Never Let Go
The bright red sun was setting behind the mountains to the west of Hogsmeade and the light reflected against each single snowflake as they fell softly to the ground. Hermione let out a deep sigh.
"It really is beautiful," she said.
Not as beautiful as you, Ron thought. He watched her with a softened expression as she walked softly along the snowy trail. Everything about her was perfect – her skin, her hair, her eyes, and her smile – everything about Hermione that he had grown to love over the past five years.
"What's wrong?" she asked, stopping and turning, looking at him with a concerned look on her face, making Ron want her even more.
"Nothing's wrong..." he said.
Everything's just perfect, he thought.
"You're very quiet..." she said.
"I'm just thinking..." he responded softly. He had barely been able to speak, to move even, the past month. Ever since he had realized how he felt about her. How he loved her every movement, her every word.
"Who is she?" Hermione asked, apprehensively.
"Who?"
"The girl. It's obvious Ron... there's someone you've fallen for – I can see it in your eyes."
Ron thought he heard a note of tension in her voice, but he dismissed it as a figment of his hopeful imagination. He looked into her deep brown eyes.
I should tell her, he thought. Tell her now. I won't have to wonder anymore.
"Ron...?"
She won't feel the same way – she couldn't. She's smart and talented and beautiful. She wouldn't fall for me – a stupid, clumsy moron. She could do so much better – Krum; Harry, even...
"Ron, what's wrong?"
He couldn't stand it any longer.
"It's you," he said quickly, looking at his large feet in the snowy ground.
"Excuse me?"
He looked up from the ground and into her eyes. He was so full of fear and yet, full of hope at the same time
"It's you, Hermione," he said quietly. "I've fallen for you."
He inhaled sharply, feeling the cold air bite at his insides; he waited for her to speak. But she didn't.
"Now would be a good time to say something," he said, laughing nervously.
She looked up at him; her cheeks were pink – whether it was from the cold or an effect of what he had just told her, he didn't know.
"When you say you've fallen for me...what – what exactly do you mean?"
A voice in the back of his head begged him not to say it, but he felt his heart beat faster – telling him to do it, telling him that he had to let her know.
"I love you, Hermione."
A tear formed in Hermione's eye, as she smiled sweetly. She reached up to him and pulled him into a soft kiss. It felt better than anything he had ever experienced before, and it warmed his entire body. She slowly pulled away.
"I love you too, Ron," she whispered. They looked into each other's eyes. Ron felt as though everything in the world had just fallen into place. He put his arm around her and put his hand on her face, bringing her another kiss, knowing he would never let go.