wl_mods (wl_mods) wrote in wizard_love, @ 2008-02-27 17:11:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | *fic, hermione, ron |
Special delivery for subtle_horizon
Title: Now or Never
Author: cinemaniac7147
Recipient’s LJ name: subtle_horizon
Rating: R
Pairing: Ron/Hermione
Word Count: around 7,000
Warnings: Sadly, I decided to stick with the DH ending, so spoilers for DH
Authors Notes: I have not actually written anything of substance in over 2 years, so hopefully this is not too horrible. Thanks to my fabulous editors Heather and Lauren, who did a great job and need to come back from England ASAP. Happy Valentine’s Day!
His palms were sweating. Being back at Hogwarts was a bit unnerving, but that was not the only reason he was nervous. He checked his front left pocket for what seemed like the one hundredth time that day, and breathed a sigh of relief that the little velvet box was still there.
It was three since Vol… You-know-who was defeated. Ron still shivered when he heard the name. Three years later and everyone was back at Hogwarts, remembering those who had fallen.
So much had happened that day, and so many were lost. He looked around the room and caught sight of Hermione. She was chatting with Winky, the house-elf, (who had been sober for three years, 2 months and seventeen days) and was up from the kitchens paying her respects to Dobby.
Ron was having a hard time avoiding looking at the center of the room where all the dead bodies had been after the battle. Colin, Remus, Tonks, Fred…
Hermione glanced up towards him and Ron smiled. She smiled back, but it did not quite reach her eyes. Clearly, Ron was not the only one who still found it hard to be at Hogwarts. Ron could feel his ears turning red, so he nodded quickly to her and glanced about the room.
Bill and Fleur were garnering a lot of the attention. They had brought their 2-year-old daughter, Victoire, and a crowd of people were watching the blonde angel chase after 3 year old Teddy Lupin, his hair color changing as he laughed every time Victoire fell over on her shaky toddler legs.
Charlie was sitting at the old Gryffindor house table with Hagrid, where the two were having an animated conversation. Something told Ron it was about dragons, because after about ten seconds of watching the two creature lovers, Charlie tore off his shirt to point out a very specific feature of the Scottish Diamondback that was tattooed on his back. Mrs. Weasley came rushing over from where she was sitting with her husband to chastise her second oldest for behaving like a caveman and tearing his clothes off in public. Ron grinned as the 27 year-old cowered like a naughty puppy in front of their mother.
Percy was sitting at the Ravenclaw table his mother had just vacated talking to some fellow ministry employees, including Kingsley Shacklebolt and Mr. Weasley. Ron’s gaze didn’t linger there- he was certain Percy would start discussing cauldron bottoms, and Ron was out of school, so he didn’t need any more boring lectures, even if it was from the distance.
Oliver Wood, Harry, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, and Ginny were all getting out of their seats and heading toward the exit of the Great Hall. They passed where he was sitting.
Harry stopped in front of him. “We’re heading out to the pitch. Care to join? We’re hoping a few more people will come.”
Ron’s hand unconsciously went to his front pocket. “I- uh- I don’t think so.” Ron said, looking around for Hermione.
“You still haven’t done it?” Ginny came over from the throng of old Gryffindor Quidditch players. “Get a move on- or McLaggen will,” she added slyly.
Ron whipped his head around to look at Ginny, then started scanning the room for any sign of that presumptuous, slimy little warthog. “Where is he? He had better not go near her-“ Ron started seething under his breath before Harry cut him off.
“She can’t stand him- I wouldn’t worry about it. But you really should get a move on- they are announcing the graduates of the auror program in an hour- and you don’t want to be wandering about the castle and miss it.”
“Besides- it’s the perfect time to announce the engagement!” Ginny added.
“Shhh!” Ron hissed, looking around trying to make sure no one had heard them. Luckily no one was within earshot.
“Harry, Ginny- come on!” Oliver shouted, motioning towards the Quidditch pitch.
Angelina came towards him, despite Oliver trying to pull her towards the door. He turned to her, thankful for the interruption so Harry and Ginny would have to drop the subject. “Ron- you live with George now, right?”
Ron nodded and quirked an eyebrow. “Yea- why?” he said, and was momentarily distracted from his nervousness.
“Is he here?” she asked, looking a bit worried.
He sighed. “He decided not to come. I mean- you know. I’m sure he- maybe with time he’ll be able to- well. You know?” Ron sputtered.
She had a hard glint in her eye, very much like the one she got during his 5th year and they were training in the rain. “Well, please inform him that he is to owl me back, stop ignoring his friends and man up to play some Quidditch and be beat by a girl. And like it.”
“Uh- right. Will do.”
“Come on Angelina!” Oliver hollered, waving his arms around as if he were warding off incoming Quaffles.
“Seriously Ron- just do it!” Harry shouted as he turned to head out the doors.
“Just do what?” a voice sounded from behind him. Ron whirled around to see Hermione there, an eyebrow raised.
“Well-“ Ron said, thinking fast. “They wanted me to go play Quidditch with them, but uh- I would much rather take a walk around Hogwartswithyou.”
“What was that last bit?” Hermione asked, not sure what he mumbled at the end.
“I would rather take a walk around Hogwarts with you.” Ron said, proud of his voice for not betraying his nervousness.
“Oh.” Hermione said, pleasantly surprised. “That sounds lovely. Are you sure you don’t want to join then for a match? We can walk afterward.”
“No.” Ron said. Now that his plan was starting, he didn’t want to wait until afterwards and lose his nerve again. “Let’s go now.”
With that pronouncement, he took her hand and walked out of the Great Hall.
* * *
Ron had butterflies bouncing around in his stomach. Normally Hermione was the person he was the most comfortable around, but today was different. Every little bump of their arms or whiff of her shampoo as they walked through Hogwarts made his heart leap and his stomach flutter again.
As they exited the Great Hall, Hermione turned and looked at him.
“What is going on?” she asked, her eyebrows raised quizzically.
Ron’s ears began to turn pink slowly. “What do you mean?”
“Are you alright? You’re all jumpy.”
“I’m fine-” Ron started to sputter in explanation, but was quickly cut off by Hermione.
“If you’re worrying about George- I wouldn’t. He’s sure to come around. Of course he wants to avoid events like this- he and Fred would have loved to cause chaos right now and George doesn’t want to deal with what could have been.” Hermione said quietly.
Ron’s heart jumped at the mention of his brother’s name. He was relieved Hermione thought his nerves were due to stress about his brother, but he didn’t want to think about that right now.
He cut her off- he didn’t want to ruin his plan with mention of sadness and death. “I know he will. Let’s not talk about that. Here- let’s go to the dungeons. Maybe I’ll appreciate them more without Snape swooping around like an overgrown bat.”
With that, they headed towards the staircase leading to the dungeons.
“You know- now that we know the truth about Snape, don’t you think we could be a little nicer about him?” Hermione asked.
“Just because he wasn’t all bad doesn’t make him any less of a git,” Ron stated, smiling as he said it.
They were at the bottom of the stairs and Ron turned to go into the potions classroom.
“What do you reckon? Think there are still ingredients back there?” he pointed at the ill-used potion storeroom.
Hermione shrugged and walked towards it. She turned back to look at him, a glint in her eye that Ron knew quite well. He quickly followed her.
When he entered, Hermione was already leaning over a box.
“There are still some ingredients. Here is some powdered root of ashphodel. Oh- and look.” She turned towards Ron and started walking towards him. She had him backed up into the wall. He hit it and the old potions ingredients rattled precariously in their jars.
Hermione had him pinned and reached behind him, grabbing a labeled box. “Unicorn horns. These are very rare. And such a nice shape.” She grabbed one out of the box and started playing with it. “I didn’t know all of this stuff was still down here. I’ll bet Slughorn didn’t even know- he never used this storeroom.” She reached behind Ron again, reaching for more ingredients, accidentally rubbing her breasts against his chest.
Ron breathed in, trying to control his nerves and another emotion entirely. Deciding to stop her actions before he broke down in the storeroom and either proposed right there or shagged her silly against the old (and probably expired) ingredients, he grabbed her shoulders.
“Let’s get out of here. Most of these ingredients are probably bad- and I’m sure Myrtle will want to say hello. We only have a little while- the auror announcement is in less than an hour.”
Hermione nodded. “You’re right. We should check out the rest of the castle. But, just so you know, potions ingredients typically don’t expire. Often the potions masters will put a Preservation Charm on the items and then they can last for anywhere from five to twenty years, depending on the force of the spell and the power. Also, it can be cast more than once. There was once a Potion’s Master from Belfast who managed to keep unhatched Acromantula eggs for over eighty years…”
Ron smiled as Hermione rambled on about various wizards who invented charms for keeping potion ingredient good for extended periods of time.
They left the dungeon and emerged in the Entrance Hall. They turned towards the center staircase and ascended to the second floor to visit Myrtle in the girl’s lavatory.
As they made their way down the hall, Peeves came shooting out of an abandoned classroom.
“Ah! Ickle Firsties!” he cackled in delight. In his arms were a collection of ink bottles. He lobbed one at Ron,
“Oy! Get away!” Ron shouted, sidestepping the ink, but still getting splattered a bit around the ankles of his new dress robes.
“Peeves- the Bloody Baron will hear about this!” Hermione intoned. “And we aren’t first years anymore! I hear there are some first years out on the Quidditch field though- go bother them!”
Hermione grinned rather evilly as Peeves zoomed away, blowing raspberries.
Ron looked at her quizzically as they continued down the corridor. “Why’d you send them after them?”
“They were bothering you earlier- right? Besides, playing Quidditch when there are important higher-ups of the ministry here to mingle with? They are going to miss some really important speeches!”
“Kind of like we are now?” Ron asked, wiggling his eyebrows at her suggestively.
Hermione pushed on his chest. “It is entirely different!” With that, she pushed open the door to the girls bathroom and walked inside.
Myrtle was sitting on top of the sinks, morosely picking at a spot on her chin.
“Oh- hello. What are you doing here? Why would anyone want to come in here when there is a big fancy feast going on?” Myrtle asked sadly.
“We wanted to come see you Myrtle!” Hermione said cheerfully. She looked around the bathroom quickly. It looked as though no one had been in it for three years.
“Well- did you come to make fun of me? I know what everyone says about me! Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Miserable, moaning, moping Myrtle!"
“We wouldn’t say that about you!” Ron said quickly. “So- uh… how is life?”
Myrtle burst into tears. “How- how could you? Talk about life?” she cried through her sobs. “When I’m not- when I haven’t been in ages!”
“Myrtle- we didn’t mean to upset you! We wanted to come say hello!” Hermione said.
Myrtle sobbed even more. “No! You just wanted to come get into the Chamber thing! That was the last time you came to visit! You don’t even like me!”
With that dramatic pronouncement, Myrtle dove headfirst into the middle stall. She had probably settled in the U-bend, and her sobs could still be heard.
“She must be lonely,” Hermione suggested, craning her neck to see if Myrtle was visible anywhere.
Ron was looking around the bathroom. He settled in front of the broken tap. He turned to Hermione.
“Think I could do it again? Open it, I mean?”
“I don’t know if you should Ron. You could try, but we certainly shouldn’t go down there. We have no idea about the state of it after the battle, and we don’t want to get stuck and miss the announcement of the Auror graduates!”
Ron, who had been trying to recall the right Parseltongue words to open the chamber froze in his attempts. Hermione had reminded him of the time constraint and the reason he had suggested this walk in the first place. He thought quickly of proposing here.
He ran through the memories in his head. He wanted to propose at Hogwarts, and he wanted it to be somewhere memorable and meaningful. This girls bathroom probably wouldn’t be the best idea, after all, it was here Hermione had sprouted fur and a tail. Ron smirked a little at the memory.
Hermione caught his grin. “What is so funny?”
“Just thinking about one of the last times we were in here before the battle. You, with your fur and the tail.” Ron started guffawing, but was trying to control himself before it got out of hand and put Hermione in a bad mood.
Hermione sniffed disdainfully. “Well, I could have said something rather friendly about canaries and peck marks when we passed that classroom Peeves shot out of, but I refrained. I suggest we go somewhere else before you are too overcome with laughter to move.”
Ron stopped laughing, and looked at Hermione, trying to gage if she was really upset. He thought he saw the ghost of a smile cross her face as she glanced towards the stall where she turned into a cat.
“Where do you want to go now then?” Ron asked as they stepped out of the bathroom.
“How about the Gryffindor Common Room?” she suggested.
“Sounds good to me,” Ron said as they headed towards the stairs, making their way to the seventh floor.
As they were passing the fourth floor, Ron was struck by inspiration. He grabbed Hermione’s arm and directed her towards another girls bathroom.
“What are we doing?” She asked, and tried to redirect up the stairs. “We’re going to the Gryffindor Common Room!”
“No- I want to stop here first.” Ron said and continued to guide her down the hall. When he stopped and turned, they were face to face with-
“Another girl’s bathroom? Really Ron? Do you have a bit of a fetish?” Hermione asked, looking at him quizzically.
“No! And this isn’t any girls bathroom! Don’t you remember? First year?”
“Oh- the troll! Right.” She pushed open the door and walked in. It looked untouched and brand new- nothing like that night in their first year or the remnants after the battle.
Ron’s hands had begun to sweat again. He thought this would be the perfect place. Sure- it was a girl’s loo, but this is where they had really started. Well- not really, he supposed. This is where they first became friends. It seemed fitting to be in here.
He looked around anxiously. Hermione was over at the sink washing her hands. He rubbed the little box in his pocket again, and then reached to take it out of the box.
“Something about being in Myrtle’s bathroom gives me the urge to wash my hands until they’re red,” she was saying from the sink. “I’m actually glad we stopped here- it probably would have bothered me until I could wash my hands-”
“I’m glad we stopped here too,” Ron said, cutting her off. His voice was slightly strained, and Hermione noticed. She turned off the tap and looked at him.
“Is everything okay Ron?” she asked, taking a step closer. He looked a little green.
Finally plucking up the courage, Ron decided to lumber on. “I’m really glad we stopped here too. I mean- I know it is only a girl’s bathroom and there is nothing particularly romantic about a couple of bathroom stalls,” as he said this, he waved his arms towards the toilets, trying to draw Hermione’s attention to his arms rather than his bright red ears and face running with sweat. “But- this bathroom is rather important. I mean- this is where we became friends so I was wondering…” He reached slowly into his pocket and slowly began to lower himself onto one knee. He looked down at the floor to make sure it was clean before letting the knee of his ink sodden robes touch the ground.
“Ronald Weasley! Are you about to propose to me in a girl’s bathroom?” Hermione asked.
Ron immediately jumped up. “Uh- no,” he mumbled. “I just dropped something out-”
“Because it is about time you proposed! But I refuse to agree to become the future Mrs. Ronald Billius Weasley in a girl’s bathroom!” Hermione said.
“Um- right then.” Ron was not sure what to do. He had been called out in the act, but he didn’t want to go through with it now in the bathroom.
“Here- let’s head to Gryffindor tower, and then back to the feast.” Hermione said, and held on to his hand. They left the bathroom. Ron was running over alternative places in the castle that were slightly more romantic.
The Gryffindor Common Room was out- they had had too many fights there for it to be a great idea.
The Quidditch pitch was not a good idea. Hermione had never really liked Quidditch all that much.
The Great hall was too crowded with people. He certainly didn’t want to cause a scene.
What if she said no? There was no way he could live with himself if she said no. She won’t say no, he tried to convince himself as he struggled to come up with a different location.
Near the lake would work. Those spring days where they would lie close on the blanket studying together. Once or twice he may have accidentally touched her leg as her skirt slowly hiked itself up her creamy thigh.
He needed to stop thinking about that at this moment. Maybe later tonight- if he didn’t become so ill with nerves that he spent the night relaxing after the day of stress.
Maybe the grounds near Dumbledore’s casket would work. He had held and comforted her there. That was really where the relationship had started. But he didn’t want to propose near someone’s grave- it seemed too morbid.
They were still walking towards the seventh floor corridor. Hermione was being unusually silent, but Ron was too busy thinking to notice.
He was so busy thinking that he didn’t notice when Hermione veered them off track on the 6th floor corridor.
He was still thinking really hard when he finally realized that they had come to a stop. Hermione was looking at him.
She stepped toward him and put her hands on his waist. “It’s now or never, isn’t it?” and leaned in to kiss him.
Immediately, a memory of this corridor came rushing back to Ron.
"No,” said Ron seriously, “I mean we should tell them to get out. We don’t want anymore Dobbies, do we? We can’t order them to die for us—“
There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione’s arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.
“Is this the moment?” Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened expect that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. “OI there’s war going on here!’
Ron and Hermioen broke apaert, their arms still around each other.
“I know, mate,” said Ron, who looked as though he had recently been hit in the back of the head with a Bludger, “so it’s now or never, isn’t it?”
Hermione probed Ron’s mouth with her tongue. He backed into the wall and began to deepen the kiss. All he could think about was Hermione and how delicious her lips tasted on his. She tasted a bit like strawberries and chocolate.
Hermione came up for air. She looked into his eyes. “Ronald Weasley, I love you. I love you even though you try to propose in girl’s bathrooms and seem to have a bit of a fetish with them.” Ron made a sound of protest, but Hermione silenced him with a finger on his lips.
“I love you. Will you marry me?” Hermione asked.
Ron was speechless. “But I’m supposed to ask! Aren’t I?” he ejaculated loudly.
Hermione shook her head. “Well- I suppose you could have asked- if you hadn’t taken so long!”
Ron looked at her and smiled. “You knew.”
Hermione shook her head in mock frustration. “Of course I knew! If I didn’t know when you asked for my father’s address, then I should have known by the time you asked Harry, Bill, your father, Neville, Seamus, Viktor, Charlie, George, Percy, Ginny, your mother and Crookshanks!”
“I knew I couldn’t trust that cat,” Ron muttered under his breath. “Are you mad I took so long?”
“No! You git! And you never answered my question.”
Ron stuck his nose in the air. “I will not be outdone.” He got down onto one knee. “Hermione Jean Granger- I love you more than the Chudley Cannons. Hell- I love you more than Quidditch. If never playing or seeing Quidditch again meant that I could spend the rest of my life with you-“ here he paused momentarily, and Hermione raised her eyebrows. “I would definitely consider it.” He grinned up at her from his position on the floor. “No- I would definitely do it. I don’t need Quidditch when I have you. Will you marry me?”
He pulled out the small velvet box from his pants, surprised at how steady his hands were and how easily the proposal had come out. Maybe using Quidditch to declare his undying love was not the most romantic way to go about it- but he hoped it was good enough. He opened the box and the engagement ring he had laboriously purchased four months ago glinted up at Hermione.
It was a simple white gold band with a solitary diamond. He knew Hermione would love it. It also helped that his sister was her best friend. Ginny had done some careful (although, now that he thought about it, maybe not so careful) wheedling to find out exactly what Hermione wanted.
Hermione was smiling, and she took his hand and pulled him to his feet. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
Ron’s heart soared at these words. He fumbled with the small box and pulled the ring out with his large fingers. Hermione stuck her left hand out, and Ron gently pushed it onto her ring finger. She pulled back and admired it for a moment before looking up into his face.
They smiled at each other, and Hermione flung herself into his arms and started to laugh.
“Finally! I have been waiting for you to give up Quidditch for nearly ten years!”
Ron’s grip on her loosened and he suddenly became serious. “Do you mean it? No more Quidditch- ever?”
Hermione grinned. “We’ll see!” then her face turned serious. “Oh my! What time is it?”
Ron checked his watch and swore. “The announcements are starting in five minutes. We need to get back downstairs. Maybe we can go to the common room after?”
“Sure! I’ve always wanted to shag in front of that fireplace!” Hermione said as she turned and rushed down the stairs.
Ron’s ears turned bright red, but as he followed her down the stairs, he realized that he was not entirely opposed to the idea.
* * *
Ron and Hermione clattered into the Great Hall just as Kingsley Shacklebolt was making his way towards the podium set near the teacher’s table.
Ron looked around the room and Harry waved him over from his seat at the Gryffindor table. Harry was sitting with the old Gryffindor House Quidditch team.
Ron grabbed Hermione’s hand and dragged her over to the table, trying hard not to notice the stares directed toward them.
Kingsley started his speech as Ron and Hermione plopped down. Now sitting, Ron got a good look at everyone at the table. Everyone- including George.
His eyes bulged. “What are you doing here?” Ron whispered to his brother.
George leaned across Angelina to talk to Ron. “Did you really think I would miss this announcement?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows in Hermione’s direction, craning his neck trying to get a good look at the ring on her finger. “About time.”
Luckily, Hermione was so engrossed in the minister’s speech that she didn’t even notice George’s jibe at Ron.
Ron suddenly noticed that most of his family at the table kept glancing towards him and Hermione surreptitiously. His mother flashed him a large and eager smile.
Ron was looking around the room trying to figure out a way to let his family know he was engaged (though, judging by the looks they were giving him, they already knew) that he nearly missed it when his name was called as a graduate from the Auror program. Harry had been called a few moments previous, but Ron was so engrossed, he had not even realized.
Hermione snapped her fingers in front of his face, breaking him out of his reverie.
“Come on. They just called your name! Get up there!”
Ron ambled to his feet, nearly tripping over his robes as he made his way between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables towards the high table where Kingsley was standing. Harry grinned at him from behind Kingsley.
Ron stepped onto the platform and shook the Ministers hand.
“Congratulations. You’ll make a wonderful addition to the ministry,” Kingsley said smiling as he handed over the Auror certificate.
“Hermione and I are engaged!” Ron blurted out in response. He turned quickly to see Hermione’s reaction. She was shaking her head, but smiling all the same.
Kingsley was a bit taken aback. If he was expecting a response, this was not it. “Well- a dual congratulations then!” he said, covering well, turning back to the crowd and continuing his speech about the importance of Auror’s and their place in the ministry.
Ron shook his head and stepped into the line of Auror graduates. He was already mentally kicking himself. He wanted to announce it to the world, but blurting it out in front of a bunch of strangers was not his ideal plan.
Harry was grinning like a maniac and the second the picture of all the graduates had been snapped for the Daily Prophet, he darted over the Ron.
“Congrats mate! I knew you could do it!” he said.
“He didn’t.” Hermione said, coming up behind Ron as the graduates filed off stage.
“What? What do you mean?” Ginny asked, coming up to stand next to the group. “Aren’t you engaged?”
“Well, yes,” Hermione said, looking at Ron and smiling. “But I had to ask him.”
“You didn’t give me the chance!” Ron protested.
“I gave you the chance and you tried to propose in a girls bathroom!” Hermione said back hotly.
Ron’s ears reddened. “Well- yes, I suppose. But I did it in the end!”
“Only after I practically begged you to!” Hermione countered.
“Stop the bickering! We aren’t in the common room anymore!” George cut in as he walked over with Angelina and the rest of the Weasley clan.
“Congratulations! This is amazing news! About time we had another wedding!” Mrs. Weasley gushed. “But Ron- honestly. In front of the minister like that!”
Ron grinned. “At least everyone knows now!”
He was quite right. Old classmates were coming up to the couple and congratulating them.
Hermione slipped her hand into Ron’s as people swarmed around them. “What about checking out the old common room? Are you still up for it?”
Ron nodded his head in affirmative. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll cause a distraction,” he whispered, before practically shouting, “So Harry- Ginny! When are you two getting engaged? I mean Ginny, you spend plenty of nights at my and Harry’s flat!”
Ron and Hermione ducked out of the group as Mrs. Weasley turned on her daughter. “You have been doing WHAT young lady?”
Ron, feeling only the tiniest bit of remorse for throwing his friend under the train, felt that remorse dissipate as he thought of the cozy hearthrug just waiting for him and Hermione in front of the Gryffindor fireplace.
The walk up to the seventh floor seemed to take only seconds, and the sexual tension was mounting.
The Fat Lady was a bit tipsy in her portrait, after hanging out with the wine-carting monks from the 3rd floor. When they reached her, they realized that they did not know the password to Gryffindor tower.
“Oh! I have- hic- heard the news! Congrat- hic- ulations are in order I must- hic- say! I always knew you two would- hic- end up together! All of that fighting! I could- hic- hear you through the walls on- hic- some nights!”
“Well thank you. Would it be alright if we took a look around the tower?” Hermione wheedled. “We really want to go back to where it all really started,” she said, batting her eyelashes in a very un-Hermioneish manner.
“Why- hic- of course! The students are gone now, you see, so there is- hic- no harm in looking around!”
“Do you think we could- erm- have some privacy?” Ron asked nervously. “So we can- umm- appreciate our beginnings?”
“Of course! No one will- hic- get through this portrait! Mark- hic- my words!”
“Thank you!” Hermione and Ron chorused as the Fat Lady’s portrait swung open to reveal the familiar Gryffindor Common Room. The fire was blazing, which was odd, as there was no one staying in the tower.
Hermione caught Ron’s gaze at the fire. “I called in a favor with Winky,” she said, answering his unasked question.
“Ah- I see,” he responded nervously. Now that he was actually in his childhood hangout, the thought of actually doing it here seemed too dirty.
“I’ve missed being here,” Hermione said as she walked over to one of the cozy couches near the fire. “It feels weird though- I feel like I should have some books surrounding me and some pressing assignment due. Or maybe it’s just because it’s so empty.” She gazed into the fire.
Ron slid in next to her on the couch. “It’s not so empty,” he intoned. “I mean- I’m here. And you’re here- that’s two people.”
She cracked a grin. “It could never be empty with you. Besides, you talk enough for the both of us!”
Ron looked mock hurt. “Pardon moi? I talk enough for the both of us? Ms. Know-it-all? I talk more than she who answered every single question ever asked by the professors?”
Hermione grabbed a pillow from behind her back and hit him over the head. “I- do- not- talk- a- lot!” she said, hitting him with the pillow between each word.
Ron ducked out from under the pillow and lunged at her sides, tickling her until she fell off the couch laughing. The pillow fell from her grip as she rolled around on the ground, trying to escape his tickling clutches. She reached out and tried to reach his knees- the only ticklish spot on his body- and they spent a long minute rolling around on the hearthrug trying to force the other into giving up.
Finally, Ron relented. He pulled back and kneeled on the rug. “I give up- you win,” he said grinning. “But- I don’t talk as much as you do!”
Hermione laughed, and lunged, ready for a second go, but Ron grabbed her hands before she could reach his gangly legs. She paused in her attempts, and looked up.
They locked eyes, and the humor of the situation vanished. The realization that they were very much alone, in a mildly provocative position and newly engaged seemed to hit them both at the same time. All notions Ron had about fooling around in front of the Gryffindor fireplace being too dirty flew from his mind.
Hermione raised herself up to Ron’s eye level, keeping eye contact the whole way. He kept his grip on her hands, and held up the left one for examination. The simple engagement ring flashed in the glow of the fire.
“I like the way that looks,” Ron said softly.
“Me too,” Hermione said, and leaned in to kiss him gently on the lips. “But want to know what would look better?”
“What?” Ron asked, drawing his eyes away from the ring.
“This.” With that, Hermione reached behind her head and started to unclasp the neck of the dress robes she was wearing.
Ron gaped. He and Hermione had made love quite a few times, but it still shocked him when she got into this mood.
The top of the robes fell down, revealing a plain black bra. Hermione carefully stepped out of her robe and placed it on the couch. She then reached down to remove her shoes.
Ron sat gaping the entire time. She made a move to unhook her bra, when he finally jumped up.
“No- let me.” He placed his hands on her waist, and he felt her shiver at his touch. He leaned down to kiss her. It was soft and gentle at first, but as the kiss deepened, turned into a battle between tongues.
Hermione moved her hands between them and undid the clasp of Ron’s dress robes. Without disentangling their mouths, she moved her hands to the button of his muggle trousers and undid it deftly. She pulled them down, rubbing her hand along his growing hardness. He quickly stepped out of his pants, kicking his shoes off as well.
He pulled her down to the ground, and settled on the hearthrug. They broke apart, the passionate kiss lingering on his lips.
Her face was flushed, with a rosy glow around her cheeks. She was breathing heavy and grinned at him. Ron knew that Hermione loved control, and enjoyed being on top, but knew from the look in her eyes that she wanted him to take charge tonight.
He flipped their positions and resumed their kiss from earlier. Hermione was pushing up from the ground, grinding into his now aching cock. She was scratching at his back and whimpering with need.
Ron bent down and began nipping at her neck. He moved one hand up her stomach and underneath her bra and began massaging her breast, gently pinching her hardening nipple. He used the other hand to reach behind her and unhook the bra (something he had gotten much better at since 6th year) and pulled it off her body.
He pulled back to look at her body. Everything about her- her naked breasts with her aroused nipples, the way her curly unmanageable hair spread around her head like a halo, the flush that covered her body, the sensual way she looked at him- as if he were the only man she could ever imagine being with.
“What are you staring at?” She asked suddenly. “I didn’t drag you up here and attempt to seduce you so you could stare the entire time!”
Ron, suddenly more aroused at the thought of her intentionally leading him up here to shag, started attacking her breasts with vigor. He pinched and snapped at her nipples, just the way she liked until she was arching against him, begging for more.
He moved down her stomach, leaving a burning trail behind with his tongue, and moved his hands down to the insides of her thighs. Her breath caught in her throat as he rubbed a finger over her evidence of arousal.
He slowly edged her knickers to the side and slid one finger into her wetness. She convulsed quickly and sighed in pleasure. Taking the encouragement, Ron added another finger and began pumping it inside her, pulling her knickers down to her knees and then off entirely.
Her slight gasps turned to moans, and she began grabbing for his cock. Finding that it was still covered with the Chudley Cannon boxers she had bought him two birthday’s ago, she sat up suddenly, halting Ron’s progress.
“This is a bit unfair,” Hermione stated, as if she were commenting on the weather.
“What?” Ron gasped, breathless from his arousal of watching Hermione writhe on the floor, and slightly disappointed at having to stop.
“Well- you see, I’m entirely naked.” To prove a point, she got to her feet and twirled around. “And you are not,” she said pointedly.
“Right.” Ron said, jumped to his feet, and started pulling off the rest of clothes. He was trying to pull off a sock and his T-shirt at the same time and ended up losing his balance. He toppled over onto the couch, with his one sock half off, and one arm still stuck in his shirt.
Hermione giggled and walked over to him to help him become disentangled from his shirt. He pulled his other sock off and Hermione helped him lower his shorts.
He turned and faced her, fully naked and asked, “Happy now?” Hermione nodded.
He brought her back to the ground and resumed his previous ministrations between her legs. She was pumping his cock and whimpering between every harsh thrust of his fingers.
“Fuck me Ron,” Hermione whispered into his ear. If possible, he grew even harder at hearing her curse. Even at 21 years old, Hermione would still scold him and Harry as they swore at each other over their nearly daily game of wizard chess. Some things would never change- except when Hermione was in this mood.
Always the gentleman, Ron decided to oblige. He nudged her legs apart and settled his aching cock at the entrance of her dripping slit. Before he could move, Hermione thrust herself down onto him. He almost came right there, but managed to control himself.
Before they began moving in a dance in which they were extremely familiar, Hermione stopped, and caught his eyes. “I love you Ronald Weasley,” she said, stroking the side of his face. “Now fuck me,” she demanded.
He began thrusting as hard and fast as he could, and Hermione kept his pace, keening in pleasure every time he sank himself balls deep into her aching pussy.
Ron could feel his balls begin tightening, and he knew that he wanted Hermione to finish before he did. He reached between their writhing bodies and began playing with her swollen clit. She kissed him hard on the lips and began riding his cock, searching for release.
Ron began to slowly trail kisses down her lips and towards her ear, suckling and nipping as he went. Before he had reached it, Hermione scraped at his back and was moaning his name in pleasure as she came. Ron, egged on by her orgasm, began thrusting harder and felt his hot seed spill into her still pulsing sex.
He pulled out and collapsed on the floor next to her, panting from the exertion. He rolled toward her and pulled her close.
She nuzzled his neck. “That was phenomenal. Just think- when we’re married, we can do that in every room of our house.”
Ron grinned at the thought, then a horrible thought came to him. “Hermione! You do realize what this means, right?”
“Hmmmm?” she muttered sleepily. “What?”
“We’re getting married.”
“Yes,” she said, sitting up a little and looking at him like he was addled in the brain. “That is the whole point of getting engaged.”
“No- you don’t understand. We’re getting married. Do you remember my mother at Fleur’s wedding?”
Hermione looked at him quizzically, then comprehension dawned and she paled. “We have to have a wedding.”
Ron groaned, “Now, my mother will never leave us alone! We won’t be able to shag properly for months!”
* * *
Author Notes: So… I had a really hard time writing the smut. For some reason, it just did not want to come out!! I am contemplating a sequel at the Burrow with better sex… we will see what happens. I wanted to write more, but was already past the deadline, so hopefully the ending is not too abrupt!
Also, when Ron says “Hermione Jean Granger,” JKR said that Hermy’s middle name was Jane, but changed it in a later interview so she would not have the same middle name as Umbridge. I love constructive criticism, so feel free to leave it!!! J