The Big Evening

Chapter 7 – The Big Evening

It was around seven p.m. the following evening that Harry and Ginny went to the Room of Requirement to set up for their romantic evening for four. After thinking what they wanted the room to become and walking back and forth three times in front of the wall where the door usually appeared, it did just that. They walked in and noted that there was a fully-equipped kitchen with a comfortable-looking set of loveseats before a roaring fire set on a rose-printed carpet off to the side, complete with champagne on ice sitting on a small table between the loveseats, champagne and ice which was charmed to last for hours.

Harry even noted a door off to the other side and knew where it must lead, smiling wickedly at the thoughts the sight prompted. At the proper time, he would lead Ginny into the adjoining room so they could be alone. If they played their cards right, Ron and Hermione would be too engrossed in each other to notice they were gone. Even at that, Harry had planted clues for them to follow in various places they all frequented but where only Ron or Hermione would think to look...clues which would eventually lead them to the Room of Requirement, where their friends and a sumptuous dinner, cooked by Ginny, would await them.

Harry also planned to ward the door of the Room with a Silencing and Locking Charm if only to be on the safe side, but if all went well, it wouldn't be needed to keep them in. It would be needed simply for the privacy of all lovers concerned. Of course, neither of them knew what Hermione was doing right now, something which would also lead Ron to meet her at the Room of Requirement ... or so she hoped.

* * * * *

This surely had to be the toughest thing Hermione had ever had to write, but she knew she had to ... or else it was likely she and Ron would lose each other before ever having had each other. It was up to her to tell him the truth, and she couldn't hold anything back either, not if she expected him to believe anything she said. With that, she curled up in her favourite cushy chair nearest the fire in the Gryffindor common room and began to write.

My dear (or should I say 'dearest?') Ron ...

I certainly feel that way about him, Hermione thought as her Self-Inking Quill scratched across the parchment on the lap desk before her. She decided to go for it. This was no time for cowardice; the entire romantic future of both herself and Ron depended on what she did now.

I'm sorry you have been caused such pain by what you believe to be my engagement to Viktor Krum. I have to admit I care for him, but not like you think. That emotion is reserved for you ... has always been reserved for you. I never had the nerve to tell you this before, my most precious love, but I found the letter you wrote, and it was so beautiful it made me cry. I assure you, you've not lost me ... by no means! However, it will all be for nothing if you don't believe me.

I have an idea. How about we meet in the Room of Requirement at seven this evening? I'll fix us some dinner, and maybe we can even invite Harry and Ginny to spend the evening with us. How would that be? But most of all, I want to be alone with you to show you how I feel without any prying eyes. Please say you'll come and that you believe me when I say I love you...for I've never meant anything so much in my entire life.

If you believe me, please answer me as soon as you get this. It will make me the happiest, luckiest witch in the entire Wizarding world!

All my love now and forever,

Your Hermione

Upon finishing the letter, Hermione went to the Owlery and chose the first owl she saw, a large tawny, thrust the letter under its beak, then told the bird to deliver it to one Ronald Weasley post-haste and wait for an answer. The owl seemed to nod in understanding and took flight a moment later, the letter held firmly in its beak. Hermione felt as if a great weight had been lifted from both her shoulders and her heart to know that she had finally managed to tell Ron how she truly felt about him. Now all she could do was wait for his answer and pray that he would believe her.

* * * * *

The owl found Ron within half an hour, and he found tears misting his own eyes at the poignant and beautiful words Hermione had written him. He had never been so happy, his heart had never felt so full ... and he could hardly wait to be alone with her and show her how he truly felt! Of course, he couldn't do this until they were truly alone, but once they were, she wouldn't know what hit her.

My most precious and beloved Hermione ...

Thank you so much for clearing things up. You have made me the happiest, luckiest wizard in the world. I will do everything I can to make sure you never regret choosing me. And yes, that would be great if we could have an evening together with our friends ... Just let me know when and where you plan to do it, and I'll be there with bells on!

Yours forever,

Ron

He then scribbled her name on an envelope, slipped the letter inside and thrust it under the owl's beak before telling the bird where to take it and who to take it to, already making plans as to what he would do and say when he saw Hermione again. Of course, making plans was one thing. Actually carrying them out was another...but he planned to do his best, even if he had to ask Harry for help.

* * * * *

But even as Ron was doing this, Ginny and Harry were setting things up in the Room of Requirement. Or more accurately, she was getting the dinner made, and he was setting up the clues which would lead them to the Room at the proper time. At this point, of course, they were unaware that it was the other letters exchanged between their friends which would ultimately bring them to the Room, but what mattered was that they would show up. And once they were there, they would see to it that things progressed as they should, whatever they had to do...up to and including locking them in the Room.

* * * * *

Once seven o'clock rolled around, the matchmakers were as ready as they would ever be, the food ready and waiting in the kitchen/dining room section of the Room and their friends waiting in the living room section. It was very hard for the other lovers not to begin their own evening together, but they had to wait until their friends had arrived and they had had dinner before they could leave and be alone.

Hermione arrived first and was stunned at what Harry and Ginny had done, hugging the stuffing out of them for being so perceptive and helpful once she realised why they had done it. Now all they had to do was wait for Ron to come. Harry had already assured his closest female friend that he wasn't about to let Ron leave until he and Hermione had resolved things to everyone's satisfaction, even if he and Ginny had to lock them in the Room. Hermione laughed and said, "I don't think it'll be necessary to do that if we play our cards right ... but then, one never knows, so it might be a good idea to keep it as a backup plan just in case of necessity."

Harry had even asked her if she had found the clues he had planted, and Hermione shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not. I came here because Ron and I had planned to meet here for a private discussion...but it's all the better that you and Gin have anticipated our needs." Just then, they heard a commotion at the door, and Ron stepped in, slowly, carefully, gauging as to whether or not it was safe to enter.

"Hello, everyone ... Harry, Ginny ... Hermione ..."

Hermione smiled tenderly in Ron's direction, knowing she was all he saw, despite their friends' presence. "Ron. I'm so glad you could come."

This time it was Ron's turn to be stunned at what their friends had done ... and while he was taking it all in, Harry had surreptitiously cast Locking and Silencing Charms on the door of the Room. All of them were dressed in their nicest casual clothes, and once Ron took a deep breath, noting the smells of all his favourite dishes, he suggested they all sit down and tuck in, then move to the living area where the couples could have a private talk.

* * * * *

Which they did. In fact, Harry and Ginny were simply pretending to talk themselves; instead, they were listening to Ron and Hermione's conversation. Even at that, they had their backs to them, so the others had a modicum of privacy. Their smiles grew wider and more knowing with every passing moment. In the end, they simply held each other, and Ginny rested her head on Harry's shoulder as they listened.

"Ron, why didn't you tell me sooner? If I had known how you felt, I would never have accepted Viktor's proposal."

"Because I ... didn't think you could ever love me. I mean, you're so ... smart, so beautiful...and I'm so ... ordinary. How could I ever expect you to give me more than the time of day? You deserve someone extraordinary ... someone like Krum."

"You seriously underestimate yourself," his companion all but crooned back, resting her hand over Ron's nearest one. "What if I said I wanted you instead? That I've always wanted you ... ever since fourth year...and that the only reason I accepted Viktor was because I didn't think I could ever have you? But now that I know how you feel, I know it would be wrong to stay with him. Neither of us would be happy, and I would be wasting both his and my time. My heart knows where I belong...and I belong with you."

His heartbeat went into the stratosphere at both her touch and her confession. "Just the same, I should never have sent you that letter."

"Why do you say that? Is there something wrong with telling someone you love them?"

"Not ... wrong so much as pointless. For all I knew, you never cared for me as more than a friend. And the way I treated you then ... I don't blame you for being upset. I was a totally foul git...but I was so hurt, so jealous, seeing you with him when I wanted so much to be with you myself."

"I realise that now ... and you were not wrong to send the letter. It was beautiful, and I'll treasure it as long as I live. I hope you liked the one I wrote back just as much."

"I did ... but I've been such a ruddy coward. How could you possibly..."

Hermione put a hand to his cheek, and Ron felt all the blood rush to his face. Oh, God, he thought. Her hand is so soft. I want her to go on touching me ... Never stop ... Please ... never stop ...

"You were simply afraid of being hurt. That's natural. So was I ... which was why I could never bring myself to tell you my feelings before now." She gave him a heart-stopping smile when he lifted a hand to cover hers.

"But ...'Mione, you've always been one of the bravest people I know, standing up to Malfoy and all. I could never have done that."

"That's one thing. Baring one's heart is something else again. No one likes feeling vulnerable, and when you fall in love with someone, you give them the power to make you feel vulnerable simply by what they do or say...or don't do or say."

"Just as it crushed me when I saw you with Viktor, and then he proposed to you and you accepted," Ron recalled.

"As I said, I only did that because you were with Lavender and I didn't think I could ever have you," Hermione reiterated, her eyes filled with tears. "If you had any idea how much it crushed me to see you with her ..."

"Don't cry, 'Mione. I'm sorry for both hurting you and for not asking you out in fourth year. If I had, none of this would ever have happened, and we'd be together now. But it's too late. You're with Krum and I'm with Lavender."

It was then that Hermione noticed Harry and Ginny had discreetly taken their leave but didn't say anything to Ron, preferring to let him think they were still nearby, at least for the time being. "That could be changed, you know. Nothing's firm yet."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll break up with Viktor if you break up with Lavender," she finally blurted, knowing she had to say it while she still had the nerve.

"I can't ask you to do that."

"What if I want to?"

Ron's heart felt so full at her declaration that he didn't think it would be able to contain all the love he was feeling for the girl beside him. In fact, if he felt much more, he was certain it would literally explode.

"Bloody hell, Ron! What do I have to do to convince you that I love you? That I've always loved you and always will love you?"

Ron looked up into Hermione's eyes and realised she wasn't lying. She didn't generally use profanity, but had this time ... which seemed to be the only way to get through to him. What was more, she had said she loved him directly from her own lips. It was real...just as he had always dreamed and hoped for...and now here he was, just looking at her lovely face, into her soft brown eyes, totally lost for words.

"Ron ... I want to hear you say you love me, that you don't want me to be with Viktor. If you do, I'll break up with him and be all yours."

It was at this point that Ron finally realised that Harry and Ginny were gone. He had no idea when they had left, but he was frankly glad they were gone, most likely to carry out their own rendezvous. Meanwhile, he had his own to worry about.

Ron then slid his arms around Hermione's waist, pulled her close, and they kissed passionately, fiercely, for several moments. When he finally pulled away, he said, "I love you, Hermione, and want you to be mine alone. Please don't ever go back to Viktor. We belong together."

Hermione's brown eyes glowed as they looked into his blue ones, her lips sweetly swollen from his kiss, and said, "I promise you, I'll break up with Viktor today."

"And me with Lavender," Ron said, hugging Hermione again, unwilling to ever let her go.

* * * * *

Ron and Hermione talked for hours after that, telling each other everything they should have said before this but couldn't say until now. Only then did Harry and Ginny check on their friends from the adjoining room, smiling knowingly, wickedly, upon seeing them kiss passionately. Their work was done, at least for now, so they had earned some more quality time alone for themselves.

In fact, Harry was even planning the best way to propose to Ginny, even owling Gringotts to send him his mother's engagement and wedding rings from his personal vault so he could propose properly. He hadn't even told his friends his intentions, much less Ginny, and wouldn't until he had everything planned out to his satisfaction. He might even decide to use the Room again; he hadn't made a definite decision on that yet, but kept it as an option. Until he did decide for sure, they would keep to the status quo.