A/N: Somehow I managed to get another chpater done in one day. BAM! that makes me feel good, deep down inside. lol. I'm not sure what you guys will think of this chpater, so please read and review ( if it isn't too much to ask of those of you who just reviewed to chapter 4!). I'm positively giddy with all the feedback I've gotten. Thanks so much.
There may be some fluff soon for whoever it was that asked (sorry, don't have the ability to look) but the whole story is working up to major fluff, can't ruin it! That's what some of those fluffy dreams are for. :)
and Rain 12- they are out of character slightly because so much is changing (hormones, situations, the dreams) and so they are too. But I'd like to think they are mostly the same. :) Gotta take some creative liscence, right? I'm not JK Rowling!
onward and happy reading!
xoxoxoxoxo
July 1
How does this sound?:
Viktor,
I apologize for being rude about you taking Hermione to the Yule Ball. It was childish of me, and I hope you can forgive me for being such a dope. You have to admit that someone with such a frightening appearance going after a much younger woman (after stalking her everyday in the library) who happens to be one of my best friends is cause for anyone to get suspicious. If you promise never to communicate with her again, and stay away from me (when I'm preparing to jump off the astronomy tower to prove my undying devotion to said woman) then I will forget my plans to spread awful rumors about you to Rita Skeeter in hopes of ruining your successful quidditch career.
Signed,
Ronald B. Weasley
or maybe I should cut out the part where I say I was 'childish'?
This whole plan to start accepting Hermione's friendship with "Vicky" is not going so well. I mean, can you blame me? The guy is only the scariest looking seeker in history. Why would anyone assume that he's a friendly guy just hoping for a nice chat and an easy going friendship with a girl who goes to another school? Agh. Okay, so I admit I was really really jealous, but it still doesn't mean that I wasn't acting on behalf of Hermione's safety. If his trollish Bulgarian hands touch a hair on her head...
Okay, maybe I'm taking this a bit extreme. Anyway, I plan on writing a much more proper letter and putting it in the post this afternoon. The things you do when you fancy a girl... she better appreciate this. I only hope it doesn't make Krum more appealing to her instead of putting some focus on me. Bloody mess this is!
"The amount of time you've been spending alone is really starting to make me worry about your health," Ginny said as she entered Ron's bedroom, Fred and George trailing behind her.
"I'm writing a letter to someone, it's sort of important... so whatever this is about, can we make it quick?" Ron asked, anxious to get it ready before he lost his ability to make nice with Krum.
"Well, I figured we'd just do that beat up the twins thing now. I brought you George," Ginny remarked and pushed one of the twins forward.
"First of all, I'm Fred... and what the bloody hell are you going on about?" Fred asked as he stumbled into Ron.
"We promised Mum we'd beat you up, I was only joking though Fred so take it easy. You tell him why we've assembled in his room George," Ginny said making way for the next twin to enter.
"We come to pitch an idea and see what your lovely little person thinks of it. Interested?" George asked.
"No, I'm not. Now bugger off," Ron stated in frustration and rolled his eyes.
"Ah, but it's about young Harry Potter. I know you can't resist when it comes to him. Bloody fascinating friendship if you ask me," Fred informed him and crossed his arms as he waited. Ron bit his lip and sighed. They knew him too well. He had to be included when it came to dealings with Harry Potter, his best friend in the universe.
"Alright, alright. Let me in on the secret?" Ron asked. George nodded and cleared his throat.
"We happen to know that Mr. Potter will be at the headquarters before he turns the sweet sixteen. So, naturally, we want to throw him a bash when the day comes. What say you?" he explained and waited for Ron to reply. Ron stroked his stubbly chin before answering, as if he were deep in thought.
"Only if you guys supply the gag gifts. What's a sweet sixteen without gag gifts?" Ron asked them and smiled broadly.
"I knew you loved us! I knew there was true Weasley blood in you somewhere, Ron. Now we'll be going and leave you and your angsty teenage thoughts alone." Fred responded and enveloped him in a hug.
"Ugh, get off me,"Ron mumbled.
"Yeah, get off him! I want a turn!" George shouted. Ron cowered in fear at his words and prepared for the worst, but George only punched him on the shoulder and disapparated from the room along with Fred.
"I'm going to go tell Hermione about our plans. At least she'll provide the sensible part of the celebration,"Ginny told him.
"He's turning 16. What does he need to be sensible about?" Ron asked. Ginny rolled her eyes and left the room behind her. Ron was definitely acting weird these days. Locked up in his room half the time, and the other half staring at Hermione as if she were going to suddenly punch him in the jaw (not that it wouldn't be hilarious!).
Hermione was sitting at the kitchen table, quill in hand.
"Homework AGAIN?" Ginny groaned as she sat down opposite Hermione. Hermione brought her eyes up to meet Ginny's and sighed.
"Actually, no. I'm writing a letter,"Hermione informed her and sucked on the end of the quill as she thought.
"What is it with bloody letters? Who could you possibly be writing to?" Ginny asked, annoyed.
"Well... you see, I need to write a letter to Viktor. I don't think... I can be friends with him anymore. I'm just to busy with the war... and everything else that's going on. I can't keep up.."Hermione said, her voice quivering.
"Please tell me this isn't about Ron!?" Ginny said as her jaw dropped in shock.
"What would give you that idea? No.. No, it's not about Ron. I'm just concerned about whether my friendship with Krum is what's best for either of us, he's so much older than I am and everything.."Hermione mumbled as if she were wondering herself what she was doing.
"I guess I understand. I just came to tell you about our plans for Harry's birthday. We're going to throw him a surprise party at headquarters for his sixteenth!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly.
"Wow, that sounds like a great idea! He could use a little cheering up, and I don't think he's ever had a proper birthday party," Hermione added with a smile.
"Glad you like it. Maybe you and I can help think up decorations and things for mum and dad to set up. Damn summer rule about not using magic.." Ginny muttered.
"Ginny! Watch the mouth. But I get what you're saying. It would be nice to use magic once and while over the summer. Not much longer to go at Hogwarts.." Hermione said with a sigh and looked back down at her blank parchment.
"I'll let you get back to work. I have letters to write myself! I need to see if Colin will let me borrow his camera again!" Ginny said giggling and ran off. Hermione frowned and stared at the paper again.
Dearest Viktor,
I'm sorry that I've yet to come spend a summer with you in Bulgaria. I wish that it were possible, but unfortunately I doubt it will ever happen. I'm writing this letter to you to say I'm sorry, but I don't think our friendship can continue to go on. You are a lovely person with a heart of gold, but my life is filled with so much craziness and work to be done that I just can't see myself trying to fit in visits or even many letters. You're busy with your quidditch career, and I hope you find much more success and happiness. I won't forget you. Write back if you don't hate me now.
Hermione
She watched the owl fly out the window and let a few tears slide down her cheeks. What was going on?
July 1 and still more to say
Girls like poems don't they? Do you think Hermione would like a poem?
Your hair is frizzy, but I like it
your head it a book with the light lit
I can't write a poem worth shit
okay... maybe not...
Your eyes as green as a fresh pickled toad. Haha! Except her eyes are brown, and kind of murky when she's thinking about something. But they're sort of a brighter color when... nevermind. Poems..
You like to read and that's okay
I really like you anyway
I just insulted you, bloody hell
things are not going so well
okay, last try..
I'm sorry I haven't grown up
you remind me of a cup
filled with the sweetness of honey
I'm afraid I have little money
but if I could buy your smile
it'd be worth while
blowing all my savings on
more precious than a chess pawn
you are to me
okay, so I'm not very good at writing poems. Maybe she'd like analogies?
Hermione is to me as the waves are to the sea, I am to Hermione as a circle is to a triangle.
In other words, I'm meaningless. Hermione's smart, maybe she'd pick up on what I'm trying to say. But I guess not, since I'm a perfect twat. But I can rhyme, even if not in a romantic way. Agghh, this is so frustrating. I've already written the letter. Maybe I should take this one step at a time. But who has time when Hermione is sitting there.... staring at you?
"Hi?" Ron said sheepishly. Hermione looked at the object in Ron's hands and grinned.
"You're using one of my gifts, now I know you really have gone ill," Hermione said and smirked.
"Oh, I forgot... to mention uh, thanks for the journal," Ron stuttered while his face's red color deepened.
"What do you write about?" Hermione asked in curiosity.
"Just... you know, stuff." Ron answered and shifted uneasily.
"It's good to get things off your chest once and awhile, isn't it? You already seem more calm," Hermione stated with a laugh. Ron smiled and shook his head.
"Can't you just be happy I'm using the thing and not start throwing insults disguised as compliments at me?" Ron asked and scratched the back of his head. Hermione remained quiet until...
SMACK!
Ron and Hermione jumped a mile as something hit the window beside them.
"Pig," Ron said and rolled his eyes. Hermione stared dumbfounded as Ron let him in.
"Funny though, I only used Errol today. Who sent a letter out?" Ron asked and grabbed the letter tied around the small owl's legs.
"I did," Hermione admitted shyly and took the letter from Ron's hands.
"Responded to Harry's letter that quick?" Ron asked and watched her twitch.
"Not exactly. It's sort of personal," Hermione told him and blushed. Ron nodded and frowned at her.
"Alright. I'll just go back to writing in your gift," he said and smiled.
Hermione watched him sit back down and sighed to herself as her trembling hands opened Viktor's response.
Beautiful Hermione,
I can't say that I understand your decision. Today has been very confusing for me. First I get letter from your friend Ronald saying he is sorry for not being kind to me and then I get a letter from you saying you are sorry you can't be kind anymore. I have no idea what is going on. Is something wrong between you and mister Weasley? Is there anything I can do to help? I do not want to lose you as a friend, but I do not wish for you to be more than that of a friend to me. I am sorry if there are any problems. Write back if you still wish to speak with me. I wish only the best for you and your friends, especially the Harry Potter.
Viktor Krum
Hermione could imagine exactly how his voice would sound reading the letter.
"Write bahk if you steel vish to speak wit me"
Wait a minute? Ron had written a letter to Krum?
July 1
write write write, rot rot rot. I am no closer to getting anywhere. I can't just come out and say something though, you know? You know what I keep picturing? Hermione telling me how she'd like to give me the chance to see her in her undies. I have gone absolutely mental and it's turned me into a pervy wanker. That's what you get for being a hormonal teen who's best friend and potential date interest is a very seemingly non-hormonal (towards you) girl. She's reading her letter right now. No wait... she's standing up... and..
Ron saw Hermione's shadow fall over his journal and he closed it quickly, looking up to see an expression that he couldn't quite read. That in turn made him gulp and start to sweat just a little at the forehead.
"Why did you write to Viktor?" Hermione asked him. It didn't seem like it was anger in her voice, more like... confusion?
"My near death experience yesterday made me realize that I should be nicer to people. At least to people who haven't done anything wrong to me," Ron joked and shrugged. Hermione frowned and her trembling lips seemed to get angry again. What in the blazes was she thinking?
"Now you realize he hasn't done anything wrong to you! Now you realize this!" Hermione shouted.
"I guess I should have seen that coming," Ron mumbled and stood up to face her.
"Why all of a sudden would you try and make friends with him? Are you trying to figure out what's going on between me and him because I've already told you everything you need to know!" she said forcefully and glared at him.
' Please don't tell me this is because you never liked me but were just being a prat! I've always hoped you secretly liked me too! I thought maybe you were jealous... and it gave me hope' Hermione's mind reeled.
"I am NOT interested in what you and Krum have going on! Write him letters, see if I care! God, I figured that I had matured a bit over the year and that MAYBE I could accept the fact that you wanted to be friends with someone I didn't know that well, who I couldn't protect you from!" Ron tried to explain.
'WHAT DO YOU WANT HERMIONE!?' his thoughts screamed.
"Protect me? I'm a witch! If this is about you and Harry going off and fighting the bad guys, I've been right there along with you taking care of MYSELF! I don't need some hero to come running to my rescue from big bad seeker in Bulgaria! Who by the way, is really sweet!" she snapped and threw her arms down to her side.
' Be my hero Ron! Be everything for me!' she thought to herself. Hormones were definitely raging in her. Raging out of control that is.
" That's not it Hermione! I admit that in 4th year I was full of myself, I can step up and say I was stupid, but in the department of mysteries? God! I've never been so scared in my entire life for me and everyone around me. I could hardly think about anything at all I was struggling so hard in there, but I wasn't so knocked out that I couldn't tell that you were in trouble. It was KILLING me not to help you! THAT'S why I didn't get over the Krum thing right away! How did I know that some day this wasn't going to come back and haunt you? How was I to be sure if he wasn't going to stab you in the back?" Ron let go. He didn't even think about it, he just talked.
"The same way I know you and Harry won't stab me in the back! But you refused to let my judgement be correct! You HAD to think that I was walking blindly into something and I would be helpless when it came time for the fall. Why would you assume that he would hurt me? Why would you assume that no one but you or Harry could be there for me?" Hermione shouted in hurt.
"Because I don't... I don't... I don't know okay!?" Ron answered and looked away. Hermione sighed and unclenched her fists.
"I'm sorry... I know that you, why... why do we have to be this way?" Hermione whispered and looked down at the floor.
"What way?" Ron asked calmly.
"Constantly arguing. We have been since the first day I met you! And it's only gotten worse... and now, now I've said hurtful things that you don't deserve to have thrust upon you," Hermione responded and held back her tears.
"It's not like I was any better. Look, I sent that letter because I wanted some things to be cleared for me, and for you before we head back to Grimmauld place. It's not about playing the hero. That's Harry's job. I'm here to be Ron Weasley, that's it," he stated and ran a hand through his hair to calm his nerves. Hermione looked up at his freckled face and couldn't help but smile. That smile turned into a laugh and she wrapped her arms around him.
"I never hated you, you know that right?" Hermione told him as she squeezed tight.
"Yeah, I never hated you either... so..uh... I'm just gonna....go now," Ron said, losing his previous burst of confidence. Hermione frowned and let go, watching him gather his things.
"See you in the morning?" he added. Hermione sighed and nodded before he headed up to his bedroom. That was one argument she never wanted to repeat. Nor did Ron, who opened up his journal and began to write. It was the only way he knew now to release his stress.
July 1 the longest day in the history of Ron Weasley
I just had the biggest row with Hermione I've ever had with her. Ever.
I think I love her.
But maybe I should sleep on it...
"This birthday party is going to be great," Hermione said excitedly and hung up a decoration.
"It's not his birthday for another 30 days!" Ron said rolling his eyes.
"Shh Ron! I don't need you to protect me," Hermione said glaring at him.
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked her, taking a break from blowing up balloons the muggle way.
"I know you think that Harry might stab me in the back, but I am perfectly capable of choosing my own friends." Hermione scolded. Ron gasped and choked back a groan.
"I never said anything about Harry. Or your frizzy hair!" Ron shouted.
"My hair! What does that have to do with anything?" Hermione yelled back.
"Maybe the fact that I'm like a circle that just goes round and round and is boring as hell to someone who's a triangle like you!" Ron spat back.
"You're saying that you're not exciting enough for me? Just because I like to read?" Hermione asked angrily.
"I never said! God Hermione! Did you ever think that maybe I LIKE YOU!? The way you remind me of a cup of honey and I like you more than chess, but I can't tell you all this because I can't right a bloody poem!!" Ron screamed in frustration. Hermione and Ron stared at each other for a few minutes and she planted a kiss on his lips.
"I like you too. Definitely more than chess. I just... want you to be honest with me, always.." Hermione whispered. Ron nodded and grabbed her hand as he stared into her eyes.
"I...can do that" he whispered back.
Ron woke up in the middle of the night and stared up at his ceiling. Things were not going exactly as he hoped they would, and this dreaming thing was getting more and more frequent. Hermione being around way driving him crazy, but all he wanted was to let her make him crazy. Confusing? You bet. He grabbed his journal and took one quick note.
July 2 around midnight
Be honest.
Hermione woke up crying for the second night in a row, this time because she knew what she wanted but not how to get it.
"I want Ron..." she whispered sadly and wrapped the covers around her to try and supply the warmth that was missing. Unfortunately, the cotton blankets were no replacement for the arms of Ronald Weasley.