In the Name of Love

Chapter 3: Confessions

* Ordos Exposituso *

Dear Diary,

Is it too much to hope for? I mean, I can't be wrong again, can I?(Then again, I am always so wrong ... Agh; taking today's Runes test as an example. Mental note: hail is hagalaz, not isa!) Am I just reading too much into this?

This time there really is something. This may sound rather dotty coming from me, I can feel that it won't be long before he tells me! (Oh my god! I have become my worst nightmare! I have become Sibyll Trelawney!) I caught him looking at me again. This has been going on for about three months now. He fumbles around me. He stutters. He blushes if I say something nice to him.

I never thought this would come to pass, really. Maybe it won't come to pass?! I mean, Ron's not exactly open about these things! I remember how he blushed and all that when Lavender Brown made all those goo-goo eyes at him. (Hmm...in retrospect, I am glad he blushed and never took a direct approach!)

And maybe he doesn't even consider romance as anything worth his time! I mean I remember how he lashed out at Ginny for dating Michael the last year. It will take nothing short of a miracle to get those three words out of his mouth! Oph! For all the boys in the world, I had to fall for one who's as dumb as a mule about love and relationships!

Heron Em I

* Terminos Libriosus *

Hermione muttered the spell underneath her breath and slammed her diary shut. Shoving it under her covers, she grumpily got into bed. She could hear Lavender and Parvati giggling away under the covers about Parvati's new beau. Hermione sighed to herself and wondered when she would be able to act like that. Well okay, not entirely like that! I mean yes, I am much more serious and responsible and all that, but really, I wouldn't mind being treated like a girl once in a while. Hermione looked at the clock and saw it was well past the time they were supposed to have their lights out.

"Okay, girls, let's call it a night!" said Hermione.

Parvati and Lavender began protesting, but one look at Hermione, and they shut up. Parvati got up and turned the lights off, making inaudible rude comments under her breath. Hermione thought she heard the words "bushy beaver". Ooooh! She's going to pay for that one, thought Hermione. But then she caught a glimpse of her face in the window and made a mental note to get her eyebrows trimmed.

With a sigh, Hermione closed her eyes and fell asleep, dreaming of the things that could be.

*************************************************************************

"Yes, Ron I am sure I can carry my Runes book myself!" exclaimed Hermione. "I'm well able to carry my own things, I'm not all fragile or dainty like dear Ms. Lavender. Why don't you go help her?"

Hermione had noticed that Lavender had been unusually nice to them at Herbology. Her intentions had become doubly clear when she volunteered to stay behind with Harry, Ernie, Ron and Hermione to help clean up, during which she practically threw herself at Ron. Not that he did anything to stop her, fumed Hermione. They were both walking along an empty corridor. She was walking well ahead of Ron now. Harry had been called to see Dumbledore. Ron, his ears red, was doing his best to keep up with her.

"Idraherhepyo," muttered Ron underneath his breath.

"What did you say?" inquired Hermione ferociously, turning on her heels to face Ron.

The move was really abrupt. Hermione lost her balance and toppled forward, trying to grab Ron's dress sleeves to stop her fall. But Ron, unprepared himself, slipped and fell as well. He crashed forward on top of Hermione.

For reasons unexplainable to both Hermione and Ron, neither of them moved. Ron stared, absorbed in Hermione's deep brown eyes, and her eyes in turn stared back at Ron's deep blue eyes, as though searching for an answer to a question she had long since been asking. For what seemed like an eternity, they both lay there. Hermione seemed to be the one to come to her senses and blinked. Ron followed suit, and they both got up and dusted themselves, avoiding each other's eyes.

"Ron, I am so sorry!" apologized Hermione, her eyes lowered. Ron bent down and picked up her book for her. He hadn't spoken a word. His gaze was still transfixed on Hermione. Hermione was well aware of this and felt her whole body tingle instinctively underneath his devouring gaze.

"It's okay, Hermione," he said softly, his voice having taken on a strange tone.

"Right then," smiled Hermione. "Let's go to the common room."

They walked side by side in silence. Hermione could still feel that Ron was blushing and stealing glances at her. Knowing this, she gave an inward smile. Today could be the day, her heart sang.

They walked into the common room. There seemed to be a group of Gryffindors packed together in the middle. All of them were giggling and whispering. Both Hermione and Ron broke out of their reverie and rushed forth.

"What's going on?" inquired Ron.

"Nothing that concerns you, Ron," came a vivacious feminine voice, which Ron recognized to he his sister's." However, Hermione, it has everything to do with you!"

Ginny thrust a package into Hermione's hand. She instantly saw the postmark, and her heart skipped a beat. She nervously gave a smile to Ron, who upon noticing the stamp had become rigid.

It was from Bulgaria.

And it didn't help that the package was wrapped in paper wrap with pink and red hearts all over it.

And it especially didn't help that the return address was addressed to Viktor Krum.

Hermione quietly opened the package, ignoring the many catcalls. Beside her she could feel Ron seething. Inside she found a small box and a letter. She took the letter out and read it quietly to herself, much to the disappointment of those around her.

Dear Herm-own-ninny,

Eet haz been many dayz since I haf seen you. I steel respect your decisions about... shall I say... "us" ( eez that de way you wood put eet?) . Howefer I hafen't vorgotten you. I know eet izn't correct but I just hat to send you a givt to show you I steel care.

Vyour's Alvez

Viktor Krum

Wait a minute, Hermione thought. Krum speaks English haltingly. But his written English is perfect!

She breathed a sigh of relief and looked back at Ron smiling. But what she got in return was a stony pair of eyes staring back. He nodded his head at the center table.

Hermione's heart froze.

On the middle of the table the small box lay open

And in the small box sat a huge big diamond ring.