21

More Events Like Crying and Agreements

The day ebbed by slowly but surely, and students began re-arriving to prepare for the Graduation Ball. None of the Gryffindor students was due to arrive until the next morning.

Professor McGonagall's fears had been quelled by Dumbledore's insistence that she had nothing to worry about for the time being.

That evening, Hermione went to her usual session with Draco and came back to the common room feeling very horrible. She had hoped Harry would be sitting in a chair so she could talk to him about it, but there was only Ron. Hermione couldn't help it; she had to talk to someone. "Ron," she said faintly.

At the weak tone in her voice, Ron almost forgot that he was supposed to be angry with her, but he snapped back to reality and frigidly looked at her over the book of Quidditch techniques that Harry had loaned to him. "What?" he asked.

"I-I really need to talk to someone," Hermione said.

Ron looked at her indignantly. "Since when have you talked to me about your problems? You're usually running to Harry."

Hermione sighed. She should have known that Ron would act like this. "Ron, will you just listen? I really need to talk to someone, and Harry's not here," she said.

Ron was disgruntled at the thought of being a step-in friend, but he took a deep breath and shrugged, closing his book.

Hermione sat down, placing her bag in the chair to her left. She looked at Ron to find him staring at her in anticipation. "It's just . . . Draco has changed so much from when I first met him, and I don't know why he did it. It's so weird. He's like . . . someone other than Draco Malfoy," Hermione explained, feeling extremely odd telling this to Ron.

Ron nodded. "Like I said, we've all been changing."

Hermione felt tears spring to her eyes and looked away. "I don't know why everything has to be so different," she choked.

"It is quite painful to have everything . . . tweaked," Ron said, catching a glimpse of the tears in Hermione's eyes.

Hermione nodded. She was silent for a moment, but suddenly, she broke down and began sobbing uncontrollably.

Ron felt himself stand up and put his book down, telling himself not to do it, trying to force himself to keep his distance, but it was too late; he had already wrapped his arms around Hermione. He felt like an idiot, but he couldn't pull away now because she was already bawling on his shoulder.

Hermione loved the feel of Ron's embrace. It felt like she belonged there. She hadn't felt as safe in Draco's arms as she did there. She moved closer to Ron, knowing he was only doing this for her out of platonic love, but wishing that that would change.

Ron glanced at the clock and saw that it was extremely late. He didn't think that Harry wouldn't be coming back anytime soon, so he allowed himself to enjoy the closeness he felt toward Hermione. He hoped she couldn't tell how much he loved holding her like this.

Hermione's sobs died down to slightly exhausted whimpers and eventually were nothing more than muffled sniffles against Ron's chest. He knew his time with her in his arms would soon come to an end and felt his heart sink. Amazingly, Hermione made no move to pull away, so he didn't either.

Hermione was surprised that he hadn't pushed her away from him by this time. She relaxed slightly, feeling as though she could trust Ron not to let anything change while she was there with him. Ron shifted slightly, and Hermione felt a jolt of disappointment, assuming that he was going to move away from her, but he seemed to move closer. She was relieved.

Ron felt horrible because he knew that the overwhelming feeling of happiness that was rising in him was going to disappear as suddenly as it had come when

Hermione decided that she was comforted enough. He closed his eyes, trying to enjoy the moment.

Hermione did the same.

They were both unaware of any mutual feelings between them, quite certain that the opposite party wasn't very fond of them.

Ron's eyes snapped open when he heard stifled laughter behind him. He turned his head to see Ginny and Harry doubled over in laughter with their hands over their mouths, trying to conceal their amusement. Ron realised that he was still on the couch in the common room. 'No!' he thought. He looked down, and sure enough, Hermione was sleeping in his arms. He turned furiously red and tried his best to move away from Hermione without waking her. He managed to get away. Shaking his head, he walked over to his sister and Harry.

Harry clapped him on the back. "Nice one," he said, grinning.

Ginny giggled. "Quite the couple," she whispered.

Ron smiled wryly. "Thanks," he said sarcastically, "I'm going to go to the lake for a bit."

Ginny shook her head, pointing out the window. There were small flakes of snow falling from the sky. "It's been snowing all night and through the morning," she explained.

Ron glanced at the clock. It was nearly time for breakfast. "Would one of you wake her up?" he asked, disgusted with himself.

Ginny acquiesced and walked over to Hermione. Ron fled to the boys' dormitories to shower and change his clothing.

Ginny shook Hermione lightly. "Hermione, get up," she whispered, trying to push the smile from her face.

Hermione woke with a start. "Wha-"

"You fell asleep on the couch," Harry called from across the room where he was watching the snow fall.

Hermione flushed, remembering how happy she had felt in Ron's arms the night before. "Where's Ron?" she asked.

Ginny shared a look with Harry. "Boys' dormitories. Why?"

Hermione sat up, yawning. "No reason," she said, "I'd better go clean up," she said, heading up to the girls' dormitories.
Ginny walked over to Harry, grinning. "Where's Ron indeed," she said, and both she and Harry cracked up.

Ron came down at approximately the same time as Hermione, who glanced at him. "Morning," she said.

Ron looked around. Ginny and Harry were nowhere to be seen. "Morning," he replied distantly.

"Um, about last night," Hermione began.

Ron shook his head. "Your welcome," he said, trying to venture as far away from the subject as he could.

Hermione raised and eyebrow. "How do you know I was going to say thank you?"

Ron refused to look at her. "If you weren't, you should have been," he said.

What had happened to the Ron that had held Hermione in his arms so tenderly? "Am I missing something?" Hermione asked, wondering if something had happened that she didn't remember.

"No," Ron said cautiously, "You never did explain why you burst into tears," he said, changing topics rapidly.

Hermione shrugged. "I can't say that I know why. I guess . . . it's just been really hard dealing with all this change, and I'm a bit overwhelmed," she said, using Ron's lie from what seemed like an eternity ago.

Ron was tempted to wrap an arm around her shoulders and tell her it was okay, but he clenched his fists and nodded instead. "It is hard," he agreed.

The portrait swung back to reveal Lavender, Neville, and Seamus about to enter. They spotted Ron and Hermione who were standing side by side and smiled at them.

Ron wondered at their expressions but tried fruitlessly to shrug them off.

Hermione smiled back. "Hi, Neville, Lavender, Seamus," she said, shaking each of their hands separately.

Neville turned to Ron. He was the only one who hadn't smiled at Ron and Hermione smugly. He had never been the type to do something like that. "Have you seen Ginny around?" he asked, looking a bit afraid of Ron.

Ron noticed Neville's frightened demeanour and grinned. "Great Hall maybe?" he queried.

Neville's face brightened. "Oh, thanks! Is that where you're headed?"

Ron nodded.

"I'll come with you then," Neville said, smiling cheerily.

Hermione, Ron and Neville started off toward the Great Hall leaving Lavender and Seamus to snog in a corner, no doubt; everyone knew they had a thing for each other.

Neville looked rather excited, and Ron had half a mind to tell him to calm down, but chances were that Neville would take it as a sign of aggression and begin to cower in fear; so, Ron laid off and dealt with the joyful smile of his friend as best he could.

Neville glanced over at him. "Who're you going to the ball with, Ron?" he asked timidly.

"Cho," Ron answered, staring straight ahead.

"Hermione?" Neville asked, and Ron almost thought he was asking why he wasn't going with Hermione. Of course, it was just in his mind; Neville was merely asking who Hermione was going with.

"Draco," Hermione replied, looking over at Neville.

"M-Malfoy?" Neville stuttered.

Hermione nodded.

Neville's eyes widened. "Wow. I never would have thought . . ."

Ron glanced at Hermione to see her expression, but her face was straight and revealed nothing. "Well, things are changing; right, Ron?" she asked.

Ron looked at Neville who had a very curious countenance. "Oh, right," Ron said.

The trio reached the Great hall, and sure enough, Ginny and Harry were sitting at the Gryffindor table, laughing about something only Ron could place.

"Hey, you two," Ron said, ruffling Ginny's hair as he passed her to sit on the left of Harry.

Ginny blushed, trying to get her hair back in place. "Hi, Ronald," she growled, glaring at her older brother. Neville sat down by her, and she grinned at him, making him feel incredibly awkward.

Everyone ate their meals, and the group was pondering what to do on this fine day when Luna walked over to them, putting her hands on Harry's shoulders. "Who's up for a snowball fight?" she asked.

Everyone instantly agreed. No one is ever too old for a whole-hearted snowball fight.

"We need our winter robes," Neville pointed out.

The group instantly agreed again. It was decided that they would meet at the tree Ginny, Luna, and Harry had hung out at yesterday. Ginny and Harry would lead the other Gryffindors there, and Luna would meet up with them.