So, once upon a time, this thing called College happened, and I was completely consumed by this thing called College for quite a long time. And then I came home. And then I remembered…I had a story to finish! So here it is, finally, the ending. You might notice that the end doesn't really feel like an end…but that's okay, because that's how it goes, and these things don't really end, you know? So oh well, some of you may like it, and some of you won't, but I tried my best, and I think it's sweet, so…hope you all enjoy! Please don't hate me for taking forever, I apologize sincerely…
Lauren.
Disclaimer: Hahaha, like I could ever write this well. No, I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 21
A Commencement of Complete Turmoil
Harry couldn't help but notice how much Ron had changed, and it struck him as odd that he hadn't noticed it before that very instant. Perhaps it was because he'd gotten used to it just being the two of them, with no Hermione, and therefore that side, that changed side of Ron hadn't poked its nasty little head out. But now, there it was, head fully reared, and as bitter and nasty as a rotten apple, and Harry hated it. Sure, he loved Ron, was his best friend, and would do anything for him, but…this was no way to fix things, and Harry knew that if Ron weren't so damn stubborn, perhaps this could end up the way it was supposed to—because even he knew that Ron and Hermione were like meant to be together.
"Ron, don't be a stubborn ass, do us all a favor and go follow her."
Ron looked up, not at Harry, but into the fire. The heat he felt on his face made his temper that much more intense. Finally, when it seemed he couldn't take much more, he turned his head to face Harry.
"Harry, who's side are you on? She just waltzes in here like nothing's wrong, like no time has passed, and expects me to suddenly just jump back to where she left off? You'd think she'd just been dumped or something, the way she just did that. You expect me to go forgive her?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I expect you to do. Because I know you, and I know that if you don't go find her you're going to be miserable. It doesn't matter how long it's been, she's your best friend and you two are always going to mean that much to each other, and you're always going to be thinking about her so you may as well save yourself the torture and go suck it up and forgive her."
If Ron seemed mad before, that was nothing to what the current expression on his face revealed. But this time it wasn't Hermione—it was the fact that Harry was right, and he knew it, and there was no denying it. He looked up at the ceiling, as though calling on some greater force for help, and looked back at Harry.
"Alright, you're…right," he said with a grimace. "Dammit," he whispered under his breath as he placed his books beside him and stood up.
"Well…see you later I guess," he said, and with a questioning half-smile on his face, he took his leave from the common room.
Outside, Hermione was nearing sleep as she leaned, carefree, against the tree on the lake, her hand gently skimming the top of the grass and her legs spread out in front of her, legs crossed at the ankles. At this point she had given up. Given up on fixing everything she had so carelessly ruined. She had come to the conclusion that she would just have to be on her own—she could do it, right? She was independent, didn't need anyone or anything. She would just do her work, get by, and graduate, and after that it was the real world, and she could escape Ron and Harry and never think of them again. It would be fine, she had told herself, just fine. It was all just a matter of determination, and if anyone had determination, it was Hermione Granger. These thoughts comforted her as she felt her eyelids grow heavy—the sounds of the light wind hitting the water and rustling through the leaves above her were so soothing, so relaxing that she couldn't help but succumb to their calm, and with a soft thud, her head was against the tree, empty of worry or thought, and she was peacefully asleep.
So peaceful was her sleep that she didn't even hear Ron approaching her fifteen minutes later, which would probably explain why she was so terrifyingly surprised when she woke up with him sitting next to her, head resting right next to hers.
"Oh my god!" she shrieked, jerking her head up so quickly she immediately felt the strain in her neck.
"Oh god, what?" Ron yelled, snapping his head up as well. They looked at each other, both rubbing their necks painfully.
"Ron, how long have you been here?" Hermione whispered, still trying to catch her breath. Ron looked at his bare arm and smiled.
"You know, I never did get the hang of wearing a watch, so I honestly couldn't tell you. if I had to guess though, I'd say about…an hour? It wasn't nearly this dark when I found you here, and you looked like you were having the best sleep of your life, so I thought, why wake you? I guess I fell victim to it to though, eh?"
Hermione tilted her head at him curiously…why was he suddenly being so friendly, when only…well, she had no idea how long ago exactly, but when only earlier that evening he had been so angry? She wanted to ask, but thought it best not to push any hidden buttons; if he was in a good mood now, there was no need to spoil it.
"So, you've brought me back to where we had our last talk…I guess this must be 'our' spot then, I suppose," Ron said, giving Hermione a sideways glance. And there it was, that grin—Hermione knew everything would be all right now. That grin…she suddenly felt at great ease, and with a sigh, she too sat upright, leaning her back against the tree next to Ron, crossing her arms in her lap and shifting her legs.
"You know, it didn't even occur to me when I first sat down, but you're right, this is the spot. I wonder why that is? That we just automatically come back to right here, right to this tree…"
"So, I believe you had something to tell me. And now that I've come all the way out here, slept against a tree, and had the living daylights scared out of me, whatever it is had better be good or I'll be sorely disappointed," Ron said with a chuckle. The slight frown that appeared on Hermione's face after hearing that made Ron laugh even more.
"Oh come on Hermione, lighten up, you were so relaxed a minute ago…I'm not being serious, I would have done all of that even if there hadn't been a reason." Hermione's frown didn't fade, however; it grew slightly deeper, because it suddenly hit her that she had to tell him…she had to tell him everything she'd realized, and she had to tell him about Daniel, and…
"Well…okay, this is a bit, well, complicated," Hermione said cautiously, not sure exactly where she was going to even start. Ron looked at her curiously, but stayed silent, ready for anything. Hermione paused, her fingers self-consciously beginning to fiddle with the grass. Ron laughed—that was so typical. Hermione was preparing herself for confrontation.
"I broke up with Daniel."
Ron's smile faded slightly, much to both his and Hermione's surprise. Hermione's shortly lifted spirits fell quickly once again, resting somewhere in the pit of her stomach. Well, this certainly wasn't the reaction I was expecting…
"Well…that's interesting. May I ask why?" he asked, looking her in the eye, which made her slightly uncomfortable.
"He…he was smothering me. The attention was nice at first, really, but after a while I…I felt like I wasn't myself any more, I felt like I was an extra appendage of Daniel's, just stuck to him and we had become one in the same, and it just…it didn't feel right," she said, being completely honest. Ron's face seemed to brighten some, which encouraged Hermione to continue.
"I guess I just realized at a point that I suddenly wasn't who I used to be at all—I never saw you or Harry any more, and it's not that I don't take responsibility for that, because I do, I got myself involved in this, but…it was more that I realized that I didn't like it. I didn't like not having you in my life. I didn't like it not being you that I depended on."
Ron's eyes grew wide at this statement, and Hermione shivered.
"I mean, you and Harry, of course, you, and, you know, Harry," she finished lamely. Ron's expression mellowed.
"Oh, right, well yeah, right. So…how did he take it then, Daniel, was he okay?"
"Well…he seemed a bit upset, but I think he understands…he offered his support, if I needed it, which was very nice of him, considering I'd just crushed his heart and everything. But in the end, I think he'll be alright."
"Wow. Well, that's good I suppose…" Ron replied, not sure of what to say. He sat there, his legs now crossed in front of him, his hands fiddling with each other in his lap. Neither sad anything, afraid to mar the peace they had so recently made. The wind continued to whistle through the tree above them, and it was then, during the silence that Ron realized it must have been rather late.
"Well, I think you know as well as I do that I can't very well stay angry with you…in fact, I find it funny just thinking about how angry I thought I was just a few hours ago, when we both know I forgave you the moment you collapsed in front of me…" Ron said, a gentle smile playing at his lips. Hermione felt her heart racing…she could tell this, if anything, was the moment…she had to…had to just say it…
"Ron, I—I think I'm in love with you. In fact, I know I am. I…Ron, I love you."
The air around them was pregnant with such a silence that neither of them could even move. Ron felt his eyes grow sore as the cool air stung them, but for the life of him he couldn't even blink. Hermione's expression remained slightly surprised, as though she were frozen, waiting for his reaction and stunned that she had been so bold. The only movement was the soft rising and falling of their chests, as though they were breathing in slow motion. After a minute, Ron hadn't responded, and it was then that Hermione realized that may not have been the right moment after all. She dropped her gaze as her mind fumbled around for the words, any words, that would repair her mistake. Her hands flew wildly across the grass as though trying to hold on to the world around her for stability—
"I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking, I obviously meant only as a friend, I love you as a friend, I'm just overcome with emotion because I'm just so glad to have you back in my life, as a friend, I'm so—"
Suddenly Ron's lips were pressed to hers and every thought swarming through her mind dissolved into nothingness. She threw her arms around his neck in a tight embrace as his hands grasped her waist and pulled her toward him. The sound of the whistling wind faded into silence as they remained there, in each other's arms, sharing the embrace they'd been longing to share for too long. After a few moments, Ron pulled back, taking Hermione's face in his hand, Hermione smiling meekly.
"Hermione, I…I've been wanting to tell you I loved you for far too long. Because I do, I always have. I…I love you, Hermione. I really do."
Hermione watched as Ron's cheeks turn red and felt hers grow hot as well. They both chuckled, still holding each other as tightly as ever. Hermione rested her head on his shoulder and sighed deeply, letting Ron wrap his arms around her even tighter.
"You have no idea how good it feels to finally hold you, after all this time," he said softly into her ear.
"Oh, I think I might have a bit of an idea," she said with a small chuckle. "I think I might know…"
