A/N: This must be my quickest update yet. Now I just have to fall into a pattern...
Disclaimer: Don't own it
The day was warm and the sky was clear, yet the tall red-headed boy wore an expression that suggested he'd rather be anywhere else than outside in the glorious weather. With a smile that looked much more like a grimace, Ron Weasley stiffly walked off to join Harry and the rest of the keepers on the quidditch pitch. Hermione felt as if he were putting way too much stress on to making the team, and she wished he'd realise his self-worth was not directly linked to his quidditch abilities. She didn't really understand the big deal with quidditch, and she definitely didn't like the way Ron acted as if it were the be all and end all of everything. But she did understand that it meant a lot to him, even if she was a bit confused on the reason why.
"How do you think he'll do?" she anxiously asked Ginny, still not taking her eyes off Ron's retreating figure.
Ginny gave a sort-of-smile and shrugged. "It depends. He's a good player, but his nerves have the potential to ruin that for him. He panics and makes stupid decisions when he's nervous, so we'd just better hope he's feeling confident today."
Hermione nodded, the younger girl's words having done nothing to ease her worries. Ron had been nervous in all the time leading up to this moment, to the point where she'd been hard pushed to get him to eat something at breakfast. It was no good sign when Ron was resisting food, but all Hermione could do was hope he'd somehow come to his senses once on his broom.
She hadn't realised she'd been jiggling her leg until Ginny put her hand on it to stop her. "Hermione, he'll be fine okay. Stop being so nervous and watch your boyfriend make the Gryffindor quidditch team for the 3rd time running." Hermione gave a small nod in return, conceding Ginny's words and feeling only the small bit better off. But what she'd said had reminded Hermione of something- Ron had made the team before. Twice before, in fact.
Ron had played well on nerves previously. He just needed to have a good start to restore his confidence and then he'd play great. Hermione hoped more than anything he'd get that good start and maintain it through tryouts. She looked back to Ginny, waiting for her chaser trials, and wondered if she was as anxious as Ron. If she was nervous in any way, she certainly didn't show it. Something Hermione had incredible respect for.
"Are you nervous?" She voiced the question aloud.
"I guess. I mean, everyone's got to be nervous to an extent, right? But if I believe in myself I'm pretty sure I'll get in." She gave another shrug of her shoulders before attempting to tie her fiery red hair back in a ponytail. Hermione nodded in agreement at her friend's attitude, which certainly seemed a lot better than Ron's.
The behaviour surrounding quidditch had always confused Hermione. There was too much rivalry about it. Quidditch was supposed to be a fun sport or hobby, was it not? And yet (at Hogwarts at least) it seemed to be less about the actual game and more to do with beating the other houses. Hermione wasn't that uptight to believe that a little rivalry wasn't a good thing. She was all for competition, but nowhere near the extent that her friends and the rest of Hogwarts seemed to be. Even McGonagall was known to give them extra homework if Gryffindor suffered a particularly bad loss.
She just couldn't understand it. She wanted Gryffindor to win just as much as the rest of her house, and of course she'd be angry if there was foul play involved, but she didn't see the point in getting all worked up about it. She'd happily cheer from the sidelines and maybe even stay for a little of the celebrations in the common room in the event that they did win, but she wasn't going to become angry if they didn't. It was a simple mentality, really. Hermione was honestly at a loss as to why everyone didn't think so.
Her heart gave a jump when she caught sight of a single figure flying out to the goal hoops before returning to its normal beat upon realising it wasn't Ron. It was a short girl with messy blonde hair she hadn't bothered to tie back in a bobble. She looked as if she belonged in the year below Ginny's. Hermione observed the quidditch pitch in confusion as another figure soared, however this one she didn't recognise. And then a thought came to her:
"Ginny, why aren't you down there? Surely as chaser you need to be the one throwing the quaffle?"
Ginny made a face, "Yes, and I would be too, if some git hadn't complained that the Gryffindor chasers give easier shots to those they want on the team..." she explained darkly. Hermione got the sense she was holding a lot of contained rage over the matter.
"That's absurd!" she offered, putting on her most indignant tone for Ginny's benefit.
"I know!" the other girl agreed passionately. "We reckon McLaggen reported something the other year- though I'm not sure why the rule is still standing if that's the case." Hermione shuddered as she remembered how vile Cormac McLaggen had treated Ginny, Ron, and the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team after what he deemed as an unfair trial. Experiencing a pang of guilt (after all it had been her who had jinxed McLaggen's chances in the first place) she hurried to try and change the subject.
"So, who's that down there now?"
Ginny stood up to get a closer look and frowned, "I think it's Madam Hooch actually. Harry did mention something about her being here for tryouts but I never thought..." she trailed off and Hermione got up from her position in the stands to see what had Ginny so transfixed.
The 6th year girl was on her 3rd attempt, and it looked as if she had saved everything so far. Hermione felt an uncomfortable knot in her stomach when she witnessed Madam Hooch throw the quaffle and the girl expertly maneuvered her broom in order to knock it clear out of the way. Ginny whistled, "She's good." was the only thing said but Hermione knew Ginny well enough to know she was also expressing concern for Ron's chances with the simple statement.
The fourth shot, and Hermione almost cheered when the girl acted impulsively and veered off in the direction of the wrong hoop. "She missed one!" she practically sang to Ginny.
"Mmmm, yes, but it looks as if that one was the challenge throw." she observed. Hermione didn't know what a 'challenge throw' was, but she was above asking Ginny to explain at the sake of her pride. Luckily, Ginny seemed to guess anyway, "Oh wait, I forgot you wouldn't know what that is," she said with only the slightest smirk as Hermione gave a small pout, "A challenge throw is a throw that's deliberately meant to throw them off. It's a hard technique, so it's not usually applied within an actual game, but we use it in try-outs as a way to test their instincts and resilience. It's thrown on the 3rd or 4th shot to throw them and see if they can bounce back if they miss."
Hermione vaguely recalled Ron blocking such a shot from Ginny in their 6th year and her confidence in him grew. He was good at tact, and he could usually spot a bluff and she found that fact comforting in his odds.
"She's lost it, you can tell." muttered Ginny, and Hermione refocused her attention on what was happening on the pitch. Sure enough, the girl now looked extremely nervous, and she was hovering awkwardly between the two hoops instead of circling them as previously. The challenge ball had thrown her alright.
Madam Hooch threw the quaffle from the left, and even though Hermione was no expert on quidditch, she could see the mistake the girl had made. She overflew and ended up feet away from the targeted hoop. Stretching her arm out as far as possible, her fingers barely just grazed the quaffle before it dropped through to the other side.
Hermione felt like dancing. She briefly wondered if it were morally right to take this much pleasure from another's failure, but she quickly dismissed the thoughts as the second keeper was called. I wasn't Ron, but a boy who looked to be around 5th year.
Hermione wondered if this meant that Harry was keeping Ron until last, but she couldn't sense the logic behind the decision. At least he'd took the initiative and held keeper try-outs first this year, obviously for Ron's benefit. But why save him until last? Surely it would have been a better decision to allow him to go first so there was no pressure to do better than the other candidates. Although maybe Harry wanted Ron to feel pressured? After all, he had given some of his best performances when he felt like he had nothing to lose.
The 5th year boy was tall and broad, and Hermione could see his muscular build, even from her place in the stands. She worried her top lip between her teeth nervously. Quite strangely, he reminded her of Viktor Krum, with a build practically meant for professional quidditch.
The first ball was thrown and Hermione found herself quite shocked when it was missed. Ginny snickered from beside her and Hermione wondered what was so funny. "Never judge a book by it's cover Hermione. I thought you, of all people, would have known that." she remarked and Hermione felt her cheeks heat up. Ginny must have been laughing at her gormless expression when the quaffle made it through the hoop.
The 6th year boy returned to the ground having only saved two goals and Hermione was treated with the sight of vivid red hair making it's way up to the hoops. "It's Ron!" she almost squealed at Ginny.
"Thank you Hermione, although I think I've become rather adept at recognising my own brother to be honest." she mocked her genially but Hermione was too busy watching Ron to care.
Her stomach did an uncomfortable flip at the sight of him so high up. She hadn't told anyone just how bad her phobia of heights had become since the incident with the Gringotts dragon, but she was determined to fight it. After all- she trusted Ron and his flying abilities as much as she trusted anything. Just breathe, she told herself, he'll be fine.
Ron flew with confidence, appeasing Hermione's insides ever so slightly. His broom was steady and concentrated as he moved between the goals, unwavering. Hermione felt her breath hitch as the first shot was thrown and Ron flew in completely the wrong direction. Ginny was covering her face with her hands, as if it was physically painful to watch.
It was just a bad start, she reassured herself, I'm sure he'll do fine. Looking back up at Ron, moving between goals once more, it was obvious he was shaken. Hermione desperately wanted to shout encouragements to him, but she refrained in fear that it'd only serve to put him off more. Instead, she tried to wordlessly convey her support, willing him to have a little faith in himself for once. He could do this, she knew for a fact that he could. The outcome lay within whether or not he thought he could.
Madam Hooch threw the second quaffle, and again, Ron flew off in completely the wrong direction. Hermione closed her eyes, not wanting to watch it fall through the hoop, the resounding thud it would make as it hit the ground. But it didn't come.
Ginny gasped, "Hermione! He saved it!"
"What?" Hermione opened her eyes abruptly, and there was Ron, soaring in front of the hoops with renewed vigour.
"Yeah! He went the wrong way but then he," she made a sweeping motion with her hand, "and hit it back!"
Hermione beamed, knowing that if he needed anything to revive his try-out it was that little maneuver. However, she still couldn't shake the feeling that things had the potential to go extremely wrong. Especially since he had yet to tackle the challenge throw.
Ron deflected the third one easily whilst Hermione and Ginny held their breath for the next; fully aware that it'd either make or break his game. The quaffle soared towards the left goal hoop and Ron followed. He's not going to make it, Hermione thought, but the next minute Ron seemed to have found some hidden strength from somewhere as he urged the broom forwards and managed to hit the quaffle full on, blocking the goal.
This time the two girls couldn't contain their cheers. Ron looked towards them and his face lit up when he saw hers smiling down at him. He winked at her as Madam Hooch was getting ready to throw for the final time, and despite the fact that they'd been dating for a long while now, the gesture still managed to make her blush. Ginny rolled her eyes and muttered something about Hermione being barmy for finding her sod of a brother attractive. Hermione couldn't agree more.
The last quaffle was both thrown and blocked all within a matter of seconds. Ron had done it. Having saved the most goals, he had secured the position of Gryffindor keeper and Hermione couldn't have been more proud. She watched as he shook hands with the other two people who had tried out, a self-satisfied smile on his face.
"Well, I'd best be down there now. Wish me luck!"
Hermione blushed, realising she'd been way out of it, thinking of Ron. "Good luck! Not that you'll need it of course!"
Ginny winked at her before disappearing down the stairs, "You know it."
A few minutes after Ginny had left, Hermione was just ready to move to find Ron when he came sauntering up the stairs, half-grin already playing on his lips.
"Ron!" she cried, running at him and flinging her arms around his neck as he picked her up and spun her around. With her feet planted firmly back on the ground, she stood up on tiptoe to reach his mouth, "You were amazing," she whispered before leaning in to kiss him.
"Well... I wouldn't say amazing but... I was pretty good, wasn't I?" he said when she pulled back, giving her a sheepish grin.
"You were." She confirmed with a happy smile, glad that he could see the outstanding performance he'd just given.
They watched for a while as Ginny flew with a level of expertise expected of a professional, red ponytail flying behind her like a trail of fire. The quaffle was passed between her and the other players at a lightning pace as she scored goal after goal after goal. To say they were slightly in awe of her performance was an understatement.
"She's better than I remember." remarked Ron, awestruck as his younger sister made a particularly hard dive to avoid a bludger and retrieve the quaffle from where another had dropped it.
"She practised last year and during the summer." Hermione informed him. Ginny had confided in her previously that quidditch was the only thing that made Hogwarts bearable last year, even if Gryffindor always lost due to Snape's unfair refereeing. She'd also spoke of how flying had been a release for her after Fred's death, but she wasn't in any haste to mention this to Ron.
"Yeah? Well, it shows- she's brilliant. And she doesn't have to worry about not making the team because- what?"
Hermione gave a start, and her eyes darted away from where they had been fixed on his lips. Cheeks immediately heating up at the embarassment of being caught staring, she tried to remember what they'd been talking about. She couldn't seem to stop thinking about their kiss minutes previously; and how she desperately craved more. She imagined his hands running through her hair, pulling her shirt over her head, dropping kisses down her neck...
"Hermione?"
"Oh, um, I was just wondering... Would you maybe want to go somewhere else? You know, somewhere where it's just us?" she tried to make her tone flirty, absolutely sure he knew her intentions. They could easily leave. Right now. Ron's part in the tryouts was over; he'd made the team and it was pretty clear Ginny was about to do the same. Besides, Hermione reasoned, Harry and Ginny will probably want some alone time too...
"You mean like..." Ron made a vague hand gesture, apparently too flustered for words. Hermione beamed knowing she had that effect on him, and although she had absolutely no idea what his hand gesture was supposed to represent, she nodded.
"You know, somewhere where I can give you a proper congratulations..." she trailed off suggestively and heard Ron audibly gulp.
Feeling a satisfactory thrill at his dumbfounded expression, she once again stood on tiptoe and gently nipped at his neck, eliciting the smallest of groans and a muttered "Bloody hell, Hermione."
Taking his use of profanity as a clear sign that he wanted her as much as she did him, Hermione grabbed the hand that was resting on her hip and led them both out of the stands. They raced through the castle grounds, along half a dozen corridors, and up many sets of stairs, before practically flinging themselves into the nearest available empty classroom and away from prying eyes. Ron's worries seemed to melt along with Hermione's anxieties as they lost themselves in the sweet, simple bliss of being together.
It had been hours since quidditch tryouts and their endeavour in the empty classroom, yet Ron was still intent on describing his every save in great detail to her. She would have made an excuse and gone to the library a while ago, but truth be told, she found his enthusiastic recounts terribly cute. Besides, everyone else had eventually got fed up and left- including Harry and Ginny (although Hermione had her own ideas about what they were getting up to.)
"Missing the first one really got me, see, and I was sure I was going to miss the second. Absolutely sure. But then- then I just thought 'sod it' and tried this dive thing that I'd seen the Canons do before, and it worked! I wasn't expecting it to, because it looked kind of hard, but what did I have to lose? I risked it and it paid off." All the while, he dotted his re-telling with little re-enactments and an abundance of hand gestures.
He sighed happily and slumped back in the armrest. "Now we just have to make sure we beat Slytherin in the upcoming match. I'll have to put in extra hours at training to make sure I can adjust to their chasers. We've got a good team set up, although 'm not too sure about one of the beaters, Jeff I think his name is. Harry chose him because he was the best there but..."
"I'm sure you'll play great against Slytherin and both beaters looked fine to me. Besides it's not the end of the world if you lose, Ron." He made a face that clearly said he disagreed. "I'm serious! Try not to stress about it, it'll be fine either way. It's not healthy to worry so much about a game." Hermione didn't want him to repeat the way he'd felt during fifth and sixth year. She thought that if she could reassure there wasn't any pressure, he wouldn't put so much on himself.
Ron was silent for a minute and then, "Are you saying all this because you think I'll lose us the game? And what- you want me to be prepared or something?"
She was momentarily stunned. "That's not what I said at all!" Hermione tried to stay calm, reminding herself it was probably just his own insecurities reflecting in how he interpreted her words of comfort.
"Really? Because it sure sounded like it." he responded grumpily, and Hermione was left wondering how things changed so dramatically from a few moments prior.
"Really? Maybe you need to get your ears checked then!" she bit back angrily, unable to resist snapping at him. "I don't think you'll lose the game, Ron. In fact, I think you're great at quidditch and I couldn't be more proud of you. I just don't want you to be too upset if Gryffindor do lose, because you tend to get overly worked up over quidditch, when in reality there's nothing to get worked up about!"
"Thanks Hermione, really. But you just don't understand."
She scowled, "I understand quidditch perfectly fine, I'll have you know. I just don't get why you have to obsess over wins and losses, it's just a game."
Ron ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Hermione felt briefly guilty for tearing him out of his good mood from becoming Gryffindor keeper, but it passed quickly as he began speaking again. "That's the thing though- you don't understand it! I know you can probably recite the rules and logistics off of the top of your head but that's not what I'm talking about. Quidditch is more than that, Hermione, there isn't some bloody test you can pass!"
"I'm aware it's not a test." she said scathingly, sure he'd just somehow insulted her intelligence, "That doesn't change the fact that you get overly worked up about it!"
Ron's indignation briefly rendered him speechless, before he stood and walked away from her, stopping at the other side of the room. Hermione stood there, shocked. It wasn't like Ron to back down from an argument. In all the years she'd known him, they would both yell at each other until they were blue in the face. Maybe this was a mark of her going too far. But she hadn't really done anything wrong, had she?
The common room was basically empty, save for a few first years, so Hermione had a clear view of Ron's tall form by the window. She debated following him, but her pride won out and she remained resolute. He would have to walk back to her. He'd have to at least walk past her to get to the dormitories and she wasn't moving.
But five minutes had passed and still Ron stayed at the opposite end of the room from Hermione, and she was becoming increasingly impatient. She was fully aware that her anger was irrational (not to mention somewhat petty); she was mad at him for being the bigger person and extricating himself from the argument before it became too heated, before one of them said something they'd later regret. He was over there calming down whilst she was just working herself up into more of a frenzy.
Hermione was stubborn. She knew the logical thing to do would be to go to bed and confront him later, or the next day even, as space would probably allow them to talk reasonably. But Hermione never did seem to be able to think logically around Ronald Weasley, something that was both a blessing and a curse. So she stayed put and eventually Ron turned around and began to walk back to her.
"Look," he said quickly when he approached, not allowing her to get a word in edgeways, "I reckon it's like you and studying, yeah? And, I'm not trying to say studying isn't good or anything- although honestly I don't know why you bother seeing as you're brilliant anyway- just that's like what quidditch is for me and Harry."
Hermione didn't miss a beat, "But studying is beneficial!" she retorted incredulously, failing to grasp how he could even begin to compare the two.
"So is quidditch." he countered easily. Hermione was speechless for a second as she registered at least some truth in those words.
"But it's not important!" she thundered, reasonably aware that she was reaching a level of anger close to hysteria.
"Not to you maybe." Ron said softly, stepping forward and gently taking both of her hands in his. She had half a mind to rip them out of his grasp and storm upstairs but she didn't. If he can be mature then so can I, she thought to herself, I will not be upstaged by Ron Weasley, of all people.
They stayed like that for a moment until Ron gestured towards the sofa and Hermione let herself be led to their favourite spot in front of the fire. She made a point of leaving a small space between them and felt a pang of guilt that quickly dissipated. Hermione was aware of how childish she was behaving, to some extent, and she was also aware that Ron's argument made a lot of sense. Even if she didn't want to admit it to him.
Something thick hung in the air between them, and she was well aware that Ron, at least, probably had more to say on the topic of quidditch. Their arguing had ceased, but the actual argument didn't feel over. She didn't know how it had turned out like this; all she wanted to do was make him see that his performance on the field wasn't everything. He was more than the amount of goals he saved in a game.
Hermione froze as the realisation hit her: that's what Ron was trying to say. Wasn't she the exact same with studying and test scores? How many times had he told her that she wasn't defined by her latest Charms mark? How many times had she shouted at him for it, complaining that it wasn't that simple? And wasn't that essentially what she was doing now?
To say that Hermione felt awful would have been an understatement. It wasn't easy for her to admit she'd been wrong, even to herself, but it was blatantly obvious now. Although she still didn't see the connection between studying and quidditch in terms of importance, she appreciated what he was trying to do by making the comparison.
Hermione sniffled in an attempt to stop the oncoming tears and Ron's head whipped towards her so fast she wouldn't have been surprised if it had fallen off. Startled to see the tears in her eyes, he wasted no time in pulling her into his arms. She simply let him and nestled into his neck.
"Shit Hermione. I didn't mean to make you cry, you know that right?" were the first words out of his mouth. This only served to make her sob harder, as it was her own fault tears were now spilling down her cheeks as if a dam had just been busted. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't want to upset you, love. It's just- well, I've grown up with my whole family being good at quidditch and as a kid there was a lot of... emphasis put on it. Bill was decent, Charlie was brilliant, Percy- well he's Percy, he doesn't really count. Fred and George were amazing, obviously, and Ginny- well you've seen her, reckon she could give half these professionals a run for their money." Ron turned his head down gently and placed a kiss against her forehead. "So, I don't know, I guess there was a lot to live up to and that's why quidditch means a lot to me. As for Harry too, being 'The Chosen One' one and all, I guess it was a good thing to help him forget all that, yeah?"
Hermione pulled her head up to rest it on his shoulder instead. Despite everything, he'd just apologised to her. She was obviously the one in the wrong, the one who'd gone too far, yet he was the one apologising. Hermione's resolve stiffened and she mumbled softly, "You're right."
She was almost offended at the taken-aback expression on his face. Almost. "And I'm sorry," she continued, "I.. I understand that quidditch is important to you. Really, I do. It's just- I just don't want you placing your entire self-worth on how good your quidditch abilities are. Or comparing yourself to other players, and your family, for that matter. Because you're so much more than that." she pulled away from his embrace and cupped his face in her small hands, looking straight into his suspiciously wet-looking blue eyes. "You're so much more than that Ron, and sometimes I just... I just hate how you can't see that. Especially when it's so obvious to the rest of us."
Ron gave a shaky sort of laugh and flashed her an awkward half-smile. "Thanks, Hermione. Really."
She leant in and ever so gently pressed her lips to his. Savouring the moment of their tender kiss, she closed her eyes and felt him do the same. Eventually they broke apart, and Hermione's hands went back to resting on his shoulders. "I love you," he whispered onto her lips before pulling away.
"I love you too, but we should probably head up to bed now." she whispered back. Ron pretended to pout at her and a soft giggle escaped her lips.
They rose from the couch and Hermione set off towards her dorm when something else occurred to her. She turned back to Ron just as he was heading up the boys' dormitories. "You called me 'love'." she said with a smile.
Ron turned around again, "I did? When?"
"When you were talking about your family and quidditch."
Brief recognition dawned in his eyes as he remembered. "Oh." he said sheepishly. "And did... Did you like that then?" Even in the semi-darkness of evening, she could see the tips of his ears turning red.
"I did." she replied softly, before turning back. "Well... Goodnight Ron."
"Goodnight, love."
A/N: I really like the second half of this chapter, okay? Hermione sometimes has trouble understanding things from other people's point of view. Her heart's (usually) in the right place, but once she thinks she's right it's practically impossible to convince her otherwise. I strongly believe Ron would help her overcome some of that (not all at once, since she clearly still has trouble understanding how something that's important to her isn't important to him but she accepts it for now) and in return she'd try to raise his awareness also. Maybe I should write a one shot or smth about this... Sorry I'm rambling.
Also, I'd like to add that although this story isn't necessarily plot based and one chapter doesn't lead into another, there are recurring themes/issues and everything happens in chronological order. Right now I'd say we're around mid October (Halloween chapter soon!) and I do plan on carrying this fic out until they leave Hogwarts for good.
One last thing: Sorry for the length of this one! It just happened. But I have something fun and fluffy for the next one so it won't be as long!
As always- thank you for reading and reviews are much appreciated!
