Much Ado About Hermione

Chapter 7: Unresolved Feelings

Ron's eyes followed Hermione as she made her way through the crowd of students in the hall. He watched with a mixture of lust and admiration as she flipped her wavy light brown hair, the golden highlights accentuating the delicate features of her face.

Her robes beautifully draped her body, emphasizing the curves that lay underneath. A honeyed leg seeped through the opening with every step.

Leaning against the wall with Justin, Dean was also observing her. "Hi Hermione."

"Hi you guys. What are you fellas up too?"

"Nothing much," replied Justin. "Just talking quidditch."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "There's more to life than quidditch. You are aware of that, aren't you?"

"Yes, we are. By the way, are you ready for the meeting tomorrow?"

She was balancing a pile of books on one knee, as she fumbled to find something in her bag. "I'm sorry Justin, what did you say?"

"The Prefects' meeting. Malfoy is supposed to lead. "

"Yes, I can't wait," she said sarcastically. "I bet he hasn't even done any research on the issues that need to be discussed."

Dean's eyes ran up and down her body as she stood in front of him. He watched as she struggled with the books in her hands. "You need any help with that?"

"No, I got it." Just then, one of her books fell to the floor.

"I'll get it for you, my lady." As Dean knelt down to retrieve the book, his arm grazed her robes, exposing her legs. He glanced up to see if she had noticed, but she was too engrossed in her conversation with Justin.

While she was being distracted, he took full advantage of his location and tried to get a closer look at her tan legs and more, if possible. Each leg was smooth and flawless, the warm color of her skin emphasizing the lean muscles of her calves.

He got a better view of those legs when she shifted on her feet. He tilted his head and allowed his gaze to travel up to her thighs. He was able to get a slight glimpse of her white panties, when Justin nudged him with his foot.

Dean begrudgingly got up from the ground and stared at the other boy, silently asking him why he had interrupted his glorious view.

Justin tilted his head towards the corner of the hall, where Ron was standing. Dean dared to turn around, his eyes meeting Ron's glare. "Here you go." He handed Hermione her thick book.

She took the book and placed it into her bag. "Thanks. Well, I have to get going. Bye."

"Bye." He continued to watch her as she walked away, his eyes moving to the sway of her hips.

Ron followed Hermione down another hall and waited until she was by herself, before approaching. He stood inches away, before she realized he was behind her.

"Ron, what are you doing?" she asked, twirling around. "You really shouldn't stalk people in the halls."

As Ron began to inch closer to her, she held the books tightly against her chest, forming a barrier of protection between herself and him. She took a step backwards, but soon realized she had nowhere to go when she felt her body press against the wall.

Her books and bag dropped to the floor, but neither of them seemed to notice or care.

"I've been thinking about you all day," he finally said. "I want to talk to you. Why don't we go up to the dorms? Everyone will be at dinner, so we'll be all alone."

"I don't want to go through this again. You already know how I feel."

He lifted his hand and brushed away the stand of hair that was on her cheek. "But I just want to talk. Give me a minute to explain myself." His fingers stayed on her face, gently stroking her cheek.

She moved her head. "Remember what happened the last time we were in the dorm?"

"I'm sorry about that. I lost control of myself, but I promise it won't happen again."

"No." She pushed his hand away as he attempted to touch her once more.

Ron moved closer to her, now crushing her body against the cold wall. "Why are you doing this to me?"

She could feel the intense heat radiating off his body. She tried in vain to move away, but his body encased her completely, keeping her in place.

"Do you think this is a game?" he asked.

"Game? What are you talking about?"

"This little game you're playing with me."

"I'm not playing any games." She moved her head to one side, not having enough room to look forward.

"Yes you are. One minute you're hot for me, touching me whenever you walk by. And the next minute you're cold. You're always sending me mixed messages."

"That's not true. I've always made my feelings towards you perfectly clear."

His face contorted into a scowl. "Yeah? What about the other day when you whispered into my ear, `Let's skip our next class and go fool around.' What the hell kinda message were you sending me then?"

Hermione dared to look up at him and stare into his eyes. If she wanted to get her message across to him, she had to look him square in the face. "That was a mistake, I should never have made that suggestion."

"Well, you did."

Their eyes locked. But she soon looked away, too frightened by the intensity she saw in his stare.

He leaned down close to her ear. "Why have you been giving me the silent treatment, talking to everyone, but me? Trying to hurt me by flirting with other guys."

She stared up at him with startled eyes. "When was I doing this?"

"A minute ago, with Dean."

"No I wasn't."

"You mean to tell me you didn't know he was looking up your robes?"

"Ron, I swear to God I didn't know."

The anger started to grow in his eyes. "And what about that day with Harry?"

"I wasn't doing anything with Harry."

"You weren't doing anything, my ass!" He pressed so tightly against her that she could feel his heart beating through his chest, a fast thumping.

"You held his hand when he gave you that stupid flower. `Oh Harry, this is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.'"

"Shut up."

"I thought you were going to drop you panties right then and there. 'Oh, Harry, why don't you fuck me right here on the table?'"

She succumbed to the anger seething inside her and stomped down on his foot. Her attempt to cause him pain did little damage because he made no reaction.

He looked down at her, viewing the displeasure that crossed her face. "I'm sorry," he muttered. "I didn't mean to upset you." He lowered his head so his mouth was over her ear. "I want what we had this summer."

"We can never go back there. Ron you already know this, so why even bring it up?" Her earlobe was suddenly surrounded by the moist heat of his mouth.

"You're always trying to push me away," he whispered, his muffled words fanning against her skin. "But I know you want me." His warm kisses ran along her cheek, before his lips gently grazed her mouth. "Tell me you want me."

Hermione turned her head away. "We better get going to dinner. Harry is going to start wondering where we are."

"Fuck him! Why is every thing about Harry? You don't want me to tell him about us because it might hurt him. And you never want me to touch you in public because he might suspect. Everything revolves around him and trying to keep him happy."

He cupped her face with his hands. "Why are you always trying to protect him?"

"I just think it will make him feel weird if he knew."

"So, who cares?"

"How can you say that? We're his two best friends. It will make him feel uncomfortable to know that something went on between us." She looked down for a moment, as she thought of the green-eyed boy. "I'm worried about him. He's become so introverted these days, never wanting to talk, always going to bed early."

Ron snorted. "That's because he's been preoccupied with other things."

"What?" A worried look spread across her face. "What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing you couldn't fix." Sensing that she would ask him another question about the other boy's malady, he quickly said, "Look, I don't want to talk about him anymore."

His gaze lowered, concentrating on her full lips. He brought his hands to her sides and firmly gripped her hips.

"Ron, please let me go."

"I'll let you go when you give me a kiss. That's all I want. Just a little peck."

She stared into his eyes, seeing the passion that was bubbling underneath. She knew from their previous episodes that a simple kiss could easily escapade into more, igniting his desire for her. "That's all you wanted last time too, and I ended up having to fight you off me."

"You didn't have to punch me." He began to rub his jaw. "It still hurts, you know."

"Ron, you had me pinned."

"Like now?" He leaned forward and placed his mouth over hers. The kiss was not a quick one, like he had promised; he attacked her mouth, devouring her lips.

"Ron," she said against his lips. But he did not stop, he continued to kiss her, sucking her tongue into his mouth.

She unclenched her hands as the kissing intensified, her lips gradually parting to let him explore her mouth. She stood on the tips of her toes and flung her arms around his neck.

His hand reached into her robes, as he roamed in search of her hot flesh. His fingers stroked her thigh, before wrapping underneath her knee and draping her leg around his waist.

As he pressed harder into her body, she gasped when she felt his erection grinding against her underwear. Responding to his lust, she found herself pressing back against him with equal urgency. She lost herself in the embrace, melding her lips against his, adopting the fevered pace of his kissing.

"God, I want you so badly," he murmured as his lips traced the gently sloping nape of her neck, covering her skin with wet kisses. His hands then flew to the belt on his trousers.

"Not here," she said. "Someone might walk by."

"I don't care."

"I don't want anyone to see us."

"Fine." He removed his hands from his belt and brought them back around her waist. His mouth came down on hers once more.

Consciousness coming back to her, Hermione abruptly opened her eyes. She removed her leg from its perch around his waist and fiercely pushed him away. "I can't do this." She was now shaking.

She smoothed out the large clumps of hair that were plastered to her forehead and wiped away the beginnings of perspiration from her brow. "I have to go." She hurriedly straightened her skirt and robes, trying to make herself look respectable.

Ron wasn't able to register what was happening around him, still dizzy from their brief encounter. By the time everything was becoming clear, Hermione had already gathered her possessions off the floor and was walking away from him.

"Hermione, please come back."

She looked over her shoulder and glanced at him. But she quickly turned away and continued down the hall.

Clenching his fists in frustration, he shouted a string of obscenities and began to kick the wall.

Harry stood several feet away, hidden by the darkness of the corridor. He'd been watching the scene for several minutes, after hearing their loud panting and groans. He observed as Ron stopped attacking the wall and took off after Hermione.