Disclaimer: What would I be doing now without JK Rowling? The character of Susie used courtesy of Arabella.
A/N: Thank you soooo much to everyone for your reviews. This next part is now approximately halfway through the story (I've been writing like a madwoman all weekend) and I hope that it will make people happy. I'm not going to let Ron and Hermione off that easily though, they still have to have a few misunderstandings in order to make things right. I think this part is actually a bit unrealistic, but you guys out there - take note, this is how we wish you would act…
PART X: RON IN SHINING ARMOR
The town where Hermione lived was not very large, but there were a few interesting shops. Ron dragged Hermione into a store that sold records and CDs. The shop was filled wall to wall with music and at the end of the room was a block of listening stations.
Ron walked up to the clerk, who was a bit frightening looking with spiky, scarlet hair and several earrings and said, "I'm looking for something LOUD." Hermione rolled her eyes and strode off to read the magazines, while the smiling clerk led Ron to a section near the back and showed him how to use the CD Players.
The CD that the clerk had given to him was by a band called "Nirvana." The music was loud enough for Ron, and he was quite enjoying the sound as it came through the headphones. He wondered if Hermione might like to have a listen. He looked across the room and saw her engrossed in an issue of Rolling Stone, featuring an article about "Women in Music". She was standing on one side of a magazine rack. About a yard away from Ron were three girls who appeared to be laughing very hard over something. In the pause between songs, he heard one of them say "Hermione," and he turned down the music so that he could hear what else they were saying.
"I think you're right Andrea, that is Hermione Granger."
"I wonder if she still goes to that strange boarding school. Remember when she tried to scare us with a magic wand a few years ago? What a freak!"
At this point they all squealed with laughter.
"Well, I don't know that magic has improved her looks much," said the first girl, who was short, sandy-haired, and had teeth much worse than Hermione's had ever been.
The third girl nudged the first one and nodded towards Ron, who hadn't realized that he was staring. Quickly, he picked up the CD cover and pretended to study it intensely. He still had the volume turned down, but started nodding his head up and down as if he were listening to the music.
"Ooooh, he's cute, isn't he?" said one of them.
"Where'd he come from? Look how tall he is! He's gorgeous! Do you think he's visiting or has he moved here?" asked another.
"I just love ginger hair!" giggled the third.
"Susie, go ask him. I dare you to ask him where he's from."
"No! I can't! You ask him!"
"No! You!"
"Chicken!"
"Fine, I'll do it then."
Ron saw Hermione watching him from the magazine rack. He wondered if she could hear what the girls were saying. She was wearing the expression that she usually wore right before she would burst into tears. Susie was now standing behind Ron and a moment later he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Ron jerked round, the girls giggled.
"Hello there," said the girl Susie to Ron.
"Er, hello," he answered
"What's your name, then?"
"Ron"
"I'm Susie. Do you live here, Ron?"
"No, I'm from the south of England."
"What are you doing here then?"
"I'm, er, visiting my girlfriend."
He figured that would shut them up. He removed his earphones and glanced towards Hermione, whose eyes were now flashing angrily at Susie and her friends. Grinning, he said politely to Susie, "Well, nice to meet you," and he turned back towards the CD player. As he turned, he glanced towards Hermione and winked.
Susie went running back to her friends, giggling uncontrollably. "His name's Ron. He's from the south of England. He said he's here visiting his girlfriend. I wonder who it is…" Susie stopped as she noticed Hermione on the other side of the magazine stand looking at them. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Hermione Granger. Going to cast a spell on us?"
Hermione didn't say a word.
"What's the matter? Black cat got your tongue?" sneered Susie. Hermione finally looked ready to answer when Ron came up behind her. The three girls simultaneously gasped. With a confidence that he didn't know he had, and, as Hermone stared at him in astonishment, he placed his arm around her shoulder. He kissed her quickly on the cheek and said "There you are! Can you lend us some money then? I left mine at home and I really like this CD. It's very loud. Ladies," with that, Ron nodded towards the girls and steered Hermione around towards the cashier. Hermione paid the clerk in silence. Three sets of glaring eyes watched the two of them exit the shop.
When they were safely outside and a few shops away. Hermione stopped and turned to Ron. "What. Was. That?" she asked, shaking slightly. Ron shrugged. "I dunno, those lot are a bit like Slytherins aren't they? I heard them talking to you. Quite obnoxious bunch. I just figured it would be fun to give them something to talk about."
Hermione stared at him for a moment and Ron was very afraid that perhaps he'd gone too far. He thought she looked angry. To his relief, Hermione started laughing, "Well, thank you. I don't think I'll forget the look on their faces for a while. They're quite jealous. I heard them talking about you near the magazines. They were quite taken with the mysterious stranger. I guess there's not much else to do around here." Hermione collapsed onto a nearby bench, rolling with laughter.
Just then, the three girls exited the shop. Ron took Hermione's hand and pulled her up from the bench. "Come on then, calm down. I'm starving and I could use some fish and chips." Hermione rose from the bench and they walked together down the street, hand in hand.