CHAPTER 16 Midnight Wanderings
Ron sighed as he closed the front door of his flat behind him, and dumped his Quidditch gear and cloak in the hallway. He made his way to the couch, intending to slouch down on the couch and laze about for the rest of the evening, but that was not to happen, for Krista was sitting in the couch, looking up at Ron and she had tears in her eyes. Ron immediately walked up to her, and when she had risen, he gave her a bone crushing hug. He could feel her trembling as he heard a sob escape her lips. He held her tight as he patted her back and waited for her to calm down. When the trembling had subsided enough, he let her go and looked into her eyes. They were red and blotchy and reminded him so of someone else's who had once cried over him. He smiled at her, as he guided her to the couch and sat down beside her.
"Are you ok Krista?" Ron asked as she shook her head and relaxed her breathing. A little hiccup escaped her lips and she blushed. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about", Ron laughed as he smiled at her, and she in turn, smiled back.
"I'm so sorry about calling you a commoner and saying you couldn't handle it. I was out of line and after you left last night, I was so upset. I thought you would dump me", Krista said as she wiped the last of her tears away with the sleeve of her top.
"Oh I wouldn't do that, I just needed time to think", Ron said soothingly.
"You were so angry at me", Krista sniffed, "I never meant to question your abilities, you had gone through so much with Harry and Hermione in school. You were right, you knew more than even I ever could, and I just couldn't accept that".
"Oh Krista, I never meant to hurt you or shout at you. Its just stupid of me, I just do things and then think about the consequences later on", Ron smiled.
Krista let out a little laugh and smiled at him, "You said that before".
"That's because its true. I'm just a big oaf!"
Again Krista let out a laugh and Ron smiled at her.
"But what about you walking away just after I mentioned marriage?" Krista asked and Ron looked at her.
"Well you have to see it from my point of view, we have been going out for about three months, coming on four, and even though I love you, its just not what I needed to hear, especially so soon after that fight", Ron sighed.
"You're right and I'm sorry Ron", Krista replied. "I was foolish".
"I think we should calm down our relationship. Tone it down a bit", Ron said and Krista nodded her head unable to speak.
She sighed as Ron continued, "I love you and all but we've only been together for three months now, its just too serious for me right now".
Krista sniffed as she opened her mouth and replied, "I understand Ron. I will leave you alone more then".
"Come here", Ron sighed as he looked at Krista, her eyes red and puffy, her whole frame slouched forward as she held in the tears, her pretty hair all ruffled up and a mess. She looked more beautiful at that moment than Ron had ever seen her before. "You can stay the night if you want. Just because I asked you to slow down the relationship, doesn't mean you have to shy away from me!" Krista smiled at him, as she wiped away the last of her tears and leant up to kiss him gently on the lips.
"And people wonder why I love you", she replied smiling at him, as Ron wound his arms around her small waist and pulled her closer to him.
"Hmmm I wonder why that is", Ron mused as a grin played on his face, capturing her lips with his own, guiding her towards his bedroom. He was going to have her show to him how much she really did love him.
"Come on Ron, just a little further", Hermione smiled, holding out her hand, the wind playing with her hair and fanning it all around her. "Just another little step", she laughed as she motioned for Ron to follow her. Her looked at her hesitantly, but she was smiling and laughing at him, still holding out her hand for him to take it. He looked into her chocolate brown eyes and saw only joy. He smiled back and took her hand, as she led him through the tall grass of the cornfield. The long stalky shoots of the corn tickled Ron's chest as Hermione guided him through the field. Her hand felt warm and soft, as he gripped onto it, for Hermione was small and the grass was quite tall. She started walking faster and faster, the grass growing so tall he could no longer spot her bushy hair above the tips of the corn. He began running as Hermione let go of his hand and ran on ahead.
"Hermione wait", Ron cried out as he ran after her, but he soon lost her in the maze of the tall corn. He stopped and looked around, but Hermione had disappeared. The sun glared into his eyes, blinding him as he looked all around him, turning around to see if he could see some kind of rustle of the corn, some movement that might indicate where she was, but all was still. Not a single blade of corn moved and the sun beat down onto his back and shoulders blinding his eyes. He heard a rustle and a bird fluttered out of the field of corn, startling Ron, but still he saw no signs of her.
"Hermione?" Ron cried out once again, shielding his eyes from the blinding sun. He started walking on ahead, keeping his eyes on the ground as the sun grew brighter and soon he realised he had left the cornfield behind and he was walking through short grass. When he looked up, he saw the sun was not as blinding as before, and Hermione was standing in front of him, wearing a cotton white dress that went past her ankles and her hair was loosely tied back. Standing there at the top of a small mound with the sun shining down on her, she reminded Ron of an angel that Hermione had once told him about.
She smiled at him and held out her hand for him to take, saying, "Come here Ron".
Ron dutifully obeyed walking towards her and taking her hand. When he reached her on the mound, he realised it was not a mound at all, but the edge of a cliff, which was about 100 feet above a calm and deep blue sea. Only a few waves could be seen crashing against a stony beach at the bottom of the cliff, the rest of the sea was as calm as Ron. With Hermione around, the whole world seemed to be waiting with bated breath, not daring to move until she did.
"I love you Ron!" she said smiling and leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips, pausing a while before drawing away again to look at Ron. He still had his eyes closed and a smile was forming on his face. She stepped away from him, as Ron opened his eyes and turned around to face the open sea. Without another word, she dived off the cliff and as Ron ran to the cliff edge to watch in horror as she fell, 100 feet, she raised her arms above her head and dived cleanly into the crystal blue water, with only a little splash. A minute or two later, her head appeared above the water and she cried out to him;
"Come on in Ron, its lovely and warm", she cried, waving her arms up in the air. Ron doubtfully looked at her a hundred feet below him, swimming in the water. Should he risk jumping off the cliff just because Hermione done it?
"Come on Ron, have a little faith in me", she cried and Ron nodded his head smiling at her far below him. His feet moved towards the edge and he looked at the drop just below him. It dropped steeply with no ledges or rocks sticking out. Just gazing down at the rocky beach below him, gave him vertigo and he looked over at the horizon to calm his fears. Then without thinking anymore, Ron jumped, diving head first straight towards the sea.
Ron jumped up in bed, sitting up straight, struggling with the sheets, that were tangled up, making him unable to move. He tore at the sheets, until he got them de-tangled from his legs and realised he had been sweating. His forehead was soaked in sweat and so were the sheets. Ron wiped away some of the sweat from his face, and sat down at the edge of the bed. It was still dark outside and when Ron looked over at Krista, he saw she was happily sound asleep, her naked body hugging the sheets tightly. Her hair was fanned out on the pillow, just like Hermione's was in the dream. Ron sighed as he remembered the dream so vividly, going through all the events in his mind. Ron rubbed his eyes and when he saw it was only two in the morning he sighed and got up. There was no way he was going to get any sleep now, not when he was drenched in sweat and his heart was beating wildly. He made his way to the bathroom in the dark and turned on the shower, letting the steam envelop him. After a good hot shower, which both awoke him and calmed him down, Ron got a towel and dried himself off, tying it around his waist. He made his way to the sitting room and looked out of the window of his flat.
He saw only the other houses on the other side of the street, the street lights shining along the road, making up an avenue of light. He sighed as he sat down on the couch and rubbed his eyes. This was not good if he started having dreams of Hermione. It meant she was on his mind a lot and that was not a good thing at all. Ron sighed as he rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands once more and looked out of the window. There was nothing else he could do, he had to do something about it, and that meant getting out of the sofa and getting dressed. Ron had to sort things out once and for all and this meant for once he had to put his pride and stubbornness behind him. Ron rose out of the sofa, made his way into his bedroom and pulled on a few clothes, while making sure Krista was still asleep. If she knew where he was going, she would only get upset and he didn't have to deal with that until he had sorted this mess out. He quietly made his way into the living room once again, got his wand from the coffee table and left the flat. Within five minutes he was outside and walking briskly along the London streets. He had his wand with him, but he didn't feel like Apparating.
A brisk walk would do him good and help give him time on how he was exactly going to do this. His feet automatically took him along the old streets to a place he had trodden along many times. He turned another corner, and found himself on another, not so special, suburban street with its orange lights illuminating the street, the muggle cars parked along the side of the road and the neatly trimmed hedges and lawn of each house. Ron counted the numbers of each house, the Victorian style buildings all looked the same with its red brick, elaborate designs along the windows, the large windows and old fashioned doors.
Ron walked along the road, until he reached the house with number 22 on it, and made the way up the little path, until he reached the red oak door. He took out his wand, whispered Alohomora and stepped inside, shutting the door and shutting out the street lights. He made his way up the stairs, counting the numbers of each apartment, until he reached the third floor and stood outside apartment 12. Ron sighed once more, there was no turning back, and he rang the doorbell. From inside the apartment he could hear the buzz and he waited a few minutes, until he heard the sound of shuffling feet and the door opened a little, to reveal a tired Hermione standing there in her light blue bathrobe and pyjamas looking at him confused. When she spotted who it was, her eyes widened and she looked at Ron, as if not trusting her eyes.
"Ron?" she asked groggily. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you, can I come in?" Ron asked.
"Sure Ron, but couldn't it have waited until morning?" Hermione asked yawning, "Its coming onto three in the morning".
"No it can't", Ron said rather urgently, and sensing the tone of his voice, Hermione opened the door wider and stepped inside. Ron entered the old apartment he had once shared with Hermione, and saw how little she had really changed it.
"Is there something the matter Ron?" Hermione asked worried.
"No, well actually yes, a bit", Ron replied and Hermione indicated to the sofas.
"Well then you had better sit down", she said fixing her bathrobe and tying it tighter around her. Ron nodded and sat down on one couch as Hermione sat across from him.
"Well where can I start?" Ron mused as he twiddled with his fingers and looked up at Hermione, was looking at him expectantly.
"Well start from the beginning then", Hermione replied and Ron smiled. "Tell me what the matter is!"
PS. I just thought I should say sorry for not writing in ages. My excuse? A hell of a lot of personal problems and exes I can't seem to get over, but anyway, I'm going on holiday in a few days and then I'll be gone from it all, so I will probably write more then. And I am going to take my story with me as I'll have access to internet so you won't have to wait three weeks. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter, and once again, I'm really sorry!
PPs I just want to say thank you to all those people who reviewed. You have brightened up many a day when I wasn't feeling my best. THANK YOU! (
Ron sighed as he closed the front door of his flat behind him, and dumped his Quidditch gear and cloak in the hallway. He made his way to the couch, intending to slouch down on the couch and laze about for the rest of the evening, but that was not to happen, for Krista was sitting in the couch, looking up at Ron and she had tears in her eyes. Ron immediately walked up to her, and when she had risen, he gave her a bone crushing hug. He could feel her trembling as he heard a sob escape her lips. He held her tight as he patted her back and waited for her to calm down. When the trembling had subsided enough, he let her go and looked into her eyes. They were red and blotchy and reminded him so of someone else's who had once cried over him. He smiled at her, as he guided her to the couch and sat down beside her.
"Are you ok Krista?" Ron asked as she shook her head and relaxed her breathing. A little hiccup escaped her lips and she blushed. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about", Ron laughed as he smiled at her, and she in turn, smiled back.
"I'm so sorry about calling you a commoner and saying you couldn't handle it. I was out of line and after you left last night, I was so upset. I thought you would dump me", Krista said as she wiped the last of her tears away with the sleeve of her top.
"Oh I wouldn't do that, I just needed time to think", Ron said soothingly.
"You were so angry at me", Krista sniffed, "I never meant to question your abilities, you had gone through so much with Harry and Hermione in school. You were right, you knew more than even I ever could, and I just couldn't accept that".
"Oh Krista, I never meant to hurt you or shout at you. Its just stupid of me, I just do things and then think about the consequences later on", Ron smiled.
Krista let out a little laugh and smiled at him, "You said that before".
"That's because its true. I'm just a big oaf!"
Again Krista let out a laugh and Ron smiled at her.
"But what about you walking away just after I mentioned marriage?" Krista asked and Ron looked at her.
"Well you have to see it from my point of view, we have been going out for about three months, coming on four, and even though I love you, its just not what I needed to hear, especially so soon after that fight", Ron sighed.
"You're right and I'm sorry Ron", Krista replied. "I was foolish".
"I think we should calm down our relationship. Tone it down a bit", Ron said and Krista nodded her head unable to speak.
She sighed as Ron continued, "I love you and all but we've only been together for three months now, its just too serious for me right now".
Krista sniffed as she opened her mouth and replied, "I understand Ron. I will leave you alone more then".
"Come here", Ron sighed as he looked at Krista, her eyes red and puffy, her whole frame slouched forward as she held in the tears, her pretty hair all ruffled up and a mess. She looked more beautiful at that moment than Ron had ever seen her before. "You can stay the night if you want. Just because I asked you to slow down the relationship, doesn't mean you have to shy away from me!" Krista smiled at him, as she wiped away the last of her tears and leant up to kiss him gently on the lips.
"And people wonder why I love you", she replied smiling at him, as Ron wound his arms around her small waist and pulled her closer to him.
"Hmmm I wonder why that is", Ron mused as a grin played on his face, capturing her lips with his own, guiding her towards his bedroom. He was going to have her show to him how much she really did love him.
"Come on Ron, just a little further", Hermione smiled, holding out her hand, the wind playing with her hair and fanning it all around her. "Just another little step", she laughed as she motioned for Ron to follow her. Her looked at her hesitantly, but she was smiling and laughing at him, still holding out her hand for him to take it. He looked into her chocolate brown eyes and saw only joy. He smiled back and took her hand, as she led him through the tall grass of the cornfield. The long stalky shoots of the corn tickled Ron's chest as Hermione guided him through the field. Her hand felt warm and soft, as he gripped onto it, for Hermione was small and the grass was quite tall. She started walking faster and faster, the grass growing so tall he could no longer spot her bushy hair above the tips of the corn. He began running as Hermione let go of his hand and ran on ahead.
"Hermione wait", Ron cried out as he ran after her, but he soon lost her in the maze of the tall corn. He stopped and looked around, but Hermione had disappeared. The sun glared into his eyes, blinding him as he looked all around him, turning around to see if he could see some kind of rustle of the corn, some movement that might indicate where she was, but all was still. Not a single blade of corn moved and the sun beat down onto his back and shoulders blinding his eyes. He heard a rustle and a bird fluttered out of the field of corn, startling Ron, but still he saw no signs of her.
"Hermione?" Ron cried out once again, shielding his eyes from the blinding sun. He started walking on ahead, keeping his eyes on the ground as the sun grew brighter and soon he realised he had left the cornfield behind and he was walking through short grass. When he looked up, he saw the sun was not as blinding as before, and Hermione was standing in front of him, wearing a cotton white dress that went past her ankles and her hair was loosely tied back. Standing there at the top of a small mound with the sun shining down on her, she reminded Ron of an angel that Hermione had once told him about.
She smiled at him and held out her hand for him to take, saying, "Come here Ron".
Ron dutifully obeyed walking towards her and taking her hand. When he reached her on the mound, he realised it was not a mound at all, but the edge of a cliff, which was about 100 feet above a calm and deep blue sea. Only a few waves could be seen crashing against a stony beach at the bottom of the cliff, the rest of the sea was as calm as Ron. With Hermione around, the whole world seemed to be waiting with bated breath, not daring to move until she did.
"I love you Ron!" she said smiling and leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips, pausing a while before drawing away again to look at Ron. He still had his eyes closed and a smile was forming on his face. She stepped away from him, as Ron opened his eyes and turned around to face the open sea. Without another word, she dived off the cliff and as Ron ran to the cliff edge to watch in horror as she fell, 100 feet, she raised her arms above her head and dived cleanly into the crystal blue water, with only a little splash. A minute or two later, her head appeared above the water and she cried out to him;
"Come on in Ron, its lovely and warm", she cried, waving her arms up in the air. Ron doubtfully looked at her a hundred feet below him, swimming in the water. Should he risk jumping off the cliff just because Hermione done it?
"Come on Ron, have a little faith in me", she cried and Ron nodded his head smiling at her far below him. His feet moved towards the edge and he looked at the drop just below him. It dropped steeply with no ledges or rocks sticking out. Just gazing down at the rocky beach below him, gave him vertigo and he looked over at the horizon to calm his fears. Then without thinking anymore, Ron jumped, diving head first straight towards the sea.
Ron jumped up in bed, sitting up straight, struggling with the sheets, that were tangled up, making him unable to move. He tore at the sheets, until he got them de-tangled from his legs and realised he had been sweating. His forehead was soaked in sweat and so were the sheets. Ron wiped away some of the sweat from his face, and sat down at the edge of the bed. It was still dark outside and when Ron looked over at Krista, he saw she was happily sound asleep, her naked body hugging the sheets tightly. Her hair was fanned out on the pillow, just like Hermione's was in the dream. Ron sighed as he remembered the dream so vividly, going through all the events in his mind. Ron rubbed his eyes and when he saw it was only two in the morning he sighed and got up. There was no way he was going to get any sleep now, not when he was drenched in sweat and his heart was beating wildly. He made his way to the bathroom in the dark and turned on the shower, letting the steam envelop him. After a good hot shower, which both awoke him and calmed him down, Ron got a towel and dried himself off, tying it around his waist. He made his way to the sitting room and looked out of the window of his flat.
He saw only the other houses on the other side of the street, the street lights shining along the road, making up an avenue of light. He sighed as he sat down on the couch and rubbed his eyes. This was not good if he started having dreams of Hermione. It meant she was on his mind a lot and that was not a good thing at all. Ron sighed as he rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands once more and looked out of the window. There was nothing else he could do, he had to do something about it, and that meant getting out of the sofa and getting dressed. Ron had to sort things out once and for all and this meant for once he had to put his pride and stubbornness behind him. Ron rose out of the sofa, made his way into his bedroom and pulled on a few clothes, while making sure Krista was still asleep. If she knew where he was going, she would only get upset and he didn't have to deal with that until he had sorted this mess out. He quietly made his way into the living room once again, got his wand from the coffee table and left the flat. Within five minutes he was outside and walking briskly along the London streets. He had his wand with him, but he didn't feel like Apparating.
A brisk walk would do him good and help give him time on how he was exactly going to do this. His feet automatically took him along the old streets to a place he had trodden along many times. He turned another corner, and found himself on another, not so special, suburban street with its orange lights illuminating the street, the muggle cars parked along the side of the road and the neatly trimmed hedges and lawn of each house. Ron counted the numbers of each house, the Victorian style buildings all looked the same with its red brick, elaborate designs along the windows, the large windows and old fashioned doors.
Ron walked along the road, until he reached the house with number 22 on it, and made the way up the little path, until he reached the red oak door. He took out his wand, whispered Alohomora and stepped inside, shutting the door and shutting out the street lights. He made his way up the stairs, counting the numbers of each apartment, until he reached the third floor and stood outside apartment 12. Ron sighed once more, there was no turning back, and he rang the doorbell. From inside the apartment he could hear the buzz and he waited a few minutes, until he heard the sound of shuffling feet and the door opened a little, to reveal a tired Hermione standing there in her light blue bathrobe and pyjamas looking at him confused. When she spotted who it was, her eyes widened and she looked at Ron, as if not trusting her eyes.
"Ron?" she asked groggily. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you, can I come in?" Ron asked.
"Sure Ron, but couldn't it have waited until morning?" Hermione asked yawning, "Its coming onto three in the morning".
"No it can't", Ron said rather urgently, and sensing the tone of his voice, Hermione opened the door wider and stepped inside. Ron entered the old apartment he had once shared with Hermione, and saw how little she had really changed it.
"Is there something the matter Ron?" Hermione asked worried.
"No, well actually yes, a bit", Ron replied and Hermione indicated to the sofas.
"Well then you had better sit down", she said fixing her bathrobe and tying it tighter around her. Ron nodded and sat down on one couch as Hermione sat across from him.
"Well where can I start?" Ron mused as he twiddled with his fingers and looked up at Hermione, was looking at him expectantly.
"Well start from the beginning then", Hermione replied and Ron smiled. "Tell me what the matter is!"
PS. I just thought I should say sorry for not writing in ages. My excuse? A hell of a lot of personal problems and exes I can't seem to get over, but anyway, I'm going on holiday in a few days and then I'll be gone from it all, so I will probably write more then. And I am going to take my story with me as I'll have access to internet so you won't have to wait three weeks. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter, and once again, I'm really sorry!
PPs I just want to say thank you to all those people who reviewed. You have brightened up many a day when I wasn't feeling my best. THANK YOU! (
