Chapter 1
The Terror and fear of the past months, years really crashed like a tsunami on the great hall. I don't remember running, but suddenly Ron and I have ran to Harry and we are hugging. My face was wet, with blood, tears sweat, I don't know what. But the relief, the pressure the fear exploded. There was no emotion that we didn't feel. The extreme elation of victory contradicted the mournful cries of loosing loved ones. People were hugging me kissing my cheek, offering inaudible words of excitement and depression but I did not know who they were. There was too much to think about. I managed to break free of the prison of emotional heroes and saw Ron, running out the doors of the great hall. I did not know if he wanted me to follow him, but I did. The steps outside of the hall gave a familiar yet depressing feeling, and despite the thousands of times my feet had travelled through these halls, it was difficult to find my way. I followed Ron through the courtyard, across the bridge and down near a tree near Hagrid's hut that we used to study at. He was sitting under it, and didn't turn when I approached, sitting down beside him and leaning against the tree. We sat, just sat for what could've been hours, could've been seconds and then he turned. His face was covered in dirt, dust dried blood from who knows what. The only relief from the dirt was made by tear stains, that railed down his cheeks. I probably looked that same. His eyes met mine and for a second it seemed as if that was all that mattered in the world. They seemed to shine, bluer then the great lake, and blurred all the destruction and horror of the last few hours. Then, his mouth turned into a smile and his chest began heaving with laughter, and before long I was too. I didn't need to ask what was funny to know. Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, who squabbled like an old, married couple for 7 years just needed to laugh, and the true absurdity of our relationship seemed like the funniest thing in the world. I Loved him, and suddenly I knew he too loved me. He seemed to realise the same thing. Though it was only hours ago, our kiss seemed like a decade ago. More had happened tonight, than has happened before in our lives combined, and probably will ever happen. I didn't feel myself leaning in, closer to Ron's face until our lips brushed, so slightly that I barely even registered it happened. The laughing had stopped, and a new kind of absurdity pervaded. "I love you Hermione Granger" Ron whispered, so silently I would not have heard if it wasn't for the fact that I was mere centimetres from my face. I whispered his words back to him, "I love you too". We leaned in, closer and closer until our lips met. It felt like the most natural thing in the world. I could feel his chapped lips against mine, the feeling jolting like a bolt of lightning straight to my heart. Again and again, we kissed and kissed until we couldn't count. I could feel his tongue prize my lips open like opening a chest full of treasure. After what felt like hours and minutes at the same time we stoped. Both breathless we looked each other in the eyes. I felt so feminine, grown up yet at the same time a giddy teenager who had finally kissed her crush. Ron, slightly panting, began to laugh again. And I found myself joining in. Finally. There was no other way to describe it. We could've stayed there forever, grown old if it wasn't for the sound of Mrs Weasley shouting, trying to find us. The true terror in her voice brought back the guilt. She had already lost one son tonight. Reluctantly Ron and I got up, tediously hand in hand, to relieve Mrs Weasley of her fear.