A/N: Thanks as always for following along and sharing your thoughts - please continue to let me know what you think as we move forward!
Accio-broom is still the best for continuing to tolerate beta'ing these super long chapters.
Moving on - the night gets more interesting in the "present", and the flashback version of Ron tries to make amends…
September 15, 2012, 11:05pm
"Thanks again for everything, Ron, it was delicious!" Katie called as she walked down the sidewalk with Alicia.
"You got it, see you Monday!"
I shut and locked the door before heading back into the living room, collecting dirty napkins along the way in a half-assed attempt at cleaning. Hermione was sprawled out on the couch, sleeping with her head propped up on her clutch. Sitting down on the very edge, I shook her shoulders.
"Hey, Frizz. Party's over."
Instead of responding, she rolled over to face the back of the sofa, trying to shove me off with her butt.
"Seriously? I'm much stronger than you. And actually awake."
"Ughhh why are you bothering me? I'm so tired, just leave me be."
"C'mon, I'll walk you home."
"Too far," she mumbled, pulling a blanket over her head.
"You live like ten minutes from here."
She didn't answer, instead blindly slapping at me with her face still buried in the cushions.
"Tell you what, take a few minutes while I start to clean and then we'll go?"
A weak thumbs up was my cue to get back to straightening up the living room. I collected a big pile of dishes and silverware and dumped them into the sink before returning for the wine glasses. They balanced precariously between my fingers as I backed through the saloon doors and set them on the kitchen counter.
The front door opened and Harry popped back in, having already walked Ginny home.
"She's not staying here tonight?" I asked him. "Not that I'm complaining…"
"No, they have a game tomorrow, so she wanted to get plenty of sleep," Harry responded with a grin and a punch to my shoulder. "Did everyone else leave?"
"Almost. Frizz fell asleep on the couch, I'm going to try to wake her up again and walk her home."
"Got it. Thanks for cleaning up, I'll start working on the dishes."
"Thanks. Save me some, I'll help you as soon as I get back."
If anything, Hermione was even deeper asleep by the time I returned to the living room. I hated bothering her, but I was sure her back would be stiff as a board the next day if she actually slept on the couch.
"Ready?" I asked, tapping her on the foot.
She slowly picked up her head and twisted her neck to face me. "Huh?"
"You look like you fell asleep on a basketball hoop."
Looking at me with a murderous expression, she reached up and ran her fingers over the indented crosshatch pattern on her right cheek, undoubtedly caused by her sequined makeshift pillow. "Fuck off. If you actually had a throw pillow or two, this wouldn't have happened."
"Who needs throw pillows? Everyone always just ends up tossing them on the ground to make more room for actual people."
"I need throw pillows, Ron. Otherwise my face ends up looking like a perfectly grilled porterhouse."
I chuckled as I reached for her hands, trying to pull her into a standing position. No matter how many times I tried, though, she kept slinking back down, refusing to get up.
"Just leave me alone. Can't I stay here for the night?"
The thought had crossed my mind. In fact, it tended to cross my mind pretty much every time she came over. I'm not sure why; it's not as though her sleeping in my apartment would signify anything more than convenience. But still, there was something about the idea of her feeling comfortable enough to ask that made me a little proud. It had only happened one time before, and sleeping was a generous word for it; honestly, she had passed out on the sofa.
"If you really want to, that's fine with me. I know for a fact that your place is way more luxurious than ours, but if you're willing to pass that up, I'm not going to stop you."
"I love my apartment, but yours is…here. Where I already am. Me not having to move is a huge advantage," she said with a mischievous eyebrow raised.
"Alright, let's get you set up then. Just give me a minute to change my sheets and you'll be all set."
"Change your sheets?" she asked, finally sitting up and yawning. "I'm good right here. Don't worry about the sheets."
"I'm not letting you sleep on the couch again. You need an actual good night's sleep. I'll be right back, okay?"
I turned and started walking towards the back of the apartment, only for her to jump up off the couch and grab my arm, spinning me back around.
"No, listen, stop. I'm not kicking you out of your own bed just because I'm being lazy."
"It's fine! I've slept on the couch plenty of times before, I'm used to it."
"So it's good enough for you but not for me?"
"Exactly," I said with a smile. "You're a movie star. Movie stars get the perks."
"A bed is a perk?"
"I'm not a wealthy man. It's the best I can do on short notice."
She shook her head and laughed. "Honestly, I-"
"Frizz, stop fighting me on this. You know I'm not going to cave."
She folded her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side, looking annoyed. "Fine. But let me help you."
I led the way to my bedroom, struck by a sudden panic as I realized that she'd never been in there before.
Did I clean up my dirty laundry? Does it smell like farts? Oh shit, she's going to see my mint-condition Ninja Turtle action figures! Whatever, that one's fine, she knows I'm kind of a nerd.
Fortunately, I'd straightened up the night before, so everything looked tidy. Small, wooden nightstands and reading lamps sat on either side of the queen-sized bed, which was covered with a slate grey and cream paisley duvet. I'd left the small ceiling fan on to help cool things down, so the room was a comfortable temperature. The essential oil diffuser that Mom had gotten me last Christmas sat collecting dust on top of my dresser, but as soon as I flicked it on, the faint aroma of bergamot and lemon flooded the air.
"Nice digs," Hermione said, examining a picture of me, her, and Harry at our high school graduation. "Holy shit, we look so young!"
"Oh yeah, it's a bit of a throwback, huh? Hey, help me with this fitted sheet?"
Together, we stripped the bed and replaced the sheets. Fluffing the pillows was the finishing touch, and it was all set for her.
"Oh, ummm, you probably don't want to sleep in that, do you?" I asked.
"Ehh, I've slept in worse. It's fine. I've also just slept wearing nothing, so that's always an option…"
My hands shot forward to try to straighten the pile of magazines on my nightstand, and I forced out an awkward snicker. Hopefully she wouldn't notice the tips of my ears burning red.
Cold showers. Mom yelling at me. That vomit-filled toilet at the bar last St. Patrick's Day. Kisses from Great Aunt Muriel.
"Here, I'm sure I have something you can borrow. Like…this," I said, pulling an extra large Detroit Lions t-shirt out of my dresser. "Reminds you of home, doesn't it?"
"Oh, right! I…vaguely remember that team. They suck, right?"
"Always have! Oh, and maybe some shorts? Shorts, shorts…do I have extra shorts?"
"Don't worry about the shorts, I wouldn't wear them anyway. Besides, this shirt is going to come down to my knees."
"Okay, if you're sure. Before I go, anything else you need? Do you want a shower or anything?"
"Actually, a shower sounds amazing. Then I'll stop bothering you, I promise."
I waved a dismissive hand in her direction and pulled a clean towel out of the closet. "It's no bother, you're always welcome, you know that. You can use my bathroom, just through there. Help yourself to whatever," I said, pointing to my en suite.
"Perfect! Thanks, Ron!"
She gave me a quick peck on the cheek as she slid past me and into the bathroom. I tried to suppress my blush until she had closed the door. As soon as it clicked shut, I exhaled, my brain in overdrive at the thought of her sleeping in my bed.
Get a grip, Weasley. She's just too tired to walk home. She'll sleep here, you'll sleep out there, then she'll go home. End of story.
Shaking my head, I walked back to the kitchen to find Harry almost done with the dishes. "Dude, you didn't have to do all that! I said you should leave me some!"
"Ron, you did literally everything else for this party. You did the cleaning ahead of time, you prepared all the food, you bought the wine…washing the dishes is the least I can do to pitch in."
"Well, thanks. I appreciate it. Hey, is it okay with you if Frizz crashes here tonight?"
"It finally happened! I knew it!" Harry said, thrusting a fist into the air.
"What? No, not like that. She's just super tired and doesn't feel like walking home. I told her she could have my bed and I'll just crash on the couch."
"Or…you could both share the bed…"
"Harry…"
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Hey, she seemed to have a good time once she joined the party."
"I hope so."
Harry reached over and grabbed the lasagna tray, soaking it in warm soapy water. "For real, I think it's great that you're trying to…take care of her again, in a way. You were always good at that."
I snorted a laugh of derision. "I beg to differ. I'm pretty sure I just annoyed her constantly. Sometimes I could actually hear myself turning into my own mother."
"I never looked at it that way, and I doubt she did either if she's being honest with herself, at least. I just think, well, she's always been in your corner. It's nice that you're in hers, too."
"Except during the whole Lavender fiasco, as my lovely sister so thoughtfully reminded me."
"Even then, though. She came back around, didn't she?"
June 21, 2001, 8:10pm
The remainder of the trio's junior year seemed to pass in a flash of constant stress and panic. Finals had been the hardest they'd ever experienced, and Hermione in particular had had a difficult time balancing three AP exams in addition to her other classwork. Nobody had been able to spend much time together outside of school or the library, which meant that things between Ron and Hermione had remained frosty since his breakup with Lavender. She had started talking with him again, and he had even rejoined her and Harry for lunch a few times, but he was still walking on eggshells around her. Their familiar teasing banter had vanished, replaced by small talk and simple platitudes. Interactions had become sterile, and it had convinced Ron to try to fix things as soon as possible.
A week after school let out, he marched over to Flourish of Phrases, the small bookstore where Hermione was working part-time over the summer. When she had asked for the job, the owner had hired her on the spot, knowing that she'd likely be spending a lot of time there either way. The one time she had talked about it with Ron, she had proclaimed it her favorite place in town and the best job she'd ever had.
As he waited in the parking lot while she closed up, he busied himself by kicking small pebbles around the cracked pavement, creating a makeshift soccer field in his mind. Just after he had scored a particularly nifty goal between two potholes, she popped out of the store, gasping in shock as he appeared in front of her.
"You scared me! Don't sneak up on people like that!"
"I've been running around here for like fifteen minutes, I'm not sneaking up on anybody."
"Oh. Well, I couldn't see anything from the back of the store, you should've come inside instead of bombarding me as soon as I came out."
"Bombardin-? Never mind, I'm sorry, I just didn't want to bother you. Are you done for the day?"
"I am," she said, starting down the sidewalk.
"And I take it you're walking home?"
A set of narrowed eyes glared back at him. "Do you see my car here?"
He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure before he reopened his mouth. "Mind if I walk with you?"
"I suppose you'll have to now that you're also fifteen minutes from your house, which is in the same direction as mine."
"Umm, thanks. Anyway, how have you been? I feel like I haven't seen much of you since we finished school."
"I've been busy. They really needed my help at the store; the organizational system was practically non-existent."
The old, familiar Hermione was still peeking through at times, and he had to conceal a grin before he spoke. "Bet you got that sorted out immediately, huh?"
"I helped, yes. I think it makes much more sense now."
"Well, maybe I'll come take a look sometime."
"We're open from ten in the morning until eight o'clock each night. You're more than welcome."
The sun was shining in their eyes as they turned off Center Street and into their neighborhood. It was the longest day of the year, so it would still be light for a couple more hours. Despite the warm glow on their faces, a breeze blew through the trees and put a chill in the evening air. Goosebumps popped up along Hermione's arm and Ron desperately wanted to help warm her up, but he knew that they weren't at that point yet.
"Frizz, could you slow down a minute? It's like you're power walking or something."
"I'm Hermione, and Hermione would like to get home and eat dinner, I'm starving."
"Fine, Hermione, please. Can we talk? Please?"
As she crossed her arms over her chest, she came to a halt and turned around to face him. At that moment, he realized that maybe it wasn't the best idea to talk with her while she was hungry.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know, I just—"
"You don't know? I'm missing my dinner because you want to talk about nothing?"
"I mean, don't you think we need to talk? I'd really like to…to be friends again. The way we used to."
"I'm happy to talk with you, but what you're asking is," she paused, squinting at him with her head cocked to one side as if she was studying his response, "ambitious."
Trying to keep pace as she started walking again, he soldiered on, giving it his best shot. "Can I just start out by saying that I know how badly I fucked up this past year and I feel horrible about it?"
"How should I know how you feel about it?"
"Trust me, it's been bothering me ever since. Everything just sort of happened, and I didn't mean for it to happen, and in retrospect, I regret it happening. But it happened and now I'm worried that I ruined everything."
"And?"
"And I'd really like to fix things."
"Well, I wish they didn't need fixing in the first place, but here we are."
"Right, but can we," he said, grabbing her arm and spinning her toward him. "Hermione, please, just stop!"
"EXCUSE ME?"
"I'm sorry, but please, can we just have a conversation? An actual conversation? I'm trying here, I really am."
A huff shot out of her mouth as she rolled her eyes before looking back at him, her lips pinched together. "Fine. Talk."
He swallowed against a lump in his throat, searching for the right words. "I feel like…like I shut you out last year. I got so into being a part of the team that it—"
"Took over your entire personality and turned you into a mindless jock?"
The words stung and his face screwed up in frustration at himself, but he knew that she wasn't wrong. If they were going to be friends again, he knew he'd need to eat some crow. "Something like that. And…well, that wasn't very fair to you. Especially since you spent so much time helping me make the team in the first place."
"Excellent observation."
"So I just want you to know that…that I'm sorry for doing that. For becoming that. Once the season was over and I could see things clearly again, I realized how pointless it was. Even more so because I feel like it cost me my friendship with you."
Her eyes dropped to the pavement, but he couldn't help but notice her facial muscles relaxing and her features softening. "I appreciate that."
"And I know that if it was hard for me, it was probably even worse for you."
She opened her mouth as though she was going to speak before clamping it shut again, shaking her head. "This isn't about me, really."
"No, you're right. But I just want you to know that…that I'm sorry if I made your year worse."
"My year was fine. Different, but fine. Can we keep walking now?"
Holding back a groan, he followed her down the sidewalk. He noticed that she was walking a bit slower this time, though. There was still an elephant in the room that he needed to address, albeit tactfully. The last thing he wanted to do was misinterpret her possible interest earlier in the school year and assume that his relationship with Lavender had made her jealous. But, on the off chance that she had thought something was going to happen between them, he owed her an explanation.
"And, well, Lavender. I just want you to know that–"
"Ron, stop. You don't have to do this. You liked her, she liked you, she did something about it, and that was that. It's none of my business."
"It was a mistake. She never really cared about me. I think she just wanted to be able to say she was dating a football player."
For a split second, what looked like a hint of a smile passed over Hermione's face, quickly papered over by her stony exterior. He couldn't be sure, but it seemed as though her ears were redder than they had been a moment ago as well. Perhaps she wasn't as ambivalent about the topic as he had previously thought.
"I see. Well, maybe she did, but that doesn't change the fact that it has nothing to do with me."
Sweat was accumulating on his brow, and his cheeks were hot, but he continued on. "I mean, doesn't it? We were fine up until I started dating her, and then everything changed."
"Well, I wasn't sure what you would've wanted. And, while I don't care that much about high school girl politics, I am relatively adept at navigating them when needed, and I'm smart enough to know that spending a lot of time with someone else's boyfriend is generally frowned upon."
The subsequent silence was horrible. Guilt and shame coursed through him as he finally started to understand the magnitude and ramifications of his actions, the far-reaching effects on other people. Of course she had stopped hanging out with him; Lavender would have been incensed if they had continued to spend time together. He had brought it all on himself.
"Guess I never thought of it like that."
"No, I guess you didn't."
"Wow. Hermione, I'm really sorry. I didn't think about…well, I suppose I just didn't think. I never meant to tie you up in all of this. It's my fault, all of it. I don't know what else to say. I hope that you can forgive me."
She sighed as she stopped and spun toward him, her hands on her hips. "Look, Ron. It's not that I don't understand. I do, honestly. And I wasn't mad exactly, just surprised. It kind of came out of nowhere, and I wasn't expecting it. Once it happened, well, there wasn't much I could do, was there? Do you understand where I'm coming from?"
"For sure, I get it."
"But," she said, relaxing her shoulders, "thank you for saying that. It does help, really. And, for what it's worth, I do forgive you."
The vice that had been squeezing his chest for the past several months loosened all at once, and he was able to take a real breath again.
"Thanks," he said, smiling at her as they resumed their journey. "I feel like an idiot. I wish I'd said something sooner. Lavender and I broke up months ago. Maybe we could've gotten back in sync earlier."
"Ron, I've barely had time for any social life whatsoever until a few days ago. I still wake up at night worried that I'd forgotten to study for some exam or turn in a final paper. And now I've been spending so much time at the store, I've been so busy, I don't know if I'd have had time."
"Well, maybe I could help you."
"Unless you have some sort of concoction to guarantee a perfect, dreamless sleep or something, I can't see how."
Ron thought for a moment, his finger tapping his chin as they turned down Oak Lane, leaving them only a couple blocks from her house. "No, not like that. Like, well, for example, you've been at the store all day, right?"
"Right."
"And now you're starving. Did you even eat lunch?"
"I didn't have time. You see, the back room of the store doesn't have a refrigerator, so I can't bring my normal lunch because it won't stay cold enough. And I don't have time to go anywhere on my lunch break, so I just brought a granola bar and an apple with me."
"So all you've had to eat today is a granola bar and an apple?"
"And a small breakfast, yes."
"Jesus, I think I'd have dropped dead by now."
Relief swept over him as she chuckled. As soon as he caught a glimpse of the white of her teeth when she smiled, a surge of emotion came rushing back to him, causing his head to spin. It was the first time he had seen her happy in what seemed like forever. The idea that he'd made her laugh again was the best feeling he'd had all year, including anything he'd ever done with Lavender. His head was floating and he had to fight himself to keep his grin from getting too wide.
Fuck me, this again?
"Well, we don't all have your appetite, but yes, I probably should've thought ahead a bit more."
"How about this? When's your lunch break tomorrow?"
For a moment, she looked flustered, her mouth gaping open and her hand rolling around at the wrist. "Umm, around twelve thirty or so, why?"
"Okay, well what if I were to bring something over and have lunch with you? Would that be okay? I promise I'll bring something you like."
"Oh, you don't have to—"
"I know I don't have to, but I want to. If…if you would be okay with that, of course."
She grinned as she turned her head away from him, and he already knew what she was going to say as they arrived at the intersection where they would part. "Sure, that sounds lovely."
"Okay, great! I'll meet you there! Looks like I've got a lasagna to make."
"Ron, no, that takes hours to make, please don't—"
"Nope, already decided! Night, Frizz!" he called as he jogged away towards his house.
October 5, 2001, 10:15pm
"Nice game, Ron!" Seamus yelled.
"You too, man!" Ron called back as he burst through the side door and out into the brisk night air. It took his pupils a moment to adjust to the darkness in the parking lot, and he barely noticed the head of bushy brown hair flying at him.
"Ron, what a game!" Hermione cried as she crashed into him, wrapping him in a big hug.
"Thanks, Frizz! I could hear you cheering the whole time, you know. It was a big help!"
"Of course, you were fantastic! That pass break-up at the end of the second quarter? Nobody else on the team would've made that play."
"You're too kind. And you're damn right," he said with a laugh.
Senior year had gotten off to an excellent start. Harry and Ron were both captains on the football team, and Ron was even enjoying being back at school now that he and Hermione were on speaking terms again. Over the summer, he had brought her lunch every day she had worked at the bookstore. The picnic table under the tallest maple tree in Ford Park served as the backdrop for their gradual reconciliation, and Ron had never disappointed her with the lunch offerings, most of which he had made himself. The rekindling of their relationship changed Ron's entire perspective, and, uncharacteristically, he couldn't wait for school to be back in session. Even his older brothers had commented that he was a much nicer person to be around once he and Hermione had set things right. Then they teased him about it mercilessly.
Sometimes Harry would join them as well, but more often than not, he had been too busy to eat with them because he had been spending most of his time with Ron's little sister. Ginny was a year younger than the trio, but she had been infatuated with Harry for an eternity, and the two of them finally made things official at the end of the previous school year. Ron didn't quite know what to think at first, but over time, Harry convinced Ron how much he cared for his sister, and Ron's reservations were mostly quelled. That said, he still pretended to vomit any time they offered a public display of affection.
"So, Tuesdays? Are you hungry?" Ron asked, pulling the strap of his backpack over his shoulder.
"Sure, I'm up for it. I told Ginny we'd wait for her and Harry, though. Plus, he's our ride."
"Got it, I think he was right behind me."
As Hermione was reminding Ron about other great plays he made in the game, Ginny came up behind them, followed soon thereafter by Harry, who placed a kiss on the youngest Weasley's lips.
"Eww, never mind, I'm not hungry anymore," Ron joked as the four of them made their way toward Harry's 1993 Geo Prizm.
"Oh, shove it," Ginny shot back. "You're just jealous."
"Of Harry? That's fucked up, Gin, even for you."
"Ugh, God, just get in the back seat and shut the fuck up."
Weezer began blasting through the speakers as Harry fired up the engine, and Ron climbed into the back seat with Hermione. Even though it was a chilly night, the windows were all the way down as they drove through the neighborhood. Harry and Ginny were holding hands and talking quietly between themselves, leaving Ron and Hermione in their own private world a few feet behind them. There wasn't much legroom in the back, so every once in a while their feet would become tangled and they would play footsie with each other, throwing each other sidelong grins. Holding his arm out the window, Ron swooped his hand up and down on the wind along with the beat of the song. Moments like that were everything he wanted high school to be.
As soon as they pulled up at the restaurant, they were surrounded by teammates, classmates, and friends as they all poured into the back party room for their weekly post-game ritual. The four of them claimed their normal table in the back corner, Ron leaning into Hermione on purpose as they piled into the booth. She giggled as she pushed back at him, pressing her body into him all along their sides before she reached for the pitcher of Coke.
"Want us to grab you something?" Harry asked as he and Ginny stood up.
"Sure, burger and fries," Ron replied.
"Same," Hermione said.
"Sure thing," Harry answered, trailing after Ginny towards the stacks of food.
Hermione poured each of them a cup of soda and started sipping her own. Staring at her as she drank, Ron chuckled into his glass and allowed her to catch him peeking.
"What?" she asked, a smile spreading across her face.
Ron forced a deadpan expression onto his face. "What?"
"What?" she repeated, her grin only getting wider.
"Nothing."
"No, what? Something is clearly amusing to you."
"It's just…your nose.
"What's wrong with my nose?"
"When you're drinking something fizzy, it scrunches up like a rabbit or something."
"A rabbit?"
A quick slap to his shoulder only made him want to continue needling her. "Yeah, like when they sniff around, you know?"
"I just don't like it when the bubbles go up my nose, so I try to…protect it."
Snickering at her, he took a long pull from his cup, his eyes glued to her the whole time. "See? It's not that bad."
"Well good for you! If it bothers you that I do it, then stop gawking at me!"
"It doesn't bother me, you've been doing it for years. It's cute."
Her cheeks darkened with a rush of scarlet as she turned away, biting back a grin. Pride scorched through his body upon seeing her reaction to his comments, and he knew that he might finally be able to pluck up the courage to ask her the question that had been on his mind for weeks.
"Hey, come to the homecoming dance with me," Ron said more confidently than he felt as hundreds of knots tightened in his stomach. "I'm sure Harry and Ginny will be going together. It'll be fun. What do you think?"
Driving him wild, Hermione chewed on her lower lip, face still beet red as her eyes slid back to him. "I'd love to."
The knots came untied all at once as he beamed back at her and nodded. "Great! Ummm…yeah, I think it'll be great."
Hermione swallowed as she nodded in agreement before turning her attention to Harry and Ginny and the pile of food they were carrying.
"Bon appetit, everyone!" Ginny said as several plates clattered down onto the table. Likely sensing that the vibe had changed, she scanned back and forth between them, one eyebrow raised. "Everything okay?"
Hermione laughed and shook her head. "Tell you later."
October 26, 2001, 8:50pm
Hip hop was blasting through the speakers in the high school cafeteria, once again cleared of its traditional arrangement of tables for the annual homecoming dance. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny were in the middle of the room, bouncing up and down without a care in the world. Ron couldn't help but think how stark the contrast was to the first homecoming dance they had all attended three years ago when everything about the experience was nerve-racking and the night had gone terribly. Ever since they had arrived an hour and a half ago, the four of them had been completely at ease around each other, all feeling free to make complete idiots of themselves on the dance floor.
"Anyone need a drink?" Harry yelled over the rising decibels.
Ginny nodded and followed him off to the refreshment table, leaving Ron and Hermione alone as the music suddenly shifted from Nelly's "Ride Wit Me" to Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", the first slow song of the night. Ron thought he could spot a hint of anxiety in Hermione's expression, but she didn't hesitate as she stepped closer to him, placing her hands on his shoulders as the two of them began to sway.
"Ahh, I love this song," she said.
"I know," he replied. "You keep listening to it over and over again on your Discman in study hall."
A sly grin played across her face. "How do you know what I'm listening to?"
"Armageddon soundtrack, song number one, song number one, song number one. I'm worried about your back skip button…I think it might just fall off from going back to song number one so many times."
"It's not that much!"
"You know every word to this song, don't you?"
"It's really not that complicated of a song."
"What's he saying, then? What's he screeching about?"
"I could stay lost in this moment forever..."
She swallowed and glanced down at the floor before looking back up at him, her cheeks now flushed.
Is she blushing? Is that because of me?!
"It's about someone being in love and feeling that…that they need to spend all of their time with the other person because any time they're not together is a waste," she explained.
"I don't want to fall asleep cause I'd miss you baby…"
A warmth spread through his body and his hands grew sweaty against her waist as the lyrics rolled through his mind. "Really? Sounds like he's…pretty obsessed, right?"
"The sweetest dream will never do…"
"I think it's kind of…romantic. To have someone you care for so much that life just isn't the same without them."
"Lying close to you, feeling your heart beating…"
What the fuck is happening to MY heart right now?! Feels like I just ran a fucking marathon!
"And I'm wondering what you're dreaming, wondering if it's me you're seeing…"
Their gazes had finally connected, and he was getting lost in her caramel eyes. The random spray of light off the disco ball suspended from the ceiling would occasionally throw a glow into her irises, resembling an exploding firework. "Yeah, I guess you're right. That would be nice…" he said.
"And I just want to stay with you in this moment forever…"
"What about you?"
"I don't want to close my eyes…"
Nearly choking, he held in a cough and tried to keep his cool. "What about me, what?"
"I don't want to fall asleep cause I'd miss you baby…"
"Do you like this song?"
"And I don't want to miss a thing…"
"I'm starting to, yeah."
If Hermione hadn't been blushing before, she was now, her face turning a boiling fuschia. Although Ron was sure that his was as well, no matter how many deep breaths he tried to take without her noticing.
"I just want to be with you, right here with you, just like this…"
The tension between them reached an all-time high as they held each other in the cafeteria. His whole body trembling, Ron found the courage to crawl his hands from her upper hips to the small of her back as she fixed his gaze. The eyes staring at him were narrowed and determined. And gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous.
"And I just want to hold you close…"
Fuck you, Steven Tyler, I get it! The song is about Hermione! Wait, holy shit, what's she doing?!
Hermione's fingertips were sliding along the back of his neck and twisting through his hair. At the same time, her body was pressing into his, shooting tingles throughout his entire nervous system. Never in his life had he felt so relaxed and so jittery at the same time.
Does she want me to make a move here?
"Well, this looks intense!" Ginny interrupted, appearing next to them with two cups of punch in her hands.
Harry followed behind her and, upon seeing Ron and Hermione entwined with each other, cleared his throat and tried to pull Ginny away by the elbow. The youngest Weasley did not take the hint.
"You two look like you're having fun! Anyway, this punch is so good! Here, stay hydrated," she said, handing a cup to Hermione.
If looks could kill, Ron would already be in handcuffs. Staring daggers at his sister, he released his grip on his date as Hermione reached out to take the cup. Ron's arms fell limp at his sides until he begrudgingly accepted a cup from Harry, who had a very apologetic look on his face and was mouthing, "Sorry" to his best friend. The four of them stood mute, sipping their drinks as the song reached its climax and finished.
Fucking Ginny! Why can't she just mind her own fucking business! Hermione was going to kiss me, wasn't she? Fuck, now I'll never know.
October 27, 2001, 1:55am
Sirius' floor was littered with crushed soda cans and grease-soaked paper plates, some of which still held discarded pepperoni pizza crusts and most of which were caked with Cheetos dust. Several of the senior football players had come back to Harry's godfather's place for an afterparty once the dance was over, and the music and dancing had raged on for another few hours.
Things were finally starting to wind down, though. Some of the guests had already left, and those that were planning on staying the night were rolling out sleeping bags and collapsing onto couches. Harry had turned the music off after the third time Sirius had come down from his bedroom and reminded them all that he'd rather not irritate his rather litigious neighbors.
Ron and Hermione were still sitting across from each other at the small round kitchen table with Harry and Ginny on either side of them. The four of them were embroiled in their third round of Euchre, each team having won one of the previous two games. Being teammates with Hermione after they had had a great time at the homecoming dance was exciting, and they had made a great team so far. That said, given all of the trash-talking from his best friend and sister after they had won the last round, Ron was still hoping to win the eighth and final hand, win the series, and really stick it to them.
After winning the first two tricks courtesy of Hermione's pair of offtrump aces, Harry tried a desperate maneuver by playing a trump queen of hearts, and Ron knew the game was over. As soon as the action swung around to him, he dropped the jack of hearts on the table and jumped up from his chair, jogging to the other side of the table and wrapping Hermione in a bear hug.
"Eat it, Potter! You too, little sis!" he yelled, earning an admonishing shush from Sirius at the top of the staircase. The joy of finally taking down the pair of them at their favorite card game with Hermione at his side was the cherry on top of a wonderful night.
"Ugh, I can't believe we lost to these pompous assholes," Ginny complained, leaning back in her chair.
"Guess it's just their night," Harry added, winking at Ron. "Anyway, I think I'm going to get ready for bed. Did you guys bring sleeping bags?"
"Yes, they're in the front room," Hermione said.
"Great," Harry replied. "We'll be in the back family room, let me know if you need anything."
Ron swallowed around a lump in his throat as he watched his sister follow Harry back to their sleeping bags. Reading his mind as always, Hermione reached out and placed a gentle hand on his forearm.
"Relax. Sirius is right upstairs. Nothing's going to happen."
"Better not…"
Releasing her grip, Hermione trailed after Ron to the bathroom where they brushed their teeth before she kicked him out to change into her pajamas. He was a little disappointed to see the strap of her sports bra peeking out around the cut collar of her t-shirt as she reemerged, but what was he expecting? After changing into his own t-shirt and flannel pants, they tiptoed together to the front of the house, careful to avoid waking Seamus, who was sprawled out on an armchair in the piano room just off the kitchen.
The front room was empty aside from their sleeping bags. Ron had taken care to lay them out right next to each other, their zippered edges touching.
"After you," he said, holding out a hand towards her sleeping bag.
She crouched down and slithered into the plush teal bag as Ron flicked off the light switch, plunging them into darkness. A few slivers of moonlight illuminated the room as Ron tucked himself in feet first. Their heads came to rest facing each other on their pillows, his lips turning up into a crooked smile as he stared back at her, not knowing what to say next.
"I had a really fun time tonight," Hermione said, brushing a curl from her face.
"I'm glad…me too, of course."
"You're an excellent dancer."
"No, I'm not! I stepped on your feet at least twice!" he said, kicking out and connecting with her foot through their sleeping bags.
Hermione laughed as she rolled towards him. "One of those was my fault, I'm way clumsier than you!"
"Well, either way…thanks for coming with me."
"Why are you thanking me? I was happy to come."
"I don't know, just…you could've had your choice of anyone. Same can't be said for me…"
"I think you're wildly overestimating my prospects and underestimating your own, but it really wouldn't have mattered. You were the only one I wanted to go with in the first place."
A lightheadedness came over him at the thought. Her smile was lit up by the faint moonlight passing through the open blinds. Ron couldn't help but think how close his lips were to hers. Puffs of her warm breath were tickling his face. How easy would it be to just…lean forward? And God, did he want to lean forward. "Thanks. I feel the same way."
"There was just something so…comfortable about it, don't you think? It makes sense, we're best friends."
No…
Friends. There it was. That awful, benign, flavorless word. And comfortable? Feeling comfortable with someone was nice and all, but hardly indicative of the passion that Ron had hoped he had been interpreting correctly throughout the evening. His heart dropped into his stomach as he swallowed and plastered a smile on his face before nodding. "Right, exactly! Super, umm, logical, right?"
Hermione raised a questioning eyebrow, a hint of disappointment coming over her. "Right. Logical."
Wait, what? WAS she feeling more than just comfortable? Why can't girls just say what they mean!
Just when he was starting to feel that the whole night would end in a letdown, the sound of a zipper caught his attention. Temporary confusion gave way to excitement as she reached up and unzipped his sleeping bag as well. The grin returned to his face as her hand found his in the dark and closed around his long fingers. He twisted his wrist to lace their fingers together, catching the gleam off of her teeth as she beamed back at him.
"Goodnight, Ron."
"Night, Hermione."
September 15, 2012, 11:30pm
"Yeah, I guess you're right. She came back around. For a while, at least," I answered, shaking my head.
"Let's not get into that now…just bad memories," Harry said. "Besides, she's here now, right?"
I picked up one of the plates that Harry had washed and started to dry it with a dish towel. "She is. What do you think, though, does she seem okay?"
Harry shrugged as he turned off the tap. "To me, yes, but you would know best. What were you guys talking about before she joined us?"
"I don't know…work, friends, life. I just…I don't get the impression that she's fulfilled here. Working at Cisco is just a job for her, not a career."
"Well, sure, acting is her career, no matter how much she denies it."
"I don't know about that, either. The way she was talking tonight…it seemed like she wanted to leave all that behind. The gigs, the people, the party scene…the whole thing. For real, this time."
Harry cocked an eyebrow towards me as he wiped down the stove. "Really?"
"Maybe? Or maybe she was just particularly frustrated?"
"So what did you say?"
"I didn't really know what to say. I want to be supportive either way, and I'm trying to keep an open mind about it, but of course I'd love it if she wasn't wrapped up in that lifestyle anymore."
"So that she could just spend all of her time with you, work with us, and start popping out ginger babies?"
I had been expecting that response at some point. As much as I loved living with my best friend, sometimes he had a hard time taking things seriously, and he loved to tease me about Hermione. It had been happening since we were in middle school, and he never seemed to care how much I denied that I was interested. Of course, I always was interested, but any time I gave him any hint about my true feelings, the joking would only intensify. So I tried to keep it to myself. Not that it mattered; he always seemed to just…know.
"Come on, man, I'm trying to be honest here," I said.
"Okay, I'm sorry, you know I can't help it. It's just too easy with the two of you."
"It has nothing to do with the two of us. I'm genuinely worried about her."
"Well, that takes all the fun out of badgering you. Okay, what are you worried about?"
"Ultimately? I'm worried that she's just…spinning her wheels right now. I just want her to find something that really makes her happy."
"Well, then I have good news for you."
Bracing myself for whatever sarcastic nonsense was headed my way, I sighed. "What?"
"To some extent, this is under your direct control. The way I see it, Hermione has always been at her happiest when she's with you. As long as you're not fighting at the time, that is."
"Don't say that, man."
"Why? Are you afraid it might be true?"
"I know it's not true!"
Harry balled up a dish towel and flung it at my face, narrowly missing when I dodged. "Why are you trying to sabotage what could be an amazing thing?"
"There's no amazing thing! It's not even up to me! Look, I would love it if part of her being happy included spending time with us or me or whoever, but…I want her to be doing something she really wants to do, something she cares about. After talking with her tonight, it doesn't seem like acting is that thing. Cisco sure as hell isn't, either."
"Have you told any of this to her?"
"Course not…"
"No, of course not. Ron, you're infuriating. When are you going to realize how much she values your opinion?"
"First of all, I don't want to come across as judgmental, and secondly, bullshit. She's never listened when I've tried talking to her about this in the past."
"That's because she's stubborn. You both are. She's never going to tell you these things. You have to look at her actions."
I folded my arms over my chest and glared back at him with a defiant expression. "Like what?"
"Like moving halfway across the country to a place where she doesn't know many people just because you're here, you unbelievable dimwit!"
"That had nothing to do with me. Maybe she liked the fact that she'd already have a couple friends in Chicago, but…aside from work, I don't even see her that much. Not like high school."
"Nothing is ever going to be like high school. We're adults. We've got jobs, responsibilities, stuff going on. I think you two spend a lot of time together for people in their late twenties who aren't dating each other."
"Yeah, but only when it's convenient, right? We happen to ride the same train, happen to work in the same place, happen to eat at the same time…"
"And you think these things all occurred by accident, do you? You know, Ginny and I were just talking the other day-"
"Fuck me, this should be good."
Harry narrowed his eyes and continued. "We're both surprised that it's taken this long for you two to…figure things out. I know we tease you about it sometimes, but to be honest, we're both rooting for you two."
"Oh, excellent. Good to know my best friend and baby sister are placing bets on my pathetic life."
With a scoff, he turned off the lights and brushed past me toward his bedroom. "You know it's not like that. We both care about you. And her. Anyone with half a brain can see how you two affect each other. Listen to me…you're overthinking it. Talk to her. Really talk. Tell her what you think."
I took a deep breath and followed him out of the kitchen, my mind spinning. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was overthinking things. It wouldn't be the first time. But Hermione was headstrong, and any attempt to sway her opinions seemed fraught, especially given our history. If there was ever a time, though, it was now. I suppose I could tiptoe into those choppy waters and give it a shot.
"Alright, I'll try. Not necessarily because I agree with you, but because it'll be worth it if it provides a benefit to her."
"Tell yourself what you need to, man, just get in there. And if you two finally do sort everything out, please keep the volume down. I know the first time is exciting, but some of us have things to do in the morning."
I smirked at him and tried to nail him in the back of the head with a tennis ball, but it bounced harmlessly off his bedroom door as he snuck inside.
Fucker.
Steeling myself, I walked down the hall to my bedroom. As soon as I knocked on the door, Hermione confirmed that she was decent, and I turned the knob.
