Redemption II

Chapter 64

Ron could barely move his feet forward. The amount of guilt and the throbbing pain in his face was nearly too much to bear. He had truly just tried to help. Why was he so stupid? Even the word moron had his name in it. Why couldn't he do anything right?

He caught sight of himself in one of the decorative mirrors that hung in the hallway leading to there apartment. He didn't look nearly as bad as he felt. His eye was puffy and black around the bottom and his cheek was a bit red but it was really just how pathetic his eyes looked even to himself that struck him hard.

He had to tell her. Tonight. She deserved to know what sort of loser she was sharing an apartment with. He'd already resigned himself to the idea that she would undoubtedly move out. That he knew, he just wasn't sure what she'd do to him before that. He had no Horcrux with him this time to ease over his stupidity. Just his words of apology. He was going to confess everything. Everything.

Even the key felt exceptionally heavy when he put it into the lock. The wards made his fingers tingle when he felt them release to accept him in. He barely had the strength to lift his head as he passed the threshold.

Their apartment was modest. The front door opening up to the living room slash kitchen. With their bedrooms down the short hallway. Hermione had taken the bedroom on the left beside the bathroom while Ron had taken the one on the right next to the small balcony that gave them a modest view of the town. It was only a few blocks away from Grimmauld place but was set inside a six-story building, their room on the top floor.

The living room held one couch and a small desk with a chair that had already been taken over by the copious amount of books Hermione had been using to study for her NEWTS, her room too small to really hold it all. He'd offered to switch rooms with her when she'd first moved in but she'd declined, saying that she didn't want to put him out. He'd never really commented directly on her taking over the shared space in the time they'd stayed together, too afraid that it would make her want to go back to Harry's. It all seemed silly now. She was going to leave anyway.

Ron set his keys on the hook beside the door, his eyes taking in the room more clearly. The overhead light was still on giving him a clear view. All the papers and books she'd messed the room with had all been neatly stacked along the walls. The dining table, kitchen bar and even the small desk all cleared away. His head raised a bit higher taking in everything that appeared to have been cleaned before large brown curls hanging over the arm of the couch caught his attention.

His heart beat just a bit faster as he closed the door and came further into the room. The coffee table was still filled with paper but he could tell she'd tried to contain the mess. When he came a bit further he felt his the tension in his body slowly unwinding. She was asleep, her head turned into the back of the couch. He'd never seen her actually able to fall asleep anywhere but her bed since she'd come to stay with him. As though she were always wound tight. His eyes lowered down to the book that nearly took up the entire length of her torso. It looked old, older than anything he'd seen her have before. He came just a bit closer to try and read the faded gold leaf title. Wizard Royalty: Castles of the Ages.

He pursed his lips but didn't put too much thought into what she might be researching now. He was sure it wasn't NEWTS related and thought perhaps she was simply reading it for pleasure. The book looked awfully heavy though and he couldn't imagine her being all too comfortable laying beneath it. Despite his previous self-depreciative thoughts, he felt the need to help her in some way.

Though his heart wanted him to carry her safely to her room, his fear kept his hands from completing the task. Instead, he carefully lifted the book from over her chest. Her hands had already fallen down, one to the floor and the other against the back of the couch. She took a deep breath letting out a soft sigh after he'd lifted it away but otherwise didn't stir.