Chapter 10
Hermione flopped down on her bed, smile playing across her features. Maybe Ron really did think of her as more than a friend. She sighed deeply, staring at her ceiling. Maybe she would have to tell him how she felt so she could stop wondering. But somehow she thought that would ruin everything. Whatever was going on was by far the most agonizing thing in the world.
Pulling herself off the bed, Hermione opened her closet doors to get her pajamas. She pulled a tank top and sweatpants out of the closet to wear to bed. There was no need to wear a nightgown in your own house just because there was a guest over. If Ron didn't like what she wore to bed it was his problem. After all he was only wearing flannel pants the night before, with no shirt nonetheless.
She pulled on the white shirt and gray pants and slid her feet into her slippers. "…lling out to one another-" Hermione looked at her closet where the voice came from. She listened harder, "…up and down the strand-" It was Ron, she soon realized. He was singing. She pressed her ear against the closet wall to listen, "… seagulls circling the sand. And the fragments of the songs-"
Hermione pulled away suddenly recognizing the words. They were her own. A poem she had written ages ago.
She exited her room and knocked on Ron's door.
"What?" Ron's voice inquired.
"May I come in, Ron?"
"Er…. Yeah I suppose."
Hermione opened the door and smiled when she saw him writing, "What were you singing?"
Ron bit his lip and looked up at her, "Well, I was looking through this book and this paper fell out. You're poem I guess. And it fit really well to my music…" He blushed slightly, "May I use it?"
Hermione nodded, "As long as you sing it for me."
Ron's eyes went wide, "You want to hear it?"
"Of course, Ron. I wouldn't have said I did if I didn't."
"Well it's not done yet-"
"You don't have to now."
"Oh, okay." A white owl flew through Ron's open window and dropped a letter onto Ron's head. Hermione looked at it in wonder. The white owl was Hedwig so the letter had to be from Harry. Ron opened it up as Hermione picked up Ron's maroon Weasley sweater, which was lying on the floor. Ron crumpled the letter, "Bloody pest."
"Ron!" Hermione scolded, as she massaged her fingers against the soft fabric of the shirt.
Ron looked up and sighed, "Well he is." His eyes trailed from her face to her hands, "Do you want to wash that, too?"
Hermione shivered, "No. It was just on the floor, I-"
"Of course it was on the floor." Ron laughed, "I was hoping to leave it behind. Mum made me pack it. 'You might get cold.' If I get cold I'd rather set myself on fire than wear that."
"I like it." Hermione said.
"You can have it. Maybe this school year you can find a spell to change the R to an H."
"I like the R."
Ron looked back at the crumpled letter. "I suppose I should write back."
"You probably should." Hermione began to set the sweater back down.
Ron stopped her, "I said keep it."
"Ron it's-"
"Your sweater now." Ron finished for her, "Keep it, call it a gift."
Hermione laughed. "Write your letter, Ron."
She left the room and closed the door behind her. She quickly darted into her room, nearly stepping on Crookshanks, and locked the door behind her. She sank to her bed, Crookshanks jumped up next to her and purred. Hermione didn't even notice him, she pulled the sweater close to her and breathed in its scent. It smelled like Ron, she smiled dreamily, and the sweater was hers.
Crookshanks, seemingly jealous, leaped onto Hermiones stomach. Hermione gasped, "Oh, sorry, honey! First Faith comes and I ignore you and now Ron."
Crookshanks growled at Ron's name.
"Oh, you like Ron. Look he gave me his sweater, I'll wear it whenever he's not around."
Crookshanks cocked his head and twitched his tail.
"You think I should shrink it?"
Ron,
So how's your week with Hermione going so far? Ginny and I have a pool going about who's will is going to break first. Just tell her and get it over with, mate. She feels the same way I'm sure. Oh and about me staying away from your sister, that's not likely. Don't worry I won't use her pet name around you.
-Harry
PS - Tell your mum thanks for the food
Ron read the letter again and frowned.
Harry,
Some friend you are. You told Ginny how I feel about Hermione? You and I are through, Potter, and you damn well better not call my sister pet names. Ever. I will tell Hermione this week, but first I have to make sure she feels the same way. Why the hell am I telling you anything? You'll have to guess from now on.
Sod off,
Ron
PS - Yeah I'll make sure mum poisons whatever she sends you next time
Hermione was stretched out on the couch reading an old romance novel she had found that day in the attic. The smell of French toast tickled her nose, she tore her gaze away from the book and peered into the kitchen. Her father was making breakfast, it seemed, and from the sound of it her mother was changing Faiths diaper.
She continued reading. Just because she usually read her schoolbooks, didn't mean she couldn't read a romance every once in a while.
A loud thump from upstairs told her that Ron was awake and that he had probably fallen out of bed. A voice shouting, "Bugger!" told her she was right.
"Ron don't swear!" She yelled.
Her father chuckled from the kitchen.
Ron walked down the stairs wearing wrinkled jeans and an inside out t-shirt. Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron needed some new muggle clothing. Maybe that was a good way of asking her parents to go into town. Hermione could show Ron the shops and she could visit the bookstore.
"Mum, dad? Can we go into town today?"
"Well, I suppose you could take the bus. You're father and I have to stay here."
Hermione thought that over as Ron sat down at the end of the couch by Hermione's feet, "Okay, mum. Can I borrow some money?"
Ron raised his eyebrows incredulously, obviously expecting her parents to say no.
"I'll give you a credit card, Hermione. I expect you to pay me back as soon as you can. Even if it means extra babysitting this week. I know Patricia needs some work done in her garden, I'm sure she'll give you a fair amount of cash if you do that for her this week."
Hermione sighed, "All right, mum."
Ron poked Hermione's foot and laughed when she jumped, "Ron!" She scolded.
"Oh what? Are you ticklish?"
"Of course not-" Ron grabbed her foot and began tickling her. She laughed hysterically and pulled herself free, "Ron! That's not nice! Leave my feet alone."
"Yeah, Ickle Ronnikins, leave "Mione's feet alone. Though I'm sure she is actually enjoying it."
Ron's head snapped up. In the front of him was his brother. He looked at Hermione, "Tell me I'm seeing things."
"You're not." Hermione said looking quite pink at Fred's statement.
Ron growled, "Get out of here."
"I'm just checking on you, little brother."
"Check somewhere else, cause this little brother is gone."
Ron began to walk out of the room, Fred grinned, "You leave and I'll tell her-"
Ron spun around, "Why are you here, you lousy git?"
Fred smiled and pulled Ron aside, "Angelina and I were talking and you've been here for three days, right?"
"Ye-"
"And you're here until next Sunday, right?"
"Rig-"
"So tell her now!" He whispered energetically, "Then you two have a whole week as a couple and not two lovesick teenagers."
"Sod off, Fred. This is my business, not yours."
"This is my business, you're ruining the Weasley name!"
"Just because I don't leap into a relationship?"
"Right."
"Do me a favor, Fred, and go away. I'll deal with this my own way."
"If I don't hear anything by Tuesday I'm going to tell her myself."
Ron clenched his teeth, "Fine, now get out."
Fred grinned and saluted him, "Best of luck." With that Fred disappeared.
"He had to get his bloody apparation license." Ron complained, slouching down into a chair.
Hermione watched Ron in wonder, "What was he talking about?"
Ron rolled his eyes, "The gift I'm getting you for Christmas. It's a puppy. Sorry to disappoint you."
"Okay, don't tell me."
"Fine."
Hermione sighed and stood up, "My dad's made breakfast, let's go eat."
Hermione and Ron sat on a bench down Hermione's street waiting for the bus to arrive, "So, Ron, do you have er… public transportation in the wizarding world?"
Ron shook his head, "Not really. He either use floo powder or apparate."
"I see."
"Well…. There's always the knight bus."
"Oh! I'd forgotten about that!"
"You forgot something? Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming."
Hermione reached over and pinched his arm. Ron jumped, "Ow! What'd you do that for?"
"You aren't dreaming."
"Thanks…. I was only kidding."
Hermione smiled sweetly, "Sorry."
"No you're not."
The bus rolled up. Hermione took Ron's hand and pulled him to his feet. She pulled him along behind her as she boarded the bus and paid the driver. The vehicle wasn't very full yet, but one face made Hermione stop dead.
It was a boy from her old school, Lawrence; he had been the class bully and had often stolen Hermione's milk money. He also cheated off her work and always managed to hunt her down on the playground to tie her to a tree with a jump rope. Lawrence was a little taller than Hermione but a lot fatter. He grinned when he saw her. Hermione whimpered and backed into Ron.
"'Mione? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Okay, well we'd better find a place to sit, then."
The two began to walk to the back of the bus. Ron picked a seat right across from Lawrence. Hermione sat next to Ron and scooted so close to him she was practically sitting on him. Lawrence reached over and tugged on Hermione's skirt. She kicked his hand, "Ron, may I trade places with you?"
"The bus is moving, it says we have to stay sitting down."
Of all the times for him to obey the rules, Hermione thought biting her lip.
Ron sighed, "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"
"That guy," Hermione whispered into Ron's ear, "was a bully at my old school. And he's pulling my skirt right now."
Ron leaned forward looking at the guy. Hermione pushed him back, "Don't stare, Ron!"
He watched out of the corner of his eye as the kid reached over again. This time Ron leaned over and grabbed Lawrence's wrist. "Oy! What do you think you're doing?"
"What's it to you?"
Ron switched places with Hermione and glared at the guy, "It's a lot to me because you're harassing my girlfriend. Hands off."
Ron sat back and patted Hermione's hand, "Sorry."
Hermione leaned her head on Ron's shoulder and Ron wrapped his arm around her, "Thank you, Ron. You didn't have to do that for me."
"I'd hex a professor for you, Hermione. Just tell me next time something, or someone is bothering you."
Hermione blushed deeply, "All right…"
Men are fun when they're territorial aren't they?
Lenny
