Ch 17- King Weasley
A/N: Oooh! I'm terribly, terribly sorry for not updating! This chapter was really difficult to write because I'm not so good with action and Quidditch. I've been working on it every free period I have at school unless I had like a ton of homework. But it's break so I'll TRY to update sooner next time! I feel I'm loosing my touch in this story….only a couple chapters left though so I'll do my best!
Later day, the four friends, or two couples, ate dinner in the Great Hall. After Hermione persuaded Ron to "eat at least a little", Ron, Ginny and Harry headed to the Quidditch pitch to change and warm up before the game which was to start in two hours time (Harry insisting that they get some last minute practice in). Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek assuring him that he would do great. Then as soon as they were out of sight, Hermione sprinted to her dorm to get everything ready.
Harry clapped Ron on the back as they made their way down to the Quidditch pitch.
"Ron, you're going to do fine!" he told him. Ron just snorted. Harry looked at Ginny for support who jumped to the task.
"Yeah, come on Ron, you have to admit that you've at least gotten better than last year!"
Ron just continued to walk slowly, hunched over with his head down to the changing rooms.
Hermione grabbed a piece of paper and enchanted it to blow up to the size of a large banner. She then sneaked into one of the supply closets and ("I'm not stealing, I'm just borrowing!") a few cans of "Peter Pan's Paint". Then she sneaked back into her dorm and locked the door. After much stroking and spotting and splashing, Hermione was satisfied. Almost. She then took out her wand and "charmed the banner to her own creation". Smiling at the effect, Hermione left it on the floor to dry and jumped into the shower to rinse off.
When she got out, she magically dried her hair back to her bouncy curls and pulled it up to a high pony-tail. Hermione stared at her reflection, with her finger on her bottom lip.
"Hmm…" she said to herself. Then she went to her dresser and pulled out four ribbons- two gold, and two red and tied them around her pony-tail. She then put on the same jeans she had on previously and a white spaghetti strapped tank-top. Then she pulled Ron's large jersey over her tank-top and felt a spread of warmth surge through her body. The jersey was very large on her, Ron being so much more taller and muscular than her, but she didn't care. The collar fell slightly off her shoulder, revealing her tank-top strap. Hermione tried to adjust this, but no matter what she did, the collar just to slide off her shoulder. Hermione sighed frustratingly but then looked in the mirror and decided that it didn't look half bad. The end of the sleeves fell to her forearms. The size of the jersey caused her small, petite frame to look even tinier. Hermione checked the clock. Five forty-five. Fifteen minutes until the game started. She rolled up the poster under her arm and set off to the Quidditch pitch.
Harry, Ron, Ginny and the rest of the team mounted their brooms and waited for Dean, the new announcer to call their names. At the moment, he was introducing the Slytherian team.
Hermione bustled, and climbed over people making her way to her seat just as Dean had started calling the Gryffindor team out.
"AND NOW, THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM!"
"SLOPER!"
"Excuse me!"
"KIRKE"
"WEASLEY!"
"Sorry!"
"BELL!"
"COON"
"Pardon me!"
"WEASLEY!"
"ANNNDDD, POTTER!"
"Thank you!" Finally, Hermione had found her seat, but immediately stood up and cheered. "Whoooohoooo! Go Ron! Go Harry! Go Ginny!" Hermione shook her head. "Go everybody!" Hermione whistled loudly. Just then Parvati came bustling through the crowd just as Hermione had.
"Hey!" Parvati shouted to her over the cheering crowd. "Mind if I sit here?" she asked motioning to the seat next to Hermione.
"Not at all!" Hermione said sitting down next to her. "Now that Ginny's on the team, I have no one to watch with!"
"Yeah," Parvati said, "Lavender is sitting with Dean. She said I could sit with them, but it's too loud down there." Hermione nodded in agreement. Then Parvati squealed, noticing Hermione's outfit. "Ooh! Did Ron give that to you to wear?" Hermione blushed and nodded. "Aww! That is SO sweet!" Hermione smiled shyly and then turned her attention back to the game.
"Oh! And a bludgers narrowly misses Potter's head!" Dean said over the announcer. "Bell passes the quaffle to Coon who…drops it. Oh! But Ginny Weasley catches it from its fall and speeds off towards the hoops. She dodges right, fakes a left and…SCORES! TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!"
Parvati and Hermione cheered with the rest of the stadium (excluding Slytherian of course) as Ginny punched a triumphant fist in the air.
"Montague of Slytherian passes to Warrington and…Goyle sends a bludgers right at Warrington! Stupid git!"
"MR. THOMOS!" Professor McGonagall shouted.
"Sorry Professor, but it was stupid! But…unfortunately because of Goyle's terrible aim, the bludger misses Flint and he's now speeding towards the hoop. Ginny Weasley attempts a steal and-"
"OOOH!" The crowd shouted.
"Ouch! A bludger sent by Crabbe hits the end of Ginny's broom and she slips, hanging on with only one hand!"
"Come on Gin!" Hermione whispered to desperately.
"Warrington takes this distraction to continue his way to the hoops as Ginny struggles to pull her self back on her broom. He dodges Bell and- oh Ginny has managed to pull herself safely back onto her broom!" Hermione sighed a sigh of relief. "But- Warrington shoots, Weasley dives and…Slytherian scores." Dean said miserably. Hermione's shoulders slumped, as well as Ron's. "And we're fifteen minutes into the game and tied at Gryffindor- 10, Slytherian- 10. And the quaffle is in position with Bell and she soars down towards the other end of the pitch. And a bludger is sent her way by Goyle but- and Macmillan knocks it out towards Slytherian keeper, Bletchey. Bletchey dodges it in attempt to save the quaffle from the hoop at the same time and…he succeeds. Flint now in possession of the quaffle. He flies, dodges a bludger sent by Kirke, dives under a gaining Coon, shoots, and come on Ron…scores." Dean finished unhappily. The score is now 20-10 to Slytherian."
Just then, a faint melody of "Weasley is my King" could be heard in the distance. Hermione grabbed her Omnioculars and looked over to the Slytherian section in the stands.
"Just as I thought." Hermione said bitterly. "That little pug-faced bitch Pansy is striking up that dreadful song." Hermione was fuming. Parvati looked at her in shock. Hermione sensed someone staring at her and looked away from her Omnioculars and looked at Parvati who was staring at her, eyes wide, mouth hanging open, and eyebrows raised.
"What?" Hermione spat. Parvati snorted.
"Sorry, it's just…I've never heard you swear before!" Parvati said grinning. Hermione turned crimson.
"Oh…I didn't realize I said that out loud…" Parvati laughed.
"It's ok…she is a bitch." Hermione eased up a bit but didn't say anything for a while, afraid other thoughts on Pansy might slip.
After another ten minutes, Ron had let three more goals in, and Ginny had scored one goal, leaving the score at 50-20 to Slytherian. Just as Ron let another goal in, the Slytherians song could be heard throughout the grounds.
"Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherians all sing:
Weasley is our king."
Hermione's insides boiled at what she had just heard.
"Come on now, Coon- looks like she's got just the Keeper to beat- SHE SHOOTS- SHE- aaaah…"
Bletchey had saved the quaffle and he threw it to Montague who sped off with it, zigzagging between Ginny and Katie. As Montague drew nearer and nearer Ron, the singing grew louder and louder-
Weasley was born in a bin,
He always lets the Quaffle in,
Weasley will make sure we win,
Weasley is our King.
"-and it's Montague with the Quaffle, Ginny Weasley speeds up and but- OUCH!" Hermione gasped and covered her mouth. "A bludger hits her arm sent by Crabbe! That doesn't look too good!" Dean said wincing. "Oh, but what a winner! She shakes it off and continues to play- and Montague shoots-"
Weasley is our King,
He always lets the quaffle in,
Weasley is our King.
"and…scores, leaving Slytherian in the lead with 70-20."
"Damn!" Hermione shouted and then quickly covered her mouth wide eyed and slowly turned to look at Parvati who was smiling knowingly with her eyebrows raised.
"You are so going to be a soccer mom Hermione!" she laughed. Hermione smiled shyly at a flash thought of little red-heads flying around on toy broomsticks.
Hermione shook her head and returned to watching the game.
"Ginny Weasley has the quaffle once again. She zooms down dodging two bludgers on her way…she speeds up…shoot…SCORES! The score is now 70-30 to Slytherian! Way to go- GINNY!" Dean said startled.
Ginny had turned back from her successful goal to be whammed directly in the chest by a bludgers sent by Goyle.
"Oh boy, it looks like she's passed out!
Harry snapped his attention to Ginny who was slowly slipping off her broom, unconscious.
"She's gonna fall!" Dean shouted into the mike. Hermione and Parvati clutched each others arms staring frightfully up into the sky.
Harry sped as fast as he could to Ginny. Just as she slipped off, he dove underneath her. She fell five feet and landed safely in his arms. There was a large sigh of relief from the crowd. As he was flying her quickly down to Madam Pomfery who was waiting below them, Warring took this distraction on Ron's part and scored.
"And the score is now 80-30.
Hermione bit her lip and looked up at Ron through her Omnioculars. He was looking up at the sky with pleading eyes. Hermione took a deep breath and set her Omnioculars to the side. Then she picked up her poster and unrolled it and hung it over the side of the stands.
"What are you doing?" Parvati asked as Seamus looked questioningly at her.
"Ron needs help." Hermione replied. Parvati leaned over the wall to read the poster and smiled. Hermione fidgeted uncomfortably. She wasn't usually one to present her emotions to the public. Perhaps that was why Ron hadn't kissed her in public. But this was for Ron. She didn't care everyone knew how she felt about him. Actually, she wanted everyone to know how she felt about him.
"Well, we need to get his attention don't we?" Parvati asked. Hermione shrugged and nodded. Parvati nudged Seamus to get his attention from the game to her. When she succeeded (which didn't take very long at all) she told him to yell "Ron!" on the count of three.
"Why?" he asked her.
"Just do it!" Parvati said. "One, two, three!"
"RON!" The three of them shouted. He didn't hear.
"One, two, three-"
"RON!"
At first he thought it was his imagination, but then again,
"RON!" He looked in the direction the shouting was coming from and almost fell off his broom in shock. A large banner was hanging off one of the stands. In large flashing letters and fireworks that changed from red to gold read, "Weasley is MY King!" Ron's sapphire eyes traveled up from the banner to the brown eyes of the owner. Even from this far away, Ron could see a girl with glossy brown curls with a red and gold jersey on, blushing furiously.
Hermione waved frantically and turned around, reminding Ron that the back of her jersey read "WEASLEY" and did a silly little dance. She didn't know how he did it, but some how Ron made her feel so…vulnerable. Some of the fans were pointing in her direction but she didn't care.
Ron had helped her so many times before that she wanted to pay him back. Sure, they've saved each others lives countless times before, but this was different. She helped him with homework, but again, this just wasn't the same. Ron had stuck up for her against Malfoy and held her when she had nightmares. She just felt as if she had to pay him back in away.
Ron was just, amazing. And then here she was, just Hermione the bookworm. And out of all the girls at Hogwarts, Ron had chosen her. Maybe it was that she wanted to show everybody that she was "worthy" of being his girlfriend. Or maybe she wanted to prove that to herself. All in all, Ron needed her now and she wasn't going to let him down. She focused her attention back to the game.
Ron beamed. He couldn't believe she was doing this for him. He knew Hermione wasn't one to give a public display of her emotions, yet she was doing it now…for him. Like Hermione, Ron still could not believe that Hermione was his girlfriend. Hermione the brilliant, beautiful, wonderful genius, smartest witch of their age chose him, Ron Weasley who couldn't even save a single Quaffle.
Realizing now that he was still in the middle of a game snapped his attention back to where the quaffle was. He was determined to block one, just one quaffle, just one Quaffle for Hermione. He didn't want to be the bloke that passersby would say "How did he get her?" He had to prove himself to her.
Ironic how they were both trying to prove themselves to each other and everyone else isn't it?
"And the Quaffle is in possession of Bell who passes to Coon- oh and it was intercepted by Warrington who throws to Montague and he's about halfway down the field. Coon swerves in front of him and- FOUL! Goyle just made an illegal move by using his hands to shove Coon to the side. Penalty shot to Gryffindor! Meanwhile back down on the ground, Ms. Weasley seems to have woken up and is putting on quite the fight!"
"Let GO of me! Ginny shouted at the three people holding her back along with Madam Pomfery.
"Ms. Weasley! You need your rest!" Madam Pomfery cried.
"I DON'T NEED ANDY BLOODY REST!" Ginny screamed tanking her self free. "WHAT I NEED IS TO GET BACK TO THE GAME AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN SAY OR DO TO STOP ME!" And with that, Ginny mounted her brrom and kicked off.
"And Ginny is back in the game!" Shouted Dean.
Ginny flew up towards the center of the pitch. Harry then flew to her.
"Are you sure you can play?" he asked her. She just shot daggers at him and he surrendered.
"Alright, alright!" he said with his hands up. "Just checking!"
"And Coon is ready to take the penalty shot. It's just between her and flint now. She flies up, swerves to the right…back to the center and…scores in the left hoop!" Dean shouted. "The score is now 80-40 Slytherian still in the lead. Once again, Warrington has the Quaffle and is heading towards the other side of the pitch!"
Ron gulped. Warrington was about halfway down the pitch now. Ron glanced quickly in the direction of Hermione. Out of all the people in the stands, he spotted her immediately and then quickly turned his attention back to Warrington, picturing the image of Hermione he had just seen- smiling brightly, hands clasped together with his jersey on. She really believed he could do it. He tried to drown out the singing but failed as it gre stronger. Wait…what were they singing?
Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He will not let the Quaffle in
Weasley is our King…
Ron couldn't help but swell with pride. His heart raced, as did Warrington who was getting closer and closer…
Weasley can save anything,
He never leaves a single ring,
That's why Gryffindors all sing:
Weasley is our King!
"Warrington is right in front of Weasley, he swerves right to left, down and up again. Weasley follows him with ease…he's gonna do it…HE SWERVES ONCE AGAIN TO THE RIGHT…SHOOTS FOR THE MIDDLE GOAL AND…WEASLEY SNATCHES OUT OF MID AIR! HE THEN THROWS IT TO SISTER, GINNY, WHO PASSES TO COON WHO IS TRAVELING AT AN ALARMING RATE FOR THE HOOPS, HAHA FLINT LOOKS TERRIFIED AND VEARS TO THE LEFT JUST BEFORE BELL RUNS INTO HIM, SHE SHOOTS ON AN OPEN GOAL AND SCORES!"
Ron shouted in victory. Hermione feared that she wouldn't be able to talk the next day from screaming so loudly. All the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were joining in on singing Gryffindor crowd.
WEASLEY IS OUR KING,
WEASLEY IS OUT KING,
HE DIDN'T LET THE QUAFFLE IN,
WEASLEY IS OUR KING…
"The score is 80-50, Slytherian still in the lead, with Gryffindor trailing close behind…this is a brutal game folks…"
A half an hour later, the score was 90-70 and Ron had only let one quaffle in out of the six attempts.The previous almost non-existent wind picked up, but only a bit, ruffling Ron's hair. Ron focused hard on the game, but always found an excuse to glance at Hermione, whose eyes never seemed to leave him. However, this time when he glanced at her, she shifted her gaze to the sky. Then Ron realized why. Harry had spotted the snitch and was soaring upward at an alarming speed.
Hermione watched as Harry dove downward just as quickly as he had been traveling upward. Malfoy had now noticed what was going on and was gaining on Harry.
"Potter's spotted the snitch and Malfoy is close behind…Montague still has the Quaffle though and is making his way down the field. Once again, Weasley make a spectacular save and blocks the quaffle and tosses it to Coon who is nearly thrown off her broom by what seems to be a red and green blur! Coon passes to Ginny, while Potter and Malfoy continue their way downward…Ginny has scored! The score is 90-80…Potter and Malfoy are getting considerably close to the ground…only about ten feet above it…now five, two, one…Malfoy pulls out of the dive in fear of crashing and Potter must have massive arm strength to flatten out that dive...he's now literally skimming the grass with his broom…the snitch is only two feet in front of him…he stretches out his hand…pushes himself forward and…CLOSES HIS FINGERS AROUND SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS! FINAL SCORE: GRYFFINDOR- 220, SLYTHERIAN- 90!" At this point, Dean turned around and kissed Lavender who giggled in surprise. "SPECTACULAR GAME PLAYED! LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO GINNY WEASLEY!
Hermione clapped and cheered with everyone but the Slytherians as Ginny blushed crimson.
"SHE CONTINUED TO PLAY WITH FIREY PASSION EVEN AFTER SHE PASSED OUT! AND OF COURSE TO HER BOYFRIEND, HARRY POTTER! WE COULD HAVE DIED OF OLD AGE OUT HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM!"
Again, Hermione cheered and clapped as the Gryffindor team began descending down to the ground. As Dean congratulated Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper over the mike, Hermione fought her way through the crowd down to the ground. Just as Dean gave his words to Katie Bell and Kelly Coon, Hermione reached the ground and then made her way to the field.
"AND LAST BUT MOST DEFINATLY NOT LEAST, TO Ron WEASLEY WHO MADE SEVEN SPECTACUALR SAVES TODAY!" The crowd roared with applause just as Hermione spotted Ron making his way towards the edge of the field. He looked up, saw her and stopped walking as did she. They then both grinned broadly at each other and Hermione set off at a run towards him as he Ron dropped his broom.
"You did it!" Hermione screamed as she ran towards him. Ron laughed as she jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist and he kissed her full on the mouth, just as passionate as their kiss in the rain. When they broke, Ron whispered,
"I couldn't have done it with out you." And he kissed her again spinning her around. Hermione giggled as he set her down and kissed her twice on the lips. Then he smiled a mischievous smile and grabbed her hand.
"Come on, I wanna show you something." He said starting to run, dragging her behind him. Hermione tried to act annoyed but failed miserably as she laughed.
"Ron! Slow down! Where are we going?"
Ron stopped abruptly, causing Hermione to swing back to him as they were still linked by the hand. She looked at him and could tell he was very serious.
"Just come with me. Please?"
Hermione searched his pleading eyes and nodded. Ron smiled and then began running towards the lake, pulling her behind him.
A/N: Kind of a cliff hanger there…I'll update as soon as possible. I promise! Please review!
P.S.- I decided to leave the title as it is…it still fits I guess…review!
