So here it is. This one is kind of long but then you guys like them long. That and it will have to hold you until I get back from vaction in 6 days. I will continue to write but I will not be able to post. Sorry. :( But read this one and review and when I get back I'll be already to post and write even more! Thanks for being so great and reviewing. Enjoy this chapter and have a happy 4th! Ace
pottyboutweasley: Thanks for reviewing as always. And it's a mystery to me too how I do it. It just comes out of the brain and it is typed out by my fingers. All I know is that it's not easy. As for Tonks, it just seemed right. First I was going to have Lupin back cuz I like him but Tonks seemed like a better idea. Thanks for reviewing! Sorry about the break in updates. Hope you'll survive. :D
Chapter 9 : Back to the grind stone
They were sitting together on the couch in front of the common room fire. Ron was staring into the flames and Hermione sat next to him reading a book. Ron casually looked over at her. At that moment she looked up and their eyes connected. Suddenly she dropped the book to the floor and climbed toward him. She straddled his thighs and sat on his lap. Then she reached up with both hands and ran her fingers through his hair, wrapping her arms around his neck. Out of the blue she leaned in and kissed him. Just as there lips met, a strange buzzing noise came from somewhere in the room.
"Huh? Wha?" Ron asked groggily opening his eyes a little and looking around the darkness of his four poster bed. "Bloody hell I was dreaming." Realizing that it had been a very enjoyable dream, he rolled over on to his stomach and closed his eyes again, hopping the dream would return.
"Come on Ron. Rise and shine!" Harry said throwing open the currant red curtains around Ron's bed. "Hermione's not gonna come knocking at your door this time." Harry shoved him and he turned to face him.
"Ha ha. Very funny." Ron said flashing a fake smile. "I'm coming."
"Yeah sure you are." Harry replied as he moved back over to his bed to get dressed. Ron laid there for a few more minutes, relaxing as the remnants of the dream faded away.
Finally, after Harry shouted at him again to get his scrawny butt out of bed, Ron threw off the covers and pushed his legs over the edge of the bed. He stood up and walked to his trunk pulling out the first shirts, pants, and socks he found.
"We'll meet you down there mate." Harry said getting tried of waiting for Ron. He and the other boys exited the room together.
Ron sighed as he pulled on his undershirt. His dreams were becoming weird. He had encountered dreams about Hermione before, many times in fact over the past few years, but more recently they were getting more and more personal and more and more enjoyable to the point that they had an effect on him. They were becoming more like last night's dream. Erotic and very un-Hermione like. It's not that he didn't enjoy them, perhaps he enjoyed them a little too much, but they were so out of character. He could never picture the real Hermione doing anything he had seen in his dream. And he wasn't sure if he wanted her to be different. Perhaps consciously he didn't want her to change but it was evident that his subconscious did.
He dressed quickly leaving his tie for last. Suddenly he noticed the clock. "Bloody Hell! I'm always late." He shouted throwing on his black Hogwarts robe and grabbing his tie. He rushed out of the dormitory door as he tried to tie the gold and maroon tie.
Ron slipped into the Great Hall and was immediately overwhelmed with noise. He made his way over to the Gryffindor table and took his seat next to Hermione.
"Morning all." He said as he struggled with his tie. "Stupid bloody tie." He muttered putting a knot in it.
"Must you swear." Hermione said taking the tie from his hands and fixing it with ease. When she finished, she flattened it on his chest and returned to her plate. Ron stared at her for a moment then reached for a plate of bacon and began to fill his plate.
"Thanks 'Mione. I'd be a mess without you." He replied leaning over and giving her a friendly thank you peck on her cheek.
Hermione whipped around and gaped at him. Ron realizing what he had done, blushed bright red.
"Bloody hell what did I just do?" He asked himself. He wasn't sure why he had done it. It had just seemed like that natural thing to do. He had meant no harm, or anything by it. He had just done it. Perhaps his true feelings had slipped through the barrier he had put up or maybe he wasn't quite awake. Either way it had happened.
Right away he apologized. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." He did not raise his head but gazed directly into his plate.
At that moment Harry took notice of Ron's scarlet face and Hermione's shocked gaze.
"Hey what's up you two?" He asked catching Ginny's attention as well. She noticed Ron's redness right away. Being a Weasley herself, she knew that it was a sign of embarrassment. "What's he done now?" she wondered.
"Nothing." Hermione said shifting back to her own plate. She, too, was curious why he had done it. And embarrassed as well, though her blush was less noticeable.
Harry and Ginny eyed the two curiously but eventually turned back to their conversation and breakfast.
As the plates cleared, each student now finished, Professor McGonagall came around, handing out the Gryffindor schedules.
"Mr. Potter. Mr. Weasley." She handed them each a piece of parchment. Ron looked his over as McGonagall gave schedules to Hermione, Ginny and the rest in there vicinity.
"Bloody Hell! Double potions with Slytherin again. What is this some kind of yearly torture?" Ron grumbled a little too loudly. He was lucky that McGonagall was far enough down the table that she hadn't heard but he hadn't been counting on a certain least favorite teacher coming up behind him.
"I believe, Mr. Weasley, you were insulting my class. Five points from Gryffindor for disrespecting a teacher." Snape said in his drawling evil voice. He stopped for a moment, glanced at Harry then continued on his way but not without adding, "I will see you this afternoon, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter." The students watched as he sauntered away.
"Well we best be off to...hmmm..." Hermione said looking at her schedule. "Care of Magical Creatures. We can see how Hagrid has been." She stood up and grabbed her bag.
"Bloody hell. I forgot my pack back in my trunk. I'll go get it and meet you guys down there." Ron announced twisting around on the bench and standing up. He hastily left the great hall and ran up to the dormitory.
Meanwhile Hermione sighed and headed off to Hagrid's hut by herself, Harry having skipped off earlier to walk Ginny to class, thus leaving her to think. She was still confused on what had happened at the breakfast table. It had been a total shock to her. He had never done anything like this before. Usually their relationship consisted of arguments, which were becoming less and less, or uncomfortable silences, which were getting more and more uncomfortable. But he had never kissed her before. He hardly hugged her for that matter. He just wasn't making sense lately.
Ron grabbed his book bag and rushed out of the Gryffindor tower. He jogged down the stairs, hurrying toward the grand front doors. He rushed down the second floor hallway toward the main stairwell. But as he neared the Transfiguration classroom, he noticed a couple in the shadows. As he neared the couple, who were in very close proximity, he noticed that they were kissing. Most importantly, the girl had bright red hair. And there were only two people left at the school with red hair that color and their name was Weasley.
He recognized Ginny and stopped in his tracks. What was she doing kissing? And who was this guy she was kissing? As Ron looked closer, he recognized the boy as well. And it was none other then his best friend, Harry. At this realization he became furious. What the hell was Harry doing? And Ginny too? What was going on? Why hadn't Harry told him that he like Ginny? Or even that they were going out? Because it was obvious from the kiss that they were. His hands clenched into fists.
Suddenly the kissing couple broke apart, and Ron jumped out of sight. He didn't want to be caught spying on his little sister because he was sure she would never let him live it down. He would, however, confront Harry about it later. That was for sure. It had been bad enough when Ginny had dated other guys and not told him about it but it was way beyond bad when it was his best mate and neither one had told him.
He watched as Harry said goodbye and rushed off to the main stairs. Ginny watched him go and then slipped into the Transfiguration classroom.
"Bloody hell!" Ron shouted in anger then rushed after Harry because he was now late for class. He knew Hermione was not gonna be happy with him but that was the least thing on his mind.
He reached class just as Hagrid was beginning the lesson.
"What took you so long?" She whispered as Hagrid went into what they might be studying this term.
"I couldn't find my book." Ron lied, not looking at her. He was still steaming and didn't want to tell her about what he had seen. He didn't have to and she shouldn't stick her nose into his business.
Hermione glared at him for a moment before she turned to listen to Hagrid. She didn't believe him. She knew something else had happened and now it was bothering him. But she realized that he didn't want to talk about it and didn't press him. She knew him well enough that if he stewed long enough he would eventually erupt.
At the end of class, Ron and Hermione began to make their way up to Hagrid's side.
"Hiya Hagrid. Have a good summer?" Hermione asked with a smile.
"'Ello there 'Mione. It was alright. How about you?" Hagrid asked in return.
"Mine was fine." She replied looking at Harry and Ron hoping one of them would speak. She knew Ron wouldn't by the look on his face. That certain something was really disturbing him. But Harry on the other hand smiled as he spoke.
"So how are you and Grawmp? Does he speak any English yet besides Hermy?" Harry asked catching Hermione's narrowed gaze out of the corner of his eye. He knew she despised nicknames, especially the one given to her the pervious year by Hagrid's giant brother Grawmp.
"He's fine Harry. And as a matter o' fact he is learning English. Mind you they're not big sentences yet but we all start out that way, don't we?" Hagrid said looking to Ron. "So how have you been Ron?"
Ron glanced at him for a moment then returned to staring off. "Fine," he muttered. Hagrid was about to ask what was wrong when Hermione spoke.
"Well we best be getting off. We've got Defense against the Dark Arts next. We'll be seeing you Hagrid." She said turning to climb back up to the castle.
"Yeah see you." Harry reciprocated with a wave. Ron simply muttered a goodbye.
The trio entered the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom together. Ron rushed to get a seat near the back and the others followed. Professor Tonks was no where in sight.
"First day of class and she's already late." Harry said with a chuckle as he took his seat at the end of a table. Hermione took the last spot and sat between Harry and Ron.
After the whole class was seated and discussing their breaks, Tonks entered the room, her hands filled with books. As she crossed the threshold of the door, she tripped and the books went flying. Many of the students jumped up to help her, Harry and Hermione included. Ron didn't move and continued to stew.
Finally when the books had been collected and set upon the front table, Tonks stood in front of the class and introduced herself.
"Good morning class. I am Nympadora Tonks, well I guess Professor Tonks, but you can just call me Tonks. Anyway I am here to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts. I am suppose to prepare you for the worst. I know your teachers in this field have been numerous and I'm not quite sure what you have all learned but I am here to teach you just the same. I know your pervious teachers have been, shall we say, not all compatent in the subject, and I'm not saying that I am, but hopefully we can help each other out and both succeed." Tonks finished with a smile. Then she began to talk about what they would be reviewing for the first few weeks of the term. She continued to discuss some of what they would be studying over the year.
Before they knew it, class was over and it was time for lunch.
"Well I'll see you next time and have a good day." Tonks shouted as the students rushed from the room. Ron grabbed his stuff and rush off with the crowd. Harry and Hermione, on the other hand, stayed behind to talk to Tonks.
"Hiya Harry, Hermione." She greeted as they neared her desk at the front of the room.
"How come you didn't tell us that you were going to teach?" Harry asked. Tonks smiled.
"I wanted it to be a surprise. It really was a surprise to me really. I was Dumbledore's second choice for the job. Lupin was first but he denied it because he's too busy with Order things to teach." Tonks replied with a smile as she stood up, leaning slightly on the desk.
"Not to mention that some parents would probably get mad considering the facts." Hermione interjected, knowing of one parent in particular that would. "But it's nice that you're here. So have you got a lesson plan?"
Tonks nodded. "Lupin helped me with a few things before I left. He also said any time I need help or ideas, to send him an owl. He's more then happy to help. He really wishes he could be here but the Order is more important." Tonks said with a grim face. They all knew that the Order was very important right now.
"Well I promised to meet Ginny at lunch. I best be off." Harry said and turned to leave. "See ya later Tonks. Meet ya down their 'Mione." Then he rushed off.
"Do you mind if I accompany you down to the great hall?" Tonks asked Hermione.
Hermione shook her head. "No of course not." she replied. Both girls headed off to lunch together, discussing Dark Art curses and counter curses.
When Hermione reached the lunch table, dumping her bag next to her on the bench, she found Harry and Ginny but no Ron.
"Hey either of you seen Ron?" She asked grabbing a sandwich from the plate. The two shook there heads. "I wonder where he is?"
Ginny sighed. "Probably off being Ron and practicing. It's only the first day back but I'm sure he's nervous about the upcoming season." She stated. Hermione had to agree that Ron was worried about such things but she didn't think that was it this time."Speaking of quidditch, when are we going to have our first meeting Harry?" She turned to Harry with a smile.
"I don't know. I probably should talk to McGonagall about when we can have the pitch. I'll do that after dinner." Harry said taking a drink from his cup as he looked over at Ginny. She smiled and blushed at the same time.
Hermione noticed Ginny's blush. "Hmm she must like Harry again." She thought to herself propping up a book against her goblet then grabbing a plate of potatoes and spooning some of them on to the plate in front of her.
But she didn't read at first because she was reminded of the kiss that Ron had absentmindedly given her this morning and blushed lightly again. Admittedly she had kind of liked that attention it had represented. Sometimes it seemed that Ron did care about like he did Harry. It made her feel that Ron might actually feel more for her. It made her secret feelings for him not seem like a waste of time and emotion. She smiled to herself then flipped to the first chapter of her Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook and began to read.
