Still busy with work. Sorry.
I cursed and threw the stone tablet at the wall where it hit with a sharp crack before clattering to the floor. I had stopped worrying about whether it would break some time ago. This was not the first occasion in which I had thrown it in anger over the past few weeks, and at this point I was so disgusted I doubt I really would have minded at all if it had broken. I looked back down at my Arithmancy essay but angry tears were filling my eyes so I shoved it aside and went to flop miserably on my bed.
It had been three weeks and four days since that perfect night in Ron's apartment, and after that wonderful moment everything had been as perfect as ever, for a few days. Then things began to change, slowly at first, just small differences. Ron and Harry had spent a Saturday together without Ginny and I, something that was not at all remarkable seeing as they were best friends, but ever since that day Ron had been pulling away. At first I tried to rationalize in my head, say it was nothing, that I was being paranoid, he was just busy with his new job. Then things started to be more noticeable, the excuses came as to why he couldn't come up to the castle at night. He was always busy, and never at home. I tried to go down and surprise him one night when he said he was swamped with work and he wasn't even there. He was become more distant physically as well, he had barely even kissed me in weeks. A painful, aching knot was growing in my stomach. I had been so fixated on the idea of Ron and I together forever, that I had never even considered the possibility of a life for myself that didn't include him. Now every time I tried it felt like someone was punching me in the stomach. I couldn't lose him, but I felt like the more I held on, the quicker he slipped away. I felt the tears coming again and I buried my face in my pillow to try and ebb the flow. Just then I heard a soft knock on my door.
"Who is it?" I said quickly wiping my eyes on my sleeve.
"It's me." said Ginny's voice from the other side of the door.
"Come in." I said, as I sat up and took a deep breath to right myself.
It didn't matter though, the minute Ginny walked through the door and saw me I could tell by the tender look that crossed her face that she saw right through me, yet there was something else there as well that I couldn't quite place. Over the past few weeks Harry and Ginny had been wonderfully supportive and comforting , but all their attentiveness had an underlying current of annoyance and frustration, and I could tell that it was not towards me, but for me, though I had given up some time ago figuring out what it was about. They were not being particularly forth coming.
"You were crying again weren't you?" said Ginny coming over and sitting down on the bed next to me, once again I noticed the edge of bitterness in the question.
"Am I that obvious?" I said weakly.
"You're that in love…" she answered, and tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded unable to speak.
"Hermione, I know how hard this is for you right now, but you trust Harry and I don't you?" Said Ginny, sounding almost desperate.
"With my life." I said looking up at her earnestly, she took my hands in hers and looked me in the eyes.
"Then please trust us when we tell you that you have nothing to worry about. Ron is an idiot, but he loves you and everything is going to be all right, even better than before if you just hang in there." She said.
"Ginny I want to believe you… more than anything… but…. With the way he's been acting, I feel him slipping away…. And I am just so tired of being hurt by him… I don't think my heart can take it anymore."
"I'm going to kill him… that stupid git, I'm going to murder him!" her was growling with frustration and pacing the room wildly.
"Gin… come on now, he's your brother…"
"No! you don't understand Hermione… I just can't believe he's putting you through this! For nothing!" she kicked the edge of the bed.
"Well… maybe it not for nothing.. maybe it's for the best." I said in a very small voice that not even I believed.
"It's for nothing Hermione… you two belong together, please trust that." Ginny hugged me fiercely, "Now try to get some sleep."
As Ginny left, I slowly went and changed into my pajama's as I cuddled into my bed I had to once again push away the growing ache inside me.
"Is that what you got Hermione?"
"What?" I said looking over dimly at Susan Bones and Lavender Brown who were sitting next to me.
"I asked if this chart formation is the same one that you got on your homework." said Susan showing me her Arithmancy chart.
"Oh yes it is." I said glancing at it quickly.
"You seem rather distracted lately…" said Susan with a tone of genuine concern, "I haven't seen Ron around as much these days… are you two in a fight?" I couldn't help but notice how Lavender suddenly became quite engrossed in pouring over her essay but leaned ever so slightly Susan's direction. The fact that Lavender was even in this class annoyed me to no end, considering I felt it to be one of the school most dignified subjects and found nothing dignified about her, but I didn't even have the energy to muster up annoyance anymore.
"Well Susan we'd have to be speaking to be in a fight, he's just outright ignoring and avoiding me at the moment." I replied indifferently.
"Oh you want to be careful with that Hermione…" said Lavender in an obnoxiously wise voice, "that's what he did with me for weeks before I caught him coming out of the boys dormitory with you… doesn't know how to end things proper so he just runs away."
"Well our relationship is slightly more evolved not to mention completely different than yours was!" I snapped at her, and then turned my attention to Professor Vector who had just entered the room. Yet she had struck a nerve, by the time I had reached Defense Against the Dark Arts I couldn't get her words out of my head. I kept playing over and over all the times he had hidden behind me to avoid her, stayed away from the Common Room because he was too much of a coward to end it. The only thought running through my brain now was, who is he hiding behind to avoid me? and the very idea was like a red hot poker across the heart. Unfortunately we were doing Patronus's in Defense class, and after three or four absolutely pathetic attempts I ran out crying. I couldn't handle shoddy school work on top of everything else! I ran into the nearest classroom slumped into a chair and let the tears flow freely.
I heard the door open but I didn't look up, I knew who it would be. He was always there when Ron hurt me, always there to pick up the pieces of Ron's stupid messes. I felt his hand on my shoulder, and as I did I felt the flood gates break lose with everything I needed to say.
"Oh Harry! What's wrong with him?" I spewed out as I looked up at him in pain and desperation, "I thought things were finally good between us! That he'd finally grown up, but now he's acting just as stupid as he did in our sixth year. Harry..." I hesitated, trying to read is face as I searched for the strength to ask the one question I had been too afraid to ask anyone else, only my best friend, I could only bear to hear it from him, "Harry he isn't you know... seeing someone else is he? Maybe at work?"
"No Hermione!" he said indignantly, "he wouldn't do that to you! Ever! He loves you!"
"Then why the hell is he being so stupid!" all my pain, frustration, hopelessness it flowed out, I felt defeated, "I've been thinking more and more this past week that I should really just be done with him and save myself the trouble! Maybe we're just trying too hard to make it work when it's not meant to be!"
I looked into his face and was surprised by what I saw there. It was frustration, and empathy like Ginny, but there was more, he was torn… he seemed to be fighting against something and it was killing him.
"Hermione…" he began, "I know you feel awful right now, but I think that you are probably not seeing the whole picture. I really think Ron's just been especially stressed lately, I know he loves you. He says it every bloody day. Why don't you just wait till he has some free time this weekend, and let him explain himself before you make any rash decisions."
I could tell her wanted to say more, but he didn't. For the first time, I felt like there was a piece of the puzzle I was missing. He couldn't tell me something. The first thing that popped into my head was that Ron had someone else, but Harry said he didn't, and I trusted Harry more than anyone. So I resigned myself to waiting, Harry was right. Ron at least deserved his explanation, I just wasn't sure I even wanted to hear it anymore.
The next day was Friday, and after hearing nothing from Ron all day long I had resigned myself to a Friday night alone with my books. Harry invited me to study with him because Ginny was meeting Neville and Luna for drinks at the Three Broomsticks. It was comforting for me to not have to be alone, but the night with just Harry and I was far too reminiscent of the night we spent together on the run when Ron left. After what felt like one of the longest hours of my life Harry suggested maybe we go visit Hagrid. I agreed, though somewhat numbly, I didn't really want to see anyone but any excuse to get out of the suffocating quiet was welcomed.
We walked together down the halls in silence, when we got to the main staircase that lead to the doors I noticed the Entrance Hall was empty, which was peculiar for seven thirty in the evening on a Friday night. The second thing I noticed was a long stemmed red rose lying on the floor.
"What on earth?" I said and I marched down the steps, I was more than annoyed. The universe was playing a cruel joke on me, here I am already heart broken and people have to leave roses, long stemmed red roses, my favorite flower, just lying around to mock me! I snatched up the flower intent on finding the dropper and letting them have it when I noticed the note attached, I flipped it open hoping to find the culprit and my heart stopped, it was my name on the card. I looked up at Harry and he was grinning, suddenly butterflies erupted in my stomach. Harry pointed his was at the castle doors behind me, I was confused by the flicker light that almost looked like it was shining though water, I turned and couldn't stifle my gasp.
There was a pathway that way covered by an arch of continuous falling stars, it was one of the most enchanting uses of magic I had ever seen. I turned back to Harry for an explanation but he was still just grinning smugly.
"I think you're supposed to go that way." He said mockingly, and I rolled my eyes in exasperation and affection before turning and walking into the beautiful archway.
I took my time walking down the winding path that I could tell was headed for the lake. For one I was enjoying the beauty of the stars falling around me, and also I was thinking. I knew that there was only one person who would put all this together, but why, what would prompt such an amazing gift. An apology? For the way he'd been acting, that was the only thing I could think of, but then I turned the last corner and he was there, he had a rose and he was smiling from ear to ear. I stopped dead first of all out of shock, as I took in the breathtaking scene before me. A little bungalow nestled on the edge of the lake and covered in ivy, it had a beautiful view of the full moon reflecting off the water, and if that wasn't enough Ron had filled it with candles. The second thing that brought me to a stand still was the look on his face, it was as if nothing had happened, he looked at me with every bit of love and adoration that he always had, and there was something more a nervous anticipation. He was afraid I wasn't going to forgive him for being such a jerk.
"Ron…" I said, my voice thick with confusion, "what's going on here?"
"First of all this is for you." He said handing me the second rose, "As well as this..." and he kissed me.
It felt like it had been forever since I kissed him, and even longer since he had meant it, but I was still confused as to why he was putting on such a show so I pulled away to look at him.
"How bout we have a drink?" said Ron, as he ushered me into the bungalow. He poured me a glass of champagne, and then one for himself. "Here's to you Hermione." He said, and he clinked our glasses together.
I was becoming more bewildered by the second, real champagne? A toast to me, I mean he had been horrible over the past few weeks, but this much of a show was making me worry that I was going to have more to be angry about before this was over, if it required this much buttering up.
"Ron… the way you've been acting… what on earth…" I fumbled.
"Ah… well see I had to do that… because I wanted all this to be a surprise." He said with a smile as he waved his hand at our surroundings.
"Ok…"I said slowly, "but what's all this about?" I was getting suspicious that maybe my assumptions were completely wrong about the reasons for this gesture of affection, but that led me right back to confused as hell.
Just then I heard the plucking of an acoustic guitar begin in the soft music that was playing in the background. I knew the song well it was by one of my favorite Muggle bands, then something clicked… I felt a swooping in my stomach but I pushed the idea away. "No Hermione…" I thought, "It's just a song by a band you like, that's why he picked it. Don't get ahead of yourself."
"Will you dance with me?" Ron asked sweetly, and I nodded. I looked into his eyes as we turned in a slow circle.
[Forever can never be long enough for me]
"Hermione have you ever heard someone talk about the moment a boy becomes a man?" said Ron abruptly.
[Feel like I've had long enough with you]
"yes…" I said slowly, I was bewildered but also enthralled by him in that moment, desperately wanting to know where this was leading.
[Forget the world now, we won't let them see]
"Would you like to know when that moment was for me?" he asked.
[But there's one thing left to do]
I nodded immediately.
[Now that the weight has lifted]
"It was that night we were trapped in the Malfoy's last year." I cringed instinctively at the memory and he squeezed me tight before continuing.
[Love has surely shifted my way]
""When Belatrix said she was going to take you, I would have done anything, I would have died just to keep her from touching you…"
[…..today and every day]
"and then I was locked in that basement, and I couldn't help you. I have never felt a worse feeling in my whole life…"
[…if I ever get the nerve to say hello in this café…Say you will…]
My eyes never left his the whole time he spoke, I felt like I was alive with anticipation. I couldn't help but let my hope get the better of me, to let myself believe this was going where my heart was screaming for it to go.
[Together can never be close enough for me]
"Then when we got out, and I saw you lying there, for a split second I thought you were dead."
[Feel like I am close enough to you]
"That was the moment Hermione. I grew up in that moment,"
[You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love you]
"because suddenly my life wasn't about me anymore,"
[And you're beautiful]
"I realized it hadn't been about me for a long time, if you weren't alive, I wasn't alive… not really."
[Now that the wait is over]
"There was no life worth living for me, without you."
[Love has finally shown her my way.]
The music kept playing as we danced, I felt the tears coming back to my eyes, but this time they were happy tears, because I knew. He had never spoken so earnestly to me, never show me how deep his love was, I had dreamed of this moment for so long and I knew it was finally here. The music changed tones and he lifted my chin to look into my eyes.
[Promise me…]
"I've never treated you right…"
[You'll always be…]
"I've screwed up time and time again…"
[Happy by my side.]
"But for some reason you still love me,"
[I promise to…]
"more than I could ever deserve."
[sing to you…]
"I'm a better person for having known you Hermione Granger,"
[when all the music's died….]
"and now I know, that wherever my life takes me, I want you beside me."
[and marry me….]
Ron got down on his knee.
[today and every day]
My hands flew to my mouth and I began to sob from sheer joy.
"Hermione Jean Granger?"
[Marry me….]
"Will you make me the luckiest man in the world and be my wife?"
[If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this café say you will…]
"Yes!" I gasped, as I hurtled myself into his arms, I could barely think for happiness, after everything I had been through in the past weeks, Ginny was right, there was nothing to worry about. Ron was mine, all mine and only mine, for forever.
He spun us around in a circle to the last few bars of the song holding me with my feet of the ground so than we were nose to nose. He set me down keeping one arm firmly around my waist and reached in his pocket to pull out a small black box. As he opened it I gasped yet again, and a fresh waive of tears came, I couldn't remember the last time I had been this emotional, let alone this happy. I hadn't had any expectations for the ring, I knew Ron didn't have much money saved, I was just happy knowing I'd have something from him to wear, but the last thing I was expecting was for it to be so absolutely….perfect. He slipped it onto my finger were it fit like a glove and I held my hand up to examine it. It was a silver band that was sculpted to look like ivy, which I thought was elegant and unique and scattered along it were tiny deep blue flowers made out of sapphires, which were my birthstone, and the ivy curled gracefully around the tasteful circular diamond. I could not have picked a more perfect ring if I had designed it myself.
"So… do you like it?" said Ron excitedly.
"Ron it is the most beautiful, and perfect ring that has ever existed!" I gushed throwing my arms around his neck.
"Well thank goodness for that!" he teased kissing me, "now we had better head up to the school… I expect there is a party waiting for us."
"Right… by the way I'm going to kill those two… knowing all along! And YOU!" I began punching his arm as we walked, "was it really necessary to break my heart to pieces just to surprise me?"
"What'd you mean break your heart? I was just avoiding you a bit to throw you off.." he said looking confused.
"Exactly, avoiding me, just like you did with Lavender before you dumped her for me…" I said sternly.
"Wait.. hold on… you didn't think… 'Mione…" Ron stopped and looked at me in concern, he grabbed my hand and pulled me back, "Please tell me you have not spent the past two weeks thinking I was cheating on you."
"Not the entire time no… but towards the end I did start to wonder if maybe you were losing interest… if someone else had…" Ron cut me off with a passionate kiss.
"Now you listen here Granger…." He growled against my lips, he cupped my face in his hands and looked me in the eye, " I don't even see their faces anymore Hermione, no other girl even exists."
"Well you do still see them…" I pointed out, my logical side kicking in, "but I understand what you mean…" He rolled his eyes, as he often did when I made logical corrections to his exaggerated statements.
"You want to know what I'm thinking every time I look at another woman now?" he said, "I think, 'look she had the same dimple at the corner of her mouth as Hermione when she smiles', or 'she wrinkles her nose when she's concentrating she just like Hermione', or 'look at the way she's glaring at him, just like 'Mione does when I'm being stupid.' The only thing I see in the women around me, is you. This perfect woman."
I jumped into his arms and kissed him. I had never felt so adored, even worshiped. He swept my legs out from under me and I gave a small shriek, she made a show of carrying me into Harry and Ginny's room where we were met with a loud round and cheers and noise makers.
I opened my eyes and smiled, the light was drifting in through my window. From the angle of the sun it was still early. I held my hand up to examine my ring, my flawless ring. I held it in the sunlight and watched it scatter the light across the ceiling. A moment later I felt the bed shift and soft lips brushed my shoulder. A grin spread across my face.
"Good morning. How is the future Mrs. Weasley feeling today?" Ron murmured sleepily.
"Perfect…" I said as I rolled over to cuddle against him. "How are you feeling Mr. Weasley?"
"Tired…" he sighed, "It's only..." he around on my bedside table for the pocket watch his parents has given him for his seventeenth birthday and groaned as he looked at it, "ohh…it's eight forty five, on a Saturday… back to sleep…" he flopped down dramatically.
"Or we could get up and get you a proper Hogwarts breakfast… remember what those are like? Bacon…eggs…toast…kippers…"
Ron made a show of sitting up with his eyes still close and acting as if the call of food was making him sleep walk.
"Oh you can be such a drama queen sometimes!" I said smacking his rear, he turned and grinned and then tackled me onto the bed as I shrieked and laughed.
"I've really missed you the last few weeks." He said.
"Well then you shouldn't have come up with that idiotic plan!" I retorted.
"I'm going to take that as, 'I missed you too Ron.' and head down to breakfast because now you have me thinking of food." He said giving me a quick peck on the lips.
We both changed into jeans and t-shirts and then headed down to breakfast hand in hand. As we entered the Great Hall we saw a bunch of the other Gryffindor's around the table.
"Coming up to mooch breakfast off the school Ron?" teased Seamus as he made room for us between him and Dean.
"You know it." said Ron jovially.
"So have you to made up then?" said Dean shrewdly, 'Rumors have been going around that you two were on the outs."
"Shouldn't believe everything you hear Deano. We're right as rain." said Ron easily.
"Hermione… what is on your finger!" said Parvati who was sitting opposite of us and had frozen with her spoon half way to her mouth and was now staring at my hand wither eyes huge.
"Oh… umm… yes, well we have a bit of an announcement." I raised my ring for all of them to see. Both Seamus and Dean erupted in yells and Parvati shrieked almost jumping across the table to grab my hand and look at my ring more closely. All of a sudden Dean grabbed an empty plate and a fork and stood up on the bench and banged the two together loudly, after a moment the whole hall quieted and looked at him. By the time I realized what he was doing it was too late to stop him.
"Oi! Just thought you all might find it interesting, for anyone who knows them. Ron Weasley asked Hermione Granger to marry him. And the bigger news is she said YES!"
Ron reached over me and knocked one of Dean's legs out from under him so he slipped and landed rear first on the bench with a crash.
"You smarmy git." He shot at Dean with a reluctant smile. For the next twenty minutes Ron and I were overwhelmed with hug and handshakes, in the end we barely even had time to eat breakfast, but it was worth every moment.