I watched a tempest unfurl it's fury outside of the windows. Hermione was sitting next to me, using the light of the fire to study a Potions book that would help Ginny come out of her nightly nightmares. We were all hoping for her to get one night of good sleep, which wouldn't come for seven months, according to the open book now lying in Hermione's lap.
"Ginny has a game in a month, and she won't have enough sleep to give her strength," fretted Hermione. "This is the potion, I'm quite sure, that Harry asked for."
"Hermione," I said impatiently. "Stop worrying about it. You know that you will do everything to make sure that she sleeps, you will make the game, and she has Harry."
"Much to your dislike, Ronald," Hermione noted, flipping through the pages. "I never knew these potions existed."
"Are they Dark?" I asked, peering over her shoulder.
"No, but they do seem quite interesting," Hermione observed. "Like this potion that will make the person giggly. They must use that in some of Honeydukes' products."
"I'm sure that will cheer Harry up," I said tetchily. "He might even make Ginny laugh again."
"Oh, Ronald. You are so moody today," Hermione scowled.
"Oh, yes, and you slept last night after hearing Ginny's screams?" I asked. "Has your best mate slept with your sister to make her more comfortable lately, Hermione?"
"You are making mountains out of molehills, Ron. How do you think Harry feels me dating you?"
"Since when have we been dating?" The words tumbled out of my mouth in a hurry before I could realize what I was saying and stop them. I immediately tried to comfort Hermione, who looked on the brink of tears, but she pushed me away, snapped the book shut and stormed from the room; her face matched the storm outside.
"What was that about?" Harry asked, staring at the door. I was relieved to find him without Ginny.
"I said something I shouldn't have," I mumbled.
"She was a part of the agreement and cannot read for thirty minutes now that she was the one who left instead of asking you your problem," Harry said soothingly. "Shall I go make sure she doesn't?"
"If she asks if you sent me, tell her it was completely your own idea and Veritaserum could attest to that," I answered.
"Right," said Harry.
As I had nothing to do while Harry made sure Hermione did her penance and Ginny was asleep, I decided on eating a late lunch. I remembered back to Hermione's scoffing a few years ago when I wouldn't stop eating, and a twinge of pain came to me.
Yawning deeply, Ginny came into the room looking like she was about to slaughter a hippogriff. "What time is it?"
"It's about two-thirty. Sleep well?" I stared at her over my coffee cup.
"Too well. At least I got some sleep," Ginny said, accepting some fresh, elf-made onion soup. "Thanks, Kreacher."
"Yes, Mistress." Kreacher bowed low and retreated to get her some tea. Black, again.
"Did you have that dream last night?" I asked, staring at the dregs floating at the top.
"Yes, but I fell asleep at about five in the morning. Where are Harry and Hermione?" She yawned again.
"To the best of my knowledge, they are fighting again." This was the wrong thing to say to her; her face fell and she ladled a spoonful of hot soup, forgetting that it was hot, and sipped it loudly, only to spit it back up. "It's hot," I warned.
"I could never have guessed that."
I looked into my soup as Harry came into the kitchen and kissed Ginny good afternoon. Harry looked up to see if I was able to talk, but I didn't want to look up. "Ron, she kept her word about not reading. She'll be down here momentarily."
"What was she doing?"
"Crying like normal." Harry said it nonchalantly as though describing the hideous weather we had been having recently.
"I wish it would snow," Ginny said, staring at the Christmas tree that would remain in its position until January 6.
"Would you like it to snow inside?" Hermione asked tentatively from the door. It seemed a bit snappy, but she was all smiles as she came and sat down next to me. She kissed me on the cheek before accepting some soup. "Thank you, Kreacher," she cooed kindly.
"Like the new pact?" Ginny asked, gulping on some soup. Harry looked agitated, but said nothing.
"It's dreadful." Hermione wiped her eyes on my sleeve, but I didn't care.
"You've no choice now," Ginny tutted.
I lowered my tone as Harry and Ginny began to talk about Quidditch and said, "You know I don't mean what I said."
"Of course, Ronald," Hermione answered, buttering some bread Kreacher had just set on the table.
"You are. You used my full name."
"Ron, when do I not?"
"Just now. Why are you angry with me and yet you stay by my side?"
"I don't know, Ron." She leaned into my shoulder and sighed deeply. Harry gave me an odd look before turning back to talk to all three of us.
"You two are the oddest couple I've seen. You're worse than Mr. Filch and Madam Pince." As Ginny jeered, I could see a faint smile on her face.
"At least we're the same age," I sneered. "What about you and Harry?"
"A year, Ron," Ginny argued with unnatural calm. "I'm talking about twenty. This is beside the point. Why do you constantly argue with her and love her at the same time?"
"Because she's always helped me with homework…"
"More like did it for you." Ginny's sarcasm was flourishing again.
"It gave me a chance to think about something else, Ginny. I could think about something else and avoid confrontation."
"A wise decision, Hermione."
"Ginny, calm down," Harry ordered, taking her hand. He gave me a look as to say something to Hermione. I hopefully told him that she was more comfortable with him scolding her than me. After all, we had just gotten out of a fight. He sighed before adding, "Hermione, both Ron and I appreciated all the help you gave us immensely. We couldn't have passed our finals without you."
"You passed your finals. Oh, well, I thought that you hadn't." She sneered and finished her bread, filling up her mouth beyond ability.
"Hermione, what's troubling you?" It was Ginny in a consoling tone.
"I miss my parents. I miss the fun of being near death, there aren't any books to read that I haven't already read several times…"
"We'll all go to Diagon Alley tomorrow and shop. You will need more ingredients for the potion," Harry noted.
"I will have to start brewing it at school. Slughorn will surely let me have them. They are pretty common ingredients and I am his favorite. I also didn't use a book to help me."
"I still have to get that book…" Harry said thoughtfully, "now that's Snape's gone."
"Don't ask me to get it." Hermione stared at him viciously.
"I wouldn't dare," Harry answered, staring back at her. "Besides, I can get Neville or Luna to get it."
"You shall do no such thing, Harry."
"I'm still here because of it, Hermione. Isn't that a plus?"
"He should have…"
"Listened in our first Potions lesson. I did. I still have the notes if you wish to read them."
Hermione blushed furiously pink and finished the last of her soup. She furiously stood up and walked to the door. "We shall go at ten tomorrow. Ginny, you do not have to wake up tomorrow if you don't want to."
"I'll go," said Ginny brightly, but Hermione had gone through the door.
"Not if you're tired." Harry leaned in for a kiss, but I decided not to look away this time but rather say something.
"Oi! I'm trying to eat here. I can't do that with you snogging."
"Hypocrite! You snogging Lavender. What about that?"
"That was different," I whispered.
"Why did you insist on snogging her in public and then go back to scorning those who did?" Ginny was getting temperamental now, and Harry was trying to restrain her.
"You were the one who told me to get some experience," I exclaimed hotly.
"I didn't mean rolling around like eels. Especially with someone as stuck-up as her. Why didn't you just kiss Hermione? I know both of you would have loved it and wouldn't have ended up in a situation as it happened."
"Ginny, calm down." Harry's efforts proved insignificant.
"What about you? Snogging people in public and you don't care."
"I cleaned that up when I met Harry, just so that I could get your approval."
She was right; both needed my approval even thought it wasn't my decision. But I did say that I would prefer Harry to date her. It was the fact that they needed my approval. I shouldn't give her the approval, though, because it is entirely her choice. But she is my sister.
I became aware of Ginny's stare, and my train of thought came to a halt. "Why didn't you just do things on what you wanted to do instead of listening to me?"
"Because then we might be fighting over my well-being rather than the fact that I did what you wanted and you still weren't happy."
I watched the tempest unfurl it's fury outside of the windows.