Chapter Eight: Prizes
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"You can't?" repeated Ron. "Can't what?"
"Can't choose!" she shouted. "I'm not this girl."
"What are you on about?" Ron said. Viktor nodded.
Hermione seemed to be searching for words. Finally she said, "I do schoolwork. I get into trouble, occasionally, mostly thanks to Harry. I am polite to people who deserve it, and I am, we'll say, not-so-polite to those who don't deserve decency. But I do not, above all things, have boys fighting over me. And, if they are, I don't let it affect the other aspects of my life. And yet here I am, at two thirty in the morning, letting this affect the other aspects of my life!"
"Herm-own-ninny–"
"No. Let me finish." She paused. "No, wait. I am finished." Looking at them, she added, "See what this entire thing is doing to me? I can't even think straight!"
Ron said, "You can't blame us. You were the one cavorting about, kissing random people." Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I don't think that was the right thing to say."
"I am not choosing between you," she said. "Not now, at least. I am going to bed."
"So, ve just have to...vait?" wondered Viktor.
Hermione said, as she headed towards the stairs leading to the Girls' Dormitories, "I'm not letting this affect other aspects of my life. I suggest you two do the same."
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Despite his attempts to follow Hermione's advice, Ron was still constantly thinking about what decision Hermione planned on making. And everything between them was off. They still had breakfast, lunch, dinner, and classes together, but everything was tense. Harry chattered incessantly the whole time, helping to make the silences less awkward. After classes, Hermione studied alone or with Ginny, rarely speaking to Ron or Viktor. His preoccupation with Hermione's choice, combined with the lack of help from her on homework, was causing him to do quite poorly in class.
Harry, aware of what was going on, tried unsuccessfully to reunite Hermione and Ron, but all that resulted was a very embarrassing and polite conversation.
Every day, Ron wondered if this was the one that Hermione would choose. After a week, he almost didn't care who she chose, just that did choose. Almost. After a fortnight, he was sure he was going crazy with anticipation.
Finally, after two weeks and three days, Ron received a note which read, "Meet me in the kitchen at four. Hermione."
Suddenly, he didn't want to know who she had decided on. What if it wasn't him? Their relationship was already severely damaged; could it really take any more?
Nevertheless, at four o'clock that Sunday, Ron showed up at the painting which was also the entrance to the kitchen. He tickled the pear, which giggled, and then the painting swung aside. After climbing through the hole, Ron looked around.
He was the last to arrive, it appeared. Hermione was talking to Harry and Ginny, while Viktor Krum was staring with his eyebrows raised at the a house elf. Upon his entrance, Ginny waved, and called, "Ron. Finally."
"What're you two doing here?" he replied, talking about Ginny and Harry.
"We were in the mood for treacle tarts," answered Harry. "We came down here, and who should we see but Hermione. She's been trying to convince us to leave ever since, but we want to see what happens."
"It affects us, too," defended Ginny quickly.
"Fine, fine," said Hermione. "You can stay. But leave us alone while I deal with this first." They nodded, and went over to a corner of the kitchen and talked to Dobby. "Cake?" she said, and three plates were instantly set on a counter, around which three stools were set. "Sit down, you two."
As he sat down, Viktor said, "Are you going to tell us vhich you choose?"
Hermione nodded, adding, "I'm so sorry it took so long. It was a very difficult decision." She held her hands out, palms facing towards herself. "Look at my fingernails. I ravaged them."
"It took a little less than two and a half weeks," Ron reminded her. "How could it have possibly taken so long? You either like me or you don't."
She sighed, then smiled grimly. "Actually, it only took me a few days to decide."
"What?" Ron and Viktor cried at the same time. (Actually, Viktor cried, "Vhat?")
"It only took me two or three days to decide who I wanted to be with," she repeated. "But deciding was very hard. I mean, the answer was obvious, but I hated the idea of me being the kind of girl who has to choose. The kind of girl who has feelings for two different boys." She took a deep breath. "But I did choose. The rest of the time was spent trying to figure how to tell you. Like I said, I hated being the girl who had to do that to someone. But I can't leave you both unsure." Another deep breath. "Anyway, I didn't know how to tell you. Finally, I decided that while eating chocolate cake was the best way." She gestured toward the cake, which Ron had already dug into, but Viktor was staring suspiciously at. "Go on, Viktor. It's double chocolate fudge surprise, or something of the sort."
"Chocolate chip double fudge," announced a squeaky-voiced house elf.
Hermione smiled down at the elf. "Thank you," she said graciously.
"'Ermione, cah we geh bah to us?" Ron asked with a mouthful of cake.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, Ron. It's rude. And yes, we can. Look, I'm not planning on dragging this out. I will tell you right now, that the person I want to be with is–"
"Oi! There are already people in here, George," announced the voice of Fred Weasley. Everyone turned to see George and Fred at the entrance/exit of the kitchen.
George responded, "Oh, there are. Hello, Ron! What are you having there?"
"Chocolate chip double fudge cake," Hermione responded. "If I'm correct."
"Oh. Is it any good?" Fred wanted to know.
Hermione took a bite. "If you like chocolate, then you'll definitely enjoy this."
"Great," said Fred. "Can I have some of that cake?" he asked a house elf, who hurried off and brought the twins pieces of cake.
"So," George asked, "what are you talking about?"
"Bloody hell!" shouted Ron. "Hermione, you choose who?"
"Oh," the twins said at once.
"Hermione's choosing her boyfriend," added Fred.
"The whole thing is all over school," said George.
"Yes!" shouted Ron. "Now go away."
"Come now, Ron," scolded George. "Hermione won't choose you with that attitude." Ron glared at his brothers. "Fine, fine, we're going. Oh, hello, Harry, Ginny!" Ron kicked him. "I mean, goodbye Harry, Ginny."
Harry and Ginny called, "Bye!"
"Great," said Ron, after his brothers had left, stocked with several pieces of cake. "You were saying...?"
"Ron, you really shouldn't be so rude to your brothers," Hermione said. "I mean, they were being friendly."
"They wanted to know if the cake was good."
"Ron..."
Viktor said, "Can ve please find out who vins?"
Hermione pursed her lips. "I am a human being. I am not to be won....And yes. I care about you both so much, but the person I really want to be with is–"
"I is sorry to interrupt," squeaked Dobby, suddenly at Hermione's side. "But Harry Potter's Weezy...girl Weezy says to give you this." He handed her a piece of paper and left.
Hermione unfolded it, and it read, "I'm asking Harry out!"
Ginny looked at Hermione, and Hermione smiled widely and gave her the thumbs up. Ginny smiled happily and turned back to Harry.
"Hermione. Who?" Ron prompted.
"Oh, yes. Sorry. Ginny was just...well, it doesn't matter. What was I saying?"
Viktor said, "You vant to be vith...?"
Hermione said, "Right. I care deeply about–"
"You already said that part," Ron told her.
"Okay," she laughed. "I want to be with, above all other people is...well, Johnny Depp, but–"
"Who?"
"A muggle actor. Sorry. I want to be with–"
"I is sorry to interrupt again." Dobby was back. He slid Hermione a note. Hermione unfolded it to read the words, "I couldn't do it."
"Thank you, Dobby," Hermione said, shrugging at Ginny.
"Bloody hell! Hermione, did you choose me or Krum?'
Hermione sighed, and replied hastily, "I choose you, Ron. I choose you." Viktor looked upset. Ron looked shocked, in a pleasant sort of way. "Viktor, we had our relationship," she consoled. "And it was very special. But you and I are over. I felt it end. We aren't meant to be, and you know it." Viktor shrugged, and began walking away. "Viktor, at least take your cake." He looked back, considered it, and grabbed the plate with the cake on it. Then he left.
"You choose me?" Ron said finally.
Hermione smiled at him. "Yes. I choose you. Because even though you can be rude, and immature, and ridiculously proud, and even though you can drive me completely insane–Ron, I love you."
"You love me?" Ron repeated. Hermione nodded, blushing. "Well, Hermione, I...I love you, too."
Harry and Ginny rushed over to them at that moment, Ginny still looking a little depressed. "So, you chose Ron?" Harry said.
Hermione replied, "Who else?"
"I knew it," said Ginny. "You two were completely meant for one another." Hermione gave Ginny a meaningful look. Sighing, Ginny turned to Harry. "Harry?"
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to...maybe, on the next Hogsmeade visit, do something? Maybe have lunch? With me."
Harry choked. "You mean, a date?" Ginny nodded uncertainly. "Well...well, I would...love to have lunch with you." Ginny looked delighted as she and Harry exited the kitchen.
Hermione went to follow them, but Ron grabbed Hermione's arm first. She turned to him with a questioning look. "Not so fast," he said, and he leaned in, kissing her. She didn't object.
"I...I is sorry to interrupt," Dobby's voice said. Ron and Hermione parted. "But is you wanting more cake."
Instead of getting angry, as Hermione almost expected Ron to do, he said to her, "Do you think we'll ever finish a kiss?"
She smiled coyly at him and replied, "I guess we'll just have to find out. You dimwit."
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Oh, and someone (Auddie) asked about if I just made up the questions as I wrote, and the answer is yes. Sometimes I'd brainstorm question ideas before writing the chapter, and I had to figure out who would get them right and how many points they received, ahead of time, in order for the ending to turn out right. But yeah...I made them up as I went. Which ones specifically did you like? Just curious.