Chapter eleven
The time over the next month blended together. Lessons turned into days and days into weeks. There were numerous quidditch practices in which the team came back just as muddy as the first. There were several other small events that passed as well; Pigwidgeon broke a wing, Snape walked in on Ron and Crys snogging (and deducted fifty points from Griffindor for misconduct) there was a slight controversy when Harry fell off of his broom and broke his nose once although Madam Pomfrey mended it in a second anyway.
By the time Halloween had rolled around everyone in Hogwarts knew about Ron and Crys' little 'hook-ups' but they still weren't officially dating. Harry thought he'd bring this up one day while he and Ron were in the library studying.
"Well...I don't know," Ron responded while choosing his words carefully, "I want to...it's just that..."
"You're afraid of rejection." Harry finished for him.
"Yeah."
"What is it about her that makes you so scared? You never used to act scared around girls, embarrassed, sure, but not quite so scared."
"I'm not scared when I'm around her, just when I think about her."
"But what is it about her?"
"She's got something magical about her, Harry."
"She's a witch, Ron."
"No not that," Ron said, not catching the sarcasm in his friend's voice, "The way she uses her hands, it's like she's...I don't know, she's just...really good with her hands."
"Wow," Harry looked slightly stunned, slightly impressed, "You two are fast."
"No. No," he added quickly, "Not that, she hasn't...duh Harry you are just trying to bug me now."
"I know."
"I just mean she's really good with her hands."
"Yeah, mum always said I should be a masseuse." Crys came up behind them, "I used to give her neck massages when she came home from work."
Crys was smiling although both boys were blushing slightly having been caught talking about her. She didn't seem to mind at all.
"Sorry." Ron said in a low tone.
"For what?" she asked him.
"For talking about you behind you back." Crys rolled her eyes.
"God, Ron! Do you know how concerned I would be if you hadn't been talking about me? I would think I'm losing my touch."
"A bit confident aren't you?' Harry raised and eyebrow at her.
"Very." she told him, "Ron, can I talk to you in the hallway?"
"Sure." he got up and turned to Harry before following Crys out, "Be right back."
When the two had turned a few corners into their favorite dead end she turned around and he walked up to her and slid his hands around her waist. She in turn put her hands around his neck and quickly kissed him. She pulled away smiling while looking up into his deep eyes.
"Ron," she said in a falsely sweet tone, "When are we going to be official?"
"You heard Harry and me talking, didn't you?" he asked her.
"Yeah."
"Soon."
"How soon?" she put on a big fake pout.
"Soon enough.
"That's not soon enough for me."
"It's not?"
"Nope."
"Crys,"
"Yeah, Ron?"
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
"Wow, Ron! How'd you know?"
"Had a hunch. So will you?"
"Well I guess so. Under one condition."
Ron pulled her closer and kissed her passionately sqeezing his arms around her tightly before letting her pull back.
"And what's that?" he asked her with a smirk.
"Forgot." she said quickly and pulled him closer into another kiss, one which lasted about a minute longer than the last one.
"We should head back to the common room. It's getting late." she said after gingerly pulling away from his lips.
"Yeah." he sighed, and they set off towards Griffindor tower, hand in hand.
Harry waited about half an hour for Ron to get back before he gave up and brough both of their things back up to the common room. When he got there Ron and Crys sat by the fire in a cozy armchair, Crys in Ron's lap with his arms wrapped around her. Hermione sat next to them in another chair reading an abnormally thick book. Harry's usual chair sat on the other side of Ron and Crys, empty, the firelight flickering over it's maroon cushions.
Hermione looked up when she heard the portrait door swing open and she smiled when she saw Harry. She made a mock annoyed face and nodded towards the two snuggling in the chair next to her and she and Harry laughed. Ron turned to see waht was so funny but Crys' blue eyes didn't move from the flames before her.
"Are you two finally..." Harry cut off.
"Yeah." Ron said.
"Alright," Harry said somewhat bitterly, "Then I suppose I can forgive you for ditching me."
"Oh my god!" Crys gasped and looked up at Harry, "I'm so sorry! I can't beleive we forgot like that."
Harry nodded and settled into his chair. They all sat in awkward silence.
"So, Ron," Hermione started after a moment, "First quidditch match of the season this Saturday."
"Yeah." he responded.
Crys visibly cringed.
"What's wrong, Crys?" Harry asked her.
"Hate that you two play quidditch." she said, "It's so violent."
Ron sqeezed her closer, she snuggled her face into his chest and stopped moving, just listening to the slow, calm breathing patterns her boyfriend made. She suddenly stood up and announced she was going to bed.
Ron leaned forward for a kiss but she just smiled seductively and turned on her heel to walk up the girls' staircase.
"She's gonna drive you mad, mate." Harry told him.
"She already has." he told him and set off to bed himself.
