The fire burned on in the hearth in her apartment. Hermione had cried many a night away waiting for Ron to come home.
He knew she had forgotten him years ago, but he had to tell her one last thing, before he left. He had to tell her he loved her. He was coming back for her, if she’d have him.
She sat in front of the fire, staring into it like so she had done so many nights before. There was a note crumpled in her fist and tears shone in her eyes. There came a knock at the door. For a moment, her heart leapt. Perhaps, perhaps after all these years he was coming back for her. But no, he couldn’t. He didn’t love her anymore.
Two pinpricks of sapphire stared out at her from behind the door. She stared at him, unable to believe what she saw in front of her. He was here. He had come back. After all these years.
Ron stared at her. She was more beautiful than ever. At that moment, nothing could have drawn his attention away from the girl ” the woman ” that he loved. Whether another stood in the background, he would show her how much he missed her.
They locked eyes and felt that wave of happiness and comfort that they had known so well so many years ago. All they had was each other, and that was enough. Shakily, without thinking, “Ron?” said Hermione, tears quivering in her honeyed eyes. “You’re here?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I miss you.”
Close your eyes, close the door,
You don’t have to worry anymore.
Slowly, he unclenched his fist and rested his hand on her cheek. They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, and then both broke down. Hermione’s tears spilled onto her face as their lips met for the first time in four years. She could feel the years of feeling he had deprived her of flooding back into her being. All in a single kiss, they forgave the grievous debts which were owed to one another.
The kiss broke, and Hermione stared into his eyes. She took his hand and pulled him into the apartment, her eyes now shining with happiness for the first time in years. She did not care that he had left her alone and crying for so many years. He was sorry, she loved him, and they were together once again. She shut the door and kissed him again, her tears coming once more.
Cause I’ll be your baby tonight.
He said it, but she knew without his words. “Mione, I’m not going anywhere.” He would stay. He would love forever, and would not leave. Of this, she was confident. Like they had so many times before they sank onto the couch together and sat there, staring into one another’s eyes at a loss for words. “He’s home,” she thought. “He’s finally come home.”
Ron could think of nothing but the woman who sat so near to him. His body remembered the way Hermione’s hand rested on his chest, and their lips met once again. “She’s not forgotten me,” he thought over and over again. “I can’t believe it.”
Shut the lights, and shut the shade
You don’t have to be afraid.
Hermione slowly got up off Ron’s lap and drew the curtains. They had been open for the last four years, hoping that he would come home and she would be the first to welcome him. She turned down the lights, so that all that was left was the firelight and the light of the moon. This was their time, and nothing would intrude.
Cause I’ll be your baby tonight.
Nothing would intrude. This was their moment, their time. She felt young again, like when they had they had been young and in love. She loved him even more now, and the tears had not stopped coming.
Well, that mockingbird is going to sing,
And we’re gonna forget it.
In the background slow, mournful music played, but they could not hear it. To them it was soft and slow, perfect for the dance their hearts pounded out in their chests. They forgot the mournful music behind them and smiled and kissed by the light of the fire.
“Mione, I love you,” he said slowly. “I’m sorry I left.” “Oh, Ron,” she said in reply, “there is nothing to forgive.” They loved each other, and no apology was needed. They were in love.
That big, fat moon is gonna shine like a spoon,
We’re gonna let it. You won’t regret it.
The moon shone outside, but they were inside, remembering what they used to do in the old days before the hard times. When they were young and unworried. When their passion was unmatched by any.
Kick your shoes off and don’t you fear.
Bring that bottle over here.
“You’ll stay, of course,” said Hermione, smiling and speaking into his shoulder where she had come to rest. Ron reached out to his left and grabbed the conveniently placed bottle of wine on the table. He uncorked it and poured it into the glasses, and they remembered the olden days when this had happened every night, and they would sit for hours in each other’s company.
Cause I’ll be your baby tonight.
They were there for each other. He would leave this time. She hadn’t forgotten him, not even after all these years of waiting. They were young again and in love. This was their night.
Well, that mockingbird is gonna sing,
And we’re gonna forget it.
That big fat moon is gonna shine like a spoon.
We’re gonna let it. We won’t regret it.
They knew nothing outside of each other and the love they had for one another. Ron’s lips were the world to her, and he swore he could see the universe in her eyes. There was nothing outside of the room, they swore, and they were content for it to remain that way.
Kick your shoes off and don’t you fear.
Bring that bottle over.
Cause I’ll be your baby tonight.
They sat by the fireside, slowly bringing the old days back to life. “I remember this,” she whispered. “We used to sit here for hours. I love you, Ronald.”
He knew she needed no answer. A sweet kiss was enough to satisfy the well of longing that had sprung up in her heart over the years. Oh, Merlin, his lips were warm and sweet. Don’t let this night end. I love him too much.
Cause I’ll be your baby tonight.
She’d be his baby tonight. She hadn’t forgotten him after all.
Cause I’ll be your baby tonight.
He’s perfect. I knew he would come back for me. Tears stung her eyes. Thank you, Ron, thank you.
Cause I’ll be your baby tonight.