Anam Cara - - (Soul Mate)
Alternate Universe (AU) Does not follow established cannon.
Rated MA – mature audiences
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Chapter 14 – poaching another bloke's bird
88**88 - from last time -
"You never fancied Lavender … did you?" she asked.
"Not like you fancy Harry or to a lesser extent – Viktor."
"I told you … Harry was a one sided infatuation."
"…and Krum"
"Viktor never got anywhere close to what you did to me last night.
"But your response in my room – it wasn't out of a genuine desire for me – the medallion forced-you to have sex with me – it could have triggered on anyone - – or so you said", Ron declared sadly.
88** and now on with the show/chapter 88**
*** Billybob note: I not employing first person all the way through this one. Instead I'm switching back and forth. I know the English majors are shaking their heads in disgust … but this is me all over (:-P).
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Let's start with HJG POV
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I nodded my head (in agreement) to what Ron had said … agreeing at last to that *last-bit* as if acknowledging an uncomfortable truth. I saw Ron's whole body diminish … (shrink unto it-self), because sometimes the raw truth hurts … loads
"I've said a-lot of silly things recently … for example:" - Hermione suddenly said while grabbing his arm to prevent a deeply depressed Ron's pain-filled retreat … he continued to back up, but my hold on him slowed his progress. Ron looked at me with sadness before finally turned around once more and began to ramble away from me down the hallway; suddenly Hermione didn't care about the class I was late for. "I also told you that I loved Harry." Hermione explained. "The medallion has clearly messed with our minds". - -
"I've said and done a-lot of insane things before events_ 'got going' _between us last night, but afterwards … as the sun came up - - well; I mean … honestly; my entire world changed dramatically in the last twenty-four hours and I awoke this morning with an entirely new outlook on life. - The medallion started it without doubt – and compelled me to seek you out. - - Try to understand this – a spell - caused most of what I did … *but not all* … you did the rest. You brought me to orgasm – more than once, I never felt anything that intense before".
"Me - I did that?" Ron said meekly - stopping short of the moving stairs
I nodded timidly, clearly embarrassed at my admission, my cheeks bright red. Poor Ron was dumbstruck. And then the implications fell into place, as it slowly dawned on him what I was saying; that he was a good f*ck – in spite of it being his first time. That I had actually enjoyed what we had done (no doubt about it). - - A cheeky grin slowly spread quickly across his face and I could easily predict in my mind what he was thinking: "maybe I'm not total rubbish at everything".
His self image sucked; there was no way around it. Hand me downs had a-lot to do with it … I'm sure, but things started to turn around for him when he got on the Quidditch team (I hate that dangerous and violent sport … just saying) and yes … I helped him get the position (don't tell anyone). When he started out: - he was … lousy … okay. But he got better, loads better. By the end of that term, NO_ONE could score on him and I mean NO-ONE!
Just a few minutes ago, he had been so insanely jealous of Harry getting 'there' first … but somehow I just knew … that he had found great comfort in the thought that (maybe) he was better in the sack than Harry. – Personally I didn't know, if Harry was good or bad, for I hadn't had sex with him … (yet) _but just the possibly; had made Ron's self confidence unexpectedly soar. (Men and their fragile *ego's* … idiots)
"I did 'good', huh? - Glad to hear it, but tell me", Ron said in an upbeat tone. "Was it as good as your hottest night-time fantasies? - It was for me."
He closed in on me, pressing me back into the wall niche, right next to the statue of the northern: 'Ginda'. And although I scowled at him, he knew it was just a formality. Ron could hear my breathing go shallow … could somehow feel the desire I now felt for him. But when I answered his question, that's when Ron came close to losing it entirely.
"And more," I whispered in a surprisingly husky tone.
A moment later and a glance downward I said to my-self: 'Oh God! He's hard again'. How could just two words (of mine) affect him like that? - He must never know how much, just his close proximity; brings out the wanton witch buried so deep inside me. I had thought that if the trap compelled sex, and we had indeed had sex … oh sweet Maeve … we had deliciously wonderful sex. - But with its mission to make us have sex …complete, why didn't the compulsion … fade; get weaker or just plain _ stop? - Some Love potions stopped cold after the first kiss, and Ron and I did a lot more than … just kiss.
"Do you have any idea how much I want to make love to you right now?" He said to me.
"I have a vague idea, yes," I responded coyly, with just a tiny-touch of renewed lust of my own.
Ron leaned in, brushing his lips with mine ever so lightly. The kiss was chaste and yet even the lightest touch of his lips against mine, made me burn. I instantly wanted so much more, but I franticly fought the impulse, even when Ron moved to deepen the kiss. Thank Merlin … I was saved from having forbidden sex in the hallway, when we both heard a voice coming down the hall. - - I pushed him away abruptly and instinctively we quickly broke apart, stepping away from each other and trying our hardest to NOT look too guilty.
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Ron POV
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"Hermione - there you are! - I've been looking everywhere for you. - It's odd really; I looked down this hallway twice already and all I saw was a light blue haze on the north wall. I swear the hallway was empty, and then I looked again, one last time and you just appeared out of thin air. " Ernie Macmillan (Ernest) wheezed, like he'd been running. Ernie; the puff – Prefect, was in a-lot of Hermione's_ NEWT's classes_ and only a step or two away when he finally seemed to just notice that I was there as well. - -
"Oh; hallo … Ronald, aren't you supposed to be in London right now?" - He asked and then promptly turned back to Hermione, while totally ignoring me.
Ron narrowed his eyes as I said to my-self: 'did the little prat want to die? - Didn't he realize he'd interrupted something important?'
"What can I do for you, Ernie?" Hermione asked.
"I've been looking for you." the puff said.
"You said that already," I interjected deadpanned.
When Ernie glared back at me… I pulled my-self to my full height, which was quite imposing, as I was now the tallest of the Weasley clan. - Years of vigorous Quidditch training had ensured that I was in the peak of athletic shape. - Macmillan, as the classic male Puff was a bit on the short, plump /overly nourished side, with his slightly overweight body frame kind-of shrinking slightly at my imposing stance … though I had to give the Hufflepuff credit for growing a pair and not running away. - Or perhaps that was just stupidity. Hufflepuff's were a hard-working lot, kindhearted and loyal to a fault - but not the brightest wands in the bunch.
"As I was saying; I was wondering if you could help me, Hermione. This last Arithmancy problem is not co-operating with me. Perhaps you could explain where I'm going wrong?"
I snorted under my breath… "Right-then", - If Macmillan really wanted help with his homework, then I was a giant spider. - I had always suspected that, like my-self… the little wanker had fancied Hermione, and now that it was their last year at Hogwarts. - Ernie like a-lot of other shy boys was finally finding the courage to make a move on their favorite birds, before graduation sent us all off in different directions. – But I didn't appreciate Ernie trying to make a move on this particular girl – especially right in front of me.
"Of course, - Ernie; - When and where do you want to solve this particular dilemma?"
"I was thinking right now - I heard the school wide announcement a-little while ago … that all classes today were canceled due to the Professor's having an emergency meeting about Gods know what. – As I left my books in the Great Hall. Shall we go there?"
Hermione nodded, and Ernie beamed. Ron's anger simmered. But, I was stopped short of pounding Macmillan into the ground – by a single thought - that just abruptly appeared in my mind.
'This discussion isn't over by a long shot - - we will talk later … count on it. By-the-way … I think - I might be falling in love with you'.
And with that single thought, unintentionally transmitted telepathically … shocked to no end and completely disarmed a gob smacked Ronald Weasley.
"Ron?" she asked looking puzzled while not realizing what she had done, while gesturing towards the Great Hall.
"You two go ahead. I've got to floo to work", I said still too stunned to move,
"All right. I'll see you at the Gryffindor table, for dinner" she said trying to defuse the tension
"Yes … I'll see you at_ our _usual spot at the Gryffindor table", I replied emphasizing in particular one word
A small, beautiful smile graced Hermione's lips, it was a smile that I eagerly returned, and a smile that caused Ernie's own to falter. - It was a proud smile on her face; because I bet she felt swollen with pride, that I hadn't pummeled Ernie- although I was still greatly tempted. Jealousy over any bloke with Hermione had always been my greatest weakness – fueled by my insecurities as much as my desires for her.
So without another word, Ron turned on the spot and left a mildly surprised Hermione behind, with a romantic poacher _and five minutes later I was almost at the floo point; which would take me to London and my apprenticeship (I was very-very late now) when an owl appeared over my head and dropped a letter into my open hands. I recognized my master's handwriting on the envelope and quickly tore it open. The note inside read:
Ronald
Had to leave town to attend to my sick mother in Canada, won't be back for at minimum a fortnight to as long as a month. We are overstocked at the moment so that's not a problem. Stay at Hogwarts as much as you can, although pop by the shop daily to get the mail and feed my cat.
Sincerely: Jonathan Veselkin **
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"Bloody-Hell", I said to my-self, a minimum of fourteen days with almost nothing to do. I would open the mail of course, separate the Bills from the catalog orders which I would fill from available stock, (ninety nine percent of the shops business was though catalog sales) then I would pay the bills while I did the banking (I had access to the business vault … fancy that) and then have lunch at the 'Leaky Cauldron' or the 'Prancing Pony' before returning to Hogwarts around two P.M. – My master wasn't going to allow me to do any work on my own, not without Jonathan's direct oversight, because my apprenticeship with him was barely four months old.
But overall; this situation left me with two much time on my hands. - My trade career was now officially on hold, with my personal life after last night … confusing - with everything vastly different somehow. – The medallion was still enchanted_ and was still doing its magic on the two of us and while the spell lasted, I would continue to walk the halls on egg shells – in the simple hope of another night, like the previous one. –
That thought was a real stunner … one night of passion had left me … complete and feeling more clear-headed than ever before. - I now knew what the missing part of me was (the identity of my locker room shower …dream girl) and it was just my rotten Weasley luck that my greatest emotional need was mostly in love with_ 'the boy who lived'.
I shook my head sadly at that fact, leaving me with the one thing that confused me the most … how had her cheering_ 'thought'_ just appeared in my head? - Was it from my own imagination or had she actually said it telepathically, without it being spoken out-loud. With my master off to Canada I no longer needed to rush to London so I went off in the opposite direction comforted by the thought that I could pound Ernie into the ground anytime … whenever Hermione wasn't watching. - -
She would naturally disapprove of me teaching Macmillan a lesson in Wizardly dating etiquette. But to tell the truth _and being Muggleborn; Hermione really didn't have much hands-on experience in the magical dating traditions and customs of Great Britain. - A bloke just didn't make a move on another bloke's witch without consequences. - -
Of course it had to be openly conceded; that while everyone still thought of Hermione as Harry's number-one girl – it was also common knowledge that Harry was semi-dating my sister … too. I wasn't stupid; I knew that some people went-in for a OPEN relationship, where the bloke/bird sees/dates several birds/blokes at the same time. But honestly … just the thought of dating multiple birds at the same time makes my head ache. How do you keep the names straight? –
Anyway: a bloke doing two birds at the same time isn't unheard (My brother Bill was an expert juggler of women … and I actually confirmed his boasting) but to the rest of us mere mortals open dating was unthinkable … and dangerous. But then-again, I wasn't the Chosen-One.
Another bit of magical dating etiquette, that my two best friends were total clueless about (and yes … I told both of them repeatedly) is that most witches and wizards in their seventh year were very territorial (Hermione hated this bit) the way my dad put it what separated magical folk from the Muggle's was our tendency to fight over our mates. Literally fight. My best mate is a great guy but he's never been proactive about physically defending a bird he Fancies; Hermione; for example. When we were all a-lot younger, no-one made a big deal about me jumping to her defense. - But now that we were in the hook-up year(our seventh) I found my-self very unsure as to exactly who's girl; Hermione was … at that precise moment. -
However: Ernie on some level … had to have realized that_ 'poaching'_ on Harry's romantic property, was a ruddy dangerous thing to do – especially when easygoing Ron was around to smash into the ground anyone who tried to insult (Malfoy) or steal a girl from … Harry? - It was my duty as the enforcer within the trio; to physically protect my two friends (and potential lovers), whether or not they were …a couple.
Things of this nature had_ 'all of a sudden' _ gotten really complicated for a-lot of people, especially me, after last night – and until I had a long and very private chat with Hermione to sort-out the 'ongoing' medallion problem - I would put Ernie's dating etiquette education on hold … for now.
With that issue 'tabled' for the moment - I then made my way to the east tower where the trades' classes were taught: small business management, bookkeeping, inventory control and accounts payable/receivable. The very trade classes that Fred and George had skipped-out on when they had left Hogwarts prematurely.
I had half-hoped to sit in on the accounts payable/ receivable class as a refresher; because my masters books were a mess (my twin brother's too), only to be disappointed when I found a note posted on the door "CLASSES CANCELED" and after shaking my head over a wasted trip (but honestly; I did have to check if Ernie's NEWT's classes announcement, effected trades) - with my duty done; Ron headed back up to the Great Hall (I was starving … alright) pausing at the doorway I watched Hermione sitting next to Ernie at the Huffelpuff table, with their heads buried in a pair of textbooks. –
I made no overt move to interrupt Ernie, as the boy was enthusiastically chatting-up … Hermione. Naturally …she was ignoring his *suave* romantic moves (laughable) while oblivious to the fact, that Ernie was giving little to next to zero thought …to the Arithmancy homework problem laid-out at the table before them.
After five minutes of watching Ernie make his pathetic pitch from the entrance doors, I finally made my own way into the sparsely filled Great Hall, while noticing for the first time - that small number of other 'mixed-couples' from different houses … had come to the mid-morning sanctuary of the neutral territory aspect of the Great Hall …to meet semi-clandestinely.
Sitting down at my usual spot at the Gryffindor table, I 'ever so politely' asked the wooden table in front of me for a cuppa of- 'Earl-grey' -and a bit of jam/toast. - I had deliberately sat with my back to Ernie so my 'instinctive' jealousy wouldn't flare up by any purely innocent body language that Hermione made in the direction of the Puff. But even with my back turned, I could somehow- 'feel' -just how frustrated she felt with Ernie … having interrupted their chat in the hallway for a problem that he apparently … already knew the answer for.
I also sensed that she was just as interested in- 'clearing the air' -as I was. Unfortunately, she was much too polite to tell Ernie to go jump in the lake. I, on the other hand, would have been quite happy to throw him in – but I refrained. - Hermione had proven to be a calming influence on my Weasley temper over the years_ and that unnerved me… a-tad.
It all began with the whole 'Prefect' thing and my good behavior while wearing that badge (which I had done primarily for her sake) and by being a good lad …to please her, I had ruined my family's long established prankster reputation in regards to me. In fact I'd given up on pranking – entirely - because Hermione disapproved of the entire concept. She never pranked anyone – and to 'once again' please her – my Weasley reputation as a prankster had rapidly gone downhill from there.
Well… 'To tell the truth' - I'd never been much of a bad boy. - I did, however, enjoy a bit of rule breaking now and then – being the best mate with Harry … how could I avoid it? – Now a-days I guess Ginny is the primary *ginger* rule breaker in Harry's entourage. As for me; sadly, as Head-boy - I considered my-self bloody lucky if I broke one rule a day. –
After all I had sacrificed during my fifth and sixth Hogwarts years … of no fun at all (again for her sake) - - I had foolishly taken-on the unexpectedly mucked-up Head-boy posting, with my master actually encouraging me by saying that all that extra responsibilities and popping about at six in the morning …*built charter*… a huge pile of rubbish if anyone was to ask my option (and no-body did … BTW) with the primary reasoning behind my decision 'once again'; my never ending, futile desire to help my best friends fulfill their dreams.
Thus; Harry got some ever so special- 'alone time' -after reuniting with my little sister in September; (she had wanted to get him since her first year _ and they both deserved a little happiness) …besides; it kept Harry's not so subtle _ stalker _at arm's-length, and I got loads of brownie points from my best mate for doing that.
Harry had bugged me loads - during sixth year, about Hermione_ 'driving him batty' _and how just the thought of being 'stuck alone' with her …for any long period of time, was becoming the source of many of his nightmares. - Keeping this brilliant bird distracted and unaware of what Harry was doing … was ruddy difficult for a bloke that she really hadn't acknowledged even existed (all that much … anyway).
Turning a blind eye to what my sister was doing in broom cupboards when she disappeared around the same time as his best mate Harry did; from either the common room or the Burrow, was probably the most thankless chore I'd ever done for them – Actually; helping Harry grope my little sister – (as sick as that sounds) made my best mates entire attitude change for the better with my little sister (last year) all but literally walking on clouds of happiness. Part of me, a big part actually, in spite of the potential danger was glad to see Ginny give Harry another go this year.
Yes … I actually thought my hot headed little sister could handle the deeply damaged Harry as she didn't cuddle him like Hermione did. It was tough love that my sister practiced as she told him off when he needed it. Ginny had a soft exterior but internally she was hard as steel (Like our MUM) and that undoubtedly had a positive influence on both of them.
Hermione had a good influence on me too … but Merlin on a bike - last night made up for all the bullocks that I'd gone through for her sake. - - I grinned as I thought about all the possible ways I could make love to the incorruptible Head Girl … if she would only let me.
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** Authors post chapter note: In Hollywood movies, produces often put "Easter eggs' in their pictures, little items that only appear on screen for a moment that connect the movie your are watching with another film (example) the Avengers – or Howard the duck appearing in *Guardians of the Galaxy*, being a grade 'A' schmuck, I have inserted a number of Eggs of my own in this tale.
Yes … it's a blatant plug for my other stories (so sue me)
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