With Every Breath I Take...

Chapter 4 Girls Cry When They're Happy

Hermione was falling further and further down. Air rushed through her long brown locks. She braced herself, shut her tearing eyes and waited for the moment when everything would go black. Surprisingly, it never came. There was a sudden rush and Hermione was flying straight forward. Opening her eyes, she realised she was flying on a ...broomstick. At this point, she was very confused. Hermione looked up to see who her rescuer was but he was wearing a long black cloak with a hooded top. Then sudden deja-vu came into place. She knew who was under it.

"Oh, Harry, I...would you just put me back up there and let me-"

The person had put a finger to her lips to silence her. Hermione stopped talking and looked down. They seemed to be flying to the front of the castle. Treetops and vast fields whizzed by as the broom made its way to its destination.

The person landed his broom on the top platform of the steps and turned to face Hermione. She could feel her heart thumping madly in her chest as he took her wrists and brought them to his hood. Grasping the fabric, she slowly unveiled the mysterious figure. There under the hood was the boy with the ginger hair and amazing hazel eyes.

"No..." she muttered.

"Yes," he said.

Tears stung her eyes and she burst out crying. She flung her arms around him and pulled him close.

"Ron...I...oh god Ron..."

He didn't say anything, and then pulled her into a passionate kiss. Streams of warm tears fell down her cheeks. His hands rubbed her back and stroked her hair.

"Ron I thought I'd never see you again..."

"I love you 'Mione."

Surges of odd and unusual feelings swept through Hermione as she held the boy of her unknown dreams in her arms and cried. So many mixed feelings, she couldn't define. But all she knew was they lifted her spirits and made her smile. He was back, and in so many ways, so was Hermione Granger.

"Love you, Ron."

~*~

Ron and Hermione made their way up to the common room and sat down on a couch in front of the blazing fire. Hermione smiled at Ron and moved closer. He lay down and rested his head on her lap. He grinned up at her. Smiling, she stroked his thin ginger hair.

"So, you have me alone in the common room at night. What are you going to do with me?" he asked in mock innocence

Hermione giggled a bit at this. But she knew she had to be serious. Fun time could wait, she desperately needed t ask him the question that nagged the back of her mind.

"Ron can we talk?" she asked shifting a bit.

"Exactly what I had in mind!" he said, sitting up.

Hermione giggled and leaned back against the soft cushions.

"C-Can I ask you something, Ron?" she stammered.

Ron gave her a lopsided grin.

"Yeah, anything,"

Hermione's brain buzzed nervously. Would this be the right time to ask him this?

"How did you...how did you make it?" she asked.

Ron looked thoughtful for a moment, then spoke.

"Well there were two theories, either Malfoys curse wasn't strong enough, or..."

He stopped and shook his head. Hermione suddenly became confused.

"Or what?"

"It's...strange..."

"Like I don't get enough of that?"

"No really,"

"Tell me!"

"Alright, alright..."

"There's this prophecy, and it says something about how the light will save him and there's lies about the dark...," he looked down for a moment. "They think that it's happened now,"

Hermione bit her lower lip and sighed.

"We really should look into it. Have you talked to Dumbledore about it yet? Maybe I could do some research on it tommorrow, yes do you know if it--"

"'Mione?"

"Yes?"

"Let's talk about this later,"

"Alright."

But Hermione couldn't stop thinking about it. It wouldn't leave her mind. Eventually, another thought entered her head. But it was more of a feeling than an idea.

"Harry's gonna be so glad to see you, Ron,"

Ron smiled as he removed his shoes and took off his coat.

"How is he doing?" Ron asked concerned.

"He's alive..."

"Oh, good,"

Hermione laughed and stood up.

"It's late, we should get to bed..."

Ron stood up also and came closer to Hermione. Tenderly and sweetly kissing her cheek, he whispered "Good night, 'Mione,"

Tears blurred her vision. He was back and he loved her. He had risked his own life for her, and that was something she could never repay him for. She felt useless and optimistic at the same time. But one feeling conqured all and that was love.

"Good night Ron."

~*~

The Prophecy

The light will have saved him

And he will arise

And prove to go on

But secreted are lies

Lies of the dark

that were controlled by the man

The man that holds evil in the palm of his hand...

~*~

The next morning was pure bliss. Harry and Ron had hugged, (which was the first time she'd seen either of them) and Ron was getting compliments and awed stares from numerous people. Through it all, Hermione and Ginny had stuck by him, smiling proudly.

After History of Magic, in which Professor Binns saluted Ron for his 'heroic' actions, the trio made their way to lunch. Many smiles and a couple of frowns from the Slytherins were casted at Ron as he sat down at a table to eat. There was a light and delicate tinkle of glass and Professor Dumbledore stood up from his seat at the staff table.

"I am pleased to announce," the Professor said with the signiture twinkle in his crystal blue eyes, "that Ron Weasley is back from a life threatening ordeal concerning Mister Draco Malfoy,"

The entire Hall went silent and every face turned their attention to Dumbledore. Some of the Slytherins scoweled and poked angrily at their food. The Ravenclaws looked very focused and concerned and the Hufflepuffs...well they looked utterly terrified. As for the Gryffindors, the beamed and puffed their chests proudly for the praise on one of their own.

"Hermione Granger and Virginia Weasley were ambushed by Mr. Malfoy and his accomplisses. In attempt to spare his loved ones from harm, Mr. Weasley blocked the Avada Kedavra curse that Mr. Malfoy had aimed at Ms. Granger,"

There were horrified gasps and many hands met the mouths of shocked pupils.

Hermione took Ron's hand and held it reassuringly as she saw the boy was becoming nervous from the stares that he was recieving.

"Mr. Weasley has been in the hospital wing ever since, but was released after he miraculously became consious. Mr. Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle have been suspended and will face trial in February. Ron Weasley put his own life at risk to save another so, I daresay, he is truly a hero!"

At this, the Great Hall exploded into applause. Mostly everyone clapped, with the exception of a few Slytherins, who stubbornly folded their arms in front of their chests.

Hermione embraced Ron and whispered into his ear,

"You're my hero."

~*~

Ginny was terrified. The poor girl shuffled through her trunk and threw out numerous articles of clothing.

"Er, Ginny..." Hermione said as she studied the mess the nervous girl was making. Ginny turned to Hermione, and she could she it in the redhead's eyes just how frantic she was.

"I can't find it, I'm going to have to wear my black robes!" she whined.

Hermione pursed her lips. The Halloween Ball was in a couple of hours and Ginny and Hermione were looking for their best robes to wear.

"What color were they?" Hermione asked, bending down on her knees next to Ginny's trunk.

"Lavender," Ginny said standing up and looking around the dorm.

Hermione spotted a patch of light purple in Ginny's trunk and pulled it out. In her hand she held a long lavender robe with lacy sleeves.

"Here, I've found it," Hermione said, standing up and handing Ginny the robes.

"Oh, thanks so much Hermione!" she said grinning.

"No problem," Hermione said heading over to her own trunk to look for something to wear. After debating over red or blue, Hermione had chosen a red, knee-length dress with crimson robes. Ginny wore her lavender robes with a pink knee-length silk dress.

"Oh my, I cannot believe Harry asked me...I can't do this, Hermione," Ginny said franticcally waving her hands in front of her. Hermione snorted as she pointed her wand at her mass of brunette hair.

"Oh calm down Ginny, you're making yourself more nervous."

Ginny sighed and sprayed some Magic Moulder hair spray on her fiery red head. Hermione glanced at Ginny and thought how beautiful she looked. The small girl probably didn't realise it, but she really was a prize to be won. Her honey eyes glistened with anxiety and excitement. Ginger curls fell from her high and loose bun. Hermione smiled and continued working on her hair.

After about ten minutes, the girls had finished preparing themselves for the ball. They now stood in the common room, awaiting their dates. Hermione was in her crimson robes and was wearing black sandals. She twirled a lock of golden-brown hair around her finger and sat down on a chair. Ginny paced nervously in front of a crackling fire. Her eyes were wide with anxiety.

"Where are they? Why aren't they coming?" Ginny suddenly squealed, her eyes widening.

As if on cue, the portrait hole swung open and in stepped Harry and Ron. Each of them looked deliciously handsome. Harrys hair was the same as usual, but now in a different light. He approached Ginny with a full grin on his face. Holding out his arm, Ginny took it and flushed a deep red that matched itself with her hair. Ron smirked and did the same with Hermione.

~*~

Ron sunk low in his seat. After having called Hermione 'hot' a little louder than he had intended, many people had turned to stare and giggle furiously at him. Hermione smiled as she thought about how impossibly cute he looked when he got embarrassed.

"Ron, you may come out of your shell now," Hermione said giggling a bit.

"By the way," she started, looking serious, "have you started on the Herbology essay we've got due next week? It's supposed to be--"

"Bloody hell, 'Mione! This is a ball, not the library!" Ron said, sitting up in his chair and looking utterly astounded.

"Well, I'm quite aware of that, Ron, thanks for reminding me," she said sarcastically, as her eyes traveled to where Ginny and Harry were dancing. He had his arms around her waist and hers were around his neck. Hermione could see how satisfied she looked. The look in her eyes was similar to that of a little girl who has found a puppy inside a box on christmas. He gave her a grin that made even Hermione weak in the knees.

"Oh blast it, 'Mione, just dance with me," Ron said. He then proceeded to stand up, grab Hermione by her wrist and pull her onto the dance floor. Hermione laughed and they assumed the position Harry and Ginny were in.

So they just danced. And for once in her life, Hermione felt happy. She felt safe and secure in his arms, and thats all she wanted. A silky smooth feeling ran smoothly through her, warming all the parts of her soul that were until then, cold and emotionless. She smiled warmly as she rested her head on Ron's chest. A tear fell from her eye and rolled down her cheek.

It's funny, really, Ron thought as he held Hermione in his arms, How girls always cry when they're happy...