"Hey, wait up!" Ron came panting clutching his bag. "You could have waited for me!"
"Well, Ron I could, but you spent an HOUR in the bathroom, so I thought that probably you didn't require my company," Harry joked.
"Oh, shut up. I was just getting ready," Ron muttered.
"Ready, huh? Looks like you've poured the whole perfume bottle on yourself," Harry commented.
It smells beautiful. But Hermione didn't say that aloud.
"Quick, let's go. I want to see what classes we have today,' was what she said instead.
Harry rolled his eyes to Ron.
At the Gryffindor table, McGonagall was distributing time tables to everyone.
"Oh, look. Transfiguration today!" Hermione ejaculated. But no one listened to her because McGonagall was saying something to Ron.
"For security purposes, I will be appointing you for duties in the castle. You will be on duty every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday with the Head girl in the Astronomy tower from 8 to 10. Which reminds me Ms. Granger, in case of any trouble, any slightest disturbance you will take out your wand and say lumo-contacto and I will be informed that instant. I will come to handle the situation. I do not want you taking on danger yourselves. Is that done? Tonight then at 8 and no shirking of duties Mr Wealsey or Ms. Granger."
Ron started eating his hash-browns at a Herculean rate and Harry and Hermione began discussing their first DA meeting.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hermione was sitting on the bench opposite the steps at the top of the Astronomy Tower since 7:50. It was her first duty session and she didn't want to be late. Beside her the Transfiguration for NEWTs lay open, but untouched. She kept looking at her watch.
7:52, well just eight minutes and that man better be on time or else he'll get a nice and long detention on his first duty. She stood and took a round of the tower. The moonlight filtered through the glass canopy and in the distance she could see the lake opening into a river which snaked its way through the mountains and glistened like melted silver. She went to the next edge of the tower and spotted Hagrid's hut. The flickering light showed that there was a fire inside. Probably cooking up some meal devoid of palatability, she laughed to herself. Behind his hut there was the Forbidden Forest, house of the centaurs. The Forest was intimidating and the creatures it hosted were equally scary too. She looked at her watch.
7:56, is time so slow? Why isn't he coming? Another round of the Astronomy tower followed.
7:59. almost. If he's late, he is in trouble.
She looked at the seconds hand slowly sweep the dial as it neared twelve.
8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1, she looked expectantly at the door. No one came.
"Damn!" she muttered. And started humming the tune of 'It's gonna be a lonely night' slowly and grabbed her Transfiguration book.
"Err…hi!" said a nervous voice and she looked up to see the tall lanky freckled figure of Ron. Hermione didn't know why she was so overjoyed. But outwardly she acted angry.
"Ronald Weasley, what sort of responsibility is that? On the first duty day you come 45 seconds late. I have half a mind to tell McGonagall. And I'm supposed to sit here and watch the stars?"
"Sorry Hermione. I was umm, doing my potions homework…"
He's such a bad liar; we didn't even have potions today. And his scent smells so tempting. She suppressed that tiny hint of a smile which was reaching her lips.
Ron sat down on the bench next to her and began fingering through the Transfiguration book absentmindedly. After a long silence during which Hermione tried to appreciate the carvings on the tapestry in front of her, but failed, Ron finally spoke.
"So, err…how was your holiday?"
"Well, it was pretty much a waste of time, considering that I could not go to Diagon Alley to buy my books. But you tell me. Yours was definitely better than mine."
"To some extent," said Ron looking at his shoes. "The wedding, of course was a blast. And I got a brand new tuxedo because the one I bought was not fit for a best man, according to Fleur."
"hang on, you were the best man?" asked Hermione incredulously.
"Yeah," Ron grinned. "'Twas fun. You get to say all those wonky mushy stuff, like I bond thee and you get to uncork the drinks later."
"wow," Hermione mused. "I always thought Charlie would be the best man."
"Umm, yeah. Me too. But then, Bill chose me. I guess because Fleur chose her bridesmaid young and since the best man dances with the bridesmaid after the ceremony, Maria and I seemed to go nice together."
Maria? Who is she?
"Maria?"
"yeah, she's beautiful. I reckon she has some Veela powers too. She's Fleur's sister. Talking about Maria, I forgot to tell you, she's enrolling for Hogwarts this year because the Delacours are shifting here to help the Order. She's in 7th year too."
For some reason unexplainable Hermione's ears burned red at this piece of information and she took an instant dislike to this Maria (whoever she was). But Ron was going on and on about her.
"…she was telling me in her broken English ' I 'ope you weel show me zis School ov yours. Waz zu you call it? Ahh, 'Ogwarts. An' I also 'ope you weel 'elp my eenglish. I am verrrry bad eenglish.' Sweet, huh?" he looked at Hermione for some appreciation for artistic mimicry.
But Hermione said, "Ron, can we not talk about this Maria? Something else?"
"Umm, yeah. Sure." Ron looked embarrassed. "Let's talk about Harry's killer instinct this year."
"And, that is?" she cocked her head.
"How Harry has a new talisman- Do or Die. And he is making all the students scared of him. Didn't you see today the way he shouted at Neville for not catching the disarmed wand, but letting it drop on the ground instead? It looked like Neville had set a troll on him."
"Well, I have noticed that. But Ron, don't you see he has so much on his shoulders? The whole safety of the school unofficially depends upon him. McGonagall indirectly said that. And then the Horcruxes. Only a fool would try to meddle with Harry amidst this tension."
"But that man sure has ants in his pants."
"So would you Ron, if you had to kill the greatest and most evil sorcerer ever known. And we have to support him in his every step. He needs us, though on the outside he acts like I'm-independent-thank-you-very-much, but on the inside, he needs our help and company."
"So what will happen if we die during the act?" Ron asked a little fearfully.
Hermione shrugged.
"So many are dying, Ron. I would be proud to die while fighting Voldemort rather than die later in my bed."
Ron closed his eyes and opened them again. "You know what 'Mione, you are so right. Dumbledore gave his life fighting that evil monster and I should be proud to have the opportunity to do so too," Ron said in a patriotic voice.
"Exactly, Ron." Hermione went a little closer to him.
"But, in case we die, we shouldn't die thinking that we didn't do so much that was supposed to be," Ron pointed out, at the same time edged closer. His warm hand was on Hermione's and her metal bangle clanged against his watch.
"Yeah, Ron," whispered Hermione, counting the freckles on his face. "Die satisfied."
One moment she was next to him on the astronomy tower bench, counting his freckles and admiring his perfume, the next minute her hands were around his neck and his around her petite waist and they were kissing. It is difficult to say who kissed first. It was almost like mind reading. Both slowly advanced at the same time and both wanted that kiss badly.
It took Hermione a few seconds to realize that she was kissing the man about whom she kept subconsciously dreaming all throughout summer holidays and whose each letter she read a zillion times searching for a hint, a hint that he loved her. And now here was the proof. The deep passionate kiss.
A while later, Hermione freed herself and Ron looked into her hazel eyes longingly. She looked back, seeing her own shadow behind his black pupils. He looked so different. He was not the Ron who copied each and every homework from her, he was not the Ron who kept wanting a peck from Fleur and he was definitely not the Ron who just thought of her as a friend for needs of academics. He was the Ron she wanted. For quite a long time, they kept staring at each other, as it is said eyes speak the language of the heart. Even if Voldemort would have come and blasted the school, they would not have realized anything wrong. They were so absorbed in themselves.
Ron tucked a loose flick of hair behind Hermione's ear and said in a different voice, "So…"
He was so sweet and unassuming. Viktor krum, as Hermione remembered had right after their first kiss said, "You haff become my girlfriend, Hermnino," but Ron here was so apprehensive and nervous.
"Ron, in case we die, we shouldn't die thinking that we didn't do so much that was supposed to be," she reiterated his words. And then as an afterthought and to seal the bond she said "I love you."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A/N: I totally enjoyed writing this chapter. Maybe because it is the first time I'm writing romance, or maybe because I'm letting my imagination run wild and deviating from the stereotypical Draco Hermione fics some people write. Thanks to my friend ANWITA that this chapter came up. Because I seemed to hit a blank upon how to approach their bonding and of course, I was boring my readers with weird information. She told me to buck up and get on with the romance. Plot and idea is mine, but she is a BIG contributor. Love you Anu, and thanks a ton. Also people please tell me how you like my fiction. I'm writing for like the first time and I need to be encouraged 9or discouraged)…so please please please R&R.
Another tip my pal gave me is to not rush through the story, which means lesser chapters, but more constructive matter. Bye and I love my reader…SailorLeia. Thank you. Your review boosted me.and of course, the song it's gonna be a lonely night does not exist