Chapter 10:
Hurt
Hermione and Ginny sneaked back into the common room. It was mostly empty except a few Gryffindor 3rd years playing Gobstones. Hermione turned to Ginny, "Where do you think Harry and Ron are?"
"I have no idea," Ginny admitted, "I'm going to guess they are outside playing Quidditch or sleeping."
"I don't think they are doing either," Hermione said slowly, "We have to talk to Ron. And not just me! Both of us have to do it."
"Wasn't there a DA meeting?" Ginny remembered.
"Not yet," Hermione shook her head, "in an hour."
"Why don't we just do our homework for an hour," Ginny suggested.
"Good idea," Hermione sighed as she pulled her schoolbag off the floor. She took her favorite chair and Ginny took hers.
"Harry," Ron called, "I'm never going to get this."
"Yes you are," Harry said, "Just concentrate."
"Expecto Patronus!" Ron held out his wand but nothing happened.
"You aren't thinking about happiness," Harry crossed his arms over his chest.
Ron sighed and put his wand down, "I just can't Harry. When is the DA meeting?"
"Soon, that's why you and I are the first ones in here," he reminded him.
"Right, I'm just anxious," Ron admitted.
"Why?" Harry raised his eyebrow.
"Hermione of course," he said, "I'm not sure how I'm going to face her."
"Like you always do," Harry sighed.
The door opened suddenly to reveal Luna with Ernie and Cho.
"Hello Harry," Cho greeted, "Ron."
"Hello Cho," Ron greeted weakly.
"Cho, Luna, Ernie," Harry waved, "hello!"
"Have you two been practicing long?" Luna asked.
"Not really," Ron replied.
"We can try doing the expecto charm in the meanwhile," Harry said, "Everyone think about the happiest moment you can think of!"
The door opened again and Hannah came though. She looked around to see everyone starting. She came up to Harry and smiled, "Harry!"
She turned to see her running towards her, "Am I late?"
"No Hannah," Harry smiled, "Just think a happy thought"
"Right," Hannah smiled back, "I really love this, and I need to thank Hermione as well as you for this idea! It's not only helping me be a better witch but I'm not afraid of my O.W.L.S. anymore!"
Harry smiled, "No need Hannah."
Hannah went off to join Luna. The two waved their wands around trying to think a happy thought.
The door opened again. Fred and George stepped into the room followed by Dean and Seamus.
"Well," Fred said, "Looks like a lovely time to try to the Patronus charm!"
"Yes, quite right Fred," George agreed.
"Come on guys, come join us," Harry called them over.
Finally, Hermione and Ginny entered the room once everyone else had been there. Hermione took a deep breath. "Hello everyone," she waved.
Ginny came in behind her and held onto her wand tightly. Hermione had her wand in front of her body with one hand crossed over the other. "Trying to get the Patronus charm?" Hermione asked.
"Yes come in and both of you think about the happiest moment in your lives," Harry told them.
Hermione and Ginny faced each other. Luna had finally produced one and it was a hare hopping all over the room. Everyone in the room cheered and Luna smiled brightly. Ron had a spark at the end of his wand, but nothing came out still. Fred and George had a line of silver but nothing more. Hannah produced a badger. Ernie let out a boar and Cho a swan.
Ron grumbled under his breath. "Expecto Patronum!"
Finally, a Jack Russell Terrier came out of his wand and ran all over the room, knocking Seamus on his bottom. Seamus was in the middle of casting his spell and a jet of silver shot out of his wand. "Whoa!" he groaned as he landed.
"Sorry!" Ron blushed.
Hermione took a deep breath and thought, Ginny came into her head as she said, "Expecto Patronum!" An otter flew out of her wand and around her body. She smiled brightly as she followed it with her eyes.
Ginny watched with a grin. She took a deep breath now. She started to think about Hermione, Ron, Harry, Fred, George, her mom and dad. She closed her eyes, "Expecto Patronum!" A large Horse jumped out of her wand. "Whoa!" she called out surprised. It pranced all over the room. It was one of the biggest Patronums Harry had seen.
"Excellent!" he clapped. The end of the day was nearing and almost everyone had produced one. "I'm really happy about the results today! Come back tomorrow," Harry said brightly, "We should work with Stupefy again."
Hermione whispered something into Ginny's ear. She nodded and waited until the other students left the room. It was only Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione now in the room.
"Ron," Hermione started, "are you ok with everything that is happening?"
"Which of the two bad things that are happening, the dark lord coming back or you two dating each other?" Ron snorted.
"I guess you aren't," Hermione cleared her throat, "What is the big deal?"
"The big deal is I worry about Ginny no matter who she is dating male or female," he sighed, "And I care about you too."
"If you cared about me, you would let me make my own choices," Ginny spoke up.
"You're too young to date Ginny," Ron sighed.
"Too young?" Ginny yelled, "I am always too young for everything!"
Hermione sighed, "Calm down. I didn't want this to turn into an argument."
"Why are you two dating anyway?" Ron asked.
"Because we like each other, that's why!" Ginny answered.
"Why else would you date someone," Hermione added sarcastically.
"I just don't get it," he admitted, "I thought you two were just best mates. Tell each other everything in a friendly manner, but I didn't think there was a sexual thing between you two!"
"What does it matter Ron?" Harry asked, "Is the problem that they are two girls? That one happens to be your sister?"
"Piss off," Ron stalked out of the room.
"He annoys me so much!" Hermione stomped her foot, "Thank you Harry for being the only person in this castle to understand!"
Ginny smiled at Harry, "I didn't know you understood that much Harry. I mean, I knew you were ok with it, but to stand up for us?"
"You are standing up for me and you two have always been there for me," he said with a smile, "I just wish Ron would see that we are there for him too."
"I know, he just hurts me so much," Hermione sighed, "And I don't think he sees it." Harry, Hermione and Ginny left the room and started their way to the common room. Ron, however, was already making his way inside. Once inside, he saw Lavender on the couch doing her homework.
"Hello Ron," she greeted, "Out of the room late again I see."
"What does it matter to you," he shot. He was in a bad mood obviously.
"Nothing, do you have to be such a wanker," she groaned.
"What? I just had a bad night and seeing you doesn't make it better!"
"You should get over Granger. She's a muff muncher now anyway. You need a real woman in your life."
"Excuse me?" Ron's eyes were huge with disbelief. Lavender laughed. She got up and made her way to Ron. She pulled her body close to his and wrapped her long arms around his shoulders letting them rest on his back. "Come on, don't you like me at all?"
Ron didn't know what to say or do. He froze. If Hermione could be with his sister then why couldn't Ron be with Lavender?
"I, I guess I do."
"Good," Lavender leaned in and kissed Ron on the lips slowly. At that moment the portrait hole opened up and Hermione was the first inside.
"Ronald? Lavender?" she shrieked.
"Oh come on Ron! You can do better then her!"
Ron stopped kissing Lavender and turned around, "I can be with whoever I want!" Ginny nearly lost her dinner. "Oh Ron," she laughed, "Of all people, you pick this bitch?"
"And of all people, Ginny, you pick that mudblood? You couldn't pick a male mudblood at least?" Lavender barked.
"At least Hermione qualifies as a person," she spat back.
"Enough!" Hermione sighed, "do what you want Ron but I don't want to hear you moaning and complaining about me and Ginny again." Hermione grabbed Ginny's hand and led her to the girl dorms. Harry stood with his mouth open.
"Well, I think I'm going to bed," he said. He walked off to the boy's dorms. Ron sighed.
"Don't worry about them," Lavender said, "you need new friends anyway."
Ron narrowed his eyes, "I don't." He let go of Lavender and walked away to the boy's dorm leaving Lavender in the common room by herself.
Lavender smiled, "you'll be back Ronald."