QL, Wanderers, Beater 1, Round 5.

Theme: Use a title from Beater 2 as a stimulus [Meant to be]

Prompts:

7. (quote) I loved you the same way I learned to ride a bike- scared, but reckless. - Rudy Francisco

8. (idiom) every cloud has a silver lining

11. (dialogue) "I should have told you sooner."

THC, Hufflepuff, Year 1, Round 2.

Prompt:

[Action] Drinking

Category: Standard

Word Count: 1183

Betas: Aya

Meant To Be is not always Meant To Be

Ron Weasley poured some water into his mouth, swished it, and then swallowed. It had been a stressful morning. His throat was dry from all of the talking he had just been forced to participate in. George's decision regarding his store was turning a lot of heads. All of the Weasley's were happy and proud with his decision, but the world wasn't quite ready for such an inspired and creative idea.

As the twenty-four-year-old took another swig of water, a sound stopped him. Laughter. Not just any laughter, though. It was Hermione.

Ron found himself staring across the street at her. They hadn't seen each other much over the last five years – that was something he still regretted. She was probably still waiting for him to grow up. Five years was a long time to hold a grudge.

The curly blond hair of the young boy on her shoulders was the next thing that caught his attention; a huge smile filled his features too. He was almost an exact copy of his mother.

She looked so happy. Ron always liked her smile and her laugh – he wished he'd told her that.

The sound of her laughter filled the street. The fact that Malfoy of all people managed to ignite such a lovely sound from her was saying something.

Ron took one more sip of his water before walking across the street and over to the trio. He mentally hoped he wouldn't be instantly dismissed. "'Mione…" he started, the rest of the words falling out of his mind.

"Ron," she replied, a hint of surprise to her tone. "How have you been?"

"I've been good… great. You?"

"I've been well, thank you. What brings you to—"

"Visiting George."

Hermione looked over at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and smiled. "Yes. I heard about his decision to extend this store and expand the company into helping disadvantaged children to afford wizarding supplies instead of opening a second shop. That is very admirable."

"Yeah, he's doing that," Ron replied lamely. He took a look at Malfoy who was standing there silently, and then up at their child who was just staring – more like glaring – at him. "I should let you go." Without waiting for her response he turned away as he decided which direction to go.

"No, Ron. Let's talk," Hermione interrupted. "We should catch up."

Ron heeded orders and turned back to face her in time to see Draco take the boy.

"I'll see you at home," the former enemy said to his former girlfriend.

Hermione nodded, her hand softly touching his arm before the blond left and she turned her attention back to him. That encounter alone showed Ron exactly how happy she was with him. "Let's sit down somewhere."

Ron nodded and pointed to a new cafe.

It took them just over three minutes to sit down, her with a hot chocolate, and him with a butterbeer.

The silence was starting to become awkward in his opinion but he'd expected Hermione to know exactly what to say. When the seconds started to mount up, he decided to start the conversation. "I hear you're in the running for Minister for Magic! I always knew you'd accomplish something great."

"Thank you. It has been a whirlwind lately with everything going on. Having been Deputy for a short amount of time I had expected them to instantly go for somebody with more experience. I wasn't originally going to apply but Draco insisted. The amount of support I have received has been overwhelmingly positive."

"You are incredible. I should have told you sooner but I figured you already knew," Ron said with a small joking smile.

Hermione let out a laugh, not as enthusiastic as the one she had with Malfoy, but it was genuine. "Thanks. I hear you're excelling in your career and family."

"Great job, great family. My daughters around the same age as your son, and we've got one on the way. Mum's really happy to get another grandchild."

"I bet! How is Molly?"

Ron grinned. "She's great! You should pop over at some point, she'd love to see you. Everybody would."

Hermione's expression dulled slightly. "Yeah. Maybe."

Now was the time to say what he should have said ages ago. No point chickening out now. "'Mione… I know that we didn't quite work together. We had so much history. Passion. A great connection. I don't think I can even pinpoint why we didn't work or how we managed to ruin our friendship at the same time. Could have been my fault, it makes sense if it was. Maybe we just weren't meant to be. I loved you… so much. More than I could even comprehend at that age. Too many emotions for… somebody with the emotional level of a teaspoon." He paused and took a breath as she laughed. "I've realised though, seeing how happy you are, that I'm glad we didn't work out. I'm glad I was too scared to truly let me feel and fight for you. You have Malfoy as a husband, which would have been a nightmare in school, but it's a reality. Somehow he is right for you because you're better than ever. Us not working and breaking up caused you to do what you needed to do to work your way up in the Ministry, find the love of your life, and have an amazing son who looks just like you. So… while I think we would have been happy and had a fantastic life together had we remained together, it's a good thing we didn't."

Hermione wiped a single tear away as she looked at him with watery eyes. "You're incredible, you know that? When did you become such a great speaker?"

"Practice, I guess?" Ron shrugged.

"I've really missed you," Hermione admitted. "I should have written you a letter… well, sent one of the letters I wrote… or visited you."

"It's all in the past."

Hermione let out a watery laugh. "Not all of it. I don't want our friendship to be in the past. Do you think we could find that again?"

Ron pretended to think and took his time taking a drink of butterbeer. "Hmm…" he verbalised as he set the glass down. "Yeah, I know exactly where to find it." He stood up and opened his arms. It felt so right when she stood up and hugged him. They weren't meant to date, but they were meant to be friends.

"'Mione?"

"Yeah."

"Now that we're friends again. Can you tell me what happened between you and Ginny?"

Hermione let go of him and stood back, a hesitant look on her face. "That's a really long story…"

Ron sat back down at the same time she did. "I don't have anywhere to be for a while."

It took her a few moments before she nodded. "Alright. Don't be mad."

That wasn't how he expected her explanation to start, but that wasn't the most shocking part either. Looks like there was a lot more repairing to do than just their friendship.