Chapter 8 – Scrapbooks and Secret Plans

Cool to be a Fool

Hannah Holt

Harry hated the fact that he'd have to do something this understand which would inevitably lead his best friend right into the worst situation he'd ever been in when it'd come to ladies, but this had to be done. Harry waited patiently as the ringing of the phone pounded in his ear and when the familiar voice answered on the other line he breathed a sigh of relief at the voice he'd really truly enjoyed listening to for as long as he could remember, even if it had been three years since they'd last talked.

"Hello?" The girl asked curiously.

"Ginny?"

"Harry!?" Ginny's voice sounded a mixture between terrified and great relief.

"Yeah, it's me, Gin," Harry smiled and sat down on his bed, still clutching the white phone to his ear.

"What in the world...?" Ginny's voice trailed off as she, too, sat on her maroon bed in her own bedroom of her small flat in London. She was in a state of shock, Harry could tell.

"I have a big favor to ask of you..."

"What is it, Mione?" Ron asked, his voice full of suspense and… anticipation.

Immediately after Hermione hauled Ron down the hallway into the main room of her suite she shoved him down onto the couch rather hard. Ron smiled. He liked Hermione's rough side. He half expected her to climb on top of him, but instead, she practically ran toward her suitcase that was lying neatly on top of the perfectly made white-sheeted bed. She was digging rather greedily into the baggage and Ron swore he saw some white lacy undergarments he'd love to see… His thoughts were interrupted when she pulled out a large… book and approached him on the couch.

"Look, Ron! I made this and finally finished it three years ago," Hermione opened the leather-binded book open revealing the first page that had a huge picture of him and her standing in front of the Eiffel Tower their 7th year for their winter trip. He smiled. That had been the best trip ever.

"Ron, wow… isn't it amazing?" Hermione gasped as she looked up at the huge tower standing right in front of them. Ron nodded in agreement.

"Yes, it really is," Ron laughed at how excited Hermione was as she grabbed his hand and lead him into the small café next door. She pulled off her pink winter toboggan and matching gloves letting her hair fall down in neat ringlets around her face. Ron helped her out of her jacket as they took a seat next to a huge bay window with the perfect view of the large monument erected right next door.

"Man, I'm starving," he declared as he sat down across from her. She smiled that perfect smile and he felt himself melt inside.

"Aren't you always?" She replied still grinning.

"Yeah, you're right," He smiled back rather sheepishly, pulling off his own scarf and reaching for the menu.

"This trip has really been fun. I don't want to go back home in two days… at least school's out…" Hermione's voice faded as she looked longingly out the window and into the dark night sky. Ron noticed how bright the stars were and continued to smile.

"You know, in a million years I never would have thought you'd be the one to say you wished school were out," Ron rubbed her hand lovingly from across the table and she glanced at him.

"Well, I can't help it… I'd rather be with you every minute of every day until … well, you know," She looked somewhat sad now and Ron felt like kicking himself for ever volunteering to be an Auror with Harry.

"Oh, come on, Mione… you know if it's meant to be, it will be and this is when we find out. You may be going to the United States for medical school, but it doesn't mean I won't be thinking about you every single second I'm in training… Plus, we've still got a good three months together before anything pulls us apart… let's make the most of it." Ron applauded himself mentally. 'Good job, Ronald, you hit the jackpot.'

"You're so right, Ron… They do say 'absence makes the heart grow fonder,'" She grinned at him and Ron stroked her rosy cheek with his hand. "You know, this would be a great place for a honeymoon," She said after a few minutes of silence. She turned to smile at him suggestively.

"What are you saying?" Ron replied, smiling also. Hermione shrugged. "I'd take you anywhere, princess."

After dinner, they both put back on their winter gear and stepped out into the cold, crisp air of a European winter.

"Come on, you two, I need a picture!" Colin Creevey grinned at the two of them making Hermione giggle. Ron pulled his girlfriend in close and she wrapped her arms around his waist. Ron knew at that moment, he couldn't live without her… not now, not ever.

"Ron?" Hermione asked, looking at him suspiciously.

"Oh, sorry," Ron managed a smile, "I was just… thinking." She laughed.

"Yeah, I did the same thing… That time in the café?" She asked even though she already knew. Ron nodded. She turned the page and there was a picture of the famous trio standing in front of the burrow during the summer of their fifth year. And many pages of pictures later came an ever better memory for the him.

"How did you get that picture?" He smiled down at it. To anyone just glancing at the picture they would have just noticed a very happy Harry and Ginny next to the Christmas tree which was surrounded by presents, but in the background were Hermione and Ron getting rather snuggly under the mistletoe… the first night that they had… well, you know. Ron remembered it like it was yesterday.

"Hermione, now how do I hang this, really? Is it crooked?" Ron asked, standing on the ladder trying to hang the mistletoe a few feet above the fireplace.

"No, baby, it looks perfect," She put her hands reassuringly on his legs as he made the final attempt to secure the plant before climbing off the ladder for good. He folded it and put it back into the closet under the stairs. Noticing Hermione was still standing under the mistletoe, looking rather seductive, Ron joined her immediately.

"Oh, look at that," She smiled and looked up.

"Who would have known?" Ron smiled down at her as she got on her tip toes and he leaned down for their lips to meet. It was the sweetest kiss yet and Ron knew then that something was different. He pulled away and squinted his eyes at her. "What are you up to?"

"Me?" She put on her most innocent face, smiling seductively the whole time.

"Yes, you."

"Oh… nothing." She bit her lip and tried to kiss him again, he pulled away.

"What is it?" He asked impatiently. They'd been dating for four years now and she'd never looked at him like this. He liked it. He definitely liked it.

"Ask me again later tonight…" She left a trail of kisses from the spot right under his ear down his jaw line, sending chills down his spine before walking away. Ron stared after her, mouth open as Harry came up and patted him on the back, handing him a Butterbeer.

"Something wrong?" Harry asked, moving in front of Ron and followed his gaze as Hermione began to giggle with Ginny, whispering secretly. Ron shook his head, not sure of what to say. "She's up to something, isn't she?" Harry asked, still looking at the girls.

"I don't know, Harry, but whatever it is, I like it."

"I bet you do," Harry winked at his best friend and wondered off towards one of the Weasley brothers. Ron was too zoned out to notice.

"DINNER'S READY!" Molly Weasley exclaimed from the kitchen. Ron snapped out of his stupor and wonderment long enough to eat a very delicious Christmas eve dinner although Hermione was shooting him very… raunchy looks throughout the entire dinner. After dinner and putting the children of Percy and Bill away, the rest of the Weasley clan sat around the fire and talked about random things. Most departed rather early until it was just Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron left sitting next to the blazing fire.

Hermione looked at Ginny and smiled. Harry noticed Ron watching Hermione carefully and rolled his eyes.

"Well, I'm off to bed…" Harry said, forcing a yawn and stood up to stretch. "Me, too," Ginny quickly added, standing up right next to Harry. "Good night, you two," They both said in unison before disappearing up the stairs. Hermione rolled over onto her stomach, showing Ron the little bit of cleavage he'd be noticing all evening turn into a lot a bit of cleavage under the red low-cut v-neck sweater.' Oh, and those jeans...' was all Ron could think about as she grabbed a present wrapped in gold with a huge gold bow from under the tree and handed it to Ron who was sitting right in front of her and was having a really hard time looking her in the face.

"Open it," She demanded, looking up at her with those big brown eyes he loved so much.

"Why? Christmas is tomorrow," He asked curiously, looking from her to the present.

"Well, it's not really a present that I want the rest of the family to see," Hermione's cheek flushed a bit and Ron felt even more confused than before.

"What does that mean?" Ron asked, still clueless. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Just open it!" She demanded again, laughing this time. Ron pulled the bow off and tried to unwrap the package with care. He found a pretty pink box and took the lid off. It revealed something very red, very lacy, and very… feminine.

"What in the world?" Ron looked up at her.

"Well, it isn't really for you to wear," She raised her eyebrows suggestively and pulled the underwear out of the box, holding it up for Ron to see. His mouth dropped open. Red and lacy didn't even begin to describe what he was seeing.

"What I've always wanted… women's underwear," He smiled at her and she rolled her eyes again. "But I have a feeling they'd look better if you modeled them for me…" He looked at her hopefully.

"Only if you want…" She continued to smile seductively, turning Ron's insides to mush.

"Of course I want to, Mione, but I don't want to rush you into anything… you know that, don't you?" Ron asked as he scooted next to her, stroking her cheek with his hand as she held the underwear in hers. She laid her head in his lap and looked up at him.

"You're not rushing me into anything, Ron. It's been four years now… We're 20 years old. I'm ready." Hermione smiled at him, and stood up. "Be back in five."

"Three?" Ron asked hopefully, watching her until she reached the bathroom. "Three." Was her response before shutting the door. Ron laid down onto his back and smiled. He sat there for what felt like eternity until he heard the bathroom door open again, revealing Hermione with her curly hair up and in a short, red silk robe. He definitely enjoyed what he was seeing.

"You're really know how to get to a man, don't you, princess?" Ron smiled as she laid down next to him, her head on his shoulder, watching him intently. She smiled and their lips met again.

"Well, it depends… do I get to you?" She asked after she pulled away from their kiss.

"You do more than get to me," Ron smiled back until they started kissing again and he lost control. That was the best night of his life.

"Man, that was the best night," Ron stated dreamily as he gazed at the same picture. Hermione was doing the same.

"I don't regret a thing," Hermione responded, watching Ron intently.

"Me either," Ron looked over at her, and before he knew what was happening, he'd kissed her… and things were getting carried away. He hadn't felt these sensations in the last three years. He completely forgot about Maley, about everything… until there was a knock on the door. Ron's stomach sank. He didn't have a good feeling about whoever was at that door.

"It must be Harry," Hermione felt herself go red before she struggled to escape Ron's grasp and stood up to get the door. Ron followed suit and as Hermione opened the door, Ron felt like throwing up. There was Harry and a very familiar blonde standing right behind him.

"Good morning, Harry!" Hermione hugged him quickly.

"You have a visitor, Ron…" Harry said skeptically. He took a step sideways and there stood the last person Ron wanted to see… his fiancé.