In Which Ron Makes a Discovery and Drinks a Lot
I will find something on her. After all, nobody's that perfect! She thinks she's too good for me, I can see it in her eyes."Keeping our friendship the same" has nothing to do with it; she would not go to the ball with me because she believes she is superior.
She is, another part of me protested. The part that is still and will be forever more in love with Hermione Granger after all these years of absolute nothing. I thought I was over that, I thought glumly. After all, she denied me when I asked her out.
"Ronald Weasley! Your room is a mess! Get in here this instant and clean it up!" My mother shouted, interrupting my melancholy thoughts. I jumped off the tree swing and wandered inside the kitchen.
"No fear, Mother, it will be clean before you can say Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans!" I shouted as I ran up the stairs.
I guess I should clean it up a bit, I thought as I surveyed the condition of my room and stepped on something resembling food. Now that it was just Ginny and I at home, I got Fred and George's old room so I can have guests like Harry stay for a while and Ginny also has her own room. The twins have opened a joke shop in Hogsmeade, a surprisingly successful one at that.
Harry had actually just left to go somewhere tropical with Draco, to Sirius and Remus' vacation house in the Caribbean, I think. He had stayed for a month so he did not have to go back to his house for summer. I cannot believe that it is our last year already! So much has happened in all our years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, is married to former defense against the dark arts teacher Professor Remus Lupin, whose wedding was an exciting mess of parties with lots of ale involved. I have actually learned to stand, leaning towards almost liking, Draco, since he's been dating Harry for a couple years now. Ginny is going out with Colin Creevey, who is finally over his Harry obsession and has turned "studly" or something. Cho was diagnosed with anorexia and multiple personality disorder, so she left school last year and went to a special school. Then there's Hermione--Gryffindor Prefect, insufferable twit and love of my life all at the same time.
"Ron! What's this?" My sister screamed from her room.
"What?" I screamed back, turning down the heavy metal I was listening to and going towards her room. Kirbie was chewing on her hair dryer that was the issue of the moment. I was glad to have an awesome, talented familiar who was all my own and not a hand-me-down. I just wish I could control the little monkey.
"Kirbs, come on, we'll go get some real food," I motioned for him to jump on my shoulder, which he actually obeyed. I suppose he'd had enough of Ginny's room, not that I blame him with the pink frills and boy band posters on the wallgag me, please.
"My room is clean, Mum, could we have some cookies?"
"Why, Ron, I didn't even hear you come in. Sure you can, one each, but then you have to get going to Diagon Alley, don't you?" She reminded me. I glanced at my watch--11: 22. Oops. I had to go to the Granger's, get Hermione, and meet Harry and Draco at the Prancing Pony Inn at Noontime.
"Yeah, I'll grab some grub to go and get ready now," I replied, kissing her cheek.
"Good plan, dearie," she started to hum, pushed me away and resumed cooking lunch.
It's tearing up my heart, when I'm with you, but when we are apart I feel it too, and no matter what I do I feel the pain, with or without youcame from Ginny's room. Ugh, no more of this. "Ginny, shut it off!"
I gave Kirbie a cookie and an apple and gathered all my stuff for the rest of summer, planning on coming back for my trunk and everything before school. We're staying at the Prancing Pony so that we can have some fun, recap our respective summers, and go back-to-school shopping.
It's a good thing that the Grangers, though Muggles, are accepting of magic and things because I am going to be late as is and if I did not travel by floo powder, I don't know what I would do. "Hermione Granger's" I said loudly and precisely and threw the powder in the fireplace.
When the smoke cleared I was not quite sure where I was, actually. It was very dark for mid-afternoon, hold on--it is a bedroom I thinkHermione's? Wow, so this is what her room looks likeI thought as I scanned the massive bookshelves, the high ceilings, and the floor-to-ceiling windows (the drapes were drawn, thus the darkness). This house must be really old; it looks like a castle or something like it.
"Oh my god!" I thought alarmingly, not aware that I was also speaking out loud.
"Well, who are you then, mate?" A strange guy asked me from Hermione's bed. He was sitting up, at least topless from what I could see (thankfully) and rather sleepy, his features extremely prominent. Hermione was snoring quietly next to him, wearingsome kind ofoutfit. Breathe in, breathe out. In, out. In, out. I just stood there, dumbfounded.
"Um"
"Cat's got your tongue? I'm Louis, are you another friend of 'Mione's?" He asked me like it was the most normal situation in the world. What was he implying with the 'friend' question? Oh god, this is not happening.
"Um, yeah, we're friendswe go to school together."
"Oh, that snotty private school she's always on about? Heh, don't tell me you are a bookworm like herNah, I bet you play rugby or something, right? No skill involved? So, anyway, what can I do for you?"
"Uh, just tell Hermione that I stopped in and that I will meet her at the Inn instead, ok? She's usually better with timing..." I said to myself, not expecting him to answer.
"That's my fault I suppose. Keeping odd hours myself, I kept her up all night, worshiping her skills, she's a little worn out."
"Oh." Sorry I asked, I really did not need that visual to add to everything. Thoughts are not forming coherently. This is like, jamming my brain. There's no blood there at all, need oxygen."Tell her I'll meet her there, thanks," I said, leaving.
"Ta' lad, enjoy your day."
I walked downstairs since I was not sure if this muggle was for or against magic, what with the recent controversy the Ministry of Magic has enough problems to deal with. I opted for the fireplace in the living room instead, traveling to the well-known and very busy fireplace of the Prancing Pony Pub, below the Inn, in Diagon Alley.
"Ronny boy!" I heard Hagrid before I saw him, with a bit of floo powder in my eye.
"Hagrid, how are you? Have you seen Harry?" I asked as he greeted me with the usual bear hug that only Hagrid could truly pull off.
"I just a minute ago saw a very tan Mr. Malfoy, so Harry can't be far behind, them being attached at the hip and all. Where's Hermione? Wasn't she coming with you?" He asked, reminding me of the whole horrid episode earlier. Oh, god.
"Don't know, she said she would be late I think,"
"Hmm. Oh well, I'll have to wait to give her a hug, then. I'm on official Hogwarts business, so I must be going now. Good day, Ron."
"Arthur, can I have a pint, please?" I sat down at the bar and awaited any of my friends to show up. After what seemed like an hour, I was getting restless and cornered Neville and urged him to join me for a chat.
"Sorry Ron, I can only stay a second, I need toI need to do something so I should go and try and figure out what it was that I am supposed to be doing right now," he stammered, eternally lost in being Neville.
"School shopping?" I prompted.
"Oh yes! Thanks, Ron! See you later!" He left before he could forget again.
All of a sudden Hermione fell out of the fireplace wildly, stumbling and swearing like a smashed dwarf. I went to her and helped her out of the soot, sitting her down in an enclosed booth so she would not feel embarrassed by her appearance or entrance. She was covered in dirt, except her eyes, which were extremely bright blue and crazed-looking in contrast. She blinked at me like she was confused about something.
"Hermionewhat's up with you?" I started, unsure of how to continue.
"Ron, I'm a little tipsy right now, I need sleep desperately and I have a migraine. I don't know if I can answer your questions, let alone where to start" she sighed exasperatedly, rubbing her temples and frowning.
"Who's Louis?"
"Louis? Oh! Um, myboyfriend? I guessit's nothing serious at all, he is not the long-term type. He's a muggle, I guess."
"You guess?"
"It's complicated," she dismissed it with a wave of her hand. " I have a massive hangover right now, so can we postpone this for now? I need to go to my room," her eyelids were heavy and she was swaying slightly when she said this so of course I agreed.
"Come on, then. Upstairs."
"Huh?" She asked incoherently. I led her to the room I reserved, since I knew she had reserved none for herself when I checked in. Something was definitely wrong with the universe when Hermione would forget something as important as that.
I unlocked it, basically having to support her entire weight since she was almost passed out by now, and placed her down on the bed, removing her robes. She still had that leather outfit on underneath. The top was very low-cut, ending above her navel, which was pierced, much to my surprise. Just when I thought I'd had enough, she turned over and I realized why leather pants were invented--they did wonders for one's ass, let me tell you! Ok, Weasley, get a hold of yourselfWhoa, this is suffocating me, I need to breathe. Since when do I get panic attacks all the time? I left the room and went to the bar again.
"Just give me the whole bottle of Jack's, please, Artie," I begged and chugged a couple shots within a minute.
"Drink like that much more and we'll be repeating Spring Break all over again, Weasley" A familiar voice said from behind me.
"Harry!" I turned and hugged my best friend. "How're you, besides tan and relaxed? Ah, hey Draco, I was wondering where you were at." I greeted as he approached us.
"Hey, Ron, how's your summer been?" Harry asked me.
"Fine, I guess." I didn't feel the need to share the Hermione problem since I was not done figuring out how I felt about that just yet.
"Ah, Weasley, we need to get you one of those girls that you like," Draco joined in.
"Speaking of, where's 'Mione?" Harry asked me.
"Um, sleeping still. She was up late last night she said," I said, since it was almost true.
"Studying, I bet," Harry laughed, then stopped when he saw my face. She was not studying a book that's for damn sure, unless it was the Karma Sutra.
"What's it, Ron? Something happen between the two of you?" Draco asked, sensing my mood, which was now anger.
"She has a boyfriend. Louis the muggle-ish half-naked man," I said quickly, the alcohol starting to get to me.
"WHAT?" Harry and Draco exclaimed simultaneously.
"Oh, nevermind that, I don't feel like talking about it right now. Artie, another bottle please!" I shouted to the other end of the bar.
"If you're sure you really don't want to talk about it," Harry said hesitantly, since he was kinda touchy-feely with his emotions, but usually left me alone if I told him to. I nodded.
"Draco and I have some things to take care of, a couple of stores to visit, and we'll meet back here for tea?"
"Sure, Harry, go 'head, I'll go shopping with Hermione when she gets here. See you guys later," I said with a smile, seeing how happy they were together. I downed the rest of my drink and went upstairs to check on Hermione.
Expecting to find her asleep still, I made sure to be quiet. Of course, she was not there when I opened the door, and continued to look for her in the bathroom and other parts of the room. The only proof that she had been there was the crumpled blankets on the bed. Floo powder? I guessed, deciding on using a spy spell my brother taught me for thieving on the mirror in the main room.
Invictus pictorum ripete I said and touched the glass for it to replay happenings earlier. Ah, it was floo powder, I thought as I watched her amble towards the fireplace and mumbled "Louis' club" or at least that's what I thought she had said. Ah, all of a sudden I felt frozen in place. I could hear people coming up the stairs.
"Ron! I expected more of you, you know that magic is not allowed out of school" Professor Lupin said, tsking and smiling simultaneously. He hasn't stopped smiling since the wedding two years ago.
"Ah, Remy-poo, stuff it. Get a move on, we have dinner plans with McGonagall don't we? He meant no harm, we've done worse in our day!" I heard Sirius say from behind him in the doorway.
"I'm sorry, I just needed to check on things, it was not a frivolous spell, professor. It was only for the safety of a friend of mine," I added, hoping that would make it ok and not get reported before my last year even began.
"Hmm. See, it's all good, ain't it, Ron? Hasta la vista!" Sirius shouted, running down the stairs to the pub.
"Ron, it being your last year and all, I don't want it to start on the wrong foot or anything, so I will let this one drop. You had good intentions, if misguided. In the future, remember to think before you swish. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Goodbye," he said and departed, leaving me to my questions on Hermione.
What the hell is going on with everyone--is this someone's alternate reality spell gone wrong? It's not funny, they should fix it right now. Whatever, I'm going to go get drunk or something and ignore it for now. When I got down there I saw Seamus and Brioc, his Scottish cousin, sitting in a booth in the corner so I joined them--nothing like a couple of Irishmen to make getting trashed interesting.
"Cerri is only going out with you because your Irish accent, dude, and she pities the fact that nobody else wants you," Brioc was saying to him.
"Hey guys, mind if I join you, need to get my mind off some things for a while. Seamus, are you taking advanced Potions this year?" I asked, sitting down.
"Yeah, Snape is going to be murder but it's worth it in the end. Charms I'm horrible at, unlike you Ron, and Brioc here is better than anyone I know at Herbologyha, remember the magic weed we made? Dude, that was some potent stuff, let me tell you! Of course, my Potions partner had to tell McGonagall what we were doing together at night in the lab. What'd up with Hermione this summer, anyway? I kept hearing all these rumors of what she was doing when she went to visit relatives in America" Seamus said absentmindedly in his typical Hufflepuff way. He'd switched houses because Gryffindor hadn't fit him anymore. Um, okay, whatever that means. Hermione?
"Yeah, what's going on with that brothel thing? Since you guys were friends I figured you could fill me in. Is that true?" Brioc asked excitedly, ignoring my horrified expression.
"Um, not sure, she has not mentioned anything," I avoided, thinking there was a whole lot she had forgot to mention in her letters over the summer. It's like that Muggle show Da watches all the time, where the husband is like "Lucy, you have some explaining to do!" That's how I'm feeling right now.
"Hey, speak of the devil," Brioc muttered, glancing over my shoulder. I turned and saw Hermione walking towards us, her expression unreadable. Ah, now I realized why she had looked different before--she hadn't had her typical black-framed glasses on and her hair was loose, not like it is usually, up in a neat, tight bun.
"Ron, can I talk to you?" She asked pleadingly, motioning to another table.
"Uhokay," I agreed, grabbing my drink and following her. "Let's go upstairs, there's too many people down here," I suggested since it was getting crowded and she nodded.
"Listen, Hermione" I started when we sat at the table in my room.
"No, let me go first. There's a whole lot that you're probably wondering about, and I'm feeling garrulous after all that liquor so I will tell you" she began, eyes still slightly glazed.
Coming up next: Chap 2-In Which Hermione confesses her sins and Ron gets into a brawl