Chapter Fourteen – THE BALL
"Remind me again why we're turning up late?" Hermione said to Declan, noticing that the ball began 10 minutes ago.
"Because I'm a drama queen, and I want to make an entrance." Declan replied cheekily as he lead Hermione down the stairs to where he had arranged a Limousine to take them to the ball.
"Declan Kennedy!" Hermione exclaimed, seeing the limousine. "What's this for?"
"My apology in advance, just in case I dump you for drinks with Jack tonight." Declan said as he opened the door for Hermione.
"I told you that you should just invite Jack," Hermione answered as soon as Declan joined her inside the car.
"And I told you to forget it, I know, but I thought I'd better suck up now, just in case." Declan said.
The car trip went by rather quickly. When they arrived at their destination, Declan turned to Hermione and said "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be" Hermione replied.
Declan got out of the car, and ran around to the other side of the limousine to help Hermione out of the car. As they walked up the stairs, Declan leaned in and whispered "You look absolutely stunning, by the way. I mean, you're absolutely exquisite. I didn't want to tell you, because I thought you would get a big head, and I didn't want to admit that anyone looked better than me, but you are breath taking."
"Thank you, Dec. Really, thank you." Hermione replied.
"Where are they? They're late" Ron said, looking at his watch for what seemed like the hundredth time since he arrived at the ball.
"She'll be here, Ron" Ginny assured him.
"I ... I know that, Ginevra. I'm just saying they're late, that's all" Ron bit back a little too aggressively.
"Calm down. I was just trying to make you settle down a little. Declan and Hermione will be here before you know it." Ginny replied.
"I know. Sorry, Gin." Ron said shamefacedly. "Didn't mean to snap."
"It's ok, Ronald. I'll forgive you. This time!" Ginny replied audaciously.
Ron quickly polished off the butterbeer that he had been drinking when he saw Harry raise an eyebrow. "What's up Harry?" he asked.
"I think you might want to turn around, mate" Harry replied.
Ron turned around and he saw her. Hermione. He didn't think it possible, but she looked even more stunning than she had the night of the Yule Ball in their fourth year at Hogwarts, more stunning than she had at Bill and Fleur's wedding, more stunning than she had ever been.
"You might want to pick your jaw up from off the ground, big brother" Ginny whispered to Ron.
Ron mentally kicked himself as Declan held out the chair next to Ron for Hermione to sit down.
"Sorry we're late" Hermione said, quietly. Internally, she acknowledged Declan's idea to come late as a stroke of pure genius.
"You're forgiven" Ginny said, knowing Ron would need a minute or two to regain his composure.
They ate their meal, accompanied with animated conversation about a plethora of subjects. Hermione turned to Ron and asked "So, how was training today? I didn't get a chance to see you guys this afternoon."
"Training?" Ron questioned her. "Oh, yeah, training went pretty well, actually."
"Glad to hear it. I'm expecting you guys to go through undefeated." Hermione replied with a smile before having her attention diverted to Declan.
The band began playing in the corner as the dishes were taken away by the serving staff. Declan quickly whisked Hermione onto the dance floor as the band played Mad About The Boy. "You know he's crazy about you, don't you?" Declan asked.
"Declan ..." Hermione started, but Declan stopped her.
"Don't Declan me! I know how he feels, and I know how you feel. Will you at least admit that much?" Declan asked.
"I most certainly will not admit anything of the sort" Hermione replied, winking at Declan.
"Your loss" Declan said, and whisked her around the dance floor.
Meanwhile, Ron sat at the table tracing imaginary patterns on the table cloth. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea after all he thought to himself. I don't need the reminder of how happy everyone else is. Ron sat wallowing in self pity before he got up, went to the bar, and ordered himself a fire whisky. It was rapidly becoming a tradition that he drowned his sorrows with this particular drink. He though back to Bill and Fleur's wedding, when he drank way too much, much to his mother's chagrin, all because Hermione was dancing with Charlie. And then there was the time he drank for an entire weekend when Hermione went home with Declan to meet his parents. That was a particularly bad effort. Knowing that he would wind up with one hell of a hang over the following morning didn't deter him much.
Ron allowed himself to look over the dance floor as the band played Put Your Head On My Shoulder. He watched with envy as Declan pulled Hermione in close and appeared to be singing to her. How could I ever compete with that? Ron contemplated before ordering another fire whisky. He almost didn't notice that as the band finished playing that song, Hermione had exited the dance floor and was headed towards him. It was only when she ordered two glasses of champagne that he noticed she was standing right next to him. "Having a good night?" he asked facetiously.
"Yeah, not bad. You?" Hermione said in reply.
"I've had better." Ron replied. "Champagne, huh? What are you celebrating?"
"WE are celebrating the fact that we've gone a couple of days without being awful to one another." Hermione replied, handing over money to the barman.
"We?" Ron asked, confused.
"Yes, Ron. We. But if that's not a good enough reason, then I'm sure that you can come up with something else." Hermione replied, holding one of the glasses out for him to take.
Ron smiled half-heartedly and took the glass. "To ... um ..."
"To us" Hermione replied, clinking her glass to his before taking the first sip.
Hermione looked at Ron to try and read his expression, but was unable to determine what he was thinking. Ron, noticing Hermione penetrating gaze said "What's wrong, Hermione?"
"Wrong? Nothing really, except for the fact that you look miserable." She replied.
"I'm not miserable." Ron replied.
"You've got 3 empty fire whisky glasses here, and you look like ... well like you've just lost the Quidditch World Cup. And I've known you long enough to know when something is wrong." Hermione said, sympathetically.
"It's nothing. Really." Ron replied.
Although Hermione didn't believe a word he said, she knew better than to push him. Hermione finished her glass of champagne and turned to the bartender and ordered herself another. "You need a refill?" she asked Ron.
"Why not" Ron answered, and Hermione indicated to the bartender to make it two.
Once their drinks were delivered, Ron held his glass up to Hermione. "Cheers."
"Ron, I have a favour to ask" Hermione said, sipping on her champagne.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"Dance with me" Hermione said.
"Dance with you?" Ron asked, confused.
"Yeah, Weasley, dance with me." Hermione laughed back.
"What do you mean, dance with you?" Ron questioned again.
"You know, the band plays a song, and couples dance about on the dance floor." Hermione clarified.
"I know what dancing means, Mione. I meant why me?" Ron's questions continued. "I mean, why not Declan?"
"Well, I have danced with Declan, but now I want to dance with you." Hermione said, smiling.
"But, won't Declan be ..." Ron began before Hermione held her hand up in protest.
"Forget about Declan for a minute, will you? Merlin, Ron, just come dance with me, ok?" Hermione urged, tugging at his sleeve.
The band began playing I Can Only Give You Love as Ron led Hermione to the dance floor. Harry and Ginny, who had been oblivious to the presence of anyone else that night, looked at one another and smiled. "That looks promising" Ginny said, taking another look at her brother and her best friend.
"Yeah. Declan will be happy. Wonder where he is?" Harry said.
"Does it matter?" Ginny replied.
Harry, speechless, whisked Ginny around the dance floor.
Ron held Hermione at a fairly safe distance from him. He tried not to look into her eyes, or think about how good she felt in his arms. He especially tried not to think about how much he wanted to kiss her. "The band is good" he said, absently.
"Yeah, they are aren't they? You know that this is some of my dad's favourite music. I grew up listening to this kind of stuff." Hermione replied.
"Really? I think that my dad has some of this stuff too, you know, on the muggle gramophone or whatever it's called. Some guy like Sinarrta or something. He loves it." Ron answered.
"Frank Sinatra? He's my dad's favourite." Hermione replied.
The band began playing a quick version of The Way You Look Tonight, and Ron spun Hermione out and back into the dance position. She laughed the entire time, enjoying herself more in those brief moments than she had in ages.
"So, where's Declan?" Ron asked.
"Probably off ringing Jack" Hermione answered.
"And who exactly is Jack?" Ron replied.
"Declan's boyfriend" Hermione said, smiling.
Ron stopped dancing and looked at Hermione.
"What do you mean by 'boyfriend'?" he asked.
"Ron, we need to talk." Hermione whispered quietly, taking his hand and walking him out onto the balcony.
"What is it, Mione?" Ron said.
"Ron ... Declan is ... um ... well" Hermione spoke in starts before taking a deep breath and continuing. "Declan is gay. He's not my boyfriend. He never has been my boyfriend. He's just ... well just my friend."
Ron looked instantly furious. "So you let me believe all this time that you were with him ... let me believe you were in love with him?"
"I thought you knew." Hermione said, suddenly quiet.
"No you didn't. You've probably been laughing about me behind my back about it. Stupid Ron has no idea about anything, is that how it went? Well, ha ha! You've had your fun. Now, just go." Ron said, obviously very hurt.
"No, Ron, that's not what happened at all. Why would you say that? How could you think that? I honestly thought everyone knew. It wasn't until the other night, when you suggested he was doing vulgar things to me that it even occurred to me that you might not know, and then I was so furious at you that I didn't tell you. And I admit now that I was wrong to do that. But, honestly, I've never consciously concealed the truth about my relationship with Declan. Never." Hermione explained.
"Do you have any idea how fucking guilty you've made me feel? All those times I've ... the fucking guilt ... it's been killing me." Ron spoke, brokenly, almost in disbelief.
"Guilt? What guilt? I don't understand." Hermione said, not quite comprehending what Ron was saying.
"Oh really? You don't? Or is this another of your little games?" Ron said, sarcastically.
"Ron, please." Hermione pleaded.
"For months now, Mione, I've felt this guilt every time I've looked at you." Ron said, thinking that Hermione would understand.
"I don't know what you're saying." Hermione replied, still unable to fathom Ron's meaning.
"You don't understand? Mione, every time I've looked at you, I've felt guilty because it's not right to want another man's woman. I've felt guilty every time I've wanted to touch you, or hold you, or kiss you." Ron said, stepping in closer to Hermione.
"But ... Ron ..." was all Hermione could manage in reply.
"You see, even when I was with Olivia ... it was never her ... it was you. It's always been you." Ron said barely louder than a whisper.
Tears began welling up behind Hermione's eyes. "Ron ... I ... that is, I ... um ..." she couldn't continue.
"All the guilt over the fact that I felt this way about not only my best friend, but about a girl who was in a relationship with a guy who seemed everything she needed and wanted. I knew that you could never feel the same way about me, but I couldn't stop the feelings." Ron said, moving in even closer.
"Ron ...are ... are you saying ... that you ... that you ... um ..." Hermione began hopefully, but was unable to complete her thought.
"Maybe this will clear things up," Ron said before closing the space between them, taking Hermione in his arms, and gently pressing his lips to hers. The kiss started purely and gently, but soon developed into the declaration of love that had gone unspoken for so long. As the kiss ended, Ron stepped back a little and said "Now do you understand?"
Hermione blinked her eyes a few times, a single solitary tear trickling down her left cheek. As Ron lifted his hand to brush away the tear, Hermione cheekily said "You know, I think I might need you to tell me again."
Ron once again closed the distance between them, met half way by Hermione. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she allowed her arms to fall around his neck and lifted her face up to meet his lips. This kiss was unreserved, uninhibited, and an immensely more passionate expression of desire. "Was that clearer?" Ron spoke as the kiss ended. He didn't remove his arms from enveloping her, enjoying and savouring the sensation.
"Hmmmmm," Hermione began audaciously, "I must be slow on the uptake, because I think I might need you to explain one more time."
Hermione pressed her lips to Ron's with much more intensity and force than she had before. Ron relished the sensation and gave up control, allowing Hermione to dominate him. He ran his hands up and down her back while Hermione wove her fingers in his hair.
Needing to draw breath, they reluctantly pulled out of the kiss. Ron leaned down and gently pressed his forehead to Hermione's, and neither could contain a smile. They shared a gentle laugh, and refused to take their eyes off one another.
"I ... I love you" Ron said, softly, almost in a whisper.
"I love you, too" Hermione replied.
And they kissed again, softly and gently. "This can't be happening" Ron whispered between kisses.
"I keep thinking," Hermione said between kisses, "that any moment I'm going to wake up and find that I've dreamed all of this."
"It's no dream" Ron replied, continuing to kiss Hermione and hold her close than before.
Eventually Ron took a step back, and looked at the woman standing in front of him. Hermione smiled differently now, a smile Ron had never seen. He looked at her questioningly, and she asked "How long?"
"How long what?" Ron asked.
"How long have you known?" She asked.
"Since that Hogsmeade trip in third year when we went to the Shrieking Shack I think ... probably before that, if I think about it, but that's when I realised." Ron said, blushing. "What about you?"
Hermione's face turned scarlet before she said "I think when the Yule Ball ... no actually ... do you remember in second year, when I came back after being petrified ... and you were all at dinner ... and I hugged Harry, but ..."
"But didn't hug me." Ron finished.
"That's it." Hermione replied as Ron took her hand.
"What happens now?" Ron asked her.
"Perhaps we go back inside and enjoy the ball" Hermione answered, knowing that was not what Ron was asking.
"I meant what happens with us." Ron clarified.
"Well," Hermione replied, "I think we take things one day at a time and see what happens."
"That would be the sensible thing." Ron said.
"Why am I sensing that there is a 'but' at the end of that?" Hermione said, smiling.
"Because there is." Ron replied. "That is the sensible approach, but you should know, I've waited so long for this ... and, well, now that I have you, I'm never going to let you go."
"I don't think I'd let you, even if you wanted to." Hermione answered and pressed a gentle kiss to Ron's lips. "Do you want to go back in?" she asked.
"Not really. Unless you want to." Ron replied.
"Not particularly." Hermione said, looking at Ron enquiringly.
"Good. Because right now, I don't want to share you with anyone." Ron said, pulling Hermione in close for another kiss.
And then he held her. It was just a simple act that spoke volumes about the two of them. He pressed her lips to her forehead as she nestled her head into his chest. "I'm wondering", she said, "is it crazy to be relieved?"
"I was just thinking that I was so glad I finally was able to tell you." Ron replied, looking down into the chocolate coloured eyes he had grown to love.
"Do you know how many times I've almost said something?" Hermione asked.
"When? When were you thinking of it?" Ron asked in reply.
"Firstly on the night of the blasted Yule Ball, and again just after Sirius died. Then, right when you broke up with Lavender, again at Dumbledore's funeral. Then we get to the closest shave; at Bill and Fleur's wedding. It took all my strength not to walk right up to you and kiss you then and there." Hermione said, smiling at the man in her arms.
"But ... you danced with Charlie half the night." Ron said.
"Yeah, I know. I think it was a case of 'if I can't dance with the Weasley I want, dance with the Weasley I can get'. But every moment I spent with him reminded me how much I wanted you." Hermione said.
"Do you have any idea of how crazy that sounds, Mione?" Ron asked.
"Probably. But you've done some crazy things, too" Hermione replied.
"Like what?" Ron asked.
"Two words," Hermione smiled, "Lavender Brown."
"Not one of my smartest moves" Ron admitted.
"But you know what? The whole Lav-Lav incident made me realise how much I wanted you. I think the jealously was good for me." Hermione said, coquettishly.
"Jealousy nearly drove me mad. I mean, Viktor Krum was just ... well I had dreams of torturing him beyond compare. I even refused to speak to Charlie for weeks after the wedding. And lately, I've even started thinking about ways to inflict agony on poor Declan." Ron said.
"Declan!" Hermione exclaimed. "Maybe I should go and let him know where I am. Come to think of it, he probably hasn't even noticed I'm gone."
"We should go and find him." Ron said. "How long has he been with Jack?" Ron asked, as an afterthought.
"Since the day we went shopping for this dress." Hermione said.
"About that dress" Ron said, sheepishly, "it's amazing. I mean, I don't know how to say this without sounding like a complete perve, but it's the sexiest thing I've seen in my life."
Hermione blushed before saying "You know, I think that was the general idea. Declan picked it. He said something about no one being able to ignore me in it."
"He was right. My jaw hit the floor when you walked in." Ron said.
"Then it served its purpose." Hermione said, smiling.
"Declan is a genius" Ron said.
"He sure is." Hermione replied.
Ron took her hand in his and said "Come on, let's go find him and tell him the good news".
Ron and Hermione walked, hand in hand, back into the ball room, where they were immediately met by Declan, who had grabbed his jacket and was heading out. "Sorry, love" Declan said to Hermione, "but I've had a better offer. It seems you have, too." Declan said, grinning from ear to ear.
"It seems that way" Hermione replied, unable to stop a gigantic smile covering her face. "Say hello to Jack for me."
"Will do." Declan said. He then extended his hand and shook Ron's. "Congratulations, Ron. Took you long enough, though. We were beginning to worry."
"We?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, you know me, Harry, Ginny, your parents, everyone." Declan said, winking.
"Well, if I didn't think she had a boyfriend, things might have been different" Ron said, smiling.
"Surely you didn't think that I ... was ...?" Declan said, laughing.
"He most certainly did." Hermione said. "Now go. There's a devilishly good looking man waiting for you."
"Ok, I'm going. But the limo is booked until 5am, so you might as well use it. Jack is coming to get me. Better get going. I'll talk to you tomorrow, love" Declan said, and kissed Hermione on the cheek and left.
On the other side of the dance floor, Ginny looked at Harry and said "Mission accomplished. My work here is done."
"Not quite" Harry said, and pressed his lips to Ginny's. "I can think of a few things we could still find for you to do."
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?" Ginny asked with a gleam in her eye.
"I'm not suggesting anything specific, really." Harry replied, suddenly shy.
"Shame." Ginny replied.
Ginny then left Harry on the dance floor and headed over to where Ron and Hermione were dancing, Harry not too far behind.
"Something you need to tell me?" she asked Ron.
Ron and Hermione stopped dancing and Ron turned to Ginny and said "Like you don't know."
"About bloody time" Ginny said, pulling Ron in for a hug.
Harry joined them and shook Ron's hand. "Well done" he said to Ron.
"Hey, hang on a second," Hermione protested, "I had something to do with it, you know."
"Well done, Herm" Harry said, hugging her.
"You guys want to head home and celebrate?" Ginny suggested.
"Actually," Hermione said, "We've got the use of a limo till morning, so I was thinking we might continue the party somewhere else."
"I would love to, but if I don't take these shoes off soon, I think I'm going to be crippled." Ginny replied, smiling.
"Then Harry, you take Ginny home, and Mione and I will continue the celebrations" Ron said, wrapping his arm around Hermione's shoulders. "How does that sound?"
"Brilliant. Guess we'll see you in the morning." Harry said.
The four said their goodbyes, and Harry and Ginny headed for home, while Ron escorted Hermione out the door towards the waiting limo.