He waited until after the last wedding guest had left and the Burrow had finally settled for the night before creeping into the girls' room and shaking her gently.
"Hermione," he called quietly. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Ron? What time is it?" she yawned. "Do we have to go now?" She sat up quickly.
"Shhh, no, it's not time yet. I, uh, have something to show you. Come with me." She rubbed her eyes and got up slowly.
"Okay." He took her hand and pulled her outside. "What's going on?"
"You'll see." She shrugged slightly as Ron led her into the orchard.
"What are we waiting for?" He smiled nervously.
"Illuminate," he whispered and suddenly the entire clearing lit up with soft blue lights that seemed to float ever so softly above their heads. He pointed his wand at an odd looking box tucked in a corner and music started to play. Hermione covered her mouth, her eyes wide in shock.
"Oh, Ron," she breathed.
He took her hands gently, looked straight into her eyes and said, "This is for being an unbelievable prat this year, but most importantly for not asking you to the bloody Yule Ball when I had the chance. Especially, because you were the only one I ever wanted to go with. Would you like to dance? With me, that is?"
"Oh Ron." She wrapped her arms around his neck, trembling as he moved his hands to her waist.
I've been watching your world from afar
I've been trying to be where you are
And I've been secretly falling apart
Unseen
To me, you're strange and you're beautiful
You'd be so perfect with me
But you just can't see
You turn every head but you don't see me
"This is our song now, you know that?" Hermione said sweetly, her eyes swimming with tears.
"Ours forever," her replied solemnly.
I'll put a spell on you
You'll fall asleep
When I put a spell on you
And when I wake you I'll be the first thing you see
And you'll realize that you love me
She looked into his eyes and knew that from this moment on things would never be the same. She watched him hesitate and then bring his lips softly to hers. First real kiss, she thought distantly.
Sometimes the last thing you want comes in first
Sometimes the first thing you want never comes
But I know that waiting is all you can do
Sometimes
"I l-love you 'Mione," he stammered. It only took me almost seven years to say it.
"I love you Ron."
I'll put a spell on you
You'll fall asleep
When I put a spell on you
And when I wake you I'll be the first thing you see
And you'll realise that you love me
Time stopped. It was replaced by two people shuffling softly in the soft blue light under a blanket of stars, her head resting on his chest, his chin tucked against the top of her head. Two people who were turning one night into an eternity. Up in her bedroom, as the night breeze carried the music through the window, Harry and Ginny smiled as they too danced. For once they were taking it one step at a time, they were oblivious to reality, they were young.
I'll put a spell on you
You'll fall asleep
Cause I put a spell on you
And when I wake you I'll be the first thing you see
And you'll realize that you love me, yeah
Song: "Strange and Beautiful" by Aqualung