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Disclaimer: Go ahead, sue me, I have no money anyway (tries to hide baby- sitting money in safe). Agh, it won't fit! Oh well. Then I guess I'd better tell you that I don't own anything. So sad. . .
Chapter 2
Ron spent he next day at Fred and George's shop. His head hurt more than he had realized, and he needed an excuse. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was the perfect place to go. The store was filled with head growing/ shrinking chewables, loud noises, and frequent crashes. When he returned to the Burrow later that night his head hurt more than it had before, if that was possible.
He was on the couch reading a book about defensive spells, when his mom walked in. "Ronald?"
"Yes mum?"
"I was just wondering- you never answered me about Hermione. Is she coming to dinner tomorrow?"
"That's what she told me," he replied sleepily.
"Good. Will she be bringing that lovely boyfriend of hers?"
Ron nearly fell out of his seat. "Her- her what? Bloody hell, is this some kind of conspiracy? No, he will not be coming. And he's not that lovely!"
"Whatever you say, dear." Laughing, Mrs. Weasley walked back into the kitchen.
Ron sighed, and tried to go back to his book, but he couldn't concentrate. Typical. Even his mother loved Andrew. No wonder Hermione was so hooked on him. The more he thought about it, the more he thought that Andrew's appearance at dinner would make sense. Andrew would keep him in line- in check, around Hermione. Not that he wanted to be in check, but he didn't exactly want to do anything embarrassing, either.
Glancing back at his book and again realizing that he was going to get nothing done in such a state, Ron walked up the stairs and went to bed.
~~~
The next morning Hermione was more frazzled than ever. She'd had a dream about Ron. An actual full on, romantic dream about her best friend. She was sure she needed therapy. And then, to top everything off, she'd screwed up big time with Andrew.
He'd called before she left for work, and asked her if she wanted to go out for a nice fancy dinner. "I can't," she'd replied. "I'm going out with Ron."
"What! What do you mean, you're going out with- "
"I'm having dinner at his family's home." She'd corrected herself.
"It seems like you're with him more than you're with me, Herms." She tried to shake off his use of that nickname. "You were half an hour late on Wednesday, and you have to miss dinner tonight. . ."
"I grew up with his family, Andrew. I already had plans, and I don't intend to break them." She'd said angrily, before slamming down the phone. That day two bouquets of flowers arrived, along with a giant card that said he was sorry.
On her way to work she'd realized something about her conversation with Andrew. She hadn't wanted to correct herself. She'd wanted to be right, she wanted to be going out to dinner with Ron. Mentally, she slapped herself. She couldn't keep having these visions of her and Ron. Especially because she was in love with Andrew. And because Andrew loved her. And because Ron was her best friend. And because Ron didn't return her feelings, so she would be ruining a relationship for nothing.
Hermione sighed. She really did need help.
~~~
Ron put on his khakis and a nice shirt. The least he could do was make a good impression on Hermione. Show her that her precious Andrew wasn't the only one who could dress well. When the doorbell rang he was ready. He opened the door with a flourish, lifting Hermione off her feet and placing her inside the Burrow.
Laughing, she handed him a bunch of flowers. "Ooh, making the first move, are you?" He asked, teasingly.
"Shut up, you git. These are for your mother." Ron pretended to huff and puff his way into the kitchen, but when he returned his smile was as bright as ever.
"So how have you been?"
"You just saw me two days ago."
"Well, since then."
"Fine. A little overworked, perhaps. But I'm fine."
"You? Overworked? Never! And you're only fine? By the time you leave this house tonight, you'll be radiating."
"I always am." She said, with a smile on her face.
"So what do you say to a quick- "
"Game of chess?" She finished for him. Ron blushed. "I'd love to. I've been practicing."
Apparently her practicing was for naught, because Ron still beat her pretty badly. "Have you talked to Harry lately?" He asked her.
"Not since last week. He has been working pretty hard lately. He's only taken a few weekends off since he began working." Ron raised an eyebrow. "He goes to see Ginny whenever Hogwarts has a Hogsmeade weekend." She explained.
"So they're still going strong?" He asked.
"I guess. I haven't talked to Ginny in a while, though. I can't be sure."
Dinner was incredible that night. Ron and Hermione both thought the food tasted better than normal. They never stopped talking, unless they had to explain what they were talking about to Mr. or Mrs. Weasley.
Ron had a start when Mrs. Weasley kindly asked about Andrew. Happily for Ron, Hermione just brushed the question off by saying that Andrew was fine, before she turned back to Ron.
That night Hermione and Ron had hot chocolate in front of the fire. "Do you remember all the other times we've done this?" Hermione asked.
"Yea, 'Mione. It's become a tradition." She laid her head on his shoulder.
"I love that nickname. It's so much better than 'Ninny' was." Looking down at her, Ron saw that she had a twinkle in her eyes.
"Don't even bring that up. I was stupid, and jealous, and fourteen."
"Yes, you were." The two sat in companionable silence for a while, before Ron sat up straight.
"Why don't we go for a walk?"
"What?"
"The fairies in the fields will light the way, and it's November, 'Mione. We don't have many good days left this year. This could be our last chance to walk without having to plow through snowdrifts, or dodge snowballs."
"But you love the snow, Weasley. Don't deny it."
"I know, I just- "
"A walk could be fun, you're right. Just let me grab my jacket."
In minutes they were ready to leave. They walked outside, and that was when it happened.
"Herm, darling. Going somewhere?" Ron heard the voice before he saw Andrew walk out of the shadows.
"Andrew. What- what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, of course. I thought we could go somewhere when you finished here."
"Well, Ron and I were just going for a walk. Why don't you go back- "
"I'll join you, of course." He said, smiling broadly. "I'm sure Ronald won't mind."
"Ron." Ron growled his name under his breath. "And how do you know that I- "
"Look, Andrew. Why don't you just go back to your flat? I'll meet you there when I'm done, if you really need to talk to me."
The group was in the garden now. Ron was standing there, silently, looking at Andrew with disbelief. There was no way this prat was ruining his time with Hermione again. No way. Suddenly, he felt something near the back of his head. Whipping around, he saw an owl. Quickly, he read the note attached to the owl's leg.
Emergency
15 Cauldwell Circle
Hampshire
NOW
With one last look at the arguing couple, he apparated to Hampshire.
"I think Ron had something he needed to tell me. Something he didn't want you to know, dear. Not because you couldn't know, but because you're still a stranger to him. Right, Ron?"
She turned around, but Ron wasn't there.
~~*~~**~~*~~
Another chapter finished! Yay! I really need to thank a bunch of you. To all my reviewers, THANK YOU. I'll have individual praises in a later chapter. And again, please review, cuz if you do mine, I'll do yours. REVIEW!
~ Sugar High
Disclaimer: Go ahead, sue me, I have no money anyway (tries to hide baby- sitting money in safe). Agh, it won't fit! Oh well. Then I guess I'd better tell you that I don't own anything. So sad. . .
Chapter 2
Ron spent he next day at Fred and George's shop. His head hurt more than he had realized, and he needed an excuse. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was the perfect place to go. The store was filled with head growing/ shrinking chewables, loud noises, and frequent crashes. When he returned to the Burrow later that night his head hurt more than it had before, if that was possible.
He was on the couch reading a book about defensive spells, when his mom walked in. "Ronald?"
"Yes mum?"
"I was just wondering- you never answered me about Hermione. Is she coming to dinner tomorrow?"
"That's what she told me," he replied sleepily.
"Good. Will she be bringing that lovely boyfriend of hers?"
Ron nearly fell out of his seat. "Her- her what? Bloody hell, is this some kind of conspiracy? No, he will not be coming. And he's not that lovely!"
"Whatever you say, dear." Laughing, Mrs. Weasley walked back into the kitchen.
Ron sighed, and tried to go back to his book, but he couldn't concentrate. Typical. Even his mother loved Andrew. No wonder Hermione was so hooked on him. The more he thought about it, the more he thought that Andrew's appearance at dinner would make sense. Andrew would keep him in line- in check, around Hermione. Not that he wanted to be in check, but he didn't exactly want to do anything embarrassing, either.
Glancing back at his book and again realizing that he was going to get nothing done in such a state, Ron walked up the stairs and went to bed.
~~~
The next morning Hermione was more frazzled than ever. She'd had a dream about Ron. An actual full on, romantic dream about her best friend. She was sure she needed therapy. And then, to top everything off, she'd screwed up big time with Andrew.
He'd called before she left for work, and asked her if she wanted to go out for a nice fancy dinner. "I can't," she'd replied. "I'm going out with Ron."
"What! What do you mean, you're going out with- "
"I'm having dinner at his family's home." She'd corrected herself.
"It seems like you're with him more than you're with me, Herms." She tried to shake off his use of that nickname. "You were half an hour late on Wednesday, and you have to miss dinner tonight. . ."
"I grew up with his family, Andrew. I already had plans, and I don't intend to break them." She'd said angrily, before slamming down the phone. That day two bouquets of flowers arrived, along with a giant card that said he was sorry.
On her way to work she'd realized something about her conversation with Andrew. She hadn't wanted to correct herself. She'd wanted to be right, she wanted to be going out to dinner with Ron. Mentally, she slapped herself. She couldn't keep having these visions of her and Ron. Especially because she was in love with Andrew. And because Andrew loved her. And because Ron was her best friend. And because Ron didn't return her feelings, so she would be ruining a relationship for nothing.
Hermione sighed. She really did need help.
~~~
Ron put on his khakis and a nice shirt. The least he could do was make a good impression on Hermione. Show her that her precious Andrew wasn't the only one who could dress well. When the doorbell rang he was ready. He opened the door with a flourish, lifting Hermione off her feet and placing her inside the Burrow.
Laughing, she handed him a bunch of flowers. "Ooh, making the first move, are you?" He asked, teasingly.
"Shut up, you git. These are for your mother." Ron pretended to huff and puff his way into the kitchen, but when he returned his smile was as bright as ever.
"So how have you been?"
"You just saw me two days ago."
"Well, since then."
"Fine. A little overworked, perhaps. But I'm fine."
"You? Overworked? Never! And you're only fine? By the time you leave this house tonight, you'll be radiating."
"I always am." She said, with a smile on her face.
"So what do you say to a quick- "
"Game of chess?" She finished for him. Ron blushed. "I'd love to. I've been practicing."
Apparently her practicing was for naught, because Ron still beat her pretty badly. "Have you talked to Harry lately?" He asked her.
"Not since last week. He has been working pretty hard lately. He's only taken a few weekends off since he began working." Ron raised an eyebrow. "He goes to see Ginny whenever Hogwarts has a Hogsmeade weekend." She explained.
"So they're still going strong?" He asked.
"I guess. I haven't talked to Ginny in a while, though. I can't be sure."
Dinner was incredible that night. Ron and Hermione both thought the food tasted better than normal. They never stopped talking, unless they had to explain what they were talking about to Mr. or Mrs. Weasley.
Ron had a start when Mrs. Weasley kindly asked about Andrew. Happily for Ron, Hermione just brushed the question off by saying that Andrew was fine, before she turned back to Ron.
That night Hermione and Ron had hot chocolate in front of the fire. "Do you remember all the other times we've done this?" Hermione asked.
"Yea, 'Mione. It's become a tradition." She laid her head on his shoulder.
"I love that nickname. It's so much better than 'Ninny' was." Looking down at her, Ron saw that she had a twinkle in her eyes.
"Don't even bring that up. I was stupid, and jealous, and fourteen."
"Yes, you were." The two sat in companionable silence for a while, before Ron sat up straight.
"Why don't we go for a walk?"
"What?"
"The fairies in the fields will light the way, and it's November, 'Mione. We don't have many good days left this year. This could be our last chance to walk without having to plow through snowdrifts, or dodge snowballs."
"But you love the snow, Weasley. Don't deny it."
"I know, I just- "
"A walk could be fun, you're right. Just let me grab my jacket."
In minutes they were ready to leave. They walked outside, and that was when it happened.
"Herm, darling. Going somewhere?" Ron heard the voice before he saw Andrew walk out of the shadows.
"Andrew. What- what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, of course. I thought we could go somewhere when you finished here."
"Well, Ron and I were just going for a walk. Why don't you go back- "
"I'll join you, of course." He said, smiling broadly. "I'm sure Ronald won't mind."
"Ron." Ron growled his name under his breath. "And how do you know that I- "
"Look, Andrew. Why don't you just go back to your flat? I'll meet you there when I'm done, if you really need to talk to me."
The group was in the garden now. Ron was standing there, silently, looking at Andrew with disbelief. There was no way this prat was ruining his time with Hermione again. No way. Suddenly, he felt something near the back of his head. Whipping around, he saw an owl. Quickly, he read the note attached to the owl's leg.
Emergency
15 Cauldwell Circle
Hampshire
NOW
With one last look at the arguing couple, he apparated to Hampshire.
"I think Ron had something he needed to tell me. Something he didn't want you to know, dear. Not because you couldn't know, but because you're still a stranger to him. Right, Ron?"
She turned around, but Ron wasn't there.
~~*~~**~~*~~
Another chapter finished! Yay! I really need to thank a bunch of you. To all my reviewers, THANK YOU. I'll have individual praises in a later chapter. And again, please review, cuz if you do mine, I'll do yours. REVIEW!
~ Sugar High