AN: I know, I know. It's taken me ages. Don't ask, OK? It didn't take me this long to write it, just to get it up, I've just been prioritising another fiction *coughThroughTheEyesOfATraitoRCough* Anyways, enjoy…

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Chapter 5 – Boys and broke noses

"Ron, at least think about this!"

"No!"

"Ron!"

"No!"

'Boys,' Hermione thought, shaking her head as she hurried after Ron through the halls.

"Ron, wait!" she shouted, be he wasn't listening. He had reached the portrait, and snapped the password at the fat lady.

"There is no need to be so rude, young man," she huffed, leering at him. "When I was young, one respected ones elders."

"Just bloody open will you!" Ron yelled.

The delay had given Hermione a chance to catch up with him, and she smiled apologetically at the lady before she went inside after him.

Harry and Ginny were cuddled up on the sofa in front of the fire when Ron burst in. Harry jumped to his feet.

"Ron," he started, but that was all he had time to say. Ron flung out his fist at him, and hit him in the face. Harry trembled backwards, and fell on his back.

"Ron, what the hell are you doing?" Ginny shrieked, kneeling next to Harry, who was touching his nose carefully, blood streaming out of it.

"I can't believe you!" Ron yelled at Harry, ignoring his sister. "I mean, she's my little sister! Of all the people! She's just a kid."

Ginny was staring furiously at Ron.

"I'm not a kid anymore!" she screamed. "I turned 14 this summer, in case you didn't notice!"

Harry felt he should do or say something to stand up for himself, and Ginny, but his nose hurt so bad he had trouble thinking about anything else. Besides, Ginny sounded like she was doing pretty well on her on. She was giving Ron quite the lecture.

"Are you alright?" Ginny suddenly asked softly, turning to Harry again.

"Not really," he managed.

She helped him up.

"I'm taking you to see Madam Pomfrey," she said, putting an arm around him to support him. Harry felt slightly dizzy, and staggered a bit.

"And you!" Ginny snapped, turning to Ron. "You better have a good apology waiting when we get back, or I'm owling mum and dad first thing tomorrow."

Ron watched her help Harry out of the room, and then dumped himself onto the sofa, rubbing his fist.

"I'm an idiot," he sighed. "We've already established that today," Hermione pointed out, joining him. She conjured up an icepack with her wand, and Ron held it against his knuckles.

"Why can't you just be happy for them?" Hermione asked. Ron shrugged.

"She's my baby sister. I should be protecting her."

Hermione looked doubtfully at him. "From Harry?"

"From everybody," Ron said. "She's just 14. That's way too early to be dating."

"Says the guy who spent all of last year running after Fleur," Hermione teased.

"That was different," Ron protested. "She was… I mean."

Hermione just laughed.

"Ginny is going to start dating, Ron," she said softly, taking his hand. "You might as well get used to it. And she couldn't have made a better choice than Harry."

"You're right, as always," Ron sighed. "I'm an idiot." 

"So, d'you still want me then?" he asked, slightly anxious. "I mean, despite all this idiot business."

Hermione just kissed him.

"Of course," she whispered. "I've known you were an idiot since I first met you."

Ron just laughed.

"By the way," he whispered, "I spent just as much of last year worrying about you and Krum as I did running after girls."

"I know," Hermione assured him.

She was about to kiss him again when someone coughed. They both spun around, only to see Ginny smiling in the doorway.

"I came to get Harry's pyjamas," she explained, still grinning. "Madam Pomfrey wants to keep him overnight."

"Is he alright?" Ron asked anxiously.

"Well, you did manage to break his nose," Ginny said, her smile disappearing.

"I'm so sorry," Ron sighed.

"Tell that to Harry," Ginny shrugged. "It his nose."

"Well, I owe you one too," Ron pointed out, but Ginny just shook her head.

"We're even if you promise you'll never hit my boyfriend again. You're not the only hard-hitting member of the family, you know."

"Deal," Ron said, rubbing his hand. Ginny laughed.

"Do me a favour and get his pyjamas, will you. I don't think Neville and the others will be too happy to see me in their room."

Ron hurried off, and Ginny joined Hermione on the couch.

"So?" she asked.

"So?" Hermione repeated, smiling.

"Yes?" Ginny asked, and Hermione blushed.

"Yes," she smiled, and Ginny hugged her.

"That's great news. It was about time my pigheaded brother come to his senses."

"Who knows, maybe we'll be sisters in law," Hermione suggested, and Ginny laughed.

*

The next day, Ron visited Harry in the hospital wing.

"Hi," he said carefully, standing as far away from the bed as possible. "How are you feeling?"

"Well, my best friend broke my nose, but other than that I'm fine," Harry said surly. But seeing the look on Ron's face he didn't have the heart to keep up the act anymore.

"I'm kidding," he laughed, and Ron relaxed.

"I am so sorry, Harry," he started, but Harry just shook his head.

"Forget it. You're long forgiven."

"You sure?" Ron asked, and Harry nodded.

"I was kinda glad you hit me actually. I was pretty worried about you for a while."

"Yeah, I got some facts wrong," Ron muttered, going flushing red.

"So I heard," Harry smiled. "It was about bloody time Ron."

"I know," Ron said, still blushing.

"I can't believe you thought I'd go after Hermione," Harry said.

"And I can't believe you're going out with my sister," Ron said, sitting down on the bed. "I did not see that one coming, Harry."

It was Harry's turn to blush.

"Yeah, well… She's something," he muttered.

"Are you really in love with her?" Ron asked, and Harry was quick to nod. " Right, then I'm happy for you. But you do know that if you hurt her I'll have to hit you again."

Harry laughed.

"No worries, mate," he said, shielding his nose.

"Friends?" Ron asked, holding out his hand.

"Friends," Harry agreed, shaking it.

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