Finally

And I held her in my arms. I burrowed my head into her wavy curls, taking in her scent and the utter essence of her beauty. My hands pressed her close to my chest. I could feel her heart pounding against my ribcage and I knew our hearts were in complete syncopation. Snowflakes fell in intricate patterns around our heads, chilling the tops of our ears.

Hermione wrapped her arms tighter around my neck and gently pressed her lips against my warm cheek. "Ron, Ronald..." she sobbed. She backed up a half a step and smiled, her face radiating with happiness. She kissed me again, but this time on the lips. I could taste her salty tears and I wiped the tears that had streaked her cheeks.

"Hermione, I really do love you. I've felt this for you for so long."

"I've felt it too, Ron. It hurt so bad to keep it inside and now, well, now..." She smiled and another tear escaped her honey eyes.

She took my hand and led me back into the castle. The grey clouds were gathering over the Black Lake, sending a deep eerie glow over the entire grounds. The iron gates were still open and we made our way through small clusters of students and up many flights of stairs until we reached the portrait to the Gryffindor common room. I muttered the password and followed Hermione inside, curiously awaiting her next moves.

"Wait here," she said, and she scuttled up the stone steps to the Girl's Dormitory. A few seconds later she came down, holding a large white board. "I made this a while ago," she said. "Since I've told you my feelings, I thought you'd might fancy a look at it."

Hermione handed me the board. I flipped it over and realized it was a canvas. It was a painting of me by the fire in the common room. I was sitting in a comfortable armchair with my head resting on my hand. My arm was propped up on my elbow and there was a peculiar look upon my face. My eyes were fixed on the fire, a mixture of crimson, tangerine, and golden brush strokes.

"Hermione, this is lovely," I explained, tracing the delicate curves and colors with my right index finger.

Hermione blushed a tender shade of carnation pink. "Yes, well...I spent a long time on it. I painted it some time ago, a few months back, I think. The setting was so wonderful, and the lighting and mood were just right. I couldn't let the opportunity pass."

"It's great," I said. I took her hand and pressed my lips upon it. Noise and shuffling came from just outside the portrait door. Students started filing in. Hermione grabbed the canvas and dashed upstairs. I stood there, my hands empty and my eyes staring at the people gathering in the common room to talk and get some work done.

I walked over to the window and took a seat. The windows had frost on both the inside and outside. I took the gloves off my hands and wiped the condensation off the inside. I could see the light coming out of Hagrid's cabin. Smoke was rising out of the chimney, dancing with the snowflakes in a romantic wintry dance. Bloody hell, what have I gotten myself into? I just told Hermione Granger that I loved her. I just told her everything I'd been wanting to tell her for the past few years, everything I had kept bottled inside, everything I'd yearned for, everything I'd dreamed of. It was scary and electrifying at the same time. I felt something strange inside. A mixture of fear, excitement, and regret. I pinched myself. It was real.

All of a sudden I felt a little thump across from me. I looked up to see Hermione grinning back at me. She took my hands in hers and held them in her lap. The fleecy pink pajama pants she was wearing felt soft against my hands. Hermione's long hair sat in neat bouncy curls around her fair face and her honey brown eyes seemed to smile at me as if I had finally done something right. And I had done something right. I had told her. I had finally told her. I made some more room on the cushioned window bench and she carefully curled up next to me, resting her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her and she let out a little giggle. I looked down at her and saw her face staring up at me. I bent down my head and kissed her on the forehead. I looked back up at the window to see that many small snowflakes had nestled themselves around the panes. I felt a warm hand tracing my cheekbone. Hermione settled her hand on my cheekbone and kissed me deeply. She opened her lips a bit and kissed me again.

Hermione tucked her head back against my shoulder. A few moments passed. When I looked back down at her, I found her sleeping beautifully against me.