A/N: OMG it's been a month since my last update!!! How could you guys let
me get this bad??? Why hasn't anyone said anything! I'm so sorry! Good
news though, I'm done with the semester!!! Woo hoo! I'll be able to
devote more time to the story now. Oh, more good news, I've hit 100
reviews for the first time ever (go me!!!)!!! Thank you Chelles for being
my 100th reviewer!!! If you all have time you should check out her story,
it seriously rocks! It's story number 1553756. Anyway, thank you so much
to my reviewers! I love you guys! He he he. ^_~ On with the show, we're
going to move a little quickly time wise at the beginning here.
~Chapter 16~
Hermione talked to Ron after Ginny and Draco left. She had managed to get him to calm down slightly, but couldn't get him to promise to not to cause Draco bodily harm every time they were within a one-foot radius. Lunch at Hogsmeade was definitely not a possibility as far as Ron was concerned.
"I'd rather go traipsing through the Forbidden Forrest looking for Aragog than to spend even one-minute in Malfoy's company," he told Hermione.
The next day when Hermione told Ginny about her brother's refusal Ginny felt completely defeated. She didn't want it to come down to choosing between Ron and Draco, but she didn't know what she could to get her brother to stop being such a prat. Hermione promised that she'd keep working on Ron and much to Ginny's surprise, by the end of the week Ron had agreed to join them for lunch.
"But how?" Ginny had asked Hermione.
"You don't even want to know," Hermione had replied with a disgusted look on her face making Ginny wondered if Hermione would be grading Ron's papers for the rest of the year.
Still, excitement started bubbling up inside of her. If she could just get Draco to be himself at lunch that next weekend, then maybe there'd be a chance.
However that was easier said than done. When they were alone he was sweet and caring and considerate of her. The second they got around the others he'd instantly clam up.
He was however better around Hermione and Ginny thought that had a lot to do with the fact that she'd gotten Ron to consent to lunch. As much as Draco himself didn't want to do it, knowing that it was what Ginny wanted to do make him swallow his pride over the situation and agree.
Even the students were feeling Ron's wrath. Ever since the night they saw their teacher loose his cool with Draco they had been suffering in class. He had his class caring for Blast-Ended Skrewts and when the students complained, he had them milking poisonous snakes for their venom. The students kept their mouths shut after that and when Ron brought back the Blast-Ended Skrewts no one complained any farther.
Everyone was getting rather annoyed with Professor Weasley, everyone that was except for Coop.
"I'm sure it was nothing more than Malfoy deserved," he'd say in Ron's defense, "In fact I applaud his restraint in not physically harming Malfoy at all." Tyler and Emily would just roll their eyes at him.
Fortunately they had two special occasions to look forward to. At the end of the week they had their first Quidditch game against Hufflepuff and the week after that was the first trip to Hogsmeade.
They had been practicing hard that whole week. After McGonagall's decree they wanted to make sure that even with Ron's guidance Hufflepuff could be over taken. They didn't have much to worry about on that score since Ron was so angry that he didn't pay much attention to what was going on in practice.
The fist game was a breeze for Gryffindor. Ten minutes into the game they clenched the victory 170 points to 10. That night the Gryffindors partied so late into the night that Harry had to enter the common room and send everyone off to bed.
The next week dragged on very slowly. It seemed that the closer it got to the Hogsmeade trip the more on edge Professor Weasley got. Professor Malfoy also seemed to be more irritable as was evident when he took 50 points from Bryce for sending one of his friends to get his ingredients during potions one day instead of doing it himself. Students were on edge hoping that they didn't do anything to anger either teacher who seemed to greet everything with either detention or a point loss for the houses.
Finally the week was over. "Man I never thought this day would finally get here," Emily said that Saturday morning as she braided her hair into two long french braids down her back. "Just another hour and we'll finally be on our way to Hogsmeade.
"Excellent," Tyler said tapping his fingertips together in front of him. "I can't wait to use my discount at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!"
"Will you bring me some candy from Honeydukes?" Franklin asked his sister.
"Of course I will," Emily said smiling at her brother, "any kind of candy you want."
"And some for the triplets too?" he asked hopefully.
Emily smiled over to where Andrew, Daniel, and Richard stood with equally hopeful looks on their faces, "How could I forget about the triplets? I'll bring home plenty for all of you." Franklin turned back to his friends and they all exchanged equal looks of joy.
"Come on, Em," Coop said from his spot on the couch next to her, "I'm hungry. Let's go to the Great Hall already!"
"I'm almost done," she said wrapping a hair tie around her hair. "There, we can go now."
"Finally!" Coop said standing up. "I'm starving."
The group made it's way to the hall where students were merrily chatting, happy to be on their way to Hogsmeade. The only people who seemed less than thrilled were Professors Weasley and Malfoy.
"Ron, you've got to get that look off your face," Harry was telling his friend as Ron glumly picked at his food.
"That's easy for you to say, Mate. You get to spend the day in the company of someone you can tolerate." He glanced over to where his sister and Draco sat, "I however am stuck with that."
Hermione let out a loud exasperated sigh, "Ronald Weasley, that had better be the last such comment I hear you make today." Ron looked at her and opened his mouth, "I don't want to hear it! You will be civil today or I promise you you'll have to answer to me!"
"I already told you I would," he told her. When she turned back to her food he mumbled under his breath, "Doesn't mean I have to like it."
The plan for the day would be that they'd spend the morning wandering around Hogsmeade and doing some shopping and then Harry and Cho would go on their own way to lunch while Ron and Hermione joined Ginny and Draco at the Three Broomsticks.
After breakfast the students who had permission to go to Hogsmeade made their way to the front foyer to be checked out before leaving. Filch was also standing there making sure the students knew any contraband they may bring back with them would be confiscated on sight.
Ron and Hermione walked just behind his sister and Draco. Hermione placed her hand in his, "Please Ron, for me, just try to be understanding. She just wants you two to get along."
At that moment Ginny put her hand into Draco's in the same manner as Hermione had done to Ron and Hermione felt him stiffen. He turned to her, "I don't promise you anything."
"Well, you haven't stomped over there to tear them apart so I'll take that as a good sign," she said smiling at him slightly.
Ron raised Hermione's hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of them, "Only because you're holding me back."
Hermione sighed; this was going to be a long day.
~~~
At Hogsmeade the group wandered around and when they reached Weasley's Wizard Wheezys shop, Draco opted to stay outside. When they entered Ginny stopped the group and told them she'd rather that the twins not know anything about her and Draco just yet. Everyone except Ron agreed quickly and after a minute he grudgingly agreed.
They made their way toward the back of the store where Fred and George stood swamped with Hogwarts students. "Hey!" Fred said noticing them first.
"How are you guys?" George asked looking up.
"You guys look busy," Ginny said as they finally reached the counter.
George quickly scanned the store, which seemed packed to his sister, "Nah, this is nothing!"
"Yeah," Fred agreed, "It'll really be busy this afternoon."
A student pushed his way up to the front counter, "Excuse me, but where is the Bleeding Bubble Gum?"
"Along the back wall, near the front of the store," Fred answered.
"Bleeding Bubble Gum?" Hermione asked?
"Yeah, it's our latest," George explained, "you start chewing and ten seconds later a nice stream of blood comes pouring out of your nose!"
"That's disgusting," Hermione said.
Harry looked a little queasy, "What exactly would you use that for?"
"We don't ask questions, Harry, we just make the products," Fred said. "So what are you all up to today?"
"Just some shopping and then lunch," Ginny told them.
"Sounds like fun," Fred said. He looked over to where Ron was standing with a scowl on his face. "Hey little brother, what's with the long face?"
Ginny tensed up instantly, "Oh he's just upset that his house lost at Quidditch last week and he keeps getting teased about it," Hermione said. Ginny relaxed and mouthed a silent 'Thank you' to Hermione.
"Oh well," George said, "With the way we trained up Gryffindor did you really expect any different? Cheer up, Ron, they'll get better."
Ron just glared at his sister and said, "Yeah, I guess as long as I'm not losing to Slytherin. Actually, while I'm on the subject of Slytherin—"
"Well, we'd better get going," Ginny interrupted, "you guys are busy and we've got some more shopping to do."
The twins looked at their sister questioningly, but let it go. "Try to stop by again before you leave," Fred called out as they headed out of the store.
"We will," Ginny called back at the doorway. "See you guys later!"
As soon as they stepped outside Ginny spotted Draco standing at the other end of the building and hurried over to him. Harry and Cho made to follow her but Hermione held Ron back for a moment and told the other's they'd meet them inside Honeydukes in just a moment. Hermione took Ron by the hand and led him around the back of the building.
"OK, get it out," she said when they were away from everyone.
"I can't do this!" Ron said and began pacing. "I can't do this for a whole day. And that ferret wasn't even there! How am I going sit across a table from him all afternoon? Hermione, I can't do this." Ron just kept pacing back and forth saying that he couldn't do this and Hermione let him.
She figured that it would be better for him to let it all out now than to let him keep it bottled inside where it would eventually come out, probably at lunch. After a couple more minutes of pacing she stepped in front of Ron, which made him stop and look at her. "Look at me," she said; taking both his hands in hers, "You can do this, Ron. I know that you want to make your sister happy right?"
Ron reluctantly nodded his head.
"Well, trust me when I tell you that Malfoy is making her happy." Ron rolled his eyes and looked away. Hermione followed his gaze with hers, "He is. I've never seen your sister so happy before. I know that you'd see it too if you'd only look at her. Really look."
Ron thought for a moment. If Hermione was giving Ginny and Draco her approval then something had to be different. He figured that the least he could do was to give the guy a chance. Besides, the moment he stepped out of line he, his brothers, and Harry would be right there to teach him a lesson.
"All right Hermione," he said. "If you tell me that he's changed then I believe you."
"But if your sister says it then you don't?" Hermione asked skeptically.
Ron's cheeks tuned slightly pink, "It's not that," one of Hermione's eyebrows rose unbelievingly, "really it's not. She's young and thinks that everyone has something good inside them somewhere. She's willing to look for it. I don't want her to get hurt. But you know Malfoy's true colors." He brought his hands up to cup her face and then run his fingers through her hair, "The way he treated you in school," he said looking into her eyes, which were fluttering closed from his caresses "that's the real Malfoy, but if you say that he's changed, then I can trust that."
"Well, I'm glad," she answered him a little breathlessly.
"Of course," Ron said leaning into her, lightly kissing her cheeks and eyelids and lips, "if he ever hurts her, or you again for that matter, I'll kill him with my bare hands."
"Ron!" Hermione yelled outraged. Ron chuckled at her predictable response and silenced her with his lips. All her thoughts left her mind and she didn't really care if Ron killed Draco a million times over just then. Ron's hands went around her body to bring her closer to him. Hermione brought her hands up his chest and around his neck into his hair.
His lips moved about her face. He kissed along her jaw line down to the curve of her neck and Hermione let out a soft moan. Ron's hands seemed to be everywhere still trying to bring Hermione closer to him as if he wanted them to be one person. He grabbed Hermione's waist and lifted her so her legs wrapped around his body and then turned them around so he was leaning against the building.
"Ron," Hermione gasped after a few minutes of pleasurable activity, "Ron, we have to stop."
Ron's head came up and he looked down at her kiss-swollen lips, stopping was the last thing on his mind. His mind began clearing however and he heard the calling of students in the background and remembered where they were. He sighed and with one last lingering kiss he put Hermione back down on the ground.
She straightened her hair and clothes and tried to regain her composure. She knew there would be nothing she could do about the flush in her cheeks, but she wouldn't have traded these past few moments with Ron for anything.
"Ready to go?" he asked when she finished straightening herself out.
"You need to fix you hair," Hermione said giggling and pointing at his hair which was pointing in every which direction. "Here let me." She stood on her toes and started smoothing out his hair laughing at what a disaster she had turned it into in just a few short minutes. "There, that's much better. All right, ready to go?"
Ron sighed. He'd much rather spend the rest of the day with Hermione than do what he had to do. "I guess so. Let's go." Hermione put her hand in Ron's and they headed back out to join the others.
A/N: He he he, here's a little fluff for all you R/Hr peeps out there! And all behind the twins store! Have they no shame! Tsk tsk! Anyway, there will be more to come! I have a lot more free time now that school is over for the semester. I PROMISE that it won't take a month for the next update!!! I promise promise promise! Review if you have time! L8tr!
~Chapter 16~
Hermione talked to Ron after Ginny and Draco left. She had managed to get him to calm down slightly, but couldn't get him to promise to not to cause Draco bodily harm every time they were within a one-foot radius. Lunch at Hogsmeade was definitely not a possibility as far as Ron was concerned.
"I'd rather go traipsing through the Forbidden Forrest looking for Aragog than to spend even one-minute in Malfoy's company," he told Hermione.
The next day when Hermione told Ginny about her brother's refusal Ginny felt completely defeated. She didn't want it to come down to choosing between Ron and Draco, but she didn't know what she could to get her brother to stop being such a prat. Hermione promised that she'd keep working on Ron and much to Ginny's surprise, by the end of the week Ron had agreed to join them for lunch.
"But how?" Ginny had asked Hermione.
"You don't even want to know," Hermione had replied with a disgusted look on her face making Ginny wondered if Hermione would be grading Ron's papers for the rest of the year.
Still, excitement started bubbling up inside of her. If she could just get Draco to be himself at lunch that next weekend, then maybe there'd be a chance.
However that was easier said than done. When they were alone he was sweet and caring and considerate of her. The second they got around the others he'd instantly clam up.
He was however better around Hermione and Ginny thought that had a lot to do with the fact that she'd gotten Ron to consent to lunch. As much as Draco himself didn't want to do it, knowing that it was what Ginny wanted to do make him swallow his pride over the situation and agree.
Even the students were feeling Ron's wrath. Ever since the night they saw their teacher loose his cool with Draco they had been suffering in class. He had his class caring for Blast-Ended Skrewts and when the students complained, he had them milking poisonous snakes for their venom. The students kept their mouths shut after that and when Ron brought back the Blast-Ended Skrewts no one complained any farther.
Everyone was getting rather annoyed with Professor Weasley, everyone that was except for Coop.
"I'm sure it was nothing more than Malfoy deserved," he'd say in Ron's defense, "In fact I applaud his restraint in not physically harming Malfoy at all." Tyler and Emily would just roll their eyes at him.
Fortunately they had two special occasions to look forward to. At the end of the week they had their first Quidditch game against Hufflepuff and the week after that was the first trip to Hogsmeade.
They had been practicing hard that whole week. After McGonagall's decree they wanted to make sure that even with Ron's guidance Hufflepuff could be over taken. They didn't have much to worry about on that score since Ron was so angry that he didn't pay much attention to what was going on in practice.
The fist game was a breeze for Gryffindor. Ten minutes into the game they clenched the victory 170 points to 10. That night the Gryffindors partied so late into the night that Harry had to enter the common room and send everyone off to bed.
The next week dragged on very slowly. It seemed that the closer it got to the Hogsmeade trip the more on edge Professor Weasley got. Professor Malfoy also seemed to be more irritable as was evident when he took 50 points from Bryce for sending one of his friends to get his ingredients during potions one day instead of doing it himself. Students were on edge hoping that they didn't do anything to anger either teacher who seemed to greet everything with either detention or a point loss for the houses.
Finally the week was over. "Man I never thought this day would finally get here," Emily said that Saturday morning as she braided her hair into two long french braids down her back. "Just another hour and we'll finally be on our way to Hogsmeade.
"Excellent," Tyler said tapping his fingertips together in front of him. "I can't wait to use my discount at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!"
"Will you bring me some candy from Honeydukes?" Franklin asked his sister.
"Of course I will," Emily said smiling at her brother, "any kind of candy you want."
"And some for the triplets too?" he asked hopefully.
Emily smiled over to where Andrew, Daniel, and Richard stood with equally hopeful looks on their faces, "How could I forget about the triplets? I'll bring home plenty for all of you." Franklin turned back to his friends and they all exchanged equal looks of joy.
"Come on, Em," Coop said from his spot on the couch next to her, "I'm hungry. Let's go to the Great Hall already!"
"I'm almost done," she said wrapping a hair tie around her hair. "There, we can go now."
"Finally!" Coop said standing up. "I'm starving."
The group made it's way to the hall where students were merrily chatting, happy to be on their way to Hogsmeade. The only people who seemed less than thrilled were Professors Weasley and Malfoy.
"Ron, you've got to get that look off your face," Harry was telling his friend as Ron glumly picked at his food.
"That's easy for you to say, Mate. You get to spend the day in the company of someone you can tolerate." He glanced over to where his sister and Draco sat, "I however am stuck with that."
Hermione let out a loud exasperated sigh, "Ronald Weasley, that had better be the last such comment I hear you make today." Ron looked at her and opened his mouth, "I don't want to hear it! You will be civil today or I promise you you'll have to answer to me!"
"I already told you I would," he told her. When she turned back to her food he mumbled under his breath, "Doesn't mean I have to like it."
The plan for the day would be that they'd spend the morning wandering around Hogsmeade and doing some shopping and then Harry and Cho would go on their own way to lunch while Ron and Hermione joined Ginny and Draco at the Three Broomsticks.
After breakfast the students who had permission to go to Hogsmeade made their way to the front foyer to be checked out before leaving. Filch was also standing there making sure the students knew any contraband they may bring back with them would be confiscated on sight.
Ron and Hermione walked just behind his sister and Draco. Hermione placed her hand in his, "Please Ron, for me, just try to be understanding. She just wants you two to get along."
At that moment Ginny put her hand into Draco's in the same manner as Hermione had done to Ron and Hermione felt him stiffen. He turned to her, "I don't promise you anything."
"Well, you haven't stomped over there to tear them apart so I'll take that as a good sign," she said smiling at him slightly.
Ron raised Hermione's hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of them, "Only because you're holding me back."
Hermione sighed; this was going to be a long day.
~~~
At Hogsmeade the group wandered around and when they reached Weasley's Wizard Wheezys shop, Draco opted to stay outside. When they entered Ginny stopped the group and told them she'd rather that the twins not know anything about her and Draco just yet. Everyone except Ron agreed quickly and after a minute he grudgingly agreed.
They made their way toward the back of the store where Fred and George stood swamped with Hogwarts students. "Hey!" Fred said noticing them first.
"How are you guys?" George asked looking up.
"You guys look busy," Ginny said as they finally reached the counter.
George quickly scanned the store, which seemed packed to his sister, "Nah, this is nothing!"
"Yeah," Fred agreed, "It'll really be busy this afternoon."
A student pushed his way up to the front counter, "Excuse me, but where is the Bleeding Bubble Gum?"
"Along the back wall, near the front of the store," Fred answered.
"Bleeding Bubble Gum?" Hermione asked?
"Yeah, it's our latest," George explained, "you start chewing and ten seconds later a nice stream of blood comes pouring out of your nose!"
"That's disgusting," Hermione said.
Harry looked a little queasy, "What exactly would you use that for?"
"We don't ask questions, Harry, we just make the products," Fred said. "So what are you all up to today?"
"Just some shopping and then lunch," Ginny told them.
"Sounds like fun," Fred said. He looked over to where Ron was standing with a scowl on his face. "Hey little brother, what's with the long face?"
Ginny tensed up instantly, "Oh he's just upset that his house lost at Quidditch last week and he keeps getting teased about it," Hermione said. Ginny relaxed and mouthed a silent 'Thank you' to Hermione.
"Oh well," George said, "With the way we trained up Gryffindor did you really expect any different? Cheer up, Ron, they'll get better."
Ron just glared at his sister and said, "Yeah, I guess as long as I'm not losing to Slytherin. Actually, while I'm on the subject of Slytherin—"
"Well, we'd better get going," Ginny interrupted, "you guys are busy and we've got some more shopping to do."
The twins looked at their sister questioningly, but let it go. "Try to stop by again before you leave," Fred called out as they headed out of the store.
"We will," Ginny called back at the doorway. "See you guys later!"
As soon as they stepped outside Ginny spotted Draco standing at the other end of the building and hurried over to him. Harry and Cho made to follow her but Hermione held Ron back for a moment and told the other's they'd meet them inside Honeydukes in just a moment. Hermione took Ron by the hand and led him around the back of the building.
"OK, get it out," she said when they were away from everyone.
"I can't do this!" Ron said and began pacing. "I can't do this for a whole day. And that ferret wasn't even there! How am I going sit across a table from him all afternoon? Hermione, I can't do this." Ron just kept pacing back and forth saying that he couldn't do this and Hermione let him.
She figured that it would be better for him to let it all out now than to let him keep it bottled inside where it would eventually come out, probably at lunch. After a couple more minutes of pacing she stepped in front of Ron, which made him stop and look at her. "Look at me," she said; taking both his hands in hers, "You can do this, Ron. I know that you want to make your sister happy right?"
Ron reluctantly nodded his head.
"Well, trust me when I tell you that Malfoy is making her happy." Ron rolled his eyes and looked away. Hermione followed his gaze with hers, "He is. I've never seen your sister so happy before. I know that you'd see it too if you'd only look at her. Really look."
Ron thought for a moment. If Hermione was giving Ginny and Draco her approval then something had to be different. He figured that the least he could do was to give the guy a chance. Besides, the moment he stepped out of line he, his brothers, and Harry would be right there to teach him a lesson.
"All right Hermione," he said. "If you tell me that he's changed then I believe you."
"But if your sister says it then you don't?" Hermione asked skeptically.
Ron's cheeks tuned slightly pink, "It's not that," one of Hermione's eyebrows rose unbelievingly, "really it's not. She's young and thinks that everyone has something good inside them somewhere. She's willing to look for it. I don't want her to get hurt. But you know Malfoy's true colors." He brought his hands up to cup her face and then run his fingers through her hair, "The way he treated you in school," he said looking into her eyes, which were fluttering closed from his caresses "that's the real Malfoy, but if you say that he's changed, then I can trust that."
"Well, I'm glad," she answered him a little breathlessly.
"Of course," Ron said leaning into her, lightly kissing her cheeks and eyelids and lips, "if he ever hurts her, or you again for that matter, I'll kill him with my bare hands."
"Ron!" Hermione yelled outraged. Ron chuckled at her predictable response and silenced her with his lips. All her thoughts left her mind and she didn't really care if Ron killed Draco a million times over just then. Ron's hands went around her body to bring her closer to him. Hermione brought her hands up his chest and around his neck into his hair.
His lips moved about her face. He kissed along her jaw line down to the curve of her neck and Hermione let out a soft moan. Ron's hands seemed to be everywhere still trying to bring Hermione closer to him as if he wanted them to be one person. He grabbed Hermione's waist and lifted her so her legs wrapped around his body and then turned them around so he was leaning against the building.
"Ron," Hermione gasped after a few minutes of pleasurable activity, "Ron, we have to stop."
Ron's head came up and he looked down at her kiss-swollen lips, stopping was the last thing on his mind. His mind began clearing however and he heard the calling of students in the background and remembered where they were. He sighed and with one last lingering kiss he put Hermione back down on the ground.
She straightened her hair and clothes and tried to regain her composure. She knew there would be nothing she could do about the flush in her cheeks, but she wouldn't have traded these past few moments with Ron for anything.
"Ready to go?" he asked when she finished straightening herself out.
"You need to fix you hair," Hermione said giggling and pointing at his hair which was pointing in every which direction. "Here let me." She stood on her toes and started smoothing out his hair laughing at what a disaster she had turned it into in just a few short minutes. "There, that's much better. All right, ready to go?"
Ron sighed. He'd much rather spend the rest of the day with Hermione than do what he had to do. "I guess so. Let's go." Hermione put her hand in Ron's and they headed back out to join the others.
A/N: He he he, here's a little fluff for all you R/Hr peeps out there! And all behind the twins store! Have they no shame! Tsk tsk! Anyway, there will be more to come! I have a lot more free time now that school is over for the semester. I PROMISE that it won't take a month for the next update!!! I promise promise promise! Review if you have time! L8tr!