Review replies:
krazy4yun – Thanks! Sorry for the long update.
SarahLou – I think you have my story all sussed out. How do you get everything right?? Tell me!
Crystal – Yeah I was hoping my fic would be different to everyone else's. I'm really glad that you like it. Thanks!
punkbanana13 – Thanks! For the review and for your comment on my maths SATs!
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus – Thanks! Here's the next chapter.
Rena the Great – Wow thanks for your review! Yeah the real Ron will be back, and sooner than you may think!
Brooke Monica – Thank you so much!
harrysmom – Yeah I surprised myself at how angry Ron turned out to be. But I think it fits better with the whole plot.
Aimz – Thanks. Here's the next chapter.
doriansportrait – Duelling? I'm afraid there's none of that here.
Anuschka – Thanks. Here's the next chapter.
Pet-lover – Woah I'm glad this aroused so many emotions in you! Thank you so much for your review!
The-Dark-Rose-of-Insanity – Thank you!
Chapter 9
Ron descended the stairs from the boys' dormitory. He had decided to sleep there the previous night, thinking that Hermione deserved some privacy. He hoped that she found his gift...well it wasn't exactly that hard to spot. Was it? He did place it on the table where she would definitely be able to see it if she came out of her room...
He hummed a tune that reminded him vaguely of 'Weasley is our king'. The memory no longer hurt him; the Gryffindor Quidditch team decided to change the lyrics to that song, most of which included support for the Gryffindors and insults to the Slytherins. This newer version seemed to go down better with everyone, although Ron wasn't too sure about the Slytherins.
"Oh my god Ron! You have to see this!" yelled Lavender immediately as he entered the common room.
"What?" he asked, confused as she dragged him by the arm over to the Gryffindor notice board, pointing excitedly at the new...'notices' that had been pinned up.
Photos. It was Harry and Hermione. Again. They were in the North Tower...and he was bending slightly to kiss her on the cheek, clutching some kind of parchment in his hand. Did that happen after he left last night? How long had this been going on? Since 7th year? How could Harry do that when he knew that Hermione was the only girl Ron wanted to go for? And what about Ginny? How could Harry do that to Ginny?
"Didn't you know?" came Lavender's voice, sounding distant and muffled as if he was in a different world. "They've been meeting there for ages now."
She pointed to several more photos of the two: Harry and Hermione talking on the balcony; Harry smiling at Hermione in the North Tower; Harry and Hermione dancing together at the Halloween Ball.
No wonder she looked so gentle then, thought Ron angrily. She fancies Harry. Why on earth did she kiss me at the Halloween Ball then?
He turned just in time to see Hermione descending the stairs into the common room. Her smile faded when she saw the enraged look on his face and approached him gracefully. He didn't say anything, but she could see what was plastered on the notice board behind him.
When she took in everything on the board she took a step away from it as if it were some dangerous creature, one hand covering her mouth in shock. "It's not what it looks like! There's nothing going on between Harry and me," she told Ron bitterly, wishing that that was a lie. "Harry fancies Ginny and has done since 6th year."
But Ron still looked unconvinced.
"I don't care what others think," she continued, willing with all her might for him to believe her. "As long as you believe what I say, then nothing matters..."
He shook his head from side to side slowly, turned, and plodded away from her, his robes billowing out behind him. Hermione's heart sank as Lavender and Parvarti turned to her looking smug, and the group of Gryffindors walked away from her, looks of accusation on their faces.
It was turning out to be the worst day Hermione had ever experienced – even worse than the time when everyone was against her because Ron hated her. At least Harry wasn't that bad. But now he couldn't even glance at her in the corridors in fear of confirming the rumour. Hermione had half heartedly hoped that Ginny may believe her, but she was doubtful about it as well. She couldn't blame her.
Throughout the day she was pelted with stones, chucked into the lake, and just generally being treated like an animal nobody wanted to have around. Everybody was trying to 'impress' Ron and so did what they thought would please him.
Harry, at the same time, was feeling guilty as well. Nobody dared to attack him because they were afraid that Harry and Ron may make up again later on, and they didn't want to offend Ginny as well who partially believed what Hermione said. Every time he saw Hermione that day she was either wet, being surrounded by a group of people who were beating her up just for the fun of it or just looking tired and depressed.
Harry finally came to a decision that afternoon, and approached Harry who was still sleeping in the Gryffindor dormitories. When Ron saw him he stood up and made for the door.
"Ron," said Harry as he put an arm out to prevent Ron to carry on walking any further.
Ron looked at him with an expression on his face that was a mixture of the feelings he was feeling inside. Betrayal, disbelieve, shock and most of all – confusion. But he tried to hide them all as he asked a sarcastic, "What?"
"Hermione and I...it never happened. That photo of me kissing her...didn't you see me holding that piece of parchment in my hand? That was Ginny's letter. I got so happy that I...wasn't thinking straight."
Ron gave Harry a piercing gaze as he sorted out the words Harry said. Of course Harry liked Ginny. He was ecstatic when she arrived, and she was overjoyed to see him. Slowly, with his throat burning with guilt, he nodded.
"You better go help Hermione. She doesn't look so good..."
Ron gave a more definite nod and literally flew down three flights of stairs down to the front lawn, where a group of people were running after Hermione, jeering and insulting her. Ron quickened his pace as he ran towards her, breathing deeply as they finally caught up with her and attacked her physically, their attacks consisting of punches and kicks. However they never took out their wands; apparently their education was of some importance to them.
He arrived with a cool air surrounding him and said calmly, "Get your dirty hands off her."
"We were only sorting her out for you! You should be grateful," said one of them, supposedly the leader.
However they scattered as Ron approached Hermione, who was in a kneeling position on the grass, her body weak from everything that had happened that day. Her knees finally gave way as she fell forwards face down onto the grass. Ron darted forwards and pulled her into a sitting position, brushing the tangled hair away from her face.
"I believe you..." he whispered. Tears fell from Hermione's eyes as she cried openly, Ron cradling her back and forwards, holding her close to him.
When she had stopped crying, he picked her up the same way as he had done so many weeks ago when he had to take her to the Hospital Wing.
"What are you doing?" she asked, trying to jump off but she felt so weak that she wasn't trying that hard. "You can put me down now."
"Yeah but those people are just going to attack you. I'm not going to let you get hurt again."
He frowned as he walked up the stone steps leading up to the castle. "I can't take you to the Hospital Wing," he told her. "Otherwise Madam Pomfrey will probably question you as to how you got those injuries, which is another reason for those idiots to attack again."
He looked down at her again, seeming to form a decision in his head, and continued walking forwards. Instead of turning right when they reached the Hospital Wing, he walked right past it and instead went down the corridor leading to the Heads' rooms. He finally let her go reluctantly and placed her on his bed whilst he rummaged around his trunk, looking for something. He finally pulled out a white box.
It was a first aid kit.
Hermione glanced at him curiously. "You use Muggle methods of treating injuries?"
Ron shrugged casually. "Got taught it sometime or the other. Guess it just kinda stuck." He bandaged her arm where it had a nasty cut across one side, although there wasn't anything major.
When he finished, he sat down beside her. The two didn't say anything, but he kept looking at her.
"I like you, Hermione," he said, leaning towards her. "I really do."
He was much too close. As his face edged nearer towards hers, Hermione felt her heart race and stomach tighten. She felt immobilized as his lips brushed hers, deepening into a kiss.
Maybe it was the shock of Ron being so gentle or the surprise that she...liked it, but Hermione found that she could move again and toppled backwards off the bed, taking Ron with her.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
It was now November, and the first Quidditch match of the year was to take place that afternoon. Luckily, (or unluckily, as Ron wanted to beat the Slytherins to a pulp) the match was between Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
The stands gradually filled up as students left their common rooms, holding up banners and dressed in the colours of the house which they wanted to win. All the houses, with the exception of Slytherin obviously, wanted to see the downfall of Slytherin and were whole heartedly supporting Hufflepuff, although deep down not many really expected Hufflepuff to win.
Hermione sat in the stands with Ron by her side as he now decided to be her personal bodyguard and refused to let her out of his sight. He was obviously hoping for Hufflepuff to win, as any support for Slytherin would have been considered traitorous to the Gryffindor team.
It was turning out to be the worst match played ever. The match was 210-50, with Slytherin in the lead. Most people thought that it was a miracle that the Slytherin seeker hadn't found the snitch yet, but the Hufflepuff one seemed to be doing a good job of misleading him and preventing him from looking for it.
Hufflepuff scored a goal, making the score 210-60. Their supporters were so glad that they were no longer so behind that they erupted into cheers, whistles, and applause.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled loudly, hoping that she would be able to hear. Apparently she did because she turned around. He hadn't been concentrating much – he just seemed to be wringing his hands as if pondering over something extremely difficult.
"Yeah?"
"Will...will you go out with me?" he asked, but it was drowned out by the sounds of cheering.
"What? Can you say that again?" she shouted as if they were at the opposite ends of a football pitch.
"How the hell do you expect me to repeat that kind of thing again?!"
"What did you say?" she asked, leaning closer to him, hoping to hear better.
Turning away with an irritated expression, Ron sank back into his seat with his arms folded and pouting like a young child whilst Hermione gazed at him with a confused expression on her face.
A.N. I finally updated! Hope you all liked this chapter! The next one should be up fairly soon as its contents are well...let's just say exciting and I'm looking forward to writing it. Plus, I got a level 8 for my science SATs! So I'm all happy and hyper and will be writing lots.
krazy4yun – Thanks! Sorry for the long update.
SarahLou – I think you have my story all sussed out. How do you get everything right?? Tell me!
Crystal – Yeah I was hoping my fic would be different to everyone else's. I'm really glad that you like it. Thanks!
punkbanana13 – Thanks! For the review and for your comment on my maths SATs!
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus – Thanks! Here's the next chapter.
Rena the Great – Wow thanks for your review! Yeah the real Ron will be back, and sooner than you may think!
Brooke Monica – Thank you so much!
harrysmom – Yeah I surprised myself at how angry Ron turned out to be. But I think it fits better with the whole plot.
Aimz – Thanks. Here's the next chapter.
doriansportrait – Duelling? I'm afraid there's none of that here.
Anuschka – Thanks. Here's the next chapter.
Pet-lover – Woah I'm glad this aroused so many emotions in you! Thank you so much for your review!
The-Dark-Rose-of-Insanity – Thank you!
Chapter 9
Ron descended the stairs from the boys' dormitory. He had decided to sleep there the previous night, thinking that Hermione deserved some privacy. He hoped that she found his gift...well it wasn't exactly that hard to spot. Was it? He did place it on the table where she would definitely be able to see it if she came out of her room...
He hummed a tune that reminded him vaguely of 'Weasley is our king'. The memory no longer hurt him; the Gryffindor Quidditch team decided to change the lyrics to that song, most of which included support for the Gryffindors and insults to the Slytherins. This newer version seemed to go down better with everyone, although Ron wasn't too sure about the Slytherins.
"Oh my god Ron! You have to see this!" yelled Lavender immediately as he entered the common room.
"What?" he asked, confused as she dragged him by the arm over to the Gryffindor notice board, pointing excitedly at the new...'notices' that had been pinned up.
Photos. It was Harry and Hermione. Again. They were in the North Tower...and he was bending slightly to kiss her on the cheek, clutching some kind of parchment in his hand. Did that happen after he left last night? How long had this been going on? Since 7th year? How could Harry do that when he knew that Hermione was the only girl Ron wanted to go for? And what about Ginny? How could Harry do that to Ginny?
"Didn't you know?" came Lavender's voice, sounding distant and muffled as if he was in a different world. "They've been meeting there for ages now."
She pointed to several more photos of the two: Harry and Hermione talking on the balcony; Harry smiling at Hermione in the North Tower; Harry and Hermione dancing together at the Halloween Ball.
No wonder she looked so gentle then, thought Ron angrily. She fancies Harry. Why on earth did she kiss me at the Halloween Ball then?
He turned just in time to see Hermione descending the stairs into the common room. Her smile faded when she saw the enraged look on his face and approached him gracefully. He didn't say anything, but she could see what was plastered on the notice board behind him.
When she took in everything on the board she took a step away from it as if it were some dangerous creature, one hand covering her mouth in shock. "It's not what it looks like! There's nothing going on between Harry and me," she told Ron bitterly, wishing that that was a lie. "Harry fancies Ginny and has done since 6th year."
But Ron still looked unconvinced.
"I don't care what others think," she continued, willing with all her might for him to believe her. "As long as you believe what I say, then nothing matters..."
He shook his head from side to side slowly, turned, and plodded away from her, his robes billowing out behind him. Hermione's heart sank as Lavender and Parvarti turned to her looking smug, and the group of Gryffindors walked away from her, looks of accusation on their faces.
It was turning out to be the worst day Hermione had ever experienced – even worse than the time when everyone was against her because Ron hated her. At least Harry wasn't that bad. But now he couldn't even glance at her in the corridors in fear of confirming the rumour. Hermione had half heartedly hoped that Ginny may believe her, but she was doubtful about it as well. She couldn't blame her.
Throughout the day she was pelted with stones, chucked into the lake, and just generally being treated like an animal nobody wanted to have around. Everybody was trying to 'impress' Ron and so did what they thought would please him.
Harry, at the same time, was feeling guilty as well. Nobody dared to attack him because they were afraid that Harry and Ron may make up again later on, and they didn't want to offend Ginny as well who partially believed what Hermione said. Every time he saw Hermione that day she was either wet, being surrounded by a group of people who were beating her up just for the fun of it or just looking tired and depressed.
Harry finally came to a decision that afternoon, and approached Harry who was still sleeping in the Gryffindor dormitories. When Ron saw him he stood up and made for the door.
"Ron," said Harry as he put an arm out to prevent Ron to carry on walking any further.
Ron looked at him with an expression on his face that was a mixture of the feelings he was feeling inside. Betrayal, disbelieve, shock and most of all – confusion. But he tried to hide them all as he asked a sarcastic, "What?"
"Hermione and I...it never happened. That photo of me kissing her...didn't you see me holding that piece of parchment in my hand? That was Ginny's letter. I got so happy that I...wasn't thinking straight."
Ron gave Harry a piercing gaze as he sorted out the words Harry said. Of course Harry liked Ginny. He was ecstatic when she arrived, and she was overjoyed to see him. Slowly, with his throat burning with guilt, he nodded.
"You better go help Hermione. She doesn't look so good..."
Ron gave a more definite nod and literally flew down three flights of stairs down to the front lawn, where a group of people were running after Hermione, jeering and insulting her. Ron quickened his pace as he ran towards her, breathing deeply as they finally caught up with her and attacked her physically, their attacks consisting of punches and kicks. However they never took out their wands; apparently their education was of some importance to them.
He arrived with a cool air surrounding him and said calmly, "Get your dirty hands off her."
"We were only sorting her out for you! You should be grateful," said one of them, supposedly the leader.
However they scattered as Ron approached Hermione, who was in a kneeling position on the grass, her body weak from everything that had happened that day. Her knees finally gave way as she fell forwards face down onto the grass. Ron darted forwards and pulled her into a sitting position, brushing the tangled hair away from her face.
"I believe you..." he whispered. Tears fell from Hermione's eyes as she cried openly, Ron cradling her back and forwards, holding her close to him.
When she had stopped crying, he picked her up the same way as he had done so many weeks ago when he had to take her to the Hospital Wing.
"What are you doing?" she asked, trying to jump off but she felt so weak that she wasn't trying that hard. "You can put me down now."
"Yeah but those people are just going to attack you. I'm not going to let you get hurt again."
He frowned as he walked up the stone steps leading up to the castle. "I can't take you to the Hospital Wing," he told her. "Otherwise Madam Pomfrey will probably question you as to how you got those injuries, which is another reason for those idiots to attack again."
He looked down at her again, seeming to form a decision in his head, and continued walking forwards. Instead of turning right when they reached the Hospital Wing, he walked right past it and instead went down the corridor leading to the Heads' rooms. He finally let her go reluctantly and placed her on his bed whilst he rummaged around his trunk, looking for something. He finally pulled out a white box.
It was a first aid kit.
Hermione glanced at him curiously. "You use Muggle methods of treating injuries?"
Ron shrugged casually. "Got taught it sometime or the other. Guess it just kinda stuck." He bandaged her arm where it had a nasty cut across one side, although there wasn't anything major.
When he finished, he sat down beside her. The two didn't say anything, but he kept looking at her.
"I like you, Hermione," he said, leaning towards her. "I really do."
He was much too close. As his face edged nearer towards hers, Hermione felt her heart race and stomach tighten. She felt immobilized as his lips brushed hers, deepening into a kiss.
Maybe it was the shock of Ron being so gentle or the surprise that she...liked it, but Hermione found that she could move again and toppled backwards off the bed, taking Ron with her.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
It was now November, and the first Quidditch match of the year was to take place that afternoon. Luckily, (or unluckily, as Ron wanted to beat the Slytherins to a pulp) the match was between Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
The stands gradually filled up as students left their common rooms, holding up banners and dressed in the colours of the house which they wanted to win. All the houses, with the exception of Slytherin obviously, wanted to see the downfall of Slytherin and were whole heartedly supporting Hufflepuff, although deep down not many really expected Hufflepuff to win.
Hermione sat in the stands with Ron by her side as he now decided to be her personal bodyguard and refused to let her out of his sight. He was obviously hoping for Hufflepuff to win, as any support for Slytherin would have been considered traitorous to the Gryffindor team.
It was turning out to be the worst match played ever. The match was 210-50, with Slytherin in the lead. Most people thought that it was a miracle that the Slytherin seeker hadn't found the snitch yet, but the Hufflepuff one seemed to be doing a good job of misleading him and preventing him from looking for it.
Hufflepuff scored a goal, making the score 210-60. Their supporters were so glad that they were no longer so behind that they erupted into cheers, whistles, and applause.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled loudly, hoping that she would be able to hear. Apparently she did because she turned around. He hadn't been concentrating much – he just seemed to be wringing his hands as if pondering over something extremely difficult.
"Yeah?"
"Will...will you go out with me?" he asked, but it was drowned out by the sounds of cheering.
"What? Can you say that again?" she shouted as if they were at the opposite ends of a football pitch.
"How the hell do you expect me to repeat that kind of thing again?!"
"What did you say?" she asked, leaning closer to him, hoping to hear better.
Turning away with an irritated expression, Ron sank back into his seat with his arms folded and pouting like a young child whilst Hermione gazed at him with a confused expression on her face.
A.N. I finally updated! Hope you all liked this chapter! The next one should be up fairly soon as its contents are well...let's just say exciting and I'm looking forward to writing it. Plus, I got a level 8 for my science SATs! So I'm all happy and hyper and will be writing lots.