A/N: Thank you reviewers, you know who you are! This chapter goes out to
Joots! You've been a fabulous motivator and depending on what the final
vote at the end of this fic is, I might depend on you for some ideas and
motivation. You've been wonderful! Make sure to read the author's note at
the end of this chapter, pleeeeeeeeease!
It took Percy until Hermione's seventh year to come back to the family. He apologized profusely for about two weeks straight until he gave in and moved back home with his parents for a few months to make amends with everyone. It took everyone but Mrs. Weasley, at least a month to completely forgive him. Well, except Ron. All of the things Percy had written in the letter during his fifth year about Harry and where his interests were still didn't sit well with him.
Hermione was sure that Ron might even hate Percy and herself about now though. She should have told him and Harry about Percy in the first place. It's been two weeks since she'd even seen or heard from her red-headed best friend. Harry called her daily and assured her that they were both alive and that Ron was still just being daft. Percy was acting worse than Ron. His plan was to act like absolutely nothing happened and that they had never even liked each other. It hurt so much to see that empty look in his eyes whenever she was in the room. The Weasley family took turns on checking her and making sure she was alright. They seemed to genuinely care about her and they treated Percy the same. She was extremely appreciative of their quick support in her time of need.
After two weeks of moping around work her superior made her take a week off to work things out. She had tried to tell him that it would only make it worse, but he wouldn't hear anything of it. So here she was curled up on her sofa in front of the fireplace with a book she had already read three times.
She was cooking a small dinner for two in the kitchen while she relaxed for it to finish. Harry was going to visit and keep her company for a couple hours.
Fifteen minutes passed while she read her book before there was a knock on the door. She got up from her seat and left the book on the right end table.
"Oh come on, it'll be fun. I swear."
It was Harry's voice. Hermione stopped walking towards the door and paused to listen for a possible second voice.
"I'd rather be sorting papers for work so I don't get behind like a certain other auror who has been hanging out with my kid sister a lot."
Ron.
What was he doing here? Her first guess was that it was a trap set by Harry. She scowled at how devious her other best friend could be. For a second she debated to feign not being home. He would deserve it - plotting behind her back - honestly! But she did miss Ron a lot. It was worth shoving her pride aside for just one night. Tonight, she would convince Ron that their friendship was worth more than another fight. Tomorrow - Harry would pay.
She walked up to the door, and opened it to see Harry and Ron bickering back and forth with each other. Harry quickly faced her and smiled brightly.
"Hermione!"
Ron - hearing her name, quickly turned to gawk at her.
"You!"
He faced Harry again.
"You're not going to be the boy who lived for very much longer," Ron threatened.
Harry pointed his wand at Ron.
"Stupefy." Harry whispered.
Ron fell to the ground limply like a doll.
Hermione was shocked beyond words. She glanced from Harry to Ron until Harry spoke up.
"He's actually pretty quick for such a big guy. While in training he took out more than half of his opponents with his 'quick reactions and obedience to the skill'. He was a Professor's Pet! I think you'd need to see it in order to believe it though."
Hermione giggled. It was definitely too hard to believe that her - I mean, Ron wanted to be a know-it-all, just like her.
Harry scooped his arms under Ron's shoulders and dragged him inside and shut the door behind him. He then waved his wand at Ron and made his still limp body float to the couch. Hermione went around the couch and took the wand from Ron's robe pocket and put it in her back pocket. When he woke up, he was going to be quite cranky.
Hermione sat on the arm rest of the couch and watched as Ron laid unknowingly on her couch. He was so quiet and peaceful. His pale skin looked so soft to the touch and his red hair that was unkept but short hair went in every direction and before she realized what she was doing, Hermione reached out to run her fingers through that wildly colorful hair that she loved so much, but stopped when she remembered that Harry was still there. She quickly looked up and around the room but couldn't see him anywhere. That little devil, Hermione thought. He just left her with a very handsome and beautiful man. So, her situation wasn't too bad. She grinned at the possibilities. She took out her wand to rouse him.
Ron stirred slowly at first, but jumped up off the couch when he didn't recognize anything around him. He forced his thoughts to collect themselves and began to look around fervently until his eyes fell on Hermione in a pair of khaki pants and a long sleeved v-cut brown shirt. The colors she wore really brought out the deep pools of brown watching him carefully. His body involuntarily flinched when he realized what kind of situation he was in.
"Hello." Ron said quietly. He was completely at a loss of words.
"Hello Ron," Hermione replied. She too, couldn't think straight at the moment.
Ron, still trying to sort thoughts and memories, remembered Harry and what he had done. Wait a second, he was supposed to be ignoring Hermione.
"Oh bloody hell," he turned to go, but Hermione caught him by the arm and gently pulled him back. Unaccustomed to her touch he let her keep her there and he looked back into her eyes. They were filled with so much worry. It crushed his heart to see the pain there. He paused and than remembered the pain she had caused him. "Don't you another man's heart to break?"
Hermione's arm fell to her side. All thoughts of wanting him to be her friend still escaped. Her eyes narrowed down to slits and her shoulders tensed as she glared at him as if her weren't a giant fully trained auror who could probably squash her with out even a spell.
"I am sick of this Ron Weasley!" She yelled.
"Sick of what Granger?" Ron retorted.
"I'm sick of taking this - this crap from you!"
"Well if I remember correctly, you were the one that broke my brother's heart!"
"Is this really why you've been so mad with me?"
Ron looked confused at first, but finally found some words. "Well - err, yeah!"
"Did my happiness ever make it into the equation, Ron? Does it matter to you that I just don't love him?!"
"Well you should!"
Well I don't! For your information, I love someone else!" She exclaimed with out really thinking.
"So you've been cheating on Percy too?!"
"Of course not you big prat."
"Well, than what'd you mean by you loving someone else?"
"If you don't know by now, than you'll never know!"
"Are you calling me thick?!"
Hermione tried to mumble out an excuse but she was just turning redder by the moment.
"The soul reason I tried so hard in that frigg'n training camp was so I could come back and have you be proud of me. I was sick of being inferior in your eyes and only in your eyes. Everyone else was proud of me for being head boy, but it never seemed to be enough for Ms. Know-It-All." His eyes began to shine with unshed tears.
"Oh Ron," Hermione leapt into his torso and hugged him as tightly as her arms would let her. "I always thought you were the best. You were always so brave and funny. I loved you as you were, no matter what."
"What'd you say?" Ron pulled her back from him and looked into her chocolate colored eyes.
"You're brave?"
"No, no, the part after that."
"Funny?" After she had said it, it her like a ton of bricks; she had said that she loved him. Oh she was in for it now.
"That wasn't it."
Hermione turned away to try to regain some dignity. She didn't want to see the disturbed look on his face when she found out her true feelings for him. After all they were just supposed to be good friends.
"I said I loved you for who you were and are." She whispered.
"Loved or Love?" Ron quietly approached her turned back and reached out his hand to touch her shoulder, when she replied.
"Both." It was a soft whisper again.
He couldn't hold back the emotions fighting for a chance to expose themselves anymore. He spun her around to face her and noted the tears that had fallen down her soft cheeks. Bending over slightly he kissed at the tears on her cheeks. It hurt him so much to see her in pain. He paused and looked from her plush lips to her eyes as if asking for permission and when she leaned up to him he brought his lips down to meet hers half way. A soft moan escaped her throat and she reached out to hold him so she wouldn't fall from being light headed. It was far better than her pillow or Percy had ever provided her; his lips were soft and luscious and she couldn't seem to get enough. It was like eating chocolate- chocolate cake and never wanting to finish it, but it was also like a hot shower on a frigid and cold morning. His hands went to her the curves on her sides and relished in the fact that she wasn't just all skin and bones. She was a woman with soft curves that made her all the more irresistible. Speaking of irresistible.
Ron let a low groan as he realized the effect she was having on him and reluctantly held her arms distance from himself and allowed himself to get an eyeful of her. She was flushed and there was a dark glint in her eyes. He relished in the fact that he caused her to be like this. Her hair was slightly tossled and there were stray curls that stuck out at odd angles.
He chuckled softly at her, remembering the old Hermione.
Hermione must have thought he was laughing at her because her face dropped and her hip dropped to one side and she had that glare. It was a classic Hermione frustrated look and Ron grinned at her.
"Oh Hermione, don't give me that look!" He chuckled.
"Well if I'm giving you a look at all, you probably deserve it," Hermione countered.
"I was just thinking about how beautiful you look."
Hermione froze in shock. Had she just flat out complimented her? She was so baffled that she didn't have time to react to his lips crashing into hers. So there they were, two full grown adults, snogging like randy teenagers and both Hermione and Ron loved every moment of it. Because they were finally together. And they were never letting go.
A/N: Alright, so I guess there will be one more chapter, because this one is about two pages longer than what I normally type up. So, I will give you, the readers a choice in what I do next and I will look to the reviews as to figure out what that is.
OPTION #1: I can add a smaller chapter than this one and call it a finished fic, or
OPTION #2: I can continue for a few more with some small fluff and maybe even bring out the Harry and Ginny part of it, or
OPTION #3: We can put some action into this and keep some of the fluff but we can let this fic have a plot or two and make it last at least five more chapters.
So it is completely up to you wonderful people. I've got a giant break coming up after next Wednesday and so I will be able to spit out a few chapters if you think I should. So, until next chapter! (I love you all!!!!)
It took Percy until Hermione's seventh year to come back to the family. He apologized profusely for about two weeks straight until he gave in and moved back home with his parents for a few months to make amends with everyone. It took everyone but Mrs. Weasley, at least a month to completely forgive him. Well, except Ron. All of the things Percy had written in the letter during his fifth year about Harry and where his interests were still didn't sit well with him.
Hermione was sure that Ron might even hate Percy and herself about now though. She should have told him and Harry about Percy in the first place. It's been two weeks since she'd even seen or heard from her red-headed best friend. Harry called her daily and assured her that they were both alive and that Ron was still just being daft. Percy was acting worse than Ron. His plan was to act like absolutely nothing happened and that they had never even liked each other. It hurt so much to see that empty look in his eyes whenever she was in the room. The Weasley family took turns on checking her and making sure she was alright. They seemed to genuinely care about her and they treated Percy the same. She was extremely appreciative of their quick support in her time of need.
After two weeks of moping around work her superior made her take a week off to work things out. She had tried to tell him that it would only make it worse, but he wouldn't hear anything of it. So here she was curled up on her sofa in front of the fireplace with a book she had already read three times.
She was cooking a small dinner for two in the kitchen while she relaxed for it to finish. Harry was going to visit and keep her company for a couple hours.
Fifteen minutes passed while she read her book before there was a knock on the door. She got up from her seat and left the book on the right end table.
"Oh come on, it'll be fun. I swear."
It was Harry's voice. Hermione stopped walking towards the door and paused to listen for a possible second voice.
"I'd rather be sorting papers for work so I don't get behind like a certain other auror who has been hanging out with my kid sister a lot."
Ron.
What was he doing here? Her first guess was that it was a trap set by Harry. She scowled at how devious her other best friend could be. For a second she debated to feign not being home. He would deserve it - plotting behind her back - honestly! But she did miss Ron a lot. It was worth shoving her pride aside for just one night. Tonight, she would convince Ron that their friendship was worth more than another fight. Tomorrow - Harry would pay.
She walked up to the door, and opened it to see Harry and Ron bickering back and forth with each other. Harry quickly faced her and smiled brightly.
"Hermione!"
Ron - hearing her name, quickly turned to gawk at her.
"You!"
He faced Harry again.
"You're not going to be the boy who lived for very much longer," Ron threatened.
Harry pointed his wand at Ron.
"Stupefy." Harry whispered.
Ron fell to the ground limply like a doll.
Hermione was shocked beyond words. She glanced from Harry to Ron until Harry spoke up.
"He's actually pretty quick for such a big guy. While in training he took out more than half of his opponents with his 'quick reactions and obedience to the skill'. He was a Professor's Pet! I think you'd need to see it in order to believe it though."
Hermione giggled. It was definitely too hard to believe that her - I mean, Ron wanted to be a know-it-all, just like her.
Harry scooped his arms under Ron's shoulders and dragged him inside and shut the door behind him. He then waved his wand at Ron and made his still limp body float to the couch. Hermione went around the couch and took the wand from Ron's robe pocket and put it in her back pocket. When he woke up, he was going to be quite cranky.
Hermione sat on the arm rest of the couch and watched as Ron laid unknowingly on her couch. He was so quiet and peaceful. His pale skin looked so soft to the touch and his red hair that was unkept but short hair went in every direction and before she realized what she was doing, Hermione reached out to run her fingers through that wildly colorful hair that she loved so much, but stopped when she remembered that Harry was still there. She quickly looked up and around the room but couldn't see him anywhere. That little devil, Hermione thought. He just left her with a very handsome and beautiful man. So, her situation wasn't too bad. She grinned at the possibilities. She took out her wand to rouse him.
Ron stirred slowly at first, but jumped up off the couch when he didn't recognize anything around him. He forced his thoughts to collect themselves and began to look around fervently until his eyes fell on Hermione in a pair of khaki pants and a long sleeved v-cut brown shirt. The colors she wore really brought out the deep pools of brown watching him carefully. His body involuntarily flinched when he realized what kind of situation he was in.
"Hello." Ron said quietly. He was completely at a loss of words.
"Hello Ron," Hermione replied. She too, couldn't think straight at the moment.
Ron, still trying to sort thoughts and memories, remembered Harry and what he had done. Wait a second, he was supposed to be ignoring Hermione.
"Oh bloody hell," he turned to go, but Hermione caught him by the arm and gently pulled him back. Unaccustomed to her touch he let her keep her there and he looked back into her eyes. They were filled with so much worry. It crushed his heart to see the pain there. He paused and than remembered the pain she had caused him. "Don't you another man's heart to break?"
Hermione's arm fell to her side. All thoughts of wanting him to be her friend still escaped. Her eyes narrowed down to slits and her shoulders tensed as she glared at him as if her weren't a giant fully trained auror who could probably squash her with out even a spell.
"I am sick of this Ron Weasley!" She yelled.
"Sick of what Granger?" Ron retorted.
"I'm sick of taking this - this crap from you!"
"Well if I remember correctly, you were the one that broke my brother's heart!"
"Is this really why you've been so mad with me?"
Ron looked confused at first, but finally found some words. "Well - err, yeah!"
"Did my happiness ever make it into the equation, Ron? Does it matter to you that I just don't love him?!"
"Well you should!"
Well I don't! For your information, I love someone else!" She exclaimed with out really thinking.
"So you've been cheating on Percy too?!"
"Of course not you big prat."
"Well, than what'd you mean by you loving someone else?"
"If you don't know by now, than you'll never know!"
"Are you calling me thick?!"
Hermione tried to mumble out an excuse but she was just turning redder by the moment.
"The soul reason I tried so hard in that frigg'n training camp was so I could come back and have you be proud of me. I was sick of being inferior in your eyes and only in your eyes. Everyone else was proud of me for being head boy, but it never seemed to be enough for Ms. Know-It-All." His eyes began to shine with unshed tears.
"Oh Ron," Hermione leapt into his torso and hugged him as tightly as her arms would let her. "I always thought you were the best. You were always so brave and funny. I loved you as you were, no matter what."
"What'd you say?" Ron pulled her back from him and looked into her chocolate colored eyes.
"You're brave?"
"No, no, the part after that."
"Funny?" After she had said it, it her like a ton of bricks; she had said that she loved him. Oh she was in for it now.
"That wasn't it."
Hermione turned away to try to regain some dignity. She didn't want to see the disturbed look on his face when she found out her true feelings for him. After all they were just supposed to be good friends.
"I said I loved you for who you were and are." She whispered.
"Loved or Love?" Ron quietly approached her turned back and reached out his hand to touch her shoulder, when she replied.
"Both." It was a soft whisper again.
He couldn't hold back the emotions fighting for a chance to expose themselves anymore. He spun her around to face her and noted the tears that had fallen down her soft cheeks. Bending over slightly he kissed at the tears on her cheeks. It hurt him so much to see her in pain. He paused and looked from her plush lips to her eyes as if asking for permission and when she leaned up to him he brought his lips down to meet hers half way. A soft moan escaped her throat and she reached out to hold him so she wouldn't fall from being light headed. It was far better than her pillow or Percy had ever provided her; his lips were soft and luscious and she couldn't seem to get enough. It was like eating chocolate- chocolate cake and never wanting to finish it, but it was also like a hot shower on a frigid and cold morning. His hands went to her the curves on her sides and relished in the fact that she wasn't just all skin and bones. She was a woman with soft curves that made her all the more irresistible. Speaking of irresistible.
Ron let a low groan as he realized the effect she was having on him and reluctantly held her arms distance from himself and allowed himself to get an eyeful of her. She was flushed and there was a dark glint in her eyes. He relished in the fact that he caused her to be like this. Her hair was slightly tossled and there were stray curls that stuck out at odd angles.
He chuckled softly at her, remembering the old Hermione.
Hermione must have thought he was laughing at her because her face dropped and her hip dropped to one side and she had that glare. It was a classic Hermione frustrated look and Ron grinned at her.
"Oh Hermione, don't give me that look!" He chuckled.
"Well if I'm giving you a look at all, you probably deserve it," Hermione countered.
"I was just thinking about how beautiful you look."
Hermione froze in shock. Had she just flat out complimented her? She was so baffled that she didn't have time to react to his lips crashing into hers. So there they were, two full grown adults, snogging like randy teenagers and both Hermione and Ron loved every moment of it. Because they were finally together. And they were never letting go.
A/N: Alright, so I guess there will be one more chapter, because this one is about two pages longer than what I normally type up. So, I will give you, the readers a choice in what I do next and I will look to the reviews as to figure out what that is.
OPTION #1: I can add a smaller chapter than this one and call it a finished fic, or
OPTION #2: I can continue for a few more with some small fluff and maybe even bring out the Harry and Ginny part of it, or
OPTION #3: We can put some action into this and keep some of the fluff but we can let this fic have a plot or two and make it last at least five more chapters.
So it is completely up to you wonderful people. I've got a giant break coming up after next Wednesday and so I will be able to spit out a few chapters if you think I should. So, until next chapter! (I love you all!!!!)