Hermione's POV

What a mess!

I scowled at my reflection in the mirror and ran the hairbrush through my dark hair with a hurry, trying anything to make it look less like an afro due! Eventually my hair looked smooth as it fell past my shoulders. Okay, hair down. Make up where are you? I searched frantically and after I found my small make-up bag, I touched myself up. It was Bill and Fleur's Wedding, the service had passed beautifully and the party was the most extravagant I had ever seen! But it had taken its toll on me so I stood in the Weasley bathroom, trying to make myself look more presentable.

Especially because he had been watching me all night. Usually I wouldn't rush off to make myself look pretty, my looks weren't as important a factor like they were to other girls, but I had to do it for him. I had to be beautiful for Ron.

After having nothing else to check, I decided that I looked presentable. My skin was clear and my cheeks pinched the same colour as my Scarlett number that flared out around my knees. I ran my fingers through my hair again and moved it around to one side of my shoulder, I had just checked my aching feet to ensure these heels weren't giving me blisters and I sprayed a tonne of perfume.

Ron's favourite, I remembered.

"You look beautiful...and you know it,' Ginny's humble voice whispered from the doorway, where she peered inside. She knew that I had been dressing to impress a certain someone although thankfully she didn't bring it forward. After thanking her I returned to the garden and made my way inside the tent, hoping to catch a glimpse of him in his suit.

My, did Ronald look handsome in a suit.

All around witches and wizards smiled warmly to me as I passed, it appeared these past few years Harry Potter wasn't the only name the magical community begun to recognize. People laughed and danced, had a good time and I was happy to see it. A party in the middle of a war seemed slightly ridiculous even I had to admit, although watching everyone smile and laugh and joke and love made me understand why it was actually the perfect time to have it.

Before all the bloodshed that was almost certain to come.

I returned to the table I had been sitting at with Luna although in her place sat another. Sat Ron. The moment our eyes met it felt like the first time that day. It wasn't of course, all day we had been helping set up and we spoke to each other and had dinner together just like always but now, with nothing to distract us from what we really wanted to say, see or do, it felt like our first meeting since...that kiss.

His hair so bright it mirrored the colour of the candles, his smile so casual I felt like an ordinary teenage girl with an ordinary teenage crush. Except this wasn't a crush. "Hey, Hermione," He rose to his feet to greet me and I smiled.

"Hello, Ron," My voice was unusually high, it always happened when I was nervous and of late, always when I was around him,

"Enjoying the wedding?" He asked, glancing around. I watched his hands in his pockets, the way his shoulders looked broader, how his features handsome with age. He was definitely not the eleven year old I first met on the train. Although he did still have dirt on his nose!

I found my laugh impossible to keep in and he laughed too. "What's so funny?" He asked.

Shaking my head, I took his hand and leading him to the dance floor. His fingers felt soft in my hand, his skin warm. When we reached the dance floor he didn't hesitate and his arms slid around my waist to the bottom of my back, my own arms lazily came over his shoulders, connecting behind his neck. His burning hair tickling my fingertips. "Nothing, just old memories," I mumbled, "And I am enjoying the wedding, doesn't Fleur look beautiful?" Fleur waved royally in my direction while she danced with Bill, her white swan-like dress looking radiant in the candlelight. Bill's suit and its trail swiftly following their movements. I could see the look of longing in both of their eyes. A look of love.

"Yeah, she does." Except his eyes never left my own. We didn't speak much after that, we just danced. Well, if you can call it dancing. We rocked back and forth for what felt like hours, out feet barely moving, sometimes when the piano's notes picked up, he'd lift my hand and spin me like you'd expect to see in a movie. Two forbidden lovers dressed is masquerade, having a moment where they didn't have to be apart. This of course was an entirely different scenario, our love wasn't exactly forbidden and we didn't have to hide it, but still, I felt like how I imagined the girl at the dance to feel. Loved.

After the song ended Ron spoke up, "Do-do you want to get some air?" he asked, choking nervously on his words. It was warm inside the tent and his cheeks looked flushed so I nodded. Fresh air would do us both some good.

"Yes," I said and he put his arm on my waist, leading me towards the gap in the curtain. His hand caused shivers to journey up and down my spine, to tickle my nerves. When we were out in the cold air, I let out a long and heavy breath; it felt beautiful on my skin. Like the air itself was damp. Ronald seemed to enjoy it too. We walked away from the tent and up the garden path until we rested on the hill, not caring any more about the state of our clothes.

We watched the sky, the stars shone brightly through the strolling storm clouds in the distance, the moon hung high and bright and full, reminding me of a pearl. "It's a beautiful night to have the wedding," I said, admiring the stars. Their brightest were nothing compared to the shine in his eyes...

Oh Hermione! Why? Why did I keep having these thoughts and feelings! Ever since his first kiss with Lavender Brown, that ghastly girl, I have felt hurt, insulted at the idea of Ronald kissing another girl, I felt betrayed. Oh the thought of his hands on her and their lips brushing together made me shiver, this time in disgust. But I didn't want the thought of him and her to drag me into a bum mood so I turned and focused my attention back on Ron, letting the curve of his face and the flick of the smile on his lips dilute the hate and jealously away.

"Hermione..." He said my name like a lullaby, "I wanted to talk to you about last night." Oh gosh! I tried to hide my panic but found that task incredibly difficult. It was about the kiss. The kiss lasted less than a second but fireworks had exploded behind my eye lids, my heart skipped a beat and my body burned with an ache I hadn't felt before. Like a spark, a match being struck. I was so embarrassed afterwards. Not because of the kiss but because of the way he looked, confused and puzzled. I had thought that maybe he felt the same way which was why he wasn't all to bothered about rekindling his...well, his fling...with Lavender. Because maybe he liked me instead? It was after all, my name he mumbled in his sleep after being poisoned. It was my face he longed to see.

"What it is?" I asked and he paused, "Ron you can talk to me." I leant closer, a risky move.

"Well..." Another pause. "I want-"

"Ronald Weasley!" We both jumped and leant back, down the hill I spotted Mrs. Weasley searching frantically for him.

"Bloody hell," he muttered beneath his breath, "I'll be right back, okay?" He asked and he squeezed my fingers before hurrying off to find his mother. The moment he was out of sight I dropped backwards on the grass, laughing quietly to myself, watching the twinkle of fairly lights above me.

Our friendship had been ruined. I had ruined it. Stupid girl! It had been the highlight of my entire time as a witch; I'm guessing he didn't feel the same way. Never before had I felt this about anyone, I never expected I could feel this way even when I thought about the tall, handsome Wizard I dreamt about as an eleven year old girl! Ronald was my best friend but I had taken it too far, I doubt we'd ever be able to be the way we used to be.

If he asked, I'd tell him the kiss was nothing. That I never meant for it to come across that way. For it to be a friendly kiss and that my feelings for him were only on a friendship level. He was only a friend. I would convince him, and myself, of these lies.

I didn't realize I was crying until I felt the tears on my cheeks and the stars blurred. And then one of them moved.

Did...that star just move? One second it was there and the next it grew bigger, moving across the sky slowly. Then quicker. Pulling myself to my feet, I dusted off the grass and the dirt and rubbed the tears away. The star was still moving. It was flying across the sky quickly and in this direction. That moment I realized that it wasn't a star but a patronus.

I burst into a sprint down the hill, throwing myself towards the tent to reach it in time. The wind welled my eyes up again with tears and my ankles ached, running in heels. I threw myself back into the tent where the music had stopped and everyone stood still, watching the patronus as it took shape. Mrs. Weasley appeared next to me, wrapping her arm around me worryingly.

Kingsley?

"The Ministry has fallen. Scimgeour is dead. They are coming..." It whispered. Harry was next to me then, his expression looked panicked. I knew we'd have to run. But where was Ron?

"They are coming..." It whispered again before vanishing completely and the crowd broke into panic. Witches and Wizards apparated out, others ran by and knocked over vases and chairs.

"Ron!" I yelled unwillingly.

"He went looking for you the moment he saw the patronus, dear." Mrs. Weasley said, but then saw Ginny across the way and rushed towards her. I turned and went to speak to Harry but that's when I saw it. A stream of smoke as black as the sky flew through the gap, out of the shadows a hand raised a wand. The flash of green made me scream and a man I didn't know was blown backwards over a table.

I ran. I ran through people, screaming Ron's name as flashes cast shadows on the walls of the tent. I was going to scream his name in utter terror again until I saw him. He ran straight at me and my arms opened. His fingers slid between mine, our eyes met and he nodded. I turned to grab Harry but he went for Ginny who was in the middle of a battle.

"Go, Go!" Lupin screamed, hesitantly Harry turned. I knew how hard this was for him, for us all really but his safety was vital. The moment Harry took my hand I glanced Ron's way one last time before apparating the three of us to safety.

FanWriter's Note:

Hey guys! Next chapter for this story is up! I hope you liked this chapter. It's been a while since I've written from Hermione's POV so I'm struggling to try and capture her character and I'd love for you to let me know what you think. Like I said last chapter, all scenes in this story will be kind of like the behind the scenes of Ron and Hermione's Romance but I'll include scenes that we have seen also, like this chapter was what Hermione and Ron were doing while Harry was off speaking with Elphias Dodge. Then of course in the end the three of them reunite during the battle.

Anyway, hoped you enjoyed. Please let me know what you think

~FanWriter Harrison~