"'You should write a book,' Ron told Hermione as he cut up his potatoes, 'translating mad things girls do so boys can understand them.'"– Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Interlude: A Ronald Story: Part I

In which Ron is nervous and Hermione comes out of the closet.

June 12, 1997

"Everything ready?" Ron pushed on the door; but a firm hand slammed it shut again, narrowly missing his nose.

"We're not dressed!" two muffled female voices shouted.

"Well, hurry up! I want to see you before I go get her."

"What, would you have us go out in our knickers?" Ginny's voice snapped. Ron flushed. "I thought not. Just get going, we'll be set by the time you get back."

"Alright," he grumbled. "Just hurry up."

"Go!"

He rolled his eyes and bustled off. "Women…"

The entry hall was packed. Students and teachers alike ran from side to side, tossing feathers and glitter into the air or pulling on sequin-covered suits and dresses. Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were transfiguring the huge staircase on the west side so that it was covered in silver plating. Hagrid was propping up royal blue electric guitars and large black basses at its base, humming something barely recognizable as the wedding march as he did so. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown were waving their arms in practiced windmills on the top step. Ron wrung his hands as more time passed. They were already behind schedule…

"Oi!" He spotted a welcome face across the hall. "Harry!" Harry stopped practicing spells under his breath and looked up. Ron ran over to where he was standing. "Have you seen her?"

"No, mate; but I'd guess she's waiting for you."

"Right. Of course. I'm being… I'm going." Ron turned to go.

"Good luck!" Harry called after him. "You don't need it."

"Like hell I don't!" Ron called back over his shoulder.

The day could not have been going worse. He was going to ask Hermione Granger to marry him, and the fabulous presentation he'd planned was falling apart before his eyes. He was going to bring her down and be greeted by one sparkly mess.

He started towards the library. He'd told Hermione to meet him outside of a quidditch supply closet in that area. He figured that if he were late, as he was, she could run to the library and get some 'light reading' to occupy herself until he arrived. Ron congratulated himself on truly having thought of everything.

They'd only officially been dating for a month; but Ron felt like he'd been courting her for years. 'The Great Seven Year Build-Up' as Ginny called it. True, they had waited a while before finally admitting their mutual feelings. But they were young, they had time. That was also true, they were young. Some might say too young to be engaged, but there was a difference between engagement and marriage. Ron figured they'd wait a few years to tie the knot, by proposing he was simply setting up the strings. It was more a promise than a commitment.

He paused for a breath before turning onto their predetermined hallway, the hallway where destiny awaited his arrival, though she had yet to know it. "Here goes everything…" He exhaled and rounded the corner, trying to stand up straighter, prouder, more boldly. The corridor was empty. He allowed himself to slouch and walked to the closet. He paused. It was not like Hermione to be late. He looked up and down the hall. Nothing. Before he could even process the possibilities, the closet opened and a familiar weight bowled him over.

"Oh, Ron. Hello." Hermione smiled, a forced attempt to cover an emotion he couldn't quite pin. "You're late."

"What were you doing in the closet?" He stood, her sudden appearance having knocked them both to the floor.

"I wanted to surprise you." She took his offered hand and pulled herself up.

He eyed her quizically, but knew there was no time to questionher further. "Well then, I'm surprised. Shall we go?"

"Where to?"
"It's a surprise." He grinned and took her arm.

"Can it wait? I've still got to pack."

"No." He replied simply. "Trust me, you're going to love it."

A/N: This was a short chapter, even for an interlude, but it couldn't have been any longer. Trust me, you will eventually find out how the proposal went, but from another character's point of view. Next chapter is tres important, and as I'm on spring break will likely be up very soon. Love and kisses, review if you feel like it.