A/N: I survived the first week of school! A million more weeks to go... Besides that, you might realize how "short" this chapter is. Next chapter is going to be very eventful, so take this chapter as the calm before the storm per say. Again, thank you all for your support! Enough of me blabbering, let's get this chapter started. :)

Enjoy!

Chapter 12 ~ A Change of Ways

It had been nearly a week after they agreed to work on the taming process. Ron found himself going in circles, trying to let his wolf side out. Despite their efforts, the both of them were starting to feel troubled. In two weeks, they were going to be on holidays. Ron could sense the disappointment that bluntly radiated off from Hermione. Her hair would be frizzled to the point she looked like a lion.

"Why is your wolf as stubborn as you?" she inquired through gritted teeth as she wrote down her observations and possible ways to get it out

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Ron shrugged with a long face. "When we need it the most, it doesn't come out! What a cheeky little bastard."

"Language," the brunette growled out, her eyes never left her notes.

Ron apologized under his breath. He was trying his greatest to not put a lot of pressure on her. One of his biggest fear was to force Hermione into doing something she didn't want to do. He looked towards the grandfather clock, seeing it was already time for dinner.

"We should head to dinner," he turned back to Hermione.

"Not now, Ronald," she hissed back at him, frustrated that he broke her concentration.

"Hermione, please," he begged her. "You need to take a break."

"I said not now, Ron!" her voice got louder as she spoke each word.

Knowing his persuasion was futile, he huffed out, "Fine."

As he walked out, his inner demons started to prance around him as if they were mocking him.

What did I do wrong? that same question strangled him.

Ron hated it when they always included Hermione in the mix. Even after all of the times they've hangout, he knew it was too good to be true. To have the person who've you've dreamed of having a future with you actually be in love with you? He digressed. They were just... best friends.

"Ron!"

Ron turned around to see Harry's cheery face.

"Oh hi, Harry," Ron greeted him back.

Harry's expression then changed into a more quizzical look, "Where's Hermione?"

"She doesn't want to be bothered with," Ron snorted as they sat down at the Great Hall.

"Another row?"

"I guess," the redhead shrugged, taking a mouth full of his chicken drumstick.

Ron took notice of Harry's dreamy eyes towards the Ravenclaw's table, "Bloody hell, you started to look like Luna Lovegood for a second."

That seemed to snap Harry out of his trance by pouring himself pumpkin juice in his gauntlet, "It's just a bit complicated now - actually - a whole lot complicated."

"Girls are absolutely mental," Ron said while Harry nodded his head in agreement.

The youngest son of the Weasleys was about to take another bite from his drumstick only to be patted on the back by his twin brothers.

"'Ey there, Ickle Ronniekins!" they sang in unison.

Fred hung his arm around Ron's blazing neck, "Where's Miss Granger, dear brother?"

"Studying," Ron wanted to make himself straightforward, evidently not in the mood to talk about her.

His older brother took notice of his younger brother's tense shoulders, "Seems like it."

Ron thanked Merlin for being finally left in peace, but he should've known better. His ears were being packed with nothing but poison coming from the Slytherin's. He wasn't surprised to hear Malfoy being the shepherd of his idiotic herd. All he could hear only aggravated him even more.

"Why would Dumbledore let a dumbarse of a werewolf roam here? Though, have you seen him with Granger? The mutt's been following around her like a hopeless puppy!"

Don't let them get to you, Ron started biting down on his lower lip.

"I don't mind though," the pureblood fanatic continued on. "Weasley will sure gobble her up like a runt when he transforms. She's just an easy prey for that beast to feast on."

He couldn't take it anymore. Ron relaxed his hands, so he could reach out for a napkin, a ham sandwich, and a brownie. He wrapped it in record speed as he told Harry and his brothers that he would head to his dorm. He rushed out of there like he did those numerous times before in this year alone.

Bloody wanker thinks he can insult Hermione like that, his brows were furrowed with fury. What else could go wrong now?

First, he was yelled at by a bossy, studious Hermione, and now he didn't even get to finish his chicken because of Malfoy's infuriating remarks on his and Hermione's current relationship. He couldn't wait to be bombarded with rumors.

He looked down at the sandwich and brownie that was in the pocket of his robes. The food gave him hope in cheering Hermione up. Ron would, unsurprisingly, find her curling up in a coop of parchment papers that were filled from front to back of notes. He loafed at how his situation was affecting Hermione in a negative way.

They had tried getting his primal self out but to no avail. He could see right through Hermione's mask that hid her disappointment and frustration.

Ron despised being useless. Especially, if it came to failing Hermione again; it harmed him more than he realized.

Quidditch, now this, Ron scoffed to himself in self-mock. You really are worthless, Weasley.

When he entered the library, he walked up to their usual spot to see Hermione running her fingers through her even more untidy mane. As soon as he cleared his throat, Hermione's eyes darted up.

"Ronald, what do you want?" she hissed at him hotly. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

He grinned, hoping that maybe he could help her, so he took out the wrapped food, "I got you food, Hermione. Like I suggested, you should take a break."

"I don't have time for that," Hermione's eyes were narrowed into daggers. "I don't need your offer!"

"Hermione-"

"Ron," she breathed out his name with reluctance. "Please."

"No," his voice was fixed with assertiveness. "This isn't healthy, Hermione!"

She groaned out in difficulty, her stubbornness overtook her, "Ron, I'm trying to the best of my abilities to help you. I can't be distracted by any stale buffoonery."

Ron took a huge step towards her, looking straight into her ragged, brown eyes, "I know you are, but you shouldn't let yourself go absolutely mental - especially if it's about me!"

Hermione placed her book down for the first time in a while. He could see blatant bags under those brown orbs. Her hair was sticking out from every direction imaginable as her hands were cramped to its breaking point. He thanked Merlin for being able to at least have her full attention this time. Ron started to feel less doubtful than he did before, but he knew he was too early to make assumptions. His eyes lowered towards the food he brought for her.

"I care about so much, 'Mione," his ears turned a shade of scarlet. "Seeing you like this because of me… hurts. It fucking hurts." Ron cut her off by adding, "And it hurts even more because I can't seem to snap you out of it. I appreciate your help, but I won't allow you to throw away your health because of it."

With attentive hands, he placed her dinner on the table.

The Weasley turned on the spot to leave Hermione with her own remorseful filled thoughts.

- RWHG -

It was now the day before their final Dumbledore's Army meeting before they went on break. Ron sat there at the Gryffindor Commons all alone. Most of the 5th years and beyond were out while the rest had to go to their dormitory due to their shorter curfew. He looked out the stained glass window. His eyes caught themselves looking at the moon. He sighed at this, looking back at the fire.

He tried finding a way to get it, his other self, out of him, but he swore he tried almost everything. Ron figured that seeing Hermione in pain brought it out, but he wouldn't ever go to that route. He didn't want to cause any more trouble to her.

Speaking of Hermione, the both of them hadn't talked. They would look at each other with a smile, and then turn back to what they were doing. Ron shifted uncomfortably at the thought. He thought he'd become accustomed to their silence, but he was wrong.

His ears perked up to a faint whisper behind the portrait of the Fat Lady. It opened up to a disheveled Hermione whose hair was knotted into a tight bun. Their eyes met, panicking at what to say.

"Hey," Ron sheepishly greeted her.

She nodded back, "It's quite late, Ron. You should get some rest."

"Funny you say that," he scoffed at her, his eyes now looking outside towards the mix of dark hues. "I've been trying to tell you to take a bloody break, but I guess I'm not worthy to your standards."

"Ron, look," she now sat in front of her, blocking his view of the fireplace, "I didn't mean to leave us at an upset."

"Should've said that the chance it came from my mouth," his eyes finally met with her's. "Like I said, I care so fucking much about you, Hermione. I just-"

Ron forced himself to swallow, making his Adam's apple bob. His eyes lowered towards the maroon carpet beneath them. He always found it troublesome to let out how he truly felt. Doing it in front of someone he'd fallen head over heels over wasn't his ideal way of getting to know each other even more if that was even possible at this point.

He took a deep breath, "I hate when you're hurt before of me - knowing that I caused. When you fought back, it felt even worse. I felt like I was doing something wrong."

"Ron, it's not your fault," she walked over, sitting next to him. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

His eyes softened at her big, brown eyes. The way they twinkled under the moonlight had butterflies fluttering around his abyss of a stomach. He placed his colossal hand over her small one. They looked at each other - blue to brown and brown to blue. He couldn't stop himself from counting the few specks of freckles Hermione had near her button nose or imagining her soft-looking lips pressed against his.

He felt a new sensation course through his very veins. His mind went a little foggy, but the fog didn't make him black out this time. Instead, he knew he was in control of his mind and body, but there was another presence with him.

"Hermione," his voice had taken a lower octave, making Hermione jump from their serene moment.

She squirmed under his gaze, "R-Ron, are you still there?"

His head tilted in perplexity, "Scared?"

"Y-your eyes!" she pointed out, still unsure of what was going on. "It's a m-mix of blue and yellow!"

Ron closed his eye, trying to clear the clouds that managed to camp there. His hands were clasped on his thighs as his brows were furrowed to its limit. When he felt himself becoming lost in his own concentration, he felt a familiar warmth spread throughout his chest to the rest of his body. His panicked eyes met with Hermione's welcoming ones.

"Ron, it's okay," her words came out like a whisper. "You're doing brilliantly."

"Brilliant?" he gulped the blockage in his throat.

"Yes," her hands cupped his freckled cheek. "Deep breaths, Ron. It's going to be okay."

He leaned his whole body towards her touch, basking in familiarity. Ron took her advice in taking deep breaths which helped relieve his internal struggle. He could feel himself resurfacing back to normal to Hermione. He didn't want to open his eyes to meet her worrisome brown eyes that were filled with love… at least in his mind. Instead, he wanted to stay there under her palm in complete solitude.

Because he didn't want to make things awkward for them, he finally opened his eyes to a pair of glimmering orbs that looked at him with intense intent. Her touch left his cheek, leaving him a bit disappointed, but he understood.

"I-I didn't harm you, did I?" he croaked out in fear. He wanted to make sure what he saw was real.

She gave him a genuine smile, "You'd never, Ron."

They didn't know how long they sat there in silence bu themselves in the Commons, but they cherished every moment they would catch each other glancing at one another. It was to the point that they turned into tomatoes. Ron's eyes went from the dying out fire to the window again. He felt himself becoming dizzy from looking from Hermione to the fireplace, then to the window, and repeat. His eyes couldn't stop looking at the moon even though it made him queasy m. There it was illuminating over the vast grounds of Hogwarts, mocking him at the same time.

He checked in with the Astronomy professor to confirm when the full moon would come; they predicted by next week. Ron liked to brag about how he managed to stop himself from transforming so far, but he had this gut-churning feel that something would go wrong. It all seemed too good to be true.

Speaking of the full moon, he couldn't stop his ears from picking up gossips about him. His name calling ranged from dog, mutt, monster, and more. He was surprised that Umbridge hadn't jump on him, but he knew for a fact that he was thinking too soon.

Ron could care less about that because his mind was overwhelmed with the same fear he had ever since he was infected. The same fear that would never go away no matter how hard he pushed it back with brute force. It was like a never-ending boomerang of conflict.

He decided to break the silence, "Hermione?"

"Yes, Ron?" her eyes met with his again.

"I-I've got a question," he rubbed the back of his freckled neck.

She sat up straight, "What is it?"

His doubt seemed to overcloud his judgment. What if Hermione thought it was a stupid question?

Do it.

His eyes widened a bit. Was his other side encouraging him?

Stop being a coward.

Good, I thought you were a completely different person, he teased it.

Just do it.

"What if one day, I transformed?" he started with an uncertain voice.

Her eyes bore into his timid cerulean eyes, "I'd be there for you of course."

"You wouldn't run away?" he inquired, still unsure about her response.

"Ron, I care for you as much as you care for me because I l-" the brunette's eyes started to shy away as her face started to become a pigmented red hue, "you're one of the greatest things that have happened in my life."

He gave her an apprehensive smile, "But what if I become something I'm not?"

"I doubt you well, but if you do," she held his larger hands into her smaller ones, "I know you'd find your way back."

Ron gave her his broadest lopsided grin, "Am I really that spectacular?"

"In more ways than you can imagine," her voice was barely audible as her blush became more evident by the second.

Ron took her by surprise with his embrace; she hugged back after a few seconds of snapping out of her trance. He held her close to him, feeling the smile against his strong chest. It was moments like these in where he wanted to be bathed in for as long as he lived.

While he was being blessed with the affection from her, evil was right around the corner.

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed your dose of Romione! See you next Sunday, and I hope you have a great day. :)