind me." Hermione gave him a sympathetic look, and caught Ron imitating her. They knew Harry still blamed himself for Cedric's death.
"Yes, well, sorry about that, Harry." Bagman cleared his throat. "How 'bout this? I thought you'd enjoy seeing this." His hand swept around to include the now crowded room.
Ron and Harry's eyes both went wide. Hermione tried to see what they were looking at, but Ron's head blocked her view. She found out soon enough.
"Harry, that's-"
"The Irish National Quidditch Team!" Harry finished. To their hyperventilation, the Irish National Team took seats at the Gryffindor table. Hermione rolled her eyes at the pair of them, acting like star struck little girls. She said this to them, and they tore their eyes away, both glaring at her. Ron's stern face melted when she kissed him.
"Harry, this is the captain of the Puddlemere United reserve team." Wood nodded to the burly man on his other side, who nodded. This had been Wood's team since before their fourth year.
"Oh, so this is Harry Potter," the man said gruffly. He was in his mid twenties, larger than many Quidditch players, but Hermione did not know whether this was good or bad. Despite his rough voice, he had a friendly face. "Wood hasn't stopped talking about you since he joined the team. Annoying really. Nice to meet you. I'm James Lito." Hermione laughed. He made Wood sound like Ginny a few years ago.
Harry shook his hand across wood. "Nice to meet you."
"Any chance you'll look into professional Quidditch when you graduate?"
"Chance? Are you kidding? It's a fond fantasy of mine."
Hermione and Ginny snorted into their plates.
"I wouldn't laugh."
Harry turned to see who had spoken. Ron's jaw had dropped, and even Hermione stared. She recognized him from two years ago. "You're the Irish Seeker. Lynch." Harry's voice was barely audible.
"That's right. And you're Harry Potter." Lynch's voice held a note of disbelief. "Not only famous since you were too young to remember, you were the youngest seeker in a century. Chosen to play for the Gryffindor team in your first year. I didn't play until third year. Dumbledore tells me he's not sure which of us would win, even with the difference of experience."
Harry could not speak. Ron's mouth hung wide open. Hiding a smile, Hermione closed it with a finger.
"Bagman holds you in high esteem as well. I think you definitely have a career in professional Quidditch." Lynch looked amused but gratified by their admiring looks. Seamus kept shooting envious glances at Harry.
Embarrassed, but highly flattered, Harry said, "This is my best friend, Ron Weasley. He's our keeper. We've never lost a game since he played."
Lynch held out a hand to Ron, who shook it slowly. He stared at his hand when they let go. Hermione rolled her eyes and giggled at the same time. The Irish seeker sauntered away from their table.
"So, you took my place," Wood commented to Ron.
"Yup," Ron said happily.
"I might even go so far as to say he's better than you," Harry said casually. Wood immediately launched into a discussion about Quidditch tactics, brooms, bludgers, and all the Quidditch formalities Hermione cared nothing about.
In a few minutes, Ron had managed to bring the subject around to his favorite story. "I was not sure what I was going to do before our first match. I had borrowed the Firebolt for tryouts, no one could hope to get past me. But I didn't have a reliable broomstick of my own. Then…well, let's just say a 'friend' gave me a present."
He went on to describe his Lightning, a one of a kind custom made broomstick. It could match the Firebolt for speed. He had actually never told Hermione where he got the broom, though he had told the story countless times.
Wood seemed as impressed with Ron as he had always been with Harry. You had to play Quidditch if Wood was to notice you. Hermione rolled her eyes again.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Ron. Just eat your lunch." It was unnecessary for her to say this, as he had not even paused in chewing to speak to her.
Just before Hermione took out her book, Dumbledore stood. "It gives me great pleasure," he announced, "to inform all you students that the English Quidditch Banquet is to be held here tonight at seven o'clock, and you are all invited to attend. It gives me even greater pleasure to welcome all the English and Irish Quidditch teams attending. For those of you…"
Hermione's mind wandered hopelessly. All she wanted to do was kiss Ron, to caress him. She laid a hand atop his and leaned her head on his shoulder. Couldn't she just skip the rest of her life, and spend forever in his arms?
"I would like to say a few more words. Agog. Knobbly. Rubber baby buggy bumpers. Thank you for your attention."
End Chapter 5
Hehe. I had a lot of fun with this chapter. I thought it would be kind of pointless to put in the Quidditch Banquet because nothing really happens during that time. It's like the Yule Ball, but with a bunch of Quidditch players instead of students, and a great deal less dancing or music… and a lot more fun for Harry and Ron. The important part was Lynch speaking to Harry. For those of you who have been waiting to see Ron and Hermione kiss, I hope you're satisfied now. As I said earlier, the story is far from over…
Please, please Review. Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please Review. I think that should be enough. Wait, I lied. Please Review.
