Big Deal

Ron entered the room and grinned at Hermione. It was the same grin she had fallen in love with at eleven, and then all over again at seventeen. It was the same grin that could still turn her legs to jelly.
"Ron--" she started off shakily, then cleared her throat. "Ron," she repeated, more firmly.

"'Lo, 'Mione." In about three strides, he had crossed the room and taken his girlfriend in his arms, holding her close and covering her mouth with his own.

Against her better judgment, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into the embrace. Not for the first time, she realized just how strong the feelings she had for him are. The thought absolutely terrified her, yet strengthened her resolve to do what she had planned.

"Missed you," Ron whispered huskily into her ear.

Hermione's knees started to buckle and she tried to separate thoughts and emotions. She pushed Ron away. "Ron--"

"Are you all right?" Ron asked, his blue eyes full of concern.

"Yes. And no." Hermione turned and began pacing. "I think we should--" she couldn't bring herself to say "stop seeing each other" "--take a break."

"What do you mean? A break from what?"

"From us, Ron." She forced herself to face him, to look him in the eyes. Eyes, that now, were full of pain. Pain that she had caused. The look on his face was breaking her heart -- but she knew she had to do this. "I love you. I do, really," her voice broke, and the tears that she had been fighting started streaming down her face. "But that's why. Everything is so intense with us, it's too much. I can't do this."

"So you're giving up? You're just going to run away?" Ron's voice had a hard edge to it, which only caused Hermione's tears to flow more. She moved to hug him, but he caught her wrists in his hand pushed her away, trying not to show how much his heart was breaking.

Hermione just looked at him, unable to vocalize all her emotions, all her fears. "I'm sorry," was all she could say.

"Fine," Ron said coldly. "If that's the way you want it, then that's the way it'll be." For a brief moment, all his emotion was evident on his face, before he pushed it all down and away. He looked at Hermione, who had sunken to the floor, not trying to hold back her sobs any longer, then turned and headed to the door.
Hermione wiped her eyes with her hands, yet the tears kept coming. Her heart was crying out "Don't go!" but her head told her she would be better off this way.