A/N: Thanks so much to everyone reading along! I so appreciate all of the feedback - please keep letting me know what you think along the way. Comments and reviews are the fuel that keep authors going!
Accio-broom is awesome as always and has been a massive help with this story - thanks Accio!
Let's keep it rolling - things are heating up for our favorite friends, but will an interloper ruin everything? Read on!
September 15, 2012, 7:05pm
"Hermione!"
The cry went up from everyone in the living room when she popped through the door and gave a twirl. I followed her in as Harry and Ginny budged over on the leather sectional couch to make space for us to sit.
"Hi, everyone! Sorry I'm late, just trying to get rid of this headache!" Hermione said.
"Don't worry about it, we've all been there," Ginny replied as Hermione sat down next to her. I plopped down next to Hermione. Across the coffee table were Katie, Alicia, Oliver, and Lee, all sitting in armchairs that we had rearranged into a big circle.
"Ron, that lasagna…" Katie said, winking at me and giving a chef's kiss as the rest of our friends murmured in agreement.
"Oh, thanks, it's my mother's recipe," I replied, looking away from Katie. I was never one to easily pick up on the subtle advances of the opposite sex, but even I could tell that Katie had been flirting with me a lot lately. She seemed like a nice woman, and we had been working together since I started at Cisco, but she just wasn't my type.
"I think Mom taught you and only you how to make it. Little Ronniekins always loved helping mummy in the kitchen!" Ginny said.
"You know, you're probably right. On the other hand, poor Harry is going to slowly starve to death starting in a few months if he has to deal with your cooking all the time."
"She's actually a great cook," Harry said, rubbing Ginny's back.
"It's okay, Harry, we'll talk later," I whispered loudly. "I know you're under duress right now…"
"Anyway," Hermione said, giving me a quick backhand to the shoulder, "what have we missed so far?"
"Not much," Alicia responded. "We've just played one game of Pandemic and finished half of the wine." She held up the empty bottles as proof before grabbing a half-full bottle and offering glasses to me and Hermione.
"Sure, just a little though," Hermione said.
"Same," I answered.
"Oliver was just telling us about our new boss, Dr. Dumbledore. He said he's worked with him in the London branch before transferring here," Alicia said.
"Yeah, he's starting in a couple weeks. Kind of a strange guy, but he's nice enough. He likes to talk in axioms all the time, which is weird but also kind of interesting. Odd fashion choices, too. He certainly doesn't look like a manager, but he's got a brilliant mind."
Lee smirked and wagged his finger in Oliver's direction. "As long as he doesn't interfere and change the goals every week like our current boss, then I think he's bound to be an upgrade."
"Yeah, Umbridge is the worst," Katie offered. "Fortunately, we don't have to deal with her for much longer."
I shook my head, begging them all to stop. "Guys, guys…I'm excited about the new boss, too, but…we talk about work all the time. Maybe tonight can be about something other than that building?"
"You know what, Ron's right," Ginny said, a wicked smile creeping onto her face. "I have an idea. Let's play a little game I like to call 'Truth or Dare Minus Dare Plus Truth'. It can get kind of juicy; you're going to love it."
"Wait, minus dare plus truth? So…you just ask us embarrassing questions all night?" Harry clarified.
"Well, no, not just me. Whoever answers the previous question gets to ask the next question of anyone he or she chooses."
"Ugh, Ginny, you're so nosy." I leaned back onto the couch with a huff.
"Ron, just because you're in the world's longest dry spell and you have the innocuous romantic past of a Tibetan monk doesn't mean the rest of us don't have interesting lives."
"Harry, are you really sure you want to go through with this wedding?" I asked.
"More than ever," Harry responded with a large grin before kissing Ginny on the cheek.
"Okay, I've got a good one," Lee said. "Oliver, you're upper management. What do you all really think of the new Phoenix project? Honestly, it's bullshit, right? It'll never work."
Oliver sat up straight and cleared his throat. "As the senior member of our team and liaison to management, I feel it is my duty to inform you all that we thoroughly back this creative and synergistic new direction for our branch. The benefits of the project will be massive once they are completely realized."
"Boooooo," Lee jeered, giving him two thumbs down as everyone else grumbled. "Corporate talk boooooo!"
Oliver held up his hands and smiled. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry, what do you want me to say? I do think it could be a great addition, but…I acknowledge that the workload will be substantial."
"Only kind of better."
"Anyway, it's my turn," Oliver said. "Alicia, first kiss?"
Alicia groaned as she took a sip of her wine. "Blaise Zabini, sixth grade, behind the school dumpsters. Everything about it was gross and it was never repeated."
"Fair enough, I think we've all been there. Your turn," Lee said with a chuckle.
"Umm…Hermione. You lived in L.A. for years…ever hook up with anyone famous?"
Hermione blushed, and I sank further back into the couch cushions, wishing I could disappear. "Oh, I don't know…"
"C'mon," Alicia prodded. "We're all friends here, and there has to have been someone."
"Hmm, well…does one of the Weird Sisters count?"
Everyone leaned forward in their chairs, eyes wide as murmurs of shock spread throughout the room.
"What?! No way! Which one?"
"I believe I'm legally obligated to keep that part a secret," Hermione said, looking down and fidgeting with the hem of her dress.
"And…how was it?"
"Umm…four out of ten."
"Ha! That's so cool!"
"It wasn't, really…not my proudest moment, I promise you."
It struck me as odd that Hermione was acting so reserved. She usually presented her exciting Hollywood lifestyle with a certain swagger and bombast, but she almost seemed ashamed at that moment. I found myself wishing that everyone would just clear out and leave her alone.
"Okay, okay, Hermione's turn," Lee said.
"Ummm, okay, Ginny. Best kiss of your life."
"Well, there was that one with Anthony Corner back in high school…" Ginny started, elbowing Harry in the ribs. Harry rolled his eyes and pretended to stand up until Ginny stopped him. "Only kidding! It was my first kiss with Harry back in my sophomore year. Best of my life, and it always will be."
Harry turned back to Ginny and beamed at her, giving her a peck on the lips. "You're up, my dear," he said.
Ginny scanned the room with a devilish grin. "Okay…Ron. Tell us what happened with Lavender."
My eyes glanced left, catching an uneasy look appearing instantly across Hermione's face as I sat up straight and glowered over at Ginny. Behind her, Harry looked away and gulped. The room was silent.
"Why would you ask that?" I growled.
"Well, what else do I have to ask about? She's the only serious girlfriend you've ever had, and I've never heard the story of how it ended."
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend before, Ron," Katie said, her eyebrows raised.
"He did. Back in high school. They were the talk of the school for a few months until one day…poof, it just ended. I never found out why at the time."
I felt everyone's eyes on me as I tried to maintain my cool, seething internally at Ginny for bringing up something that she knew was a sensitive subject.
"Fine," I replied. "If you're so fucking curious."
November 3, 2000, 10:35pm
As soon as he walked into Ruby Tuesdays, Ron's teammates assaulted him with high fives. Harry trailed in behind him to a cheer from the rest of the students, all sitting crammed into booths around the edges of the restaurant's back party room, which was permanently reserved by the team and their guests after Friday night football games. Ron looked back at his friend with a wide smile as he wound through the crowd to a table filled with platters of burgers, bowls of french fries, and pitchers of soda.
"Can't believe we finally took down Novi!" Ron said to Harry, who nodded as he took a bite of a french fry.
The Northville Mustangs had just defeated the Novi Wildcats by two touchdowns. It was the team's first win against their rivals in nearly a decade, and it seemed like the entire school had turned out for the victory party. Harry had scored twice in the winning effort, and Ron, who had made the varsity team in his sophomore year, had pitched in on defense, almost intercepting a pass down the stretch and helping to preserve the win in the fourth quarter.
"I know. They crushed us the last couple of years. It feels good to win that one," Harry said, loading up a plate with a burger and fries.
He and Ron poured themselves drinks and walked over to a booth in the corner of the room, receiving innumerable slaps on the back along the way. They sat down on the vinyl-covered foam seats across from Hermione and Dean Thomas.
"Two burgers, Ron?" Hermione said, raising one eyebrow at him.
"Hey, I burned a lot of calories tonight," Ron said, beaming back at her through a mouthful of fries. "I need to reload."
"You're going to reload your gut if you're not careful," she said, reaching around the side of the table and poking him in his stomach. He snatched her hand as she tried to pull away and tickled her wrist, causing her to giggle and nearly spill her water all over the table. Harry's hand shot out to stabilize her glass as he glanced at Dean, who squeezed himself against the wall of the booth and kept glancing back and forth between Ron and Hermione.
"Are they always like this?" Dean complained.
Harry groaned and nodded as he peeked over at Ron and Hermione, who were still trying to find excuses to grab at each other across the table.
Ron released Hermione and leaned back against the squishy cushions, taking a long swig of soda from his glass. For the first time in his life, he felt as though his life was going the way he wanted. The trio were in their junior year at Northville High and had remained best friends throughout their time at school. Hermione was still taking some honors and AP courses without Ron and Harry, but they never stopped spending time together outside of the classroom. Ron, now in his second year on the football team, had become a starter at the cornerback position, largely due to Hermione helping him practice over the last two years.
Since his promotion to the varsity team, Ron had developed a newfound sense of confidence that, if he was honest with himself, sometimes bordered on arrogance. Every Friday, he would be so excited to strut through the halls of the school, clad in his football jersey and his ripped jeans, boisterously laughing and joking with other football players. Harry was clearly glad to have Ron on the team with him and probably didn't miss all the moping he had to suffer through when Ron wasn't playing, but Ron knew that his friend could sense a change in him. It worried him to think that Harry didn't enjoy being around him as much, but he did often seem irritated, especially when Hermione was around. Not that he would blame a guy for flirting a little, but Ron could tell that Harry was starting to feel like a third wheel at times. Ron would tease her, tickle her, and flirt with her between every class. She didn't seem to mind, but Harry seemed annoyed at every occurrence. Wouldn't it be so much easier if Hermione would just agree to be his girlfriend and they could make it official and start dating? Patience, Weasley. We're not there yet.
"Harry, did you see that last pass I broke up to stall their drive? Their quarterback was sure he had me beat, I could see it in his eyes. Turns out he didn't account for those Weasley hops, though!" Ron bragged, shoving his burger into his mouth.
"I did, Ron. Remember, it happened right in front of me?" Harry replied.
"Oh yeah. Probably my best play of the year. Guess I'm just clutch in the fourth quarter like that."
Hermione rolled her eyes but continued to smile at him as she took a sip of water through her straw. Ron could tell that she had a tendency to tune out when he and Harry talked about football, but he appreciated that she tried to understand as best she could.
After draining all of his soda in a few gulps, Ron belched and stood up from the table. "Anyone else need a refill?"
"We just sat down," Harry scoffed.
Ron shrugged and meandered back to the drink table, refilling his cup with Coke and snagging a few more fries that he popped right into his mouth.
"Hey, Ron," he heard from behind him.
He spun around as he swallowed and came face to face with Lavender Brown. She was a head shorter than him, dressed in a tight, midriff-baring magenta halter top that accentuated her cleavage and a pair of Mudd flared jeans.
Damn, puberty was extremely kind to her.
"Hey, how's it going, Lavender?"
"You played super well tonight." She batted her long eyelashes at him as she rocked back and forth on her heels.
"Oh, thanks. Yeah, really great to beat those guys, huh?"
"That play you made at the end of the game? Genius. I think you single-handedly saved the game for the entire team."
"Good timing, I guess…"
"More than just good timing. It was pure talent. Not to mention a clear dedication to staying in shape."
Wait, what? Is she…?
"Well, football is hard work. Makes it kind of easy to get ripped." Ron grinned as he flexed his bicep. Lavender's eyes were drawn to his muscled arm and she flashed him a seductive smile.
What is she doing? We've never really talked before. Is this what I think it is?
"Definitely ripped. Anyway, are you here with anyone?"
"Not really, I suppose. I was just sitting over there with Harry, Hermione, and Dean, but…you know, I'm here as a part of the team."
"Are you…well, I'll just be blunt. Are you and Hermione dating?"
"No, we're just friends."
"Good," she said, throwing her arms around his neck as she propelled herself forward. Her body pressed up against his as her lips crashed into his open mouth. His eyes flew open in shock as her tongue probed his gumline, rolling along the inside of his lower lip and investigating the contours of his molars. Once his brain caught up with him, he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, enjoying the sensation of her breasts pushing against his chest. His tongue slithered into her mouth and wrestled with hers as she clawed at his back. He could sense the eyes of his teammates on him, some hooting their approval at the new couple. A rush of adrenaline coursed through his veins and a lightness in his chest made him feel invincible.
As they broke apart, Ron turned back to the table where he had been sitting, surprised to find it empty. He surveyed the room, looking for his friends. His chest tightened and guilt washed over him as he saw a bushy head of brown hair sweeping around the corner and out of the party room, followed closely by his bespectacled best friend. For a split second, he thought about pushing Lavender aside and running after her. But then Lavender hungrily devoured his lips again and a crowd formed around them, ooh-ing and aah-ing over his romantic conquest. After a few short seconds of doubt, he gave in to the feeling of bliss and redoubled his efforts to reach his tongue all the way back to her tonsils.
Oh well, Hermione had her chance. I can't be expected to wait forever. Time to move on.
November 6, 2000, 8:20am
As he walked down the hall on Monday morning, arm looped over Lavender's shoulder, Ron was brimming with self-confidence. One of the hottest girls in the junior class was tucked under his shoulder, and she had already kissed him four times that morning. During their first hug of the morning, his hand had even grazed her breast, and she had just laughed about it. Having a girlfriend really suited him.
"Nice pull, Weasley!" one of his teammates shouted at him from across the hall. Ron nodded at him with a superior smirk as Lavender giggled and wrapped her arm around his waist. Between the number of people who had seen them making out at the restaurant after the game and the weekend high school rumor mill, everyone knew that they were dating by the time they showed up on Monday morning.
They came to a stop in front of Ron's locker, Lavender giving him one last kiss before hurrying off to her homeroom. As he was loading his backpack with books for the day, Harry and Hermione came around the corner, deep in conversation as they approached him. Hermione glanced up and caught sight of him, and her face turned bright red. She didn't say a word as she walked past him and dropped her bag in front of her locker.
"Good weekend?" Harry asked him.
"Yeah, it was great. Super lazy. I don't think I woke up until noon either day. Plus I helped my mom make lasagna, so now I know how to make it anytime I want."
"You think you're going to make a lasagna just for yourself sometime?"
"Maybe someday…"
"Anyway," Harry said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "you need to talk to Hermione. I think it's great that you and Lavender are together, really, but…well, can you honestly tell me that nothing was going on between you and Hermione before all that happened?"
"What do you mean? It's my life, I can do what I want," Ron replied, still talking in a boorish, loud tone.
"Shh, dude, she's right there. Are you serious right now? You're telling me that I've had to deal with your incessant flirting for months because you weren't interested?"
"I mean, maybe a little. But it's Frizz. In case you haven't noticed, she's kind of a chore. Playing around is one thing, but could you actually imagine dating her?"
"Personally, I can't; she's like a sister to me. But your relationship with her has always been different, and it really seemed like it was…progressing recently."
"Dunno what you're talking about. Just tell her I have a girlfriend now and I'm not interested, simple as that."
"C'mon man, don't put me in the middle here. I'm not your mailman. Just…talk to her. Please? She's still your friend, right?"
"Ugh, never took her for the sensitive type. Fine, I'll talk to her."
Harry nodded at him and strolled away, leaving Ron glancing over at Hermione and wondering what to say to her. Of course he had thought that they were moving towards something new, something more exciting. But after months of flirting and dropping hints, nothing more had happened, and he didn't feel as though it was his obligation to continue chasing her with no endgame in sight. When another opportunity came along, he wasn't going to let it slip through his fingers. Over the weekend, he reminded himself over and over again that they weren't actually dating and therefore he hadn't done anything wrong. Still, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that he would've been furious if Hermione had done the same thing to him.
He took a deep breath and slung his backpack over his shoulder before striding down the hall and leaning against the locker next to hers.
"Hey, Frizz! I wasn't able to finish the math homework over the weekend, do you think you could help?"
She didn't look up at him, instead remaining laser-focused on the contents of her bag. "No, Ron, you have to do your own homework."
"What do you mean? You're always willing to help me." Ron tried to reach out and poke her in the side, but she slapped his hand away and gave him an icy stare.
"I said no. And how many times do I have to ask before you stop calling me Frizz? It's not my name."
"But it's a term…one of those…terms of…"
"A term of endearment. But a term of endearment is only endearing if the person to whom it's referring thinks it's endearing, too. And I think it's massively irritating!"
Ron shrugged and flashed a crooked grin at her. "Whatever you say, Frizz."
She glared at him and growled before spinning around on her heel and stalking away down the hallway.
Well, I tried. Can't blame a guy for giving it a shot. The ball's in her court now.
December 31, 2000, 11:45pm
Fifteen minutes until midnight and the year 2001. The party was raging at Harry and Sirius' house, hip hop blasting from the stereo speakers in the living room. All of the junior football players were there, most of them with their girlfriends in tow. Ron was sitting on an armchair with Lavender in his lap, recounting stories of the team's run through the state playoffs on their way to winning the championship.
"Without that play, the season would've been lost. We never would have made it that far," Dean said, remembering Harry's game-winning touchdown run at the end of November.
"Nah, it was a team effort. A running back always gives credit to his offensive line," Harry replied.
"Typical Potter, so modest," Ron teased. "By the way, so cool of Sirius to let us hang out here. This is the best house for a party."
"Those are the benefits of living with a cool godfather, I suppose."
Ron looked around the room as he took a sip of his Coke. The background roar of conversation and music made for the perfect party. Forty people were crammed into the living room and kitchen, all talking, dancing, or shoving pizza into their mouths. A game of soda pong was set up on the kitchen table where members of the defense were facing off against each other for bragging rights. Ron wished they could play real beer pong, but as laid back as Sirius was, he wasn't going to allow that in his house.
Everyone seemed to be having a great time waiting to ring in the new year. Everyone except for one girl seated on the sofa in the front sitting room who looked completely uninterested in the party, her nose in a copy of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Ron's eyes fixed on her as he contemplated the current state of their relationship.
To say that Hermione had been distant recently would be an understatement. Even though they were in several classes together, they barely talked at all anymore. Since the weekend he started dating Lavender, Hermione had been essentially absent from his life. He had a feeling that Lavender had a lot to do with the change, but he was having trouble puzzling out the dynamic. Was she mad? Upset? Maybe even jealous?
During their lunchtime, Ron had taken to sitting with the other members of the team while Harry and Hermione sat together on the other side of the cafeteria. The two of them still seemed to be getting along well, but Harry wouldn't tell him what they talked about, so he had no idea how she was doing. It bothered him because they used to be so close and it felt odd to not talk with her each day, but he figured it wasn't his fault. He wasn't avoiding her; she could come talk with him any time she liked.
Seeing her sitting by herself made his chest tighten, though. As he swallowed, he realized his throat was dry. Part of him wanted to march up to her and coax her into joining the fun, but he doubted that she would receive that invitation well. Another part of him, a part that he sometimes wished would just leave him alone, wanted to go sit down next to her, apologize, and spend the rest of the night at her side. Even though he wasn't really sure what he'd be apologizing for.
All of a sudden, she snapped her book shut, stood up, put on her coat, and walked out the front door.
Why is she leaving before midnight? That's the whole point of coming to a New Years party.
He shifted Lavender off of his lap and excused himself, telling her that he needed to go to the bathroom. Instead, he dashed to the front of the house and ran outside to try to catch Hermione before she left.
"Hey!"
Hermione spun around and stared back toward the house. Once she saw him, she turned and strode to her car even faster.
"Frizz, wait!"
"Don't call me that!"
"Okay, I'm sorry, Hermione. Hang on a second, where are you going?"
She inserted the key in the handle to unlock it. "Where does it look like I'm going?"
"Why would you leave right before midnight? The countdown, the ball dropping…it's fun stuff."
"This party has been anything but fun for me."
As she tried to open the car door, Ron pushed it back shut with his hand. She shot him a fierce look and tried to knock his hand away, but he was too strong. "What the hell, Ron? Just get off of my car!"
"Not until you tell me what's bothering you."
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not a football player. I couldn't care less about football. So why would I come to a party with a bunch of football players?"
Ron jumped up and down a few times for warmth. Why hadn't he grabbed his jacket on the way out? "To hang out with me and Harry? C'mon, Hermione, just because we're on the football team doesn't mean we can't all be friends anymore."
"I'm perfectly good friends with Harry."
"And me, right?"
"You probably don't want to ask me that."
"What do you mean?"
Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "You really want to do this now? Right here?"
"Do what? I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Okay, here goes. Honestly, I feel like I don't even know who you are anymore. If we were meeting for the first time right now, and my first impression of you was based solely on this party, I would despise you. I would think, 'Hmm, he must just be one of those dumb, meat-headed jocks looking for a high five, a cheerleader girlfriend, and help with his homework. And now he wants to be friends? Hard pass.' You promised me, Ron. You promised me that you'd never turn into that…that stereotype. But I guess the jersey changes you, doesn't it?"
"I'm still me, Frizz, I-"
"Hermione. Not Frizz."
"Fine, Hermione. I haven't changed, I just…have more going on now. Besides, you know how much I wanted this…you were the one who helped me get here."
"You're right, I was. So maybe this is my fault, too. Because you have changed, Ron. And you know what? It's fine. If that's what you want, if this is who you want to be now, I'm not going to try to stop you. But don't expect to come to me when you need help or when you feel like you want to be friends again, because those days are over."
Ron couldn't move. It was as though all the air had been squeezed from his lungs. Blood was pulsating through his head as the horrible realization washed over him. The portion of his heart that still felt something for her roared with disapproval, begging him to make things right again. How had he not realized how much their relationship had deteriorated over the last several months?
"Hermione…I'm sorry, I…I didn't know that's what you thought of me."
A sigh escaped her lips, her warm breath swirling into the oblivion of the cold night air. Her eyes were turning red, tears forming in the corners as she sucked her lower lip into her mouth to keep it from quivering. "I know that's not the real you. At least I hope it's not. I just…I don't know anymore. And…I really miss you. The old you."
His heart broke as the tears tracked down her cheeks. It took every ounce of his strength not to pull her into a long hug and hold her as long as she needed. He knew it still wouldn't matter, though. All he could do now was try to show her that he wasn't a lost cause.
Trudging through a thin layer of snow, he took a few steps closer to her. "I really miss you, too. I didn't realize it had gotten to that point. I mean, I should've…I never meant to…"
"It's alright. I know."
"Stay. We'll talk. I'd really like to, honestly."
Hermione looked up at the night sky, squirming as she leaned against her car. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"It is, I promise. Please, Hermione."
The front door of the house flew open and Ron twisted around, frustrated at the interruption.
"Ron? Won-Won? Come back inside, you must be freezing! Plus, the ball is going to drop in a minute or two and I need my midnight kiss!" Lavender shouted, shooting a murderous scowl at Hermione before slamming the door shut again.
Hermione wiped her cheeks with her wool mittens, shaking her head and adjusting her hat. "Wouldn't want to keep her waiting. It is almost midnight, after all."
"I don't…look, we can still-"
But she held up a hand to stop him as she pulled open the driver's side door. "No, you go. It's fine."
Disappointment and regret coursed through him as he watched her get in her car and adjust her mirrors before turning on the engine. Furious with himself and with his girlfriend, he stalked back up the driveway towards the house. As soon as he walked through the door, Lavender pulled him into a big hug. Everyone was gathered around the television; the ball had already started its descent.
"You almost missed it!" she said, hooking her fingers into the belt loops of his jeans.
In unison, everyone chanted. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Lavender pulled his face towards hers, inserting her tongue deep into the recesses of his mouth. His eyes remained open, however, focused outside the glass front door, watching as a set of tail lights sped off down the street.
January 3, 2001, 8:20am
The halls of Northville High were a depressing sight. It was the first day back after the holiday break, and it was plainly evident that nobody wanted to be there. Even the teachers' shoulders were slumped as they trooped back into their classrooms.
Ron had spent the last two days unable to get his conversation with Hermione out of his head. Her words echoed through his mind constantly, providing a throbbing reminder of how he had let her down. Maybe she was right, maybe he had changed. The group of people he hung out with was completely different than it had been previously. Clearly he hadn't been spending as much time with her. But it was hard for him to tell if he was really acting that abnormally. He knew two things for certain, though. First, Hermione wouldn't have said something unless it was quite noticeable, and second, he did miss her very much.
At one point, he had even called Harry to get his take. In typical Potter fashion, he had simply laughed, made a joke about how Ron and Hermione would definitely end up together in the end, and hung up, saying he had to go finish cleaning up after a houseful of disgusting football players.
So Ron sauntered towards his locker, not knowing what to do or how to solve his problem.
"Won-Won!"
At that point, he knew he had about three seconds until she bowled into him and started her assault on his lips. It was her standard greeting any time they'd been apart for more than twenty-four hours, and he was tired of it. Sighing, he turned around and plastered a smile on his face.
"Hey, Lav. Did you have a good rest of your br-"
Lavender made sure he was unable to finish his sentence by sticking her tongue into his mouth and practically groping him in front of his locker. Making out with her used to give him a feeling of empowerment that was second to none; the more people that saw them together, the better. But lately, it had become boring and repetitive. And wet. She had to know that people don't enjoy going to class slathered in someone else's saliva, right?
"You're not wearing your jersey today!" she exclaimed as she pulled away from him, running a finger around her lips to even out her smeared mauve lipstick.
"What? Oh, yeah. I don't know, football season is over, right? Seemed a little silly."
"What do you mean? The whole team was supposed to wear them today as a celebration of winning the state title! Now nobody will know that you were part of that historic team!"
"I don't really care if everyone knows. I know and my teammates know. I play to help the team, and I'm sure they don't care what I'm wearing."
"But I want everyone to know that my man is a star athlete!" Lavender slithered her hands up his chest and pinched his cheeks.
"Okay, well, sorry. I forgot. It's really not a big deal. It's just football."
"Just football?" An incredulous, slack-jawed stare followed. "You are a big man on campus around here. You shouldn't be afraid to flaunt it!"
Ron shook his head and tried to turn back to his locker to collect his books, only to be spun back around by his girlfriend. Lavender put on a pouty face, which quickly morphed into a saccharine smile. "Oh, don't worry, it's fine! I can't stay mad at you!" She launched herself at him, jumping and wrapping her legs around his waist in one smooth motion, forcing him to drop his backpack to keep her from tumbling to the ground. Peppering his face with kisses, she giggled and dropped her feet back to the floor before stooping to collect her bag.
"See you after homeroom?"
"Right. See you then."
Lavender bounced away and met up with her friends as Ron stood frozen, trying to calm himself before class. Frustration brewing in the pit of his stomach, he slammed his locker door shut and stalked down the hallway.
I've got to get out of this. I just can't do it anymore.
As he turned the corner, he spotted Hermione coming from the opposite direction, walking straight at him. She was looking down, reading from her planner as she got closer to him. He swallowed and ran a hand through his unwashed hair before letting his eyes roam as he tried to seem inconspicuous.
When she was only a few steps away, she snapped the book shut and looked up, her eyes remaining coolly unemotional as he fixed her gaze. Ron pulled his hand out of his pocket and gave her a small wave, to which she didn't respond at all.
Just as she was about to pass him, she turned her head and squinted. "You've got some lipstick on your cheek," she told him as she swept around the corner.
Fucking seriously?!
All of the muscles in Ron's body tensed simultaneously, and he was sure that the bomb in his chest was about to explode. He slipped into the nearby men's room and looked in the mirror, incensed to find huge lip prints covering his face. Shaking with rage, he snatched a paper towel, wetted it in the sink, and frantically rubbed the red smears away. His jaw clenched, he whipped the paper towel into the trash, turned, and flung the bathroom door back open. It bounced off the tiled wall with a loud crack, startling everyone walking through that portion of the hallway.
"What's gotten into you?" Harry asked as Ron marched fuming out of the bathroom and entered their homeroom.
"Tell you later."
February 16, 2001, 11:45am
The weekend couldn't come soon enough. Never had Ron more strongly felt the need to have some distance from school and, more specifically, from his girlfriend. It was only a few short hours away, but as he saw Lavender walking down the hall toward him, it felt like it could take a year.
Valentine's Day had been a nightmare. After a nice dinner at the best restaurant he could afford, Lavender had insisted that the two of them drive back to school and park in the back corner of the student lot, shaded from any passersby. As soon as they had arrived, she had pulled him into the backseat and straddled him, furiously invading his mouth and reaching for his belt buckle. He had unsuccessfully tried multiple times to stop her before he finally had to physically pull her off of his lap. Glaring back at him, she had complained that she wanted to lose her virginity on Valentine's Day to "the best man in the world". A long fight had ensued, Lavender bemoaning the fact that she just knew that he had never actually found her pretty and Ron imploring her that he simply wasn't ready. That said, he knew that the real reason had more to do with his waning attraction to her.
Ever since their date, being around her had gone from mildly irritating to intolerable. She took every opportunity to remind him that he had disappointed her, and it was giving him a constant headache.
"Oh look, Parvati, it's Sir Chastity the white knight!" she said to her friend, just loud enough so that Ron could hear. The two girls giggled as they walked past him, Lavender blowing him kisses along the way.
Seriously, what the fuck do I have to do here? I'm probably the first guy in history to turn down sex with a hot girl on principle, and it's only causing me more grief.
"Are you coming to lunch?" Lavender called back to him, stopping just across the hall at her locker.
"I don't know, Lav. I think I may just skip it and try to get some more work done. I'm starting to fall behind in Social Studies and I could really use the time."
"You'd rather study than eat lunch with me?"
"That's not what I said. Why do you always twist my words?"
Lavender put her fingers in front of her in the shape of a "W" and returned to her conversation with Parvati.
Ron shook his head and glanced around, desperate for anyone else to talk with. At that moment, Hermione came around the corner, walking toward him as she talked with Harry.
"Hey guys, hey Hermione," Ron said as they approached. Harry waved back to him, but Hermione remained mute, barely acknowledging him.
"Aha, so that's the issue here." Lavender was staring at him, her hand resting on her popped hip.
"I'm sorry?"
"That's what this is all about, isn't it? You like her better than me, don't you?"
Maybe. Actually yes, definitely.
"What are you talking about? I just said hello!" he complained.
Harry and Hermione walked past, both looking eager to escape that section of the hallway.
"You know what, Parvati?" Lavender said, turning back to her friend. "Maybe we should give that nerd a little present?"
Parvati's lips curled up, shooting a mischievous look back at Lavender. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well, I've heard that nerds like it when you write "nerd" across their locker door. It helps other nerds find them more easily so they can hang out together and compare inhalers or something."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Ron's words echoed down the hallway, prompting Harry to come running back to help monitor his friend's temper. Hermione followed him at first, but stopped short of the scene, not wanting to throw any more gasoline on the fire.
A challenging look blazed from Lavender's face toward Ron, her eyes narrowed as she stepped in his direction. "What did you just say to me?"
Ron took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down to avoid saying something he would regret. Harry was standing right behind him, one hand on Ron's arm just in case. "What's wrong with you? Hermione hasn't done anything to you."
"Not directly. But I know how close you two were before. I'm sure she wishes she was your girlfriend, doesn't she?"
"I haven't spent any time with her in the last several months because I've been with you all the time!"
"Well, I'm so sorry you've had to deal with me, Won-Won! I'm so sorry for loving you unconditionally!"
"Since when did I say I didn't like being with you?"
"You didn't have to say it! It's written all over your face! You barely kiss me back anymore!"
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "That's not true, Lav."
"It's definitely true. We've been drifting apart for a while. And I'm quite sure I know why." Lavender glanced back at Hermione, her gaze trying to cut through the red-faced girl like a laser.
"Can we just talk privately? This doesn't have anything to do with her and-"
"Save it!" Lavender exclaimed, poking her finger into his chest. "You never were a good liar!"
"Hermione is my friend, and whether or not we talk is not up to you. But I have no idea where this is coming from because you know that I've barely talked with her recently!"
"But I bet you'd like to talk with her, wouldn't you Ron? Maybe even more than talk! I bet you'd fuck her on Valentine's Day!"
If there was anyone in the junior class that wasn't watching the fight before, their eyes were on them in an instant. A throbbing sensation pounded through Ron's skull. He should've been embarrassed, but he was too blindingly furious to feel any other emotion. Instead, he exploded. "You and me? We're through! You're absolutely insane!"
"You're a complete asshole!" Lavender turned on her heel and linked arms with Parvati as the two stormed away toward the cafeteria.
Ron turned to Harry, still breathing quickly due to a rush of adrenaline, his brow furrowed. "What just happened?"
"Umm, I think you guys just broke up," his friend replied, patting him on the shoulder. "You okay?"
Ron shrugged and closed his locker. His face was burning as everyone continued to stare, gawking at the latest relationship casualty at Northville High. "You know, I think I am. Hang on, though, there's something I have to do."
Rushing down the hall, his eyes scanned the throng of students for Hermione. He spotted her near the library, hurrying away from the inquisitive ogling and whispers of her fellow classmates.
"Hey, Frizz!"
"Not now!" she replied, picking up her pace to try to keep in front of him.
"I'm sorry! I had no idea she'd say-"
"I said not now, Ron!"
"Frizz, please wait!"
Hermione stopped in the middle of the hallway and pulled Ron into the library, tucking the two of them behind a bookcase for privacy. "First of all, it's not Frizz. Absolutely not. Secondly, that was positively humiliating! I'll have half of the school thinking I'm some kind of homewrecker by the end of the day!"
"I know, she's nuts, I'm so sorry. It's over, I'm not seeing her anymore, I promise."
"That's great for you, Ron, but now I'm in the middle of it! And I have to deal with the fallout…probably even more than you!"
"I'll talk to her, tell her to leave you alone…"
"What? Do you actually think that would help matters in this situation? Are you crazy?"
"Hmm, yeah, you're right, that wouldn't work. But…maybe Harry can talk with her? They got to know each other…a little. I'll talk to him…"
Hermione dropped her head into her hands, rubbing her eyes with the tips of her fingers. She exhaled, her cool breath hitting his face. "I think you've done enough. Just…I need some space. And time."
Careful to look both ways to make sure nobody was watching, she stepped back towards the library exit.
"Hermione," Ron said, stopping her in her tracks. "I'm really sorry. For everything. I'd like a chance to sit down and talk…and apologize properly, too."
She stood in the doorway facing away from him, her fingers twisting in and out of the strap of her backpack. "Not yet. Someday, maybe. We'll see."
September 15, 2012, 7:20pm
I sat frozen on the couch, not sure how much to reveal. Of all of the memories in my life, that was one that I had hoped to never have to relive.
"Well…we're waiting!" Ginny said, pointing to her watch.
"Honestly, it just didn't work out. We were different people," I answered.
"We know it didn't work out, we want details! That's the point of this game!"
"I don't know what to tell you, Gin. She was interested and I thought she was pretty. We dated for a few months, and by the time it was over, I just realized that we had nothing in common."
"I seem to recall hearing through the grapevine that you dumped her in front of everyone!"
I was growing warm under the collar, and I knew that Hermione must have been as well. I wished I knew what it would take to get Ginny to just drop it and move on. "Admittedly, that was not my proudest moment. I wanted to break up with her, but I never meant for things to be so…public. I wish we had been able to talk, just the two of us. But it didn't work out that way."
"We've all either dumped someone or been dumped in a less than ideal manner, Ron," Katie sympathized. "Believe me, it's not just you."
Ginny stared at me from further down the couch, one eyebrow raised. "So…did you guys ever…you know?" She made a crude gesture with her hands, leaving no doubt what she was referring to.
"Jesus Christ, Gin…"
"What? It's a legitimate question! You were juniors in high school, you certainly wouldn't have been the only ones."
I glared back at her, fury pouring out of my eyes. "No. We didn't. And believe it or not, I was the one who turned her down, not the other way around. Because I realized that I didn't have those feelings for her. Not that it's any of your business."
In my peripheral vision, I thought I caught a hint of a smile on Hermione's face.
Interesting…
"Well that's just adorable."
I sneered and leaned into the back cushions. "Oh, fuck off. Look, you got your answer, let's just move on."
"We would, but it's your turn."
"God, okay. Umm, Harry. Favorite pizza topping?"
"Favorite pizza topping?" Ginny groaned.
"Do you honestly expect me to ask my best friend something about his romantic life when he's dating my sister?"
"Maybe not, but you can do better than pizza toppings."
"Best memory from high school, then."
"Oh, that's easy," Harry replied. "It's the same as Ginny's best kiss." He turned to Ginny and the two rubbed their noses together in a sickening display of affection.
"You two are going to make me throw up," I said.
"Then it sucks to be you, little bro, because everyone else thinks we're fucking delightful," Ginny shot back.
The next hour or two was more of the same; Ginny asking everyone embarrassing questions, another board game, a lot more wine…it should have been a fun time. Unfortunately, my sister's intrusive questioning had dampened my attitude, and I had spent most of the evening sitting expressionless on the couch. I felt bad because I knew I was supposed to be hosting, but I just couldn't relax and have a good time after being forced to relive those painful memories.
At one point, Hermione must have been able to tell how upset I was, because she offered to follow me into the kitchen and help carry out the dessert that I had prepared.
"You okay?" she asked as I pulled the pan of tiramisu out of the fridge.
I set it down on the counter and stared out the kitchen window, shaking my head. "She knew exactly what she was doing, you know? It's just like when we were growing up…she always finds a way to be a monumental pain in the ass."
She nodded and padded over towards me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Just ignore her. You know she's trying to needle you. Don't give her the satisfaction."
"I know, I know. But she's had years of practice and, as much as I hate to admit it, she's become an expert."
She chuckled and patted me on the back before picking up the stack of plates and forks. "Younger sisters are like that. But anyone can tell how much she looks up to you."
"Bullshit! She's a star soccer player, she makes plenty of money, she's getting married soon…she thinks she has everything figured out. And to be honest, maybe she does! I mean, what do I have? I work a nine-to-five desk job, my best friend slash roommate is moving out and moving on, and I'm still alone."
"Hey, stop that. Weren't you just reminding me to stop putting myself down?"
"I'm not putting myself down, those are just facts. Besides, your little sister isn't here making you look like an asshole in front of your friends."
"Still. There's more to life than money and status. Believe me, I ought to know. You're a role model for her even if you're not trying to be, and I've seen the ways that you've helped her become a kinder person."
"Well whoopdee-fucking-do for me. If this is the thanks I get, I'd rather she just stay a jerk."
She laughed and swept a few loose curls behind her ear. "Unfortunately for you, you're rubbing off on her whether you like it or not. I think you should be proud of that."
"I don't know if I agree with you, but thank you for saying that."
Hermione snuck up on my right side and swiped her finger across the delicate cream layer of the tiramisu.
"Hey!"
She flashed a smile at me and smeared the cream on my left cheek. "Cheer up. You're surrounded by good friends and good food, all of which you organized. You deserve to enjoy this party, too."
The corners of my lips curled upward against my will as I exhaled, the muscles in my shoulders relaxing. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, let's get these people fed. Can you hand me a napkin, though?"
Without warning, Hermione reached out and grabbed my chin with her free hand. She pulled my face toward her and licked the cream off my cheek, planting a kiss on my five o'clock shadow as she pulled away. "Better?"
I blinked several times, trying to contain the smile that was threatening to burst out of me after her lips brushed against my skin. She had just done it in a friendly way, right? Nevertheless, those feelings that had constantly occupied my brain during my youth, the ones that had started to creep back in over the last several months, were raging at the moment. It scared me to think that I might be falling for her again. I knew exactly how slippery that slope could be.
"Sure, let's go."