One Night Stand

One night of pleasure can lead to a lifetime of pain. One night of lust can lead to a lifetime of love.

Disclaimer Since JK is having all this HPB stuff, I obviously don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 5: Perfect the Way You Are

I quickly made my way down to the Great Hall. Nothing could bring me from my cloud in the sky, not even the hushed whispers that followed me to the Gryffindor table. I knew what everyone was saying. I hadn't been in the public eye for a week and the rumor wheel was started up again. Finding Ginny at the far end of the table wasn't hard, and I made a beeline for her, dodging some Ravenclaw second years. I plopped down in front of her and smiled warmly. Not bothering with any 'good mornings,' I started to explain my birthday idea in a low voice. Knowing Ron for six and a half years taught me something rather important. If he wasn't to do it, I had to. I couldn't sit around and wait for Ron to ask me out. I was going to ask him out. Ginny waited patiently for me to finish and then put in her two cents.

"So, you're really going to ask him out?"

"Yes," I beamed.

"Well," Ginny hesitated. My heart sank.

"You don't think he'll say yes," I stated.

"It's not that -- maybe --" An evil smile spread across Ginny's face. It reminded me of the looks Lavender and Parvati would get last year, when they wanted to 'make me over.' Oh, great. "We should guarantee he says yes."

My eyes narrowed. "How?"

"Let's see.. I have this great eye shadow --"

"No."

Come on, Hermione, just a little make-up."

"NO!"

"Her-mi-o-ne.." Ginny pleaded.

"Ginny, no. I have not and will not put that stuff on my face."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Fine." Ginny crossed her arms under her bosom and stared on defiantly. Her actions confirmed my suspicions that in every year, there was at least one fashion guru. Being that Ginny was my best gal pal, I conceded and threw my toast onto the table.

"Just a little make-up."

"Oh, thank you! And, I have the cutest outfit --" I cut her off.

"Ginny," I said, my eyes darting to my stomach.

"Oh, right." She lost her smile, but it brightened again as she began to describe all of the things she could do for my appearance. Harry had arranged for a party in the Gryffindor common room after the game. That, Ginny had said, was when I would impress Ron with my looks, and afterward, I would make my move. She sent me away to find my prettiest set of dress robes and said she would meet me in her dorm in a hour. I didn't have to find the dress robes. While in Hogsmeade, I had found an absolutely lovely pair of dress robes for half price. The moment I saw them, I knew they were for me. The set was the last on the rack. A breathtaking shade of midnight blue, they were a size larger than my normal size. But, that didn't matter to me. Something was pulling me to those robes. This, I thought, must be it.

When in my room, I went straight to my closet and pulled them from the hanger. I laid them on the bed, and began to undress. I wanted to see how they looked on me. How I felt in them. I never did try them on in the shop, despite the shop owner's pleads to let her mend it to my fit. I didn't see it necessary, and altering the robes meant exposing my stomach. Having the right fit wasn't worth letting my secret out. Before pulling the robes over my head, I put my right hand on my stomach and smiled. My pregnancy pudge was finally starting to take shape. I still marveled over the fact that in six months time, I would be a mother. And Ron would be a father. I quickly shook the thoughts from my head and pulled the dress robes on. When I turned to face the mirror, I gasped.

I looked.. there was no other word for it.. wonderful. I hadn't felt truly beautiful since the Yule Ball when I looked stunning in my periwinkle-blue robes. Thinking about the ball made me remember my first awkward feelings for Ron. I told myself they weren't there -- Ron was merely a friend. But as the years passed, I saw that I viewed him and Harry differently. Surely, I could not feel one thing for Harry, and another for Ron, and called them both friends. The first person I told my feelings to were Anabelle, my childhood friend. She didn't know anything of my magical background, only that I went away to school each year. The summer after fifth year was the last time I spoke to her. But, I still remember her advice: If it feels right in your heart, you mustn't question it, Hermione. You are too critical. You have to take chances every once and a while. Grab the bull by the horns! Taking chances. If only she knew of the chances I had taken since I was eleven. In a way, she was right, though. The last chance I had taken with Ron was befriending him. Well, not counting when you shagged him, my brain reminded me. Oh, if Anabelle could see the chance I had taken this time.

Clearing my mind of all thoughts, I removed the dress robes and started off to Ginny's room. I decided to take the robes with me, so I could get Ginny's opinion of them. I was sure she would like them, after all, I had seen a similar pair in Ginny's closet, a present from Fred and George for her sixteenth birthday. On my way to the Gryffindor Tower, I thought of the way Ron would look when he saw me. I imagined a big smile and the words, "You look beautiful, Hermione." I saw the way he looked at the other girls of Hogwarts. The ones with the fitted robes, elegant hair, and faces covered in make-up, making them irresistible to the male population. If I looked like them when Ginny was finished, I was sure to get the approval from Ron.

"Wow."

There was no real word to describe how I looked. Although I did not know what Ginny had done, I knew that she had worked a real wonder. My robes looked wonderful, of course, I had figured they would. My hair, which Ginny had first straighten, was now twisted on the top of my head. The flowers she had wrapped around the bun were perfect. For my make-up, I had to wondered why I didn't wear it. It wasn't so bad. The shade of lipstick Ginny had chosen was barely noticeable, but it changed my lips in such a way I wanted to continue to apply it, day in and day out. The shimmering rogue brought out my cheek bones and I smiled in delight. My eyes had to be my best feature. A glittery silver eye shadow was applied on my eyelids and the dark black mascara heightened my eyelashes. I had drawn the line at eyeliner, but in the end, even Ginny agreed with me it wasn't necessary.

"Thank you, Ginny," I breathed.

Ginny hid a smirk that clearly read "I told you so." She settled for a polite, "You're welcome."

I admired myself in the mirror once more and turned to Ginny.

"Well," Ginny clapped her hands together, "Harry and Ron should be arriving in ten minutes time. What else?"

"What do you mean, 'What else?' Isn't this enough?"

"I suppose."

I sighed. I thought I looked breathtaking.

"Alright, get on your shoes," ordered Ginny.

"Slave driver," I muttered. Ginny laughed.

"You stay here. I'll go keep watch and come get you when they're here." I nodded.

When Ginny left, I became very nervous. I smooth my robes frantically and patted the top of my head, making sure it was still in place. I almost jumped out of my skin when Ginny opened the door, signaling to come on. I took a deep breath and followed Ginny slowly down the girl's staircase. Ginny ran ahead and hid behind a couch. I was to stay on the third step of the staircase, wait until the portrait hole opened, and finally make my entrance after "Surprise" was yelled. I listened as Harry and Ron climbed through.

"I still can't believe they lost," Ron exclaimed.

"Again," added Harry, laughing.

"Shut up, Harry."

Silence ensued, and then --

"SURPRISE!!" My heart raced.

"Happy Birthday, Ron," I said, descending the last few steps, and coming face to face with Ron.

"Hermi--" He stopped, a look of shock and horror on his face. I stared. "Hermione, what did you do?"

This was not what I had expected. Not what I had hoped for. The look of joy and pleasure I had thought I would see on Ron's face was absent. Instead, I saw the worse look of resentment. He looked utterly displeased.

I didn't answer Ron. I couldn't answer Ron. The words wouldn't come. I looked at him, then to Ginny, Harry, and the expectant faces in the common room. The tears came to my eyelids, and with one final look at Ron, I fled to my room. As I went, I tore at my hair and the clasps of my robes. The tears that rolled down my cheeks took the mascara with them, streaking my cheeks with black. I didn't care. As beautiful as I thought I was, I was still ugly. Ugly. That's all I would ever be. Slamming the bathroom door, I stripped off the elegant robes, turn the hot water knob as far as it would go, and stepped into the scalding shower.

I scrubbed my face with such fiery, my cheeks began to burn. As I washed my hair, my nails dug into my scalp with anger. I couldn't help it. I tried to be strong. My heart ached, and the look of disgust on Ron's face lingered in my mind. What had I done? At this point and time, I wanted to turn back time. How far? I didn't know. There were so many different possibilities, the first being, of course, tonight. The second, the night Ron and I had shared. By the time I had finished with my shower, I had gone as far back as to mentally say "I wish I had never come to Hogwarts." I looked in the mirror and noticed how my face was a raw shade of red. Great. A quick dying spell returned my brown locks to their frizzy state. I sighed in defeat and threw my hairbrush down. I couldn't be bothered. I was ready for bed. That was the worst part of my pregnancy, I always seemed to be tired and depressed. Putting on a pair of plaid pajama pants and an ordinary white t-shirt, I made my way towards the bed. As I was pulling back the bedcovers, there was a soft knock at my door.

At first I didn't answer. If whoever it was thought I was asleep, they would go away. Besides, I reasoned, it's probably Harry. But, the knocking persisted. Finally I gave in and opened the door. It was Ron.

"What's the matter?" I managed to choke out.

"Nothing."

"Oh."

"I mean," Ron began, stepping closer, "I wanted to talk to you."

I nodded and stepped back, letting Ron come fully into the bedroom.

"I'm sorry," we both said at the same time.

I was curious. "For what?"

"I overreacted." Ron took a seat on the edge of my bed. "I shouldn't have said that."

"No, no, it's fine," I lied.

"Come here," Ron said, motioning for me to sit down. I did. "Hermione." He paused and readjusted himself, where he was facing more toward me. "What you did -- Well, I won't deny that you didn't look beautiful. But, I know that isn't you. You--" He cupped my chin. "--know that isn't you." I smiled weakly. With his free hand, he tucked a lost strand of my hair behind my ear. "This, Hermione, is you. And, right now, you are absolutely, without a doubt, one hundred percent beautiful."

My heart leaped into my throat. "I -- I just wanted you to say yes."

Ron looked confused. "Say yes? To what?"

"Oh, Ron." I fell into his arms, my head in his right shoulder. "For your birthday -- I was going to ask you -- ask you out."

"What?"

"This morning I--" I stopped. Did I really want to reveal to him that I knew about the baby doll? No, I didn't. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass Ron at a time like this. "This morning I woke up and I realized that I like you -- as more than a friend." Inside, I laughed. It was funny, how young I sounded. My words seemed like that of a twelve year old.

"I see," Ron said bluntly, stroking my back. His voice quivered. "So, you were going to ask me out?"

I blushed. "Yes."

"Oh."

My heart went from my throat to the pit of my stomach. For several moments, Ron and I just sat there, his arms around me and my steady breathing going into his shoulder. This awkward silence was comforting, and I found myself drifting off, until a distant yell issued from Harry's room. I bolted up right and looked at Ron. Fear was already apparent in his eyes. Together, we ran to Harry's aid.

We found Harry on his knees in front of his bed. A set of night clothes were discarded next to him. He must have been preparing for bed. His hands were planted firmly over his forehead, covering the burning scar. I looked at Ron, and Ron nodded. I needed to send for Professor Dumbledore. I turned on my heel and didn't even bother for a dressing gown. I concentrated on finding the headmaster, or a professor for that matter. Rounding a corner, I almost ran smack into Professors McGonagall and Snape. Their eyes were full of questions and I caught my breath and began.

"Harry -- He's in his room, clutching his scar again."

They both nodded in unison and Professor Snape took off to fetch Dumbledore. McGonagall started forward, but I stood frozen. As if everything had just sank in, I remembered the threat of Voldemort. I hadn't thought about it since I found out I was pregnant. For two months the only thing that concerned me was my child. Suddenly, the one thing that could harm my baby's life was among us once more. I began to shake. I could see and hear McGonagall in front of me, but I wasn't taking any of it in. Finally, she went off to the common room, leaving me. Several minutes later, I felt two arms wrap themselves around me. I opened my eyes slowly and was met with the orange cloth of Ron's Chudley Cannons shirt.

"Shh, Hermione, everything's fine."

"No, Ron," I sobbed, "It's not."

Ron laid his hand awkwardly on my head, his fingers in my hair. "I know it's scary. You're scared, Hermione, I know. But, I'm scared. Harry's scared. Ginny's scared. Everyone is scared. But, together, Hermione, we shouldn't be scared -- We have each other." He paused and as an after thought he added, "We have our baby, Hermione."

I lifted my head and looked into his eyes. They were glazed over with tears, fear and worry plainly written inside them. I closed my eyes and opened them again, just to be sure I wasn't dreaming.

"We have each other," Ron repeated. And, then, before I knew what was happening, our lips met.

It was nothing like the hungry kisses we had exchanged the night in December. It was soft and simple, yet so much more. It was like experiencing my first kiss. It was awkward, neither one of us seemed to know what to do with our hands. It was slow. Ron was hesitant to do anything more. It was special. Standing in the dark hallway, sharing a kiss with Ron was the only place I wanted to be. I almost cried when Ron pulled away. But, it didn't matter anymore. The way Ron looked at me, I knew he truly cared. There was no other girl in this world that Ron wanted to be with. And, there was no other guy for me. I smiled and grabbed Ron's hand. Gently placing it on my stomach, I replied, "We have our baby, Ron."

Author's Note Sorry it took so long for an update. Writer's block and school are barriers that are tough to cross when writing fanfiction. But, I did it. This chapter is a bit shorter then the others, but when I tried to make the ending longer, I just couldn't do it. I am very pleased with the ending, if I do say so myself. And, I know that this chapter was a bit cliché but I had to put it in here, and change the ending. I don't really like reading stories where Hermione gets and make over and Ron suddenly loves her. I think he likes her just the way she is. Haha. Anyways, I will try my best to make updates faster, but keep in mind, I am a sophomore at a school with teachers who believe in giving a lot of homework. Oh, well. As always, please review. (Yeah, I have 46! That makes me really happy! Keep it up!)