Hi! I'm back soon. I felt a little guilty leaving the story on that note, so I'm coming at you with a surprise update! I know I say this about a few chapters, but this one was so fun to write. Truly a favorite and has a bit of fluff sprinkled in!
I also want to say thank you, this story has been getting so much love in the past few days, I am so grateful :)
Now let's see what's happening at Hogwarts!
Enjoy & Review!
Draco had become sparse since returning to Hogwarts. Ron only saw him whenever he was in the Great Hall, or in potions. Both were too crowded to even corner the git.
Of course, he could ask Harry for the map, but that would raise suspicions. Something he wasn't willing to do yet.
Other than that, the month since arriving back has been what Ron could only describe as routine. Wake up. Eat breakfast. Go to class. Eat lunch. Avoid Lavender. Maybe dinner. Quidditch. Do patrols. Terrible nightmares. Repeat.
In all honesty, he was doing whatever he could to avoid anyone but Harry and Ginny. People so often offhandedly mentioned her, it made him tick.
"Ah, Harry, do you know when Miss Granger will be back? I've missed her at dinners." Slughorn would question every now and again.
"Oi! Dreaming of Granger again?" Seamus would ask as Ron groaned her name in his sleep.
"Did you send my last letter out to Hermione?" Neville would say every time he saw Hedwig.
"Ron if patrols are too much, we can always get an interim prefect until Hermione's back." Katie Bell would tell him.
But what he thinks may be worse, is the pitiful stares of those who knew the truth McGonagall wouldn't even berate him for late work. Dumbledore always gave him a sad smile. His family's letters were always full of concern for his state. Said letters had little update on the Order, souring his mood.
His mother would ask him what he wanted for his birthday, which was only about a week away now. She couldn't give him what he wanted though.
His father would write and tell him they've placed wards at the Granger's and currently have an Auror team dedicated to her case. But it didn't feel like enough. Nothing was.
Times like those, he had nearly shared his suspicions with his father on Draco Malfoy, but soon decided against it.
All he had were silly dreams, a weird instance on the train, and the knowledge of the git spending all his time in the Room of Requirement. It wasn't exactly concrete. It was nothing really.
On the bright side, he supposes, he's somehow avoided Lavender quiet well, but he still knows she's talking of him. Telling people they're together and whatnot. He just didn't have the patience to deal with right now.
All these thoughts soon halted as a small Gryffindor first year came up to him, looking nervous.
"You're Ron Weasley?" The little boy asked.
Ron nodded. He was after all on duty, so the kid could need help.
"Someone in the common room gave me a knut to find you."
"Oh?" He questioned confused, "who?"
The first year who he now recognized to be a little boy named Tommy who Hermione once helped him with his Potions work.
The little boy flushed, "I'm not very good with names, but he said it was about, Hermi-"
"Hermione?" Ron cut off anxiously.
He nodded, "Prefect Granger." He settled for.
"Okay, thanks so much Tommy!" He called, racing to the common room, somewhere he's avoided for weeks.
In the excitement that Harry knows something it didn't even dawn on him that he's the most famous wizard in Britain, so surely Tommy would know his name. No, he doesn't have time to think about that.
"Honeysuckle!" He called to the Fat Lady.
"Oh! Been a while!" She said smiling to Ron.
He groaned, "Honeysuckle!"
"Calm down! And I try to be polite." She huffed, swinging open.
Quickly, he climbed through looking around for Harry.
"Oh Weasley. There you are."
His face dropped.
Harry wasn't looking for him. Not at all.
"I see you got my message from Tommy. I've been trying to talk to you for weeks, but you're not an easy man to find."
Ron's fists clench at his sides.
"Or when Cormac McLaggan groped her after Slughorn's this weekend! Tore her dress and all!"
His eyebrow twitched at the memory.
"No one around here will give me an answer you see. I've asked just about the entire tower when Granger will be back. Figured you'd give me a straight answer. You and I seem to have her in common." McLaggen winked.
And before he could help it, Ron's fist connected with his nose, making him fall to the floor.
Nearby, people gasped at the sight. Unbeknownst to Ron, Neville was there and soon scurried away to get Harry.
From below, Cormac began laughing. "Touchy subject, eh?" He wiped his bloodied nose, "she talked about you, you know. At Slughorn's. I, of course, was able to take her mind off you." He propped up on his elbows, staring Ron right in the eyes.
"Didn't know she'd be such a good fu-"
Before the words left his mouth, Ron dove on the floor and punched his cheek. Next, he grasped at his collar.
"I know what you did to her! You thought you could get away with something like that, huh?" He bit out in a dangerous whisper, laced with venom.
Though scared, Cormac didn't back down, "I just did what you never could." With that, he threw Ron off and hit him squarely in the eye.
"I would never, ever, treat anyone, especially her, that way." He growled, trying to push the seventh year off, "you don't touch her!" He bellowed.
"Oh so watching you run around with Lavender Brown made Granger the happiest bird in Gryffindor. I don't think so." He commented. The whole tower knew about Ron and Hermione's fall out.
"That's not the same and you know it!" He defended, kicking him in the groin.
McLaggen cowered in pain for a moment before moving to punch Ron again.
By now they've drawn a crowd.
"Run her off, have you Weasley?" He said in between blows.
"You fucker." Ron grunted landing one more blow.
"Ron!" Harry had finally arrived per Neville.
They kept at it. Rolling around.
"Ron!" He called again.
Ron could vaguely hear Harry but ignored him. This felt good. Way too good. For the first time since Hermione disappeared he felt like he was doing something.
"Ron!" A voice, not Harry's, yelled grabbing his attention.
Looking up, he found Lavender standing there in shock.
"Ronald Weasley, I cannot believe you!" She shrieked.
Someone had dragged Cormac away, leaving Ron to stand and face her.
"Come on mate." Harry says dragging him up.
"Oh no, he's not going anywhere." Lavender claimed, crossing her arms and standing between them and the steps.
"I don't really see why this concerns you." Ron grunted, wiping some blood with the back of his sleeve.
"Concerns me? I think it does considering you're my boyfriend!" She yells.
"Boyfriend?" He questions, "I made it perfectly clear to you what we were on the train!"
"And I told you-" she began to retort angrily.
"What? You told me what? That I couldn't break up with you. That even though I told you it was over, you just denied it! Didn't you think there was a reason I avoided you for weeks?"
The pair of them ignored the crowd forming. Anxiously, Harry continued tugging at Ron's robes, but he just shrugged him off.
"This is about her, isn't it?" She said knowingly with slanted eyes.
Harry knew the mentioning of Hermione did Ron no good. He continuously called out his name.
"Don't bring her into this. Don't." He warned, voice dangerously low.
"So it is?" She fired back.
"Look Lavender, I'm sorry, okay? I really am. I tried for weeks to break it off with you, and you know it!" Sure Lavender was a bit of a ditz, but she wasn't by any means a moron, "and I should've done it sooner. After that night of the match, honestly, and for that I'm sorry. But when I finally bucked up the courage to end it, you said no, so you can't blame this on Hermione. You put yourself here." He told her honestly.
"No," she repeated, tone similar to the one she used on the train, "no because if you weren't so hung up on that-that Mud-"
"Don't finish that." Ginny called from over Lavender's shoulders. "Ron would never, but I will slap you silly."
"Great now you have your sister fighting your battles!" She snorted.
"Well Ginny's right, don't ever say that word. Ever." Ron told her fiercely.
"Again, defending her! Tell me Ron, if you want to ruin everything we had for her, then where is she huh? Where is she?"
He said nothing, mood suddenly shifting.
"If you care so much and you're so desperate to be her knight in shining armor, then where is she?"
Again, he stood still.
"Maybe McLaggen was right. You did run her off, didn't you?" Lavender laughed menacingly.
"No. No I didn't." He almost whimpered.
"Whatever, if she were here I would tell her that she's nothing but a no good-boyfriend-stealing slag!" She exclaimed.
"I said to stop it!" Ron yelled back.
"What'd she do? Hex you? Confund you? Tell you she'd do all your homework?" She accused, "or maybe-"
"I love her!" He admitted.
The whole room went silent.
Harry's hand slackened on his robes. Ginny's mouth hung open. Gasps filled the air.
"Alright, I'm sorry if that hurts you, but I can't help that. I love her." He takes a shaky breath and runs a hand through his hair, "I've been in love with her for years. It's- I've tried not to, but I can't . I just can't stop." Ron said, voice riddled with vulnerability.
He'd never have the courage to do something like this knowing someone could run off and tell Hermione as much. But now, now, he didn't have anything to lose, did he?
It's not like Bellatrix Lestrange would report the incident back to Hermione, wherever the hell she is.
Suddenly a harsh sting bloomed over his cheek.
Lavender pulled her hand away, shaking it slightly as it stung from slapping him so hard.
"We're done." She claimed before stomping upstairs.
It takes a few moments to register everything that just happened.
Beating up McLaggen. Breaking it off with Lavender. Proclaiming his love to Hermione to over half of Gryffindor. Lavender finally accepting it's done.
"Bugger off or I'll give the lot of you detention!" Ron yelled to the crowd as he rubbed his cheek thoughtfully.
Scared, the students scampered back to their respective tasks.
"That," Ginny breathed to her brother, "that was epic." She said a little dazed.
"Yeah, cheers." Ron grimaced as he began to throb all over. The initial adrenaline wearing off as both the slap from Lavender and punches from McLaggen began to throb.
"Come on, we better get you cleaned up." Harry said, pushing him to the steps, "later Gin." He called.
Wordlessly, Ron let Harry's hand guide him up the steps.
"Did that really just happen?" Harry whispered a little astonished.
"Which part? The one where beat up McLaggen. Or maybe when I rowed with Lavender in front of everyone. Oh, how about when I admitted I loved Hermione to the whole buggering tower." Ron grumbled.
"All of it." Harry said with a slight chuckle as he set Ron onto his bed and searched his trunk for a flannel.
"I reckon McGonagall will be around soon, giving me detention or something." The ginger groaned in realization.
Harry shrugged and walked over, "You really think McLaggen would tell and fess up to what he did that night?"
The cold cloth fell on his cheek, Ron winced.
"It's not like Hermione's here to explain herself. Is she?" He pointed out.
"McGonagall will believe you. She gets that Hermione can't be here and that she doesn't know if she'll be back."
The word 'if' echoes in Ron's head. When, Harry meant when.
"If?" A voice questions.
It's not Ron or Harry's
Soon, they turn.
Neville stands in the doorway. Concern written all over his face. Practically demanding answers with his eyes alone.
"Hermione might not be back?" He questioned, walking further into the room, ignoring their stunned faces.
They sat still again, not knowing what to say. Never have they seen such fire behind Neville's eyes.
Ron and Harry jumped when he slammed the door.
"Oi listen up and listen good," he demanded, voice never wavering, "Hermione may be your friend, but she's mine too, alright! And I may be daft but I'm not stupid!" Neville cried out.
"The lot of you have been acting weird since holiday ended. I know Hermione is quite a touchy subject for you Ron, but don't think I noticed how angry you got on the train. Or you Harry! You're a terrible liar." He pointed out.
"Neville-" Harry interrupted.
"No! Harry I've given you what, six letters since we've been here? Six! And not once reply. You don't even send Hedwig out the window. My bed," he points to it for good measure, "is right next to yours, I'm not dumb!"
"Mate-" Ron now interjects.
"And you!" He points to the ginger, "We've shared the same room for six years. I've heard you moaning Hermione's name in your sleep for over half of that! You think I can't stop the difference?" At least he has the decency to flush, "now, now it's different. You're practically screaming for her. I see when Harry wakes you up, tears down your face. Hell, it pierces your silencing charms."
The pair exchange a look. They never figured Neville would be the one to figure it out, well that's not entirely true. They just didn't think he'd be bold enough to confront them.
"So I'm asking you, not only as your friend, but Hermione's too. Would someone please just tell me what the hell is going on!" Neville finishes with a huff.
His eyes flick between Ron and Harry's waiting for a response. Soon, Harry averts his gaze to Ron, who sits for a moment, before nodding slowly.
"You're right Neville, we haven't been honest."The chosen admits.
The brunette huffs a gasp of air, "I knew it. This would've been a bit awkward if I was wrong." He says like himself again.
"Look mate, Dumbledore told us not to tell anyone, you have to swear you won't say anything." Ron says seriously.
"I swe-"
"This is life or death, I mean it." He added.
"I swear." Neville states, tone leaving no room for argument.
Weasley then looks to Harry to explain, not having the heart to.
"On Christmas Hermione was taken by," he gulps, eyeing his friend thoughtfully, "by Bellatrix Lestrange."
A pained look comes across Neville's face at the mention of her name. That woman's caused enough hurt to last him a lifetime. To last anybody a lifetime.
"No." He breathed.
Sadly, Harry nodded, "she came to the Burrow and-"
"H-h,"
He briefly eyed the room then shoved it away, thinking he was just hearing things.
"Harry."
No, it can't be. He must be losing it.
"Mate?" Ron asks worriedly.
"Ha-Harry P-Potter."
This time it's louder. It sounds so un-Hermione like, but deep down he knows it's her.
He stands from the bed shushing Ron with a wave of his arm.
"Harry J-James Po-Potter."
"Hermione." Harry breathes before he can help himself, willing Ron to stand and give his friend his full attention.
"T-the b-boy,"
"You're so close." He whispers through gritted teeth.
It's louder now, almost piercing his skull. The pain coming is familiar, but somehow welcome. He knows she needs him.
"The boy who lived."
At this, the dark haired boy falls to a heap on the floor. Thrashing about as he clutches his temples.
"A pillow Neville, now!" Ron shouts.
Neville obeys and props one underneath their friends head.
This time doesn't last long. Only a few seconds.
When Harry comes to his eyes burst open as he gasps for air, sitting up.
He soon meets Ron's worried eyes and he can only say one word. The very same Hermione was crying out to him.
"Malfoy."
Ohhhhh! Big things are on the horizon! Let me just say the next chapter is very important for what's to come as our favorite ginger finally gets a lead...maybe…
Until then, here's your preview!
Finally, he turns, "do you know why I've called you here?"
Weasley gulped, "I may have a guess..."
"News travels fast in this castle. But I don't have to tell you that, do I?"
"No sir." Ron agrees.
In other news, as I continue writing, I find myself writing longer chapters, so look forward to those :)
Keep up the lovely reviews!