Arithmancy
by: Faithful Wheezy
Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Twenty Eight: I'll be your last petal
Fifteen minutes before Ron and Hermione's detention, Harry roughly took Neville's left arm and checked the watch that was on it ("Ow! Ow! Harry, you're twisting my arm!").
Hagrid took a bemused look around, shrugged, and continued humming as he idly watched Ron and Hermione chop firewood.
"Sorry," Harry muttered, gingerly setting Neville's left arm back at his side and patting it, "but I think we'll have to go if we want to be back in the Common Room before those two get back." Dean, Seamus, Neville, Bill, and Charlie nodded and tried to scoot away quietly, although they weren't very good at it.
"Ouch! Neville, I think you just ripped my toe off," Charlie said, biting his lip and limping.
Neville stumbled forward a few paces and nearly pulled the cloak from everyone else's heads. "Sorry! Can we switch places then, it's really hard to walk in the middle…" his face shone with the effort of being half-pulled and half-pushed by the rest of the Godfather Gang. "Watch your foot, Harry—AARGH!"
Harry quickly grabbed the scruff of Neville's robes with the agility of a Seeker and pulled him back to prevent him from falling and glanced back to the clearing where the detention was still going on. "Shush! I think they can still hear us!"
Sure enough, back at the clearing, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid had turned around curiously to look for the source of the noise. "Did you hear that?" Ron asked, looking around.
"Yeah," Hermione said doubtfully. "I wonder what that could've been."
"It migh' just be Filch on one of his evenin' strolls," Hagrid said, peering into the darkness. "Git. He's always half-drunk and moanin' on about how Madam Pince'll never give 'im the time o' day…"
Hagrid took one look at the dubious looks on Ron and Hermione's faces and immediately covered his mouth as though hoping that action would cancel out what he just said. "Shouldn'ta said tha'," he muttered, finding the specific pebble on the ground and studying it intently.
"Well, at least now we know why Filch was so keen on paying Snape for some Amortentia," Ron said, trying to conceal a grin. "Who would have thought, the caretaker and the librarian…" he paused for a moment. "That would be slightly disturbing," he said finally. "Can you think of what their children would do when they grew up? They'd probably spend their lives mopping up the school with pages from books."
Hagrid shook his head, chuckling, while Hermione let out a reluctant grin. "You're horrible," she said, "Madam Pince would never let any of her children befoul any of her beloved books by mopping up the floors with them."
The clearing erupted with laughter, and Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid spent the remainder of the detention arguing about Filch and Madam Pince's romance, debating on whether it would work or not.
"Well," Hagrid said finally, swiping at his eyes with his beard, "I'll just nip inside fer a moment an' check the time, all righ'?" Ron and Hermione nodded, as Hagrid lumbered off to his hut.
Still chuckling, Hermione turned to Ron. "I cannot believe we just had a conversation about that," she said.
"Neither can I," Ron said, looking at her with a grin. "I can't believe you joked about your favorite librarian—you of all people!"
"Oh, shut up," Hermione said, although her smile ruined the effect slightly. "You know I didn't mean any disrespect."
Ron stood as tall as he could and looked down his nose at Hermione. "You may not have meant any disrespect," he said, as silkily as he could, "but every word you spoke betrayed some, Ms. Granger."
Hermione laughed, pretended to swing at him with her axe, and winced. "Ouch," she muttered, trying to stretch out her shoulder.
Ron was immediately at her side. "Hermione, what's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing…" Hermione trailed off. Ron's face was inches from hers, his beautiful blue eyes radiating the most sincere concern she had ever seen. "Really, it's… it's nothing, I'm fine."
Ron looked away and touched her shoulder, noticing Hermione flinch slightly. "You hurt your shoulder, didn't you?"
"I might've just swung the axe wrong a couple of times," Hermione said, with an obviously fake bravado. "Honestly, Ron, I'm fine, I'll just make sure to rest it tonight."
After a long pause, which included Ron giving Hermione a long, strict look, he finally laughed. "And make sure not to write too much when you get back," he said, grinning.
"I won't," Hermione assured him. Not like that's anything to worry about, as I haven't got my Arithmancy book…
Ron looked away from Hermione to keep himself from staring when he heard, Not like that's anything to worry about, as I haven't got my Arithmancy book…
"What did you say?" he asked, looking up.
"I said I won't," Hermione repeated, setting her axe down beside her pile of finished firewood.
Ron looked at her strangely. "You didn't say anything else after that?"
"No…"
"Ron, Hermione, it's exactly nine, yeh better get inside before yeh die of cold," Hagrid called, stumping back into the clearing. "Did yeh bring anything with yeh? No? Okay. Hermione, what's th' matter with yer arm?"
"She hur—"
"Nothing, it's all right," Hermione said loudly over Ron.
Hagrid shrugged and turned around. "Well, come on now, we better get back t' the castle before yer missed."
-x-
The Godfather Gang collapsed into the armchairs in front of the fire the moment they entered the Common Room, massaging aching limbs and heads. The journey back had been extremely rough: maneuvering around corners and through students, taking detours around Peeves, nearly falling over Mrs. Norris (although the majority didn't seem to mind squashing her, though Harry thought it would be an extremely bad idea), falling face flat whilst attempting to get through the Portrait Hole, and of course, everyone getting hit by Neville as a result of his unusually spectacular clumsiness.
Seamus, occupying a whole couch facedown moaned. "Dean, do I even need to tell you how many times you kicked me in the—"
"It was hard to get around Mrs. Norris!" Dean said irritably. "At least I had enough sense to jump—"
"Where I was right behind you and you—"
"When you nearly tripped over Mrs. Norris and nearly gave us all away…"
"Oy," Harry said sharply, cutting over Dean and Seamus's bickering. "You two fight almost as much as Ron and Hermione."
At this statement, the two pulled disgusted faces and settled deeper into their chairs.
Harry snickered and dug into his pockets for a large piece of old parchment. Finding it, he tapped it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Harry bent over the Marauder's Map and studied the Grounds. "There they are," he said, following their path with his finger. "Hagrid just left them at the front door, he's returning to his hut."
"Ah, so Ickle Ronniekins is alone with Hermione?" Charlie asked, bounding over to look at the Map. "Aww, even their dots together look cute."
Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, and Bill got up to look, and nodded agreement.
"Actually, you're right."
"They do look kinda cute together as dots!"
"I prefer to see them together in person, but you are right…"
"D'you think they're holding hands?"
"Well, one can only hope…"
"What, no!"
Dean looked at Harry strangely. "You don't want them to hold hands? Harry, if you're going to be a part of the Godfather Gang, you have to want for Ron and Hermione to be together in every shape and form."
Harry shook his head and stared at the Map. "No, I mean, Hermione's going back to the library… no, Ron's still going to the Common Room!"
"Merlin, I hope they didn't have a fight," Bill murmured, running his hand through his hair. "That would kill everything we've worked for."
All of a sudden, Harry hastily folded up the Map and stuffed it in his pocket. "Get back in your chairs, he's coming! And remember, he mustn't know that we know he has Hermione's book, all right? Pretend we don't know a thing."
As soon as Neville finally assumed a comfortable position (which he assumed looked casual), the Portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and Ron clambered awkwardly inside, looking quite cold and happy. Noticing his friends, he waved. "Snape is an evil git," he said, massaging his arms. "I can't believe he made us do that…"
Ignoring his rant, Dean interrupted. "So… erm… anything happen with… anybody?" he said evasively.
Ron looked confused for a moment. "Erm… no? Snape wasn't supervising, thank Merlin… Hagrid was great, me and Hermione had a good, long conversation on Filch and Madam Pince…"
"Speak of the devil," Seamus cut in, "how is she? Where is she, by the way?"
"Probably in the library as usual, dusting off a few shelves," Ron said, shrugging. "How should I know?"
"Not her, you prat!" Harry roared at Ron, thwapping him with a couch pillow, "Hermione, of course!"
"Oh... library, I suppose," Ron said casually, his eyes shifting. "She said she was looking for—" A look of comprehension suddenly dawned on Ron's face. "She must have been looking for her Arithmancy book!"
"Way to be behind the times, Ron," Bill said, rolling his eyes. "She's just been looking for it ever since the beginning of the year."
"No, see, I have her Arithmancy book."
The Godfather Gang gaped theatrically at Ron. "Wait," Harry said, waving his hands to indicate that he didn't understand. "I thought McLaggen had Hermione's book when you gave it to him?"
"I gave it to Cornelia, Harry, there's a difference," Ron said stubbornly. "And if I'dve known Cornelia was McLaggen, I wouldn'tve given him… her… whatever, it, Hermione's book."
"That doesn't explain how you have it again, though," Neville said, struggling to look confused, giving him a very realistic result. "If you gave it to Cornelia, how did McLaggen get it? And why do you have it now?"
"Cornelia was McLaggen, Neville," Ron said impatiently.
"But you just said there was a difference—"
"Nevermind," Harry said quickly, "but the point is, how exactly did you get Hermione's Arithmancy book back?"
"Well," Ron began, "it was that day Hermione got unattached from McLaggen. I, well… I kinda thought Neville and her hooked up…" here, he shrugged apologetically to Neville, "so I went to the library because I knew you guys wouldn't think of looking for me there. When I sat down her Arithmancy book was under my feet."
While Ron looked down at his trainers, Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Bill, and Charlie gave each other sly smiles.
"Erm, Ron," Charlie said, breaking the silence, "are you going to give Hermione the book anytime soon?"
"I'd like to," Ron said, shrugging, "but she might think I stole it."
Suddenly, Harry lit his wand and put it on top of his head.
Fearing for his friend's sanity, Ron asked, "Erm, mate? What are you doing?"
"I am indicating an idea," Harry said, nodding sagely.
"And… what's your idea?" Dean asked, looking at Harry as though he were mad.
"We can use Dobby!"
"Dobby?" Bill and Charlie looked puzzled. "Who's that?"
"Mad house-elf," Ron said, dropping his voice. "Not as mad as Kreacher, mind, but still slightly balmy. You'll see. But how can we use Dobby?"
"We can just ask Dobby to give Hermione back the book for you!" Harry said, spreading his arms out. "Ron, go get her book… erm… I'll call Dobby, I hope he answers."
Ron nodded and went up to the Dormitories to get Hermione's book. Since he had last looked at it, it had gone back to looking like an innocent, Arithmancy textbook. Just as he picked it up, he heard a sound like a Filibuster Firework and Bill giving a strangled cry. Rushing over to the stairs, he looked over the banister, and choked back a laugh at the sight that beheld him: Dobby had apparently appeared right on top of Bill.
"Dobby is very sorry, sir," Dobby squeaked over and over, bowing repeatedly to Bill, who he was still on top of.
"Erm," Bill said, trying to get over his initial surprise, "hullo, Dobby—d'you mind getting off of me? Thanks," he said, as Dobby clambered off.
"Harry Potter called Dobby?" the house-elf said, beaming up at Harry with round, eager eyes. "What is it sir requires? Sir freed Dobby and Dobby will do anything!"
"Thanks, Dobby, it was nothing," Harry said, kneeling down to get level with Dobby's head. "But yeah, I did call you—listen, d'you mind doing something for me?"
"Anything, Harry Potter sir, anything!"
Ron came back downstairs and handed Hermione's Arithmancy book to Dobby.
"Wheezy!" Dobby squeaked excitedly, indicating the sweater he was wearing. It was the same, maroon sweater Ron had given him in his fourth year. "Dobby is thankful for the sweater, I wears it always!"
"No problem," Ron said, grinning, "but what Harry wants you to do is, you remember who Hermione is, don't you?"
"Of course Dobby does, sir!" Dobby said, nodding empathetically. "She is always giving me advice about Winky—" at this, he covered his mouth, and everybody present could swear they saw the tiny house-elf blush. Soon afterward, he uncovered his mouth and continued, a little fidgety, "Miss is always helping Dobby, I remembers who she is!"
"Great," Ron said, trying to conceal a grin. "D'you mind finding her and giving this to her for me? And—make sure you don't tell her it was from me, just give it to her and come back, all right?"
"No trouble at all sir!" Dobby said excitedly, taking the book from Ron. "Dobby will do it right now!"
And with a crack, Dobby disappeared.
"Weird little chap," Charlie said, giving the place Dobby had disappeared from an amused look.
"I knew about Dobby, but I'd never actually talked to him before," Seamus said, laughing. "And I certainly never knew house-elves could fancy each other! Winky… wasn't that… Crouch's elf?"
"Yep," Harry said, "and trust me, I didn't know Dobby fancied her either."
The Godfather Gang and Ron began to laugh.
-x-
After Ron had left for the Common Room, Hermione went into the library, which was empty save for Madam Pince, who was dusting off yet another shelf (labeled Si – So) with an abnormally large feather duster. Even though the library wasn't closed, she didn't want to be on Madam Pince's bad side, and creeped in silently, going straight for the tables. Getting down on the floor, she immediately began searching for her Arithmancy book, certain that McLaggen had left it here somewhere. Where in hell could it have gone? She knew some books had legs, but she was fairly certain, after owning the book for around three years, that her Arithmancy book did not have legs to scuttle away on. Unfortunately, Madam Pince had finished her shelf and turned to another, spotting Hermione on the floor.
"Ms. Granger, what are you doing?"
"Oh, erm…" Hermione muttered awkwardly, picking herself up off of the floor and dusting her robes off, "I dropped…" she fished in her pockets for something and pulled out the first thing she found, which was a pack of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. "I dropped a piece of gum," she said meekly. "But I wasn't using it!" she said hurriedly as Madam Pince's nose flared ominously. "It was wrapped, and it just dropped out of my pocket!"
"What are you doing here so late?" the librarian asked accusatorily, staring Hermione down. "If I were to look under that table, I wouldn't find any pieces of gum stuck under there?"
"No ma'am," Hermione said, amazed at Madam Pince's ability to jump to conclusions so easily.
"Well, there better not be." Madam Pince's voice suddenly softened. "I wouldn't want to give Argus a hard time…"
Hermione stared at Madam Pince and tried not to laugh. It appeared as though Filch had already given her the potion. Struck with a thought, and wanting to search the library alone, Hermione put on an innocent face. "No, we wouldn't want to," she said, shaking her head. "Maybe you'd like to go see him, Madam Pince?"
Madam Pince seemed to think it over for a moment, swaying on the spot. "Yes, yes I would," she said, dazedly. Sneezing, she set her feather duster down. "Yes, I think I will go visit Argus. Don't do anything horrible to the library now, do you hear me?"
"Yes, I hear you," Hermione said, giving her a sweet smile. "Have a nice time!"
As soon as Madam Pince skipped (as best as she could as she was in an overlong skirt) from the library, Hermione sighed and dropped to her knees, searching under a different table.
CRACK!
Startled, Hermione jumped up—and hit her head underneath the table. "Bugger," she swore quietly. Backing out from under the table, she looked around. "Who's there?"
She felt something tug on her robes and looked down. "Oh, hello Dobby," she said kindly. "How are you? Taking a break?"
"Not exactly, miss," Dobby squeaked. "Dobby just wanted to give you this, miss, and thank you for helping Dobby with his—" here, he dropped his voice to a whisper—"problems. Dobby is ever grateful to you!" At this, Dobby shoved a book into her hands. "Good-bye miss! Dobby will see you again soon I hopes!" And with another deafening crack, Dobby Disapparated from the room.
Taken aback by his sudden disappearance, Hermione blinked for a few moments before looking down at what she had in her hands.
It was her Arithmancy book.
-x-
CRACK!
Dobby appeared back into the Gryffindor Common Room, careful to avoid the Godfather Gang's chests. "Dobby did it, sir!" he said, looking at Ron. "Miss was surprised sir, but in a good way! Is there anything else sirs want Dobby to do?"
Ron sighed in relief and patted Dobby on the shoulder. "No, you did great Dobby, thanks. Er… you better go and rest."
Dobby nodded. "Dobby will do that, sir! Thank you!"
And with another crack, Dobby disappeared.
"Well," Harry said in the silence that followed, "I think it's best if we go up to the Dormitories now."
"What, now?" Ron said, looking incredulously at Harry. "But—"
"Harry's right, Ron," Bill said suddenly. "I think it's time all of us tell you something. Hang on—I can feel Ginny coming."
Harry stood up a little straighter in his seat. "How can you feel Ginny coming?"
"Weasley Radar," Bill said, and Bill, Charlie, and Ron simultaneously tapped the sides of their heads in what they clearly imagined as an impressive way.
"Eh, Bill?"
"Eh, Charlie!"
"Eh, Ron!" Ron said triumphantly, striking a heroic pose.
Neville frowned and raised an eyebrow. "…Right," he said.
At that moment, footsteps on the stairs leading from the Girls' Dormitories caused all of them to look over and see Ginny Weasley coming down, securing her plaid bathrobe. "Ginny!" Bill and Charlie immediately headed straight for her and hooked her to them by the elbows, Bill on Ginny's left, Charlie on her right. "We have a job for you…"
-x-
A few minutes later, the Godfather Gang and Ron were in the Dormitories, while Ginny sat in the Common Room, waiting for Hermione to come back.
"Well, what is it?" Ron asked, sitting down on his bed, looking nervously at Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Bill, and Charlie, who were eyeing him not unlike the way hawks eye their prey.
"It's time," Charlie uttered to the room at large.
The remainder of the Godfather Gang nodded solemnly.
"Time for what?" Ron said, feeling more nervous. Taking a pillow from behind him, he hugged it, his eyes wide.
"Ron, stop with the dramatics," Charlie snapped, grabbing the pillow from Ron and flinging it back on the bed.
"Me?" Ron said disbelievingly, "it's you being all dramatic—"
Charlie waved it aside. "Yes, yes, the point is, well…"
"Have you ever heard Hermione's voice inside your head?" Bill asked.
Ron paused a moment. "Yeah. Yeah I have… I told you about it, but you guys just said I was dreaming… I thought I'd gone mad…"
"Well, we do think you're kind of insane," Harry admitted, grinning as he dodged a pillow that Ron threw his way, "but you were right. Hermione's voice was in your head. It really was her."
Ron gaped at them. "So, it really was Hermione?"
"We only just said that, Ron," Dean said, rolling his eyes. He, too, dodged a pillow thrown by Ron.
Ron looked thoughtfully at his feet. "Does Hermione know about this?" he asked them.
"Not yet," Bill said, "but Ginny does, and she's going to tell Hermione everything when she comes in later. Any objections?"
Temporarily struck dumb now, Ron could only shake his head in disbelief. So it really was Hermione's voice that had been soothing him when he was angry, and coaching him through Potions… he really wasn't mad after all…
"And… Ron?" Neville said tentatively. "Hermione doesn't like me, you know… and I don't fancy her either. So don't think that… okay?"
"Yeah," Seamus said, "because we all know who Neville really fancies." Neville threw a pillow at Seamus, which missed him by a mile, but scattered quite a few magazines that were under his pillows all over the Dormitory Room. Picking one up, Seamus read out the heading. "The Quibbler," he read, "do I need to say more?" he dodged another pillow and several more magazines, laughing.
"The point is, brother," Bill said, walking over and sitting beside Ron, "you have to move it or lose it. We all know your true feelings, and it's really no use hiding it."
Charlie, too, walked over to Ron and sat on his other side, throwing an arm around him. "Move it or lose it before Hermione moves on, mate. She doesn't like McLaggen or Neville, and all of us know who she really does love. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who."
"I know you've admitted it to us," Harry said, "about you liking Hermione, but you've still been denying it. Not only to her and everyone else, but to yourself. You're going to have to tell her sooner or later…"
"And all of us pick sooner!" Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Bill, and Charlie said simultaneously.
"But," Ron tried.
"Tomorrow," Harry insisted. "We need an early retirement."
-x-
Ginny had not been waiting in the Common Room for long when the Portrait of the Fat Lady swung open. Not even needing to turn around, Ginny said, "Evening, Hermione."
"Evening, Ginny," Hermione answered, setting her Arithmancy book down on an end table and pulling off her extra jackets. "Do I even need to say how evil a git Snape is?"
Ginny grinned. "Nope. How was detention, anyway?" Her eyes flickered towards Hermione's Arithmancy book on the table. "I see you have your book back, finally."
"Yes, finally," Hermione said, gratefully sinking down next to Ginny on the couch. "But you'll never guess who gave it back to me."
"Try me."
"All right," Hermione said, "Dobby." she laughed at the look on Ginny's face. "Have you ever met him?"
"Briefly," Ginny admitted, "once, when I went with Fred and George to raid the kitchens. Strange little bloke, what did he do?"
"He just handed it to me, thanked me for a few things, and disappeared. That's it. I wonder why he had it…"
Ginny stroked her chin. "Actually, Hermione, I don't think he had it… I think someone else found it, and was too afraid to give it back to you because, I might be going out on a limb here, but maybe they thought you'd think they stole it? And they wouldn't have wanted you to get mad at them."
Hermione bent her knees and hugged them close to her, curling up deep in the crook of the couch. "I wouldn't have been angry," she said after a while. "I just wanted my book back, basically. Why? Who do you think had my book?"
"I have my suspicions," Ginny answered vaguely, swinging her long, red hair behind her. "But what I really wanted to talk to you about was my dear brother."
Hermione looked at Ginny blankly. "Which one?"
Ginny looked at Hermione disbelievingly. "Honestly! What do you mean, which one? Ron of course!"
At her words, Hermione blushed a deep scarlet, causing Ginny to giggle. "Sorry, Hermione," she said after she controlled her laughter, "you're a brilliant witch, but when it comes to you and Ron you'd probably get a T."
Hermione, her face still red, looked down at the floor. "What do you mean?"
"'T' for Troll...?"
"No! I mean—"
Ginny laughed. "I know what you mean," she said. Then, leaning back on the couch resignedly, she sighed in exasperation. "You're clever, Hermione, so you should figure it out—face it, my dear friend of mine, you love my brother and you're just hurting yourself by denying it."
"I d-don't—"
"Look at the way you're blushing right now! And have you ever noticed how worked up Ron gets if you ever mention the word Krum? Or McLaggen? Or even Neville?"
Hermione shrugged. "Well, maybe they've done stuff to him that we don't know about," she said lamely.
Ginny exhaled, and looked to the ceiling as though searching for inspiration. "It's his defense mechanism, and you're doubting yourself again. We all know what's going on between you two, and it would really be a relief to everybody if you two finally understood what was going on. You love him and you know it, but you're doubting yourself and denying the fact that you do. Hermione—you're gonna have to move it or lose it when Ron finally moves on, although, between you and me, that's not going to happen any time soon from… ever."
Hermione dragged a hand through her hair indesicively. "But what if you're wrong?"
"Have I ever been wrong concerning my brother?" Ginny asked, arching a fiery red eyebrow.
"Well… not yet," Hermione said.
"You're unbelievable," Ginny laughed, throwing a couch pillow at her. "But… while we're on the subject…" her voice trailed off.
Hermione looked at Ginny nervously. "What?"
"Well," Ginny said, carefully, "have you… have you ever heard Ron's voice inside of your head? As though you heard his thoughts?"
"I told Harry about it, but he said that I was just tired from lack of sleep… and Neville said I was just dreaming."
"But, have you?" Ginny persisted.
Hermione inclined her head. "Yes," she said finally. "For a while, I thought I was going mad myself… I kept hearing him… there was one night where I talked to him, and told him that I—" she broke off and covered her mouth, her eyes wide. Ginny merely grinned.
Mission accomplished, she thought to herself.
-x-
The next day, Ron was awakened as the result of six pairs of pillows hitting him squarely in the face, the curtains of his four-poster bed roughly ripped back, the sunshine on his eyelids hitting him like a rubber clapper. "Good morning, sunshine!" six voices crooned at him.
Ron groaned and pulled the covers back over his face, which were almost immediately pulled off of him. "Today's the day!" Dean sang, waving the blanket about like a banner. "The sun is shining, the room is clean, and you are telling Hermione you love her today!"
Harry looked at Dean oddly. "Is that line from somewhere…?" he asked.
"All the more reason to stay in bed," Ron muttered into his pillow.
Neville gasped as everybody turned to look at him. "The room is clean!" Neville said, clapping his hands to the side of his face.
Everybody gave him a weird look before turning back to Ron. "Come on, Ron, the sooner you do it the better you'll feel!" Seamus pleaded.
Ron didn't move.
Bill looked at Charlie. "There's nothing for it," he said. The two brothers nodded.
"This is how the Weasleys get each other out of bed," Charlie explained. He and Bill pointed their wands at Ron. "Attollo!" A jet of white light hit Ron, and he flew out of the bed and landed with a thud on the ground beside it.
Rubbing his eyes, Ron got up. "There was no need to get me up so violently," he said sulkily to his brothers.
"Yes there was," Bill and Charlie said, nodding.
"Get dressed," Harry said, throwing Ron his robes, "you promised you'd tell Hermione today."
"But—"
"Get dressed!" The Godfather Gang roared at Ron.
-x-
A few moments later, Ron was being hauled off to the Great Hall, the Godfather Gang surrounding him at all angles. "I can't do it right now," Ron insisted, "I'm not ready!"
"Of course you're ready," Dean said, pulling Ron along by the left sleeve, "you've always been ready. Now don't slouch, and pick up your feet!"
"No, I mean, I thought about this last night…"
Bill tutted and continued pushing him from behind. "No second thoughts, little brother, keep walking."
"I mean," Ron said loudly, trying to prevent any more interruptions, "I still want to give her something."
"You already gave her the book, remember?" Seamus said, tugging Ron's left sleeve.
"Not the book," Ron said in exasperation. "You'll—you'll see. I just can't tell her right now, I'll tell her… later."
"Later today, or later never?" Neville asked.
"Later today," Ron assured them. Immediately, everybody let go of Ron.
"You had better be telling the truth Ron," Harry said, peering at Ron, "because you've kept everyone waiting long enough. Hermione's going to find out today whether you like it or not, because if you're not telling her, we're going to tell her for you."
"Okay, okay!" Ron said, holding up placating arms. "Just give me until dinner. Okay?"
"Dinner?" Charlie said, pulling a face. "Why not lu—"
"Dinner, or nothing," Ron said, lowering his eyebrows. "I need until dinner, all right?"
The Godfather Gang and Ron had already sat down and began to eat breakfast when Hermione and Ginny entered the Great Hall. However, when Hermione smiled at Ron, Ron determinedly avoided her eyes, playing with his food.
"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked Ginny confusedly.
"No idea," Ginny admitted, giving her brother a 'What are you doing?' look.
"Yeah, what was that all about?" Bill whispered to Ron, noticing Hermione's bewildered and slightly hurt look. "Not even a smile…?"
"Later," Ron insisted thickly, through a mouthful of oatmeal, "later."
-x-
Ron's only free period was after lunch, during which Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Bill, and Charlie had pestered him to find out if he was ready to tell her yet, which resulted in his customary "Later." It had been hard work enough to get out of the Common Room alone, as they had wanted to go with him just incase he told Hermione without them ("She's in Ancient Runes, you bloody wankers! I just want to take a walk… and don't spy on me!") Finally relishing in the fact that he was on his own, he returned to the tree that he had found Hermione under yesterday, and found that all of the petals she had left there had already bloomed into new flowers. He looked over each flower, and, finding the right one, he swiftly pocketed it, crossed his fingers, and hoped for the best.
When he entered the Common Room, he found the Godfather Gang in their favorite seats in front of the fireplace, looking as innocent as a bottle of poison with a smiley face painted on it. "I told you guys not to spy on me," he said, sitting on the couch beside Neville and Dean.
"Of course we weren't spying on you," Seamus said, a bit too quickly. "We were just… sitting."
"Right," said Ron, "just like 'ya mon'."
"Ya mon!" Dean said, hoping that it would make Ron forget about them spying on him through the windows. Luckily enough, it did, and gave Harry enough time to change the subject.
"So… are you ready?" Harry asked.
"Ya mo—I mean, yeah," Ron said, nodding, a renewed look of nervousness on his face.
Noticing it, Bill grinned. "Nothing to worry about, brother," he said. "Nothing beats the Weasley charm. What are you so scared about?"
Ron muttered something.
"What was that?" Dean asked, cupping his ear. "We didn't quite catch that."
"Rejection," Ron muttered quickly.
Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Bill, and Charlie hit themselves on the forehead. "You honestly still think Hermione's going to reject you after what we just told you?" Seamus asked incredulously. "You must be bonkers, mate. You're going to do fine, and you're going to do it, right?"
Ron took some time before finally nodding. "Right," he said.
In the classes that followed his free period, Ron was fidgety and prone to making mistakes, as he was too concerned on the task that he was set on doing later that evening. "You're going to be fine, Ron," Harry kept assuring him in History of Magic, as Ron's quill kept trembling, resulting in spraying the people in the row in front of them with ink, "just relax before you flood this classroom in ink."
Right before dinner, Ron nervously fingered the flower inside his robes and ruffled his hair. He, Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, Bill, and Charlie were standing right outside the Great Hall. Hermione and Ginny were already inside, and Ron's heart was pounding at what seemed like two hundred beats a second.
"Ron, we can't just stand out here all day," Dean said impatiently. And with that, he pushed Ron inside. It seemed as though he was on a broomstick on Autoflyer—he immediately found Hermione and stopped behind her, fidgeting, his heart threatening to jump straight out from his chest. Ginny, who had been talking to Hermione, coughed and inclined her head towards Ron. Hermione turned around. Ron's heart beat a bit faster.
"Oh, hello Ron," she said. "I haven't seen you all day, where were you?"
"Erm," Ron muttered, his mouth beginning to feel dry, "erm… come with me, would you?"
Hermione gave Ginny a confused look and got up hesitantly. "Where are we going?"
"Well, we're not leaving the Great Hall, if that's what you're thinking."
Hermione followed Ron to the very front of the Great Hall. "Ron, what are you—"
The Great Hall had suddenly quieted down and stared at Ron and Hermione; even the teachers stopped eating and looked on in interest. Professor McGonagall was positively beaming.
To Ron, the rest of the Great Hall had melted away, and he saw only Hermione. His heart calming down, he reached into his robes and pulled out the flower he had picked earlier. Handing it to her, he thought, Find out if he loves you. Hermione nodded, and, with trembling fingers, took the flower. "I'll be your last petal," Ron said quietly, and Hermione began to pull the petals off, one by one.
"He loves me, he loves me not," she said, the petals dropping gracefully by her feet.
The Godfather Gang, having front row seats, hugged each other, sobbing.
"Ronniekins is growing up!" Bill sobbed into Seamus's shoulder.
"Can you feel the love tonight?" Harry sang, patting Neville heartily on the back, which resulted in Neville nearly choking on the soup he was drinking. Looking up at the staff table, Harry could have sworn he saw Dumbledore pull his plate to him eagerly and say, "Dinner and a show—what a treat!" and toasted his glass with Professor McGonagall.
"He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me," Hermione continued, pulling off the petals.
The Great Hall waited with bated breath.
When Hermione reached the last petal, she looked at it sadly, and plucked it off. "He loves me not," she whispered, and she watched the petal float sadly to the floor.
Before it hit the tile, however, Ron said, "He loves you," and pulled Hermione towards him.
He kissed her.
Hermione, shocked at first, was too stunned to respond. Then she closed her eyes and leaned into Ron, snaking her arms around his neck, kissing him gently back. The warmth that they had wanted and needed from each other for so long was finally theirs to share. Ron's urgency made her shudder pleasantly, and she hugged Ron closer to her, knowing that this was the person she was meant to be with, and who she'd always be with, forever. His arms were her protection, and hers would protect him from anything and everything, as best as she could.
After what seemed like years, they finally broke apart, and stared into each other's eyes.
"I said I'd be your last petal, didn't I?" Ron whispered.
Hermione nodded soundlessly, and smiled.
"I love you," Ron said, hugging her small frame to his. "I don't know what took me so long."
"I love you too," Hermione said, sighing happily.
After a few moments, both of them noticed that the Great Hall had erupted into cheers and applause. The Godfather Gang had led the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables into a standing ovation, as was the Staff Table. However, Snape was standing for an entirely different reason.
"Weasley! Granger! What have I told you about public displays of affection?" he yelled, over the applause. "Fifty points—"
"—will be awarded to Gryffindor!" McGonagall interrupted, applauding. Leaning over to Dumbledore, she whispered, "It took those two long enough, didn't it?"
Dumbledore nodded assent. "Allow me to say it reminds me very much of what happened to Lily and James Potter," he said, his eyes twinkling.
"Why, you're right!" McGonagall said, watching Ron and Hermione smile embarrassedly to the crowd. "This is almost exactly what happened then… funny how things come back to you, isn't it?"
"Yes, and funny how things can happen," Dumbledore said, lifting his glass slightly. "The most unexpected can always occur, and here at Hogwarts, the unexpected seem to occur the most often."
Back at the Gryffindor table, Bill and Charlie were howling. "Ronniekins has a girlfriend!" Charlie cried, mopping his eyes with the tablecloth.
"I'm going to be a godfather!" Neville yelled triumphantly.
"Hush, Neville, not yet," Harry said. "And besides, we're the Godfather Gang, remember? All of us are going to be godfathers!"
"But I'm going to be the first one," Neville persisted, "I asked first."
Bill and Charlie rolled their eyes. "Whatever," they said, grinning.
Ignoring the din in the Great Hall, Ron offered his hand to Hermione and jerked his head to the door. "Want to go for a walk?"
Hermione smiled and took his hand, walking down the center aisle of the Great Hall not unlike a bride and a groom after a wedding.
Once they were on the Grounds, Ron laughed. "Can you believe this all started with an Arithmancy book?"
Hermione shook her head. "Not at all. Thanks for returning it to me, by the way," she said, smiling.
Ron's eyes widened. "How'd you know it was me?" he asked.
Hermione tapped the side of her head. "I'm Hermione Granger," she said, "I know everything."
"Then how come you didn't know I loved you?" Ron asked, a teasing grin on his face.
Hermione grinned and hugged Ron. "Well, I know that now, don't I?" she said quietly.
"You sure do," Ron said, hugging her close to him. "And I'm glad to know you still wear the perfume I gave you a few years ago."
"I wear it everyday," Hermione answered.
Ron gave her a lopsided grin, which made Hermione feel a bit weak at the knees. "But just in case you forget," he said, "I think I'll remind you."
"What?" Hermione asked, pretending to look puzzled.
"I love you."
And with that, he kissed her again, a symbol that their love was not going to be interrupted or destroyed, by anything, or anyone.
Except for maybe…
"Ouch! Neville!"
Ron and Hermione broke apart and looked around wildly, just in time to see Neville seemingly fly out from thin air, and land with a deafening crash into the lake, followed by Harry and Bill.
Hermione smiled and pulled Ron back to her, capturing him in a kiss again. Some things never change.
finite incantatem.
