Tending to Him

Chapter 4: Romantic Flight

I waited in Ron's room until he got dressed. It only took about five more minutes, but it seemed like ages. I kept thinking about how today would go. I had to admit, I was nervous. Without Harry, it would be only Ron and I. Well…it's been that way for a few days now. But still, how could I explain without him there? He'd think that I'm confused. Well, I sort of was.

He walked back into the room and placed his pajamas in his drawers messily. I rolled my eyes, got up, and organized them properly. I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw red all over his face. A small smile appeared on my face after I placed his boxers away, but hey, an aid's got to do what an aid's got to do.

"You didn't have to do that-" he began.

"I know," I cut him off, "but I wanted to."

And with that, I began to head out the door down the five flights of stairs.

"Er," he started again as we walked, "I might've over heard you and Harry talking."

"And what we were saying?" I replied to him, knowing all to well what it was.

"He was wondering if you were going to show me something today," he responded. "And you nodded."

"Well, Ronald, I guess you'll just have to wait and see."

He grumbled, "Ugh," in reply to this, and I smiled, chuckling silently to myself.

"Well, okay," I gave in, wanting to give him some sort of hint. "Do you remember when you asked where I went yesterday?"

Ron was obviously happier I was telling him something about what was later to come. He nodded in answer.

"Well, Harry and I went out, and we wanted to get something for you."

"Obviously, Hermione, why else would you not tell me anything about it?" he replied

"Shut up," I mumbled. "Do you want your surprise or not? Cause I can cast it away in my sleep. You know I can."

He immediately shut his mouth.

"Good."

We walked down one more flight and finally reached the kitchen where Harry, thankfully, had already set up. The other Weasleys apparently finished their breakfast, so they were not in the room. Ron's mouth went agape as he looked at what his breakfast was.

"And why did you do this?" Ron wondered, still stunned.

Harry walked up and passed us, saying, "Hermione will explain everything."

I noticed Ron raise an eyebrow and then look back at the cake. It wasn't very large, but knowing Ron, he could eat it by himself. Also knowing Ron, he would eat it by himself.

"So, I believe an explanation is in order," he said and crossed his arms, trying to look serious.

"Oh, wipe that look of your face," I ordered and giggled. "You're not fooling anyone. You'll get an answer later, now eat up."

Ron smiled and sat down, not even cutting out a piece and eating the cake with a large fork. I laughed again and sat down across from him.

And he thinks he's excited now I thought. I can't wait to see his face until later…

He finished half of the cake in about ten minutes. He used the sleeve of his shirt of wipe off the crumbs from his face, which I laughed at, and he still didn't get the entire mess off of his face. I reached for a cloth at the other end of the table and gently dabbed around his mouth to get the remaining chocolate off of his face.

Ron's Point of View

Merrrrrrrrrlin. Honestly, I have to say I that felt nice. My face instantly heated up. She smiled sweetly and placed the cloth to the side.

"Now will you tell me why I'm eating this cake for breakfast?" I inquired. I really wanted to know.

"If you come outside with me, then yes," she replied. I exhaled and obeyed her, following her outside. We walked over outside the burrow over to the shed. I raised my eyebrows at her, and she responded by waving her hands at it.

"Go on," she added. "Open it."

I scratched the back of my head absentmindedly and stepped over to the shed and opened it. When I did, a long box came falling down and it hit me on my forehead. I heard Hermione giggle. I picked up the long package that had fallen and held it in my arms. I looked back up at Hermione, feeling clueless. She, again, assisted me and told me to unwrap it.

I did and found a long, new broomstick within it.

"That's another place Harry and I went yesterday," Hermione said as I stared at the broom. "We thought you'd like it."

"…Why?" I wondered and looked at her.

"I-we-remembered that we didn't do anything for your birthday and we wanted to get you something," she replied.

"We missed your birthday, too, though," I countered.

"Oh, don't worry about me," she insisted. "This is for you."

I smiled, and then it turned into a little smirk.

"Well you know what we have to do now," I said and walked over to her, who was only a few meters from me. She glanced up at me, then at the broom, and then back up at me. She knew what I was thinking.

"No, Ron," she disagreed. "You know I don't like flying!"

"So maybe it's time to change that," I said and mounted my broom. "Hop on."

"No!" she said again and stalked off into the house. I groaned and quickly put my new broomstick away and ran after her, calling her name.

"Oh, come on, Mione!" I said and raced up the stairs to where I heard her go. I went into Ginny's room. She wasn't there. Ginny wasn't either. But I could care less about that. I then went up to my room and found her there soaking a washcloth in warm water.

"Hermione," I groaned again and slumped down on my bed.

"I need to check up on it," she said and pushed me back on my bed as she walked by, grabbing some medicine from her bag.

"You already have," I answered and closed my eyes.

"It'll only do you good, Ronald," she replied and paced quickly back into the bathroom. Already knowing I wouldn't get out of this one, I took of my short-sleeved shirt and tossed it aside. She came back into the room and rapidly pressed the tiny towel down on my healing injury. I didn't know why Hermione was making a bit fuss about it (not that I minded…). It was practically healed. She patted it softly and then placed an incredibly small amount of medicine on it. It didn't sting anymore, which was good.

"I can't believe you actually thought you could fly in this condition," she breathed as she rubbed a dry cotton ball on it.

"What condition?" I retorted and chuckled. "Mione look at it! The only thing that's left is the scar!"

"No, it's still a bit open," Hermione disagreed. "The medicine wouldn't dissipate that quickly if it weren't still open. But you have a point… It is getting extremely better-"

"Then there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to go flying," I defended. Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes and got up form the couch. She placed the washcloth on the bedside table and took the medicine back into her bag.

"Er…Hermione?" I began.

"Hmm?" she responded and sat down next to me on the bed again.

"…Will you tell me again why you thought that we shouldn't be together?" I asked uneasily, afraid she'd walk away.

"It's sort of a long story," she replied. I shrugged and perched up on one elbow.

"I'm listening," I said. She bit her lower lip. I waited in anticipation.

"It's a story for another day," she responded and then slowly got up and began to walk out of my room.

"Wait, Hermione?" I called after her. She turned to look at me. I could see from the light from my lamp that her eyes were shining.

"Never mind," I sighed, disappointed in myself that I didn't tell her how I felt about her. She opened her mouth, about to say something, but she apparently let it go because she closed it and again commenced walking out of my room. When she exited, Harry entered.

"What happened?" he asked me. I sighed again and ran a hand through my hair.

"I asked her why we shouldn't be together and she said, 'It's sort of a long story,' and then I told her 'never mind,'" I replied.

"Well, were you planning on telling her that you still have feelings for her along the way?" he wondered and crossed his arms.

"I was going to, but…I got scared," I responded. His mouth opened and he looked at me in disbelief.

"Ron Weasley," he began. "How could you have possibly been scared?"

"The same reason you won't go talk to Ginny!" I replied.

"That's different-"

"Not really," I interrupted.

"Okay, promise me this, then," Harry began and stepped closer to me. "If you tell Hermione how you feel, then I'll talk to Ginny."

"But what if she doesn't feel the same way-"

"Oh Merlin-Ron! How can you be so stupid? Of course she feels the same way! Why else would she tend to you? (And, might I add that that cut could've been done with after an…hour if she used dittany). Why else would she come get you a gift with me? Why else would I leave you two alone?"

"…Because she's being nice?"

"…No, Ron," Harry said. "No. It's because she still likes you."

I smiled a small smile at Harry's words, wondering myself if they were true.

Hermione's Point of View

No, I never went downstairs. At least, not until Harry and Ron had finished their conversation. I had heard everything. I bit my lower lip and smiled to myself, finally knowing that he felt the same way…but what now? If I came out and told him that I still like him, again, he'd think I was confused or something. I guess I had to keep giving him hints. I exhaled. Oh boy.

Later that evening, I was in Ginny's room telling her all I had heard.

"But what if I don't want to talk to Harry?" she retorted and crossed her arms.

"Gin, please, focus!" I commanded her. "What am I going to do?"

"You're going to bloody do what you bloody want to do," she replied. "If you want my opinion-"

"Yes…" I interjected.

"-Then I guess you have a good idea," she finished. "Just keep giving out hints. But, along the way, somewhere, he's going to wonder why you're acting different and ask questions."

"And I'll be ready to answer them," I replied proudly.

"That-a-girl!" Ginny cheered and then stood up from her bed and opened the door.

"Where are you going?" I wondered.

"I'm not going anywhere," Ginny responded. "You are."

"Where am I going, then?" I revised.

"You're going flying with Ron."

"…What? No, Ginny, I can't I'm terrified! I'll get sick-"

"No you won't, Mione," she disagreed. "This is a really good opportunity to show him how you feel. If you don't go out there with him, I'm not talking to Harry."

"That's ridiculous, Gin, you have to talk-"

"And you have to fly with Ron," she interrupted and pushed me out of the door.

"Go get 'em," she whispered after she closed the door.

"What was that about?" I heard someone ask from above me. I turned to see Ron coming down the steps.

"Oh, nothing, Ginny being Ginny," I replied.

When neither of us said anything for a few moments, I spoke up.

"Um, I was thinking," I began, "maybe it is alright for you to go flying."

Ron's Point of View

Oh…um, okay then.

"Er…thanks," I replied awkwardly.

"Are you going to go now?" she wondered and inched closer to me.

"Oh, I guess so. Well, dinner's coming soon maybe I should wait-"

"Oh, no it's fine we'll get dinner somewhere else," she declared and began to push me down the stairs.

"'We'?" I asked and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, I mean if you want me to come…you did earlier today," she replied. I furrowed my eyebrows. What was going on? But I didn't mind, really. I was just happy to know that she wanted to fly with me.

"Yeah, sure," I responded, "no, I'd be more that happy if you came."

"You would? Good," she said and smiled and we began walking down the steps again. We walked through the kitchen and then out to the broom shed. I took my new broom, and when she was about to grab another broom, I cleared my throat. She looked at me and I waved my pointer finger.

"Mm, m, m," I said. "No, you'll be riding with me today."

"But Ron that's-"

"No," I cut her off. "You haven't had enough experience riding alone. You'll need to be with someone."

A small smile was on her face as she walked over to me.

"Hop on," I said, ordering her for a change. She did with the smile still on her face.

"Now, Ron, be careful-" but I was already off the ground. She yelped and wrapped her arms tightly around me. I could see her look down at the ground that was now far away.

"R-Ron…" she stammered and hugged herself closer to me.

"Shh," I whispered quietly (and, might I add, the way I knew she liked). "Look up, Hermione." I felt her head on my back tilt, and she did. I heard her take in a small breath, and her grip on me loosened.

"Wow…" she exhaled. I smiled at this, and at what she did next. She took a hand away from my torso and reached up, running it through a cloud. When I began to turn and go down, she instantly placed her arm back around me.

The sky was the perfect shade of blue, and the stars twinkled amazingly. The moon was the only source of light I had except for the buildings underneath, but I wasn't paying attention to them.

Hermione had sighed calmly and hugged closer to me, placing her head on the tip of my shoulder. I heated a little from this, and smiled slightly. We soared over London for a while longer, and then I decided to turn back. We then entered upon Diagon Alley. We ordered some food and then ice cream from Florean's Fortescu; afterwards, going back to the burrow where we landed far out in the field. We decided to walk the rest of the way.

"That was incredible, Ron," she said. I shivered a little when she spoke my name different from the other words she had said.

"Yeah, yeah it was," I agreed.

"I'm glad you took me," she added. I nodded in the affirmative. We reached the broom shed, and as I was putting mine away, a little peck was placed on my cheek. I looked towards her, my heart beginning to race faster, but she just smiled and walked back into the house. I watched longingly as she did.

Wow. In all, today had been a pretty descent day.

A/N: HEY Y'ALL! Nice chapter, huh? No? Tell me what you thought! And I apologize for the confusion (Hah, no she didn't just change her mind from her and Ron sitting…there was more to the dream. Hahah that made me laugh). There will be more explanation in later chapters. I had this chapter in mind ever since I had the idea of this story. I indeed loved writing it. OH and in case some of you haven't noticed, the chapter titles are names of music pieces from soundtracks. I'll put them up on my profile soon. Anyways… Next chapter coming soon!