"Nothing, nothing at all dad! Why?" replied Ron
"I don't know. You look in shock. What's that you're reading?"
"Oh, this, Ron pointed to his letter, well...it's...just a letter from..., Ron thought hard of someone that wouldn't raise suspicion, Hermione! She just wanted to tell me about a book she read. Yes, that's it!"
"Oh, ok, have fun reading!" his father joked, and walked to the kitchen.
'That was close!' thought Ron. So he got up and ran to his room, where he could have some privacy.
He sat at his desk reading and re-reading the letter. He just couldn't believe it. He couldn't understand why he couldn't believe it. It was totally believable. It was a known fact that You Know Who wanted Harry killed, but Ron had no idea how fast he could gather supporters. It looked very bad indeed for their side. His main fear was that The Dark Lord regained total control in the Wizarding World and the Muggle World. It would be total chaos. There was a knock at the door. The sound of his father's voice and the voice of a girl he knew all too well could be heard. Ron jumped off his bed and ran to the front door where Hermione was standing, broom in hand, talking to Mr. Weasley. She smiled at the sight of Ron and gave him a huge hug. She had missed him and Harry so much, especially Harry. Ron on the other hand, was more than just happy to see Hermione. She had been on his mind since they left the Platform Nine and three-quarters. They had written to each other frequently throughout the summer, but Ron desperately wanted to see her. The fact was Ron was in love with Hermione, and he knew it. It had been a while he had contemplated with the idea, but he didn't actually realized it till this last year at Hogwarts. He was overcome with a big wave jealousy when he had seen her with Victor Krum and when he invited her over the summer. And when they had been tied up underwater for the second task, he had been overwhelmed with nervousness that he had only felt one other time in his life, when Ginny, his sister, had been captured and put into the Chamber of Secrets. Love, for him, was such an odd feeling. Of course he loved his family, but that was platonic love. What he felt for Hermione, was real love. And he hated to admit it, but he was crazy jealous of Harry and the relation Hermione and he had together. How he wished he could have that close of a relationship, but, Hermione always seemed to push away. He didn't know why. He sometimes spent hours looking at them [Harry and Hermione] talking and laughing, as if they were an old couple talking about the good old days. He was never able to get that close to Hermione, and he had no idea why. Of course, Ron loved Harry very much, but, he could never overcome his jealousy. Harry always had everything. Everything but, of course, a family. That's what kept Ron's mind straight. Harry had never known his family, while he had four brothers, a sister and his two parents alive, and a lot more relatives. Harry had none of this. The only two things close enough to call family was Sirius and Ron. What kind of friend was he, being jealous of Harry. Harry, who had suffered all those loses, who had to make adult decisions at a very young age, and who had to deal with the whole world watching his every moves. Ron felt so bad about his feelings of jealousy, but, he couldn't deny the fact that they were there. All Ron could do was stand beside Harry and support him.
Ron invited Hermione to come in, took her bags, and walked up to the spare room where Hermione would stay.
"Sorry I didn't write before coming, I just recieved a letter from Harry, and, I needed to talk to someone." said Hermione.
"No, no, don't worry about it. We don't mind a bit. I got a letter too, and I think it's the same as yours. So, what do you think about it?"
"Right now, I don't know what to think! I'm so nervous for him, I can't stop thinking about him, and I feel totally useless."
"Well, we can't do anything, can we?"
"There has to be something we can do. Harry was always there for us! I'm not even sure I would be alive today if it wasn't for him."
"Same thing here. We have to find something to do. But, we have to stay low, I don't want anyone, especially not my dad, to find out we're planning something. Let's go up to my room, where we can elaborate a plan of action."
They walked three more sets of stairs before landing in front of Ron's room. They entered the familiar orange room, where the players of the Chuddley Cannons we're all smiling and waving at them. Ron took out a chair for Hermione, and pulled one for himself and set them in front of his window. They sat for a while, nobody saying anything. Finally, Hermione broke the awkward silence.
"There's something I have to tell you. It's only natural you should know." Hermione said, in a sort of shy tone.
"What is it?" Ron ask, trying to hide the anticipation in his voice. 'Is this it, is she going to tell me she loves me too!' Ron thought. His heart was pounding like a drum.
"Well, the thing is...you know the Secret-Keeper Harry talked about in the letter? Well, I know who it is."
"Oh, Ron tried to hide the deception in his voice, yeah? Who?"
"It's...me." replied Hermione.
"Really? I never would of thought of that!" said Ron, in a would-be-happy tone. What he was showing on the outside and what he was feeling inside were totally different. This just added to his despair. 'Why her, why not me!' Ron asked himself.
"Yes, I was really surprised when Dumbledore asked me. But of course, I couldn't say no, I'd do anything for Harry. I was actually quite honored to be Harry's Secret-Keeper " Hermione replied.
'I'd do anything for Harry!, Ron thought, anything for Harry, but not for me!'
Ron shook his head to take that thought out of his head.
"Why are you shaking your head?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, nothing, I just...don't feel very good. I think I drank a bit too much butterbeer last night!" joked Ron.
They both bursted out laughing.
All thoughts of Hermione loving Harry we're drawn out of Ron's head. He went downstairs to get two butterbeers and left Hermione alone in his room, to think.
'Oh, I hope Harry's okay! Why wouldn't he be, he's well protected! Unless...no, he wouldn't do that! Well, he's done it before! Oh, I hope not!'
Hermione was hoping Harry didn't decide to go out by himself to find Voldemort himself. Harry always assured the others safety before his own. He was very brave.
At that moment, Ron came in with two butterbeers in hand, and a plate of different cookies and cakes his mother made. He set them on a small table beside the two chairs. The talked and laughed while eating and drinking. Ron was for the first time in a long time, happy.
***
There, another chapter done! I tried doing a little longer, but I felt that this was a good time to end it! I hope you liked it! I know I said there was going to be more Erklings and Voldy, but, I couldn't fit them in!! Sorry! Maybe next chapter!
Next Chapter: I'll try to write in some more Erklings, and Voldy! Maybe some more Ron and Hermione!! Will she make up her mind!! Will Ron quit being jealous. Is Harry going to find out what the forest of the Black Sword is!!! Stay tuned!!
Please Review!