Disclaimer: HP characters are not mine; "She's the One" belongs to Robbie Williams.
A/N: Response to songfic challenge at The Hideaway. And I am a bit out of my ship on this one, so just bear with me please. Cheers!
Ron felt nervous. It was not just butterflies in your stomach nervous. It was a hard to swallow, feel like you were ready to puke any time type of nervous. He glanced down at his watch. "Only three more hours," he muttered under his breath. Ron continued to pace in an attempt to alleviate some of the pent up energy. Occasionally, to create some variety, he would stop, stand still for a several seconds while staring at the wall, and then begin pacing again.
"Ron, honestly, all this pacing isn't going to help anything. Besides, you promised you would help me do inventory for Fred and George."
"Oh, yeah, sorry, Ginny. I'd forgotten about that," he replied distractedly.
"Well, I'm going to go now, so you can come with me or you can keep wearing out Mum's carpet. It's your choice." Ginny easily walked into the sitting room. Ron heard her clearly pronounce "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes" very clearly. He took several more steps, stopped, stared at the wall for a moment, turned around, and followed in Ginny's path. He might as well attempt to make himself useful for a while.
I was her she was me
We were one we were free
And if there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
Ginny noticed Ron's mind kept wandering. She would very clearly tell him what number to put with what item and he kept messing it up. After the sixth time repeating that there were thirty-three boxes of Pink Fur Pills, she had it with him.
"Ron, you might as well just go home. You're useless right now."
"Sorry, Ginny," he said quietly.
"Don't be. Just relax a bit. She'll notice your nervousness enough as it is and wonder what's wrong with you. I suggest you go home, take a nice long bath, and take an hour getting ready for dinner."
"Will the bath really help?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Ronald, you do want to be clean, don't you?"
"Well, yeah. I suppose. Does it have to be a bubble bath?"
"Not if you don't want it to be. Now go!"
"All right!" Ron screwed up his face, concentrating on the Burrow. When he opened his eyes, he was standing in the garden. He squelched through the mud, removed his shoes at the front door, and entered the house.
We were young we were wrong
We were fine all along
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
When you get to where you wanna go
And you know things you wanna know
You're smiling
When you said what you wanna say
And you know the way you wanna play
You'll be so high you'll be flying
He lay in the bath, staring at the ceiling. He was thinking about her, about how he loved her for as long as he could remember, and how, despite all odds, she actually loved him. Ron felt like he did not deserve her. Although, he could not really think of anyone who did. Many men had tried to catch her eye, but they all failed. How did he get so lucky? She was perfect: intelligent, tuned in to the world, beautiful in an understated way, and just generally lovely. He had no idea what she saw in him because he felt he was none of those things. However, he really did strive to be a better person because of her.
Though the sea will be strong
I know we'll carry on
Cos if there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
Nearly an hour later he removed himself from the bath. Ginny had been right, it was relaxing. He was still nervous, but he no longer felt the need to purge his stomach contents. Figuring Ginny was right about the bath, he decided to take his time getting ready too. He checked his watch to see just how long he had. "Forty-five minutes." His stomach clenched briefly at the thought of dinner quickly approaching, but he quickly shoved it out of his mind by taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Feeling a bit better, he went to his room.
Somehow, during the next half hour his mind stayed somewhat blank. Looking back, Ron figured it was a defense mechanism of some sort. He rooted through his closet, looking for the right clothes to wear. He wanted to look nice without over doing it. He wanted her to know he was making an effort, but not too much of an effort. For Ron, this was difficult. Finally, he decided on a combination that looked nice without being too dressy.
Ron had ten minutes to spare by the time he finished getting dressed in his black trousers, blue dress shirt, and black tie with red trim that did not contrast too much with his hair. He checked himself out in the mirror, mussed up his hair a bit so it did not look tacky, and double checked that he had not forgotten anything. He wandered outside and took in the clear May weather. It seemed that was even in his favor. His smile disappeared as he concentrated on the location he wanted to be next.
When you get where you wanna go
And you know the things you wanna know
You're smiling
He was a few minutes early so he just stood outside, looking at the door. A small smile broke through his nervousness. He was excited to see her. It was not as if he did not see her a lot as it was. It was just that they did not go out for a fancy dinner and a movie every day. Dating someone who had muggle parents had its advantages, like going to the movies. He was always fascinated with gangster films for some reason.
"Hey! Are you going to come in or are you going to stand out there all evening?" she called form a nearby window.
Ron smiled even more when he saw her. "I'll come in for a moment." He let himself in. She greeted him and said she would be ready in a minute. Ron reached into his pocket and felt the box that was there. He just hoped he would have the courage to do what he intended.
When you said what you wanna say
And you know the way you wanna say it
You'll be so high you'll be flying
He could not believe how quickly the evening passed. It felt like barely an hour had passed since he was last entering her flat. Dinner had been amazing. Of course, he probably just thought so because he did not have to share with several other people. They split the bill knowing that neither could afford to pay the whole thing. The movie, not a gangster flick or romantic comedy, had been very funny and entertaining. Ron was glad they decided to see what she called a "computer animated film." Talking animals were really quite amusing.
Unfortunately, the uncomfortable part of the evening had arrived. His palms were suddenly very sweaty, his throat was constricting, his mouth dry. Talking almost seemed completely impossible. Besides, she was looking at him expectantly. He gulped and cleared his throat several times before finally managing to speak.
"Hermione, I, uh, I had something I wanted to ask you. Maybe we could sit down?"
"Sure." She took his hand and led him to the couch. "Is everything okay, Ron? You seem a little nervous."
"I am," he said a little too quickly. "But in a good way," he caught himself.
I was her she was me
We were one we were free
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
He reached into his pocket and fingered the box again. He tentatively wrapped his hand around it and pulled it out. "Hermione, I've, uh, I've put a lot of thought into our relationship and I think, well, I know, I'm ready for something more." Her expression was a little expectant but otherwise neutral. She let him continue. "I, that is, would you marry me?"
Silence.
Remembering he was clutching the box, he switched hands and opened it. "Sorry, um, well . . ." he smiled nervously. She looked down at the ring and then back up at him.
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
Yeah she's the one
Hermione smiled at Ron and took his free hand in hers. "Ron, I would love to marry you."
"You-you would?" He was a bit shocked to be honest.
"Yes, Ron. In fact, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to ask."
"You were?"
She smiled and pulled him close to her. "Yeah. Now kiss me, would you?"
"Oh, right, sorry," he replied sheepishly. Ron leaned in and kissed Hermione, putting himself into it.
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
She's the one
When they broke apart Ron took the ring out of the box and placed it on Hermione's ring finger. "Hermione, I've loved you for a very long time."
"I know, Ron. And I've loved you for a very long time."
"I don't deserve you."
"Maybe, maybe not. But it doesn't matter. You make me happy."
That was just what Ron wanted to hear. You make me happier, Hermione. And I'm going to do whatever I have to in order to keep you."
If there's somebody calling me on
She's the one
End