Author's note: I'm so sorry it took so long to update, but I had to study for my final Civics exam and then I had some other tests to study for.
Where we left off last time:
It brought even more memories of my childhood and I slowly drifted into sleep, Ron next to me.
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I groggily woke up, feeling a source of heat covering my back. I groaned slightly, rolling onto my stomach. I could tell it was going to be one of those mornings. I was having a most wonderful dream that included Ron and me and some-
"You awake?"
My eyes nearly popped out of my still closed lids. I was still dreaming, I told myself, but I couldn't deny the warmth covering my back, or the arm that was wrapped around my waist. And I could definitely not have imagined the warm breath and empowering scent that lingered around me.
"Hermione?"
I knew that I couldn't leave Ron hanging any longer.
"Yeah, I'm awake."
"Good 'cause I was getting hungry." I chuckled softly. That was Ron for you; always hungry and eager to eat.
"Alright, I'm getting up." I slowly disentangled myself; a harder action than I expected. We had somehow wrapped our arms around each other and my leg was wrapped around his thigh. I wondered why I hadn't noticed when I woke up, but I just blamed it on the half-asleep-still-dreaming phase of waking up. When we finally broke apart– Ron seemed rather reluctant to let me go– we hurried downstairs. The smell of bacon had wafted up the stairs and it made both our stomachs growl.
When we got to the kitchen, Ginny and Harry were already seated there, playfully arguing. They stopped talking as soon as Ron and I sat down.
"How did you sleep, Hermione?" Harry was the one who broke the silence.
"Erm...fine, I guess." I was hoping that neither of my friends would bring up the fact that I had slept in Ron's bed, cuddled up into him.
I did not have that luck. "So, was Ron's bed comfortable? Did you get any sleep?"
I glared evilly at Harry, trying to force down the blush that wanted to surface. Unfortunately, the Gods seemed against me this morning and my face turned red. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Ron's ears turn the same color.
"Nothing happened," we said at the same time, but that probably made us look even guiltier. I wished that this was just a bad dream, all of this, and that I would wake up in my own room. Not with Ron.
"Sure..." I could hear disbelief in Harry's voice, but I was glad he didn't continue harassing us about it because Mrs. Weasly came in, 7 plates in her wake.
"Mum? Why are there 7 plates if we're only 5?" Ginny asked, her brows furrowed.
"Fred and George are--"
"Morning, family members!" Fred and George said in unison, barging into the house.
"And one more," Ginny added.
The twins stopped short and their mouths dropped. I found it slightly comical that they did all this at the exact same time, as if they were just one person in two bodies.
"Hermione?"
I gave my normal response to this. "No, it's just someone who looks like me."
They pulled my chair out and circled around me like vultures, looking me over.
"It looks like her-"
"Same wild hair-"
"Same crooked tooth-"
"Slightly thinner-"
"Same scar on her right arm-"
"But she's sarcastic now?"
"When was she ever sarcastic?"
"She is sitting right here," I told them , scooting my chair back to its original place under the table.. "Now, if you don't mind, she would rather like to eat her breakfast now." To accentuate my point, I shoved a spoon full of beans into my mouth.
"Where'd you find her, Ron?"
"Why do you assume it was me who found her?" An innocent look passed over his features.
"Maybe because we knew about your sleuthing--"
"Plus Ginny wrote to us yesterday."
"Ouch! Ron!" Ginny growled as Ron kicked her under the table. "They asked me what was new and I thought that Hermione being here was something new. Merlin, Ron, that's going to leave a bruise!"
"Sorry," Ron muttered.
"That's enough, children! I want you all to eat and then out you go!" Then, quietly I heard Mrs. Weasly mutter, "It's like living with teenagers all over again."
I couldn't help but smile. I found myself suddenly regretting leaving all those years ago, regretting having put this family– my second family– through pain. I wanted to make it up to them, but how?
"Hermione dear, would you mind passing the butter?" The sound of Mrs. Weasly's voice brought me out of my wallowing.
I plastered my most convincing smile on my face. Passing the butter scarcely constituted my idea of penance. "Sure."
-----
"Ginny?"
My red-headed friend looked up from her work on her bed. Harry was nowhere to be found; I was glad. "Yeah?"
I took a deep breath. Start with small talk, I told myself. "What are you working on?"
"Something I don't understand." She lifted up the parchment and gave me a grin.
"Want me to help?"
Ginny nodded her head. "Please."
I took the parchment from her hands and looked it over. "Oh, this is simple! See, all you have to do is this." Grabbing her quill, I quickly jotted down a few numbers and looked it over. "That good?"
Ginny gave me one of her famous grins. "Great! Thanks awfully, Mione."
An awkward silence filled the room.
"So you're sure nothing happened with my brother last night?"
I laughed. "Positive." I paused for a moment before continuing. "But, even if something had happened, would you really want to know?"
Ginny laughed. "No, I guess not." It was her turn to pause. "Do you still love Ron?"
I stiffened. How do I answer that? "Um... I..." Six years ago, when we were both 17 and full of hopes and dreams on love, if someone had asked me that, I would have answered 'Without a doubt'. But, years had passed and a number of things had changed my thoughts. Did I still love Ron? Probably. Was I ready to explore that option again? Definitely not.
Ginny waited patiently for my answer.
"I'm not sure," I finally said, sighing. "I think I do... deep within me, I think I still do... but I just don't know." I placed my head in my hands.
"What would you say if I told you Ron loved you?"
My head snapped up to look at Ginny. Her eyes were calculating; I wondered what she was up to.
"What do you mean?"
"Look, Hermione, I know you aren't dense. Anyone who saw you two together knew that you were in love with each other. The only two people who didn't see it were you two." She must have noticed the look of disbelief pass over my features for she chuckled lightly.
"Hermione, what's wrong?"
I looked up at Ginny and gave her a weak smile. "Nothing."
"Tell me what happened."
"It's just... something happened. Years ago. With Ron."
"What happened?"
I shook my head.
"Ron," I heard Harry say, "you've got to tell her."
"What if she doesn't feel the same way about me? I can't risk it."
"You'll never know until you tell her."
"I can't. What if something happens to her, or me for that matter? No, it's better if she never knew."
"Ron--"
"No, I've made up my mind. It's never going to happen between us, so shove a sock in it."
"Thanks Gin, for everything, but I need to get back home."
"Are you coming to the wedding? Because, I would much rather have you than Fleur as my Maid of Honor."
I smiled. "Of course. I'll be by next week, the day before your wedding, which is the..."
"17th of July," Ginny supplied for me.
"Alright then. I'll be here on the 16th. I'll even make sure that I don't get almost run over next time."
I hugged her tightly. I knew this wasn't the best of ideas, but I had to get away from all the memories and feelings rushing back to me.
"And you don't have to worry about your dress," Ginny told me. "I bought an extra one just in case. Mum can alter it if it doesn't fit."
"Thanks Ginny," I told her, smiling. "You're the best."
"Hey, I do what I can."
----
Ginny had offered to accompany me home, but I declined, telling her that my flat was a mess and that I had errands I had to run. I promised to be back next week, and then I left.
I was able to duck out of the house without Ron or Harry seeing me, but I was not so lucky with Mrs. Weasley.
"Hermione! Where are you going dear?"
"Home," I told her. "I cannot impose any longer and I have things that need to be done."
"You're not imposing! You can stay here as long as you like."
I was losing my patience. I just wanted to leave without making a big scene, but it looked like that might not happen. "As much as I would love that, Mrs. Weasley, I really need to get home. But, I'll be back next week for Harry and Ginny's wedding. I'll see you then!"
With that, I gave her a hug and Apparated back to my flat.----------------------------------------------
Author's note: Thanks to everyone that reviewed (So far, only 11 people, but hey, it still makes my day)! You don't know how much they mean to me! It keeps me going!