Out of Time and Memory
folder
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
16
Views:
1,685
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
16
Views:
1,685
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Love in War
Chapter 9 – Love in War
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione poked her head around the screen separating their beds in the hospital wing in the Infirmary. There he was, his red hair falling around his head like a fiery halo on the pillow. It had gotten long, past his ears now. Hermione knew that when his mother saw it, she would be itching to cut it, but she hoped that he took his brother Bill’s attitude and didn’t let her. It fell gently in soft curls, just into his eyes, giving his an endearingly shaggy look, and making Hermione long to run her own fingers through that mop of red curls.
Hermione had never told Ron Weasley just how she felt about him. She didn’t want to do this, only to have him tell her that he didn’t feel the same way. Hermione knew that this would break her heart, and she knew she couldn’t stand that. Hermione had known she loved Ron Weasley since the beginning of Fourth year. He had come back to school having lost most of his awkward ganglyness, and that had disappeared increasingly over fourth year, and almost completely over the summer afterward. He had developed a wonderful sense of humor and a cutting wit, and Hermione found herself falling deeper and deeper in love every day. She had never told anyone, though, and so it built up inside of her. Tonight, she had watched Ron almost die. After that, she couldn’t keep it inside anymore, and so Hermione – being whom she was – did the only logical thing she could do.
Tell him while he was unconscious.
Perching lightly on the side of his bed, Hermione gently stroked Ron’s face, and reveled in the freedom to do so. If he were awake, she would never be able to touch him like this: to run her fingers through his hair, to trail her fingertips down his face, to follow the curve of his nose. So while she could, Hermione ignored her feelings of guilt for taking advantage of his sleeping state and memorized the feel of his face, imagining for just a moment that he was hers to touch every day and every night; she imagined that she could keep him forever.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/Could this night it last forever
Every moment held together
As if in a perfect trance
And such a thing could be
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After a few moments, she started speaking. After all, she had come to this bed to tell him how she felt, she shouldn’t dally any longer than she had already.
“You know, Ron, it surprised me that it was you. I thought for sure that if I fell for anyone in our house, it would be Harry. But it was you, and I’m glad. I mean, I know we’re not exactly perfectly matched – me and my bookishness, you and your distaste for study, and all that – but I guess it’s true what they say about opposites attracting.” Hermione paused for a moment, then continued. “Oh, that sounded so clichéd, and doesn’t get across near what I wanted it to. What I suppose I’m saying is that as much as I never expected to fall in love with you, I never expected to lose you, either. Harry’s always been the one we look to keeping alive. Even last year, during the Triwizard Tournament when we had to go into the lake, I knew that Dumbledore would keep us safe. But last night, when that spell hit you and you went down, I had no such assurance.” Here Hermione’s voice started to break, but she plowed bravely on. “I realize now that I can’t take you for granted anymore. I don’t think I could stand to lose you. You would take part of me with you: the alive part, the part I never even knew I had until I met you.” Now, Hermione was crying. Looking tearfully into her lap, Hermione took Ron’s hand. “I love you,” she declared softly as she squeezed his hand.
And he squeezed back.
Shocked, Hermione looked from their joined hands to his face. His large brown eyes were now open, and tears were shining in them, making the candlelight reflect like stars. But through these tears, he was smiling.
“I love you, too.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/No one else would understand it
We would know the Gods had planned it
And for such a night as this
That they gave memory/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
For ages, Ron and Hermione just sat, looking at each other, memorizing each other’s faces. Finally, they each knew how the other felt. Years of tenseness fell away, as each beimmeimmediately to forget what it was like to doubt the love of the other. Their hands stayed clasped as after long moments that cold have been hours passed, and were still joined when Ron finally threw back his covers and pulled Hermione to him, covering them both with the sheets. They snuggled comfortably and let out sighs of happiness. They were finally where they belonged, and never wanted to be anywhere else.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/And we would live inside this night
Within these dreams of candlelight
If you would bring this wish to life
And spend this night with me/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron was awake and contemplating the happenings of the night before when he heard someone softly walk towards him from another hospital bed. Peering out from under his eyelashes, he saw Hermione coming towards him. He would have opened his eyes and said something then, but she sat down on his bed, and began stroking his face. At this, Ron was so shocked that he just stayed where he was, so that Hermione kept on believing him asleep. When she began speaking, Ron was double shocked. He never expected that she would feel that way about him! He had felt the same in the Department of Mysteries, watching her fight. He knew at that moment that it was possible to lose her, and he knew that should that happen, the best part of him would be gone. He had realized fully, for the first time, exactly how much he needed Hermione there beside him. And then she said it, the words that matched his thoughts.
“I love you.”
And his world tilted. It was as if his fondest dream had just come true – and on many levels, it just had. This also left the perfect opening for him to tell her how he felt. So he took it. Squeezing the hand that Hermione now held, Ron opened his eyes and smiled, as he struggled to control his own tears.
“I love you, too.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/Could this moment last forever
And this dream our one endeavor
If the stars could just enchant
And time would then agree/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron saw the shocked look on Hermione’s face, but didsay say anything else. He just sat, eyes fixed on her face. He already had it in his mind, but just looking at her and knowing she loved him was enough to make him want to memorize her face all over again. Ron tried to put every ounce of feeling he could muster behind his eyes, to let her know exactly how much her loved her; he wanted to make sure that she knew and would never forget what he felt for her. After a time, he just opened his sheets and pulled Hermione down into the bed with him, hoping against hope that she wouldn’t mind, or pull away. When she willingly got under the covers, Ron let out a relieved breath, and pulled her close. She felt god in his arms like she was meant to be there. From this position, with her head on his shoulder and his left arm curled about her shoulders, she was the first to speak.
“I wish we could stay like this always.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/Every moment of tomorrow
From this evening we would borrow
If this wish the stars would grant
Then gently oversee/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron smiled. “What, in the hospital wing after a horrendous night?” This earned him a light slap on the chest, and a ‘humph’ from Hermione.
“No! I mean the two of us, together. Spending the night in the same bed, holding each other. I want to stay in this moment, right here with you, where the rest of the world can’t touch us, forever.” With this, she snuggled a little further into Ron’s side, and he tightened his hold on her, knowing what she meant.
“I know, love. Me, too.” He was silent a moment, and then looked down into Hermione’s face. “DO you know long I’ve wanted to hold you like this?” He asked.
“No, how long?”
“Two years. And it’s amazing to me that I finally get to. I mean, I never thought you’d fall for a guy like me. You’re smart, witty, beautiful, brave. . .” Hermione slapped Ron’s chest again.
“Don’t talk about me like I’m so far above you. I’ll have you know that you, too, are handsome – don’t give me that look, only Bill is maybe better looking than you, you even outstrip Charlie in your own way – you’re funny, brave, loyal, a brilliant strategist. . .”
Ron smiled at this outburst. “Keep going, I love hearing about my finer qualities.” Once more, Hermione slapped Ron on the chest, but this time he caught her hand and looked seriously into her eyes.
“I realo loo love you, you know. I don’t think I’ll ever stop, and in any case, I don’t think I’d want to stop. I should have told you a long time ago what I felt, but was too much of a prat to actually do it. I hope you forgive me for that, and I’d like for us to be together from now on. Please?” Hermione could only nod her head, Ron’s confession had blown any semblance of proper thought from her mind. Roilediled, and once again said the one phrase he knew he would never tire of uttering.
“I love you so much, Hermione.”
And with that, he leaned down and kissed her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/And we would live inside this night
Within the dreams of candlelight
If you would bring this wish to life
And spend this night with me/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Ron kissed Hermione, it was as if time stopped for both of them, and they were living solely for the moment that they were in. It felt right in a way neither of them had ever experienced, and neither wanted to break the connection. Both poured everything they had into the kiss, and this caused them both to see sparks behind their eyelids. When finally they had to break for breath, the two snuggled closer together and fell asleep, knowing how Mme Pomfrey would find them in the morning and not caring. In the aftermath of disaster, they had found their dreams. In the morning, they would resume living to keep their best friend alive and sane, but tonight was for the new love that they had found in the softly glowing candlelight of the hospital wing. They had found each other, really and truly, for the first time.
And they would never let each other go.
~Fin~
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione poked her head around the screen separating their beds in the hospital wing in the Infirmary. There he was, his red hair falling around his head like a fiery halo on the pillow. It had gotten long, past his ears now. Hermione knew that when his mother saw it, she would be itching to cut it, but she hoped that he took his brother Bill’s attitude and didn’t let her. It fell gently in soft curls, just into his eyes, giving his an endearingly shaggy look, and making Hermione long to run her own fingers through that mop of red curls.
Hermione had never told Ron Weasley just how she felt about him. She didn’t want to do this, only to have him tell her that he didn’t feel the same way. Hermione knew that this would break her heart, and she knew she couldn’t stand that. Hermione had known she loved Ron Weasley since the beginning of Fourth year. He had come back to school having lost most of his awkward ganglyness, and that had disappeared increasingly over fourth year, and almost completely over the summer afterward. He had developed a wonderful sense of humor and a cutting wit, and Hermione found herself falling deeper and deeper in love every day. She had never told anyone, though, and so it built up inside of her. Tonight, she had watched Ron almost die. After that, she couldn’t keep it inside anymore, and so Hermione – being whom she was – did the only logical thing she could do.
Tell him while he was unconscious.
Perching lightly on the side of his bed, Hermione gently stroked Ron’s face, and reveled in the freedom to do so. If he were awake, she would never be able to touch him like this: to run her fingers through his hair, to trail her fingertips down his face, to follow the curve of his nose. So while she could, Hermione ignored her feelings of guilt for taking advantage of his sleeping state and memorized the feel of his face, imagining for just a moment that he was hers to touch every day and every night; she imagined that she could keep him forever.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/Could this night it last forever
Every moment held together
As if in a perfect trance
And such a thing could be
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After a few moments, she started speaking. After all, she had come to this bed to tell him how she felt, she shouldn’t dally any longer than she had already.
“You know, Ron, it surprised me that it was you. I thought for sure that if I fell for anyone in our house, it would be Harry. But it was you, and I’m glad. I mean, I know we’re not exactly perfectly matched – me and my bookishness, you and your distaste for study, and all that – but I guess it’s true what they say about opposites attracting.” Hermione paused for a moment, then continued. “Oh, that sounded so clichéd, and doesn’t get across near what I wanted it to. What I suppose I’m saying is that as much as I never expected to fall in love with you, I never expected to lose you, either. Harry’s always been the one we look to keeping alive. Even last year, during the Triwizard Tournament when we had to go into the lake, I knew that Dumbledore would keep us safe. But last night, when that spell hit you and you went down, I had no such assurance.” Here Hermione’s voice started to break, but she plowed bravely on. “I realize now that I can’t take you for granted anymore. I don’t think I could stand to lose you. You would take part of me with you: the alive part, the part I never even knew I had until I met you.” Now, Hermione was crying. Looking tearfully into her lap, Hermione took Ron’s hand. “I love you,” she declared softly as she squeezed his hand.
And he squeezed back.
Shocked, Hermione looked from their joined hands to his face. His large brown eyes were now open, and tears were shining in them, making the candlelight reflect like stars. But through these tears, he was smiling.
“I love you, too.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/No one else would understand it
We would know the Gods had planned it
And for such a night as this
That they gave memory/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
For ages, Ron and Hermione just sat, looking at each other, memorizing each other’s faces. Finally, they each knew how the other felt. Years of tenseness fell away, as each beimmeimmediately to forget what it was like to doubt the love of the other. Their hands stayed clasped as after long moments that cold have been hours passed, and were still joined when Ron finally threw back his covers and pulled Hermione to him, covering them both with the sheets. They snuggled comfortably and let out sighs of happiness. They were finally where they belonged, and never wanted to be anywhere else.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/And we would live inside this night
Within these dreams of candlelight
If you would bring this wish to life
And spend this night with me/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron was awake and contemplating the happenings of the night before when he heard someone softly walk towards him from another hospital bed. Peering out from under his eyelashes, he saw Hermione coming towards him. He would have opened his eyes and said something then, but she sat down on his bed, and began stroking his face. At this, Ron was so shocked that he just stayed where he was, so that Hermione kept on believing him asleep. When she began speaking, Ron was double shocked. He never expected that she would feel that way about him! He had felt the same in the Department of Mysteries, watching her fight. He knew at that moment that it was possible to lose her, and he knew that should that happen, the best part of him would be gone. He had realized fully, for the first time, exactly how much he needed Hermione there beside him. And then she said it, the words that matched his thoughts.
“I love you.”
And his world tilted. It was as if his fondest dream had just come true – and on many levels, it just had. This also left the perfect opening for him to tell her how he felt. So he took it. Squeezing the hand that Hermione now held, Ron opened his eyes and smiled, as he struggled to control his own tears.
“I love you, too.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/Could this moment last forever
And this dream our one endeavor
If the stars could just enchant
And time would then agree/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron saw the shocked look on Hermione’s face, but didsay say anything else. He just sat, eyes fixed on her face. He already had it in his mind, but just looking at her and knowing she loved him was enough to make him want to memorize her face all over again. Ron tried to put every ounce of feeling he could muster behind his eyes, to let her know exactly how much her loved her; he wanted to make sure that she knew and would never forget what he felt for her. After a time, he just opened his sheets and pulled Hermione down into the bed with him, hoping against hope that she wouldn’t mind, or pull away. When she willingly got under the covers, Ron let out a relieved breath, and pulled her close. She felt god in his arms like she was meant to be there. From this position, with her head on his shoulder and his left arm curled about her shoulders, she was the first to speak.
“I wish we could stay like this always.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/Every moment of tomorrow
From this evening we would borrow
If this wish the stars would grant
Then gently oversee/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron smiled. “What, in the hospital wing after a horrendous night?” This earned him a light slap on the chest, and a ‘humph’ from Hermione.
“No! I mean the two of us, together. Spending the night in the same bed, holding each other. I want to stay in this moment, right here with you, where the rest of the world can’t touch us, forever.” With this, she snuggled a little further into Ron’s side, and he tightened his hold on her, knowing what she meant.
“I know, love. Me, too.” He was silent a moment, and then looked down into Hermione’s face. “DO you know long I’ve wanted to hold you like this?” He asked.
“No, how long?”
“Two years. And it’s amazing to me that I finally get to. I mean, I never thought you’d fall for a guy like me. You’re smart, witty, beautiful, brave. . .” Hermione slapped Ron’s chest again.
“Don’t talk about me like I’m so far above you. I’ll have you know that you, too, are handsome – don’t give me that look, only Bill is maybe better looking than you, you even outstrip Charlie in your own way – you’re funny, brave, loyal, a brilliant strategist. . .”
Ron smiled at this outburst. “Keep going, I love hearing about my finer qualities.” Once more, Hermione slapped Ron on the chest, but this time he caught her hand and looked seriously into her eyes.
“I realo loo love you, you know. I don’t think I’ll ever stop, and in any case, I don’t think I’d want to stop. I should have told you a long time ago what I felt, but was too much of a prat to actually do it. I hope you forgive me for that, and I’d like for us to be together from now on. Please?” Hermione could only nod her head, Ron’s confession had blown any semblance of proper thought from her mind. Roilediled, and once again said the one phrase he knew he would never tire of uttering.
“I love you so much, Hermione.”
And with that, he leaned down and kissed her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
/And we would live inside this night
Within the dreams of candlelight
If you would bring this wish to life
And spend this night with me/
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Ron kissed Hermione, it was as if time stopped for both of them, and they were living solely for the moment that they were in. It felt right in a way neither of them had ever experienced, and neither wanted to break the connection. Both poured everything they had into the kiss, and this caused them both to see sparks behind their eyelids. When finally they had to break for breath, the two snuggled closer together and fell asleep, knowing how Mme Pomfrey would find them in the morning and not caring. In the aftermath of disaster, they had found their dreams. In the morning, they would resume living to keep their best friend alive and sane, but tonight was for the new love that they had found in the softly glowing candlelight of the hospital wing. They had found each other, really and truly, for the first time.
And they would never let each other go.
~Fin~