Alesco
Chapter Twelve---The Bill Connection
*
Ron had turned around to see Hermione right on him, then she pushed him none-too-gently against the wall. As he saw several notices glide to the floor near his feet, he realized the breath had been knocked out of him. He instinctively put a hand to his throat and tried to breathe.
Hermione was, at that moment, curling her fingers into the wool of his jumper, when the other inhabitants of the common room burst into raucous laughter. Hermione's face went from a look of indignation to shame. Ron's face burned, and then he almost laughed. Hermione apparently hadn't seen Seamus, Dean, and Colin sitting at the corner table. She immediately released him and stepped back, pulling her pale-blue blouse more securely over her jeans. He uttered under his breath, "What the hell?"
As Ron rubbed the back of his head, which had hit the stone wall, Hermione looked up at him with narrowed eyes. Then, she looked down at her feet and cleared her throat, and whispered, "Where were you? I was worried about you."
Ron inwardly smiled, intensely proud that she had said "I" instead of "we."
"I went to talk to Professor Forester. Hermione, I am so sorry." Ron said, truly meaning it. Even though she had told him to come to her when he was angry, he'd never meant to make her cry. And....could there really be a chance....for them to be together? His heart burst with real feeling, a feeling coming from deep inside him.
Noticing how frail Hermione looked at that moment, he saw that she was clasping her hands tightly in front of her. She turned, looking back at the group of boys who were still staring at them. Without thinking, Ron reached out and took both of her cold hands in his. She immediately turned about, locks of her bushy hair brushing his face, because he was bent down close to her now.. Her eyes were wide as she looked down at her small hands in his large ones.
Ron expected to feel the warmth pool to his midsection like so many times before. Instead, a feeling had replaced that one, and it was just as intense--how right this was. He opened his mouth, about to speak, but Hermione shook her head. She mutely turned and started toward the portrait hole, dragging him with her. Right as she was putting her foot out the portrait hole, she nearly crashed into Professor McGonagall.
"Miss Granger!" she said, and looked at them oddly.
Hermione backed up immediately, managing to step right on Ron's left foot. She hardly weighed anything, but it still hurt. The professor brushed past them and came into the common room. She turned toward them, as Hermone stuttered, "I-I'm so sorry, Professor!"
"That's quite all right, Miss Granger. I've come to fetch Mr Weasley; and as you were guiding him out the portrait hole, my task is nearly complete." She shot Hermione and arch look, and then turned to Ron. Before she could say anything, Ron said, "My parents are here, aren't they?"
Hermione looked at him, confused, as the professor nodded. "Yes, your mother and brother, Bill. Professor Dumbledore is speaking to them right now in the entrance hall. We will go to meet everyone in Professor Forester's office."
Ron shot a look of apology toward Hermione, wishing he would have had the chance to explain. Professor McGonagall gestured him out the portrait hole in front of her, and turned back to Hermione. "Mr Weasley will see you at mealtime, I daresay." With that, the professor gently pushed Ron away from the common room, and in the direction of Professor Forester's office.
~*~
Ron was wondering how they had gotten there so fast. They must have flooed to Hogsmeade, and then walked up to the castle. He and the professor had almost reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, when Ron's mum and Bill were climbing up the stairway to meet them.
Ron noticed how worried they both looked. His mum hugged him tightly, and asked, "How's my Ronniekins?" Ron felt his ears burn, thinking how funny it sounded now. He was now a foot taller than his mother, and she was still calling him by his childhood nickname. Before he could tell her not to call him that, Bill walked over.
The look in his eyes chilled Ron. Bill wasn't just worried...he was angry. He grabbed Ron by the shoulder and said, "Yes, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Bill. What's going on? Where's dad?" Ron turned to his mother.
She was looking at Bill, a very concerned expression on her face. Turning to Ron, she said with a smile, "Your dad's working right now, he's fine. He couldn't get away." She then took him by the shoulders. "Are you sure you're all right, dear?" She gave him a hard look.
"Well, I...don't know how much Professor Dumbledore told you...." Ron began, when suddenly he heard the steady voice of Professor Forester, who was walking toward them from the hall. "Welcome, Mr and Mrs...." She stopped immediately when she came around the corner, and saw Ron's mum and brother. For the first time since she'd arrive at Hogwarts, he saw one of the most dramatic facial changes ever to occur to her. She became ashen, and swallowed visibly. She even took a step back.
"Bill." The word fell from her lips like a stone.
Ron turned toward his brother, who looked ill. Even so, Bill nodded and said coolly, "Ivy."
Professor McGonagall made a funny sound in her throat and chose that moment to take her leave. Ron watched her walk down the stairs, and then looked back up at Bill, then his mum. She looked even more confused than he was.
Finally, the professor said hesitantly, "I didn't know....I wasn't sure....I thought.."
"Never mind that." Bill snapped. "You called us here, we want to know what's new about the brain that attacked Ron."
Professor Forester drew herself up straight away, and looked affronted. She cleared her throat and said hoarsley, "Yes, come follow me. We'll talk in my....classroom."
~*~
Many awkward minutes later, Professor Forester had finally explained in detail what had really happened to Ron, who had the brain before it came to the Department of Mysteries, and What they needed to do--and why. The group sat silently looking at each other. Finally, Bill spoke up. He was obviously still upset. "What makes you think we can believe you? Especially, knowing...what you are." The last three words were spoken harshly, and Ron could physically feel the heat of the anger rolling off his brother.
Ron saw his mum grab Bill's arm and whisper to him, before Professor Forester stood up, shooting a steady, cool look at Bill. Bill stood up too. "Don't, I'm warning you...." He said it shakily.
"Bill...." Ron frowned, and turned toward the Professor. Her eyes were turned away now, and her back was to them.
"Mum, Ron....could you leave us alone for a moment?" Bill said steadily.
"But Bill..." His mum said, looking fearfully toward the professor.
"Please." He was insistent. Finally, Ron was pulled up by him mum and lead out the classroom door.
Outside, Ron watched as several other students walked through the halls, enjoying their Saturday evening. Sighing, he leaned against the wall and thought about how long the day had been. Would it ever end? And how did his brother know Professor Forester?
Ron tried to think back to everything he knew about Bill. He didn't have much firsthand knowledge about what Bill had done while Ron had been young. He turned to his mum.
Before he could ask her anything, she spotted Professor Dumbledore coming up the stairs, headed toward the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. She walked toward him, and began ask questions, out of Ron's earshot. Ron realised this might give him a chance to hear what Bill and Professor Forester were talking about.
Shuffling closer to the door, he put his ear to it. Darn and blast...if he only had extendable ears.
For a moment, he couldn't understand a word that was being said. Finally, Professor Forester said loudly, "I was nineteen years old, Bill, and so were you."
"I doesn't make any difference....it was wrong. You were old enough, experienced enough in your..." Bill cut off, and then said, "If I hear you've laid a hand on my brother....I'll rip your heart out personally."
Ron stood back from the door for a moment, expecting to hear Bill walking toward him; instead, he heard a laugh. Ron put his ear back to the door, and clenched his teeth. It was that cool, odd laugh from Professor Forester. She kept laughing...and laughing.
Finally, she said, "What surprises me so much, Bill, is how upset you are. You always seemed to enjoy it in the end." There was silence, and then she said, "I never thought I'd see you, again, Bill. But I'd never hoped of keeping it a secret for long."
Now Bill laughed, and it was not from humor. "You're sick, you know it? Once I tell Ron...."
"You won't need to, you know." Professor Forester was saying, and then Ron felt himself being pulled back abruptly by his ear.
"Owww!" He shouted, and looked up to see his mum and Professor Dumbledore standing next to him. His mum let his ear go and gave him a very stern look. Professor Dumbledore, the quirky old wizard, was winking at him. Before Ron could say anything, the door behind him burst open, and a very frustrated looking Bill emerged. He shut the door loudly behind him. "Professor Dumbledore...." Bill said anxiously, looking pleased. "You're just the wizard I was hoping to see."
The Headmaster nodded. "Yes, Mr Weasley?"
"Can I speak with you in your study?" Bill asked, an edge in his voice.
"Certainly. Molly, can I interest you and your family to the evening meal first, or you will you be taking your leave soon?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"No, I think I should be getting back. I'm going to let Bill handle this. Arthur will be home soon, and waiting for his meal." She said, and she turned to Bill, giving him a hug. "Dear, I think I'm going to go and speak with Ginny for a moment before I leave. Are you coming, Ron?" She arched an eyebrow.
"Sure." Ron said, and dejectedly followed his mother. He desperately wanted the chance to talk to Bill himself, but He realized that tonight would not be the night. Looking backward, he watched as Professor Dumbledore and Bill walked down the stairs.
~*~
After his mother and Bill were gone, Ron was sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, eating across from Hermione, sitting by Harry, and wondering if the last day had all been a dream. Everything seemed so normal now, like the Department of Mysteries, or Professor Forester, had never happened.
He had to face the facts, though. The red welts on his arm told the truth, and he couldn't avoid it any way he looked. The only person who could help him....Professor Forester...was becoming more terrifying by the moment. He only wished he knew the real reasons why Bill had been upset.
The thing that bothered him the most was his vow not to tell anyone what was going on.
He looked up then at Hermione....who had spoken eagerly with his mother earlier in the day, when she went to visit Ginny. It was nice to see the his two favorite people in all the world getting along so well.
That brought his mind to the conversation he'd hoped to have earlier in the day with Hermione. Looking across the table at her now, he gave her a steady stare, his heart beating wildly. She smiled ever so slightly and cleared her throat. "So, Ron, I think we need to get to that Prefect meeting."
Ginny, a prefect this year, too, looked up, a bit surprised. Thankfully, she hid it well, and got up with them.
When they were headed out into the hall, Ron turned around. He saw Harry head over to the Hufflepuff table, and sit down. That was odd.....
Hermione said something very quietly to Ginny, and then Ginny peeled off and called out, "You two have nice evening!" in a very sarcastic voice....oddly reminiscent of the twins. Hermione laughed briefly, and Ron shot her a quick smile.
The hallways were very still, as most of the students were still eating. Ron cleared his throat, which suddenly had a frog in it. His heart was beating faster than racing hippogriffs, and he knew he couldn't do this in the common room. Sudden inspiration came to him.
"Uh, Hermione?" Ron slowed to a stop, not looking at her yet.
"Yes?" She asked, her voice hitching.
"I would like to talk to you. In private." Face burning, he looked at her. She was blushing, too. He thought it looked bloody attractive.
"Okay. We can't go to the common room, then." Hermone said, looking at her feet. "I think it's best we go somewhere totally private." Like the....Room-"
"-of Requirement." They said at once.
Their eyes met, and they both looked down at the floor, chuckling nervously.
"Okay then, let's go." Ron said, in a voice that was not his own.
"Wait...what do we want it to be?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"You pick." Ron replied, and then they started to walk again. This time they went up a different set of stairs, and to a far wing of the castle.
When they entered the room, it was no longer a room. "Bloody hell!" Ron muttered, and Hermione tut-tutted. He looked toward her and frowned. "It's only you here, remember? Nobody else I'm defaming with my language." Hermione just shook her head and rolled her eyes. Ron thought it would be a good time, since she was off guard, to grab her hand. She clung to him happily.
They were in a Hyde Park, in London. It was totally dark, and a large moon loomed over them. It seemed as if there was no other person in the world. Hermione tugged him toward a tree and sat down on the ground...which really wasn't ground....
"I love this place." Ron said, laying back, putting his free arm under his head and reclining. "Sometimes, when I was young, we'd all come here after dropping Charlie and Percy off at Hogwarts. I think once the twins started school, we started to stop going. I've really missed this park. You've got a great memory." He turned to her sitting beside him and smiled.
"Thanks. That means a lot." Hermione smiled.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You got how many O.W.L.S.?" Ron grumbled, and Hermione groaned.
"Let's not get into that." She pulled her hand away, and Ron felt bad. They'd had a conversation that swiftly turned into an argument once they received their O.W.L. results during the summer.
They were silent for a while, as Ron tried to place his jumbled thoughts into order. What should they talk about? How could he start to talk about...that...out of nowhere?
Without warning, Hermione asked the one thing Ron would have avoided at this moment. "Have you ever kissed anyone?" She didn't look at him, and bit her lip.
"What?" It was the first thing out of his mouth.
Hermione turned to him, and he could tell she was blushing in the moonlight.
"You heard what I said." She threw back at him.
Ron choked as he looked into her eyes. They were very pretty, twinkling as they were now.
He decided that he'd better try to make light of the situation. Of course he wanted to kiss her...but what if she hated it? So he said jokingly, "By beast or being?"
She sat up abruptly. "By a girl, you idiot!"
"Hey..." Ron sat up too, insulted. Hermione started to glare at him, and he was sure she was just about ready to leave. So, he said quickly, "Yes."
"No!" He heard Hermone say, and her eyes widened. "Who?"
"I don't know." Ron said, and shrugged.
Hermoine was looking at him oddly. For a moment, she continued to stare. Then she blurted, "You don't know who you kissed?"
Ron stood up and leaned his frame against the tree, and crossed his arms. He looked down at Hermione. "I was only five years old at the time. I thought she was pretty, so I kissed her. It was this little blond girl. I can remember it all vividly. Her dad was single, I think, and my mum was helping out for a while."
It only took a moment for Hermione to digest this information, then she began to laugh. Apparently, she thought this information was very funny, because she began to roll around on the grass, and then lay flat on the lawn, trying to breathe.
Ron dropped down next to her. "What's so bloody funny?"
Hermione was still trying to catch her breath. Finally she did, and said one word. "Luna."
"What?" He blurted for the second time that evening.
Hermione began to breathe in and out deeply, apparently trying to calm herself. "I remembered a story Mrs Weasley told to me and Ginny this summer. She said that she'd helped Mr Lovegood out a bit when Luna was very young. You do know that she lives very close to the Burrow, don't you?"
"No, I don't." Ron said, and groaned.
Hermione sat up. "I can't believe you kissed Luna. She was only four years old. She may even remember it."
"She does not." Ron started to blush. Why the devil had he told Hermione that story?
"I bet she does." Hermione said, in a superior voice. "That's why she's obsessed with you."
"You're cracked." Ron sat down, his back to her. After a moment of silence, Ron felt reality seeping back. Why can't I just tell Hermione what's been happening to me? She would never tell anyone. "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
He turned around, and saw that she was lying flat on her back again.
"Hermione, I want to tell you about what's been happening to me." He crawled over to where she was lying. She had several blades of grass in her fingers, and was braiding them together. At once, she put them down.
"No, Ron. I already know from Mrs Weasley that you can't tell me." Hermione rolled over to look into his eyes. "I don't want to get you in trouble. Anyway, I have a feeling I know what most of it means."
She rolled onto her back again, saying softly, "I want you to know that if you need anybody, I'll always be here." She blinked several times.
"I know." Ron said huskily.
Silence reigned again, and Ron just looked down at her. His mouth was moving before he even knew it. "Have you ever kissed anyone?"
"No." It was an immediate answer. Then she looked at him. "I wonder what it's like. Harry said he did it, but it didn't sound pleasant."
"Wasn't the right girl." Ron thought, remembering how much he wished his sister and Harry would get together.
"I guess not." Hermione sighed. She looked tired. No. She looked annoyed.
Then, Ron felt like he was being taken over my something outside of him, when he slid his legs under him and lay down next to her. He saw his hand go up to her face and grasp her chin. Her eyes were closed, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. He leaned up on an elbow, bent down, and chastely kissed her lips. It was the briefest of touches, and then he pulled back. If she hated that, then he'd stop kissing permanently.
After he pulled back, she looked up at him. Then she said matter-of-factly, "I wasn't talking about that kind of kiss, Ron."
He backed up farther. What was wrong now?
She knelt up on her elbows, and sat up. As if in slow-motion, she slid both of her hands into his hair, clinging to it as if life depended on it. Then, her mouth came up to his. It was the most exciting point in Ron's life.
She was nibbling at his lower lip, sucking gently on it. He realized at once that he was just sitting there, letting her kiss him, and he wasn't doing a single thing. He let his arms crush around her, and it was a revelation. Gods, she was here, in his arms. How long had he dreamed about this?
Then, all the thoughts started tumbling through his mind, of what he had envisioned in dreams; things he wanted them to do together. His body hardened, and he tugged her closer, now desperately kissing her back.
He wasn't even sure what they were doing was right (how it was supposed to be), but it felt awfully good. He was now lying over her, pushing himself against her, and she was bucking and moaning underneath him. His jeans were beginning to feel so tight. He wished he could take them off, but that might scare her away.
She was kissing his neck, now. And her hands...Gods, her hands were under his shirt.
Oh, this was too much. He couldn't take much more. He sat up abruptly, running his hands through his hair.
"Ron?" Hermione asked, sitting up too. She looked worried.
"Bloody hell, Hermione. Just let me calm down." Ron sat there, and Hermione took his hand.
For a long time, they sat in silence. Finally, Hermione said, "I have so many things I've wanted to ask you."
Ron's brow raised. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what she meant this time.
Chapter Twelve---The Bill Connection
*
Ron had turned around to see Hermione right on him, then she pushed him none-too-gently against the wall. As he saw several notices glide to the floor near his feet, he realized the breath had been knocked out of him. He instinctively put a hand to his throat and tried to breathe.
Hermione was, at that moment, curling her fingers into the wool of his jumper, when the other inhabitants of the common room burst into raucous laughter. Hermione's face went from a look of indignation to shame. Ron's face burned, and then he almost laughed. Hermione apparently hadn't seen Seamus, Dean, and Colin sitting at the corner table. She immediately released him and stepped back, pulling her pale-blue blouse more securely over her jeans. He uttered under his breath, "What the hell?"
As Ron rubbed the back of his head, which had hit the stone wall, Hermione looked up at him with narrowed eyes. Then, she looked down at her feet and cleared her throat, and whispered, "Where were you? I was worried about you."
Ron inwardly smiled, intensely proud that she had said "I" instead of "we."
"I went to talk to Professor Forester. Hermione, I am so sorry." Ron said, truly meaning it. Even though she had told him to come to her when he was angry, he'd never meant to make her cry. And....could there really be a chance....for them to be together? His heart burst with real feeling, a feeling coming from deep inside him.
Noticing how frail Hermione looked at that moment, he saw that she was clasping her hands tightly in front of her. She turned, looking back at the group of boys who were still staring at them. Without thinking, Ron reached out and took both of her cold hands in his. She immediately turned about, locks of her bushy hair brushing his face, because he was bent down close to her now.. Her eyes were wide as she looked down at her small hands in his large ones.
Ron expected to feel the warmth pool to his midsection like so many times before. Instead, a feeling had replaced that one, and it was just as intense--how right this was. He opened his mouth, about to speak, but Hermione shook her head. She mutely turned and started toward the portrait hole, dragging him with her. Right as she was putting her foot out the portrait hole, she nearly crashed into Professor McGonagall.
"Miss Granger!" she said, and looked at them oddly.
Hermione backed up immediately, managing to step right on Ron's left foot. She hardly weighed anything, but it still hurt. The professor brushed past them and came into the common room. She turned toward them, as Hermone stuttered, "I-I'm so sorry, Professor!"
"That's quite all right, Miss Granger. I've come to fetch Mr Weasley; and as you were guiding him out the portrait hole, my task is nearly complete." She shot Hermione and arch look, and then turned to Ron. Before she could say anything, Ron said, "My parents are here, aren't they?"
Hermione looked at him, confused, as the professor nodded. "Yes, your mother and brother, Bill. Professor Dumbledore is speaking to them right now in the entrance hall. We will go to meet everyone in Professor Forester's office."
Ron shot a look of apology toward Hermione, wishing he would have had the chance to explain. Professor McGonagall gestured him out the portrait hole in front of her, and turned back to Hermione. "Mr Weasley will see you at mealtime, I daresay." With that, the professor gently pushed Ron away from the common room, and in the direction of Professor Forester's office.
~*~
Ron was wondering how they had gotten there so fast. They must have flooed to Hogsmeade, and then walked up to the castle. He and the professor had almost reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, when Ron's mum and Bill were climbing up the stairway to meet them.
Ron noticed how worried they both looked. His mum hugged him tightly, and asked, "How's my Ronniekins?" Ron felt his ears burn, thinking how funny it sounded now. He was now a foot taller than his mother, and she was still calling him by his childhood nickname. Before he could tell her not to call him that, Bill walked over.
The look in his eyes chilled Ron. Bill wasn't just worried...he was angry. He grabbed Ron by the shoulder and said, "Yes, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Bill. What's going on? Where's dad?" Ron turned to his mother.
She was looking at Bill, a very concerned expression on her face. Turning to Ron, she said with a smile, "Your dad's working right now, he's fine. He couldn't get away." She then took him by the shoulders. "Are you sure you're all right, dear?" She gave him a hard look.
"Well, I...don't know how much Professor Dumbledore told you...." Ron began, when suddenly he heard the steady voice of Professor Forester, who was walking toward them from the hall. "Welcome, Mr and Mrs...." She stopped immediately when she came around the corner, and saw Ron's mum and brother. For the first time since she'd arrive at Hogwarts, he saw one of the most dramatic facial changes ever to occur to her. She became ashen, and swallowed visibly. She even took a step back.
"Bill." The word fell from her lips like a stone.
Ron turned toward his brother, who looked ill. Even so, Bill nodded and said coolly, "Ivy."
Professor McGonagall made a funny sound in her throat and chose that moment to take her leave. Ron watched her walk down the stairs, and then looked back up at Bill, then his mum. She looked even more confused than he was.
Finally, the professor said hesitantly, "I didn't know....I wasn't sure....I thought.."
"Never mind that." Bill snapped. "You called us here, we want to know what's new about the brain that attacked Ron."
Professor Forester drew herself up straight away, and looked affronted. She cleared her throat and said hoarsley, "Yes, come follow me. We'll talk in my....classroom."
~*~
Many awkward minutes later, Professor Forester had finally explained in detail what had really happened to Ron, who had the brain before it came to the Department of Mysteries, and What they needed to do--and why. The group sat silently looking at each other. Finally, Bill spoke up. He was obviously still upset. "What makes you think we can believe you? Especially, knowing...what you are." The last three words were spoken harshly, and Ron could physically feel the heat of the anger rolling off his brother.
Ron saw his mum grab Bill's arm and whisper to him, before Professor Forester stood up, shooting a steady, cool look at Bill. Bill stood up too. "Don't, I'm warning you...." He said it shakily.
"Bill...." Ron frowned, and turned toward the Professor. Her eyes were turned away now, and her back was to them.
"Mum, Ron....could you leave us alone for a moment?" Bill said steadily.
"But Bill..." His mum said, looking fearfully toward the professor.
"Please." He was insistent. Finally, Ron was pulled up by him mum and lead out the classroom door.
Outside, Ron watched as several other students walked through the halls, enjoying their Saturday evening. Sighing, he leaned against the wall and thought about how long the day had been. Would it ever end? And how did his brother know Professor Forester?
Ron tried to think back to everything he knew about Bill. He didn't have much firsthand knowledge about what Bill had done while Ron had been young. He turned to his mum.
Before he could ask her anything, she spotted Professor Dumbledore coming up the stairs, headed toward the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. She walked toward him, and began ask questions, out of Ron's earshot. Ron realised this might give him a chance to hear what Bill and Professor Forester were talking about.
Shuffling closer to the door, he put his ear to it. Darn and blast...if he only had extendable ears.
For a moment, he couldn't understand a word that was being said. Finally, Professor Forester said loudly, "I was nineteen years old, Bill, and so were you."
"I doesn't make any difference....it was wrong. You were old enough, experienced enough in your..." Bill cut off, and then said, "If I hear you've laid a hand on my brother....I'll rip your heart out personally."
Ron stood back from the door for a moment, expecting to hear Bill walking toward him; instead, he heard a laugh. Ron put his ear back to the door, and clenched his teeth. It was that cool, odd laugh from Professor Forester. She kept laughing...and laughing.
Finally, she said, "What surprises me so much, Bill, is how upset you are. You always seemed to enjoy it in the end." There was silence, and then she said, "I never thought I'd see you, again, Bill. But I'd never hoped of keeping it a secret for long."
Now Bill laughed, and it was not from humor. "You're sick, you know it? Once I tell Ron...."
"You won't need to, you know." Professor Forester was saying, and then Ron felt himself being pulled back abruptly by his ear.
"Owww!" He shouted, and looked up to see his mum and Professor Dumbledore standing next to him. His mum let his ear go and gave him a very stern look. Professor Dumbledore, the quirky old wizard, was winking at him. Before Ron could say anything, the door behind him burst open, and a very frustrated looking Bill emerged. He shut the door loudly behind him. "Professor Dumbledore...." Bill said anxiously, looking pleased. "You're just the wizard I was hoping to see."
The Headmaster nodded. "Yes, Mr Weasley?"
"Can I speak with you in your study?" Bill asked, an edge in his voice.
"Certainly. Molly, can I interest you and your family to the evening meal first, or you will you be taking your leave soon?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"No, I think I should be getting back. I'm going to let Bill handle this. Arthur will be home soon, and waiting for his meal." She said, and she turned to Bill, giving him a hug. "Dear, I think I'm going to go and speak with Ginny for a moment before I leave. Are you coming, Ron?" She arched an eyebrow.
"Sure." Ron said, and dejectedly followed his mother. He desperately wanted the chance to talk to Bill himself, but He realized that tonight would not be the night. Looking backward, he watched as Professor Dumbledore and Bill walked down the stairs.
~*~
After his mother and Bill were gone, Ron was sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, eating across from Hermione, sitting by Harry, and wondering if the last day had all been a dream. Everything seemed so normal now, like the Department of Mysteries, or Professor Forester, had never happened.
He had to face the facts, though. The red welts on his arm told the truth, and he couldn't avoid it any way he looked. The only person who could help him....Professor Forester...was becoming more terrifying by the moment. He only wished he knew the real reasons why Bill had been upset.
The thing that bothered him the most was his vow not to tell anyone what was going on.
He looked up then at Hermione....who had spoken eagerly with his mother earlier in the day, when she went to visit Ginny. It was nice to see the his two favorite people in all the world getting along so well.
That brought his mind to the conversation he'd hoped to have earlier in the day with Hermione. Looking across the table at her now, he gave her a steady stare, his heart beating wildly. She smiled ever so slightly and cleared her throat. "So, Ron, I think we need to get to that Prefect meeting."
Ginny, a prefect this year, too, looked up, a bit surprised. Thankfully, she hid it well, and got up with them.
When they were headed out into the hall, Ron turned around. He saw Harry head over to the Hufflepuff table, and sit down. That was odd.....
Hermione said something very quietly to Ginny, and then Ginny peeled off and called out, "You two have nice evening!" in a very sarcastic voice....oddly reminiscent of the twins. Hermione laughed briefly, and Ron shot her a quick smile.
The hallways were very still, as most of the students were still eating. Ron cleared his throat, which suddenly had a frog in it. His heart was beating faster than racing hippogriffs, and he knew he couldn't do this in the common room. Sudden inspiration came to him.
"Uh, Hermione?" Ron slowed to a stop, not looking at her yet.
"Yes?" She asked, her voice hitching.
"I would like to talk to you. In private." Face burning, he looked at her. She was blushing, too. He thought it looked bloody attractive.
"Okay. We can't go to the common room, then." Hermone said, looking at her feet. "I think it's best we go somewhere totally private." Like the....Room-"
"-of Requirement." They said at once.
Their eyes met, and they both looked down at the floor, chuckling nervously.
"Okay then, let's go." Ron said, in a voice that was not his own.
"Wait...what do we want it to be?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"You pick." Ron replied, and then they started to walk again. This time they went up a different set of stairs, and to a far wing of the castle.
When they entered the room, it was no longer a room. "Bloody hell!" Ron muttered, and Hermione tut-tutted. He looked toward her and frowned. "It's only you here, remember? Nobody else I'm defaming with my language." Hermione just shook her head and rolled her eyes. Ron thought it would be a good time, since she was off guard, to grab her hand. She clung to him happily.
They were in a Hyde Park, in London. It was totally dark, and a large moon loomed over them. It seemed as if there was no other person in the world. Hermione tugged him toward a tree and sat down on the ground...which really wasn't ground....
"I love this place." Ron said, laying back, putting his free arm under his head and reclining. "Sometimes, when I was young, we'd all come here after dropping Charlie and Percy off at Hogwarts. I think once the twins started school, we started to stop going. I've really missed this park. You've got a great memory." He turned to her sitting beside him and smiled.
"Thanks. That means a lot." Hermione smiled.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You got how many O.W.L.S.?" Ron grumbled, and Hermione groaned.
"Let's not get into that." She pulled her hand away, and Ron felt bad. They'd had a conversation that swiftly turned into an argument once they received their O.W.L. results during the summer.
They were silent for a while, as Ron tried to place his jumbled thoughts into order. What should they talk about? How could he start to talk about...that...out of nowhere?
Without warning, Hermione asked the one thing Ron would have avoided at this moment. "Have you ever kissed anyone?" She didn't look at him, and bit her lip.
"What?" It was the first thing out of his mouth.
Hermione turned to him, and he could tell she was blushing in the moonlight.
"You heard what I said." She threw back at him.
Ron choked as he looked into her eyes. They were very pretty, twinkling as they were now.
He decided that he'd better try to make light of the situation. Of course he wanted to kiss her...but what if she hated it? So he said jokingly, "By beast or being?"
She sat up abruptly. "By a girl, you idiot!"
"Hey..." Ron sat up too, insulted. Hermione started to glare at him, and he was sure she was just about ready to leave. So, he said quickly, "Yes."
"No!" He heard Hermone say, and her eyes widened. "Who?"
"I don't know." Ron said, and shrugged.
Hermoine was looking at him oddly. For a moment, she continued to stare. Then she blurted, "You don't know who you kissed?"
Ron stood up and leaned his frame against the tree, and crossed his arms. He looked down at Hermione. "I was only five years old at the time. I thought she was pretty, so I kissed her. It was this little blond girl. I can remember it all vividly. Her dad was single, I think, and my mum was helping out for a while."
It only took a moment for Hermione to digest this information, then she began to laugh. Apparently, she thought this information was very funny, because she began to roll around on the grass, and then lay flat on the lawn, trying to breathe.
Ron dropped down next to her. "What's so bloody funny?"
Hermione was still trying to catch her breath. Finally she did, and said one word. "Luna."
"What?" He blurted for the second time that evening.
Hermione began to breathe in and out deeply, apparently trying to calm herself. "I remembered a story Mrs Weasley told to me and Ginny this summer. She said that she'd helped Mr Lovegood out a bit when Luna was very young. You do know that she lives very close to the Burrow, don't you?"
"No, I don't." Ron said, and groaned.
Hermione sat up. "I can't believe you kissed Luna. She was only four years old. She may even remember it."
"She does not." Ron started to blush. Why the devil had he told Hermione that story?
"I bet she does." Hermione said, in a superior voice. "That's why she's obsessed with you."
"You're cracked." Ron sat down, his back to her. After a moment of silence, Ron felt reality seeping back. Why can't I just tell Hermione what's been happening to me? She would never tell anyone. "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
He turned around, and saw that she was lying flat on her back again.
"Hermione, I want to tell you about what's been happening to me." He crawled over to where she was lying. She had several blades of grass in her fingers, and was braiding them together. At once, she put them down.
"No, Ron. I already know from Mrs Weasley that you can't tell me." Hermione rolled over to look into his eyes. "I don't want to get you in trouble. Anyway, I have a feeling I know what most of it means."
She rolled onto her back again, saying softly, "I want you to know that if you need anybody, I'll always be here." She blinked several times.
"I know." Ron said huskily.
Silence reigned again, and Ron just looked down at her. His mouth was moving before he even knew it. "Have you ever kissed anyone?"
"No." It was an immediate answer. Then she looked at him. "I wonder what it's like. Harry said he did it, but it didn't sound pleasant."
"Wasn't the right girl." Ron thought, remembering how much he wished his sister and Harry would get together.
"I guess not." Hermione sighed. She looked tired. No. She looked annoyed.
Then, Ron felt like he was being taken over my something outside of him, when he slid his legs under him and lay down next to her. He saw his hand go up to her face and grasp her chin. Her eyes were closed, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. He leaned up on an elbow, bent down, and chastely kissed her lips. It was the briefest of touches, and then he pulled back. If she hated that, then he'd stop kissing permanently.
After he pulled back, she looked up at him. Then she said matter-of-factly, "I wasn't talking about that kind of kiss, Ron."
He backed up farther. What was wrong now?
She knelt up on her elbows, and sat up. As if in slow-motion, she slid both of her hands into his hair, clinging to it as if life depended on it. Then, her mouth came up to his. It was the most exciting point in Ron's life.
She was nibbling at his lower lip, sucking gently on it. He realized at once that he was just sitting there, letting her kiss him, and he wasn't doing a single thing. He let his arms crush around her, and it was a revelation. Gods, she was here, in his arms. How long had he dreamed about this?
Then, all the thoughts started tumbling through his mind, of what he had envisioned in dreams; things he wanted them to do together. His body hardened, and he tugged her closer, now desperately kissing her back.
He wasn't even sure what they were doing was right (how it was supposed to be), but it felt awfully good. He was now lying over her, pushing himself against her, and she was bucking and moaning underneath him. His jeans were beginning to feel so tight. He wished he could take them off, but that might scare her away.
She was kissing his neck, now. And her hands...Gods, her hands were under his shirt.
Oh, this was too much. He couldn't take much more. He sat up abruptly, running his hands through his hair.
"Ron?" Hermione asked, sitting up too. She looked worried.
"Bloody hell, Hermione. Just let me calm down." Ron sat there, and Hermione took his hand.
For a long time, they sat in silence. Finally, Hermione said, "I have so many things I've wanted to ask you."
Ron's brow raised. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what she meant this time.