A/N: Hey, hey hey! It's March 25th which is when I published RWC two years ago! I thought that this would be the perfect day to publish this story of mine. I still haven't found the schedule I'll follow for publishing chapters for this story, but I'm sure I'll be able to find a reasonable day I'd be to do so. The title of the story was inspired by Regina Spektor's song Real Love. If you have the time, you should really check out her other music! She's an angel. Enough of me blabbering, let's get on with the chapter!
Warning: If you don't like swearing in stories, I don't think this story is going to be your cup of tea. In future chapters, it will be rated M, but for now it's just rated T. I blame Ron lol
Disclaimer: If you haven't guessed already, I'm not J.K. Rowling! The only profit I'm getting out of this is the entertainment I'm able to give to my readers!
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/ - ~ It's Real Love ~ - \
- RW = | = HG -
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Chapter 1 ~ A Steep Hill
Boredom.
A lanky yet lean teenage boy with red flaming hair with drowsy blue cerulean eyes sat on his chair. He dreaded ever being in such a mundane class as this. If anything, he'd rather take a detention from Professor Snape, the Potions professor. This professor was not only a toad with an obsession with cats, but she was such a bit-
"Hem, hem, Mr. Weasley," the toad piped in with her stupid high pitched squeal. "Would you mind elaborating to the whole class about what the Wolfsbane potion does?"
To the front of him he saw her — Hermione Granger. His best friend shot up her hand in the air. He grinned a little. She genuinely was the brains of the group. What would he do without her? Just the thought of her made him feel a bit more relaxed somehow.
"Is your name Ronald Weasley, Miss Granger?" the professor glared at her.
"No, Professor Umbridge," Hermione mumbled, a frown etched on her face.
Umbridge turned back to Ron, "What's your answer, Mr. Weasley?"
"It has to do something with wolves?" Ron bit his lower lips, his ears flushed a color close to tomatoes.
The professor in horrific pink robes rolled her eyes as the class giggled a bit, "Very funny. 5 points from Gryffindor."
As soon as he saw Hermione's expression, there was no going back. Her brows were narrowed and her eyes where in the shapes of saucers. A frown so frightening that it rivaled his own mother's scowl of disappointment. Her arms were crossed as her chocolate brown eyes were burning with passion.
Once they were dismissed, Ron was pulled back by Hermione's petite figure. It was like her scowl would never disappear sooner or later. Her bushy brown hair was in such a mess. His stomach growled, already begging him to go to the Great Hall to eat lunch there. She opened her mouth, but closed it once she saw Umbridge heading to the direction of Professor Dumbledore's office.
"Seriously, Ronald?" Hermione groaned out finally. "'It has to do something about wolves?'"
He cringed a bit from her mimicking his tone, "C'mon, Hermione, give me a bloody break. I haven't gotten enough rest lately."
"Language," she hissed. "I rarely get rest nowadays, yet I am able to answer what the Wolfsbane potion does! It really wasn't a difficult question, you know."
"Great, you're calling me stupid now," Ron retorted. "News flash! No one is as bloody smart as you!"
Her eyes scorched with anger, "I am not calling you stupid by any means, Ronald. I'm just trying to tell you that you should really pay attention more! We've got O.W.L's to worry about."
"You've got O.W.L.'s to worry about," he emphasized as his eyes burned with the same frustration. "I've got… other things to worry about."
Hermione's eyes softened a bit. He knew that she got the hint. Before they had arrived to Hogwarts, Ron had been talking about Percy, his older brother. His older brother had left his family for the Ministry; he rarely ever came back home to the Burrow. They hadn't gotten a letter from him, which caused the Weasley clan distraught. No longer was Percy someone to look up to; he was a prat in Ron and in the rest of his siblings' eyes. Even if his parents tried to reason with him, it just wasn't enough.
Ron was not done yet, "Blimey, I wished you weren't so out of touch. All you seem to care about are books, books, and studying!"
"Is that what you see me as?" she took great offense. "Am I just a talking textbook to you!?"
Ron was still blinded with his own thoughts on the Percy ordeal, "Yes."
Hermione bit her lower lip, her tears unshed, "Even after being your friend — your best friend — for all these years?"
"H-Hermione, I-"
His mind seemed to snap out of his rage fueled trance too late, "I don't have time for this nonsense… Looks like I'll go back to studying and reading."
"No, stop! Please, I-" she walked off towards the direction of the library, not even considering going to get lunch.
Ron sighed out, feeling uneasy, Me and my stupid shite mouth. She was just concerned about me, that's all.
As he approached the Great Hall, he spotted Harry sitting near Neville, Luna, Ginny, and the Weasley twins. Harry looked up spotting his best friend, signalling him over to sit next to me. Ron noticed that his grin slowly turned into a frown.
"Another row?" The-Boy-Who-Lived questioned him while passing over the plate of pastries to Ginny.
The youngest Weasley son responded, "It was my fault." He poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice, "She was just concerned about me after my ruddy stupid answer during Umbridge's class."
Harry nodded in understanding, "I'm guessing she's hiding to the library."
Ron nodded, chewing on a big piece of sausage. He looked down on his plate of food, feeling Ginny's glare at him. He looked up, facing his little sister's disappointed stare. Hell, she could even rival their mother as well.
"Again?" Ginny frowned.
The red-orange hair took a sip of his drink, "At least I admitted to my mistake."
"Something I'm not used to," she chuckled, yet still maintaining her stern expression. "You should give her some space. You know Hermione."
"Of course," Ron blushed a little. "Yet still I act like a fucking prat to her."
Ginny looked at him with sympathy, "That's why you should be careful of what you're going to say. Also, your Weasley temper."
Luna jumped in with her dreamy, monotone voice, "You're brilliantly great at giving advices, Ginny. You should really consider in rationalizing with the nargles."
Ginny chuckled while Ron rolled his eyes saying, "No wonder why they call you Loony Lovegood."
"I assume," the Ravenclaw reasoned whilst taking a bite into a red delicious.
Not so far away from them, the Weasley twins, Fred and George, were giving out their latest products to their customers.
Hermione would've been scolding them by now, Ron thought sadly. She really would.
"'Ey there, Ronniekins!" piped the twins in union.
As George gave out their products, Fred decided to have a little talk with his younger brother, "Would you like to try out newest product? It makes your eyes change color for a solid minute!"
"'M fine," Ron mumbled.
Fred shrugged and returned back to giving out their products.
After the awkward silence, Ron stated to liven up the conversation. Him and Harry were discussing about the upcoming quidditch tryouts. Ron had always thought about trying out for quidditch. His brothers seemed to enjoy it greatly. The praise they would get after a victory was something Ron craved for. No longer he would be in the shadows.
"Say, do you think I should try out?" Ron inquired his best friend.
Harry grinned, "Of course! You can try for keeper since Oliver Wood isn't here anymore."
"D'you think Hermione would like it?" Ron blushed a little.
"I mean, she did go out with Krum last year at the Yule Ball."
Ron scowled, "You don't have to rub that shite in, Harry."
"Sorry," the raven haired shrugged. "Just thought it would be a reason for you to try out."
The red-orange haired teenager sighed, "S'alright."
Many thoughts rushed into Ron's head. His guilt never seemed to go away. He looked at the food in front of him, spotting a ham sandwich. He reached out for it, and wrapped it in a napkin.
"I'll be off," Ron told them, leaving them perplexed.
- RWHG -
Walking down the hall, Ron spotted Dumbledore looking out the stained glass that had a design of the four houses. The old man's crescent moon glasses were a bit askew, as his robes sparkled under the sunset. In deep thought, he stroked his long silver beard, not noticing Ron at first.
"Greetings, Professor Dumbledore," Ron addressed to the Headmaster. "Why aren't you with the others at the Great Hall?"
The Headmaster looked up and smiled, "Oh dear, greetings to you Mr. Weasley. I just thought I'd come here to clear my mind."
The professor spotted Ron holding a napkin wrapped around an object, "Where are you heading to, Prefect Weasley?"
Ron flushed a bit, "I'm heading to the library. Thought I'd give someone their lunch."
"Ah, well go off then," Dumbledore dismissed him.
As Ron started to walk away from him, Dumbledore suddenly had an idea. He turned around to see Ron still in sight.
He cried out, "Wait!"
Ron stopped immediately, turning around to face Dumbledore again.
"After your prefects round with Miss Granger, meet me at the library," the wise old man instructed him.
"No problem, professor."
With that, Ron continued on towards the library.
- RWHG -
During Ron and Hermione's prefect round, things didn't go out smoothly. Even after offering lunch to Hermione earlier, she was still giving him the cold shoulder. Ron, still feeling guilty and frustrated at himself, was growing tired of her attitude. It made Ron even more responsible for her attitude, knowing he had hit a few nerves. Him and his daft mood swings would always be a problem. Even after being fully aware that he fancied Hermione, he would always end up in a row with her.
"Bye," Hermione had cut it to the point, leaving Ron to his own thoughts.
Ron snapped out of his trance replying with a simple, "G'night."
He watched her go up the stairs towards the girls' dormitory. Sighing out, he prayed that things would be better tomorrow.
When he exited from the Gryffindor Commons, he made his way to the library. Once he walked in, he saw Dumbledore at the far corner of the room. At the corner of the room was none other than Professor Snape himself. His jet black robes were draped over him, making him look like a raven. He seemed to be more focused on the books in the restricted section.
No students were seen, which puzzled the Gryffindor. Even when the sun was down, there would still be students in the library. He tok attentive steps towards the professor, not geinuely sure why he was called upon.
Once sitting across from the Headmaster himself, Dumbledore greeted him, "Glad you could make it, Mister Weasley."
Ron's ears turned a shade of pink, "You can call me Ronald or Ron, sir."
He chuckled lightly, "Why of course. Well, Ronald, you may be wondering why I've brought you here."
Spot on, Ron said to himself.
The old man took out a book titled Potent Potions Vol. 4. He turned the page in where there was a sketch of the ingredients along with instructions. Further inspecting, the potion was called Draught of Peace. He remembered failing at making this potion vividly. Professor Snape singled out Harry, who had also failed at making the potion, by giving him a zero. Ron frowned at this and looked up at the Headmaster.
"In advance, Professor Dumbledore, I failed at making this potion," Ron mumbled, hoping that Snape didn't hear him. "Are you sure you want to bring me along?"
"Why of course," Dumbledore responded swiftly. "I didn't appoint you to come here and brew it yourself. I came here for you to walk with me to the Forbidden Forest to collect moonstones. Madam Pomfrey has already ran out of it, and I'm sure you know why."
Seems like people are already fretting over O.W.L's or the people from the previous year hogged it all of themselves, Ron thought as he saw Dumbledore standing from the fluffy couch.
"Off we go, Ronald. We mustn't waste anymore time," Dumbledore looked out, his crescent moon shaped eyeglasses were shimmering under pearl shining upon the land. "I don't want the full moon to lose its glimmer. That would make the search for moonstones more difficult."
With that, they walked out towards the unknown.
The stroll was peaceful, almost too peaceful. Ron had a bag full of moonstones, following the light Dumbledore had ignited at the tip of his wand. The only thing that seemed eerie throughout the whole walk was the silence, the distant sounds of lurking creatures, and of course the full moon. The back hairs on Ron were sticking out like a defensive porcupine. The only thought he had in mind were werewolves.
"Say, Professor Dumbledore," Ron gulped. "Are there werewolves around 'ere?"
"There used to be a long time ago," he answered. "Most of the aurors have rounded them up away from Hogwarts."
Ron's broad shoulders gave in a little, "Thank Merlin."
Another moment of silence drifted among them. That was then Ron plucked up the courage of ask Professor Dumbledore something that had been on his mind ever since the letter came in.
"Professor Dumbledore," uttered Ron. "Why did you or Professor McGonagall choose me as prefect? You know you could've chosen Harry. He is Harry Potter after all. Mind you, he was the one who vanquished You-Know-Who, and he was selected from the Goblet of Fire."
The professor spotted on his tracks, softly sighing out.
He gave the poor boy a sad smile, "You'll have to find out yourself, Ronald. Life is full of adventures. Adventures that are waiting to be awoken."
Ron frowned a bit from this, sort of disappointed that he didn't get the real reason why he was selected and not Harry. What would Professor Dumbledore, the one that You-Know-Who fears the most, see in him? He was just Ronald Weasley. A ginger who came from a poor yet loving family. He wasn't the brightest; he certainly wasn't the most practical person you could ever come across. He was also a coward in situations. At least, that's what he viewed himself as ever since the fallout he had with Harry last year over the Triwizard Tournament.
It also made him question something that had been in his mind ever since his second year in Hogwarts. Would the Brightest Witch of Her Age, Hermione Granger, ever fall for him?
His thoughts were interrupted by a SNAP!
On instinct, Ron toko out his wand, pointing to where it came from. Dumbledore, too, was in defense mode. Another SNAP! followed soon after the first. Footsteps were heard. It was a matter of time the person or creature lurking in the shadows would appear.
"Ronald, get behind me," Dumbledore whispered over to him.
Nodding in understanding, he hid behind the powerful wizard. It seemed hopeless to track the noise for a solid minute. Ron could feel his heart beating with adrenaline, his brows covered in sweat thanks to the summer breeze. His palms were getting sweaty as his eyes were widened with wary. He was willing to protect the Headmaster with the cost of his life. No way in hell was he going to let the old man before him harmed because he was a coward to do so.
Just as he turned to his back, Ron felt a split of pain. Everything seemed to get in slow motion. His vision was blurry with unshed tears. The agony was too much. Never in his life had he felt such anguish.
"ARGH!" Ron howled bloody murder.
He fell to the ground, his knees and shoulders were the only things supporting him. Dumbledore instantly fired a spell towards the beast, making it unconscious. Ron felt the professor already inspecting him without further ado. He felt so cold as he looked at how unhealthy pale his skin was. Blood was gripping from his gash which was already staining his clothes. Ron bit another howl of anguish when the professor promptly picked him up along with the bag of moonstones they had collected together.
"Ronald, can you hear me?" Dumbledore's voice was progressively becoming inaudibly to the bleeding Ron. "Hang in there, boy."
The last thing Ron looked at was the full moon.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! I posted the second chapter because I didn't want to leave you guys with cliffhangers... for now