***A/N: Whohoo, I'm trying something with a plot! Aren't I getting big for my britches! The first time I saw Blue Lagoon, the seed was planted for this story. It is a homage to the inherent sexiness of a good deserted island tale. Pirates of the Caribbean helped a bit, too. Who would you like to be stranded with?
(Can't pick Ron!)*****
This story begins in the summer after 5th year.
Ron struggled to open his eyes as the bright morning light invaded his room. Groaning a bit, he rolled over, pulling his pillow over his head in a futile attempt to retain his sleeping state.
When his body stubbornly refused to return to slumber, he threw his pillow down and reluctantly sat up in bed.
Looking across his room, Ron considered. It certainly wasn't fair for him to be up when his best mate slept on blissfully. With the precision of a beater, Ron chucked his pillow directly at Harry's head. The muffled "Ow!" in reply helped sooth the sting of waking up.
Ron straightened as he realized just what this day was. D-day. Diagon Alley. Which meant she would be there. Ron glanced over at his clock and gulped. In two hours, no less.
Jumping out of bed, Ron made a beeline for his closet, tossing out clothes in a desperate attempt to find something suitable.
Harry looked on with a knowing smirk, which turned into a long yawn, and then a snicker.
Ron fixed Harry with a glare. "Not one word," he muttered. Harry raised his palms up in mock surrender. "Didn't say a thing."
Groaning in frustration, Ron yanked open his door and yelled, "Ginny!"
Harry immediately jumped up and rummaged around for a shirt to put on.
"Why so modest, Harry? Scared my ickle sister will jump you where you stand?"
Harry just glared in response and kept looking.
Ginny appeared in the doorway, hair wild and tousled with an annoyed look on her face that was quickly wiped away at the sight of a shirtless Harry.
With a small gulp, she turned towards her brother. "What?" she demanded crossly.
Ron motioned to the clothes strewn about the floor. "Help," he begged, giving her a forlorn expression.
She snorted. "Ah yes, today's the day, hmmm?"
Ron crossed his arms. "Just shut it and help me out, would you?"
Ginny stepped around him and peered into his closet, then came out with a pair of khaki pants and a navy blue shirt.
"Here," she shoved the clothes at him. "The shirt matches your eyes and," she sniffed, "speaking objectively as a woman, tends to show off those Keeper muscles."
Ron smirked. "What is it with girls and eyes and muscles?"
Ginny smiled. "Why don't you ask Hermione? I'm sure she'd ask the same about guys and hair and cleavage." She waggled her eyebrows and flounced off, but not before quietly saying, "Morning, Harry."
Harry blushed. "Morning, Gin."
Ron sighed, and hopped into the shower before he had to vomit.
They were getting a bit ridiculous. Ever since Harry had found out that Ginny had dumped Dean, he'd been blushing like mad around her, stuttering and acting like a general idiot. They hadn't discussed it, apart from some good natured teasing, but Ron was pretty sure he and Ginny were close to getting somewhere. He'd been a little hacked off at the thought, before he'd really considered it. Ginny was great, if anyone could bring Harry out of his funk, it was her. She was certainly better than ruddy Cho Chang, and Harry was a good step up from Dean, that was certain. Ron just wasn't sure he wanted to have to share either of them.
Unless of course….he had someone of his own.
No, that was stupid. And ridiculously unlikely.
So that's why you're taking twenty minutes to brush your hair?
Shut up, stupid voice in my head.
Ron straightened his shirt, and smoothed his hair back once more. Giving himself a once over, he was somewhat pleased. As pleased as bloke with bright red hair and an overlarge nose could be, he supposed.
Who was he kidding? There was no way in hell he stood a chance with Hermione.
Yeah, so she'd kissed him on the cheek. She'd said she was proud of him, and she started to blush when he stared at her too long. In the hospital wing, after he'd been so sure he'd lost her, nothing else had mattered but making sure she was safe. And later, when she'd cried over Sirius and Harry, he'd held her. He'd held her until all she could do was shudder, with no more tears left to shed.
It had felt good, Ron was ashamed to admit. Harry was heartbroken and Sirius was dead, and Ron was happy because he got to hold Hermione. Sometimes he really hated himself.
But before he could reach down and grab hold of anymore self loathing, Hermione had murmured, "I feel so horrible, because so much is wrong and all I can think of is how safe I feel right now, and how I wish we could just stay here forever and forget the rest of the world. Is that cowardly, Ron?"
He had pulled her more tightly to him, overjoyed she'd said it first. "No, I think it makes perfect sense. I was just thinking the same."
"Do you…do you think we're really strong enough for this?" Her voice trembled as she asked.
Ron took a moment, not wanted to just give her empty platitudes.
"I think….we may need moments like this where we can break down and mourn, and curse life and fate and all these obstacles we should never have to go through, but…when Harry needs it, I think we'll be strong for him, and for us."
Hermione smiled at him and snuggled into his shoulder. She had fallen asleep like that, and Ron held her for a long while before slowly easing her back down on her bed and returning to his own.
Ron was startled by Harry's loud knock and exclamation that other people did need to use the bathroom too.
Ron gave him a good natured shove on the way out, before bounding downstairs to see what was for breakfast.
"Good morning dear," Molly Weasley patted his cheek and directed him to sit.
"Morning, Mum," Ron replied, reaching for the pile of bacon. For once, he'd beat the rest of his family to the table, and he planned on taking full advantage.
"I wanted to discuss something with you, Ronald." Molly put down her dishrag, and sat down next to her son.
"What's up, Mum? I promise I'll get to that de-gnoming."
"That's not it, love. It's just, well, I want you to know that I understand you're growing up. This year is going to be hard for you, with all this fear and anxiety. I want you to take care of your sister, but I also want you to keep your eye on Harry as well as Hermione. It's best all around to be cautious."
Ron nodded vigorously. "I won't let anything happen to them, Mum. I'll make sure Harry doesn't do anything stupid."
Molly smiled and him. "But, despite all that, I want to make sure you look after yourself as well. I hope you know how proud your father and I are of you."
He ducked his head, embarrassed and pleased and embarrassed for being pleased.
"I'm quite sure you remember that talk with your father, but let me re-emphasize that I expect you to remain a complete gentleman, whatever may occur this year. Is that understood?"
Ron's head whipped up. The conversation had taken on a decidedly confusing turn.
"What do you mean, Mum? What tal-" Ron stopped abruptly, realizing what his Mum was speaking of.
"Oh." He immediately turned a bright, vivid red.
Molly patted his head. "I know about these things, Ron. This year, I believe a lot will be changing for you. Do your best to keep up, but don't go speeding ahead, either."
He nodded obediently, quite honestly too scared to open his mouth.
"Although, knowing Hermione, I'm sure she'll keep you at exactly the right velocity."
And with that utterly horrifying statement, Molly went back to whipping up the rest of breakfast, leaving her son to gape in astonished silence.
*********************************
By the end of breakfast, Ron had butterflies in his stomach.
When his parents, Ginny, Harry and he gathered round the fireplace, he thought he might pass out.
And when the first thing he saw after stepping out of the Leaky Cauldron fireplace was Hermione, he was quite sure his heart skipped a beat.
He stared at her. She stared right back. The fact that her parents were right next to her didn't enter his mind. The fact that his parents were right behind him wasn't even a factor.
In three long strides, he had gathered her up into a hug, firm but not too much, because he was still worried about her injury.
"Hey." He knew his smile was huge.
She bit her lip, which he thought was absolutely adorable, and murmured back, "Hello."
Then she did something he would never have associated with her dependable, grounded self. She giggled softly, then reached up to smooth down his collar.
"Nice shirt." She met his eyes, and Ron was pretty sure it was the best moment of his life. God Bless you, Ginny!
They were both startled out of their gaze by the greetings exchanged by their parents. He grinned at her a little bit more before they went over to Harry and Ginny, who were off to the side, watching the show with amusement.
Hermione gave Harry her usual enthusiastic hug, then stepped back to get a good look at him.
"Have you been sleeping?" she inquired, voice sharp.
Harry sighed, but he couldn't help but smile. "Yes, Mum. Eating too. And I've been out to get some sun and exercise. Anything else?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm not that bad, am I?"
Ron looked pointedly at the ceiling. "Not touching that one."
They were soon joined by Moody, Remus Lupin and Tonks, who were to be their
escorts.
All four teenagers had protested that they would be perfectly fine in Diagon Alley, but Dumbledore was taking no chances.
While their parents went to chat amongst themselves, the foursome went about their shopping, with their guard trailing several paces behind.
Ron was getting a bit frustrated, because he really wanted to talk to Hermione alone.
Ron checked to make sure Harry and Ginny were a good distance away, then approached Professor Lupin.
Pulling Remus aside in Flourish and Blotts, he asked, "Look, can I just have two minutes without you quite so close?"
Remus shook his head. "You know the rules, Ron."
"It's not like I'm Harry, Professor. I just need to- before we get back to my house and craziness, I have to sort some stuff out with Hermione. Really really really important stuff. Please? We'll be right over there by that bookcase, where you can see us. I just have to talk to her in private."
Remus looked over at the spot Ron was pointing to, where Hermione was browsing through a book.
"And this is really important?"
"Probably the most important thing I'm ever going to say to her."
Remus smiled. "Ah. That thing, hmm?"
Ron was too eager to be embarrassed. "Yes, that thing. The thing I need five minutes in privacy for."
"Well, alright. Five minutes. And I will be looking over at you the whole time."
Ron gave a whoop. "Thanks!"
He bounded off in Hermione's direction.
Remus shook his head and wished him luck.
Tonks sidled up next to him, taking his arm in hers. Looking over at them, she inquired, "So he's finally going to do it?"
Remus took her hand in his. "Seems like it."
"What is it about men waiting for women to be in mortal peril before declaring their love?"
Remus smiled down at her tenderly. "I don't know, but I think it's contagious."
Ron approached Hermione uncertainly. When they'd been reunited earlier in the day, he'd been absolutely sure she felt more than friendship for him. But now, the nerves were coming back and Ron could only pray he wouldn't stuff it up too badly.
He tapped her softly on the shoulder, not wanting to startle her. "Hi," he whispered.
She smiled up and put down the book. "Hey."
For a moment, they both stood there, not knowing exactly where to go from that point.
Finally, Ron squared his shoulders and rushed out, "Hermione? Do you- because I really, really- and I wasn't sure if- I mean, I hoped, but I didn't know, and I-"
Hermione stilled his ramble by placing a finger upon his lips. He gaped down at her as she murmured, "It's okay, I know. You don't have to say it."
Ron blinked. "I don't? But don't you want me to..?"
Hermione gave him a coy little smile. Which was interesting, because Hermione wasn't very often flirty and coy.
Lessons from Ginny, he mused.
"Oh, no, I definitely want you to. A girl does need to hear it eventually. But I can wait until you're a bit more articulate about it."
Ron sighed heavily. He couldn't be a coward about this. "I like you, Hermione. I like your smile and your laugh and your hair and the way you nag and the way you smell and I want to hold your hand and hug you and I just-" Ron ran out of breath. "I just want you, you know?"
Hermione nodded, and Ron was horrified to see her sniffle. Grasping his hands, she leaned up towards him, and he licked his lips in anticipation. Halfway to his mouth, Hermione saw something out of the corner of her eye and gasped.
"Ron," she breathed, all thoughts of kissing out of her mind, at least for the moment. "Look!"
She was pointing to a book on the shelf. Ancient Protection Spells of Power.
"I've been looking for this book for over a year. Everyone told me it was out of print and unable to be located! I don't believe it!" She turned her shining eyes toward Ron. "Don't you see? This book has loads of spells that could save Harry's life!"
Ron grinned at her enthusiasm, though inwardly groaning at the fact that he'd missed his chance at a kiss.
"Well, then, let's see what it says."
Hermione grabbed the book, and froze.
"What's wrong?" Ron demanded, seeing the look on her face.
She managed to get out, "Port-" and literally vanished from sight.
Ron screamed her name.
The book clunked on the floor. Without hesitation, Ron reached down, grabbed it, and followed her into the unknown.
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Dum, dum, du-dummmmm. Are you interested yet? Give me some reviews, and I will give you wet, well-muscled Ron in the next chapter. Savvy?
