When the lovely dinner had come to an end, the Weasley's and their guests
continued their conversations on into the dead of night. Ron sat on the
end of the table, hardly engaged in what was happening around him. The
object of his thoughts sat away from him, next to Ginny, while he sat next
to Hermione. Without a word, the confused fifth year stood up and hurried
to his room, burying himself under bright orange sheets.
After Ron's mind was too jumbled to think anymore about what happened only hours ago with his best friend, he decided to pull out his own photo album, turning to the most recent picture. Gazing at it for a moment, he thought about how sexy Harry was, and what would happen when Hermione and Ginny found out his secret.
A small figure zoomed in and out of the scene, stopping briefly to wave and smile down at the photographer. Ron vividly remembered the day he took this, during a practice Gryffindor was having just before their final match against Slytherin for the Quidditch Cup. Harry had been so nervous, but his excitement wasn't dwindled. He practiced fast and hard, while Ron shouted encouragement for Harry, telling him those filthy Slytherins didn't have a chance this year. Occasionally the Seeker would stop in mid-flight to chat with his best friend, even letting him have a few laps with his precious Firebolt.
Snapping the photo album shut, the lanky boy got out the last of his unfinished schoolwork and began to write. The essay was about disguises, and all the different potions that could be brewed to aid in camouflage of some sort. With a grin, Ron knew he'd get a passing grade because of his familiarity with Polyjuice and other things he, Hermione, and Harry had used to conduct their mischief.
~-~-~-~
Hermione was busy trying to eavesdrop on the twins, as they sat across from her, keeping their whispers just low enough so that she couldn't quite catch what they were saying. This annoyed the bookworm so much; she let out an exasperated sigh and turned to talk to Ginny. She'd noticed the red haired witch had been acting funny ever since they started to bond. 'I'll talk to her later, since we're sharing a room... wonder what's up with her.' Suddenly the thought of being in a bed so close to the fourth year made her blush, their beds were pushed right up to each other, making room for doing hands on homework like mixing potions and constructing large astronomy charts.
Dishes were being cleared and everyone was full and cheerful - everyone but Harry and Ginny, whose thoughts were currently making them dead silent. The Seeker decided he'd try to get some information out of Ginny, to see what might be upsetting her brother. He knew they were fairly close, being the two youngest children in a large family. Hermione's thoughts were along the same lines as Harry's, and she decided to talk to Ron to get some information of her own. She knew Ginny must be upset, she hadn't said much all evening and seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her. 'Maybe I shouldn't have teased her about the sex education book'
Ginny stood up and strode off toward the house when she heard footsteps rushing up behind her, "Hey Harry, what's the rush?" "Oh, I was just wondering if I could have a word with you? It's kinda important. and private, ya know?" He eyed Hermione approaching them, and the bright witch nodded in understanding. Somehow Harry didn't feel the same vibes coming from Ginny; she was no longer shy and timid around him. Almost as if her long time crush had disappeared, like it had never even been there. The green eyed wizard grinned as she led him to a large oak tree near a far corner of their fenced off backyard. "If anything is wrong Harry, you know I'll be glad to help." He smiled uncertainly, not quite knowing how to approach the subject, since he had believed for years that the witch liked him, and now he would be inquiring about her own brother with some very unconventional questions. 'Hope this goes well,' he thought, secretly wishing he could trade his invisibility cloak for the power of ligilimency instead.
"Alright Harry, what's up?" Ginny was curious as to why he'd seek her out, they were friends, but not personally close to each other. The dark haired teenager looked at her, shifted uncomfortably and replied, "You know, I get the feeling we're being watched... think we could head back inside?" As they made their way through the overgrowth of the yard, two pairs of gleaming eyes shined through the hedges.
The mischievous Weasley twins scribbled furiously on their parchment, watching Harry and Ginny leave. "Well bro, I'd say this adds a new twist to our observations, don't you think?" "Hell yes George, and it doesn't look good at all. Perhaps we'll have to do a bit more digging... find out what else is going on that we don't know about." "I reckon you're right Fred... I also think it'd be best if we didn't try to get money out of this. Feels wrong, doesn't it?" Fred sighed, defeated, "We were only half serious about that anyway, right? It's just I want this joke shop to work so badly..." he trailed off, still writing on his blotched-up parchment, "not that we can't still have fun with this information though, right bro?" George grinned wickedly, packing away his quill and notes, "You read my mind."
~-~-~-~-~
Hearing padded footsteps just outside his door, Ron pulled his sheets up over his head, feinting sleep in case someone entered. He really didn't want to be disturbed, too busy lost in his confused thoughts to do much of anything. When the slight creak of his door signaled that someone had indeed wanted in, he groaned to himself. 'Wish they'd just go away'. "Hey. Ron?" Hermione gently prodded his shoulder, "Wake up mate, we need to talk in private. Come on, I know you're not really sleeping," she shook him a little harder, "we've been friends for years, I think I'm smart enough to know that your breathing isn't this shallow when you're asleep." And with that, Ron grudgingly threw his bed sheets from himself and sat up, eying his clever friend with a mix of annoyance and awe. "You always were one to impress me, you know that Hermione?" He grinned a little and for a moment forgot about being upset and confused, instead he reflected on all the time they had adventured with Harry.
Another thought struck him though, had she seen what he'd been hiding for so long? Was that why she wanted some privacy? 'I know Ginny fancies Harry, but she can't be wanting to scold me for liking him too, can she? Hell, I never meant to upset anyone!' Immediately his demeanor changed, his shaggy red head drooping as he let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Hey, what's the matter Ron? If you're not up for a chat, I can wait till tomorrow ... but this is really important, it has to do with the way Ginny's been acting. You're her closest brother, I though you might have some insight ..." she trailed off, not really expecting him to answer. Eyes bulging, then going back to normal, the tall wizard leapt up and hugged Hermione as tightly as he could without suffocating her. His relief was evident, but he didn't see Ginny peaking through a crack in the old wood door, fear and puzzlement flitting across her face.
~-~-~-~-~
The Boy Who Lived stopped abruptly behind Ginny, following her gaze to the crack in Ron's bedroom door. 'Wonder what she's seen, I can't even read her emotions, and I'm usually great at that sort of thing...' "Hey Gin, why don't we chat up in the attic, ya know, for extra privacy. I doubt that ghoul will make too much racket, and won't blab our secrets either." He grinned tentatively, not sure if she could do with a cheering charm or something entirely different.
They made their way quickly up the stairs, not bothering to be quiet now that the ghoul had started throwing things around. Fred and George were mysteriously absent from the house, the lack of explosions and yells making for a very quiet evening. The young redheaded witch seemed to snap out of her shocked state, flicked open the rusted latch, and went to sit on a slightly moth-eaten couch. "So Harry, what's on your mind? You seem really happy about something..." Ginny asked, but thought she already knew the answer. 'Must be wanting to tell me the news of Ron and Hermione getting together. Probably thinks it's about time for those two, but damnit, my brother doesn't deserve her!' her angry thoughts and jealousy unnerved her. Now the young witch didn't know what to think or feel, all she knew now was that Harry wanted to talk, and since she'd always wanted to be closer friends with him, she might as well listen... hard as it was going to be to not blow up in his face. Ginny had apparently inherited the Weasley temper from her mother, and hoped against all hope that she was wrong in her assumptions. A slight creak resonated outside the attic opening, although the ghoul had yet to settle down, so it went unnoticed by Harry and Ginny.
After Ron's mind was too jumbled to think anymore about what happened only hours ago with his best friend, he decided to pull out his own photo album, turning to the most recent picture. Gazing at it for a moment, he thought about how sexy Harry was, and what would happen when Hermione and Ginny found out his secret.
A small figure zoomed in and out of the scene, stopping briefly to wave and smile down at the photographer. Ron vividly remembered the day he took this, during a practice Gryffindor was having just before their final match against Slytherin for the Quidditch Cup. Harry had been so nervous, but his excitement wasn't dwindled. He practiced fast and hard, while Ron shouted encouragement for Harry, telling him those filthy Slytherins didn't have a chance this year. Occasionally the Seeker would stop in mid-flight to chat with his best friend, even letting him have a few laps with his precious Firebolt.
Snapping the photo album shut, the lanky boy got out the last of his unfinished schoolwork and began to write. The essay was about disguises, and all the different potions that could be brewed to aid in camouflage of some sort. With a grin, Ron knew he'd get a passing grade because of his familiarity with Polyjuice and other things he, Hermione, and Harry had used to conduct their mischief.
~-~-~-~
Hermione was busy trying to eavesdrop on the twins, as they sat across from her, keeping their whispers just low enough so that she couldn't quite catch what they were saying. This annoyed the bookworm so much; she let out an exasperated sigh and turned to talk to Ginny. She'd noticed the red haired witch had been acting funny ever since they started to bond. 'I'll talk to her later, since we're sharing a room... wonder what's up with her.' Suddenly the thought of being in a bed so close to the fourth year made her blush, their beds were pushed right up to each other, making room for doing hands on homework like mixing potions and constructing large astronomy charts.
Dishes were being cleared and everyone was full and cheerful - everyone but Harry and Ginny, whose thoughts were currently making them dead silent. The Seeker decided he'd try to get some information out of Ginny, to see what might be upsetting her brother. He knew they were fairly close, being the two youngest children in a large family. Hermione's thoughts were along the same lines as Harry's, and she decided to talk to Ron to get some information of her own. She knew Ginny must be upset, she hadn't said much all evening and seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her. 'Maybe I shouldn't have teased her about the sex education book'
Ginny stood up and strode off toward the house when she heard footsteps rushing up behind her, "Hey Harry, what's the rush?" "Oh, I was just wondering if I could have a word with you? It's kinda important. and private, ya know?" He eyed Hermione approaching them, and the bright witch nodded in understanding. Somehow Harry didn't feel the same vibes coming from Ginny; she was no longer shy and timid around him. Almost as if her long time crush had disappeared, like it had never even been there. The green eyed wizard grinned as she led him to a large oak tree near a far corner of their fenced off backyard. "If anything is wrong Harry, you know I'll be glad to help." He smiled uncertainly, not quite knowing how to approach the subject, since he had believed for years that the witch liked him, and now he would be inquiring about her own brother with some very unconventional questions. 'Hope this goes well,' he thought, secretly wishing he could trade his invisibility cloak for the power of ligilimency instead.
"Alright Harry, what's up?" Ginny was curious as to why he'd seek her out, they were friends, but not personally close to each other. The dark haired teenager looked at her, shifted uncomfortably and replied, "You know, I get the feeling we're being watched... think we could head back inside?" As they made their way through the overgrowth of the yard, two pairs of gleaming eyes shined through the hedges.
The mischievous Weasley twins scribbled furiously on their parchment, watching Harry and Ginny leave. "Well bro, I'd say this adds a new twist to our observations, don't you think?" "Hell yes George, and it doesn't look good at all. Perhaps we'll have to do a bit more digging... find out what else is going on that we don't know about." "I reckon you're right Fred... I also think it'd be best if we didn't try to get money out of this. Feels wrong, doesn't it?" Fred sighed, defeated, "We were only half serious about that anyway, right? It's just I want this joke shop to work so badly..." he trailed off, still writing on his blotched-up parchment, "not that we can't still have fun with this information though, right bro?" George grinned wickedly, packing away his quill and notes, "You read my mind."
~-~-~-~-~
Hearing padded footsteps just outside his door, Ron pulled his sheets up over his head, feinting sleep in case someone entered. He really didn't want to be disturbed, too busy lost in his confused thoughts to do much of anything. When the slight creak of his door signaled that someone had indeed wanted in, he groaned to himself. 'Wish they'd just go away'. "Hey. Ron?" Hermione gently prodded his shoulder, "Wake up mate, we need to talk in private. Come on, I know you're not really sleeping," she shook him a little harder, "we've been friends for years, I think I'm smart enough to know that your breathing isn't this shallow when you're asleep." And with that, Ron grudgingly threw his bed sheets from himself and sat up, eying his clever friend with a mix of annoyance and awe. "You always were one to impress me, you know that Hermione?" He grinned a little and for a moment forgot about being upset and confused, instead he reflected on all the time they had adventured with Harry.
Another thought struck him though, had she seen what he'd been hiding for so long? Was that why she wanted some privacy? 'I know Ginny fancies Harry, but she can't be wanting to scold me for liking him too, can she? Hell, I never meant to upset anyone!' Immediately his demeanor changed, his shaggy red head drooping as he let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Hey, what's the matter Ron? If you're not up for a chat, I can wait till tomorrow ... but this is really important, it has to do with the way Ginny's been acting. You're her closest brother, I though you might have some insight ..." she trailed off, not really expecting him to answer. Eyes bulging, then going back to normal, the tall wizard leapt up and hugged Hermione as tightly as he could without suffocating her. His relief was evident, but he didn't see Ginny peaking through a crack in the old wood door, fear and puzzlement flitting across her face.
~-~-~-~-~
The Boy Who Lived stopped abruptly behind Ginny, following her gaze to the crack in Ron's bedroom door. 'Wonder what she's seen, I can't even read her emotions, and I'm usually great at that sort of thing...' "Hey Gin, why don't we chat up in the attic, ya know, for extra privacy. I doubt that ghoul will make too much racket, and won't blab our secrets either." He grinned tentatively, not sure if she could do with a cheering charm or something entirely different.
They made their way quickly up the stairs, not bothering to be quiet now that the ghoul had started throwing things around. Fred and George were mysteriously absent from the house, the lack of explosions and yells making for a very quiet evening. The young redheaded witch seemed to snap out of her shocked state, flicked open the rusted latch, and went to sit on a slightly moth-eaten couch. "So Harry, what's on your mind? You seem really happy about something..." Ginny asked, but thought she already knew the answer. 'Must be wanting to tell me the news of Ron and Hermione getting together. Probably thinks it's about time for those two, but damnit, my brother doesn't deserve her!' her angry thoughts and jealousy unnerved her. Now the young witch didn't know what to think or feel, all she knew now was that Harry wanted to talk, and since she'd always wanted to be closer friends with him, she might as well listen... hard as it was going to be to not blow up in his face. Ginny had apparently inherited the Weasley temper from her mother, and hoped against all hope that she was wrong in her assumptions. A slight creak resonated outside the attic opening, although the ghoul had yet to settle down, so it went unnoticed by Harry and Ginny.