Okay then. :D I know you all probably want to murder me, or simply just abandoned me months ago, and I completely understand if that's what happened. I thank you ever so much if you actually stuck around, or if you just happened to have the link lying around and gave it one last shot.
I want to sincerely apologize for the ENORMOUS wait, I predicted this would happen, and I am terribly sorry for making you wait so horribly long if you even waited. I hope it winds up being worth it. However, I would also like to say that I currently have an enormous amount of free time and what with the 6th book coming out and having gotten this first chapter out, I'm feeling insanely motivated, so I'm almost positive you can expect another new chapter in two weeks. So, unless some massive disaster occurs, check back often! And again, I'm soooo sorry about the horrible wait!
I'll say this: I've been writing this for a week straight now, and it's the longest chapter I've ever written for anything I think. I really, really hope you enjoy it. I would also like to plead with you to review if only to tell me a certian part of the story sucked, or a certain part was rough, or I spelled wrong. Please, please, please review to help me make this the best story I can! I want it to be a worthwhile read. Thank you sooooooo much in advance!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Not mine. Never will be. :D
The next morning Ron's alarm went off just ten minutes after he had finally fallen into a restless sleep. Without fully waking, he shut off his alarm and groggily climbed out of bed, his body running completely on automatic. He gathered up clean clothes for the day, pulling a pair of boxers from underneath his bed, digging up one of his robes from the bottom of his trunk, and prying two socks from a compartment in his trunk, before staggering off to the bathroom, his eyes still mostly shut. He pulled off his pajamas and climbed into the shower, still on auto pilot. It wasn't until halfway through his shower when the hot water was finally beginning to wake him up that he recalled why he was so tired. His eyes shot open and he lost his balance, falling backwards and landing hard in the basin of the tub, his head thunking loudly against the porcelain wall. He cursed, rubbing the aching spot on the back of his skull and blinking back the flashing white spots in his eyes.
"Hey! What are you doing in there, Weasley? Are you all right?" Dean shouted through the door.
But Ron wasn't paying much attention to his yelling. Instead, he was staring at the drain in the bathtub wondering how the hell he was going to manage to get up the courage to talk to Hermione and act normal, let alone ask her out. Damn Harry and his bloody interfering. On the other hand, there was no way he could ever face the school or Hermione if Harry was the one who had to ask her out... Bloody hell.
"Ron? Hey--Ron answer me! Are you all right!" Dean shouted.
"Hey, what's going on? Is something wrong? came Neville's voice.
"Yeah, what's with the yelling?" Seamus demanded.
"I think Ron's gone and killed himself," Dean replied, "Didn't you hear that thud? Damnit, Ron! Say something!" He banged on the door a few times, growling in irritation. Still, Ron ignored them.
"Fine. If he wants it that way--" Dean grabbed his wand from his bedside table and growled,
"Alohomora!" The door immediately banged open and the three roommates streamed into the bathroom.
Ron had finally gotten to his feet and he stared at the three other boys in shock. "DO YOU MIND?" he roared.
They immediately backed out the way they had come, Seamus muttering under his breath, "Jeez...tou-chy..."
"Oh, shut up," Ron growled, slamming the door in their faces.
"Jeez, who spit in his porridge?" Seamus muttered.
"Well, actually, no one--we haven't had breakfast yet," Neville piped up helpfully. Seamus rolled his eyes at him and pushed him back across the room.
"Oh, shut up, Longbottom."
In the bathroom, Ron tied a towel around his waist before leaning against the counter and staring grouchily at his reflection. Bloody nosy roommates. Bloody Harry.
But he could deal with this, right? He was in Gryffindor, after all. Gryffindor courage and all of that.
Oh, who was he kidding?
He growled, letting his head fall against the mirror. He was going to humiliate himself whether he wanted to or not. Why did this sort of thing always have to happen to him?
After moping around in the bathroom for another ten minutes, dawdling around for another five getting dressed, and then whiling away another seven carefully shaving the tiny patch of orange fuzz on his chin, and then poking around "cleaning up"--there was finally a firm banging on the door and Harry's voice called out to him.
"Ron? Are you all right in there? Dean said you made an awful racket when you were showering. What are you doing in there? Breakfast is over, we've got to get to class, mate!"
Ron shot a slightly triumphant grin at the mirror and gestured, 'YES!' to his reflection. Thirty awkward minutes less spent struggling to maintain his composure!
"Ron? Seriously, mate, you're starting to worry me--"
Ron threw open the door and glanced down at Harry, sure to take advantage of his full height of 6'6" as he replied stiffly, "I'm fine. Let's get to class."
Harry followed after him as he grabbed his book bag and then strode out the door. Ron's strides were equal to two of Harry's and at the rate he was moving, Harry had to practically jog to keep up. He frowned, swallowing nervously and said tentatively, "Er, Ron, you're...not angry are you?"
Ron glanced back and down at him and seeing the genuinely concerned look on his friend's face, he sighed. "No... I'm not mad..." he muttered. 'Merlin, I'm such a marshmallow...'
Harry looked immensely relieved, "Oh good...I was worried you might be upset about...you know, last night..."
Ron finally slowed his pace, allowing Harry to keep up and looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't say I wasn't still upset."
Harry cringed slightly. "I had to. You know that."
"Like hell you did! You could have done anything else! Deception, Love-Potions, a broom closet, anything! Honestly Harry. You know how hard it is for me to be around her NORMALLY," he said pointedly as they climbed out of the portrait hole.
Harry conceded slightly with a nod of his head, "But I'm not good with that sort of thing. Trickery and trapping are more Fred and George's forte. Besides, this gets the job done much more easily on my part." He grinned slightly at Ron.
Ron scowled at him.
"Sorry, mate. It's better me than someone else though, right?" he said, hopefully. Ron merely grumbled in response. "Oh--Hermione at 10:00," he whispered. Ron's eyes immediately bugged out and he stepped on the hem of his robes and staggered forward, nearly landing head first on the floor. Hermione, however, managed to press both hands against his shoulders and steadied him.
"Ron, honestly! You should be more careful. You're going to hurt yourself," she cried, her hands lingering as he tried to straighten up, his head jerking down once more as a result of his robes still being caught underfoot. By the time he managed to stand up straight he was blushing furiously and still hadn't said a word to Hermione.
From just down the hall a mocking drawl drifted into the scene, and Ron's face only managed to darken two further shades. "Nice one, Weasel. Those monstrous feet of yours cause so much trouble, don't they? No wonder your robes are so tattered."
"Oh, shut up, Malfoy," Harry said off-handedly, gently guiding both of his friends into the Potions classroom with firm hands on their backs.
"Too bad, the little Potty has lost all his fight since Black died so tragically," Draco said, gesturing dramatically with the back of his hand tossed delicately against his forehead in a signal of distress.
Ron could feel Harry's barely concealed tension increase tenfold and he started to turn around, his mouth already open to retort, but Harry jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow.
"Ouch! Hey, Harry, what's the deal?" he whispered.
"Don't bother, Ron, he'll get what's coming to him. It's not worth it now," Harry said quietly.
Ron frowned, he didn't like it, but he did as Harry said and turned around, ignoring the git. In the process, his eyes settled on Hermione who smiled and said, "Good morning Ron. Where were you this morning? Harry and I were worried."
The color promptly drained out of Ron's face and he choked, suddenly unable to breathe. Harry caught a glimpse of his face and pounded him on the back sharply, twice, hissing, "Get a hold of yourself, mate!"
Ron sucked in a breath, his eyes still wide and squeaked out, "I woke up late. Sorry for worrying you."
"Are you sure you're all right Ron? You're acting rather funny..." Hermione said, her face a mixture of suspicion and concern.
He nodded vigorously and for once, he was grateful when Snape butted in. "If you'll all shut up, we can begin today's lesson." His eyes snapped over to Harry for a moment before he continued. "Now. Your N.E.W.T.s are swiftly approaching and despite having weeded out most of the complete morons from this class, there still remain a select few who need to get it through their infinitesimal little skulls that these exams are NOT to be taken lightly. Doing your work absolutely flawlessly the next few weeks will be imperative to your chances of passing the N.E.W.T.s at all. So I suggest you pay attention." He slammed a hand down on the desk in front of him, narrowing his eyes, making the boy in it jump. "Do I make myself clear?"
The entire class silently nodded and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of Hermione's quill across her parchment as she nodded to it, looking determined to do absolutely everything Snape demanded.
"Good." Snape slowly righted himself, running a hand over his greasy hair to replace a lock that had fallen out of place. "Get out a piece of parchment and copy this down, word for word. And make sure you can read it, Mr. Weasley," he sneered.
Ron's ears colored and he grit his teeth as he pulled a slightly crumpled sheet of parchment from his book bag and began setting up his inkwell and his quill with a new nib, trying to remain calm. He had been battling the urge to beat the snot out of Snape from the day they set foot on school grounds and Snape had made a remark, rather loudly, about how it would be a miracle if he lasted two days in the N.E.W.T.s preparation potions classes. Bloody git.
Later in the period after class had finished silently copying down the ingredients and notes, Snape had ordered them to begin, and so they were all working diligently to create the Disillusionment potion. The dungeons had never been quieter during a class and it was seriously beginning to give Ron the creeps, so he nudged Harry with his elbow as he stirred and whispered, "It's quiet."
Harry quickly cottoned on and grinned, muttering, "Too quiet."
Hermione glanced up, blushing, and hissed, "Shhhh! I'm trying to concentrate!"
Ron and Harry had been using those two phrases to tease Hermione since earlier that year when they had come into the common room and unlike most evenings, found it lacking Hermione pacing by one of the tables, verbally reviewing her notes to make them better stick. She had been lying fast asleep, sprawled across her Transfiguration things, exhausted from late night study fests. They had roused her and teased the drowsy bookworm about encountering the quiet before she stumbled up the stairs, blushing and telling them both to shut their mouths. Ron would never admit it, but he thought it was the cutest thing he'd ever seen.
Both Ron and Harry sniggered quietly, but turned back to their potions. Around them, with the ice finally broken, whispered conversations had begun and the room had finally dissolved out of its deafening silence. Meanwhile, Harry scribbled something on his notes and pushed them discreetly over for Ron to see. Ron carefully added a perfect pinch of powdered puffeskein to his potion before leaning over to read Harry's note. It read:
Now would be a good time, Weasley.
Ron stared at the note, puzzled for a moment before suddenly remembering and smacking a hand to his forehead. Harry let out a snort of laughter before clapping a hand over his mouth to stifle the sound. Unfortunately, Hermione and a few of the other students around them were already staring.
"What are you two doing!" Hermione hissed.
Harry held up one hand in apology, the other still covering his mouth, and Ron simply flushed and sat down quickly, trying to sink into his seat and absorb himself in his potion. He scribbled two words below Harry's.
No way.
Harry rolled his eyes at him in exasperation.
Just remember--30 days.
Ron grimaced as he read the note. Distracted, he put the next ingredient in his potion without checking it first. He almost immediately regretted his folly. The potion rapidly turned a sickly puke green color and began bubbling violently over the rim. Ron cursed loudly as the potion bubbled over onto his hand and he recoiled, grimacing in pain, quickly trying to wipe his hand with one of his gloves. Snape pushed him aside, his robes swishing angrily as he snarled, "Honestly, Weasley, can't you even follow simple instructions like 'wait two minutes' by this point in your education! Get out of the way, Potter!"
Harry grabbed his cauldron, barely managing to pull it out of Snape's way before the potions master had murmured a spell and thick lilac colored foam had oozed from the tip to coat Ron's cauldron and every surface his concoction had touched. Ron was too busy worrying about his hand, which felt as though it were on fire, to even react to Snape's insults or the complete destruction of his potion.
"Now, get out Mr. Weasley," Snape's icy gaze settled on Ron, his voice laced with venom. Ron simply stared, still in too much shock to comprehend what was going on. "I said get out, now!" Snape snarled and raised his wand and Ron scrambled to his feet, bolting out the door. It slammed shut behind him, shaking the stones of the corridor floor, and Ron cursed softly, leaning against the wall. "Bloody great mess you've caused now, Weasley," he muttered. His hand suddenly gave a strong twinge of pain and he trudged off towards the Hospital Wing.
Just a few moments after the bell for the break period had rung, Hermione and Harry appeared at the doors of the Hospital Wing, slightly out of breath. "Ron, are you all right?" Hermione gasped.
"I'm fine," he replied, staring at them, "How did you know I was here?"
"Well, you hurt yourself, didn't you?" Hermione said, as though it were obvious. Ron made a face at her. "How is your hand?"
"It feels loads better now."
"Oh good."
"How many points got deducted?" he asked anxiously.
Harry cringed, "Twenty-five..."
Ron grimaced and mumbled something profane that Harry and Hermione didn't quite catch. An awkward silence followed as Ron picked uneasily at the bed sheet and Hermione stared down at the books in her arms. Finally, Harry coughed loudly, causing both of them to start and blush.
"I'm going to, er, go visit Professor McGonagall. I'll see you in a bit, all right?" He then proceeded to take off before either of them could object.
Ron frowned after him, muttering, "'Go visit Professor McGonagall'? What's up with him?"
"Maybe he's just realized how important the N.E.W.T.s really are and he's going to get help," Hermione replied.
Ron snorted derisively, "Oh, yeah."
"Well honestly Ron, just because you don't ever think about your schoolwork doesn't mean no one else does," she said, putting her fists on her hips.
"But this is Harry, Hermione. I spent the last six years slacking off with him. What makes you think he's suddenly going to become all 'studious' now?"
She sniffed irritably and said, "Oh, just wishful thinking, I suppose. Are you allowed to leave yet?"
"Well, I figure it's all right."
"Good, come on, we're going to be late for Transfiguration."
"Er--Hermione--" In a sudden and apparently fleeting burst of courage, Ron grabbed Hermione's arm, only to feel his lungs begin to stiffen and his heart to beat painfully against his ribs.
"What is it Ron?" She frowned. "Are you all right? Ron!"
"I--er--yeah--I was just--I was just wondering, you know, er..." he swallowed, trying not to panic.
'Come on just do it, Weasley!' he screamed at himself.
"You were just wondering...?" Hermione prodded.
"I was just wondering if we might be able to apparate out of Hogwarts," Ron finished lamely. Hermione reacted just as expected.
Her eyes rolled upward and she replied exasperatedly, "Oh don't be ridiculous Ron! I've told you a thousand times! It's right in Hogwarts: A History, honestly! You can't apparate from anywhere on the Hogwarts grounds! Come on, we're going to be late." She huffed in annoyance and slung her bag over her shoulder, heading for the door. Ron grabbed his bag as well, hopping off the bed and silently smacking himself upside the head.
'Good one mate, make sure she knows you're an absolute dolt, eh?'
He sighed and closed the door, following behind her.
'This is never going to work.' "My life is over, Harry, and it's all your bloody fault!" he moaned later as he and Harry ate lunch. Well, more of picked and poked at lunch in his case, but...
Harry simply smiled mildly at him and said, "What, you've given up already?"
"Oh, don't get all smug with me, Mr. Cho Chang! You know how hard this is! I choked!" Ron said, miserably stabbing an unsuspecting sausage on his plate.
Harry, who had turned pink at the mention of his previous love endeavors, paused at Ron's last words. "Wait," he said, "You mean you've tried?"
"In the Hospital Wing," Ron muttered, laying his head on the crook of his elbow as he mashed all the contents of his plate together.
"What happened?" Harry said, looking puzzled.
"Ergh..." Ron covered his head with his arms. "I told you, I choked."
"Meaning...?"
"I grabbed her arm and said, 'I was wondering if we...could apparate out of Hogwarts,'" he mumbled. Then he groaned, letting his head fall into his hands. "Oh, Merlin... That sounds like a bad pick-up line!"
Harry stared at him in disbelief, "You're joking."
Ron shook his head and Harry snorted, struggling to keep a straight face. "Seriously?" he said, and Ron shot him a dirty look. This time Harry couldn't contain his laughter and he covered his mouth, attempting, rather unsuccessfully, to stifle his sniggers. Ron glared at him over his arm.
"Oh, shut it, Potter." Then his eyes narrowed. "Speaking of the Hospital Wing, where'd you go running off to? And don't tell me 'McGonagall's office,' because that's codswallop and you know it."
Harry sobered quickly, suddenly looking extremely uncomfortable, and he chose that moment to take a large bite of turkey. Ron smirked, suddenly forgetting about his previous discomfiture.
"Harry..." Ron said, waggling a finger at him.
Harry, with as much innocence as he could muster, pointed at his mouthful of food.
"I can wait, Harry. We're classmates and roommates, remember?" he smiled smugly, as Harry swallowed a bit, his cheeks pinkening. "Sooner or later you'll have to talk."
"Yes, and it'll be later rather than sooner," Harry replied and jumped up. "Oh, there's the bell. Let's be off shall we or we'll be late for class, eh?" He quickly gathered his things and was headed toward the doors before Ron could say anything.
"I'll find out, Potter," he called after him. "You just wait!"
Ron didn't get the chance to grill Harry during the break after lunch, however. When he reached the hall, Harry had vanished and he didn't reappear until just moments before the bell rang for class. He slipped in beside Ron and Hermione just as Professor Sprout was greeting them.
"Good afternoon, class! Today we'll be working with the Spined Pillywhistle..."
"Where were you?" Ron whispered, leaning over.
"Er--no where," Harry lied, unconvincingly, as he pulled on his dragon-hide gloves. "Just to get some stuff from my trunk."
Ron narrowed his eyes at him. "Like hell you did." Harry's face flushed slightly, but he said nothing.
"Will you two be quiet!" hissed Hermione, drawing their attention for the first time. Ron made sort of a squeaky whimpering sound and pulled Harry between he and Hermione, who looked at him as though he had sprouted a second nose. Harry, on the other hand, was bent over sniggering quietly. Ron jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow, his ears bright pink and his face flushed, but he and Harry quieted down.
The rest of Herbology passed without much event, aside from Hermione's new conclusion that Ron was completely and utterly mad, seeing as he hid behind Harry throughout the whole class and began emitting a series of squeaks every time she spoke to him.
"Ron, what on earth his wrong with you today?" she demanded as they walked across the grounds to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures.
"Me? Nothing!" Ron replied quickly, his voice rather high.
"Oh, honestly Ron. You don't really expect me to believe that, do you?" she said, fixing her gaze on him.
"Er...yes? I mean, well, I wish you would," he said honestly, and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Just tell me what's going on Ron. Did you do something to my books again?" she narrowed her eyes suspiciously and Ron held up his hands in defense.
"No, no! Nothing like that!"
"You haven't 'accidentally' used them to support a game of Exploding Snap?" she said accusingly.
"Oh come on Hermione, that was an honest mistake," Ron protested, but he couldn't suppress a grin.
"Of course it was," she replied sarcastically. "That still doesn't explain why you've been squeaking at me all day though."
Ron blushed. "Puberty?" He shrugged sheepishly.
Hermione had to hide a smile. "Ron, you and I both know you were through with that by the end of fourth year."
Ron grinned, "But my voice has always cracked a lot."
"A lot," Hermione agreed and Ron clutched at his heart in mock horror. "But you never squeaked. Unless you were scared." She raised an eyebrow.
Ron's comfort immediately dropped to sublevels. 'Damn,' he thought, 'How does she do that? I thought I was going to manage this conversation without blushing five billion times.' His ears turned red and he immediately averted his eyes, coughing and hitching his bag up on his shoulder. "Er..."
"Oi, Ron, Hermione!" 'Harry, my hero! ...I should throttle you.' Harry trotted up, slightly out of breath. "Am I disturbing something?" He glanced between a smug looking Hermione and an uncomfortable and yet relieved Ron.
"No, not a thing!" Ron said quickly. "You're just in time in fact!"
"Oh, maybe I'll just go back and fetch an extra quill from my trunk then--" Harry said, grinning impishly.
Ron grabbed him by the shoulder of his robes and glowered down at him, "You will not!"
"Well, honestly, Weasel. You can't expect him not to catch the snitch for both teams when he's stuck with someone like you for a boyfriend..." Malfoy's voice slithered into the conversation as he strolled past, Slytherins had no classes Thursday afternoons. Ron couldn't help thinking that he was like a bad case of acne, always popping up at the worst opportunity and ruining everything. Too bad the git never HAD acne... Before he could even think about responding, Malfoy and his group of cronies had disappeared across the grounds, laughing hysterically. His words then registered, and Ron began spluttering indignantly, his ears reddening and Harry simply stood gaping after Malfoy, his face darkly colored.
"'Catch the snitch for both teams'?" Hermione repeated, bemused. "I've never heard that before."
"Oh, honestly Hermione, are you joking?" Ron said incredulously. "It means Malfoy thinks he's--"
"I know what it means!" Hermione hissed, flushing. "That's absurd. If G--"
"HERMIONE! A QUILL! Can I borrow a quill?" Harry asked vehemently, cutting her off and glaring at her pointedly.
Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth before diving into her bag to try and cover her obvious slip. Although what exactly she was slipping on, Ron had absolutely no idea. He looked suspiciously between Harry and Hermione and said, "Harry, there's a quill sticking out of the pocket of your bag."
Harry looked down and plucked the quill from his bag, muttering feebly, "Hey, how'd that get there?"
Ron squinched his eyes up at him and crossed his arms starting to straighten up to use his height again. "All right, what's going on? You're not telling me something."
Harry shifted uncomfortably under Ron's gaze, but quickly shifted his focus. "Shouldn't you be worrying about something else?" he said, gesturing with his head toward Hermione. Ron glowered at him. Near the front of the class, closer to Hagrid's hut, there were several shrieks and Hagrid's booming voice rang out over the grounds.
"All righ', quiet down!" he ordered, as the bell to begin class dimly reached their corner of Hogwarts. "Today we're startin' a new, ah...section, right." He paused dramatically, although whether or not it was on purpose, Ron couldn't tell, before announcing:
"Crup."
A murmur spread through the class quickly and then Hagrid began moving toward the back. "I want all of yeh to get a good look." The shrieks began to move backward toward Harry, Ron, and Hermione as did Hagrid, and nervous giggling followed after he had passed. Harry and Ron looked at one another anxiously, preparing for the worst. They were speechless when half a dozen pint-sized Jack Russel Terriers broke through the crowd, yipping furiously and straining at their leashes, which were clutched tightly in one of Hagrid's enormous fists.
"Blimey Hagrid, those are just--oh." Ron froze, half bent over to scratch the ears of one of the crup, spotting its frantically wagging forked tail. The rest of the class had begun to gather around realizing that the small dog-like creatures weren't in fact dangerous and seemed much like regular old Jack Russel Terriers, aside from the mildly disconcerting difference in their tails. Several of the girls were huddled around, squealing and cuddling two of the more friendly ones. A few boys were also treating some of them to good scratches behind the ears or on the stomach. A little less than half the class stood back, warily watching the proceedings, not yet ready to trust in the docility of the crup, particularly after the alarming records of Hagrid's previous "pets". Sometimes it seemed as though any creature could become dangerous when in his care.
Ron glanced up from the crup he was currently playing tug-o-war with using the sleeve of his robes just in time to see Hermione smile one of her warmest smiles at Hagrid and say teasingly, "Hagrid, I'm impressed. You finally found a creature that won't viciously attack or lie around completely uselessly!" Hagrid blushed furiously, averting his eyes and Ron chuckled, amused. It amazed--and embarrassed--him to admit that Hermione's growing sense of humor and assertiveness had always made her seem that much more attractive. He sighed, a silly grin making its way onto his face and put his chin in his hand, supporting it on his knee as he watched her. Harry noticed the change and smirked, shoving him with his tennis shoe.
"Whoops! Sorry Ron!" he said, far too brightly, and grinned. "Looks like you've fallen. Maybe you should do something." Ron glared and stuck out his tongue at him. Then his face scrunched up as one of the crup began licking the side of his face.
"Was I making that face again?" he asked pathetically, trying to push the persistent croup away.
Harry grinned and nodded, catching one of the crup in midair as it leapt at him, trying to lick his face. Ron groaned and flopped back in the grass, only to sputter and shout, "Oh, GROSS!" As several of the crup dashed over to him, jumping around and licking his face. "Augh!" he cried, covering his face with his arms and making spitting noises. "It got me in the mouth!"
Harry burst into a full-bodied, gut-wrenching laugh, Ron's yelling only making it worse until his legs had collapsed beneath him and he lay on the grass, wheezing between bursts of laughter.
Ron grunted loudly in annoyance, trying to push the feisty little creatures off, shouting, "This isn't bloody funny, Harry!"
Harry only clutched his aching sides, tears forming in the corners of his eyes, and laughed harder.
Later, after one surprisingly fun and informative Care of Magical Creatures lesson, Ron and Hermione made their way up to the common room to deposit their things before dinner, having lost Harry somewhere outside the Great Hall again. Ron was pleading with her to tell him what was going on, but as per her history, she was standing firm. "Come on, Hermione. I'm his best friend too!" he whined.
"I know. I'm sorry Ron, really I am. But I promised, and Harry's trying to figure some...things...out and doesn't want everyone to know, just in case," she explained, trying to be somewhatgentle.
"I'm not 'everyone'!" Ron cried, violently gesturing air-quotes. "I'm his best friend!"
"I'm sorry, Ron. I promised. If it makes you feel any better, I don't really know all that much more than you..." she said, stopping as they reached the portrait hole.
"Liar," Ron grumbled. "Phoenix feathers." He started to climb sulkily into the portrait hole when Hermione reached out and grabbed his hand, turning him around. He froze. 'Oh Merlin, she knows!' Ron thought in a panic.
"Ron," Hermione began, "He's not not telling you because he doesn't trust you. He just wants tobe sure what he's doing is right for him. I hope you understand that." 'Oh thank Merlin...'
Ron narrowed his eyes. "He doesn't really catch for both teams...does he?"
Hermione blushed and said indignantly, "Ronald Weasley! Of course not!"
"Well, what am I supposed to think!"
"Not that, you prat!"
"It's not going to hurt him--whatever the bloody hell it is--is it?" Ron said, sobering a little.
Hermione's gaze softened, "No, no, he'll be okay."
"All right then..." he muttered, resigning.
Hermione smiled, brushing his bangs out of his face affectionately. "That's very noble of you Ron."
Ron's ears immediately burned red, his face quickly following suit. "Er--yeah--well, I er--" He couldn't breathe!
"Come on. I've finished my homework for Monday already. Let's play a game of chess and then we'll see if you and Harry can con me into helping you stretching your essays those last few inches." She then climbed through the portrait hole. Ron gawked after her. Merlin, he knew she had changed since their first year, but she still managed to stun him with random bursts of playfulness and sarcasm. He loved those surprises. A silly smile covered his face and he quickly crawled after her into the common room.
That evening he and Harry sat huddled at a table in the corner of the common room, flipping through several Quidditch books they had accumulated over the last year or so, researching what sort of moves and excercises they wanted to put to use in Quidditch practice. Harry had finally become captain last year when the rest of the more experienced players had graduated, and he often employed Ron to set up practices. "Whoa, Harry, check this out," Ron said, flipping one of the books he was looking at upside down so he could see a diagram printed on the page.
Harry glanced at it and snorted. "Ron, I don't think the Cleansweeps could even manage the turnsand speed necessary for that. They'd shatter before even reaching altitude."
Ron grimaced, rubbing his bottom as he imagined a broom shattering beneath him. "Right then." He shut the book and then paused before looking up at Harry. "Er--Harry? I wanted to a--"
"Ooh, Ron!" Ginny squealed, flouncing up and throwing her arms around his neck. "I heard about your predicament this morning, I'm so excited for you!"
"Wh--what!" Ron spluttered, trying to pry her off. "What the hell Ginny!"
She grinned at him, leaning on the table. "The ultimatum, Ron," she said as though he should know exactly what she was raving about.
Ron's jaw dropped and he floundered, speechless for a full minute before turning to Harry furiously. "YOU TOLD HER!" he thundered. Harry cringed and Ginny simply beamed at him.
"Bloody hell, what's wrong with you! I wasn't in enough pain as it was!" he demanded.
"Er...well...it slipped..." Harry mumbled vaguely, looking sheepish.
"SLIPPED? Who else did it 'slip' to!" he yelled.
"Er...well, I didn't tell anyone else..." he replied evasively.
Ron rounded on Ginny. "Who did you tell?"
Ginny smiled, trying to looking innocent. "Just a few people... My friends... Dean..." Ron grimaced and let his head fall with a 'thunk' on the table. "Lavender..."
"LAVENDER!" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU MAD!"
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic, Ron," she said, exasperated.
"Merlin, kill me now! She probably already knows--and she hasn't said anything--she hates me!" he moaned, sinking down in his chair and covering his head with his arms.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron--"
"She's probably in the library, having a good laugh at my expense!" he muttered lugubriously.
"Snap out of it Ron!" Ginny cried, slapping him sharply across the face in irritation.
"Ow! Hey! Ginny!" he yelped, putting a hand to his cheek and looking annoyed.
"Quit being such a ridiculous prat! Lavender did not tell Hermione about your deadline. She swore she wouldn't tell because she thought it was 'SO ingenious'." She rolled her eyes and smiled at Harry who turned pink, looking extremely pleased.
"Ingenious my arse!" Ron grumbled.
Ginny sat down grinning and said earnestly, "Oh Ron, I'm so happy for you. It's about time you and Hermione got together."
Ron frowned, blushing, and said, "What is this, a conspiracy?"
"Wait till Mum gets my letter! She'll be thrilled!" she exclaimed.
Once again, Ron was stricken speechless and he stared at her in horror. "You wrote Mum about this!"
Ginny covered her mouth looking panicked. "Oops." She immediately leapt up, racing for the girls' dormitory stairs and Ron overturned his chair with a terrible racket, bolting after her.
"I'LL KILL YOU GINNY! I'LL KILL YOU!" he thundered.
"Goodnight, Harry!" Ginny yelled and disappeared up the stairs.
"Night!" Harry called after her.
Ron stood at the base of the stairs, breathing heavily and clenching and unclenching his fists angrily. The common room had fallen completely silent and all of the occupants were staring, shocked, at him. Then the portrait hole swung open and every eye swung over to it as Hermione appeared, freezing when she noticed their stares. Ron turned and the color immediately drained from his face and he sprinted up the boys' dormitory stairs. For a few tense moments the occupants of the common room stared at Hermione, before conversation and activity slowly resumed. Hermione tentatively made her way over to where Harry was still seated and said, bewildered, "What on earth was that?"
Harry simply shrugged, grinning, and replied, "Who knows?"
Upstairs Ron lay face down on his bed with his face buried in his pillow. It was extremely difficult to breathe in this position and he was sorely tempted to remain as he was until he simply faded away, only his breath was making the pillow smell funny. He rolled over, gasping, and groaned. Things were bad enough dealing with Harry's bloody ultimatum, now everyone was going to know--even his mum. He growled and turned on his side, punching his pillow and imagining it were Harry's stupid, fat head. And when Harry finally did come to bed, and said goodnight, he ignored him childishly.
He spent the rest of the night mulling over what he could possibly do when he couldn't even hardly get up the courage to speak to Hermione, let alone ask. He came up with hundreds of solutions, each stupider and more impossible than the last. He was in deep trouble.
He didn't sleep that night.
Again, I'd like to ask you to please review, even to let me know about a tiny grammar or spelling error, or to tell me that there's a gaping plot hole or something of that sort. Any input you have as a reader would benefit me SO much. If there's something you don't like the flow of, or if you want a scene better fleshed out or ANYTHING, please let me know. Again, thank you SO much.
If you have ANY brilliant ideas for something that should take place in the story, please comment and let me know! I need all the ideas I can get!
Thank you, guys, and I hope you're enjoying the story!