Disclaimer: If only I was cool enough to own this. But alas, I am not.
A/N: The end is finally here! Thanks to all of you who waited so patiently and gave me such wonderful ideas and compliments!
atami – No more waiting!
Cordyfan – Here it is!
Yummei – Glad you liked it! :)
Trixie-chan – I'd pay money to see that too. ;)
Marauder Angel – Here you go!
Ghost123 – Thanks so much! :)
KateM – They'll learn, don't worry!
flying-piggy123 – lol, thanks! :)
FreedomFighter – A new chappy for you! ;)
Wiccan-One14 – Thanks!
laine xox – Thanks for the great compliments!
Alima – No more waiting!
Dacey Squidge – Yeah, it's better when they have to work for it. ;)
Amadea- Only one more, but I think you'll like it!
Swishy Willow Wand – It's longer! Yay!
TeenTypist – Glad you liked it!
Jane and Adam – Thanks!
wolvesm0on – lol, yeah, I get the picture. ;)
JacquiJack – Thanks for the compliment (and the song)!
magicteen – Ron does try so hard… poor thing. ;)
suicide-greeting – Okay!
Miercon – Here's your twist. Thanks for the idea! ;)
Ariana Malfoy-Lestrange – Put the broomstick away or I'm coming to take it from you! ;)
Pullmanlover – Boys are stupid, yes. ;)
JessyNick – Glad you didn't vomit. :)
Hellmaster Fibby – Yeah, it's not totally original, but is anything anymore? ;)
luvsirius – Thanks!
mitchie – Yes, they are dense. That's what so great about it. ;)
SilverPearlSilverLeaf – Thanks!
josh – Here it is!
Dontmesswithtexas – You're welcome. ;)
HankErin – Don't go crazy! Hope you enjoy this one!
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Ron spent the rest of the afternoon searching for Hermione, but she was nowhere to be found. No one had seen her all day, or if they had, they weren't telling. He finally gave up and went back to the common room, where Harry and Ginny were playing chess. They looked up when he entered.
"Hey, Ron," Harry said. "Did you find her?"
Ron sighed and sat down on a nearby chair. "No. She's disappeared. Can't find her anywhere. Don't know why I bothered, though. She hates me."
Ginny opened her mouth as if to say something, then snapped it shut and turned her attention back to the game. Ron frowned. "Ginny, do you know where she is?"
She pursed her lips and glared at him stubbornly. He knew she wouldn't tell him, no matter how much he begged. "Fine. It doesn't matter. Not like she would talk to me anyway." Ron lay his head back on the chair and closed his eyes. I don't know how much more of this I can take.
"Look at the bright side, Ron," Harry said. "She can't avoid you forever."
"She'll certainly try, though." He opened his eyes and looked longingly at the portrait hole, willing her to come through it. Come on, Hermione. Just give me a chance to say I'm sorry.
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Hermione sat on the windowsill and gazed out upon the school grounds. She'd locked herself away in her room hours ago, knowing that even if Ron found out where she was, he wouldn't be able to get to her. She just wasn't ready to face him. Not yet.
You can't avoid him forever.
"Why not? It's easier that way. If I don't see him, I don't think about him."
Who do you think you're kidding? You think about him every minute of every day!
She couldn't stop the tears that overflowed. I love him, but I can't tell him. I woudn't even know where to begin! How do you tell someone that you can't live without him? That he means everything to you?
She had been trying to find the answer all day without success. She knew she would have to face him eventually, but she feared her heart would break as soon as she did.
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"Where is she?"
Ginny forced herself to keep her eyes on the chess board. She knew if she looked up, her resolve would melt. "I'm not telling you, Harry."
Ron had left the room just minutes ago, looking absolutely pathetic. Ginny had watched him go, her heart and mind battling within her. She wanted to help him, but Hermione had made her promise.
Harry sighed, bringing her from her reverie. "Come on, Gin. Don't tell me that this isn't driving you crazy too."
She finally looked up and nodded reluctantly. "You're right, it is driving me crazy. They're both being so stupid about this! If they would just admit to each other how they really feel…"
Harry looked pensive. "If we could just get them alone together… somewhere that they would have to talk…"
"Yeah, but how? We'd have to lock them in…" She stopped as their eyes met.
Harry grinned. "That's it! You're a genius. We've got to lock them in somewhere so they can't get out!"
His excitement was contagious. "It's a great idea, Harry, but how do we pull it off?"
"Easy. You just get Hermione to the Charms classroom by eight o'clock. I'll take care of Ron." He paused. "Do you know any good spells to lock a door? Something that Hermione can't alohomora her way out of?"
She nodded. "Didn't grow up with Fred and George for nothing, did I? Don't worry, I've got it covered."
"Great," Harry replied with a smile. "Brilliant."
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"Hermione? You in here?"
Hermione glanced up at the door. "Yeah, I'm here, Gin."
Ginny came in and sat down on Hermione's bed. "How are you feeling? Have you thought of a plan yet?"
Hermione shook her head. "I just can't do it, Ginny. I can't tell him. As much as I love him, I just don't have the courage."
Ginny reached out and patted her shoulder. "It's alright, Hermione. Don't worry about it anymore. It'll turn out okay in the end."
Hermione sighed. "I guess you're right. I need to stop moping about. I have homework to do, anyway."
"Speaking of homework, Professor Flitwick asked me to find you – something about your essay. He wanted to see you tonight – said he would be down in his classroom. Why don't you go down there so you can get your mind off Ron?"
"Good idea," Hermione nodded resolutely. "I need to get out of this place." She stood up and crossed the room. "Ron's not downstairs in the common room, is he?"
Ginny shook her head. "No, I didn't see him."
"Good. I'm not ready for that yet."
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Harry caught up with Ron down by the lake. He was skipping rocks and looking positively forlorn. "Hi, Ron. You okay?"
Ron nodded as he threw another stone into the water. "Yeah, I guess so. Could be worse, I suppose, thought I can't see how."
Harry picked up a smooth stone and tossed it back and forth in his hands. "You need to get your mind off of all this, mate. Why don't we take our brooms for a spin later?"
Ron smiled slightly. "Yeah, that sounds good. Why don't we go now?"
"Can't. Professor Flitwick told me he wanted to see us in his classroom – that's why I came to find you."
Ron nodded and threw one last rock as far as he could. "Alright. Let's go."
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Harry and Ron made their war through the corridors towards the Charms classroom. Harry check his watch. Eight o'clock. Perfect.
As they reached the door, Harry suddenly stopped and groaned. "Oh, man, I forgot my essay back in the common room. I told Flitwick I'd bring it. You go on in – tell him I'll be right there." He took off down the corridor before Ron could protest.
Rounding the corner, Harry stopped when an arm reached out and pulled him behind a suit of armor. "Did it work? Is he in?"
Harry looked at Ginny and nodded. "Yeah, he's in. Ready with the spell?"
Ginny grinned and peered around the corner, checking to see that both Ron and Hermione were in the classroom. With a quick swish of her wand and a well-selected incantation, the door sealed shut.
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Hermione looked up at the sound of the door opening, expecting to see Professor Flitwick. Instead, she got quite a shock. "Ron?"
He looked panicked. "Hermione? What are you doing here?" He shook his head as if he couldn't believe she was standing in front of him. "I… I gotta go." He spun around and rushed to the door, but it suddenly slammed shut and made an odd noise. "What was that?"
Hermionbe joined him by the door and reached out to turn the knob. It didn't move. "It's locked. Hang on. Alohomora!" Nothing. She tried again with the same result.
Ron slammed his fist into the wood of the doorframe. "Can't you just blast through it or something?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron, somehow I doubt Professor Flitwick will be happy to see we've blown apart his classroom door."
Ron frowned and crossed his arms. "Fine. We'll just wait until Flitwick gets here." He sat down in a chair and let out a long breath. "Won't be long."
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I can't believe this. How do these things always happen to me? Ron cast a furtive glance at Hermione, wondering what she thought about this crazy situation. She had an odd look on her face and her shoulders were shaking up and down. What in the… "Hey, are you laughing? What's so funny?"
She just laughed harder. "Ron! Don't you see? They set us up!"
He frowned again. "What are you… oh. Oh, I see. Harry did this."
"And Ginny. They obviously locked us in here so we would have to talk."
Bloody hell, she's right. He closed his eyes. But I'm not ready. Not yet!
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Hermione sighed as she looked at him. She knew he wasn't happy to be stuck in here, but, truth be told, neither was she. Come on, Hermione, just apologize and get it over with.
He beat her to it. "Hermione… about this morning…"
She shook her head. "No, Ron, it's my fault."
"No it's not. 'Mione, I shouldn't have attacked you like that. I really am sorry."
He apologized. Ron never apologizes. Not to me, at least. She couldn't figure it out, but she would take it for what it was. "Ron, I'm sorry too. I… I shouldn't have gotten so angry with you."
"No, you had every right." He looked so ashamed of himself that Hermione wanted to cry. She couldn't let him feel bad – if she hadn't started this whole mess in the first place…
"Ron, this whole thing is my fault! It's just that… yesterday you asked me for advice about that girl, and it made me so mad! So I vented to Parvati and Lavender, and then they wanted to give me a makeover, so I let them! But it didn't work, so Ginny suggested jealousy, but…" She knew she was starting to ramble, but she couldn't stop. "You were angry, and I said… I said…"
She couldn't continue. Instead, she turned her back to him and cried.
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What on earth is she talking about? Ron watched in dismay as Hermione's frame shook with her sobs. He wasn't any good with crying girls, especially the ones who were crying because of him. "'Mione, please stop crying. Please, just tell me what I can do to fix my mistake."
She turned around and looked at him through tear-filled eyes. "It's not you, Ron! It's me! I'm the one who made the mistake! I was just so hurt that you wanted to go out with her instead of… I know you only see me as… and I know I'll have to learn how to deal with that… but I… so I messed up, and…"
Ron was beyond confused. Why can't she just finish a sentence? "Hermione, I don't understand." He felt like an idiot, but he desperately needed to know what she was trying to tell him.
She looked at him with tortured eyes. "I just want you to notice me, Ron. I just want you to see me."
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I can't do it. I can't tell him. I need him to say it first. She couldn't pull her eyes away from him. Please, Ron. Please say you love me like I love you.
He was staring at her, looking confused. "Hermione, I did notice you. I noticed you a long time ago."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Really?"
"Yeah, I noticed you. I just didn't know what to do about it. I… I didn't think you'd noticed me."
She put a shaky hand to her mouth. "Do you mean…?" I can't believe it.
He nodded. "I… I fancy you, Hermione." He paused. "No. No, I love you. I reckon I've loved you for a long time. I just didn't realize it until it was too late."
She could barely breathe. "Too late?"
Ron stared at his shoes. "I know you said I lost my chance, 'Mione, but… could you give me just one more?"
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Ron held his breath. He couldn't look at her as he waited for her answer. This is madness. I think I'm going to explode.
When she didn't say anything, Ron finally ventured a glance. She was looking at him with tears in her eyes and her hand still over her mouth. This isn't good.
"Hermione?" He was getting nervous from her silence.
Suddenly she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his chest and crying a river into his shirt. "Oh, Ron!"
What in the… I will never understand girls. He tentatively put his arms around her, hoping it wouldn't make her cry harder. Volatile things, girls are.
But in spite of his nerves and confusion, hope bloomed in his heart. "Does this mean… yes?" Oh, please say yes.
Hermione leaned back and smiled into his eyes. "Ron, you'll never run out of chances."
His heart stopped beating altogether before kicking into overdrive. "Really? Do you mean it?"
She smiled at him again. "Don't you know by now how much I love you?"
He let out a relieved breath. "I… I guess I do." His pulse raced as she looked up at him, her heart in her eyes. Is it possible to love someone as much as I love her?
He nervously cleared his throat. Just ask her. "Er… 'Mione?"
She gave him a curious look. "Yes?"
"Er… can I…" Just say it! "Can I kiss you?"
She didn't say anything for a moment, and his heart fell. Then she stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
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This is it. This is what I've been waiting for my whole life. Hermione felt like she was flying, soaring over the clouds of her dreams and straight into heaven. I never knew it could be like this.
When Ron finally broke the kiss, his ears red and a silly grin on his face, Hermione felt happier than she ever had before. She smiled and hugged him tighter. "Thanks, Ron."
"For what?"
"For loving me for who I am, not for who I tried to be."
Ron just nodded, but she didn't care. Standing in the arms of the one she would love forever, Hermione Granger felt like a new person. And that was quite an improvement to her heart.
Fin
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A/N: Yay! Long chapter! Okay, long for me… but yay anyway! :) I hope you enjoyed the ending of my little fic… I loved writing it! Thanks again for the wonderful reviews – I love you all!