IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PLOT: Previously the identity concealing potion Hermione took was said to last 48 hours, but I am changing it to 24 hours. Please note that.
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Okay, in, out, and back home in under a minute, Hermione coached herself as she was about to step into her fireplace. "The Burrow!" she shouted as she threw the Floo Powder, and was swirled into the uncommonly quiet Weasley kitchen.
"Hello? Anyone home? Ginny?" as she turned to call up the stairs someone came from behind and tapped her shoulder. She shrieked, but when she turned to face the source of the tap, was comforted to see Ron.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."
Hermione put her hand over her heart and took a few deep breaths before speaking. "It's okay. I'm always just a bit...jumpy."
"Ginny had to go over some wedding plans or something, and no one else was going to be home, so she asked me to wait for you."
"Thanks. I hope it didn't inconvenience you too much."
"Oh, don't worry about it, it didn't at all. But you see, the thing is Ginny brought your purse to my house to give to me to give to you, and since it was about 5 hours before I was planning on getting up, in my state of grogginess I left it at my house. I was just about to go get it. You can wait here for a second, or...or if your in a hurry you can come with and pick it up."
"Well, I'm not in a hurry, but I can come with anyway. Save you a few trips."
Ron smiled at her, and she went weak in the knees the way she always had whenever he flashed her the Weasley grin. "All right. It's at 345 Coverdale. You can apparate there, right?"
"Of course."
And with two pops and green flashes they were gone, and with two more pops and green flashes they were in Ron's living room. "Welcome to my humble abode," Ron said to Hermione, giving an over-exaggerated bow, and causing her to giggle. He continued in seriousness, "It's not much, I'm sure places in New York are much more exciting, but this is good enough for me."
"I think it's lovely. Very...very you," she responded as she noted the walls were orange, the team color of the Chudley Cannons, and that there was various items of Quidditch paraphernalia around the room.
Ron eyed her playfully, "You've known me for-what 12-13 hours- and you think you know my tastes?"
Hermione smiled at him. "You're very readable." And it was true. Of course he had a few layers. Ones that had to be dug for and took awhile to find, but much of Ron was worn on his sleeve. When their eyes met they had another soul touching moment. Neither had felt a stronger connection with anyone in their lives.
Slowly, Ron moved closer to her until they were only a few short inches apart. Hermione thought her heart was going to explode from her chest. "What am I saying now?" he quietly asked.
Still having trouble breathing, Hermione looked from his lips to his eyes, and barely audibly responded, "That you're going to get my purse now?" But she barely finished the sentence before his lips were on hers and twelve years of suppressed feelings came out of both of them. His arms instinctively came around her waist and hers clasped behind his head. The kiss was soft and sweet and passionate all at the same time. It felt like they had been doing this for years. It felt so right, so perfect.
When they finally broke away they leaned their foreheads together, still holding one another, and still trying to catch their breath. "I guess I'm not all that readable after all," Ron stated. Hermione smiled to note that Ron was still the same in that respect as well- he always had to fill awkward silences with humor.
"Guess not."
Not looking at her, Ron spoke, "I want you to have dinner with me. Tonight. Like on a date." Finally, he looked her in the eyes when he noticed Hermione was hesitating. He added, "I won't take no for an answer. You can come by at 7:00."
"Okay," she responded, nodding.
Again, Ron flashed that grin, "I'll go get your purse." They held on to one another for one more half second before Ron went to his room to retrieve her purse. While he went to his room, Hermione mentally slapped herself. She should not have kissed him. She should have stopped it. She should have said no to the date. But how could she have after that kiss. It proved that her and Ron were still meant to be together. After all those years, even though they may have physically drifted apart, they hadn't emotionally. Their hearts were still bound to one another.
Ron returned and handed her her purse. "See you here at 7." Hermione merely nodded in response and then apparated before she did something rash like envelope him in her arms and smother him with her lips, or worse, tell him the truth.
A/N: So I was debating if I should go on an with this chapter, and add the next part on of post this, and then the second part later. I know this is really short, but the next part as far as I can tell will be very long. It will be getting into the main plot of the story and things will be explained. So I figured I'd put this half out to sustain you until the next chapter comes out. I might combine them later on.