A/N: Let me get my excuses out of the way, I'm very sorry for the delay of
the chapter before last. I went on vacation, not to mention hitting a
massive brick wall in my writing. I've since been better. To get some
confusion out of the way, a wanker is a very negative term (I got a review
asking what it was.), a British insult really. I'm hoping to put in more
Lavender and Ron, actually this chapter concerns quite a bit of Lavender
and Ron. I'm also quite sorry for the unabashed way I've written them
totally out of character, it's not my fault honest, the invisible monkey
made me do it!
Right, so I love the reviews, keep them coming, they make me feel special. Use your imaginations and you can think of your own disclaimers for each chapter, you can make it a game. If the story is this screwed up I'm assuming J.K.R. doesn't own it, nor want it, but the characters are her's, I'm just borrowing them. Read, review, enjoy.
It was two hours before they stopped at a gas station, by the insistence of Ginny, who had to go to the bathroom. Hermione got out to stretch her legs and Harry went to get some drinks. Ron was having too much fun fiddling with the radio, while Ginny wasn't, to get out.
Hermione was wandering around, trying to get the crick out of her neck. She went over to the tire station then turned.
"Ouch, watch it-" A man said, the looking up, his mouth fell open. "Hermione?"
"Richard?" She said, disbelievingly, then he engulfed her in a big hug. She kissed his cheek, then pulled back, still in his embrace. "What are you doing here?"
"On my way to London. I'm moving there. I hope you aren't moving back. I wanted to call on you."
"Oh, no. I'm just on my way to a birthday party. One of my friends' from the boarding school's mother."
"Ah, so, is he just a friend? Hmm?" He asked playfully.
"Yes, you know full well my three best friends are male, you included, though I might be leaning toward someone..." Hermione blushed daintily.
"Hermione?" She heard Harry from behind her. She pulled out of Richards grasp and took a step back to Harry.
"Yes?"
Harry was eyeing Richard warily, anyone who made Hermione blush and giggle wasn't very high in Harry's books. His blonde hair and blue eyes unnerved him, also the hands that had been very tight on her waist. "Ginny's come back, but if you're still in a conversation, take your time." He forced a grin.
"Richard, this is Harry Potter, one of my friends from Ho-er, the boarding school. Harry, this Richard Gray from my hometown, he's on his way to London."
"Yes, Hermione and I used to be the terrors of the street. Mrs. Peters is still recovering, I think."
Hermione gave a short laugh then started again. "Well I suppose you could say Harry, Ron and I were the terrors of our school." Hermione and Harry shared a smile.
Harry put an unconscious arm around her waist and laughed. "Yeah, I guess we were."
"Well, we better get back before Ron and Ginny blow up the radio. See you in London Richard, you've got my number." Hermione gave another hug and they returned to the car. Richard was in both their minds, but for different reasons entirely.
~~~
"Ron?" Ginny asked quietly, trying not to wake the sleeping two in the backseat.
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever wondered about Lavender?"
"No." He said flatly.
"I mean you still have her picture, why don't you two just become friends again? You obviously don't hate her, just patch things up."
Ron sighed. "I'm not going to go to her, she'll have to come to me."
Ginny muttered something that sounded very much like 'pigheaded'.
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing."
~~~
All of them trudged to the door, it was about seven in the evening and they were all tired. Ron knocked half-heartedly on the door, the warm yellow light leaking from under it was welcome in the darkening twilight.
The door opened and before Ron knew what hit him Bill had knocked him backwards.
"Oy! What was that for?" Ron asked from the ground, rubbing his shoulder.
"That was for not showing up to Homer's christening."
"You named him Homer?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, I really like the Odyssey."
Petra's Egyptian features showed up over Bill's shoulder. "We were going to name him Ron, but that was nixed after you didn't show."
"You were going to name him after Ron? I think you're better off with Homer." Harry scoffed from the side.
"I think so too." Petra agreed.
"Harry was there, and he isn't even part of the family. Disgraceful." Bill sniffed.
"Well, if you're done berating me, could someone help me up?"
"Oh, I'll never be done berating you, dear brother, but I will help you up." Bill held out a hand and heaved him up. "So, we've been given the task of decorating the house before mum gets here. She's out with dad till tomorrow, around three. Percy, Charlie, and the twins will get here tomorrow."
"Fantastic." Ron deadpanned.
~~~
Later that night...
Bill kissed Petra on the forehead. "Why don't you go up to the room with Homer, Petty?"
"All right B.B., don't keep me waiting." She warned playfully, with that she and the baby got up and mounted the stairs.
When she was safely out of earshot Ron started. "B.B.? Petty?" He said patronizingly. "You two are sick."
Bill laughed. "You call that sick? I remember catching you flooing Lavender. 'My little flower, sweetie-pie, sugar-lips?' You've done much worse."
"Sugar-lips, Ron?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.
"How do you even remember her name? You get me and Ginny mixed-up!"
"I liked that one, she had more brain than body. Better than that giggly mess you brought home last time; what was her name? Marta? Mary?"
"Pamela." Harry supplied.
"Yeah, that shag-toy of a girl. I doubt she had as many brains as clothes on her back, and I remember there wasn't much. Mum, offered her a coat because she looked cold."
"Any one would be cold in one of Pamela's frocks." Hermione shot a disapproving look at Ron. Meeting that brash, air-headed, faux blonde was not one of the highlights of Hermione's life.
"And beside that, you look so feminine, Ronnikins, it's easy to get mixed up with you and a girl." Bill added sweetly. "If you get a chance I'd patch it up with Lavender, then again, I doubt she'd take you back."
All throughout that tirade, Ron hadn't gotten a word in edgewise to defend himself, not that it would have helped much. "Who needs insecurity issues when I've got a brother like you? If Charlie would have been here he would have defended me."
Bill gave another hearty laugh. "Right, because Charlie is the good brother? You've got a rosy memory, apparently all those beatings by Charlie made you repress the memories, including all of them ending in me saving you or calling mum."
Ron turned red. "Oh, right." He mumbled.
"I'll remember that comment next time Lavender is over and needs impressing. You might not remember all the wrestling matches, but I do." Bill stood to go up after his wife. "I even remember the one with the underwear, if you catch my drift." Ron turned another notable shade of red. "Night all, see you at breakfast." He nodded to Hermione and Harry on the couch.
"Night." They chorused.
" 'One with the underwear'? Do tell." Harry said.
~~~
After Ron and Ginny had gone up to bed, Harry and Hermione were left talking. Harry was diligently trying to push the bathroom stop fiasco into the back of his mind, telling himself he was no one.
"What did you think of that article?" Hermione asked, leaning her head on Harry's shoulder.
"I was supposed to read it? I was too floored by the picture."
Hermione reached her hand over and smacked the side of his head, then rested her hand on his shoulder. "The pictures were that bad?"
Harry sighed. "Hermione, they were fantastic. I've never seen you looking better."
She smiled. "You big liar, but false praise is better than none at all."
"No, serious, but I'm curious."
"About?"
"How did they get that jacket to stay in place?"
Hermione blushed then scowled. "You mean that extremely tiny pinstriped napkin Lavender set me up with? You don't want to know."
"Lavender?"
"Yes, she's their stylist."
"I must pay her a compliment for that lovely outfit. Now, if you'd care to enlighten me, is that the strings of a blue thong I see poking out from the waistline. General curiosity, of course." Harry grinned.
"Curiosity sure, but my curiosity wonders with all this talk of Ron and Lavender..."
"Yes, it is certainly interesting. I always thought they were a good couple, but my best mates social status wasn't my biggest concern at that time."
"Right, but still. I've seen Lavender since and I'm wondering if it wouldn't be the slightest bit presumptuous to try and get them back together."
"I know it's not my place, but I think it would be presumptuous."
"All the more reason to do it." Hermione grinned. Another way to get back at Ron.
~~~
"Aww, such lovebirds I never did see." Hermione heard someone say quietly.
Hermione struggle in the depths of sleep to try and find her way out, but she was too comfortable. A warm hand was on her back and wherever her head was nested it smelled good and she could hear a strong, steady pulse, whispering like a lullaby.
"You do realize what good people would do in this situation, right dear brother?"
"Nope not a clue."
She heard a sigh. "I suppose that's why we're not good people."
Right, so I love the reviews, keep them coming, they make me feel special. Use your imaginations and you can think of your own disclaimers for each chapter, you can make it a game. If the story is this screwed up I'm assuming J.K.R. doesn't own it, nor want it, but the characters are her's, I'm just borrowing them. Read, review, enjoy.
It was two hours before they stopped at a gas station, by the insistence of Ginny, who had to go to the bathroom. Hermione got out to stretch her legs and Harry went to get some drinks. Ron was having too much fun fiddling with the radio, while Ginny wasn't, to get out.
Hermione was wandering around, trying to get the crick out of her neck. She went over to the tire station then turned.
"Ouch, watch it-" A man said, the looking up, his mouth fell open. "Hermione?"
"Richard?" She said, disbelievingly, then he engulfed her in a big hug. She kissed his cheek, then pulled back, still in his embrace. "What are you doing here?"
"On my way to London. I'm moving there. I hope you aren't moving back. I wanted to call on you."
"Oh, no. I'm just on my way to a birthday party. One of my friends' from the boarding school's mother."
"Ah, so, is he just a friend? Hmm?" He asked playfully.
"Yes, you know full well my three best friends are male, you included, though I might be leaning toward someone..." Hermione blushed daintily.
"Hermione?" She heard Harry from behind her. She pulled out of Richards grasp and took a step back to Harry.
"Yes?"
Harry was eyeing Richard warily, anyone who made Hermione blush and giggle wasn't very high in Harry's books. His blonde hair and blue eyes unnerved him, also the hands that had been very tight on her waist. "Ginny's come back, but if you're still in a conversation, take your time." He forced a grin.
"Richard, this is Harry Potter, one of my friends from Ho-er, the boarding school. Harry, this Richard Gray from my hometown, he's on his way to London."
"Yes, Hermione and I used to be the terrors of the street. Mrs. Peters is still recovering, I think."
Hermione gave a short laugh then started again. "Well I suppose you could say Harry, Ron and I were the terrors of our school." Hermione and Harry shared a smile.
Harry put an unconscious arm around her waist and laughed. "Yeah, I guess we were."
"Well, we better get back before Ron and Ginny blow up the radio. See you in London Richard, you've got my number." Hermione gave another hug and they returned to the car. Richard was in both their minds, but for different reasons entirely.
~~~
"Ron?" Ginny asked quietly, trying not to wake the sleeping two in the backseat.
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever wondered about Lavender?"
"No." He said flatly.
"I mean you still have her picture, why don't you two just become friends again? You obviously don't hate her, just patch things up."
Ron sighed. "I'm not going to go to her, she'll have to come to me."
Ginny muttered something that sounded very much like 'pigheaded'.
"What was that?"
"Oh nothing."
~~~
All of them trudged to the door, it was about seven in the evening and they were all tired. Ron knocked half-heartedly on the door, the warm yellow light leaking from under it was welcome in the darkening twilight.
The door opened and before Ron knew what hit him Bill had knocked him backwards.
"Oy! What was that for?" Ron asked from the ground, rubbing his shoulder.
"That was for not showing up to Homer's christening."
"You named him Homer?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, I really like the Odyssey."
Petra's Egyptian features showed up over Bill's shoulder. "We were going to name him Ron, but that was nixed after you didn't show."
"You were going to name him after Ron? I think you're better off with Homer." Harry scoffed from the side.
"I think so too." Petra agreed.
"Harry was there, and he isn't even part of the family. Disgraceful." Bill sniffed.
"Well, if you're done berating me, could someone help me up?"
"Oh, I'll never be done berating you, dear brother, but I will help you up." Bill held out a hand and heaved him up. "So, we've been given the task of decorating the house before mum gets here. She's out with dad till tomorrow, around three. Percy, Charlie, and the twins will get here tomorrow."
"Fantastic." Ron deadpanned.
~~~
Later that night...
Bill kissed Petra on the forehead. "Why don't you go up to the room with Homer, Petty?"
"All right B.B., don't keep me waiting." She warned playfully, with that she and the baby got up and mounted the stairs.
When she was safely out of earshot Ron started. "B.B.? Petty?" He said patronizingly. "You two are sick."
Bill laughed. "You call that sick? I remember catching you flooing Lavender. 'My little flower, sweetie-pie, sugar-lips?' You've done much worse."
"Sugar-lips, Ron?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.
"How do you even remember her name? You get me and Ginny mixed-up!"
"I liked that one, she had more brain than body. Better than that giggly mess you brought home last time; what was her name? Marta? Mary?"
"Pamela." Harry supplied.
"Yeah, that shag-toy of a girl. I doubt she had as many brains as clothes on her back, and I remember there wasn't much. Mum, offered her a coat because she looked cold."
"Any one would be cold in one of Pamela's frocks." Hermione shot a disapproving look at Ron. Meeting that brash, air-headed, faux blonde was not one of the highlights of Hermione's life.
"And beside that, you look so feminine, Ronnikins, it's easy to get mixed up with you and a girl." Bill added sweetly. "If you get a chance I'd patch it up with Lavender, then again, I doubt she'd take you back."
All throughout that tirade, Ron hadn't gotten a word in edgewise to defend himself, not that it would have helped much. "Who needs insecurity issues when I've got a brother like you? If Charlie would have been here he would have defended me."
Bill gave another hearty laugh. "Right, because Charlie is the good brother? You've got a rosy memory, apparently all those beatings by Charlie made you repress the memories, including all of them ending in me saving you or calling mum."
Ron turned red. "Oh, right." He mumbled.
"I'll remember that comment next time Lavender is over and needs impressing. You might not remember all the wrestling matches, but I do." Bill stood to go up after his wife. "I even remember the one with the underwear, if you catch my drift." Ron turned another notable shade of red. "Night all, see you at breakfast." He nodded to Hermione and Harry on the couch.
"Night." They chorused.
" 'One with the underwear'? Do tell." Harry said.
~~~
After Ron and Ginny had gone up to bed, Harry and Hermione were left talking. Harry was diligently trying to push the bathroom stop fiasco into the back of his mind, telling himself he was no one.
"What did you think of that article?" Hermione asked, leaning her head on Harry's shoulder.
"I was supposed to read it? I was too floored by the picture."
Hermione reached her hand over and smacked the side of his head, then rested her hand on his shoulder. "The pictures were that bad?"
Harry sighed. "Hermione, they were fantastic. I've never seen you looking better."
She smiled. "You big liar, but false praise is better than none at all."
"No, serious, but I'm curious."
"About?"
"How did they get that jacket to stay in place?"
Hermione blushed then scowled. "You mean that extremely tiny pinstriped napkin Lavender set me up with? You don't want to know."
"Lavender?"
"Yes, she's their stylist."
"I must pay her a compliment for that lovely outfit. Now, if you'd care to enlighten me, is that the strings of a blue thong I see poking out from the waistline. General curiosity, of course." Harry grinned.
"Curiosity sure, but my curiosity wonders with all this talk of Ron and Lavender..."
"Yes, it is certainly interesting. I always thought they were a good couple, but my best mates social status wasn't my biggest concern at that time."
"Right, but still. I've seen Lavender since and I'm wondering if it wouldn't be the slightest bit presumptuous to try and get them back together."
"I know it's not my place, but I think it would be presumptuous."
"All the more reason to do it." Hermione grinned. Another way to get back at Ron.
~~~
"Aww, such lovebirds I never did see." Hermione heard someone say quietly.
Hermione struggle in the depths of sleep to try and find her way out, but she was too comfortable. A warm hand was on her back and wherever her head was nested it smelled good and she could hear a strong, steady pulse, whispering like a lullaby.
"You do realize what good people would do in this situation, right dear brother?"
"Nope not a clue."
She heard a sigh. "I suppose that's why we're not good people."