Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional

Hope dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption
Winding in and winding out
The shine of it has caught my eye
And roped me in
So, mesmerizing and so hypnotizing,
I am captivated, I am…

Hermione thanked the older woman and watched as the door closed before turning to look at herself in the mirror. The white robes that graced her body fit perfectly, accenting every aspect of her.

“You look nice.”

Hermione smiled at the familiar voice and turned around.

“Six years later and all you can say is that I look nice?” she asked teasingly, watching as Blaise entered the room.

“I’d say you look beautiful, but you’re getting married and I wouldn’t want to start anything right here and now,” he said.

Hermione rolled her eyes, turning back to the mirror. “You think too highly of yourself,” she told him.

“Me? No… I just came up to congratulate you on getting married.”

“You’re not staying?” Hermione asked, surprised.

Blaise shook his head. “I’ve got someone else’s life to deal with,” he answered.

Hermione turned around and smiled. “You’re still doing this?”

Blaise snorted. “I’ve got nothing better to do. Obviously, I’m not going back to England, but I thing there are other parts of the world that could use my genius,” he whispered.

Hermione pouted slightly. “I’ve told Zack so much about you. He’s really looking forward to meeting you, Blaise,” she whispered.

Blaise smirked, walking over to the dresser and fiddling around with some of the make up. “Ah, Zack… the infamous Zack. Intelligent, funny, makes big money, big family… Hell! If I was gay and he didn’t sound so revoltingly like Weasley now, I’d marry him,” he ended gracefully, setting down what he had in his hands.

Hermione bit her lip, going over to the man. “Blaise…” she scolded softly.

“And if Blaise wasn’t such an ass I’d actually consider him to be hospitable.”

Hermione and Blaise turned to see Ronald Weasley leaning against the door. Her whole face went completely red. Blaise pulled a grin, waving.

“So! As well as being a Quiddich player, Weasley cracks jokes on the side,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ron rolled his eyes, entering the room then coming to a halt right beside Hermione.

“You don’t mind if I talk to her… alone,” he added when Blaise didn’t move.

Blaise held up his hands. “Nope, don’t mind at all. I was just going to leave anyway. Just don’t stay long. I’m disapparating and if they thing two men are up here with the bride, word might get around that she’s sleeping with the darker one,” he warned before walking out the door.

Hermione rolled her eyes smiling before she turned to Ron. Her face fell slightly, her eyes lowered.

“It’s been a while,” she whispered.

“And you still look beautiful,” he whispered.

Hermione looked up at him, her eyes filling with tears. “Don’t do this… not now…”

Ron reached out for her but she drew away. “Then why did you invite me?” he asked.

Hermione looked away. “Because… I don’t have any real family and… I wanted to see you…” she finished.

Ron observed her for a moment, his whole being aching to be closer to her. To hold her. Stepping closer, he reached up and caressed her face. This time she didn’t pull away, but allowed him to touch her. “Hermione…” he trailed off then sighed. “There’s nothing I can do to stop this is there?”

Hermione shook her head, looking away. “There was nothing you could do to stop me from leaving… We all have that moment when we have to make that choice… that choice that will determine everything…” She looked up at him. “I made that choice seven years ago… so did you when you let me walk out of that room…”

With that, she turned to leave, putting a hand on his shoulder before going for the exit. Ron closed his eyes, trying to rid himself of the agony his heart was yet again going through.

This time would be different.

Turning around, he grabbed her and pulled her to him, their lips meeting heatedly. Hermione gasped into his mouth then leaned closer, desperate for this final moment. Ron reached up to caress her cheek as the tears that had been threatening to spill over finally did. They both knew that this was it. This was their last chance to express what was to remain unspoken. Hermione could feel his hands trembling and couldn’t help but pull away. She couldn’t do this to him. To herself.

Ron watched her struggle with her feelings then ran his hands through his hair.

“Why did you ask me to come?” he asked.

Hermione looked up at him, her chocolate eyes meeting his clouded blue. “Vindication…”

“For what?”

She pointed to the picture on the vanity. It was of them. “That it won’t change… that it will never change…”

Ron walked over to her, taking her face in his hands, pulling her lips back to his. “Never,” he whispered into her mouth.

Hermione clung to his shirt, holding on to one last memory of what had run out but was never to be forgotten.

“Hermione… oh!”

The two pulled away to see another woman, a friend of Hermione’s, standing there. The lady’s eyes traveled to Ron then to Hermione. Hermione moved away from Ron, her eyes on the ground.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” she whispered.

The lady nodded then left quietly. Ron sighed and moved passed her.

“Tell everyone I said hi,” he whispered.

Hermione turned. “You’re leaving?”

Ron stopped at the door but didn’t turn around. “Knowing that you’re getting married is hard enough… I don’t actually want to see it happen.” He turned slightly to face her. “I love you,” he whispered.

Hermione’s heart sank in that moment and she looked away. “Bye Ron,” she said, her voice shaking. Ron nodded and left, leaving her. Suddenly a thought crossed her mind. She turned.

“Ron!” she called urgently.

Coming back into view, Ron stopped. “What?”

Hermione bit her lip then pointed to the spot in front of her. “You promised me that one day you would propose…” she murmured.

Ron shook his head, backing up. “Hermione-“

“Ron please… for both of us,” she pleaded.

Ron looked at her through tragic eyes and nodded, coming over and kneeling down in front of her. Hermione took off her ring and handed it to him. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at her.

“Hermione Jane Granger… will you marry me?” he asked.

Hermione’s eyes filled with tears again and she nodded. Ron slipped the ring back on her finger and stood. Hermione looked up at him and leaned in, kissing him softly. They both stood there for a moment, savoring the time.

Seven years ago, they never would have known… they would have never guessed… That the time they had spent wasting would have been spent so suddenly that there was nothing left. Just the painful memories of brokenness…

Ron finally pulled away and looked down at her. He then pulled her to him, letting her rest her head on his chest.

“I was always so afraid to tell you how I felt,” he whispered.

“Why?”

He reached up and lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her to look at him. “It is a fearful thing to love what death can touch…”

Hermione reached up and touched his face. “Six years later and now you finally start making sense…”

Ron stared at her for a moment then turned away leaving Hermione with the memories of long ago. Memories she would always see in her dreams…

“Ron,” she called out one last time.

He turned. “What?”

She looked down at the ring she had on then up at him.

“I love you…”

Vindicated!
I am selfish!
I am wrong!
I am right!
I swear I'm right!
Swear I knew it all along!
And I am flawed, but I am cleaning up so well!
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself…

The End