Author's Note: Hi everyone! Here's another chapter of the story. Shortier than the previous ones, this one really doesn't go further with the plot- maybe only a tad bit- but I wanted to write such a chapter only to show the re-introduction of sorts between Hermione and 'human-Ron'; it contains some fluff- or mild fluff, I can't tell for sure- and at some points, Hermione may be a tiny bit OOC- not entirely sure of it, as well; I guess that depends on everyone's perspective. As for Ron, remember: he is not exactly that Ron that Rowling was referring to; this Ron lived during the 18th century, was grown up with different beliefs and manners... so if he seems at times- many times, but not at ALL times- too much gentle or kind or MILD, for goodness's sake, this is just him, because he grew up under different circumstances. I really try, to be honest, to give him moments that will be as much as feasible closer to the original Ron, but frankly, that's not always obtainable in this fic; that's one of the 'characteristics' of this story... Either way, I still hope you all like this chapter, more or less...
And I'll just let you read now... Enjoy! :)
~The Blue-eyed Spirit~
The Wonderful Unreal of Reality
Even though I feel my head quite heavy, slightly drowning in dizziness, I manage, ever so slowly, to open my eyelids, so a blurred image of my surroundings will present to me. At first, all I can make out is the semi-darkness of the room, stained only by the lovely gleams of some candles or oil lamps- for that I'm not sure- and some whiteness that should be explained as a visible part of the ceiling; right now, I fully decipher my horizontal state, as well as the agreeable softness of a pillow and a mattress. But then, as my sight regains more and more focus, another, so pleasant sight comes into a view:
The serene, smiling, pale face of an already-so-familiar angel that is staring down at me…
"R-Ronald?" I croak out, my voice, embarrassingly so, hoarse like unused for months, weak like it shouldn't be; Ron just smiles wider down to me and I'm quite certain that I hear a so soft chuckle coming from his throat as well.
"Are you any better now?" he asks me gently, his big, lively eyes never leaving me from their sight. "You got me quite scared back then, if you want my honesty…"
I sigh at his words as I feel my cheeks getting warmer under his gaze and due to the meaning of his saying; I know it is Ron, who knows me better than anyone, but having him around in flesh, all of the sudden, just like that, and with our very first meeting of sorts leading to my fainting, I can admit that I feel quite humiliated…
I try to sit up on what seems to be my bed, but as the sudden motion succeeds on staining my vision with dizzying, black spots all over, I think again of it; Ron seems to think along these lines, as well, as I instantly feel his warm, soft hand touching gently my shoulder, kindly pushing me back down to the softness of the mattress.
"You shouldn't make any abrupt moves just now; you should just lie down for a bit, rest some," he advises smoothly, his eyes caring, yet quite serious, so very bright as the casts of the candles' light are mirroring and playing on his sapphire orbs. I look at him carefully, absorbing with all I have every little detail of his characteristics, of his genuine beauty.
"I'm already better," I say out loud to him, even though I know somehow that the pair of us understand that my statement isn't that solid; Ron just smiles soothingly down to me, for a moment just sitting silently next to me and watching me. Then, as soft as a whisper, I feel foreign skin caressing my temple with utmost tenderness that warms my body calmingly, wonderfully. But suddenly, ever so suddenly, as I'm savouring the peace of the most precious moment while drowning in the smoothness of my bed, curio pops into my mind and my eyes, which all the while were steadily drooping close, snap open with wonder.
"How, for the love of Merlin's wisdom, did you manage to come here, to enter the Heads' Tower? How did you know the password, how-?" I start spilling out my made-in-the-process questions to him, momentarily unable to see his reactions to my, most probably incredulous rambling; a moment later, though, he chuckles gently and cuts me off.
"Calm down, Hermione," he tells me kindly, and I somehow manage to do so- I suspect that it has solely to do with the way my name comes out from his flawless lips. "It is not difficult for me to know what's on your mind, my beauty… I practically lived in your mind and heart for three-or-so years, so it was not that hard for me to know the password…" he explains calmly while having a quite humorous beam on his pale face; at the words, I feel my own face getting pinker than before, just because I realize the full meaning of his few words- my heart begins to beat a tad faster… "Besides, it was bound to happen, me knowing the password; I'm the Head Boy, after all."
Well, these words manage to bring a shock bigger than the previous one. "You… You are—Head B-Boy?"
His smile widens in so naïve glee. "Yes, that is my other, little surprise to you, I guess… You know, when I came to Dumbledore, asking him if I could possibly attend Hogwarts for my last year, I shown him my teacher's feedback and he thought that, as my academic performance, per se, was so good, I ought to become the year's Head Boy… let me share with you, though, my high suspicions of Dumbledore might know, in a way, about… about the reason of my presence here."
Well, that manages to bring a whole new meaning to the word 'shock' for me. "What?"
"Dear, Albus Dumbledore is known for his tremendous intelligence and wisdom, isn't he? However bizarre it is, I won't really be astonished if he realizes, more or less, the reason I asked to come here, or that, in fact, the whole stack of papers I shown him a few days ago is just a pile of bewitched, old newspapers…" Ron speaks softly, his eyes more serious as he explains to me his logical thoughts. At that, I can't help it but nod at him, knowing that, however eerie it is, it isn't that impossible for Dumbledore to recognize the truth…
Oh, I think I'm blushing even harder now, comprehending fully that Dumbledore chose Ron as the year's Head Boy, only to… spend more time with me…
"Do you a need a glass of water, Hermione?" Ron asks me gently, his eyes showing a bit of concern in their shimmering depths. "You seem a lit bit flushed at the moment."
"Oh, no, I'm certainly alright, thank you, Ron," I rush and he nods in understanding, all the while giving me a tiny, so sweet smile; at that I unconsciously sigh and Ron chuckles good-naturedly.
"I really think that you should get some proper rest, now; it's already getting late and you should be bright and fresh for tomorrow, am I right?" he suggests softly and after a minute moment of his fingertips touching my cheek- and I'm sure I feel a shiver all the way through my spine at that- he stands up from his seat on my bed, already taking his departure.
"Ron, wait!" I exclaim as I watch his hand resting on the doorknob, as I feel my heart kicking wildly my ribs in protest of his unbearable, soon-to-be absence. At my comment, he turns around fast, looking at me with wide eyes.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" he asks earnestly. I stare at him for a moment, feeling all warm and safe in his presence, but still so very hesitant about what I'm thinking of asking him.
"Could… Could you please sleep with me tonight?" I mutter shyly, quite afraid right now of his most probable rejection. I close my eyelids tightly, waiting…
"If that's what you want, of course, my dear Hermione," he replies nobly, making my eyes snap open in both astonishment and pure happiness. "Just let me go and wear my nightwear and then I'll keep you company for the night, maybe embrace you goodnight?" He smiles kindheartedly and I cannot fight the identical smile on my own lips.
"That would be lovely… Thank you, Ron."
"Always in your services, milady," he says and bows a bit, the motion not one of mockery, but one of honest truth and care.
And as he leaves for his own room, I cannot help but grinning, knowing that, at long last, I'll hear his lovely response to my goodnight wishes after so many days of near deafness…
…
"So, tell me, what do you think of Hogwarts so far?"
The particular question teased the tip of my tongue since the moment my brain cells fully realized that Ron had set foot on Hogwarts. And right now, as another day of classes became past, I'm sitting with Ron under a willow tree just next to the lake, simply enjoying the last few good days of the early autumn, as well as the newly found company of each other. I turn my head around to look up at him, also admiring his handsome profile. A second later, he turns around as well, his whole face lightning up with the most angelic of smiles.
"Well, it certainly provides the right amount of hospitality and warmth, without really losing its air of a proper academy…" Ron replies slowly, his eyes wandering at the huge, light blue expand of the lake, only he knowing what he's thinking about. "It is just as perfect as you always mentioned it, Hermione…" he muses further and I feel his right hand gradually moving towards mine, long fingers ever so slowly covering inch by inch the expand of my hand's skin, caressing it with care that resembles the loyalty of a faithful man on a holy temple… I feel warmer and more blessed than ever as I intertwine our fingers, long and small, in a blissful bond.
"You've never been to Hogwarts before…" I say out loud after a moment, my words more of a statement rather than a question towards Ron; despite that, he nods in response, waiting for me to continue patiently. "So, have you been educated by a private teacher?"
"Yes, all of my siblings and I studied magic at home; Mum and Dad used to teach us lots of the essentials, but there were also a couple of professors coming home and completing what our parents were doing… It was quite alright for all of us and we certainly learnt a lot."
"And what about friends?" I ask further, very fascinated to dip deeper and deeper to a whole new world, one that's barely discovered before now. "I mean, you didn't attend to a school, so how did you manage to make some?"
"Oh, but there was quite the bunch of children at our little town, and we knew each and every one of them, befriended them, spent a lot of time with them… Actually, I don't believe that there was any child that was left out by all the others; more or less, we all were a big companionship, and very happy to be so." Ron tells me casually as he lets the back of his head rest on the hard of the old tree, his eyes momentarily cast up towards the swaying leafage. I sit here, right next to him, all silent in fears of ruining one of the most serene moments I've ever lived, and I observe his face, all pale, freckly and peaceful, his eyes big, blue and so innocent that for a moment I am wondering if there is a chance, somehow, for him to slip into this reminisced time of childhood, body and soul. Seconds, moments, minutes, only God knows how much time passes before us in that complete stillness of everything, yet I don't really mind, and Ron seems to feel exactly the same, as our hands are entwined, as his thump is ever so slowly caressing my hand and wrist, as my head is slowly leaning to eventually rest on his shoulder, a motion that he doesn't seem to mind, but quite the opposite, as he takes our bonded hands to rest on his lap, thus now both of his hands are able to touch, to praise really, my so delighted skin.
Is this Heaven? I wouldn't be surprised if it actually was.
After another period of unknown time, I suddenly part my lips, even though the voice comes out from them slow, unhurried, not wanting to disturb the still of the nature.
"Please, tell me more about yourself, your life before… I never really had the chance to see this part of you…"
Ron remains silent for a second, even though his fingers are still stroking on my hand. "I will tell you, Hermione, of course I will, but today is not a day for sharing all those things… is that alright with you?" he says lowly to me and then he asks that little question to me with such hesitation that I can only smile brightly at his abrupt coyness and sort of self-conscience.
"Of course, Ron; whenever you're ready," I reassure him gently, still smiling to him to show him that I'm completely alright with it. As a response, Ron smiles at me in return, squeezes my hand lightly and then, without really expecting it, he dips his head a bit, so his lips would rest and kiss my head; the action, even though simple enough, manages successfully to make my little heart all hyperactive and giddy again.
After more moments of silence between us, Ron speaks once again: "What do you think of going back to the castle, find the required books in the library and then go to our dormitories, sit by the fire and do that Herbology essay?"
My head turns around to face him abruptly, as I'm quite unsure that I've just heard him correctly… He… He wants to do homework… willingly? Harry never wants to do that, if not absolutely necessary! No one I can think of right now really wants to- maybe with the exception of some Ravenclaws! And Ron right now—
"Have you just suggested for us to go and do homework?" I ask him instantly, some teasing disbelief lacing my voice, one eyebrow unconsciously shot up on my forehead; Ron just chuckles with mirth as he looks down to me.
"Yes, that's right… but only if you want to…" he tells me back, some teasing in his tone, as well; I cannot help but laugh quite loudly at that.
"So… So you're completely serious?"
"Absolutely- why shouldn't I be?" At his incredulous tone, I laugh more and the corners of his lips seem to twist a bit upwards at it.
"Oh-Oh, Ron…" I manage somehow to choke out in between my quite unreasonable, yet utterly welcomed, hysterics. "You are from another world!"
"Don't I know?" he exhales with a good laugh, looking at me and slightly shaking his head good-naturedly; then, we both lose it, laughing quite hard, almost doubling over and shed tears of glee; it's totally absurd, yes, but still amazing.
"C-Come, on, let's go then!" I exclaim through my fits of still alive giggles, and I stand up upright, dragging along with my hand a slightly-more-composed Ron. He chuckles at my somewhat childish antics, but he lets me drag him along behind him, as I run with whatever energy I have within towards the castle, way too glad due to the oncoming study session. "My quill feels surely neglected!"
Ron chuckles again and throws at me the brightest of smiles, gleaming on both his lips and eyes. "Then we should hurry and go keep it warm and safe."
"Yeah!" I cry out victoriously, now totally sure that I'm drunk from bliss and giddiness as I raise our bonded hands and arms up in the air, just to make a ridiculous point. For a moment, I think of how this behaviour must seem from the outside, all silly and childish, maybe even improper, but then, I shake my head and smile to myself, as I still feel the sensation of Ron's warm skin making contact with mine, as the sweet scent of apples and earth radiating from him fills constantly my lungs now…
I don't mind it one bit; I'm finally free.
…
The feel of the fire's heat stroking my skin, even through my clothes, is quite relaxing in the course of the quite chill night. After finishing effectively with our essays- which, for once, was not only that slightly stressful procedure, but quite of fun, as well- Ron gently dragged me down to the Great Hall for dinner- "Hermione, you should not forget about your biological needs at all- it's very unhealthy," he specifically said as we were passing the portrait of our dormitories- and after having yet again another delicious meal- with me talking to Harry, who was sitting just besides me, all the while Ron was all silent again, eating slowly and observing around with these huge, tranquilly azure eyes and that small, serene smile of his that seemed to make some shifting in their seats, for some reason. Then, as we both swallowed our last forkfuls of apple pie and I bid my goodnights around, we took our departure together, surely heading back to our common room of sorts; and that's where we are right now, comfortably sitting on the sofa, me resting happily in between Ron's long, bended legs, my back facing him as I enjoy the company of a good book and the sensation of Ron's long, slender fingers on my hair. Of course, his question was so very unexpected, but when spelled out with such gentleness and warm smoothness, the answer from my part was predictable:
"Do you want me to braid your hair?"
"Yes."
"You don't have to stop with your light reading; just let me take care of you."
And that's how the present finds me, sitting with Ron by the fire, with him stroking, brushing, styling my untamed curls all the while I read my book and suck with unnamed-for greed all the delightful sensations this man, somehow, manages to bring abundantly to me.
My heart flutters again and I sigh happily.
"All right there, Hermione?" Ron whispers to me softly as his fingers divide my hair to equal parts. I smile to myself before answering.
"Oh, yes, I'm great, and frankly, you should take the credit for that," I whisper back to him in a quite conspiratorial tone that makes him laugh for a second- even shake his head a bit.
"I'm glad that my modest tries to please you are so fruitful," he replies casually as his fingers are slowly, with careful precision, pulling my strands of hair in an attempt to make a braid. "Not too hard, I hope?"
"Oh, no, not at all- I am already fond of it, if I'd like to be honest with you and myself." And surely enough, I feel my face getting a bit hotter, and surely not due to the balmy waves fire sends our way…
Ron breathes another gentle laughter, and I'm not entirely sure if I should be reassured or embarrassed with it… but then again, this is Ron, the spirit I know for so long, so I don't believe there's any need to fret with trivial worries such as this one; the only thing that I should probably consider more seriously is how breathtaking- quite literally- his laughter is…
And right then, as I feel another gentle pull of his hands, another shivering stroke, the question pops in my mind:
"Ron, how come you know how to braid hair? It is fantastic, yet still astounding…"
Ron soundlessly strokes my hair for a moment or two, to the point that I vividly think for a second that he is possibly so absorbed in his motions that he didn't really hear me. But as I'm about to repeat my question, he speaks, voice as soft and velvety as the air during sunset:
"Nothing too spectacular, I'm afraid… I just loved- and still do during these days- observing everything around, especially the ways other people moved around me, how they worked, how they behaved… When little, I liked watching my mother braiding my sister's hair, a favourite pastime for both of them, and when time given, for reasons still quite inexplicable, I didn't want to miss it for anything in the entire world… I was observing my mother's motions very carefully, the way her wrists and fingers moved with perfection and care, how much strength she put in her hands, the right amount of gentleness and affection she put in the particular endeavor… It was so flawlessly natural and stunning, like from that little touch all the love existent in the universe steamed contentedly, whole-heartedly and embraced us… just because you offer to do such a little thing, or gladly accept to do it because it is just as lovely for you, a little way to show how much you care without using words… And, you know, as a little child, I was certainly overwhelmed with it, and then determined to learn, just by watching, how to do it myself. In the next years, I offered my services to my sister a few times and I can humbly say that her smile was a big enough of a thanking gesture, in return…"
His words are underlined in the end with a tiny, almost inaudible sigh and after that, Ron decides to continue with his little doing. But, honestly, this time his fingers pull my attention quite less, not because they are less gentle or something, but just because the silky movements of his are now perfectly blended with the still alive echoes of his so grand words, words truly poetic, spoken with utter care and sincerity, washed with the fondness and the purity that, somehow awesomely, managed to remain intact during these eons that Ron's spirit also managed to remain alive like a spark… It is all here, a simple act of God that shouldn't ever be hidden or forgotten, because acts or words like these must be the ones that make the world go still round.
My eyes, surely enough, are drowning in my slowly-produced tears, as my bottom lip is starting to quiver a bit. I bit it, then a bit harder, as I don't want to ruin the perfect atmosphere around us with my silly sentimentalism…
…but the tinniest of sobs comes out.
"Hermione, are you alright, dear? Did I pull your hair too hard this time?" Ron asks me the instant he catches my little sob, his voice still smooth, yet doubtlessly interlaced with some level of concern; I shake my head for a moment before managing to reply to him.
"No, of course not; it's just… y-your words, they really got me…" I whisper to him, my own voice drowned in heavy emotion that right now I cannot wholly tame. "They… They were beautiful…"
For a millisecond, or it's just me, I feel Ron's hands freeze in between my locks of hair. Then, he softly resumes his gentle procedure, all the while I sense his body heat engulfing me more now, coming closer to me, till it almost reaches me and touches me…
His lips, warm and silky, kiss my temple tenderly, so my heart eagerly jumps in the ocean of ecstasy and my mind drowns in the enormity of blissful daydreaming. His lips then pull away just a millmetre, so they only brush my skin faintly, and I can feel them then pull apart, in the course of freeing words I'm confident will take my breath away.
"No, you are beautiful and the universe around you just because of the very same reason… My words are just the outcome of my tremendous fortune, the inspiration that naturally steams when I sense you next to me… You and your love is all I need, Hermione, to be me… and that is the reason I came here, nothing else."
My heart bursts with the vastness of a bliss and a love I never expected to savour in my early years; when grown up with reason as your very best company, with logic and sensibility to be your faithful followers in life, you do not surely underestimate the power of sentiment- especially of one as powerful as love-, but you, without doubt, do not expect it to be a ruler of your life, you do not believe in it being the little something that makes everything right and complete in you.
Yet, as I am here, in the middle of the Head Prefects' common room, I realize just once more, and in the most wonderful way possible, how much love really means, how it makes everything just right and complete.
I try to take a deep breath, just to compose myself, so I won't ruin one of the most beautiful moments in my still unrolling life; Ron, being the kind spirit he always is, wraps one arm around me, the other's hand stroking slowly the top of my head. With the feeling of his body close to me, actually touching me, and with that familiar, faint scent of his in my nostrils, I manage to gather my wits easily, to become calm and stable again, in a way that Ron somehow manages to do many times… I wouldn't be surprised if he actually put his hand for it to happen…
When eventually composed, I let that huge breath leave the bounds of my body, so another one- one of almost revival, really- will fill my lungs to the top. As the light gasp of the inhalation echoes slightly in the air around us, I feel Ron shifting a bit in his seat, so he sits slightly next to me right now, facing me with his ever calm eyes- I don't hesitate this time to look back at him.
He smiles encouragingly to me and his eyes light up more than the sun itself. I smile myself, the sight of his face comforting and utterly soothing to the heart and to the soul- it is beautiful. Then, his hand comes up to rest on my face, the fingers, ever so slowly, rub my skin so the few droplets of my emotional overreaction will disappear. The sensation of his skin on mine never ceases to bring sweet tachycardia to me, another reaction of the body that I come to handle easily now, especially when he looks effortlessly so deep into my eyes, making me feel not uncomfortable, but loved and serene like always.
"I love you."
And with these three words breathed by him, I feel perfect and complete, almost invincible.
"I love you too," I whisper to him, meaning the words with all my heart since I came to understand every little drop of them; his beam, in response, is more than heavenly.
He dips his head slowly then, so he can rest his lips, balmy silk, on my forehead, just above my eyebrow; I feel light, I feel like I'm the air, I'm the earth, like I'm everything, and Ron is always bonded, blended with me…
"Let me finish that braid of yours, while you relax," Ron says then, cherishing me yet again with another dazzling smile of his; I smile back at him and nod, closing my eyes so I can drown more easily to the sea of emotions and sensations. The softness of his gentle pulls and strokes on my hair is amazing, giving faint shivers all over my spine and body, giving me a kind of peaceful energy I never knew it existed before- it's ideal and I start humming with pleasure.
"You hum?" Ron asks with curiosity, a kind humour blending nicely with it. I laugh slightly and nod.
"Oh, yes, when I feel warm and relaxed… almost sleepy…" I realize further in the end, as a little yawn threatens to make an appearance.
"Then, sleep- I surely do not mind," Ron tells me casually as he keeps on braiding my hair, lower and lower in my back. "I'll just keep making your hair."
"Alright then," I whisper back to him, as that toasty, so sweet sensation is already pulling me down, to a softer, nicer place, where I still keep curling in between his arms. Blackness surely engulfs me, but this dark is nice, velvety, soothing to the spirits and the tired mind…
Everything is just right, especially when the last words before dipping completely in the warmth of black are coming from that silky voice…
"Goodnight, my beauty."
-So, I really, really hope you all liked it. Really, these were just some sweet moments between them, with a bit of explaining in the beginning... but still anyway, something I'm quite glad I wrote!
-And, of course, this is the beloved time when you all press that little button and leave your so worthy REVIEWS! Reviews are love, as some say, and certainly, I wouldn't mind some from you all! :)
-Thank you for following me so far; I'll try to upload the next one pretty soon, as well, but not promises made, as my internet service is quite screwed at the time being... Wish me luck with that and I really hope I'll "see" you all soon... :)