Alesco
Chapter Twenty---Unease and Bliss
*
Hermione smiled at her two best friends as they walked out the front castle door. Classes were over for the day, and Harry and Ron insisted on going with her to visit Hagrid and Crookshanks. Ron had also said that Professor Forester was giving him a day off from his training.
She was pleased by the two boy's concern. It was also encouraging that Ron was tightly holding her hand. He had been closer to her today then he had in the past couple of weeks, and she was excited by his attitude toward her cat's welfare. She hoped they would have a chance later for a private conversation.
I'll just make time for it, Hermione thought to herself. Ron was pulling her along now, and they were in front at Hagrid's cabin. At the door, Harry knocked loudly. Hagrid opened, and ushered them inside.
"Hello, you lot. All right there, Harry? And you, Ron?" Hagrid bellowed, and put his large hand on Ron's shoulder. Ron looked taken aback...apparently Hagrid was putting a bit more pressure on his shoulder than he would have liked. Hagrid pulled back his hand, and then Ron said, "Great."
Harry muttered a response, and then Hermione spoke up. "Hi, Hagrid. How's Crookshanks?"
Hagrid gave her a big grin, and then gestured with his thumb toward the corner of the hut near the fireplace. "Why don't yeh see for yerself?"
Hermione rushed over to see Crookshanks curled up in a wooden box filled with blankets. Fang was stretched out by the box, as if to protect the cat. She briefly patted Fang's head, and then looked in on Crookshanks. He lifted his head and gave a weak "miao" and then lay back again. There was a splint on his left back leg, and another bandage around his middle. Hermione felt hot tears come to her eyes as she reached out and gently petted him. Ron was now kneeling beside her, and scratching behind Crookshank's ears. Hermione blinked back the tears before Ron could see.
Harry was hovering over them, looking down at Crookshanks. "Do you have any idea what happened to him, Hagrid?"
"If yeh ask me, somethin' attacked him." Hagrid was fussing about his cooking stove, busily pouring tea into three little cups and one large tankard.
Hermione turned back to look at Ron, who was still scratching Crookshank's head. He looked up, gazed at her for a moment, before turning around to Hagrid. Hermione admired Ron's lovely profile as he asked, "What do you think it was?"
Hagrid placed the teapot down on the stove and with a loud clatter. "Can't be too sure 'o that. Plenty of wild beasts in the forest, but they can't step outghta there. Hermione, do yeh know if anyone would wanna hurt him to get back at yeh for somethin'?" Hagrid said that last sentence rather quickly, as if he didn't really want to know.
Hermione was shocked, and she knew it showed on her face. Before she could say anything, Harry spoke up.
"Malfoy."
Hermione looked at Harry, and then gave a little nod. Other than the random, unlikely scenarios running through Hermione's mind, Draco was the only person she could think of who would do this to her cat. Ron was giving Harry a sharp look, and he asked loudly, "Did he say anything to you recently, Harry?"
"A while ago, he threatened us three. You weren't there, Ron, you were too busy spying on your sister." Harry said it quietly, as if he didn't want Ron to become upset again about that incident.
Ron stood up abruptly and shouted, "That's it, I'm going to pound that fuckin' tosser into the ground." Ron's face became red, and he took his fist and pounded it into his left palm.
Hermione got up and said angrily, "Ron, watch your mouth!" She looked worriedly toward Hagrid, who was fumbling with two cups of tea. He had an expression of someone who was politely ignoring what had just been said.
She turned to Ron, who was giving her a "please-stop-mothering-me" look. Taking his arm, she said softly, "Ron, don't stoop to his level. It's what he wants. He'd love having another reason to put down your family with the Malfoy connections."
Harry spoke up at that. "What connections, Hermione? His father is in Azkaban...I'd wager all of those connections have been broken." He snorted, and put a hand on his hip.
Hagrid grumbled at that, and handed them cups of tea. Hermione let go of Ron's arm, and looked intently at Hagrid. He noticed her look, and said reluctantly, "'Arry, I think the Malfoy galleons still talk at the Ministry of Magic."
"You're kidding me." Harry glared at Hagrid. "He's a Death Eater, and he's still respected? How can that happen?"
Hagrid handed cups to Harry and Ron, and they simply stood and gaped at him. Hermione took her cup of tea and decided she needed to sit and calm down. Pulling a chair over to Crookshank's box, she sat and sipped at her tea. Hagrid was about to say something she was not pleased with. Even in the wizarding world, money talked.
Hagrid sat at his little table and sipped his tea, as well. He looked pointedly toward Harry. "You gotta understand, 'Arry, Mrs. Malfoy is a meek woman, but she still has the talent to woo the Ministry. It helps 'aving the Malfoy vaults at her disposal."
"VAULTS?" Ron uttered, and shook his head. Hermione chewed at her bottom lip, and wondered what Ron must be thinking about that. It was so beyond how he'd lived, to think of possessing multiple vaults of money, when the Weasley vault was never full. She shook her head and mutely wondered why such a kind family as the Weasley's had to struggle for every sickle. It wasn't fair. Even though Ron might not know, having Bill missing must also be hurting the family's expenses. Ginny had told her that Bill send along much of his earnings every two weeks. She also said the other boys didn't know, and she asked Hermione not to tell them.
Hagrid appeared upset as well, as he put down his tankard. "Yes, vaults, Ron. Ill gotten gains, I'll wager." He looked about the room worriedly before asking, "'Ave yeh heard any news about your brother, Ron?"
Ron sighed, and then stomped across the hut, and sat in a large, empty chair. He put his tea on a side table, and said huskily, "No, we haven't heard anything. I just don't understand why he disappeared. And with all the aurors looking for him..."
There was silence in the room, until Harry leaned against a wall of the hut and loudly slurped at his tea. Hermione looked over to him, as it was unusual for him to be rude. He had a furious look on his face, and the tea was gone straight away. He walked over to the little table Hagrid was sitting at, and put the cup down loudly.
"I'm getting bloody tired of all that's happening. Something seriously wrong is going on. We need to find out what it is." Harry was looking pointedly at Ron and Hermione, and Hermione had a bad feeling about that look.
"Harry..." Hermione began, and Harry had a look of someone who knew exactly what she was going to say. Harry was getting into that "heroic" mode, and it was the last thing she needed. After all, she'd spent much of her time in the last couple of days modifying the ring Ron had given her. The last thing she needed was to work on one for Harry, too.
"I know, Hermione, what you're thinking. But if we can, we need to look closer into what's been going on." Harry said it in an undertone.
Hermoine pursed her lips and said, "What are we to look closer into? We don't know what happened to Bill, we don't know who took him....and, most importantly, we don't know where he is. And Crookshanks....we don't even know if he was attacked by a PERSON...and, another thing is....why are you suddenly so concerned about this?" Hermione said the last sentence a bit too harshly. She had been upset with Harry for a long time...he'd been so focused on himself and his blooming relationship with Susan, and denying what was happening around him, to even care. Apparently, Ron had said something to him, and he'd come around. That didn't change the fact that he was now trying to take control of matters that weren't in his hands. It was a reckless and dangerous thing to do. Frankly, she was a little tired of it.
Harry now looked furious. He was about to say something, when Ron suddenly stood up. He gave Harry a fixed look, and Harry's face momentarily turned blank. He didn't say a thing, and moved to lean on the wall again. He had an unpleasant look in his eyes, but he didn't voice anything.
Hermione shot Ron a perturbed look. Ron just blinked at her, and his look said, "I had to do it." He shrugged and sat back down.
Hagrid didn't appear to have noticed anything unusual, and he poured some more tea for himself. There was silence, and so Hermione slid off her chair and kneeled over Crookshank's box. He was purring now, apparently pleased to be in the presence of his mistress. She petted the length of him, and whispered reassuring words.
Hagrid was standing behind her, and he said in a booming voice, "Don't yeh worry, 'Ermione. He'll be fit in a couple of days. I had some 'elp from Madam Pomphrey, she knows some nice remedies for animals."
The three stayed and visited with Hagrid for a while longer, and Ron, Harry and Hermione took turns petting Crookshanks briefly before leaving for the castle. As they entered the Great Hall, Harry said he was going to meet them at the evening meal, and he peeled off.
Hermione exchanged a worried glance with Ron, but was pleased to be alone with him. She took his cold hand, and was rewarded with her with a tight squeeze.
When they reached the common room, Ron said softly, "I'm sort of glad that Harry left. I want to talk to you." She glanced at him, and nodded, hoping he saw her pleased look.
He pulled her over to a quiet corner of the room. Several Gryffindors were sitting about studying and barely noticed them. Ron sat her in a chair close to him, and then he said guiltily, "I'm sorry, Hermione."
Hermione licked her lips, and then said, "There's nothing to be sorry about, Ron. I was upset that night, but I know why you wanted me to stay away. I was so worried about you....and I still am." She looked at the floor, trying to gather her thoughts and relay them to him appropriately. "At least you didn't shut me out entirely."
"Harry told me not to." Ron said, his voice shaking. "It's probably a good thing he saw me that afternoon. I might have ruined everything we have if he hadn't said something."
Hermione felt her heart flutter, and then pound harder. "Everything we have?"
"Yes, Hermione. You know I....." Ron's face changed color within moments, and he began to stutter. "You know how I feel." He looked down at the floor, and appeared to have lost his breath.
Hermione smiled, and then clutched his hand tighter. "I do know how you feel, Ron. You don't have to say anything." She meant it. She wasn't going to force him to do anything that would make him any less "Ron." She'd known him long enough to realize he wasn't comfortable admitting his feelings...at least, not those kind of feelings.
Hermione wasn't uncomfortable, though. She was going to tell him about everything....after all, life was too short, and she needed him to know.
"Ron, I need to tell you something. I've been worried about what you're learning, and how Dumbledore plans to use it. It's possible you'll be in great danger, and so I've....made something that will let me know if you're in trouble. I want to promise to you that if you're in danger...I'll be there." Hermione's voice shook, and she felt tears coming on.
"No, Hermione!" Ron's face turned from embarrassment to anger. "I won't let you get hurt, I swear, by Merlin--" Ron's voice became louder. Hermione put up her hand, and felt her brow furrowing. She blinked back her tears. She wasn't going to let Ron have the last word in this.
"Ron, you can't tell me what to do! It's already done, anyway!" Hermione would have been shouting, if she wasn't being considerate of the students studying. A few had looked their way at Ron's outburst.
Ron let go of her other hand, and put his head in his hands. He grabbed his hair and muttered furiously, "Hermione this doesn't concern you. Please tell me you won't put yourself in danger because of me!"
Hermoine was furious. "How dare you say this doesn't concern me, Ronald Weasley? After all we've been through together, and you sit there telling me that? This isn't just about you, you know. It's about me. I can't stand around and wonder if you're okay, like your family is wondering about Bill. If they'd only kept his name on the Weasley clock..." She hesitated, and tears threatened. "I need to know." The tears fell from her eyes, and she wiped them away. They were tears of anger and love. Funny--those were the two emotions she most closely related with Ron.
"Hermione....." Ron looked up at her, his voice weak. "Don't cry, I just don't want you hurt."
She rubbed her eyes again, and tried to tame the powerful feelings inside her. Avoiding his eyes, she muttered through dry sobs, "I love you too much to stand by, hoping you're okay."
Ron's eyes widened perceptibly, and then he tugged her into his arms. They hugged each other desperately, and Hermione swore she felt a sob rock Ron's body. "Love you so much, Hermione...." He breathed into her hair, and the emotion he felt was evident in how his body was shaking. Hermione broke down.
Several of the students in the common room must have been looking at them openly, because Hermione felt Ron push her gently away. She dabbed at her eyes again, and looked about her. A third-year girl looked especially concerned, and was about to get out of her chair.
"Everything is fine." Hermione said loudly enough for everyone to hear. A few gave Ron sad looks. Hermione knew they were aware of Ron's brother...maybe they thought this was about him? Hermione hoped not.
Ron was clutching at her arms now, and looking very proud of her. She smiled, and it was as if the tears had never been shed. Ron cleared his throat, and then he pulled at his collar. His face was red again.
"So...will I see you later tonight?" His voice broke at the last word. "You know...to explain this plan of yours?"
Hermione nodded, giving him a pointed look. Then, without skipping a beat, she forced her face to look imperious, and said, "I believe I have time to coach you on the History of Magic lesson for tomorrow. You know....you are without homework, but you're still going to need to take the term exam. It's only four weeks away, you know."
"Hermione!" Ron looked astounded. "How can you think about class at a time like this?"
"Every time I look at you, Ron, I think about it." She whispered immediately. "You want to be an auror, don't you?"
Ron's face was imperceptible for a moment, then he gave her a tremulous smile. "Yes, I do."
"Then I expect you to pay close attention." She pulled up her book bag, and tugged out the large History of Magic tome. Placing it on the small table next to them, she deliberately laid her hand on Ron's, which was clutching the edge of the table. Ron chuckled, and nudged her knee with his.
Hermione smiled excitedly, and learned in the next hour how much fun it was to flirt outrageously while tutoring History of Magic.
Chapter Twenty---Unease and Bliss
*
Hermione smiled at her two best friends as they walked out the front castle door. Classes were over for the day, and Harry and Ron insisted on going with her to visit Hagrid and Crookshanks. Ron had also said that Professor Forester was giving him a day off from his training.
She was pleased by the two boy's concern. It was also encouraging that Ron was tightly holding her hand. He had been closer to her today then he had in the past couple of weeks, and she was excited by his attitude toward her cat's welfare. She hoped they would have a chance later for a private conversation.
I'll just make time for it, Hermione thought to herself. Ron was pulling her along now, and they were in front at Hagrid's cabin. At the door, Harry knocked loudly. Hagrid opened, and ushered them inside.
"Hello, you lot. All right there, Harry? And you, Ron?" Hagrid bellowed, and put his large hand on Ron's shoulder. Ron looked taken aback...apparently Hagrid was putting a bit more pressure on his shoulder than he would have liked. Hagrid pulled back his hand, and then Ron said, "Great."
Harry muttered a response, and then Hermione spoke up. "Hi, Hagrid. How's Crookshanks?"
Hagrid gave her a big grin, and then gestured with his thumb toward the corner of the hut near the fireplace. "Why don't yeh see for yerself?"
Hermione rushed over to see Crookshanks curled up in a wooden box filled with blankets. Fang was stretched out by the box, as if to protect the cat. She briefly patted Fang's head, and then looked in on Crookshanks. He lifted his head and gave a weak "miao" and then lay back again. There was a splint on his left back leg, and another bandage around his middle. Hermione felt hot tears come to her eyes as she reached out and gently petted him. Ron was now kneeling beside her, and scratching behind Crookshank's ears. Hermione blinked back the tears before Ron could see.
Harry was hovering over them, looking down at Crookshanks. "Do you have any idea what happened to him, Hagrid?"
"If yeh ask me, somethin' attacked him." Hagrid was fussing about his cooking stove, busily pouring tea into three little cups and one large tankard.
Hermione turned back to look at Ron, who was still scratching Crookshank's head. He looked up, gazed at her for a moment, before turning around to Hagrid. Hermione admired Ron's lovely profile as he asked, "What do you think it was?"
Hagrid placed the teapot down on the stove and with a loud clatter. "Can't be too sure 'o that. Plenty of wild beasts in the forest, but they can't step outghta there. Hermione, do yeh know if anyone would wanna hurt him to get back at yeh for somethin'?" Hagrid said that last sentence rather quickly, as if he didn't really want to know.
Hermione was shocked, and she knew it showed on her face. Before she could say anything, Harry spoke up.
"Malfoy."
Hermione looked at Harry, and then gave a little nod. Other than the random, unlikely scenarios running through Hermione's mind, Draco was the only person she could think of who would do this to her cat. Ron was giving Harry a sharp look, and he asked loudly, "Did he say anything to you recently, Harry?"
"A while ago, he threatened us three. You weren't there, Ron, you were too busy spying on your sister." Harry said it quietly, as if he didn't want Ron to become upset again about that incident.
Ron stood up abruptly and shouted, "That's it, I'm going to pound that fuckin' tosser into the ground." Ron's face became red, and he took his fist and pounded it into his left palm.
Hermione got up and said angrily, "Ron, watch your mouth!" She looked worriedly toward Hagrid, who was fumbling with two cups of tea. He had an expression of someone who was politely ignoring what had just been said.
She turned to Ron, who was giving her a "please-stop-mothering-me" look. Taking his arm, she said softly, "Ron, don't stoop to his level. It's what he wants. He'd love having another reason to put down your family with the Malfoy connections."
Harry spoke up at that. "What connections, Hermione? His father is in Azkaban...I'd wager all of those connections have been broken." He snorted, and put a hand on his hip.
Hagrid grumbled at that, and handed them cups of tea. Hermione let go of Ron's arm, and looked intently at Hagrid. He noticed her look, and said reluctantly, "'Arry, I think the Malfoy galleons still talk at the Ministry of Magic."
"You're kidding me." Harry glared at Hagrid. "He's a Death Eater, and he's still respected? How can that happen?"
Hagrid handed cups to Harry and Ron, and they simply stood and gaped at him. Hermione took her cup of tea and decided she needed to sit and calm down. Pulling a chair over to Crookshank's box, she sat and sipped at her tea. Hagrid was about to say something she was not pleased with. Even in the wizarding world, money talked.
Hagrid sat at his little table and sipped his tea, as well. He looked pointedly toward Harry. "You gotta understand, 'Arry, Mrs. Malfoy is a meek woman, but she still has the talent to woo the Ministry. It helps 'aving the Malfoy vaults at her disposal."
"VAULTS?" Ron uttered, and shook his head. Hermione chewed at her bottom lip, and wondered what Ron must be thinking about that. It was so beyond how he'd lived, to think of possessing multiple vaults of money, when the Weasley vault was never full. She shook her head and mutely wondered why such a kind family as the Weasley's had to struggle for every sickle. It wasn't fair. Even though Ron might not know, having Bill missing must also be hurting the family's expenses. Ginny had told her that Bill send along much of his earnings every two weeks. She also said the other boys didn't know, and she asked Hermione not to tell them.
Hagrid appeared upset as well, as he put down his tankard. "Yes, vaults, Ron. Ill gotten gains, I'll wager." He looked about the room worriedly before asking, "'Ave yeh heard any news about your brother, Ron?"
Ron sighed, and then stomped across the hut, and sat in a large, empty chair. He put his tea on a side table, and said huskily, "No, we haven't heard anything. I just don't understand why he disappeared. And with all the aurors looking for him..."
There was silence in the room, until Harry leaned against a wall of the hut and loudly slurped at his tea. Hermione looked over to him, as it was unusual for him to be rude. He had a furious look on his face, and the tea was gone straight away. He walked over to the little table Hagrid was sitting at, and put the cup down loudly.
"I'm getting bloody tired of all that's happening. Something seriously wrong is going on. We need to find out what it is." Harry was looking pointedly at Ron and Hermione, and Hermione had a bad feeling about that look.
"Harry..." Hermione began, and Harry had a look of someone who knew exactly what she was going to say. Harry was getting into that "heroic" mode, and it was the last thing she needed. After all, she'd spent much of her time in the last couple of days modifying the ring Ron had given her. The last thing she needed was to work on one for Harry, too.
"I know, Hermione, what you're thinking. But if we can, we need to look closer into what's been going on." Harry said it in an undertone.
Hermoine pursed her lips and said, "What are we to look closer into? We don't know what happened to Bill, we don't know who took him....and, most importantly, we don't know where he is. And Crookshanks....we don't even know if he was attacked by a PERSON...and, another thing is....why are you suddenly so concerned about this?" Hermione said the last sentence a bit too harshly. She had been upset with Harry for a long time...he'd been so focused on himself and his blooming relationship with Susan, and denying what was happening around him, to even care. Apparently, Ron had said something to him, and he'd come around. That didn't change the fact that he was now trying to take control of matters that weren't in his hands. It was a reckless and dangerous thing to do. Frankly, she was a little tired of it.
Harry now looked furious. He was about to say something, when Ron suddenly stood up. He gave Harry a fixed look, and Harry's face momentarily turned blank. He didn't say a thing, and moved to lean on the wall again. He had an unpleasant look in his eyes, but he didn't voice anything.
Hermione shot Ron a perturbed look. Ron just blinked at her, and his look said, "I had to do it." He shrugged and sat back down.
Hagrid didn't appear to have noticed anything unusual, and he poured some more tea for himself. There was silence, and so Hermione slid off her chair and kneeled over Crookshank's box. He was purring now, apparently pleased to be in the presence of his mistress. She petted the length of him, and whispered reassuring words.
Hagrid was standing behind her, and he said in a booming voice, "Don't yeh worry, 'Ermione. He'll be fit in a couple of days. I had some 'elp from Madam Pomphrey, she knows some nice remedies for animals."
The three stayed and visited with Hagrid for a while longer, and Ron, Harry and Hermione took turns petting Crookshanks briefly before leaving for the castle. As they entered the Great Hall, Harry said he was going to meet them at the evening meal, and he peeled off.
Hermione exchanged a worried glance with Ron, but was pleased to be alone with him. She took his cold hand, and was rewarded with her with a tight squeeze.
When they reached the common room, Ron said softly, "I'm sort of glad that Harry left. I want to talk to you." She glanced at him, and nodded, hoping he saw her pleased look.
He pulled her over to a quiet corner of the room. Several Gryffindors were sitting about studying and barely noticed them. Ron sat her in a chair close to him, and then he said guiltily, "I'm sorry, Hermione."
Hermione licked her lips, and then said, "There's nothing to be sorry about, Ron. I was upset that night, but I know why you wanted me to stay away. I was so worried about you....and I still am." She looked at the floor, trying to gather her thoughts and relay them to him appropriately. "At least you didn't shut me out entirely."
"Harry told me not to." Ron said, his voice shaking. "It's probably a good thing he saw me that afternoon. I might have ruined everything we have if he hadn't said something."
Hermione felt her heart flutter, and then pound harder. "Everything we have?"
"Yes, Hermione. You know I....." Ron's face changed color within moments, and he began to stutter. "You know how I feel." He looked down at the floor, and appeared to have lost his breath.
Hermione smiled, and then clutched his hand tighter. "I do know how you feel, Ron. You don't have to say anything." She meant it. She wasn't going to force him to do anything that would make him any less "Ron." She'd known him long enough to realize he wasn't comfortable admitting his feelings...at least, not those kind of feelings.
Hermione wasn't uncomfortable, though. She was going to tell him about everything....after all, life was too short, and she needed him to know.
"Ron, I need to tell you something. I've been worried about what you're learning, and how Dumbledore plans to use it. It's possible you'll be in great danger, and so I've....made something that will let me know if you're in trouble. I want to promise to you that if you're in danger...I'll be there." Hermione's voice shook, and she felt tears coming on.
"No, Hermione!" Ron's face turned from embarrassment to anger. "I won't let you get hurt, I swear, by Merlin--" Ron's voice became louder. Hermione put up her hand, and felt her brow furrowing. She blinked back her tears. She wasn't going to let Ron have the last word in this.
"Ron, you can't tell me what to do! It's already done, anyway!" Hermione would have been shouting, if she wasn't being considerate of the students studying. A few had looked their way at Ron's outburst.
Ron let go of her other hand, and put his head in his hands. He grabbed his hair and muttered furiously, "Hermione this doesn't concern you. Please tell me you won't put yourself in danger because of me!"
Hermoine was furious. "How dare you say this doesn't concern me, Ronald Weasley? After all we've been through together, and you sit there telling me that? This isn't just about you, you know. It's about me. I can't stand around and wonder if you're okay, like your family is wondering about Bill. If they'd only kept his name on the Weasley clock..." She hesitated, and tears threatened. "I need to know." The tears fell from her eyes, and she wiped them away. They were tears of anger and love. Funny--those were the two emotions she most closely related with Ron.
"Hermione....." Ron looked up at her, his voice weak. "Don't cry, I just don't want you hurt."
She rubbed her eyes again, and tried to tame the powerful feelings inside her. Avoiding his eyes, she muttered through dry sobs, "I love you too much to stand by, hoping you're okay."
Ron's eyes widened perceptibly, and then he tugged her into his arms. They hugged each other desperately, and Hermione swore she felt a sob rock Ron's body. "Love you so much, Hermione...." He breathed into her hair, and the emotion he felt was evident in how his body was shaking. Hermione broke down.
Several of the students in the common room must have been looking at them openly, because Hermione felt Ron push her gently away. She dabbed at her eyes again, and looked about her. A third-year girl looked especially concerned, and was about to get out of her chair.
"Everything is fine." Hermione said loudly enough for everyone to hear. A few gave Ron sad looks. Hermione knew they were aware of Ron's brother...maybe they thought this was about him? Hermione hoped not.
Ron was clutching at her arms now, and looking very proud of her. She smiled, and it was as if the tears had never been shed. Ron cleared his throat, and then he pulled at his collar. His face was red again.
"So...will I see you later tonight?" His voice broke at the last word. "You know...to explain this plan of yours?"
Hermione nodded, giving him a pointed look. Then, without skipping a beat, she forced her face to look imperious, and said, "I believe I have time to coach you on the History of Magic lesson for tomorrow. You know....you are without homework, but you're still going to need to take the term exam. It's only four weeks away, you know."
"Hermione!" Ron looked astounded. "How can you think about class at a time like this?"
"Every time I look at you, Ron, I think about it." She whispered immediately. "You want to be an auror, don't you?"
Ron's face was imperceptible for a moment, then he gave her a tremulous smile. "Yes, I do."
"Then I expect you to pay close attention." She pulled up her book bag, and tugged out the large History of Magic tome. Placing it on the small table next to them, she deliberately laid her hand on Ron's, which was clutching the edge of the table. Ron chuckled, and nudged her knee with his.
Hermione smiled excitedly, and learned in the next hour how much fun it was to flirt outrageously while tutoring History of Magic.