Chapter 3
Both Lavender and Ron turned to see Hermione standing there, her face flushed and her eyes blazing. Without another word, she marched up to them, grabbed Ron by the collar, and pulled him in.
Ron Weasley’s world stopped the moment Hermione Granger’s lips touched his.
He barely had time to process what was happening. One moment, he was standing awkwardly in the courtyard, Lavender Brown leaning in for what was meant to be a romantic Valentine’s Day kiss. The next, Hermione had stormed in, eyes blazing with determination, and before he could utter a single word, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into the most earth-shattering kiss of his life.
It wasn’t gentle or tentative. It was fierce, raw, and full of emotion. Hermione’s lips were warm and urgent against his, her hands gripping his collar like she was terrified he’d vanish if she let go. Her curls tickled his face, and he caught a faint scent of parchment and vanilla.
Ron’s mind went blank. His heart was thundering in his chest, pounding so loudly that he was sure Hermione could hear it. Every nerve in his body was on fire. He could feel her breath mingling with his—fast and uneven, as if she had been holding it in for far too long.
Time seemed to slow. Everything around them faded away—the fluttering pink petals, the enchanted floating candles, and even the horrified gasp from Lavender, who had just witnessed the whole thing. Nothing mattered except Hermione.
Instinct took over. Ron’s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. He felt her tremble slightly before melting into his embrace, her fingers tangling in his ginger hair. It was electrifying, intense, and unlike anything he had ever imagined.
This was Hermione—his best friend, his constant rival, his fiercest critic, and his unwavering supporter. The girl who infuriated him with her relentless lectures, who challenged him to be better, and who had stood by his side through every adventure and danger. He had loved her for so long, even before he knew what love truly meant.
And now she was kissing him—passionately, desperately, like she had been waiting for this moment as long as he had.
His heart soared, an overwhelming sense of relief flooding through him. All the jealousy, the insecurity, the fear of not being good enough—everything vanished as Hermione’s lips moved against his, her hands clutching him like he was the only thing keeping her grounded.
Ron poured everything he had into that kiss—all the longing, all the unspoken words, and all the love he had been hiding for years. He could feel Hermione responding just as fiercely, her emotions mirroring his own.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless, their faces flushed. Hermione’s eyes were wide, shimmering with tears she was trying to hold back. Her lips were slightly swollen, her cheeks rosy, and her hair was a wild mess. She looked more beautiful than ever.
“I love you, Ronald Weasley,” she whispered, her voice trembling but steady. “I’ve loved you for ages. And I won’t stand by and watch you waste your time on someone who doesn’t even know the real you.”
Lavender’s jaw dropped, her eyes filling with tears. “What... How could you—”
Hermione didn’t even look at her. Her eyes were locked on Ron, daring him to say something, anything. Ron’s mind was spinning. Had Hermione just... kissed him? Had she really said she loved him? He was left speechless, his thoughts struggling to catch up with his heart.
Hermione loved him.
Hermione Granger loved him.
The brilliant, stubborn, extraordinary witch he had thought was far out of his reach loved him back.
A slow grin spread across his face. “You... you love me?” he stammered, his voice cracking embarrassingly.
Hermione rolled her eyes, but her smile was soft, her fingers still tangled in his hair. “Yes, you prat. I love you.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, vulnerable and honest. “I always have. I just... I didn’t think you’d ever see me that way.” She hesitated. “Not when you had Lavender.”
Ron felt his heart explode with joy, and he finally found his voice. “Hermione... I... I never wanted Lavender. I mean, she’s nice and all, but... it was always you. It’s always been you.”
A hopeful smile spread across Hermione’s face, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
Ron didn’t think twice. He didn’t care who was watching, didn’t care that students were peeking around corners to see the commotion. All that mattered was Hermione. He closed the distance between them and kissed her again, this time with all the emotion he had been bottling up for years. Her arms tightened around his neck, and he felt her smile against his lips.
Everything felt right. Everything felt perfect.
Behind them, Lavender let out an indignant huff and stormed off, her footsteps echoing angrily in the corridor. But neither Ron nor Hermione noticed.
They were too lost in each other, finally realizing that they had been meant for each other all along.
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The End.
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