A second for luck

What led to Hermione kissing Ron in the Great Hall before the Quidditch match? Ron belief that Hermione thinks he's bound to be rubbish at Quidditch. That is far from the case and Hermione will show him so.

Some extracts from Order of the Phoenix: Percy and Padfoot: p257-264

The first week of term had flown by for Hermione. Her room was glowing with warm morning sunlight. She was glad of the fine weather, as it would mean that the first years would be exploring the grounds instead of bothering them in the library. Last night, Ron had faithful promised that this year would be. The birds were singing, Lavender was snoring and Hermione a tune she couldn't different place running through her head. Everything seemed fresh and new. Silently, she dressed, carefully placing her Perfect badge on her jumper. This year's going to be different Hermione thought as she checked herself in the mirror. Picking up her bag, she felt the joy of learning surge through her body.

This year was already different, she thought happily, they were prefects and had committed themselves to not fighting in front of Harry. He'd even managed to charm his way back into her good graces, after suggesting that her hats might not count as clothes. Hermione refused to believe that; but would continue to knit and improve until he ate his words.

Hermione bounced down the stairs, happily humming to herself. Her feet had trod this path a thousand times, and without thought, or looking where she was going; they continued onwards until she bumped into someone.

'And a good morning to you Hermione,' yawned a sleepy looking Ron.

'Sorry about that,' Hermione said blushing dropping her bag with a thud. They looked into each other's eyes smiled awkwardly. Last week, they'd flirted outrageously. He'd covered her eyes with his hands and they'd played guess who. He'd told her about keeper tryouts and she'd confessed that she already knew and so did the twins.

Now he was on the team and everything seemed different.

'Where's Harry?' Hermione asked weakly trying to break through the palpable tension.

'He...er... wasn't in bed when I woke up!' Ron said like someone had thrown cold water on him.

'Oh alright,' Hermione replied feeling oddly relieved. Ron's stomach then gave an almighty rumble that sounded like a fearsome beast from Hagrid's class. Hermione gave a giggle. 'Breakfast time.' and Ron blushed. To distract himself, Ron swooped down and grabbed her bag. He shouldered the bag and started through towards the portrait hole. Hermione was so surprised that it took a moment to follow him.

'Hermione,' Ron complained. 'How many books have you got in here?'

'A few,' she said smugly. 'You see I actually do homework throughout the weekend so I can have some time off and be rested for next week.'

'Actually Hermione,' Ron countered with equal smugness. 'I was planning on starting my homework after breakfast today. Not much, you understand but a start!'

'Really,' she asked surprised. All through the summer, she's told him that: work now means fun later.

'Don't be surprised,' Ron replied a little hurt. 'I told you it'd be different this year after all.' Hermione gave him a dazing smile that she hoped was encouraging. Ron gulped...

This year wasn't going to be so different after all.

Breakfast had started off perfectly. Without being asked, he'd buttered her toast and she'd had scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. They're conversation had remained light, fluffy and a little flirty until Harry and the Daily Prophet had arrived. Ron's suggestion that Sturgis Podmore had been 'framed up' because he was a Dumbledore supporter was inspired. When Harry didn't see, they gave each other a secret smile.

It'd all gone downhill from there.

Hermione really hadn't meant to do it. She couldn't help but warn them about the closeness of their OWL's. She'd hounded him... well... them really... But was it her fault that they never reached their academic positional. If they'd only study a little each day; they'd be sure to get good marks. All they cared about was quidditch. He hadn't even had his first practice and still that game was spoiling things.

It was a beautiful, crisp September day outside and she knew they'd been locked up in Grimmauld Place for the summer. They'd waited a long time for this. Of course, she reflected bitterly as she entered the library, Ron and Harry wanted to practice Quidditch together for the first time as team mates, alone. It made her blood boil.

'Boy's,' she fumed as she threw her bag down next to Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones.

'Good morning Hermione,' they said looking up from their work, with knowing grins.

'Mind if I join you?' Hermione asked desperately.

'Of course we don't,' Hannah relied moving her things to make room for their friend. 'The more the merrier!' Hermione sat down and started to unload her homework supplies.

'Where's Ron and Harry?' Susan asked quietly.

'Playing Quidditch, of course,' Hermione said with a dejected sign. 'They have their first practice this afternoon, so instead of studying now, they've gone for a pre-practice practice.' She fumed crossing her arms.

'I know I'm going to regret saying this but...' Hannah whispered. 'But what's wrong with that?'

'Oh nothing,' Hermione breathed. Then it all came rushing out. 'It's just they're both behind on their homework already and I know what Ron's like. Tomorrow, when he's snowed under and miserable he'll give me that pathetic look. Expecting me to help him and I won't. I told him over the summer and earlier today, I won't help him with his homework and he doesn't believe me.'

'Only Ron has a pathetic look?' asked Susan in disbelieve. 'What about Harry?'

'Oh he can do the pathetic look too,' Hermione admitted, feeling her cheeks flush. 'But it isn't as potent as Ron's.'

'Ernie's the same,' Hannah admitted, twirling her dirty blond pigtail around her finger. Then, she gave a lovesick sigh.

'Oh I've seen that look,' Susan said, imitating it. Her eyes went very round and her mouth gave a little pout. 'It's pathetic!' Just then they heard the unmistakable squeak of Madam Pince. This halted the girl's conversation for over an hour. In which time, Hermione was able to complete her self-fertilising shrub essay.

The September sun was warm and she could hear the laughter of other students. Before starting McGonagall's Inamimatus Conjurus essay; Hermione look a break and stretched her arms. Hannah and Susan took her stretching as an invitation to start talking again.

'So has Ron been practicing his keeper skills all summer?' Susan asked, dropping her quill. Hannah looked up from her homework, giving Hermione a piecing look.

'No, actually where we were, staying meant, he couldn't go flying...'

'So you were with him all summer?' Hannah asked scandalised.

'Hannah,' Susan admonished. 'You can't ask that. It isn't fair; Or safe!'

'I can't tell you where we were,' Hermione confirmed. 'But I can tell you were hiding together all summer.'

'How romantic!' Hannah exclaimed.

'Oh yes,' Hermione agreed sarcastically. 'It was very romantic just me, Ron and his entire family.' She emphasised with an eye roll.

All three girls giggled and Hermione got up to get the books for her essay. She wandered through the stacks, enjoying the sunshine, when out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of red. Slowly, she went to the window and gazed out onto the quidditch pitch. There, fly to and fro was Ron. Her breath caught as she saw Harry join him and she has a sudden pang of loneliness. For their first three years of Hogwarts, she and Ron had time alone whenever Harry had quidditch practice. Now, that time was gone. It was like the summer, in Grimmauld Place; first she had Ron all to herself. Then, Harry had come and their attention was always on him and how he was feeling.

Sure she had OWL's to focus on and other friends to spend time with; but as the red and black dots darted around, she wanted Ron to herself again. It was totally irrational and she was equally angry at herself as him. She huffed to herself as she picked up a giant Transfiguration tome.

'Good morning Hermione,' said a familiar flirtatious voice from behind her. She didn't need to spin round to know who it was, but she did so anyway. Flashing him a quick smile; it didn't reach her eyes, so giving away her vexed state. 'What's got your wand knotted?' he asked genuinely bothered she wasn't happy.

'Your irritating brother!' she exclaimed fuming. 'Saying one thing to me and then completely changing his mind when Harry's there!'

'Now hold on a minute,' Fred said raising his hands in surrender. 'I know George can be a little annoying at times; but his hearts in the right place!'

'Oh ha de ha,' Hermione said with an eye roll.

'Well I don't know what you're talking about,' Fred continued. 'George is my only brother at Hogwarts... There is a Ronald Weasley in Gryffindor but as I've been telling people for years – he's a distant cousin. No brother of mine could have completed his first year detention-less or won a special service's to the school award!' Hermione smiled so Fred added. 'You've been a bad influence on that distant cousin of mine.'

'What are you doing here anyway?' she asked needing a change in topic.

'Research,' Fred said with a smile.

'Why?'

Fireworks,' he gleefully said, rubbing his hands together.

'Not homework then,'

'How do you know it isn't homework?' Fred asked with mock hurt. 'Greasy gitface could have had a change of heart about NEWT level homework.'

'Wouldn't happen,' Hermione stated simply. 'Because we live in a world where the toad is a professor...'

'Yes dear,' he replied in the manner of a long suffering husband. There was silence as Hermione started to huff again. Fred hated when he did that so quickly added. 'But we also live in a world where my distant cousin has made the quidditch team. Giving you ample opportunity to gawk at him to you teenage heart's content.'

'You mean, I'll have ample opportunity to get more homework done while seeing him panic over his!' Hermione said drying before sashayed away with a spring in her step. Ron had always wanted to be playing quidditch rather than watching it. What was the other consequence of Ron playing; Hermione had a readymade excuse to watch him. Oliver Wood had always looked good in his keeper robes and so would Ron.

'More homework?' Fred called after her. 'Ron's right you really are manic over homework!' She whipped her head round to respond but he was gone. In his place Madam Pince was looking over his glasses at her, with as much disapproval as Snape usually showed.

After accusing her friends of this very vice; Hermione was about to be irresponsible.

It's all Fred's fault she mused. If he hadn't mentioned the quidditch as an opportunity to watch Ron while being completely unobserved then she wouldn't be climbing this tower. Astronomy classes took place at midnight, so somehow, she'd always convinced herself that it wasn't so high up. Without a doubt, she was going to be miserable in this tower. From this vantage point, she'd be able to see Ron without a problem. It would just be her hatred of heights to master.

The other important thing about the Astronomy Tower was that student's were only allowed up here during class. Her cover story was very believable; she was finishing her Astronomy homework. Of course that would make more sense if it was darkest night instead of brightest afternoon.

Carefully she moved from one vantage point to another, looking for the right spot. Her hands trembled with excitement and fear as she reached for her telescope. Then in the distance she spotted him.

He looked rather stone faced and nervous; although, that could be because he would be playing with his brothers. His quidditch robes fitted him loosely and irrationally, Hermione wanted to snog him like she had after the Yule Ball. Her hormones raged, as he pelted to the ground to catch a Quaffle. She bit her lip and wondered if he'd perform better with a kiss for luck. Just as she though this the Quaffle slammed into Katie's face. In the pit of her stomach Hermione knew something was very wrong. Scanning the Quidditch pitch she noticed a mass of blonde hair. She was incensed. Just like the stinking Slytherin to ruin Ron's practice.

It was pleasant in the warm autumnal sunlight and Hermione wondered if next practice she should show her support and homework in the stands. Ron darted between the posts with no discernable grace or pattern. Whatever he was doing, Angelina didn't look happy. She couldn't stand to watch anymore and packed up her un-started homework. When she got to the first landing, she had the surprise of her life when she heard someone coming up the stairs. Panicking, she tried the door classroom door no one ever seemed to notice. It was locked and no amount of spells would unlock it.

'Miss Granger,' Professor McGonagall said in surprise. 'What in the name of Merlin are you doing up here?'

'Would you believe Astronomy homework?' Hermione asked weakly, feeling her cheeks flush.

'It would be easier to belief if it wasn't just after lunch,' her Professor replied with a disbelieving smile. 'How is young Mr Weasley doing in his first Quidditch practice?'

'Quidditch practice, Professor?' Hermione answered innocently: Professor McGonagall eyebrow rose in response. Hermione gave a heavy sigh. 'He's not doing as well as he would have hoped. His nerves are getting to him.'

'Well, that's to be expected with a Quidditch legacy like the Weasley's,' Professor McGonagall said seriously. 'Well, I will have to deduct five points from Gryffindor for your being out of bounds.' Hermione nodded in acceptance. 'You should know that the staff place a sensor charm on these stairs to prevent the towers misuse. Let us proceed downwards to rejoin the school.'

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione positioned herself on a table in the common room. Now she was very upset. Upset with herself for being caught, upset with Fred for giving her the idea but most importantly upset with Ron for looking so darned good in his Quidditch robes. As she started her Astronomy homework, she decided that it was all Ron's fault. He'd broken his word to her, been a homework distraction and would continue to do so every time he practiced or played.

She internalised her emotions and ploughed on with her work; feeling decidedly frosty towards Ron. When he finally appeared that emotion hadn't abated; pointedly she asked him:

'How was practice?'

'It was-,' Harry started.

'Completely lousy,' Ron finished sounding hollow as he sunk into the chair beside her. Hermione looked up and her heart stopped. She recognised that tone; he was disappointed and embarrassed. She remembered the difference in him between this morning and now. She'd seen the practice and realised there was extenuating circumstances.

'Well, it was your first one,' she soothed, reaching out and touching his hand 'it's bound to take time to -'

'Who said it was me who made it lousy?' he snapped pulling his hand away.

'No one,' Hermione said gobsmacked. She felt awful. How could he think she didn't belief in him? After all this time. 'I thought' If only he'd let her finish! She wanted to say as a team they'd need time to get to know each other.

'You thought I was bound to be rubbish?' he questioned, with a wide eyed hurt look. He looked like he was about to pout.

'No of course I didn't!' she exclaimed feeling helpless. It wasn't as if she could tell him she witnessed his fumbles from the Astronomy tower. 'Look, you said it was lousy, so I thought-' It was the look in his eyes that stopped her. He was hurt and wanted to fight. However, he felt as helpless as she did remembering their agreement not to fight in front of Harry.

'I'm going to get started on some homework,' said Ron with both anger and revulsion. He then stomped off to get his things. Now Hermione really did feel sorry. Part of her earlier anger came from his going back on his word. She turned to Harry and demanded.

'Was he lousy?'

'No,' Harry replied with more loyalty than truth. Hermione challenged him with a raised eyebrow. 'Well, he could've played better,' Harry muttered, 'but it was only the first training session, like you said...'

Hermione took some deep soothing breaths and vowed to show Ron some loyalty and public support as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

TBC