Disclaimer: I’m not JKR, these are her characters, forgive me for not doing them justice.
…He looked at her quizzically and she mouthed back …“they’re coming back!”… Ron was looking around hopelessly, then with an idea…
“There,” mouthed Ron pointing to a just visible black in mountain of rocks. “Hurry!” He helped Hermione in and then checking that the coast was clear, climbed in himself. The cave was small, just high enough that they could crawl. Hermione reached for Ron’s hand and closed her eyes praying or willing for whoever or whatever that killed Grawp to leave quickly. Ron’s heart beat a bit harder as he looked at Hermione, terrified. She may have been the cleverest witch of their age but he was going to protect her; instinct kicked in, his love for her took over, and he was determined she would survive this. He could let nothing hurt her, ever.
The war had been closing in on Hogwarts for months. Since the battle in the Department of Mysteries, Death Eaters and members of the Order were fighting for their lives daily. Hogwarts was still safe, for Dumbledore was still Dumbledore, but the forest was a different situation. It was dangerous even for Hagrid, especially since the year before when the centaurs had turned on all witches and wizards alike, good or evil. Once you got past the man-hating centaurs, there was Aragog and his colony of ravenous man-eating spiders, which were still thriving. After the man-eating spiders was Grawp, a giant physically capable of breaking you in half with one hand. Hagrid had discovered he was less dangerous with constant attention -- talking, it seemed, was the only cure for his restlessness and tantrums. During the ‘quick stop’ Hermione and Ron made to Hagrid, that was the cause of such bickering only moments before, Hagrid told them how worried he was about Grawp, and they promised him to keep an eye peeled for anything unusual. Of course when they saw trees being uprooted in the distance and could faintly hear Grawps cries, they, Hermione in particular, decided it was their duty to Hagrid to calm him down before he hurt himself.
Through the small opening of the cave, Ron was watching unblinkingly for the murderer. Hermione opened her eyes and tightened her grip on Ron’s hand. They had no idea what to expect, but neither were prepared for what was coming. Slowly but surely they could hear voices.
“I think that spot will do fine. The Dark Lord will be pleased.”
“Have we done everything now?” asked a second voice.
“Stop being such a coward. There is nothing in this forest that could touch servants of the Dark Lord.” Bellatrix Lestrange strode into the clearing and Hermione clutched Ron’s hand so hard her knuckles were white (not that he minded), “Yes, pleased, the Dark Lord will be very pleased.”
Death Eaters?!
They were not prepared for death eaters. Vengeful centaurs could be expected. Even some horror they had not encountered would have worried them less than Death Eaters. They knew the battle was close to Hogwarts, but neither had even dreamt of seeing Bellatrix Lestrange’s sneering face within the grounds.
“Good. Let’s go.”
“For the last time, all we have to do is find any evidence we were here,” she glanced toward the castle, “Dumbledore…so close…he would never dream of looking for us here, in his own forest,” she cackled. The second man gave another imploring look and she rolled her eyes, “Alright check everywhere. Find your bloody hat and we can go.” The two Death Eaters began to search carefully through bushes and limbs of trees…a giant has a large range and the hat, small as it was, could have been thrown anywhere, and could bring the Death Eaters face to face with two Gryffindors instead.
As the Death Eaters moved closer, then farther, then closer still to their hiding spot, Hermione and Ron locked eyes. This was it. There was no way out. Suddenly it didn’t matter if she didn’t feel the same, all that mattered was that she knew, that she knew how loved she truly was; if it could bring her any happiness, he had to tell her.
“Hermione,” he whispered, “I have always loved you.” He leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. She opened her eyes, completely shocked; his heart begged her to answer, to love him back, and when all she could do was blink, it shattered. He let go of her hand and looked down, but she smiled, a surprised smile at first, and then beamed at him; cupping his face with both hands she kissed him passionately.
“I love you too.” In a moment of bliss both forgot they were in a cave in the Forbidden Forest about to be discovered by two very deadly Death Eaters. Of course, turning and finding one face to face with you can quickly bring you back to reality.
A/N: hey guys, i havent had any reviews for nearly 100 readers!!! c'mon 5 seconds u can do it, review! It encourages me to write and post...thank you!