I wrote this one on a whim originally. The level of fluff in this story was intended because I tend to put either very small quantities or none at all. So I was trying to write a love story with the first part of this. Then it panned out into an adventure… so those who aren't that much into this sort of thing… you'll be okay after the first few chapters.
Disclaimer: "Harry Potter – not mine – urg – grunt"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 3 "Vertigo"They resumed classes normally, except that Ron had his head glued to the desk for the entire time. As the days went by, his energy seemed to drain away and Hermione remained more distant then ever. He would spend most of his time playing with a scurrying charm and amuse himself at seeing the fat rodents run. Even during Quidditch practice he was distracted and dazed. Hermione was so wrapped up in her Head Girl duties that she barely went near them and Ron's heart wouldn't let him rest as he gazed mindlessly into nothingness. Ron figured that Hermione must have heard of his interrogation with Draco and decided to stray from him even more then before (probably out of pride and anger) but one thing was assured, Draco was nowhere near her anymore.
Harry had never seen Ron and Hermione fight for so long, although this fight was very different then the usual ones. Ron wanted to see Hermione, this was obvious, but he didn't want to face his doubts, doubts that he couldn't be just friends with her anymore. That he couldn't just look at her and call her idiot or a bookworm without thinking about how adorable she was or how her little habits amused him. Ron thought that the absence of her warm gaze would make him forget his feelings and make the pain bearable. Harry however, was getting quite sick of this silliness and knew that enough was enough.
It was soon Halloween, and everything from the trio's seating arrangements had changed. Hermione was sitting next to Neville Longbottom, who had become quite tall and handsome and Parvati Patil who was going out with him. She was talking happily with them as Ron stared at her through the goblets and decorations without her noticing.
"She's taking all this well… not being friends with me that is…" said Ron as he turned to look at Harry.
"You know she's just scared…"
"Scared? Scared of who? Me?"
"Of you two together. I think it's time for you both to confess to each other what you really feel," said Harry.
"She knows how I feel about her,"
"But you never said the words did you? You never REALLY asked her out, you never REALLY said you liked her,"
"I know… But… it took me so long to try to talk to her after I found out about you two… and she said she didn't like me that way anyways so… all signs point to "NO" Harry,"
"You're both so thick-headed!" said Harry. "Just have a little courage. Tell her how you feel and wait for her answer. What's the harm in trying?"
"Not having her as a friend?"
"Hey, I tried, it didn't work and we're still friends. Now DO IT!"
"What? Right NOW?"
"Yes! Right now! The Feast should be starting and I expect you to be going out before Christmas! So better get started now!"
"You're daft Harry, you know that?"
At Hermione's end of the table, Neville was telling them about the recommendation he got from Dumbledore to study with Professor Neildlemore, the magical agricultural specialist in Ireland. He was also ecstatic to report that Neildlemore seemed to have accepted Neville under his tutelage. With this excitement coursing through his veins Neville managed to tip over Hermione's pumpkin juice.
"Oh! Sorry Hermione!" said Neville calming down.
"It's alright Neville, no harm done…" said Hermione wiping off the juice.
"I guess I'll always be a klutz. I should have grown out of it by now," he said embarrassed.
"Well, you're MY klutz!" said Parvati with a smile as she kissed him gently.
Hermione sighed quietly as they kissed. It looked very nice. She then turned her head nonchalantly and locked eyes with Ron who was staring. She could feel her heart race at the sight of his deep blue eyes… eyes she fell into, happily drowning in the soft coolness of his gaze. Yet there was fire. "What a contrast Ron Weasley is," thought Hermione. His eyes deep in crystal gleam only to be heated by his burning red hair. She turned her head slowly tearing that stare away. Should she go and talk to him? Was it time to tell him that he made her feel fuzzy inside? That now, she felt sure that it was more then a response to his caring for her. That it was her own desires fluttering and tingling her body. "Stupid Ron…" she whispered. "Why do you have to be so -"
"Hermione… can we talk for a bit?" said a voice as the girl, released from her daze, looked up.
There standing was Ron with the most sympathetic face she'd ever seen. How could she say no?
"No!" sounded a voice behind her. "I know what this is about! You won't do it Weasley!! And neither will you Granger!" it was Malfoy.
Everyone turned around to see Malfoy looking rather cross. He looked at Hermione with the greatest loathing anyone's ever seen. He never even looked at Harry that way during the times he REALLY despised him. Something was up and it looked like it would all be unveiled now! Ron looked defensively at Malfoy as he blocked Hermione from view. He wasn't going to let him harass her. Hermione stood up and put her hands on the redhead's shoulders. Ron put his hand on hers that still lay firmly gripped onto his school robes.
"Let me take care of it," he said daringly.
"No, you don't understand. I think I know why he's so mad," she said.
"What? So… I was right! You both are -"
"He thinks I told people. He thinks you know but you don't," whispered Hermione into his ear. Ron couldn't help liking the tickle he got out of the whisper but focused on what was going on instantly after.
"Well, whether you're both going out or not, I still won't let him talk to you that way or say bad things about you to me! He has no right to -"
"RON! WE ARE NOT GOING OUT! Can't you see that!" said Hermione suddenly.
"Then why is he so mad?!" said Ron beginning to shout.
"Because I know something that he doesn't want me to tell anyone, you idiot!"
"Yes!! And I know what it is too! All I could see were you two wandering around everywhere like lovebirds! It was easy to figure out! And I'm sure he must have figured out why I came to see you! That's why he's really angry!" he said now turning to look right at Hermione and ignoring Malfoy.
Malfoy looked in between them trying to get a word in. He was the one that had come to shout at them but it seemed they were doing it to each other. He just stood there, looking at them strangely and quietly as they exchanged verbal slashes, and rather loudly one might add.
"Oh! And why DID you come to see me huh?"
"What!? You're questioning WHY I came to see you? You're the one ignoring me! You're the one that -"
"I'm not ignoring you! I'm busy with -"
"Your DUTIES. PLEASE! Sitting at the other end of the table? Not coming to see practices anymore? Why should I believe you? It doesn't make sense!!"
"Well, I thought you'd have both exiled me from going anyways!! After all didn't you say that I was "sabotaging" the team?"
"Do you think that the team was what made me mad that day? You know me Hermione! You know that I use any stupid excuse when I'm not happy!!!"
"Oh? And why were you so damned upset in the first place?? Cause you couldn't yell at me while Draco was there?" she said bitterly.
"NO!!! Can't you see that I STILL LOVE YOU HERMIONE?"
At that last phrase, Ron had quickly grabbed the girl by the shoulders to draw her near him. She was completely mute. Frozen. "What did he just say?" she told herself in disbelief. "Did he just say that he loved me?" She didn't need to ask that question twice as everyone in the great hall started to cheer at the two! "It's about time!" "Go Weasley!" "I knew her and Draco made no sense at all!" Ron's cheeks became scarlet… He couldn't believe it even though he had said it! Harry walked up to them and smiled widely. Ron let go of Hermione in those few instances and felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest. "What was she going to say to that?" he continued to muse.
"I…" she muttered in shock.
"Well, what is it Herm?" urged Harry with a wide smile as Ginny walked next to him.
"Yeah – Oh! Where did Malfoy go??" asked Ginny as she looked around.
Ginny was right. The boy was gone. Ron looked around too; indeed the Slytherin had vanished clear out of sight. He looked at Hermione again and knew what was going to happen… Hermione stared at everyone around her embarrassed and was about to turn-tail until she felt two strong arms scoop her up.
"Please don't go," he whispered.
"Ron… all these people…"
"Forget about them for now, they're not what's important. I know you didn't want this to happen… I know you don't love me…" Ron whispered as Hermione's eyes doubled in size. "It hurts a lot…but I just did it didn't I? I just ruined it all,"
"Ron…" she breathed as her head lay resting on his chest.
She could hear his hearts beats pound inside him so quickly. Was she as brave as he? Can she let her heart take over again? Did it not beat tirelessly now?
"I ruined it Hermione. Consider this a goodbye,"
"What??" she said as she lifted her head.
"I can't go on like this so I'll leave you be… I just… I guess I just had to tell you at one point. I'm sorry it had to be in front of everyone like this. Maybe running away was the answer after all," he said as he kissed her on the forehead.
She closed her eyes in her haze.
"No… No… No, don't leave… I'll be brave… I'll say it too… I'll…" she thought as she felt Ron's skin disappear, nothing but air around her.
Ron began to walk away as Hermione felt like she lost all control of her limbs. She couldn't move. Ron had made it to the Great Hall door, as everyone looked utterly baffled. Harry went up to Hermione to shake her out of it.
"Hermione!!! What are you doing!? Go after him!!"
"Harry…"
"He did it! He finally did it and you're just going to stand there like -"
"But…"
"Hermione," said Ginny as she approached her. "What's wrong?"
"Ginny..."
"What is it? My brother just poured his soul out and -" she began until Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "Oh! Come, let's go to the common room,"
"What's going on?" asked Harry.
"Girl stuff Harry. We've got to go," said Ginny.
The two girls left Harry in total confusion. What happened? This was all supposed to be good! Harry knew that Hermione had liked Ron. He knew that even when they were "an item" she thought about him. They had both realized they didn't care for each other they way they did for their individual Weasley and that it was the real reason why it didn't work out. But now, at least Ron had a chance to be with her. So why was everything falling apart?