Sorry this is a day late - I forgot! It's been something of a week around here and my head is all over the place at times.
Anyway, here is the next short story in this series...hope you enjoy!
3.
"Ron, just how far are we going?" I asked, turning to see his profile walking along beside me. The night was warm – a rare balmy summer evening at the end of July in Britain and Ron had decided we needed to get out of the house. I wasn't going to turn down some time alone with him.
"Far enough so those nosey gits can't hear us," he grunted and turned his head to check how far we'd come. The Burrow appeared rather small in the distance, lights still glowing from several windows. But, I knew what he meant – with every window in the house thrown open in the hopes of receiving a breeze, anyone could be listening in. "Ah, here will probably do," he dropped my hand to spread out the blanket he'd been holding over his arm and then sat down, patting the spot beside him with a grin up at me.
I returned his smile and sat beside him, where he produced two cold bottles of pumpkin juice he must have swiped from the kitchen. We took a few sips, before settling the bottles down in the grass and then Ron lay down on the blanket and propped himself up on one elbow.
"So, how are your parents doing?" he asked gently as I mirrored his position, facing him.
"Oh," I considered his question carefully. We'd only returned from Australia a couple of weeks ago, where we had eventually tracked down my parents and managed to successfully reverse the spell on them and restore all their memories. It had been an emotional, though somewhat confusing reunion. "They're a little better I think. I think they're starting to understand why I had to do what I did. But, they still get a bit confused about things."
"I suppose it will take awhile for things to settle down for them again, get back to normal and all that," he replied, tactfully.
I nodded. "Yes, I would expect so. And, I'm sure things will be better for them once they find work again and things become more routine. There was talk of them maybe starting up their own dental practice, which would be good for them. They'll need something to do, especially when I leave for, well, erm...Hogwarts," I muttered the last word, knowing it was sore point between us right now. Neither of us wanted to think of parting. "How's George?" I quickly changed the subject.
Ron shrugged and took another swig from his bottle. "He has good days and bad days I guess. Spends a lot of time by himself and stuff..."
"It will take some time." I clasped his free hand after he put his juice down again. "I mean, for your whole family. You're all still grieving, but it has to have hit him the hardest. He has, for all intents and purposes, lost his other half."
"Yeah, Mum has good days and bad days too – Dad is best with her. But, George...I just try to be there when he wants to talk or whatever and make sure he eats. It's still hard though – seeing him on his own and stuff," Ron sniffed and I squeezed his hand in mine as I leant forward and softly kissed his forehead.
"Your being brilliant for him. So patient and sometimes you're the only one that seems able to get through to him. You've been there for everyone really."
Ron shrugged again, a little sheepishly as a pink tinge covered his face. "I'm trying," he mumbled and shifted to lay on his back. With a gentle sigh, I moved over and lay my head on his chest. His arm came up to wrap around my shoulders as we gazed up at the clear, star filled sky.
It was nice to be here with Ron like this, content and alone together. It no longer felt weird to be alone with him, although I probably wouldn't go as far as saying it felt normal yet, but it was nice. It wasn't exactly easy to get any time to ourselves in his home – there was always someone around, someone wanting to check we were okay – so any solitude we could find was welcome. Even if it meant having to sneak out after my parents had gone to bed – as I had done tonight. Lucky for us, they were early sleepers – up to bed straight after the 9 0'clock news.
Because now that my parents were back in the country, I almost felt torn between them. Wanting to share my time with them and my boyfriend and friends. I'd never admit this to anyone, but I missed Ron when I wasn't by his side. I suppose having spent years with him always around would do that. But, right now I had to split my time between my own family and his, coming to visit as much as I could. And I usually managed to pop over at least once a day, because the truth was, Ron was my anchor – he was what kept me sane in all this tragic mess we were dealing with.
His hand came up to play with my hair – a habit he had adopted lately after confessing how he'd always wanted to run his fingers through it, wondering what it would feel like. Gradually his fingers drifted to my neck, his fingertips lightly stroking my skin and I looked up at him as he raised his head slightly and his smile met mine. It seemed instinctive to manoeuvre until out lips could meet and we were kissing again.
It had barely been three months since our very first kiss, yet already I had lost count of the number of times we'd kissed since – as though we were making up for lost time and missed opportunities. It might not be easy to find some quiet time alone, but we made the most of it when we did. I also didn't think I would ever get used to it.
Oh, not that he was bad at it or I didn't like it. Quite the opposite in fact. I just didn't think I would ever stop that fluttery excited feeling in my belly when his lips met mine or he gazed at me with eyes full of affection or his hands touched me. Nor would I want it to. It was all new and thrilling and I didn't want there to ever be a time when Ron didn't thrill me as our lips moved gently together, his hands squeezed me even closer to him and he rolled our bodies so as I lay half under him.
"H'mione..." he whispered, kissing me deeper, one hand now cradling my head as the other ran softly up and down my body. My own hands were clasped behind his neck, holding him close to me, toying with the ends of soft ginger hairs at his neck – his hair much shorter since his mother had forced him into a hair cut.
"Ron," I sighed happily, enjoying his weight and heat against me, knowing that he was mine and that he felt the same way about me that I had felt for him for years. We were together, after years of wanting him, dreaming of being with him like this. You can't imagine what it was like to be in his arms and know that it meant just as much to him.
His hand crept beneath my thin t-shirt, lightly stroking the skin at my waist and I let him, my body shivering against his. And it had nothing to do with the night air. His hand slid higher, stroking the underside of my breast through my bra. I sighed into his kiss as a mixture of warmth and nerves filled my belly. His hand crept a bit further up, cupping a full breast in his hand and I panicked.
"Ron," I warned him, placing my hand over his to stop him and push it back down.
He quickly pulled his hand away, looking rather guilty. "I'm sorry, I..." he flushed and backed away from me, rubbing the back of his neck as he sat up on the blanket.
"It's okay. Its just, I don't think I'm ready to go further, yet," I told him, feeling embarrassed. We'd barely told each other I love you, how on earth were we meant to have a conversation about sex?
"No, of course, that's erm, that's fine. Great even. I'm sorry," he repeated and he rambled his words. "I just...I forget and...and..."
"Really, it's okay," I told him, sitting up too and readjusting my top. "So long as you stop when I ask you too."
He nodded his head vehemently, "I course I would. I'd never..." he looked positively scandalised. "Hermione...if I ever do something you don't want me to, you have to tell me. I'll stop and I'll wait. Just...let me know." From the light of the moon, I could tell he was blushing. "I mean, damn," he cursed and ran a hand frustratingly through his hair as he blew out a breath.
"I know," I assured him, taking hold of his hand. "I know you'd never, you know...take advantage or try to force..."
"No! I bloody wouldn't!" He looked horrified at the suggestion. "I just, sometimes my hands have minds of their own and I get caught up in the moment and you feel so good...and I'm sorry. Please, tell me when I do something wrong, okay?"
"It's not wrong to want to do those things Ron. Just, not quite yet?" I asked. In all honesty, his touch excited me and that both thrilled and terrified me at the same time.
He smiled and nodded. "Sounds good to me," he leant forwards and softly kissed my forehead. "But, if we're ever doing something, and...you know, you'd like to continue, tell me that too, yeah?" he smirked and I chuckled at him. "But, whenever you're ready...it's cool."
"I will," I promised him and reached for my bottle of pumpkin juice for a sip. "Come here," I told him, placing the bottle down and laying back on the blanket. He smiled at me and lay down beside me, facing one another again.
Smiling together in the moonlight, Ron leant up on one elbow and softly kissed me again. Short, gentle kisses dropped onto one another's lips, but keeping our distance a bit more. He ran one finger down my throat, and just as any touch from him or any affectionate look from him elicited within me, I trembled in delight.
"Are you cold? Do you wanna head back inside?" he asked, concerned.
I shook my head, chancing a glance towards the house over his shoulder. All the windows were in darkness now, but there wasn't much chance that everyone was also sleeping, not with this heat. "No, not yet. We barely get any time alone, and we only have four weeks left before I..." I faded off from what I had been about to say, not wanting for us to fall out over it again. He'd seemed rather put out when I had decided to return to school, even though I knew he and Harry weren't going and he'd gone off in one of his silent moods.
"It's all right, you know," he told me quietly, as we rolled onto our fronts and he took hold of my hand in his. "You going back to school I mean. To be honest, the moment McGonagall came here and offered us the chance to finish our education, I knew you'd want to go."
"You did?" I asked, surprised, wondering why I had been given the silent treatment over my decision in that case.
He shrugged. "Of course. You wouldn't be you without wanting to learn everything you can and getting top grades in your N.E.W.T.'s and..."
"Don't say that!" I squeaked. "The N.E.W.T. year is supposed to be really tough and…
"Tougher than the year we just had?" he looked at me, one eyebrow raised.
"Well, no. Obviously not. But, I'll still need to work really hard to keep up with all the work and achieve good grades and everything."
"You'll do it," he answered, certain of the fact as he gave me a reassuring smile.
"I hope so," I sighed, shaking the hair back from my face.
"I know so. I...I'll just, I'll miss you," he confessed then, tugging at blades of grass and tossing them away, before daring to peek up at me.
I smiled, knowing the reason for his brooding now. "I'll miss you too. Though, I suppose I knew you and Harry would never want to go back. It's not as though either of you ever particularly enjoyed your studies!" I laughed and he joined in with me, nudging his head against my shoulder.
"Whoever are you going to boss around about homework without us?" he asked, teasingly.
"I do not boss. I just, encouraged you," I protested, feebly, nudging him back.
"Whatever, love," he replied and my heart skipped a beat at his use of a pet name for me. It had been rather new over the last few weeks and I found I really liked to hear it.
"Anyway, the offer Kingsley made to you both is very prestigious, Auror training without a complete education. And it's something I know you'll both be happy in and good at. Whilst I'm up to my ears in homework," I laughed lightly, but found no humour in it. "Ron," I added after a few moments.
"Hmm?" he looked up, flicking the grass off his lap and met my eyes.
"You...you will wait for me, won't you?" I mumbled, tugging at a loose thread on the edge of the blanket to avoid looking in his eyes.
"Wait for you?" he asked, puzzled.
"Yes," I nodded. "I mean whilst I'm away at school. After all, you'll be at the Ministry with all those women and you being a war hero, they'll be throwing themselves at you and..."
He started to laugh. Loudly. I frowned, here I was telling him my deepest feelings, confessing my real concerns to him and he was laughing at me. I sat up and must have had a disgruntled look on my face, because one look at me and he was laughing even louder.
"Oh, Hermione," he chuckled, sitting up beside me and pulling me against him, kissing the top of my head, despite my feeble attempts to push him away. "I thought you were smarter than that?"
"Huh!" I scoffed.
He smiled. "Don't you know? Haven't you realised yet?" he asked, tilting his head to peer into my face.
"Realised what?" I asked, thrusting my chin out, determined not to allow him to see how upset I was.
"Realised that now the pair of us have finally confessed how we feel to one another, that now we've both finally got our act together and we're, you know, much more than friends. Now you're my girlfriend," he added with a grin. "Well, you're kinda, you're stuck with me now, love." he smiled at me.
It took me a moment to process his words and then a smile grew on my lips and relief filled me. "I wouldn't have it any other way," I promised him as our lips met in the vow of a sweet, tender kiss.
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