Chapter seventeen – Sorry

No one's POV

Many weeks had passed since the incident with Seamus and things started to get back to normal. Harry and Ginny were as happy as ever and Ron and Hermione were back to being friends who just happened to be attached to each other.

"Do you think they'll ever separate us?" Ron asked Hermione one evening in late February. "They're going to have to eventually but I'm not really worried about it" Hermione replied and adding in her own thoughts: 'I'm not looking forward to when they do separate us'. 

Days went by and in that time, Ron and Hermione grew ever closer. The arguments between them had stopped since that fateful time back in December and they hadn't said a horrible word or phrase to each other since.

Harry and Ginny seemed quite pleased with the way their relationship had progressed and spent a lovely afternoon discussing them under the warm sun, sitting by a grand oak tree.

"You know what Harry" Ginny began as she settled her head against Harry's chest. "I don't think Ron and Hermione want to be separated". "I think you're right" Harry replied, sighing softly. "But it's going to happen eventually".

"It's quite soothing now that they're not arguing anymore isn't it?" Ginny asked. "Yeah, I kind of miss it sometimes" Harry replied, trailing off into his own world. Ginny looked up at him and raised her eyebrows. "You can't be serious" she said, laughing slightly. "No Ginny, I can't be because I'm Harry".

Harry and Ginny started laughing for a while but stopped so they could talk again. "Speaking of Sirius how is he?" Ginny asked. "He's fine. I'm really looking forward to staying with him over the summer. In fact, this is the first time I've ever looked forward to the holidays" Harry replied.

"Awww how sweet" Ginny said, pulling Harry in for a kiss. "So are your lips" Harry replied once they had broken apart.

Hermione's POV

I woke the next morning to see Ron's face staring at me. "Like what you see?" I asked innocently. Ron blushed slightly but kept his cool manner that he had savoured. "Maybe. Why? Do you like me watching you?" he asked. 

"That's for me to know and for you to find out" I replied, sitting up. Ron did the same and we both got out of bed and found ourselves extremely close because our beds are only inches apart. I could feel Ron's hot breath against my cheek and I wished I could just kiss him right now. But what would be the point? He'd never like me now after everything that happened with Seamus.

I sighed and looked at the floor. "What's wrong?" Ron asked in a concerned voice. "Oh nothing" I lied. I felt Ron's hand against my cheek as he lifted my head up so I was staring into his deep blue eyes. Hazel stared into blue and our mouths were only inches apart until…

"Hi, ready for breakfast?" a voice asked. Ron and I reluctantly turned our heads away from each other and looked over at the doorway to see Harry standing there with a smile on his face. "Sorry, did I interrupt something?" he asked, his smile faltering.

"No, mate. You didn't. We'll see you in the Great Hall in a minute" Ron replied, stepping away from me. "Ok" Harry replied, failing to keep the disappointment out of his voice. It was obvious that Harry wanted me and Ron to be together, the same with Ginny but they shouldn't really keep there hopes up too much after the way Ron stepped away as though nothing had happened.

Harry's POV

I closed the door behind me and hit myself on the forehead. "What an idiot" I muttered to myself. They almost kissed and I just had to walk in at that precise moment. "Who's an idiot?" a sweet voice asked from behind me.

I turned around and saw Ginny. "Just me. Don't worry about it" I replied, taking her hand. "Ok, let's go to breakfast" Ginny said, leading me down the staircase.

Ron's POV

Once Hermione and I were dressed, we made our way to the Great Hall for breakfast. While we walked, I looked over at Hermione and stared in awe at her beauty. Was this the same eleven year old girl that I had hated? Was it the same person whom I'd argued with in our 2nd and 3rd year? The same Hermione who had made me feel so jealous when she went to the ball with someone else? The amount of time we spent together at Grimmauld place and not once did I tell her how I felt.

This was not the same Hermione and this wasn't the same me. I'm fed up of holding back and watching from a distance. At some point today, I'm going to tell her again that I love her and hopefully this time, she'll accept it and be with me. But I can only hope and wonder…

The day dragged by but I never found the right opportunity to speak to Hermione. It wasn't until after dinner that evening that I decided that it was the right time.

"Ginny and I are going for a walk" Harry announced as him and Ginny stood up. "Ok, see you in the common room later" I replied. Once they had left, I turned to Hermione. "Can we go somewhere quiet where we can talk?" I asked. "Sure" she replied and we both stood up and left the hall together.

We stopped waking once we had turned a few corners just in case anyone came by to disturb us. I took Hermione's hand in my own and took a deep breath. "Hermione, there's something I've been meaning to tell you" I began, staring into her hazel eyes.

"Ok Ron, what is it?" she asked. "Well, I know we've said our apologies over the whole thing with Seamus but I don't think we said it enough". "What do you mean?" Hermione asked, confused. "Ever since we first met, we've argued and yelled at each other, sometimes for no reason at all. Well, I want to put all of that behind us. I'm sorry for every argument we've had, every tear shed over them and anything else bad that has happened between us".

Hermione looked at me and smiled. "You're right Ron. We've caused each other pain over the last couple of years and well, I'm sorry for everything too".

I suddenly felt a strange sensation around my wrist and I was sure Hermione felt it too. In a matter of seconds, it stopped. Hermione and I looked up at each other hopefully. We both stepped backwards as far as was necessary. We waited at the far end of the corridor and smiled at each other.

"We're free!" Hermione yelled. "The handcuffs are gone!" I added. Instead of going our separate ways, we ran towards each other and flung our arms around the other person's neck and had a long meaningful hug. "Harry and Ginny must have removed them" Hermione said over my shoulder. "Yeah, how else could they have gone?" I replied.

"I love you, Ron" Hermione said when we had broken apart. "I love you too" I replied. Our lips met in a spectacular and long awaited kiss.

No one's POV

Watching at a distance were Harry and Ginny who were both smiling broadly. "We did it" Harry said breathlessly. "They're together at last" Ginny said. "Did they really think we'd removed the handcuffs? Have they learnt nothing about the power of forgiveness?" Harry said to Ginny. "Oh, I think they have. You know what Harry?" Ginny said, looking into Harry's green eyes.

"I think they've became very attached over the last couple of months".

THE END

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A/N: Well that's it! The story has ended. What did you think of it? Please review and tell me!