Chapter 3: The Boy Who Rides Brooms
Hermione had been at The Burrow for a week, and already Ron and her had gotten into their regular routine of rowing, icing each other out, and then making up. They had been doing this since the day they met and it wasn't going to change any time soon.
Fred and George would tease Ron, saying it was a weird form of foreplay for the two of them. Foreplay? Yeah right. You would have to be with the person to do that.
When they weren't rowing, Ron and Hermione genuinely got along very well. Ron loved to beat her in chess, while Hermione would read books to him and he would pretend not to be interested, even though he hung on every word that came out of her mouth. They would go swimming in the Weasley's lake, Hermione would watch as the twins, Ron, and Ginny would play Quidditch and they would have picnics under the apple tree in the Weasley's yard.
One day Ron got the bright idea of getting Hermione close to him without her noticing. Though he knew it would take a lot of convincing; as Hermione didn't like heights.
"Mione? Care for a broom ride?"
Hermione looked up from her book. "You already know the answer to that, Ronald Weasley."
"Come on Hermione, ride the broom with me." pleaded Ron.
"With you? I don't think so. You might drop me." said Hermione, smiling.
"You know I would never do that. Come on, one ride? Promise I'll hold onto you. You won't fall." assured Ron, with a grin.
Hermione looked at Ron. She studied his face, his gorgeous, rugged face ('snap out of it Hermione') to see if she could find a lie within it. She saw none.
"Okay fine. But not too high. And not too fast." said Hermione nervously.
Ron smiled as he mounted the broom. He patted the space in front of him for Hermione to sit. Hermione hesitated, but sat in front of him.
"Now scoot back into me. Let your back touch my chest." said Ron.
Hermione blushed as she scooted back until she found herself fitting perfectly into Ron.
"I'm going to hold onto you with one hand, and steer with the other. I need you to hold onto the broom as well tightly, okay?"said Ron slowly.
"O...okay. I got it." said Hermione nervously.
Hermione lifted up her legs so Ron could kick off. They started ascending higher and higher. Hermione closed her eyes tight as Ron began to fly in small circles around The Burrow.
"Open your eyes" whispered Ron, his breath on her ear sending shivers down Hermione's spine.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked out. She could see the lake, Ron and Ginny's treehouse, some of the town that was near The Burrow, and a beautiful field of flowers.
"Wow...its really beautiful up here." said Hermione backing further into Ron.
"Yeah. See? No reason to be scared. I wouldn't let anything happen to you." said Ron.
"You wouldn't?" whispered Hermione.
"Never." whispered Ron back.
Hermione blushed as she turned her head to look at Ron. "So Harry will be here in a couple days."
'Moment ruined.' said Ron in his head.
"Yeah he is. You looking forward to seeing him?" asked Ron
"Yes I am. It'll be good for him to be away from his horrid relatives." said Hermione with a look of disgust.
Ron did feel bad that his best friend had to deal with that poor excuse of a family of his. The Dursleys were the worst muggles he had ever encountered. However, he really didn't look forward to Harry coming. As much as he was excited to see his friend, he was less excited to lose his time with Hermione, even if it wasn't in the way he wanted.
"Would you ever fly with Harry?" Ron found himself asking Hermione before he could stop himself.
Ron felt Hermione wince. "I don't know. Harry is a great flyer but I don't think he would be careful enough for my taste."
"I could bring you back up whenever you like. If that's okay with you." said Ron
"I'd like that." said Hermione blushing.
Ron smiled. 'At least I have that up on Harry. She trusts me to take her up quicker than him. Brilliant.' he thought to himself.
"Want me to teach you how to steer properly?" asked Ron.
"Oh no no no Ron, I can't."
"Yes you can Mione. I'll show you. I'm going to put my other arm around you so you won't fall. Once I move my hand, I want you to tighten your hold and hold it steady, okay?"
Hermione nodded as she felt Ron's other strong arm come around her waist. She couldn't help but shudder at the feeling of fully being in his arms. 'Stop it Hermione. This is not your boyfriend.' she thought to herself.
She held the broom steady as Ron whispered instructions in her ear. Soon, she was guiding them around The Burrow with no help from Ron.
"This is amazing! I never thought I would be able to do this on my own. Thank you Ron" said Hermione excitedly.
"Anytime Mione. And I mean that." he said trying his best to resist his feelings of kissing her on the cheek.
They touched ground and Ron reluctantly let go of Hermione so she could get off first. He then took his broom back to the shed and followed Hermione into the house.
Hermione smiled at Ron and went to find Ginny. Ron sat down at the kitchen table and took an apple from the basket on the table.
"I saw that." said a voice that made Ron jump.
"Bill? Shit when did you get here?" asked Ron, as he turned his head to face his oldest brother.
"About an hour before you started to try to seduce your best mate's girlfriend on a broom." said Bill, raising an eyebrow at him.
Ron looked at Bill out the side of his eyes. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh come off it Ron, I'm not stupid. I've always known how you felt about her. Even though I don't see you guys all the time, I can totally tell."
"It was only a broom ride."
"I'm not here to scold you, Ron. I'm just telling you to either tell her how you feel, or take caution of your actions. Harry isn't dumb. He will catch on. And you don't want that to happen."
Ron hesitated. He really didn't want to admit his feelings to anyone else but himself. However, Bill was his favorite brother, and he knew he could trust that he would keep his secret and that he would give the best advice.
"Please don't say shit to anyone else."
Bill sat down and put a silencing charm up around them so no one would hear their conversation.
"I don't see the point in telling Hermione how I feel." began Ron. "Why should I when she has been dating Harry since 4th year? It won't change anything. And if it does, it'll be for the worst. What if I lose her friendship? I don't want to lose her entirely. I don't think I could handle not being her friend."
"But you can't let your feelings continue to eat you alive. You've been liking her since when, before you knew what liking girls was about? That's not fair to you nor her, Ron." said Bill.
"I know it isn't, but what can I do? Confess my feelings and have them blown up in my face?" exclaimed Ron.
"Does Harry know how you feel about her?" asked Bill. Ron shook his head as Bill gave him a skeptical look. "Come on, he has to know. You're his best mate."
"We've never spoken about that so I doubt he ever knew." said Ron.
Bill shook his head. A blind man could see how much Ron loved the girl. Harry had to have already known. But he didn't tell Ron that.
"Well, if you're going to keep your feelings to yourself, I suggest you control your actions around her. You actions shine 'I love you' in those flashing neon light things. Gotta work on that, little bro." said Bill, messing up Ron's hair.
"I guess you're right." said Ron.
"And you might not want to take her up on the broom while Harry is here. You two looked like it was too late to give you the talk." smiled Bill.
"Sod off you!" laughed Ron.
