Oh gosh, you guys. I'm sorry, I know I haven't posted in forever It's just that school started a few weeks ago and I ve been struggling to get used to my schedule and actually having stuff to do :). This post is a little short, too, but I haven't forgotten you, I promise.
Also, I'm really sorry about the first time I posted this. Something went seriously wrong with all of my quotation marks and apostrophes and well....just about everything :) It's all better though, no worries.
Oh, yeah, and I don t own Harry Potter. Awesome.
The library was empty besides the one person Ginny was looking for. This didn't surprise Ginny, but pleased her nonetheless. She walked casually over to Hermione and sat down, pulling out her potions homework which she had no intention of working on.
"Oh, hello Ginny. How are you?" Hermione asked conversationally.
"Hi, Hermione. I m doing well, but why are you in here? I thought we were going to study in the common room." Ginny asked.
"Oh, no Ginny, I totally forgot. I'm so sorry. I was there, but I started talking to Ron and Harry, and Ron started acting really strangely. I couldn't exactly concentrate, and I forgot I was meeting you." She said with a lost expression on her face. Ginny feigned innocence.
"Strangely? But Ron is always strange. What could he possibly have done that was even more abnormal than usual?" Ginny joked, but Hermione s eyes stayed deep in thought.
"Not what he did as much as what he said, and how he said it, I suppose." Hermione said slowly, and Ginny gasped.
"He didn't tell you, did he? Not already? That would ruin EVERYTHING!" She shrieked. Hermione's state of confusion increased.
"Tell me what? What are you talking about, Ginny?" Hermione demanded. Ginny stood up quickly, sure she would make things worse if she stayed.
"Oh, er...nothing. Well, I'm going to go practice quidditch...or something." Ginny said as quickly as possible before booking it out the door.
Hermione sat, suddenly alone again, thinking about what happened.
What was Ginny talking about? She couldn't possibly mean...Ron only sees me as a friend, right? She inquired of herself. Three years of wishful thinking must finally be taking a toll on my brain. She told herself. Simply my imagination. She shook herself, and made a valiant effort to get back to work. When that failed she decided to get something to eat.
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Ron sat at the Griffyndor table eating his lunch, getting a tongue lashing from Ginny a little earlier than expected. He wasn't sure how she found out about his idiocy, but half of him was glad he didn't have to tell her about it himself. He tuned out most of her lecture. He already knew what a fool he had been, he didn't need to hear Ginny elaborate on it. He barely noticed her get up in exasperation, leaving him alone. He sat in silence for a few minutes, eating his fill, but his peace was disturbed shortly after. The bite of sandwhich he was swallowing got caught in his throat when he saw her. Hermione came breezing through the doors of the great hall. She seemed distracted, so Ron attempted calling at her, forgetting about the food lodged in his windpipe. He coughed violently, trying to gain control of himself in time to maintain a shred of dignity. She giggled slightly before walking over to him.
"Ron, haven't I told you you need to eat slower? You're going to choke yourself to death one of these days." She scolded, smiling at him.
"Nah, I'm not worried," he said, after taking a long sip of water, "I'll be fine as long as you're there to perform the heimlich maneuver on me if I ever get close."
"I guess I'll just have to stay with you forever, then, won't I?" Hermione said without thinking, realizing the insinuation too late. She saw Ron blush and look away, and felt herself mimicking him. She hurried to change the subject.
"So...the prefects meeting to plan the winter ball is tonight..."
"Oh, right," said Ron, grateful for the awkward moment finally passing. "That should be interesting. At least if we get to help plan it it won t be completely lame."
"Definitely." Hermione agreed. "I just hope it turns out better than last year. But with Krum not around I don t know who I'll go with." She hinted, avoiding Ron s gaze. They sat in silence for a moment, Ron working up his courage and Hermione silently cursing herself for being so obvious, before Ron finally spoke.
"Hermione, maybe...you know, since we re both prefects and we have to go early to decorate, we could go--only if you want to of course-- maybe...together?" He said, waiting to look up until after he finished his speech, terrified to look at her face. When he looked at her, however, she was smiling.
"Sure, Ronald, that'd be lovely." Lovely? She rolled her eyes at herself, but Ron didn't seem to mind her out-dated lingo. He jumped out of his chair more conspicuously than he meant too, stuttering goodbyes in an excited tone. She laughed again, she couldn't help but laugh around him, and waved goodbye, started to pick at the food that had appeared on her plate. She wasn't quite as hungry anymore, though.
Ginny smiled to herself behind the door to the great hall. Ron was ready for chapter two.