A/N: Mind you, I'm going to skip right past Hermione and Harry's encounter because it isn't all that important anyway. Also, I know the whole thing between her and Ron is really quick, but I'm not really concentrating on the beginning of their relationship, more on the second half of it. Plus, the movie spent about .00005 seconds on Rafe and Evelyn meeting and falling in love, so it's only fair that I spend 2 or 3 chapters :P
Chapter 2: Soaring
7:00 PM.
Hermione sighed and averted her eyes from the clock that hung above her desk. She had no idea when Ron was coming, nor where he was taking her, but she was anticipating his arrival with an eagerness so great that she herself couldn't even understand why. All she knew was that the hours of the day had passed by more slowly than usual, as they often seem to do for those who would rather they speed up.
To pass the time, Hermione reached over to a pile of neatly stacked documents and took the top one. Placing it under light of the lamp overhead, she began to read about Harry's ranking in his group (it was, coincidentally, the one Ron belonged to). A few minutes later, she was surprised to find that he was second only to Ron.
This must be a great ego-booster for Ron; it's about time he beat Harry in something, she thought in something of a proud manner.
"What are you looking at?" came a voice from next to her right ear.
"Ron!" she shrieked in surprise, placing a hand over her heart in fright and turning to her old friend. "You scared me!"
He chuckled. "Mission accomplished!"
"It's not funny!" protested Hermione, although she couldn't help but smile as her momentary surprise faded away. As she leaned back for a better look at Ron, her smile widened. He looked like the perfect gentlemen; his hair combed back neatly and he was wearing a muggle suit, complete with a tie. She couldn't remember ever seeing him dressed up, and it was a nice change.
Ron noticed her examining him, and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" he said in a feminine voice, crossing his arms in an attempt to mimic Hermione's response to his lingering the other day.
"Very funny," Hermione said. "Why aren't you wearing your robes?"
"Figured I'd wear something special for tonight," he replied with a grin. "We should probably get going. I don't want you to break your curfew or anything if we lose track of time."
Hermione simply shot a mock-glare at him and stood up. "Let's go," she said, straightening the dress robes she had donned for the occasion. With one last glance at the small mirror that hung on the wall opposite her, she took Ron's offered arm and the two of them strolled out of the hospital.
Once they were out of the building, Hermione took a deep breath and let it out. "It feels so nice to be outside. It seems like I'm always inside these days, attending to a patient or whatnot. I rarely get the time to go out."
"You were always devoted to your work," Ron commented in a somewhat admiring tone.
Hermione shrugged modestly. "My job is my life," she said quietly. "I've just about lost contact with everyone I knew back at Hogwarts; the only people I talk to are the other Healers here and that's strictly business. I've almost forgotten what it's like to have a normal, social life."
"Well, we're holding a non-business conversation right now, aren't we?" Ron asked jokingly. A more serious expression fell over his features, and he added, "You have to learn to loosen up, Hermione. I mean, it's great that you're committed to what you do and everything, but there are times where you just have to do what you want to do and not what's required of you."
"But I want to do this," Hermione argued back. "It's just that it's a big time commitment."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked softly.
She looked over at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you don't love being a Healer," he hastily said. "But you act like you'd really like to go out and see the world rather than be stuck in the office all the time."
"I guess that would be nice..." Hermione said slowly.
"See?" he said triumphantly. "I know you better than anyone. What to you say to starting a more relaxed life here right now?"
"Oh, but Ron--"
"Don't 'but' me," he scolded in a manner so much like his mother would have done that Hermione's protest died on her lips. "Just do it."
Hermione opened her mouth again to say something, but at that moment, her eyes caught sight of a shower of shooting stars over Ron's shoulder. She gasped and pointed to them. Turning around, Ron followed her gaze and a smile spread over his face.
"Look over there," he said, taking her arm and directing it to the source of the stars -- a young couple sitting under a willow tree. The boy had created the magical stars in what appeared to be an attempt to impress his date. It had apparently worked, because the girl had her hands over her mouth in admiration. "See?" Ron said gently. "He wouldn't have half the intended effect on his date if he had done the same thing in an office."
Shaking her head slowly in wonder, Hermione quietly replied, "I think you're right."
"Aren't I always?" he teased as the two of them continued their walk.
"Modest, too," Hermione joked, slightly glad for the sudden switch back to a lighter atmosphere.
"See, you're already getting the hang of it," Ron said. "Congratulations!"
Hermione laughed. "So where are you taking me?" she asked curiously, wrapping her arms around herself a little tighter. Whether it was because of the passing time or the closing distance between them and the lake, but night was growing colder the further they walked.
"You'll see," Ron replied mysteriously. He looked over at her, then blinked in surprise when he saw her shivering. "Are you cold?" he asked.
"Yeah, thanks for noticing just now," Hermione said with a weak smile.
He made no response to his, but took off his suit jacket and gave it to her. "You can have that, I don't need it anyway," he explained when she glanced at him questioningly.
"Thanks," she said gratefully. She wrapped it around herself tightly and breathed in its scent. It smelled like peppermint mixed with chocolate - how typical of Ron.
Just then, Ron suddenly stopped, causing Hermione to almost crash into him. "We're here," he said. Without another word, he pulled out his wand and whispered, "Accio Firebolts." Hermione watched on with a growing dread as she realized what they were going to do.
"No, Ron, we can't--"
She stopped mid-sentence when she saw the two Firebolts streak over to them and land with a soft thump at her feet. The one closest to her gave a small wiggle, as if it was suggesting that she climb on it right away.
"We're going for a little ride," he said with a grin. Leaning down, he picked up one of the broomsticks and swung a leg over it. "Come on, grab the other one."
"Ronald Weasley!" exclaimed Hermione, placing her hands on her hips. "You know perfectly well that I can't ride a broomstick to save my life!"
"Oh come on, I thought we were going to loosen up!" he said with pout. "That means taking risks, if you need a definition."
Hermione stuck her chin up stubbornly and replied, "No. I refuse to ride on that broomstick."
Ron heaved a sigh, then answered, "Fine. Then climb on this one."
"What!" Hermione shrieked, her mouth dropping open. "No way, riding on my own broomstick is bad enough, but I refuse to sit two people on one broom. We could die, Ron! We could--"
She stopped when she noticed him standing there with a smirk on his face. "So you're too scared to do this?" he suggested. "I mean, if you're too scared, then that's fine. I'll go on my own. But wow, who would've known...brave Hermione Granger, too afraid to ride a broomstick..."
Hermione gritted her teeth. He's provoking you! He's using reverse psychology! a little part of her mind insisted. Don't do what he says! However, she ignored the logical part of herself for once and said firmly, "I'm not too scared. I'll do it."
He punched his fist into the air and let out a yell of success. "I knew I'd get you to do it," he said gleefully. "Hop on."
Gulping, Hermione positioned herself in front of Ron and swung a trembling leg over the broomstick. She closed her eyes and barely had time to make a silent prayer that she would survive the ride before Ron wrenched the Firebolt upward and they had taken off
Hermione screamed out loud the moment the rush of the wind hit her. It took her a full minute before she could adjust to the feeling of soaring through the air with nothing but a broomstick underneath her and Ron behind her, but as soon as she did, her terror was replaced by pure exhilaration.
"This is amazing," she gasped, as Ron dipped down toward the lake, so close that she was able to reach out a hand and run it through the water.
"What did you say?" yelled Ron from behind her.
"I said, this is amazing!" she called, raising her voice in order to be heard over the roar of the wind. "I've never experienced something like this!"
"I told you, staying inside all the time has its disadvantages!" he yelled as he pulled out of the semi-dive, creating the impression that they were soaring up to the moon. He gripped the broomstick more tightly and pulled Hermione close to him in order to keep the both of them from falling off, then straightened the broom so that they were half-hovering, half-drifting 50 feet above the lake.
"Oh...Oh my..." Hermione said as she struggled to regain her breath.
"Did you like it?" Ron asked with a grin.
Feeling rather lightheaded, Hermione replied with a giggle, "I loved it! I can barely even think straight right now, that was indescribable."
"Is that so?" he asked, his voice suddenly losing its joking tone.
Hermione nodded, and turned around to see what had brought about the serious manner again. She was surprised to see that he was looking straight at her, his eyes shining more brightly than ever. "What do you--?" she started to say.
He cut her off by placing a finger over her lips. "Then you won't mind if I..." His voice trailed off as he placed his hand on her back and pulled her close to him. "...do this," he finished. Before Hermione could even come up with something to say, Ron leaned forward and gently touched his lips to hers.
