"Congratulations you guys! I knew that you would eventually end up
together!" Harry exclaimed, hugging Ginny tightly. Then he spun towards
Andrew and held out his hand. "Alright, cough it up, Andrew." His friend
sighed and pulled out ten Galleons and thrust it into Harry's outstretched
palm. Hermione and Ron looked furious.
"You made a bet on whether we were going to get together?" Hermione asked, hands on her hips, acting her best Professor McGonagall impression. However, there was a definite twinkle in her eyes and she burst out laughing. "Oh forget it! I can't stay mad too long. Ron and I are in love." She looked towards her new boyfriend and smiled. He smiled back and tickled her.
"We have to celebrate this. How about we go to that new ballroom down by Chestnut Avenue and dance and have some drinks?" Elizabeth suggested to lighten the mood, although it was pretty much carefree and untroubled with the news of Ron returning back home and Ron and Hermione currently dating.
"That sounds great. But I have to change though. Wait for me, okay?" Hermione gave her boyfriend a quick kiss and left hurriedly. She returned to her bedroom and immediately veered to her closet to find a nice outfit to wear for the celebration. She searched endlessly, wanting to impress Ron. And then she saw it- the dress she had dreamed of for years but had never worn before to anyone.
The dress she had chosen to wear that night was modeled as close to memory allowed on the dress that Ron had given to her for her 17th birthday so many years ago- still her favorite article of clothing, albeit briefly. This one was a dark rich cinnamon, with a fitted bodice, lacing up the back, the same full skirt and wide scooped neck dramatically showing more of her shoulders and the top of her chest than she was used to. With it went sheer stockings and a pair of high, strappy shoes. Hermione glanced at herself in the dresser mirror, admiring herself as she had done so many years ago in front of Ron. Now it seemed like a repeat of history all over again; trying to impress the man she loved. Gathering her full skirts, she headed downstairs and out the door, back to Ginny & Harry's flat.
When she arrived, she heard distinct conversation going on between two people. She suspected that Ginny and Elizabeth were both getting ready and if they were anything like her, they would take at least thirty minutes before coming back. She opened the door, staring at the two occupants. Harry and Ron were conversing quietly. They both looked up when they heard the door. When Ron looked up, his eyes widened then darkened, looking a little stunned. He crossed the room and went over to her. He kissed her very gently on the cheek, brushing back a stray tendril of her hair as she did so.
"You look beautiful." He said. Hermione didn't say anything, just turned pink. She watched from the corner of her eye as Harry looked at her too, with an air of astonishment.
"All dressed up then?" Harry smiled, though she knew he admired the way she looked, possibly because he had rarely ever seen her dressed up, and she knew that, maybe more beautiful than she would ever look in a lifetime. Her gaze lingered for a few minutes on her best friend then turned back to Ron's. She noticed that he was dressed up as well, maybe more so than he ever had been. He wore charcoal gray trousers that looked as if they'd been designed especially for him, and a soft white shirt that brought out the blue undercurrents in his eyes. His shoes were dark brown leather, the kind that looked as if they probably cost 100 galleons a shoelace. He looked a little older, a great deal more elegant, and very, very rich. It was a bit intimidating. He looked at her and smiled. His hair had gotten long enough to curl down nearly to his collar, and against his tanned skin the faint scar along his cheekbone stood out as silver and delicate as any star she could pick out in the night sky.
"You look..." Hermione just stared, lost for words. Ron, however, knew her meaning and just gave her a swift kiss, blushing as red as his hair. Harry rolled his eyes as he waited for his wife and best friends to come back.
Soon enough, Elizabeth and Andrew came back from their flat, dressed elegantly. Elizabeth's hair was done by a charm that smoothed her locks into a velvety river of flame-colored silk, and had fastened it with clips in the shape of tiny multicolored butterflies. Her dress was perfect – lilac-colored satin, and straps that crossed in back, showing her slim, shoulders to great advantage. Andrew looked smartly decent in black trousers and a blue Calvin Klein shirt. He smelled faintly of aftershave and as usual, his hair was methodically combed, sweeping across his eyes, casting a soft look. Hermione smiled at her best friends. Surely it had been ages since they had dressed up to go somewhere together for a change. Maybe it was just because Ron was back, she didn't know.
She heard a rustling and turned her head slightly to the staircase, where she saw Ginny making her grand entrance. Harry's eyes cast a stunned expression as he saw her walking down the stairs slowly, wearing a celadon- green satin evening dress that scooped wide in the shoulders and the top of her chest dramatically. It hugged her skin tightly and showed off her slim, fine legs. She looked like a portrait girl, from long ago- so elegant yet delicate. Harry took her hand and kissed it like a gentleman, making Ginny blush furiously. She turned towards her friends and her eyes widened at their evening attires. They looked like they had all spent a fortune on their nice-fitting garments, going to a stylish ballroom for dances and drinks.
The night passed away slowly as they had spent hours at the ballroom. They sat at one of the far-end tables, laughing and sharing drinks. When it was time for the first, slow dance, Elizabeth dragged Andrew out on the dance floor. They didn't show for another five dances, in which Harry and Ginny participated in three of. Ron and Hermione sat awkwardly at the table alone, just holding hands. It was nearly one o'clock when the musician took the microphone into his hands and said, "Alright everyone, this had been a wonderful night. This song was just dedicated to us by a Mr. Ronald Weasley to his girlfriend Miss Hermione Granger. He says that he loves her and will do anything for her. Everyone, please, come join the dance floor. This will be our last song. We enjoyed our time and hoped you did as well." A new song, I knew I loved you before I met you, came on. Hermione's heart fluttered. She gazed at Ron.
"This is our song! You asked them to play our song!" She squealed with delight. Ron beamed, extending a hand out.
"Will you have the honor of joining me for this dance?"
"Of course." She took his hand and followed him towards the dance floor. Once there, he immediately put one hand on her waist and began leading her slowly around the dance floor. She interlaced her hand with his, pressing herself closer to him. For a few moments, they were oblivious to the surrounding people. All she knew was that he was there, safe and sound, holding her hand, and she knew that no one could hold her hand like he could. She looked up at him and watched his blue eyes dance with happiness and pleasure, smiling down at her. He felt so close, she could feel his breath. Then, very slowly, he leaned down and sealed his mouth over hers. At first she was aware only of Ron's mouth on her mouth, his hands sliding down her sides to grasp her waist and pull her more firmly against him, the sweet taste of him and the steady uninterrupted pounding of his heart. Kissing Viktor had never felt right. Kissing Rufus was like visiting a foreign country with its terrifying pictures. Kissing Ron was like coming home.
"You made a bet on whether we were going to get together?" Hermione asked, hands on her hips, acting her best Professor McGonagall impression. However, there was a definite twinkle in her eyes and she burst out laughing. "Oh forget it! I can't stay mad too long. Ron and I are in love." She looked towards her new boyfriend and smiled. He smiled back and tickled her.
"We have to celebrate this. How about we go to that new ballroom down by Chestnut Avenue and dance and have some drinks?" Elizabeth suggested to lighten the mood, although it was pretty much carefree and untroubled with the news of Ron returning back home and Ron and Hermione currently dating.
"That sounds great. But I have to change though. Wait for me, okay?" Hermione gave her boyfriend a quick kiss and left hurriedly. She returned to her bedroom and immediately veered to her closet to find a nice outfit to wear for the celebration. She searched endlessly, wanting to impress Ron. And then she saw it- the dress she had dreamed of for years but had never worn before to anyone.
The dress she had chosen to wear that night was modeled as close to memory allowed on the dress that Ron had given to her for her 17th birthday so many years ago- still her favorite article of clothing, albeit briefly. This one was a dark rich cinnamon, with a fitted bodice, lacing up the back, the same full skirt and wide scooped neck dramatically showing more of her shoulders and the top of her chest than she was used to. With it went sheer stockings and a pair of high, strappy shoes. Hermione glanced at herself in the dresser mirror, admiring herself as she had done so many years ago in front of Ron. Now it seemed like a repeat of history all over again; trying to impress the man she loved. Gathering her full skirts, she headed downstairs and out the door, back to Ginny & Harry's flat.
When she arrived, she heard distinct conversation going on between two people. She suspected that Ginny and Elizabeth were both getting ready and if they were anything like her, they would take at least thirty minutes before coming back. She opened the door, staring at the two occupants. Harry and Ron were conversing quietly. They both looked up when they heard the door. When Ron looked up, his eyes widened then darkened, looking a little stunned. He crossed the room and went over to her. He kissed her very gently on the cheek, brushing back a stray tendril of her hair as she did so.
"You look beautiful." He said. Hermione didn't say anything, just turned pink. She watched from the corner of her eye as Harry looked at her too, with an air of astonishment.
"All dressed up then?" Harry smiled, though she knew he admired the way she looked, possibly because he had rarely ever seen her dressed up, and she knew that, maybe more beautiful than she would ever look in a lifetime. Her gaze lingered for a few minutes on her best friend then turned back to Ron's. She noticed that he was dressed up as well, maybe more so than he ever had been. He wore charcoal gray trousers that looked as if they'd been designed especially for him, and a soft white shirt that brought out the blue undercurrents in his eyes. His shoes were dark brown leather, the kind that looked as if they probably cost 100 galleons a shoelace. He looked a little older, a great deal more elegant, and very, very rich. It was a bit intimidating. He looked at her and smiled. His hair had gotten long enough to curl down nearly to his collar, and against his tanned skin the faint scar along his cheekbone stood out as silver and delicate as any star she could pick out in the night sky.
"You look..." Hermione just stared, lost for words. Ron, however, knew her meaning and just gave her a swift kiss, blushing as red as his hair. Harry rolled his eyes as he waited for his wife and best friends to come back.
Soon enough, Elizabeth and Andrew came back from their flat, dressed elegantly. Elizabeth's hair was done by a charm that smoothed her locks into a velvety river of flame-colored silk, and had fastened it with clips in the shape of tiny multicolored butterflies. Her dress was perfect – lilac-colored satin, and straps that crossed in back, showing her slim, shoulders to great advantage. Andrew looked smartly decent in black trousers and a blue Calvin Klein shirt. He smelled faintly of aftershave and as usual, his hair was methodically combed, sweeping across his eyes, casting a soft look. Hermione smiled at her best friends. Surely it had been ages since they had dressed up to go somewhere together for a change. Maybe it was just because Ron was back, she didn't know.
She heard a rustling and turned her head slightly to the staircase, where she saw Ginny making her grand entrance. Harry's eyes cast a stunned expression as he saw her walking down the stairs slowly, wearing a celadon- green satin evening dress that scooped wide in the shoulders and the top of her chest dramatically. It hugged her skin tightly and showed off her slim, fine legs. She looked like a portrait girl, from long ago- so elegant yet delicate. Harry took her hand and kissed it like a gentleman, making Ginny blush furiously. She turned towards her friends and her eyes widened at their evening attires. They looked like they had all spent a fortune on their nice-fitting garments, going to a stylish ballroom for dances and drinks.
The night passed away slowly as they had spent hours at the ballroom. They sat at one of the far-end tables, laughing and sharing drinks. When it was time for the first, slow dance, Elizabeth dragged Andrew out on the dance floor. They didn't show for another five dances, in which Harry and Ginny participated in three of. Ron and Hermione sat awkwardly at the table alone, just holding hands. It was nearly one o'clock when the musician took the microphone into his hands and said, "Alright everyone, this had been a wonderful night. This song was just dedicated to us by a Mr. Ronald Weasley to his girlfriend Miss Hermione Granger. He says that he loves her and will do anything for her. Everyone, please, come join the dance floor. This will be our last song. We enjoyed our time and hoped you did as well." A new song, I knew I loved you before I met you, came on. Hermione's heart fluttered. She gazed at Ron.
"This is our song! You asked them to play our song!" She squealed with delight. Ron beamed, extending a hand out.
"Will you have the honor of joining me for this dance?"
"Of course." She took his hand and followed him towards the dance floor. Once there, he immediately put one hand on her waist and began leading her slowly around the dance floor. She interlaced her hand with his, pressing herself closer to him. For a few moments, they were oblivious to the surrounding people. All she knew was that he was there, safe and sound, holding her hand, and she knew that no one could hold her hand like he could. She looked up at him and watched his blue eyes dance with happiness and pleasure, smiling down at her. He felt so close, she could feel his breath. Then, very slowly, he leaned down and sealed his mouth over hers. At first she was aware only of Ron's mouth on her mouth, his hands sliding down her sides to grasp her waist and pull her more firmly against him, the sweet taste of him and the steady uninterrupted pounding of his heart. Kissing Viktor had never felt right. Kissing Rufus was like visiting a foreign country with its terrifying pictures. Kissing Ron was like coming home.