She Loves You
Chapter 4: The Resolution
Hermione blinked and yawned as she awoke from her slumber. She was having a particularly angry dream where Ron was dating Pansy Parkinson and they were rubbing it in Hermione's face. In her fury, she almost ended up punching one of the posters of her four-poster bed, which she imagined would have hurt quite a bit.
She was feeling very cross, not only about the dream, but also about the bright sunlight streaming through the window. Normally, since the sun rose on their side of the tower, the curtains were kept drawn to keep out the light. But Parvati must've forgotten to close them when she went to bed (she had been up, looking at the moon, writing poetry).
Blurry-eyed and hungry, Hermione dressed quickly and stormed down the stairs, hoping a spot of breakfast would calm her nerves. Unfortunately for her, her object of hatred at the moment was standing in her way at the foot of the stairs.
"Please move, Ron," she said in a low, threatening voice. Ron didn't waver.
"I need to talk to you," he replied in a calm tone. Hermione glared. She was in no mood to put up with him. No doubt whatever he had to say would initiate another argument. It seemed like every time they spoke, their conversation dissolved into a row.
"No thanks, I have more important things to do," she tossed easily, moving to walk around the lanky teen. Ron sidestepped in her way.
"Hermione, just hear me out."
"I said no! Now if you'll step aside, I'd like to get something to eat now." She forced Ron aside and started walking off.
"I'm sorry!" he shouted at her retreating back, stopping Hermione in her tracks. She slowly turned around.
"For what?" she asked, playing dumb. She wanted to know if he was earnest or if Harry had simply put him up to it.
"For being a colossal jerk. And for hurting your feelings." Hermione's expression softened. She crossed her arms.
"Go on."
"I didn't mean to say those things. I'm a right git, I am. And I only hope you'll… be able to forgive me…" He looked down to his shoes, a miserable expression on his face. "You can go eat breakfast now." He started to shuffle off. Hermione couldn't hold her anger anymore at this display of remorse and regret. This was a first time that he seemed genuinely sorry and regretful for their argument. She couldn't remember him ever apologizing like that before. In fact, she couldn't remember him ever apologizing for anything, period.
"Ron, I forgive you!" she blurted out. Ron looked up, a glimmer of hope sparkling in his eyes. "And I'm sorry about making fun of your clothes and saying Malfoy was a better wizard than you. As if he ever could be!" He smiled.
"I'm sorry for bringing up Viktor. I know you two aren't… doing anything." He seemed to struggle with that last part. "And I'm sorry for calling you ugly… because that's the last thing you are." Hermione looked at her feet, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
"Well I'm sorry for calling you an overgrown ape. And I won't nag you about your schoolwork anymore." Ron chuckled at that as he nervously ran his fingers through his hair.
"So… we can be friends again?" Hermione's good nature slipped a little.
"Friends?" She was, of course, hoping for something better, but she sighed and accepted that nothing would ever become of them. This was as good as it was going to get. "Sure, we can be friends again."
"That's good," Ron said with a grin. "Because I don't." Hermione gaped at him, incredulous.
"Excuse me?" she shrieked, hoping he was just joking.
"I don't want to be your friend," he repeated. "I want to be your boyfriend." If Hermione's jaw hadn't hit the ground before, it did now.
"What?" she stuttered. "I… uh…" Did he really just say what she thought he did? "My boyfriend? You actually fancy me?"
"Of course I do, Hermione!" Ron looked her in the eye. "I realized something last night. I don't want to fight you anymore. The only reason I ever get into it with you is because I keep wishing I was with you! I was frustrated and annoyed that you seemed oblivious to me. So I'm coming right out and telling you how I feel." He took her hands, causing a shy blush on her part. "I…" He paled as he struggled with the words. "I…" Hermione nodded her head subtly, trying to urge the words from him. "I'm…" He shut his eyes suddenly, hesitating. "I thought this would be easier…" Hermione groaned. Finally, having enough of his procrastination, she leaned forward and planted her lips on his, causing Ron to jump a little. They stayed like that for a few seconds, not pulling away and not deepening the kiss either, until a nearby catcall got their attention. Both backed off, blushing profusely and turning a glare onto Harry the culprit.
"'Bout bloody time!" he yelled before walking out the portrait hole. Ron shook his head and turned back to Hermione.
"Listen, before I lose my nerve again, I love you!" he said in one breath. A big, wide smile appeared on his face, finally relieved to get that out. Hermione smiled as well and threw her arms around his neck.
"See, that wasn't so hard!" she chuckled as her eyes shimmered with happy unshed tears. "I love you too, you stupid prat! It's only taken you three years to figure that out!"
"Do I look that observant to you?" Ron laughed, never feeling more free and happier in his life. Hermione laughed as well, embracing Ron around the middle and listening to his rhythmic breathing as he chuckled. Her lips felt warm from their earlier kiss and they yearned for another.
"Why did it take us so long?" she mused out loud.
"Because we're so bloody stubborn, that's why." Ron pulled back far enough to get a good look at Hermione's face, studying every detail, every curve, every little enduring quality that made up her beautiful face. It was at that moment he realized what a lucky bloke he was. His brothers may have had power, glory, admiration, and popularity, but he, Ronald Weasley, had Hermione Granger, a brilliant, beautiful, clever, Muggle-born witch whose fiery temper and wild hair only served to further his attraction for her.
Hermione couldn't believe this was actually happening. Just when she was starting to give up hope of ever talking to Ron in a civilized manner ever again and that things would never be the same between her and Ron, in a bad way, he springs this on her. Here she was thinking that he felt nothing for her, she was just some annoying friend he wished he could get rid of. After all, for a long time in their third and fourth years, she was positive that he hated her and only hung out with her because of the troll incident, not to mention the fact that having a smart friend at hand to do your homework was always an advantage. The fight they had only proved it within her mind. But the mere fact that she had him in her arms at that very moment clearly disproved everything she thought previously about him. Having him in her arms like this was a far better high than getting top marks in all her classes. Ron was her natural high at that moment.
Ron captured Hermione's lips once more, this time deepening the kiss. The world around them seemed to melt away. He would have loved to describe the kiss as sweet and pure, but his mind was electrically charged and no coherent thoughts were making their way through. All he could concentrate on was the ambiance rippling down his neck and across his body. Ron tipped his head down, trailing kisses from her lips to her cheeks and down her neck, causing Hermione to emit a small gasping moan.
She curled her arms under Ron's, gripping the back of his shirt as his lightly tickled her neck with his mouth. She curved her back in an almost feral attempt to press her body against his. She wanted to feel everything. She wanted more. But somewhere along the line, her senses awoke and she became dimly aware of their surrounds.
"Ron, we really shouldn't…" she murmured, lost in these new sensations. "This is a common room! Anyone could walk in and see us!"
"Then let's fix that, shall we?" Ron grinned devilishly as he took Hermione's hand and led her up the boys' dormitory stairs.
"Ron!" Hermione yelped in surprise and unsure delight. "You're not honestly suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?"
"I guess it depends," he replied as they reached the door. "I want us to have some alone time. If anything happens during that time, then so be it."
"We could get in trouble! Girls are not allowed in the boys' dorm!"
"We'll only get in trouble if we're caught! Which we won't because I have the most brilliant witch at my disposal and she knows a very tricky door-locking charm to keep others out." Ron lifted Hermione off her feet as he carried her over the threshold of the door, kicking it shut behind them. A moment later, the door handle glowed for a second as a locking charm was placed on it and there was a giddy giggle on the other side.
Harry arrived for breakfast with the rest of the Gryffindor student, this time not sitting in between two factions. Ever since Ron's confession in Slughorn's class, the Gryffindor students got the feeling that a resolution was well on its way. And when Dean, Seamus, and Neville shared with them the next morning everything that had occurred with Ron, it was silently agreed that the rivalry was over and there was no need for absurd hostilities. It was a good feeling for Harry especially. He could sit with all his friends again without worry of taking sides, Ron and Hermione were speaking again, amongst other things, and the trio was back together. Life couldn't be better.
"So how'd it go?" asked Ginny as she took a seat next to Harry and munched on some toast. "With those two twits?"
"Oh those two…" Harry grinned, recalling the last thing he saw them doing together. "I think they're okay now. I think Ron finally realized he loved her and he came to his senses."
"Well, that's good," Ginny sighed, taking a swig of her orange juice. "I don't think I could have taken another day of the Gryffindor wars. It was starting to get silly."
"Silly! Gee, I didn't notice!" The two laughed heartily at that.
"So… You're not going to find it weird are you?"
"How so?"
"Being a third wheel all the time. You just know they're going to be making googly eyes at each other every chance they get. They're going to be all mushy wushy and it'll make you sick!" Ginny grinned at the pale look on Harry's face as he realized what horrors he had just released. "I'm teasing you." He relaxed considerably.
"But you're right, you know. It's going to be awkward. When they want time alone, I'll be left out in the cold." He seemed to consider this a moment before sneaking a glance at the fiery-redhead. "Wanna be the fourth wheel?" Ginny seemed confused.
"Huh?"
"Do I have to spell it out for you?" Just to emphasize the point, he got out his wand and wrote the words 'BE MY G/F AGAIN' in the air in front of Ginny's plate. Ginny brushed it aside and poked at her eggs.
"Of course not!" she said with an air of indignity. "You had you're chance and you blew it!" Harry's face dropped. He felt as though his heart were wrenched from his chest and stepped on for good measure. Ginny suddenly broke into a wide smirk. "I'm teasing you again. God, you're too easy!" She gave him a light push as the colour returned to Harry's face.
"You really need to stop doing that!"
"But that's what you love about me!" They shared another laugh. "I'd be delighted to be your girlfriend again. As such, we should celebrate with a bit of one-on-one Quidditch practice. You in?"
"Sure, let me get my broom after I finish eating." Harry wolfed down the rest of his eggs and bacon before taking off in a run back to the Gryffindor tower. He spoke the password to the Fat Lady, rushed across the common room and up the stairs, his heart light as a feather. Life could not get any better now. Gryffindor was now more united than ever, his two best friends were finally over their fight and together, and he had his girlfriend back. Voldemort be damned, Harry was determined to enjoy every bit of his life to the fullest and no dark wizard was going to stop that.
Harry barely registered that the seventh year boys' dorm door was closed. When he tried the knob, it was locked tight by magical means. He knocked hard on the door and waited for an answer.
When he got no such response, he called through the door, "Ron, you in there?" He heard muffled voices before he heard a reply in the form of Ron's voice, drifting carelessly through the door.
"Yes… yes… oh god, yes!" Harry's face screwed up as he tried to figure out what the hell that was supposed to mean.
"Can I come in? You got the door all locked up!"
"Yes! Oh…-- Wait… Harry? Shit, no! Go away!" Now Harry was more confused than ever.
"Ron, open up, I need my Firebolt!"
"Come back in an hour or two!"
"Sod that, I need my Firebolt now! Open up or I'll blast the door down!"
"Piss off for a few minutes, will ya! You're killing the mood here!"
"What are you doing in there?" For the briefest moment, Harry could have sworn he heard Ron say 'Hermione' but his voice was drowned out by loud muffling and shifting noises that Harry couldn't determine the source of.
"Just… hold on, you stupid, billowing, wanker…" There was more shuffling before the door handle glowed faintly for a second and the door opened on its own accord, just barely wide enough to let Harry's floating Firebolt escape from the room, then the door shut with a snap and the locking charm was put up again. "You got your bleedin' broom now, so smeg off or I swear I'll hex you!"
"Touchy, you got a girl in there?" Harry joked as he grabbed hold of his Firebolt. At that comment, the door flew open wide enough to reveal Ron's upper half leaning out of the doorway, brandishing his wand. Seconds later, Harry had red boils on his hands. "You sneaky dog! You do have a girl in there!"
"That was a warning hex, Harry, they get progressively worse," informed Ron in his best threatening voice, which only made Harry laugh.
"Explain to me why you have no shirt on and I'll go!"
"Come on, man, just go already!" Ron seemed to be getting desperate to get rid of Harry.
"Where's your shirt?"
"In the laundry."
"Yeah, right, why's it in the laundry?"
"I took it off."
"Why'd you take it off? You just woke up."
"I'm going back to sleep. Sod off."
"Where's you shirt, then, and I'll sod off."
"I'm wearing his shirt!" came a feminine shriek. Ron was pulled back into the room by unknown means, and was then replaced by Hermione. Harry thought his jaw would fall off. Hermione was standing in nothing but a long t-shirt that went just halfway down her thighs, and she was also wearing an impatient and frustrated scowl on her face. Harry simply gaped at her.
"Hermione!"
"You got your answer, now piss off already!" she growled, pointing down the hall. "If you want the honest-to-Merlin truth, we were having se-"
"Something you'll never hear about, good day!" Ron interrupted from behind the door. Harry's stunned silence was broken by his waves of laughter.
"I can't believe this!" he chortled. "Just yesterday, you two were still on non-speaking terms, now you two are in the sack together! This is definitely a story to tell the grand-kiddies when they're older, ain't it, mate!"
"Good day, Harry!" Hermione said sharply before closing the door, her face burning brightly red. Harry couldn't contain his amusement. This was even better than he had expected.
"Don't forget to use a protective charm or something! No unwanted pregnancies here!" Then he felt a tremendous invisible push that sent him rolling down the stairs into the common room, still laughing despite the painful boils on his hands. He just hit the bottom when a pair of feet emerged into his line of sight. Looking up, it turned out to be Ginny.
"Why are you on the floor, laughing like a moron, with hex boils on your hands?" she asked simply.
"Your brother did it. Apparently I was interrupting a private moment."
"Oh?"
"Oh." There was silence as Harry tried to recover from his good-mood high and Ginny waited for Harry to explain what in god's name he was talking about. When he realized she was still staring at him blankly, he said "Oh, right! Hermione and Ron are upstairs shagging." Ginny's eyes went wide.
"W-what?" she sputtered.
"Yeah, no joke! She's even wearing his shirt! Isn't that just darling?"
"Yeah. That's one word for it." Ginny began pacing around, finding the whole new revelation both amusing and surprising. "I can't believe it…"
"That's what I said."
"Shh." Ginny silenced Harry with a finger on his lips. "I'm talking." She resumed her pacing. "This was a little…"
"Fast?" Harry interrupted.
"Unexpected, I was going to say." Ginny shot Harry a stern look. It wasn't long, however, before her serious look was replaced with one of pure excitement. "It's about bloody time they got it on! I was being to think they'd never figure it out because they're both so dense! Which is funny, really, because Hermione's such a clever witch when it comes to studies, but she's so thick when it comes to love."
"You put it better than I ever could have." Harry grinned before taking Ginny's hand in one and his Firebolt in the other. "Shall we?"
Ginny let Harry lead her towards the portrait hole.
"We shall."
Hermione sighed contently as she flipped onto her side and nestled her head onto Ron's chest. He began tracing leisure circles across her back as she dozed off. While for the most part her mind was a bit fuzzy and warm, one thought rang out clear. Damn, he was good! Hermione had always pictured in her head what making love would be like, but this was far above her wildest (and raciest) dreams. They had started out passionate, in a hurry to remove unwanted clothes, but then it turned playful, shy almost. Both were afraid to overstep boundaries. Then, in the heat of the moment, instinct seemed to take over and they became animalistic. Hermione didn't know she was even capable of that. She didn't even know that the human body could go for several rounds and still crave more. Thinking about it made her giggle in excitement, the prospect that this, that Ron was at her disposal any time she wanted him.
"What are you giggling about?" Ron asked in a murmured sort of voice. Even though the human body could go for several rounds, drowsiness had eventually caught up and they were both too tired to keep going.
"I'm feeling giddy," Hermione answered, nuzzling her face into his chest. "How'd I get so lucky?"
"Felix Felicis?" Ron offered.
"You reckon it's still working after all these months?"
"Who knows? Maybe Harry kept a bit and spiked our drinks one morning." They chuckled at the thought. After the moment passed, Ron spoke again, this time a little more seriously. "I can't believe how stubborn I was this last week. If I had known before how you felt, in more ways than one, y'know, 'cause you have really silky skin—"
"Stay on task, Ron."
"Right! If I had known you felt anything for me, I wouldn't have dodged the hex for so long. I would—"
"Wait? Dodge the what?"
"Hex? It's a figure of speech, like 'avoided the bludger' or 'got off the jinxed broom'." At Hermione's confused face, Ron had to remind himself that while those phrases were common in the wizarding world, someone like Hermione wouldn't catch their meaning quite as easily. "It means prevent danger. I always thought that admitting how I felt about you would result in unnecessary pain and rejection. So I dodged the hex, so to speak." Understanding dawned on Hermione's face.
"Like dodging the bullet."
"The what?"
"A Muggle weapon."
"Oh… well, then, yes, something like that. The point is I didn't think to make a move until Harry told me how you felt." Hermione looked playfully betrayed.
"He told you? I don't know if I should kiss him or slap him."
"Well after he told me, it certainly cleared up a whole lot for me. Helped me realize just how I felt about you. You know, you're one complicated girl to read."
"Really? 'Cause Ginny would often tell me I was about as transparent as glass." They both laughed. There was a comfortable silence afterwards that stretched into minutes. Everything that needed to be said was said. And now they were falling into a cosy sleep.
Hermione yawned as she drew the covers tightly over their bare bodies, wrapping her legs around Ron's. "Let's not fight anymore, alright?" Ron opened one eye and grinned mischievously.
"But that's when you're sexiest." Hermione shoved Ron in the ribs. "See?"
"How long has it been now?"
"I need my quills and parchment for homework!"
"I need socks!"
"This Firebolt is getting heavy."
"Why can't we just bash the door down?"
"It's magically sealed."
"Alohamora!"
"I already tried that, Neville! And if I couldn't do it, you certainly can't."
"It's worth a shot."
The seventh year Gryffindor boys were sitting outside their dorm, waiting for signs of life on the other side. They had been there for several hours now and it was close to dinner. Dean needed to complete a 6-foot long parchment essay for History of Magic by the end of the weekend and he was getting nowhere fast without any of his supplies or books. Seamus' feet were cold, so he wanted socks. Harry had been waiting the longest, since he and Ginny had finished playing Quidditch together rather fast (there was only the two of them, so it wasn't much of a game anyway, but then again, much of their time wasn't used playing Quidditch), and he was dying to put his broom away, but he couldn't do that when his two best friends were hogging the room all to themselves doing god knows what.
Seamus threw his hands up. "Alright, I may like Ron and Hermione, but I'm five seconds away from getting McGonagull." He got to his feet.
"Seamus, you wouldn't," said Neville, disbelievingly. "That would be cruel!"
"No, that's merciful! It'd be cruel if I called Snape." The others gaped at Seamus, like he was an axe-wielding maniac. "Don't look at me like that. My feet are cold!"
Before anyone could respond, the door flew open and out walked Hermione, her hair tousled and her clothes wrinkled somewhat.
"Oh! Hello, gentlemen!" she greeted cheerfully as she brushed by them and down the stairs. "It's about dinner time, isn't it?" And then she was gone. Next, Ron waltzed out of the room with a very smug and relaxed look on his face, walking like he just won the Quidditch World Cup.
"Evening, gents'. Had a good day?" he addressed the dumbstruck young men. "I know I did." And like Hermione, he disappeared down the stairs to go eat dinner. "I'm starved!" he called up to them, his voice drifting away.
Harry was the first to move. He got up and raced for the door, knocking down Dean who was attempting to beat him inside. There was a flurry of movement as the four pushed and shoved their way into the room. Surprisingly enough, Neville was the first in and done getting what he needed; his Remembrall. He had forgotten where he put it.
When they had all finally gotten what they needed, they headed down for dinner with the rest of the Gryffindors. At the long table in the Great Hall, many were already eating and chatting away. Ron was sitting next to Hermione with his arm slung over her shoulder. She was whispering something in his ear, making him chuckle and shiver. Lavender and Parvati were beaming at the new couple, interrogating them on where they were all day. Smiling, Harry took his place between Ron and Ginny.
And now, he could breath easier.
The End
A/N: Sorry about the cheese ending. I was having a hard time trying to find a good way to write the very last paragraph. Love it? Hate it? Too OOC for you? Write a review and let me know what you thought of this.