Unreasonable ~ Ron and Hermione Love Story (Post-Deathly Hallows)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, often considered the greatest institution in which to obtain a magical education in Britain (if not in all the world by some of its proud occupants, graduates, and staff) had stood many centuries in a secluded, mountain-clustered area of Scotland. The castle itself, with its numerous towers and windows dappling its stone exterior, was resilient and enduring. Innumerable storms had berated the fortress, adding onto the weathered appearance and increasing the look of outstanding durability.

During the school year, Hogwarts was always a hub of activity. Classes full of first year students eager to learn; some magical mishaps, including everything from accidental transfiguration to students being sent to the school nurse, Madame Pomfrey, in the hospital wing because Peeves the poltergeist had slipped some Wartcap powder in their bedsheets; an occasional rowdy party in the common room, most of which cut short when the Head of House found out. Hogwarts was a place of learning, a home, and so much more. It withstood everything — storms, centuries of muddy feet trampling through, teenage emotions, and even battles.

A deafening crash coming from what sounded only meters away from the Room of Requirement shook Hermione down to her bones and she nearly dropped the armful of basilisk fangs she held. She cast a quick, anxious look over her shoulder at the door then turned back to face Harry and Ginny, meeting Ron's eyes on the way; his expression, from his raised eyebrows and wide eyes, clearly said, It's getting worse out there.

"Ginny," Harry said nervously, "I'm sorry, but we need you to leave too. Just for a bit. Then you can come back in."

Ginny shot him a smile that gave Hermione the feeling that she was only too happy to leave the safe room and that she did not have any intentions of rushing right back in. She drew her wand and sped towards the steps leading to the door, Harry shouting after her "And then you can come back in! You've got to come back in!"

The door closed behind her and a silence crept over the room momentarily. Hermione looked back at Ron; to the broomstick in one hand, his other arm cradling a few spare basilisk fangs. Any moment now, we're gonna have to start looking for the diadem. Any moment, we could be in the middle of another duel. We could die, she thought, trying to keep her panic from showing. She looked at his red hair; his freckles; his large, clumsy hands and feet; his height. This is stupid! If we're going to die tonight, there is one thing I want to do. Kiss Ron, Hermione thought desperately, wishing Ron could hear her, or at least have the sense to take notice of what her expression was pleading. It's obvious, Ron. Come on, put two and two together.

"Hang on a moment!" Ron said; Hermione's stomach clenched and her heart jumped up to her throat painfully out of an irrational idea that he had taken notice. "We've forgotten someone!"

"Who?" she asked, trying not to dwell on her whim and working her anxious expression into a questioning look.

"The house-elves," Hermione's heart sank at these words, though in a general discussion, the topic of house-elves was a favorite of hers, "they'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they?"

"You mean we ought to get them fighting?" asked Harry.

"No," said Ron seriously. "I mean we should tell them to get out," He's not saying what I think, right? "We don't want any more Dobbies, do we?" I could kiss him! Maybe — Oh, right. Harry's right there. That would be awkward. "We can't order them to die for us — " Oh, bugger it!

Hermione practically threw down the fangs she was holding and ran towards Ron, tossing her arms around his neck and pulling his face down to hers. Without any hesitation, she not-so-gently pressed her lips to his. Eyes closed, she felt his mouth open in an attempt to form words (she could practically hear them: "Bloody hell!") but within an instant his senses caught up to him and he kissed her back. His arms fumbled away and her first thought was, Oh don't you dare think of pushing me off! I've waited long enough! Instead, she heard the unmistakeable sound of the broomstick and basilisk fangs being flung to the ground and felt his arms snake around her waist. Her feet left the ground and his lips moved against hers enthusiastically.

A far off part of Hermione's mind (the one that actually cared that a battle was raging and Harry was standing only feet away: a less-than-enthusiastic onlooker of this romantic outburst) heard Harry's voice, which was taut with embarrassment at witnessing the kiss, say, "Is this the moment?"

Ron did not seem to have heard him or otherwise cared just as little about the bad timing as Hermione did as he pulled her in closer, swaying slightly as he did. Harry raised his voice in frustration. "OI! There's a war going on here!"

Hermione slackened her grip; Ron seemed to get the message and set her down, but their arms stayed around each other.

"I know, mate," Ron said. If she had not know better, Hermione would have thought that he had been knocked backwards into a stone wall, judging by his disoriented expression. "So it's now or never, isn't it?"

"Never mind that, what about the Horcrux?" Harry seemed to prefer to let his annoyance show through rather than awkwardness. "D'you think you could just — just hold it in until we've got the diadem?"

"Yeah — right — sorry — " Ron said, very pink in the face, but smiling nonetheless; Hermione's face was in a similar state. They set to gathering the fangs they had dropped before following Harry to the exit, shooting shaky grins at each other behind his back and looking fit to giggle as they closed the door behind them.