Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Chapter 4
Ronald polished off his butter beer and wiped his mouth with a satisfied sigh. Never before had anything tasted so good. It was like some elixir of life, with all of the vital emotions thrown in. Happiness, loyalty, faithfulness, excitement—love. Every happy memory he had ever had coursed through his body as if caught on some invisible tidal wave, determined to wash over his entire system. He stood to join his friends, the liquid rolling around contentedly in his stomach. Ron looked inquisitively over to Harry and Hermione. Had they tasted it? It certainly didn't seem that way. Both had remained completely neutral through the entire visit as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Maybe I got a fresher batch, Ron mused to himself although that didn't seem quite plausible either. He knew for a fact that all of the brews were in one large, communal pot that was continually added to. Besides, his hadn't smelled or tasted like butter beer at all. It had smelled wonderful, like…Hermione. "You've officially lost it," Ron muttered to himself as this thought drifted through his head. His drink had smelled like Hermione? That made absolutely no sense at all. Still, the scent had been undeniable.
"Ron, are you coming?" Harry asked, his voice tinged with confusion. Ron glanced at his friends who were already in their heavy cloaks, preparing to brave the cold weather outside. They looked back expectantly.
"Yeah, sorry," Ron mumbled apologetically before jumping to retrieve his own cloak and sweater from the hook by the door.
"What has been going on with you lately? You haven't been able to focus at all, you seem as though you're a hundred miles away!" Hermione noted teasingly, generating an awkward laugh that rolled through the trio.
"I've just got some things on my mind," Ron defended lightly as the group stepped outside. Almost immediately the wind kicked up, tugging playfully at their cloaks and biting the noses and ears of the weary travelers.
"We'd better hurry back, it looks like a storm is coming in," Harry noted, glancing at the cluster of dark clouds, hovering ominously over the sleepy little town. Hermione and Ron nodded silently, ducking their heads in unison to avoid the latest bluster of wind that swept their way. The three trudged dutifully back in the direction of the school, pausing only once for Ron to cast one last questioning glance at the tavern.
If a storm had hit earlier Ron never would have known it. As soon as he had returned to Hogwarts a wave of exhaustion had riddled his body giving him time only to strip out of his cloak and collapse onto his bed. He had slept soundly after that, dreaming up until the minute he woke up, although of what, he could not remember. It had been good though, causing him to wake up with a goofy smile plastered across his face as he padded towards the bathroom to shower and dress for the day.
"There you are! I was worried you would never wake up!" Harry's energetic voice rang out from across the room. Ron turned to face his friend, the wave of euphoria that had filled him ever since he had woken up pulsing strongly under his skin.
"I don't know what came over me—I was exhausted," Ron admitted, running a hand through his messy red hair. At Harry's worried look Ron smiled, "I feel much better now though. It must have been from the cold." Harry seemed to accept this excuse and strode over to his friend.
"There's Quidditch practice until this afternoon but I already told the team you weren't coming. I thought you might be sick. Hermione and some others were going to go outside and study though, you might be able to catch up with them," Harry suggested, raising a bushy black eyebrow suggestively. Ron had to smile at his best friend. Although he had never actually voiced his feelings for Hermione to anyone other than himself Harry had picked up on them long ago and even though he didn't opt out of too many group activities he did make sure that Ron and Hermione were alone every now and then. It was something that, if said, would have embarrassed Ron beyond belief, but he never failed to show his gratitude.
"Are you sure?" Ron asked, already halfway out of the door. Harry laughed and nodded, shooing Ron away with his hand.
If the night before had been any sort of premonition for a storm one would never have guessed it, Ron thought looking around the grounds. Even though it was still morning the sun had raised high into the sky, sprinkling a subdued heat across the landscape. The clouds that had hovered so portentously before had burned away, leaving nothing but a long stretch of clear blue sky. Somewhere in the distance a bird was singing in high tones, interjecting its merriment across the grounds of Hogwarts. Ron smiled at this, a good sign he decided, and continued his search for Hermione. He had walked around for thirty minutes before he finally came upon her, surrounded by Lavender and Parvati. They were sitting under a grove of trees a fair distance from the castle grounds, all three of engaged in an animated conversation. Ron watched from a distance, his eyes trained on Hermione.
Almost immediately his stomach tightened as if grabbed suddenly by some invisible source. His throat dried momentarily, leaving him squeaking for breath as his palms became cool and clammy. He could feel color rising in his cheeks at a rapid rate and knew instinctively that if Hermione chanced to look up she would immediately notice it. His heart was the one thing that hurt the most, throbbing almost painfully in his chest as if trying to sever ties with his system and break free of its own volition. Ron felt that if he were to reach up he would be able to feel an outline on his chest where his heart was pumping rapidly. It increased its velocity quickly until Ron felt almost dizzy with exertion. Then, as quickly as it had started up, everything stopped. The sudden lack of motion threw Ron oddly off balance as his system struggled to recover. He breathed easier, his lungs grasping for air as if an insatiable fervor had overcome him. His palms dried quickly and his throat was quick to remoisten. His heart stopped throbbing in his chest. Casting a worried glance to Hermione, Ron wondered if she had seen anything. From the look on her face it didn't seem as though she had seen any of Ron's latest show as she tossed back her head and laughed at something Lavender had said.
Ron watched her with delight, a pleasant euphoria settling over his body. It was as though he were truly seeing her for the first time. Her pristine complexion accented by the rosy hue to her cheeks. Her ginger locks springing out wildly from her head in a cascading waterfall that descended around her thin frame. Her body, so trim and firm beneath her baggy school attire. Her large brown eyes, sparkling like diamonds when she laughed, and so deep that Ron wondered how he had never gotten lost in them before. Ron stepped forward into the clearing so he towered over the girls who looked up, startled. When they saw who it was they eased up, scooting over to make room for him.
"Ron! Harry was worried about you. He thought you were sick, are you okay?" Hermione asked, standing so that she was more even with him. When he said nothing, she continued, "Ron, are you okay?" She pressed. Ron looked at her, how her eyes were questioning his, how her lips, as pink as cherries, were parted slightly in concern. The silence was deafening. Ron felt something deep inside of him reach out to Hermione, a hidden carnal lust. He wanted to grab her by the shoulders and bring her in to him, taking in her scent, her warmth, the feel of her skin against his….Instead, Ron reached out to brush away some of the tree blossoms that had fallen from the grove into her hair like nature's confetti, and smiled.
"Hermione," he said in a voice that startled both Hermione and Ron. It was so passionate that Hermione couldn't help but blush. Lavender and Parvati who were still seated in the underbrush giggled girlishly, knowing something was changing before their eyes. Ron inhaled deeply, catching Hermione's scent mixed with the fauna around them. Then, as softly as he could, as if caught on a whisper, Ron leaned in to her. "Hermione, I love you."
