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Chapter 6: Better late than never

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Bloody hell. Bloody, buggering, pillocking hell.

I was sitting stock-still in exactly the same place I had when Hermione left. One single thought shot through my head over and over again.

She's in love with me. Hermione's in love with me.

Hermione Granger - bookworm extraordinaire, the most brilliant girl I had ever met, the woman of my (sometimes naughty) dreams - was mind-numbingly in love with moi, Ron Weasley. There was just one minor detail that prevented our happily-ever-after.

I had basically told her that I couldn't care less if she stripped off naked, bathed in chocolate and then started to rub her body against mine.

Next thing I knew, I had risen from my bed, walked to the door and clomped down the stairs. I had to book a therapy session with my dear sister.

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"You did not."

"I did."

"You did not!" Ginny gasped.

I sighed and drew a hand through my, let's face it, insane hair. "I bloody did, so can we move forward from that now? I really need your help."

My sister stared at me blankly. "What did you do again?"

Groaning, I leaned forwards and grabbed her shoulders. "When Hermione was about to admit her love for me, I told her that I already knew and that I didn't care."

"But… why?"

I took a deep breath. "Because I thought she and Harry were hooking up." Just saying it made my heart hurt even more than it already did.

A couple of seconds went by without a single sign of acknowledgement from Ginny. Then the reaction came, but it wasn't exactly what I had thought it might be.

She started laughing. Right in my face. She snorted and laughed heartily. After a few minutes she pulled herself together and wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.

"Cheers," she chuckled, clapping me on the shoulder. "Haven't had a laugh like that since mum caught Fred bashing the bishop to a photo of Phlegm!"

"It's not fu-" I started whining, but instantly stopped myself as her words registered. "Oh no, he didn't?" I grinned at Ginny in amazement and she nodded, smirking evilly.

"It was magnificent, the way she handled that broomstick, whopping him over the head with it."

I chuckled. I couldn't wait to tell Harry that particular story. Suddenly, I shook himself.

"That's not the point, Gin," I said seriously. "The point is that I need your help. I have to make this up to Hermione."

Ginny sobered, too, looking at me in obvious thought.

"Well…" she said after a while. "I think you just need to talk to her."

I felt the air leave my lungs. Anything but that. Throw me into a hole filled with angry Blast-Ended Skrewts for all I care, but please don't make me face Hermione after what I said to her.

"I do?" I whimpered. "Why?"

Ginny frowned. "You are in love with her, aren't you?"

I nodded. Of course I was, how could I not be? Ginny raised an eyebrow and it suddenly hit me. I had to talk to Hermione.

"You're right," I said, looking at my baby sister in awe.

I really underestimate Ginny's intelligence far too much.

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Half an hour later, I had stood outside Hermione's door for about… twenty-five minutes. I just stood there, staring at the worn wood of the door.

It never came to me that I might knock. Because if I did, she might answer. That was a terrifying thought. I tried to think of how she would react if I excused my earlier behaviour - pfft, begged her for forgiveness, more like - and what she would say.

Hopefully, she would jump into my arms and kiss me like there's no tomorrow. I would kiss her back, splaying my hands across her back. And then, just maybe, she would make some little noise in her throat as I steered us towards the bed, crashing down onto it and -

Whoa. Better get my mind out of the gutter, right now.

I shook my head, hoping to clear it, and in the process accidentally slammed a hand against the door. I instantly froze as I heard someone shift inside the room.

"Yes?" came a thick voice. She had been crying.

"Er," I said, not knowing how to begin.

I didn't have time to stutter anything else before she cracked the door open and glared at me, all red and puffy. She had never been more beautiful.

"What do you want, Ronald?" she said, her voice low.

Standing there, I suddenly realised that I had no idea what I was going to say. 'I love you'? 'I'm sorry'? 'Marry me'?

"I…" I got out, and I felt like clapping myself on the back. Not only was it a syllable, it was indeed a word!

Hermione shifted her feet and looked at the wall behind me.

"I thought you fancied Harry," came crashing out of my mouth before I could stop it.

Her eyes snapped onto me and widened, and I clapped my hands over my mouth.

"What?" she asked, looking thoroughly confused. "Why?"

"B-because I heard you," I stuttered, "and I… I thought…"

Hermione sighed deeply, interrupting my insane ramble. "I honestly don't know what gave you the idea that I fancy Harry, since he is like a brother to me."

"Yeah, kinda figured that out by now," I muttered under my breath, and said in a louder voice. "I'm really sorry, Hermione. I got it all wrong."

"Yes, well," she said, seeming suddenly shy. "Are we friends again?"

My heart dropped. She only wanted us to be friends? "But…" I said, looking at the floor. "You said…"

Hermione shifted again. "Yes, but clearly -"

"Clearly what?" My eyes snapped up to meet hers.

She looked a bit surprised, both at me interrupting her and me meeting her eyes. "Clearly I should not have mentioned it. I am really sorry, and I will try to be your friend and stop these ridiculous feelings that I cannot seem to shake off even when I am trying to read a good book and -"

She was so incredibly adorable and gorgeous that I only had one choice if I wanted to shut her up sometime that day.

I bent down and pressed my lips against hers.

It was awkward and new and absolutely amazing. After a few seconds contact I realized I should probably make sure that she wasn't about to murder me for taking such liberties.

I slowly pulled back and our mouths disconnected with a distinct sloppy sound.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I'll go if you want me to -"

"Shut up," she said, her eyes glassy. "Shut up and do that again."

Then she tugged on the front of my shirt, pulling my head down so that she could reach my lips once more.

The next twenty minutes were quite wonderful.

What I learned today: snogging is even better than Quidditch, especially if it's with Hermione Granger.

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A/N: Yessss, I updated! Go me! There will probably be an epilogue (I really want to see what the twins have to say about this!) and then this baby is wrapped and done. Review, please!