Hanging By a Moment

I'm desperate for changing,

Starving for truth,

I'm closer to where I started in chasing after you,

Ron sat in the common room watching Hermione's face twitch occasionally in excitement as she read her book. He wondered what she saw in reading. When he looked at a book he just saw a tangle of symbols with the simple purpose of making him bored, but it was so much more to her. "She must think I'm so stupid," he thought to himself. "I wish there was some way I could tell her the truth, tell her how I really feel." Just then Hermione looked over at him (she must have felt him watching her), and she smiled broadly. Ron felt the nerves in his stomach buckle and small lump formed in his throat. He was caught a bit off guard, but he soon smiled back at her deeply. She closed her book and rose from her chair. "Is she coming to sit next to me? Oh, snap out of it you git! What are you so nervous for? It's just Hermione." When she sat down next to him he couldn't help but notice how close they were. In fact, he could feel her side pressing up against him. Whatever reserves he had about not fancying Hermione had just been crushed.

I'm falling even more in love with you,

Letting go of all I've held on to,

"So, Ron-," but he cut her off too quickly.

"Hermione, I really need to talk to you," he blurted out before looking around the room, checking to see if anyone else was in there. Thank goodness it was so late that everyone had gone to bed.

"What's wrong?" She looked like she was getting worried, but Ron had to say something; he couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Hermione I...I..."

"Ron, spit it out, you can tell me!"

"I like you Hermione," he said, holding his breath.

"Oh, well, we've been friends for six years, I would hope so!" Why was this so difficult? Hermione's a smart girl; one would think she could have figured this one out.

"No, that's not what I mean. I mean that I love you Hermione!"

"Oh, well, Ron of course. I love you too. You're one of my best friends for Merlin's sake." If Ron thought that this would be a quick, painless execution, he was becoming increasingly aware of how blunt the guillotine truly was.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"You are making this really difficult," he said painfully, causing Hermione to look increasingly confused. "Did she really have no idea? Maybe she's not as smart as I thought she was," he thought to himself. "Alright, I'm just gonna' say it. It can't possibly be worse than this."

I'm standing here until you make me move,

Hanging by a moment here with you,

Forgetting all I'm lacking,

Completely and complete,

"Hermione, I'm in love with you. I know that I probably shouldn't say anything but I can't take it anymore. I can't help it because every time I look at you, I think of how lost I would be without you. Please don't be mad at me!" It seemed as though this moment of awkward silence would last forever, and he would never know how she really felt. But then, she smiled...

"Did you really think I didn't know? You must think I'm really stupid," she said through a smile. Ron was absolutely flabbergasted.

"Then why did you act like you didn't know what I was saying?"

"Because you always dance around the subject and never just say it so I wanted to you actually tell me, full on, that you loved me." At first Ron was a bit angry. "She's too smart for her own good," he huffed. Suddenly he realized something. "She never said if she loves me back!"

"Well? How do you feel about-"

"Oh honestly, Ron! I should think it's pretty obvious that I feel the same way! Would you be brave for once and take some initiative!" Ron felt himself being freed from his cage of unexpressed love.

I'll take your invitation,

And you take all of me,

I'm falling even more in love with you.

And so, for the first time, Ron acted like the Gryffindor he should be, and kissed Hermione.