Disclaimer: I suppose, in a strange sense, that not even the idea of writing a journal belongs to me. How utterly depressing…
Rated PG-13 for: Erm, um, boys being boys
AN: Okay, I'm nice, I've decided to update. Thank you to everybody who reviewed! In fact, you all get thank you's! See the italic screen names below? One word about this chapter: I typed it and then I realized that in Ron's journal he says they're supposed to wear Muggle things. Therefore I had to go back and change all the references to dress robes. If I slip up once or twice, terribly sorry.
This chapter is dedicated to Ron Weasley2. Have a great birthday!
Ticketyboo: Hey thanks! When I started writing this I had to keep reminding myself that Hermione is not quite as insane as Ron, not even in her crazy journal. Exclamation marks rule! Don't worry, I tend to use too many parentheses (and the word adorable).
Heather: American English indeed! Haha, that would be my excuse. No worries, I love reading over people's reviews. It's fun.
Meneya: Queen of Fluff? *squeal* NOW that is an honor! Thanks!
Wandering Phoenix: Haha, I LOVE the O.W.L. failing part. I'm glad you like it too. Just proves that great minds think alike, eh?
Spidermonkeesrkewl: Thanks, I do try to be funny. The run-on sentences came to me in a vision…well not really, but I'm glad you like them. They really are too much fun.
Judyisapunk: Oh, I feel your computer pains. Mine is actually being quite temperamental itself right now. I'm very honored if you read this and it actually took your computer half an hour to reboot. Thanks.
Further thanks extended to: Gillian1, sugar high4, I.I. (or is it l.l.?), asdfasdf (?), and anyone who has read and reviewed any other stories I've written (especially Ron's Journal). Now, I've blabbed on much too long. On with the story!
The Daring Conclusion of: The Rather Well Kept Inner Thoughts of One Hermione E. Granger
October 18th, Saturday
9:17 a.m.
We're going to Hogsmeade today. I have decided that we must drink Butterbeer in moderation and eat a lot of sweets along with it to soak the little amounts of alcohol in. I mean, I wouldn't mind so much if he kissed me again, but, well, it's a little bit of a touchy situation.
9:24 a.m.
Parvati and Lavender asked me if there was a certain color I preferred for my Muggle dress. Dumbledore decided it would be fun to have us all dress in Muggle styles. I told them I wasn't sure exactly what colors they thought would match. They clicked their tongues, then asked me Ron's eye color, and started scratching things out on parchment.
6:20 p.m.
Ginny went with us to Hogsmeade, and caught a cold around three in the afternoon. Ron looked like he was ready to Avada Kedavra Harry straight to Saturn.
6:24 p.m.
My Muggle gown is AMAZING. I've had no time yet to try it on, but it's the kind of dress that makes you look gorgeous no matter how ugly you are. I mean, Pansy Parkinson would look good in it.
6:28 p.m.
Thirteen days until the Ball.
October 19th, Sunday
3:03 p.m.
Angelina was voted the new team captain, much to the relief of Ron and Harry. However, she has decided that they will have Quidditch practice every day of the week but Wednesday.
Harry, being used to Oliver Wood and his madness, was only a bit miffed, but Ron went on about it for hours.
We were heading back to the common room when Ron let out a long-suffering sigh. "I can't believe we have so much practice. Angelina's a wench."
He didn't seem to understand that it was NOT funny in the least, but Harry thought it was hilarious.
3:11 p.m.
I don't think I will ever understand boys.
8:39 p.m.
Twelve days until the Ball.
October 20th, Monday
5:56 p.m.
Harry and Ron have Quidditch practice for so long that I'm able to get all my homework done while they're gone. Things are quite boring without them.
I would ask to go watch practice, but I think that would Ron would have a heart attack, and he already has enough stress on his heart right now.
6:37 p.m.
Hanging out with Ginny and her friends isn't quite the same. All the fourth years seem rather keen on either Harry or whether or not Ron and I have shagged. They're a strange bunch of children.
7:21 p.m.
However, Parvati and Lavender are not much better when it comes to homework. They are much more interested in boys, gossip, and fashion, and the only work they really put much effort into his Divination.
October 22nd, Wednesday
1:48 p.m.
Harry and Ron have no Quidditch practice tonight, but they have so much homework that it will be almost like they do.
4:35 p.m.
I finally had the time to try on my gown.
It is GORGEOUS. I feel prettier than Fleur Delacour.
Oh, I hope Ron thinks so too.
4:43 p.m.
Every boy in the school will HAVE to think so. I can't put into words how stunning it is. Parvati and Lavender are geniuses.
4:46 p.m.
Only nine days until the Ball.
October 23rd, Thursday
9:38 p.m.
After Quidditch practice Ron was too worn out and sore to complain about how worn out and sore he was, so I offered to give him a backrub. I know he liked it because Harry told me afterward that he was purring, which is a little strange, but sweet nonetheless.
9:41 p.m.
It's like having my own giant kitten.
9:45 p.m.
Awww.
October 24th, Friday
3:59 p.m.
I think word of my excellent back rubbing skills has spread throughout the school, because I have gotten numerous requests today. Maybe I should start charging.
4:02 p.m.
It's done. A sickle a backrub. All during Gryffindor Quidditch practice, because otherwise I think Ron would go round the bend.
Everybody on the Quidditch team can get them for free.
7:18 p.m.
I earned seventeen sickles tonight.
9:26 p.m.
Ron sang an absolutely horrid song about Angelina on returning from practice. Once again, Harry was on his side and started singing along with him loudly.
It was all about her being a wench and was not funny AT ALL.
9:30 p.m.
Not in the least bit. Nope.
9:32 p.m.
Well, maybe a little.
9:34 p.m.
Seven days until the Ball.
October 25th, Saturday
1:34 p.m.
Boys will forever remain a mystery. I threatened to tell Fred that Harry and Ron were calling Angelina a wench, but that didn't seem to faze them. Instead, Ron jumped up, went over, and sang the song for Fred himself.
1:37 p.m.
Fred thought it was hilarious.
4:19 p.m.
I told Ron we had to coordinate outfits for the Halloween Ball. He didn't know what there was to coordinate, so I explained as slowly and clearly as I could. He seemed as overwhelmed about fashion as I was.
I'll have to tell him that Dumbledore and the staff will be choosing the best looking couple of the night, and each member of that couple will receive a hundred Galleons. That might lighten his mood a bit.
October 27th, Monday
7:32 a.m.
Only four days until the Halloween Ball. The entire school is going frantic. I have a feeling that the castle will explode before we reach the 31st.
11:11 a.m.
Ron came huffing into Transfiguration late this morning. He explained between gasps of air that he had missed his alarm. McGonagall took off ten points, but gave them back when he answered a question right. I think she pities him.
5:12 p.m.
After class today, Ron walked briskly to the table I was sitting at and collapsed into the chair across from me. "What are you wearing? I have no idea what to get." Or time. In addition to looking worried and confused he looked so tired I was surprised he hasn't collapsed yet. Angelina is working the entire team so hard; I almost expect one of them to fall off their brooms in the middle of the match.
"Well, I want it to be a surprise. It's from the Renaissance though. Why don't you ask Parvati and Lavender for help?"
"Yeah, right," he muttered. Knowing Ron though, he probably scrambled off to find them just before heading out to the Quidditch pitch.
Apparently they told him about the prize money, because he gave me an enthusiastic thumbs up on the way out of the common room.
October 28th, Tuesday
4:35 p.m.
Ron has huge black circles under his eyes. I think he's going delirious. If you mention the Quidditch match he gets this maniac gleam in his eye and starts sniggering to himself.
This morning at breakfast I asked Harry if he thought all the practice would pay off. He tried to respond, but stopped short and looked over at Ron who was going, "Hehehehehehehe."
4:38 p.m.
Professor Lupin wrote me a letter! At first I was worried that he had gotten wind of what had been going on up in our dorm, but he simply asked me how I was doing, and the like. I'll have to be very careful in my response. If I'm not, he'll catch whatever mistake I make (being so clever) and write me back in revulsion.
4:47 p.m.
I can just see the letter now.
"Hermione Granger, you horrible two-timing witch. Concentrate on boys your own age who actually like your promiscuous ways.
Cheers,
Professor Lupin"
4:54 p.m.
I think that maybe Ron isn't the only one who is delirious.
October 29th, Wednesday
8:52 p.m.
I was going to go watch the Gryffindor team practice, but then I realized that they didn't have it. Instead, I helped Harry and Ron catch up on all their homework. Then, after a quick backrub for the both of them, sent them off to bed.
That was at six.
8:56 p.m.
It's supposed to rain on the day of the match. That doesn't seem to faze either one of them. I hope that Malfoy pulls a Wicked Witch of the West and melts.
8:58 p.m.
There are two days until the ball. I don't know if I'll last that long.
October 30th, Thursday
6:37 p.m.
The Ball and the match are tomorrow. Angelina held a quick and short practice, so the team could get some rest. Well, I don't think that "rest" is in the Weasley's vocabulary.
Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, and I were sitting around the fire in the common room, the boys debating whether or not they should turn in early. Ron made some comment about Malfoy being a git, and how he'll probably bribe Crabbe and Goyle into smacking Harry unconscious with their bats.
Ginny grinned. "Nah, because if they do that then I'll hex Malfoy to America and back."
"I could do that myself," Harry said defensively.
"But you'd be unconscious," Ginny pointed out.
"If either Crabbe or Goyle taps me with their bat, they'll be unconscious," Harry argued back.
Soon, the two of them were embroiled in a row that could almost make Ron and I proud.
Just when the shouting was about to start, Fred interrupted. "Wait a minute, I think we can solve this problem a bit more diplomatically."
"Yes," George agreed. "Instead of words, let's use fists."
"Indeed," Fred nodded.
What in the-?
Harry looked just as confused as I felt.
Ron, however, snorted loudly. "Surely you're not suggesting-"
George smiled at Ron, and clapped his hand on Harry's back. "Yes, a good, old-fashioned wrestling match."
"Fine," Ginny said quickly.
Harry held up his hands. "No," he said weakly. "No, I can't fight Ginny, I can't-"
"Afraid she'll beat you, Harry? Don't worry, it's not that bad." Fred said cheerfully, and shoved Harry straight for his little sister.
I thought Ron would die from laughing so hard.
6:53 p.m.
Ginny won, by the way.
6:55 p.m.
Everybody on the Quidditch team headed up to bed soon after that.
Classes may be canceled tomorrow on account of the match and the Ball, but the match starts at about six tomorrow morning. Why, I'm not exactly sure.
October 31st, Friday
5:42 a.m.
Malfoy laughed in a rather unpleasant way as he passed by the Gryffindor table this morning. They had better scrape that smile off his face.
1:53 p.m.
WE WON! WE WON! WE WON!
1:56 p.m.
Two hundred to ten. We didn't just win, we absolutely flattened them. The whole of Gryffindor tower is in an uproar.
1:58 p.m.
We won!
1:59 p.m.
Malfoy had to be taken off to the hospital wing. When Harry caught the snitch he looked like somebody had just told him that he was Muggle born and Harry's long lost brother.
2:04 p.m.
It was brilliant.
5:16 p.m.
I wonder if it's possible to die of nervousness. It's going to take ages to get ready for the Ball. Although not quite as long as last year, thanks to the fact that I'm not going to bother and tame my bushy hair. It's quite obvious that Ron is attached to the bushy "I've just stuck my finger in an electrical socket" look, so that's the way it stays.
5:21 p.m.
With a good washing and brushing, of course.
6:43 p.m.
Well, here I go.
6:44 p.m.
Deep breaths, deep breaths…
6:45 p.m.
Urgh, I'm glad I haven't eaten anything in the past few hours.
November 1st, Saturday
2:04 a.m.
I believe that last night was enough to earn one of Ron's favorite quotes.
Bloody brilliant.
At about ten minutes to seven I started down the staircase towards the common room. Harry and Ron were waiting at the bottom. I'm not sure exactly how, but Ron managed to get rid of the large circles beneath his eyes, and he looked fantastic. I thought his face might break into two when he saw me.
"You look fantastic," he said. That was all that was needed.
"Thanks, so do you."
He held out his arm (such the gentleman!) and I took it. Poor Harry looked desperate and a bit green, seeing as Ginny hadn't shown up yet. "Would you like us to wait for you, Harry?"
He said something resembling, "Ssssssshhnnlzzzzzpro…" Actually, I just made that up. What he said didn't resemble anything in the least bit.
"Of course mate, I know exactly what you're talking about," Ron rolled his eyes.
Despite not being able to talk, Harry managed to glare, and then nod. It was only a few minutes before Ginny appeared at the top of the stairs, and I began to wonder if I had been the only person that Parvati and Lavender had helped preen. She looked wonderful.
Harry and I wasted no time in telling her so. Ron looked a little miffed.
Ha.
We waited outside the Great Hall for a few minutes, and I couldn't help but notice that people kept sending looks our way. And not all of them were from boys looking appraisingly at Ginny's and my new gowns.
Ron, of course, looked ready to knock some teeth in, but the doors opened, and I managed to drag him in before he could cause any damage.
We had a chance to talk a bit, until the first song started up.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. "Hermione, do you want to dance?"
I wanted to yell, "Of course I want to dance with you, Ron! I love you!" Instead, I let an idiot smile cross my face and said, "Sure." SURE!?
We danced through five straight songs, and though my heart was up for the job of dancing all night, I thought that my legs would fall off if I tried.
The dance was set to end at midnight, which meant that Dumbledore would announced the best looking couple five minutes before, and they would lead off the last dance (a slow one, of course).
Dumbledore stood up. "I hope you've all had a wonderful evening." Oh, Dumbledore, you have absolutely no idea. "As you well know the staff and I decided to aware a prize of a hundred Galleons each to who we considered the best looking couple here tonight.
"We've spent the entire night judging, and finally came to a conclusion." Despite the fact that the Ball had been filled with attractive people, my heart started going at a hundred miles a minute like it's wont to do. Thump, thump, thump, thump. "Congratulations Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. If you would please make your way to the center of the floor and lead off the last dance."
OH MY GOD WE WON!
"We won!" I exclaimed to an incredibly shocked Ron.
"Go on then," Harry laughed, slapping Ron heartily on the back.
He seemed to break out of his revelry, took my hand, and escorted me onto the floor. When the music started, he wasn't the only one blushing madly.
"Can you believe it?" I asked. "You can have my share of the Galleons if you want." He and his family deserved the money so much more than I did anyway. At that moment I probably would have given away my wand and Hogwarts: A History if somebody had asked.
He grinned a bit. "No, that's all right. You'll want it next time we go to Hogsmeade. Besides, the only reason we won is you."
Oh, I love him, I love him, I love him, I love him.
"That's not true. You know, all the stares we were getting weren't just from boys." He turned even more bright red than before. Yes, that's right, Ron Weasley, I fancy the pants off of you. What have you got to say about that?
"Well, then those girls were admiring you. You really look…you always look beautiful. I think everybody just realized it tonight."
Aww!
Awwwwwwww!
"Ron?"
"What?"
"You, you know that time in Hogsmeade? When we had a bit too much Butterbeer?" I couldn't help it! My stupid logical brain had to know why he kissed me! Why brain, WHY!
"Hermione, I love you."
What? Ron Weasley loved…he loved me? Oh great, emotional tears. "Oh Ron!" Ahh! There I go with the "Oh Ron!" again! "I love you too!"
And then he kissed me.
It was like something out of a movie. Like a kiss from "Casablanca" or "Gone With the Wind" or "Moulin Rouge". It was simply…
Magic.
2:36 a.m.
I guess it's really not so bad writing run-ons all the time.
2:38 a.m.
Or saying "Oh Ron!"
2:49 a.m.
Or crying all the time.
2:51 a.m.
Sigh.