Disclaimer: The usual. I own nothing but the idea (if that). All the characters belong to the wonderful JKR, with the exception of Faith… and yet she seems to take after every small child I ever babysat. ^_~
AN: To everyone who's reviewed thank you! You know who you are. Also, a few of you asked me to email you when I update and I forgot who all said that… so if you want me to do that for you just email me (writingirl_007@hotmail.com) and I'll be sure to email you next time I post. Sorry to be a bother!
Rating: PG to PG-13
The Winter After"When the lights go down in the City
And the sun shines on the bay,
I want to be there in my City,
Ooh, ooh.
So you think you're lonely,
Well my friend I'm lonely too,
I want to get back to my City by the bay,
Ooh, ooh.
It's sad, oh there's been mornings out on the
Road without you,
Without your charms,
Ooh, my, my, my,
Oh, oh, oh."
-Journey "Lights"
Chapter Three
Ron knocked on Hermione's door for the fourth time that evening. "Hermione!" He whined. "She hasn't said anything since this afternoon! She's forgot all about it!" He waited for something. Anything.
He had to get her to talk to him. He had to give her the ring before they left for the Burrow the next day and things weren't going well.
Ginny had owled him not two hours ago reprimanding him. Why hasn't anyone ever told him not to swear in front of babies? In fact. If his memory served him correctly, Mr. Granger had told him it was all right.
He knocked on the door again. "Hermione, your parents want you to come down to dinner," he waited. Still nothing. "I'll see you down there."
He walked to the stairs, purposely stepping on the floorboard that squeaked so she would think he had actually left. He then tip-toed back to her door and grinned as it opened. Her eyes widened when she saw him. "Hullo, Miss Granger," he said.
Before she knew what to do Ron pushed into the room and shut the door behind him. Hermione sat on her bed and folded her arms. "That was a dirty trick."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
Ron sat down next to her. "Hermione, I don't see why you're making such a big deal out of this. It's only a word. How was I supposed to know she'd mimic me?"
"Because babies mimic everything. It's how they learn."
"I didn't know that. I've never been around babies before."
"You shouldn't swear anyway, Ron."
"Your dad said I could."
"He did not!"
"Oh but he did," Ron laughed. "Listen let's just forget this and move on with our lives."
"No! You have to learn to be more responsible!"
Ron folded his arms and frowned. "Thanks, Mum."
"Is this how you're going to be around our kids?"
"Our kids?" Ron asked with wide eyes.
Hermione blushed. "I didn't say that. I said your."
"No…" Ron said with a grin. "You said our."
"No I didn't."
Ron's grin widened. "Well I'll be damned. Pure little Hermione has been dreaming about shagging me."
"I have not!"
"Don't be ashamed. If I were in your place and I had to look at me all day… I would dream of it, too."
"You're dreadful!"
"I'm a man."
There was a long moment of silence before Ron spoke again. "So ready for that walk?"
"I'm still angry with you."
"Doesn't mean we can't walk."
Hermione eyed him suspiciously. "Why so eager?"
"I just wanted to get out and enjoy the fresh air."
"Uh-huh. Well, it's cold outside so I'd rather not."
Ron felt his heart sink. His ingenious plan was falling to pieces before his eyes. Only hours ago she had wanted to spend time with him and now she acted as if she'd never wanted him to come over in the first place. All because of his big mouth.
"I'll never swear again," Ron muttered.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. I'll be in my room if you need me."
"What about your walk?" Hermione asked, standing up to stop him.
Ron snorted out a laugh. "What good is it to go out there alone?"
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "I thought you wanted to get some fresh air."
"Well I wanted to spend time with you as well," Ron said with a shrug. "But I see you're still upset so I'll leave you alone."
He walked out of her room and shut the door behind him. He would never for the life of him understand women.
*
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"Harry, I'm telling you I couldn't get her out of her room," Ron growled into the phone.
"Sounds to me like you didn't try hard enough."
"Yes, I did! I just didn't want to harass her."
"Why did you swear in front of Faith in the first place?"
"I didn't mean to you prat!"
"Tell her that then."
"I did! Damn, Harry. No wonder you're the Boy Who fucking Lived. You're a bloody genius."
"And there you go again with the swearing. Are the Grangers anywhere in the hearing range?"
Ron snorted and stuffed his hand into his pockets. "Believe it or not, Potter, I'm not an idiot. I'm standing outside."
"Which proves nothing… It's freezing out there."
"Tell me about it."
He heard Harry sigh over the phone. "So the ring thing-"
"Didn't happen."
"So when are you going to give it to her?"
Ron leaned against the cold brick house. "I have no idea. She just ruined everything."
The was a short pause. "She ruined everything?"
"Okay, okay. I ruined everything."
"Blimey… I'm surprised you two didn't have it out up in her room. Usually your rows get a bit out of control."
A new voice piped up in the background. "A bit out of control? Try blazing."
"Harry, tell Ginny to shut up," Ron growled.
Harry laughed. "You know I can't do that."
"That's smashing, mate… You're afraid of girls."
"You're the one standing in the cold."
Ron groaned. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Does Hermione still have that Time Tuner?"
"Even if she did there's no way I could get to it. I've been shut out."
"Should I get Ginny on the phone? She knows more about this than I do."
"No! This is embarrassing enough. Having to come to you for help… of all the people in the world."
Harry cleared his throat. "Yes, because you know I've never done anything to help anyone. Ever."
"I know."
"Damn, Ron. Just go up to her room, break down the door and give her the ring."
"Wow. I would never have thought of that. Brilliant… Except wait… I'm lying!"
"That's it, you're talking to Ginny."
"No!"
"Well what can I do? All you're doing is whining at me when I could be-"
"Snogging my sister?"
"I wasn't going to say that."
"You were thinking it."
"I was not!"
"Don't lie to me, Potter. I've known you for six years."
"I wouldn't talk to you and think of Ginny at the same time. Her image would be forever tainted."
"Isn't it already?"
"I thought you wanted my help."
"Well you aren't helping me."
"Okay, fine. You want my advice?"
"Couldn't hurt."
"Wait until you're at the Burrow to give it to her."
"That's your brilliant idea?"
"Yes. Why not? You can find a way to give it to her without an audience."
"How? There's no where in that house where I can get her alone for more than five minutes."
"Ginny and I will think of something. Until then don't swear in front of her sister and don't lose your temper. Just try to patch things up with Hermione before you get to the Burrow tomorrow because I don't want to run damage control."
Ron gave a short laugh. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow. Keep your hands off my sister."
"Easier said that done."
"Damn it, Harry! Bugger off!"
"Okay, bye."
A soft click told Ron that Harry had hung up. He groaned. Damage control.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There I finally updated… hopefully I won't get anymore threatening emails or reviews. Hehe! Those were great by the way. Those of you who wanted to hunt me down. Keeping me in check. Cause I'd never update if people didn't keep telling me to. And I'm not being sarcastic either. I'm just lazy. Anyway… I have to send a shoutout to my friend Crystal's friend Bethany cause she knows the way of Harry Potter……… unlike Crystal who doesn't fully understand the madness. ^_~
Best wishes,
~Lenny