Harry Potter & the other characters and places in this story belong to JK Rowling.
Chapter Three - Ron's TortureThe fifth years were being worked harder than ever. Of course, as Hermione liked to remind them often, they had their O.W.L's to prepare for at the end of the year. After the first day of classes, they were already laden with homework. Potions had been dreadful. At least this year they weren't with the Slytherins. But Snape made it miserable all the same. Due to his hatred for Harry, and Gryffindor in general, he began favouring the Hufflepuffs. The poor Hufflepuffs despised it, for they hated Snape as much as anyone, but there was nothing they could do. The afternoon was much more enjoyable. First they had Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid, who had a whole new collection of dangerous beasts for them to care for. Next was Arithmancy. Ron seemed to understand what was going on. In fact, to Hermione's dismay, he got a higher mark than she did on the review quiz that Professor Vector gave them. Ron was ecstatic. Harry, on the other hand, was confused by all the number charts. He would definitely need to ask for help.
Ron was pestering him all day about "you know what" and so finally at dinner, Harry asked Hermione if she would help him with his Arithmancy homework. She agreed, and later that night Harry found himself in the library with Hermione, several textbooks, and parchment scattered everywhere with cryptic diagrams and patterns of numbers.
For the first while, they concentrated on homework. Hermione patiently explained the concepts, and slowly Harry began to understand. It was pretty confusing, and he was amazed that Ron had been able to pick it up so quickly. Ron… Harry wondered how he was ever going to ask Hermione about Ron. Finally, since he could think of no witty or clever approach, he decided on the direct approach. He braced himself for her wrath.
"Uh… Hermione," he asked.
"Yes?" she said, not looking up from her work.
"Do you like Ron?"
"Of course I like Ron. He's my friend, why do you ask?" Hermione looked at Harry quizzically.
"No, I meant do you *like* Ron?" Hermione looked back down at her page. There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. Harry was scared. Real scared. Either she was going to explode or she was going to pick up her wand and curse him. Harry grabbed his own wand in his hand so he would be able to block the curse when it came…
But Harry looked up and saw that Hermione was shaking. Oh no! She was crying. What had he done? Wait - no. She was laughing. Laughing? Harry was extremely confused. Women were definitely strange. Possibly even a different species.
"Did Ron make you ask me that?" Hermione grinned.
"Uh… well…." Harry knew he shouldn't say yes.
"Oh, it's so obvious. Well, Mr. Potter, you can tell him that if he wants to know the answer he'll have to ask me himself."
Harry's eyes opened wide in surprise. Ron would definitely not like this development. Harry had a suspicion that Ron wouldn't be retrieving Harry's sneakoscope from Snape's office. He darn well should, Harry thought, for making me go through this emotional torture.
"Well, don't just sit there gaping, Mr. Potter," Hermione said. She sounded exactly like Professor McGonagall. The accuracy of the rendition was almost frightening. Harry grabbed his books, stuffed everything into his bag, and raced out of the library at top speed, knocking over several first years who were just coming in.
+ + +
"She said WHAT?" screamed Ron.
"Be quiet, Ron. Do you want the whole of Gryffindor Tower to know that you're in love? If so, I'll be happy to let them know," Harry pretended to get off his bed and go downstairs to the common room.
Ron jumped up and grabbed him and forced him back down into a nearby chair. "Don't you dare! And tell me everything she said, *everything!*"
"Well, I asked her if she liked you, and then she was just silent. I thought I was going to explode, it was all so tense. And then she started laughing. Laughing! Can you believe it? It was torture. Remind me never to ask a girl if she likes me. Then she asked me if you made me say that. I of course immediately said no but she saw right through it. She said that if you want to know the answer, you'll have to ask her yourself. I'm dead serious. Those were her exact words. Then she said something, I can't remember what, but she sounded exactly like McGonagall, and I just ran."
Ron flopped down on his own bed and groaned. "What have I done? Now she knows I like her. This is awful. What am I going to do?"
"Ron, you have to go up there! Now! Just think how awful it will be facing her in class tomorrow. You know how she's like, she'll just be smirking at you the whole time. Knowing how you feel, and knowing that you don't know how she feels." Harry urged.
Ron was pale and gasping for breath like a fish out of water. "Harry, I can't! It's too hard. You don't know what it's like!"
"Yes I do! Remember I had to ask Cho to the ball last year. That was worse, because we weren't even friends, and she was with a whole crowd of people. Hermione is up there in the library right now, *all by herself* doing Arithmancy homework. All you have to do is go there and say five words, that's it!"
"What five words?" asked Ron desperately.
"Repeat after me," Harry began, and Ron nodded. "The first word is Hermione."
Ron nodded again. "OK, I can say that."
"Then say it." Harry grinned, his green eyes sparkling with laughter. He was quite enjoying this.
Ron's eyes opened wide with fear. "He-He-Hermione," he muttered.
"Say it again without stuttering," Harry ordered.
Ron took a deep breath, "Hermione," he said quickly, almost shouting it.
"Not so loud!"
"OK, OK, I got it Harry!" Ron fumed. "What's next?"
"The second word is DO."
"Do."
"The third word is YOU. It rhymes with DO," Harry smiled.
"You. Do you. Do you… OK, I got that. What's next?"
"The fourth work is LIKE."
Ron shuddered before saying, "Like."
"And the last word is ME."
"Me. OK I got it," said Ron.
"Now say it all together," Harry said.
"Hermione, do you like me? Oh Harry, I can't do this, I can't!" Ron spluttered.
"You have to! There's no going back now," Harry said with an encouraging smile.
"You have to come with me! I can't go up there alone!"
"But she'll see me. That's not a good thing."
"Then wear your Invisibility Cloak, you fool. I'm not leaving this room unless you come with me!"
"Oh alright, let's go." Harry grabbed his Invisibility Cloak and put it on. He and Ron left Gryffindor Tower and made their way towards the library. Ron tripped twice on the stairs. Just before they opened the library door Ron stopped and frantically grabbed out towards the invisible Harry.
"Harry! What if she says no?" Ron whispered in panic.
"Then run."
Ron nodded and seemed relieved. He was reaching for the door handle when he suddenly stopped again and all the colour drained from his face. "Harry! What if she says yes?"
Harry was silent. He hadn't thought this far ahead. "Harry! What if she says yes?" Ron hissed again. There was only one thing to do. Harry opened the library door and pushed Ron inside. Hermione sat at a desk on the far wall. She hadn't noticed the door open. Harry grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him towards Hermione. Just before they got there, Harry ducked behind a shelf of books. Hermione still hadn't looked up. Ron was slowly edging away. Harry purposely coughed out loud. Hermione looked up at once and saw Ron standing there. There was no escape now. And Ron knew it, by the look on his face.
"Oh, hi Ron!" said Hermione very casually. *How did she do that?* Harry wondered.
"Um… H-h-hi," muttered Ron.
"Come to work on Arithmancy homework?" asked Hermione. "But it appears you've forgotten your books."
Ron looked about ready to bolt out the door. Harry made sure that no one except Ron could see him, and he pulled the Invisibility Cloak off and waved at Ron, catching his attention. He began to mouth the words to try and get Ron to say them. All the while, Hermione watched Ron, smiling sweetly, and clearly enjoying his torment. Finally Ron gripped the edge of the desk very hard, took a deep breath, and said, "Hermione, do you like me?"
"Well of course I like you, Ron, you're my friend."
Ron turned pale, which accentuated his red hair even more. He turned frantically towards Harry for help, but Harry had already put the Invisibility Cloak back on again. "No, I mean do you *like* me."
"Oh," said Hermione very sweetly, "*Like* you… Now, let me see, I'm going to have to think about that one for a minute."
Ron looked like he'd been hit with the jelly legs curse, and he gripped the desk even harder. "I can't stand this! Just say either way because I really like you Hermione and I know you know that and I…" Ron ran out of breath.
This time Hermione gave a genuine smile, and said, "Of course I like you Ron." And she reached over the desk and gave him a big hug. Ron looked extremely confused but extremely happy. Harry breathed a huge sigh of relief, and decided that now was the time to make his escape.
To be continued…