I Should Have Opened My Eyes Sooner

by Dorktress

Hermione visits Ron over the summer between 4th and 5th year. Is Harry allowed to come? Did Hermione visit 'Vicky'? Will Hermione and Ron survive the summer together? R+R

2. He should have

I Should Have Opened My Eyes Sooner
By: Heather-Bether

Ron and Hermione walked into the kitchen of the Burrow to find Mrs. Weasley yelling for Fred and George to knock off the racket in their room.

Ron leaned down to Hermione. "She's making just ask much racket telling them to stop all of their racket." Hermione covered her mouth so Mrs. Weasley couldn't hear her laughing. Ron grinned broadly as he stood back up.

Mrs. Weasley turned around and looked at the two standing by the door. She smiled at them. "How are you Hermione?"

"I'm fine Mrs. Weasley. Do you need any more help?"

Ron's mother shook her head. "No, not in here. Ginny and I are almost finished. But, Ron," she said addressing her son, "you can set the table."

Ron sighed as walked to the utensil drawer. He pulled out some forks and spoons and handed them to Hermione who had followed him. He grabbed a few knives, and he and Hermione took them to the table.

"Ron?" Hermione said quietly as she placed a fork beside a plate. He looked up at her. "Is Percy eating with us?"

Ron looked back at his mother. "I don't think so," he whispered to Hermione.

She shook her head and let out a sigh. She hated seeing the Weasley family being torn. They were like her second family and meant as much to hear as her own family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mr. Weasley showed up a few minutes before dinner. His eyes were still shining and a grin was plastered across his face. Mrs. Weasley shook her head.

"And what took you so long?" she exclaimed, as he slid into his chair. He shot a grin at Hermione and Ron.

Hermione smiled back. She loved Mr. Weasley. Looking at him, you would never guess that his own son was turning against him. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger were so nice to show me how their refrederater."

Hermione laughed. "Refrigerator, Mr. Weasley."

"Ah, yes, that's it."

Mrs. Weasley shook her head again. "Why do you have to extend every visit to the Muggles dear?"

"I can't visit with Hermione's parents?" He winked at Ron. "I think it's only right considering-"

Ron nearly jumped out of his seat. "Mum, I'm starving! What did you make tonight?"

Fred and George chuckled, and Ginny covered her mouth as she giggled. Ron's ears turned red as he sat back down. Hermione looked from Ron to Mr. Weasley with raised eyebrows.

Mrs. Weasley smiled and pulled a cover off of a dish. "We made pork chops!" She smiled at Ron. "And treacle pudding."

Dinner proceeded without much incident. Fred and George kept trying to flick peas at Ron, but Mrs. Weasley always caught them a second before hand. They would jumped and dropped the spoon in their lap.

Ron quickly finished his meal and asked to be excused. Hermione watched as he practically ran from the kitchen. Ginny scooted over and took Ron's spot.

"Don't mind Ron. I told you he was being a great prat." Ginny smiled and put a spoonful of potatoes in her mouth.

Hermione smiled weakly and nodded. "Um, Mrs. Weasley, may I be excused?"

She nodded. "Of course dear." Hermione reached for her plate. "No dear, it's all right. I'll get it," Ron's mother said, smiling. She nodded and quickly walked out the way Ron left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione knocked on Ron's bedroom door. "Ron? It's me, Hermione." She waited as he unlocked it and opened it. He walked back to his bed and lied down, returning to reading a Quidditch magazine.

"What's wrong?" Hermione said as she walked into his room. She pulled the chair from his desk and sat down. He shrugged.

"Come on Ron, tell me," she coaxed.

Ron sighed, knowing she wasn't going to give up. "Just leave me alone, okay?"

Hermione huffed. "Well then!" She stood up, and Ron immediately jumped up from his bed.

"Wait! I didn't mean it like that," he said in a rush. He turned a bit red. "I mean… it's just…" Hermione sat back down and waited for him to finish. He looked up at her. "It's just…" He shrugged. "I don't know what I mean."

Hermione bit her lip. "What's bothering you?" she asked, repeating the question.

"Everything."

"Ron, that doesn't help."

He threw his magazine down beside his bed and rolled onto his back. He crossed his arms. "So?"

"Ron! Stop feeling sorry for yourself!"

"I'm not feeling sorry for myself!" He said, squinting at her.

She rolled her eyes as she stood up. She waved her arms above him. "This is feeling sorry for yourself!"

"No, it's not!" He sat up. "And even if it was, I have good reasons to be!"

"Even if it were," she corrected.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Just go find Ginny or something. Since you two are such good friends now."

Hermione huffed. "I thought I was your friend. I thought you invited me."

He stood up and pushed her out of his room. "Me too," he said before shutting the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione stomped her foot as he shut the door in her face. She slammed her hand against his door in frustration. "You are such a dolt!"

"What is all the clamor?" someone said as another door opened. Hermione looked down the stairs to Percy who was standing outside his bedroom. He had his glasses perched on his nose and was looking over them at her with his eyebrows raised.

Hermione could just picture him with his prefect badge on his Hogwarts robes, standing in front of a rule-breaker.

"Your brother is an prat."

Surprisingly, he chuckled. "Tell me something I don't know." He crossed his arms. "So, what did he do now?"

Percy always had a soft spot for Hermione. She figured this is why he even bothered to talk to her. She shook her head and shrugged. "He decided that I wasn't good enough for him and kicked me out."

Ron's door opened. "I didn't say that!"

Hermione turned and stared at him with narrowed eyes. "You might as well have!"

"But, I didn't!" Ron said, angrily. "I never said you weren't good enough for me." And with that he slammed his door shut again.

Percy sighed. "He's always had a bad temper. Don't take it personally Hermione."

She felt the tears welling in her eyes as she nodded. She walked down the stairs, past Percy and into the living room. She wiped her eyes and let out a little sigh to stop the tingling in her nose.

Ginny was sitting on the couch next to her father, reading a book. She turned around and looked at Hermione. She noticed her eyes slowly turning red and watery. She jumped up from the couch and ran around it to Hermione. "What's wrong? What did he do?"

Hermione just shook Ginny off and walked into the kitchen. Ginny followed her.

"Hermione, what happened?"

She sighed as she sat down at the kitchen table. Mrs. Weasley was making tea as the dishes washed themselves up.

"Do you want some tea girls?" she said without turning around. She pulled a few cups out from the cupboard and then turned to face them. "Hermione!" she said, frantic. "What's the matter, dear?"

She quickly rushed to the other side of Hermione. "What did Ron do?"

Hermione laughed coarsely through her tears. "How does everyone know that it was Ron who did something?"

"Because, you wouldn't get this upset if it was something Fred or George said," Mrs. Weasley said, patting Hermione's arm. Ginny smiled weakly. She knew what her mother was getting at, but it was obvious that Hermione didn't. Mrs. Weasley dropped it as soon as she said it and went to get them tea.

Hermione let out a sob. "Why is he so touchy? One minute he's telling me a joke, and then he's yelling at me."

Mrs. Weasley placed a cup of tea down in front of Hermione and Ginny. "And men say we have mood swings." She sat back down with her own cup of tea. "Well dear, I don't know what to say. Ron is going through a tough time." She sighed. "He's feeling a little ordinary as he looks at you and Harry."

"What?" Hermione managed to choke out between hiccups.

"Hermione, you are smart and accomplished. Harry is… well he's Harry Potter. Enough said," Mrs. Weasley said, placing her cup down. "And then Ron looks at himself and what he sees kills him."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't understand."

"He thinks he is just another Weasley boy. But, he doesn't think he can even live up to that."

Hermione scrunched up her forehead. "How do you know all of this?"

She shrugged. "I have know Ron all his life," she said, smiling. Ginny smiled and laughed a little. Hermione wiped her cheeks and smiled.

"They all go through it. It's natural. He'll snap out of it soon enough."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next few days passed by slowly. Hermione and Ron avoided each other at all costs. Hermione skipped breakfast, so she wouldn't have to sit with Ron. During lunch, he would grab a sandwich and then run outside to eat it. He would spend most of the rest of the afternoon practicing Quidditch.

Hermione had expressed her worries that Muggles would spot him up in the air.

"Don't worry about him," Fred said, through a mouthful of pudding during lunch. "We found a nice field a little ways into the forest. We got Dad to put some charms up so Muggles don't have any chance of seeing us up there."

George nodded. "Only we haven't had time to practice." Fred threw him a look, and he grinned apologetically.

"Hermione, do you think you could help me with my potions essay?" Ginny said, putting her plate in the sink.

She nodded. "Yes, I can. I have finished all of my homework already, being that Ron-" She quickly stopped and replaced her words with a spoonful of pudding.

Mrs. Weasley sighed as she watched Hermione's demeanor change drastically at the mention of her son.

"I was thinking we could go to Diagon Alley in a couple of days," Mrs. Weasley said as Fred and George put their plates in the sink.

"Sure Mum," George said.

"Lovely lunch Mum," Fred added, as he and his brother left the kitchen.

Hermione looked up. "Is Harry coming with us?"

"Ron owled him this morning. Dumbledore is allowing Harry to come with us. We just need to get the Muggles to let him out of the house," Mrs. Weasley said, as Ginny sat back down.

Hermione nodded. She welcomed the idea of Harry coming. She needed someone to talk to. Then it hit her. Harry wouldn't want to come to the Burrow to be with her. He would go and be with Ron.

She let out a sigh as she looked at Ginny. Guess it's just Ginny and I for now, she though grimly. She immediately scolded herself. Ginny was a wonderful person. She loved Ginny like a sister. She is the sister I don't have. But, Ginny isn't Ron. Or Harry, she added quickly, denying what she had meant by that.

"Come on Ginny," Hermione said, getting up from the table. "Let's go work on that essay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione and Ginny were sitting in the living room working on Ginny's essay when Ron came running into the house. He threw down Fred's broomstick and looked up at the clock in the kitchen.

"Mum!" he yelled, looking around. "Harry can come!" He walked into the living room. His good mood faded as he looked at Hermione. "Ginny, where's mum?"

"Out in the garden with Fred and George." She giggled. "They got de-gnomeing this time."

Ron turned and walked out of the room quickly.

"Oh, honestly!" Hermione said as soon as he was out of earshot. "What is his problem?" She rolled her eyes. "I'm not that despicable."

Ginny gasped. "Hermione! Don't say that! You are not despicable at all!"

"Thank you Ginny," Hermione said, weakly smiling at her. "I just wish Ron thought that too."

"Maybe he does," Ginny said, nearly inaudibly. She looked up to see if Hermione heard her. Guess not, she thought looking back at her half-written essay.

Hermione kept her head down. She had heard Ginny. She shook her head and chose not to discuss the subject further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mr. Weasley had gone to the Dursleys' the next day to get Harry. He left that morning saying he would be back soon. Ron and Hermione made an effort to act normal. Normal to them was staying in the same room.

Hermione was perched on a chair on the far side of the living room, and Ron was sitting on the couch, closest to the kitchen. Ginny sat beside Ron and was trying to coax him into speaking to Hermione.

"Ginny, leave me alone," he murmured, staring at the orange flames. He pushed her a little ways away. But she just kept scooting back next to him.

"Please Ron," she said, pulling on his t-shirt. "Please?"

"No! Leave me alone!" She had pushed it too far that time, and he snapped. He had a scowl on his face as he stood up and walked to the stairway. He sat down and made sure to take up the whole space of the step.

Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes. Hermione watched Ron from behind her book. She bit her lip and let out a frustrated sigh.

Mrs. Weasley bustled into the living room with a tray full of mugs of tea. She handed one to Ginny and then to Hermione. She looked around the room in search of Ron. She spotted him on the stairs. She rolled her eyes and walked over.

She held out a cup to him, and he looked up at her with a weak smile. He took the mug from his mother and held it in his hands, staring at the tea.

"Ron," Mrs. Weasley whispered, "please talk to her."

He shook his head. "No," he grunted, putting the scowl back on his face.

She put her hands on her hips and shook her head. "I don't believe you. You are so thick-headed!"

Hermione made a noise of agreement. Ron put his tea on a near by bookshelf and stood up.

"You don't have room to talk Hermione!" He said loudly. He turned around and went up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. He pushed passed Percy who had emerged from his room moments before.

He walked down the stairs, looking up the stairs at Ron's retreating back. "What's going on?" Percy asked, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

"Ron and Hermione are fighting," Ginny said from the couch.

Mrs. Weasley took the tray and Ron's forgotten tea back to the kitchen. Percy walked up behind Ginny and faced Hermione.

"Why?" he simply asked.

Hermione shrugged, acting rather childish.

Percy opened his mouth to give one of his long lectures, one of the characteristics he got from his mother. He put on hand on his hip and used the other to point at Hermione.

There was a loud swish and a thud. The three of them turned towards the front of the room where Harry stood, pulling his trunk from the fire.

Percy dropped his speech and hurried over to help him. "Hello there, Harry. How are you?"

Harry nodded. "Hello, I'm fine." With Percy's help, he managed to drag his trunk out of the fire. He brushed his bangs back from his forehead. He spotted Ginny and Hermione and grinned at them. "Hello," he said, walking over to the two girls.

He furrowed his brow. "Where's Ron?"

Hermione crossed her arms and shrugged. Ginny looked at Hermione and then back to Harry. "He's probably up in his room."

He nodded slowly. "Why are you down here then Hermione?"

Ginny shook her head at Harry. "Don't ask."

Percy scoffed. "They are both being extremely childish. If I were Mum-"

There was a pop as Mr. Weasley appeared in the middle of the room. Percy stopped talking and turned around to walk upstairs. Mr. Weasley just simply shook his head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry slowly opened Ron's bedroom door and slipped in. He closed the door behind himself quietly. Ron's room hadn't changed since the first time Harry saw it. The Chudley Cannons' colors were still painted on the walls that were adorned with posters of the Quidditch team.

"Ron?" Harry said, peering at his friend who was sitting near the window with a book open on his lap. "Oh, no. There must be something wrong. You're reading!" he said, trying to lighten the mood.

Ron glared at Harry, but his lips slid into a smile. "Oh, funny Harry." He closed the book and got up from his chair. "So," he said, stretching. "How are you?"

Harry raised his eyebrows at his friend. "I'm fine. How are you, Ron?"

The redhead rolled his eyes. "Don't ask."

"I've been told that a few times now today. What's going on between you and Hermione?" He sat down on his temporary bed, which Ron had brought in for him.

Ron looked like he wasn't going to say anything as he shrugged. But, his anger got the better of him.

"She can be so arrogant! She's such a know-it-all!" Ron burst out with his arms flailing about. "She thinks she knows exactly what is going on in my head! Well, I've got news for her. She doesn't!"

Harry couldn't stop a smirk forming on his lips. He quickly dropped it and nodded at Ron, waiting for him to continue.

Ron shook his head, obviously not aware of Harry's amusement. "I can't believe her! And now she's mad at me!"

"What did you do?" Harry said, breaking into Ron's rant.

His friend was caught off guard. Apparently, Ron figured Harry would immediately take his side; he would think he, Ron, hadn't done a thing wrong and blame everything on Hermione, just like he did.

"W-what?" He stuttered.

"What – did – you – do?" Harry said, slowly so Ron caught every word.

"I didn't do anything! She just started yelling at me about 'feeling sorry for myself'." He crossed his arms. "Which I wasn't. Which I am not!"

Harry nodded. "All right Ron."

Ron turned and looked at his friend. "What?" Harry shook his head and raised his eyebrows, acting like he didn't know what Ron was talking about. "You think I overreacted, don't you?"

Harry smiled weakly as he nodded. "Sorry to say mate."

Ron groaned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun beat down on Hermione and Ginny as they sat at the picnic table in the backyard. Hermione was reading a rather large volume of Charms: All You Need To Know. Ginny, meanwhile, was working on a few unfinished essays.

Crookshanks was lying under Hermione's bench, tail swinging back and forth across the grass. He occasionally would let out a slight hiss so Hermione would bend down and scratch behind his ears.

Fred and George had gone off to the field to practice Quidditch. Ron and Harry with Firebolt in hand soon followed them out into the forest. Harry gave a small wave and a grin to them, but Ron kept his head down and looked away from them.

"Do you want to go watch them?" Ginny said, rolling up her Transfiguration essay.

Hermione closed her book. "I guess we could."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fred and George somehow had acquired a Bludger, a Quaffle, and a Snitch. George winked at Harry as he and Fred pulled them out of a bag, clutching the Bludger tightly.

"Where are they getting all of this money?" Ron said, as Fred threw the Quaffle at him. "They got me new dress robes too."

Harry just shrugged and shook his head. He held out his Firebolt. "Want a go?"

Ron nodded eagerly. "Sure!" He quickly got on and kicked off the ground. Fred and George soon followed with their Cleansweeps.

"Ronnie, you be keeper and Fred will be a chaser." George looked down at Harry who was now holding the Bludger. "So, that leaves me as Beater. Reckon we won't have a seeker for now. Too bad Bill and Charlie aren't home."

Fred called down to Harry: "Okay, let 'em go!" He let go of the Bludger and was knocked backwards onto the ground as it flew off into the sky.

Harry looked up at Hermione and Ginny who were standing over him. "You all right Harry?" Ginny said, smiling.

He nodded. "I'm fine."

Ron was swooping around a hole in the trees as Fred hovered in front of him, holding the Quaffle. Fred tried to distract him, but Ron was too quick for him. Fred threw the ball, and Ron easily caught it.

George grinned at he hit the Bludger towards Ron as Fred once again tried to score. Ron caught the Quaffle.

SMACK!

"RON!" Hermione shouted a moment too late. The Bludger hit him hard, very hard in the shoulder. She covered her mouth as Ron fell to the ground. Fred and George flew down and landed. Hermione was quicker than they were though. She ran to him and practically threw herself down at his side. His eyes were closed, and he was lying on his side. The rest of the Weasleys and Harry came rushed over.

"Ron!" Hermione said firmly, touching his shoulder. "Ron?"

He groaned, but didn't open his eyes. His whole body seemed to give into the pain, and he slumped down, now lying on his back.

"Oh Ron," Hermione said, grabbing his hand. "Please be all right."

George looked guilty. "He hit the tree before he fell." He looked frantic. "I didn't mean to hit it so hard!"

Fred patted his brother. "We know you didn't."

Ginny was wringing her hands. "We should go get mum."

"I'll go get her," Hermione said, standing up. Fred noticed as she wiped away a renegade tear from her cheek. She quickly jogged away, towards the house. Ginny followed Hermione, running a few paces behind her.

Harry and the twins stood over Ron, looking worried. Fred got down on his knees next to Ron's side. He leaned over him. "Ron?"

Ron groaned again, and his eyes slowly opened.

Fred let out a sigh and grinned. "You should have opened your eyes sooner."

Ron looked a bit confused. "W-what?"

"Where is he?" an anxious voice asked. They looked up at Mrs. Weasley who had just entered the makeshift field.

"Over here Mum!" George said, waving her over.

She shook her head as she saw Ron lying on the ground. "I wish you would all be more careful!"

Ginny helped Harry gather the broomsticks, and the twins managed to get all the balls back in the bag. Ron looked around slowly, looking for her.

She was standing to the side of all the commotion, biting one nail. She had one arm clasping her side, which was hurting from running. But, that seemed to be the last of her worries at the moment. She was staring at Mrs. Weasley as she helped Ron to his feet, her face etched with concern.

Mrs. Weasley looked around for some help, but it seemed like everyone was busy. "Hermione! Come help me, grab his arm."

Hermione looked fearful, as if Ron would yell at her for touching him if she took his arm. But, she walked over quickly to his side. She gently took his arm and put it over her shoulders. She held onto his hand as she helped steady him.

Ron didn't yell at her or yank his arm away, not as if he had the strength to at the moment anyway. But, even if he had the might, he wouldn't have done it. He wouldn't admit it, but he missed Hermione. And now, he had her this close; he wasn't about to ruin it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mrs. Weasley and Hermione took Ron up to his room. They laid him down on his bed, and he whimpered as he clutched his side.

"I'm going to go get my wand and fix you up. I'll bring up some tea too. Put your pajamas on Ron. You're going to need some rest."

Hermione turned to leave with his mother. "Stay and help him," Mrs. Weasley said, stopping Hermione from leaving. Hermione stuttered out some incoherencies, but Mrs. Weasley shut the door. She turned around and looked at Ron.

He was still holding his side. "Does it hurt much?" Hermione said, in a small voice. He nodded.

"I think I hit the tree pretty hard," he said, looking up at her. "My pajamas are in the chair," he said, pointing to the chair near the window.

She nodded and walked over to the other side of the room. She picked up the white t-shirt and pair of boxers. She blushed as she handed them to him. She turned back towards the window so he could change. She heard his jeans hit the floor, and she had to hold her breath to keep her heart from beating too rapidly.

"You can turn around now," Ron said, muffled by his shirt coming over his head. Hermione turned around and quickly down at the floor. He was sitting on the bed in his boxers without a shirt.

"Look Hermione," he said quietly. "I'm sorry."

She looked up at him. He really did look sincere. Hermione knew this was important. He never liked to admit that he was at fault. Letting down her guard, she crossed the room and threw her arms around his neck. He groaned slightly, but slipped his arms around her back and hugged her.

"Apology accepted Ron," she said, burying her face in his neck. He smiled into her hair.

The door creaked open, and Mrs. Weasley walked in and set a mug of tea on the bedside table. She smiled at her son. His ears turned red, and his cheeks began to burn. Hermione let go of him, and he, surprisingly, reluctantly let her out of his embrace.

He quickly put his shirt on. Hermione helped him slide into bed and pulled the covers up. Mrs. Weasley, still smiling, prodded Ron with her wand. "Tell me where it hurts."

Hermione smiled at Ron and slipped out the door. Things will be back to normal, she thought as she walked down the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: I own none of this! Yay for me! It all belongs to the wonderful JK Rowling.

A/N: Well, review, and I'll keep going. Thanks to everyone who reviewed last time. Don't be nice all the time though, tell me what you don't like too. If something seems out of character... tell me! Thanks a bunch!