A/N: I highly suggest listening to Michael Bublé's version of You Don't Know Me when the timing is appropriate (i.e. when it shows up in the story), but any version will do.
It’s only a matter of time before you see her. I mean she has to come right? She wouldn’t miss Harry and Ginny’s wedding. My mind couldn’t help but race at a time like this; I was going to see her again after so long. Even though I had caught glimpses of her at assorted parties or at the Ministry she always seemed to slip away before I could talk to her. I just couldn’t seem to hold onto Hermione.
It seemed like it was only yesterday that we left Hogwarts and the possibilities appeared to be endless. We were helping Harry out with his mission to finish off Voldemort once and for all. Yet the entire time we were in the midst of this deadly fight to survive I couldn’t help but think of her. She always seemed to brighten my day even when we were having a particularly fierce row.
There were always moments when I would look into her eyes and it was as if we could read each other’s thoughts and feelings. I couldn’t tear my eyes away no matter how hard I tried, not that I wanted to. Her chestnut hair cascaded down her back and I ached to reach out and entwine my fingers in it. If only she really could read my thoughts we could have been together today.
Now eight years later my little sister and my best mate are getting hitched, and I couldn’t be happier for them. I just needed to work on transferring that happiness to my own life. The war is over and all around me people are happy and truly at ease. Harry and I are both working at the Ministry as Aurors. Ginny is also working in the ministry but she’s working in the Department of Mysteries, not that we don’t already know what’s in there.
Hermione had become a Healer at St. Mungo’s working in the permanent resident wing. Neville had relayed this news to me after he had gone to visit his parents one day. She seemed to be doing well, but we had lost contact after the war was over. At first we were inseparable but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her how I felt. We stopped seeing each other everyday and then her letters stopped coming every week. Soon the occasional hello had tapered off into nothing. Ginny assured me that I have nothing to worry about and I should get on with my life. Ha, I’ll get on with my life when Hermione’s back in it.
“Hey Ron, you’re supposed to be getting ready instead of gawking at the crowd.” Harry had walked over and was trying to get his tie straight.
“Yeah… right. I was just making sure that Fred and George haven’t rigged up something to enhance your wedding festivities.” I looked back into the crowd and gave up looking for the familiar head of curly brown hair.
“Sure you were. She’s going to be at the reception at least, she sent her reservation along weeks ago. I do have to warn you though, she’s bringing someone.” Harry looked apprehensive when he said that last bit.
“She’s bringing someone?” The words caught in my throat, “Well, good for her, I wonder if it’s some bloke from work?” My voice seemed unnaturally cheery; I just hoped Harry didn’t notice.
Harry turned back to the mirror and I crossed the room to try and get my tie fixed up as well. Who could she be bringing, Ginny hadn’t said anything. Maybe it was just a girl from her work.
Maybe it’s Krum.
No it can’t be Krum she hasn’t talked about him in ages, even when we were at school.
Maybe she just didn’t talk about him in front of you. She’s probably been seeing him ever since fourth year, keeping up with those international wizard relations.
It can’t be, she’s not bringing Krum to the wedding there’s a match between Bulgaria and China today and I checked to make sure he’s still playing.
When I looked in the mirror my tie was all done up in knots, but I couldn’t remember tying it. I quickly undid it and set it straight. Harry was starting to pace around the length of the little room lost in thought. I pulled on my jacket and walked over to him.
“Don’t worry mate, it’s going to be great. Just remember that you’ve already been through worse things than getting up in front of hundreds of people and reciting some vows. Don’t forget that the ring goes on the left hand and don’t go snogging up a storm in the end, you are in a church.” As Harry grinned reluctantly when the priest came in and announced that it was time to begin.
“Well here we go,” I clapped him on the back “Off to make an honest man out of you.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sitting up at the head table definitely has its advantages; I could easily scan the room without having to stand up. The ceremony had gone off without a hitch although there was a moment when I thought Fred and George actually had set up something, but Mum had made sure nothing would go wrong. Now we were all seated in the yard behind the Burrow, which seemed to have doubled in size in order to hold all the guests.
Suddenly I saw her, she had flitted past the corner of my eye and I had turned my head so fast I felt it crick. She looked beautiful, her hair was arranged so it was gathered on the top of her head with a shower of ringlets falling around her shoulders. She wore robes of a light violet color and her head was tipped back in laughter. She had placed her hand on someone’s arm that I didn’t recognize.
My stomach did a flip and then dived down to my feet. It was a rather tall bloke with dark hair and the build of a professional Quidditch player. He couldn’t be her date, but I already had an ominous feeling that he was. As I gaped at them he put his arm around her shoulders and steered her off towards their table.
“Ron? Ron! Are you okay? You look like you’ve been hit by a bludger.” Yeah, a bludger hit by that ape with Hermione. I turned and saw that both Harry and Ginny were looking at me along with half of the people at the reception.
“Er… yeah, I’m fine, just trying to remember my speech.”
“Well you better remember quickly because it’s time for you to give it.”
“Wha? Right.” I quickly stood up and grabbed my speech from my pocket. “’Lo, most of you know me either as Ginny’s big brother or as Harry Potter’s best friend. Either way I’m linked to the two people we’ve gathered to celebrate today. This day has been waiting to happen for a long time. Some of you know that my sister has been infatuated with Harry since she first met him back in our first year. Only it took Harry a few more years to realize that he was, in fact, in love with her too. They were pulled apart when Harry, Hermione and I went to finish off, you know, Him. After the war was over they found each other once again, but this time it was for forever. I’ve been there along the way towards their life together and I know that there are no two people who are more perfectly matched. Here’s to you Harry and Ginny, like I said so many years ago I may give you permission but don’t go snogging each other in public, for everyone else’s sake. To Harry and Ginny.”
Everyone raised their glasses and toasted the newlyweds. As I sat down I couldn’t help but think about what I had said about them being perfectly matched. In fact I did know that there were two people who were even more perfectly matched, but Hermione and I had never found each other the way that Harry and Ginny had.
That thought lingered in my mind the entire time we were eating and up through Harry and Ginny’s first dance as a married couple. I came out of my reverie in time to catch the last bit of their dance and applaud them with the rest of the onlookers. As the music changed more people were drawn out onto the dance floor and I watched the couples sway in time to the music while I pushed my half-eaten dinner around my plate.
After a while I knew that I couldn’t linger any longer at the table, since I was the only one sitting there. I got up and started to maneuver my way through the tables and skillfully dodging assorted family members. I was almost cornered by Aunt Muriel but I quickly ducked behind a tree and came out the other side. Once again I found myself watching the dance floor but this time I wasn’t the only one.
Hermione was standing only a few feet away, apparently lost in the music and hadn't noticed that I had walked up. The gorilla she had come with was nowhere to be seen and I took it as a sign that I should talk to her. Slowly I inched my way towards her and there was a fleeting moment when I swear she was watching me out of the corner of her eye.
“Hello Hermione, it’s been a long time.” I tried to keep the sadness and longing out of my voice. I hope it worked.
“Oh, hello Ron, yes it has been.” She had turned to me and my knees almost buckled when I caught her gaze.
“I was wondering if you wanted to catch up in a dance?” Catch up in a dance? What the hell does that mean? Stupid dolt, now she won’t want to dance with you.
She seemed to hesitate for a second but she agreed. As we walked onto the dance floor the song changed. I had only heard it once before, since it was sung by some bloke from Canada but I knew it was another sign. I took her hand and pulled her close to me hoping the song would relay to her what I was feeling.
You give your hand to me
Then you say hello
I can hardly speak
My heart is beating so
And anyone can tell
You think you know me well
But you don't know me
As we danced we chatted about how our lives had changed over the years. She said she was happy working at St. Mungo’s. I told her about my life as an Auror and how things had slowed down considerably since the final Death Eaters had been captured.
No, you don't know the one
Who dreams of you at night
And longs to kiss your lips
And longs to hold you tight
Oh I'm just a friend
That's all I've ever been
'Cause you don't know me
I had been waiting years for the time when we would be talking to each other again. There was no denying that she hadn’t possessed my every thought for as long as I could remember. I looked down at her and she smiled back. It was taking all of my strength to refrain from pulling her closer to me and bending down to kiss her.
For I never knew
The art of making love
Though my heart aches
With love for you
Afraid and shy
I've let my chance to go by
A chance that you might
Love me, too
I was afraid that she would be able to feel my heart racing. As I was holding her in my arms I couldn’t think of why I hadn’t told her how I felt before. If I had we could have been dancing this way for the rest of our lives instead of for this one song. There were plenty of times I could have told her. But I knew I didn’t because I wasn’t sure if she could love me back.
You give your hand to me
And then you say good-bye
I watch you walk away
Beside the lucky guy
You'll never know
The one who loves you so
Well, you don't know me
Suddenly out of nowhere the guy I had seen her with earlier came up to us. He grinned toothily at me and I had to remember how to smile instead of grimace.
“Hope you don’t mind, but I’ve come to steal Hermione from you. Name’s Dave, I work with Hermione at St. Mungo’s.” He grinned again and looked at Hermione.
“I’m Ron,” I reluctantly let Hermione go. “She’s all yours.”
I watched as she danced away from me, without sparing me a second glance. As I walked slowly back to the table I tried to hold onto the image of her in my arms and breath in the scent of her perfume that lingered on my shirt. I was struggling with myself, trying to fight the urge to punch Dave in the face and yell to the world that I love Hermione Granger or finally give up and be glad that Hermione has found someone she can be happy with.
For I never knew
The art of making love
Though my heart aches
With love for you
Afraid and shy
I've let my chance to go by
A chance that you might
Love me, too
Suddenly the song had lost all of its appeal and I was ready to go over and destroy whoever was in charge of the music. Of course I knew that people might be upset if the music stopped and I would never hear the end of it from Mum and Ginny. Hopefully I won’t ever have to hear the song again. Already it seemed a cruel reminder of what I almost had if I only had the guts to tell her how I feel.
You give your hand to me
Then you say good-bye
I watch you walk away
Beside the lucky guy
No, no, you'll never ever know
The one who loves you so
Well, you don't know me
I began to scan the crowd again and I noticed that in the far corner of the yard Hermione was talking to Dave. He looked as though he had been punched in the stomach and she was holding his hands. I turned away, knowing I couldn’t handle it if I saw him kissing her.
I tried hard to concentrate on the fairy lights that adorned the yard but they quickly lost my interest and I reluctantly turned back towards the party. Dave and Hermione had left their spot in the yard and it was now occupied by one of the twins and their date but I couldn’t tell which one it was. Back on the dance floor everyone was having a good time, but there was no sign of Hermione.
“Ron?” I started at the sound thinking I was the only person occupying the table. I turned and saw that it wasn’t just anyone, but it was Hermione.
“Hey, where’s Dave? I thought he was your date.” I scoffed at the notion turning my attention to the tablecloth.
“He was my date, I told him that I had a great time but it wasn’t going to go anywhere with us. He just left, in quite a huff I might add.”
I looked back up and when our eyes met I could see clearly for the first time in years. I stood up but didn’t dare break the connection we had made. I knew that finally the moment was right to tell her everything.
“Hermione, I can’t believe that I’ve waited this long to tell you, but I love you. I’ve been in love with you ever since I can remember. We’ve been apart for so long, but I never stopped loving you.” I reached for her hand and her eyes were sparkling with tears.
“I think I always knew, but it wasn’t real to me. I’m sorry if I hurt you, it’s just I felt if I couldn’t be with you in love I couldn’t be with you at all. I love you Ron, more than you’ll ever know.” I reached out and brushed away the tears that had begun to fall from her beautiful eyes.
I pulled her to me and her eyes flitted closed. As our lips met all of the waiting, longing, and frustrations poured into each other. My hands found their way to her back and her waist pulling her closer. Hours could have passed but we took no notice, we had found each other finally and we weren’t going to let go.
Reluctantly we broke apart and our hands found their way into each other. I gently pushed a lock of hair out of her face and traced her jaw line with my fingers. She smiled up at me as I pulled her onto the dance floor. We spent the rest of the night dancing under the stars, gazing into each other’s eyes.
Disclaimer: I, of course, don't own anything having to do with Harry Potter or related ideas. I also don't own You Don't Know Me by Michael Bublé from his cd It's Time