Chapter Nine: Ronald's Wishes
Hermione was walking through the corridors to hopefully catch Ginny coming out of a room or heading to the Great Hall. It had been a while since she had last talked 'girl-talk' with Ginny and she had a bit more to talk about. She was heading through corridor leading to the Ravenclaw dorms when she heard a noise coming from ahead of her.
She stopped quickly, and considering the danger she could be in, she cast a non-verbal disillusionment charm on herself to ensure a little protection. She stood behind a statue of some 12th century knight and prepared herself to be attacked.
She heard some more shuffling and then what she thought to be giggles. She straightened up and listened intently to what she thought to be two distinct voices. She was readjusting when her bracelet broke and shattered beads across the hallway. She stood still and listened as one person went in the opposite direction and another came heading her way.
The corridor had minimal lighting and the person heading her direction had their wand alighted so she figured they probably aren't trying to be stealthy to hurt. She dropped the spell she cast on herself and watched as a tall boy with bright red hair approached her.
"Hermione! What are you doing here?" Ron asked seemingly abashed as his ears were now the color of tomatoes.
"I was looking for Ginny when my bracelet broke. Am I not allowed to come down here?" She huffed indignantly.
"Well, I thought you would be a little more careful. You know: 'travel in pairs', 'constant vigilance'. Besides, I never said you weren't allowed to do anything."
"Where did your pair go?"
"Look, I didn't mean to offend you. I've wanted to talk to you about something."
"Well?" She was frustrated with Ron, yet curious.
"You think we could go somewhere more private?"
"You mean behind that gargoyle down the corridor that you and your 'pair' were at a minute ago?" Ron's ears went red yet again, this time worse.
"No, there's an empty classroom right here."
"I know there is. That's the Ancient Runes classroom and I bet the only reason why you know it exists is because you snogged with someone here."
"Just come in, Hermione." Ron led her through the doorway and she followed reluctantly.
"Now, what is it we need to talk about?"
"Have a seat." He pulled a chair out for her and she sat down. "Well, I wanted to talk about our relationship."
"Oh, really! Uhm... do you mean the one you threw away!" She snapped sarcastically.
"Yes. I also mean the one I am sorry about." Hermione looked taken aback. "I took you for granted, but some part of me is happy we didn't work out." Hermione's chin dropped and she stared at him in disbelief.
"Not good enough for you, was I?" She stood from her seat angrily. "Hard one to please aren't you?"
"I didn't mean it that way, Hermione. Please hear me out." He gently grabbed her hands and pulled her down slightly. The only reason why she stayed was because she still wanted to be his friend.
"Will you get it over with?" She sat down and although she appeared not to be listening, she heard every word.
"Well, the thing is, I would have held you back. I can be a great friend to you, Hermione, but as your boyfriend, I will constrict you. I also believe that what we had wasn't the kind of relationship that could last very long at all. But although we failed, I want to be your best friend, just like before."
"Okay. Friends." Hermione stuck her hand out in a silent indifference.
"Hermione."
"What Ron?" She took her hand back. "Am I supposed to go back to normal and think of our relationship as some crude experiment that failed, and start over?"
"Yeah. That's kinda what I had in mind."
"Easier said than done."
"I'm sorry, Hermione." He stood from his chair and helped her out of her own.
"I'll try Ron." He reached forward and grabbed Hermione. He held her in one of the world famous 'Weasley' hugs. She felt the wind escape her lungs, as well as some of the anger she was feeling toward Ron.
"Later. Ginny is down at the Pitch." Hermione watched as he left the room and later was angry by missing Ginny. She checked her watch and saw that it was quarter to eleven and headed towards the great hall to meet Harry.
Harry was at the Great Hall early, eating a treacle tart when Hermione walked in. She was usually always cheerful but today she had an extra spring in her step. He smiled at her as she sat down next to him at one of the overly large tables.
"Ready for a day full of research?" She asked merrily.
"Yeah. I made a few notes of my lessons with Dumbledore. Did you get to chat with Ginny?"
"No." She thought of a goblet of pumpkin juice and it magically appeared before her. "She was out at the pitch before I could get to her. I did however run into Ron."
"And how did that go?" He guzzled down some pumpkin juice in a manly manner, but not piggishly.
"Well, he told me that he was happy we didn't work out. I thought that it was because I wasn't good enough for him, but he told me otherwise." She took a more feminine sip of pumpkin juice. "You know how it is: 'It's not you, it's me'." Harry grunted slightly as he swallowed another bite of treacle tart. "I can't believe that happened to me." She pondered for another few minutes.
"He might have truly meant it."
"He still wants to be my friend and that is a step I suppose. He probably already has another girlfriend. I saw him sneaking around in the Ravenclaw corridor with someone."
"At least you know he isn't getting a girlfriend to hurt you."
"How so?" Harry was stunned at first by having Hermione ask him a question but it didn't show.
"Well, he was hiding it. You said he was sneaking, right?"
"Yeah."
"If he wanted to hurt you, he would snog where he knows you would see him."
"I guess you are right. I don't know. Ron's strange like that."
"Are you over him?" Harry asked daringly.
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked as though she was caught off guard.
"Never mind." Harry felt relieved that she didn't hear him until she answered.
"Yeah, Harry... I think I'm over him." She smiled and took another sip of pumpkin juice. "Are you ready to check out the teachers' library?" Harry tried to finish his pumpkin juice and Hermione just smiled.
"Old habits die hard."
"You can't help that they keep refilling." They both stood from their seats and walked up to the headmistress's office.
