Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Nor do I own Movin' Out or Rent, or any music that comes from them.
First Ron and Harry set out the picnic tables. This time they did it manually, and decided to not try magic. It would not do for Mrs. Weasley to pop in on them and see the doors taken apart or worse…in a million pieces. Once they had finished with that, Harry hooked up Mr. Weasley's muggle stereo system. Harry turned out to be a whiz a wiring, and he had speakers set up outside in no time.
"Wow mate, you're brilliant at that! How'd you ever learn to do that?" asked Ron in amazement.
"I just picked it up here or there. I've always found stuff like that fascinating, and I guess it just grew on me. It's kind of like wizarding chess, you need strategy," replied Harry.
"Oh, cool, you'll have to show me. I'm no muggle fanatic like my dad, but it's so cool, and this system has great bass!"
"Hey, why don't Ginny and I run to the store? I think we need more s'mores supplies, and we could pick up some soda and such," suggested Harry.
"Sounds good, I'll get the tables set up with bowls and stuff," said Ron. Harry ran into the house to get Ginny, and Ron started to get the chips and other food that they already had from the kitchen. Ron turned the muggle stereo on, and started moving to the beat of the music. He started to hum along, and soon he was semi-dancing and singing at the top of his lungs while setting out the food.
"And eve though I know the river is wide I walk down every evening and stand on the shore, and try to cross to the opposite side so I can finally find what I've been looking for. In the middle of the night…" sang Ron as he danced around the yard. "I'm not sure about a life after this, God knows I've never been a spiritual man. Baptized by the fire, I wade into the river runs to the –" Ron felt eyes on him, and he suddenly stopped dancing and singing. He turned around slowly, his face burning. Just as he thought: Hermione was standing there, her face beet red and her hand over her mouth in attempt to not laugh out loud. When she saw Ron's face of horror at the idea of being caught, she couldn't hold it any longer; she doubled over and started to laugh.
"I'm….sorry….Ron, but you….were….just…so…cute!" Hermione said between laughs. Ron put a hurt look on her face, and Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Are you done yet?" asked Ron impatiently.
"Yes, yes, I'm done. I'm sorry Ron, but you have to admit, you would have done the same thing if you saw me, or even better, Harry, doing the same thing."
Ron thought for a moment about Harry dancing and singing in the yard, then he laughed out loud. "Yeah, you're right!" As Ron said this, the song changed to another Billy Joel song.
"Don't go changing, to try and please me, you never let me down before…" crooned the voice coming out of the speakers. Ron took Hermione's hands in his own. He took one of her hands and placed it on his waist, and then placed his now-empty hand on her waist. He raised her other hand in the air, and they started to dance.
"Don't imagine you're too familiar, and I don't see you anymore, I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble we never could have come this far…" Ron sang with the music, looking into Hermione's eyes. He could see her tear up. Oh no, please don't cry, please don't cry.
Ron looked closer, and saw that Hermione was also smiling. She laid her head on Ron's chest, and his heart skipped a beat. He could feel vibrations as he sang and Hermione's head laid on him.
He took Hermione's hands in his own again, and moved them so they were around his neck, then he put his own arms around her waist as they continued to sway back and forth slowly. Hermione looked up at him and smiled sweetly. He took her chin in one hand and brought her face up so he could kiss her gently.
When the song was over they stood there for a minute, embracing each other. Hermione sighed happily, and Ron could feel her breath as her head was against his chest again.
"What is it?" Ron asked quietly.
"I didn't know you could sing so well," said Hermione into his chest. Ron didn't know what to say. She thinks that I sing well? I guess I'll be singing more often!
"I also didn't know you could be so romantic," she continued. Ron grinned to himself. Ha! Ron Weasley is romantic! No one at school would ever have believed it! Ron couldn't help but hold his head just a tad bit higher.
Ron got a mischievous glint in his eye. "You wanna hear another one?" Hermione nodded, so Ron started singing again. "Live in my house, I'll be your shelter, just pay me back with 1,000 kisses, be my lover, and I'll cover you…" Ron started to sing. He started to dance with Hermione again, except this time more upbeat and more fun. Hermione laughed as they "danced" seeing as they really didn't know what they were doing. It's more fun that way, mused Ron. To Ron's astonishment, Hermione chimed in with him after the first line.
"Open your door, I'll be your tenant, don't got much baggage to lay at your feet, but sweet kisses I've got to spare, I'll be there and I'll cover you…" Ron spun Hermione around and her skirt twirled as she did.
"Ahem." Ron spun Hermione around so he could see who was watching them. It was Neville.
"Oh, hey Neville," said Ron.
Hermione turned so she could also see Neville. "Hi, Neville! How're you?"
"I'm fine, thanks. Umm…did I interrupt something here?" Ron's ears began to turn pink.
"No, nothing, we were just a….getting set up," said Hermione, her cheeks beginning to flush.
"Oh good. Can I help with anything? I'm so glad you invited me. I've been so bored!" said Neville.
"Oh, it's no problem! Seamus and Dean are coming, too," said Hermione.
"Hey Neville, could you help me move these chairs here over by the fire pit?" asked Ron, picking up a chair.
"Oh, sure! Anything I can do to help," said Neville as he picked up another chair.
As Ron sat down the last chair, Harry and Ginny returned with the rest of the snacks and soda. Hermione hurried to get the s'mores ingredients set out, while Ron got the tri-pod out so they could cook burgers over the fire that was now burning steadily.
"I wonder when Seamus and Dean are going to get here," said Neville. He seemed nervous to be around the two couples. I wonder if he feels like the 5th wheel, thought Ron.
As Ron poked the fire a bit more, he heard two pops coming from near the house. He looked up, and was relieved to see Dean and Seamus.
"Hey guys!" said Harry, setting down the plate of buns that he had been carrying.
"When's dinner gonna be ready? I'm famished!" said Dean, rubbing his stomach.
The others laughed at Dean's perfect imitation of Ron. Ron just shook his head and put some burgers onto the tripod. The others sat down as he did so, and they started talking about their summers. Dean talked about seeing the West Ham United football team play. He tried once again to explain the game to those who had grown up in the wizarding world, and once again had no success. Seamus brought the conversation back to Quidditch and told about the Chudley Cannons games he'd been to that summer. Ron and Harry were leaning so far forward listening that Hermione had to grab the back of Ron's shirt to keep him from falling into the fire. He was startled back to reality when he felt a tug on his shirt, and looked at Hermione sheepishly as she pulled him back to his chair.
"Maybe you should check on the burgers. We don't want a burnt dinner," Hermione whispered into his ear. Shivers went down his spine.
"Hey you two, if you're going to do that, get a room!" exclaimed Seamus, a huge grin on his face. Ron was about to retort, then saw that Seamus's eyes weren't on him and Hermione. They were on Harry and Ginny, who were snogging away in Harry's chair.
"Harry!" yelled Ron. Harry looked up slowly, fear in his eyes. "What do you think you're doing to my little sister!"
"Relax Ron, it's not as if we haven't done this before," said Ginny. Harry looked at her with a horrified expression on his face.
"Ginny, I don't think you should say anything to make the situation worse…"
"Oh, shut it Harry. I'm growing up. I'm only a year younger than the rest of you here, and Ron needs to realize that." As if to prove her point, she planted her lips onto Harry's again. When they broke away, she glared at Ron and sat down in her own chair once again.
"Hey Ron, why don't we help you with these burgers," said Dean as he, Seamus, and Neville started putting the finished burgers on to a plate. They carried the burgers to the picnic table and started getting their plates together.
Ron sat still, staring daggers at Harry. Hermione put her hand on Ron's shoulder. "Ron, c'mon. Ginny's right, she's growing up. Besides, it's not as if we don't do that ourselves," Hermione whispered. Ron blushed a bit when she said that. It was almost more how she said it rather than what she said. He could feel her breath in his ear, and heat started to pump through his veins. He took his glare away from Harry, gave Ginny a quick glare, not wanting to seem like he was backing down, then went to get his own food.
Hermione's right, of course, but Ginny's my littlesister. She shouldn't be going around snogging guys, especially her brother's best friend! Oh, well. I'll eat something. That always makes me feel better…
Ron filled his plate to the brim and sat down next to Hermione. She smiled at him. Why should I be worrying about Ginny? Harry's my best mate. He'll take care of her. I'll just concern myself with Hermione for now. Ron bit into his burger and tried to smile, but his mouth was too full. She laughed a little, then concentrated on her own dinner.
A/N: Keep the reviews coming! I just need one more to break 100! Thanks for your continued support!