Chapter Two: Confessions
Hermione woke up to the soft chirping of a cardinal that had perched itself on the Girls' Dormitory windowsill. She groaned at be woken up so early, she could tell it wasn't yet five in the morning by the way the sun wasn't quite risen yet. After lying awake for a couple minutes she slowly rose up and slipped a silky lavender robe over her night dressings and headed downstairs towards the Gryffindor common room.
The fire was already crackling, and it was pulling her towards it. She set herself in one of her three favorite squashy armchairs that sat themselves in front of the fire. The blanket which usually hung over the couch was now wrapped around her and she was curled up cozily. She began to stare at the flames which made her very groggy and she once more fell soundlessly asleep.
Ron jerked up so suddenly that he almost toppled out of his four-poster bed. He had been having a very vivid dream of him confessing his undying love for his best friend, Hermione. She had rejected him in such a way that all of the courage and confidence he had mustered the night before was gone. He could never tell her his true feelings, for it might jeopardize their friendship, and even if she didn't love him the way he loved her, he still wanted to be her friend.
This had woken Ron up completely and after replaying the thoughts and images of Hermione turning him down he thought 'enough is enough' and got out of bed. All of the other boys were still sleeping, and the sound of Neville's noticeable snores filled the room. He pulled a pair of comfortable pajama pants over his boxers and headed out of the room.
Someone was already in the common room because he heard a sigh of someone sleeping, and the fact that he could see the outline of their body gave it away. The person he least expected to be there was asleep very cutely curled up in the chair dead center in front of the fireplace. Hermione Granger lay curled up with the blanket falling ever so slowly off of her. He draped the blanket over her once more and smiled because he swore she had smiled in her sleep.
She had changed so much since first year that she was barely recognizable as the same know-it-all she used to be. The hair that was once bushy and untamed was now sleek and the curls were full and bouncy. He could watch her sleep for eternity. The dazzling flames were playing at her face, and this made her look twice as beautiful as usual. A small curl now fell into her face and he loosely tucked it behind her ear.
Ron loved everything about this girl. The way she blushed when he would offer her his jacket, the determination that struck her eye when she studied, her smile that could make him melt, he loved her. She wasn't like all of the prissy or pretty girls that Hogwarts was filled with. She was special. She was modest and didn't think anything of herself, but Ronald Weasley admired and loved everything about her, down to the very last minor detail about her. She would never love him though. Never. She probably liked Harry. He was famous, had money, and was the all in all cutie that the girls went after. He wished that she would love him and that they could have mor ethan just a friendship, but that's not how it worked.
Knowing that it must have been a while and that the sun was fully risen above the mountains around Hogwarts he slumped into another chair and stared into the flames. He didn't want her to know just yet, he had to prepare, even if everyone else in the school already knew their feelings towards each other. He wished that they didn't fight as much, so they could have interesting conversations like she did with other boys in and out of their house.
The next time he stole a quick glance in Hermiones's direction she had peeked one eye open, and then after a few seconds she had sat up with both eyes fully open. She jumped out of shock when she saw Ron sitting there next to her.
"Oh! Ron! What are you doing down here so early? I didn't notice you." said Hermione showing how surprised she was. That was it, she didn't notice him, nor would she ever notice him.
Ron was taken aback by her sudden outburst and was shook out of his daydream of her actually feeling the same way about him and he did her. "What? Oh, sorry 'Mione. I just thought I would come down here because I couldn't sleep. I didn't think anyone would be down here." he replied slowly a blush creeping up in his cheeks. Since we haven't any classes, anything planned for us today? Us, as in Harry, you, and I." he added noting to himself to think before he spoke.
"Hm, how about a walk down to Hagrid's hut?" she asked. Then she answered her own question. "No, never mind, he'll be planning for tomorrow's lesson plan."
Ron placed a finger to the tip of his chin to show he was thinking very hard on this subject. "I know! How about we all take a nice long walk around the school grounds and check out everything?" asked Ron hopefully.
Hermione jumped up after saying two words that simply gave Ron the chills from the way he said it. Sounds Great. As she ran up the steps back into the Girls' Dormitory he followed suit, taking this as a hint that he should do the same and go get ready. He walked up the steps into his ow dormitory two steps at a time so he could change quickly for breakfast. He thought all the boys would still be asleep, because they usually sleep in on a Sunday. Harry was sitting on the end on the window looking out onto the grounds. He turned when Ron walked in, Ron didn't feel the need to say anything to him, but Harry obviously did.
Mate...Why are you looking so happy?" questioned Harry. Ron's grin spread at the mention of it and he thought about him and Hermione's conversation between just the two of them rarlier that same morning. "Oh my gosh! You told her didn't you?! You told Hermione that you loved her and she said she loved you too!??! I knew it, I knew it!"
Ron's eyes grew huge and motioned Harry to stop before everyone else in the dormitory who was already stirring to wake up and that would lead to odd questioning. "No, no, no. Don't give your hopes up, Harry. I haven't told her anything yet, but she was down there, and we did talk.
Harry found nothing special about this and just plainly as anything said "You have conversations with everyday, what's the big deal?"
"You don't get it, that conversation it was just us, and it was...special." Ron said with a goofy look on his face. Harry rolled his eyes and asked what they planned on doing after breakfast as they got dressed. "Well, I suggested a walk around the grounds to Hermione, and she thought it was a great idea." Another smile plastered itself upon his face, but Harry couldn't see because Ron was turned around changing. "But I was thinking..." This got Harry's attention and he urged Ron to tell him what exactly he was thinking. "Maybe, if you really, really wanted me to tell her how I feel..."
"You mean that you have been madly in love with her from day one on the Hogwarts's Express?" chimed in Harry. Ron ignored this and went on.
"Do you think you could make up some absurd excuse to stay behind and while we're walking I could tell her?"
By now Harry was bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Yes!" he squealed making the other boys in the room stir and roll over.
Ron shook his head disapprovingly. "You have got to stop hanging out with Ginny!" Harry threw a pillow from his own bed at Ron, who dodged it using his quick reflexes he earned from Quidditch. "Okay, so what is your excuse to leave going to be once we leave the Great Hall? I can bring up the subject of where we go next, and then you have to decline it because..."
"Because I have to go make new tactics for the Slytherin versus Gryffindor game since I am captain." Ron shook his head to show he agreed and led the way down into the common room where Hermione already was sitting, as always, reading a book. They didn't get to catch a glimpse of the cover or name because as soon as she heard someone coming she quickly shut the book wit ha loud SLAM and put it aside.
"Anyone hungry?" asked Hermione knowingly. "Don't have to ask my twice!" blurted our Ron who had a wide but wicked grin on his face. Hermione giggled at this and walked towards the portrait hole. Ron made himself move faster and got to the door before anyone else to hold it open for her. They all headed down to the Great Hall with conversation about S.P.E.W. Breakfast paced rather dully, although they have been there for six years the variety and the taste of the foods still amazes them. As soon as they exited the Great Hall Harry winked at Ron as a sign to start 'the plan.'
"Where to next? How about that walk Harry, 'Mione?" said Ron succeeding in task one of their plan they had discussed in their dormitory that morning.
Here came Harry's part. "Nope. Sorry guys, I have to go work on some new Quidditch tactics so we can beat Slytherin next Monday."
"Oh. Well, 'Mione? You still up for a walk around the grounds?" asked Ron with a tone of hopefulness. He hoped she wouldn't back out now that Harry couldn't come. But, he doubted that she would want to go with just him.
"Of course!" she replied and once again Ron held the door after bidding their good-byes and adding another wink in Harry's direction. No one talked for a while because over the years since they had become friends they built a special bond in which they didn't have to speak to have an actual conversation with each other. They walked past Hagrid's Hut with a small wave, the Whomping Willow, and then they came to the lake and Ron thought 'Well, it's now or never.'
"'Mione, I have got to tell you something I have waited to tell you since first year." This gave Hermione a bad feeling and she thought that he had found out that she loved him and he didn't want to be her friend anymore. She shook her head to tell him to go on, hoping her thought were wrong. "You have changed so much since I met you on the train coming here for the first time. You aren't the bossy know-it-all girl who I used to fight and bicker with everyday." He now took her hands and looked at her up and down. "You are so beautiful, and I am lucky to have you as my best friend."
Hermione knew it, he was trying to let her down easy and not hurt her feelings too much. "Since we had to battle the Mountain Troll in first year, I wanted to be the knight and shining armor that saved you. I wanted to be the one to protect you." He blushed and looked into her eyes to finish. He saw tears threatening to fall, but he had to do this. He had already started and he had to finish and ignore the lurch of guilt he felt in the pit of his stomach. "I was devastated and heartbroken when you were petrified in second year and wanted to help you so badly, and in third year I was proud that you helped Harry rescue Buckbeak and Sirius." Tears were now falling slowly down her cheeks and she was biting her lip, like the did when she got nervous. "Then, in fourth year when you were taken underwater and 'Vicky' sorry...Viktor" Ron said through gritted teeth "was supposed to save you, I don't know what I would have done without you, if he wasn't able to get there in time. I knew I had no chance with you once you met him, that's why I chose to tease you about him rather then tell you my true feelings.
He started up his speech once more. "After seeing you duel with the dementors and work so hard to try and find Sirius again in the Department of Mysteries, I knew you didn't need me to be there for you any longer. I knew that you didn't need me anymore because you were growing up and I watched you grow and watched my love for you grow as well." He took a deep breath and still ignored the lurch of guilt as he saw yet more tears running down her face. "What I am trying to say 'Mione, it that I love you. I always have loved you and I can't help but to continue loving you. You are amazing in each and every way and I just wanted you to know that."
Hermione know opened her mouth to reply. "Ron-""No, it's okay I know you don't feel the same way, I just really need to get that off my chest."
"No, Ron, wait! I'm crying becauseI loe you too! What in the world took you so long to come around!"
"You mean it? You love me too?" When Hermione shook her head yes indicating that she too loved him. He grabbed her waist and puled her into the tightest and closest hug ever spinning her around. She was so surprised at this they almost fell into the lake. They pulled apart and looked into each others eyes, as if they were searching for some sort of answer. They got closer...and closer still until their lips brushed against each others testing. They both out more effort into it and unleashed all of the passion that was behind their bodies for six long years. The kiss was so simple and innocent but it meant so much.
They both headed back inside to tell Harry the news and Ron offered her his hand and as they passed people in the halls no one looked the least bit surprised. Even the teachers gave them a look like everyone-knew-they-would-end-up-together. When they entered the portrait hole saying the password 'Dueling' they found Harry and Ginny playing a game of Wizarding Chess.
Harry gave Ron a look asking him if he told her or not and Ron just smiled. "Harry, Ginny, Hermione and I are officially a couple." Ginny squealed and after a bunch of hugging and congratulating the couple spent their first couple minutes together watching Harry and Ginny play game after game of Wizarding Chess whispering in each others ears and cuddling.