Chapter 5 – Starry-Eyed
Hermione was astonished to find Ron was already there when she arrived at ten o'clock on top of the Astronomy tower. He didn't see her approach – he was looking up at the stars through his telescope. It was a good night for star-gazing – completely clear and crisp. She walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder - he jumped, and then laughed at his startled reaction…
"Don't do that" he grinned "you'll give me a heart attack!"
"Sorry" she said softly "thought you knew it was me…" And then her eyes widened at the sight before her.
Ron had laid out a blanket, and filled it with all sorts of desserts and sweets "Ron! What's all this?" she asked pleasantly.
"Well, since you missed our picnic this afternoon, I figured you might like to join me for one tonight" he beamed.
"Oh, but you didn't have to do all this…" she said calmly but Ron noticed that she could not conceal her delighted expression.
He grinned again "I didn't have to, but I wanted to…"
"Oh, you're sweet!" she praised, giving him a hug.
"Sit down" he instructed, pointing to a soft cushion on the blanket "I'll pour you some Butterbeer"
"But Ron, what about our work… that was the reason we came up here in the first place…"
"Hermione, relax… enjoy some Butterbeer… try this delicious Appleberry cake here… and then I'll start going through Herbology with you…. Okay?"
"Okay" she agreed, as he handed her a glass "but only because you went to all this trouble…"
"Thank you" he said, sitting down beside her.
She took a sip of her Butterbeer and looked down at her skirt – She looked thoughtful and Ron knew she was thinking about everything Harry and Ginny had said earlier.
"What is it?" he asked carefully
"It's just that… I have so many questions about what happened today…" she said quietly
"Don't worry about that now, Hermione – I'm sure the Order will explain everything"
"Yes, but it just doesn't make sense Ron… Harry's vision – what does it mean? Is that still going to happen?"
"I don't know"
"And, if what Ginny said is true, then why was I still in the library when you found me? Wouldn't Voldermort have made me go and do something? I'm so confused…" she shuddered at the thought of Voldermort taking control of her body - What if she'd already done something terrible while under his control?
"Hermione" Ron said, taking her hand to make her look at him "you're going to drive yourself insane thinking about all this – we couldn't possibly know all the answers to those questions – we need help…"
"Yes, but that's another thing – when we're usually in trouble, the first thing I do is go to find a book on the subject in the library! And now I can't even do that – I hate feeling so helpless Ron – like there's nothing I can do!"
"C'mon Hermione – I said I'd help take your mind off it – but you have to try not to think about it so much… We'll hear from the Order in the morning – and until then, just relax – I'll read to you…" he said, picking up his Herbology book.
"Okay" she said, giving in "Go through the last few chapters then – starting at Sunflower Trees". She was sitting, like Ron, with her back against the cold, stone tower and she suddenly felt a chill run up her spine and she shivered.
"Are you cold? Ron asked quickly "I brought an extra blanket…" he said, as he got up to fetch it.
"It is a bit chilly" she replied, rubbing her arms.
"Here" he said, passing her the spare blanket as he sat down beside her again.
"Thanks" she said, throwing it over their legs "That's better" she smiled and rested her head on his shoulder as he began to read.
"Right" he began "Sunflower Trees are extremely rare and can only be found in two particular places in the world… Can you tell me where?"
"Oh, that's easy – Sunflower Trees need a very specific amount of sunlight to survive – therefore, they thrive in two very similar climates – Cape Town, South Africa and Melbourne, Australia" Hermione stated simply.
"Very good" Ron praised "Now - Their unique blossoms are rather large and bright in colour and are well known to have a very important function in the wizarding world…".
He continued to read and the time flew by quickly, as they went through chapter after chapter, stopping occasionally for some Butterbeer or a cupcake, until finally Ron realised that they were on the last page -
"Guess what?" he said eventually "we're done!"
"What? No way!" exclaimed Hermione, who had rather started to enjoy herself "Already?"
"Yeah!" grinned Ron, surprised himself at how quickly the time had gone "it's weird – when I study alone, it seems to take hours!"
"Yeah, I know - I didn't think we'd get through it so quickly" she said, smiling "Must be the company"
He smiled but then quickly turned away - he could feel his cheeks getting hot again. He cleared his throat.
"Uh, don't forget" he said, getting up from the blanket and walking towards the telescope "we still have to get my exam sorted…"
"Oh right" she said. She got up, wrapped the blanket around her and walked to where he was standing "So what do you have to do?"
"Look through here" he gestured towards the telescope "Can you see that bright star over there… over on the right?"
Hermione looked through the telescope but could not see anything.
"Where?"
Ron looked through and adjusted it "Okay, come here" he said, gesturing with his hand, while still looking at the stars "Now, look" he said, standing back for her to see.
"Oh Ron" she exclaimed suddenly "It's beautiful! What star is it?"
"Actually, it's not a star – it's a constellation of stars" he informed her "It's what Muggles call The Pegasus Constellation. In the wizarding world, it's known as Draco Acutus or The Fierce Dragon."
"Mmm – are you sure you need this revision?" she grinned at him
He shrugged "Well, looking at stars in only the one half of it"
"Oh right – now comes the divination…" Hermione said, with a hint of suspicion in her voice. Hermione had never truly believed in the art of divination – and the incident between her and Professor Trelawney back in third year had only encouraged her scepticism for the subject.
"Yeah" Ron said carefully "I have to plot a graph based on that constellation's various points – and then I have to interpret the graph, using my knowledge of mystical signs"
"Which you learn from your Divination Studies book?"
"Yes" he replied "and eventually you start to remember them by heart"
"So, do you enjoy it then? Do you believe in all this stuff?" she asked, intrigued by his seemingly immense knowledge on the subject.
"Well, I don't think much of all the silly predictions Professor Trelawney makes – they're only accurate about 10 of the time – but I think there's a lot more to it than she teaches us – maybe with the right teacher… Well, it's interesting anyway…" he explained "And I love looking at the stars…"
"Well, you don't have to take Divination to enjoy looking at stars" she commented and peered through the telescope again.
"Okay, so then why don't you help me find the points by checking out those stars over there – and then I'll plot the points on the graph…"
"Okay, that sounds easy enough" she said casually and they went to work on Ron's revision. By the time they were done and Ron had all the points plotted, it was eleven-thirty and Hermione was tired of standing – She walked back over the picnic blanket and flopped down onto one of the cushions that Ron had brought.
"Want some more Butterbeer?" she asked cheerfully
"Yeah, that would be great!" Ron replied. He knew it was late, but he wasn't tired. He walked over to her, with the graph still in his hands and lay down next to her to look up at the stars.
"You know, sometimes, the stars look better this way" he said
"Yeah, I know what you mean" she said "a star is beautiful close-up but when you step back and look at the whole picture – even from far away – it's breathtaking!" she sighed.
He glanced over at her gazing up at the stars - You're breathtaking! he wanted to say, but stopped himself – for some reason, he just couldn't get himself to cross that line.
"Here" she said, handing him his Butterbeer. He sat up and looked at her awkwardly from across the blanket.
"Thanks" he said, starting to feel hot again. She couldn't possibly tell what he was thinking, could she? He looked down into his Butterbeer, as if breaking eye contact might stop her from reading his mind… His thoughts finally wandered back around to the Ball, now that they were alone together and had no more studying to do – he was curious about how she really felt about everything…
"So are you looking forward to the Ball?" he asked eventually
"Yes" she grinned "It should be fun…" The Butterbeer had long since taken effect, and she was feeling a lot more relaxed and jovial than before. Fun, Ron thought, I hope it's more than just fun!
"And you're sure you wouldn't prefer to go with Seamus?" he asked, trying to evoke some kind of a reaction.
Hermione rolled her eyes "No Ron Weasley – I would not prefer to go to the Ball with Seamus – I would prefer to go with you…"
"But you are going with me!" he said quickly "Ar…Aren't you?" he seemed suddenly uncertain
"I don't know Ron, you tell me, because I'd swear you'd prefer me to go with Seamus – you keep bringing it up!"
"I didn't mean it like that" he said, looking into her eyes "I just meant…" his words trailed off and he studied his shoes "You haven't exactly said you want to go to this Ball with me – I mean, it's implied and everything coz you said yes but I was just thinking – I mean, it's been four years since, you know, and well like you said, a lot has happened and you could've changed your mind…"
"Ron" she interrupted "stop rambling! Are you telling me that after all this time, you're not sure if I want to go to the Ball with you?" He could hear the aggravation in her tone. He looked up and smiled timidly. She seemed to soften at this "Ron, you're my best friend, and there is no one I'd rather go to the Yule Ball with, than you…" There were those words again – 'Best Friend' - why did she always have to stress that part? Couldn't she just have said 'there's no one I'd rather go with, than you…'
"Okay – I get it" he said despondently.
Hermione looked confused – Wasn't that supposed to make him feel better?
"And you better treat me better than your last date!" she chirped
"Of course!" he said suddenly "That night I wasn't myself… I wasn't… You and Viktor…"
She grinned "Actually Ron, you were yourself – 100 yourself…"
"Yes, but I don't usually act that way…"
"It's okay – I know" she said "I was only kidding – I know you'll treat me well"
"Good" he said and then a wry smile came over his face "So what are you planning to wear?"
"That's a secret" she grinned "at least until the night of the Ball…"
"Ah c'mon, give me some idea… what colour at least?"
"No, No, No" she said adamantly "it's a surprise – you'll see…" Suddenly a look of panic washed over her face "Ron, what if we don't even get to go to the Ball?"
"What do you mean, why wouldn't we…"
"What if the Ball is cancelled?" she interrupted "What if this thing with Voldermort is really serious and…"
"Hermione, calm down…" Ron said soothingly
"No, seriously – what if Voldermort uses me to get to Harry – and the Order – What am I going to do Ron? I'm really scared…"
He drew closer to her and pulled her into his arms "Ssshhh – calm down – listen to me" he said, looking deeply into her searching eyes "I will not let anything happen to you, okay? I swear, if he tries anything…"
Hermione nodded, grateful that Ron knew exactly how to comfort her "Thanks Ron" she said, snuggling into his shoulder "I needed to hear that"
"I really meant it Hermione – I swear I won't let anything happen to you" he said passionately "Plus, we're going to sort this all out with The Order tomorrow" And then a playful grin suddenly spread from one corner of his mouth to the other – "And in the meantime" he continued mischievously "You can let me distract you" he grinned naughtily as he took a double-chocolate & cream doughnut off a plate covered with scrumptious treats "Now open wide!" he said, aiming the doughnut at her mouth.
"What? Ron No…" she began to protest but Ron had shoved the whole doughnut halfway into her mouth before she could say anything else. Hermione was stunned. Ron could not contain his laughter – she was just sitting there, staring disbelievingly at him, with the doughnut in her mouth and cream all over her face! He couldn't resist thinking how much fun it would be to kiss the cream off her lips, but his thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Hermione retaliated, and smeared a giant piece of Appleberry cake all over his face.
"Hey!" he objected, dripping strawberry jam everywhere "at least I was aiming for your mouth! You know you're gonna have to pay for that…" he said wiping the cream off his face. He picked up the rest of the Appleberry cake - which was made up of 4 alternate layers of whipped cream and strawberry jam (in between the sponge cake) and topped with juicy Appleberry icing – and grinned impishly at her. Hermione squealed as he came at her with the cake but it was too late – before she could do anything, he pinned her down and covered her entire face in jam and cream. She laughed as she wiped some cream away from her eyes "Well – I supposed I asked for that…"
He smiled at his handiwork "You definitely asked for it!"
"I seem to remember you asking for it first" she said, taking some of the leftover cake from her face, and wiping it all over Ron's, who was now just within reach as he gazed down at her, still with a stupid grin upon his face.
"You're a mess!" he beamed as he ran his finger down her face and licked off some of the cream "But you taste good!" He suddenly realised what he'd said, and even though he hadn't meant anything suggestive, he still felt his heart start thumping the minute he'd said the words...
Hermione didn't seem to notice though - she looked up at him innocently and then unexpectedly copied Ron's behaviour and ran her thumb softly over his chin, lifting off the clump of cream that had settled there. Ron suddenly felt like he dare not move – Hermione's tender touch had sent tremors throughout his body and he desperately wanted to lean in closer, but something was holding him back.
"Mmm… that's good cake…" she said simply, and then "Ron? Are you okay?" she looked amused
"Um – yeah – I'm fine" he grinned nervously, not wanting to ruin the moment - he slowly ran his finger over her soft lips, which were still covered in cream, and licked his fingers again, while drawing closer to her.
"Mmm, that really is good cake" he said, but he wasn't thinking about the cake anymore – He looked into her eyes, searching for some kind of sign, but she was just staring straight back at him.
He leaned in closer and gently kissed her sweet lips, all the while waiting for her to react – but then he realised - she wasn't pushing him away! He pulled her face closer and savoured her lips – they were so soft and creamy! He kissed them slowly and tenderly. But then the love that he'd felt for her for so many years took over and he began to kiss her more passionately, his heart pounding as she responded and kissed him deeply in return. Could this really be happening? He'd dreamt about this moment for so long – and he couldn't believe he was here, now, kissing Hermione – it was perfect. The stars twinkled above them, as they became lost in their kiss. He finally pulled away to find her smiling up at him "That was good too…" she said dreamily – but before Ron could respond, she closed her eyes and her head fell to one side.
"Hermione?" he asked calmly, but there was no response. How could she fall asleep?
"Hermione… wake up…" he said, shaking her gently. And then it hit him – she wasn't sleeping – this is how he'd found her in the library earlier – she was in some sort of trance… Her face was starting to get cold - he knew he had to do something – and fast. But what? Everyone was in bed… Then suddenly, he realised – Hagrid ! He picked her up and started towards Hagrid's hut - Hagrid will know what to do! he kept telling himself, trying not to panic, but he couldn't stop the ominous feeling that was starting to wash over him…
