If Ron was shocked to find Hermione at his bedside in the hospital wing, he did not show it. If anything Ron looked rather pleased that he and Hermione were friends again and so did Hermione. Even Lavender’s insistent nagging at breakfast did not dampen his mood.
Hermione seemed to be in such a good mood that she even consented to look over (in other words, finish writing) Harry’s herbology essay, something she had been resolutely refusing to do up to that point, because she had known that harry would then let Ron copy his work.
“Thanks a lot, Hermione” said Harry, “Listen, I’ve got to hurry or I’ll be late for Dumbledore.” and with that Harry was gone.
And Hermione was left alone.
Hermione was left alone with Ron.
Hermione was left alone with Ron, for the first time in months.
Hermione was left alone with Ron, for the first time in months. And she was happy about it.
“Do you want me to look over your essay too?” Hermione asked breaking Ron out of his trance.
“No,” Ron started before adding sheepishly “Thanks for offering though.”
‘You’ve already done it?” Hermione asked shocked.
“No, but I recon I can get away with not doing it considering that I was recently poisoned by another teacher!” Ron said before laughing quietly.
“Ron that’s not something to joke about!”
“Why not!?”
“You could have died!”
“But I didn’t-“
“But you could’ve!” Hermione practically screamed as a tear slid down her face.
“Hey, come ‘ere.” And with that Ron wrapped Hermione in a hug, their first hug in months. “Look I’m still here aren’t I?”
“I thought-“ Hermione started.
“Well for you once you thought wrong.” Ron said still holding onto Hermione.
“Ron, you know when you were asleep?” Hermione started now looking into his eyes. “there was a moment when I thought you said my na-“
At this the portrait hole swung open and in came Lavender. Once Ron caught sight of this he quickly let go of Hermione.
“Of course you’re here with her!” She screeched before marching towards the girls staircase and disappearing.
“Mione, what were you saying?” Ron said turning back towards her.
“Nothing-“
“Hermione-“
“Nothing! I actually think that I’m gonna go for a walk, you know get some fresh air before bed!” And with that Hermione was climbing out of the portrait hole. Much to her surprise she didn’t get far before her thoughts were interrupted.
“Hey wait up!” Ron called as he jogged after her.
“What are you doing?”
“Going for a walk.” Ron replied trying to appear innocent. “Nice night for a walk” he added for extra effect.
So the pair walked in uncomfortable silence, through the corridors, past the courtyard and down to the lake. This time it was Ron to break the silence.
“About what you were saying before..” Ron started before Hermione flushed with anger.
“Ron-“
“About me being asleep-“
“So do you still like her then? Hermione suddenly blurted.
His eyebrows furrowed together like that was the last the last thing he even thought Hermione would say, which was fair because Hermione was also shocked at her own words.
Ron swallowed “Lavender is great.”
“Oh” Hermione squeaked trying, and failing, to show her disappointment. “Well, great. I think it’s time we head back.”
She took a step around Ron, before he grabbed her arm and stopped her.
“That’s it? I have to answer your questions but you’re not going to explain what all if that was?”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“It might.”
“It doesn’t, okay?” Hermione said firmly. “It doesn’t matter that I thought I heard something, and it doesn’t matter that these last few months have been hell without you. Harry is great, don’t get me wrong, he’s my best friend. But so are you and I missed you more than I ever thought I would, and in ways that I never thought I would. But it took me too long to figure that out, and now you’ve got Lavender.”
He opened his mouth but Hermione shook her head.
“No. It’s fine-I get it. She’s flawless and sweet and as much as I hate to say it, you deserve someone like her, because I was wrong. You are the good stuff.”
Ron scratched his chin and looked towards the lake before settling his eyes on Hermione and said. “That’s not the only thing you’re wrong about.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“You’re wrong about Lavender. She’s not flawless.”
“Seriously Ronald! No one is totally flawless- it was a hyperbole!” Hermione exclaimed. “She’s super close, though.” Hermione added quietly this time.
“I suppose.”
“You suppose? What on earth could she possibly be lacking? Do you want bigger breasts or something? Is she not-“
“She’s not you.”
“What?” Hermione’s head was spinning.
“She's. Not. You.”
At this Hermione shut her mouth and looked at him unable to understand what he was saying, what it sounded like he was saying.
“She’s pretty, but her face doesn’t transform into sunlight when she talks about the newest thing she’s learned.” He clenched his jaw before continuing. “She’s funny, but not spit-out-your-drink-in-astonishment funny”
Hermione heart felt as if it was about to explode as Rons eyes travelled to her eyes.
“And when I see her, I don’t feel like I have to make her frustrated at me or do something-anything-to get her to swing that gaze on me”
“You haven’t said anything frustrating directly to me in months.”
“And it’s been killing me.”
Hermione just stared back at him.
“You don’t get it do you? It’s always been you.”
“But you and Lavender aren’t-“
“Nope. I ended it after lunch.”
“And what I said about you in the hospital wing?”
“I thought I dreamt it to be honest, your voice that is.”
“You often dream about my voice?” Hermione asked cheekily.
“Among other things about you -anyway- I felt rotten and I heard your voice, for the first time-“
“It was the first time I spoke that hour-“
“And I thought, well I was just so happy to hear your voice that I…”
“Said my name, in your sleep.”
“I don’t think sleep, more like drifting in and out of consciousness, but yeah.”
“Right.”
“And I truly thought it was a dream until Harry told me after Divination, honestly you should have seen the look on his face, that bastard. But it made me think you know? I must have been a sign!”
“A sign?”
“That I had to end things with Lavender and talk to you cause it was all wrong-she was all wrong for me.”
“Oh.” Hermione’s angry blush started to creep back. “Then why have you been aggressively trying to suck of her face for months!”
“I thought it was what you wanted…”
“And what possibly gave you that impression?”
“Well when I heard you kissed Krum-“
“WHAT-“
“Look alright, I got into this argument with Ginny after I caught her kissing Dean, and she went off on me about how I’m such a prude. And I’m only like this because I’d have never kissed anybody. And Harry kissed Cho and you kissed Krum but I had never kissed anybody.”
“But I didn’t even properly kiss Viktor! It was just a peck goodnight!”
“Well I didn’t know that’s what happened with you and Vicky. So when Lavender wanted to kiss me I thought -great finally I can kiss someone so I don’t make a fool of myself- and it was supposed to be this one time thing but then Lavender made it into this whole thing. And then you went to that Christmas party with Cormac!”
“What I really wanted was to go with you.”
“Well, you could’ve told me that-“
“I tried!”
“Well just seeing you in that dress with him made me want to punch Cormac right in the nose.”
“It did?”
“That’s not supposed to make you happy.” Ron chuckled.
And then Ron looked down at her with those blue eyes and it was over for her. Hermione launched herself at Ron finally kissing him. The kiss was breathless and wild and Hermione felt as if her brain had short circuited. She accidentally bit down too hard of Ron's lips causing them both to laugh, before realising that it was too hard to kiss while laughing.
“Do you realise we could’ve been doing this for years if you weren’t such a pain?”
“Nah- I didn’t realised that I liked you until I saw you in that gorgeous periwinkle dress at the Yule Ball.”
“You remember the colour of the dress?”
“I remember everything you tell me.”
“Kiss me.”
At those words the goofiest grin slid across Ron's face as he leaned in.
“Gladly.”