Beware of extreme unashamed fluff.

Chapter 20

Check and Mate

Hermione watched the frost ice the windows, making the outside world look blurry and static.

"What are you doing up so early?" Hermione heard Ron's voice behind her. She turned around to face him. "It's 11:30, Ron."

"Oh…Well, I call that early for a vacation," Ron stretched.

"Hmmph," she turned back to the window. "Where's Harry?"

"Still asleep. You were right to make us stay at the Leaky Cauldron to celebrate two Horcruxes down. He's completely conked out." Ron looked around. "So. I guess you've already eaten breakfast, eh?"

"Yes, but you know me, I'm always willing to sit with you and watch you talk with your mouth full."

"And that's why you're my best friend."

Hermione followed Ron to the table, finding comfort in the roaring fire of the nearly empty leaky cauldron. Tom had been overjoyed when they had made reservations here; there were hardly any daring to go outside now. They had been here a few days, and in those, a November snow had started in. Hermione was glad for the warmth, and of the cold outside. She'd always loved being cozy and watching the snowfall. She felt calm for the first time in ages, and found Ron absolutely adorable as he shoveled food into his mouth. So in bliss was she, she found herself imagining kissing him, and how it would feel. A strange thought to imagine kissing someone who now had a sausage hanging halfway out of his mouth, but she realized she had Imissed/I Ron. Of course, she had been with him nonstop for the past few months, but not REALLY. Not had a chance to sit with him alone in the calm, with nothing dangerous going on. She continued to stare dreamily at him as he finished eating. He stared back at her, slightly confused. "Er, so…want to play chess?"

She agreed, and they played several games, all which she lost. It was because she was in such a kind mood, she told herself as she always did. That is why she allowed him to beat her. She felt sorry for him. Harry came down to watch a few games, then read Quidditch books for a while, then promptly fell asleep by the fire. Hermione hadn't realized how tired he was, perhaps he had not been able to sleep before because of nightmares, but in this calm setting his dreams were content, and Hermione was once again glad she had talked him into taking a break. Evening dawned with Harry still asleep, and Ron and Hermione continuing the play chess. At some point in the game, Hermione turned around to look at Harry. "He's so peaceful."

"Yeah, he's usually up all night. I hear him get up, or talking in his sleep. He can't let it go."

"It's been going on so long, I can't blame him."

"Any luck on that code?"

"I've got it half figured out. I can't make sense of it right now though."

"Half already? I thought it was the hardest code in the world or something."

"Well, most wizards aren't logical like I am. And I've been at it five months."

Ron yawned and stared at her with an odd look in his eye. Hermione felt an odd shiver. Was…he looking at her like she'd looked at him during breakfast?

"You're so smart," he said in a tired sort of voice. "And Harry's so…Harry. You're both amazing."

Hermione turned red. "Honestly, Ron, don't…"

"And…I'm stupid," Ron said in the same tired voice. He moved a chess piece without even looking.

"What?" Hermione said incredulously.

"I can't help Harry. I can't help him." Ron didn't seem to even be talking to Hermione. "I can't make bad things stop happening. I can't stop him…from dying. I don't want him to die."

"I don't either," Hermione said softly. "But Ron, what are you-?"

"And I only make things worse for you," Ron sighed.

"What on earth-?"

"Move, Hermione," Ron interrupted, and Hermione quickly moved her chess piece to take Ron's pawn. "I mean, last year. Lavender."

"Oh." Hermione said. "That. I always wanted to ask…why-?"

"I was jealous," Ron confessed. "Ginny told me you kissed Vicky."

"Viktor? How could I have kissed him? I haven't seen him-"

"I mean, in fourth year."

"Oh," Hermione blushed, remembering that day on the bridge when she had been complaining to Viktor about how tired she was, and he took her hand and- "Well, it was more like he kissed me. But that was years ago."

"I know. But I had never kissed anyone. I-I don't know. Ginny said-that I was the only one- and I was mad you hadn't told me-and I was stupid."

"Well, I did attack you with birds," Hermione shrugged. "I think we're even."

"I deserved it."

"Ron…you're acting very…not like you…" Hermione said.

Ron shrugged and gestured for her to move the chess piece, after listlessly moving his own. He stared at the board. "I don't want him to die, Hermione. I should die instead of him. I deserve it more."

It was such a horrible, self deprecating, and unexpected thing for him to say, Hermione found herself dashing around the table, grabbing him by the chin, and slapping him full on. He stared at her, shocked, as he stepped back, rubbing the angry red patch on his cheek. "Uh-?"

"I hate it when you do that," Hermione gasped. "I hate your stupid inferiority complex. You are one of the bravest smartest people I have ever known, and if I could bring myself to do it, I would jinx you so godly peregrine I falcons/I attacked you for talking like that. I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE. How dare you say that? I don't- I-I-" She grabbed his hand, squeezing it hard, tears streaming down her cheeks. He leaned forward. She leaned forward. And they kissed. She wrapped his arms around his neck and he forced her down into his lap, and they kissed. Again. And again. And again. When they finally broke apart, she gasped, "I love you." And he said, "Same here." And they kissed again. After what seemed like ages, blissful wonderful pride filled minutes, they broke apart once more, gasping. Hermione looked down at the chessboard. Ron did too. Hermione looked at how the pieces were arranged and broke into a grin. After all these years…"Checkmate." She took Ron's king with a flick of her hand. "I win." She resisted adding a "so there," but Ron would probably not have noticed anyway, as he had suddenly noticed by the fireplace that Harry was up and watching them bemusedly. "Well, it's about bloody time," he yawned, and Hermione didn't know if he meant her and Ron getting together, or her finally winning a chess game against Ron, but she never got to find out, because Harry quickly retreated from the room, and soon she was kissing Ron once more.

"Love is the extremely difficult realization that something other than one's self is real" –Dame Iris Murdoch