Chapter Eight: Ron's Story 3: Sum 41's "In Too Deep"

.:*:.

I quit studying, but I knew I'd regret it later. I was regretting everything now. Regrets ran through my head as I threw rocks at the squid, hoping it would eat me.

I had gone in too deep. WAY too deep. Now I was never going to feel happy again. A dementor might as well come and suck the soul out of me. Hermione and me were never going to make it this time. Why did we have to have such a huge fight?

What were we fighting about anyway? I couldn't remember. That was odd; I usually remember our fights. I guess this one was too horrible to remember.

I sat down, rocking back and forth for a little while. My hand dropped to the ground, landing on a stone. A nice, smooth stone, perfect for skipping. I closed my hand around it like I used to do with Hermione's hand. As I stood up, I was getting ready to throw it as hard as I could. I never thought about how anyone else was feeling except me. I didn't even think of how Harry was feeling.

Hermione and I never abandoned Harry. We were all still a trio. But Hermione had been away from us for quite awhile. We were hanging with Ginny a lot more, who tried to convince both of us Hermione just needed time alone, and she would be back. Now I didn't believe that.

I threw the stone, wishing to see Hermione scold me for hitting the squid. I remember last year I was trying to give Dobby a smack on the back but accidentally hit him to hard, and Hermione started to scold me and give me another S.P.E.W. speech. I smiled. I never realized how much I liked it when she did that. Not that I was actually listening. I was busy staring into her eyes which were always full of light and excitement when she talked about S.P.E.W. even when she was exhausted from knitting all night. Maybe I should have helped her with those. We would be up together.... At night.... She would start to drift off.... I'd sneak up close to her as we sat by the fire. I'd whisper in her ear as she slept... then..... and then....

"Guess who?" a voice came from behind me. It was Hermione. I was so surprised, I couldn't say anything for almost a minute. Then I smiled at her. "What are you doing here?" I asked, still holding her hands. It felt so good. She looked at me, at first a little surprised, but then she looked so in love I almost had to sit down.

"Because I'm madly in love with you, of course!" she said, then she put my arms around her, and hers around my neck. I was so stunned by what was happening I almost couldn't move.

"What about Malfoy?" I asked, my heart sinking. She looked a little disappointed. I hope I didn't blow it again.

"You didn't think he could replace you, did you?" she said. She kissed me then. I almost fell down. I hadn't kissed her- or anyone, of course- in ages. She looked clumsy when she pulled back against our will.

We talked for a long time, hugging and kissing again. I was so happy I couldn't remember how it was to feel so sad. When I finally realized for good that N.E.W.T.s were tomorrow, I asked her if she'd like to study with me.

"Of course." She said with a grin. "No one else."

On the way back, she talked about Harry. "How has he been doing?" she said, looking worried.

"He's all right. I've been with him, and so has Ginny. Loony comes around often too." Loony, or Luna, had met us in fifth year, and she used to have a crush on me. I slipped my hand into hers, and we made our way to the castle.

*

"I'm glad that's over." I said as Hermione, Harry, Neville, Ginny, and Loony headed outside for break. I felt like I had a whole new life. I couldn't believe that it was almost the end of our Hogwarts years. I knew I would have to promise myself I wouldn't cry.

I ignored Malfoy as we moved across the lawn so we could sit where Harry's father and his friends had sat so many years ago.

[Draco's Story 3 coming soon! I know this chapter is short but I got a long one coming for Draco :D]