A/N: Okay! Here I am again! Thanks for reviewing and I won't leave you in suspense any longer.
Disclaimer: Anything you can do I can do better! I can do anything better then – what the hell am I saying? I ain't no J.K.Rowling!
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Chapter 8
"Fireworks""Ha!! They are seen!" shouted Lucius proudly as the girl hit the ground with a huge thump.
"That wasn't funny Malfoy!" said Ron angrily.
Ron rushed to the girl's side and lifted her body into his arms. "Hermione… are you ok? He's being a stupid git again! Snap out of it Hermione," he said as he kissed her on the forehead, his eyes tightly shut. Hermione was surprised. She opened her eyes and took a good look around her, then at Ron who smiled relieved. "I'm not dead?" she thought. Ron passed his hand on her cheek. "Get up," he said softly. "I suspect the spell should be taking effect soon," he said as he lifted the girl. Suddenly, her body felt strange. It began to shake and become quite itchy. As she rose, the itchiness increased. She began to scratch madly as her entire body suddenly grew strange boils but they weren't boils! They were… a deep green? "Don't scratch! Remember this stupid spell we learned in Herbology?" said Ron as she looked up at him. Then, with a POP! All the boils suddenly exploded and out came blue, yellow, pink and purple flowers!
"The flowers of May! Thank you for protecting them pumpkin banshee!" said Lucius as he bowed low.
"Banshee?? Never," said Ron looking at her lovingly.
Hermione stared back with a smile. He looked shyly to his side and then back at Hermione. Ron advanced, cleared his throat and pointed his wand at the girl covered in flowers. "Floramorte" he said as the flowers wilted away and soon Hermione was standing in a pile of petals. She was a vision. Ron couldn't help himself from starting. His feelings for the girl had not changed at all. His heart still beat furiously at the very sight of her. He then turned his gaze from her and went to Malfoy. Malfoy seemed contented with his actions and easily let Ron push him into a nearby door and take his wand. Malfoy waved goodbye to Hermione with an innocent glance and disappeared into the room. Ron came out rubbing the bridge of his nose. He then went up to Hermione.
"I'm sorry… I… He's just a big child right now, doesn't know what he's doing. I'm sorry you had to go through that," said Ron disgracefully.
"It's ok… no one got hurt right?" she said smiling.
Ron didn't know what to say. He knew what had just happened. She had put herself in the way of the beam to save his life. She didn't hear the charm Malfoy had said but wanted to sacrifice herself to keep him safe at any cost. He put Malfoy's wand in the cupboard and walked over to the table where he had been sitting at before Hermione had entered the room. She followed him and saw his Charms books out and a considerable amount of money.
"How did you get that?" she asked.
"Been working at Honeydukes since I came here. I needed money for food and all," he said uneasily.
"Oh… so that's how you could just walk in and out when ever you wanted from the shop," she said. Ron smiled; she was still the smart one.
"How did you find me?" he asked.
"I saw you and Malfoy, Draco that is, talking and I followed you. Why are you taking care of Lucius Ron?"
"Cause this way, I get a place to stay. I found out about him after – after Halloween… I was walking outside, when I caught Draco running for the forbidden forest. I was mad cause I still wasn't sure what to think. I followed him and saw that he was keeping Lucius here and I got him to confess everything to me… I felt so embarrassed," he said quietly.
"Why?" she asked.
"I was wrong! I was totally wrong about you and him! You were just keeping the secret about his father while I was running around thinking…well, that's not important is it,"
Hermione saw his uneasiness. She grabbed a chair next to him and sat down. She took his hand encouraging him to continue. He just stared at her, eyes about ready to tear.
"Ron…"
"Anyways –" he started abruptly. "I told Draco that I'd keep his secret too. But, that in exchange for it, I'd get to stay here until school was over. I didn't think he'd take it badly. Malfoy could only come to see his father during weekends and things like that. He doesn't know the passageways or their passwords so I thought he wouldn't mind me being here to take care of his father. He's a difficult guy to understand as much as it disgust me to admit that I tried," he added now smiling a bit.
Hermione smiled too. Everything was out in the open now. Now all she had to do was tell him this last bit of information that would change everything. Tell him that he had no reason to hide, no reason to "leave her be", as he said. That now all she wanted was to tell him that she cared for him the same way he did for her.
"Ron I have -" she said her heart in tangles.
"Oh! What time is it??" he said looking at her.
"I don't know,"
Ron got up and walked to the clock that hung in the room. It was 11:45.
"We've got only 15 minutes until Christmas Eve is over! Come on, we have to go outside!"
"But Ron this is -" she tried to say as he pulled her by the arm.
He dashed outside and Hermione allowed herself to be dragged. She knew why he was in such a hurry. The fairy fireworks were one of his favorite Christmas events and he didn't want to miss them. She smiled. "Ron… if you want fireworks… you'll get them!"
***
Harry and Ginny were walking back to the common room. Harry wondered what had happened to Hermione and hoped Ron was ok. Ginny thought the same and put an encouraging arm over Harry. He looked down at her sweetly but still looked saddened. She gave him a smile and kissed him lightly and gently on the lips. It was a simple innocent kiss but Harry felt tingles run through him all the same. He then gazed at her.
"Ginny… does this mean…"
"WAIT!" shouted Draco running down the hall. "Wait Potter!"
"Malfoy, what is it?" he asked curiously.
"Well… I didn't want you to find out about my father, so I stopped this from ever reaching you. Here… Weasley wrote to you and I suspect he was going to tell you everything that was going on. I suppose there's no reason for me to keep it anymore," he said as he handed Harry a piece of parchment.
"I see. Ok! Thank you… Draco," forced Harry.
"Eh… sure… Harry…" laughing at himself for attempting to smile.
Harry managed a smile as well. This was truly something. Ginny looked at them both with amazement but was very happy too. They had told Draco earlier that they wouldn't tell his secret to anyone and if he ever needed their help, he would have it. He didn't make any indications that he appreciated this, but it was obvious now. Draco waved nonchalantly, like he was shooing a fly away, and turned to leave. They continued on their way to the common room as Ginny excitedly wanted to know what the letter held. Harry told her that they'd read it once inside.
***
Once Ron and Hermione headed outside they found that they weren't alone. All the town's people of Hogsmeade were out as well. They went to their usual spot and followed the crowd as they headed to a clutter of light. They gazed into the sky as they saw the fairies start to dance. Ron had totally forgotten that he had held Hermione's hand the entire time but she didn't. As he looked up at the light she looked down at their joint limbs. A pale pink had come to her cheeks and she felt very warm. Hermione then moved her fingers on top of his. This instantly won Ron's attention, he was nervous. "It's not what you think… You know she doesn't feel the same way you do," he said shivering but it wasn't from the cold. Hermione looked at him, her head down and her stare looking up through her lashes. Although no one had stopped talking, Ron noticed the sounds of the townsfolk's voices had slowly died down. However this time… it was for both of them.
"It's gotten quiet hasn't it?" Hermione said, her voice being the only sound Ron could hear.
"Yeah… I thought it was just me," he said his chest heaving.
"Well… you have to know… that it's not just you. I have something to tell you Ron Weasley," she said quietly.
His heart was pumping. He was becoming shaky.
"What?" he managed to say.
Hermione left his side and put herself in front of him. She wrapped her arms around Ron and moved her face near him. Her half closed eyes were taunting him again but he kept trying to resist. What if he was wrong? But… what if he was right? This felt so right. It felt so good. He was so closed to her, so very-very close. The desires he'd been holding back had his mind in a whirl. His fairy princess, his intelligent angel… could they ever belong to each other?
"It's that… I… I love you," she said in a whisper.
Ron eyes were wider then the moon that hung in the sky. He had just gotten goose bumps but knew there wasn't a draft going through his cloak. His mind raced. He felt like all his blood going straight to his ears, making them turn as red as his hair. Hermione giggled as she saw his ears change color and played with one of them. Ron closed his eyes still trying to take in the news and enjoying the little caresses she was giving him. When he opened his eyes she was looking at him in a way he'd never seen before. Her lips looked redder then usual, his pulse went up; Hermione began to lean towards him. "Is this real? Please don't tell me it a dream…" he thought desperately.
"Next time you run away… can you bring me along?" she asked, her eyes closed and her face so close to his that Ron could feel her lips move.
"Yes…" he breathed back as their lips met with an electrifying surge.
Then, bells were heard. It was midnight: Christmas day. The moment they embraced, the fairies had started their fireworks display. The lights shone brightly and beautifully as an array of colors and shapes filled the sky. He grabbed her gently yet forcefully, delicately yet strenuously as they shared their first kiss. It was nothing they had ever experienced before. They had both wanted this for so long and to finally reach it was more then they had imagined. Everything was going at a thousand miles an hour. No one outside himself or herself existed. They were locked in innocent and passionate embrace. Their feelings were rewarded. Ron put his hand on Hermione's cheek as she rubbed his neck. He began to give her slow little kisses like he was eating her lips little by little. She was completely subdued. This was everything she knew it would be.
***
Harry and Ginny sat in the common room on the sofa. Harry opened the rolled up parchment and read aloud to Ginny who was buzzing over him to take a glance herself. He told her to be patient as he began to speak:
"Dear Harry,
I'm sorry I couldn't tell you what was going on after Quidditch. I didn't want to tell you that way. There were too many risks that things would get complicated for me. Why, you ask? Well, I know you noticed it, that I was suddenly acting strange towards you and everyone else. Well, the reason for it was cause I was using the "persona" charm to take my place in school. It wasn't really me at all. I couldn't bear staying there while Hermione was around. I look at her and I feel like mush inside. I really love her Harry. I can't be in a room with her and not imagine us together,"
"Awww!" sighed Ginny as Harry continued to read.
"It's tearing me apart. So, I'll be staying in Hogsmeade until the end of the year with the exception for Quidditch and the N.E.W.T.s. I've just been hired as part of the help in Honeydukes so please come by and tell me how she is… and my sister too of course. I trust you with two of the most important girls in my life, yet again Harry. Keep them safe. I'll tell you the full details about what's happening when you write back or when you come to visit. I'll see you later, hopefully.
Ron Weasley,"
"So that's where he is! You think Hermione managed to get to him?" asked Ginny relieved.
"You know what? I think she did. I've got a really good feeling that she did," said Harry as he gazed out the window, a smile on his face.
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A/N: I realize that more people read the A/N at the end of the story more then at the beginning so here's what I want to say:
I originally wrote this story to be short and a spurt of the moment kind of thing. I really did! I wanted to try writing a SHORT LOVE story. One just about H+R, loose ends floating about everywhere… However, people wanted me to continue it and frankly the last thing I wanted was for this to be a Mush-fest… but the people wanted more.
And so this is what COULD have been the real ending to my story. This could have all stopped here. But it didn't and it's your entire fault! *Notes the sarcasm*
So stay tuned for more to be what's hopefully to your taste.
~*Burning Artist*~