Chapter Twenty-Six: A Change of Heart
As February began, Harry began to teach the DA the Patronus Charm. When the session was over, with nobody producing anything except smoke, everyone started to leave he noticed that someone had been missing.
'Where's Katie Bell?'
At this, all the other members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team's faces darkened.
'What happened?' said Harry.
'McClaggen is what happened. That stupid fucking twat had grabbed a Beater's Bat and tried to show the twins "How to Do it Properly", anyway, the gormless moron hit a Bludger right at Katie when she wasn't looking and it hit her in the head. She's in the Hospital Wing – but then, so is McClaggen,' said Ginny adding a smirk as she finished.
'What did you do to him?' said Ron, with a raised eyebrow.
'Well, once Angelina sacked him from the team, I hexed him with my Bat-Bogey Hex. He started running around to get to the Hospital Wing, but he ran into a post,' said Ginny as everyone laughed at McClaggen's mishap.
'Yeah, laugh it up now. You do all realise that we're down a Chaser and a Keeper,' said Angelina sadly.
'I could play Chaser. It is my preferred position, after all,' offered Ginny.
'Yeah, but we'd still be Keeper and Seeker-less,' said Angelina dejected.
Harry and Ron noticed the twins looking in their direction as if to say, 'Come on, do it for Angie. It is her last year.' Harry and Ron shared a look and nodded to one another before saying, 'We'll play.'
Angelina looked up with a hopeful expression on her face and said, 'Really?'
'Yes, I'll come back to the team, Angie.'
'Yeah, and Ron's a decent Keeper too, Angie,' said Fred.
'Absolutely, a million, billion miles better than "McClanger" could ever hope to be,' said George.
'Right then, I expect you both at Quidditch practice on Saturday,' said Angelina.
Not only was Angelina glad that Harry was back on the Quidditch team, but Sirius was too. In fact, he was so pleased, that he got Mr Weasley to buy Ginny and the twins a Firebolt each, calling them late Christmas presents. The game against Hufflepuff was just a few weeks away, so the team was working hard. Harry looked as though he had never been away, and Ron was settling in nicely as he worked well with the Chasers. Ginny worked well with Angelina and Alicia, better in fact than they did with Katie. Ron's goalkeeping ability was excellent as he was being spurred along by Hermione and the fact he was following McClaggen, instead of the great Oliver Wood, meant that there was not as much pressure on him to measure up and be just as good. Angelina was looking happier than anybody had seen her all year and could not wait until the game against Hufflepuff.
They had just finished Monday evening practice when Angelina said that anyone who had plans for Valentine's Day were to cancel them because she wanted a full day's practice instead as it was a Saturday and a Hogsmeade Weekend.
'No way,' said Ron flatly.
'What was that, Ron?' said Angelina in a dangerous voice.
'I said no way, I have plans to go to Hogsmeade with my girlfriend and I am not losing my reservation at the Three Broomsticks, so there,' said Ron stubbornly.
There was silence in the changing room as everyone else watched the silent glaring between Ron and Angelina.
'If you make me choose between the team and Hermione, you'll need another Keeper or you'll have to get McClaggen back, so make your choice,' said Ron.
'Fine, no practice, then,' said Angelina and she stormed out of the changing room.
Fred wolf-whistled and said, 'Blimey, Ron, that's the first time I've ever seen anyone not back down from an Angie-glare.'
Ron chuckled and said, 'Well, I'm used to Hermione's glare and that one is particularly scary. Angelina just has to realise that Hermione is more important to me than Quidditch.' Ron and the rest of the team left the changing room and went back to Gryffindor Tower.
When Valentine's Day came Ron had bought Hermione a nice card and a box of Honeyduke's chocolate and asked that she wear something nice for he had reserved a table at the Three Broomsticks, so, she had put on a nice blouse with a skirt and as it was still winter, stockings and a nice coat, while Ron wore his best blue shirt and black trousers with dark jacket. They complimented one another and together, hand in hand, walked to the village. They walked straight to the pub, where Ron opened and held open the door for Hermione, before approaching the bar.
'I have a reservation under Weasley – Ron,' he said to Madam Rosmerta.
'Oh, yes, come this way,' she said cheerfully.
They followed her to the table where Ron helped Hermione to remove her jacket and pulled out her chair for her. Once they both sat down, Rosmerta handed them a menu each and left them to chat and choose their order.
'Hmm, I think I'll have the chicken, what about you, love?' said Ron.
'I think I'll have the same. Aren't you going to have a starter?' asked Hermione.
'No, I don't fancy one, you?'
'No, me neither.'
Ron reached across the table and took her hand to kiss her knuckles and she smiled at him beautifully.
'I'm glad we're here. At least we're not in Madam Puddifoot's place,' said Ron.
'Me too, actually, all that pink,' said Hermione with a giggle.
'Sounds like Umbridge-Heaven,' Ron said with a chuckle and Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust before giggling again.
Madam Rosmerta came back to them and took their orders and came back with their drinks a moment later. They sat there and made casual small talk and maintained constant eye contact. Ron felt Hermione's stocking clad foot stroke his shin under the table as stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. The food arrived and they stopped their playing to eat. The chicken and the accompanying vegetables were delicious as always. They drank their Butterbeer as they waited for the dessert to arrive, which comprised of a very large piece of chocolate cake to share. Their eyes widened when it arrived, it really was huge. So they took a fork each and began to share, but Ron then decided it would be more romantic if he fed Hermione from his fork, so Hermione decided to feed Ron in return. This worked very well as the dessert seem taste even sweeter. When the chocolate cake was gone, the footsy under the table recommenced.
After making eyes at one another for twenty minutes, Ron called for the bill and he paid. Once he had done that, he helped Hermione back into her coat and they left after thanking Madam Rosmerta. Once outside, Ron asked her what she wanted to do next.
'How about we go back to the castle and use the Room of Requirement?' she said coyly.
'All right, let's go,' said Ron. They walked back to the castle as fast as they could, but when they got to the Room, they could not gain entry. So Ron asked Hermione if she would like to go for a fly and to his surprise, she said yes. Ron got his Firebolt and they made their way outside to fly around the school. Hermione took her place on the front of the broomstick and so he sat behind her with his arms wrapped tightly around her. They then took off and began to fly around slowly for her. She always felt safe when she flew with him and today was no exception. She leaned back into him and rested her head on his shoulder and he moved to kiss her forehead as she closed her eyes. Ron tightened his grip on her as he manoeuvred to land and did so gently. He returned his broomstick before they attempted to enter the Room of Requirement once more. This time, they were able to get in and once inside, they began to kiss passionately. Clothes were slowly being removed from them as they kissed and soon they were both naked and Ron performed the spell. They resumed the kissing as Ron swept her off her feet and carried her to the bed before they spent the rest of the day and night making love and when they were finally spent, they fell asleep naked in each other's arms.