Someday You'll Love Me

A/N--Wow…it has been a while since I have been able to update and not have to apologize for taking so long. Quick, someone throw some confetti or something, it's a relatively quick update as well as the last chapter. Woohoo!

Chapter Five- Hermione

Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could go wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war

Cause tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain- Jo Dee Messina

Everything just seems so…empty. Desolate. Hollow. There is an abundance of words of which I could describe the situation; however, none seem to grasp the severity of my emotions.

It's funny. Well, not really funny, I feel no inclination to laugh…but I suppose that even the most articulate among us fall victim to clichéd phrases occasionally. That isn't the point though; the point is that it is funny that I, who had declared myself 'above' minimal things such as love, fell into such an inconsolable lovesickness.

I once had a debate of sorts with my mother--whom I had always stated to be the most levelheaded member of my acquaintance--about the ridiculous claims of those who declare themselves brokenhearted. The heart is an organ, for crying aloud, nothing more, nothing less. You feel emotions through your mind, not through the chambers of your heart. It is a vital organ, I gave it that much, but if it were truly 'broken' you would die, it's that simple.

I can still picture her shaking her head at me with this sad little smile. "Hermione, love," she said in this soothing tone of hers that I had always adored, for it was calming without being condescending; "I fear that while you are a brilliant young lady…you have a lot to learn on this subject."

I disregarded her advice for the first time in my life. I knew science, and I was certain that I was correct in my sentiments. Everyone else was wrong; they were stuck in some ignorant sappy notion that just wasn't true. Your heart could not break from the act of scorned love, your mind and emotions could only betray you.

I know better now. Granted, I still don't buy into the ideals of those who live by allowing their 'heart' to guide them…I am not deluded enough to believe that your heart has some sort of conscious and thoughts…that would violate everything that is logic. However, as of the past few years, whenever I think of you I feel an aching in my chest that fills me with remorse and despondency. I don't understand it, but I accept it. Whether it be my heart, or otherwise, it is something…and it hurts.

And, apparently, it is not going to disappear anytime soon. Pity.

Do you see what you are turning me into, do you? I am becoming--quite rapidly--a bitter old hag. All right, so perhaps I am not old…but I will be soon enough. I will be old, acrimonious, and alone. Moreover, I am reasonably sure that this entire ideal will cause me to lose brain cells, so I will not even know words such as acrimonious. You should be ashamed of yourself, Ronald Weasley.

Fine…I suppose if you're ashamed, I should be ashamed as well. I didn't mean to disrupt the ceremony in that way, really I didn't. But, it did happen, and keeping in mind what happened after…well, I truly wish that I could take it back. At least before I could have my fantasy that you loved me and only wanted to marry Gabrielle because you knew that you could not marry me…now I cannot even escape to my groundless dreams.

In my defense though, I did, and still do, have reason to object to your mockery of a wedding. You admitted that you loved me, that you were in love with me…unfortunately; you do not see that as just cause to call off your marriage. I cannot help it if you are insensible enough to do such a thing.

Oh, who am I kidding? At the moment, I am willing to rationalize anything in my mind to make the entire conversation we had less humiliating and wounding.

I notice Hedwig at the window and contemplate leaving her out there. I truly do not want to hear Harry's sympathies, or anyone else's for that matter. I do not wish to even acknowledge the situation a moment longer. Unfortunately, I am not callous enough to leave an innocent owl out in the impending rain. I sigh, let in the bird, accept the letter, and wave Hedwig back out the window.

Curling up in the chair by the window, I gaze out to the falling night sky. The clouds gather, as they often do in England, and release a pounding rain that shadows the tears streaming down my face.

Too depressed to even turn on a light, I open the letter and strain my eyes to make out the words.

'Mione,

What happened today? Ron and Gabrielle disappeared shortly after the…incident. No one can figure out what's going on. I'll stop by later to talk to you.

Love,

Harry

I carelessly crumble up the parchment and toss it to the side. I am no longer concerned with anything that does not pertain to my woes.

I sit with my chin pressed upon my knees, attempting to piece together my life, when a pounding knock falls on my door. I roll my eyes; the boy could have waited for an invitation before coming over. Perhaps I do not want to be comforted.

"Go away, Harry," I call out.

"If I were Harry I would."

The air leaves my lungs. It's you. I lick my suddenly dry lips and unfold myself from my fetal position as a thousand questions run through my mind. I stand up and walk slowly over to the door, unlatching the lock unconsciously.

I take a deep breath and open the door, and there you are, dripping wet and standing in my doorway.

Judging by your shallow and rapid breaths it is quite obvious that you ran the entire way here…I have anti-apparation wards up around my house. Without any warning whatsoever, you pull me out of the doorway and into the rain. You grab my head between your hands and pull my face up until it meets yours.

A kiss crashes together with the downpour and it sends bolt of electricity through me that I don't want to feel.

With great reluctance, I push you away. "Ron," I breathe, "why…why are you here? To torture me?"

You close your eyes and I find myself apologetic to have caused you pain. No matter what you do to me…I still cannot bring myself to desire to wound you in any way. "I," you begin, "I just had to know…I had to find out…"

"Find out what?"

"Find out if your kiss can still disrupt my entire world."

Neither of us speaks for what feels like an eternity. "And?"

You swallow noticeably. "And I am every bit as hopelessly in love with you as I was when I was eleven."

"I thought that didn't matter though."

"Of course it matters."

"But…Gabrielle--"

"Is gone."

"Oh. You…you broke it off then?"

You shake your head. "No. She did."

My hopes vanish. You did not have some sudden change of heart…you would have married her if you would have been able.

"Hermione," you continue, "if she hadn't though…I would have tomorrow. I just…I can't say a wedding vow to anyone that isn't you. It just wouldn't have been right. I was so angry with you that you never reciprocated my feelings until my wedding…I wanted to punish you, to make you feel the way that I had felt all those years…I'm sorry, Hermione, I am so sorry."

I rest my finger against your lips to demonstrate that no apology is necessary. I know that I should demand more than that…I should be angry that you had been so cold to me before. I should do a thousand things, but am unable to bring about even one of them. Because, I could chastise you as you did me…I could hold out until you fell down on your knees in front of a crowd of people, shouting at the top of your lungs that you have loved me all along…I could do a lot of things. But no matter what I do, the end result will be the same. It will be you and I together, because that is how it is meant to be.

We have wasted far too much time already. The games are over, we are each through with hiding feelings and playing guessing matches. A part of me feels as though you should have to do more than say a few pretty words…but a larger part has been waiting years to hear those very words.

"I love you, Ron," I whisper against the rain.

You sweep me into a hug and circle around through the wetness and the mud, and I don't care that it is a silly, immature act, for we are in love…and people in love are prone to be silly and immature.

I've spent the past year yearning and hoping that someday you would love me…and my someday has finally come.

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A/N- Oh my…I finished something! Lol, it's been a long time since I've finished a story. Granted, this was a short one, but it is done nonetheless. Or, maybe it is. Yes, show fear for my muse hit me over the head last chapter and I have begun work on a story for Gabrielle, whom I felt sorry for, lol. I have the first chapter of that story about done, but remain indecisive as to whether or not I want to post it. So, give me a shout if that is something you would be interested in reading, otherwise I don't know if I'll mess with it.

Now that I have shamelessly plugged myself I can be all sentimental. I want to thank everyone who has so faithfully reviewed this story, all your support really does mean a lot to me, and I remember one day in particular when I was having a terrible day and came home to lots of lovely reviews for this story. You never know how much you can affect someone's day with a few words of encouragement and praise.

Thank you.