Note: Hope you guys like this chapter and that you hang with me until the
end of this story (whenever that is). I know that this is a very short
chapter, but I've seen shorter.
Disclaimer: I wish Harry were mine! Please Harry, don't let JKR push you around!
Chapter 16: Good Old Hogwarts
After a rather boring train ride, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped onto the platform, greeting the cool night air gratefully after the stuffy compartments. The three found a carriage all to themselves and rode quietly up to the front gates. Harry looked up at Hogwarts, watching the tall stone walls come closer, bringing back many memories, both happy and unpleasant. From the windows shown warm lights, a welcoming sign to most students, but Harry knew that it was artificial warmth; all of the teachers were still holding their breath because of the return of Voldemort. Sighing, Harry turned his attention to the inside of the carriage. Ron and Hermione were staring at him. "What?" he asked them, looking from one concerned face to the other. "Oh, nothing," said Ron. "It's just that," Hermione began, "being back here, you know. It's odd." "I guess," said Harry, looking away from them at the grass that was rolling past them.
Finally falling into bed that night after and exhausting feast, Ron couldn't get to sleep. Before, he was sure that he would fall asleep before his head hit the pillow, but now he felt wide awake. Thinking of Hermione would only make him more awake, so he decided to think of Quidditch. Thank God for Quidditch! He could go out and ride his broom tomorrow afternoon, if the weather permitted.
Before he was fully awake, Ron heard the sound of his roommates rousing from a food-induced sleep. He groggily tried to become aware of his surroundings, realizing that he must have fallen asleep without realizing it.
Staggering downstairs with Harry, tie undone, Ron caught sight of Hermione, making his stomach flip. Coming up to her, both he and Harry greeted her and together the trio made their way down to breakfast. Hermione, unlike the boys, seemed altogether chipper.
Without a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, all years had two periods off a week. As it turned out, sixth years had that period off from between four and five fifteen. Returning from a rather grueling transfiguration class involving a half sword, half fish chasing a rabbit around the room, Ron decided to use his free time for a long broom ride.
"Harry, you up for a broom ride?" called Ron to Harry after dropping his books off in his room.
"No thanks, I'm going to start McGonagall's essay. It's due to tomorrow, and Snape's work isn't going to much easier."
With Hermione in the library and Ginny in lessons, Ron figured that he had this time to himself. Walking out into the bright sunshine, Ron mounted his broom and flew. It was like heaven, Hermione, and chocolate all rolled up into one. He knew why Harry missed Quidditch so much over the summer; returning to the air was amazing.
Hermione looked up as Ron entered the common room, beat red from the sun, his ears already peeling from the burn. However, he looked incredibly happy. Coming over to her, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek, making her almost as red as him under the eyes of everybody in the room. When Ron returned from putting his books away, he collapsed on the sofa next to her, facing Harry across the table.
"You missed a great day for a broom ride, mate," he said grinning from ear to ear.
"At least Harry's not burnt to a crisp; look at you!" Hermione cried as she felt the heat radiating from his red cheeks.
"It isn't too bad," said Ron, looking at the red skin of his arms.
"Ron, your ears are peeling," said Harry raising his eyebrows.
"You should go see Madame Pomfrey, see if she has any anti-burn cream. Ron, you look awful," said Hermione, concern crossing her face.
"Really, Hermione, its fine," Ron said, brushing her hands away from his burnt face. Ron knew he wasn't being completely honest; when Hermione had touched his ears and he cheek, it hurt. Deciding to put lotion on it, he went to the bathroom and grabbed the lotion that Seamus had swiped from Lavender. The cold cream felt wonderful against his burnt skin, but he now smelt like peaches and cream delight. Covering the sent with Dean's cologne, he went back to the common room to leave with Harry and Hermione for dinner.
Note: Happy St. Patrick's Day. As an Irish dancer, I know what Santa feels like before Christmas. I am now burnt to the crisp from the Saint Patrick's Day parade this past Saturday, which is where I got the idea for Ron's sun burn. As a person who doesn't burn easily, this is a major sunburn for me. Usually only my ears are bad, but my arms, face, and ears are red and peeling now. For all of those who get sunburned easily, lotion and drinking water help a lot. Anyway, hope you are all willing to wait for the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I wish Harry were mine! Please Harry, don't let JKR push you around!
Chapter 16: Good Old Hogwarts
After a rather boring train ride, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped onto the platform, greeting the cool night air gratefully after the stuffy compartments. The three found a carriage all to themselves and rode quietly up to the front gates. Harry looked up at Hogwarts, watching the tall stone walls come closer, bringing back many memories, both happy and unpleasant. From the windows shown warm lights, a welcoming sign to most students, but Harry knew that it was artificial warmth; all of the teachers were still holding their breath because of the return of Voldemort. Sighing, Harry turned his attention to the inside of the carriage. Ron and Hermione were staring at him. "What?" he asked them, looking from one concerned face to the other. "Oh, nothing," said Ron. "It's just that," Hermione began, "being back here, you know. It's odd." "I guess," said Harry, looking away from them at the grass that was rolling past them.
Finally falling into bed that night after and exhausting feast, Ron couldn't get to sleep. Before, he was sure that he would fall asleep before his head hit the pillow, but now he felt wide awake. Thinking of Hermione would only make him more awake, so he decided to think of Quidditch. Thank God for Quidditch! He could go out and ride his broom tomorrow afternoon, if the weather permitted.
Before he was fully awake, Ron heard the sound of his roommates rousing from a food-induced sleep. He groggily tried to become aware of his surroundings, realizing that he must have fallen asleep without realizing it.
Staggering downstairs with Harry, tie undone, Ron caught sight of Hermione, making his stomach flip. Coming up to her, both he and Harry greeted her and together the trio made their way down to breakfast. Hermione, unlike the boys, seemed altogether chipper.
Without a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, all years had two periods off a week. As it turned out, sixth years had that period off from between four and five fifteen. Returning from a rather grueling transfiguration class involving a half sword, half fish chasing a rabbit around the room, Ron decided to use his free time for a long broom ride.
"Harry, you up for a broom ride?" called Ron to Harry after dropping his books off in his room.
"No thanks, I'm going to start McGonagall's essay. It's due to tomorrow, and Snape's work isn't going to much easier."
With Hermione in the library and Ginny in lessons, Ron figured that he had this time to himself. Walking out into the bright sunshine, Ron mounted his broom and flew. It was like heaven, Hermione, and chocolate all rolled up into one. He knew why Harry missed Quidditch so much over the summer; returning to the air was amazing.
Hermione looked up as Ron entered the common room, beat red from the sun, his ears already peeling from the burn. However, he looked incredibly happy. Coming over to her, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek, making her almost as red as him under the eyes of everybody in the room. When Ron returned from putting his books away, he collapsed on the sofa next to her, facing Harry across the table.
"You missed a great day for a broom ride, mate," he said grinning from ear to ear.
"At least Harry's not burnt to a crisp; look at you!" Hermione cried as she felt the heat radiating from his red cheeks.
"It isn't too bad," said Ron, looking at the red skin of his arms.
"Ron, your ears are peeling," said Harry raising his eyebrows.
"You should go see Madame Pomfrey, see if she has any anti-burn cream. Ron, you look awful," said Hermione, concern crossing her face.
"Really, Hermione, its fine," Ron said, brushing her hands away from his burnt face. Ron knew he wasn't being completely honest; when Hermione had touched his ears and he cheek, it hurt. Deciding to put lotion on it, he went to the bathroom and grabbed the lotion that Seamus had swiped from Lavender. The cold cream felt wonderful against his burnt skin, but he now smelt like peaches and cream delight. Covering the sent with Dean's cologne, he went back to the common room to leave with Harry and Hermione for dinner.
Note: Happy St. Patrick's Day. As an Irish dancer, I know what Santa feels like before Christmas. I am now burnt to the crisp from the Saint Patrick's Day parade this past Saturday, which is where I got the idea for Ron's sun burn. As a person who doesn't burn easily, this is a major sunburn for me. Usually only my ears are bad, but my arms, face, and ears are red and peeling now. For all of those who get sunburned easily, lotion and drinking water help a lot. Anyway, hope you are all willing to wait for the next chapter.