Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
A/N: in this chapter… Ron is given the opportunity to confront Hermione. And it leads onto the New Year's party. So I hope you like it! Please remember to review at the end!
How My Love Life Got Even More Complicated
Chapter Eight: Running Back to You
Hermione:
I had an absolutely wonderful time at my cousin's wedding, I almost managed to forget about the whole situation at Hogwarts.
But I did receive owls from Ron and Harry. Ron's first one sounded like he was fine, asking me how the weather was and if I knew what kind of cake the wedding cake was yet. Harry's first owl was filled with worry and asking me how on earth he was going to break his news to Ron. I told him to do something that Ron loved with him, like a couple of games of chess.
I didn't receive another letter from Ron the whole time I was down south. The only letters I did receive were from Harry, who told me that he had told Ron about us.
---
"What's wrong honey?" Mrs Granger asked her daughter, sitting down next to her on the bed in Hermione's room.
"Oh, there's just a few problems back at Hogwarts," Hermione said, looking up at her mother and smiling a weak smile.
"Alright, what's been going on?" she asked, slipping an arm around Hermione's shoulders and hugging her slightly.
Hermione leaned into her mother and explained the whole situation, feeling quite a bit better as she talked about it. "And Harry's just told Ron about us and I expect Ron's feeling a lot more betrayed now," Hermione finished, sighing and looking down at the letter from Harry in her hands.
Mrs Granger nodded and said, "Well, I think the only thing you can do when you get back is move on with your life."
Hermione looked up at her mother, slightly confused. "But that would hurt Ron even more."
"Honey, he's got to move on for himself and you shouldn't have to wait for him to do that," her mother said reasonably.
"Yeah," Hermione said slowly, looking back down at Harry's letter.
"Just out of curiosity, how much do you like Harry?" Mrs Granger asked, smiling knowingly at her daughter.
Hermione smiled and bit her lip. "I like him a lot," she said finally, looking up at her mother.
Mrs Granger smiled and kissed her daughter on her forehead. "Alright. Now I do believe we have a party to go to!"
"Could I just reply to Harry's owl first?" Hermione asked, glancing back down at the letter.
"Sure. But don't be too long. You know how your cousins are when they start to eat. They'll take your food if you're not careful!"
Hermione laughed and said, "Alright mum."
Once her mother had left the room, Hermione pulled a spare piece of parchment and a quill out and began to write;
'Dear Harry,
Better sooner, rather than later I suppose. At least Ron has another week and a bit to come to terms with everything.
I am missing you very much. I can hear my cousins downstairs making a lot of noise while eating dinner and it makes me wish I could have brought you with me. You would have liked Jonno, he's our age. Very goofy and amusing.
I should be going to eat dinner now. Please reply as fast as you can.
Love, Hermione.'
"Hedwig," Hermione said softly, folding the piece of parchment up.
The snowy white owl held her leg out expectantly and hooted softly as Hermione tied the letter to her leg.
"Have a safe flight girl," Hermione murmured, letting the owl jump onto her arm and moving over to the window to let her out. Hedwig jumped out of the window, spreading her magnificent wings and taking flight.
---
Her mouth was hot and wet, and he didn't realise until that very moment how long he'd wanted to feel her lips upon his. He heard her moan throatily as he slid his hands slowly up her skin, inside her shirt, marvelling how silky soft her skin was. But just as he moved his hands up a little further…
He woke up.
He lay there for a moment, wishing and hoping that that wasn't just a dream. He sat up, suddenly feeling very frustrated in his lower body.
Harry groaned softly, resisting the urge to punch something. He looked at his watch to find it was five in the morning and he suddenly realised it was the morning Hermione was arriving back to Hogwarts.
---
"Come on," Harry muttered, pacing up and down the platform nervously, squinting into the distance every time he faced the direction the train would be coming from.
"Calm down Harry," Ginny said softly, rubbing his arm. "The train will be here in a minute."
"Better be," Harry growled, crossing his arms and pouting.
"There it is!" she said suddenly, seeing a small dot and a puff of smoke in the distance.
"Thank God," Harry said softly, grinning in relief as the train sped towards them.
As soon as the doors opened Hermione jumped out and onto Harry, hugging him tightly and beginning to laugh as he hugged her just as tightly back.
"God, I missed you," he murmured, closing his eyes and clinging onto her like there was no tomorrow.
"I missed you too," she whispered, smiling and burying her nose into his shoulder, breathing in his wonderful smell of soap and the faint smell of cologne - good cologne, mind you.
"Hey Hermione," Ginny said, coughing slightly.
Harry and Hermione pulled apart reluctantly and Hermione smiled and hugged Ginny, "Hey Gin. I've got some good photos," she said with a bit of a grin.
Ginny smiled and said, "Great. We can look at them in the carriage back up to the castle."
"I take it Ron didn't come down?" Hermione asked, looking around warily for Ron.
"No," Ginny said, the look on her face slightly downcast at the mention of her brother.
"Is he terribly angry at me?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Ginny said automatically, "But he's not as angry as he was when he first found out."
"Let's just not talk about it," Harry grunted, carrying Hermione's two heavy bags off the train.
"Do you want any help Harry?" Hermione asked, the corners of her mouth twitching as she watched Harry struggle to carry the bags a few paces.
"No, no. I'm fine," he said, grimacing as he set the bags down for a moment.
"So where are these photos?" Ginny asked Hermione, watching Harry with amusement.
Hermione swung the bag on her shoulder around and unzipped it, withdrawing a rather thick envelope. "Here," she said, opening the envelope and taking out a stack of photos.
Ginny whistled and pointed at one of the guys in the first photo saying, "Who's that?"
"My cousin Jonno," Hermione said, smiling at the photo. "That was taken just before they all decided it was time for a food fight."
"A food fight?" Ginny repeated, laughing softly.
"Yes, I do believe I was the only mature one in the room," Hermione said, flicking to the next photo.
"Why are you wearing a bikini in this one?" Ginny asked in surprise.
There was a loud crash and Harry was suddenly at their side, looking eagerly at the photo. Hermione laughed at his reaction and said, "There was an indoor heated pool and we went in the spa. Very nice and warm."
"Very nice," Harry said cheekily, reaching over and taking the photo from Hermione and pocketing it.
Hermione blushed slightly and smiled cheekily. "And this is Jonno flexing his muscles for the camera," she said, giving that one to Ginny.
"Mmm," Ginny murmured in delight. "Too bad I wasn't there."
"He's very cheeky," Hermione warned her.
"Honey, I went out with Harry. I can deal with cheeky," Ginny said reasonably.
"Hey! I heard that!" Harry called over, heaving the bags a couple more paces.
"It's true though," Hermione called back.
"Girls," Harry muttered, picking the bags up and running forward a few more steps.
When they finally made it to the carriage, Harry heaved the bags onto it and they set off towards the castle, talking about Hermione's trip and Harry looking through the photos.
"So what kind of cake was it?" Ginny asked.
"A sponge cake with jam and cream laced throughout it. I did bring a piece back for all of you, including Ron."
"Maybe you could give it to him yourself. Give him a chance to confront you?" Ginny suggested tentatively.
Hermione nodded and said, "That's what I was intending to do."
---
"D'you like sponge cake?"
Ron frowned at hearing Hermione's voice and looked past his Quidditch magazine and up at her. "I like any cake," he grumbled.
"Well, here," she said, bringing forth a piece of cake wrapped in a napkin.
Ron sat up and took the cake from her, unwrapping it slightly and looking at it.
"I'm sorry Ron," she said softly, kneeling down in front of him. "I never wanted to hurt you or anything."
Ron nodded, stubbornly beginning to eat the cake.
"I've got some photos if you'd like to look at them," she suggested uncertainly.
"Maybe later," Ron said finally, looking down at her.
"Alright. Well, I hope you like the cake. I'll see you later then," she said, standing up and walking across the common room to Harry who was flicking through the photos for a third time.
"You all look alike," he said as she sat down next to him.
"That happens when you're related to people," Hermione replied, laughing softly at him.
"So is Ron alright?" Harry asked, putting the photos away in the envelope.
"Well, he accepted the cake so I think he's getting over it," Hermione said, taking the envelope from Harry and putting it in the pocket of her robes.
"That's good," he said, sliding an arm around Hermione and pulling her close. "Now I can sit with you like this," he said cheekily, smirking at her.
"Well spotted," she said leaning into him and closing her eyes. "I'm sleepy."
"Tiring train ride?" he asked.
"Yeah and you know how I can't sleep on the train," she said, sighing.
"Well, you should go and have a nap," Harry said, nudging her softly. "Seeing as there's a new year's party tonight and I plan on staying up most of the night with you."
Hermione smiled and said, "Do you now?"
"Yes, I do," he replied cheekily. "Go on, up to bed."
"Alright," she said, leaning up to kiss his cheek softly before standing up and walking up to her dorm.
---
"Hermione, wake up!" someone exclaimed, shaking her rather violently, Hermione thought.
"Stop shaking me!" she grumbled, kicking out and burying her face deeper into her pillows.
"It's time for the party though!" what was now recognised as Parvati's voice said.
"Oh fine," Hermione grumbled, rolling over and rubbing her eyes.
"Come on, I have your mask and outfit ready," Lavender called from the other side of the room.
"I wasn't going to get dressed up," Hermione said, frowning slightly as she looked over at Lavender. Her eyes widened slightly as Lavender held the outfit and mask up for Hermione to see. "But I suppose I can change my mind," she added, smiling a very silly smile.
---
Harry:
We had thought that Ron would be a little grumpy but non-disruptive that night. Well, we had hoped.
I just don't know how Hermione and I were supposed to make him feel better, without denying our feelings for each other.
The stupid boy was only thinking about himself… he never spared a thought for how we felt.
---
To be continued…