Disclaimers: Everybody is j.k.Rowling's… song by Evan and JaRON
BRAIN: Sorry this look so long to post. It is entirely my fault…(we know dat Bwain…Shut up Pinky, before I physically hurt you) see I have finals, well we both do but I'm actually studying for mine and I was writing this other fic, called Silver Scars and I neglected this one. (Yeah and weft me all awone to do all de work.. Pinky this is MY note! Stop interrupting!) But Pinky just had a birthday yesterday…so this is my present to her…(lousy present…SHUT UP PINKY). AHEM! As I was saying…here it is The GRAND CONCLUSION!!
As Hermione left the room still giggling, I looked at my timetable. I had a class with Gyffindor and Slytherin. I really really didn't feel like teaching right then but we all have to make sacrifices. Besides…who knew when the Dare-some Duo would arrive.
*********
After class I went back into my office pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill.
Dear Harry,
How is everything with you, Fred and George and Ginny?
Hermione and I are Ok, as is school in general, but I have new respect for our old teachers even Snape. What I wanted to ask was if you could stop by for chess or something? It would be nice to see you again…
Yours Ron
P.s. send a reply if the answer is yes, but if you're too busy with Ginny I'll understand.
"There" I said as I rolled up the piece of parchment and stuck it on the owl's leg. In a day or so I would know if he was coming. I didn't remember him too well, but his company had to be better than the twins. Speaking of which…
"Oh, Ronniekins…" said a voice from behind me. Feeling the hairs at the back of my head stick up I turned around only to see Fred and George stood at the door grinning at me from ear to ear. My heart sank. I had entertained the hope that they're coming was just a rumor.
" So, you're the new coaches?" I asked raising an eyebrow at them.
"Well hello to you too Ron-"said Fred looking at me as if I had just killed his cat "- and yes, we are the new coaches…Do you have a problem with that?!" he asked his eyes glinting dangerously with what I had come to recognize as the Weasley fire temper.
` Yes, I do! I mean you two are the most irresponsible people I have ever met in my whole life!' I thought
"No Fred, why would I have a problem with that?" I said my voice coming out sugary sweet…like nails on a chalkboard.
"Oh, ok we just thought that you might be a bit worried, you know having us goons around while you tried to win over Hermione again. You might not want us getting in the way…" said George winking and nudging Fred.
"What do you mean in the way of me and Hermione," I said feeling my face flushing. "THERE IS NOTHING TO GET IN THE WAY OF!"
Fred and George were already clutching their sides with laughter. I could feel the steam puffing out of my ears; this was exactly what I didn't need. Then to my mortification I discovered some students had stopped in the corridor to watch the scene. Some were dumbstruck, obviously unaware that I could turned tomato red on queue around the twins, others (mostly girls) were giggling and still others (all girls this time) were saying, "Professor Ronald is so cute when he's mad." Oh yes. I knew I was going to LOVE having Fred and George around all the time.
As soon as possible I threw those two out of my office. "In the way…" I grumbled. "In the way of what? Me blacking out like some kid, or not remember the prettiest women in the school? Useless twits…Trying to win over Hermione again…what do they know?" Suddenly I stopped. What did they know? Had they said 'trying to win her again? Could there have possibly been some thing there before the accident? Maybe having those two excuses -for- wizards around wouldn't be so bad after all.
**************
Two day's later I found a snow white owl sitting on my desk "Ah, Harry's reply "I said to myself. It read:
Dear Ron:
How are you and Hermione, (I scowled) everybody is fine but surly you heard about Fred and George being the new coaches at Hogwarts!
And yes I can come, and no I am not busy, Ron, so I'll be there on Monday.
Yours,
Harry
P.S. I AM NOT BUSY WIYH GINNY. Well not totally.
Well that was good news because I certainly needed another guy to talk to and somehow I doubted Fred and George were the right people. Yeah those two walking disaster areas would screw up everything.
That evening I went down to the great hall and sat next to Hermione---so I could tell her about Harry coming---of course. I was sure she would be pleased be cause the two of them had acted like good friends the last time he was here.
We were discussing his coming when the voice of the unarguable Headmaster spoke. We turned away from each other as Professor Dumbledore stood up with his goblet in his hand.
"Dear students I have an announcement to make (Hermione's eyes got even brighter ). The Yule Ball is going to take place this year and I hope that everyone will attend."
There were excited murmurs from all around.
Ok this is your only chance, Ron. Just seek and you shall receive …ok …just …just…
"Hermione will you…? Will you…g-go….?" I stuttered. I was going to HAVE to do something about that tongue problem.
"Sure I'll go with you Ron," she said with a smile. It was wonderful being in love with such a smart brainy person…Not that I was in love---oh no-but all the same…Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.
Four days later I found myself in my office trying to brush my hair down. It had this ridicules habit of stick up when I wanted it to look nice. And today I wanted to look nice-because the scruffy redhead look got old quickly I told my self---it had nothing to do with lunch with Hermione. Nothing at all. Nada.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a cheerful voice at my door.
" Hi Ron!"
It was Harry standing at my door, looking at me the same way Fred did.
I ignored the smirk on his face and said, "Oh hi Harry I was just…"
"Making yourself look pwetty for Hermione," he said in an annoying baby voice. I fought the urge to punch him and resigned myself to scowl at him in the mirror instead.
"I don't now what you're taking about Harry," I said darkly.
"Yeah, that's why you're blushing Ron," he said grinning.
"Huh, what? I-I-I mean, no I'm not," I said trembling. I was so glad Hermione was not there to see me. Between the stuttering and the blushing tomato act I should have been glad that hadn't written me off to the funny farm. Control, I thought, stay in control.
"Yeah, right whatever Ron," he muttered still smirking.
'Or you could forget control and just kill them all…' I thought furiously.
I cleared my throat uncomfortably. I could tell this was going to be one of those 'let's show everyone what a fool you are days'. "You want to go play chess or what?" I said trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, ok but you can't hide forever, Ron" he said still grinning that darn grin. I would keep the 'kill them all' as a plan B in any case.
I hadn't played chess since the summer when had I beaten with my brother Percy-five times in a row…needless to say it wasn't a very challenging game. Finally I could resign myself to something I was familiar with…something I could control…something I could pound Harry to the ground in, I thought evilly. They had originally thought I would forget how to play chess with the amnesia; but after beating the whole family in one evening I proved them wrong. Of course Harry didn't know that…
"Ha, got your Bishop Harry!"
" Ron are you sure you lost your memory at chess?"
" Positive… well Bill did teach me how to play when he came for a visit…"
"Yeah whatever you say Ron," he said looking at me suspiciously as he moved his king into a fatal position. "So what exactly is going on with you and…?"
" Check mate, I win," I said hastily.
Harry sat there with his moth wide open blinking stupidly.
" What? You… won?"
" Yeah s-s-oo…Aaaaaah!" Dear Lord, not again. My head was killing me!
" Um ok Ron should I get Madam Pomfrey o-or Hermione?"
"I'm fine, I'm just…." But before I could say anything I buckled under, clutching my head.
Harry was trying to get me back into a chair. Instincts told me that my memory was having another flash but this time it was more colossal than before. A tidal wave of images, sounds, voices and screams hit me like a bolt of lightening. I fought for consciousness…which was beginning to seem like a losing battle.
I don't know how long I was lying on the floor convulsing, and passing in and out of consciousness. When I came-to fully I stared blankly at Harry. I could hear Hermione in the background asking if I was all right, but at the moment my gaze was locked on Harry.
Finally in a cold voice I said, "I remember."
Harry shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the next. "Remember, what? Me?"
"Yes." I couldn't stop my voice from sounding amazingly cold…almost acid. Before anyone could say anything I stood up slowly and stared him down. "You were supposed to be my friend. We shared everything. We battled through everything. And you were the hero and I was the invisible sidekick everyone forgot to mention."
Harry was shaking his head slowly, with a shocked crest fallen face. I couldn't see Hermione. I didn't care. It was like years of silent bitterness irrupted all at one time. "You were the Quidditch star, you were the Prefect. I was just the one who always got beaten up and stepped on. And Voldemort. I remember him, he was always tied up with you. We were trying to defeat him…and we did. Some one found the way to destroy him and we just had to find him. I remember it was like a chess game… all pieces falling into a delicate strategy…and I found the entrance to get him and the key to his defeat…and then the death eaters attacked and they almost killed me. And you took the key and defeated Voldemort. The whole wizarding world sang your praises to the sky and you didn't even come back to see if I was alive. I don't know who came back for me in the end. But it wasn't you… It wasn't you."
The silence was deafening. Harry's face had gone completely ashen. I turned to Hermione. Her lip was trembling and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. I looked for a moment between the two of them…then I stormed out of the room.
I'm not sure what I did in the hours that followed. I know I went to my room and trashed it. I know I sat down and tried to clarify the memories I had recovered. I think I cried some. Finally I sat at the foot of my bed in silence staring into the fire. I wished to Merlin that I had never remembered anything. The blurry picture of Harry in my mind that I associated with Ginny was a thousand times better than what I remembered.
Suddenly I heard a knock at my door. I was not in the mood to see anyone, but the caller was very persistent. Thinking suddenly that it might be Harry and overwhelming anger washed over me. I stormed over and flung the door wide open…
It was Hermione. She looked more tired than I had ever seen her, even when she had a double batch of Slytherins to deal with.
Swallowing the list of profanities I was preparing to use, I let her come in.
"Ron," she said "It's not what you think…about Harry. There were some rough times, but you really were friends."
"Every time I remember him, I get a truck load of this bitter anger, and I just can't-"
"Ron, that's because when you left you were angry. No one blamed you. The press did make it sound like Harry singled handedly defeated Voldemort. But Harry always knew that with out you he would have never been able to overcome him."
"THEN WHY DIDN'T HE COME BACK? WHY?!" I shouted.
"He was almost killed as well. Destroying Voldemort took everything he had and then some. He-he was practically crawling out after the fight was over. Even if he had gone back for you…there was nothing he could have done. Besides… he knew someone would go back for you."
I still wasn't convinced. Hermione turned my head towards her face and stared at me straight in the eyes. "Do this one thing for me. Think back, back before the last Great Battle. Think back when we were children…to the Tri-Wizard Tournament. To the Philosopher's Stone. You'll see…whatever came between you later, you and Harry were best friends."
With that she left the room.
After she left, I spent a couple of hours mulling over what had happen during the great defeat of Voldemort. I remembered the hurt and betrayal I felt when I realized Harry hadn't come for me. Then I went back further in my mind…to the early days when the uncertainty of Voldemort still hung over our heads and we had to stick together to keep alive. I remembered Harry coming to rescue me in the Tri-Wizard Tournament because I was like his brother…I was the most important person to him. More than that I remembered the months after the accident when he and Ginny and had spent day and night trying to make me better. The hurt didn't go a way, but it subsided a little.
A few hours later I found myself making my way to the teacher's common room were I had left Harry earlier in the day. It was late at night now and I half expected him not to be there. But he was, head in his hands stooping over the chessboard.
I watched him for a few long minutes. Then I said "Harry."
He looked up, startled. Harry opened his mouth to say something, but then seemed to think better of it. As he didn't seem inclined to talk, I spoke, trying to keep my voice even, "It's true isn't it? All the things I remembered?"
He just silently shook his head.
"And the explanations you gave me back then, they still stand?"
He nodded again, but this time more vigorously, his eyes pleading for me to believe him.
I took a deep breath. This was harder than I thought it would be. "Do you know what it's like getting your memory back, when it's been gone for so long? I meet someone like the twins and my first thought is that 'These are the most obnoxious guys on the planet.' Then I remember that I love them the most out of all my brothers. And not sure which feelings are the real ones…the ones I feel now or the ones I remember feeling. I meet you and you're one of the nicest persons I've ever seen. Then I remember you and the memories; at least the most recent ones are all filled with so much bloody anger!" I paused to take a breather and see what Harry's reaction was to my words. He had this sort of drowning look that made me hope I was doing the right thing.
I continued, "The point is, I suppose, that under the anger I DO remember that you were my best friend for years. And when I was hurt you were there for me. I know you were the reason I left for Egypt and that would explain why I remember Hermione crying because I'm sure I left angry. But knowing me, I suppose I was too stubborn to talk to you about what happened with Voldemort. So…so I guess the first step could be for us to talk about it now."
Suddenly, out of the blue Harry began to laugh with a sort of silly amusement. Drawing my eyebrows together I asked, "What is it?"
He said, "I just hearing you say Voldemort. You were always the one who would never call him by his name…"
I smiled slowly and began to laugh with him. I had great hope that we would be able to build our friendship again.
****
It was the night of the Yule Ball and my heart and head were throbbing like tribal drums…Tribal drums preparing to make a human sacrifice out of me. And to make matters worse nasty little voices kept saying awful things at the back of my head like "You're going to blow it buster!" or "She's going to take one look at you and then decide to go with Snape."
I couldn't take it any more, my head was going to blow up! Was I always this nervous when I was young? At that point I didn't care, the important thing was that I was going to be calm for Hermione. Just concentrate on Hermione, Ron, concentrate, I thought desperately.
I opened my wardrobe and debated between the dark blue robes with golden cuffs or the maroon robes with maroon cuffs. Thirty seconds later I threw the maroon robe back into my trunk and got ready for the Ball…something about it always brought the memory of maroon and lace robes that made me feel ill just to think about.
When I was ready for the ball I left to go find Hermione and sure enough there she was, standing on the stage telling all the students to settle down until the band arrived.
But that was not what I was focusing on. I was focused on Hermione who had on emerald green robes on with emeralds trailing dawn from her shoulders down to the ends of her
cuffs. There was gold embroidery around the neck and sleeves and her hair looked like she had gold glitter sprinkled in it.
She caught my eye and smiled, I waved and gave her a sign to come and sit down. With me of course.
"What?" She asked as she came over, brushing the tiny sweat beads off her neck.
'Oooooooh' I thought 'I would like to do that '
"Ahem, you look beautiful tonight," I said dreamily. Then straightening I continued nervously, "Of course you look beautiful every night---I mean every day, I don't usually see you at night, that is-"
" Th-thanks Ron," she said turning a brilliant shade of scarlet.
' Ha you made her blush, Ron. 50 points! good one!'
" And green is such a beautiful color on you, you should wear it more often."
She blushed even deeper 'That's right, Romeo keep it coming. 60 no 70 points! No wait 60 is enough…don't want to get cocky.'
"Come on," I said as I pulled her out of her chair. The band had arrived and the music had started so I brought her out onto the dance floor. Her arms came up to my shoulders and my arms went around her waist. If Dumbledore and McGonagall had seen us they would have thought…hey! They WERE watching us!
When I turned my head they both either looking up at the ceiling or out the window, still there was something suspicious in the gleam I kept seeing their eyes. But as I was saying if anyone older was watching us they would have thought we were just some teenagers who were trying to get away from the world…. Hmmm not a bad idea, to try and smuggle Hermione out of the castle and out on the grounds. Little did I know that my wish would be granted because at that moment there was a loud yell that unmistakably belonged to Filch:
"PEEVES!!!!" he screamed.
Peeves the poltergeist came whooshing in cackling with evil laughter, throwing exploding firecrackers in the middle of the ball room! Count on that darn poltergeist to ruin my moments. Girls were screaming and boys yelped as Hermione climbed up to the stage and told every one to stay calm and leave the room. She didn't need to do any coaxing …as everyone complied. Funny how exploding firecrackers kind of ruined the romantic mood of the dance. But, it didn't have to ruined for the whole night…
Suddenly an idea came to me and I took Hermione's hand and led her out of the castle.
The breeze was cold and ground was covered with beautiful white snow. It was cold and Hermione was shivering a little…Oh how I wanted to warm her up. Anyway, the moon was so bright it looked like a thousand stars clustered together. I stopped myself. "The moon looks like a thousand stars? Boy I need help…I am obviously lost. Percy wasn't even this bad when he was crooning over that blonde girl…Clear-something or other."
"Uh Ron what are we doing here?" She asked with one eyebrow raised as I led her to a frost-covered bench. I bit my lip nervously…exactly WHAT was I supposed to tell her 'Um Hermione I love you and I took you here to kiss you'. Sure I could say that…if I had a real desire to get slapped in the face.
When I looked back at her she had this gorgeous smile on her face like she had just read my mind…She had never seemed so perfect to me before… If I could only say the right words…"Hermione---" I began with this dreamy look that I'm sure made me look ridiculous…but before I get a word out something small and black crawled up Hermione's robes.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I screamed leaping off the bench. I stood shaking pointing in horror at the ugly little beast. "I-I-I-I-I-tttt'sss a sssppppiiiiiddddderrrrr!"
Hermione who had frozen when I screamed and gone as white as a sheet looked down and threw the 8-legged creature off her robes. She took one look at me and then began laughing hysterically.
"W-what's so funny" I managed to say.
"Y-you are still afraid of --Ha Ha-spiders?" She choked out between exuberant laughter.
"SO!" I said, feeling not only like the lousiest git on the planet but also acutely embarrassed, and generally like an all around stupid prat.
"I thought surely with the amnesia you would have at least forgotten about the spiders…You forgot everything else. And really Ron you're 24 years old…. Well aren't you over that!" She stopped laughing.
"NO"
" OH JEEZ COME ON RON YOU ARE AN ADULT!"
"SHUT UP HERMIONE!! YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TEASING ME ABOUT THAT."
" NO I HAVEN'T"
"YES YOU HAVE! EVER SINCE YOU FOUND OUT IN SECOND YEAR!" I shouted angrily, forgetting I was trying to win this woman over and completely oblivious of what I said.
Hermione didn't yell back anything to what I said. Instead she looked at me with this surprised expression all over her face. I was furious…but not furious enough to forget just how beautiful she was all flushed like that.
" You-- you remembered. You remembered. I DID make fun you in the second year. D-D-Do remember any thing else?" she stuttered. She had tears in her eyes.
Before I could answer I felt them…all those memories opened up in my mind like a wonderful picture book. Sure I was getting a splitting headache but who care when I was remembering my first and only love? Our first fight, our first hug, our first kiss. "You were the one who came back for me when Voldemort was destroyed!" I cried.
She nodded her face splitting up with this gorgeous smile. "And that troll in first year! And Victor Krum, who I hated worse than Voldemort! And you helped us defeat the Dark Lord…and I loved you always…Lord, I remember! I finally remember!"
She was crying out right by then and Heck so was I. And she finally ended up in my arms and I got that kiss I had wanted ever since the first day I re-met her. Then there was a loud noise from the window next to us and all the professors were there cheering. All the women were crying including my mum and Ginny (hey what were they doing there?) But my whole family and old school friends were there! Fred, George, Harry and some other the professors were whistling and jumping up and down and some were just smiling. Even Snape looked happy.
But over all the noise I turned to Hermione. Not just any Hermione the Hermione who was my greatest…well--everything in the world… and asked her a question.
"Hermione, will you please marry me? Before anything else happens?"
All the noise stopped and everyone eyed Hermione.
"You stupid GIT what took you so long? Of course I will!!"
...And right now
Face to face all my fears
Pushed aside and right now
I'm ready to spend
The rest of my life with you…
***************
Now we have two kids (both redheads and both loads of trouble) and I'm still scared stiff of spiders, but we are together, hopefully till death do us part.
So as you can see memories are just were you laid them and no where else.
The End.
So what did you thick? Fluff galore right? Well I (the brain) am tired of serious depressing fics....(like the one I'm writing) and I think we all need a little pointless fluff (Pinky, stop blubbering over there! It was a happy ending no need to cry!) But but Bwain it's so sweet booohoobhooobooohoooo… Ignore her.
Now Pinky we must prepare for tomorrow
But what we gonna do towmowoo Bwain?
The same thing we do every night Pinky…TRY TO TAKE OVER THE HP FANFICTION WORLD!!!!!
Pinky here: dedication: first to my big sister the Brain. Second to my best friend Sara Virginia Potter. And to *burst out crying* THIS IS SO SWEET! *Brain rolls her eyes and takes over the keyboard* Pinky I think it's your bed time. Bye everyone and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!
BRAIN: Sorry this look so long to post. It is entirely my fault…(we know dat Bwain…Shut up Pinky, before I physically hurt you) see I have finals, well we both do but I'm actually studying for mine and I was writing this other fic, called Silver Scars and I neglected this one. (Yeah and weft me all awone to do all de work.. Pinky this is MY note! Stop interrupting!) But Pinky just had a birthday yesterday…so this is my present to her…(lousy present…SHUT UP PINKY). AHEM! As I was saying…here it is The GRAND CONCLUSION!!
As Hermione left the room still giggling, I looked at my timetable. I had a class with Gyffindor and Slytherin. I really really didn't feel like teaching right then but we all have to make sacrifices. Besides…who knew when the Dare-some Duo would arrive.
*********
After class I went back into my office pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill.
Dear Harry,
How is everything with you, Fred and George and Ginny?
Hermione and I are Ok, as is school in general, but I have new respect for our old teachers even Snape. What I wanted to ask was if you could stop by for chess or something? It would be nice to see you again…
Yours Ron
P.s. send a reply if the answer is yes, but if you're too busy with Ginny I'll understand.
"There" I said as I rolled up the piece of parchment and stuck it on the owl's leg. In a day or so I would know if he was coming. I didn't remember him too well, but his company had to be better than the twins. Speaking of which…
"Oh, Ronniekins…" said a voice from behind me. Feeling the hairs at the back of my head stick up I turned around only to see Fred and George stood at the door grinning at me from ear to ear. My heart sank. I had entertained the hope that they're coming was just a rumor.
" So, you're the new coaches?" I asked raising an eyebrow at them.
"Well hello to you too Ron-"said Fred looking at me as if I had just killed his cat "- and yes, we are the new coaches…Do you have a problem with that?!" he asked his eyes glinting dangerously with what I had come to recognize as the Weasley fire temper.
` Yes, I do! I mean you two are the most irresponsible people I have ever met in my whole life!' I thought
"No Fred, why would I have a problem with that?" I said my voice coming out sugary sweet…like nails on a chalkboard.
"Oh, ok we just thought that you might be a bit worried, you know having us goons around while you tried to win over Hermione again. You might not want us getting in the way…" said George winking and nudging Fred.
"What do you mean in the way of me and Hermione," I said feeling my face flushing. "THERE IS NOTHING TO GET IN THE WAY OF!"
Fred and George were already clutching their sides with laughter. I could feel the steam puffing out of my ears; this was exactly what I didn't need. Then to my mortification I discovered some students had stopped in the corridor to watch the scene. Some were dumbstruck, obviously unaware that I could turned tomato red on queue around the twins, others (mostly girls) were giggling and still others (all girls this time) were saying, "Professor Ronald is so cute when he's mad." Oh yes. I knew I was going to LOVE having Fred and George around all the time.
As soon as possible I threw those two out of my office. "In the way…" I grumbled. "In the way of what? Me blacking out like some kid, or not remember the prettiest women in the school? Useless twits…Trying to win over Hermione again…what do they know?" Suddenly I stopped. What did they know? Had they said 'trying to win her again? Could there have possibly been some thing there before the accident? Maybe having those two excuses -for- wizards around wouldn't be so bad after all.
**************
Two day's later I found a snow white owl sitting on my desk "Ah, Harry's reply "I said to myself. It read:
Dear Ron:
How are you and Hermione, (I scowled) everybody is fine but surly you heard about Fred and George being the new coaches at Hogwarts!
And yes I can come, and no I am not busy, Ron, so I'll be there on Monday.
Yours,
Harry
P.S. I AM NOT BUSY WIYH GINNY. Well not totally.
Well that was good news because I certainly needed another guy to talk to and somehow I doubted Fred and George were the right people. Yeah those two walking disaster areas would screw up everything.
That evening I went down to the great hall and sat next to Hermione---so I could tell her about Harry coming---of course. I was sure she would be pleased be cause the two of them had acted like good friends the last time he was here.
We were discussing his coming when the voice of the unarguable Headmaster spoke. We turned away from each other as Professor Dumbledore stood up with his goblet in his hand.
"Dear students I have an announcement to make (Hermione's eyes got even brighter ). The Yule Ball is going to take place this year and I hope that everyone will attend."
There were excited murmurs from all around.
Ok this is your only chance, Ron. Just seek and you shall receive …ok …just …just…
"Hermione will you…? Will you…g-go….?" I stuttered. I was going to HAVE to do something about that tongue problem.
"Sure I'll go with you Ron," she said with a smile. It was wonderful being in love with such a smart brainy person…Not that I was in love---oh no-but all the same…Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all.
Four days later I found myself in my office trying to brush my hair down. It had this ridicules habit of stick up when I wanted it to look nice. And today I wanted to look nice-because the scruffy redhead look got old quickly I told my self---it had nothing to do with lunch with Hermione. Nothing at all. Nada.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a cheerful voice at my door.
" Hi Ron!"
It was Harry standing at my door, looking at me the same way Fred did.
I ignored the smirk on his face and said, "Oh hi Harry I was just…"
"Making yourself look pwetty for Hermione," he said in an annoying baby voice. I fought the urge to punch him and resigned myself to scowl at him in the mirror instead.
"I don't now what you're taking about Harry," I said darkly.
"Yeah, that's why you're blushing Ron," he said grinning.
"Huh, what? I-I-I mean, no I'm not," I said trembling. I was so glad Hermione was not there to see me. Between the stuttering and the blushing tomato act I should have been glad that hadn't written me off to the funny farm. Control, I thought, stay in control.
"Yeah, right whatever Ron," he muttered still smirking.
'Or you could forget control and just kill them all…' I thought furiously.
I cleared my throat uncomfortably. I could tell this was going to be one of those 'let's show everyone what a fool you are days'. "You want to go play chess or what?" I said trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, ok but you can't hide forever, Ron" he said still grinning that darn grin. I would keep the 'kill them all' as a plan B in any case.
I hadn't played chess since the summer when had I beaten with my brother Percy-five times in a row…needless to say it wasn't a very challenging game. Finally I could resign myself to something I was familiar with…something I could control…something I could pound Harry to the ground in, I thought evilly. They had originally thought I would forget how to play chess with the amnesia; but after beating the whole family in one evening I proved them wrong. Of course Harry didn't know that…
"Ha, got your Bishop Harry!"
" Ron are you sure you lost your memory at chess?"
" Positive… well Bill did teach me how to play when he came for a visit…"
"Yeah whatever you say Ron," he said looking at me suspiciously as he moved his king into a fatal position. "So what exactly is going on with you and…?"
" Check mate, I win," I said hastily.
Harry sat there with his moth wide open blinking stupidly.
" What? You… won?"
" Yeah s-s-oo…Aaaaaah!" Dear Lord, not again. My head was killing me!
" Um ok Ron should I get Madam Pomfrey o-or Hermione?"
"I'm fine, I'm just…." But before I could say anything I buckled under, clutching my head.
Harry was trying to get me back into a chair. Instincts told me that my memory was having another flash but this time it was more colossal than before. A tidal wave of images, sounds, voices and screams hit me like a bolt of lightening. I fought for consciousness…which was beginning to seem like a losing battle.
I don't know how long I was lying on the floor convulsing, and passing in and out of consciousness. When I came-to fully I stared blankly at Harry. I could hear Hermione in the background asking if I was all right, but at the moment my gaze was locked on Harry.
Finally in a cold voice I said, "I remember."
Harry shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the next. "Remember, what? Me?"
"Yes." I couldn't stop my voice from sounding amazingly cold…almost acid. Before anyone could say anything I stood up slowly and stared him down. "You were supposed to be my friend. We shared everything. We battled through everything. And you were the hero and I was the invisible sidekick everyone forgot to mention."
Harry was shaking his head slowly, with a shocked crest fallen face. I couldn't see Hermione. I didn't care. It was like years of silent bitterness irrupted all at one time. "You were the Quidditch star, you were the Prefect. I was just the one who always got beaten up and stepped on. And Voldemort. I remember him, he was always tied up with you. We were trying to defeat him…and we did. Some one found the way to destroy him and we just had to find him. I remember it was like a chess game… all pieces falling into a delicate strategy…and I found the entrance to get him and the key to his defeat…and then the death eaters attacked and they almost killed me. And you took the key and defeated Voldemort. The whole wizarding world sang your praises to the sky and you didn't even come back to see if I was alive. I don't know who came back for me in the end. But it wasn't you… It wasn't you."
The silence was deafening. Harry's face had gone completely ashen. I turned to Hermione. Her lip was trembling and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. I looked for a moment between the two of them…then I stormed out of the room.
I'm not sure what I did in the hours that followed. I know I went to my room and trashed it. I know I sat down and tried to clarify the memories I had recovered. I think I cried some. Finally I sat at the foot of my bed in silence staring into the fire. I wished to Merlin that I had never remembered anything. The blurry picture of Harry in my mind that I associated with Ginny was a thousand times better than what I remembered.
Suddenly I heard a knock at my door. I was not in the mood to see anyone, but the caller was very persistent. Thinking suddenly that it might be Harry and overwhelming anger washed over me. I stormed over and flung the door wide open…
It was Hermione. She looked more tired than I had ever seen her, even when she had a double batch of Slytherins to deal with.
Swallowing the list of profanities I was preparing to use, I let her come in.
"Ron," she said "It's not what you think…about Harry. There were some rough times, but you really were friends."
"Every time I remember him, I get a truck load of this bitter anger, and I just can't-"
"Ron, that's because when you left you were angry. No one blamed you. The press did make it sound like Harry singled handedly defeated Voldemort. But Harry always knew that with out you he would have never been able to overcome him."
"THEN WHY DIDN'T HE COME BACK? WHY?!" I shouted.
"He was almost killed as well. Destroying Voldemort took everything he had and then some. He-he was practically crawling out after the fight was over. Even if he had gone back for you…there was nothing he could have done. Besides… he knew someone would go back for you."
I still wasn't convinced. Hermione turned my head towards her face and stared at me straight in the eyes. "Do this one thing for me. Think back, back before the last Great Battle. Think back when we were children…to the Tri-Wizard Tournament. To the Philosopher's Stone. You'll see…whatever came between you later, you and Harry were best friends."
With that she left the room.
After she left, I spent a couple of hours mulling over what had happen during the great defeat of Voldemort. I remembered the hurt and betrayal I felt when I realized Harry hadn't come for me. Then I went back further in my mind…to the early days when the uncertainty of Voldemort still hung over our heads and we had to stick together to keep alive. I remembered Harry coming to rescue me in the Tri-Wizard Tournament because I was like his brother…I was the most important person to him. More than that I remembered the months after the accident when he and Ginny and had spent day and night trying to make me better. The hurt didn't go a way, but it subsided a little.
A few hours later I found myself making my way to the teacher's common room were I had left Harry earlier in the day. It was late at night now and I half expected him not to be there. But he was, head in his hands stooping over the chessboard.
I watched him for a few long minutes. Then I said "Harry."
He looked up, startled. Harry opened his mouth to say something, but then seemed to think better of it. As he didn't seem inclined to talk, I spoke, trying to keep my voice even, "It's true isn't it? All the things I remembered?"
He just silently shook his head.
"And the explanations you gave me back then, they still stand?"
He nodded again, but this time more vigorously, his eyes pleading for me to believe him.
I took a deep breath. This was harder than I thought it would be. "Do you know what it's like getting your memory back, when it's been gone for so long? I meet someone like the twins and my first thought is that 'These are the most obnoxious guys on the planet.' Then I remember that I love them the most out of all my brothers. And not sure which feelings are the real ones…the ones I feel now or the ones I remember feeling. I meet you and you're one of the nicest persons I've ever seen. Then I remember you and the memories; at least the most recent ones are all filled with so much bloody anger!" I paused to take a breather and see what Harry's reaction was to my words. He had this sort of drowning look that made me hope I was doing the right thing.
I continued, "The point is, I suppose, that under the anger I DO remember that you were my best friend for years. And when I was hurt you were there for me. I know you were the reason I left for Egypt and that would explain why I remember Hermione crying because I'm sure I left angry. But knowing me, I suppose I was too stubborn to talk to you about what happened with Voldemort. So…so I guess the first step could be for us to talk about it now."
Suddenly, out of the blue Harry began to laugh with a sort of silly amusement. Drawing my eyebrows together I asked, "What is it?"
He said, "I just hearing you say Voldemort. You were always the one who would never call him by his name…"
I smiled slowly and began to laugh with him. I had great hope that we would be able to build our friendship again.
****
It was the night of the Yule Ball and my heart and head were throbbing like tribal drums…Tribal drums preparing to make a human sacrifice out of me. And to make matters worse nasty little voices kept saying awful things at the back of my head like "You're going to blow it buster!" or "She's going to take one look at you and then decide to go with Snape."
I couldn't take it any more, my head was going to blow up! Was I always this nervous when I was young? At that point I didn't care, the important thing was that I was going to be calm for Hermione. Just concentrate on Hermione, Ron, concentrate, I thought desperately.
I opened my wardrobe and debated between the dark blue robes with golden cuffs or the maroon robes with maroon cuffs. Thirty seconds later I threw the maroon robe back into my trunk and got ready for the Ball…something about it always brought the memory of maroon and lace robes that made me feel ill just to think about.
When I was ready for the ball I left to go find Hermione and sure enough there she was, standing on the stage telling all the students to settle down until the band arrived.
But that was not what I was focusing on. I was focused on Hermione who had on emerald green robes on with emeralds trailing dawn from her shoulders down to the ends of her
cuffs. There was gold embroidery around the neck and sleeves and her hair looked like she had gold glitter sprinkled in it.
She caught my eye and smiled, I waved and gave her a sign to come and sit down. With me of course.
"What?" She asked as she came over, brushing the tiny sweat beads off her neck.
'Oooooooh' I thought 'I would like to do that '
"Ahem, you look beautiful tonight," I said dreamily. Then straightening I continued nervously, "Of course you look beautiful every night---I mean every day, I don't usually see you at night, that is-"
" Th-thanks Ron," she said turning a brilliant shade of scarlet.
' Ha you made her blush, Ron. 50 points! good one!'
" And green is such a beautiful color on you, you should wear it more often."
She blushed even deeper 'That's right, Romeo keep it coming. 60 no 70 points! No wait 60 is enough…don't want to get cocky.'
"Come on," I said as I pulled her out of her chair. The band had arrived and the music had started so I brought her out onto the dance floor. Her arms came up to my shoulders and my arms went around her waist. If Dumbledore and McGonagall had seen us they would have thought…hey! They WERE watching us!
When I turned my head they both either looking up at the ceiling or out the window, still there was something suspicious in the gleam I kept seeing their eyes. But as I was saying if anyone older was watching us they would have thought we were just some teenagers who were trying to get away from the world…. Hmmm not a bad idea, to try and smuggle Hermione out of the castle and out on the grounds. Little did I know that my wish would be granted because at that moment there was a loud yell that unmistakably belonged to Filch:
"PEEVES!!!!" he screamed.
Peeves the poltergeist came whooshing in cackling with evil laughter, throwing exploding firecrackers in the middle of the ball room! Count on that darn poltergeist to ruin my moments. Girls were screaming and boys yelped as Hermione climbed up to the stage and told every one to stay calm and leave the room. She didn't need to do any coaxing …as everyone complied. Funny how exploding firecrackers kind of ruined the romantic mood of the dance. But, it didn't have to ruined for the whole night…
Suddenly an idea came to me and I took Hermione's hand and led her out of the castle.
The breeze was cold and ground was covered with beautiful white snow. It was cold and Hermione was shivering a little…Oh how I wanted to warm her up. Anyway, the moon was so bright it looked like a thousand stars clustered together. I stopped myself. "The moon looks like a thousand stars? Boy I need help…I am obviously lost. Percy wasn't even this bad when he was crooning over that blonde girl…Clear-something or other."
"Uh Ron what are we doing here?" She asked with one eyebrow raised as I led her to a frost-covered bench. I bit my lip nervously…exactly WHAT was I supposed to tell her 'Um Hermione I love you and I took you here to kiss you'. Sure I could say that…if I had a real desire to get slapped in the face.
When I looked back at her she had this gorgeous smile on her face like she had just read my mind…She had never seemed so perfect to me before… If I could only say the right words…"Hermione---" I began with this dreamy look that I'm sure made me look ridiculous…but before I get a word out something small and black crawled up Hermione's robes.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I screamed leaping off the bench. I stood shaking pointing in horror at the ugly little beast. "I-I-I-I-I-tttt'sss a sssppppiiiiiddddderrrrr!"
Hermione who had frozen when I screamed and gone as white as a sheet looked down and threw the 8-legged creature off her robes. She took one look at me and then began laughing hysterically.
"W-what's so funny" I managed to say.
"Y-you are still afraid of --Ha Ha-spiders?" She choked out between exuberant laughter.
"SO!" I said, feeling not only like the lousiest git on the planet but also acutely embarrassed, and generally like an all around stupid prat.
"I thought surely with the amnesia you would have at least forgotten about the spiders…You forgot everything else. And really Ron you're 24 years old…. Well aren't you over that!" She stopped laughing.
"NO"
" OH JEEZ COME ON RON YOU ARE AN ADULT!"
"SHUT UP HERMIONE!! YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TEASING ME ABOUT THAT."
" NO I HAVEN'T"
"YES YOU HAVE! EVER SINCE YOU FOUND OUT IN SECOND YEAR!" I shouted angrily, forgetting I was trying to win this woman over and completely oblivious of what I said.
Hermione didn't yell back anything to what I said. Instead she looked at me with this surprised expression all over her face. I was furious…but not furious enough to forget just how beautiful she was all flushed like that.
" You-- you remembered. You remembered. I DID make fun you in the second year. D-D-Do remember any thing else?" she stuttered. She had tears in her eyes.
Before I could answer I felt them…all those memories opened up in my mind like a wonderful picture book. Sure I was getting a splitting headache but who care when I was remembering my first and only love? Our first fight, our first hug, our first kiss. "You were the one who came back for me when Voldemort was destroyed!" I cried.
She nodded her face splitting up with this gorgeous smile. "And that troll in first year! And Victor Krum, who I hated worse than Voldemort! And you helped us defeat the Dark Lord…and I loved you always…Lord, I remember! I finally remember!"
She was crying out right by then and Heck so was I. And she finally ended up in my arms and I got that kiss I had wanted ever since the first day I re-met her. Then there was a loud noise from the window next to us and all the professors were there cheering. All the women were crying including my mum and Ginny (hey what were they doing there?) But my whole family and old school friends were there! Fred, George, Harry and some other the professors were whistling and jumping up and down and some were just smiling. Even Snape looked happy.
But over all the noise I turned to Hermione. Not just any Hermione the Hermione who was my greatest…well--everything in the world… and asked her a question.
"Hermione, will you please marry me? Before anything else happens?"
All the noise stopped and everyone eyed Hermione.
"You stupid GIT what took you so long? Of course I will!!"
...And right now
Face to face all my fears
Pushed aside and right now
I'm ready to spend
The rest of my life with you…
***************
Now we have two kids (both redheads and both loads of trouble) and I'm still scared stiff of spiders, but we are together, hopefully till death do us part.
So as you can see memories are just were you laid them and no where else.
The End.
So what did you thick? Fluff galore right? Well I (the brain) am tired of serious depressing fics....(like the one I'm writing) and I think we all need a little pointless fluff (Pinky, stop blubbering over there! It was a happy ending no need to cry!) But but Bwain it's so sweet booohoobhooobooohoooo… Ignore her.
Now Pinky we must prepare for tomorrow
But what we gonna do towmowoo Bwain?
The same thing we do every night Pinky…TRY TO TAKE OVER THE HP FANFICTION WORLD!!!!!
Pinky here: dedication: first to my big sister the Brain. Second to my best friend Sara Virginia Potter. And to *burst out crying* THIS IS SO SWEET! *Brain rolls her eyes and takes over the keyboard* Pinky I think it's your bed time. Bye everyone and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!