#gifts15

So here she was, ready to start another hectic day at work, when she ran smack into him. Of course, Hermione felt annoyed, causing her to take an instant dislike to him. “I guess some people just can’t look where they’re going.”

Ron gave her a strange look, taken aback by her judgemental attitude. While he tried to come up with something to say, Hermione looked him up and down. She noticed that he was rather handsome, but she definitely did not show it in her face. Instead, she wrinkled her nose and put her hand on her hip. “Well?”

“Sorry,” He mumbled, shrugging his shoulders. “I wasn’t in a rush or anything, really.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, and walked past him, pushing against his shoulder. “Well next time, you should be more careful.”

Ron snorted and was about to continue in his direction, but he could not help but turn back and call out to her. “When I bought this apartment, no one told me it came with a hallway monitor!”

Hermione looked at him once again, with daggers instilled in her eyes. She was too furious to even say anything, so she turned back around and walked away. “Arse,” She muttered under her breath, as she hurried off to work.

A few days later, when the tension was just starting to cool down, another conflict rose. It was a rare Saturday night that Hermione had to herself, because most weekends she was either working or spending time with friends. A peaceful atmosphere surrounded her flat, but closer to midnight, after she showered and put on her pyjamas, noise started booming from next door.

At first, Hermione only heard muffled conversations seeping through her walls. However, as the night wore on, Ron’s apartment grew louder—more people arrived, and music began to pound her bedroom. Hermione turned off all the lights, adjusted her headphones, and smashed two giant pillows over her ears, but it was no use. It was obvious that Ron was having a house party—and neglected to inform his neighbours. With a final groan, Hermione jumped out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and stomped out of her flat, banging her fists on the front door.

After a few minutes, someone opened the door, and when Hermione realized it wasn’t Ron, she pushed past the person and scoured the apartment for him. When she found him, perched against the kitchen wall, drinking with a girl, she marched right up to him, pushed her out of the way, and glared. “As much as a house party may seem like fun to you, some of us are trying to get some sleep around here. Hagrid will not be happy when I complain to him about this.” Hermione said, referring to their landlord.

Ron, who was already tipsy, rolled his eyes. “Lighten up and join the party. You look like you could use a drink.”

Hermione did not budge. “If you think this is funny, it isn’t. I’m warning you—”

“Weasley, Ron Weasley,” He interrupted, unfazed.

“Whatever your name is, keep it down. I’m well aware it’s Saturday night, but you also live in a block of flats, where other people are trying to get a good night’s sleep. Some of us have work tomorrow,” Hermione explained.

Ron tried to block out her scowl, wishing that she’d just leave if she was not going to stay and have a good time. “And some of us like to have fun. Now, are you going to stay and have a drink, or are you going to leave?”

Hermione was about to respond, but then she decided that she was just going to have to deal with her obnoxious, rude, and noisy neighbour. She trudged away, but not before hearing him mutter “Mental” under his breath. Hermione pretended that she did not hear anything, and walked back to her apartment, wishing that Ron would just move out (despite knowing that flat leases are signed for at least a year).

It was safe to say that Hermione did not like Ron Weasley. No—she despisedhim. She only saw him about once or twice a week, but it was enough to ruin her day, because they always managed to argue. It could have been an awful cooking smell or too much noise at three in the morning, but they always found a reason to bicker. Much to Hermione’s displeasure, it went on for a long time. Of course, she did not let it affect her work or her social life, but it was still frustrating to have a neighbour that she hated.

Soon enough, the holidays arrived, and instead of hosting them at her flat, Hermione flew to London celebrate with her parents. It allowed her to take a well-deserved break from the bookstore and from Ron Weasley.

Christmas passed by in a blur, and it was the same as every year—quiet, cheerful, and lovely. She did not mention anything about Ron, although he did manage to creep into her mind at the most unusual moments. Hermione could not understand why, and it only frustrated her more. However, she remained tight-lipped about the situation, deciding not to let it ruin her holiday.

New Year’s was just as wonderful, with Hermione going out to dinner with her parents, and then counting down the New Year with old friends. In fact, as they rang in 2016, Hermione never felt happier, and was actually quite sad that she’d have to spend New Year’s Day packing to go home on January 2. Still, it was a relaxing holiday, and it was nice to be back in London, even if it was for a short while.

By the time Hermione was back in Scotland, she felt more positive about Ron Weasley. She decided that since it was a new year, she should not let him bother her one bit. She loved her flat, and maintained a good relationship with Hagrid. She was not going to let a pesky neighbour spoil it for her.

So when Hermione ran into him a few days later, after returning from grocery shopping, she smiled at him and went on her way. Unfortunately, the two bags of groceries in her hands overflowed, causing her to spill some of them onto the floor. She groaned in frustration, wondering of all possible scenarios why it had to happen when he was there, but she shook her head and kneeled down to collect the items.

Ron noticed the explosion of Hermione’s bags, and also crouched down to help her. Once everything was off the floor and he handed her the last batch of groceries, the two of them made eye contact. Hermione snatched the food out of his hands, nodded, and thanked him for his help.

“Well I’m not an annoying arse all the time I suppose,” Ron said, trying to relieve some of the tension between them.

“No, I guess you aren’t,” Hermione agreed, shooting him a small smile.

Ron grinned back, and then they both stood up, unsure of how to move forward. “So I’ll see you around, then,” He said, scratching the back of his neck.

“Yeah, see you. Happy New Year,” Hermione responded, and then set her bags down to unlock her apartment.

Ron walked away, and Hermione felt that maybe she was a little too hard on him at times. Of course, she wasn’t wrong about who he was—to her, he was still an infuriating neighbour. But in that moment, Hermione realized that on top of those things, he happened to be warm and caring as well.  

After that incident, Hermione and Ron’s relationship shifted. Of course, every few weeks they still bickered over petty things, but other than that, they were friendly with one another. They stopped their daily routine just to catch up for a few minutes. Ron would ask Hermione about the bookstore, and Hermione would ask Ron about his training to be a criminal investigator. They evolved, and it was nicer than just fighting all the time.

Winter turned into spring, and while Scotland was not known for its sunny weather, it was more pleasant than winter. During this time of year, the bookstore got busier, and new people moved to town. One day, while coming home from work, Hermione noticed the same blue car parked in the guest lot again. Normally it would not bother her, but recently she heard another voice echoing from Ron’s apartment. Her suspicions were confirmed when she bumped into a girl the next morning leaving his flat, and going to the blue car parked outside. Hermione did not understand why she cared so much. Sure, the air was friendlier between Ron and her, but he was still exhausting, and he still drove her up a wall. Besides, in these last few weeks, she noticed a new spring in his step, and if he was happy, she was happy. Either way, she should not care, and every time she saw the same blue car, she forced herself to remember that.

Close to June, Hermione requested permission from her boss to take a two-week holiday. Once she said yes, she packed her things and got on the next plane to London. When she came back, late one June night, she could not help but overhear screams coming from next door. When she heard a door slam, she peeked outside her window to find the girl crying while heading towards her car. This prompted another dramatic change in Ron and Hermione’s relationship.

It happened when Hermione came home from work the next day, when she saw Ron unlocking the door to his flat with mail in his hands. His red hair was sticking up all over the place, and he was wearing pyjama pants, a robe, and slippers. Hermione eyed him and smiled. “You okay?”

Ron turned to her and shrugged. “I don’t know if you heard last night, but my girlfriend and I broke up. It wasn’t serious or anything, but it still happened.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that. Do you want to come inside and have some tea?” Hermione asked.

Ron was about to turn down the offer, until he realized he could use some company, even if he did not like her half the time. “Sure, why not?”

Hermione ushered him inside her flat, set her purse down, and walked into the kitchen. She turned on the kettle, grabbed two mugs from her cabinet, and sat next to Ron at the table. “Bad breakup, huh?”

“Yeah, but I’ll get over it. We did not date for long, but I really fancied her. I guess someone better is going to come around the corner sooner or later,” Ron said, shooting Hermione a hopeful smile.

Hermione returned the grin, pretending to ignore the butterflies she felt in her stomach. “Well, you’re right about that. Someone better is bound to come along.”

Ron nodded, and they fell into a comfortable silence, waiting for the kettle to chime. When Hermione got up to retrieve the tea flavours, Ron spoke up again. “Thanks for inviting me in. It’s really nice of you.”

Hermione nodded, bringing the kettle and pouring the hot water into their two respective cups. “Anytime. You looked like you could use a friend.”

Ron perked up at that statement. “So apparently we’re mates now?”

Waiting a few moments to answer, Hermione put the kettle on the stove, sat down, and chose a berry flavoured tea. She looked up at Ron, and for the first time, she noticed how blue his eyes became when they glimmered. After a few more beats, Hermione shrugged, removed the tea packet from her cup, took a long sip, and replied. “I guess we are.”

Ron stayed a bit longer, and once he left her flat, Hermione felt as if the sun peeked out from the clouds after a grey winter. So, it was no surprise that when she woke up the next morning, shades of yellow and orange shone from the sky, marking the beginning of a rare, yet beautiful day in Scotland.

After that, Ron and Hermione grew much closer. They made it a point to spend time together at least once a week, whether it was lounging at one of their flats, or going out for drinks. Hermione discovered that despite Ron being insufferable half the time, he also had a unique sense of humour, and was loyal to his friends. He was not passionate about many things, but the things that he did care for took up every ounce of his heart and soul. Ron, on the other hand, realized that while Hermione still had that better-than-everyone attitude, she was kind, intelligent, and gave great advice. In fact, he was surprised to find out how much fun she was, and sometimes he wondered where she had been all his life.

As summer wore on, the weather in Scotland became hot and muggy. It was Hermione’s least favourite time of year, but now that she had Ron, it did not seem as bad as it was the few previous years. Even so, it was an excuse to pull out her favourite summer dresses and wear them to work everyday. Business was booming, and her boss even managed to give Hermione a raise. Life could not get any better, and then it did. One day, an attractive man walked into the bookstore, and Hermione could not help but flirt with him. It was so unlike her to do so during work hours, but the customer did not seem to mind. In fact, by the time he purchased his books, he exchanged phone numbers with her. Before she knew it, she scheduled to go to dinner with him the following Saturday night, right at the end of July.

The date went well, and Hermione even invited him back to her flat to spend the night. The next morning, when she escorted him out, she bumped into Ron, and her cheeks turned pink when he pecked her lips goodbye. Ron raised an eyebrow and smirked, and Hermione rolled her eyes. “Oh, bugger off, you!”

“So that’s why you didn’t pick up your phone last night. And here I thought you didn’t like me anymore,” Ron said in a teasing yet irritated tone.

Hermione was taken aback at his crossness, and she pretended not to notice. “Well I must have been having too much fun without you, I suppose.”

“I guess. Have a good day, and don’t forget to schedule your next date with your new boyfriend.”

Hermione glared at him half jokingly. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

But soon, Ron was proven to be right, because just a couple of weeks later, she made it official with him. Tension between Ron and Hermione rose, and Hermione wondered if it was because he was jealous. However, when this came to mind, she dismissed it, not understanding what Ron could be jealous of.

Summer came to an end, and by September, the days were getting shorter and colder. Her birthday came and went, and it was a lovely celebration; filled with coworkers and friends (including Ron, of course). Her boyfriend gave her a large purse to store books and office supplies, which she was appreciative of. However, she was touched the most by Ron’s gift, a first edition of her favourite adult fiction novel. They were hard to come by, and Hermione felt astounded by the fact that Ron managed to find an original copy. She went to bed that night feeling grateful for the wonderful people in her life.

By the end of September, she decorated her flat in orange and black (deciding that it was not too early). She could not believe that the holidays were around the corner, and she was excited to go into the season surrounded by so many people. It was also almost time to renew her flat lease, and because she felt cozy in this space, she was not leaving. She expected Ron to stay, and was shocked when he told her that he found another flat, prompting him to move out at the end of October.

“But I thought you loved it here!” Hermione blurted out, once Ron told her the news.

For the first time in his life, Ron did not know what to say. He knew how he felt (he thought he did, anyway), but he did not know how to express it in words. “I did. I do. But things happen, Hermione. Life goes on. We’ve only known each other almost a year. You’ll find plenty of other neighbours. Maybe one day someone will be able to be half as great as me.”

Hermione did not laugh. “You’re not telling me something, Ron. What is it? What’s going on?”

“Nothing. It’s my decision. I’m telling you because you’re my neighbour and one of my best friends, and you deserve to know.”

“So that’s it? You’re going to leave for no reason? Can’t you at least tell me where you’re moving?” Hermione asked, raising her voice a little.

“Halfway across town. It’s a little quieter there, I’ll probably like it better,” Ron said.

“Quieter?! You, Ron Weasley, are looking for a quieter flat to live in?! That is the biggest load of shite I have ever heard!” Hermione almost shrieked.

Ron threw his hands in the air, unsure of what to say. “Well that’s that, then. We’re going to move on with our lives. I was hoping we’d still maintain our friendship, but apparently you can’t even handle me leaving. I should make a note to myself not to die anytime soon.”

Hermione’s mouth gaped open, not daring to believe the words he was saying. “I can’t believe you! It’s not about living next to each other! It’s about you telling me the truth!”

“The truth?! That is the truth! Why can’t you just accept it?!” Ron asked, beginning to get mad.

Hermione stayed quiet for a few seconds, and then spoke again. “I can’t accept it because we both know it’s not it. So, since you refuse to say anything, I’ll say it for you. You’re moving out because you can’t stand the fact to see me in a relationship with somebody else.”

Ron did not move a muscle, so Hermione stood up and went back to her flat, slamming the front door. She never felt so hurt by anyone in her life. She did not know what she was more upset about: Ron having romantic feelings for her, Ron lying to her, or Ron moving out so soon. Hermione flopped herself on her bed, feeling more confused than ever. She did not know why he distressed her so much. The only reason why she should be angry is because of what an arse he acted like. Instead, she was angry at many things—Ron’s feelings, Ron hiding his feelings, Ron making irrational decisions based on those feelings, and Hermione’s own feelings. Because as much as she wanted to deny it, she could not much longer. She knew that her feelings for him were senseless, chaotic, and not even well thought out, but she also knew that they were real. And in a fucked up way, they were right.

That realization encouraged Hermione to break up with her boyfriend the next day. It was more amicable than she thought it would be, and although she would probably never speak to him again, she was grateful for his maturity. It made her think that at least one person she knew managed their feelings in an adult manner.

However, nothing changed between Ron and Hermione. Whenever they ran into each other, they forced themselves to look away. They were both too proud to acknowledge their emotions. Hermione knew that the closer they got to Halloween, the closer they got to Ron moving out. She knew that time was expiring, because if they did not fix their relationship before they left, they would never speak to each other again.

Both of them were too stubborn to do anything, and before either of them knew it, it was the night before Ron moved. It was a Sunday, and Hermione had a day off from work, and she tried her best to block out the sound of Ron taping and moving boxes around. The clock ticked by, and the closer the end of the day drew closer, the antsier Hermione became. She knew she had to do something before it was too late. She did not know what time the movers were coming, and she had to go to work first thing in the morning. So, before she lost her nerve, she walked out of her apartment and knocked on Ron’s door.

Ron was surprised to see that Hermione bothered to come say goodbye (at least he thought that was what she was doing). “Sorry, I’ve got no time for a screaming lecture round—” But she cut him off by pressing her lips to his.

The kiss was urgent, with their lips smacking together, but then it slowed into a soft and warm surface. After what seemed like eternity and a day, they finally pulled apart and looked at each other. Hermione swore that the sound of Ron’s breath was the most wonderful melody she ever heard. She smiled a little, and he returned the favour. “I don’t know what this means—”

“Well that makes two of us,” Ron interrupted.

“But I know that I want to do everything we’ve been doing the last six months, and also add all of the physical interactions,” Hermione babbled. She was unsure of what she was saying, unsure of what any of it meant, unsure of what would happen from that moment onward.

Ron nodded, not daring to believe she was saying those words. “Okay, but I’m still leaving tomorrow. I don’t think I’d be able to handle living next to you, bickering with you, being mates, and having sex. You’re too much for me, Hermione Granger.”

Hermione did not respond, but the heat of her breath and the honey in her brown eyes said it all. She kissed him back, and as they stumbled into the bedroom, she could not recall a time in her life where she felt as emotional and terrified as she did in that moment.