CHAPTER SIX - Truthfulness

As she watched Ron turn to leave, Hermione stood up quickly and yelled, "Ron, wait!"

"Uh, what?"

"Wait for me please, if that's ok? And can I have a favor?"

Slowly Hermione stood and she slowly walked over to Ron at the door. She wanted to take all the time with Ron she could as it was rare that they were ever alone together. Usually Luna was with Ron, so Hermione went as slowly as possible. When she got to Ron she looked up and gave a wistful smile.

"What do you need, Hermione? What favor do you need doing?"

Sheepishly she looked down at the ground and hesitated. She could feel herself starting to blush.

"Come on, it's ok, just let me know how I can help."

"Uhmm, Ron?" she asked in a small voice. "Can I have another hug? Would you just hold me for a moment and let me pretend we're together? It doesn't have to be long, and I know it's a bit weird to ask, but please?"

Ron turned toward her and opened his arms with a big smile. "C'mere you. Of course you can have a hug. I confess I liked our last hug a bit more than I probably should have. You're still my best friend in spite of all this and it would be nice to finish here on a good note."

Ron took a deep breath and continued, "I have to admit you're still beautiful and very desirable and amazing, and if Luna and I weren't together I'd probably be with you. I'm getting over how hurt I was by your comment, and Luna has helped me understand that sometimes you just don't know what you're doing, so it's ok, I'm ok, we're good."

Hermione stepped into Ron's embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in Ron's chest. Ron pulled her into himself and hugged her tightly. Hermione closed her eyes and treasured the warm safe feeling of being all ensconced by him, all while saying to herself if only…

After a time that Hermione thought was much too short, Ron loosened his arms and leaned in to place a soft kiss on her cheek. Not knowing what he was going to do, Hermione turned her head toward him just in time for Ron's lips to press against hers. After just a brief moment they both jumped apart both with shocked expressions on their faces.

Ron's surprise morphed into a grin and he looked at her as Hermione stood there in shocked silence. She then bristled when she heard Ron laugh.

"Well, that was unexpected. I meant to kiss your cheek, sorry, but I'm not really sorry, it was kinda nice."

Hermione stepped forward and whacked him on his arm. "Ron! You can't do that! What would Luna think? You can't just kiss me like that!"

Ron backed away rubbing his arm. "I know, I know, I know. It was an accident, ok? I think Luna will be amused when I tell her what happened. It's ok. I actually liked it, and I hope you did too."

"You can't tell her!"

"Of course I can. I think she'll be happy that we're getting along so well right now. She's been incredibly supportive of me and has been encouraging me to forgive you and for us to be best friends again, so she'll be fine, and like I said, we're completely truthful with each other."

Hermione shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Oh, Ron, why couldn't we be like that before? Why couldn't we be honest with each other? It's so much easier now to just be honest, like to confess that I really like you and that you used to really like me, and that you still have some feelings for me. Life would be so less stressful if we had just been honest about how we were feeling."

Ron rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and sighed. "Yeah, that's how we should have been, but now here we are and we can promise to be honest with each other as we go forward. We're good now Hermione, and I have to say, you've been much more positive and upbeat lately, and it's quite attractive and you're much more fun to be around, so thanks. Think about how you want to show love to the next bloke that comes along and maybe it will be less awkward for you."

"Oh Ron, I can't imagine there being anyone else, but ok, I will. Thanks again for checking on me Ronald, and I'll try to be ok seeing you with Luna, but I can't promise anything."

"That'd be great, anyway, it's lunch time, let's head down to the Great Hall, I'm starving!"

Ron and Hermione headed down together. Anyone observing would say that 'Ron and Hermione were friends again' as they talked and laughed while walking together.

Ron sat down next to Luna and gave her a quick peck on the lips as he smiled at her.

Luna kissed him back and smiled as well as she whispered to him. "It would appear that you and Hermione have restored your relationship and are best friends again. That makes me very happy. She's been your friend for too long and it would be a sad tale if it were to end."

Ron replied softly, "I will tell you all about it later, Lu. I'd love to go for a walk after lunch and talk with you about it all, I think you'll find it all interesting. I'm grateful you told me to go check on her. It was good for both of us to talk. You are a wonderful person Lu, and I love how you care for everyone, it just shows how special you are."

Luna just blushed and swatted his arm, "Oh Ronald."

Later that afternoon, Ron and Luna took their normal walk around the school grounds, heading toward the black lake. All the while they walked Ron recounted to Luna his conversation with Hermione. Luna told Ron that she was not surprised that Hermione was having trouble seeing them together, and as expected did laugh when Ron told her about the accidental kiss.

When they arrived at the lake, they both sat down with Ron leaning against a tree and Luna leaning back against his chest. Ron casually wrapped his arms around her and she settled against him with a sigh of contentment.

"Ron?"

"Yeah, Lu?"

"I'm glad that you and Hermione are back to being friends. It's important to keep your friends."

"Yeah, you're right as always. I'm glad you're so smart about these things. I'm glad you've taught me to be truthful all the time, it sure makes life easier, I'm glad Hermione and I agreed to be that way from now on, just like us."

Luna hesitated and asked with a troubled voice, "Uhm, Ron?"

Ron pulled Luna into him and then leaned forward to look in her eyes. He tried to convey all the concern that he could as he said, "Yeah, Lu, is everything ok?"

"Ron, you said that you told Hermione that you still had some feelings for her?"

"Yeah, I did, but I told her I was with you. I was trying to be truthful with not only her but myself as well. I said that I had loved her since third year and those feelings don't just disappear like that, but that I was with you, Lu. I'm with you, Lu, I am."

Ron leaned over and kissed Luna as best he could from behind. "I'm with you, Lu, and I'm grateful for all you've taught me and I love our time together. I love just sitting here holding you and your beautiful blonde hair and your beautiful blue eyes, and especially for how beautiful you are inside."

Luna kissed Ron back and snuggled in as best she could to his chest. "Oh Ronald."

They stayed there content for a good while just being together until Luna sat up and turned around to look at Ron. "But if I wasn't here, if we hadn't gotten together, would you be with her right now?"

Ron closed his eyes and leaned back, still holding onto Luna as best he could. "Well," he started. "If I'm being truthful,"

"Yes, please"

"I'd have to say probably, especially since she admitted that she's fancied me for a while and up until the time of that quidditch match I thought I was in love with her, so yeah, if I knew then what she told me today I would, but I'm not, I'm with you, and I'm glad to be with you."

Luna was silent for a few moments, before saying quietly, "but, you could see yourself with her, if I wasn't around, right?"

"I guess, but it doesn't matter. Like I said, I'm with you."

"But you could be with her?"

"Doesn't matter, I'm with you, and I want to be with you, Lu, and I hope you want to be with me."

Luna twisted around and threw her arms around Ron's neck and buried her face in his chest. Ron could see the beginnings of tears in her eyes. "Oh Ronald, I do want to be with you, but I'm afraid I'll lose you to her. You and I are just beginning, but you loved her for years! And now you know she wants you!"

Ron held onto Lu while his brain was spinning. He realized that he could be with Hermione if he chose, just as he had dreamed of for years. But Luna was here and she was pretty and gentle and soft and kind and she'd been such a comfort. But Hermione was brilliant and beautiful and passionate and exciting and challenging and he'd wanted her since third year and they'd gone through so much together.

Ron held onto Luna and tried his best to make her feel comfortable and safe, but he was no longer sure about anything.