For Longer Than Forever: Ch. 4: En Route to Hogsmeade
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry PotterĀ® or any of the entities involved.
"Do you really?" Hermione asked, tears coming to her eyes. "What about Lavender?" It hurt for her to think about that. "Did you love her?"
"She was a ploy to get your attention. She wanted me to tell her I loved her, but I couldn't, because it wasn't true. I didn't realize how much I would hurt you by dating her. Lavender said that you cried at night, but she said you were homesick. I brushed it off, but I knew that you weren't homesick. That thought enveloped me, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I knew I was hurting you and that hurt me. That was about the time I said, 'I love you.' You probably thought I meant something else...but I do love you. You're all I can think about day and night."
Hermione's tears brimmed over, and Ron wiped them away. "I love you, too. Whenever we touch, I stop breathing. I don't ever want those moments to end."
Ron took her face into his hands and kissed her fiercely. Reluctantly, Hermione pulled away. "Give me just a moment." She walked over to Ginny and gave her the sad eyes. "Could I change our plans?"
"Want more time with Ron?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Ginny laughed at this and nodded, watching Hermione and Ron together and smiling.
"Ron, Ginny and I have decided that you and I should spend the whole day together."
"Sounds brilliant," he said, and saw the queue for Hogmeade. "We should probably get in line."
"Yeah." She thought about the possibilities for the day. "Where should we go in Hogsmeade.?"
"Somewhere private. Where nobody will bother us."
"I think I know just the spot," Hermione said, remembering where Ron and Hermione had gone during their second trip to Hogsmeade: the hill overlooking the Shrieking Shack. "It'll be a surprise for you."
His left hand slipped comfortably around her waist. At this touch, her stomach exploded with happiness. She felt as if she could fly. She slipped her hand around his waist and he pulled her closer to him. When they got through the line to Hogsmeade, and started heading toward the hill, Hermione almost cried at the way her wishes were all coming together. Ron's loving touch made her wish they would never part. He realized that she was about to cry and with concern, "Are you okay?" He pulled away and looked her in the face. "What's wrong?"
"I just never thought this would ever happen to me. I always dreamed it would, I never actually thought it would. I feel like this is some dream that's going to end when I wake up. But the pain I feel at the thought of you leaving is too real to be a dream."
"Oh baby," He said, taking Hermione into his arms and holding her. "I will never leave you," he whispered in her ear.
"You promise?" Her voice dripped with pain.
"I'm forever yours. Eternally. Infinitely. I couldn't leave you if I tried. I hope I can be yours forever, too."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I always have, and I always will."
He kissed her passionately, and heard angels singing. He had never dreamed love would be like this: a dream; a blissful, wonderful, fantastic vision; heaven on earth.
They slipped easily into french kissing, as if it was what they were meant to do. Hermione realized they hadn't moved in five minutes. She thought about moving, but instead, melted into his arms, as if she depended on him to stand up. Soon, they began to get stiff. Ron pulled away, although he didn't want to and asked, "Where was this place you wanted to go?"
"It's been about three years, but do you remember that hill that overlooks the Shrieking Shack?"
Ron remembered perfectly. He had almost asked Hermione out there, but decided against it.
"Sure...close your eyes."
"Why?" She had no clue why he would want her to close her eyes.
"Just trust me."
She obliged, and felt the ground disappear beneath her. Ron was carrying her. She opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She stared into his clear blue eyes and grinned blissfully.
"Don't drop me." She joked.
"I can assure you, I won't."
She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed, enjoying the beauty of it all.
