Author's Note: Hello everyone! I hope wait wasn't long for you and I actually could post this sooner, but with 'Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince' dvd I couldn't actually work more quickly... whatever... Well, this one is a bit more descriptive than the others, not talking so much about Hermione's emotions etc, but I still hope you'll like it (you'll see what I'm talking about... ;) ).

Anyway, I'll just let you read now... Enjoy! :)

Love And War Don't Discriminate Between Nations

~Motions Under The Starlight~

She was in the water, the cool substance covering her from her hips down. Even though the night was slightly cool, the water didn't make her feel cold or shiver, just warm her a tiny bit. She ever so slowly took steps further into the water, the surface of the lake gradually reaching her ribs. It was very silent there, making the atmosphere peaceful and almost ideal- she managed to forget anything for a moment and let herself truly relax.

She had managed to find this small lake, during one of her little strokes, which wasn't very far from their little hut, so she decided to have a bath there for the first time. She had also shown this to Ron and Luna, both of whom were rather surprised but quite impressed by the serene sight of the pond. And at that night, knowing that Ron was sitting with Luna and exercising their English, she thought that it was the perfect moment; the full-moon made everything shine under its stare, giving them a new value… She sighed softly, momentarily breaking the silence.

She stood motionless, just sensing the peace of the environment, the peace that could only be provided by nature now. She took a deep breath and bended her knees just so her head would dip into the water, a couple of seconds later resurfacing and the woman wiped the water from her eyes and face, taming her hair a bit to the back- the locks almost straight now. She got up and felt the numerous trickles of water to travel down her body and producing this light sound of the water, but only until silence once again surrounded her; she closed her eyes, having the need to feel being one with the environment.

It must have been a couple of minutes later when she heard soft sounds breaking the quiet and Hermione opened her eyes slowly, but never turning towards the source of the sound- her instincts weren't alarmed at all, but only remained relaxed.

She heard the water slowly and quietly being interrupted from its tranquil state- someone was getting into the lake slowly. She stayed calm and still, just hearing the so soothing echoes and imagining the person who could possibly be some meters behind her- the phantom of her imagination made her heart flutter. The sounds were hesitant and almost silent and a moment later, she heard a slightly louder noise, which was followed by intact silence again. She just counted the seconds in her head, holding her breath a little as her heart was beating a bit uneven; when she reached seven, she heard the one that had immersed, resurfacing, and a soft gasp could be heard before water coursing down a body- a body that slowly approached her form from behind. She waited.

She felt a not-so-dark shadow on her and she listened to a soft, so calming breathing at the back of her, finally deciding then on turning around. She saw him.

Her heart yelped with something so sweet that lately had captured her soul, as her eyes laid on him, seeing his so calm expression, observing his so handsome figure. He was staring down at her silently and then he whispered a soft 'hello' with his deep voice. She looked deeply into his so expressive eyes and whispered a 'hi' as a response, her mind suddenly numb and lost. He looked down at her and she felt some sort of warmth inside her, but never letting her gaze drop away from his.

"I… I can h-have bath… together? If you no… l-like, I go…" he said unsurely and looked for a brief moment at the glowing surface of the water, before his eyes gluing once more on hers. Hermione gave him a small smile.

"Of course not- the lake is big and I'm alright with it" she said gently and he smiled briefly at her, his eyes shining handsomely.

"T-Thank you…" he stammered softly and looked once more deeply into her eyes before taking a big step further into the water and then diving once again. Hermione looked at him as he was swimming confidently in the lake, taking dips and laying serenely on the water. As his lean, wet body was sparking under the silver starlight, her mind went elsewhere, a few weeks before, to be exact.

Her memory was still scarred by that significant day, when Ron poured out to her his past and his pain. Of course she was hurting no more about those happenings- only a numb throbbing made its appearance every now and then, teasing her heart for some hour- but his words were still very clear inside her, making her losing herself in an ocean of endless thinking. As for the man himself, after that day, he seemed calmer than ever she had seen him, like his pain needed to be out after so much time of poisoning his bleeding heart. Of course sometimes he seemed a bit melancholic, but since then, he get used to spending more time with her and Luna, speaking about their lives-mostly about English and Italian traditions both of whom found interesting in hearing. Hermione, even though she couldn't admit it, she was quite glad that he was more open and, in some way, cheerful around her; it was making her gladder too.

After some odd minutes of more thinking for Hermione and of more swimming from Ron's part, the man swam back to where she was until he standing before her form, slightly taking her breath away, even though he couldn't possibly know that.

"I… I have s-spongge…" he whispered unsurely and looked at her from under his eyelashes. She mechanically glanced down at his hands, which were out of the water, and she noticed for the first time a small sponge in his palm; she looked back at his face, making out a rather inexplicable shyness. He lowered his eyes for a minute moment and then he looked back into her eyes. He stretched his arm a bit, holding it near her half-covered body; Hermione took a glance of it rather confusingly before looking back at him, showing him her slight perplexity.

"I… I can c-clean… you?" she suddenly heard him whispering with his unsure tone, even though this time it seemed to be like that not just because of his influent English…

She felt her cheeks getting hot as his so unexpected words were still in her ears. Her mind was at a slight loss now, as she wasn't still able to comprehend their relationship's progression, even though it was so non-existent. She dared to look deep into those sapphire irises, into those shining depths, and she found innocence, despite the hurt and the sore experience; she found a kind of fire there, despite the calmness and the tranquility he also possessed- it was a strange fire, a powerful glow that actually was a strong emotion, an unwilling-to-die sentiment…

She recognized she felt the very same thing- even though it was still quite unidentified- in her; it didn't frighten her.

"Yes" she answered him with a kind whisper, not desiring to ruin some sort of wonderful atmosphere that had been unconsciously made between them. His look changed then to something more hopeful or even surprised- she couldn't quite understand it. He then smiled a small, shy smile and he took a step closer to her, which made her shiver from the never-before-experienced closeness of them- it felt much more pleasant than she had expected.

Ron wetted the sponge a bit before squeezing it softly so most of the clear, fluid substance would fall back into the lake; then, he slowly and hesitantly moved his hand over her face, a second later the soft material brushed on her cheek gently. She half-closed her eyes, feeling the nearness overwhelming her as his breaths were hitting her face gracefully, his azure, animated eyes rested on her characteristics, his thump ever so lightly and tentatively was touching her skin, leaving a so lively fire on its path.

For some minutes they kept in silence and stillness, Hermione just memorizing his motions, his face, his body, while Ron was keeping on cleaning her with the sponge her face, her neck, her collarbone, her arms; the brunette sensed his pure kindness in her spirit clearly. When he was finished, he just let his fingertips linger on the skin of her shoulder for a short moment, then his arm fell on his so visible ribs. They remained so very close to each other, just staring at each other motionless and speechless, saying with their eyes what their tongues couldn't pronounce.

"Can I use the sponge as well?" she finally whispered after a couple of minutes of so loud silence. She made out a sudden glow in his eyes and then, only a brief moment later, he made a soft nod with his head while whispering an almost inaudible 'yes'.

Their fingers brushed lightly while she was taking the little object from his big, thin palm, making her feel a jolt travelling in every cell of her body, and she saw a faint, rosy colour on the tips of his ears. She took it and while gazing into his orbs, she immerged it into the water and then she squeezed it out, before she ever so slowly led her hand towards his body, his face now wearing a look of little anticipation and calmness.

She started to gently clean the skin of his face, then of his neck and collarbone, then shoulders. Hermione noticed that he stayed motionless, only his steady breathing would make his muscles move slightly as it would also break the so comforting quietness. They looked into each others' eyes peacefully; his eyes were, as always, very bright, but this time the colour of the irises had a darker tint of blue, one closer to dark midnight blue, making then seem like the sky during new moon- it was breathtaking…

Without realizing so, she was cleaning his left breastplate with the sponge, from where she could feel his heartbeat. She gradually stopped moving her wrist and she stared at his chest, sensing his heart's rhythm- steady, yet rather brisk. For a moment she kept looking at his chest absentmindedly before actually returning her gaze to his eyes, seeing the serenity there and feeling it in her, as well. She felt then, rather than observed, him getting closer to her, as her heart skipped a beat before accelerating its pace, making her rather restless in her inside, despite the still apparent tranquility. They looked at each other like eternally, this kind of bond seemed more precious than gold itself, because it seemed to be everything.

Minutes later, he gently cupped her cheek with his wet palm, making her fell another jolt running through her spine. She peered at his irises, at the so dazzling depths of those eyes that had seen so much, of the eyes that were now thirsty for some mere peace. She slowly lowered her head and ever so lightly, she kissed the numbers that had been marked on his pale skin: 706853… She had already known it by heart, but she also knew something else deep into her soul, something so much important than this cruel number…

He was the number 1 in her heart. And there would be no one else…

His pupils shined- if that could be possible- even more and his thumb caressed her cheekbone gently and somewhat hesitantly. He titled her head up a little, so it would be as close to his as feasible, and then he made another tiny step forward…

There was no need for words. Looks, hearts told everything…

His lips made contact with hers, making any other happy experience of hers just mere ashes- this one was inevitably the sweetest, the kindest, the best one ever… and it was theirs…

His one hand remained on her cheek while his other arm snaked around her frame, finally resting on her back. She slowly put her arms around his neck, one of her hands in his wet locks. They pulled away softly and glanced into each others' eyes, trying to find any hint of doubt or displeasure, but when none could be found, Ron leaned closer to her face, his sweet, hot breaths hitting her skin. Their quite swollen lips were slightly parted as their noses brushed tenderly, as their half-closed eyes were still communicating. He once again closed the short distance between them, giving to her thirsty lips light feather-kisses, which gradually grew more frantic and needy, until the lips finally gave to each other what both of them wanted: a taste of what heaven should be, a momentary, yet eternally-scarred-into-the-souls, way to have peace within reach.

Minutes passed like this, with a kiss that shouldn't be stopped till forever, unless the interruption would lead to something much greater, if that was even possible. They pulled away slowly and a bit unwillingly- how could you let something leave when you had just found it? Ron took a deep breath and stepped behind, his face glowing under the full-moon gracefully, making him look like an exotic angel that decided to come down to Earth and pray to God along with the humans, along with the mortals. Hermione felt so blissful that he chose to give his few, precious on this planet to her…

He took her hands in his kindly and while looking steadily into her eyes, he started to guide them out of the water, towards the shore. She followed him more than willingly, knowing that this man was actually leading her towards completion, towards infinity. Without realizing due to her hypnotized stare, they were finally out of the pond and cool breezes started to hug their half-naked bodies immediately. Hermione felt her skin almost out of her body, all of the sudden, and her teeth begun to clatter unconsciously. Ron, probably hearing the almost inaudible sound, smiled gently for a brief second before leading her, more quickly this time, towards the small hut. They entered soundlessly and Ron went with her in front of the small fireplace in which, surprisingly enough, a big fire was making soft, cracking noises, immediately making her feel much warmer. Ron bended down and then Hermione saw in his hands the one small towel he had with him. He slowly and gently started to remove all the droplets from her cool body, rubbing the soft material every now and then on her skin, just to warm her a bit. He kneeled then on the floor and he even more carefully dried off her thin legs, making her blush lightly, but still looking at him, as his hands were keeping on their perfect motions. While still doing so, he hesitantly kissed the skin of her calf and then the other leg's inner side of knee, making her as a result, shiver, but not from the cold this time. When he was finally finished with his gentle process, he stood up, towering her once again and at the same time, bringing feelings of safety and security in her heart. He looked into her eyes kindly, the immortal spark still apparent in his eyes, making him more handsome than ever.

"You cold?" he whispered with concern and Hermione smiled softly besides herself, feeling so wonderful, just because of his worry for her.

"I feel much better, thank you…" she answered just as lowly, and Ron nodded softly. He gazed at her eyes, then at her lips for a moment and his fingers came closer to her face, his fingertips travelling lightly along her jaw-line, just like small feathers. Hermione gasped softly and lowered her head only a little, so her lips could touch his cold fingertips, kissing them ever so softly. Ron let another small smile to appear on his full lips and with it, he kissed her forehead, lingering on the spot for a moment.

"I go to Luna, zee she be fine… Stay…" he whispered softly and kissed her forehead once more before going to the second sort-of room there was in the hut. Hermione followed him with her lucky eyes until he was out of her visibility range, and then her eyes turned around so they could gaze at the fire, the colours warm, instantly making her remember some tints of his silken hair.

She sighed softly as she thought that probably everything reminded her of him now, her mind utterly unable to think of her life without him now. She deep down knew that whatever they had or begun to have would have so many things to endure, a war, at least and then so much more, but she didn't care; every people deserved to have a chance at those things, even under such horrible circumstances, so she wouldn't push these balm feelings that were blossoming in her soul go away, even if this wasn't her own real chance…

Not a couple of minutes later- during which Hermione did nothing more that standing, staring absentmindedly into the fire and thinking of the man that had capture her entirely- and Ron came back, instantly going and standing before her, putting her face in his palms, making her look into his so beautiful eyes. They remained like this for a minute or two; words were rather worthless at moments as precious as this one. Ron let her only for a half a second, so he could lay a rather worn-out blanket on the floor before the fireplace, then he took her hands and gently both sat down, their sets of eyes never letting such a vital bond to be lost. Hermione, without much hesitation, put her hand on the still-a-bit-cool skin of his cheek, seeing him instantly half-closing his huge eyes and softly rubbing his cheek on her hand, the need of more contact was so very palpable between them. She kept looking in his sparking, loving eyes as she slowly closed the distance between them, making, as a result, her pulse adopting a brisker rhythm, while his breaths were now reaching easier her face…

Even though this wasn't their first kiss, they were still quite hesitant as to how to caress each others' lips with their own, desperate ones. The man leaned closer to them, showing his affection by showering them with small, tender feather-kisses, until his mouth captured her upper lip gently and softly for a brief second. When he heard her soft, almost soundless sigh, he kissed her fully on the mouth, making their hearts drunk from pure, yet intoxicating bliss, their souls full of completion and contentment.

Hermione snaked her arms around his neck once more that night, her hands reaching the wet, now auburn locks as her fingers stroked the skull soothingly, making both of them more confident to this new-found way of connection. They kissed for what seemed to be entire minutes, the two of them just lost in the feelings and the sensations. Ron broke the kiss softly, looking for a moment at her parted, swollen lips, then in her eyes. Suddenly these very eyes dropped, looking rather worriedly at her body.

"You will cold…" he whispered carefully, still a bit anxiously though, and he grabbed the neglected towel near him, then looking hesitantly at her as his hands ever so unsurely went towards her chest, where the article of clothing was still on, so cold and wet on her skin.

"I… I can?" his voice could be heard with great difficulty, but she still listened to it. She nodded softly, knowing that he wouldn't ever even dare to harm her in any way feasible; she just had so much faith in him…

He ever so uncertainly reached her back with his rather shaky arms, his hands blindly searching for the clip of her bra. She waited patiently and totally relaxed- only some butterflies were teasing her stomach- as she was looking at his face, which was rather pink from probable embarrassment, while the orange light from the fire made his skin look more tanned. After some odd moments, the clip was unfastened and his eyes rested on hers, as his fingertips traveled across her bare back, slowly heading towards her left shoulder. When they reached it, Hermione noticed that they even more slowly, bit by bit, made the small, white strap to caress her arm, closely followed by his long fingers, until the cloth was completely out of her body. Hermione, even though it was the first time being so in nude with a man, didn't feel self-conscious or shy or unprotected with her chest exposed; his eyes never left hers, never looked elsewhere. He blindly touched her wet, quite wintry chest with the towel and softly started to rub her skin, drying and warming it, while her stomach felt unexpectedly hot. His left, free hand searched for hers on the blanket, holding it bit before intertwining their fingers dearly- any kind of contact was vital for them now.

He kept on drying her chest with the towel as they were totally lost in each others' gazes, but this only until the man rubbed a more sensitive spot- that got Hermione letting a soft sigh escape from her lips. She instantly felt weird, her body never felt like this before and she wasn't sure if he was alright with it or not. She unsurely looked up to his face, wanting to see his reaction to these new-born feelings of hers- she even dared to think if she was actually really passing to this strange-to-her ground, approaching those unseen territories of sexual craving…

His face was still calm from under her peering look, yet his eyes seemed somewhat different; they had a different, more alive spark in their dark depths. He slowly took away his clothed hand from her body and he put the object aside. He gradually came closer to her, his eyes only centimeters away from hers, but strangely so, this time they, even though still captivating like always, didn't seem to intoxicate her as much as another part of his: his full, scarlet lips that were on their way to quench the thirst of hers- it was breathtaking even as a mere thought…

This kiss was a bit more frenzy than the other ones, a bit more passionate with a hint of lust… It drove both of them insane but also addicted to it, so they kept going, their need for each other only enhancing in this warm, rather sensual atmosphere…

Without realizing, neither minding though, they leaned back, so Hermione's back gently met with the soft fabric of the blanket, while Ron was on top of her, still kissing her fully, their souls entirely into it. Ever so slowly, her one free hand traveled from the blanket up to the length of his bended arm, which was supporting his weight off of her, up to his shoulder and to the nape of his still-a-bit-wet neck, slightly bringing him even closer to her, making their bodies contact and set on fire, their bare chests pressed tightly together, and her fingers got lost in his damp, yet soft, hair.

While kissing, Ron slowly took his hand from their still-intertwining bond, steadily guiding it fully on her arm and shoulder, leaving a burning path behind and feelings of pleasure in her waken soul. When his palm cupped the one side of her neck, his lips departed from her swollen ones, only to set on fire her jaw-line and finally, her neck, where he begun to kiss gently, yet a little passionately as well. Hermione let the sensations to fill her completely, as a new kind of love was engulfing them.

He kept on kissing her neck and her breathing started to become heavier and uneven, but at the same time she needed to feel his skin with her own, to make him sense what he was so lovingly giving to her right now; love isn't supposed to be a one-sided thing.

Her only free hand started its own way towards the man, reaching his thin waist and then, little by little and somewhat agonizingly as well, it started to head upwards, getting alive and hot his, yet still a bit moist, skin, producing goose-bumps with ease, until this palm, too, went at the back of his neck, forcing it kindly to come closer to her, actually encouraging him to keep going with his affectionate motions. Her heart swell even more and she unconsciously let another, yet heavier this time, sigh to escape from her mouth.

Meanwhile, Ron's hand, which had faithfully stroked the side of neck till then, started its own exploring once more, this time heading downwards. His full palm caressed her collarbone, her side of her breast and her ribs, slowly and with some heat in his movements- a thing Hermione didn't actually know he possessed until then. When his hand reached her petite waist, it pushed her lower body gently closer to his pelvis, instantly making a very soft moan flee from her own lips. Hearing the sound, Ron produced one himself- this one was quite more desperate through its silkiness, though- sending soft vibrations all over her body. Instantly his lips found hers and they kissed each other slowly, their tongues in a sensual dance that drove them crazier for the other.

Some minutes later, all of their clothes were off, making the contact of the skin feel just like magic. The couple carried on kissing rather fervently, yet without their sweetness getting lost. As Hermione felt his soft lips mating with hers, as his tender hands were caressing her so caringly, as their bodies responded to each other so eagerly, she knew that she wanted to have this, right there, for the very first time with him, not at all feeling embarrassed by a thing; she was just grateful that she had such a brilliant man to lead her towards this king of completion.

Their kiss eventually stopped, like their minds knew what they wanted to say to each other already. Ron let his forehead fell softly on top of hers and his half-opened eyes looked straight into hers, a silent conversation taking place. As with his shining orbs asked for confirmation or refusal, she let her own eyes to show him what she felt and what she craved, being almost sure that he would see everything. And she wasn't disappointed at all, as a moment later, his face came closer to hers, their noses brushing tenderly and their lips meeting once again in a sweet, lingering kiss that made them feel balm inside.

And as they were kissing, Hermione felt it and let a so soft moan escape from her, showing both her pain and some pleasure. Ron looked at her with a hypnotized gaze that also held worry as she felt wetness hitting her face unavoidably, as her body was trying to adjust such a beautiful difference. The man kissed away her tears and an almost inaudible cooing reached her ears and her spirit soothingly; she silent thanked him for everything.

After a couple of sweet moments, sweeter ones ensued, as heat hugged their tangled bodies, as they were physically and emotionally one, giving to each other the peace and the bliss they couldn't find by themselves- it was at least ideal. The woman felt herself lost in a universe filled with new-born sensations and delicate sentiments, a universe she yearned to share with him, her true soulmate, her love…

He stared down at her eyes and straight into her soul and a second later he was giving her a heavenly dear kiss, one that absolutely confirmed same feelings; just a pouring-out-love motion that set her free… She was relieved.

After their praising to love and nature, the couple just closed their eyes, giving a moment to their hot, a-bit-sweaty bodies, to their entire existences to adjust the feelings. A moment later, Hermione felt his warm lips brushing on her forehead and temple, then kissing her left cheek softly. She let a small, rather sleepy smile to reach her lips as she started to stroke his hair and skull, the gentle motion soothing them both. Minutes later of comfortable silence, Ron gradually pulled away from her, lying next to her still warm body. A moment later, she felt something soft covering her and she saw him putting a blanket on top of them. She looked at his a-bit-freckled face with eyes shining from love and awe, searching for his dark ones. The enlarged pupils stared at her and she absentmindedly leaned closer to his body, putting her face on the curve of his neck. As he was protectively putting his long arms around her body, he softly kissed her still damp hair, while she kissed his Adam apple lightly, his pale skin tender there. She suddenly heard him sighing and she hugged his slim waist, bringing them even closer. She looked up to him and he was already staring at her, his huge eyes half-closed and his face more serene than ever. He smiled lightly at her and leaned a bit, letting his full lips make contact with the value between her eyes, instantly making them close. She nuzzled her face on his chest and she heard him whispering a lovely 'goodnight' with his rich voice. Hermione slowly let her own lips linger on the spot where his heart was, sensing the slow and relaxing beating of it; she closed her eyes, too.

"Goodnight, Ron…" she whispered from where she was and she felt his hands rubbing her skin as a response and another kiss on her head. She felt happy and utterly calm and safe, probably for the first time after years.

And they fell asleep just like that; their immense love was more than enough to keep every pain and agony away…

-Well, I know, Ron and Hermione look and stare at each others' eyes way too much, but it's actually how they mostly communicate! Anyway, I just hope you all like the chapter...

-And now, all I want is to see- hearing them is quite difficult right here- your opinion; reviews would be much more than welcome!

-And of course, I'll try to update as soon as possible. Until then... xxx :)