JUST RON

by: Black Is Back

Chapter 7 – The Truth Comes Out In Your Dreams

Hermione had never had such a restful, dreamless sleep. She woke up and almost forgot why she was there. She wanted to know hat time it was and above the fireplace a clock appeared.

It's 5:04; everyone must be talking about what I said over a nice dinner. Hermione thought spitefully. She didn't feel like facing everyone just yet so she decided to grab her favorite book, Hogwarts: A History, and begin reading it for the nineteenth time. She was on the fourth chapter, Restrictions Of The School, when she heard the door creak open. She looked over and Ron was standing in the doorway.

"Hi," He said quietly.

"Hello." Hermione looked down at her book and pretended to be reading but she was actually just staring at the word, 'the.'

"Can we talk?" Ron said as he walked into the room.

"Why? I think I've said enough for a while. Didn't I embarrass you?"

" 'Mione, I..." his voice trailed off.

Hermione looked up at him and saw the look only Ron can give and it sent chills up her spine.

"Yes?"

"I...you didn't embarrass me."

"Oh well I'm glad for that, but I must admit I embarrassed myself."

"Look," they both said in unison.

"Oh sorry 'Mione. Go ahead."

"I was just going to ask you if we could forget about this. Please?"

"Oh...y-yeah. Sure."

"Thank you Ron. Were you going to say something?"

"I wasn't going to say something. I was going to do something."

He walked over to her and grabbed her hand. She got up and he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. She could feel his breath against her face.

"What are you doing?"

"What I should have done that day at the Shrieking Shack," and with that he leaned in and kissed her.

Hermione woke with a start.

It was just a dream. Only a dream. Hermione thought disappointedly. Even though it was just a dream she was still short of breath. What time is it? A clock appeared above the fireplace.

5:04? It was 5:04 in my dream...I think. I can't remember exactly.

She looked over at the door half expecting Ron to walk in any minute and kiss her.

I'm being ridiculous! She decided not to read Hogwarts: A History but brush up on Communication With Trolls: The Basics instead. An hour passed, two hours, three hours and no Ron.

"He's NOT coming," she said out loud.

It was around 9 o'clock when Hermione sunk back into a peaceful sleep. She was awoken, however, shortly afterwards. She couldn't tell who it was because the lights dimmed themselves as she fell asleep. I need light. Hermione thought. The lights brightned themselves to reveal a very squinty eyed Ron.

"Ron? What are you doing here? How did you get in here?"

"'Mione we need to talk whether you want to or not."

Hermione pinched herself just to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

"Ow...Okay, look Ron can we just forget about what happened in there today?"

"No 'Mione, maybe you can but I can't. I want to know how long you have felt, well, you know, like that."

"I don't know. I guess a long time. I just didn't fully realize it. I think the first time I felt anything like it was that day at the Shrieking Shack. Remember we were in our third year and it was snowing?"

"Of course I remember. You asked me if I wanted to get closer and I thought you meant us." Ron gave a small chuckle. "Why didn't you tell me then?"

"Because I was afraid of this, I was afraid of rejection. I mean who isn't right?"

"'Mione..."

"No," Hermione interrupted, "it's fine Ron. If you can't forget about this then I'm sorry but I'm going to try. I have to."

"But-"

"Goodnight Ron."

Hermione got up and walked out. She looked back and Ron was watching her walk away. He was about to say something but stopped. Then he spoke as she opened the door.

"Night."