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Hi to anyone reading this. I'm saddd. I have school Monday! Noooo! LOL...I'll get over it. Anyways not much to say at the moment. Well Ron told Hermione he loved her and this time things are actually going to happen haha. It's not like the mistletoe cover-up from a few chapters ago. No cover-up for love. So with that in mind here are the usual thank yous! (Reviews are my sunshine!)
MeryKey-7: I'm glad you didn't think anything was-dare I say-cheesy. shivers Yeah I think Britney Spears is one of those people who are always in the media. The half the world does love her for flaunting her body. What can I say? Sadly sex sells. LOL...anywhoo thanks for reviewing!
Chrismukkah-hunnie: Thankss. Seamus is around for a bit more. Yup I know the drill lol. I dunno EVERYBODY wants a piece of Seth and I can't blame them. Seth's the best!
Dark Flame5: Yeah this chapter really got to the point lol. Ooh I've inspired you? Wowzers thanks lots for saying it and all the other awesome stuff you said in your review was good too! I love LOTR but I'm too scared to write any of it because it's such a masterpiece and I wouldn't want to screw Mr. Tolkien's work over. Thanks anyways!
piratingspiderelf: First of all...YES MALFOY IS AN ASS. lol and I feel horrible for Ron and Hermione. I'm not sure how I would've reacted if my best guy friend told me he loved me...shocked is one. LOL. Oh and btw thank you for your review!
She-Who-Must-Not-Bee-Named: Yes, Witch Weekly. It does seem wrong, doesn't it? The other inbetweens would be like gold-silver, silver-grey, grey-bronze, etc. Yeah the Soul Mate vial always stays in the country you were born in and if you immigrate to another country than that particular country makes a copy of your vial but the original always stays in your country of origin. But if you cross over borders illegally than the vial stays at the country only. Well with the slutty witches than they'd be inbetween colors. So if you want to be one color and happy than don't be a slut! Woah that was confusing lol. When I first read your review I was like...what the hell? And I had to go back and read it carefully to get it hah. Thanks for reviewing either way.
ellen2321: Yes they both cried! LOL I don't feel quite as sorry for Malfoy but yes it was quite depressed afterwards! Snape was reading Witch Weekly because-well-he thinks it's a good piece of reading. At the time he was doing the What color looks best on you? quiz. The results for Snape was black lol. But hey everyone has a guilty pleasure! The food at the party was the usual food they served when the students were at school. Kind of Old English food. Ron and Hermione were dancing to Hedwig's Theme from the Harry Potter movies LOL. Of course they didn't know that it was called that. Harry and Luna were-nevermind. Just thank you for your review and questions.
brokentoy19: LOL yeah just like Phoebe. That was funny. Yeah it would haunt him forever if he kept it in. Anywhoo thanks for reviewing!
Balewilyiel: It's good to clear the air about Hermione's feelings for Seamus. And Snape reading Witch Weekly creates a funny image in my mind too. I needed him to be doing something weird for that scene to work and suddenly Witch Weekly came to mind lol. Oh and thanks a bunch for your review!
xXxhell's-favourite-angelxXx: I'll see what I can do about Ron and Hermione...cheeky smile...thanks for reviewing btw.
Mental357: Haha update 100. That's condensed and easy. Yes surprise with Ron and Hermione LOL. Soo...thanks for the review.
sjpgurl13: Nice name. Yup mine is interesting but I think I'll change it back to winky-wink lol. The Aussies that were here left today! OH and thank you for the review!
PinkyTheSnowman: Yay it wasn't cheesy! Snape has guilty pleasures! LOL...Yeah I'm glad I could think of a real reason for Malfoy being rich. He couldn't still have his family fortune after this father was sent to Azkaban...I mean come on. He, himself, had links to the Dark Lord. All of which have been un-proven(if that's a word). He's a sly one lol. Yup Crabbe and Goyle always had humor to a story. Thanks for reviewing!
dancerrdw: Thanks all around!
kamplified: Yup I needed-wanted to have Snape in there. It'd just be too brilliant to pass up lol. Thanks for the review!
i have imaginary friends: Thanks so much. It's really appreciated.
Esrb99: I'm glad you took the time to review now! LOL thanks so much for the review and beautiful support.
Siriusly-0bsessed: I love the fact that Ron caught Snape reading Witch Weekly too. Hah...Seamus...is still around but not for long. Hermione doesn't love him! I knoww I love the Row thing. Sometimes baby siblings or cousins even say the cutest things! Aww...I love boxing day too. But this year the sales were only sub-par. I did buy shoes and a purse for an awesome deal though! Lol thanks for review. And I hope you had a fab boxing day. May the Shop be with you!
Rianna Potter: I know that feeling! It's nuts! Ok..here's the update and thanks for your review!
Bhekie: I know I feel horrible for him! Poor, poor Ron! Anywhoo thanks for your review!
StarPhoenix: I think I will write more lol. So here it is. Thanks!
gonzogirl: I'm really feeling the Snape love right now lol. Yeah Seamus and Hermione...it's sure to be a dramatic chapter. So thanks for reviewing!
sakura1221: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
Daaaah daaaah end of the thank-yous. I update today because tommorrow is my birthday! Yayness! Anywhoo thanks for reviewing, love you guys and here's the story!
Numb. That's what Ron Weasley felt. Numb. He'd gone home that night and cried himself to sleep. When he'd woke up in the morning he'd cried some more. And when he'd got ready to go to work-well what do you think he did?-he'd cried. So he'd called in sick today and slumped on his couch and read Quidditch Through The Ages whilst not truly concentrating. How could he? After what had happened last night...
'I love you.'
And she'd cried! What kind of person cries when someone tells them they love them? And what kind of person makes a person cry just by telling them they love them? Ron shook his head in frustration. He was confusing himself. He summoned a sandwich from the kitchen and ate his three hour late lunch. As he bit into it some mustard squirted out and stained his shirt. He groaned angrily. Normally a simple stain on his shirt was not a thing to annoy him but could his day get any worse?
His life was a bit like his sandwich. Messy. Layer upon layer of condiments but when you peeled all those off one by one all that was left was a soggy piece of bread. It struck him. He was the soggy piece of bread.
"Argh!" Ron moaned. He threw his sandwich away from him and crossed his arms. It was not a smart thing to do on several levels. The sandwich hit the floor and sent lettuce and tomatoes and ham flying everywhere. Ron even got mayonnaise on his arm. He pouted and pretended nothing happened. He didn't want to make a mistake. So he hadn't. If he didn't admitt to it than it hadn't really happened. Had it?
"That's an ugly vase...," Ron muttered, staring at a crystal vase with mermaids and hippogriffs carved into it. He'd saw it about a year ago at an old antiques shop in Diagon Alley and had fallen in love with it immediately. But now suddenly it seemed rather ugly. Hideous even. Why had he ever bought it. Why had he ever loved it?
"Piece of shit!" Ron screamed surprising himself. He picked it up and threw it to the ground with as much raw force has he could muster. He thought breaking the vase he'd once loved would satisfy him but it didn't. It only made him feel worse.
"God-what is wrong with me?" he sighed before throwing himself on the couch once again. His living room was a mess. Food and shards of glass littered the floor.
"Ron?" a quiet voice piped up. Ron looked up and saw Harry letting himself in and shutting the door. Had he witnessed his little temper tantrum?
"Ron, mate, this place is a mess!" Harry said with a low whistle. He stepped over the glass carefully and sat down beside Ron on the couch.
"Yeah, well, what're you doing here?" Ron questioned, bitterly. He didn't feel in the mood to talk right now.
"Well you weren't at work today and you felt the Reunion in a rush last night. I just wanted to know if you were alright. Guess not though. Seeing as to how I just saw you hurl a helpless vase to the ground," Harry said, staring at Ron with his head cocked to one side.
Ron could only sigh and cover his face with his hands. He could feel those oh so annoying tears fighting their way to the surface again. He could've yelled at Harry right now but what was the point? Instead he opened up.
"It's Hermione," Ron replied in a croaky voice.
"Hermione?" Harry said, eyebrows arched.
"Yes. I told her I loved her last night," Ron explained sullenly. He could see Harry getting uncomfortable.
"Oh...I'm guessing it didn't go well?" Harry asked gently.
"No. It went horribly," Ron said leaning back on the couch.
"So she said she didn't love you?" Harry murmured, skeptically.
"She didn't do that but it was just as bad. She cried," Ron responded, "She bloody cried!"
"Listen, mate, maybe she did cry but perhaps it was for reasons beyond what you and me can understand right now," Harry said, trying to soothe him.
"Oh really? Like what?" Ron muttered.
"Like perhaps it didn't mean she didn't love you but maybe it's 'cause she's so overwhelmed. I mean she does have a boyfriend already," Harry started and when he noticed he'd caught Ron's attention he hurriedly continued, "And he's been her boyfriend for three years. He's someone she knows through and through. But here you come and offer something new and exciting and beautiful that she's probably never exprienced before. And it scared her. She probably didn't know anyone could feel that way, didn't know she could feel that way, you know?"
Ron stared at Harry in shock. "Where the bloody hell did you get so good at saying that kind of stuff from?"
Harry grinned, "I've had a girlfriend for four years. I'm getting married. I'd know."
Ron perked up slightly, "You think that's really what she's going through?"
"Probably," Harry replied sensibly. He didn't want to get Ron's hopes up.
"Thanks, Harry. But I suppose this still means she'd have to choose, wouldn't she?" Ron began silently. Harry nodded, shiftily. They both sat in silence, lost in their thoughts for a while.
However they were interrupted when Luna's head appeared in the fireplace. Even though her head was in fireplace Ron could tell her face was tense, worried. Her hair was a mess as if she'd rushed to brush it. And she wasn't even wearing her butterbeer cork necklace.
Harry seemed to notice all these signs of trouble too because he said, "Luna, what's wrong?"
"It's Daphne, she's in labor," Luna said in rushed tones, "But they're having problems. They're even saying-Luna choked up slightly-that perhaps the baby or she might not make it."
Ron paled. Daphne wasn't his favourite person but he didn't want her to die! And he sure as hell didn't want to lose his first nephew or niece.
"We'll be there in 2 seconds," Harry said. Ron was surprised he hadn't lost his voice as he had. Luna nodded and disappeared.
"Come on Ron, let's go," Harry said quickly, standing up and ready to apparate.
Ron got his voice back, "I can't wear this!"
He gestured downwards towards his dirty shirt and trousers. Harry groaned in exasperation.
"What are you waiting for? Go get changed!" Harry scolded. Ron flinched and ran off. Of course he couldn't do it without slipping on a tomato in the process.
"Erm, sorry tomato," Ron mumbled. Harry shook his head.
Ron bounded back to his bedroom. Yelling Harry was frightening. Ron hadn't been so afraid of him shouting so much before. But ever since fifth year...he'd learned the hard way that getting Harry angry enough to raise his voice was not a good thing. He threw on a pair of dark robes and sprinted back out in record time.
" 'bout time!" Harry said loudly and quickly apparated. Ron followed suit.
A nurse led them to 's ward for expectants. It, unlike the rest of the hospital, had moving illustrations of hearts, and daisies, and ducklings on the walls. Ron grimaced. That was enough to terrify the baby back into it's mother's womb.
When they finally reached a room in a corner Ron could see enough redheads to dicifer it was his family. They both sat there in anxiety and Mrs. Weasley was crying hysterically. Mr. Weasley was trying to comfort her but was failing to do so. Luna jumped up when he and Harry and arrived.
"I'm so glad you're here!" Luna cried and Ron noticed her eyes were red. So she'd been crying. Harry and Luna quickly got caught up with each other. Ron noticed Fleur and Penelope were also present and were looking horrified. They were probably thinking of how this could just as easily be them.
"Ron!" Ginny shouted, "Ron!"
He rushed over to her and wrapped her in a hug. He stroked her hair affectionately and pulled back.
"Ginny, what happened?" Ron asked.
"The baby was expected on the fourteenth but came today! Four days early! It's premature!" Ginny sobbed.
"But four days is enough that they can handle, isn't it? Why should there be a risk of life or death?" Ron questioned in worry.
"Oh, Ron, she's a Vampire. Their pregnancy is over with quickly but if their baby is even a day premature the results are usually death," Ginny explained still teary-eyed, "The only thing that's keeping her and the baby alive is that fact that it's half human. Or else Daphne should've been dead by now."
Ron rubbed his eyes, "What have the healers said?"
Ginny's lower lip trembled, always a bad sign. "They say it doesn't look good. The half human trait can only suffice one of them. So neither can live while the other survives." (Author's Note: JKR and prophecy moment! Or better yet stolen quote moment!)
Ron's mind felt dizzy, "Where's George?"
"He's with the healers at the moment," Ginny replied, "Oh, Ron, I need to sit..."
She looked woozy. Ron made sure she was alright before checking in on the rest of the family. Soon George stepped out of the room where Daphne was looking so un-George-esque that just the sight of him made Ron want to cry. He looked so old. His face was ghostly white and there were hauntingly dark bags under his eyes. His usually neat hair was resembling Ron's and he was wearing his robe inside out. He almost resembled during the Second War. Always tired, upset but forcing himself to be happy for the sake of his family.
He put on fake smile on his face when he noticed Ron and Harry had arrived, "Hey guys. How's it going?"
Ron gave him a hug instead of a response. George seemed momentarily surprised but his brother's spurt of love but accepted it for the moment. Normally he would've yelled, "Rape!"
"How is she?" Ron inquired seriously.
"Meh. I'd let you see for yourself but no one's allowed in except me right now," George said in a flat voice.
"George...I'm so sorry...but I'm sure it'll all be fine. We're all here and we love-" Ron started but was cut off.
"Speaking of love, look who's here," George said in an almost teasing voice. Ron spun around and was shocked to see Hermione and Seamus walk in led by the same nurse that had escorted Ron and Harry here.
They both looked casual. Ron imagined that if he'd ever see Hermione and Seamus again the former would cry and the latter would punch him. However Seamus greeted him just as he usually would. Ron noticed Harry watching to see how Hermione would react to him being there. But she didn't react at all. In fact it seemed she was pretending he wasn't even there. He didn't care. Just treated her the same.
Hermione started conversation with George and they both started to walk along a corridor while Ron drifted away and sat in a corner. Seamus stood centerwise and greeted everyone. Once they had all turned their attention upon them he said, "I just wanted to know if you all were still coming to the proposal ceremony I have for Hermione tomorrow? And if not, I'd like to cancel it."
Ron raised his head in sheer delight. Cancel it! Cancel it! Cancel it!
"No, of course not, Seamus," Mrs. Weasley piped up, "After all you've done to make that night perfect. If things don't go smoothly with the pregnancy then we all can't go but I'll send the kids-they all opened their mouths to protest. They didn't want to abandon George and Daphne-no, you'll go either way. You're not helping them and George would be devasted if he wrecked your fun. And most of all, Hermione needs you all there."
No more protests broke out to Ron's great displeasure. Seamus grinned,"Splendid. Then it's on."
He sat contentedly beside Ron, who shifted uncomfortably.
"Hey, Ron," Seamus said, "How're you holding up?"
Ron gave him a wistful smile, "Not to well."
Seamus frowned,"That's the same look and reply Hermione gave me this morning and none of her family members are in mortal danger."
"Oh?" Ron said trying to sound offhand,"Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Or at least it shouldn't be. Nothing very exciting has happened lately," Seamus said simply.
Ron blanched. Why hadn't Hermione told Seamus what happened last night.
"Seamus did Hermione-er-act weird last night?" Ron asked, seemingly cool.
"Nope. Just her usual self," Seamus responded in a casual tone. Hadn't he seen her cry?
Ron wanted to explore further but Hermione and George had just come around the bend and were sitting themselves nearby. Conversation drifted between the four as it usually would although neither Ron nor Hermione directed anything to the other. She was sitting stiffly and was awfully uptight and cold. Couldn't George and Seamus feel it?
"I wish I had some Exploding Snaps to keep me busy," George sighed.
"I have Exploding Snaps at home," Seamus said and his eyes lit up, "Hermione, Ron, why don't you two go get them for George?"
"Erm...," Ron tried to smile.
"No," Hermione said feigning politeness.
"Why not? Go on," Seamus said ushering them both to stand up. Ron could see Hermione whispering harshly in Seamus' ear. She obviously didn't want to be anywhere alone with him.
"Hermione, can you actually deprive George of a little bit of sunshine?" Seamus prodded.
"Fine, I'll go," Hermione gave up, "But must Ron come with me?"
"Yeah, must I?" Ron implored weakly.
"Yes, Ron, you must," Seamus said and added in a mumble, "Keep her busy for a bit. I've got something planned I want to say without her overhearing."
"Why me?" Ron whispered back.
Seamus laughed, "You say the darnest things! Now get going you too!"
Ron and Hermione had no choice but to actually leave together and go an empty flat. All alone. If Seamus had known what Ron had said to her last night he wouldn't have been quite so cheery about it. It was like letting a pick-pocket look at your wallet. Luckily for Seamus this pick-pocket was a decent one.
They apparated in Seamus and Hermione's flat and even before Ron had regained his balance Hermione had started for her bedroom without a word. Ron resisted the urge to roll his eyes and followed her. Their flat was nicely lit with sunlight and Ron noticed that the flat in general had three bedrooms but only one contained Hermione and Seamus' clothes. So they slept in the same bed...It was to be expected. They had dated for three years. Yet just the thought of Seamus holding Hermione in his arms at night was enough to make Ron grow green with jealousy.
Hermione reached out for a dresser door and pulled out a few sets of Exploding Snaps and tossed them to Ron, "Here. Give these to George."
Ron took them gingerly and just as he was about to head out the door he remembered what Seamus had said about him keeping Hermione busy for a bit. How was he going to do that? So far he'd only taken up about a minute.
"Hermione," Ron began unsure in which direction this conversation was going, "Erm-are you alright?"
Hermione looked up at him. There was a bed between them but Ron could feel all the emotion.
"No, I'm not alright," Hermione replied coldly.
"Hermione, I'm sorry! I'm a thousand times sorry!" Ron cried, "Why can't we forget about it?"
"It's a teensy bit hard to forget that one of your best mates is in love with you, Ronald!" Hermione shouted angrily.
"Well, what do you want me to do? Lie and say I don't love you?" Ron yelled in pure confusion.
"NO! No...I don't want you to say that...," Hermione responded, suddenly very quietly.
"Well what do you want?" Ron implored, also in gentle tones.
"It's too late for what I want. I wanted you to tell before. Why didn't you tell me you loved me before I started dating Seamus?" Hermione asked and her face looked like it was wishing it had happened.
"I was scared...that you wouldn't love me back," Ron murmured.
Hermione's eyes widened,"I've loved you since third year. But you're a coward, Ron Weasley. A big fat coward. How you ever got into Gryffindor is beyond me."
Ron opened his mouth a few times and closed it again, "But you can't love me...after we graduated from Hogwarts I sent you a letter. You burned it. You burned them all."
"Ron...that was because it hurt to talk to you. Waking up each day and knowing that you didn't love me was like having my heartbroken all the time. So I thought it would be best if we went our separate ways. I didn't contact Harry either...I didn't want to be reminded of you at all," Hermione said her voice getting high and soft.
"But...what does this mean? You love me too?" Ron inquired, hardly daring to believe it.
"Yes I love you too, you prat!" Hermione shouted and tears swelled up in her eyes.
Ron bounced across the bed and wrapped her in a hug. She let him and buried her face in his chest. They pulled apart but Ron leaned in. He so wanted to kiss her. So wanted to feel the warmth of her love for him. He loved her too!
Yet Hermione covered his mouth with her hand when it was an inch from her own and shook her head, "Ron, I love you and you don't know how...amazing it feels to know you love me too but I just can't do this. I can't hurt Seamus."
Ron took her hand off his mouth and held it lightly, "So, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I know he's going to ask me to marry him tomorrow and I've promised myself to say yes," Hermione said, her voice cracking and becoming shaky.
Ron dropped her hand, "Why?"
"It's too late for us Ron. I can't break up with him the night before he asks me to marry him and certainly not afterwards. I'm sorry...," Hermione said, reaching up to stroke his cheek but he turned away.
"Right, well you do what you want. Let's go back to 's. They'll be waiting for us," Ron said solidly. His tone was void of emotion. Hermione agreed and they were off.
"Ron! Get in here and meet your new nephew!" George yelled happily once they'd apparated into 's. He snatched him and Hermione up in a gigantic bear hug.
"Are they both alive?" Ron asked incredulously.
"Yeah! They say it's a medical miracle!" George said still spinning Hermione around. He set her on the ground and practically pushed them into the hospital room. Daphne sat on a crisp white bed, her black hair matted to her forehead, with the whole gang surrounding her. Ron noticed a small lump of blanket in her arms and felt his stomach squirm. His first nephew!
"There's someone here to see you, Weasley," Daphne smirked but Ron noticed how happy she really was. He squeezed through the sea of red and gasped in joy. A small redhaired, pale, saphire-eyed, and widely freckled baby lay asleep in Daphne's arms.
"He's...perfect," Ron whispered, awestruck.
"He's William," Daphne said, "He's got a lot of middle names too. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and Ron. Then again, you just had to have lots of brothers."
Ron grinned and George said, "You want to hold him?"
Both Ron and Daphne panicked.
"Oh come on, Ron's responsible enough," George said easily and took the baby out of Daphne's arms and lifted it into Ron's.
"Just don't drop my baby boy on his head or I'll literally suck you dry," Daphne warned.
Ron, however, wasn't paying attention, "Hey little Willy. I'm your Uncle Ron. I'm better than the rest of them because I can already tell I love you."
William yawned and opened his eyes. They were like Ron's eyes. The baby reached up and took Ron's finger gently.
"That's right. You and me. I'll always love you and you'll always love me."
He wondered vaguely whether he was talking to William or Hermione. He shrugged. Both.
Author's Note: Some Drama and a little baby! I love babies! As long as they aren't whiny and pouty and boo woo all the time. LOL. Anywhoo...not much else to say except my birthday tomm so yay! Oh and R&R. (P.S. Pretty quick, update eh?)
much love
winky-wink