Affirmation Chap. 9
Ron
awoke to a steady throbbing coming from his skull. He stirred and put
his hand to his head, feeling the bandages. The memories of the day
before rushed back to him. He turned on his side and opened his eyes
groggily. Madam Pomfrey's sleep draught really did do the trick. His
eyes began to focus and his gaze rested on Hermione, sleeping in a
chair next to his bed. She had a blanket thrown over her and her legs
were pulled up to her chest. He looked at the empty bed next to his
and wondered why she hadn't slept in one of those. His heart warmed
at the thought that she had stood by his bedside the entire night. He
smiled as he heard her lightly snore. Suddenly her eyes flew
open.
"RON! You're awake, how're you feeling? How's your
head?--" Hermione rushed out. Ron put his hand up to stop her
from continuing.
"I'm feeling better," he said, not
wanting to worry her about the intense throbbing in his skull. "Did
you sleep here?" he asked, already knowing that she
had.
Hermione swallowed, "Um...Well...Yes, I was worried,
I just, I wanted to make sure that you were all right," she said
embarrassedly.
Ron smiled at her warmly. "Thanks
Hermione."
Hermione smiled back at him, her warm brown
eyes staring into his own azure ones.
"Everyone's been by
to see how you've been--Harry, Ginny, the entire Quidditch team,"
she said with a laugh.
"Good to know I'm popular,"
Ron said grinning widely.
Hermione erupted into giggles,
mainly because she was so happy to have Ron back. Ron began laughing
along with her.
"Ow," he gasped out. The smile was
wiped off of Hermione's face as she got up off her chair swiftly and
stood next to him.
"What is it, where does it hurt?"
she asked, placing her hand near his head.
"I'm okay, it
just hurt when I laughed, that's all," he said
gingerly.
Hermione's face was grim and she stood staring down
at him, her hand still hovering near his head. Ron reached up and
grabbed her hand, bringing it down to rest on his chest, his own hand
wrapped around hers.
"Stop worrying about me," said
Ron gently.
"I can't help it..." Hermione said,
sighing. "I was just...Ron, I was so worried I might lose you,"
she whispered, as her eyes glazed over.
Ron smiled, "Lose
me? Nah, you'll never lose me. It's my life's journey to follow you
around and bug you 'till your hair turns gray. You'll see, you'll get
a job and get married, and I'll still be there, bugging
you."
Hermione laughed at this vision. But quickly
stopped as the realization of what he said hit her. The way he
painted their future, he would always be around, which was great. But
he wouldn't be involved...not really.
"What's wrong?"
asked Ron as he stared into her fallen face. He propped himself up
into a sitting position, making them eye level.
Hermione sat
on the edge of his bed, her hand still nestled warmly in his, resting
on his chest. "Ron, I've been meaning to..." She looked up
into his eyes, staring so intently back into hers.
"Yes?"
he asked her, worriedly.
"Well...um...Oh, nevermind,"
she said frowning at him. Apparently, whatever she wanted to say was
going to be quite difficult.
"No, tell me," he said
holding her hand more fiercely.
"I..I...can't. Not right
now," she said, rising from his bed, her face
flustered.
"Hermione, please. Just tell me," he
said, his eyes urgently pouring into hers, pleading.
Hermione
looked at his pleading face and sat down again. "Ron, you and I
have been friends for a long time. And throughout our friendship,
we've been through a lot. Especially with Harry and everything. We've
risked our lives on countless occasions, always managing to escape.
And along the course of being your friend, I've realized that, well
that I care about you Ron. A lot. And yesterday only clinched that
for me. But I want you to know that I understand, if you don't want
anything to happen between us. Not wanting to complicate the
friendship and what have you," she said quickly, her voice
shaking. She watched Ron's face quickly for a reaction.
Ron's
heart thumped loudly in his chest, and he was positive she could feel
it through her fingertips. His eyes were opened wide, and he felt as
though there was a fire pit in his stomach.
"Complicate
the friendship?" Ron croaked. "Hermione, I, I love you,"
he spurt out. Immediately, he feared that he shouldn't have professed
his feelings so strongly. But it was too late, the words were out
there already; hovering madly between them.
Hermione looked at
him, stunned. He loved her. Not just liked, but loved. "Ron..."
She said softly. She leaned in and grabbed his face in her hands. She
looked into his eyes, their noses only centimeters apart, and she
kissed him, gently but still passionately. Ron put his hand up and
tangled it in her long, bushy hair. After several more seconds of
sweetly grazing lips and several entangled hands in hair, they pulled
away.
Hermione smiled and said softly, "I love you too
Ron."
Ron grinned wholeheartedly. He pulled Hermione to
his chest and hugged her closely. This is how it should always be.
Him and Hermione...together. He breathed in deeply, wanting to embed
the moment into his memory forever. He wanted to remember everything,
the feel of her in his arms, her scent, the way she breathed. Even
the throbbing in his brain couldn't ruin this moment.
After
several minutes had passed, they heard Madam Pomfrey enter the room.
Reluctantly, Hermione pulled herself out of Ron's arms and took her
seat by his bed.
"Mr. Weasley! You're awake," said
Madam Pomfrey, smiling. "How's your head feeling?"
"It's
throbbing a bit," he told her truthfully.
Hermione looked
at him, anxiously.
"Well, that's expected," said
Madam Pomfrey. "Take this," she handed him a vial of green
liquid. "It'll help."
"Thanks," said Ron
as he downed the liquid in one gulp. Immediately the throbbing in his
head subsided. "It really works!" said Ron,
impressed.
"Well, of course dear, I wouldn't give you
something that didn't work," said Madam Pomfrey with a chuckle.
"You really should rest up, but I've had Mr. Potter and Ms.
Weasley hassling me outside for the longest, so if they rile you up,
I'm marching right back in here and kicking them out," she said
decisively. She turned and walked out of the room.
Ron looked
at Hermione, who linked her fingers in his. "I'm already riled
up," he said, a smile teasing his eyes.
Hermione laughed,
and shook her head at him. "Honestly Ron--" but she didn't
finish. Ron pulled her towards him and captured her in another kiss,
this time more heated than the first. She didn't know it, but he had
never kissed anyone before. Not because he hadn't gotten the chance,
but because he had never wanted to kiss anyone else. Not the way he
wanted to kiss Hermione.
They broke apart, both breathing
heavily and smiling dreamily.
Harry and Ginny entered the room
to find Ron and Hermione holding hands, their faces flustered.
"Ron,
I see you're feeling better," said Harry glancing at Hermione
suggestively.
Ginny flew towards Ron and wrapped him in a
tight hug, "Thank goodness you're alright! We've all been so
worried! And--"
"--Ginny, he's fine,"
interrupted Harry, smiling.
Ginny caught her breath, and
smiled warmly at her brother.
"I wouldn't say fine,"
Ron said mockingly. "Possibly--average," he smirked. "But
then again, compared to Harry's ailments, this is a walk through
Hogsmeade," Ron joked, earning him a light punch in the arm from
Harry. "HEY! I'm an injured man here, don't make me call Madam
Pomfrey on you!" threatened Ron playfully.
Everyone
laughed heartily, welcoming the laughter. The past forty-eight hours
had been stressful and worrisome. Ron's joking was much appreciated
by the group of them.
Harry placed his arm around Ginny's
waist as they all laughed. Ron stopped laughing, "So, you're
both--together?" he said uncertainly.
Harry and Ginny
exchanged a look. Then Ginny turned to Ron, "Yes, we're
together, much like yourselves here," she said gesturing to the
linked fingers belonging to Ron and Hermione.
Ron laughed,
"Fair enough, you don't bother us, we won't bother
you."
Secretly, Ron had never hoped for a better guy for
his little sister. He knew his best friend would treat Ginny the way
she should be treated---with respect, honor, and love. He had always
thought they should be together, especially in their fifth year, when
she had dated several boys that, by Ron's standards, were definitely
unsuitable for her.
The group of them laughed. Ron had never
felt happier in his life. Finally, Hermione knew his feelings, and
not only that--she cared for him too. Ron suddenly felt that life
couldn't get any better.
