Chapter 3: Tonight, Tonight

Later that night, there was plenty of twirling to be had as the Dementors and Phoenixes danced in the Hogwarts Great Hall. Though both groups were having a great time, there was still tension in the air; the gangs refused to dance with each other. This was made clear when Ministry officials surpervising the event tried to make the two groups dance a "get-together dance" as one big group. It started off well at first, but quickly devolved into a dance-off mambo between the two groups.

This was the atmosphere Ron observed as he arrived at the dance and greeted Harry warmly. Meanwhile, from an entrance on the other side of the hall, Hermione arrived with Cormac on her arm. While Cormac went off to grab a drink, Hermione watched the dance from the sides.

Suddenly, she noticed a shock of red hair through the crowd. Her eyes lowered to see the owner's face. Was that…Ron Weasley? Yes, it was him! She had been good friends with him and Harry Potter during their Hogwarts days, but after the war, they had lost contact. Ron also noticed Hermione from across the room and was thinking similar thoughts.

Instantly, the room seemed to vanish around them. They were the only two left in the world. Ron and Hermione floated towards each other, as if being dragged together by a magnetic pull. Finally, they stood face-to-face.

"Hermione, is it really you?" Ron asked.

Hermione smiled. "Always the tone of surprise," she teased, remembering an inside joke from their childhood. She felt her heart flutter when Ron gave a short laugh in recognition. "How are you, Ron?"

Ron smiled back with his usual lop-sided grin. "At the moment, happier beyond words." He tried to explain himself when she looked at him quizzically. "For the longest time, I felt… I sensed… I knew that something was bound to happen, had to happen." He paused before adding, "I just didn't think that something would be seeing you again."

Hermione's heart once again went into a sort of tap-dance. "You're really happy to see me? You're not joking?"

Ron stared at her, serious now. "I don't know how to joke like that."

Hermione gazed into Ron's eyes. He has the most beautiful blue eyes, she thought. She vaguely sensed that she and Ron were slowly leaning towards each other. She could feel his breath on her skin; Ron could see the details in her eyelashes. The world slowly started to return around them, now dancing regularly. The pair could now feel the heat radiating off each other's bodies…

Ron and Hermione's lips had just barely touched for an instant, two, when suddenly, Ron felt hands roughly grab him and tear him away from Hermione.

"Get your hands off, blood traitor!" Draco roared. "Stay away from my sister!"

"Malfoy? Sister? Hermione, what's going on?" Ron asked, thoroughly confused. But Draco was no longer listening. He was too busy chastising Hermione.

"Couldn't you see he's one of them?" Draco asked angrily.

"No," Hermione said flatly. "I saw only him."

"There's only one thing those Phoenixes want from a pure-blood, even an honorary one!" Draco lectured her.

"That's a lie!" Ron shouted, angry himself now.

Draco whirled on him. "She would listen to her adopted brother before she listens to you," he spat. By now, Dementors and Phoenixes were approaching to see what the matter was. Ron moved toward Draco, but Harry cut between them in the nick of time. "Look, if you two characters wanna settle this outside..." he suggested. But he was now interrupted by a Ministry official.

"Gentlemen, please, please, everything was going so smoothly!" the official begged.

The crowd dispersed as well as the main parties, but not before Harry told Draco to meet him at the Leaky Cauldron later that night for a war council. Draco readily agreed, as he now had a new bone to pick with his gang's nemeses. He and Cormac led Hermione out the door.

Ron watched them go, dazed. All that he could think of was Hermione's name. He found himself floating out after them. He had never noticed her beauty before, at least when they were children… he had kissed her…and she had kissed him back. Something had indeed come; this was it! He was in love. Even her name sent chills through him- it was the most beautiful word he had ever heard uttered.

He now broke into a run, jogging through the streets of London, calling her name. "Hermione! Hermione!" he cried. For a long time, there was no answer; he had not expected one. Yet, he was also somewhat distraught inside- London was a big city; how was he supposed to find her again? Just when he had about shouted himself hoarse after running around most of the night, he was surprised when his chant garnered a response.

"Hermione!"

"Shh!"

Ron whirled around and there she stood in her nightdress, on a fire escape just above him. She looked like an angel.

Ron's smile was so huge and his happiness at seeing her so obvious, you would have thought he looked deranged.

"Hermione!" he said with joy.

"Quiet!"

They regarded each other for a moment lovingly.

"Come down!" Ron encouraged her.

"No."

"Hermione!"

"My parents will wake up," she explained.

"Just for a minute," Ron begged.

"A minute is not enough," she said sadly.

"For an hour, then."

"I can't."

"Then forever!" Ron practically shouted, eliciting another shush from her. "Then I'm coming up," he decided with determination. He ran for the fire escape's ladder as Hermione ran around to a window to meet him. Ron guessed that the window led to her bedroom. Just then, a voice called from inside.

"Hermione!"

Ron was still scaling the steps as Hermione called in as calmly as she could, "One moment, Dad!" Ron was halfway up the last ladder now, his head poking through the hole in the grating. Hermione turned to face him; not wanting to wait a second longer, Ron took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately, taking her by surprise. Both melted. A guttural groan flowed from Ron's mouth to Hermione's, as though he had just tasted food for the first time after being deserted on an island. Fearing that someone might hear, Hermione reluctantly squirmed away and shushed him again. Ron just flashed her that lop-sided grin and copied her motion teasingly.

"It's dangerous! If Draco knew…"

"We won't let him know. I'm not one of them, Hermione!" Ron assured her, not wanting his history with the Phoenixes to get in the way of his love.

"But you are not one of us," Hermione reminded him, eyeing him knowingly. "And I am not one of you, not anymore."

"To me, you're all the beautiful-" Ron began, but Hermione put her hand to his mouth just as her father called again. "Bookworm!" he cried. Hermione assured him through the window she was coming and was relieved that a curtain obscured the window. She stood aside to let Ron finish climbing the ladder and led him over to the fire escape's balcony.

"Bookworm?" Ron asked, taking her hand.

Hermione just smiled in embarrassment. "His pet name for me," she explained. Ron laughed as he sat down on the fire escape's railing. "I like him already. And he will like me," he told her.

Hermione's eyes widened in fear and she shook her head slowly. "No. He is like Draco. Afraid." She paused and then broke into a smile. "Imagine, being afraid of you," she giggled.

"You see?" Ron said, elated, his case proven.

Hermione blushed. "I see you," she admitted shyly.

"Oh, Hermione, see only me!" Ron pleaded, as though the magic they had learned all these years could blot out vision and all other senses.

Hermione nodded. The next hour or so was spent affirming their love for each other, whispering sweet nothings to the other.

Late in the night, Ron remembered suddenly about the war council. He didn't want to go, but felt that he had a new reason to do so. He gave Hermione a quick kiss goodnight.

"When can I see you again?" he asked her.

"I work with Pavarti Patil in Flourish & Blotts. Come at closing time, I will be on the evening shift," Hermione instructed.

Ron nodded. He gave her one last kiss, then rapidly descended the fire escape and disappeared into the night.