Closer Than Requested

Taya J Weasley

The next half hour or so had been full of Ron and Hermione trying to explain what the feeling was like. Sharing one body and two separate entities? It was enough of a trip to throw anyone for a loop.
Ron, I'm tired.
Yeah, I know, I am too.
Can we just go lay by the fireplace?
You mean you're actually asking, instead of making me go.
Well, I'm sure we look funny fighting you. By yourself.
Ron laughed for apparently no reason, leaving Harry in the dark. "Sorry, mate, but this girl is funny."
Oh sure, now I'm funny.
Now you're nicer to me.
Oh. Sorry.
Don't worry about it.
"You know," Harry said, breaking up the little conversation, "it's funny to watch you talk to your little Hermione-inner monologue. You sort of get this glazed-over look, but it's kind of like… I can't explain it but it's rather amusing. I know! It looks like you're really tired and not paying attention, but forcing yourself to stay awake." Harry grinned at his accomplishment of pinpointing Ron's dumb look.
"Thanks, Harry." Ron said, rolling his eyes. "We're exhausted, we're going to lay by the fire for a while, care to join?"
"Sure. Let me grab my book, I might as well get some reading done."

As they lay by the fire, Hermione decided to rummage through Ron's memories, while Ron just watched it all like a ever-changing slideshow.
Why are you so interested in all of this, Hermione? Ron thought as she focused of thoughts of when he was little.
You know I'm an only child- I just like this feeling… Of having siblings, and always having someone there.Ron's face got a little warm. It's dumb, I know…
No, he stopped her, it's not dumb, just different… I can feel what it was like for you too, you know. You were so lonely…
It was hard, growing up without friends, Ron, I don't know if you can understand that.
You didn't have friends?
No, and I never planned to. I just wanted to make mum and dad proud, but that made the other kids hate me for being smart…

Ron was happy there were very few people in the common room, it was still light outside, and those who weren't out we're already off to dinner. Harry invited them early, but they felt too drained to go right then.

I never knew why they hated me so much... Mum said they were jealous.
You know that must've been it, Hermione.
No, it wasn't. Anyways, when I came to Hogwarts, I wanted to make friends so badly. Ron, of course, knew this already by sharing her feelings and memories, but their "conversation" continued. Everyone here started to make fun of me, too. So I just figured it would be the same. Ron felt his face go hot and felt like he was going to cry, or that Hermione's part would cry and his body would just show the tears. Why did you hate me too, Ron?
I didn't hate you! There was silence and a shared feeling of disbelief. Well, maybe I thought I did. I didn't though. I just… you know already, you can feel it.
Tell me anyways? In your own words? Ron sighed.
I was already the youngest Weasley at Hogwarts; everyone knew how poor we were, and how… boring I turned out to be. "Nothing Special" Weasley. "Plain Ol'" Ron Weasley. That's what I was.
I didn't think that.
You didn't know me. Anyways, it seemed like you were just someone else to put me down. I made it out like it was all your fault, and that you were at fault. But you weren't; it's not your fault you're bloody brilliant. He felt himself smile a little.
Do you really think that?
Of course I do! He blushed. I mean, how could I not?

…Thanks, Ron. That really means a lot to me. To know you have a good opinion of me.
I have a lot more, Hermione. He stopped himself. I'm getting a little hungry. Off to the Great Hall?
It's your body; I'm just living in it.
Good answer.

"About time you showed up, I thought you had gained Hermione's appetite." Harry laughed and made room for Ron as he neared the table.
"Me, miss a meal? C'mon, Harry, I thought you knew me better than that!" As Ron started to gorge himself on whatever was put in front of him, Dean and Seamus sat themselves across from the duo.
"Hey guys," Dean started, "you see what happened to Hermione?"
"Of course! How could anyone miss it?"
"What happened to her? We heard she was sent to St. Mungo's for an emergency operation!" Seamus said, wide-eyed. Harry grinned.
"No, it's not nearly that impressive. She's just quarantined by Madame Pomfrey until she can find a cure to get rid of all the side affects of an unfinished potion."
Dean's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Are you sure?"
"Of course we're sure," Ron said, "Dumbledore told us himself, he did."
"Well… that can't be right." Dean and Seamus looked at each other. "Because we just came from visiting Jonathon Hickle, sixth year Ravenclaw, in the hospital wing. I can assure you there's no one quarantined in there."
Harry and Ron looked at each other. Hermione, luckily, spoke up for Ron.
"Well, I see no reason for Dumbledore to lie to us, do you?" The boys were silent. "So she was probably just in a different corridor or room or something. That's what quarantined means, after all."
"Yeah, I suppose… But-" Dean's voice got really dramatic, wouldn't it be really cool if she actually did go to St. Mungo's?? I mean, wow! We'd know someone who-
"No, it would not be cool for Hermione to land in St. Mungo's!" Ron said heatedly. His fist was clenched tightly under the table.
Ron, calm down…
"Jeez, Ron, it's not like we want her to go."
"Yeah, calm down, mate." Harry patted his shoulder. Ron's spit of anger vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and he focused on finishing his fudge that sat in front of him.

After dinner, Ron and Harry headed straight up to bed, dead tired from the day. Harry said goodnight to Ron, and wished Hermione sweet dreams and laughed as he crawled into bed and rolled over. For once, Ron decided to close the drapes that hung around his four-poster bed, mainly for Hermione's sake. [Even if tomorrow was Saturday, there had been many an interesting morning when the boys had lost their… necessary clothing.]

Ron.
Yes, Hermione. I thought you were tired. I know you are, because I am.
I know… But I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
For what?
For being in your head, I guess.

That's not your fault, 'Mione, besides, he blushed, I kind of like having you with me all the time.Ron sensed confusion. I mean, I know that we bicker a lot, and we're going to bicker a lot more now that we're together all the time… but, I mean… well…
I know, Ron. Thank you.
Again?
Yes, again. Hermione thought for a second. Did you just call me ''Mione'?
Er, I guess I did. I don't know where that came from… I won't say it anymore if-
No! I mean, no, it's fine. That's… that's what my dad used to call me when I was little.
It made you feel safe.
…Yeah. It did.

I like that feeling. Sleep well, he paused, as if unsure, and sweet dreams, 'Mione.

Ron opened his eyes to see Hermione sitting on the edge of his bed. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He was in his dormitory, but it felt different…

"We're dreaming, Ron."
"We share these too?"
"I guess so."
"Oh." Ron got up and stretched, glad to have his body to himself, if only for a dream. "Dreams are good." He said lamely, not knowing what else to say.

"I know. I've been here for a while, just walking around the grounds. You must have been more tired than I was since you seemed to have slept harder."
"Ha. I had to deal with you in my head all day." Although he meant this to be a joke, the tone he used caused a tinge of pain on Hermione's face. He noticed it right away. "Oh no, no, Hermione, I didn't mean it like that." He swore at himself.
"I know," she replied quietly as she moved down the bed. "I just… now that I have my own mind back, I've been thinking about what we talked about earlier, by the fire."
Ron slowly nodded. In reality, it was so tiring for him all day because Hermione was always in his head; well, she was always on his mind at least.

"Did you really think I hated you?" She slowly nodded. "But… even after the troll…" She shook her head.
"I thought," she sniffed, "I thought that you were just friends with me because Harry wanted to be nice to me." Ron felt hurt; she didn't trust his friendship?
"And now?" He asked her this as he got out from under the covers and sat right next to her. "Do you know what I think of you now?"
She wiped her eyes and gave a feeble laugh. "That I'm a 'good friend' but even better classmate to cheat off of?" She knew this was sort of cold, especially after so long that they had been together and how much they've been through.
He blushed out of embarrassment, "you don't really think that do you?" She paused, but shook her head in the end.
"No, I don't. It's just…."
"Just what, Hermione? Can't you tell how much Harry and I value your friendship?"
"I'm just being stupid." She wiped her tears and nose with a tissue. "Forget about it."

As much as Ron would've liked to "forget about it", he knew that she wanted to talk. He had grown in these past years, and could finally admit to when he needed to push past his comfort zone, especially if it's in a dream; shouldn't that make it easier?
"Hermione…" He pushed her gently. She took a deep breath.
"I just wonder sometimes why you two need me around." He gaped at her.
"Are you serious? Bloody hell, Hermione! I told you you're brilliant! And you always know exactly what to say!" He lowered his voice a bit, "granted the homework and spew ("S.P.E.W., Ron") are a bit of a bust, but still…" He took a deep breath and felt his face go red. "You're amazing. I'll always want you around. Er, Harry too! I mean, Harry will want you around. Wait. Yeah." Hermione smiled. She saw the tips of his ears go red as well.

She pulled him into an awkward hug. He patted her back strangely, not sure what to do to a girl who has you in a bear hug, nearly crying into your night shirt. Right before the dream world faded away he could've sworn he heard her say, "…love…Ronald."

Author's Note: Please give feedback, I'm not sure where I'm taking this, but I like having that in a story, don't you?