The Circle of Endless Confusion

The Circle of Endless Confusion

By: Princess Amorina Weasley

Chapter 3: True Passions

"'Mione!" Hermione heard Ron call as she sleepily walked down the stairs on Halloween morning.

"Morning Ron," she said, smiling as he walked up and kissed her good morning.

"What do you want to do in Hogsmeade today, doll?" he asked, grinning.

"Hmm I don't know," she said, smiling. "What did you have in mind?"

"Umm. I have something I wanted to do. You suppose you could find something to do for about half an hour?"

"What do you have up your sleeve, Ronald Weasley?" she said, touching his cute-freckled nose playfully.

"Oh nothing, just a surprise," he replied with a twinkle in his eye.

"Hmm. Okay, I guess I can find something to do with Ginny," she said, accepting his desire of secrecy.

"Great," he said, kissing her nose and smiling. Then he walked over to Harry, "Harry will be with me. Umm how 'bout we meet you at The Three Broomsticks at noon."

"Well, where's Draco going to be?" she asked suspiciously.

"Oh, he's coming with us," Ron said, looking away.

"Ron, you're not doing anything to get yourselves in trouble are you?" she asked with a note of worry in her tone.

"Well, I hope not. At least it shouldn't get me in trouble," he said, flashing a grin at her.

"Okay then. See you at noon," she said, melting at his irresistible smile.

"Okay," he said, kissing her nose and going out the portrait hole.

"Hey 'Mione. Where's my brother off to? Aren't you guys spending the day together in Hogsmeade?" Ginny asked, walking down the staircase looking just as sleepy as Hermione had moments before.

"No, he's got some surprise cooked up in that cute little head of his," she said, looking at her boyfriend's sister yawning.

"Ohh!! Today's Halloween isn't it?" Ginny giggled.

"Do you know something Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Hehe," Ginny squealed. "Certainly! I do live with the boy. However, I've been sworn to secrecy. You'll find out tonight and not a minute before."

"Ugh! I hate it when everyone knows things before me," Hermione sighed, exasperated.

"Oh well, let's go and see what's new at Zonko's," she said, smiling at the unknowing Hermione.

"What about Colin?" Hermione asked, smiling at the girl's secret.

"He's got a paper to write," Ginny slipped out. "Umm. Wait a minute, why would I spend the day with Colin, he's barely my friend."

"Come on, Ginny. I know already. I saw you two go out the portrait hole late one night. So, how long have you two been sneaking around?"

"You didn't tell Ron did you?" she squealed.

"No, Ginny, your secret is safe with me. But your brother will find out eventually by himself you know," she replied, smiling at her younger friend.

"Yea, I know. We've been together since about a month after Harry made his announcement. Colin was completely disgusted and I was completely devastated. We kind of found consolation in each other and ended up finding a little bit more," Ginny said, starting to blush.

"It's good for you. Colin's a sweet kid and you're both better off not being obsessed with Harry. Come on let's get to town so we can kill time until we meet the guys," she said, taking her friends arm and pulling her toward the portrait hole.

In Hogsmeade, the girls wandered around aimlessly for a while. Ginny with a knowing smile attempted to keep Hermione busy so that she could not force the truth out of her. Hermione wondered what Ron, Harry, and Draco could possibly be up to. Finally, it was eleven fifty and the girls made their way to The Three Broomsticks.

"Hermione, there you are," Ron smiled, pulling Hermione into a loving embrace and a long, sweet kiss.

"Hello to you too," she laughed, as he finally pulled away.

He pulled her aside and whispered in her ear, "Meet me in the Astronomy Tower at 9 o'clock."

"Okay," she whispered back, smiling.

The two joined their friends and had lunch and a couple of butterbeers. Eventually, they all went back to school to get ready for the extravagant Halloween feast.

Hermione stood in front of her mirror after the feast, pulling at her hair and trying every single style she could imagine. Finally, she settled on a straightening charm with a crown of little ringlets on top. She put on the tight, black dress robes she had bought without her mother's knowledge, and snuck out of the dorm.

"Hermione, where are you going?" Ginny said with a grin, as she met Hermione on the stairs.

"Umm. To the library?" Hermione said, smiling back.

"Mmmhmm. No doubt with my brother. Don't worry, Colin and I like to spend our time in the 'library' also. Have fun," she said, opening her dorm door.

She walked quickly so as to be unnoticed by any stragglers. She reached the tower, took in a sharp breath, and knocked.

"Hermione?" she heard Ron whisper nervously.

"Yes," she said, opening the door. She gasped, "Oh Ron!!" There were white and red rose petals all over the floor and white, long-stem roses floating around the room. Ron was sitting in the middle of them. He was dressed in nice, all black, Muggle clothing and was holding a single red rose.

"Hi," he said, smiling and standing up to kiss her.

"How beautiful," she gasped, a tear running down her cheek.

He wiped away the tear and whispered gently, "There's more." He got down on one knee and took out a little red box.

She gasped unable to utter a word.

"Hermione Granger," he said, shaking. "I love you with all my heart. I've loved you since the day I met you. Every mean thing I ever said to you was in an attempt to satisfy my belief that you would never love me. But in the last year you've told me many times that you do. I don't deserve you; you're too perfect and wonderful. But, I want you, with all that I am, to be with me forever. I know that we're young, but I'm ready and I hope you are too. So I ask you, Hermione Granger, will you marry me?" He opened the little box to show a perfect little diamond ring.

"Yes, Ronald Weasley, I will marry you," she said, getting down on her knees and kissing him with tears streaming down her face.

"We went to the post office to get it today," he said, slipping the ring on her finger.

"But how did you ever afford it?" she asked, being her usual rational self.

"I've been saving up little bits of money here and there forever and I worked at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes over the summer," he said, smiling at her.

"I love you, Ron," she said, kissing him again.

He laid her down and kissed her sweetly for awhile, and then his hand traveled to the zipper on the back of her dress. He slowly started to unzip her dress and then stopped and pulled away.

"Hermione, I am so sorry!" he said, with a look of true repentance on his face.

"It's okay. I want you, Ron. Now," she said, looking deeply into his eyes.

"I want you too, Hermione," he said, kissing her. His hand finished what it had started and he exhaled sharply. He looked into her eyes and asked her, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am," she replied, smiling up at him.