Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling
Playing House
Chapter 13: A Stroll on a Restricted Path
Before settling into bed, Hermione once again grabbed her wand looking as if she'd been struck by genius. Under the curious looks of Ron she gave her wand a flick and murmured a charm. "Bloody hell," Ron cursed mentally. Now she was overreacting.
"Hermione what the hell are you doing?" he asked, looking at her questioninigly.
Hermione didn't answer. With each swing of her hand, little colourful cushions started to drop out of the wand and she placed them enthusiastically in the middle of the bed.
"Brilliant just brilliant ," Ron snorted. "Would you please stop," he exclaimed, feeling irritated as the cushions made a hump on the bed. "I refuse to sleep with these hideous," he held up one, "girly," he started to throw them out of the bed, "incredibly repulsive cushions in my bed," he argued.
"Ron put those back," Hermione demanded with a sigh.
"No Hermione," Ron protested, frowning. "This bed is already small, how am I supposed to get comfortable if I'm practically falling off the bed. How old are you, by the way? Ten?" he asked sarcastically as he settled himself into bed.
"Ho ho ho," Hermione replied in a bored voice, but defeated she vanished them all. Ron suppressed an urge to grin. After whispering 'nox' at the bedside light, she carefully collapsed onto the bed next to him, trying to remain untouched. With her hair spread over the pillow Ron smelt the intense flowery scent of her shampoo.
The room suddenly fell silent, and after a few minutes Ron's eyes adapted to the dark and he could notice her silhouette, lying on her side, opposing his face. She was steadily falling asleep but Ron didn't want her to sleep all at once, he quickly thought of an excuse to open a casual conversation.
"Hermione," he whispered tentatively after he cleared his throat.
"Hmm," Hermione whispered back, without turning her face.
"I can't talk to your back, can I?" Ron said impatiently.
"What Ron?" Hermione finally stirred in the bed and looked up at him.
"Well, are you mad at me?" he asked sheepishly, raising his head a little supporting it with his hand.
"No, Ron. Why would I be mad at you?" Hermione asked, trying to sound calm. However Ron noticed the lines of her face stiffen.
"But you are angry!" he remarked.
"Yes, I am angry," Hermione exclaimed. "I'm angry because I don't understand how things turned out like this why and we couldn't control them. Look at us, we're sleeping in the same bed!"
"You're talking as though it's a bad thing," Ron said, sounding hurt.
"It's just not normal," stated Hermione quickly, before she turned away from him. A long moment of silence passed before Ron spoke again.
"Well, Hermione," he murmured. After a loud sigh, Hermione turned to face him.
"I… am sorry," Ron blurted out, his voice soft and genuine.
"Why are you sorry?" asked Hermione, looking taken aback. Ron could notice her expressions soften as she scooted closer.
"This is all my fault, I know," he muttered and then he gulped, avoiding her eyes.
"Don't be sorry, Ron," Hermione said quickly. "I know you didn't ask for this to happen," she started "honestly, you were as clueless as I am. I mean you wouldn't want-" she cut in as she saw a wicked grin formed on his face.
"What?" She raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
"Nothing!" Ron answered quickly, turning his gazes to the ceiling, trying to hide his grin.
"Why are you grinnning then?" asked Hermione stubbornly. Ron noticed a shadow of smile shaped on her face. Ashamed, she turned to her back again. With the encouragement of her smile, Ron twisted a little further. He was close enough to her body now. Hermione shifted restlessly.
"Ron if you get any closer I'm going to fall off," she said, trying to sound casual.
"Then I'll hold you," said Ron abruptly, and with a mischievous voice, he wrapped his arms around her waist. Hermione gasped in shock, her eyes wide.
"Ron," she scowled slightly.
"What?" Ron asked, playing innocent but he didn't pull his hands back. Hermione tutted in disapproval, and gently she pushed him further by the shoulders.
"Fine," Ron snapped and harshly turned away from her, giving her more space.
Hermione huffed loudly, and pulled the covers to her side. Ron rolled his eyes in the dark. It wasn't moments later that Hermione called out his name.
"Ron!"
Ron grinned to himself before taking a serious face and turned to her.
"Hımm," he murmured.
"I'm sorry it wasn't your fault," Hermione started. "And I don't hate this," she stated sheepishly. Ron didn't see the colour of her face but he could tell that she was completely pink.
"All right," he said moving closer. This time she didn't push him. They stayed in silence in a couple of minutes, he stared at the ceiling, and she played with the fabric of the covers, their arms touching each other.
"I-" they both started in unison. Hermione smiled.
"You go," she told him, stirring around.
"Well I," Ron started. They were face to face now, inches away from each other. Suddenly Ron felt his body catch fire. "Well I was wondering about Hewlitt," he lied immediately, "Do you think he's okay?"
Hermione's smile disappeared quickly. "I don't know, he must be sleeping," she explained, with a disappointed voice.
"Okay, What were you going say?" Ron asked her eagerly.
Hermione bit her lower lip, looking suddenly uncomfortable. She quickly said "nothing," before she turned away from him.
Feeling irritated at her answer, "Look at me," Ron demanded a bit harshly. To his surprise, Hermione obeyed and they gazed each other for a couple of minutes.
"Well I was just wondering," Ron started, breaking the awkward silence, "do you think, umm… I mean…if this wasn't just a game, do you think… we would be a good couple?" he paused for a moment and looked up at her eyes. They seemed peaceful, anyway. "I mean as a man and woman, do you think we would suit each other?" he asked, feeling his face heat up.
Hermione stared at him differently. Once he saw the pain in her eyes Ron almost regretted asking.
"I don't know Ron," she replied sternly turning her gazes to the ceiling.
"Why?" Ron prompted. A slight pain ran through his body. It wasn't the reply he was expecting, but he kept the conservation going. "I think we would make a good couple. I mean we haven't argued, aren't we doing fine playing house? Well, is it a sign or something?" he asked looking at her intently, praying that she wouldn't refuse.
"A sign?" Hermione repeated unbelievingly, her eyes huge. "No, it's not a sign Ron. There could be any other woman in this bed right now; would you think the same thing?"
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Well we're just talking hypothetically here," he snapped, sounding offended.
"I know we're just talking hypothetically… we're just playing… dammit we're just pretending," she blew up at him, abruptly. "It's pointless talking about it!"
"Why is that?" Ron frowned deeply.
"You know why," she gulped audibly.
"Why are you getting so bloody fired up all of a sudden?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Because this is not a subject we should joke or chat about," she snapped. "And I don't understand, how can you talk about us and be so carefree about it?" she asked folding her arms on the cover.
Ron scowled. "Why not? I just want to know what your opinion is when it comes to us, why are you barking at me. I don't understand!"
"I said it's pointless," she repeated angrily. "If we were married Hermione… If it wasn't just a game Hermione I don't want to talk about these far-fetched possibilities," she said, her voice a bit shaky. "If you want to talk about if's then you'll just have to wait till the morning."
Ron remained silent at her explanation.
"It's always the same thing with you," Hermione continued relentlessly, "for years actually, throwing hints with uncompleted sentences, trying to put words in my mouth…accusing… teasing," she finished out of the breath.
"Well you could open up a little yourself." Ron retorted hotly.
"What?" she bellowed and stirred in the bed, her eyes flashing. She let out a nervous chortle. "You talk and talk but in the end, puff… it's nothing, a lot of babbling, but nothing serious."
"You're accusing me not being serious with you?" Ron snapped quickly. "Hermione you know there is no one on this planet I take more serious, your words-"
"Yeah my words," Hermione interjected quickly. "Only my words! just for once in your life understand what I'm actually saying then."
Ron was completely surprised with her accusations. He drove a hand throught his hair, sighing loudly. He knew she was sort of right, but he knew she didn't understand him completely.
"You could be more open, yourself," he murmured, stubbornly.
"Okay stop saying that, I get it," Hermione snapped and turned away from him yet again.
"Come on, insult me," Ron said raising his voice uncontrollably. "You have the chance. Yell at me for being such a prat!"
"Yes you 're…" Hermione answered, with a determined tone, without turning her face. She knew it drove him crazy therefore she said it on purpose, Ron knew it. Angrily he grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to face him.
"Yes I am, but you're not so innocent, you know that," he said, and without waiting for her reply he turned his back to her and angrily pulled the covers over himself.
"What?" Hermione jumped. Half sitting in the bed she roughly shook his shoulders.
"You heard me," Ron answered just as crossly. Hermione's eyes were almost full of tears now.
"How dare you take the easy way out. Go ahead, pretend like this is my fault. It's so much more painless."
"Who said it was painless?" Ron snapped, leaning on his elbows, finally meeting her gaze. "Who said I don't care? If you're so right then why didn't you help me? Why you weren't being honest with me?"
Hermione fell back on the bed, looking scandalized.
"You are not a child, Ron. You could've asked me what I wanted and you could've told me what you wanted, you had years…" she said, finally looking up.
"Oh really? Then… if I kissed you…?" Ron blurted out. "You wouldn't ask me why?" he asked, moving closer, staring into her eyes, waiting for her to protest. Hermione didn't answer. That made him angrier.
"Then you wouldn't stop me?" he insisted, grabbing her head by the chin, a wild expression on his face, his face pretty close to her face, daring her to contradict.
"No," answered Hermione decisively, who was now looking straight into his eyes. A sharp pain rose in his throat.
She didn't know how her words provoked him. After hearing these words, Ron knew he wouldn't stop himself, not this time.
With a sudden movement, Ron leaned forward and drew his face to hers. Hermione jerked slightly and gasped. His gazes slipped over her lips. He saw her swallowing, but the spark in her eyes was daring him to give up. Rising to the challenge, he didn't pull away but instead returned her confident gaze with a determined one. He felt his body heat up.
Then slowly, he moved his face closer and closer. Hermione parted her lips instinctively, her eyes huge in awe. He knew she was thinking that he wouldn't dare, he would be a coward again, like he had been years ago. But there was no returning now, she was all so wrong.
It was a blink of a moment; Ron softly brushed his lips againts to hers. Hermione closed her eyes in reply. Feeling encouraged, he started to slowly peck on her lips. Wanting more, placed his hand on the back of her, pulling her closer.
For a short time, he waited for Hermione to pull away, however she remained immobile. He thought she was merely shocked and in a minute she was going to hit him hard, and scream at him to stop. But he didn't care; he was too excited to hold back. She was responding his kisses though her hands were lying at her sides. Her stillness made him furious. Feeling angry, he slid his tongue into her mouth and pressed her body close to him, finally receiving a small groan from Hermione. The contact sent tiny shivers all over his body.
He kept kissing her more passionately and wildy until he was out of the breath. Then he pulled back, breathing heavily, to see how she reacted. She still didn't resist…
He cupped the back of head and inserted his right hand under her pajama top and touched the bare skin. Hermione shivered slightly, Ron felt his blood begin to boil.
She wasn't helping, not one bit.
Heatedly, he grabbed her hand and placed it under his own pajamas. For a split second she hesitated, but then he felt her hand began moving on his chest. With an added encouragement, he pulled himself onto her and started to unbutton her shirt, in the mean time kissing her wildy. Hermione arched her back slightly so he could easily take it off. He slid it off impatiently, leaving her in her plain white underwear.
He pushed the bushy hair from her neck and twisting his head started planting wet kisses on her naked neck. To Ron's surprise Hermione slowly began to unbutton his top. Ron helped her to get rid of it, his heart pounding madly. Half naked he pulled her on top of him and reached for the hook of her bra, his hands shaking from excitement.
Hermione made a conflicting noise and Ron hurriedly slipped it off, for fear that she could call it off at any moment. Then he pushed his body hard againts hers, and pulled himself on top of her again, wrinkling the cotton sheet beneath them. Quickly, he grasped her hands and pressed them againts the bed, at either side of her head.
They were both covered with sweat and out of breath now. Ron knew what was coming after this. He didn't know if he could stop it now with the longing he had had for years.With is body burning with desire he pulled back for a moment and stared into her eyes. Hermione felt his hesitation; she lifted her head and moaned in agreement.
Not breaking the kiss he moved his hands over her, exploring every inch of her body. He ran his hands up her stomach and over her breasts. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, like no one had ever kissed him before.
Once he felt that he couldn't stand it anymore, he broke the kiss and leaned in her ear.
"I love you," he whispered and then looked up into her eyes, waiting for her to answer. But Hermione remained silent, and merely pulled him into another kiss.
The sharp sound of the alarm clock echoed in the room, Ron was jerked awake by the noise. Without opening his eyes, he found the alarm and shut it down at once. Reluctantly he straightened up in the bed, rubbing his eyes wearily and gave a big yawn.
Sitting up and swinging hs legs over the edge of the bed, he touched his bare chest unconsciously and his eyes snapped open. "Shit!" he cursed, swallowing hard. Afraid of meeting someone, he turned his head slowly and gazed at the other side of the bed. It was vacant; he gave a sigh of relief.
He leapt to his feet. He was barely naked. Then he noticed the dirty sheet. Sweat began to pour down his neck. "Hermione," he groaned.
Then he remembered Mr. Hewlitt. Quickly he put on an old Chudley Cannons shirt and left his room. The house was totally silent. He checked the sitting room and then the guest room. There were no signs of Hewlitt or Hermione.
After glancing at the clock, he wasn't surprised to find them gone. It was ten in the morning. However a sick thought in his mind was telling that wasn't a good sign. He was running late for work so he quickly had a shower then headed to the office.
A couple of minutes after arriving at work, a letter was dropped on his desk. He quickly read.
Mr. Weasley,
I am sorry for leaving your house without informing you. I recieved an urgent message and I had to leave immediately. Thank you for graciously allowing me to stay at your home. I feel loads better now. Please send your lovely wife my gratitude..
I'll see you at the meeting,
Regards from,
The president of DRMGregory Hewlitt
Ron gave a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there was nothing to do with him. "But, what about Hermione?" A sick feeling erupted in his stomach. Why hadn't she been at home? "She probably went to the work," he consoled himself mentally. But he knew she wouldn't leave the house with Mr. Hewlitt staying with them. She probably left after him, he thought to himself. Then he slowly began to remember the previous night. "It was great," he murmured under his breath, trying not to grin like a lunatic. He had told her that he loved her, finally, after all these years. But had she said it back? He couldn't remember. She hadn't stopped him, though. And Ron knew she loved it as well.
While he was pondering silently, a cheerful thick voice jolted him out of his thoughts.
"Weasley," Kingsley was standing in front of his desk, beaming. Ron quickly gathered his wits and stood up.
"Mr. Hewlitt owled me a while ago," he said in a whispered tone as he placed his hand on Ron's shoulder. "Is it right that you hosted him last night?"
"Yes chief," Ron answered with a weak smile. "Do you think I did okay?"
"Well, Ronald you did great," he answered gazing around to make sure nobody is listening. "He mentioned in his letter how fond of you he is. Whatever you did must have really impressed him."
"Really?" Ron asked expectantly. Kingsley nodded in confirmation.
"Next week they are going to announce the winner," Kingsley stated. "Just one more week left, try not to ruin your chance," he added with a warning tone.
Ron nodded dully, feeling a bit sick. He was supposed to be happy after hearing this so he didn't understand why he was feeling downhearted. Actually, he was quite sure he knew the reason very well. And it wasn't going to pass untill he saw Hermione.
After work, he headed to the house eagerly. He didn't know what he would say to Hermione when he saw her. All he wanted was to make sure that she wasn't angry with him. On the way, he prayed that he would find her in the house like he used to, waiting for him.
Hesitantly, he entered the house. When he heard noises coming from inside, his heart skipped a beat. She was home. He sprinted to the sitting room, an enormous grin forming on his face.
As soon as he entered the sitting room, the grin on his face vanished. He felt his stomach drop at the scene before him. There in the middle of the sitting room was Mrs. Weasley, holding a picture frame in her hand, rubbing her eyes with a napkin and sniffing loudly.
"Mum!"
"Ronald Bilius Weasley, You are in big trouble!"
AN: This was a huge delay I am so sorry! But please forgive me! This was the most critical chapter of the story. I hope it worths waiting! I hope you like it! So tell me your opinions come on, everybody :)))))
A huge thank to my lovely beta CayJay05