Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Five

Their Past

Hermione woke up hours later feeling a little disoriented, but also like she just had the best sleep she could remember in a long time. Still, there was something different this morning that both unnerved and comforted her at the same time. When she opened her eyes, she noticed it wasn't her pillow she was sleeping on, but it was someone's chest. Slowly she remembered what happened the night before and a smile came to her face. She sat up a little, looking at Ron's peaceful expression and leaned in to kiss him softly before she got up, which caused him to grumble and shift his position, but thankfully he didn't wake up.

"Don't worry, I'll be right back," she whispered to him, though she knew he couldn't hear her. "I have a feeling you'll be hungry when you wake up."

Hermione then made her way to the kitchen getting out the needed ingredients so she could make the only thing she was actually good at cooking. It had always bothered her that she was just average (at best) at cooking, and things only got marginally better after she taken a few cooking classes. It just was one of those things that she could never get the hang of. There was one exception to this rule, she was really good at making omelets.

Ron opened his eyes slowly, he was having a really good dream that he didn't want to wake from, but the smell that was now wafting in the room was too good to stay in the dream. He was saddened by the fact that Hermione was no longer in his arms … he really enjoyed that. However, the sight that met him at the door was so much better. Hermione was there, still in her short shorts and tank top that Ron found adorable, holding out a tray loaded with whatever that delicious smell was.

"Good, you're awake," Hermione beamed. "I thought you might be hard to wake up … though I also had a feeling that food might do the trick."

"Gee Mione, it seems that you already have me figured out," Ron smiled, unknowingly using the nickname he had given her.

"Mione?" Hermione questioned raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah," Ron said uncomfortably, hoping she wouldn't mind that he called her that since he couldn't stop using it at this point. "I kind of came up with it when I was talking to Harry last week … it was hard saying your name all the time and I just started calling you Mione; I didn't even realize it until Harry pointed it out to me," he explained nervously. "I'm sorry … do you not like it?"

"I don't know, I've never had a nickname before," Hermione said thoughtfully, of course she had been called names many times, and her primary school's bully had referred to her as 'beaver face' throughout her years there, but she didn't think those counted. Looking at his hopeful expression she knew she was going to have to get used to it. "I think I can like it. Now you should eat your breakfast or it's going to get cold."

"I wouldn't want that, it smells too good to let it go to waste," Ron said relieved and then grateful as she sat on the bed and then put the tray in between them, he could see there was an omelet for each of them as well as a glass of orange juice.

"This is bloody fantastic, Mione!" Ron exclaimed after he took a bite of the omelet.

"Well, its no apple pie, but …" Hermione started to tease, loving the praise he had given her.

"You heard me last night," Ron beamed. "I thought you might have already fallen asleep by the time I got to that part."

"I retain everything that's important … even when I'm nearly unconscious," Hermione smiled. "And omelets are the only thing that I can make."

"Nonsense, you made me that corn beef sandwich that I actually enjoyed," Ron reminded her.

"Sandwiches aren't cooking," Hermione shook her head in disagreement, "you can't count that."

"I guess you have a point, but that doesn't change the fact that this omelet is bloody brilliant," Ron allowed.

"Well, my dad told me that the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach," Hermione laughed as she explained. "But like I said I was never good at cooking, so Dad told me to pick one thing to concentrate on and work on that until I perfected it. Well, he didn't tell me to do the last bit, but that's just what I do. Since my dad's favorite food was eggs, I decided that would be a good place to start. And one way or another he became my guinea pig. You should have seen how cautiously he ate by the time I came up with this concoction. However, since I was able to make these, it was all worth it in the end."

"I couldn't agree with you more," Ron said finishing his omelet and orange juice and soon after Hermione was done too. "Thanks."

"It's my pleasure," Hermione smiled and then put the tray on the floor, not wanting to return to the kitchen right now.

Before Hermione could even turn around Ron wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. "That was so good, I think I'll have to show you my appreciation," he whispered in her ear before he kissed her along her neck. She moaned at the feeling as she leaned back, and it only took moments for his lips to be on hers. Soon her back was resting against the bed, and he was leaning over her as he had the night before. They enjoyed another long snog, however, as soon as she felt his hands start play with the hem of her shorts, she pushed him away.

"Sorry, I got a little carried away there," Ron sighed as he rolled over breathing heavily, wishing they didn't have to stop.

"No, I'm sorry," Hermione said shyly turning on her side so she could look at him. She worried her lip, "I've never done this before."

"This is new to me too," Ron tried to joke, but he was nervous about how she would take what he was about to admit. "For me it's because things didn't get too physical. Though, holding you while we slept is something that's never happened to me before either."

"I don't think you understand," Hermione said, realizing he was talking about the quick pace they had last night (and she was trying not to think about the relations that he had just alluded to). She took a deep breath before she admitted, "I've never … you know … been with a man before."

"What?" Ron choked, his eyes going wide, he couldn't imagine that another guy hadn't found out how incredible she was.

"Hmph," Hermione huffed, looking angry and a little hurt by his reaction. "I know it's hard to believe after last night, but …"

"I didn't mean it like that," Ron said immediately as he wrapped his arms around her, but after a moment he thought that wasn't entirely true. "Maybe it has a bit to do with that, but honestly I was thinking that it was hard to believe that someone hadn't noticed how beautiful and bloody brilliant you are."

The anger (and embarrassment she had felt) vanished as quickly as it hit her as he spoke. She then went on, her tone a little strained as she said, "I said that I've never been with a man, I didn't say that no one has ever wanted to be with me."

Ron nodded as an uneasy feeling started to grow, he remembered how wary she had been when they first met. How she had tried to warn him off, even saying that she was into girls to try to discourage him. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

"Not really," Hermione answered honestly, but put her hand up indicating that despite what she said, she was planning on telling him. She had always been uncomfortable talking about her past relationship(s), not that she had too many opportunities to talk seeing as she only had one friend (and her mum) to tell in the past. She was sure that if she hadn't been friends with Jess at the time, she wouldn't even have told her. It wasn't only that she had seen her past dating experiences as complete failures, though it had contributed to her not wanting to see anyone. However, it was how her previous relationship(s) had ended that made it difficult for her to trust … made her want to close herself off.

However, as she laid in Ron's arms, his hand playing absentmindedly with her hair and allowing her time to think, she knew that everything was different with him. She had never been more attracted to anyone before, and now that she knew how his kisses made her feel, the desire to get carried away was overwhelming. However, it was moments like now, just being held by him, that made her realize how truly intimate they had already become. So, she had to tell him about her past so they could be on the same page, and they could grow closer together. This thought should have scared her, seeing as she had only known him for a little more than a week, but it had become almost natural to her to realize how much she had fallen for him.

"I didn't date anyone until I got to college," Hermione said. "I was too focused with school, not to mention I wasn't very appealing to anyone …"

"I find that hard to believe," Ron interrupted, he couldn't imagine her not being appealing (or more like gorgeous) to him, even if she had bushy(er) hair and buck teeth.

"I suppose I got some interest from boys in my final year," Hermione allowed. "I guess I had grown into myself when I was eighteen, but I never felt the desire to go out with any of my classmates by that point. There was something poetic about turning down some of the guys that had once made fun of me … though I did it gently."

"You're too good of a person to be vindictive," Ron commented.

"I'm not sure about that, but I didn't see the point in that case," Hermione said, when she was passionate about something her reaction can be much more intense. "Anyways, I met my first boyfriend in the spring term of my first year. He was in one of my classes. He was very charming, and it felt wonderful having someone talk to me, flirt with me even, as you can imagine it was all new to me. He soon found out that I wasn't ready to go very far physically … it's not like I'm waiting to be married to take the next step …" she added the last part to Ron, not wanting him to think that she didn't want a physical relationship.

"Well, that's nice to know, so I don't have to go and buy a ring right away," Ron joked lightly.

Hermione snorted as she slapped his chest, and then explained, "I'm waiting for it to feel right."

"I promise, I'll wait however long you need," Ron said, looking into her eyes to let her know how serious he was about that.

"I believe you," Hermione said so he knew that she felt that way, but her tone turned cold as she continued, "But my boyfriend had said something similar, and I suppose he wasn't lying. But I still didn't appreciate it very much when I found out he was shagging other girls."

"I'm sorry," Ron said softly to her, and then got angry, "but that guy was a real jackarse to you … I can't believe he did that … he didn't deserve you."

"It really was a waste of four months," Hermione said. "But I didn't let him get too far physically, and at least I gained some experience, so I wasn't as nervous about being around boys. Then again, I was a little more wary about what their intensions might be."

"Good," Ron muttered and when Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, he added, "boys' intensions are never good."

"Does that include you?" Hermione asked.

"Er … probably, but I promise I know how to control myself," Ron said and then thought about last night and added, "Well … mostly."

Hermione was thinking about the other night too, and she could see how his less than perfect control had led to their glorious snogging session, but when it came to be too much for her, he was able to stop. "I think your control is just right."

Ron smiled at her smugly and then waited for her to continue.

"I didn't really date anyone for the next few years," she said. "My mum did set me up a few times … a lot of times … with all sorts of guys. 'Hermione, you're not getting any younger … I want some grandchildren before I get too old,' she would say whenever she told me about the date she set up."

"Sounds awful," Ron laughed. "It sounds like our mums would get along; mine is always harping on me too."

"Good to know," Hermione smiled. "But I don't think I'm ready for that quite yet. Anyways, I didn't really date anyone for two years until I met Mark. Mum actually set me up with him, but he wasn't like most of the guys that she had picked. I could have a conversation with him …" she went on, remembering how that relationship started and there were many good memories they had together, but she could no longer think of them because of how it all ended.

"We dated for seven months, we even moved in together for about a week," she forced herself to say, trying to keep her voice emotionless. "And then it happened … he … he got really drunk … and kept offering me drinks as well, but I never liked drinking too much …. Anyways, he was really drunk when he tried to start things with me, but I wasn't really in the mood … and he got frustrated …"

Ron pulled her closer, cradling her in his arms as she cried silent tears; she never could stand thinking about this night, but Ron's comforting embrace was giving her strength, he makes me feel safe, even in this moment, she thought.

"If I didn't force him off me … I don't …" she added in barely more than a whisper, but she could feel him become tense at those words ... she could feel how distress he was feeling over her pain.

"Force him off you," Ron gasped, his rage over this situation was building in him, he wanted to kill this bloke, but she came first, and she needed him to hold her right now. He was also impressed that this small girl had been able to force the guy off of her … had been able to protect herself … he was back to battling his anger as he thought that, so he forced himself to look at her as she clung to him. He couldn't understand how she could be this comfortable in his arms after what he just heard, but he was grateful nonetheless that she didn't pull away from him.

"I'm stronger than I look," Hermione said; she really had no idea what happened that night, except that she had pushed him with all her might, and he went flying across the room.

"I can see that," Ron agreed, he couldn't imagine what kind of strength she had to get through that … having her boyfriend of seven months trying to force himself on her.

"I'm not sure if that was the worst part though. He said a lot of horrible things that night … before and after it happened … and even worse when we broke up," Hermione said thinking about how Mark had told her that she was a tease and how she never took care of him, and then added that she didn't do a lot of the other things that girls are supposed to do for their boyfriends.

"I think I can imagine the kind of shite that arse would say," Ron growled, knowing that the git would try to blame her. That he would try to put her down so that she would blame herself when it wasn't her fault that she wasn't ready. If the git really cared for her, he would have tried to make her more comfortable, not go drinking like a sod and forcing himself on her. Maybe the arse even thought that she owed him intimacy because they were now living together. "Tell me who this guy is!"

"What?" Hermione said, surprised by Ron's sudden demand, she then looked at him and could see how angry he was. While she had been taking comfort from his words, Ron clearly had been getting angrier about this situation.

"Mione, that guy is dangerous," Ron stated, a bloke that could treat any girl like that was dangerous, but to treat her …

"I'm not afraid of him at all," Hermione said causing Ron to look into her eyes and he could see that she wasn't lying, but it didn't change the fact that she had been hurt by what happened. Hurt so badly that she had been afraid to date any other guy.

"You're not the only one that he can hurt," Ron pointed out.

"Honestly, I don't see him doing something like this again," Hermione said and it was then that she was reminded that Ron was an inspector, and he was clearly worried about others possibly being hurt. "I'm serious Ron, please let this go."

"How can I let this go when he obviously hurt you?" Ron tone was soft this time as he cupped her face so she could look into his eyes ... so she could see all the emotions he was feeling about this. "It's not in my nature to forgive people that hurt someone I care about."

He wasn't going to push her about this anymore, but that didn't stop him from hating the guy that, no mater what she said, took away part of her innocents … she was afraid to trust people …. men in particular … after what happened. A sudden realization came over him and he said, "this is the reason, isn't it. The reason why you didn't want to go out with me last week."

"Yes," Hermione nodded, and then shook her head, "and no."

"Well, that clears that up," Ron almost chuckled but he couldn't find the proper amusement at the moment.

"It's true that was the reason why I haven't tried to date anyone, and it's why I had warned you off at first," Hermione explained. "But honestly, the real reason why I didn't want to go out last week was because of how much I wanted to go out with you last week."

"I think you just made things less clear," Ron did chuckle this time and was amazed that he was feeling better already as they returned to their lighter banter.

"I don't think you realized how much you affect me, even from the moment that I first saw you," Hermione admitted, "I had to try to warn you away … but you wouldn't listen … and what was worse, I didn't want you to listen. It was terrifying, the way I felt about you, and then you didn't show up when I thought you would …"

"I'm sorry …"

"Honestly Ron," Hermione went on before he could say more, "as upset as it made me feel at the time, once you told me why you didn't come … it was such a relief. Because I knew you were being honest with me … and I could see that you were feeling the same way I was feeling and that made me so happy. So, when you asked me out, I wanted to say yes so much, but I was afraid of how strongly I was already feeling about you. Because no one has made me feel this way before," she said looking into his eyes intensely, "I've never felt this comfortable opening up to anyone … I never felt this safe and protected … and mostly … I've never felt this attracted to anyone before …"

She couldn't say more as Ron captured her mouth in a searing kiss that she happily returned, running her figures through his hair before pulling him more towards her. He quickly turned them so that he was hovering over her again and they stayed like that for several moments.

"I've never felt this way either," Ron said as they caught their breath, but he was looking just as intensely as she had moments ago. "You mean so much to me."

Ron kissed her again, but this time it was chaste and then he rolled onto his back, Hermione rolling with him so that she could rest her head on his chest again. Hermione was feeling ecstatic with their confession about how they felt about each other.

However, when she realized that she hadn't told Ron about how she had to go to her parents before she could break-up with Mark, despite what he had tried to do … and how she had felt about Mark after that incident … she didn't know what to do. She didn't want to keep this from Ron, but she didn't want to bring up Mark again. She did think about the conversation that she had with her dad, how she had told him that Mark was pushing her for more (those were the only words she could bring herself to say to her dad) and was glad that her dad immediately wanted her to end things. Her mum (who didn't even know what she told her dad) tried to encourage her to work things out and not give up on the relationship. It was a very difficult time for her, and things hadn't gotten much better in the last year since the break-up. She hadn't gone out with anyone since then, having no desire to date. She was just glad that her mum hadn't tried to set her up, knowing the stress that would bring her.

"What are you thinking about?" Ron asked, noticing that she had become somber again as she was engrossed in her thoughts.

"Things," Hermione answered as she turned her attention back to him.

"I suppose I should tell you about my relationships too," Ron sighed.

"You don't have to," Hermione started to say.

"It's only fair after everything you've told me," Ron smiled at her. "Though, I'm kind of sorry to say that I'm not as virtuous as you are."

"I never thought you would be," Hermione snorted at that. "You're such a handsome man, I'm sure you have lots of girls running after you."

"How did you know?!" Ron gasped overly dramatic. In all honesty, he did have plenty of women just dying to be with him since the end of the war, and he did his best to try to ignore them. When he was younger, he thought he would love getting the attentions of so many girls, but it became more and more annoying when he realized that they could only see him as a war hero … and not see who he really was. Just like Harry had told me back in fourth year, he thought.

"It's just really obvious," Hermione smiled. "Now tell me about all the girls that have fallen in love with you."

"I don't think anyone has fallen in love with me and I know I've never loved anyone," Ron said; but I think I might be falling now, he added in his head. "My first girlfriend was Lavender Brown, who I've known since I was eleven, but we weren't close until our sixth year."

"Sixth year?" Hermoine questioned. "So, this special school of yours is a seven-year school."

"That's right," Ron said a little uncomfortably when she mentioned his school. "Anyways, Lavender started liking me at the beginning of that year after a Qu … er … football match" he went on and then his ears turn red in his embarrassment with his near slip. He was grateful that he remembered the sport his dormmate Dean Thomas told him about; he'll have to learn more about football in the future. "You see … I played this amazing game, and she … well … things got started …"

"You played football," Hermione asked, not liking the sound of this relationship and wanted to distract him. "What position do you play?"

"I'm a keeper," Ron said confidently; hoping there was a keeper on the football team, he was pretty sure that Dean told him there was.

"I can see that, your long and lanky arms would help you out," Hermione said trying to sound knowledgeable. "At least that's what Dad said was needed."

"Well, I can't agree with him more; I am a good keeper after all, at least I am when I'm not too nervous to move," Ron's laugh was slightly edgy, he hated that he had to lie to her, even though he was mostly telling her the truth, he still felt guilty. "Anyways, that's how Lav and I got together. It was an interesting relationship to say the least. We dated for about six months, and she was my first (in pretty much everything). Part of me wishes that I waited … not at the time of course, I thought it was bloody brilliant … but now I kind of wished that I shared that moment with someone I love and not just acting on my hormones like that."

"You're just saying that to sound good, aren't you?" Hermione said shaking her head as she tried to tease him.

"I'm not just saying that," Ron said looking at her seriously. "Like I said Mione, I didn't feel that way at the time. I was bloody happy that I actually got a girl, but I'm not the same person I was when I was in school. I've changed a lot since then and I can't help but wish that I waited until I found the right person like my parents did knowing they've only had each other. I think it has something to do with how they reacted after the w… everything that happened … they were so strong together … they were able to pull through that and help us too. I admire them so much for that."

"And you think that being with only one woman would make that connection stronger?" Hermione said softly and he nodded his head. "I don't think that's what's important."

"You don't," Ron said and was relieved that she felt that way. "I guess I always knew that, but I still regret what happened sometimes."

"You shouldn't regret your past decisions or actions, they've made you into the man you are today," Hermione smiled at him.

"Wow, you're quite good at that," Ron laughed. "I feel better already, though I'm not sure you'll approve of my other actions."

"Other actions?" Hermione questioned with a raised eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"After everything that happened, I used to get drunk a lot, especially the first year," Ron sighed, he hated some of his actions when he was grieving for his brothers (and for what happened to Ginny and Harry). Then he remembered what she just told him about her arsehole boyfriend and added, "I don't get drunk like that anymore …"

"Ron, it's okay … I'm okay," Hermione said making sure that he believed her, it never even occurred to her to be bothered that he mentioned getting drunk, especially in the context that they were talking about, but she knew that he would never react like Mark had.

Ron still didn't feel comfortable saying this part, but he continued anyways, "I got really hammered one night and the next morning I woke up with a girl, Erin Walker, and all I could remember was that she liked to play chess … I really loathe myself for that …"

"You were grieving," Hermione said sadly.

"I tried to make it work with Erin, force a relationship you know," Ron went on, "but it didn't take long before it was obvious that it wouldn't work. Even though she was beautiful and charming, there wasn't anything we had in common. I probably wouldn't have felt so bad about this if it was a one off. If I had learned my lesson, but I didn't. The same thing happened about two months later, but Jessica wasn't looking for a relationship, just a quick shag. I hated it, hated that I used her to make myself feel better and was glad that she didn't want me. The only good thing that came of that was that I stopped drinking so much … I didn't like the person I was becoming."

"So, you made the right choice," Hermione said. "See, you learned."

"At bit," Ron said, thinking that he had still gone to pubs after that, he just made sure he didn't get too plastered. Of course, his tolerance level had seemed to increase after a while until he had started drinking too much again … minus the shagging random girls. "But not really, I still drank a lot and if it wasn't for Harry, I would probably still be going to pubs now."

"Why are you so determined to make me upset with you?" Hermione said. "Making yourself sound worse than you are?"

"Maybe I'm not, I can be a drunken idiot like the next guy," Ron sighed. "And I make a lot of mistakes and I'm a slow learner …"

"And you're human, just like I am," Hermione said. "It seems like your other relationships started out fast and burned quickly, it might be nice to go slower."

"I'm not sure I'd really call this slower," Ron said squeezing her to him, it was true they haven't gone very far physically but things seemed to be moving more quickly in all the other aspects of their relationship.

"So, was that it, or do you have any more girlfriends you want to tell me about," Hermione ignored him.

"No more girlfriends but …" Ron started slowly, he was worried about how she was going to take what he had to say next. "Lav and I have … rebounded a few times."

"I see," Hermione said noticing his tone and looking at him closely, "and what does that mean?"

"Whenever we're both single, which for my part was all the time, well, … er … we would enjoy each other's company," Ron said wishing he could have thought of a better way of saying that.

"So, every once in a while, you shag your old girlfriend," Hermione summed up for him, bothered by this more than anything else he told her.

"It's only happened a few times in the last two years," Ron said defensively. "And I've seen her loads of times and we're just friends … we actually became pretty good friends after school … I swear it just happened when we needed each other."

"She's your safety net … in case no real relationship works out," Hermione said sadly.

"I think I'm more hers," Ron said thoughtfully (that didn't really make Hermione feel any better, but she wasn't sure why). He never really gave his post school relationship with Lavender much thought, he just viewed it as helping a friend during a difficult time and having a good time while he was at it. However, Hermione was right, she was some sort of safety net for him, knowing that if he hit a certain age and he wanted to settle down and start a family that he would be happy enough with her.

Of course, now that he had met Hermione, he knew that could never be true. He knew what it felt like to have real feelings now, he wasn't going to settle for anything less. "That's probably not a healthy relationship or friendship, is it?"

"I never understood the whole friends with benefits concept," Hermione sighed (Ron was confused by the term she used but didn't say anything). "But I can't judge if it works for you."

"I don't think it will be working for me any longer," Ron smiled at her, "now that I've found you."

"I was hoping you would say something like that," Hermione smiled, not looking at him because she didn't want him to see how this situation still affected her. Would he see Lavender again if our relationship ended? She worried.

They stayed like that until it was lunchtime, when they enjoyed some sandwiches before it was time for Ron to leave. Hermione had to study for her classes, and she couldn't put it off any longer (she was starting to fall behind and she didn't want her grades to suffer). Though Ron didn't leave before they made plans to meet again on Tuesday when they would go to a quaint little restaurant that was one of Hermione's favorites. Ron had even joked that he should pay at the restaurant this time seeing as Hermione had provided breakfast and lunch, but she just shook her head at that comment.

A/N: So, the next post will be on Monday, and the next chapter is the first one that is all new material.

On a completely random note, I just wanted to say that I am a few chapters ahead and the more I get into rewriting this fic, the more I think of the two different anime series of Fruit Basket. How they are the same story, but the first one seems to be a comedy with drama in it, and the second (much longer) one seems to be a drama with comedy in it. That's sort of how I feel about this fic. I know when I wrote the original, I liked the humor I found in most of the chapters. Now, when I'm rewriting this, I seemed to be putting in more drama than anything else. Well, anyways, hope you like it.