Chapter 3
Hermione walked out of Harry's hospital room after giving him a Sleeping Draught. She leaned against the door and slowly walked back toward her office. Every fiber of her being wanted to sleep yet she couldn't stop thinking about Harry and Ginny and her own loneliness. Harry brought so many emotions to the surface but how could she sort through them all? Ginny was definitely not the woman that Harry needed in his life, of that she was sure. Hermione realized that she would be a perfect match for Harry, but it that what she really wanted? Their friendship was so important and she really didn't want to mess up their relationship the way she had messed up her relationship with Ron. Harry and Ron were still friends but it was awkward when all three of them tried to hang out without anyone else. It wasn't the easy friendship they all had at Hogwarts; it was complicated. I loved Ron, she thought and the memories came easily. She had broken up with him for a good reason, but loneliness is a fickle friend and she missed their companionship. They had always had so much fun.
Hermione was so entrenched in her own feelings that she nearly collided with the person blocking her way to her office.
"ARGH!" Hermione screamed. "What the bloody hell!? Ron?"
Ronald Weasley had been fast asleep on the floor in front of her office door when Hermione awoke him. Ron leapt to his feet and tried to quickly gauge his bearings.
"Whaddaya … wot?" He garbled, then seeing Hermione, immediately came to. "Hermione, hello!" His freckles seemed to darken as his face paled. Ron was a gangly adult just as he had been a gangly teenager. His faded khakis fell over scuffed tennis shoes. His blue sweater seemed slightly too big and he tried to straighten it without being too obvious. Hermione noticed his nervousness and felt a small amount of pity for the boy she used to love.
"Ron, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Well." Ron looked embarrassed and he suddenly found something very interesting to kick on the floor. "Hermione, Harry almost died tonight. He's my best friend and this all… it make me realize, we don't have that much time. The person we love could leave us at any minute and I figured that the person that I love, is you." He paused and shrugged his shoulders. "I've missed you and I just wanted to say that I love you."
Hermione looked at him until Ron finally mustered the courage to glance up. She threw her arms around Ron and pushed him back into her office. They struggled for a few moments, trying to take off the other person's clothes as quickly as possible. As Ron kissed Hermione's neck, she looked at the ceiling and thought that there was no better way to chase away death than to experience life. Hermione remembered the look on Harry's face when he thanked her for saving his life, then she stopped thinking.
Author notes: Some of you may not like this turn of events. But Hermione and Harry are meant to be together. They always were. Sometimes it takes a few missteps along the way to get to where you are going. Anyway, hsnks for reading and please review!