Chapter 2 – In the garden
Hermione ran through the snow, hearing Ron steadily catching up to her. She could feel her chest tightening as she began to slow down.
"All right, I give up," Hermione yelled, stopping. She bent over, gasping for breath when she felt something cold and hard hit the side of her face. Hermione gasped and straightened her back to see Ron howling with laughter.
"Ronald, I'm going to get you for that" Hermione yelled, making a snowball and throwing it at Ron. It hit him in the stomach and he fell over, completely winded. He got up and hurled another snowball at Hermione, who dodged, laughing. Ron yelled and ran at Hermione, knocking her into a snow bank and collapsing next to her, shaking with laughter. Hermione sighed and gazed wordlessly at Ron. He was so completely adorable when he was covered in snow. Hermione was so caught up in gazing at Ron that she didn't realize that Ron had begun moving closer to her. Hermione blinked when she did realize.
"Ron, what are you doing?" she asked
"Shhh, Hermione" he murmured, leaning close to her. Hermione let out a gasp as she felt Ron push his lips up against her own, but she didn't pull away. Hermione felt like time had frozen, like nothing existed except for Ron and Herself. Hermione felt her mouth open to admit Ron's tongue, and she felt hers brush up against his lips. She felt static race threw her body as the kiss deepened. When they did finally break apart, Hermione was speechless. Ron was the first to break the silence.
"Bloody hell, Hermione, you are such a better kisser than Lavender was" Ron swore
"Why thank-you for that assessment, Mr. Weasley," Hermione laughed, "You aren't so bad yourself, compared to a certain Mr. Krum in our acquaintance." Ron laughed, and then gazed into Hermione's bright brown eyes.
"Hermione?" he asked
"Hmm" she answered
"I love you, I always have, ever since we rescued you from the troll in first year, and I just wanted to ask you something"
"Yes?" Hermione asked, her heart seeming to be going at 100 miles per hour
"Hermione, would you go out with me" Ron asked his eyes full of adoration as he looked down at the woman he had loved for over six years.
"Oh Ron, of course I will, just one condition"
"Anything, 'Mione" Ron grinned dopily
"Do not tell Fred and George before I tell you to"
"Excuse me, I'm not the one with a history of snitching to them" Ron accused
Hermione imitated the Twins innocent look, "The devil told me to do it" She whimpered
Ron laughed, "In that case, you're forgiven" He murmured, kissing Hermione again. Hermione shivered as she felt the static again, but this time Ron noticed and he pulled off his cloak.
"Here, you must be freezing, let's go back inside. Do you know how long we've been out here" Ron wrapped his cloak around Hermione's shoulders while she looked at her wrist watch. Ron jumped when Hermione gasped
"Ron, we've been out here for almost two hours. They're probably so worried about us."
"We better not tell them tonight, they might get the wrong idea about what we've been up to" Ron grinned. Hermione glanced at him as she got up and burst into fits of giggles.
"We could get in so much trouble" Hermione laughed
"Let's just pretend we had a nice, long fight" Ron advised, still trying to stifle his laughter
"That sounds like a wise decision, Weasley" Hermione agreed, before putting on her 'I-just-had-a-fight-with-Ron-don't-speak-to-me' face and storming down the hill. Ron sighed happily, before waiting a minute, then following in Hermione's wake.
HP HP HP HP HP
Harry glanced out the kitchen window, searching for any sign of his friends return.
"Calm down, Harry, I'm sure they're fine" Ginny smiled from where she sat at the scrubbed kitchen table. She and Harry were alone, Bill had taken Fleur out to dinner, and Charlie, Fred and George had gone into the village, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone for an evening walk, leaving Ginny in charge of dinner.
"I know, it's just, I saw the look on Ron's face when I told him what Hermione had done, you know, the letter to the twins and all that, you don't think I should go out there and make sure they're not pulling out each others hair" Harry admitted
"They'll be fine, they'll come back, eventually, and Ron wouldn't hurt Hermione, he loves her." Ginny reassured him, stretching her arms and getting up. Harry just gazed at his ex-girlfriend. He was still in love with Ginny, but it was just too dangerous for her, especially with the final battle looming. Harry smiled, remembering Bill and Fleur's wedding. That had been one of the best days of Harry's life. Ginny had been stunning, and Harry hadn't really paid that much to the actual service, he was more interested in and the resentful glares she kept shooting at him from where she stood. After the service, Harry had seen Ginny walking off and Harry had followed her
Flashback:
"Ginny?" Harry called. Ginny whipped around, tears pouring down her face. Harry instantly walked over to her. "Ginny, what's the matter?" he asked
"You, you're the matter; I just can't stand it, Harry, you and me, not being together. I hid up in my room for the first week and a half of the holidays. When you came back from your Aunt and Uncles house, I tried avoiding you, but nothings worked. Harry, I'm still in Love with you. I can't get all that time we spent together out of my head. I have nightmares about what happened at the funeral, and I wake up crying." Ginny broke down into furious crying. Harry groaned.
"Ginny, I'm so sorry; it's stupid Voldemort, and the Horcrux's. It's just too dangerous for me to have a girlfriend at the moment." Ginny snapped her head up, her eyes, wet from tears, blazing
"Harry, almost my entire family is up to here," she put her hand over Harry's head as high up she could reach, "in this war against Voldemort. I'm already in danger, without being with you. Stop being so noble, and see this." Harry started laughing. "What is so funny?" Ginny snapped
"I'm sorry, it's just, we sound like Ron and Hermione having one of their arguments" Harry chuckled. Ginny smiled and wiped away the tears. Harry glanced around to make sure they were alone. "Hey Ginny" he whispered.
"What" she whispered. Harry grinned and kissed her. Ginny groaned and hugged Harry as the kiss deepened. Harry finally pulled away as he heard the band start playing a slow song.
"May I have the honor of this dance?" Harry asked
"So we're back together again?" Ginny smiled
"Yes, as long as you'll take me back after my stupid noble streak got involved with us" Harry grinned, offering her his arm. Ginny took it, and together they walked back towards the dance floor
End Flashback
Harry smiled even more. Ever since then, he and Ginny had been 'romantically involved' secretly. Harry doubted even Ron and Hermione knew but he was beginning to suspect that Hermione had figured it out. It was actually quite a shock to Harry that Hermione hadn't figured it out sooner, he and Ginny had been almost caught several times, and it was sort of obvious when he and Ginny would be out of the common room at the same time, without a real excuse. Harry just assumed it was because Hermione was concentrating on their up coming N.E.W.T. exams. Harry was jerked out of his train of thought when he felt Ginny's arms gently caress his back.
"What are you thinking about?" Ginny asked, hr voice low and seductive
"You, of cause, and how I think Hermione's onto us" Harry smiled, gently wrapping his arms around Ginny's waist.
"It's about time, I've been expecting her to have said something about us for ages now" Ginny smiled
"You have, how long have you suspected she knew?" Harry muttered, kissing Ginny gently on the forehead. Ginny sighed and felt her knees melt
"Ever since Halloween, or maybe even before that" she groaned, allowing Harry's kisses to move towards her lips. Hastily, the young couple broke apart when they heard Hermione's approaching footsteps. Ginny sat back into her seat, and Harry quickly crossed the room and pretended to be extremely interested in Mrs. Weasley's family clock, which now displayed a hand with 'Fleur' engraved on it. Only Ron and Ginny's hands were resting on home. Harry whipped around as Hermione burst angrily through the door. Harry took one look at her face before deciding that it would be better if he just let Hermione rage around for awhile. He glanced at Ginny, who nodded and followed Hermione up the stairs. Harry winced as he heard a door slam. He sighed and silently wished Ginny luck in calming Hermione down.
A.N. So, what do you think? Please keep reading. This chapter was a lot longer that the first. Do you prefer the longer or shorter format? Please review; your comments would be appreciated.