Chapter 14: I love you

The next day Hermione and Ron were lying down in the thin layer of snow, wearing beanie-hats, gloves, scarves and thick coats. They were lying in the brightest patch of sun they could find at the top of hill.. Hermione turned to face Ron, her face white with pink patches on her cheeks and nose. They could hear a few robins tweeting in the distance, and occasionally some snow would sprinkle off a tree as a bird took flight. Other than that it was still and Hermione could enjoy being with Ron.

Ron faced her too and smiled a bit, "Are you too cold? Do you want to go inside?"

"No," she smiled. "I'm wrapped up so warm – only my face is cold."

Ron placed his hands either side of her face and gently pressed on her cheeks, stopping the wind getting to them. He leant closed to her and she closed her eyes. It was harder to kiss in the cold but Ron enjoyed it all the same. And judging by the flesh colour returning to Hermione's face – she did too.

They often came up here. Just to be alone. To talk about anything and everything. Like two best friends would.

"Ron do you think Harry's ok?" Hermione asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Haven't you noticed? Look at the bags under his eyes. And he barely smiles too. Is he getting much sleep? You're in the same room as him, you should know."

Ron felt a bit guilty. He hadn't been paying attention to Harry at night. He'd simply fallen straight to sleep himself. "Er – I'm not sure. I think he gets to sleep eventually."

"I'm so worried about him. He looks so worn out!" Hermione exclaimed, her voice full of care and anxiety. "He's not healthy anymore and he doesn't focus much either. I know he's eating but what if he isn't sleeping? He could get so ill I don't want him to be ill!"

"Hey, hey calm down," Ron whispered stroking her hair. "I'll ask him about it. He's had a tough term but I reckon he'll cheer up around Christmas."

Hermione lay her head in Ron's arm and flicked some snow of her gloves. "Do you think he's still getting nightmares?"

"I don't know," he answered slowly. "Maybe."

"He doesn't talk a lot now either. It's like he's not Harry anymore! He's not is he?"

Ron shrugged slightly. "Just give him some time."

"But ... but - he's had all first term and he's just getting worse and worse. I think time will do more harm than good," she said sadly.

"I'll talk to him."

Hermione closed her eyes. A while later she whispered, "You're so comfy."

A smile pulled on the edges of Ron's lips. "You're so cuddly," he said in reply.

"I'm sorry for when I was mean to you all these years."

Ron shook his head, "I was worse. Don't worry – it's all in the past now. All that matters is the present and the future." He kissed her forehead, "And I love having you in my present."

Hermione smiled. "You're so sweet."

Ron stroked her, "You're so beautiful."

"You're so caring."

"You're so gentle," he said.

Hermione sighed. "I never thought you could be like this. Never saw this side of Ron Weasley. I'm so glad I can see you now though."

"I'm glad you can see me too. I think I'd go crazy if I couldn't have you. I've wanted you for ages, Mione. I love the way you look at me sometimes. It makes me want to protect you."

Hermione smiled again and snuggled into him. Snow scraped on the ground and a few flakes fell from her beanie.

"Please look after me," she whispered.

"I will," Ron replied.

Hermione felt a tickle in her stomach. She couldn't feel the snow, she couldn't see the white sun glaring at her, she couldn't hear the birds or the crunching of the snow. All she knew was that she was lying in Ron's arms and she'd never felt safer.

Ron looked down at her face. Her eyelashes curling out from her soft eyelids, ands the way her skin fitted her face so perfectly – resting on every bone as though she'd been hand crafted by the best artist in the world. The way her brown hair fell across her face and made thin grey shadows streak across her. Her lips were rosy and so delicate, her cheeks soft and round. The way her collar bones stuck out a little from her neck. Ron loved to trace his fingers along them. He'd never noticed how beautiful Hermione was. But now he couldn't keep his eyes from her. She was beautiful inside too. She cared about him so much. It was like she'd taken out her heart and placed it in his hands for him to guard. He wanted so much to guard it. For her to know he'd guard it and love her. He hated to see her upset. He felt like it was his fault. As though he'd failed as a boyfriend. He wanted her to be happy and at peace. It was like she was a child, lying in his arms – giving him every bit of her trust. He kissed her cheek delicately.

"Hermione," he whispered.

Her eye-lids flickered open. "Mmm?"

He looked into her hazel eyes. He could see right into them, even past all the beautiful shades of brown spiking out from the centre – he could see right into her soul. "I love you," he said.

*

Fred, George, Ginny and Harry were all in the twins' room playing an extremely loud game of exploding snap. Mrs Weasley pushed the door opened with her back and walked in carrying a tray of cookies and drinks. "Thought you might be hungry," she said cheerfully.

Fred and George beamed. "Thanks Mum!" they chorused reaching to take the tray off her.

She smiled around the room and opened her mouth to say something when the pack of cards suddenly exploded. Sparks flew around and the roar echoed around the room. It had been Ginny's unfortunate luck and her front half was now entirely black, as was the ceiling behind her and the skirt of Molly's dress. Molly rolled her eyes and flicked her wand to clear the mess. "I wish it didn't make such an awfully loud noise, we can hear you downstairs you know!" she turned around and left. Harry immediately started dealing the cards out again.

"We're trying to invent some really cool pranks yanno," Fred said suddenly.

"Oh yea? What?" Ginny said, her face glowing with excitement.

"Well they're the same as some of the other ones – but you can target them."

"Whaddaya mean?" Harry asked as he dealt the last card to George.

"Take the portable explosions we invented, yea? They look like parchment or a wand or a clock. And when someone goes to use it blows up in their face, right? Well we're trying to get them targeted – so it only happens to particular people," Fred explained.

"It could be a flower that doesn't harm anyone but as soon as Snape walks past it, it explodes!" George laughed as he put his first card down.

The others joined in the laughter. "It's quite tricky but we're getting there," Fred nodded adding his card.

Harry put down his card and Ginny followed. "They sound really cool," Ginny smiled.

"We know," Fred said devilishly.

Four explosions later they finally packed up the game and Harry stood up, pulling camouflaged ash from his hair.

"You look so tired, Harry," Ginny mentioned.

Harry shrugged. "Dunno why," he said coldly.

She dropped the subject immediately and watched him leaving the room. Ginny wanted desperately to know what was wearing her boyfriend out so much. She hated seeing his cloudy eyes and limp hair. Where was the fun-loving Harry she'd fallen for? Not that she felt any different for this one ... she just wished she knew what it was that was doing this to him.

Ginny and Harry met in secret as much as they could. Sometimes they pretended to bump into each other and other times they snuck quietly out to meet with one another. Their sessions could never be very long. They couldn't risk someone seeing or hearing them. Harry thought it particularly dangerous to be snogging Ginny with so many Weasley's in the house. But when she looked pleadingly up at him with her entrancing eyes and gently snaked her arms around him, he would give in. Every time.

Ron and Hermione arrived at back at the house exactly as dinner was being served. They hung up their snowy coats and took off their woollen garments. No-body need ask where they'd been. The pair sat together in two empty chairs opposite Harry. Mrs Weasely had started pouring hot chocolate into all the mugs when Ginny arrived and took the remaining seat, next to Harry.

"Smells great darling," Arthur said appreciatively.

Molly smiled and sat herself down in her chair. "I hope it tastes as good," she replied.

There was little conversation as the 9 of them (Bill had arrived that morning, Charlie was still in Romania) ate their food. Harry's knees banged against Ginny's occasionally and every time they did, her hands would slip slightly and Harry would press his legs together, determined not to let their cover slip. They'd worked so hard to build a wall between their secret and the rest of the people in the room. He couldn't let it fall. It would be risking too much. Plus – there was that extra thrill in being so secretive about it all too.