Soooo... Sorry It's been so long! But this, at least I think, is the best and definitely longest, chapter so far.
Enjoy!
A Second Chance: Chapter 13:
Ron was, in a word… fidgety. He'd been up since seven o'clock in the morning, just thinking about his date with Hermione. What would it be like? He wondered. Would it be awkward or easy-going? Would he embarrass himself or would Hermione be pleased? What if he choked on something or began to sweat uncontrollably? These were just a few of the questions racing around Ron's mind.
Around five in the afternoon, Ron began to get ready. He took a shower, shaved, combed his hair more meticulously than he had ever before, and applied plenty of deodorant to his underarms, just in case.
After staring into the depths of his closet for at least half an hour, Ron decided on a pair of black slacks, with a blue button down shirt, and a brown belt. He was comparing a green and a gold tie when he heard someone knock on his front door.
He ran to the door with one tie in each hand, wondering who could possibly be at his door, at that critical moment in time.
It was Ginny.
"Hey Ron," she said, stepping inside. She took off her sunglasses, and her coat, and handed them to him, while he stood helpless in the doorway. He put her coat on the rack, and the glasses on the kitchen counter, before following her into the living room.
"What are you doing here?" he asked her.
"I came to help you get ready… and talk to you." She appraised him quickly.
"First of all," she said, "lose the belt." He obeyed and took the belt off and put it on the table. He showed her the ties, and Ginny shook her head at both of them. "Go without one, you look better causal."
"Whatever you say," Ron said. "Finished?"
"One last touch," Ginny said, waltzing out of the room. She came back with his comb and a bottle of hair gel.
"Sit."
He sat down on the edge of the table, and felt her run her gel-coated fingers through his hair. Suddenly apprehensive, he muttered, "You sure you know what you're doing?"
"Of course, Ronald," Ginny said. He rolled his eyes when he felt the comb in his hair, and then Ginny sat down on the couch, across from him.
"So, I have just a few things to say, Ron. Hermione is vulnerable, and always has been when it comes to… you. I'm just warning you, because I know how much she means to you, that if you break her heart again, I don't think she'll forgive you. Hermione trusts people easily, until they've hurt her many times, and… I'm not counting but you're already cutting it close."
Ron stared at her. He couldn't believe this: It was like his own sister thought he was a heartless playboy or something. He had no intention of hurting Hermione. Hell, he didn't even want to get serious with her at this point. At that moment, all he really wanted was a first date with her.
"Believe me Ginny," he said, "I don't want to hurt Hermione. I really care about her. Right now, I just want to have fun with her. I just want us to start where we left off…" Ron paused: He wasn't sure where that was.
"Where is that?"
Ron sighed. "I don't know."
He stood up and turned away from Ginny, unsure of what to say next. After a few moments of silence, he felt his sister place a consoling hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Ron," she said. "Everything always works out in the long-run."
Ron chuckled, turning around. "You're lucky you got there so easily."
Ginny shook her head, but smiled at him.
"Harry's remarkably easy to deal with. He doesn't like conflict. I'd best be going," she said, grabbing her glasses off the counter, and putting on her coat. "Good luck tonight." She winked at him, and was out the door.
Ron shook his head, chuckling again lightly, before he looked at the clock by the couch.
6:35.
He had just enough time to look at himself one more time in the mirror, brush his teeth quickly, and then he apparated to Diagon Alley, in search of some flowers to give Hermione.
After he'd purchased a beautiful bouquet of pink and yellow roses and checked his reflection in a nearby store window, Ron apparated to Hermione's.
He stood on a long sidewalk, staring at a small, yet welcoming home. It was painted yellow, and had a wrap-around porch. There were flowers beneath all the white-trimmed windowsills, and the grass on the lawn was dark green and cut immaculately. He'd had no idea that Hermione lived in such a beautiful place, because he'd assumed she lived in a flat, just like every other single witch he knew, and he'd never been anywhere close to where she lived.
He walked up a small pathway to the porch, and took the stairs up slowly. He smoothed his hair down with a sweaty hand and grabbed Hermione's flowers tightly, before ringing the doorbell. He heard footsteps on a hardwood floor and then the door in front of him flew open.
Hermione stood in front of him, looking flustered and yet absolutely breathtaking. She was wearing a strapless gold dress that brought out flecks of gold in her eyes and made her hair, which hung softly around her face, just barely curled, shine in the dim light of the doorway.
"H- H- Hello Hermione," he said, but it came out as a whisper and he had to clear his throat to say, "Hi."
Hermione smiled at him, her lips a soft pink color. "Hello, Ron," she said. "Would you like to come in?"
"Sure," Ron said, feeling very inarticulate. Hermione stepped out of his way, and shut the door behind him. When she came around to face him, he handed her the flowers. "These are for you," he said.
"They're beautiful," Hermione said, blushing. "I'll find a vase for them. Come on into the kitchen."
He followed Hermione past a white staircase and what looked like the living room, into the kitchen. It had marble counters and many polished, gleaming appliances that he was sure he wouldn't know how to use. He tried to lean against a nearby counter nonchalantly, but he was sure he looked like an idiot so he decided to just stand there behind her.
Hermione filled a crystal vase with water, and cut off the bottom of the flowers, before arranging them in the vase and placing it above the sink.
She turned around and said, "Thank you for those Ron. They look perfect in here."
"You're welcome," Ron said, trying not to stare at her. "You have a great place here," he said, gesturing at the tall ceiling above them.
"Thanks. It's been a large project but I love it. I can't stand living in a flat, it's just… not me." She caught his eye and smiled, and Ron grinned back nervously.
"Would you like a tour of the house?" Hermione asked him.
Ron nodded, glad to be led out of the kitchen, which was beginning to feel smaller and smaller.
Hermione showed him the living room and a guest bedroom, along with a small bathroom, before leading him upstairs and across a short hallway. She opened a door into her bedroom and Ron pretended not to be too interested. The walls were light blue, and her bed was covered with a thick white comforter. It looked very inviting, but Ron shook his head to clear it of all… thought. "This is my second favorite room," Hermione said, looking down at her feet.
"What's your favorite?" Ron asked. Hermione looked up, and half smiled, before leading him across the hallway into a library.
Go figure.
Hermione stood by the door as Ron looked around the room. It was just as light as her bedroom, because of a large window facing the bookshelves, and Ron was overwhelmed by how many books Hermione had there. They towered over him, almost ominously, and she even had a few boxes full of books beside a table and a few chairs.
He turned to her. "I should've guessed," he said, smiling at her. "Have you read all of these?" He gestured at the bookshelves behind him.
Hermione nodded. "All but a few," she said. "But they're all books I bought a week ago. I spend most of my time at home in here."
Ron shook his head. "You've always been too smart, Hermione."
She shrugged, and smiled. "I hope that's a compliment," she said.
"Of course," Ron said, and there was a moment of tense silence before Ron added, "We should get going soon. Reservation."
Hermione nodded, "I'll go get my coat. Meet you downstairs?"
A few minutes later, Ron led Hermione out of her house, watched as she took a key out of a nearby plant and locked the door, and then followed her down the porch steps. He paused at the edge of the sidewalk, and asked her, "Can I apparate here?"
She nodded. "There's not too many muggles in this neighborhood. You should be fine."
"Alright," Ron said, taking her arm in his softly. "Ready?"
Hermione nodded, and Ron apparated them to a muggle restaurant he'd discovered a few years ago, when he'd once been avoiding Lavender during their too long marriage.
He and Hermione entered together and Ron told the man behind the counter that he needed the table for reserved for . He led them past the main restaurant, up a set of stairs, and into a private room with a balcony, which Ron had paid through the nose to get.
The man took Hermione's coat, and then told them to have a pleasant visit, before he left, and left them alone. Ron led Hermione to the table, and pulled out her chair for her, before sitting down across from her.
She smiled at him, before saying. "This is beautiful, Ron. I love the balcony. The view is amazing."
Ron looked behind his shoulder and out across the balcony. The sun was setting just then, above a few tall buildings on the horizon. She was right: It was beautiful, but turning around he decided it wasn't nearly as beautiful as Hermione was that night, and he couldn't stop himself from saying, "Not as amazing as… you look…tonight."
It didn't come out nearly as smoothly as he'd meant it to.
Hermione blushed but didn't stop smiling or look away, and Ron guessed that meant he hadn't been out of line. He smiled at her before picking up his menu and pretending to peruse it. He already knew what he wanted, but he felt awkward just staring at Hermione.
After they ordered their food, a salad and Spaghetti Carbonera for both of them, and the waiter brought them a bottle of wine, Hermione poured two glasses and then stood up, and made her way over to the balcony. Ron followed her after a moment's hesitation.
Leaning against the rail, she asked him, "So, what do you think you'll do if being in the Cannons doesn't work out?"
"I don't know," Ron said. "I guess not making the team didn't even cross my mind." He looked away from Hermione, feeling a little hurt that she didn't think he'd make the team.
He felt Hermione's hand on his arm. "That didn't come out right," she said, smiling apologetically at him. "I have a lot of confidence in you. I just think you should have a back-up plan, because you never know what'll happen when it comes to certain careers. There are always many factors to consider when it comes to choosing athletes for Professional teams."
Ron chuckled: "You're right," he said. "I guess I'll just have to keep looking for a second choice. You're lucky you've always known what you want to do with your life."
"I haven't always," Hermione said, pausing and looking out at the view. "I mean, before I went to Hogwarts, I felt so lost. I was always smart, mind you, even in primary school, but I wasn't really excited by anything I studied in a muggle school. I think the war taught me what I really wanted, still want, in life. To make the world a better place, starting with the Ministry, starting with every single bogus policy Cornelius Fudge left when it comes to magical creatures."
Hermione's cheeks were flushed and Ron knew he'd misconstrued how passionate Hermione really was about her work: Obviously, just talking about it made her angry and excited. He wished he had as much conviction as Hermione did when it came to work.
Ron wasn't sure what to say. He wanted to compliment her, but he felt that saying what she wanted was amazing felt like a stupid compliment.
Instead he said, "You know, you've already changed the world, Hermione. Without you, Voldemort would still be alive. Thousands of people would be suffering right now if it weren't for you."
"You as well," Hermione said. "You helped just as much as I did, as Harry did."
Ron shook his head. "You did more than me. I mean, I was the coward who ran away, who grew angry and resentful. But you stuck with Harry through it all and you solved a thousand problems no one else could've figured out along the way. I did nothing compared to what you did. You're amazing Hermione."
Hermione smiled bigger than Ron had seen her smile ever before. She wasn't blushing, but she looked ecstatic, and what he'd said had clearly had an effect on her. He took that as a really good sign.
"Ron, you have no idea how much that means to me, especially coming from you. I…" Hermione faltered and took a sip from her glass, but her eyes remained on Ron's.
Ron didn't know how to continue, so he just said, "How's the wine?" before taking a sip himself.
"It's wonderful," Hermione said. "It's all wonderful."
And it really was.
After Ron and Hermione had both eaten their salads and pasta, as well as a delicious slice of chocolate cake, he raised his glass of wine to her and smiled.
"To us," he said. She smiled at him genuinely, and touched her glass to his. After taking a quick sip, Ron asked her, "So… what's next?"
She spoke quickly. "I hate to say this because I'm not ready for this night to end, but I have to be at work early tomorrow, for a press conference, so I think I'd better go home soon."
Ron blinked. That wasn't exactly the answer he was expecting, because he'd meant to ask her what she thought was next in their relationship, but he quickly shrugged it off.
"Okay," he said, putting his glass down on the table, and standing up. He pulled Hermione's chair out for her, and was pleasantly surprised when she tripped over a leg of the table, and fell forward into his arms. He held her up by her elbows, and watched as she looked up at him through wide eyes. He felt himself subconsciously leaning into her, and was a little agitated when she pulled away and pretended like nothing had happened.
He followed her out of the private dining room, and down the stairs, before grabbing her coat of a hook by the door, and helping her into it. He caught a whiff of her scent as she pulled her hair out of the back of her coat, and inhaled deeply. She smelled like strawberries, and something he couldn't recognize.
Heavenly, Ron thought.
He opened the door for Hermione, and scanned the street before them. There were a few muggles wandering around, and so Ron gestured to a nearby alleyway that they could apparate from. Hermione followed nervously behind him.
"You ready?" Ron asked her, after she'd reached him. Hermione nodded and took his arm.
They landed on the street outside of Hermione's house, which was slightly off from where he'd meant to land, on the sidewalk.
Ron glanced at her beside him. She was staring up her driveway and at her house, looking slightly anxious. Ron slid his hand down her arm, and took her small hand in his. Her grasp was soft, and warm, but he tell that her hand was slightly sweaty. He was surprised to realize it didn't bother him.
He led her up the driveway while still holding onto her hand, glancing at her every few steps. She looked very beautiful in the dark, her features cast in shadow by the moon.
After they'd climbed up the steps, and turned to face each other, Hermione reached into her pocket and grabbed her wand. She pointed it at the lock on her door, whispered 'Alohamora', and then stowed it back in her coat.
She looked at him, and smiled for the first time in awhile. "Thank you for everything, Ron," she said. "I had a wonderful time."
"Me too," Ron said, his throat suddenly dry. He stared at her for a moment, his eyes traveling down from hers and then over her nose, before resting on her lips: His own parted in desire.
He expected Hermione to move inside, but she stood there with him for a moment, the only sound their breath and the shuffling of Ron's feet on the porch.
She smiled at him one last time, and was reaching for the doorknob when Ron put his hand over hers. She turned back to look at him, her chest rising and falling a little rapidly, and then he leaned into her and brushed his lips softly against hers. He heard her breath catch, and smiled into her mouth, before he felt her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Their lips moved together silently for a few moments, and Ron was just reaching to wrap his arms around her when she pulled away.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was slightly disheveled as she sent him one final longing look, before whispering, "Goodnight, Ron." She pulled the door open quickly, but silently, and then closed it behind herself.
Ron stood on the porch in the moonlight for a moment, stunned, before he apparated away quickly, hoping that Hermione hadn't noticed his pause. On the other side of the door, Hermione had slid down onto the floor, and held one hand to her lips, trying to memorize the way Ron had tasted. She smiled to herself before running up the stairs and flopping onto her bed, before staring up at the ceiling as her heart pounded loudly.
So what'd you think? Leave a review and let me know! : ) I wont be posting for at least two weeks because i'm headed to camp for a while, but you can fix any fic-craving's you have by reading my other stories! Hope to write again soon:
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