Disclaimer: JK owns all. Period.
By Enchantress.
'Her-Hermione… and VIKTOR KRUM???' thought Ron, his eyes growing wide. He clutched at the side of the table to steady himself. He was apoplectic with rage and he noticed that he was shaking all over.
Ron steadied himself somewhat and walked shakily to some chairs, which to his relief were devoid of any people.
"How can it be?" muttered Ron out loud, still staring at Hermione's happy face.
His first instinct was to rush over to the two of them and knock Krum's teeth out! How dare he try to come between them! But then, Ron mused, what was between himself and Hermione after all?
They were best friends… Ron sincerely liked Hermione… she was fun to be with… sometimes she was a pain… but until tonight he had never felt so protective of her!
'Ah! I don't like her in that way! I couldn't! She's my best friend! That's it… I'm just mad because she chose that Bulgarian rat over me! I'm just angry because she's my friend… that's all… that's ALL….' Ron kept thinking, his head in hands.
"Hey Ron!"
Ron looked up and saw Harry in front of him, holding two butterbeers and smiling.
"Hey Harry…havin' fun? Where's Paravati?" asked Ron, straightening. "And please, if I see another butterbeer, I think I'll keel over." he finished as Harry tried to hand him a goblet.
"Paravati is dancing with some Huffelpuff guy… Ow! My feet feel like raw meat!" exclaimed Harry, flopping into the chair next to Ron.
"What's wrong?" said Harry suddenly as he noticed that Ron looked miserable. "Your date hasn't deserted you has she?" asked Harry, his eyes growing wide.
"No, no… I don't feel like dancing, that's all…" muttered Ron, looking away. He knew Harry wouldn't be convinced.
"Uh huh! Well, are you going to tell me what's bothering you or not?" pursued Harry, swallowing another big gulp of his drink.
"Have you seen Hermione lately?" said Ron giving Harry a false smile.
Realization seemed to dawn on Harry and all of a sudden he looked very uncomfortable.
"Oh-well, she had to come, right? And you didn't ask her so… I mean, I mean… well, Krum isn't that bad… but of course not that..." Harry tried to comfort his friend and finally gave up.
"Relax Harry! I'm not going to throw a tantrum!" replied Ron, looking sarcastic. "I don't feel like dancing any more… if you see my -humph- date, then tell her I left. Not that it'll make any difference to her…" said Ron, standing up and glancing at his date, who was dancing with Draco Malfoy by now.
"Ron, you can't go! I mean, it's not like Hermione doesn't like you or anything…"
"Harry, I just don't feel like it, ok? No, I'm some sort of wounded hero in one of those crappy muggle books Hermione reads! I feel a bit sick that's all… maybe Percy's spell wore off, huh?" Ron said and strode away determinedly, leaving behind a confused Harry.
*
Now Hermione was sure of it.
Victor was a gentleman, he treated her kindly and danced every dance with her, he had after all, given her flowers, but he was as interesting as a doormat.
She was definitely bored.
His main topics of conversation were Quiditch, Quiditch, Bulgaria, and his mother… did I mention Quiditch?
By he end of the fifth song, Hermione was practically
snoozing!
Hermione had been peering over her shoulder throughout every dance, trying to catch a glimpse of the usual Weasley red hair and had spotted Ginny with Neville, and Fred twice… or had it been George and Fred? She didn't know. But there was definitely no Ron on the dance floor.
At last, tired of hearing how Victor had caught the Snitch the fiftieth time in some famous tournament or the other, Hermione excused herself and asked Krum whether he could get her a drink.
After he left her, Hermione practically ran to some chairs in the far corner of the hall and exhausted, flopped down in one of them.
"Hi Hermione." came a solemn voice.
She glanced at the chairs next to her and saw Harry making his way across to her.
Hermione smiled and replied: "Hey Harry! Umm… where's Ron? I haven't seen him anywhere…" she peered at the dancers again.
"He didn't feel that great so he just went to get some air," said Harry, trying to sound casual.
Hermione frowned.
Ron had never left a party when it was in full swing before.
Trying to change the subject, because Harry knew Hermione's knack of asking questions all too well, Harry inquired whether she was having a good time.
"Umm, yeah great…" muttered Hermione in a distracted fashion. "Where'd you say Ron went?"
Harry swallowed awkwardly. He didn't know why, but he didn't want to tell Hermione that Ron had seen her with Krum and had left.
"I have no idea!" said Harry truthfully.
At this, Hermione seemed even more flustered.
The two of them didn't notice that another pair of eyes was watching them closely…
*
Ron wandered out of the Hogwarts building. He walked past Hagrid's hut and the Forbidden Forest and stopped at the lake. The lake was as still as the countryside around him and the reflections of the starlit sky were making it look eerie and uninviting. Ron walked over its edge and stared at the murky water beneath him for a moment and then decided to sit down.
Overhead, he heard the hooting of a young owl as it flew past him.
'Probably a late message' thought Ron as he pulled out a piece of grass and started chewing on it.
The sounds of music slowly drifted towards him and he
pictured Hermione in Krum's arms and having a great time.
'I'm not jealous!' thought Ron fiercely.
But a little voice in his head told him that he was lying through his teeth.
Ron was jealous as hell and he knew it.
'But I can't think of her that way! She's my friend!' thought Ron stubbornly. Again that annoying voice seemed to say: So what? Can't you fall in love with a friend?
Ron groaned again.
Hermione knew something as wrong.
Ron was acting totally out of character. She didn't know any more because Pavarati had come up and Harry was whisked away to dance again and he had been glad of the diversion. Hermione knew Harry wasn't telling her all he knew about Ron. But why wasn't he telling her everything? And where was Ron?
Hermione was so preoccupied with her thoughts, she didn't even notice that Krum had brought their drinks and was standing next to her. Suddenly feeling too tired to drink, Hermione refused.
'I know I'm being rude to Victor… he has been very sweet… but I'm so… worried I guess… where is Ron?! He's ruining my day!' Hermione thought and then smiling apologetically at her date, said: "Victor, I don't feel so well… I'll just pop out and get a breath of fresh air… no, no…. you don't have to come… nothing serious… I'll be back soon! Enjoy yourself!" and saying so, Hermione practically ran out of the Great Hall.
*
Somewhere in the hall, one person had been watching the antics of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley with great interest. The person had first seen Weasley leave, then Potter's confusion and desperation and then had seen Granger run out. Smiled knowingly, the person knew the plan would work to perfection…
*
Hermione ran out of the hall and then stood outside for a moment and caught her breath.
She then proceeded to run up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. There was nobody there.
One by one, the teenager sped across corridors, peeked around corners and checked all the classrooms for any sign of Ron. He was still nowhere to be found.
'Where is that idiot? Doesn't he know what a bad time he's
giving me? No well, I suppose he doesn't… but where is he hiding??'
"What a romantic night! Full moon, beautiful place, a dance indoor and me sitting on a stupid stone monster trying to find that idiot-of-a-best friend all alone!" sighed Hermione. "But why did Ron leave? I didn't even get a chance to show off my date!" Hermione gave a wry smile.
When Hermione had imagined this evening, she had thought that she would show Ron and Harry her date, Victor, and they would be shocked and then would at least treat her like a girl! But some how, it hadn't hone according to plan. Harry had responded exactly as she had imagined him to… but Ron hadn't even been there! Hermione would have enjoyed seeing him jealous ('obviously he would be because he hadn't asked her… nothing personal in it' Hermione had imagined) but she hadn't counting on him leaving. That meant something serious was wrong. Maybe Ron had gotten sick… may be he had sprained his ankle… what if his date had deserted him?
Sudden, horrible thoughts started occurring to Hermione and the color drained from her face. She had to find Ron… she just HAD to!
Picking up her robes, Hermione ran into another maze of corridors looking for Ron.
*
'Right this moment she's probably dancing with Krum… '
Ron thought trying to skip a pebble on the lake. 'But I have to tell her how
I feel… she has to know… but what if she thinks of me as nothing but a best
friend? I'll kill myself then! It'll ruin our friendship and that means a lot
to me! But if I don't tell her then she'll never know! She might fly off to
Bulgaria with that son of a…'
Ron had been arguing with himself for over fifteen minutes. At last, he stood up, straightened his robes, passed a hand through his red hair and started walking towards the castle again.
He had to tell her. He didn't care what she felt. She had to know.
Determined, Ron stepped into Hogwarts…
**
Oh look!
Another chapter done! ^_^ And we're still not even close to the end! Heheheh!
Didn't mean to scare y'all! Well, do review this! Arigato!