A/N: Here's another. I really like writing this story I hope you like reading it. It's actually almost done too! Haha. ALMOST…that's the key word. Anyway, this one will make you blush a little bit. Yeah….enjoy!

Chapter 2

"I'm sorry Hermione. I came by to warn you that he might come by. I didn't want to tell Malfoy, he would've flipped and you know it. Why does it matter if nothing happened anyway?" I looked at Harry. He had a smirk on his face. I was caught in a corner and he knew he had me.

"It matters because that's my house and I'm married, in case you've forgotten. Ronald Billius Weasley is out of my life forever, Harry. I know you and Ginny don't want to believe that but it's true. I'm with Draco; its time everyone accepts it."

Harry looked at me. "Well, Hermione, just to be blunt, I think you need to accept it before everyone else can. And I know you still loved Ron when you married the little ferret anyway…you need to do what you always told me to do."

"Oh, and what's that? I've already read, Hogwarts, A History," I added as he rolled his eyes.

"You need to follow your heart and not worry about what anyone thinks. I gotta go; Ginny's got an appointment about the baby. But I'll talk to you later." He kissed me on the cheek as he got up from the table. "And Hermione, don't be so hard on Ron—at least until you hear everything he has to say. Things aren't always what they seem, you should know that better than anyone."

I sat there and drank my coffee as I thought about what Harry said to me. What excuse could there possibly be? There was none that justified him leaving like that. None at all. And there was none that justified the fact that he did nothing to contact me in three years and just shows up at my house and acts like he did toward me. There was no excuse that I would buy.

I picked up the book that lay on the table and started to read. (I would have done anything to get my mind off of him.) I was in the middle of chapter three when someone sat down at my table. I tried to ignore whomever it was staring intensely at me but eventually the thought of eyes peering at me got on my nerves. "Is there something I can help—you! What are you doing here?"

Ron smiled back at me. "Hey, Mione. I was walking by and I saw you. I figured I'd just come say hi."

"Well, you said it. You can leave now." He stared at me. I could immediately see the hurt in his eyes. The hurt mixed with jealousy and longing and love. I don't know how eyes can hold so many emotions all at once. I don't understand that. It's something that science and books and magic will never be able to answer. Though I don't understand it, I still feel the same feelings when I look at him or hear his voice or even just hear him breathing beside me.

"Don't be like that Hermione. Can we talk somewhere? We have a lot to talk about." I knew he meant every word but I still didn't want to hear it.

"No, we can't Ron. It's too late for talking. That time has come and gone." I grabbed my bag and jumped up from my chair. The only thing on my mind was getting out of there before the dam that held by tears in broke again, made the walls fall and drowned the entire city—a city that was composed of me and walls that I built up around myself. He couldn't see that he still affected me. I couldn't let him.

"Hermione! Hermione, wait!" I heard him call after me, and the wind that blew the trees around carried his voice and made it louder. He was still following me and calling after me when I turned at him.

"What do you want Ron? I don't want to talk to you! It's not going to solve anything now!"

"Yes it is! Just let me explain everything to you! Let me explain it so you won't hate me anymore!"

"I don't hate you! That's the problem. If I hated you, it would all be easier. I don't hate you; I do, however, loathe what you did to me. The way you threw me out like an experiment gone array! I hate that I ever saw that part you, that you treated me like that, that you had such a blatant disregard for everything we were to each other! Were, Ron; not are. Were. We're over. I'm with Draco. You left me, remember? It's taken me awhile but I've finally figured out that we were over long before you walked out that door. I've accepted it; it's time you did too!"

It was blunt and it hurt to say it, but I had to. Bluntness, saying everything he didn't want to hear, was always the only way to make him understand. I knew that so, I had no choice. I felt tears burning in my eyes but I pushed them away; there would be time for that later.

He walked up to me and pulled me into his arms. "Mione," he whispered in my ear, "I never thought of you as an experiment. I never meant to make you feel that way. There's so much you don't know, so much you need to know. I—I just want you to let me tell you. Please, Mione. I don't want to regret never telling you. Let me do this, for me, for you, for us. I still love you. I won't pressure you into anything and I won't try to make you change your life. I just want you to be happy. Let me explain it all to you, and then if you still want me to leave you alone, I will. Just give me a chance to explain."

I stood there in his arms, not even caring who was watching. Nothing fazed me as I stood there just feeling him near me, hearing his heartbeat. "Okay," I whispered. "We can talk; that's all I can promise you." There was something about being there in his arms and looking into those eyes that made me forget, even for a second, that I wasn't with him. And in that second, I didn't care that Draco would lose it when he found out or that it would possibly ruin every comfort I had created for myself in these last years. That didn't matter. All I cared was that Ron was here...with me, like it was supposed to be all along.

(sc)

The next morning, I met Ron at Diagon Alley. There was a new little restaurant there where we decided to eat some breakfast. I was really nervous when I got there. Nervous and shocked that he was there before I was. I followed him to a table in the back. The waitress took our orders and left. A wall popped up around us. It was a way to have private conversations, a new little soundproof room to be completely alone. Great, just what I want—to be completely alone with him.

The menu had said "no interruptions."; apparently, the food would just appear there before us and refills and whatever else until we put the wall down. It was cute but I didn't want that right now. I wanted interruptions. "I'm glad you came," he smiled at me when our drinks arrived. I shook my head but I didn't say anything. "I'm really surprised. Thanks for giving me a chance, Mione."

"Ron…I'm sorry but can we skip all this? I'm here like you wanted. Let's just get to it, ok?" I felt really bad when he shifted in seat and gave me that look. I just really didn't know why I was here. I say that, but I knew. I knew and he knew.

"Er…alright Mione. Do you remember that time…" He smiled. I laughed. I remembered. As we sat there and talked about old times, I forgot the reason we were there. One story led into another and another…

(FB)

"Ron behind you!" Ginny yelled as a Death Eater shot an Unforgivable toward him. Ron jumped and ran toward Harry.

"He's over there Harry! You go; we can handle this," Ron looked at him. Harry shook his head and looked toward Snape and Draco then back at Ron. "I will. Don't worry. I won't let them get away with anything. Go." Harry ran off to the distance and Ginny, Ron and I fought off Death Eaters. Draco and Snape were helping us. They told us how it was all Dumbledore's plan and, after a late-night visit to his portrait, it was confirmed. We had let them help us, watching every move they made.

There were many others there too, each fighting their own battle. All of us were actually. Sure, we were there for Harry, to help defeat Voldemort but each person present at the final battle was present because they wanted to be; Because Voldemort had taken something or someone from them and they wanted revenge for what he stole. They all wanted him gone.

For Neville it was his parents, and his life with them. For Lupin, it was Sirius and James and Lily and the life he never had. For Tonks, it was all she had to put up with over the years and for not being able to love Lupin the way she wanted. For Bill it was what he had lost the year before, his injuries. For Moody, it was all that Crouch Jr. had put him through in fourth year. For Draco, it was what he gave up for Voldemort: his family, his name, and his free will.

For Snape, it was pain and hatred. It was everything he lost, his name, his job, his stature, and his guilt for having to kill the one person who trusted him. For Ron, it was his family and Harry; he fought for freedom. For Ginny, it was Harry. She loved him and they couldn't be together. It was for that time, when Tom Riddle was part of her. For me, it was the pain I saw my friends go through. For Harry, it was everything; it was his life. It was his father and mother and godfather and mentor and love and best friends and schoolmates and his entire future. It was all there was. He was the reason the lot of us was there, but it was for us too…for our souls.

As we fought, there was a bright light that shot from the opposite side. Everyone stopped; Death Eater, werewolf, witch and wizard alike. We all froze. Ginny was the first to move. She dashed past me, followed by Ron, toward the other side. I ran after, Lupin and Tonks behind me. We walked up to find Harry and Voldemort lying on the ground, neither moving.

Ginny threw herself to the ground beside Harry and Ron slide his fingers in my hand. "He's alive!" Ginny exclaimed. "Harry's still alive!"

(sc)

"Who would've known that he was the last horcrux? I hate to say it, but that's genius," Fred exclaimed in the hospital room.

"The man, if you can call him that, was crazy but he was good," George added.

Mrs. Weasley shot them a look and they shut up. "Where are Snape and Malfoy?" Harry asked us.

"We've got them in custody, as well as all the other Death Eaters. They'll probably get off. They're being cooperative and giving us names. We'll send the lot to Azkaban for sure this time," Tonks smiled soothingly at him. "You just get some rest. Don't worry about any of it right now."

"I think we should all go," Mr. Weasley said. Ron, Ginny and I stayed behind. Ginny bent over and kissed his forehead. She gasped loudly.

"Harry! Where's your scar?" We all looked at him. It was gone. There was no scar. He was normal again. Whatever that meant.

(sc)

(a few months after graduation.)

"Ron! Ron stop it!" I giggled at him. "Your parents are downstairs." I moved from his bed and sat on the chair in the corner.

"Oh, they'll never catch us. Come on."

"No," I said, totally ignoring his glance. "I told you. I'm not doing that. Not yet, not here, not right now."

He came over and kissed me gently. "Ok. If that's what you want."

"It is," I smiled.

"Good. Just tell me when you change your mind." I smacked him on the head. "I was kidding. I was kidding…"

(sc)

"Ron, where are you taking me?"

"Shh. Just wait." I could hear the smile in his voice as I held back a laugh. He led me through the trees and grass to somewhere. He took the blindfold off my eyes and told me to open them. I was looking at a beautiful waterfall and there was a picnic basket.

"Oh Ron!" I smiled at him and kissed him.

"Before you get excited, the food's from mum. I don't really cook, you know that…the rest of it was all me though," he chuckled at me.

"Thank you; this is amazing!" I sat on the blanket and he came and sat beside me and we laughed as we ate. He wrapped his arms around me as we watched the sunset and he kissed my neck and played with my curls.

"Look, that's... uh…something." He pointed to the sky. I laughed.

"It's Cassiopeia!" I laughed at him.

"You think it' funny that I don't know the constellations?" I shook my head and roared with laughter as he rolled me over on the ground and looked down at me. I was still laughing when he rolled his eyes and kissed me. "That shut you up."

"Well it's hard to laugh when you do that." He kissed me again and again. There was something about the way he kissed me that made me go somewhere else. It made the world fade away until it was just us. It was the most remarkable feeling. Sometimes, it led to problems.

He had his hand under my shirt when I came back to reality. I didn't say anything; it felt too good to stop him. I moaned as he kissed my neck; everything felt right. He started to move his hand and my mind was racing. I wasn't ready for this. "Ron, stop." He shot up in an instant. "I'm sorry, I'm just…I can't do this."

He just shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to do this. I thought I was ready but I'm not. I understand if you—"

"Hermione!" he yelled. "Stop talking." He kissed me softly on the lips. "It doesn't matter. I'll wait for you…I'll wait forever. I love you. You know that right?"

"I do. I love you too, Ron." He put grabbed my face with his hands and kissed a few of my tears as they fell.

(sc)

"Come on Hermione! You can do it baby!" Ron whispered to me.

"Easy for you to say!" I peered over the edge down at the water. "I really can't do this."

"You can. You're Hermione; you can do anything." He smiled at me.

"I don't like this."

"Just take the rope and jump. Fred and George and Harry and the others are down there waiting. Come on, Mione. You can do this." I looked at him and took the rope. I took a few steps toward the edge and closed my eyes. Everyone at the bottom stopped yelling up at me. I took another step…

"I can't do it!" I shouted and looked back at him.

"Is this the same Hermione who always did everything right in school? Who faced dragons and blast-ended skewers and Rita Skeeter and Voldemort and Grawp?" he laughed. " Are you that same girl who was on me and Harry everyday for doing stupid stunts and then ended up doing all them with us? Are you still that Hermione?"

"Yes, but…"

"Then you can do this. I know you can." He looked at me and smiled. He walked me to the edge. "Close your eyes." I did and I felt him kiss me. "Now don't open your eyes. I'm gonna do that again and then I want to jump so you can be with me."

"Be with you? Where are you…?" He kissed me again and I heard him laughing as he fell down into the water with a splash. As soon as he hit, I jumped off the cliff into the icy blue water.

"You did it! I knew you could do it!" He mused and pulled me close. "Are you ok?"

"That was so much fun!" I laughed. "Let's do it again!"

He laughed. "There she is. I knew you'd like it." I kissed him and we swam to shore.

(Now)

I laughed with him and felt myself blush. Suddenly, I was back to reality again. I was here with him even though I should have left long ago. "This was a mistake," I said jumping up.

"Hermione what…"

"Ron, I shouldn't have come. I'm with Draco!"

"I know who you're with. I haven't forgotten! How could I? Don't you think it kills me to know that you're with him and not me? It does Hermione. I know, ok?" he sighed. "Look at us, yelling again already. This isn't what I wanted…"

"What did you want Ron?" I looked him and his eyes got wide.

"Not what you're hinting at, that's for sure. I know that look…I didn't plan on talking about all that stuff with you—that wasn't my intention. It never crossed my mind…but you were here and I—I don't know why it all started. I'm sorry…it wasn't supposed to be this way."

I released him from my look of death. "That's okay. Just stick the reason we're together next time."

"Next time?"

I sighed. "Yeah. We didn't discuss anything."

"Right. Next time…tomorrow? Come to the Burrow and I'll make you lunch. We'll talk there," Ron suggested.

The last place I want to go was the Burrow…that's where… "Okay," I said. No, say no!

"See you at noon?" he asked. I shook my head and stood up. "Okay. I got that." He pointed to the bill. I smiled politely at him. "See you tomorrow Mione." He leaned in toward me, like he was going to kiss me but instead just kissed me on the forehead.

Once I got back home, I was all smiles. Draco asked me four times why I was so happy but I didn't really have an answer. "Well, whatever the reason is, I like it," he said. He kissed me as we sat down for dinner.

"Tomorrow, I have to go out of town. I'll be gone until Saturday afternoon." My heart leapt. "I hope you won't be too bored."

"I won't. I'll go see Ginny," I said. He tensed up and put a forkful in his mouth. "Draco, she and Harry are my best friends. All that stuff is behind is. I told you I wouldn't abandon them for you. I know you don't like when I go over there but—"

"I didn't say that. I know they are your friends Hermione. I just don't like you there because they don't like you here. They never have. Someday you'll see their real feelings toward me. But as long as they are decent to me, I will be to them—just for you." I smiled because I felt as if he wanted me to. But I couldn't help wondering what would happen if he found I 'd seen Ron for what will be, the fourth time in four days. He'd have a fit.

That night in bed, when Draco made love to me, I could only think of Ron. I tried to fight it for a few minutes but it was inevitable for me not to see him there instead, especially after all we shared together. He was back in my life. Just the thought of him made me smile. I didn't know what to do about it. I felt guilty. I may not be cheating on him physically, but spiritually and emotionally, I've been in love with another man since I married him.

I knew I shouldn't go there tomorrow, I knew it but I didn't listen to it. I longed to be near him, even just for dinner. And we did have a lot of things to talk about. Damn it Ron, why didn't you just come back? Nothing would be like it is if you would've come back to me. I would be with you. I wanted to be mad at him as I lay there naked beside the wrong man, but I couldn't. I was too much in love with him. Crap, I thought, I'm in love with him…still.

That night I slept with dreams of what tomorrow would hold. Suddenly, I felt like I had a schoolgirl crush again. I felt as helpless as I had then too. The only difference was, I knew what it was like to be with Ron, and then I hadn't. I know what I'm missing now and its something I wanted to feel again; I longed for it. Life had a funny way of making you want things you thought you were perfectly content not having. It was becoming obvious to me that I wasn't content without it, without Ron.

A/N: That's the end of that one…what's gonna happen? There's a poll coming up soon so be ready to answer it all my readers out there! Thanks and review!