To Trust Ron.       

Chapter Three

Disclaimer: I own what's mine and don't own what's not.

**

Hermione and Harry cleared their throats at the same time, looked curiously at each other, then at Ron who was busy making way for Lillian on the couch, and then went opposite directions.

Hermione, still frowning, made her way to the cushy one-seater next to the couch and sat down on its edge. She looked pointedly at Ron, who still looked in awe of the new girl and fluffed up some pillows for her.

Hermione rolled her eyes as she saw Lillian bat her eyelids and say: "Oh, you're too kind!" in that sugary voice of hers.

In the doorway of the kitchen, Harry did the same.

"So, tell me about yourself, Ron. What d'you do?" asked Lillian, propping her legs onto the sofa daintily and giving Ron her full attention. 

"Oh, boring stuff, basically," replied Ron, looking red and flattered. "You won't be interested,"

Hermione raised her eyebrow at this. Whenever somebody asked about his job, Ron had always answered passionately. He loved his job! He was in charge of the Wizard Gaming Department and that meant that he managed and arranged mostly Quiditch matches, which had always been his dream.

Hermione was puzzled and irritated at his response.

"But Ron!" she said at last. "You never thought you're job was boring before!" she burst out.

Ron turned his head to look at Hermione's earnest one and frowned at her, looking embarrassed and mad at the same time.

"Oh, well, he probably means that it won't interest me. But not to worry… I have many interests! Do tell!" replied Lillian swiftly.

Hermione felt like gagging. Since when did Lillian know Ron well enough to know what he's talking about? But Hermione knew one thing: Lillian sure knew her politics.

As Hermione boredly listened to Lillian's squeals of delight at Ron's interest at Quiditch and then as each related their favorite Quiditch stories, Hermione felt very left out.

Ron had his back towards her and all see could she was Lillian's beaming face.

'I ought to be sitting there next to him!' thought Hermione angrily, pushing herself back on the sofa. She folded her arms over her chest and sticking her nose into the air, trying to look uninterested in the other two's conversation and desperately hoping that she didn't at least look left out.

Still, there was part of her that wanted Ron to turn around and tell Lillian about their relationship and then sit down with her.

But Ron didn't even notice her absence! He chatted away with the other girl as if they were old chums and at last, when Hermione couldn't take the giggling any more, she hurried into the kitchen.

Harry was there, struggling with a large silver platter with a huge chocolate fudge cake sitting grandly on it. Without a word, Hermione went to his side and helped him unload the cake and other goodies onto two large trays.

"Why didn't you just zap it up?" asked Hermione as she began wiping the marble counter with a cloth to clear away the smears of butter and egg yolk.

Harry threw a couple of tissues in the basket and replied: "Lillian wanted to do it this way… said she did it once at friend's place and had thought it to be great fun."

"Well, she didn't do anything… and she did was yap with Ron while you did all the work," said Hermione complainingly, which was quite unlike her.

"Angry?" said Harry softly, coming over to her.

"Well, yeah. I guess I'm just being a meanie, but I had been feeling rather abandoned by Ron!" Hermione laughed. "He looks like he's never seen a girl in his life!"

"Really? 'Cause of Lillian?"

Now Harry looked perplexed.

*

As Hermione and Harry came back to the lounge to place the goodies on the sleek metallic table, which served as a mini-dining room, they saw that Ron and Lillian were still at it.

"So, Li," said Ron and Hermione spun around, glaring at his back.

'L-Li?' her mind shouted.

Blissfully unaware of Hermione, Ron went on: "Where'd you study and stuff?"

"Well," Lillian began importantly. "I studied at Muggle schools almost all my life. My magical powers were rather a late discovery! I think it was my great, great uncle's second cousin who was a wizard… not I that I had ever heard of him until I put my most hated professor at Oxford on fire! You should have been there, Ron!" she smilingly placed her hand in his arm. "You would've loved it! It was hilarious when he thrust his head into the sandpit!"

"Oxford, huh?" said Hermione from the corner.

"Why, yes, that's right," replied Lillian, looking at Hermione as if for the first time.

"What subjects?" inquired Hermione quietly. Now Ron also straightened up so that he could have a broader view than just Lillian's face.

"I've done a PhD in English," she answered and then turned to Ron. "Languages always interest me! But I chose English, though I do love Latin!"

"Same here!" replied Ron and Harry looked at him, amazed.

"Ron, you can barely read English, let alone Latin!" laughed Harry.

Hermione snickered openly at Ron's red ears and Lillian patted Ron's hand affectionately and said: "Now, now," disapprovingly at Harry, making Hermione's blood boil. 

"Well, Hermione's great at everything she does," said Harry loyally. "She's the best!"

"No, I'm not!" replied Hermione, going red. She smiled gratefully at Harry. She knew precisely why he was doing this.

"Well, no one can beat Harry as a seeker! You're the youngest in 3.5 centuries to be a twenty-four year old seeker playing for Britain!" Hermione returned the favor gladly.

"So, you're clever?" asked Lillian skeptically looking Hermione over with eyes half-closed.

Hermione raised herself to her full height and through clenched teeth said: "I try,"

Lillian raised her shapely eyebrows and not to be overdone, answered: "Well, I was top in my class in everything too," she looked Hermione in the eye. "And I'm a model… the best actually," she replied smoothly. "But, I'm not beating my own drum, am I?" she looked searchingly at Ron.

"Of course not!" Ron replied, looking at her warmly. "You could never do that!"

Lillian shot Hermione a smug smile.

**

I'll write the next part soon! Hold on to your hair? (Who wears hats nowadays? Oro?)^^