JUST RON

by: Black Is Back

Chapter 10 – The End of the Beginning

Hermione ran out the door and found herself in a blizzard without a cloak or scarf. She looked around for Ron but couldn't find him. She did, however, spot Neville walking towards her so she ran over to meet him.

"Neville, have you seen Ron?"

"Yeah, he just ran past here. I think he was in a hurry or something."

"Which way?"

Neville pointed behind him up towards the street.

"Thank you Neville," Hermione called back as she ran the way Neville directed her.

Where is he going? Hermione thought. Why did he look so nervous?

After about five frantic minutes of searching for Rob she decided to head back to Hog's Head. She turned around and found herself right to the left of the Shrieking Shack. Memories of it came sweeping into Hermione's mind like a tidal wave. She smiled and closed her eyes as she stood there slightly shaking now. She didn't care though. After this year everything will be what the Shrieking Shack is now. Just a memory. She couldn't help that most of her thoughts were now of Ron. She smiled even more at one thought: he said he needed me.

Something in her brain clicked and she finally figured it out. It's him! He's the reason I can't concentrate. Every time I try to work in classes I keep thinking about him! He doesn't need me. I need him to be me.

Now she was trembling as she felt the coldness of winter seep into her clothes and bite at her bare skin. She needed to find Ron. She opened her eyes as she turned around. She didn't open them soon enough because she ran right into someone standing behind her. She was just about to hit the hard, bitter snow when someone grabbed her around the waist to prevent her from falling. She looked up and Ron was picking her back up.

"Thanks," Hermione said as her face turned a rosy red. "Listen, we need to talk, Ron."

But Ron wasn't listening. "Hey do you want to go up and have a look? For old times sake?" She looked over to where he was pointing, the Shrieking Shack.

It's not that she didn't want to go but she was freezing to death and really wanted to talk to Ron about everything. Ron seemed to have read her mind because before she even spoke he took off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Better?"

"Yes, thank you, again." Hermione said softly, "Okay come on let's go."

They reached the gates and Hermione couldn't help but get a sense of déjà vu. She couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey Ron, want to get closer?" Hermione giggled.

"Yeah."

"What? Oh, no you didn't get it. I was joking remember third-"

"Yes I do want to get closer." Ron sounded a bit agitated.

"Ron, We really need to talk."

"No," Ron said simply, "WE don't need to talk, I do. You always want to talk at the wrong times. And, well, don't take this the wrong way Mione but shut up, for once."

Hermione looked up and was about to respond but she saw kindness on his face instead of disagreement. This time was different. He had that look in his eyes but this time it was real. It wasn't a fantasy. It wasn't a dream or even a glimpse. She was staring into her eyes and she knew.

"Oh," she said gently.

"Mione, I- no, let me start over. We were here almost four years ago. Ever since around then I've had these confusing feelings for you and up until that Potions class I thought that that was all it was ever going to be. Confusing. Then I was with Sheena that one night. I know you saw me. And I looked at her and all I could see was this empty shell. Nothing that I wanted. She wasn't you. You're all I ever wanted, then again you are all I've ever tried to avoid."

He broke her stare and smiled as he looked up at the Shrieking Shack. Hermione never took her eyes off of him.

"You this is almost EXACTLY how it was four years ago. We are even standing in the same spots."

Ron looked back at Hermione. This time he wasn't smiling.

"Uh, Hermione, I, uh, love you."

Hermione couldn't help it. She started laughing uncontrollably hard.

"Not exactly the reaction I was expecting. I'll, uh, I guess I'll just go then," Ron said obviously very confused and hurt as he turned to leave.

"Ronald Weasley!"

She grabbed his hand and spun him around so he was facing her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him, what she thought, was the best kiss ever. He enclosed his arms around her waist and participated happily. They separated and looked at each other for a minute.

"I love you too," Hermione whispered.

Then Hermione did something that caught Ron completely off guard. She punched him extremely hard in the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"That was for not telling me sooner!"

"Well, that's what you get for not letting me talk!"

"You two are fighting like an old married couple. What will you do when you actually get married?" Harry said out of the coldness.

Hermione and Ron spun around to find Ginny and Harry standing a little further down the path.

"Oh-uh, hello. How long - " Ron said but Ginny cut him off.

"We saw everything," She said simply.

"Well it's not like we weren't going to tell you," Ron said defensively.

"Look can me and Ron have a minute? Just a minute. Thank you," Hermione said.

"Knew it would happen eventually," Harry muttered as him and Ginny walked up to the Shrieking Shack.

Hermione turned to Ron. "So now what?"

"Well, we go back up to the school with our best friend and my sister and we act like we always. Do. But I will have you know that I will be expecting a lot more snogging than before."

"Oh, I was hoping that was included in our new relationship." She gave him a quick kiss then perched her head on his shoulder as they both looked up at the Shrieking Shack.

"So we are finally here? I wonder what changed?" Ron said.

"We are in the same place we've always been. We just realize where that is now. Nothing really changed. After all I'm still Hermione and you're just Ron."

Hermione smiled. The words 'just Ron' kept repeating themselves in her head.

He was, after everything they had gone through, just Ron.

THE END