Everything That You Are...

October 24th 2001

Play that gorgeous song above and enjoy :)

The sky outside was a watercolour of orange and pink. The distant trees were silhouettes and the breeze swept a biting cold across the ground. Hermione sat on the old bench outside the Burrow, reading, wrapped in a fleecy blanket and thick scarf. Of course, she was wearing Ron's maroon jumper too. Her wild curls were tied back in a messy ponytail. Her nose and cheeks were pink from the chill.

Ron looked at Hermione from the window. He stared at the back of her head like it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Lost in his own thoughts, he completely blanked the whistling kettle.

"Are you going to make that tea or not?" said Ginny, removing the kettle from the hob. Ron snapped out of his daze and spun round.

"Yeah, I was just, erm, looking for milk..." He replied, sheepishly.

"Well the milk's not going to fly in through the window is it?" Ginny snapped. Ron had already turned to stare at Hermione through the window again, and Ginny had almost finished making the tea by the time he turned back round again.

"Your welcome." Ginny smirked sarcastically. Ron pulled a sour face at her, before picking up the mugs and taking them outside.

"There you go 'mione" Ron smiled, handing the mug over. Hermione put down her book and took a sip before replying.

"Tell Ginny I said thankyou," she said as Ron gave her a look, "your tea isn't quite this good." Ron rolled his eyes as he sat beside her.

Hermione stared out at the sunset, full of amazement at its beauty. Ron stared at her with the same level of amazement. Her head was nestled under his jaw, her mug held close to her face. Her feet were tucked up on the bench. Ron had his arm wrapped around her.

Hermione had always had a knack for noticing and appreciating the little things. For example: when words in a book were layed out so none of them were hyphenated, or when somebody held the door open for another person, or the way Ron bit his lip whenever someone mentioned them. Right in this moment, Hermione was noticing and appreciating the mug in which her tea had been in. It was a greyish blue colour decorated with some additional scratches. The rim was a darker shade of grey-blue and chipped in two places. It reminded Hermione of the sort of mug you'd picture in a book or a poem: the heroine and her lover are out in the woods. They've had a long day and are settling down by the light of the fire. They sip their tea in silence as they listen to the sounds of the wilderness. It was something like that.

As Hermione drifted from her thoughts, she looked at Ron, only to find him already gazing at her. He was smiling his same old goofy smile. Hermione noticed Ron had already finished his tea and placed his mug down. Hermione too had finished her tea, but had got lost in her thoughts about the mug. She placed it down with chink on the floor. Lifting herself back up to eye level with Ron, she curled her fingers around his and placed her free hand on his face. He, in return, entwined his fingers with hers, cupped her face and kissed her in the sunset light.

Drawing apart, fingers still entwined, Ron kissed Hermione's nose.

"You are so beautiful Hermione, do you know that?"

Hermione blushed before staring back up at Ron and responding. "You're not too dreadful yourself, Ronald." With that, their lips collided again. Ron released Hermione's hand and bought both his hands to her face. Simultaneously, they both began to lower themselves down on the bench. Hermiones foot swung off, knocking one of the mugs. They were both slightly startled by the clatter, but let only a breathy smirk escape their lips before returning to the kiss.

They lay there on the bench, lips locked, until the sun was almost completely set. It was only then that Hermione lifted her lips away and rested her head on Ron's chest, clutching him tightly. Ron stroked her hair and strained his neck occasionally to peck the top of her head. They would have stayed there all night if it wasn't for the beckoning of Mrs Weasley, who wouldn't have noticed them at all if one of the gnomes hadn't run inside the house. She had had to chase it back into the garden, hence her spotting of them.

Hermione was half asleep when they were ordered inside, so Ron scooped her up in his arms and carried her upstairs, still wrapped in the blankets. He had initially gone to take her into her bed in Ginny's room, but decided against the decision when he noticed Harry lying alongside his sister. So instead Ron prompted open the door of his own room and layed Hermione down on his bed instead. He pulled the blankets over her shoulders before heading back downstairs. He went back to the bench to collect the mugs they had been drinking out, and also for Hermione's book. He placed the mugs by the sink and went back upstairs to his bedroom. He quietly put the book down on the bedside table before climbing into bed beside Hermione. She, still obviously partially awake, made a grab for his hand and pulled his arm over her. This was the way Hermione felt most protected, and Ron wanted nothing more in the world than for Hermione to be safe. So with that, they both fell into dreamless slumbers, for neither of them had anything else to hope for. All they dreamed about and hoped for was right there, infront of them, embracing them.