Disclaimer: I own only Aster Leatherleaf, yadda, yadda.... Is this really needed for every chapter?
"Wha-uh, um. What-t did you, um." Ron gulped and fought the urge to smack himself in the head. He felt like his tongue was lined with sandpaper and weighed about twenty pounds. "What was it y-you wanted to kn-know?" He could hear Hermione choking as she suppressed a giggle from somewhere behind him. His face began to feel hot, and he knew he was turning more red with every stammer.
"Professor McGonagall told me that one of you could give me a quick tour around the grounds. And I was wondering, if you weren't busy that is..." Aster's began to blush as well. Ron could see pink slowly creeping into her pale face as she glanced at her feet. The beginning of year feast was just over, and everyone was heading back to the dormitories with full stomachs to discuss their summers before retiring to bed. Aster had stopped them in a quiet way, as the group were ascending the stairs.
"That w-wouldn't, um. Wouldn't be ah-ah..." Ron croaked, as he struggled to get the words past his lips, which were being most uncooperative.
"He'd love to!" Hermione cut in, giving Ron a look that reflected a mixture of sympathy and annoyance. "Right, Ron?" Ron nodded in agreement, his eyes wide with shock and embarrassment. He didn't dare try to vocalize his acceptance of the arrangement.
"Good," Aster said breathily, the pink in her cheeks deepening. "How about tomorrow after potions?" Ron nodded again, and Aster smiled. "So," she turned to Hermione, "they told me I'd be staying in a room with you. How exactly do we get there?" Her voice trailed off as she and Hermione started up over the stairs once more, leaving Harry and Ron trailing behind.
"Well, that was smooth, you player, you!" Harry grinned.
"It's her accent," Ron muttered, looking down at his feet as he reached the top of the steps and started down the hall toward the picture of the Fat Lady. "She's got a funny accent, and it threw me off."
Harry just laughed and shook his head before reciting the Gryffindor password that Ginny, one of the new prefects, had told them downstairs. "Spattergroit," Harry told the Fat Lady, who smiled, nodded, and moved aside to let them pass. The common room was still full of students, some discussing issues in a greatly animated fashion, while others were dozing in chairs scattered throughout the room. Hermione and Aster were talking openly in the corner, and by the way Hermione's eyes lit up during the conversation Ron concluded that the topic was probably school-related. When Aster left and walked toward the girl's dormitory, Hermione strolled over to them grinning delightedly.
"What's made you so giddy?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"Well," Hermione began, "Dumbledore said something that didn't make any sense to me down in the Great Hall, and now I know what he meant."
"Well, I'm glad that's cleared up." Obvious sarcasm came out with Ron's words. "I'd hate to have you explain, only to still have no idea what you're grinning about."
"She was home schooled!" Hermione said with exasperation, as if the answer should be obvious. "Dumbledore said she'd never attended a school for witches or wizards before, and it was because she was home schooled."
"Can you do that? Be home schooled in magic?" Harry asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, apparently. She was, wasn't she?" And with that she took Harry by the hand and hauled him over to sit closer to the fireplace.
Ron was getting used to them and their private discussions, and he smiled faintly as he watched them laughing and snuggling together. But he couldn't help but feel that things had changed dramatically from the way they used to be. They used to be a trio, the three of them doing what they could to get into trouble and fight the bad guys. However, it was no longer Harry, Ron and Hermione. It was Harry and Hermione, and Ron. Nothing was in the same order anymore. Harry had become a lot quieter, and he and Hermione were always sharing personal smiles and glances. Ron couldn't help but feel left out as he silently climbed the stairs to the boy's dormitory, and prepared to bed-down for the night.
---
His palms were sweaty, and not because it was an unusually hot day for September. He was waiting for this new girl so he could show her around the grounds, which meant he was nervous. How could he not be? She was beautiful, and she'd spoken to him. He never thought a girl that pretty would ever speak to him; plain, old Ronald Weasley. He just wished he'd been able to say something back.
He paced around near the entrance to the Great Hall, thinking of places to show her and things to say. He knew he'd have to take her to see Hagrid, and down to the lake to see if they could catch a glimpse of the giant squid. But other than that he wasn't sure what to do. Hogwarts wasn't really a place you could give someone a tour of. There were sections of the school that changed daily, and by the end of all her classes she'd probably have most of the stationary parts it figured out.
He stopped and took a deep breath. I'll just walk around with her for a while and point out random places, he thought. But the little control he could muster melted away when he saw her approaching. She stood tall and dignified as she walked, but there was a mild look of uncertainty on her elegant face. The expression caused a small wrinkle between her dark eyebrows, and a slight pout of her lips. It highlighted her facial features just enough to make Ron's knees quiver, which he tried to hide as the swishing of her robes drew nearer. He couldn't understand how a girl who he'd barely vocalized a word to could make him feel so ill and nervous.
"Hello," she breathed as she stopped next to him. Her scent blew toward him on the small air currents she'd created while walking. The mixture of something citrus and something spicy sent a wave of heat through his chest, and he missed most of her next sentence. "...not used to this whole school thing," she finished, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Uh, yeah," he said clearing his throat, which suddenly felt very dry, "Hermione told me you were, um, home schooled?" She looked slightly relieved that he spoke to her, and he felt his ears heat up when she smiled.
Nodding, she said, "I grew up in being home schooled in magic, while still attending muggle school. My," she paused, "parents... thought it was important that we were able to blend and mix in with everyone, muggle, magic, or... otherwise." She hung her head gently as if she were ashamed of something, and Ron fought back the urge to touch her hair. The curls bounced ever-so-slightly whenever she moved, and the color was such a deep black that the light flowing in through the windows made every strand shine blue. His hand began to twitch, and he saw that she noticed he was staring at her.
Pull yourself together, Weasley, he scolded himself. "Well, we should get started, it's getting close to dinner," he muttered as he lead her to the entrance, down the stairs and outside. "There are a couple things I want to show you."
The fresh air that hit him in the face was refreshing. It was fantastic how much the cool breeze calmed his jittering nerves, and it seemed to have the same effect on Aster who stopped at the bottom of the steps to take a deep breath.
"This is nice," she sighed, "after being stuck in a dungeon for so long." Smiling, she skipped along next to him as he turned in the direction of the lake. "Care of Magical Creatures is outside isn't it?"
"Yeah, that's tomorrow with Hagrid," Ron smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "I'll take you to meet him after I show you the lake."
"I could have looked around on my own easily enough," she said with forced casuality. "But, Minerva and most of the staff know my family, so she's looking out for me of course. She wants to make sure I fit in." The last few words were said rather bitterly, making Ron curious. He didn't say anything, all the same, for fear it would come out horribly wrong. She seemed to see the confusion on his face, for she quickly said, "is this the famous Hogwarts lake?"
Ron nodded. "If we wait here for a while we might see the squid moving around." He flushed at the thought of staying around by the lake with her, but gathered up his courage and lead her to sit under the tree that he, Harry, and Hermione usually frequented. They sat there quietly for a few moments, staring at the water in silence.
Ron leaned over slightly, and turned to ask Aster a random question in an attempt to break the stretching quiet. He then assumed she was trying to do the same thing after his head smacked painfully into hers. Lights flashed before his eyes, and he saw Aster laying on the ground, shaking. It took him a moment to realize she was laughing. He grinned, stumbled to his feet, and helped her to her own. They were both up and still giggling when he realized that he was holding onto her hand. He let go quickly and grasped his head, hoping she didn't notice anything odd in the movement.
"You've got a nasty lump there," she said through melodic laughter as she point at his head.
"Well so do you!" He declared, pointing back at her. Forgetting some of his awkward nervousness, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her in the direction of Hagrid's hut. "Never mind the squid," he said, "I want you to meet Hagrid before dinner and we're running out of time."
There was smoke billowing out of the chimney as they approached. Hagrid was outside, petting down a large hippogriff, when he spotted them coming. "I was wonderin' when one o' yeh'd be down here!" He grinned happily. "Where's the other two?"
"They're..." Ron started, but he stopped short when he fully realized what Hagrid was doing. "Hagrid! Is that...?"
"Why, yes it is! I got Beaky back when all o' the mess with tha' ol' fart, Cornelius Fudge, was sorted out." Hagrid's grin extended as he patted Buckbeak affectionately. When he finally observed that Ron wasn't alone, he jumped slightly with surprise. "Oy! An' you must be the new one, are yeh? Aster, isn' it?" She nodded. "Righ'! Aster, this is Buckbeak, he's a-"
"A hippogriff," Aster finished breathlessly, staring at Buckbeak in total awe. "I've never seen one up close before," she whispered before taking a step closer to the animal.
"Hold on now," Hagrid said quickly "Yeh have ter be careful approachin' a hippogriff. Yeh can' just walk up to 'im. Yeh have ter-"
But Aster had already walked into Buckbeak's view and curtsied. And surely enough, the hippogriff elegantly returned her manners and allowed her to touch his smooth feathers. She was introducing herself and starting up a conversation with him when Hagrid turned to Ron.
"Well, I guess tha' one can take care o' herself then," he chuckled. "Wha' are you two doin' out an' about anyway?"
"Uh, well, Professor McGonagall wanted her to have a tour of the grounds, and she asked me, and I said yes. So- so, here we are." Ron felt his face turn red again, and silently cursed at himself.
"Ah, I got yeh," Hagrid winked. "She is a perdy one yeh know, Ron. Gots guts too, I say, walkin' up ter a hippogriff like tha'. Migh' wanna hang on ter her!" He just laughed as Ron's flush deepened. "I'm only teasin' yeh, lad!" He turned to address them both. "Come in fer a cuppa before dinner, then?"
"Sure," Aster smiled, as the three turned to enter Hagrid's home.
It was as 'Hagrid' as usual inside. The fire was lit, and there was a big plate of brick-sized fudge pieces laying on the table. A makeshift nest in the corner held a young animal of some sort, sleeping. Ron wasn't sure what it was, but by the size of it's claws, he didn't want to know and he hoped it would never be a subject of one of Hagrid's lessons.
"Yer know, Aster, I knew yer parents long ago," Hagrid announced as he busied himself with the kettle and mugs. Aster smiled politely, but Ron saw her face stiffen. "Well, most o' ter staff knows 'em o' course. They were big news when 'you-know-who' was 'round the firs' time. I reckon tha' lot'll wan' ter be involved now too, with 'you-know-who' back again."
"That's why I'm here," Aster said in a strained voice, the smile on her face getting just a little tighter. Ron was becoming more and more curious about the girl sitting in front of him. Why was she suddenly at Hogwarts? What did her parents have to do with Voldemort? He shuddered at the thought.
Hagrid rattled on as he prepared the tea, "well, whatever's goin' on, I s'pose some good's comin' out o' it. I mean, it's bin a long time since they let one o' yer kind go ter school."
With that, Aster's expression went slack. Whatever color had been in her ivory face before, drained rapidly. The effect of Hagrid's words became so obvious, he stopped in mid-pour. "Oh, I reckon I shouldn' o' said tha'," was all he could utter before Aster turned and high-tailed it through the door.
Ron muttered, "see you again soon, Hagrid," before chasing after her. He called out to her as he dashed across the grounds, but she ignored him. She ran swiftly, so by the time he could reach out and grab onto her, his chest was heaving and his sides were stitched. They were almost up the steps and to the entrance before he could get her to stop.
"Why- what," he panted, "what was Hagrid talking about?" He held onto her arm with one hand, and the other rested on his knee while he looked up at the scared expression on her face. "Whatever it is, it's okay," he assured her, straitening a little. "I do have weird friends, you know. Whatever your secret is, it can't be that bad."
She smiled a sad little smile that tugged at his heart. "Maybe later, Ron, when I know you better." She patted the hand that held her arm, and he let go. Nodding with understanding and still tingling from her touch, he followed her through the door and into the Great Hall. Dinner was about to start when they found Hermione and Harry sitting at the Gryffindor table.
"What happened to you two?" Harry asked with his brow furrowed, looking back and forth between the two of them, examining their bruised foreheads and flushed faces.
Ron glanced over at Aster, who was starting up and animated conversation with Hermione. "Nothing, really," he shrugged. "We just bumped heads, that's all."
I promise, you WILL get some material worth rating R eventually.
Bear with me on "Hagrid" and his speech, it's VERY hard to do, it drove my spell checker CRAZY. And this is my first fanfic EVER.
Don't freak out about Aster's "importance" with Voldemort yet, Harry will always be more important. Just be patient and see.
You will see more of Harry and Hermione in the next chapter, but this fic is about Ron so you won't see a whole lot of them.
Thanks for any reviewing, past and future. :)