***DISCLAIMER*** I don't own Harry Potter or anything affiliated with the
Harry Potter book series; JKR and WB do. I am not trying to make a
profit, just have fun writing. I DO, however, own the poem "Chase After
Me," and I reserve the right to publish it in the future, as I may very
well do. So please do not steal it from me without my permission! I will
be very angry.
SUMMARY: Takes place during sixth year. Hermione has hinted to Ron many times that she likes him, but he can't take the hint! He may need a little help . . .
A/N The poem that this story is based on was written in mid-May this year when I was kinda sorta annoyed with the male gender. Yeah, that's the best way to describe it! It is an Italian sonnet because I love sonnets and I like Italian ones better than Shakespearean ones; they are just cool like that! Enjoy!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chase After Me
Chapter 1: Chase After Me
By AmericanAngel
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Chase After Me"
I wonder why this never seems to be
Why my heart never flutters to the sky
Why my soul cannot always seem to fly
I bet it would if you'd chase after me
The cost of my heart is not a small fee
Rather, the price to win my heart is high
But you won't even take a chance and try
Or ponder if you and I became we
Be brave, step forward, and change your shy ways
I ask you, what have you that you will lose?
I am lonely in this room at midnight
Won't you come to me and brighten my days?
Won't you make a decision, won't you choose?
Chase after me, rescue me from my plight.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Hermione looked over her potions notes and sighed deeply. Snape had decided to give a cumulative mid-year exam to the class, and for once she felt completely unprepared.
How could she help it if all she did was stare at Ron Weasley? How could she help it if she was losing sleep over him?
He was always so wrapped up in Quidditch with Harry, and whenever he spoke with her it was to ask for homework help. Sixth year brought new worries, new doubts. The war against Voldemort was in full swing and every issue of the Daily Prophet brought news of more deaths. Defense Against the Dark Arts had once again become a practical, and extremely important, class at Hogwarts. The sixth teacher for the trio was an Auror called Alec Doge, a young yet experienced man of thirty-three who had been trained by Alastor Moody and spent the majority of his early years searching for the scattered Death Eaters. Dumbledore had allowed the meetings of Dumbledore's Army to resume and Professor Doge had been working with Harry in the planning of each meeting. Harry, of course, was now allowed to play Quidditch and was the new team captain; Ginny had decided to play Chaser instead, giving Harry his position again. Seamus had also tried out for the team and now played the position of Beater, along with his counterpart, Dean. The other two Chasers were filled in by Alissa Wood, cousin of Oliver and a third year, and Tina Bell, Katie Bell's younger second year sister.
Sighing again, Hermione looked at her notes trying to digest them, but unable to do so because of her distractions. She got up and paced around the dorm room for a few minutes before leaving quietly and going to the library. She really wanted to go outside, maybe go running, but it was snowing and it wasn't a good idea to be outside alone due to Death Eater activity, even at Hogwarts, even with a resident Auror.
She didn't find what she was looking for in the library either. She smiled at Madam Pince on the way in and began to browse the familiar rows of shelves; she had been walking for about ten minutes when she realized that she could not remember one title of a book at which she had looked. In fact, she was not sure if she had even picked up any of the books. She shook her head, *Why does he make me feel like this?* she wondered to herself, finally sitting at a table towards the back of the library and staring aimlessly out the window at the falling snow, seeing figures flying around the Quidditch field in the distance.
She could pick out Ron flying around the goal posts and could see what looked like his younger sister shooting goals at him, as well as Dean and Seamus hitting a Bludger towards one another at the opposite end of the field. Harry was practicing diving technique and feints; occasionally, Ginny helped him hone his Seeker skills in a race to see who found the Snitch first, but today she was working with Alissa and Tina in an effort to improve their teamwork.
Hermione sighed again and pulled out her potions notes; if she wasn't able to solve her problems, she might as well get some work done. Harry called practice at five thirty when it began to get dark outside and the team headed to the showers; at the same time, Hermione returned to her dormitory to get ready for dinner.
* * *
Ron bounded down the staircase from the sixth year boy's dormitory, clean and freshly clothed. The practice had been long and hard, but he had only let in the Quaffle a few times. The team had already slaughtered Hufflepuff and their game against Slytherin was in a month and a half's time. Groaning inwardly, he remembered that there was a major mid-year Potions exam the next day and made a mental note to study after dinner; perhaps he could ask Hermione to borrow her notes.
Speaking of Hermione, Ron saw her sitting by the fire reading a Muggle book. Chuckling, he sat down next to her.
"Evening, Hermione," he said casually and she looked up with a smile.
"Hi, Ron. How was practice?" she asked him.
He shrugged, "Pretty good. I only let the Quaffle in a few times. I think that we are pretty much ready to battle Slytherin next month. How about you? Did you study for the Potions exam yet?"
Hermione sighed inwardly; was that all Ron cared about? The stupid potions exam? She mentally scolded herself for thinking that something was more important than school, but then she reminded herself that love really was.
"I studied a little bit, but I still feel a bit unprepared. Do you want to go to the library after dinner?" she asked him.
Ron cocked an eyebrow, "YOU, Hermione Granger, feel unprepared for an exam? That's amazing!"
She laughed, "Well, I just feel like I should study a bit more, and I assume that you haven't studied at all. Now, am I correct?"
Slowly, Ron nodded. Hermione laughed, "I figured as much. Well, do you want to go to the library then?"
He agreed, just as Harry came up and sat down next to the pair.
"Hello, mates. Well, are we going to sit here all evening or shall we go to dinner?" Harry asked cheerfully. Ron leapt up.
"Gosh, mate, I'm starving!!! Let's go!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and set her book on the table before she followed the boys out of the portrait hole. They walked through the halls together, yet the boys were talking about Quidditch and their excitement for the upcoming game the entire time, leaving Hermione to walk in silence. They finally reached the Great Hall and took seats at the Gryffindor table, Harry and Ron on one side and Hermione on the other.
"So, like I was saying, you really have to watch your right hoop a little more, Ron. That's where the Quaffle kept going in today," Harry said as he reached for a slice of bread and Hermione passed him the butter dish.
Ron sputtered through his bite of chicken, "Ah knoe, mahte."
Hermione wrinkled her nose, "Ron! That's disgusting!"
He grinned and swallowed, "Sorry, Hermione." She shook her head and cut into her own slice of chicken, taking a small bite and chewing carefully.
Harry looked at her, "So what have you been up to? We haven't seen you around much."
Hermione shrugged, "Well, you chaps are always so busy with Quidditch that we don't have time for much else. I've been doing a little studying, a little tutoring, you know, the usual."
Harry nodded, "So, are you ready for the Potions exam tomorrow?"
She shrugged again, "I think so. I need to spend a bit more time on it, of course, so I can get it drilled into my brain."
Ron grinned, "Drilled into your brain? That has to hurt."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but laughed all the same, a fluttering feeling rising in her chest. Sighing a little, she became very interested with buttering her piece of bread.
Ginny and Dean strolled over to the table and Dean greeted the bunch, "Alright, mates?"
Ron stiffened but shook Dean's hand, "Hello Dean, Ginny."
They all greeted one another as Ginny sat next to Hermione and Dean sat next to her, a few seats away from Ron and on the other side of the table, lucky for him.
Hermione heard Ron grumble under his breath, "Sometimes I just want to kill him," and she stifled a giggle to make sure that Ginny did not hear.
"Well, I think we better go study a bit," Harry said to Ron and Hermione. They agreed and said goodbye to Dean and Ginny, although they seemed not to hear.
The trio went back to the common room to retrieve their notes and then proceeded to the library where they went to the table at which Hermione had been sitting while watching the Quidditch practice. The boys launched into asking Hermione various questions and she answered them as best as she could while looking through her notes and trying to absorb the material. Finally, after a long evening of toil and frustration, they trio returned to Gryffindor Tower and said good night.
* * *
Hermione lay in bed that night thinking about the events of the day, because she could not fall asleep. All she could think about was Ron Weasley.
*I wonder why this never seems to be
Why my heart never flutters to the sky
Why my soul cannot always seem to fly
I bet it would if you'd chase after me*
She lay there in the dark wondering why some people, like Ginny and Dean, could be so happy and why others could not seem to get themselves off the ground, like Harry and Cho. And then there were others, like herself and Ron, who were just too afraid to make a move.
*The cost of my heart is not a small fee
Rather, the price to win my heart is high
But you won't even take a chance and try
Or ponder if you and I became we*
Who was she kidding? She did not think she was beautiful at all. No, the beautiful ones were Lavender and Parvati; Lavender was dating Seamus and surprisingly, Parvati was not dating anyone.
She sighed and thought to herself, *I'm just an insufferable know-it- all and I don't have the looks I need.* But she also realized that she set high expectations for potential boyfriends.
And, seriously, why was she in love with her best friend? Those kinds of relationships never seemed to work, they always ended in heart break.
Plus, she didn't even know if Ron liked her. He was too shy.
*Be brave, step forward, and change your shy ways
I ask you, what have you that you will lose?
I am lonely in this room at midnight*
She glanced at her wristwatch and saw that it was midnight. *Great,* she thought, *Just great. Now I'll really do well on the exam tomorrow, er, today*
*Won't you come to me and brighten my days?
Won't you make a decision? Won't you choose?
Chase after me, rescue me from my plight*
She sighed and rolled over into a more comfortable position and the thoughts flew into her mind, *Ron, I dare you to move.*
* * * * * * * * * * * *
As always, I will love you if you review this story! Yes, my characteristic short beginning chapter, but I promise they will get longer!
I'm going to try to write this in about five chapters, so I have a lot to fit in!
Hope you all are doing well. Again, please review!
~AmericanAngel
SUMMARY: Takes place during sixth year. Hermione has hinted to Ron many times that she likes him, but he can't take the hint! He may need a little help . . .
A/N The poem that this story is based on was written in mid-May this year when I was kinda sorta annoyed with the male gender. Yeah, that's the best way to describe it! It is an Italian sonnet because I love sonnets and I like Italian ones better than Shakespearean ones; they are just cool like that! Enjoy!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chase After Me
Chapter 1: Chase After Me
By AmericanAngel
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Chase After Me"
I wonder why this never seems to be
Why my heart never flutters to the sky
Why my soul cannot always seem to fly
I bet it would if you'd chase after me
The cost of my heart is not a small fee
Rather, the price to win my heart is high
But you won't even take a chance and try
Or ponder if you and I became we
Be brave, step forward, and change your shy ways
I ask you, what have you that you will lose?
I am lonely in this room at midnight
Won't you come to me and brighten my days?
Won't you make a decision, won't you choose?
Chase after me, rescue me from my plight.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Hermione looked over her potions notes and sighed deeply. Snape had decided to give a cumulative mid-year exam to the class, and for once she felt completely unprepared.
How could she help it if all she did was stare at Ron Weasley? How could she help it if she was losing sleep over him?
He was always so wrapped up in Quidditch with Harry, and whenever he spoke with her it was to ask for homework help. Sixth year brought new worries, new doubts. The war against Voldemort was in full swing and every issue of the Daily Prophet brought news of more deaths. Defense Against the Dark Arts had once again become a practical, and extremely important, class at Hogwarts. The sixth teacher for the trio was an Auror called Alec Doge, a young yet experienced man of thirty-three who had been trained by Alastor Moody and spent the majority of his early years searching for the scattered Death Eaters. Dumbledore had allowed the meetings of Dumbledore's Army to resume and Professor Doge had been working with Harry in the planning of each meeting. Harry, of course, was now allowed to play Quidditch and was the new team captain; Ginny had decided to play Chaser instead, giving Harry his position again. Seamus had also tried out for the team and now played the position of Beater, along with his counterpart, Dean. The other two Chasers were filled in by Alissa Wood, cousin of Oliver and a third year, and Tina Bell, Katie Bell's younger second year sister.
Sighing again, Hermione looked at her notes trying to digest them, but unable to do so because of her distractions. She got up and paced around the dorm room for a few minutes before leaving quietly and going to the library. She really wanted to go outside, maybe go running, but it was snowing and it wasn't a good idea to be outside alone due to Death Eater activity, even at Hogwarts, even with a resident Auror.
She didn't find what she was looking for in the library either. She smiled at Madam Pince on the way in and began to browse the familiar rows of shelves; she had been walking for about ten minutes when she realized that she could not remember one title of a book at which she had looked. In fact, she was not sure if she had even picked up any of the books. She shook her head, *Why does he make me feel like this?* she wondered to herself, finally sitting at a table towards the back of the library and staring aimlessly out the window at the falling snow, seeing figures flying around the Quidditch field in the distance.
She could pick out Ron flying around the goal posts and could see what looked like his younger sister shooting goals at him, as well as Dean and Seamus hitting a Bludger towards one another at the opposite end of the field. Harry was practicing diving technique and feints; occasionally, Ginny helped him hone his Seeker skills in a race to see who found the Snitch first, but today she was working with Alissa and Tina in an effort to improve their teamwork.
Hermione sighed again and pulled out her potions notes; if she wasn't able to solve her problems, she might as well get some work done. Harry called practice at five thirty when it began to get dark outside and the team headed to the showers; at the same time, Hermione returned to her dormitory to get ready for dinner.
* * *
Ron bounded down the staircase from the sixth year boy's dormitory, clean and freshly clothed. The practice had been long and hard, but he had only let in the Quaffle a few times. The team had already slaughtered Hufflepuff and their game against Slytherin was in a month and a half's time. Groaning inwardly, he remembered that there was a major mid-year Potions exam the next day and made a mental note to study after dinner; perhaps he could ask Hermione to borrow her notes.
Speaking of Hermione, Ron saw her sitting by the fire reading a Muggle book. Chuckling, he sat down next to her.
"Evening, Hermione," he said casually and she looked up with a smile.
"Hi, Ron. How was practice?" she asked him.
He shrugged, "Pretty good. I only let the Quaffle in a few times. I think that we are pretty much ready to battle Slytherin next month. How about you? Did you study for the Potions exam yet?"
Hermione sighed inwardly; was that all Ron cared about? The stupid potions exam? She mentally scolded herself for thinking that something was more important than school, but then she reminded herself that love really was.
"I studied a little bit, but I still feel a bit unprepared. Do you want to go to the library after dinner?" she asked him.
Ron cocked an eyebrow, "YOU, Hermione Granger, feel unprepared for an exam? That's amazing!"
She laughed, "Well, I just feel like I should study a bit more, and I assume that you haven't studied at all. Now, am I correct?"
Slowly, Ron nodded. Hermione laughed, "I figured as much. Well, do you want to go to the library then?"
He agreed, just as Harry came up and sat down next to the pair.
"Hello, mates. Well, are we going to sit here all evening or shall we go to dinner?" Harry asked cheerfully. Ron leapt up.
"Gosh, mate, I'm starving!!! Let's go!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and set her book on the table before she followed the boys out of the portrait hole. They walked through the halls together, yet the boys were talking about Quidditch and their excitement for the upcoming game the entire time, leaving Hermione to walk in silence. They finally reached the Great Hall and took seats at the Gryffindor table, Harry and Ron on one side and Hermione on the other.
"So, like I was saying, you really have to watch your right hoop a little more, Ron. That's where the Quaffle kept going in today," Harry said as he reached for a slice of bread and Hermione passed him the butter dish.
Ron sputtered through his bite of chicken, "Ah knoe, mahte."
Hermione wrinkled her nose, "Ron! That's disgusting!"
He grinned and swallowed, "Sorry, Hermione." She shook her head and cut into her own slice of chicken, taking a small bite and chewing carefully.
Harry looked at her, "So what have you been up to? We haven't seen you around much."
Hermione shrugged, "Well, you chaps are always so busy with Quidditch that we don't have time for much else. I've been doing a little studying, a little tutoring, you know, the usual."
Harry nodded, "So, are you ready for the Potions exam tomorrow?"
She shrugged again, "I think so. I need to spend a bit more time on it, of course, so I can get it drilled into my brain."
Ron grinned, "Drilled into your brain? That has to hurt."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but laughed all the same, a fluttering feeling rising in her chest. Sighing a little, she became very interested with buttering her piece of bread.
Ginny and Dean strolled over to the table and Dean greeted the bunch, "Alright, mates?"
Ron stiffened but shook Dean's hand, "Hello Dean, Ginny."
They all greeted one another as Ginny sat next to Hermione and Dean sat next to her, a few seats away from Ron and on the other side of the table, lucky for him.
Hermione heard Ron grumble under his breath, "Sometimes I just want to kill him," and she stifled a giggle to make sure that Ginny did not hear.
"Well, I think we better go study a bit," Harry said to Ron and Hermione. They agreed and said goodbye to Dean and Ginny, although they seemed not to hear.
The trio went back to the common room to retrieve their notes and then proceeded to the library where they went to the table at which Hermione had been sitting while watching the Quidditch practice. The boys launched into asking Hermione various questions and she answered them as best as she could while looking through her notes and trying to absorb the material. Finally, after a long evening of toil and frustration, they trio returned to Gryffindor Tower and said good night.
* * *
Hermione lay in bed that night thinking about the events of the day, because she could not fall asleep. All she could think about was Ron Weasley.
*I wonder why this never seems to be
Why my heart never flutters to the sky
Why my soul cannot always seem to fly
I bet it would if you'd chase after me*
She lay there in the dark wondering why some people, like Ginny and Dean, could be so happy and why others could not seem to get themselves off the ground, like Harry and Cho. And then there were others, like herself and Ron, who were just too afraid to make a move.
*The cost of my heart is not a small fee
Rather, the price to win my heart is high
But you won't even take a chance and try
Or ponder if you and I became we*
Who was she kidding? She did not think she was beautiful at all. No, the beautiful ones were Lavender and Parvati; Lavender was dating Seamus and surprisingly, Parvati was not dating anyone.
She sighed and thought to herself, *I'm just an insufferable know-it- all and I don't have the looks I need.* But she also realized that she set high expectations for potential boyfriends.
And, seriously, why was she in love with her best friend? Those kinds of relationships never seemed to work, they always ended in heart break.
Plus, she didn't even know if Ron liked her. He was too shy.
*Be brave, step forward, and change your shy ways
I ask you, what have you that you will lose?
I am lonely in this room at midnight*
She glanced at her wristwatch and saw that it was midnight. *Great,* she thought, *Just great. Now I'll really do well on the exam tomorrow, er, today*
*Won't you come to me and brighten my days?
Won't you make a decision? Won't you choose?
Chase after me, rescue me from my plight*
She sighed and rolled over into a more comfortable position and the thoughts flew into her mind, *Ron, I dare you to move.*
* * * * * * * * * * * *
As always, I will love you if you review this story! Yes, my characteristic short beginning chapter, but I promise they will get longer!
I'm going to try to write this in about five chapters, so I have a lot to fit in!
Hope you all are doing well. Again, please review!
~AmericanAngel
