AN: Took longer than I thought to get this part out, but things kept getting in the way and I'm still not sure if I'm completely happy with it. But...it's a bit longer than the rest so hopefully that will make up for it a bit. Hope you enjoy!
Part 6: Unexpected Events
I didn't see Ron very much over the next few days, only in class and at meals. He seemed to disappear, just saying it was something important, but not telling me what he was doing. I don't know where he was running off to, but I know it wasn't the library or anywhere in Gryffindor tower as I'd thoroughly checked both places.
At first I thought that he was avoiding me, but the times I would see him, in class or at meals, he didn't seem angry or guarded. He seemed perfectly normal. We'd talk just like we always do, except afterward he'd run off to do…whatever it was he'd been doing.
It must have to do with this girl; that must be it.
He's seeing some girl and doesn't want to tell us about it, but he's spending all his time with her so how could he possibly think we wouldn't figure it out?
Pondering the dreadful thought of Ron with another girl is where I currently find myself, schoolwork lain in front of me, when Harry comes in furious.
"Where is he?" he growls, bursting into the common room. "I'm going to kill him. I swear I'm going to kill him."
"Harry, what's going on?" I ask, dumbfounded by the frustration I feel rolling off him.
As if seeing me for the first time, he comes over to where I'm sitting. I tense a little, not sure what to expect. "Have you seen Ron?"
"No, not since dinner," I reply, slightly confused. "Why?"
"'Cause he missed Quidditch practice today," Harry says, throwing his arms up in disbelief. I should have known. If there was anything Harry took to heart it was Quidditch. Boys and their sports!
"And he missed it all because he was probably working on his stupid, hair-brained…ahhh!" he finally screams through his frustration and I want to kill Harry for not finishing his sentence. "I'm gonna find him and I'm gonna kill him."
"Wait, Harry? What did you say? Do you know what Ron has been doing?" At this point I would give just about anything for the slightest notion of what Ron's up to.
Harry looked like a deer caught in the headlights, but didn't answer. Aha! He does know!
"Look Harry, you're really angry right now, and you're liable to do something you'll later regret if you go talk to Ron like this," I say sweetly, hoping against anything that this will work. "So how about you tell me where he is, and I'll go talk to him, ok?"
He gets an evil grin on his face, and I can't help but wonder what that means. I'm a little frightened by it, but I choose to ignore it as I don't want to interfere with my self-proclaimed mission to find Ron.
"Yeah, Hermione. That's a great idea. I'm kinda tired anyway. He's er…he's in the room of requirement."
The room of requirement! That's so obvious, why didn't I think of it before? How could I have been so stupid? Where else do you go when you're trying to hide things from other people? "Great," I say smiling, hopefully innocently. "You just go get cleaned up and relax, and leave everything to me." I say, pushing Harry in the direction of the boys' dormitories.
As soon as he's gone I'm off to the room of requirement. I reach the portrait in record time, and have to stop a minute to control my breathing. I don't want him to know that I practically ran all the way down here.
I find the doorway, and I'm about the turn the knob when a thought occurs to me. What if Ron is in there snogging some girl? Do I really want to see that?
Deciding that I just have to know, 'cause not knowing is liable to kill me, I gather up my courage and open the door, hoping against hope that I won't find Ron in some compromising position with another girl. What I find, luckily, is what looks to be very much like a potions classroom, with Ron at a desk, standing over a cauldron.
Definitely not what I was expecting.
"Ron?" I ask, confusion and curiosity coming through in my tone.
He looks up startled. "Hermione? What are you doing here?"
I hope he won't be angry for my intrusion. "You missed Quidditch practice. Harry is livid. I told him I'd go look for you." I decided to leave out the part where Harry told me where to find him.
"Bloody hell!" he exclaims, looking at his watch. "I completely lost track of time. Harry's going to kill me!"
I laugh remembering Harry's tirade from just moments ago. "That's what he was threatening. So, what have you been doing in here? I assume this is where you've been disappearing to all week."
"Er, yeah," he says, one arm going behind his head to rub at his neck nervously, while his eyes remain down, not meeting me face. "I'm brewing a potion."
I roll my eyes. "I can see that. What potion?" My mood had decidedly lifted upon having discovered that Ron wasn't skirting around with some trollop…er, other girl.
"I er…well, you see…" he stammers. "It's the er…well…" he sighs, seemingly resolving himself to tell me, "the lust potion."
"What? Ron, you're brewing the lust potion?!" I couldn't believe it. Why? "If you plan on giving this to some poor, unsuspecting girl I will not allow it. I can't believe…"
"Hermione. You know I wouldn't do that! How could you even think such a thing?" he asks incredulously.
"Well, that's what the potion is for after all, to make one person lust after another. If it's not for that, then what are you making it for?"
"I don't know," he replies exasperatedly. He's silent for a moment before finishing. "I was just…curious I guess. I wanted to see if it really worked. And I know what you're thinking. I didn't tell you 'cause I knew you were going to talk me out of it, just like you're thinking right now."
How did he know that?
"Ron, you can't really go through with this. Who were you going to try it on, anyway?"
His eyes meet mine, and that suggestive smirk comes over his face again, causing an odd sensation to start in the pit of my stomach. He can't possibly mean… Somehow I have a really bad feeling about this.
"Oh no! I don't think so! I am not taking some lust potion just to satisfy your curiosity."
"No Hermione. I'm going to take the potion. But I need your help with one of the ingredients."
I sigh. I'm starting to think I was better off not knowing after all. "I am not breaking into Snape's private stores again just so you can make some silly lust potion."
He laughs. "You're not going to find the ingredient I need in there."
"Then what are you…" And then, it hits me, my mind traveling back to weeks ago when Ron had been quizzing me about the ingredients. The saliva. But…then he would lust after me! He really wants to lust after me? I don't know if I can deal with that!
He must see the recognition light in my eyes, 'cause he's nodding his head, that smirk back on his face. "Won't you be a doll and come spit in this vile for me?"
"Ron, are you out of your mind?!" He must be. There's no other reason he would… "Isn't there someone else you could..?"
"Well, I'd ask Harry, but I don't think he'd appreciate the sentiment," Ron says, smirking again.
Somehow, I don't find it all that funny. His expression turns serious.
"Come on 'Mione. You're the only girl I trust, except for my sister and that's just gross. Please 'Mione! You're the only one I trust to not, well…take advantage of the situation."
A part of me wants to tell him he's being a bit smug to think that another girl would 'take advantage' of him, but I know it's a very distinct possibility. I haven't missed the way much of the school's female population has started looking at Ron since he began filling out his lanky form.
Ron takes a few steps closer and gives me those puppy dog eyes that he just knows I can't deny. I sigh heavily. How am I ever going to survive this?
"Alright," I mutter.
"Really?" He seems surprised. "You'll do it?"
"Yes Ron. When will the potion be ready?"
"Tomorrow afternoon. I put the saliva in then."
I sigh, and leave him to work on the potion while I head back to the Gryffindor tower. I have to mentally prepare myself for what tomorrow might bring.
I'm sitting in the library working on an essay on Goblin Wars of the 15th century, when I feel him. I don't have to look to know that he's there, there's just this presence in the air that let's me know he's looking at me. At look up at the door and our eyes meet, his burning into mine.
In a flash he is beside me. His hand reaches out to touch my face and I have to close my eyes at the contact. His hand is slightly roughened from hours of Quidditch and felt like such a contrast next to my soft cheek. He rubs across it with his thumb, causing a pleasant shiver to spread through my body.
He kneels down next to me and when he speaks I feel his soft breath brush again my face.
"Hermione, I've been looking all over for you."
I open my eyes to see his bright blue ones gazing straight into mine.
"Oh, and why is that?" I ask smiling.
"So that I could do this," he replies before leaning forward and pressing his lips against my own. The kiss starts out soft and gentle, but soon turns hungry. His hand on the back of my head wraps in my hair and serves to hold me there, letting the kiss deepen. The feel of his wet tongue running over my lips is electric and I open my mouth, dying to feel more of him.
His tongue seeks out the dark recesses of my mouth as mine boldly tangles with his. It seems like hours before we break apart for air but at the same time like mere seconds. His mouth moves to my neck, leaving hot open-mouthed kisses on the flesh there.
My arms wind around his neck, loving the feelings he's evoking in me. Soft moans escape my mouth as he runs his hands…
Beep Beep Beep
I roll over after turning off the alarm and sigh. I have a feeling this is going to be a long day.
I go through the day somewhat awkwardly. I'm jumpy and nervous, and I know that it hasn't gone unnoticed, especially by Ron. I just can't help thinking about what this afternoon will bring, and what will happen once Ron drinks that potion.
I'm so afraid of suddenly having everything I want handed to me on a silver platter. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up the platonic friend thing if Ron starts chasing after me.
I think back to yesterday and laugh. Ron said that I was the only one he could trust…maybe he should rethink that. 'Cause right now, I'm not sure I'll be able to control myself.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Ron asks for about the hundredth time today.
"Yes Ron, I'm fine." I answer, just as I've been answering all day. Somehow, he just doesn't seem to get the message.
"If it's about the potion, we don't have to go through with it. If it's bothering you that much I'll understand."
"Ron, I'm fine. It will be just fine." As much as I'm scared and nervous for what I know is about to happen, I want it at the same time. This may be the only chance to really see what it's like to be with him, I just hope that I'm able to keep up some semblance of control.
"Ok. But if you change your mind, it's ok. I understand. I probably shouldn't have pushed this on you in the first place."
I nod my head and turn my attention back to class. Or attempt to at least. Sometimes even I have trouble paying attention.
Before I knew it afternoon classes were over and Ron and I were heading to the room of requirement.
"Now, are you absolutely positive that you want to do this? 'Cause I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you into this."
"Ron, just stop alright. I agreed to this. It's fine. Let's just do it." If there was any doubt in my mind before, it's gone now. His incessant insecurity and making sure that I'm 'okay' has made me so annoyed that I would do it now strictly out of spite and to get him to shut it. "Besides, I'm not really doing anything here. You're the one taking the potion. I just have to fight you off."
"Right," he says after a moment, something flashing in his eyes that I can't discern. "I… Alright. I er…I need your saliva," he said, all of the sudden seeming somewhat shy.
"Oh, right," I say, grabbing a vile off the table in front of me (how convenient) and spitting into it. "Is this enough?" I ask after a few moments.
"Er yeah, I think so," he says, heading over to the bubbling cauldron and pouring it in.
"So you're really going to drink my spit, huh?" I say oddly, feeling somewhat awkward. What am I supposed to do? Just stand here to see if he'll come on to me?
"Yeah," he says, laughing slightly. He seems a little unsure, and I can't tell if he's nervous or what.
He takes a glass and dips it into the cauldron, taking a good half cup of the potion. He gazes at the glass for a moment, as if stealing up his nerve. Then he looks up at me. "Cheers," he says holding up the glass before downing the contents.
He looks at the empty glass, putting it on the desk in front of him. Then he looks at me. Then back at the desk.
"How'd it taste?" I ask after a few moments of silence. I'm not sure what else to say.
"Not too bad," he replies. "Kind of fruity. But I don't feel any different."
I walk closer towards him and look at the book lying open in front of him. Glancing over the pages quickly, I understand why. "It says here that results are not immediate and it may be up to a couple of hours before they take affect."
"Oh," he says. "Well that explains it. Shall we go to dinner then?"
I nod my head dumbly. How can he be so calm about this? He just took a potion that is supposed to make him lust after me and all he's thinking about is dinner? Why did I let myself get into this mess?
We had a little time before dinner, so we went back to Gryffindor tower, taking our bags up to our dormitories. Ron convinced me to play a game of wizard's chess, which he won of course, before we went down to dinner.
The whole time I couldn't help but feel anxious. Like I'm just waiting for something to happen, but I'm not quite sure what it's going to be. I don't know when or how this potion is going to manifest itself, and I'm not sure how I feel about that.
We walk into the Great Hall to find Harry and Ginny already sitting at the table; I was wondering where they were.
"Hey guys," I say, as we sit down across from them. "Where've you been?"
A slight blush covers Ginny's face and Harry mutters something about a walk, his eyes staring down at the table in front of him and refusing to meet mine or Ron's.
I laugh a little bit and notice the discomfort that takes over Ron's demeanor.
"You know what? I don't need to know," I say after a moment and don't miss that gracious look that Harry shoots at me. This relationship is still new to them, and I understand that they don't want to share all of it just yet, especially not in front of Ginny's brother. And actually, I'm pretty sure that Ron doesn't want them to share all of it either…ever.
We sit for a few moments in silence, taking food from the great plates in front of us and setting them on our own, eating in silence. After a while I feel the need to break the tension that has settled over the table.
"So Harry, when is the next DA meeting?"
"Um…I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. Soon though."
"Any idea what you want to cover next?" I ask, trying to keep the conversation going. "I can help you look up some jinxes and stuff if you'd like."
"Thanks Hermione, but I think I've got an idea."
"Oh, what?" I ask, somewhat excitedly.
Harry starts going over some of the spells he was thinking of for the next meeting and I can't help but congratulate myself on a job well done. The tension in the room, or at least in this little corner of it, has definitely started lifting.
Just as we had moved on from discussions of DA meetings to what we had just been learning about defensive spells in classes, I felt the slightest brush of what I swear was a hand on my leg. It sends a shiver up my body, startling me slightly, but as soon as it happens I'm sure that I just imagined it. Around me the conversation is continuing just like normal.
"So what new and most likely dangerous creature do you think Hagrid's going to have in class for us next week? He seemed really excited about it; said it should be a real treat."
"I don't know, but when Hagrid says that something's going to be a 'treat,' that isn't necessarily a good sign."
"Hiya Harry," someone shouts from the entrance to the Great Hall, and we turn to see Dean Thomas coming toward us. He walks up to Harry saying his hellos to the rest of us in turn, before turning to ask Harry something about Quidditch; Dean started on the team as a beater last year.
Turning back to my food, I suddenly give a jump and drop my fork. A hand seems to have found its way to my thigh…rather high on my thigh as a matter of fact. The motion startles me, to say the least. Now I know I didn't imagine that!
The clatter of my fork seems to draw everyone's attention to me.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Ginny asks, looking concerned.
"Er yeah, yeah," I say hurriedly. Probably too hurriedly, and I'm sure she can't miss the blush that I can feel burning my face. "Just er…dropped my fork."
"Right," she says eyeing my curiously, but seems to let it go, as she turns her attention back to the conversation that Harry and Dean have picked up. Gratefully, I breathe again, not realizing until then that I'd been holding it.
Looking askance at Ron I notice the smirking grin on his face, betraying his guilt. Not that his hand, still placed precariously on my thigh, hadn't already given that away.
A part of me knows we're in public, and as such I should probably make movements to extricate his hand from its current resting place, but another part of me can't help but indulge myself in the feelings that it's evoking.
And so I leave it there, which Ron must take as an invitation, as his fingers start moving slightly, tracing invisible designs over the inside of my leg. Suddenly I'm finding it very hard to concentrate on eating.
"Hermione, are you sure you're ok? You seem kind of flushed," Ginny asks again, and I look up from my plate to see that Dean is gone and that both her and Harry are staring at Ron and myself.
"Er…yeah, I'm fine," I say, flushing more and trying to bat Ron's hand away discreetly under the table. "A bit warm actually…" I say, trying to disguise the flush on my cheeks, but I know that at least Ginny is not going to buy a word of this.
"Ron, you seem to be rather quiet tonight," Harry says, turning curious eyes on his friend.
"Oh er…I," Ron struggles. "Er…just thinking."
"Oh really," Harry says, a mischievous looking glint in his eye. "What ya thinking about?"
"Er…nothing really. Just…stuff…" Somehow I don't think he was very convincing 'cause he was soon getting the same look that Ginny was giving me.
"Right. Stuff," Harry says mockingly. "I don't know how I never guessed."
Harry soon finds a roll being chucked at his head, and we're all laughing. Seemingly giving up on the interrogation, we all go back to eating in companionable silence. After a couple minutes, however, Ron seems to think now is a good time to replace his hand to its previous position, giving my leg a squeeze that sends a new rush of warmth through me.
Luckily enough, this time I am able to squelch my reaction, and we don't draw attention to ourselves. Briefly I think about the ramifications of my actions, and what tomorrow might bring. Tomorrow when the potion wears off and I have to face a Ron that is no longer so attracted to me. But renewed movement of his fingers against my skin wipes all thoughts of consequences from my mind.
Feeling that all this teasing doesn't deserve to be one sided, I nonchalantly switch hands, trying to eat, less successfully, with my left while my right reaches deftly for his own leg. I hear his breath hitch; he wasn't expecting that. I start drawing my own fingers along his leg when his hand is suddenly on mine, having abandoned it's position on my leg. Well, that seems to have got his attention.
Before I know it, he leans over, his hot breath playing against my ear.
"Meet me in the common room in ten minutes," he whispers, before getting up and leaving the table, only briefly saying goodbye to Harry and Ginny.
"Well what was that about?" Ginny asked, looking at me curiously.
"I don't know," I say, somewhat distractedly, still looking in the direction of Ron's retreating form.
"Well, what did he say to you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
Suddenly, I seem to remember that there are other people in the room, and once again I find myself fighting the blush that's trying to come over my face.
"He er…just wanted help on some homework. Nothing important."
"Right," Ginny says, not sounding convinced. "Then why so secretive. Obviously that's something that could be said in front of us."
"I don't know!" I say, sounding a lot harsher than I mean. "Don't ask me to decipher the inner workings of your brother's mind."
Ginny and Harry are both looking at me now with curious expressions and smirks on their faces. I know they don't believe a word I just said, but right now I don't care. I'm tired of them looking at me like they know some secret I don't.
Suddenly no longer hungry, I get up from the table, leaving the young lovebirds to themselves, feeling slightly annoyed with them. So annoyed am I, in fact, that as I storm out of the Great Hall making for Gryffindor tower, I completely miss the form lurking in the corners of the entrance hall.
AN cont.... Now that all is said and done I want to congratulate JulesFire for making the connections. Also well done to the rest of you who'd figured out that something was up...most notably RedMary9790andsuckr4romance81789. Now it's time to hit that little review button and tell me what you think.