Chapter 10- Straightening It Out
Thoroughly annoyed with the amount of time it was taking to brush her hair, Hermione had browbeaten Ginny into teaching her those hair-dressing spells. Hermione had been surprised to learn that Ginny made them up herself.
Sitting at lunch the day after the Quidditch match, she secretly enjoyed the surprised looks directed her way by almost every student, and many of the teachers. Her hair was still thicker than any two girls' combined, but now it was smooth and soft, and she could actually run her fingers through it without getting them caught. Even Ron had noticed the change. Of course, he had responded by gaping across the table at her, until she finally said, "Oh, Ron, for Merlin's sake. Close your mouth."
Her favorite moment of the day thus far, however, had been Draco's reaction. She noticed him entering the Great Hall at breakfast, and caught his eye. He had only looked for as long as he dared, throwing her a subtle smile, but she saw him continuously glancing her way.
"Why do we have to have potions next?" Ron complained.
"Because the world is cruel," Harry muttered. Ron sniggered at the comment, but when he caught Harry's eye, they both looked away awkwardly. Hermione would have asked what was wrong if they had more time. As it was, she gathered her books and hurried them off toward the dungeons.
Snape had them working individually that day, on a rather complicated personality potion. Hermione got to work with her ingredients, glancing at Ron and Harry constantly from the corner of her eye. They barely looked at each other, when typically they would be passing notes or communicating soundlessly by trying to read each other's lips. Sighing, she looked across both of them, where Draco was working, and rolled her eyes. He smirked knowingly at the boys.
*Maybe not knowingly. Probably just seems that way because I have no idea what is going on.*
At the end of an hour, Hermione's potion had turned a lovely shade of purple, and she added the dried caterpillar legs. She watched as the liquid turned a deep bloodred, and stirred four times counterclockwise before letting it sit. Another half an hour went by, and a little of the purple tint began to show through. Hermione put out her fire and scooped a sample of her potion, placing it on Snape's desk.
Draco, it appeared, had finished just when she did, his potion the exact same shade of purplish red as hers. She raised her eyebrows at him, and he twisted his mouth in an attempt not to smile. They returned to their seats without a word.
When the bell rang, the Gryffindors- all that were taking the N.E.W.T. class, that is- rushed from the dungeons. Hermione smiled quickly at Draco before leaving, but her mind switched back to her older friends once in the halls.
"All right, what is going on?"
"Nothing, Hermione," Harry said glumly.
"I know you two. It's not nothing. You didn't have a fight, did you?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Well, what then?"
Harry and Ron exchanged swift glances. "It's sort of private," Ron supplied.
"Well, whatever it is, you guys had better straighten out your problems soon. I refuse to repeat fourth year again." She quickened her step, leaving them behind in the hallway.
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"Whoever's brilliant idea it was to give us Double Potions on Monday *and* Friday, I would so very much love to strangle them."
Harry laughed at Ron's statement as they sat down close to Hermione. Hermione, unsurprisingly, was already deep into studying. "I believe that brilliant person was Snape."
"Oh. Then I take that back. I would be positively thrilled to strangle him." Harry nodded in assent. He would also love to strangle Snape.
"But Professor McGonagall does the schedules, so it was both of them, really."
"In that case," Ron said, "I'll let McGonagall live, but strangle Snape twice." Hermione rolled her eyes but did not look up. She was intent on her work, but she was not doing any homework they had recently been assigned.
"Um, Hermione, what are you doing?" Harry asked.
"Studying," she replied without looking up.
"I can see that. For what?"
"N.E.W.T.s."
Ron snorted. "N.E.W.T.s? Hermione, we're only a few months into our sixth year, and you're already studying for N.E.W.T.s? We don't even *take* them, until next year."
"Well at least I won't be cramming everything into the last week before the tests, like *some* people I know. Right, Harry?"
He scratched his neck awkwardly. "Well, I agree with Ron. I mean, studying early is one thing, this is just wrong. It's almost like you *want* to take the N.E.W.T.s."
"Well, I do," she said simply.
"What?!" Ron exclaimed, jumping up.
"Oh, Ron, please. Don't be so dramatic. And I don't mean I enjoy taking tests, I mean the N.E.W.T.s decide what your career is going to be."
"But you do."
"What?"
"You enjoy taking tests. I've seen you."
"I don't- Ron, you- have you two talked yet?" They both shook their heads. "Leave me alone!"
Harry and Ron had their first real exchange of the day. Ron looked at Harry in mock-horror, mouthing, "Mental." Harry grinned and nodded vigorously. When Hermione glanced up, they looked away immediately to prevent themselves from laughing. Harry thought everything might go back to normal, but then they reverted to their uncomfortable, not-talking mode. He sighed and took out his homework.
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Ron looked up from his Transfiguration homework for the zillionth time and caught Harry looking at him as well. This had been going on all night. Tired of not talking to Harry, he motioned to the stairs with his head, and they gathered their things.
Upon entering his room, Ron threw his books carelessly on the carpet. "Sit down," he offered.
Harry placed his bag on the floor, sitting uncertainly on Ron's bed. "We should, um," he began nervously. Ron waited for him to finish the sentence. It took a good ten minutes. "We should talk about what happened last night."
"Yeah."
Neither of them spoke for an agonizing minute. Then Harry said, "Was I right, when I guessed who your crush was?"
Looking away, Ron nodded. He chanced a look at Harry and found that his friend was smiling widely. "I wasn't exactly sure. I don't know why I kissed you. I just did it."
"Do you regret it?"
"Not at all. Do you?"
"No." Ron took a deep breath, not knowing whether this confession would be received well. "This summer, when I saw you at Diagon Alley, I started to realize it. It wasn't until a week into the school term that I realized I liked you as more than a friend. At first I hated myself for it. I kept thinking, 'how could you let this happen?'. But then, I thought, 'why not?'. Then I was okay with it. I was really depressed, though, because I didn't think you'd like me that way, and you were always so worried about everything. Now…" He stopped. Harry was staring at him. "What about you?"
"I thought the same thing," he said. " 'Why not?' But it was right before the kiss. When I realized you liked me, that was the first time I had ever considered the possibility of us being more than friends. It had just never occurred to me before. But I…well, I guess you could call it instinct, when I kissed you. And I liked it." He grinned. "I liked it a lot."
Ron laughed. "Me too. So, um…what…?"
"Let's just say for now we're more than friends. We'll take it from there." Harry winked.
"Agreed," Ron said, holding out his hand. Harry shook it solemnly, then kissed Ron squarely on the lips. Ron was surprised but quite pleased. *Very* pleased.
When he pulled away, Ron was smiling like there was no tomorrow. "I think we made the right decision," he said quietly.
Harry laughed as he stood. "I'll see you later, Ron." He slung his bag on his shoulder and walked out. Ron leaned back on his bed, placing his hands behind his head. The grin plastered on his face would remain there for a while.
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The tiny green bird that had flown in his window that summer caught Harry's attention. He had not used it yet for any number of reasons, but he was feeling…giddy. It probably had something to do with Ron, he thought, but it was a good excuse to take a chance. He wrote a quick note to Sirius.
~* I thought you were dead. Where are you? How can this bird help us communicate, how can it find you wherever you are? Do you know anything about what Voldemort is doing?*~
He took the bird down to the common room later that night, opening the window for it. He watched it fly into the distance, then suddenly wink out. Harry blinked. The bird had gone- he did not know where. However, he did not have long to wonder. Almost at the same moment, he saw another green bird flying toward him…or was it the same bird?
He ripped Sirius's reply from the poor animal, scanning it quickly.
~* I'm afraid I cannot answer all your questions at this time. For now, let's just say I am no longer in the world of the living. Not the same one as yours, at least. There is no such thing as passage of time, here, so I don't know how long this will take to reach you.
To be honest, I don't know how the bird does it. It just does.
I have not heard anything about Voldemort lately. Many theories have been formulated… but they are just conjectures. Nothing is certain, I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you more.
-Sirius*~
*Well, it's a start,* Harry thought. He wished Ron would come down, he could probably take his mind off Voldemort…then he realized Ron had prefect duty that night. He didn't want to wait in the common room, because he was not in the mood for a lecture about his study habits from Hermione. Nothing, however, was stopping him from waiting in Ron's room.
The next morning, Harry crept back into his more-than-friend's room, stifling a chuckle when he found him still asleep. He tiptoed to the bed, observing Ron's bed-hair and the oddly twisted position he was sleeping in. Harry woke him with a kiss.
"Good morning," said a bleary-eyed Ron, sitting up sleepily. "What are you doing here?"
"Waking you up, what does it look like, sleepyhead?" Harry grinned, leaning over to kiss Ron again. This time he did not end it so quickly.
"Ron, I-" the voice stopped short. Harry removed his lips from Ron's and whipped his head around to see Ginny standing in the doorway, not quite shocked enough to forget to close the door behind her.
"What are you doing in here, Ginny? Why are you in the boys' dorm anyway?" Ron inquired angrily.
"Well," she said calmly, a smile playing on her lips. "I *intended* to come here to ask you to borrow Pig. I need to send mum a message, and she said we shouldn't be sending strange owls to our house anymore. But lucky me, I got a free show instead!" She did not laugh, but her eyes shone with amusement.
"Oh, shut up, Ginny," Ron said grumpily.
"When did this happen?" she asked, suddenly serious.
"Sunday night," Harry offered. "I kissed Ron in the bathroom. Then, last night-"
"I don't need the details. So you're newlyweds, then? Congratulations!"
"Ginny!"
"Sorry, Ron. I can't help it. I never would have expected…you know. But I'm happy for you."
Ron shrugged sheepishly, hiding his smile. "Thanks. Pig's out delivering something right now."
"You can borrow Hedwig, Ginny," Harry said.
"Okay, thanks," she practically bounced from the room.
"Um…Harry?"
"What?"
"You don't think she'll tell anyone, do you?"
"Why, you don't want people to know?"
"Well…not yet. I don't know if I'm ready for that yet. You know what the Slytherins'd be like."
Harry sighed. "Yeah. I suppose you're right. We should wait. I think Ginny's safe, but we should tell her just in case."
"I think so too. We'll have to catch her at breakfast."
Harry smiled at Ron playfully, leaning in for another kiss. Before they had got far, a sharp knock came at the door before it burst open. "Oy, Ron! You up yet?" Seamus shouted.
Ron looked ruefully at Harry. "We really should lock the door if we're going to keep doing this."
End Chapter 10
Hmmm. Maybe they *should* lock the door. That'll be a future chapter. "Ron's Locked Door". No, I don't know.
I love you guys and your reviews! I don't know what I'd do without you! Probably I wouldn't write this story. Now I think I'll respond to some of them, because I got mixed reactions to my Ron/Harry pairing. To those of you who liked it, well, thanks. I wanted to add another plot twist.
To those of you who did not like this particular pairing, first I'd like to let you know that the emphasis will be on Herm/Draco, as this is a Herm/Draco fic. I don't plan to go into a lot of detail about Ron and Harry's physical relationship. Also, I would like it very much if you would refrain from putting things like "ew, they're gay" in your reviews. I'm offended by that, and I'm not even homosexual myself. If you feel you must comment, please be a little less bluntly prejudiced, okay?
To everyone: My usual pairing is Ron/Hermione, I'm a Ron/Hermione nutter, which basically means I'm crazy and I think they should go together. This, however, is a Hermione/Draco fic, so I couldn't put Hermione and Ron together. In almost every other story I ever write about Harry Potter, they'll be together. Seriously. If you don't believe me, go read one.
This is the longest endnote I've ever written in the middle of a story.
Please Review, you'll get a present…at some point in your life…evil smile…*laughter starts then fades almost immediately*…
Thoroughly annoyed with the amount of time it was taking to brush her hair, Hermione had browbeaten Ginny into teaching her those hair-dressing spells. Hermione had been surprised to learn that Ginny made them up herself.
Sitting at lunch the day after the Quidditch match, she secretly enjoyed the surprised looks directed her way by almost every student, and many of the teachers. Her hair was still thicker than any two girls' combined, but now it was smooth and soft, and she could actually run her fingers through it without getting them caught. Even Ron had noticed the change. Of course, he had responded by gaping across the table at her, until she finally said, "Oh, Ron, for Merlin's sake. Close your mouth."
Her favorite moment of the day thus far, however, had been Draco's reaction. She noticed him entering the Great Hall at breakfast, and caught his eye. He had only looked for as long as he dared, throwing her a subtle smile, but she saw him continuously glancing her way.
"Why do we have to have potions next?" Ron complained.
"Because the world is cruel," Harry muttered. Ron sniggered at the comment, but when he caught Harry's eye, they both looked away awkwardly. Hermione would have asked what was wrong if they had more time. As it was, she gathered her books and hurried them off toward the dungeons.
Snape had them working individually that day, on a rather complicated personality potion. Hermione got to work with her ingredients, glancing at Ron and Harry constantly from the corner of her eye. They barely looked at each other, when typically they would be passing notes or communicating soundlessly by trying to read each other's lips. Sighing, she looked across both of them, where Draco was working, and rolled her eyes. He smirked knowingly at the boys.
*Maybe not knowingly. Probably just seems that way because I have no idea what is going on.*
At the end of an hour, Hermione's potion had turned a lovely shade of purple, and she added the dried caterpillar legs. She watched as the liquid turned a deep bloodred, and stirred four times counterclockwise before letting it sit. Another half an hour went by, and a little of the purple tint began to show through. Hermione put out her fire and scooped a sample of her potion, placing it on Snape's desk.
Draco, it appeared, had finished just when she did, his potion the exact same shade of purplish red as hers. She raised her eyebrows at him, and he twisted his mouth in an attempt not to smile. They returned to their seats without a word.
When the bell rang, the Gryffindors- all that were taking the N.E.W.T. class, that is- rushed from the dungeons. Hermione smiled quickly at Draco before leaving, but her mind switched back to her older friends once in the halls.
"All right, what is going on?"
"Nothing, Hermione," Harry said glumly.
"I know you two. It's not nothing. You didn't have a fight, did you?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Well, what then?"
Harry and Ron exchanged swift glances. "It's sort of private," Ron supplied.
"Well, whatever it is, you guys had better straighten out your problems soon. I refuse to repeat fourth year again." She quickened her step, leaving them behind in the hallway.
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"Whoever's brilliant idea it was to give us Double Potions on Monday *and* Friday, I would so very much love to strangle them."
Harry laughed at Ron's statement as they sat down close to Hermione. Hermione, unsurprisingly, was already deep into studying. "I believe that brilliant person was Snape."
"Oh. Then I take that back. I would be positively thrilled to strangle him." Harry nodded in assent. He would also love to strangle Snape.
"But Professor McGonagall does the schedules, so it was both of them, really."
"In that case," Ron said, "I'll let McGonagall live, but strangle Snape twice." Hermione rolled her eyes but did not look up. She was intent on her work, but she was not doing any homework they had recently been assigned.
"Um, Hermione, what are you doing?" Harry asked.
"Studying," she replied without looking up.
"I can see that. For what?"
"N.E.W.T.s."
Ron snorted. "N.E.W.T.s? Hermione, we're only a few months into our sixth year, and you're already studying for N.E.W.T.s? We don't even *take* them, until next year."
"Well at least I won't be cramming everything into the last week before the tests, like *some* people I know. Right, Harry?"
He scratched his neck awkwardly. "Well, I agree with Ron. I mean, studying early is one thing, this is just wrong. It's almost like you *want* to take the N.E.W.T.s."
"Well, I do," she said simply.
"What?!" Ron exclaimed, jumping up.
"Oh, Ron, please. Don't be so dramatic. And I don't mean I enjoy taking tests, I mean the N.E.W.T.s decide what your career is going to be."
"But you do."
"What?"
"You enjoy taking tests. I've seen you."
"I don't- Ron, you- have you two talked yet?" They both shook their heads. "Leave me alone!"
Harry and Ron had their first real exchange of the day. Ron looked at Harry in mock-horror, mouthing, "Mental." Harry grinned and nodded vigorously. When Hermione glanced up, they looked away immediately to prevent themselves from laughing. Harry thought everything might go back to normal, but then they reverted to their uncomfortable, not-talking mode. He sighed and took out his homework.
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Ron looked up from his Transfiguration homework for the zillionth time and caught Harry looking at him as well. This had been going on all night. Tired of not talking to Harry, he motioned to the stairs with his head, and they gathered their things.
Upon entering his room, Ron threw his books carelessly on the carpet. "Sit down," he offered.
Harry placed his bag on the floor, sitting uncertainly on Ron's bed. "We should, um," he began nervously. Ron waited for him to finish the sentence. It took a good ten minutes. "We should talk about what happened last night."
"Yeah."
Neither of them spoke for an agonizing minute. Then Harry said, "Was I right, when I guessed who your crush was?"
Looking away, Ron nodded. He chanced a look at Harry and found that his friend was smiling widely. "I wasn't exactly sure. I don't know why I kissed you. I just did it."
"Do you regret it?"
"Not at all. Do you?"
"No." Ron took a deep breath, not knowing whether this confession would be received well. "This summer, when I saw you at Diagon Alley, I started to realize it. It wasn't until a week into the school term that I realized I liked you as more than a friend. At first I hated myself for it. I kept thinking, 'how could you let this happen?'. But then, I thought, 'why not?'. Then I was okay with it. I was really depressed, though, because I didn't think you'd like me that way, and you were always so worried about everything. Now…" He stopped. Harry was staring at him. "What about you?"
"I thought the same thing," he said. " 'Why not?' But it was right before the kiss. When I realized you liked me, that was the first time I had ever considered the possibility of us being more than friends. It had just never occurred to me before. But I…well, I guess you could call it instinct, when I kissed you. And I liked it." He grinned. "I liked it a lot."
Ron laughed. "Me too. So, um…what…?"
"Let's just say for now we're more than friends. We'll take it from there." Harry winked.
"Agreed," Ron said, holding out his hand. Harry shook it solemnly, then kissed Ron squarely on the lips. Ron was surprised but quite pleased. *Very* pleased.
When he pulled away, Ron was smiling like there was no tomorrow. "I think we made the right decision," he said quietly.
Harry laughed as he stood. "I'll see you later, Ron." He slung his bag on his shoulder and walked out. Ron leaned back on his bed, placing his hands behind his head. The grin plastered on his face would remain there for a while.
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The tiny green bird that had flown in his window that summer caught Harry's attention. He had not used it yet for any number of reasons, but he was feeling…giddy. It probably had something to do with Ron, he thought, but it was a good excuse to take a chance. He wrote a quick note to Sirius.
~* I thought you were dead. Where are you? How can this bird help us communicate, how can it find you wherever you are? Do you know anything about what Voldemort is doing?*~
He took the bird down to the common room later that night, opening the window for it. He watched it fly into the distance, then suddenly wink out. Harry blinked. The bird had gone- he did not know where. However, he did not have long to wonder. Almost at the same moment, he saw another green bird flying toward him…or was it the same bird?
He ripped Sirius's reply from the poor animal, scanning it quickly.
~* I'm afraid I cannot answer all your questions at this time. For now, let's just say I am no longer in the world of the living. Not the same one as yours, at least. There is no such thing as passage of time, here, so I don't know how long this will take to reach you.
To be honest, I don't know how the bird does it. It just does.
I have not heard anything about Voldemort lately. Many theories have been formulated… but they are just conjectures. Nothing is certain, I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you more.
-Sirius*~
*Well, it's a start,* Harry thought. He wished Ron would come down, he could probably take his mind off Voldemort…then he realized Ron had prefect duty that night. He didn't want to wait in the common room, because he was not in the mood for a lecture about his study habits from Hermione. Nothing, however, was stopping him from waiting in Ron's room.
The next morning, Harry crept back into his more-than-friend's room, stifling a chuckle when he found him still asleep. He tiptoed to the bed, observing Ron's bed-hair and the oddly twisted position he was sleeping in. Harry woke him with a kiss.
"Good morning," said a bleary-eyed Ron, sitting up sleepily. "What are you doing here?"
"Waking you up, what does it look like, sleepyhead?" Harry grinned, leaning over to kiss Ron again. This time he did not end it so quickly.
"Ron, I-" the voice stopped short. Harry removed his lips from Ron's and whipped his head around to see Ginny standing in the doorway, not quite shocked enough to forget to close the door behind her.
"What are you doing in here, Ginny? Why are you in the boys' dorm anyway?" Ron inquired angrily.
"Well," she said calmly, a smile playing on her lips. "I *intended* to come here to ask you to borrow Pig. I need to send mum a message, and she said we shouldn't be sending strange owls to our house anymore. But lucky me, I got a free show instead!" She did not laugh, but her eyes shone with amusement.
"Oh, shut up, Ginny," Ron said grumpily.
"When did this happen?" she asked, suddenly serious.
"Sunday night," Harry offered. "I kissed Ron in the bathroom. Then, last night-"
"I don't need the details. So you're newlyweds, then? Congratulations!"
"Ginny!"
"Sorry, Ron. I can't help it. I never would have expected…you know. But I'm happy for you."
Ron shrugged sheepishly, hiding his smile. "Thanks. Pig's out delivering something right now."
"You can borrow Hedwig, Ginny," Harry said.
"Okay, thanks," she practically bounced from the room.
"Um…Harry?"
"What?"
"You don't think she'll tell anyone, do you?"
"Why, you don't want people to know?"
"Well…not yet. I don't know if I'm ready for that yet. You know what the Slytherins'd be like."
Harry sighed. "Yeah. I suppose you're right. We should wait. I think Ginny's safe, but we should tell her just in case."
"I think so too. We'll have to catch her at breakfast."
Harry smiled at Ron playfully, leaning in for another kiss. Before they had got far, a sharp knock came at the door before it burst open. "Oy, Ron! You up yet?" Seamus shouted.
Ron looked ruefully at Harry. "We really should lock the door if we're going to keep doing this."
End Chapter 10
Hmmm. Maybe they *should* lock the door. That'll be a future chapter. "Ron's Locked Door". No, I don't know.
I love you guys and your reviews! I don't know what I'd do without you! Probably I wouldn't write this story. Now I think I'll respond to some of them, because I got mixed reactions to my Ron/Harry pairing. To those of you who liked it, well, thanks. I wanted to add another plot twist.
To those of you who did not like this particular pairing, first I'd like to let you know that the emphasis will be on Herm/Draco, as this is a Herm/Draco fic. I don't plan to go into a lot of detail about Ron and Harry's physical relationship. Also, I would like it very much if you would refrain from putting things like "ew, they're gay" in your reviews. I'm offended by that, and I'm not even homosexual myself. If you feel you must comment, please be a little less bluntly prejudiced, okay?
To everyone: My usual pairing is Ron/Hermione, I'm a Ron/Hermione nutter, which basically means I'm crazy and I think they should go together. This, however, is a Hermione/Draco fic, so I couldn't put Hermione and Ron together. In almost every other story I ever write about Harry Potter, they'll be together. Seriously. If you don't believe me, go read one.
This is the longest endnote I've ever written in the middle of a story.
Please Review, you'll get a present…at some point in your life…evil smile…*laughter starts then fades almost immediately*…