A/N: So? How'd you like the last chapter? I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it… anyway enough chit-chat: ON WITH THE STORY!
P.S. Sorry it has been awhile since I posted last…
Disclaimer: Sigh… I don't like to be repetitive, but I feel like this HAS to be here, just in case… *in monotone voice* I do not own Harry Potter, only my storyline and the characters I may make up and insert in. There. Happy?
Now a random fact about your author: "I randomly scream- just to weird out my sister/ co-author, LlamaiiiixlovesxSeddie…"
When we last left our beloved characters: "I think I figured out what and why it happened."
~rAndOM sQuIRrel~
Hermione and her parents joined them for dinner that evening and was greeted by an over enthusiastic Ron, who in Ginny's opinion was being over dramatic about not seeing his girlfriend for several weeks. Only a minor portion of the Weasley clan and their adopted family were present but the families talked animatedly before dinner.
Ron and Hermione's fathers took quite a liking for each other and became inseparable as they discussed magical and non-magical items enthusiastically. Bill and Fleur were smiling flirtatiously at each other during dinner, Fleur giggling occasionally, much to the disgust of Bill's younger siblings. Ron and George talked about the shop and work while they ate and Harry listened as Ginny and Hermione talked about pointedly about their guys.
Dinner finished and was followed by a wonderful pudding. Everyone moved to the sitting room and the teens sat together cuddling quietly while discussions went on around them.
Hermione interrupted their silence, "Ron? Can we talk?"
"Yeah, sure," he said looking at her, a hint of worry in his eyes.
She bit her lip a little, "Privately?"
Ron raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Uh… sure…" He stood and took Hermione by the hand, helping her up. He turned to Ginny and Harry, "Hey we're gonna go for a little walk."
Harry nodded. "Okay, mate. We might join you later."
"'K," Ron said before turning to leave. They exited the sitting room and found George leaning up against the kitchen counter, mischievously.
"Going out for a little late night snog?" he asked with a grin.
"Oh, shove off, George," Ron growled. George clicked his tongue with a wink, the grin widening. Ron rolled his eyes and opened the door for Hermione.
They walked down by the frog pond, holding hands quietly. Ron broke the silence as they strolled along the water's edge.
"So, you wanted to talk?" he asked anxiously.
Hermione sighed, "Yes. The other night when you-."
"Stop there," Ron said, halting.
"Ron-,"she pleaded, looking in his eyes.
"No," he shook his head, shifting his gaze. "Can we just forget about it?"
"No, Ronald. We can't," she said sternly. "This is serious and you can't just shrug it off."
"Nothing is wrong with me-," he began.
"I know. It only happened because of the things that have happened in the last year. It's called emotional trauma or shock."
"I don't want to hear about this," he said a bit angrily, turning away.
"I am only trying to help-."
"I don't need your help Hermione!" He expected her to return the yells, but she didn't. He looked at her and found a hurt expression mixed with frustration. Tears brimmed her eyelids, threatening to fall.
Finally she spoke irritation in her voice, "Ronald Weasley! Why do you have to be so- so- so damn stubborn?" Ron's eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened at Hermione's swearing. A small smile crossed her face and she giggled, but it soon faded as she remembered her anger. "Why can't you understand-?"
"I do understand, Hermione," he sighed. "I have problems to deal with."
"I just want you to be able to control it. Don't let it get to you. No matter if its Harry or Ginny or me dying before your eyes."
Ron closed his eyes as a pang hit his chest followed by a flip in his stomach. The thought of losing any of them gave him chills. He shivered and clenched his jaw. "Don't put those- thoughts in my head, 'Mione," he pleaded, eyes stilled closed. Goose bumps covered his skin. His head ached and his breathing grew shallow and stopped.
He couldn't live without any of them. If he had truly lost Harry or even Ginny that night at the battle he would have been heart broken, and the thought of losing the love of his life made him feel as though someone punched him in the gut.
"Ron?" she said worriedly. "Ron?" He collapsed to the damp grass. "Ron?"
He couldn't see as everything was blurred, but he heard voices behind them.
"Hermione what's wro-," a familiar voice he had known for almost seventeen years said.
"Ron? Hermione, what's wrong with my brother?"
"He- he's having a panic attack," she answered shakily.
A male voice spoke next, "Hermione-?"
"I know Harry, shush. Ron? Can you hear me?" she gasped. His lungs and eyes stung. "Come on Ron."
"Hermione."
"I know Harry!" she said sharply. A shaky hand patted his cheek. "We are all here. We are all okay. We need you to come back, though. We need you to breathe. Can you do that?" As tears streamed down her face she whispered softly, "Please do that."
His throat opened a little and Ron gasped for breath. He heard Hermione gasp, which sounded like a small laugh of delight.
His vision returned and he sat up a little, struggling to breathe. He wheezed out a breath. He tried to breathe with difficulty and felt sick. Ron felt vomit traveling upwards and he leaned over to his left, throwing up what was once his dinner, into the pond. His head cleared and his breathing returned to normal. He wiped the corners of his mouth with his fist and tried shakily, to stand. He managed only to get to a tree less than a meter away.
"No, Ron. Don't get up," Hermione said placing a hand on his arm. Ron sat down leaning against the tree. He lifted his head and stared into her eyes with anguish. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, "Oh, Ron. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything-."
"You have nothing to be sorry about, Hermione," he said pulling her away and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"But I-."
"No. This is my problem," he stated as though it were final. He took a deep breath and exhaled. Ron sat there and held Hermione close to him. Harry and Ginny stood there quietly with them.
After an eternity Ron spoke, "How 'bout we go on a walk?" He stood and pulled Hermione up with him.
"Ron-," Hermione started.
"Come on it will clear our heads," he said leading her across the lawn. He turned back to Ginny and Harry, "Well come on." The couple looked at each other and back at Ron slowly, before following.
The couples walked for an age and a half and the incident that happened by the pond only an hour ago passed from their minds as they talked happily. Ron directed them to a park in Ottery St. Catchpole that the twins, he, and Ginny played at in their much younger years.
"Ginny and I still came here after Fred and George believed themselves too old to play with us," Ron said. "Remember Gin? We would sneak over here when they went off to school and play for hours after going to the muggle candy shop." Ginny smiled.
"Where did you get the muggle money?" Harry asked.
"Oh," Ginny said, "We would sneak it from dad's shed. He never noticed."
"Oh, so I'm dating a thief?" Harry asked.
Ginny feigned a hurt expression, "Is that a problem, Mr. Potter?"
"Not at all. If I recall correctly I should be in Azkaban for some of the things I did this past year. Not that I particularly enjoyed them."
Until now they had found themselves the only ones in the park as it was well past sundown. Ahead of them Hermione could make out five large figures of a group of boisterous teenage boys. She thought nothing of it until they neared the group and Ron covered up his face with his hand muttering, "Bloody hell." Ginny did a similar movement with an, "Oh no."
"What is it Ron?" she asked, but he shushed her. "Ronald Weasley don't you shush me!" she said crossly and to Ron, rather loudly.
The five boys all looked in there direction and one of the larger ones shouted, "Did we just 'ear the name 'Ronald Weasley'?" They began to approach.
Ron said quietly to Hermione, "Great, now you've done it."
The gang of teenagers came into view and looked menacingly down at them. Ron was taller than they were by just a few inches, making them have to look up at him, which they didn't appear to appreciate. Four of the boys for the most part looked all very similar in the dark, but one in front who seemed to be the leader. Harry was reminded of Dudley's gang: the toughest and largest in front and the lesser-built and meaner behind. One of the boys leaned against a baseball bat and another was cracking his knuckles.
"Well look at how much Ronnie and Ginevra have grown up," the leader drawled. He had an ape-ish look about him, a significant under bite and an overhanging forehead added to it.
"Hello, Shane," Ron said through clenched teeth. Shane seemed to ignore him.
"Wow, seems you've grown up quite a bit. A stunning minx, Ginny." As he said Ginny's name he rubbed a thumb across her cheek. Harry pulled Ginny away and stood in front of her.
"Well, we're not very friendly are we?" Shane said darkly to Harry, staring down at him. Harry never dropped his gaze. He continued to hold it until Shane looked away with a glare, turning his sights now to Ron and Hermione.
"I'm impressed Ronald," he said looking at Hermione, scanning her up and down. "Might have to borrow her sometime."
"Like hell you will," Ron said, stepping between Shane and Hermione.
Shane stepped back. "Boys, I think we should teach 'em a lesson. Their manners aren't quite up to my standard. Just like old times, eh Weasley?"
Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all took a step back. Ron turned to Hermione, "Go. Run and get the others."
"Ron I faced-."
"I know what you faced, but this can't be sorted with magic, now go. Hide behind a tree and apparate to the Burrow." She hesitated but with a nudge from Ron she left. He now turned to Ginny, "Ginny get out of here. You know how they can be. Let Harry and me take care of it."
"Right. As soon as Percy tries on one of my dresses."
At that moment the group of boys advanced on them. Two went for Ron and pinned him down. He managed to get in a few good blows before one hit his right shoulder with a mighty force. He groaned in pain as he felt a pop and the two began using him as a punching bag.
Ron frantically tried to think of a way to escape, attempting to clear his head and ignore the growing pain in his gut. Without warning he threw his head back into the face of the gang member holding his arms behind his back. He instantly released Ron, howling and holding his nose, blood pouring over his hands. Ron took this opportunity to hit the guy in front of him on the side of the head with his left fist.
He saw this coming and grabbed Ron's forearm, with a yellow-toothed smile. Ron used his head again, head butting him in the face. The teen wasn't phased much by this and Ron felt blood trickling down his forehead. Ron used his last and most painful ploy and kneed the teen in the crotch. His grip on Ron's arm loosened and he fell to the ground laying in the fetal position.
Ron looked anxiously around for Ginny and Harry. Ginny was now avoiding being hit with the metal bat Shane now had and Harry was being used as a human punching bag as he had.
Before Ron had time to react and help Ginny, she grabbed the bat as Shane swung, twisted it under her arm, and hefted it upward so it hit him square in the forehead, kneeing him in the groin for good measure. He fell to the ground unconscious and she rushed over to Harry's aid with the bat in hand. Ginny swung behind the knees of the gang member currently holding Harry. He crumpled to the ground and Harry used his free hands to punch the guy in front of him. A crack sounded the moment Harry's right fist connected with his jaw and he fell onto the cement path. Harry spat some blood out of his mouth, aiming it towards Shane.
Harry held his fist close to his stomach as he limped over to Ginny. "Are you okay?" She nodded. "Ron?" Harry asked looking at his best mate. Ron took in a breath and winced as a sharp pain hit his side. He slowed his breathing and simply nodded. He turned to Ginny and gasped, "Where the bloody hell did you learn to do that?"
"Oh, in my fifth year a Slytherin beater tried swinging at me during a match. He ran when he saw me after that," she said with a toothy grin.
They heard a pop and Mr. Weasley, Bill, and George came running towards them. "Ginny? Boys? You okay?" Mr. Weasley asked. Harry nodded. George came over to Ron, observing the mass of boys laying on the concrete either in pain or unconsciousness, and patted him on the back, "Nice one, little brother," sending a surge of pain through his body. Ron grunted.
"Careful George," Mr. Weasley said, noticing his son's discomfort. "Take 'em back to the Burrow so your mother can fix them up."
"Right," George said, placing a hand on Ron's shoulder and grabbing Ginny's hand before making sure she was holding Harry's, then he disapparated.
They walked up the slope to the house, Harry and Ginny limping a little. They entered the Burrow and Fleur, Hermione, Hermione's parents, and Mrs. Weasley stood up from their chairs. Hermione ran to Ron side and hugged him tightly, causing him to whimper in pain.
"Don't you ever make me do that again," she scolded. He held her with his left arm and kissed her forehead, before releasing her.
Mrs. Weasley ushered them to sitting room. Ron laid down on one of the couches and Hermione began dabbing the cut on his head with a wet towel.
"Ginny dear, where does it hurt?" her mother asked.
"Just my hip," she said, "He managed to hit me with the bat a few times." Her mother gasped.
"She was bloody brilliant after that," Ron said giving a small laugh, but stopped as another sharp pain hit his side.
"Yeah she kicked their arses," Harry said distantly.
After multiple bottles of bruise paste for all of them, a healed hand and hip for Harry, and a relocated shoulder and healed ribs for Ron, Mrs. Weasley sent them off to bed for a good nights rest.
~rAndOM sQuIRrel~
Ron woke up to someone shaking his arm- at 3 a.m. in the morning.
"Bloody Hell, Ginny. What is it that's so important you wake me up at this time of morning?" he asked with a yawn.
"It's Harry-."
"What's wrong?" Ron asked getting to his feet and putting on his robe.
"He's having a terrible dream by the sound of it and I can't wake him," she said worry laced in her words.
Ron grabbed his wand off the bedside table and rushed down the stairs to Harry's room.
"No! Stop it, please!"
"I will stop as soon as they give me what I want," Voldemort said with a hiss. "Crucio!" Ginny writhed in pain on the ground in the Forbidden Forest. Hermione and Ron lay next to her, chained by the hands to a tree, deep gashes in their sides. Hermione sobbed in pain as blood seeped out onto the needles and leaves covering the forest floor. Ron struggled to get free, blood pouring out as he thrashed about, trying to escape.
"Anything! Just please stop!"
"I want you, Harry Potter. I'm going to kill you," he said. Someone grabbed him and held his arms."Fine, but leave them alone."
"No Harry!" Ginny screamed.
He repeated himself clearly, "Take me. Leave them."
"I'm going to kill you Harry Potter," Voldemort laughed. "Right after I kill them."
"NO!" Harry struggled to free himself from his captor.
Voldemort raised his wand above his head, "Avada-."
"NO!"
"Harry!" Someone was shaking him. "Harry, wake up! It's all just a dream."
He sat up in bed, drenched in sweat. Harry was panting heavily. Ron handed him his glasses and some water.
"You okay, mate?" Ron asked stepping back to give Harry some air. Ginny sat down at the foot of his bed.
Harry took a long drink of water then answered quietly, "Yeah. Like you said: it was all just a dream."
"Right. Well if you need anything just come see me," Ron said with a nod, "Come on Ginny," he called leaving the room.
"Why? It's not like-," she began to argue.
"Don't make me call mum."
"Ugh!" she said storming out of the room and down the stairs. He waited until Ginny was inside her bedroom, before casting an intruder charm on Harry's door.
Ron continued to his room and lay in his bed awake, before falling asleep after several minutes, assured his sister wouldn't sneak back in.
~rAndOM sQuIRrel~
"Wish me luck!" Hermione called to Ron excitedly, stepping into the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace. Ron nodded with a smile. She disappeared into the green flames, shouting, "Ministry of Magic!"
Ron strolled down the street to the shop, and whispered the password (with much amusement), entering the shop.
"Ronnie, did you see your dear Hermione off to her first day as an intern at the Ministry?" George asked walking over to his brother hands in his pockets.
"Yeah. Now how 'bout we get down to business?"
"Okay, we have a meeting. But first," George pulled out a red candy that at first glance looked very appetizing, "try this."
Ron picked up the candy and eyed it carefully, "What is it? Hermione wouldn't let me snog her for several days after I ate a Halitosis Honey Drop."
"It's as if you don't trust me, Ronnie!" George said feigning offense. Ron returned a knowing look. "Okay, it's nothing terrible. Just try it. The effects wear off after several minutes." George repeated 'several' to himself after Ron popped the candy in his mouth. George asked a moment later, "So? What do you think?"
Ron swirled the candy around his mouth then spoke, "Well, normally I would tell you it was good, but there is a light bitterness that doesn't make the sweet extremely appealing, but that is typical of cherry flavored candies, if I might add. But, like I said: I would usually tell you it was great or amazing, just to boost your ego." Ron realized what he had just said and his eyes widened in bewilderment.
"Really?" George asked. "Hmm… Tell be about your relationship with Hermione."
"What?" Ron asked in confusion, but he felt an inner force pushing him. "Well, okay. I really always thought of Hermione as a friend for the most part- that is until fourth year. When Viktor stinkin' Krum pushed his way in I realized what I had lost- and I wanted it back. I was a right git though and screwed everything up. In fifth year I thought about snogging her a couple of times, but I would mess things up and we'd get in yet another fight. In sixth year I got a little distracted with snogging Lavender, and I was too thick to notice Hermione's hints. Then when we went on the hunt, I thought I lost her to Harry for sure. I felt that my worst fears were coming true. Then that night at the Manor I decided I didn't care if she chose Harry- I would do anything for her. We kissed during the battle and it was spontaneous and sweet and passionate. When her lips locked onto mine I felt like I was being swept away into a warm, calm ocean-," Ron stopped. "Hey! Wait! Why am I telling you this?"
"Merlin's pants. The effects wore off. Too bad. We were getting to the good part. Oh, well. The theory worked though," George said with obvious disappointment. "By the way have you ever told her that you feel that way about your first kiss?"
"No! And what did you just feed me?"
"I didn't feed you anything, you were a willing test subject-."
"George," Ron growled.
"Okay. Keep your pants on. It was a Loose- Lips Lozenge!"
"A what?"
"A sweet with a small bit of Veritaserum in it. Makes you spill your guts! Or in your case: pour your heart out, but we really should get to the meeting. Lots to discuss."
~rAndOM sQuIRrel~
A/N: What did you think? I thought this was more of a filler chapter towards the end, but it had some good stuff in there. I feel like this one was an emotional roller coaster: Happy! Yay! Boom: pit. Oh, no! Aw… Ron and Ginny…What's happening? Go Ron! Ginny is so awesome! Oh no their hurt! Poor Harry! Awww… how sweet… Is Ron okay? Oh this author is so clever! Oh man, it's over.