1Chapter 9
Back at the flat Hermione was soaking in the warm water in the low white basin of the tub. She lightly splashed water onto her arms and shoulders. She soaked the wash rag and folded it over her eyes. She breathed in deeply. She heard Harry and Ron bustling about in different parts of their home. Hermione let her mind wander and let something else wander. She pictured Ron in his bed, underneath the covers, nothing on but his boxers. She imagined his taught, ripped muscles moving with his every movement as he leaned up on his elbows. He was smirking his sexy smirk at her, teasing her with his eyes. She imagined herself slowly walking towards his bed, sliding the thin straps of her nightgown down past her shoulders. Ron licked his lips anxiously. Hermione slid onto the cool sheets beside him. She ran her fingers through his ginger hair and lightly traced her fingers along a pattern of freckles on his collarbone causing him to shiver from her touch. He took her hand in his and kissed her finger tips softly. Now it was Hermiones turn to shiver. He looked up into her brown eyes and Hermione saw lust swimming around in his blue pools. He was about to capture her lips when a sharp knock came at the bathroom door causing Hermione to jump and splash water out of the tub.
"Hermione? Are you okay in there?" Rons voice came through the door. Hermione was shaking from being startled and from embrassment even though Ron couldn't see her or her fantasies or where her finger was.
"Yes, yes, im fine Ron. I'll be out in a minute." Hermione called back. She heard his heavy footsteps walk away from the door and she let out a nervous breath. She sank back against the back of the tub. She finished in the bathroom and made her way to her room rather quickly. Once inside she hurried and got dressed into her favorite pajamas. They were a baby soft pink and white fleece pajamas. Hermione wrapped her arms around herself and inhaled deeply. They smelt like the mountain air fabric softener that they use with their laundry. They were so soft Hermione wanted to go ahead and go to bed. But she couldn't. She wouldn't. She had to at least see if she saw any signs of Ron being attracted to her. She left her room and passed Harry in the hallway.
"Goodnight Hermione." He said patting her on the back.
"Goodnight Harry." She said back not really paying attention to him. She was trying to see if she heard Ron in the living room or kitchen. She heard bustling about in living room and knew he was probably on the couch stuffing his face with some late night snack like he usual did. How he ever stayed so fit was beyond her. Sure enough as she entered the living room there he was sitting cris cross apple sauce on the couch. He had a bag of potato chips in one hand and the other hand was feeding them to his mouth. He saw her enter and smiled at her. She returned the smile and made her way into the kitchen. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. She drank half the glass. Her mouth felt like cotton.
'Why am I acting this way in my own house?!' She thought to herself. 'Oh yeah Ronald Weasley loves me!' Her thoughts screamed. Hermione rolled her eyes and drained the rest of her glass in the sink and set it down on the counter. She leaned against the counter and pushed the palms of her hands against her eyes.
'Just go in there and talk to him like normal.' She thought. She put down her hands and saw Ron standing by the fridge, bag of chips in hand, and a look of 'what the heck are you doing?' on his face. Hermione made a little squeaky noise in the back of her throat.
"You scared me! I didn't know you were standing right there!" She sputtered. Ron just gave a weird little nod and put up his bag of chips.
"Hermione are you sure your alright? You seem like somethings bothering you?" Ron asked, now standing infront of her. Hermione swallowed and shook her head just a little to vigorously.
"No, no im fine! Really im fine! Well um.. Goodnight!" Hermione stumbled over her words. Hermione almost made her way around Ron when he grabbed her arm sending shock waves through Hermione.
"Wait. Are you house sitting with us for Mum and Dad next weekend?" Ron asked. All Hermione could do was nod her head. Ron smiled.
"Yeah I am." Hermione spoke barely above a whisper.
"Brilliant. I think a good gathering of old friends is in order." Ron said mischievously. At those words Hermione should have scolded Ron and told him it was wrong to through a party at his parents house while they were gone but Hermione was still to stunned from his touch. Ever since Hermione realized her true feelings for Ron and ever since she found out that he too loved her, Hermione just felt weird around him. She never did before because she though they were just friends and only friends and well... Clearly not. Another time Hermione wouldn't have cared if he touched her. Heck they always hugged and he even tickled her a couple of times. It was no big deal back then! But now.. Oh now things were different. She wanted him to touch her. She wanted to touch him. She wanted to feel his bare skin on her bare skin.
"Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Yes?" Hermione said coming out of her daze.
"There you go again! You look as if you've drifted off into space! You've been doing that a lot lately. Are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about?" Ron asked. He'd been noticing her dazing off? That was a little sign to Hermione. She sort of relaxed after hearing him say that. She decided to just try and act like her old self again and not make him suspicious of anything. She playfully nudged his shoulder.
"Come on Ron! Nothings wrong! Maybe you're the one who's acting strange! Ever think of that?" Hermione shot back grinning at him. Ron smirked.
"Yeah I guess you could be right. But then again you could be wrong." He shot back playfully. Hermione gave a little laugh and walked out of the kitchen.
"Well goodnight Ron. See you in the morning." Hermione said.
"Alright, goodnight." Ron said back. "Hermione?" He said, making her stop in her tracks and turn around on her heels to look at him.
"Yes Ron?" She asked. He looked like he wanted to say a lot of things. She was hoping he was going to ask her to stay, to watch a movie and cuddle, but who was she kidding? He looked like he might profess his love for her, but then again he could just ask her to hand him the remote. No, she could see it in his eyes he was going to say something that would benefit them both. Hermione looked at him anxiously. But he only said one thing, and it wasn't what she wanted to hear.
"Nothing."