The Romanticism of Simplicity
Chapter Six
On a whim, Gemma decided to try Hogsmeade. She hadn't been in what seemed like forever and even if there wasn't much to look at she knew she'd be able to at least buy a coffe at Madame Puddifoot's and sit for a while. Once she got there, visiting all her old hangouts did seem to help relieve some tension. There were so many things to do and to see, all of which hadn't changed a bit since the last time she had visited. She spent a good four hours walking through the old shops and boutiques and even took a trip to the Shrieking Shack before deciding she had cooled off enough to head back home.
Her flat was empty when she got back and for a moment she allowed herself to relax. That relief quickly dissappeared though when her door swung open and Ron came bounding in.
"You're back," he smiled, giving her a welcome home kiss on the lips. "Come on, there's some people here I want you to meet."
"Who is it?" she asked as he lead her upstairs to his flat.
As they got closer, she could hear them all laughing and talking very loudly. 'Probably telling jokes' she told herself and indeed they were. When they stepped inside, she took in a roomful of red hair and freckles and couldn't help but laugh. She spotted Harry and Hermione on the couch talking with a very pretty girl who, by the way she was staring dreamily at him, had a crush on Harry.
"Everyone," Ron began, placing his hand on the small of her back. "This is Gemma."
They all looked over at them and greeted her warmly with 'hullo's' and 'nice to meet you's' and even a whistle of approval.
"Gemma," he continued. "This is my family."
"Hullo," she smiled, blushing deeply.
A lovely, plump woman came out of the kitchen and put her arm around her. "I'm Molly and you know Arthur." Gemma nodded and followed her hand as she pointed out each auburn head. "This is Fred and George, over there's Bill and next to him is Charlie. That's Ginny over there with Harry and Hermione and this is Percy."
Just then the door opened again and James and a very bruised Malfoy and Kenneda stepped in.
"We're back," Malfoy announced. "And we brought the beer."
"Woo hoo," Fred sounded, following him into the dinning room.
James caught Gemma's gaze and had to swallow hard to calm his pounding heart. Why had he come back? She obviously hated him.
Ron, who noticed James's pained expression, nudged Gemma's side.
"What?" she asked, looking up from her conversation with Charlie.
"Go talk to him."
"What?"
"Hear him out."
She glanced back over at James who was paying absolutely no attention whatsoever to Fred and George. He looked as though he were about to be sick with grief.
"No Ron."
"Why not?"
"I don't want to hear his excuses."
"They're not excuses Gemma, they're explanations."
She eyed him suspiciously. "How would you know?"
"I asked him about it while you were gone."
"And?"
"And I definately think you should have a listen at what he has to say." She didn't reply so he continued. "Go on. What's ten minutes?"
She knew she'd probably regret it but she agreed. "This better be good," she warned him as she started towards the corner where James was standing.
James saw her coming and mustered up as much courage as he could for what was about to happen.
"We need to talk," she exclaimed.
"I know."
He followed her out to Ron's balcony where she was sure they could be alone.
"Gemma.." he began.
She put up her hands to stop him. "Before you go into a long, drawn out explanation I just want you to know that I'm not interested in apologies. What's done is done and nothing you can say can take it back."
"I'm not here to feed you some ridiculus story Gemma."
"Good, because all I want is the truth."
He opened his mouth to speak but he realized that he didn't have a clue what to say.
"Well?" she continued, watching him lean over the railing and peer out over the quiet steet.
"I just...I dunno where to start," he sighed.
"How about the beginning," she suggested, crossing her arms loosely over her chest. "How about the day you left?"
He sighed deeply. "I had to leave. You know that."
"Without even saying goodbye?"
"There was no time for that. I was gone within minutes of receiving the letter from my father."
"We were best friends James. You're suppose to make time."
"I tried. Believe me, I tried, but I barely even had time to throw my things together before being pulled out of the school," he stated, turning around to face her.
"What about afterwards?" she questioned. "I mean, I didn't have the vaguest idea where you were for God's sake! Would it have killed you to send me a letter?"
"I sent you a few, but I found out later that my father had intercepted them."
"Well what about the day you went back to Hogwart's? Why didn't you look for me?"
"How did you even know I came back?"
"Lavender and Parvati saw you James. What, did you think you were invisible or something?"
"Gemma,"
"Did it ever occur to you that I might be the slightest bit worried!? Did you ever once stop and ask yourself how I might be feeling!? Did you even care!?"
"Of course I cared!" he spat. "You were everything to me!"
"Then why didn't you try harder!?" she paused to choke back unruly tears. "I needed you James!"
If there had been anything left of his heart, it crumbled to peices at those words.
"Don't say that," he mumbled, looking back out over the balcony.
"I needed you and you just left! The least you could have done was said hullo the day you came back."
"I came looking for you that night," he started.
"What?"
"I asked around in case anyone had seen you."
"And had they?"
He shook his head. "I was just about to give up when I remembered that spot we found by the lake."
She thought back to the hidden clearing they had discovered their fifth year and to all the long talks they had had under the stars. That's when it hit her. "Oh my god..."
"You were with someone."
She collapsed on the railing for support.
"It tore me apart Gemma...seeing you with Justin."
"Oh my God..." she moaned, grabbing her stomach.
"I went back home that same night. There's no way I would have been able to stand seeing you two together those last few weeks."
"B-but, but...why didn't you wait!? Why didn't you say something!?" There were tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. "I mean, that whole reason that happened was because you were gone."
He caught her eyes. "What?"
"I was lonely James! I needed to be close to someone and-and Justin..."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying...I'm saying that I wanted you James and you weren't there."
"I loved you Gemma!" he cried. "I was going to tell you..."
She stumbled back a step. "You loved me!?'
"I was finally going to tell you how I felt, but seeing you with him made me realize that there was just no way we could ever be anything more than friends."
"B-but we k-kissed. That day in the library. W-why didn't you tell me then?"
"Because I couldn't read you. I thought if we kissed I'd be able to tell if you liked me, but I just couldn't."
"James," she breathed. "Why now?"
"I never stopped thinking about you. I never stopped loving you and I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. I had to know if there was a chance."
"No," she shook. "No James. I'm with Ron."
"I know, but that doesn't change how I feel."
"I won't leave him."
"I'm not asking you to."
"Then what exactly are you asking?"
"Look, I know you're in love with eachother and I respect that. I just had to get this out."
"We're happy James."
"I know," he started to say.
"You lost your chance a long time ago."
The reality of it all struck him like a ton of bricks. "If you weren't with him...do you think...would I have chance?"
She nodded, wiping a few tears away. "I think so."
He forced a small grin. "I'll be kicking myself for the rest of my life over this."
"If you had just told me then...then things might be different. You're too late. I'm sorry."
"I'll be better for knowing," he assured her.
Neither of them said anything for quite some time. They just stood staring at their feet, wishing the other would do something.
"Well," James finally said. "We should probably get back in there."
"Yeah," Gemma agreed.
Before he got through the door she took his hand.
"I know it's probably alot to ask, but...friends?"
How could he refuse the offer?
"Friends," he smiled.
The rest of the night went smoothly. Gemma got to know all of Ron's family and, amazingly enough, liked each one of them. How could anyone not like a big, gawfawing mass of red hair?
Around ten thrity, they all bid goodnight and Ron and Gemma were left alone.
"What did you think?" he asked her, pushing one of the chairs into the table.
"I think their magnificent," she smiled. "Really great."
"Good."
"What do you think they thought of me?"
"They loved you. Especially my mom," he stated.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Good."
They straightened up a bit more before she turned to look at him.
"What?" he grinned.
She took a few steps closer. "Nothing."
He slid his hands around to her back. "I know that look."
She grinned, brushing her lips lightly against his.
"Are you up for it?" he asked, kissing the dark bruise on her right cheek.
"Are you?" she contorted, giving his bottom lip a playful little nip.
He nodded and followed as she lead the way to his bedroom, slipping off her jumper and letting it fall to the floor.
"C'mere," she whispered, pulling him tight.
As her tongue explored his mouth, he undid the button on her jeans and inched them down, letting his hands linger on her rear.
After getting him out of his clothes, she let him lay her down and climb on top.
"Ouch!" she gasped, grabbing her side.
"What's wrong?" he asked, looking down to examine the wound.
"Nothing. Just sore."
"Should we stop?"
She shook her head, taking a deep breath. "No. I'll be fine."
He hesitated, but he was too far gone to stop anyway.
"Tell me if It hurts," he ordered, resting his arms on either side of her and touching her face gently.
Chapter Six
On a whim, Gemma decided to try Hogsmeade. She hadn't been in what seemed like forever and even if there wasn't much to look at she knew she'd be able to at least buy a coffe at Madame Puddifoot's and sit for a while. Once she got there, visiting all her old hangouts did seem to help relieve some tension. There were so many things to do and to see, all of which hadn't changed a bit since the last time she had visited. She spent a good four hours walking through the old shops and boutiques and even took a trip to the Shrieking Shack before deciding she had cooled off enough to head back home.
Her flat was empty when she got back and for a moment she allowed herself to relax. That relief quickly dissappeared though when her door swung open and Ron came bounding in.
"You're back," he smiled, giving her a welcome home kiss on the lips. "Come on, there's some people here I want you to meet."
"Who is it?" she asked as he lead her upstairs to his flat.
As they got closer, she could hear them all laughing and talking very loudly. 'Probably telling jokes' she told herself and indeed they were. When they stepped inside, she took in a roomful of red hair and freckles and couldn't help but laugh. She spotted Harry and Hermione on the couch talking with a very pretty girl who, by the way she was staring dreamily at him, had a crush on Harry.
"Everyone," Ron began, placing his hand on the small of her back. "This is Gemma."
They all looked over at them and greeted her warmly with 'hullo's' and 'nice to meet you's' and even a whistle of approval.
"Gemma," he continued. "This is my family."
"Hullo," she smiled, blushing deeply.
A lovely, plump woman came out of the kitchen and put her arm around her. "I'm Molly and you know Arthur." Gemma nodded and followed her hand as she pointed out each auburn head. "This is Fred and George, over there's Bill and next to him is Charlie. That's Ginny over there with Harry and Hermione and this is Percy."
Just then the door opened again and James and a very bruised Malfoy and Kenneda stepped in.
"We're back," Malfoy announced. "And we brought the beer."
"Woo hoo," Fred sounded, following him into the dinning room.
James caught Gemma's gaze and had to swallow hard to calm his pounding heart. Why had he come back? She obviously hated him.
Ron, who noticed James's pained expression, nudged Gemma's side.
"What?" she asked, looking up from her conversation with Charlie.
"Go talk to him."
"What?"
"Hear him out."
She glanced back over at James who was paying absolutely no attention whatsoever to Fred and George. He looked as though he were about to be sick with grief.
"No Ron."
"Why not?"
"I don't want to hear his excuses."
"They're not excuses Gemma, they're explanations."
She eyed him suspiciously. "How would you know?"
"I asked him about it while you were gone."
"And?"
"And I definately think you should have a listen at what he has to say." She didn't reply so he continued. "Go on. What's ten minutes?"
She knew she'd probably regret it but she agreed. "This better be good," she warned him as she started towards the corner where James was standing.
James saw her coming and mustered up as much courage as he could for what was about to happen.
"We need to talk," she exclaimed.
"I know."
He followed her out to Ron's balcony where she was sure they could be alone.
"Gemma.." he began.
She put up her hands to stop him. "Before you go into a long, drawn out explanation I just want you to know that I'm not interested in apologies. What's done is done and nothing you can say can take it back."
"I'm not here to feed you some ridiculus story Gemma."
"Good, because all I want is the truth."
He opened his mouth to speak but he realized that he didn't have a clue what to say.
"Well?" she continued, watching him lean over the railing and peer out over the quiet steet.
"I just...I dunno where to start," he sighed.
"How about the beginning," she suggested, crossing her arms loosely over her chest. "How about the day you left?"
He sighed deeply. "I had to leave. You know that."
"Without even saying goodbye?"
"There was no time for that. I was gone within minutes of receiving the letter from my father."
"We were best friends James. You're suppose to make time."
"I tried. Believe me, I tried, but I barely even had time to throw my things together before being pulled out of the school," he stated, turning around to face her.
"What about afterwards?" she questioned. "I mean, I didn't have the vaguest idea where you were for God's sake! Would it have killed you to send me a letter?"
"I sent you a few, but I found out later that my father had intercepted them."
"Well what about the day you went back to Hogwart's? Why didn't you look for me?"
"How did you even know I came back?"
"Lavender and Parvati saw you James. What, did you think you were invisible or something?"
"Gemma,"
"Did it ever occur to you that I might be the slightest bit worried!? Did you ever once stop and ask yourself how I might be feeling!? Did you even care!?"
"Of course I cared!" he spat. "You were everything to me!"
"Then why didn't you try harder!?" she paused to choke back unruly tears. "I needed you James!"
If there had been anything left of his heart, it crumbled to peices at those words.
"Don't say that," he mumbled, looking back out over the balcony.
"I needed you and you just left! The least you could have done was said hullo the day you came back."
"I came looking for you that night," he started.
"What?"
"I asked around in case anyone had seen you."
"And had they?"
He shook his head. "I was just about to give up when I remembered that spot we found by the lake."
She thought back to the hidden clearing they had discovered their fifth year and to all the long talks they had had under the stars. That's when it hit her. "Oh my god..."
"You were with someone."
She collapsed on the railing for support.
"It tore me apart Gemma...seeing you with Justin."
"Oh my God..." she moaned, grabbing her stomach.
"I went back home that same night. There's no way I would have been able to stand seeing you two together those last few weeks."
"B-but, but...why didn't you wait!? Why didn't you say something!?" There were tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. "I mean, that whole reason that happened was because you were gone."
He caught her eyes. "What?"
"I was lonely James! I needed to be close to someone and-and Justin..."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying...I'm saying that I wanted you James and you weren't there."
"I loved you Gemma!" he cried. "I was going to tell you..."
She stumbled back a step. "You loved me!?'
"I was finally going to tell you how I felt, but seeing you with him made me realize that there was just no way we could ever be anything more than friends."
"B-but we k-kissed. That day in the library. W-why didn't you tell me then?"
"Because I couldn't read you. I thought if we kissed I'd be able to tell if you liked me, but I just couldn't."
"James," she breathed. "Why now?"
"I never stopped thinking about you. I never stopped loving you and I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. I had to know if there was a chance."
"No," she shook. "No James. I'm with Ron."
"I know, but that doesn't change how I feel."
"I won't leave him."
"I'm not asking you to."
"Then what exactly are you asking?"
"Look, I know you're in love with eachother and I respect that. I just had to get this out."
"We're happy James."
"I know," he started to say.
"You lost your chance a long time ago."
The reality of it all struck him like a ton of bricks. "If you weren't with him...do you think...would I have chance?"
She nodded, wiping a few tears away. "I think so."
He forced a small grin. "I'll be kicking myself for the rest of my life over this."
"If you had just told me then...then things might be different. You're too late. I'm sorry."
"I'll be better for knowing," he assured her.
Neither of them said anything for quite some time. They just stood staring at their feet, wishing the other would do something.
"Well," James finally said. "We should probably get back in there."
"Yeah," Gemma agreed.
Before he got through the door she took his hand.
"I know it's probably alot to ask, but...friends?"
How could he refuse the offer?
"Friends," he smiled.
The rest of the night went smoothly. Gemma got to know all of Ron's family and, amazingly enough, liked each one of them. How could anyone not like a big, gawfawing mass of red hair?
Around ten thrity, they all bid goodnight and Ron and Gemma were left alone.
"What did you think?" he asked her, pushing one of the chairs into the table.
"I think their magnificent," she smiled. "Really great."
"Good."
"What do you think they thought of me?"
"They loved you. Especially my mom," he stated.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Good."
They straightened up a bit more before she turned to look at him.
"What?" he grinned.
She took a few steps closer. "Nothing."
He slid his hands around to her back. "I know that look."
She grinned, brushing her lips lightly against his.
"Are you up for it?" he asked, kissing the dark bruise on her right cheek.
"Are you?" she contorted, giving his bottom lip a playful little nip.
He nodded and followed as she lead the way to his bedroom, slipping off her jumper and letting it fall to the floor.
"C'mere," she whispered, pulling him tight.
As her tongue explored his mouth, he undid the button on her jeans and inched them down, letting his hands linger on her rear.
After getting him out of his clothes, she let him lay her down and climb on top.
"Ouch!" she gasped, grabbing her side.
"What's wrong?" he asked, looking down to examine the wound.
"Nothing. Just sore."
"Should we stop?"
She shook her head, taking a deep breath. "No. I'll be fine."
He hesitated, but he was too far gone to stop anyway.
"Tell me if It hurts," he ordered, resting his arms on either side of her and touching her face gently.