Here's chapter No. 3. It took me a while, not only because I finished the whole story, but because I am a huge football-fan or soccer, you name it. GO GERMANY GO!
So here is the end of the story, enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: Not mine... or do you really think, JKR would be a fan of the German soccer-team?
Hermione turned the pages of the photo album, which Mrs. Weasley had given her, now quite for a while. Not because it was filled with so many pictures, but because Hermione had looked at them at least three times.
The first pictures were from the time of their first summer at the Burrow or at Kings Cross. Some of them shot with a magic camera, some with a muggle camera. On each of these images, the three friends were standing in the same position. First Harry, Ron in the middle, and on the other side Hermione. While Harry smiled kindly, Ron's expression was somewhat forced and Hermione looked timidly into the camera. The more pages she turned, the less pictures she found of her second best friend Harry. Hermione was surprised at how early Mrs. Weasley had changed her mind about the relationship between her son and his best friend. Obviously in the summer after the second year. Since there were only two pictures with Harry. The remaining were only about Ron and her. The images were different from the first pictures, they hadn't posed for the camera, rather it was footage from everyday life, as they talked in the living room, or sat in the garden. At first glance, they seemed to be quite normal. Random shots showing their time together, but after Hermione had flipped the pages of the album now for the third time, more and more details were shown.
'I've always seen you end up together... ' While thinking about Mrs. Weasleys words, Hermione's gaze fell at an image from the second summer, where Ron and she were playing wizard chess. It was a picture taken with a muggle camera. You could see Hermione looking at Ron, who was playing. At first it looked as if she was just watching him as he played, but then, she had noticed the dreamy expression on her face. Had she really looked at him like that? She couldn't believe it, but then she remembered how she had always admired him for playing that brilliant. And it was something, she wasn't good at all. At first she was envy, because, she actually couldn't stand it to lose, even it was in a 'stupid' game. But later on, it didn't matter any more. To watch him being focused, yet making his moves that easy, and that wide smile across his face after winning was totally worth it to lose every single time. Hermione smiled at this thought. 'Yes, still it was worth it...'
Another picture had drawn her attention for a long time. Ron and she were both sitting in the living room, Hermione on the couch with a book on her lap, Ron on the little green chair in the corner of the room, a comic in his hand. This picture was made with a magic camera, so you could see them move. During the entire time Hermione had looked at her book, but Ron, who first seemed to be deepened in his comic, was looking up briefly. His eyes had sought Hermione successfully, but before anything further could happened, the picture began all over again. This image had caused Hermione goose bumps. She couldn't believe it. Did the boy, she had a crush on for such a long time look at her like this? It was defiantly not just a glance, to see what she was doing at this moment. There was a kind of longing in that glance...
Hermione was shaking her head. Was it not always been her, who was secretly watching him? During homework, at Quidditch. But come to think of it, sometimes she had felt eyes on her, but whenever she looked up, no one had looked. At this time Hermione had thought that she probably was getting crazy, or that she was confusing reality with her wishful thinking. Now knowing her feeling was right, let her smile grow wider.
The next photo she had looked at, was taken at Christmas in fifth year. It was also a moving picture. Ron and she were sitting on the sofa in the living room. Ron was wearing a huge brown sweater with a big red 'R' in the middle, which he got as a gift and had to wear the entire evening. He wasn't pleased, Hermione could tell. She remembered, how Ron's father was trying to make a picture of his son wearing his new sweater, but Ron had refused to be photographed. Hermione had watched this whole scene for a while, then she had took her gift - a red and green checkered scarf with a brown 'H' on both ends - and sat right next to her friend on the sofa. She had put her scarf around her neck and had smiled to Mr. Weasley. But Ron had still not looked to the camera, so Hermione had pushed him slightly with her elbow and smiled at him encouragingly. Then he had smiled too, but not to the camera, but to Hermione as she turned her gaze back to the camera. His eyes had an expression of gratitude. He had always been somewhat ashamed of his origin. His parents were not rich, he always had to wear clothes of his elder brothers or even knit sweaters from his mum. Sometimes Hermione had caught him looking envy at others with their new and valuable things. But to her, such things were never important, so she had tried to encourage him to always live up to what he had, even if it was not the best. But it made him to who he was, the one she...
Hermione didn't finish the thought. Another feeling was overwhelming her. Pride. She was proud of being able to influence him in such a positive way. She just could smile at him and his discomfort was gone in a second. Like in that picture.
'No wonder, Mrs. Weasley thinks, that we will end up together.' Hermione thought. 'All these different perspectives make it very clear. There is a special connection...'
The best example was the picture, that drew most of her attention. You could see her sitting in the garden at the sunset. Ron was next to her, both two-legged. Both with their backs to the photographer. Who certainly thought, this would be a very romantic moment to remember. The sun had almost disappeared behind the tree tops in the distance. The sky had turned orange. Not one single cloud was seen. Really romantic, but actually it wasn't as romantic, as it looked. Hermione could remember that day, as if it was yesterday. It was the third day after she had arrived at the Burrow and just two weeks after that incident at the ministry of magic.
At that time, she were just thinking of all that, they had experienced. All the fear... and Sirius. How would Harry deal with it. He just met his godfather, and lost him again. Being with his hatred relatives, couldn't be helpful at all. Hermione was worried, she sometimes wanted to cry, not because she couldn't cope with all this, but because of her best friend, who had to experience so many terrible things at such a young age. But she didn't cry. Not after they departed the ministry of magic, not at her parents house, not here. She couldn't show weakness, she wanted to be strong for herself and for everyone else who needed her.
But whenever she couldn't stand it any longer, she tried to distract herself by reading a book. That's why she was sitting in the garden. It was such a time, she needed a distraction. But she could remember to never find some. She had looked at the pages for a long time, knowing she would never read a single word. There had been so many thoughts on her mind, mainly about Harry and his situation. If Ron hadn't come and sat down beside her, she would probably still sit there, gazing at her book.
Ron hadn't been himself at that time and he had sought her presence more than once. She could clearly remember that. He never spoke much, he was obviously just looking for someone to be with.
As it was seen in the picture. The two of them, sitting together in silence. Hermione could remember, how slowly a lump was forming in her throat. She had recognized it before. Whenever Ron was with her and just stayed silent, she felt her facade crumble. There was always that tension between them. No one dared to speak out what they both knew was on their minds - Harry. The picture showed how her facade finally fell. You could see how she was saying something and then fast lowering her head. She had started to cry, you couldn't see that, but she knew. While she was crying all the tears she had suppressed since they had departed the ministry, Ron was sitting quietly next to her. Or at least that's what she thought. But just now, there was something catching her eye, which she hadn't seen before. At the point she lowered her head, Ron actually was sitting motionless, but then he shifted a little closer towards her. He also moved his hand almost unnoticeable... then the picture started all over again.
Hermione thought hard. Ron had never touched her, that she knew for sure. Certainly he didn't know how.
'Typical Ron.' she thought chuckling a little.
Seeing this, the whole memory got a different meaning to Hermione. Ron never sought her, because he himself had trouble dealing with all the things that happened. He wanted to be there for her. Knowing her so well, it was clear to him that she would collapse at some point...
Hermione closed the photo album. After sitting in her seat some more minutes, she stood up. She left the room toward the kitchen, where Mrs. Weasley was still cleaning. Hermione walked to her and handed her the little book.
"No, no, dear, you can keep it." Mrs. Weasley said with a smile on her face.
The brunette thought for a moment, then she smiled too and replied: "I think I would prefer it as a wedding gift." With that she gave her the album and left the kitchen.
Wow, I did it. So what do you think? I tried to find some images, that'll describe their connection the best. I hope you liked it, Quen.
