A/N: *waves* Hello everyone. First and foremost, Happy New Year! 2015 already, how time flies :) Sorry I've been a bit MIA on the writing lately, I've been busy with work and family stuff, traveling a bit too, and also, the muse wouldn't come. But it seems that she's back for now so I shall take advantage of it! This, I hope, should be the first part of three following drabbles. The other two are not written yet but the idea is there so it should just be a matter of time. I've missed these two lately. I hope I'm not too rusty and that you'll enjoy this one and the upcoming drabbles.
46. Afternoon
She arrived three days ago, on a perfect, bright and sunny summer afternoon, with nothing else but a little beaded bag and tears she could barely hold back.
He opened the front door as soon as he heard her Apparate.
Next thing he knew, Hermione flew her arms around his neck and buried her face in it. It took him a few seconds to recover from her body flushed against his and her lips grazing his skin before he closed his arm strongly around her.
"Your parents?" Ron whispered softly.
"Safe," she mumbled simply against him.
His right hand instinctively went up to her hair. He barely had a moment to commit the softness of her hair to his memory before his mum barged in from the kitchen. Instantly, Hermione pulled back from his embrace, smiling weakly and brushing her tears away.
But it's now three days later and she still seems on the verge of crying whenever he looks at her when she thinks nobody is watching. He knows there's nothing he can do to help her. His insides twist unpleasantly when he thinks about the lengths she went through to protect her parents. Everytime he looks at her, he feels his heart surge with pride. She's so smart.
And impatient, he is reminded as she tuts his name, asking if he's listening to her.
Obviously, he's not.
She doesn't even let him speak before she proceeds to engage in a long rant on how it is important to focus since they will be leaving on a who-knows-how-long journey soon and they will need to be fully prepared.
He nods seriously and grabs the nearest book, Tricks and Charms for the prepared camper.
He frowns. "Are we going to camp?"
'Who knows? Maybe," she shrugs. "I'd like to have every possibility prepared so we don't get caught up in details."
They read for one more hour before he decides to call it a night and kick her out of his bedroom.
Reluctantly.
As he's about to close the door behind her, she turns and calls his name, softly. He barely heard it.
"Yes?"
She looks at him with so much affection in her eyes - and a hint of something else he can't quite place - that he can't ignore it.
"Thank you. For being here." She grabs his hand and suddenly there's a lump the size of his fist in his throat.
"S'nothing," Ron breathes as he attempts to to control his now racing heart.
"Good night."
She gets on her toes and drops a kiss on his cheek, he swears his knees begin to shake.
"Night." It takes all his strength not to yell her I love you right this instant. Because really, what idiot tells a girl that he loves her after spending most of his afternoon reading next to her and a chaste goodnight kiss on his cheek.
She squeezes his hand and then she's gone.
