Chapter Six
Hermione practically slammed the door to her dormitory shut as she walked over to her bed. She was angry, no, more than angry, that Ron had run off the way he had. Yet, at the same time, she was deeply hurt.
The tears fell freely from her eyes as she threw herself down on her bed. Tonight was supposed to have been a magical night, but Ron's running off had ruined that for her. She had wanted so badly for him to start talking to her again and just when he had, he seemed repulsed.
I've ruined everything, she thought.
Ron stood in the entrance of the Great Hall, breathing deeply. He was trying to work up the courage to show his face around his friends again after his poor behavior. He felt like such an idiot for running off just when he was about to tell Hermione how he felt about her.
As his eyes scanned the large room, he saw no sign of Hermione, though he easily spotted Harry and Ginny. With one last deep breath, Ron walked into the Great Hall and headed straight for Harry. "Where's Hermione?"
"Oh, finally got your head out of your arse do you?" Harry asked with a semi-harsh glare.
Ron glared back at him. "Harry, I don't have time for best friend lectures… Where's Hermione?"
"She's probably back in Gryffindor tower," Ginny answered.
Without a word, Ron turned on his heel and practically ran all the way to Gryffindor tower. He breathlessly gave the Fat Lady the password and was allowed to enter. "Hermione?" he called, once inside, gasping for breath, "Hermione!"
"What, Ron?" Hermione snapped, appearing at the bottom of the dormitory stairs.
Ron gulped. Hermione was still dressed in her ball gown but it was wrinkled and her eye make-up had run. How could I have been so stupid as to not see how beautiful she is? He took a step toward her with a hand outstretched. "Come sit down?"
"Why should I?"
"Hermione, please, just let me explain…"
"You have nothing to explain, Ronald; you've made your feelings for me perfectly clear."
"No… I haven't," Ron practically yelled, "Now will you just sit down and hear me out? Please?"
Hermione folded her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him. When she had heard Ron's voice floating up to her from the Common Room, she made up her mind not to let him tear her down. She was determined to do things on her own terms and she wasn't ready to speak to him. "Ron, we have nothing to say to each other on the matter."
"Please, Hermione… just hear me out," Ron practically begged.
When Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him, Ron's shoulders slumped. He walked over and sunk into the couch with his head in his hands. "I'm such an idiot," he whispered.
Hermione's face softened a bit at Ron's sincere sadness. "You're not an idiot, Ron," she said, walking over and sitting down across from him, "you just do idiotic things sometimes."
Ron gave her a timid smile and leaned forward so that his elbows were resting on his knees. "Hermione, I…," he began, "Hermione, I'm so sorry for how I've been acting lately. I just… bloody hell…"
Hermione watched silently as Ron looked down at the floor and rubbed the back of his neck. "You threw me for a loop with all of this, Hermione," he whispered, "I didn't know what to do, how to act around you…"
He took a deep breath and continued to stare at the floor as he collected his thoughts. He wanted this to go well and so far, he was failing miserably. He wasn't going to let his lack of words mess this up.
He looked up and stared directly into her eyes as he spoke with more confidence. "You've been like a sister to me for nearly seven years now; I'd never even thought about the possibility of dating you."
Tears welled up in Hermione's brown eyes and she held up a hand to silence him. "Ron, please… if you're going to break my heart again, I'd rather not hear it," she said tearfully.
Ron slinked to the floor and kneeled in front of her. "Hermione, no… This is coming out all wrong," he said with a heavy sigh as he placed a hand on Hermione's knee, "I've been stupid, Hermione… so stupid. To think that all this time I've been so blind to what was right in front of my face."
Hermione looked at him in confusion as she sniffled. "Ron, will you please stop? I don't think my nerves can handle another rejection from you."
"Don't you see? I'm not rejecting you," Ron said, cupping her cheeks in his hands and wiping her tears away with his thumbs.
Hermione took one of Ron's hands in her own and sniffed again. "Don't toy with me, Ron…," she barely whispered, "Please don't toy with me."
Ron brought his hand that Hermione was holding and lightly kissed her fingers. "I'm being completely serious, Hermione. Let me love you; let me show you the man I can be."
"Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say those words to me?"
Ron raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Those exact words?"
"Well, something like them," Hermione replied, giving him a small smile at his words.
"I'm so sorry for not seeing my love for you sooner," Ron said, "Tell me I'm not too late; tell me you haven't given up on me."
"I had almost given up hope," Hermione confessed, "I wanted to believe that you'd come around, but I never thought you would."
Ron pressed his forehead to Hermione's. "Thank you… thank you for giving me this chance."
Hermione touched her palm to his cheek. "I love you, Ronald Weasley; how could I not give you a chance?"
Ron didn't say a word; he just smiled and pressed his lips to Hermione's for the first time.