(A/N: I can't tell you how wonderful it made me feel to post a new chapter, go to bed, and have 3 new reviews when I woke up the next morning. Thank you all so much. You've really inspired me to keep this going. For those of you who write your own fiction you know how much it means to know that people are reading and enjoying your work. Ok, so hear we go, new chapter. Break is over, they're back at Hogwarts.)
Chapter 7: A Little One on One Attention
It was very clear as Ron walked down the corridor to Transfiguration that the news about him and Hermione was out. He heard bits and pieces of whispers as he passed groups of giggling girls. He had to admit, he'd not expected it to be this big of a deal. Though he suspected that if Harry and Ginny had also chosen to make their relationship public, the attention would most certainly be off of him and Hermione. As he rounded the corner he saw Hermione waiting outside the doorway. He smiled as he saw her and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
"How was Arithmancy?"
"It was great; Professor Vector gave us a three scroll essay on our magical qualities of the tnumber welve." Ron nodded, not even pretending he understood what she was talking about. "Sorry I couldn't meet you for break I had to go straight to library and get started."
"It's alright; I had to meet with Angelina to go over the playbook."
Just, then a group of Hufflepuff girls walked by whispering.
"I heard they ran off together right before Christmas Holiday," one of them said, "neither of them took the train home."
"I heard they were going to leave school and get married, but their parents made them come back."
As Ron shot them a look they shuffled into the classroom murmuring.
"What a load of ballocks, you did so take the train home."
"Not actually, the order set up a Portkey from Hogsmead. They felt it would have been too suspicious, considering the situation, for everyone to see me escorted from the train station by anyone other than my parents and with a Portkey I could arrive as soon as possible."
"Well, Ron laughed. "I suppose it all does seem a bit scandalous when you think about it."
"It will be forgotten about before you know it. Let them talk," she kissed him, "I don't care."
"Then neither do I," he kissed her back.
Harry walked by nudging Ron with his elbow. "You two had better wrap it up, McGonagall is only a few steps behind me."
"Thanks for the warning mate," Ron said letting go of Hermione. "I guess we should get inside before we get caught."
Throughout the lesson Ron could here the whispers of the other students. It was a little distracting at first, until he realized he had a much more appealing distraction sitting beside him and this distraction would make sure that he didn't completely ignore what Professor McGonagall was saying.
"Vanishing spells, as I've said are a vital part of your education in the art of Transfiguration. Thus far most of you have successfully vanished snails and some of you have even been able to vanish mice. Today we will move on to something slightly bigger. As to not ruin the element of surprise I am not at liberty to tell you what you will be asked to vanish for your O.W.L examination, but rest assured it will be part of practical exam."
Ron was a little nervous. It had taken him the entire lesson to successfully vanish his snail and when it came to the mice he'd really struggled. All he could muster by the end of class was to make the poor thing's tail disappear.
"Don't worry," Hermione said seeing the concern on Ron's face, "I'll show you how."
Halfway through the lesson Hermione had already vanished her rabbit and was now assisting Ron.
"You have it Ron. You know the incantation, you've know how to cast it; you just don't have the confidence. The words have no power if you don't mean them. You have to believe that the rabbit is going to vanish, just because you told it to."
"Ok, rabbit vanish."
Hermione giggled, "Ron, I'm being serious. Now come on, try it again."
Ron took a breath and gripped his wand. "Evanesco," he said flourishing his wand and much to his surprise the rabbit in front of him vanished completely.
"You did it," squealed Hermione throwing her arms around him. "Oh Ron, I knew you could."
"Well done Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall said approaching their table. "Outstanding work indeed. You are quite the tutor Ms. Granger. Perhaps all Mr. Weasley needs to thrive is a little one on one attention. I wonder if you wouldn't mind tutoring him privately in preparation for his O.W.L examination, help him achieve his true potential. "
"I'd be glad to Professor," Hermione said as Professor McGonagall walked away.
"That's not the only thing she'll give him private lessons in," sniggered Padma.
"What's her problem," Ron said shooting Padma an angry glance.
"Don't listen to her. She's just jealous because she hasn't even come close to vanishing her rabbit yet."
"Well," Ron said, "I couldn't have done it without your help."
"Yes you could. You had the ability the whole time, you just didn't know it."
"Thanks all the same though. Maybe now I'll get something right on my O.W.L.s"
"I meant what I told Professor McGonagall, I'll help you study if you want me to."
"Thank you," he said giving her a peck on the cheek. "With you helping me I can't lose."
"She helped him cheat in potions today," remarked Padma to a group of her Ravenclaw housemates. "I'm sure of it. He's absolute rubbish in potions and all the sudden he's able to produce a near perfect Draught of Peace. She did the same thing in Transfiguration the other day. It's a load of ballocks, she made that potion for him."
Hermione cleared her throat forcing Padma to turn with a jerk.
"I'll have you know Padma that I did no such thing. Ron is a very capable wizard all on his own and certainly does not need my help in anything. I'll thank you to remember that and keep you big mouth shut before I shut it for you."
"Is that a threat Granger?"
"No, it's a promise."
"Something the matter," Ron said just entering the great hall for lunch.
"Not at all," Hermione said with a smile, "just having a chat with Padma."
"Oh, well you should probably come and eat if you want to get to Ancient Runes early."
"I was just on my way," she turned back to Padma and her friends. "Enjoy your lunch ladies."
"You can take your hand off of your wand now Hermione," Ron laughed.
"What are you talking about," she said coolly.
"I'm not deaf; Padma's not the only one talking. I'm also not stupid."
"I never said you were," she interrupted, "quite the contrary."
"I know," Ron stopped her still smiling. "What I mean is that I expect people to assume I'm cheating. I've spent the better part of five years, how did you put it, scrapping by. People see me suddenly improve and jump to the simplest conclusion. I wouldn't be surprised if Snape himself were suspecting the very same thing."
It seemed like Ron had just gotten those words out of his mouth when Professor McGonagall strode by, instructing the two of them to follow her. She did not say were they were going, but as they reached the secret stair case leading to Dumbledore's office Ron knew that this was serious. As they entered the room Professors Dumbledore and Snape were waiting for them.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, have a seat."
Nervously they sat in the chairs Dumbledore had just conjured.
"It seems," Dumbledore said taking a seat in his own chair at his desk, "that there are some rather serious accusations being made against you two and before this goes any further I wanted to hear the truth from you."
Snape stepped forward and looked at Hermione. "Ms. Granger, did you assist Mr. Weasley in your potions lesson today, yes or no."
"Assist him," she questioned, "yes. Help him cheat, certainly not."
"But you admit you helped him with his potion today?"
"Helped in the sense that when he had a question I answered it and when he asked for an ingredient I handed it to him. Ron made the potion all on his own from the instructions in the book and the notes you yourself had given him on his first attempt."
"Do you mean to tell me that Mr. Weasley went from making barely identifiable slop to brewing a functioning Draught of Peace just like that?"
"Yes Professor, that's exactly what I'm telling you."
"So you did not produce his potion for him," McGonagall said.
"No I did not."
"Is this true Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore asked.
"Yes sir. Hermione only coached me along as I came to a difficult part of the process. Hermione would never help me cheat, she finds the very idea of it revolting. She is, if anything, a good tutor. You said that yourself just the other day Professor," he said addressing Professor McGonagall.
"Very well," said Dumbledore. "You are free to return to lunch. We will notify your teachers that you will be late to your next lesson."
"Professor Dumbledore, with all due respect you can't expect me to believe that…"
"That's enough Severus," Dumbledore said raising his hand. "The students have explained themselves and I am satisfied with their answer. You may go children."
Ron and Hermione a deep sigh of relief as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"That was close," Ron said. "I can't believe they thought you'd actually help me cheat."
"I can't believe they thought you actually needed me to help you cheat, but for what it's worth," she said kissing him, "there is very little I wouldn't do for you."
"Me too," Ron laughed at his own words. "Wait that came out wrong, I meant that I'd do anything for you, too."
"I know what you mean. Come on, we should go eat, we're already going to be late for class."
"Hermione Granger late for class," Ron said feigning shock. "Someone call the Daily Prophet, this is front page material.
She elbowed him in the side. "I've been late to class before."
"Oh really, when? Name one time you've been late for class."
"There was…the time when…or when…ok well, I can't think of one now but I'm sure there has been at least one time."
"Sure there has." Ron took her hand intertwining his fingers with hers, "come on, let's go eat."
(Ok, so this one was kind of slow and a little bit dull. Sorry. I just needed a transition chapter. I guess the awkwardness of the chapter could denote the awkwardness of a new relationship. Future chapters will be better. For Padma fans…sorry…She kind of got caught in my creative crossfire. Anyway…Please read and review…Sorry again for the pace of the chapter.
Sorry for the edits..I went back and read it and found a lot of errors. That's what I get for writing late a night. Anyone want to put thier name in the hat for my new Beta? My current Beta is very busy and doens't have time to do it anymore. Email me if you're interested.
