Pairing: Ron and Hermione
Prompt: Phobia
Rating: K
"Honestly, Ronald," Hermione said, rolling her eyes and taking a piece of parchment over to the window. She opened the window and shook the spider out into the open air.
When she looked back at him, he was returning to his normal pallor and placing his feet back on the ground. She shook her head. He's battled Death Eaters and been attacked by all sorts of dangerous creatures but he is still afraid of a little spider.
As if reading her mind Ron mumbled, " s'not like you aren't afraid of things…"
She raised her eyebrows at him, "Oh really? And what exactly is it you think I'm afraid of?"
He shrugged and reached for her. She took his hand and let him pull her onto the couch.
"You don't like heights," he supplied as she snuggled against his warm torso.
Hermione furrowed her brow. It was true that she didn't enjoy flying on brooms. Or dragons. Or thestrals. Or planes…
"I suppose I'm not fond of them, no," she conceded, looking up at his stubbly face, "But I'd hardly consider it a phobia."
Ron now looked at her incredulously, "I don't have spidey-phobia! I jus' don't like them, is all!"
She giggled, "It's arachnophobia, actually, and I think you do…a little bit."
He crossed his arms and gave her a pouty look, "Well if I have 'racknophobia, then you have heightaphobia, or whatever it's called,"
She frowned slightly and said, "Acrophobia, I believe, is a fear of heights. Which I don't think would describe me. I just get dizzy, up high."
"Yeah, well, I don't think the other one describes me. What's the word for being grossed out by spiders?"
Hermione laughed again, "I don't think there's a word for it,"
He smiled now and kissed her head, "Well you go ahead a make up a word for it and that's what I'll be,"
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching the fire dance in the hearth when Ron asked, "So how do you want to get to Australia, then?"
She shrugged, "Not sure. Port Keys, I suppose,"
"Can we take an aer-o-plane?" he asked, looking like an excited child.
"Yes, we could but I'd much rather prefer Port Keys. It's quicker,"
Hermione looked at him now and saw an amused expression playing on his face.
"We could take brooms,"
"Ron."
"Or hippogryffs,"
"Ronald."
"Maybe find that dragon,"
"Will you please stop!" she tried to admonish him but laughter snuck through.
He embraced her, also laughing, while she tried and failed to make a serious face.
"Fine, maybe I'm a little acrophobic."
"S'okay, I can be the brave one sometimes, you know."
She hit him with a pillow as he fell about laughing again.
