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Hermione Jean Granger (athenas_pupil) wrote in unexpectedrpg,
@ 2008-07-28 19:52:00

Entry tags:

hermione granger, ronald weasley

Who: Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley
When: The evening of 28 January
Where: The Leaky Cauldron
Rating: PG-13 just to be safe
Status: Incomplete/Closed
Summary: Hermione and Ron meet after work to talk about things.

The idea of meeting Ron at the Leaky Cauldron shouldn't have made her nervous, but it did. It was the first time they had spoken since she had gotten married, save the few minutes they spoken at the ball before complete mayhem broke out as a result of the Dark Mark appearing. She knew why she was nervous, though. She still loved him, had since sixth year when her feelings turned from a hard, school-girl crush to feelings that were much more deeper. For awhile, she had thought things might work out between them, but things got in the way and they were never given the chance to make it work.

Now, however, she was married, and though she didn't agree with the Ministry whatsoever, it still didn't change the fact that Ron did nothing but sit back and watch as her life was completely turned inside out because of one sheet of parchment. She did feel bitter because of it, but how couldn't she? But then again, she argued, she could have taken matters into her own hands herself.

Sighing as she opened the door to the Leaky Cauldron, she looked around, but didn't see that familiar head of red hair anywhere. She was early though, so she gave Tom a small wave before helping herself into one of the booths.

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-28 07:42 pm UTC (link)

When Ron came over, Hermione looked up at him and returned his smile as she gestured to the seat across from her. Of course, the smile faded a few seconds later as he made mention of her being a married woman.

"Only on paper," she corrected him quickly. Just because she had gone through with the ceremony and was agreeing to follow the laws the Ministry set for did not mean that she agreed with them entirely. A marriage made by force and fear was hardly a marriage at all. And though she didn't want to hurt Stephen, because he was a really nice person, she knew that once the law was reversed, she could easily get it annulled.

Deciding to change the subject, and to one that wouldn't cause them to argue eventually, Hermione sat back against the boot and regarded him carefully. "You've been busy lately, haven't you? I haven't heard much from you recently."

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gingerboy
2008-07-28 08:25 pm UTC (link)

"I'm sorry," he said, letting the smile fall from his face, "Really. I have been busy, what with the shop and all."

He left those words hanging, and watched her for a moment, sipping some of his drink as he mustered some courage.

"We shouldn't pretend it hasn't happened. I was just at Ginny's wedding. It happened. It's real," and he shifted his eyes down to his hands on his bottle, and then looked over at her hands. He extended his finger to touch her hand. He frowned slightly, "He didn't even give you a proper ring?"

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-28 08:48 pm UTC (link)

Hermione didn't want or really need an apology, especially since the whole thing wasn't technically his fault. She sighed though as his smile fell, the tension steadily growing between them. This topic had everyone on edge, wondering when they would be paired up and with who, and whether or not they would get along with them. It was ridiculous.

"How is the shop?" she asked, grasping onto that more neutral subject. "I haven't been by in a few weeks; is George doing well, too?" She made a mental note to stop by. Though there were very few things in the shop that she would actually use, she still liked going. It wasn't the nightmarish shop she had originally thought it was. Instead, it had become a rather thriving and successful business.

Despite trying to keep things neutral, he went there. Hermione curled her lip between her teeth and bit gently as he touched her finger. There was a band there, something relatively simple that indicated she was married, but no engagement ring or anything overly elaborate. "He did the best he could on such short notice," she said, finding herself defending her 'husband' easily. "He's not to blame for this; we tried to make the best out of the situation as we could."

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gingerboy
2008-07-28 09:56 pm UTC (link)

He steadfastly ignored her small talk about the shop; he had to make sure to get this out to her, before he got interrupted or completely lost his nerve. His one hand disappereared and reemerged with the small worn looking box, that he carefully laid on the table between them.

"I don't blame him, Hermione. I blame myself. This is yours. Well, it was going to to be yours. I've been carrying it around for months and months."

He paused and looked at her, meeting her eye, "I'm sorry. I really botched things up. I should have asked you, when I wanted to. But I got scared. And then time went on, and I got worried, and well, crap! It never happened. And now it's too late. It is ALL of my fault. If I hadn't got scared, this never would have happened."

He watched her, looking at the box, "Go on. Take it. Please. I saw it and thought of you. Only you. I could never give it to someone else," and he looked away at last, regret covering his face.

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-28 10:28 pm UTC (link)

Hermione had been expecting him to pull out a few sickles to pay for the drinks on the table, but what he laid on there instead had her frowning and furrowing her eyebrows while looking at him with a searching look. Her breath caught in her throat when he said it was hers and that he had been carrying it around for months. Had he actually intended to ask her to marry him? Without any prelude whatsoever, tears formed at the corner of her eyes and her vision became blurry.

Reaching for the box, her hand shaking, Hermione pulled it closer and flipped it open. "You - you're doing this - now?" she hiccuped, her voice cutting off on the last word as emotions she hadn't even realised she had or was capable of having surfaced. Why not? Why after all this time, after all the marriages and eventually her own, was he doing this now? Was it to make her feel worse for marrying Stephen to save both of them from paying that ridiculous fine and going to Azkaban? Questions ran through her head and she tried to grasp the situation, but she kept coming back and needing to know the reason why. Just -- why?

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gingerboy
2008-07-28 10:58 pm UTC (link)

Ron looked at her, and seeing her tear up, he felt immediately regretful. Looking doubtful, he met her eyes, "I've been trying...I've been trying," and he let out a huge exhale, his eyebrows knitting across his forehead and his face upset, "Hermione, I have been trying to ask you for months. And I wanted you to know how I felt," and he took another deep breath, "I wanted to tell you before I found out who I was supposed to marry. So you knew, you'd always know, that no matter what, you were always the one I wanted."

His face was still full of concern, "I'm not saying this to make you feel bad. That's the last thing I thought of. But, now you are married, and I never got the chance to tell you before. It is too late to change anything now, but I needed you to know. I am sorry. I didn't want to tell you, to upset you."

He scowled slightly, and turned his attention to his bottle for a moment, unsure as how to proceed.

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-28 11:12 pm UTC (link)

There were probably people within the Leaky Cauldron that were watching them closely now, especially with her crying and him looking the way he did. This was hardly the place to admit that you had wanted to marry someone but had taken too long to gather up the courage and do it. She heard the words he said though, even if they felt far away as she still cried, her shoulders shaking lightly in an effort to stop.

"After all this time - after everything, you choose to do this now?" she sounded slightly incredulous regardless of the fact that she didn't mean to. "Had I know - if you had said anything that could have indicated you were serious or - or what you were interested in marrying me, I would have paid the fine instead! But you didn't, Ron - you didn't say anything." She knew that she was putting a lot of the blame on him; it was the same game they had played since they were children.

Letting out an agitated sigh, Hermione rubbed her face with both hands before letting them drop back to the table. "What am I supposed to do? What do I do with this ring and your confession? I'm pretty sure the Ministry won't annul my marriage regardless or the fact that nothing has happened between Stephen and I."

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gingerboy
2008-07-29 12:06 am UTC (link)

Ron got up and slipped into the booth next to her, and put his arm around her, to comfort her. He knew that people were looking, but he didn't much care at this point. He had been too much of a git, using every plausible excuse to not talk to her about this and it had gotten him nothing.

"You and I both know that neither of us can pay the crazy fine they have over our heads. I think combined we could maybe pay for one, but both? It would have been too much."

He said nothing for a moment, "I can't tell you how many times I tried, Hermione. But you have to keep the ring. Wear it on your right finger."

He paused again, unsure how to continue, "I'm not going to tell you that I am pleased at all as to what I have got us into. But you had to know. You had to! Didn't you ever suspect that I would ask you? Or want you?"

He hesitated, "I am sure Stephen is a great guy. You haven't done..anything? But..but.." and Ron didn't know what to say. All he could think was to berate himself for waiting too late.

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-29 01:19 am UTC (link)

When Ron sat down next to her and attempted to wrap his arm around her shoulder, Hermione froze momentarily. It had been awhile since she had been that physically close to him and it only took a minute before she turned into him and hugged him. This entire situation, the whole marriage program, it had ruined everything; all of her plans had come to fruition but the one where she and Ron would finally have a future together.

"Before this whole marriage thing started, I thought that we would talk about it in a few years. When you finally settled in your department and at the shop with George, and when things in my department finally stopped demanding nearly all of my attention --- When we were both stable with our lives, with our finances, and when we were fully ready, I assumed we would discuss it then. But then this happened and - well..." She waved her hand, not really sure to finish the sentence, but she was sure Ron could figure out what she meant.

Ducking away when the realisation that she hadn't consummated the marriage with Stephen hit Ron, Hermione blushed lightly. Did he honestly think that she would sleep with someone she vaguely remember from school and who she married out of necessity? "Of course I haven't done anything, Ron. Honestly, what exactly do you take me for?"

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gingerboy
2008-07-29 01:37 am UTC (link)

Ron could only nod as she talked. He knew everything she was saying; wait, wait, and more waiting was part of their game plan. It always was their plan: in their sex life, their future and their plans. Let things settle. But life wasn't like that, and now they were realizing that the best laid plans were for naught.

He let his hand slip down to her waist, and he pulled her closer, and leaned into her ear, to whisper, "I don't take you for anything, honey. I just thought...that maybe I was too late. I.....I want to be your first, Hermione. I want you to be mine. I don't care who you are married to, do you hear me? I love you."

His breath was light against her ear, and his words were only meant for her, and caused his heart to beat slightly faster. There was no point in waiting until they were married, as had always been the plan. It was pointless now, and he needed her to know it.

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-29 02:06 am UTC (link)

Hermione had learned over the past few weeks that whatever plans she had originally had meant absolutely nothing. Having always been a person who had everything laid out in advance before she did things, the past few weeks had turned everything upside down and inside out. It was beginning to take its toll on her to the point where she was becoming overwhelmed. She didn't worth well without a set schedule - never had, and likely never would.

Her eyes widened when Ron leaned closer and said those things to her, though her nose crinkled ever so slightly at the term of endearment. She had never heard him be so - so brazen before and her cheeks were turning a nice shade of scarlet as a result. Looking over his shoulder, her eyes scanned the Leaky Cauldron and made sure no one was intruding on their conversation.

"You shouldn't say such things," she said quietly, pulling back enough so she could look at him. "I mean - it's not that I don't appreciate them or want to hear them. Just - if anyone hears you speaking like that to me, you could get in trouble. There are laws against having affairs of any sort outside of the approved matches the Ministry sets up." She didn't want either of them to get in trouble, him especially.

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gingerboy
2008-07-29 02:37 am UTC (link)

Her own admonishment of him caused his cheeks to turn pink as well, and he met her eyes, and smiled weakly at her.

He leaned in, to whisper in her ear again, "I don't much care. What more can they do to ruin my life? Marry me off to Pansy Parkinson? Hell, Hermione, if I don't say these things to you now, when am I ever going to have the courage to say them to you again? After you are happily settled with Stephen?"

His own words hurt his heart, and he pulled her close again.

"Just tell me that we won't ever stop being friends? Please? I don't think I could live without you, as a friend, if not more."

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-29 02:53 am UTC (link)

She was glad that he had the decency to blush along with her, otherwise, she would have suspected Polyjuice potion was involved because he could never say such things without turning red, too. When he leaned in again, she closed her eyes. A small laugh escaped when at him being paired with Pansy Parkinson. They would kill each other. "They very rarely allow pureblood matches," she pointed out before frowning.

His words hurt her too. They felt like a slap across the face or a blasting hex in the stomach. They sounded so finalized, as if he were giving up and they were going to revert back to only being friends. But really, what else could they be? She was married and given how quickly the Ministry was pairing people up, he would be soon as well.

"Of course we won't ever stop being friends!" she exclaimed, pulling back and reaching for his hands so she could squeeze them to further drive that point home. "Just because I'm married to someone else and you will be too eventually won't change that, no matter how upset we are over the pairings!" She wasn't about to let the Ministry break up a friendship that had been there for a decade.

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gingerboy
2008-07-29 04:23 pm UTC (link)

He felt his blush fading slightly, and he enjoyed her laugh. He didn't want to be just friends with her. That had all changed that day she kissed him with incredible fire and passion, when they had destroyed the Hufflepuff horcrux. He loved her. He would always love her. But the idea of their friendship slipping back to the terms of 'best friend' hurt him inside. If he hadn't been in the bar, he thought he'd cry on her shoulder; he wasn't that far from it.

But her words of confirmation and her touch cheered him slightly, and he gave her a begrudging smirk, "I don't know how much your husband is going to appreciate me mooning about over you, Hermione. I expect to be a regular feature in your house. Dinners, hanging out, and I certainly expect you to still come over to my flat, above the shop. Agreed?"

He looked at her hands on his and then looked back in her face, "Wear that ring, for me? Please? As a bond of our friendship?"

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-29 04:43 pm UTC (link)

Smiling slightly and feeling some of the awkwardness slip away as he made plans about them spending loads of time together and both their places. "Agreed, but only if you're nice to Stephen," she added as an addendum, giving him a stern look. She knew that there was an underlying agreement between her and Ron where their feelings were concerned, but she didn't want Stephen to feel awkward or left out. He had, after all, given up his place and opted to move into hers to make the transition easier on her end. Something that she hadn't thanked him for yet and which she made a note to do so that evening when she got home.

Things turned serious again and Hermione looked at the box that was still on the table. The ring meant more than friendship regardless of what he said and they both knew it. Hesitantly, she reached out for the box and glanced back at Ron. Pulling the ring out of its little holder, she bit her lip and slipped it onto her right hand.

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gingerboy
2008-07-29 09:58 pm UTC (link)

"Of course I'll be nice to him. He could easily give me the boot if I piss him off too much. But don't you think he is going to feel a bit odd? He's going to have to know how much I love you, 'Mione. That ring proves it. It looks perfect on you," and Ron took her hand and kissed the ring and her finger gently.

He held her right hand in his left hand, and his right arm slipped around her waist again. He pulled her close to him and gave her a small, happy sigh to see the ring on her finger, where it should have been all along.

He found he was suddenly hunger, and asked, "Are you going to be able to stay long? What about coming over to my place for something to eat? Hang out? You can owl Stephen, and tell him to come over too, if you want. I don't want you to go. I had hoped to spend more time with you. I mean, it's been so bloody long since we did spend a good bit of time together."

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athenas_pupil
2008-07-30 12:09 am UTC (link)

While Hermione did appreciate his words and reveled in them, she was consciously aware of their surroundings and that anyone could be watching. She and Ron didn't have the luxury of being unknown; their names had been printed alongside Harry's since they were in school, so it wasn't difficult for someone to easily notice them. She did let him pull her closer though, her eyes dancing between the rest of the Leaky Cauldron over his shoulder and his face.

Biting her lip, Hermione tried to decide whether or not she should go back to Ron's place or not. As she always did, she told Stephen that she would be home almost directly after work, but then again - well, she had hardly had the chance to spend anytime with Ron in the past few weeks.

"I suppose I could. For a little bit anyway. Stephen shouldn't mind too terribly much, I'm sure." And then she added, "Carry in would be easier unless you intended to make sandwiches or something easy."

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gingerboy
2008-07-30 05:03 pm UTC (link)

Ron moved to stand, and said, "I'll get something for us from Tom, some soup and some meat and bread. I'll meet you at the door?" and Ron moved away, to place an order of food to go. Tom's tavern food was simple, but hearty. Ron moved easily across the room, to lean in and speak with Tom. He leaned against the bar as he watched the man head into the back to fetch the food.

Ron turned to look back over at Hermione at the table, and smiled at her. There was something about her that warmed his heart when he looked at her. She was incredibly beautiful, by his estimation, and he felt a pang of jealously at Stephen, who would spend hours and hours with her daily. Did her husband realize what a jewel he had? Her fine delicate features? Her eyes that made one melt inside? The way she moved with confidence and purpose? Ron thought of her cupid bow lips, and the thought of Stephen kissing her flashed through his mind, which he quickly put down. He didn't want to think of that. Her lips were for him alone, he thought resolutely. She was supposed to be his, and he was stubborn in his idea to make this happen.

Tom came out, with a basket, full of the food. He added a round of bread and handed it over to Ron, who paid and would return the empty container in the morning. He moved to the door, ready to open it and lead Hermione out onto the Alley, and to his flat, down the street.

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