In Love
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! Keep them coming...
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley or any other character for that matter. The only thing I own is the plot.
Chapter 7
"I'm really glad they're okay now," Ginny told Ron as they walked towards the Great Hall just a few feet behind Harry and Hermione, who were talking animatedly with each other. "It seemed like it was forever." Harry and Hermione had been okay for almost two weeks now.
"Yeah," was the only thing Ron managed to say as he tried to burn a whole through Harry's head.
Ginny stopped walking and faced her brother and grabbing his arm, ready to confront him again. "Ron, what's wrong this time? Is that same thing we talked about before still bothering you?"
"Nothing's wrong," he answered flatly. "Can we continue walking now?"
"No. Not until you admit that there's something wrong," she said stubbornly.
"Ginny, nothing's wrong," Ron said insistently. "I'm fine. I'm just feeling really hungry, okay?"
"It's Hermione, isn't it?" Ginny went on, ignoring him.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, but felt shaken deep inside.
"Hermione," she repeated. "She's getting to you."
"What do you mean she's getting to me?"
"You know what I mean."
"No, I don't."
Ginny sighed. "Do you really want me to spell it out for you?" When Ron said nothing. "Fine. You're in love with her." Ron was stunned at Ginny's ability to be so straightforward. "See."
"Are you hearing yourself, Gin?" Ron said, trying his best to be calm, but couldn't help but think when his sister became so smart. "You're talking about me falling in love with Hermione, my best friend."
"Isn't that what I said?"
"You're mad," he said, shaking his head. "I can't be in love with Hermione. It's not possible."
Ginny studied him for a moment. "You know, it would have been better if you just plainly denied it. That would've been more believable." She shrugged at him then walked away, leaving Ron stunned.
Ron couldn't believe that Ginny had figured everything out. How could she have done that? He was very careful with his words, especially with his actions. He didn't understand how she could have formulated the idea that he was in love with Hermione. Now what was he going to do?
**
"Argh!" Ron groaned as he felt someone jump on him so early in the morning. He opened his eyes and saw the blurry image of someone perched beside him on his bed. "Who's there?" he asked groggily.
"Good morning to you, too!"
Suddenly Ron felt wide awake. "Hermione?" he said, sitting up. "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged with a giggle. "Ginny told me that you're oversleeping again and to wake you up. So here I am waking you up."
Ron cursed Ginny silently. Just because she knew. "Hasn't anyone told you that anyone could oversleep on a Saturday?"
"You've told me that. But you also said that you're coming to Hogsmeade with me," Hermione said knowingly with a warm smile. Ron looked back at her blankly. Did he promise that? "Don't you remember?" she repeated, her smile leaving her face.
"Are you sure you're not just playing with me?"
"Ron." She sighed. "I hate bringing this up again, now that everything's fine. But you did promise a date with me at Hogsmeade when Harry and I broke up. You said that you're going to be my substitute boyfriend."
Now he remembered. Very clearly. "I didn't know you took that seriously. It was more of a joke, you know."
"I know. But I don't really mind. Harry's off with Parvati and well."
"I thought you were already okay with that."
"I am. It's just - okay, I'm not. Harry and I are okay but I still feel bad that, you know. Please, Ron! I promise I won't nag at you or anything," she pleaded.
Ron chuckled at this. "Okay, okay. I mean, it's not like I can do anything about it. I did promise you."
Hermione squealed with happiness and hugged him, making him lie back on his bed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"You're really heavy, Hermione. Has anyone told you that?" Hermione sat up and slapped his arm. "Ow! I was just kidding." He sat up again. "Well, I guess I'd better get ready for our date."
Hermione grinned. "I really appreciate this, Ron."
"Hey, it's no problem. I'm not doing anything anyway," he replied, standing up and stretching his arms.
"Well, I'd better go. I'll see you at dinner." She got up. But before she turned to leave, she faced Ron, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. She smiled at him once more and left the room.
And Ron just stood there, wondering if what had just happened happened.
**
"This is really ridiculous, Parvati," Harry said incredulously. Parvati was making him try on some clothes that matched the ones that she just bought.
"It's so not ridiculous, Harry," Parvati replied knowingly. "If we're going to be a couple, we have to look every inch like one. Now, how about this?" She held up at pink checkered shirt that matched her pink checkered skirt.
"What are you talking about? We are a couple," Harry argued. "This isn't really necessary."
Parvati pouted as she put the shirt back on the rack. "Fine. Let's just go."
Harry rolled his eyes, held her hand and sighed silently. He never knew that having Parvati as a girlfriend would be this much work. "Come on, Parvati. Don't be upset," he said as they stepped out of the shop. He faced her and tilted her face to make her look at him.
"I just want us to be really together, Harry," Parvati said meekly.
"We are together," Harry assured her.
"You keep on saying that. But sometimes I feel that you're not really with me."
"What are you talking about?"
She shrugged. "Sometimes you seem so far away."
"Tell you what, how 'bout we go to three broomsticks and have some butterbeer? Then we can do whatever you want - except dress me up," Harry said soothingly.
Parvati's eyes lit up as she smiled. "Okay." Harry kissed her hand then they went to three broomsticks. Harry found a table by the window while Parvati went to get their drinks. (She insisted.) He sat down and watched people pass by. He looked at Parvati, who gave him a flying kiss. He pretended to catch it and grinned. She giggled and turned to Madam Rosmerta, who was preparing their drinks. Harry faced the window again and suddenly saw a flash of red hair. He craned his neck a little and saw that it was Ron. with Hermione. And they were holding each other's hands as they laughed. He felt something surge through him. He stood up and walked out of the store.
**
Hermione laughed freely as Ron told her another joke. She'd never felt this happy and comfortable with someone ever since she and Harry broke up. A couple of guys came up to her, asking her out, but she all turned them down, thinking that she could never feel the same way about anyone the way she felt with Harry. But then here she was in Hogsmeade on a pretend date with a pretend boyfriend, who happened to be her best friend.
"It's good to hear you laughing so much," Ron told her truthfully.
Hermione grinned at him. "Well you're the one who's making me laugh so much, so the credit's all yours."
He squeezed her hand. He smiled inwardly. He never knew that being together with Hermione like this would be so perfect. even if it was only pretend. "So where does my beautiful girl want to go?"
Hermione was startled for a moment then remembered that they were pretending. She smiled as she squeezed his hand back. "How about you decide?"
Ron glanced around then looked at her. "Care for some butterbeer?"
"Your treat?" she joked.
"Of course. I would never let my princess pay for anything," he joked back half-heartedly. Hermione blushed and Ron grinned. "Why are you blushing?"
"I am not blushing!" she said defensively. Ron grinned and shrugged. They walked towards the three broomsticks when suddenly, they saw Harry come out and approach them.
"Hey!" Harry said brightly.
"Harry," Hermione said, grinning. "I thought you and Parvati were going shopping?"
"Yeah, we are. Just stopping by for a break," Harry replied.
"Tired already?" Ron asked, chuckling.
"You have no idea," Harry said, shaking his head. His attention immediately went to their clasped hands. "So. what are you both doing here?"
"Oh. Ron and I are just walking around. We were actually just about to go in three broomsticks," Hermione said. "Then Ron's going to take me around some more."
"Are you dating?" Harry asked bluntly. He couldn't take it anymore.
Hermione and Ron looked at each other. Then Ron grinned. "Well, as a matter of fact, kinda." Hermione looked at Ron, wide eyed.
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! Keep them coming...
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley or any other character for that matter. The only thing I own is the plot.
Chapter 7
"I'm really glad they're okay now," Ginny told Ron as they walked towards the Great Hall just a few feet behind Harry and Hermione, who were talking animatedly with each other. "It seemed like it was forever." Harry and Hermione had been okay for almost two weeks now.
"Yeah," was the only thing Ron managed to say as he tried to burn a whole through Harry's head.
Ginny stopped walking and faced her brother and grabbing his arm, ready to confront him again. "Ron, what's wrong this time? Is that same thing we talked about before still bothering you?"
"Nothing's wrong," he answered flatly. "Can we continue walking now?"
"No. Not until you admit that there's something wrong," she said stubbornly.
"Ginny, nothing's wrong," Ron said insistently. "I'm fine. I'm just feeling really hungry, okay?"
"It's Hermione, isn't it?" Ginny went on, ignoring him.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, but felt shaken deep inside.
"Hermione," she repeated. "She's getting to you."
"What do you mean she's getting to me?"
"You know what I mean."
"No, I don't."
Ginny sighed. "Do you really want me to spell it out for you?" When Ron said nothing. "Fine. You're in love with her." Ron was stunned at Ginny's ability to be so straightforward. "See."
"Are you hearing yourself, Gin?" Ron said, trying his best to be calm, but couldn't help but think when his sister became so smart. "You're talking about me falling in love with Hermione, my best friend."
"Isn't that what I said?"
"You're mad," he said, shaking his head. "I can't be in love with Hermione. It's not possible."
Ginny studied him for a moment. "You know, it would have been better if you just plainly denied it. That would've been more believable." She shrugged at him then walked away, leaving Ron stunned.
Ron couldn't believe that Ginny had figured everything out. How could she have done that? He was very careful with his words, especially with his actions. He didn't understand how she could have formulated the idea that he was in love with Hermione. Now what was he going to do?
**
"Argh!" Ron groaned as he felt someone jump on him so early in the morning. He opened his eyes and saw the blurry image of someone perched beside him on his bed. "Who's there?" he asked groggily.
"Good morning to you, too!"
Suddenly Ron felt wide awake. "Hermione?" he said, sitting up. "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged with a giggle. "Ginny told me that you're oversleeping again and to wake you up. So here I am waking you up."
Ron cursed Ginny silently. Just because she knew. "Hasn't anyone told you that anyone could oversleep on a Saturday?"
"You've told me that. But you also said that you're coming to Hogsmeade with me," Hermione said knowingly with a warm smile. Ron looked back at her blankly. Did he promise that? "Don't you remember?" she repeated, her smile leaving her face.
"Are you sure you're not just playing with me?"
"Ron." She sighed. "I hate bringing this up again, now that everything's fine. But you did promise a date with me at Hogsmeade when Harry and I broke up. You said that you're going to be my substitute boyfriend."
Now he remembered. Very clearly. "I didn't know you took that seriously. It was more of a joke, you know."
"I know. But I don't really mind. Harry's off with Parvati and well."
"I thought you were already okay with that."
"I am. It's just - okay, I'm not. Harry and I are okay but I still feel bad that, you know. Please, Ron! I promise I won't nag at you or anything," she pleaded.
Ron chuckled at this. "Okay, okay. I mean, it's not like I can do anything about it. I did promise you."
Hermione squealed with happiness and hugged him, making him lie back on his bed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"You're really heavy, Hermione. Has anyone told you that?" Hermione sat up and slapped his arm. "Ow! I was just kidding." He sat up again. "Well, I guess I'd better get ready for our date."
Hermione grinned. "I really appreciate this, Ron."
"Hey, it's no problem. I'm not doing anything anyway," he replied, standing up and stretching his arms.
"Well, I'd better go. I'll see you at dinner." She got up. But before she turned to leave, she faced Ron, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. She smiled at him once more and left the room.
And Ron just stood there, wondering if what had just happened happened.
**
"This is really ridiculous, Parvati," Harry said incredulously. Parvati was making him try on some clothes that matched the ones that she just bought.
"It's so not ridiculous, Harry," Parvati replied knowingly. "If we're going to be a couple, we have to look every inch like one. Now, how about this?" She held up at pink checkered shirt that matched her pink checkered skirt.
"What are you talking about? We are a couple," Harry argued. "This isn't really necessary."
Parvati pouted as she put the shirt back on the rack. "Fine. Let's just go."
Harry rolled his eyes, held her hand and sighed silently. He never knew that having Parvati as a girlfriend would be this much work. "Come on, Parvati. Don't be upset," he said as they stepped out of the shop. He faced her and tilted her face to make her look at him.
"I just want us to be really together, Harry," Parvati said meekly.
"We are together," Harry assured her.
"You keep on saying that. But sometimes I feel that you're not really with me."
"What are you talking about?"
She shrugged. "Sometimes you seem so far away."
"Tell you what, how 'bout we go to three broomsticks and have some butterbeer? Then we can do whatever you want - except dress me up," Harry said soothingly.
Parvati's eyes lit up as she smiled. "Okay." Harry kissed her hand then they went to three broomsticks. Harry found a table by the window while Parvati went to get their drinks. (She insisted.) He sat down and watched people pass by. He looked at Parvati, who gave him a flying kiss. He pretended to catch it and grinned. She giggled and turned to Madam Rosmerta, who was preparing their drinks. Harry faced the window again and suddenly saw a flash of red hair. He craned his neck a little and saw that it was Ron. with Hermione. And they were holding each other's hands as they laughed. He felt something surge through him. He stood up and walked out of the store.
**
Hermione laughed freely as Ron told her another joke. She'd never felt this happy and comfortable with someone ever since she and Harry broke up. A couple of guys came up to her, asking her out, but she all turned them down, thinking that she could never feel the same way about anyone the way she felt with Harry. But then here she was in Hogsmeade on a pretend date with a pretend boyfriend, who happened to be her best friend.
"It's good to hear you laughing so much," Ron told her truthfully.
Hermione grinned at him. "Well you're the one who's making me laugh so much, so the credit's all yours."
He squeezed her hand. He smiled inwardly. He never knew that being together with Hermione like this would be so perfect. even if it was only pretend. "So where does my beautiful girl want to go?"
Hermione was startled for a moment then remembered that they were pretending. She smiled as she squeezed his hand back. "How about you decide?"
Ron glanced around then looked at her. "Care for some butterbeer?"
"Your treat?" she joked.
"Of course. I would never let my princess pay for anything," he joked back half-heartedly. Hermione blushed and Ron grinned. "Why are you blushing?"
"I am not blushing!" she said defensively. Ron grinned and shrugged. They walked towards the three broomsticks when suddenly, they saw Harry come out and approach them.
"Hey!" Harry said brightly.
"Harry," Hermione said, grinning. "I thought you and Parvati were going shopping?"
"Yeah, we are. Just stopping by for a break," Harry replied.
"Tired already?" Ron asked, chuckling.
"You have no idea," Harry said, shaking his head. His attention immediately went to their clasped hands. "So. what are you both doing here?"
"Oh. Ron and I are just walking around. We were actually just about to go in three broomsticks," Hermione said. "Then Ron's going to take me around some more."
"Are you dating?" Harry asked bluntly. He couldn't take it anymore.
Hermione and Ron looked at each other. Then Ron grinned. "Well, as a matter of fact, kinda." Hermione looked at Ron, wide eyed.