The Blood of Ronald Weasley
Thanks to all you HP fans for reading, and especially Emma Malfoy, Emmasi, Snowlily, and Lizzie D. for their reviews. Oh, I almost forgot, I am not JKR no matter what anybody tells you. (Just kidding) Enjoy…
CHAPTER FIVE: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Saturday dawned and the majority of the students ignored it until at least ten a.m. However, there were two Gryffindor girls who sat talking in the common room at seven-thirty.
"Hermione, why are you doing homework on a Saturday?" Ginny asked, cuddling up in her pajamas by the fire and watching her friend work.
"Because," Hermione answered shortly.
"That's a terrific reason," Ginny said sarcastically.
Hermione looked up and cast an annoyed glance at her friend. "We have N.E.W.T.s this year and I want to be prepared. Is that a good enough reason?"
"I guess." Ginny sighed. She wanted to have a talk with Hermione, but wasn't sure how to start. It was kind of personal, and that was why she rose so early to catch Hermione alone. She stared blankly into the fire, lost in thought, until Hermione spoke again.
"Is something bothering you, Gin?"
"I was wondering if I could…ask you something."
Hermione closed her books and moved to sit next to Ginny. "Of course."
"I, uh, don't know how to start. How did you know that you were in love with Ron?"
Hermione furrowed her brow and pondered her friend. "Well, at first I didn't. I mean, I was his friend first and then I started noticing little things. I'd smile when I watched him make up answers to his Divination homework, notice the way he smelled, and all his little quirks. Like the way he tugs at his earlobe when he's thinking about a chess move, or the way he crinkles his nose when he's thinking something negative that he doesn't want to say out loud. And of course, the way his ears turn red when he's embarrassed.
"I just thought I liked him. Then we started dating, and I noticed how well we got along. I was surprised because we seem like such opposites, but we just seem to work. And…I don't know. There's this thing, this feeling that I feel when he's around. I can be myself and know that he cares about me and trusts me. And I trust him. Completely. Does that help?" Hermione had a feeling that wasn't all she wanted to know.
"Yeah, it does. I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I can read Harry's mind. When we're practicing Quiddich, he kind of swoops in beside you and tells you what you were doing wrong, but quietly. I always know what he's going to say, and he always licks his lips before he says anything. And when he does his homework and he can't find an answer, he runs his fingers through his hair and scratches his head." Ginny giggled. "I love it when he does that."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "So, do you think you're in love with him?"
Ginny sat silent for a moment and then let out a long breath. "Yeah, I do."
Hermione beamed. "So, what are you going to do about it?"
"Well, I suppose I have to tell him. I have another question, Hermione."
"Well, let's hear it. We won't have the common room to ourselves much longer."
Ginny shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "How did you know…when you were ready to…to take the next step?"
Hermione sat bolt upright. "Ginny, I…Ron and I haven't…has he been telling people that?!"
Ginny blushed furiously. "No, no nothing like that. I mean, I just assumed…but I guess I was wrong."
"Very wrong! I can't tell you what and what not to do Ginny, but let me give you some advice. Think carefully about it and don't make any rash decisions. And don't let Ron find out what you're considering unless you want Harry killed."
***
"Harry, you awake?" Ron's sleepy voice carried over to Harry's bed and he turned over to answer.
"Now I am."
"I was thinking, maybe we should get Hermione, Ginny and Neville up to talk about…the plan before anyone else gets up."
"Yeah, I guess." Harry tumbled out of bed and tip-toed over to Neville's four poster.
"Neville, you awake?"
"Whatsamatter?"
"Get up. We're going to get the girls up so we can talk alone in the common room."
"Okay, I'm up."
The boys walked quietly down the staircase and saw Ginny and Hermione were already up.
Hermione looked up from her transfiguration assignment. "Good morning."
Ron greeted her with a quick kiss, and then sat next to her on the sofa.
Ginny moved to one of the overstuffed chairs and Harry joined her. Neville sat on the floor.
"Well, who has an idea?" Ron asked.
"I think the first thing we should do is look at the list of names. Harry, do you have it?" Hermione said.
"Yeah." Harry pulled the list out of his pocket along with his wand. "I will not be accused of derelict of duty. Reveal the names."
The names that showed up on the old piece of parchment were accompanied with the house to which the student belonged.
Terry Boot~ Ravenclaw
Millicent Bulstrode~ Slytherin
Ernie MacMillan~ Hufflepuff
Dennis Creevey~ Gryffindor
Ginny gasped at the last name. "Colin's little brother?"
"I can't believe it." Harry was turning pale.
"Well, Millicent isn't a surprise, and Ernie always was a bit stupid, but Terry? I thought he was okay. And Dennis? Wow. The bloke's brother is on the Quiddich team," Ron managed.
"Just because his brother plays Quiddich doesn't constitute him as trustworthy, Ron," Hermione said.
"And why isn't Malfoy on the list? I thought he'd be the first," Ron replied.
"Dunno," Harry answered, "Maybe he's a nicer person than we thought." He tried to sound serious, but burst out laughing and Ron joined in.
"Be serious. Neville, what do you think?" Hermione cast an annoyed glance at Ron and Harry.
"Polyjuice potion? You know, to get into the other houses?"
"That seems reasonable," Ginny said.
"I say we just go straight for the Vertiserum. We'll just nick some from Snape and get the answers we want, and bing, bang, boom we're drinking in Hogsmeade by noon."
"That's a great idea Ron! After we get out of the ten year detention from Snape, we'll just explain to the Ministry why we were using such a powerful potion when we're underage wizards. I'd want to hear your answer to that!" Hermione huffed.
"Just a thought," Ron said meekly.
"Well, I say we start brewing the Polyjuice potion because it takes awhile to make. You sure you can do it again, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Yes, of course. I could do it as a second year and I can do it now."
"And maybe this time you won't turn yourself into a cat," Ron muttered.
Hermione swatted his arm impatiently. "I even saved the list of ingredients. I'll start this afternoon."
Neville had barely said anything during the meeting. He noticed that students were starting to drift down from the dormitories and motioned for the group to be quiet.
"I will need some boomslang skin, though. We will have to nick that from Snape," Hermione whispered.
"I'll get it," Harry volunteered.
"And I'll go with you," Ginny added.
Thanks for reading…what did you think of Hermione and Ginny's conversation? I took some artistic license with the list of Ron and Harry's quirks, but I tried to keep it in character. Thanks to Contessa for her help! Lemme know what you think by posting a review…