A/N: Sorry this took a little while to post, been really busy, i'll try to keep them coming quicker.
Disclaimer: I do not own HP, it is all the brilliance of J.K Rowling
Chapter 8
I woke up sweaty, shaking and a little nauseous. I looked over to the bed on the other side of the room but thankfully it was empty. I sat up slowly and tried to control the shudders that were ripping through my body before I stumbled out of bed, collected by toiletries and headed to the bathroom.
It didn't take long for the hot water to start calming me; once the violent shakes and nausea vanished all that was left was that ridiculous ache that took over my body whenever I allowed my mind to travel back to that night at Malfoy Manor. I continued to let the hot water fall over me while I thought back to last night, curled up with Ron, under what I now secretly consider our tree. I could have stayed there all night with him, just holding onto each other while I listened to his heartbeat as I used his chest as a pillow. I loved him. I loved him and I had very nearly told him, if I hadn't of been concentrating so hard on not crying I'm certain it would have just come bursting out. Thank god it didn't, that would have been disastrous, even though I lack any sort of relationship experience I'm fairly sure that the use of the L word could scare him off. We still hadn't even used words like boyfriend and girlfriend, let alone love.
It had been bitterly disappointing when Percy had come out and found us. Percy, being… well Percy, ushered us back inside and sent us to our respectful rooms so that we wouldn't upset Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Preferring not to dwell too much on the horribly depressing end to the night I chose to focus on the feel of Ron's arms holding me close to him as we lay in the grass under the starry sky.
Feeling much better I left the bathroom, I finally got out of the shower, returned my things to Ginny's room and headed down the many flights of rickety stairs. As I neared the bottom I caught the smell of bacon and toast. When I reached the kitchen I paused in the doorway, Charlie, Bill and Ron were at the table shoveling food into their mouths, Bill and Charlie had considerably more grace than Ron when eating, but it was still fast and by the bucket load. I continued to watch Ron; he put way too much food in his mouth at once and chewed it with his mouth open before noticing me lurking in the doorway.
"Morning Hermione," Ron greeted with his mouth full of half chewed food.
I hadn't realized I had been smiling until Bill spoke, "You're looking happy this morning."
"I slept well." I lied as I sat on the opposite side of the table to Ron.
The moment I sat down, a plate of bacon, eggs and toast was placed in front of me. I looked up to thank Mrs. Weasley, who to be perfectly honest I hadn't noticed was in the room. But instead of seeing the short form of Mrs. Weasley I saw a tall, slim, blond figure smiling down at me.
"I tought vou might be ungey,"
"Yes, thank you Fluer," I said as she floated away. No one ever cooked in this kitchen other that Mrs. Weasley, many did the cleaning up, but no one ever cooked.
"Mum wasn't exactly in the right state to come down and make breakfast this morning," Bill said, obviously noticing my confusion.
I didn't know what was appropriate to say in response so I opted to stay silent and just nod. I began to eat the food in front of me and after a few minutes Bill, Charlie and Fluer left the kitchen saying their good byes.
"Where are they off to?" I asked Ron
"Hogwarts," he grumbled back, "They are going to help with the repairs."
"Oh, we sho…" I began before Ron interrupted.
"We are not allowed," at my question look he continued, "It is apparently too dangerous for You, Harry and I to go. There are still Death Eaters out there and we wouldn't be helping, we would be making the task more difficult because of all the attention we would get."
"That's ridiculous, surely we could do something."
"According to my dad and McGonagall, we have done enough."
"Does Harry know? He won't be happy."
"He knows, he is out brooding in the garden. He tried to leave but then dad put the whole, 'I consider you my son and I hope you consider this family your own', speech on him, which convinced him to stick to my parent's rules.
"Speaking of rules, we're breaking one right now?" I indicated to the door that had closed when the others left.
"Fuck my parents rules."
"Ron, language."
Ignoring my reprimand he continued, "How are we to help if everyone else leaves the room? We would have gone with them if we were allowed. And as for the other rules, there is no way I'm going to follow those. If you're going to let me kiss you, then I sure as hell am going to.
"If I let you?" I questioned.
"Well yeah, I mean….if .."
"Ron, you don't need to ask," I interrupted with a smile on my face.
"Well in that case," he said before leaning over the table towards me.
I met him halfway and when our lips came together the kiss was deepened almost instantly. Our lips and tongues found a rhythm that built up a feeling of need that was driving me crazy. I needed to be closer to him and as his tongue danced with mine the fact that the table was in between us was becoming quite a frustration.
I could hear something tapping on the window behind me but choosing to ignore it I continued to kiss Ron. He however pulled away leaving me feeling completely scrambled. Ron got up and walked around the table to the window and let the little brown owl in while I tried to regain some sane brain function. When Ron kissed me I literally could not think of anything other that him, all I wanted was to keep kissing him… and more. If anyone new the thoughts that ran through my head when it came to Ron Weasley they would be truly mortified. The thoughts mortified me and they were mine.
Ron sat back down beside me and handed me the letter, "It's for you, and the owl is waiting, so whoever it is must be waiting for a you to write back."
I took the envelope and then looked between it and the owl in confusion, I didn't recognize that owl, there really were only a handful of owls that ever brought me letters. One of Ron's owls Pig or Errol, Harry's beautiful owl Hedwig and then a massive brown and white owl who Victor would send on the rare occasions we exchanged letters.
Hermione
I would like to assist you in finding your parents and ensuring their safe return to England. If you are interested in allowing me to help please come and see me in my office at 10:30. If you could use the flew network to arrive at the ministry that would be best, I will have someone at this end to escort you up to my office. Please let me know if that time is okay, I would really like to help you sort everything out.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Acting Minister of Magic
"Who's it from?" asked a clearly curious Ron.
"Kingsley, he's been made Acting Minister of Magic, he wants me to go see him today about finding my parents."
"That's great. We are going to find your parents and we finally have someone in charge who is not a total fucktard." Ron said excitedely.
"You really shouldn't use language like that Ron. Wait, did you just say 'we' are going to go find my parents?"
"Well yeah, I mean, only if you want me to come… I just thought…sorry I shouldn't have."
"No, that's not what I meant. I want you to come, I just didn't realize that you wanted to."
"Of course I do. I wanna be there for you." Ron said as he started to turn red.
I hated it when he said things like that; I hated it because it made me want to do things that I shouldn't be thinking about right now, I need to be focusing on my parents not thinking about snogging Ron. While trying to push inappropriate thoughts out of my mind I quickly wrote on the back of the parchment that I would be there and tied it back on to the cute little owls leg. Ron have him a treat and he flew out back out the window.
"Well we have about an hour before we have to go, what do you want to do?" asked Ron
"Umm, I don't know, where is everyone?"
"Well Dad went to the ministry, Mum is up stares, so is George, I think Percy was going to go with Bill, Charlie and Fluer to Hogwarts, Harry went outside and I think Ginny followed him. Did you want to go find them?"
"No. I think Harry would be enjoying some time with Ginny."
"It's so strange. My best mate and my sister." Ron looked like he had just sucked a lemon as the sentence left his mouth.
"You don't want to knock his teeth out anymore?" I asked grinning at him.
"No, I guess I'm kind of glad it's Harry and not someone else. Doesn't mean I want to see any of it though, I can delude myself enough to think that the most that's going to happen is a peck on the cheek."
"You wont be able to do that forever."
"Watch me." Ron said determinedly as he opened the door and stalked out of the kitchen.
I laughed as I followed him and before I new it we were in his room. He flopped down on his bed and I lent back against the small desk under the window. When Ron realized I wasn't going to join him on the bed he sat up and looked over at me with questioning eyes.
"I don't think it's a good idea for me to come over there." I explained.
"Why not?"
"I don't want to get in trouble."
"For what? The door is open and there is no rule saying we can't be on the same side of the room." He said as he stood and walked towards me.
"But every time we are on the same side of the room and alone, we break the kissing rule." I said a little breathlessly as he stood very close to me.
"We won't." He whispered in my ear before lightly placing a lingering kiss just below it.
I swallowed hard and gripped the desk behind me, "Ron, what are you doing?"
"Kissing…you…without…breaking any...rules." re replied between placing more kisses along my jaw.
He was right, technically we were not breaking any rules, the door was open, we were not in bed and his lips had stayed loosely closed with every kiss. But those simple kisses had left me weak, I was lucky I had the desk for support or I'm sure I would have collapsed.
Before I spoke I leaned up and very quickly, pecked him on the lips and then indicated to the other side of the room, "I think you should stand over there."
"Why? What did I do wrong?" he looked hurt.
"Nothing, that's why I need you to step away from me".
He spoke as he stepped away, "but if I didn't do anything wrong…"
"Because I'm extremely close to breaking the rules."
Understanding dawned on him and the smile that took over his face was one of accomplishment. We stood there, staring at each other in the eyes for several moments before Ron took out his wand, flicked it making the door close and took two large steps towards me.
I was pinned between the small desk and Ron's tall, strong frame while snogging him very enthusiastically. He had both hands on my waist while I gripped his shoulders, after a few seconds he lifted me like I was a feather and sat me on the table. Automatically I parted my legs allowing Ron to stand between them as to close the gap between us.
"RON, HERMIONE."
At the sound of Ginny's voice Ron reluctantly pulled away and I slid of the desk very disappointed. A few seconds later the door opened and a head covered with red hair slowly poked in."
"Why do you have the door closed?" asked a knowing Ginny when she fully opened the door and came in, Harry close behind.
"Why the hell do you think… to keep people out," grumbled Ron.
"Well your mum," Harry started, "is looking for you, I told her you were out in the shed, so you better get down there."
"Thanks Harry, I better go tell her that Hermione and I are going to the ministry soon anyway."
"Why you going there?" Ginny asked me when Ron walked out the door.
"My parents." Harry and Ginny nodded and without the need to continue explaining we walked out of the room to catch up with Ron.