Disclaimer: I only own Harry Potter on days of the week that don't end in –day
This took forever to get up because if I didn't talk to her every second of the day, I would be convinced that Cassiopeia's Fate was kidnapped and brought to some horrible land without computers. I couldn't yell at her too much though because yesterday was her birthday (all together now- HAPPY BIRTHDAY) and Mole (as in the scientific unit, not the skin thingy) Day in case you were wondering (I'm sorry I go to nerd school)
By the way- I have decided that Ron has blue eyes. How could JK not tell us his eye color though? Really. Oh and if anyone has any insight on this- what do they wear under their robes? Do they actually wear Muggle clothes underneath like in the movie? This is vital information.
Isn't there nobody out there obsessed with Rent besides me and Shinythingsamuseme? I'm a bit disappointed. There are still more references in this chapter though along with a POTC and a 10 things I Hate About You reference.
Oh and I know it is painfully long (like this chapter-although I hope the chapter isn't painful, just long) but please read the songs in this chapter because they make me happy and fit really well.
Tru Lys: I'm sorry I didn't respond to your confusion from chapter 4 I kind of forgot. Hermione is in some city in the U.S. for most of the chapter until Shane takes her back. Did I say New York without realizing it because I wasn't really thinking of any specific city?
As you've probably realized by now, it doesn't really matter if you understand 4 anyway.
Yes, that was a Pirates reference and there is another one in here. Yay I'm so happy you found it!
Gwendolyn James: No, I can't just kill Harry. Besides, it wouldn't work. Hermione would feel too guilty to go anywhere near Ron if Harry died. Don't feel too guilty though it'll all work out in the long run. (They'll see I can help them all out in the long run. Sorry, Rent, it's taking over my brain)
Lesa: You're right but he hasn't entirely forgiven them. He doesn't have much choice then to bottle his resentment though because who else does he have?
QueenofDarkness13(this name is so depressing!) & Lilbuck: As you will see in a second, yes he kisses her!
There you see herSitting there across the way
She don't got a lot to say
But there's something about her
And you don't know why
But you're dying to try
You wanna kiss the girl
Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
Possible she wants you too
There is one way to ask her
It don't take a word
Not a single word
Go on and kiss the girlNow's your moment
Floating in a blue lagoon
Boy you better do it soon
No time will be better
She don't say a word
And she won't say a word
Until you kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
Don't be scared
You got the mood prepared
Go on and kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
Don't stop now
Don't try to hide it how
You want to kiss the girl
Sha la la la la la
Float along
And listen to the song
The song say kiss the girl
Sha la la la la
The music play
Do what the music say
You got to kiss the girl
You've got to kiss the girl
You wanna kiss the girl
You've gotta kiss the girl
Go on and kiss the girl
- Kiss the Girl, The Little Mermaid
Their kiss was simple and to the point, unlike anything else in their relationship. Even though, neither one could deny the magic in it, magic more powerful than anything that could come out of a wand.
"That's okay, I'm done with excuses anyway," Ron said, having an uncanny resemblance to the Cheshire cat.
"We should go in," Hermione tried to state in a professional manner while pointing towards the Leaky Cauldron. Her attempt failed as even Ron could here the wonderment in her voice. The fact that she was pointing to a tree didn't help either. He put his hands on her shoulders and shifted her towards where they would be dining, her finger still outstretched.
"Yea, well that's what I meant, let's go."
She began walking in front of Ron trying to giver herself enough time to either savor or repress that memory; she wasn't sure which one yet. In the mean time, her tactic was to pretend it didn't happen and he was forced into playing along. Ron missed the feeling of her beside him as she marched towards the Leaky Cauldron, but he used his strong will power to resist pulling her back. The fact that he had a lovely view of her from where he was didn't hurt either.
----
"What will you be having tonight?" a young girl asked, clutching onto a dull pencil and a small pad. She looked nervous whenever a tray of food came anywhere near her, judging by the piece of lettuce in her otherwise gorgeous blonde hair, most likely due to a bad experience earlier that night.
"I'll have a salad and the pasta of the day," Hermione answered. The "of the day" was really just for kicks, there was only one option, whatever pasta they felt like serving was what you got.
A look of disappointment crept across Ron's face.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing," he said fumbling with his napkin, "I kinda wanted to treat you to something good. Like steak or somethin'."
"That's really sweet but you don't have to do that. Besides, I'm a vegetarian."
Ron's eyes bugged out of their sockets until they were across the room. "W-why, why would...why? You can't eat-" He was fully prepared to list about a million things but she wisely decided to cut him off.
"If you spent the last year plucking chickens you would feel the same way."
What she said however, was not as wise. A heavy tension set in as once again, the past year they had spent apart was brought up. Feeling the need to look away from each other, they remembered the impatient waitress standing beside them.
"I think I'll have the chicken," Ron told the waitress, his voice full of resentment.
Hermione picked up her fork and then put it back down. What did I think I was going to do with this? Stab Ron? You brought that on yourself.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the waitress began tapping her foot on the floor. She was rather pretty and Hermione was afraid that Ron might notice this as well.
"Well, we ordered," she said coldly.
"Would you like anything to drink?" the waitress replied in a sickeningly sweet voice.
"A Glacierwine," Hermione told her, although she did not take her eyes off of Ron. She never drank anything stronger, although she had a feeling she might be need to start right about now.
"And for you?" she asked, turning to face Ron and sending a flashy smile his way.
"He's not allowed to drink since the time he apparated under the influence and ended up in a whale tank," Hermione retorted.
"Don't listen to her, she talks crazy after she's been-"
"Don't you dare-"
"Give me one good reason not to-"
"Um, excuse me," the waitress waved her hand between the two to draw their attention back to her. Hermione had a feeling that she was enjoying herself more than she should be.
"I'm sorry..." Ron paused to look at her name tag, "...Elizabelle, some people don't realize that they aren't the only one in the world with feelings. I'll have a beer."
"What kind?" Elizabelle, who Hermione noted was now a heartbeat away from batting her damn eyelashes at Ron, asked.
"Anything but butter."
"Sure thing...I'm sorry, what's your name?"
A threatening look from Hermione told him not to answer, but Elizabelle was rather pretty and why should he care what Hermione thought, especially the way she was treating him.
The struggle inside his brain gave way to a, "Ron, Ron, I'm Ron," and an inaudible, "this is quite an operation."
"I wonder if she harasses all of her customers like that?" Hermione wondered aloud.
"No, only the special ones," Elizabelle said rather smugly.
With that, she walked off towards the kitchens, still rather afraid of the trays of doom.
"I thought she would never leave," Hermione said, snarling.
"What is your problem?"
"MY problem?"
"Are you trying to say that this whole row is my fault?"
"Well yes, minus the 'trying'."
"I don't believe you! You might think that I still have the emotional range of a teacup- "
"Teaspoon," she corrected.
"Do you ever stop?! You don't have any regard for the way I feel or-"
"Don't give me that, about feelings. I had nine years of feelings Ron. It's too late now." She bit her lower lip and focused on holding back her tears.
"Why?" he asked with a drastic change in the tone of his voice, "It doesn't have to be. There is no future, there is no past, live each moment as if it's your last."
"That was...deep," Hermione said in shock.
"Phrase of the day toilet paper," Ron replied casually, as if it was a well-known scholastic source.
This caused Hermione to burst into hysterical laughter. It was something that only Ron could say. When she finally gained control she took a refreshing sip of water and then placed her hand on the table beside her glass. Ron looked over his left shoulder and tried to nonchalantly slide his hand over hers. Maybe she'll be distracted and she won't notice until it's too late. Oh great, that sounds like I'm trying to murder her or something. No, don't lose confidence. Okay I'm sliding...I'm sliding... At least this way if she is absolutely horrified I won't be able to see her face...
Hermione, who had been lost in thought for a change, was startled by the feeling of Ron's suddenly cold hand against hers. He traced circles with his thumb while looking anywhere but directly at her. Hermione pulled away from him and then began looking for something in her bag. What she was looking for, she really didn't know. She was not ready for more physical contact with Ron though. Not yet, not until she knew what she was doing. Pretending she needed her hand for something else seemed like the best solution; a quick way out without needing to give him any readable sign of her feelings towards him.
"So," Hermione said, looking for a way to distract Ron, "Did you finish auror training?"
"Nah, I quit, couldn't handle it."
Hermione sometimes wondered why Ron couldn't see all of the great things about him that she could.
"Of course you could, if you applied yourself I'm sure you would be able to-"
"No, that's not what I meant. I mean, it was a bit hard to do any work done without you nagging me, but what I meant was...I dunno it does things to you."
Feeling the need to lighten the mood, Hermione responded, "Oh, well in that case it's good that you quit. I don't think the world could handle two Mad-Eye Moodies." Apparently, this was the wrong thing to say. She had expected to launch an upbeat conversation about all the crazy things that they'd seen the wonderful old nut-job do. Instead, all Ron said was, "Actually, that would only make one."
"What do you-oh," Hermione said, as she understood. This couldn't have been further from the effect she was hoping for. "How?"
"Death-eaters, how else? But he took a handful of them with him. He was one of the smartest people I knew. You would make a great auror. You can do that thing-"
"-you mean thinking?"
"Yes, well no, I dunno. There's something about you that's just, more than okay, I dunno, but you, could do it."
"I'd rather work for the Ministry, magical creatures-don't gimme that face, I've given up on S.P.E.W. but there are others who need my help ... I don't really know what's going to happen with that anyway. I mean, I missed so much time with everything and...maybe I should just accept that position to teach Ancient Runes at Hogwarts. It could be really rewarding to help kids find the class as interesting as I did-"
"Hermione, nobody finds any class as interesting as you did."
"I suppose that's true," she said chuckling at her own abnormalities.
The pause in the conversation was filled as a struggling Elizabelle placed a platter of chicken before Hermione and a gigantic bowl of spaghetti in front of Ron. Hermione had a feeling that Elizabelle did this on purpose, which contradicted her feeling that Elizabelle was just a horribly incompetent waitress. Either way, she was far past impatient with the attractive ditz. Mostly out of fear that Elizabelle would spit in her wine or something, Hermione silently switched the plates.
Ron stared at his chicken, regretting that he ordered it, full of remorse that he ever wanted to hurt Hermione. "You know I could-"
"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine," she assured him, digging into her pasta.
He smiled at her and his face unmistakably said, "you're the greatest."
This seemed to bother Elizabelle who cut in. "I seem to have misplaced my notepad-"
Hermione, forgetting her decision to be civil, made a pouting face, dripping with sarcasm over Elizabelle's loss.
"-and I just can't remember what you ordered."
"We ordered a Glacierwine and a beer," Hermione informed her, "and I also ordered a salad which you seem to have-"
"That's nice dear," she said, dismissing Hermione and walking over to stand perpendicular to Ron. She leaned over far enough that she was sure to give him a view of anything that he could have wanted to see and said, "Is there anything I can get you?" She leaned even further in so her mouth was about two inches from his ear. "Anything?"
Quick, think, do something, Hermione is staring right at you, do something that will make her proud of you, that will make her want you...-he made a feeble attempt to continue the sentence, realizing that thoughts of that kind kept leading to awkward moments- ...want you to...to uh...shag her senseless...no that's even worse than just 'want you'...oh it's no use.
Meanwhile, it seemed to Elizabelle and Hermione that his strategy was to play possum. Elizabelle grew tired of waiting for a response and Hermione grew impatient, hoping that he would tell her to go, well go do something that she definitely would have chastised him for saying in any other situation. Eventually, Elizabelle left, swinging her hips in case Ron exited his comatose state, and Hermione resumed eating her meal.
The captivating sent of Eau de Chicken managed to bring Ron back to his senses and he finished his meal in an instant. This was partially due to the fact that he was sure Hermione wouldn't mind having it out of her sight and partially because it was food and he was Ron. This left nothing for him to do but stare at the dining Hermione, who suddenly felt very self-conscious as she attempted to gracefully twirl the spaghetti onto her fork.
"Stop doing that, I'm having enough issues trying to eat this without you watching me."
"Well than stop being so damn proper," Ron said, pulling the spoon she was holding out of her grasp, "It's a waste to use two kinds of silverware when you only really need one anyway."
"Point taken," she agreed, looking at her rather full bowl due to the time-consuming twirling process. "Want some?" She knew it was practically a rhetorical question and placed a fresh, chicken-free, fork in his hand as she asked it.
To her surprise though, he put the fork down.
"Is Ronald Weasley turning down food?"
"Never," he answered, reaching into the bowl using the ten utensils he was born with.
"Ron, that's absolutely disgusting."
"Yet incredibly fun. Come on, you know you want to."
Hermione cautiously reached for the spaghetti. It felt barbaric, yet oddly liberating.
They continued eating like this, scooping up spaghetti and occasionally even slurping the slippery food up, resulting in all kinds of peculiar noises. Elizabelle returned to once again ask them what they ordered to drink, eager to see her leading man of the evening. Ron told her, "Wine and beer!" as a mouthfull of spaghetti came tumbling out of his mouth, causing Elizabelle to turn on her heels with no intention of returning and Hermione to laugh so hard she almost choked. She couldn't believe she was having the time of her life over pasta.
Then, when they were each on their last bites, the inevitable happened. One piece of spaghetti trapped between two mouths. They mockingly stared each other down as though they were participating in a duel of the Wild West. Each dared the other to be the first to bite off, neither wanting to surrender. Finally, when their lips were as close as physically possible without touching, Hermione opened her mouth preparing to bite down, and distastefully revealing her half of the piece coiled in her mouth. Sensing opportunity, Ron pulled his head back, slurping and taking the entire piece with him.
"Ew, Ron, you're repulsiveness knows no bounds does it?"
"I must have heard you wrong, because I know you didn't just say that you found the prospect of your saliva in my mouth disgusting, right?" Ron asked, rather proud of himself for coming up with something so clever.
Oh, no innuendo there, Hermione thought, but decided to go along with it anyway.
"Is that what you heard, because I don't remember speaking those words."
"Was that a yes?"
"No"
"Well, was that a no?"
"No"
"Am I just going to keep asking you questions?"
"Possibly."
"Do you want to dance?"
"With you?"
"No, with my father."
"I think he's rather busy right now."
"Come here," he said, getting out of his seat and walking over to her. Why am I asking her to dance? I don't know how to dance! What has gotten into me! What have I gotten myself into? Am I trying to get myself into trouble? No, I'm trying to get myself into-
"Ron?"
"Huh?"
"Dancing usually involves moving."
"Right."
He twirled her around next to their table in what he hoped was a graceful manner, moving to the beat of faint music that could barely be heard over the other customers.
"You owe me a knut every time you step on my feet with those huge things."
"Tell ya what, you can have two."
----
Hermione and Ron returned to their seats to pay the bill, Ron slipping his extra money into her bag, although he was sure it could not possibly amount to all he owed her. Her feet would recover eventually anyway.
"Now what?" he said as they walked away from the table, not entirely sure where they were heading to.
"I'm too tired to apparate home, I'd probably end up in a tree or something."
"I bet you could apparate with total accuracy after not sleeping for a week, being hung upside down and then spun in circles, but I won't argue. We can just stay here."
"Oh no. That's just a recipe for disaster. There is only going to be one room left with one bed and-"
"-Hermione you must watch way too many movers."
"Too many what?"
"Movers, you know those cheesy things that Muggles watch because they have nothing better to do with their time."
"Oh, you mean movies. And no, I prefer books. Still, real life's getting more like fiction each day and things like that do tend to happen."
"You wish, come on, let's go check in."
They went to find Tom out front and get themselves a room, flinching every time their hands brushed together as they walked. It was incredible how their insecurities kept returning to them. They could be dancing, pressed against each other entirely and then five minues later, a mere brush of the hand could send each one into mental spasms.
At last, they found him, as bald and in need of dentures as ever.
"We would like to have a room for the night," Ron told him. He then added, "please," nervously.
"One room?" Hermione questioned, turning to Ron.
"Yes, one room," he confirmed.
Tom gave them what would have been a sly grin, if not for his lack of teeth.
"With two," beds Hermione added.
"I'm sorry, we don't have any of those," Tom told her.
"See, Ron, I told you this was a bad idea, but no, you just-"
"Miss, calm down, it's the joke of the trade. Room 12 is available, one room, two beds," he said, handing her the keys.
"Oh. Well, thank you."
Hermione marched off towards the room and Ron followed after, shooting Tom a look as if to say, "what can you do?"
They found their way to the room and upon seeing the door Ron recalled, "Hey, this is the room were I stayed with that bloody git."
"You mean-"
"Yes, him. I must say, the company is infinitely better this time."
Hermione just rolled her eyes and proceeded to open the door. She was about to step inside when Ron pulled her back.
"Wait," he instructed, pointing to the top of the doorframe.
"What-oh," Hermione said, spotting everyone's favorite holiday plant.
She felt her stomach lurch as though she was using a portkey. He was going to kiss her for the second time that night. This time, however, it was different. In spite of all the mixed signals the night had contained, he was not afraid that she would pull away and was prepared to take it slow.
"You know there's a new rule," he told her.
"Oh really," Hermione replied in sarcastic disbelief.
"Yes, a minute for each leaf."
"Well then." She stepped closer.
----
They sat in an overstuffed armchair by the window of the hotel room, watching the snow outside cover the world. Ron had squeezed his lengthy legs upon the cushion Indian style and Hermione had positioned herself in the center. Her head fit perfectly under his chin and his arms were crossed over her so that her right hand was in his left and vice versa. He was stroking her hands with his thumbs and she couldn't help but notice that whether he was doing it consciously or not, he kept running over the rings on her left hand.
FLASHBACK
"Mum, I need to talk to you," Hermione told her mother who was busying about her room, making sure everything was unpacked and in the right place. She knew she had nothing to worry about as Hermione never wasted anytime in unpacking her Hogwarts trunks when she got home. Nevertheless, it made her feel motherly and she liked it. She paused from totaling pairs of balled socks to walk over to her daughter's bed and sit beside her.
"Is something wrong?"
"Not really wrong ...it's just...well it's this..."
She pulled out a letter from the folder on her nightstand. It was from Krum and rather personal, but being an only child and having two guys for best friends, her relationship with her mother had always been very open.
Dr. Granger read over the letter, looking up to exchange facial expressions with Hermione after certain lines.
"Well," she said, having come to a conclusion, "he must be quite a bit older than you if he plays Quidditch full time but he seems like a very nice boy. I'm not entirely sure I feel comfortable with you spending the summer with him but I am not completely rejecting the idea. Does he still live with his parents?"
"I'm not sure but that's not the problem-"
"-That's what you think, young lady-"
"Before you go into 'young lady' mode let me explain, mum. I wasn't asking for permission to go, I was asking if I even want to go."
"The other situation I could work with you on but honey, only you can answer whether or not you want to go. I'll do my best to help though. Is there any particular reason that you aren't sure?"
"Yes, I guess it would be fair to say that," Hermione said as a dreamy look crossed her face.
"Who is he?"
"What?"
"The other boy you fancy that's holding you back."
"How did you know-"
"A mother always knows. So, spill," Dr. Granger instructed, crossing her legs and propping her head up on her elbows. This caused Hermione to laugh as she couldn't help but notice the resemblance her mother bared to a girl of her own age.
"It's Ron," she informed her mother flatly.
"Give me a second here to cope with all that enthusiasm," Dr. Granger mocked.
"I'm sorry that a chorus of angels didn't sing out his name but I'm trying to distance myself from that kind of behavior. Nothing is ever going to happen between us. I should just go with Krum. Krum likes me and had the guts to tell me so whereas Gryffindor bravery has gotten Ron absolutely nowhere." Hermione flopped down from her sitting position, stretching out on her bed and covering her face with a pillow.
Dr. Granger gently removed the pillow from her daughter's face and put it in her own lap.
"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think. He's probably just shy and intimidated by your astounding beauty. What's important is how you feel about him. Never settle, follow you're heart. Always."
END FLAHSBACK
"Always," Hermione repeated.
"What?" Ron asked, removing his head from her chin and bending his neck so that they were almost cheek to cheek.
"Nothing," Hermione replied as she removed her rings and slid them into her pocket.
There's Only YesOnly Tonight
We Must Let Go
To Know What's Right
No Other Course
No Other Way
No Day But Today
I Can't Control
My Destiny
I Trust My Soul
My Only Goal
Is Just - To Be
There's Only Now
There's Only Here
Give In To Love
- Another Day, Rent
Next week is crazy busy for me, ANOTHER Ap Euro test, then Parent Teacher Conferences (I volunteered to stay late and work in my school's Animal Room 'cause I love those little guys) and then HALLOWEEEN!!! Me, Cassio and Shiny are going as Hermione, Ron, and Harry. Us? Obsessive? Noooooooo. Anyway I'll try to post asap, not that there are all these people on pins and needles. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the little mystery foreshadowing has to do with her rings.