Chapter 9

Not Quite Expected

Author's note: My everlasting gratitude to Zsenya for the betareading. Miss Pince is my hero for saving the Hermione part of this chapter from disaster. And I must thank my reviewers and reader for putting up with me and my cliffhangers.

Hermione could swear that her shoes had been filled with lead. She wished that she had never heard about this party. Not only did she worry about how Mr and Mrs Weasley would react if they found out, she was also worrying about her appearance. That mental note she had made after the Yule Ball last year had been pushed aside. Again she had to endure the agony of picking out a dress, fixing her hair and putting on make-up. She was just glad Ginny had helped her. They had decided on a dress that Hermione's mother had given to her for Christmas.  It was black velvet and sleeveless. Having her arms bare bothered Hermione somewhat and she decided to have her hair loose so her shoulders and the top of her arms would be hidden. Ginny had laughed heartily when Hermione had declared that make-up applying should be considered an act of bravery. Who in their right mind would want to bring a wand with something resembling tar close to their eyes? 

Even after all these ministrations, Hermione was unhappy with the way she looked. She felt self-conscious and she couldn't help but remember the last time she was dressed up and the horrendous way that evening had ended.

Ginny was making her way down the stairs and Hermione followed. There was some noise to be heard from the kitchen, it was obvious some guests had arrived.

As they were reaching the bottom of the stairs, they met Harry. Hermione couldn't help but note that he was eyeing Ginny. Behind him, there was an obvious commotion in the kitchen and Hermione had to ask what it was.

"Oh, just inspection of the beverages that will be served tonight. I think we might be expecting some aggressive champagne," Harry said nonchalantly. What?!? Suddenly she felt more than anxious.

"Alcohol?" she said, before rushing into the kitchen to find out for herself. Inside the kitchen, she found Ron, Fred, George, Angelina and Lee laughing very hard.

"What's happening?" she asked them, trying very hard not to sound panicky.

"Oh, just trying out the champagne," said George, "wanna taste?" Hermione was appalled. They were all, except Angelina, too young to drink. What was everyone thinking?

"I can't believe you're going to serve alcohol at this party. I mean … I think it's bad enough you're throwing this party without your parents knowing, but serving alcohol …" she couldn't finish because Ron cut in.

"In Prefect mode, are we?" he remarked.

"I'm not in Prefect mode, it's just that I don't think it's a good idea that people are going to drink at the party," she hissed through her clenched teeth. It was so typical of Ron to think that her concern was nothing but an attempt from her to be bossy. "Most of us are too young anyway."

"Too young, you say, I don't remember you saying anything when Karkaroff was offering Krum mulled wine last year. How is this different?" Ron had crossed his arms. Hermione clenched her fists. Was this just to irritate her?

"Ron, it was for his medical benefit, he was ill and besides he was eighteen at the time," she replied.

"Well, this shows your double standards. You don't think it's ok to drink underage but dating someone who can is ok." Ron was obviously clenching his jaws. Hermione felt a jolt of anger in her stomach. Where did he find these illogical arguments?

"What do you mean? Those are two separate things, underage drinking and dating someone who is old enough to drink. It's not about double standards," she told him, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Oh, that's just an excuse. Rules apply to anyone but yourself, don't you see? You just carry on doing what you please with Vicky boy, or should I say man, thinking that since it's you, Hogwarts' own golden girl, no one will think any less of you. Well, I do. I think you're a hypocrite for condemning one thing and then doing what you please. Maybe those howlers were right …" Ron wasn't able to finish for she cut in, feeling angrier towards him than she had ever before.

"Get out of my sight, Ron, before I do something to you I might regret," she hissed in a low voice and reached into the small pocket she had sewn on her dress for her wand. Ron looked startled but something in her countenance told him she meant business. He turned on his heel and left the kitchen.

Hermione then suddenly remembered that she wasn't alone in the kitchen and she turned around and saw the twins, Lee and Angelina staring at her. They all looked somewhat astounded, but the boys' shoulders started to shake in silent laughter. Angelina looked sternly at them and approached Hermione.

"That was quite a fight," Angelina said tentatively, "I suppose Ron's gone somewhere to sulk."

"I don't care," Hermione tossed her head as if to shake off any thoughts of Ron.

"Well, don't let it ruin the party for you. No boy is worth that," said Angelina and raised her eyebrows at her boyfriend at her boyfriend, who looked ready to argue.

"Well, I think Ron made it perfectly clear that he thinks I won't be able to have any fun because I'm too prissy." Hermione huffed and then mumbled to herself, "I'll show him prissy." She looked over at the kitchen table where bottles of champagne were lined up. If she could get one glass and walk into the living room, she would show him.

"Can I have a sip?" she asked and gestured at the bottles. The twins and Lee looked curiously at her but George poured her a glass anyway.

"Do you think that drinking is going to show him anything?" Angelina sounded concerned but Hermione didn't care for anyone's opinion at the moment. She took her glass and went into the hallway.

A few people had arrived while she'd been in the kitchen and they all greeted her. Justin Finch-Fletchley smiled in a peculiar fashion when she greeted him and then cocked his head and asked her how she was doing in a manner that sounded very strange in his refined accent. She could help but stare at him rather alarmed but accepted his offer to get a refill for her then-emptied champagne glass.

The sparkling wine got quickly to her head, making her feel giddy. There was no denying that it was a pleasant change from feeling resentful towards Ron. Actually she had forgotten why on earth she was angry towards Ron, especially when she was laughing merrily at some joke Ernie MacMillan was telling her.

Ron finally decided to make an appearance in the living room but the sight of him didn't reignite her anger, quite the contrary. He was actually looking very fine in those new robes of his, that accented what all that Quidditch training was doing for him. Well, he didn't look like he was going to be much fun, so no need to waste breath on him, she thought as she accepted yet another glass of champagne from Justin.

~~~~

Ron had retreated to his room after Hermione had dismissed him from the kitchen. It hadn't occurred to him at the time that it would have been more logical for her to storm out off the kitchen than to tell him to leave it. He had just become so angry at her for obviously not intending to have a good time that he lost all reason. When he had arrived upstairs, he had grabbed an old Remembrall that was lying on his desk and smashed it against the wall. Why had he brought up Krum? He bet that now Hermione was comparing them and remembering his display of immaturity earlier and the worst thing was that sooner or later he would have to face her again. Would they be able to sweep this under the carpet as they had done to some of their previous arguments?

He sat on his bed, hugging his knees for a long while. The thoughts in his head seemed to go in circles but one thing seemed to have seeped through his frustration with Hermione, why wasn't he downstairs partying and trying to forget about the fight? He might even have to talk to Hermione, she was probably still in the kitchen, preventing people from drinking.

It came as a surprise to him to see how many had come to the party. The living room was absolutely bursting at the seams. Ron was glad that the Burrow was equipped with a Stretching Charm. He bumped into Oliver Wood who had to give him few Quidditch pointers but just as he turned from Wood, he saw Hermione.

Hermione wasn't giving lectures on the dangers of underage drinking. She was sipping on something that had to be champagne. What had happened while he had been up in his room? Ron moved closer to her but when she caught his eye, she turned away and kept on talking to Justin Finch-Fletchley. Since when did she know him? Ron clenched his fists and fought the urge to go and punch him. Instead he turned on his heel and retreated to the darkest corner of the living room where he watched the party in an even worse mood than before.

He watched the party like a play that he wasn't very interested in. The people talking, laughing, eating, drinking and dancing. Only Hermione's actions interested him and to his amazement, she was soon on the dance floor. His eyes widened when she began dancing. Never had he thought she could dance like that, swaying her hips in a manner he couldn't help but find. She had to be drunk because he knew very well that a sober Hermione would never dance like that. What had got into her?

When Harry approached him, Ron voiced his concern to him but when Harry didn't seem to have the same concerns about her, Ron partly ignored him. Ginny came to save Harry few minutes later and Ron was glad, at least Harry's night wouldn't be ruined.

The next half hour passed in some kind of blur where Ron watched Hermione flirt with various boys and accept some more glasses of champagne. He felt jealous but thought it was best to keep those feelings under control because he knew if he would try to intervene, Hermione would yell at him. There was just so much tension he was ready to endure for one night. His focus was again directed solely to watching Hermione and now it was obvious she was drunk. She seemed to be rather wobbly and it looked like she might pass out anytime. Ron became anxious, he had a feeling that Hermione would be deeply ashamed if she would passed out now. He decided to rescue her and risk that she wouldn't like it. No one seemed to give Hermione much notice right now. Even Justin's attention had been diverted. Ron was glad and he was able to make his way to Hermione without anyone getting in his way.

"You here?" said Hermione in a thick voice when he put an arm around her and ushered her out of the living room. He said nothing, he was feeling very aware that his hand was around her waist and her arm was draped around his shoulders. This close proximity was having funny effects on him. The sooner he could let go off her, the better.

The door to Ginny's room was slightly ajar so Ron kicked it open without letting go of Hermione.

"Why are we here?" she asked, giggling.

"I think you could do with a nap," Ron answered as he gently pushed her on Ginny's bed.

"But I don't want to nap, I want to do something else," she said and suddenly she had linked her hands around his neck and was pushing him onto the bed. He was caught by surprise and all of a sudden he was sitting on the bed with Hermione sitting in his lap.

"This is more what I had in mind," she purred and then her lips were upon his. It was like lighting had struck inside of Ron, his senses seemed to be on overload. His lips were crushing to his teeth in an almost painful manner and he had trouble kissing her back since he was pinned to the wall, but he didn't care. Hermione was kissing him and that was something he had dreamt of for quite some time. Slowly he brought his hands to her sides and gently shifted her in his lap so he could kiss her back. He broke the kiss as he wrapped her in his arms, just so he could catch his breath. In the dusky light in the bedroom, he could see that she was flushed and he had to admit that he had seldom seen her as beautiful. Again their lips met and this time the kiss was softer, yet more intimate. Her hands were in his hair while he kept his firmly on the small of her back. Soon her hands began to travel, from his head, over his shoulder, down his chest and … he took a sharp breath, she began unfastening his robes. While he had to admit that being touched by Hermione was even more wonderful than he had ever thought, something was telling that things were progressing too fast. With strength of will he never knew he possessed, he removed her hands from inside his robes and then pushed her of his lap.

"Hermione, as much as I like this, I think we should stop," he whispered, "I mean, you really should have a nap and we can talk in the morning." He stood up and had her lie down on in the bed. "Go to sleep." She didn't protest so he put a blanket over her and left the room. As he was about to close the bedroom door, a loud scream came from downstairs with the sound of many panicked voices. Ron stood there frozen for a moment and jumped when he heard a tiny whisper behind him.

"Ron, what's happening?" Hermione stood there with the blanket wrapped around her. He tried shrugging his shoulders but that came across as a shiver. The panic in the voices downstairs seemed to rise, she gave him a determined look and took his hand in hers.

They stopped, dead frozen when they reached the bottom of the stairs. The scene before made him squeeze her hand, both to protect her and to find reassurance. Lee Jordan was standing there with his wand pointed at an ashen-faced Percy.