Under My Spell
HEY YOU! Read this!! Now that I have your attention, I'll say this one more time: If you haven't read The Blood of Ronald Weasley, you are NOT going to know what Hermione and Ginny are talking about! So PLEASE go read it!! This chapter is getting into the heart of the story (I think), and I've been toying with a few possible meaty plots to add substance. However, I need more time to think, so I wrote just one more fluffy chapter to tide my readers over for a few days. Oh, and none of this is mine!!
CHAPTER THREE: JUST RON
"Have you seen my tear-drop earrings, Ginny?" Hermione asked. They had been a present from her parents for her sixteenth birthday, and she wanted to wear them because she was going to visit them today. With Ron.
This was the first time they were going to see them just because. Usually there was a special occasion, Christmas or birthdays, with tons of other people around. This was going to be interesting. It wasn't that her parents didn't like Ron, quite the opposite as a matter of fact. It was just…well, awkward. She had reminded Ron the day before to wear conservative Muggle clothing, jeans and a shirt. She hoped to God he remembered.
She voiced her fears to Ginny. Her advice was, "Calm down, they're just your parents. And it's just Ron."
But for Hermione, it had never been just Ron. From the moment that they'd met, on the Hogwarts Express thirteen years ago, she knew there was something different about him. At eleven, she'd just written him off as a funny but troublesome boy. She hadn't been wrong, but he'd grow to become so much more to her.
She finally found her earrings at the bottom of her jewelry box. She came across a bracelet Ron had given her years ago. It must have been Christmas of sixth year. Three months before she and Ginny were kidnapped by Voldemort.
The memory still brought goose bumps to her skin and a chill to her heart. She brought her hand to her back and rubbed at where she knew the long scar was. She remembered the day she had told Ron the story about her scar. It was seventh year, the day before Neville's funeral. She had cried on his shoulder asking what was wrong with the world, half expecting him to know the answer. It was the first time he had spoken of the possibility of a future together and how much they owed Neville for his bravery, she thought fondly. She missed Neville. In a way, she owed him her life, because Ron was her life. She shook her head and was about to replace the bracelet at the bottom of the jewelry box, but a sense of defiance swept over her and she clipped the bracelet to her wrist instead.
"Hermione?"
Hermione spun around, and saw Ginny standing in the doorway to her bedroom. She tried to wipe the tears from her eyes casually, but it was impossible.
"What's wrong? Surely visiting your parents isn't as bad as all that," Ginny said uncertainly.
Hermione held up the wrist with the dangling silver heart. "Do you remember when Ron gave me this?"
She saw a shadow of understanding in Ginny's eyes. She licked her lips and ran a hand through her fire-red hair. "Christmas. Your sixth year, my fifth. I started dating Harry in October, and then we were…kidnapped at the end of March. I haven't seen that bracelet in years. Where has it been?" Without waiting for an answer, Ginny continued. "I helped Ron pick it out. The last Hogsmeade weekend before Christmas, Ron comes up to me and says 'I need you to help me pick out a good present for Hermione.' I asked 'Didn't you pick one out by yourself last year?' After all, you two had been dating more than a year at that point. But he said something I'll never forget. I'm sure he didn't mean to say it, and he swore me to secrecy. He was sixteen, after all. He said, 'Yeah, but I just realized that I love her.' I don't know when he got around to telling you."
"He told me for the first time that Christmas morning. After all the presents were opened, he pulled this little box out of his pocket and took me aside. He was already turning red, and he kept clearing his throat. But he handed me the box to open, and when I said it was so beautiful and perfect, and he said 'Just like you. I love you, Hermione.' I think it was the first time in my life I was speechless." Hermione sighed. "I scared him to death, I think, when I didn't say anything. And then 'I love you too' just slipped out, like I'd been saying it for years."
"That's a beautiful story, Hermione," Ginny said. She was sitting on the bed, and Hermione joined her.
"When I picked it up, the first thing I thought about was all the bad memories it invoked. I'd nearly forgotten about the good ones."
"Yeah, because sometimes the bad ones are so big and horrible the good ones get lost in the shuffle." Ginny sniffled. "And we have a lot of bad memories."
"I know."
They sat silent for a long time, then Hermione happened to glance at the clock. "Gin," she said softly, "I have to go. I told Ron I'd meet him at my parent's house in Great Yarmouth. He probably has already Apparated. Are you going to be all right?"
Ginny nodded. "Yes. I'm fine. Go ahead, have a good time."
"If you need anything, send an owl. I'll come home straight away. Or go see Harry. I'm sure he'd rather have lunch with you than with Snape and the rest of the teachers."
Ginny laughed. "I'm sure you're right."
***
"Where have you been?" Ron asked, slightly annoyed, when Hermione appeared in front of him a few minutes later. "I've been standing here forever."
"Sorry, but…oh, I'll tell you later. Let's go in."
Ron put a hand on her shoulder. "I have something to ask you."
"What?"
"Well, not ask, per se. More like put an idea out there." Ron squirmed.
"So, what is it?"
"Well, I thought that since Harry and Ginny are getting married…and Ginny would be moving out…that would mean that you'd need someone to help you pay the rent. You know, a new roommate. And I was wondering if it maybe could be…me."
Hermione was slightly taken aback, but then a generous smile spread over her face. "I'd like nothing better," she said, and stood on her tip-toes to kiss him. No, Ron would never be just Ron.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
When she pulled away, he changed the subject. "So, this is where you grew up, eh?" Ron asked as he looked at the sturdy two story brick home. He noticed the flower boxes below each window and the small and tidy gardens that lined the path. Hermione's mother must be an avid gardener, he thought.
"That's right, this is the first time you've been here. Well, I can assure you it isn't as interesting as your house." Hermione stood on the stoop and ran the doorbell.
Ron shrugged. "Seven kids often make a house interesting."
"Hermione, darling! How are you, sweetheart?" Hermione's mother Harriet opened the shiny black door, all smiles.
"I'm fine, mom." Hermione hugged her mother.
"And Ron. How have you been dear? I hope your parents are well?" Harriet Granger ushered them in and took their coats. Hermione was pleased to see Ron in jeans and a button-down shirt.
"I'm fine, and my parents are too." Ron was a little nervous. Hermione's parents had never been anything but nice, but he was secretly scared to death of them. Especially her father. Whenever he looked at him, Ron felt like he was trying to assess what kind of person he was and whether he was anywhere near good enough for his daughter, and what he'd been doing with his daughter. Ron didn't like being put under the microscope.
"Hermione and Ron are here, Harvey!" Harriet called. "Why don't you sit down in the living room and I'll get something to drink."
"Mom, I'm hardly a guest. I'll get the drinks. You go sit down."
Ron wanted to scream No Hermione, don't leave me alone with them! but he doubted whether she'd ever forgive him.
He took a seat on the couch and Mr. and Mrs. Granger each sat in an armchair facing the couch, with the coffee table in the middle.
They looked at each other and grinned. "Well, Ron, it's no use trying to keep it from us," Mrs. Granger said, "we know."
Ron started. What the hell were they talking about? Oh my God, do they know about him moving in to her house? Were they listening at the door or something?
"And we couldn't be happier," Mr. Granger added.
Ron was confused. He thought they would be mad. After all, it wasn't the kind of news parents like to hear. He decided to play it low key.
"You do?"
"Of course," Mrs. Granger said, "There aren't many reasons why you'd come down and visit with no holiday." Her eyes were sparkling.
Where the hell are you, Hermione? Ron thought desperately. Like an answer to a prayer, Hermione sauntered in the room with a tray of drinks.
"I made lemonade," she announced.
"Oh, we're so happy for you darling!" Harriet said eagerly.
"Um, for making lemonade? It really wasn't that hard—" Hermione was confused.
"No, Ron's just told us the good news," Harvey said.
Hermione shot a glance at Ron. He told her parents about his moving in? Did he have a death wish?
"Er, he…did?" She said uncertainly, taking a seat beside Ron on the couch.
"Well, he really didn't need to tell us. You made it so obvious, darling," Mrs. Granger said.
"Um," Hermione said.
"Er," Ron added.
"Oh, come on kids," Mr. Granger said, "we all knew you were going to get engaged someday soon."
Hermione let out a whoosh of breath and Ron put his face in his hands. He waited for Hermione to explain. They were her parents after all. But he didn't hear her say anything, so he looked up. She was looking at him with eyebrows raised.
"What?"
"Can I speak to you in the kitchen for a minute?"
"Uh, okay."
Ron followed her, a bit nervous, into the next room.
"Yeah?"
"Maybe we should tell them we're engaged."
"WHAT?"
"Shh, quiet down. They aren't deaf. Well, I mean, what harm could it do? They live pretty far away, and I mean when they find out you'll be moving in when Ginny moves out, it won't be such a…shock." Hermione crossed her arms and waited with baited breath.
"So, are you proposing?" Ron asked. He wasn't sure what he thought about all this.
"I guess I am."
So I finally posted a long chapter! Yippee! So it's a bit of a cliffhanger with some loose ends, but well, that's too bad. Hehe. For anyone who is confused, I named Hermione's parents Harriet and Harvey in The Blood of Ronald Weasley. Lol. And Fred and George and everybody will be coming into play soon, because I love them. Well, I have to go watch Everwood now, buh byes!!