A/N: Romantic stuff here! Aw, I like this chapter a lot. lol. Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Put Your Arms Around Me
"Hermione..." Ron breathed.
She looked up at him and was surprised to see his lower lip quivering. They were still holding hands, and she was still wearing Ron's jumper.
"Yes?"
Ron took a deep breath. It was now or never. He decided it would be now. He had waited too long. Like Harry had said, he did not want another bloody Krum to come around and take Hermione away from him. He would fight for her, he would do anything to keep her near him.
"Do you... do you want to dance with me?"
He lowered his eyes and looked at the floor, dreading her answer. What if she said no? What if she told him something like 'Sorry, Ron, but we're just friends'?
"Yes..." she said, nodding her head. "I thought you'd never ask."
Ron looked at her, grinning. She was smiling, too. There was something in her eyes that he could not quite pinpoint.
Stop grinning like an idiot! he told himself. Take her in your amrs, you fool! She just told you yes!
He slowly put his free arm around her waist and scooted her closer. He put her hand on his shoulder.
They began to sway gently to the sound of the music. Ron's heart was beating so fast he was afraid Hermione would hear it. But it felt like Heaven.
It feels sooo right. I feel like my arms were destined to hold her like this. Oh, Hermione, I love you so much, Ron thought. God help me, I love you so much it hurts. Holding you in my arms feels like Heaven, but it's also agony. Please, love me. Love me as much as I love you. We were meant to be together, can't you see it?
Hermione laid her head on his chest for a second but quickly raised it and looked away, embarrassed.
"No," urged Ron, already missing her being so close.
He tilted his head to the side to look at her. He took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him.
"Please, don't move."
Hermione stared at him, then, smiling nervously, gently kissed his fingertips. They locked eyes for a few seconds, before she laid her head back on his chest. He could feel her heart beating, or was it his he was feeling? He was so happy. He was dancing with the girl he had been in love with for so long and he was going to her house for holidays. He could hear her heart beating or was it his own he was hearing?
"Who's singing that song?" Ron asked.
"It's an American band called Texas."
"Like the American state?"
"You know America's states?"
"Well, yes, Hermione, I know some, I'm not completely stupid," Ron said, offended.
"Hey," she said gently, searching his eyes, "Don't take it that way. I just didn't know wizards knew other country's geography."
"Oh. Well, they don't all know. I just know the geography of the countries Bill visited. He travelled a lot, working for Gringotts. And he told us about all the places he went to. Texas is one of them."
"I see."
"Anyway... What a strange name for a music band. What's the song's title?"
"Put Your Arms Around Me."
Ron looked down at her, puzzled. "Mmm, 'Mione, my arms are already around you", he said as he glanced at her waist.
She laughed heartily, though a bit nervously.
"No, er, Ron, that's the name of the song."
"Oh. Okay. Sorry," he laughed.
Though Ron had not danced that much in his short life, he was glad he could dance well enough not to step on Hermione's feet. He looked around, saw Ginny and Harry, Seamus and Lavender. Somewhere, in the background, he could see his father talking with Bill. But he barely registered these facts, as he barely heard the music. It was like the world, his very own world, had shrunk and was revolving around him and Hermione. The only sounds he could hear were the beatings of his heart; the only thing he could properly see was Hermione; the only things he could register were that he had one of his hands around Hermione's waist and that her head was lying on his chest.
He sighed happily.
"What's wrong?" asked Hermione. "If you want to stop dancing, tell me."
"No, no," said Ron hastily. "I just saw Fred do something silly. Don't worry."
"Oh, Ok. So, you don't want to stop..."
"No! Not at all!"
"Never..." he muttered under his breath.
She smiled and resumed her position. He was a head taller than her. He could have looked all around the room above her head, had he wanted to.
What a strange sight we must be for the others, he thought. She's so petite, so lovely, and I am so tall and lanky...
He laughed softly. She heard him and said:
"What are you laughing about?"
"Nothing, really, just a silly thought."
"Tell me," she asked.
His eyes were almost pleading her.
"All right. I was just thinking that since you are so tall and I am so petite, we must be an odd sight for the others."
"Right now, I don't care what the others think," she said honestly. "Do you?"
"No, I don't," he smiled.
They looked at one another right in the eye. Ron then did something he considered very bold: he took the hand Hermione had put on his chest and raised it to his face. He gently, lovingly kissed the back of her hand, all the while drowning himself in her deep brown pools, those pools he loved so much.
When he saw the shock on her face, he feared for a moment that he had done something wrong. He opened his mouth to apologize but was silently silenced by Hermione who took both of their hands and kissed the back of his. They both smiled shyly and resumed dancing.
"I really love that song," he said, lowering his head over hers.
"Me too," she breathed.
He thought at the same time that he really loved it because it was the very first song on which they were dancing together. They were lost in time, but could not care less. They were holding one another, and that was all that mattered. A storm could have been raging, they wouldn't have noticed, they were so engrossed in one another. So engrossed that neither of them heard the end of the song, though it ended with the singer saying 'Stop'! They only noticed they were gently swaying on a kind of rock'n'roll air when Harry tapped on Ron's shoulder.
Ginny was standing next to him, and some of the other guests were openly staring at Ron and Hermione.
Hermione stepped away, a little embarassed.
Ron only managed to say 'Thanks' to Harry, then noticed the others' stares. To his horror, he saw that Fred and George were grinning like two Cheshire cats, that Bill and his father were giving him the thumbs up, and that his mother was smiling blissfully.
He excused himself and fled.
* * *
"Ron? Ron are you there?"
Ron heard Hermione's voice calling him through his bedroom door. He thought for a moment that he would keep quiet and let her think he wasn't there, but finally said "Yeah, Hermione, I'm here."
He could not let her in now. Not after what had happened. He suddenly realized that he needed her badly. He had let her down a few minutes before. He was a loser. How could she love him after all that?
The door opened and Hermione appeared on the doorstep.
"Come in if you want, but close the door behind you, please," Ron said gently. "But I don't know if I deserve your company right now after what I've done."
Hermione did not hear the last part as she was closing the door. She walked to him, nervously rubbing her hands together. She noticed the picture of Ginny and herself.
"Hey," she smiled.
"Hey," he smiled back, but his smile was faint. "Did... Did I embarrass you just now? I mean, I hadn't noticed the song had ended."
"Neither had I. I was embarrassed, but not because of you. The others embarrassed me, ogling us like that. But you left me." There was hurt in her voice. She closed her eyes when she added, "I thought you did not care what the others were thinking..."
This was barely a whisper. But Ron heard it anyway. He took one step closer to her when he confessed, "Yeah, but when I found out that we were the centre of all the attention and that my father was giving me encouragements, it was like I had lost all courage."
She looked up at him, biting her lower lip. Fascinated, he sat down on his bed and watched her like she was a Goddess.
I'm stupid. Being in love really makes you stupid. I can't even look at her without smiling inside. I hate to admit that what Ginny's magazines say about having butterflies in your belly when you're in love is true. Listen, you idiot! She's talking!
"I understand. I'd have the same reaction, had all my family been staring at me. Though, if they hadn't all been there, I couldn't have cared less if we had continued dancing all night long."
She sat next to him on his bed. He smiled at her and was about to say something when she spoke again
"But, unlike you, I didn't have anywhere to hide. I had to endure your brothers' teasings."
Ron lowered his eyes, twisting his mouth sheepishly, not knowing how to apologize.
"I'm so sorry. You can hide here with me if you want."
"Your horrible twin brothers are about to send fireworks to celebrate Harry's birthday."
"We can watch them from here."
"That wouldn't be nice for Harry."
"He's got Ginny."
Hermione cocked her head, looking at Ron as if he had said something really unbelievable. In fact, she was looking at him the way she looked at him when he hadn't done his homework.
Okay, now I get the motherly smile. Soon, she'll start calling me Ronald Weasley the way Mum does. And I'll love this little book-worm even more for that.
"Even so. We're his best friends!"
"Okay, so we go downstairs for the fireworks, then we go back here and hide while the others are pitching their tents."
"You sound like a child, Ronald Weasley, do you know that?"
Ah, I knew the Ronald Weasley part would come soon.
"Yeah! So what? I just..." he stopped suddenly.
Shit! Now what!
"You just what?"
"I just... I just..."
He was interrupted by the sound of an explosion. They ran to the window and saw a group of people in the garden looking up in the sky at a beautiful red rocket. Harry and Ginny were holding hands. Ron pointed at them, saying, "See, Hermione, looks like Harry and Ginny are officially a couple now. It doesn't look like Harry needs us right now. But you can go downstairs if you want. I'll watch the rockets from here," Ron said as a blue rocket was exploding.
"I'll stay here," she replied firmly.
He looked at her, then back to the fireworks and said, "Great. Because I just want to be with you."
He felt like he had said too much, but Hermione took his hand in hers and said, "Great, because I just want to be with you too."
Ron looked at her and rapidly lowered his head and brushed against her lips with his, then slipped behind her, so that she could see the fireworks better. He gave her a bear hug, kissing the top of her head, inhaling her sweet scent. Intoxicated by his gentle touch, she let herself go and put her hands on his, and laid her head comfortably on his chest. He raised her chin and turned his head as she turned hers and they really kissed for the first time.
THE END It was supposed to be a longer story, but I didn't have the time to make it longer when I wrote this. Maybe I'll write a follow up one day.... Hope you enjoyed it!
Author's Notes: All the Chapter Titles are Song Titles performed and written by Muggle artists. chapter 1: 'Feel', performed by Robbie Williams, from the album 'Escapology' chapter 2: 'Get The Party Started' (L.Perry), performed by Pink, from Pink's album 'Missundaztood' chapter 3: 'With a Little Help From My Friends' (Lennon/ McCartney), performed by The Beatles, from the album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band' Chapter 4:'Put Your Arms Around Me' (McElhone/ Spiteri/ Stewart/ Hodgens), performed by Texas, from the album 'White on Blonde'
Chapter 4: Put Your Arms Around Me
"Hermione..." Ron breathed.
She looked up at him and was surprised to see his lower lip quivering. They were still holding hands, and she was still wearing Ron's jumper.
"Yes?"
Ron took a deep breath. It was now or never. He decided it would be now. He had waited too long. Like Harry had said, he did not want another bloody Krum to come around and take Hermione away from him. He would fight for her, he would do anything to keep her near him.
"Do you... do you want to dance with me?"
He lowered his eyes and looked at the floor, dreading her answer. What if she said no? What if she told him something like 'Sorry, Ron, but we're just friends'?
"Yes..." she said, nodding her head. "I thought you'd never ask."
Ron looked at her, grinning. She was smiling, too. There was something in her eyes that he could not quite pinpoint.
Stop grinning like an idiot! he told himself. Take her in your amrs, you fool! She just told you yes!
He slowly put his free arm around her waist and scooted her closer. He put her hand on his shoulder.
They began to sway gently to the sound of the music. Ron's heart was beating so fast he was afraid Hermione would hear it. But it felt like Heaven.
It feels sooo right. I feel like my arms were destined to hold her like this. Oh, Hermione, I love you so much, Ron thought. God help me, I love you so much it hurts. Holding you in my arms feels like Heaven, but it's also agony. Please, love me. Love me as much as I love you. We were meant to be together, can't you see it?
Hermione laid her head on his chest for a second but quickly raised it and looked away, embarrassed.
"No," urged Ron, already missing her being so close.
He tilted his head to the side to look at her. He took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him.
"Please, don't move."
Hermione stared at him, then, smiling nervously, gently kissed his fingertips. They locked eyes for a few seconds, before she laid her head back on his chest. He could feel her heart beating, or was it his he was feeling? He was so happy. He was dancing with the girl he had been in love with for so long and he was going to her house for holidays. He could hear her heart beating or was it his own he was hearing?
"Who's singing that song?" Ron asked.
"It's an American band called Texas."
"Like the American state?"
"You know America's states?"
"Well, yes, Hermione, I know some, I'm not completely stupid," Ron said, offended.
"Hey," she said gently, searching his eyes, "Don't take it that way. I just didn't know wizards knew other country's geography."
"Oh. Well, they don't all know. I just know the geography of the countries Bill visited. He travelled a lot, working for Gringotts. And he told us about all the places he went to. Texas is one of them."
"I see."
"Anyway... What a strange name for a music band. What's the song's title?"
"Put Your Arms Around Me."
Ron looked down at her, puzzled. "Mmm, 'Mione, my arms are already around you", he said as he glanced at her waist.
She laughed heartily, though a bit nervously.
"No, er, Ron, that's the name of the song."
"Oh. Okay. Sorry," he laughed.
Though Ron had not danced that much in his short life, he was glad he could dance well enough not to step on Hermione's feet. He looked around, saw Ginny and Harry, Seamus and Lavender. Somewhere, in the background, he could see his father talking with Bill. But he barely registered these facts, as he barely heard the music. It was like the world, his very own world, had shrunk and was revolving around him and Hermione. The only sounds he could hear were the beatings of his heart; the only thing he could properly see was Hermione; the only things he could register were that he had one of his hands around Hermione's waist and that her head was lying on his chest.
He sighed happily.
"What's wrong?" asked Hermione. "If you want to stop dancing, tell me."
"No, no," said Ron hastily. "I just saw Fred do something silly. Don't worry."
"Oh, Ok. So, you don't want to stop..."
"No! Not at all!"
"Never..." he muttered under his breath.
She smiled and resumed her position. He was a head taller than her. He could have looked all around the room above her head, had he wanted to.
What a strange sight we must be for the others, he thought. She's so petite, so lovely, and I am so tall and lanky...
He laughed softly. She heard him and said:
"What are you laughing about?"
"Nothing, really, just a silly thought."
"Tell me," she asked.
His eyes were almost pleading her.
"All right. I was just thinking that since you are so tall and I am so petite, we must be an odd sight for the others."
"Right now, I don't care what the others think," she said honestly. "Do you?"
"No, I don't," he smiled.
They looked at one another right in the eye. Ron then did something he considered very bold: he took the hand Hermione had put on his chest and raised it to his face. He gently, lovingly kissed the back of her hand, all the while drowning himself in her deep brown pools, those pools he loved so much.
When he saw the shock on her face, he feared for a moment that he had done something wrong. He opened his mouth to apologize but was silently silenced by Hermione who took both of their hands and kissed the back of his. They both smiled shyly and resumed dancing.
"I really love that song," he said, lowering his head over hers.
"Me too," she breathed.
He thought at the same time that he really loved it because it was the very first song on which they were dancing together. They were lost in time, but could not care less. They were holding one another, and that was all that mattered. A storm could have been raging, they wouldn't have noticed, they were so engrossed in one another. So engrossed that neither of them heard the end of the song, though it ended with the singer saying 'Stop'! They only noticed they were gently swaying on a kind of rock'n'roll air when Harry tapped on Ron's shoulder.
Ginny was standing next to him, and some of the other guests were openly staring at Ron and Hermione.
Hermione stepped away, a little embarassed.
Ron only managed to say 'Thanks' to Harry, then noticed the others' stares. To his horror, he saw that Fred and George were grinning like two Cheshire cats, that Bill and his father were giving him the thumbs up, and that his mother was smiling blissfully.
He excused himself and fled.
* * *
"Ron? Ron are you there?"
Ron heard Hermione's voice calling him through his bedroom door. He thought for a moment that he would keep quiet and let her think he wasn't there, but finally said "Yeah, Hermione, I'm here."
He could not let her in now. Not after what had happened. He suddenly realized that he needed her badly. He had let her down a few minutes before. He was a loser. How could she love him after all that?
The door opened and Hermione appeared on the doorstep.
"Come in if you want, but close the door behind you, please," Ron said gently. "But I don't know if I deserve your company right now after what I've done."
Hermione did not hear the last part as she was closing the door. She walked to him, nervously rubbing her hands together. She noticed the picture of Ginny and herself.
"Hey," she smiled.
"Hey," he smiled back, but his smile was faint. "Did... Did I embarrass you just now? I mean, I hadn't noticed the song had ended."
"Neither had I. I was embarrassed, but not because of you. The others embarrassed me, ogling us like that. But you left me." There was hurt in her voice. She closed her eyes when she added, "I thought you did not care what the others were thinking..."
This was barely a whisper. But Ron heard it anyway. He took one step closer to her when he confessed, "Yeah, but when I found out that we were the centre of all the attention and that my father was giving me encouragements, it was like I had lost all courage."
She looked up at him, biting her lower lip. Fascinated, he sat down on his bed and watched her like she was a Goddess.
I'm stupid. Being in love really makes you stupid. I can't even look at her without smiling inside. I hate to admit that what Ginny's magazines say about having butterflies in your belly when you're in love is true. Listen, you idiot! She's talking!
"I understand. I'd have the same reaction, had all my family been staring at me. Though, if they hadn't all been there, I couldn't have cared less if we had continued dancing all night long."
She sat next to him on his bed. He smiled at her and was about to say something when she spoke again
"But, unlike you, I didn't have anywhere to hide. I had to endure your brothers' teasings."
Ron lowered his eyes, twisting his mouth sheepishly, not knowing how to apologize.
"I'm so sorry. You can hide here with me if you want."
"Your horrible twin brothers are about to send fireworks to celebrate Harry's birthday."
"We can watch them from here."
"That wouldn't be nice for Harry."
"He's got Ginny."
Hermione cocked her head, looking at Ron as if he had said something really unbelievable. In fact, she was looking at him the way she looked at him when he hadn't done his homework.
Okay, now I get the motherly smile. Soon, she'll start calling me Ronald Weasley the way Mum does. And I'll love this little book-worm even more for that.
"Even so. We're his best friends!"
"Okay, so we go downstairs for the fireworks, then we go back here and hide while the others are pitching their tents."
"You sound like a child, Ronald Weasley, do you know that?"
Ah, I knew the Ronald Weasley part would come soon.
"Yeah! So what? I just..." he stopped suddenly.
Shit! Now what!
"You just what?"
"I just... I just..."
He was interrupted by the sound of an explosion. They ran to the window and saw a group of people in the garden looking up in the sky at a beautiful red rocket. Harry and Ginny were holding hands. Ron pointed at them, saying, "See, Hermione, looks like Harry and Ginny are officially a couple now. It doesn't look like Harry needs us right now. But you can go downstairs if you want. I'll watch the rockets from here," Ron said as a blue rocket was exploding.
"I'll stay here," she replied firmly.
He looked at her, then back to the fireworks and said, "Great. Because I just want to be with you."
He felt like he had said too much, but Hermione took his hand in hers and said, "Great, because I just want to be with you too."
Ron looked at her and rapidly lowered his head and brushed against her lips with his, then slipped behind her, so that she could see the fireworks better. He gave her a bear hug, kissing the top of her head, inhaling her sweet scent. Intoxicated by his gentle touch, she let herself go and put her hands on his, and laid her head comfortably on his chest. He raised her chin and turned his head as she turned hers and they really kissed for the first time.
THE END It was supposed to be a longer story, but I didn't have the time to make it longer when I wrote this. Maybe I'll write a follow up one day.... Hope you enjoyed it!
Author's Notes: All the Chapter Titles are Song Titles performed and written by Muggle artists. chapter 1: 'Feel', performed by Robbie Williams, from the album 'Escapology' chapter 2: 'Get The Party Started' (L.Perry), performed by Pink, from Pink's album 'Missundaztood' chapter 3: 'With a Little Help From My Friends' (Lennon/ McCartney), performed by The Beatles, from the album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band' Chapter 4:'Put Your Arms Around Me' (McElhone/ Spiteri/ Stewart/ Hodgens), performed by Texas, from the album 'White on Blonde'
