Chapter 18: The Rain Dance (Part II)

"Hermione! Where are you taking me?" Ron inquired.

But Hermione said nothing, and continued to drag him out of the hall. She turned left and hurried to the great oak doors of the entrance hall. She opened them wide and pulled Ron outside. Rain splattered all around. Dark clouds overhead cast everything in shadows. Things were hardly recognisable in such weather.

"Hermione?"

But Hermione had let go and, without hesitation, plunged out into the pouring rain. She turned, flashed him a smile, and started to run towards the lake.

Ron, not knowing what to do, hurried after her. His calls did not make her slow down or even look back. She just kept running.

"What the heck is she doing?" Ron thought to himself, furiously.

Upon reaching the large, murky lake, Hermione stopped and spun around in circles, allowing her hair to come out of it's bun, curls tangling with each other. Hermione turned and saw Ron finally reach her.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing? You're getting soaked, and you're hair-- you're dress is-- Hermione, you're going to catch pneumonia!"

Hermione abruptly stopped turning and gazed at him.

"What?" asked Ron, blinking water out of his eyes.

"You- You're worried about my health?" Hermione demanded.

"Yeah! I don't want you to get sick!" he declared bossily.

Ron came up to Hermione and picked her up almost effortlessly in his arms. Hermione was to startled to say anything. He finally set her down underneath a tree, the closest shelter. Ron sat down next to her and felt her head. It felt rather normal. Hermione watched in amazement as he checked her arms and such as he muttered to himself.

"- better if I had my wand - potions… who knew-?"

"Who knew what?"

Ron looked up, startled out of his reverie, "Who knew something mum'd say would become in handy?" he said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Mum used to tell me spells and such for sickness." Ron mumbled distractedly. "Give me your hands."

Hermione did so. They were slightly paler then usual.

"You are lucky you have me." said Ron.

"Why is that?"

"Because mum told me the best way to get hands warmer."

He took her hands in his and blew warm breath onto them. He then rubbed his hands around hers vigorously. Hermione was surprised by the fact that they warmed up almost instantly.

"Better?"

"Yeah." Hermione admitted.

"Mum said it would work."

"Well, you're quite the little mummy's boy, aren't you?" Hermione grinned, mischievously.

"Hey! At least your hands are warmed. If it wasn't for mum you'd be freezing. And I am not a 'mummy's boy'. Well, okay, so I probably like her more than the rest of my brothers, but being close to your mum isn't too bad…. I think. Well, you learn stuff-- and it's not a bad thing to be close to her -- and at least I'm not like Fred and George-- or Percy. Bloody Percy -- but that's besides the point, which is that I am not a-"

Ron's ramble was stopped by lips pressing softly against his. Hermione drew back a second later, looking horrified. Ron was staring, mouth hanging slightly open. Both were blushing like there was no tomorrow.

"Whoa." Ron breathed. This only caused them to blush even more.

"What the bloody hell just happened?"

Hermione stared.

"Wait. Does… does this mean that -- that you…. You … you…."

"Yes! It does Ronald!" Hermione squealed.

"This means that you want to go dive in a pool of lava?" Ron grinned.

"Oh, you're so bloody complicated." Hermione mumbled.

"So… so you-- l-like me?" said Ron.

"What do you think?" Hermione whispered, looking at him. She wanted to sound cocky. She wanted to sound annoyed. She wanted to sound angry. She sounded scared. Which was how she really felt.

"I can't believe I just did that." Hermione said in an undertone. "I…. I'm sorry Ron. I shouldn't have done that. But let's just forget that and … this will change everything." she now seemed to be talking to herself, "No. Then we'll break apart and it won't be the trio anymore. It'll be too awkward. We'll drift apart. I'll turn into an old lady with twenty-seven cats all alone dreading this stupid thing!" Hermione breathed in rapidly and stared off in space, wide-eyed.

"Hermione?"

Hermione looked up abruptly.

"What the heck are you talking about?" cried Ron.

Hermione blinked. "You… I just.. And now it'll change… and I was so stupid.. And…"

"Hermione! Shut up!" Ron yelled.

Hermione glared at him, "Don't you tell me to shut up!"

Ron grabbed Hermione by the shoulders.

"Let go of me. What do you think you're-" And now she was the one to be shut up by Ron.

"Just bloody shut up." he whispered, "You're ruining the moment."

"What moment?"

"This moment." He gestured around them.

Hermione raised an eyebrow, "I've just rambled on for half an our about our future and you call it a moment?"

"What the heck are you guys doing?" interrupted a voice.

Ron, who had been holding Hermione's face as they talked, sprang away from her, looking as innocent as possible. They both looked like deer caught in the headlights.

Ginny marched down a small hill towards them. "Did I just see you two…. You two--"

"YES! You just saw us bloody kissing okay, Gin?"

"Ron! Don't swear!" Hermione scolded.

"I'll swear however much I want to." Ron said, leaning into Hermione again.

"Am I the only one confused by their abnormal behaviour?" Harry asked Ginny, stepping next to her.

Ginny looked at loss of what to say. She was staring at them as though they had each turned into flying horses covered in tentacles.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Madison suddenly said, standing next to them.

"Where'd you come from?" asked Harry.

"Where do you think?" Haley said sarcastically.

"Did everyone just decide to come out here?" Ginny asked, looking around.

"Nearly." Luna said, stepping next to the four.

"GO GET A ROOM!" Dean yelled at Ron and Hermione.

Hermione reached around in her dress pocket for a second then shot a spell at Dean.

"Mmmf! Mmm gmmm aaah!" Dean struggled to talk. His lips were sealed shut.

"I hear Fall Out Boy will be playing." Madison said conversationally. "Wanna go check it out?"

"I'm there." Haley agreed.

Yes, very very confusing, I know. Does it seem okay all weird and disorderly? It better. That's what I was aiming for anyway. Long story short- Hermione/Ron together Everyone else confused. No one bothers to pry them apart. Simple enough.

Okay, I lied. There'll be another chapter coming up that should be the last. I'm thinking of doing a sequel after I get my other fanfic "Deep Fried Experience" caught up.

Anyway. Off to write another chapter cuz my sister is like "YOU GOTTA GET OFF NOW. MOM SAID!"

See you soon!