Chapter Three: Ron and Hermione
Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of the characters described in this story, nor do I own the Harry Potter world. All credit goes to J.K. Rowling.
Ron and Hermione met in the hallway after changing into their bathing suits, gathering towels and blankets, and headed out towards the pond. Ron glanced over at Hermione as they walked, taking in the smoothness of her skin in the moonlight. They set their things down on the bank, and removed their cover-ups. Each surreptitiously studied the other's body, trying not to be too obvious about their appreciation of it.
Her eyes moving over Ron's body, Hermione was in slight awe. His torso was toned, but not overly so. He was wearing swim trunks that allowed a view of his slim yet taught legs. His chest and head were the most stunning, however. The muscles in his neck moved obviously when he spoke, making her want to kiss them. In the low light, Ron's cheekbones were very apparent, which made it difficult for Hermione to take her eyes off them.
Ron couldn't help but look at Hermione. She was wearing a simple black two-piece that clung to her body in a very attractive manner. He could see clearly the curve of her chest and hips, and the graceful way her body moved. She had let her hair down, and it curled perfectly around her shoulders. Her skin shone in an almost ghost-like manner. She moved towards him and together they ran into the water.
"Merlin's beard!" exclaimed Hermione. "It's so cold! I thought it might have warmed up, but apparently I was mistaken", she said, shivering.
"Do you want to get out? We could do this another time, if you want." said Ron, trying to be a gentleman, although he truthfully wanted nothing less than to leave.
Hermione shook her head and smiled. "It's nice, actually. Refreshing."
They began to swim, racing from one end of the pond to the other. When Ron won, he took her playfully in his arms, saying, "Finally, Hermione Granger isn't the best at something."
He expected her to fight his grip, but she did not. Instead, he saw tears forming in her eyes.
"Oh God, Hermione, did i hurt you?" he asked, panicking, and immediately let her go.
She shook her head tearfully and tried to smile. He breathed a sigh of relief, but was confused by her tears. He swam closer to her.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Did I do something? Hermione, I'm so sorry. Really. Do you want to go? I'm sorry."
Hermione shook her head again and said, "No, no. You didn't do anything, and I don't want to go. I just...when you grabbed me...I...never mind." she said quickly, brushing away her tears.
Ron looked at her inquisitively, and said, "No, tell me. You can tell me anything. You know that, right? I promise I won't be judgmental or anything."
Hermione looked up at the sky, trying to keep her tears from falling. Finally, she said in a shaky voice, "I'm so lonely, Ron. I'm so lonely that it makes my chest hurt sometimes. And when you grabbed me...it was just so nice to have physical contact with someone."
Ron didn't speak, but took her hand and swam closer to shore, so they could stand on the sand. She looked up at him, and without warning, he wrapped her in his arms. She gasped slightly, but then relaxed and nearly melted into him. She returned his embrace, nearly digging her fingers into his back. He could feel her crying, and he too was tearful. After a few minutes, they pulled apart. Hermione was surprised to see Ron's tear-streaked face. He took her hands and kissed them before bringing her back to shore. He laid out a thick blanket and covered Hermione's wet shoulders with a towel. They sat down facing each other, Ron trying to muster the courage to speak.
"Hermione, I don't know if you want to hear this. I don't know if this is the right time, or if there even is a right time. And I certainly don't expect you to feel the same. But I...I love you. I love you, Hermione." he said, stuttering.
Hermione looked shell-shocked for a moment before bursting into tears. "I love you too, Ron. I really do," she said between sobs. "I've loved you since first year. Ron, I...I can't even express how much I needed to hear you say that."
Ron's eyes had welled up, and were in danger of overflowing. Without speaking, Ron gently picked Hermione up and placed her in his lap so that they were face-to-face. He put his arms around her, pulling her close until there were mere inches between them. They both had a burning sensation in the pits of their stomachs, a kind of nervous ecstasy. Ron moved his hand up her back so that it was cupping the back of her head. He stared at her, just appreciating the moment. He leaned in and, ever so softly, kissed her. It was not hard and passionate, but soft and gentle and full of emotion. She parted her lips slightly so as to allow their kiss to become deeper. Hermione's arms were around Ron's neck, and his hands in her hair. Their kiss lasted for several minutes before the pulled apart. Breathing deeply, Ron gazed in awe at Hermione. He took her head and placed it on his shoulder, pulling her into a deep hug.
"Please never go." Ron whispered. "This is perfect."
Hermione smiled and hugged him tighter. Eventually, Ron broke the embrace and sighed.
"I don't want to go back. I want to stay here forever." Ron said, and Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Maybe we could stay just for tonight?" asked Hermione hopefully, and Ron beamed at her. He pulled out another blanket and positioned it on top of them. They laid side by side, Ron's arm around Hermione's waist, and they fell asleep. Just for that one night, they had found happiness.