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Chapter 25
Hermione awoke the next morning with a rather excruciating headache. It was one of those headaches brought on from crying and stress. However, as she rolled out of bed, she did feel much better than she had yesterday before she spoke with Harry and Ron. Their group-hug and chat was very effective in cheeringher up a bit. However, when she left their room the night before, she had wanted so badly to kiss Ron goodnight, but she had to settle with a smile. It might have been possible for Ron to follow her out into the hallway for a brief tryst, but Harry had unfortunately followed her out the door in need of a trip to the loo.
So, Hermione's lips had been deprived of Ron's since that night at her grandmother's home. She wondered if Ron felt the same as she. Was he in a constant state of longing for physical contact with her? Or…was she just a randy teenager…despite her denial?
Hermione really wouldn't call herself randy because she simply wanted a kiss, a hug, a hand-hold…she would even settle for a pat on the back. It seemed, however, that since she and Ron had begun consciously trying to keep a friendly distance, she had forgotten what a friendly distance with Ron was. How often did she used to hug him? Did she usually sit beside him…or across from him?
Last night as Harry had shown them the rest of Sirius' belongings, she had sat on the bed with Harry, but Ron had sat on his bed. He had looked a bit uncomfortable too. Twisting his hands and rubbing the back of his neck… She remembered what Tonks had said about Ron being antsy during her absence. It was regrettable that he had to continue being antsy in her presence. She was fairly sure that his whole body had been itching to sit down beside her, but he hadn't.
As for looking through the box of Sirius' belongings, it wasn't much of an uplifting experience. However, she was pleased that Harry was beginning to talk about his godfather. Since Sirius' death, Hermione had not even heard Harry say his name until last night.
The most shocking of Harry's inheritance was Buckbeak the Hippogriff. Harry had asked Charlie if he would look after him in Romania until Harry graduated. Charlie had apparently been only too pleased to do so. The box also contained a few picture albums. Harry had opened one to a picture of Sirius, Lupin, and James. The resemblances between Harry and his father truly were uncanny. They were all smiling and waving. The right side of the picture appeared to have been cut or torn. As Harry flipped through the album, Hermione had noticed many pictures with pieces torn or cut from them. She knew why. Peter Pettigrew used to be in those pictures, smiling and waving beside his friends in the days before he decided to sell Harry's parents out to Voldemort. Sirius had surely cut him out of all the pictures, never wanting to see the coward again.
Also, there was a picture album from James and Lily's wedding. Wormtail had been cut from these pictures as well. Ron had been right in saying that Lily's engagement ring would go well with someone with long, red hair. It was terribly sad, however, seeing Harry's mother smiling and wearing the ring that Harry now kept hidden in his trunk. And even sadder that the redhead that Harry loved was lying in the bed across from Hermione still dressed in her clothes from yesterday…a deep frown lining her sleeping face.
Sirius' box had also contained a few books. Hermione had become keyed up until she read the titles. Among them was a small paperback book entitled, 'So You Think Your Mother's a Vampire?' Not quite Hermione's cup of tea.
There was a small cigar box with pictures of Wizards playing chess and smoking cigars covering the lid. Inside the box, tied together with a piece of string, was every letter Harry had ever written to Sirius. They appeared to have been read, over and over. Hermione had wanted to cry so badly, but Harry had been smiling as he looked through the letters. So…she had bitten back her tears.
However, the tears she had shed earlier that day when she witnessed Harry having a vision must have been enough to cause this horrid headache. So, as Hermione made her way down to the basement she removed her wand from her back pocket and uttered a pain relief spell upon her forehead. Ah…slight relief. She had thought about offering Ginny a pain relief charm, but Hermione thought it best to let her sleep. Sleep would be the only truly peaceful time for Ginny…at least for a while.
The entrance hall smelled faintly of sausage, eggs, and toast. Once the aroma hit her, however, Hermione realized that food did not sound appealing. Nonetheless, she descended the stairs to the basement.
Mr. Weasley, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Harry, and Ron were all seated at the table already bent over steaming plates of food. Mrs. Weasley was still pattering about the kitchen, but when she spotted Hermione she immediately fixed another plate and ushered Hermione into an empty seat beside Harry and across the table from Ron, who had his head bent low over his plate. He hadn't even acknowledged her presence. Harry had given her a weak smile. Tonks had given her a nod. Mr. Weasley had given her a small wave. Even Mad-Eye had grunted… Did Ron really think a small smile would give anything away? Hermione thought with a frown.
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said politely although the food in front of her made her stomach churn. Ron's mother was a fabulous cook, but for some reason Hermione had no appetite.
"No problem, dear." Mrs. Weasley said as she sat herself down beside Mr. Weasley. "Arthur says your visit went well at your grandmother's. That's nice. And, oh! A letter came for you from the A.T.C., the Apparition Testing Center. I believe your test is scheduled one week from today."
Hermione's throat seemed to close off. Her Apparition test! She had completely forgotten about it! She hadn't practiced at all! She had read most of the book that Ron had given her for Christmas. A Simple Guide to Apparition: Don't Splinch, It's a Cinch! But…that wasn't enough! Hermione took a deep breath and a swig of pumpkin juice.
"I can help you prepare if you want, Hermione." Said Tonks brightly. "You won't have any problem with it." Hermione nodded with a small smile.
She won't have any problem? Yes she would! How could anyone prepare for an Apparition test in one week? This was horrible. She was going to fail. She was going to splinch herself right in front of the testers and they were going to send her home with disapproving stares on their faces.
"Went to St. Mungo's early this morning." Mr. Weasley said suddenly. "Paid a visit to Mundungus Fletcher."
"Hmph." Mrs. Weasley wrinkled her nose a bit at the mention of Mundungus. Hermione guessed she still hadn't truly forgiven the old crook for abandoning his post at Privet Drive two summers back when he was to be watching over Harry.
"What's Fletcher in the hospital for?" Harry asked curiously.
"Small battle broke out over in Wolverhampton." Moody growled with a mouthful of sausage. "Old Dung narrowly missed a nasty blast from Rodolphus Lestrange."
"I don't know that I'd call it a small battle, there, Mad-Eye." Tonks replied, "When you consider that two trams derailed on the Midland Metro."
Mrs. Weasley was looking increasingly uncomfortable as she said with a forced smile, "Did I mention that we're having company today?"
"So what were the Death Eaters targeting? Muggles?" Harry asked, disregarding Mrs. Weasley's feeble attempt to change the course of the conversation.
"Of course." Moody snarled. "And lucky for Dung, Elphias Doge saw Lestrange on the verge of casting the Killing Curse. Old Doge blasted the bastard to bits!"
"What?" Harry asked, almost excitedly.
"He's dead...deceased...gone...no more." Tonks replied bluntly. Hermione's eyes went wide at this news. Rodolphus Lestrange was Bellatrix's husband…Malfoy's uncle.
"And Harry," Mr. Weasley began sounding a bit nervous, "Dung happened to pilfer a few things from Lestrange before the body was confiscated by Ministry officials."
Mrs. Weasley gasped. "Disgraceful!" Mr. Weasley placed a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Molly, dear, now I'm not condoning pilfering off the dead, but it was Lestrange. And…Dung did happen to find something on him that should now belong to you, Harry." Mr. Weasley said quietly.
"Me?" Harry asked incredulously. Mr. Weasley reached into his pocket and pulled out a large-banded silver ring. There was a large stone on top that appeared to be an onyx, as it was a deep, shiny black. A crest of some sort was carved into the band on one side.
"It was Sirius' great-grandfather's ring." Arthur began, handing the ring to Harry, who had a blank expression on his face. "That's the Black family crest, there. I assume it was handed down to Bellatrix, who then gave it to her husband. Dung thought you should have it."
"Thanks, Mr. Weasley." Harry said with what Hermione knew to be a forced smile. She highly doubted Harry would ever want to wear a piece of jewelry that had touched the hand of a Death Eater. Nonetheless, Harry placed the ring in his pocket.
"Where's Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley asked suddenly, causing the small cramp in Hermione's stomach to deepen. "She doesn't usually sleep in this late."
Ron coughed loudly and looked up from his plate for the first time since Hermione had entered the kitchen, before saying, "These eggs are delicious, Mum." Hermione took note of the fact that Ron had long since finished his eggs. She thought she saw Harry heave a rather large sigh before looking back down at his own plate. Hermione also thought she saw Ron cut his eyes in her direction and turn a bit pink around his cheeks and across his nose. He was too adorable. She bit the insides of her cheeks to keep from smiling.
"Oh look!" Mrs. Weasley said suddenly. "Fred and George must be on their way!"
Hermione had just been about to take a bite of her toast so that she at least appeared to be enjoying Mrs. Weasley's breakfast, but her hand froze halfway to her mouth. Hermione instantly ceased the biting of her cheeks. There was no need now. She suddenly didn't feel like smiling. Ron's fork had clattered to the floor and he was bent under the table retrieving it. Hermione glanced up at the Weasley's clock that was now hung on the kitchen wall, and yes…Fred and George's clock hands were moving to 'traveling.'
Hermione then chanced a glance at Ron, but he still wasn't looking at her. Although…his ears had gone incredibly scarlet. Two metal springs had suddenly become implanted in Hermione's feet. Her legs were now bobbing up and down uncontrollably. She and Ron hadn't seen the twins since New Year's Eve…and they hadn't heard from them since the embarrassing letter that they so graciously left behind after finding her abandoned wand.
Suddenly, Hermione felt two rather long feet clamp firmly on either side of her bouncing feet. The springs left immediately as she looked across the table at Ron, who was still not looking at her…although she could've sworn she saw him smiling at his sausage for a brief moment. Hermione then had to resume the biting of her cheeks.
Ron began counting down from ten, silently. He'd often heard people say that this practice could calm one's nerves. However, it wasn't really working for him. It was actually making him feel worse, but that was probably because he wasn't doing it right. For in his mind, Ron was counting, ten embarrassing jokes, nine embarrassing jokes, eight embarrassing jokes…and so on.
Glancing up at the clock Ron saw that his brothers were still traveling. What was taking them so long? They should've already apparated outside of Grimmauld Place by now…It would be nice if they would just hurry up; the more Ron counted the more nervous he became. At least he wasn't in this alone. Hermione was possibly more nervous than he was; at least that's what her bobbing feet had implied. Ron was used to embarrassing jokes from the twins. But Hermione hadn't been forced to endure a lifetime of their comical persecution.
Cr-Crack! Crack!
Ron took a deep breath of clean, non-awkward air. It would be the last relaxed breath he would take for the next hour or so. Usually the twins stopped by on Sundays when their shop was closed, but they never stayed an awfully long time. Ron hoped this Sunday would be no different.
"Ho! Ho!"
Ron looked up to see his two brothers walking down the stairs with one other person. Was that Lee? Ron hadn't seen Lee Jordan since he had left Hogwarts, although he knew that Fred and George were still friends with him. He looked the same as ever, with his dark skin and dreadlocks.
Glancing at Hermione, Ron noticed that she had barely touched her food although she was seemingly entranced with her plate at the moment. He squeezed her small feet a couple of times; she peeked up at him with the smallest of smiles. Small, yet powerful.
"What took you two so long?" Mrs. Weasley asked in a scolding sort of voice, before turning a sweet smile to Lee, "Hello dear. I've been wondering how you've been." Lee gave her a winning smile.
"Oh, Mother," George began, "Fred here has to stop by Angelina's at least once a week, you know?"
"Is that so?" Mr. Weasley said cheerily, a suspicious grin curving upon his face. "You two just friends, are you, Fred?
Fred shrugged and to Ron's dismay looked straight at him as he said casually, "Well, Dad…you know how that old story plays out."
"How's that?" Tonks asked with a knowing smile at Fred, who turned his gaze upon her.
"You stay friends with a charming little lady long enough and SNAP!" Fred snapped his fingers in the air and turned his gaze upon Hermione, who was now entranced with her fork. "Bye-bye friendship, hello courtship!"
"Oh dear, that's wonderful." Mrs. Weasley said sweetly. "Angelina was always such a sweet girl."
"Yes, and very smart." George added, with an innocent wide-eyed sincerity, "I mean, come on…only the smartest of the smart fall for us Weasleys."
"Not true, I say, not true!" Fred said shaking his finger in the air. "All girls fall for us Weasleys, but we only fall for the smartest of the smart!" Everyone chuckled at this comment, except for Ron. Even Hermione had giggled a little, but Ron thought it sounded a bit forced. He still had a firm hold on Hermione's feet.
"I stand corrected." George said bowing his head slightly to his brother before taking an empty seat at the table, "However, I sit…famished…"
"As do I." Fred agreed, also taking a seat. Ron realized that he had been holding his breath during his brothers' grand entrance, so he slowly let it out. Please let that be the end of the torture, Ron thought desperately.
Mrs. Weasley stood from her chair and made her way over to the remaining breakfast food. "Lee, dear, would you like a plate?" She asked as she fixed the twins their own plates.
"No, thank you, Mrs. Weasley, I'm just HOLY HORKLUMPS!"
Everyone looked up at this unexpected outburst, and Ron immediately became aware of the object of Lee's surprise…Ginny had appeared on the stairs.
Hermione was glad that she did not have much of an appetite because if she had been eating at that moment, she would have surely choked. She had turned around in her seat to see Ginny descending the stairs. At least, Hermione thought it was Ginny… For a second, Hermione wondered if Fred and George had arrived with another guest. A flaming-haired Veela. But this was no Veela.
Ginny had entered the kitchen looking most unlike what Hermione had expected her friend to look like this morning. The morning after Harry had rejected her. The morning after she had endured the breaking of her heart.
Ginny's sleek, ginger hair seemed even shinier and more crimson. Maybe she had used some sort of charm on it. It was lying perfectly straight down her back with some strands cascading over her shoulders. She was wearing a long, jade-green, cotton skirt that fell down to her ankles. It reminded Hermione of something a Greek goddess would wear, the way it was wrapped about her waist. It didn't appear formal, however…even with the flat, gold sandals she wore and the long gold earrings.
Ginny had managed to make the skirt appear casual by wearing a, rather form-fitting, sleeveless, brown cotton shirt. No…not just sleeveless, there were merely thin straps over her shapely, freckled shoulders. And…the shirt even revealed a modest amount of cleavage.
The most shocking aspect of Ginny's appearance, however, was her face. She looked absolutely beautiful with an ample amount of clear gloss on her lips and some sort of gold, shimmery powder around her eyes. Hermione was completely stunned. She had never seen Ginny dress like this, and apparently, neither had anyone else in the room.
Her father and brothers were looking at her with wide-eyed, open-mouthed, slightly angry stares. And her mother…oddly enough, was smiling broadly. Lee Jordan was smiling broadly too, but with a much different look in his eyes than Mrs. Weasley. Tonks and Mad-Eye didn't seem too surprised and simply turned around to finish off their meals. But…then there was Harry…
He was staring at her. He didn't look angry, like the Weasley men. He didn't look proud, like Ginny's mum. And he didn't look lustful, like Lee. Harry was absolutely expressionless. The only part of his face that revealed any of his feelings…was his jaw. Hermione saw that muscle moving…it was just like the one she sometimes saw in Ron. She was quickly coming to understand that that muscle moved when a man became frustrated.
Slap!
"Hey!"
Hermione was inadvertently 'slapped' out of her reverie as Lee Jordan was physically slapped on the back of his head by Fred, who had stood up from his seat just for this reason. Lee was now rubbing the back of his head and looking a bit guilty. Fred scowled and sat back down hard on his wooden chair.
"Uh…um…M-Molly…um…" Mr. Weasley was stammering, his brow furrowed, and his eyes blinking profusely, "I think you should…well…uh…I don't think that…"
"Oh, Arthur hush!" Mrs. Weasley snapped, although she was still smiling at her daughter. "Ginny you look lovely. What's the occasion?" Mr. Weasley did hush, but he continued to stare worriedly at his daughter.
Ginny took her time flipping her long hair off of her shoulder before responding, "Oh, there's no occasion, Mum." And then looking directly at Harry, with heavy-lidded eyes, she said, "No occasion at all." Harry quickly looked away from her, and Hermione saw his Adam's apple bob up and down.
"But, then again…I didn't know Lee was coming!" Ginny exclaimed in what Hermione knew to be an overly enthused voice; "I haven't seen you for ages. How are you?"
"Great." Lee stated somewhat dreamily. Veela or not, Ginny didn't need magic to captivate the men in this room…whether it was frustrated, angry, or licentious…she had their attention.
"Well?" Ginny said approaching Lee slowly, "Aren't you going to greet me properly?" Hermione saw Harry glance up to glare at them over the tops of his glasses at these words.
Lee smiled broadly before grabbing Ginny around the waist, lifting her off of the ground, and spinning her in one complete circle. He then sat her back down slowly. Ginny giggled gaily. Tonks and Mrs. Weasley seemed to be the only other people that found this situation laughable...although, they didn't truly understand the situation.
After Ginny pulled away from Lee she sat down beside Ron and directly across from Harry, who's jaw muscle was now working fiercely. Hermione could see his tightly clasped hands under the table, and saw him place one fist in the other and crack his knuckles.
Hermione knew exactly what Ginny was doing, and she didn't like it one bit. The rest of breakfast involved the gradual recovery of the Weasley men. Fred and George helped with this task. After a few minutes of moping over Ginny's appearance, it seemed as though they couldn't contain themselves any longer. They soon burst forth with exciting tales of their business on Diagon Alley.
Ron continued to squeeze her feet every few minutes, reminding her that he was ever aware of her presence. Maybe she was silly, but it made her stomach flutter a bit when he did it. Lee kept stealing glances at Ginny, who kept stealing glances at Harry, who kept stealing glares at Lee. It was almost sickening for Hermione. So, when Fred, George, and Lee decided to go upstairs and 'nose around a bit.' Hermione was only too glad.
She quickly stood from her chair and with a fleeting glance at Ron, marched straight to his sister. "Ginny," Hermione said casually, "Can I talk to you for a minute upstairs?" Ginny nodded, with a somewhat uneasy frown before following Hermione up to their room.
On the way, they passed Fred and George pestering Mrs. Black. Someone had apparently informed them of Hermione's attack on the portrait. They kept walking away from the painting briefly, but then running back up to it and screaming, 'FIRE,' which caused Mrs. Black to yelp in fright and duck her head.It might have made Hermione laugh, but she was on a mission.
Once she and Ginny had reached their bedroom, Hermione quickly closed the door and locked it. "Ginny," Hermione began calmly, "Why are you doing this?"
Ginny rolled her eyes in a way that unpleasantly reminded Hermione of her brother. "I knew this is what you wanted to talk to me about, and Hermione, I really don't want to talk about it with you."
"Why not?"
"Because you won't understand."
"Try me."
Ginny sighed heavily and crossed her arms. "Hermione, last night was the worst I've ever felt in my life. I think I probably cried more tears than ever before. But you know what?"
"What?" Hermione asked wearily.
"I've decided that moping around and crying isn't quite my style." She said with her chin held out proudly, "So…I'm taking a new approach to the issue."
"By flaunting yourself in front of Harry. I don't like it, Ginny."
Ginny sighed, "Listen, Hermione…If Harry plans to just shut me out because of some stupid war with Voldemort, then he's going to have to fight another war…with me. And you know what, Hermione?" Ginny asked with a somewhat cruel smile, "After he's seen the types of weapons I possess, he's going to be begging to see Mr. Riddle." She spat before turning sharply toward the door.
Hermione grabbed her by the elbow. "Ginny, please don't do this."
"Why aren't you and Ron even looking at one another? Has it to do with last night?" Ginny had changed topics so quickly that Hermione was taken off guard.
"No…I…" Hermione began softly, "I've forgiven him for that. I know he was only trying to protect me, although I guess I am still a bit annoyed with him."
"So why are you two still hiding your feelings?"
Hermione took a deep breath, before saying matter-of-factly, "We don't think the time is right to tell Harry that his two best friends are forming a bond that he's not a part of."
Ginny scoffed and rolled her eyes; it sent angry shivers down Hermione's spine, "Well, I thought as much. Harry's just shitting with everyone's relationships, isn't he?"
"Ginny, please don't say things like that." Hermione said softly.
"This conversation is over, Hermione." Ginny said sternly. Hermione reluctantly let go of her friend's elbow and watched her wrench the door open and storm out of the room, one delicate hand wiping at her eyes as she disappeared around the doorframe.
Ron and Harry were seated on the small, green sofa in the entrance hall watching Fred and George badger Mrs. Black's portrait. Well, that's what Ron was doing, anyway. However, he had the distinct impression that Harry was actually staring daggers into the back of Lee Jordan's skull, who was playing bystander to the twins' antics.
Hermione and Ginny had rushed off to their bedroom, and Ron thought he knew why. His little sister had descended the stairs to the kitchen wearing something that, were Hermione wearing it, he would've been too pleased. However, on Ginny, it had made Ron feel sick to his stomach. He knew what Ginny was up to, and knowing Hermione, she was reprimanding his sister for her cruel actions. Glancing at Harry, Ron knew that Ginny was having her desired effect on him. Harry looked quite frightening actually…and…wait…
"Harry?" Ron asked tentatively. Harry turned to look at him, and Ron realized that he must've been mistaken. "Oh…nevermind."
Harry looked confused for a moment before returning his stern glare on Lee. Ron had thought for sure he had seen that strange glow in his eyes, but as soon as he saw it, it was gone. Just like all the other times. Maybe I'm going mad, Ron thought. Maybe all this distance from Hermione was starting to take its toll. He had wanted so badly to run up to her when she had descended the basement stairs. But, as Ron stole another glance at Harry, he was even more certain that he and Hermione were doing the right thing by keeping their love hidden.
Ron could see the horrible ordeal unfold in his mind's eye if he were to reveal the truth to his best mate. 'Oh, Harry. I'm sorry that my sister has decided to adopt the sensual habits of a Nymph, but while you're dwelling on that … would you mind if Hermione and I left for a quick snog?' It made Ron's stomach churn, especially after seeing that glow in Harry's eyes…if he even saw it at all.
Suddenly, Ron felt Harry jerk slightly and sit up a bit straighter. Ginny was descending the stairs now. Meanwhile, the twins and Lee seemed to have grown tired of harassing Mrs. Black and were walking over to Ron and Harry. Ginny was close behind, still dressed in her vengeful outfit. Ron took a deep breath and prayed to the stars that she wouldn't do anything drastic.
"Harry, we really like what you've done with the place." Fred said with exaggerated gusto.
"Yes, top notch!" George agreed.
"Thanks." Harry muttered, and then with a brief glance in Lee's direction, "I'm not sure I quite like the idea of just anyone dropping by, though."
Fred and George exchanged a quick glance, and Lee's pleasant expression seemed to fade to a slight frown. But Fred then smiled broadly, "Oh, Harry. Not to worry! Lee's joined the Order now, did you know?"
Ron knew that the quick look that had passed between his two brothers was a look of understanding. They knew how Harry felt about Ginny, and they obviously knew Ginny was acting strangely. Ron also knew that informing Harry that Lee was now in the Order was an attempt at cheering him up. However, it would most likely have the opposite effect. Harry wished to be in the Order, and the fact that Lee Jordan was now a member and 'The Boy Who Lived' was not couldn't bode well with Harry. Although Harry's expression at the moment was unreadable, Ron was sure his friend's insides were on fire.
"Yes," Lee chimed in with a weak smile at Harry, "Just joined a couple of months ago, actually. It's fine of you to allow the Order to continue using this house. Fred and George have told me about…well about…you inheriting this place." Lee cleared his throat and looked down awkwardly. Harry simply nodded. Ginny was looking sadly at Harry for a moment before she forced a smile.
"Oh! Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed.
Ron looked up to see Hermione making her way toward them from the base of the stairs. She wore a displeased expression as she looked at Ginny.
"Hey, Hermione! We hear you've got an important test coming up." Fred said brightly, immediately taking the opportunity to change the tension among them into humor. Hermione smiled weakly. Ron knew she was beside herself with worry over, yet another test that she would pass with flying colors. He had seen the look of terror overtake her at the breakfast table when his mum had announced the arrival of her letter.
"I hope you've been studying your arse off, Hermione." George said in a very convincing serious tone. "That's one bugger of a test, that is."
Hermione squinted her eyes at them as if trying to decide whether or not to believe them. "Hermione," Ron began, "They're just being daft. It's not all that hard." She bit her lower lip and nodded slightly; Ron felt a wave of chills move over him.
"Oh? Apparating already, Ronnie?" Fred said. Ron rolled his eyes at his brother.
"Can you apparate, Lee?" Ginny asked innocently.
"Sure. It's a simple task, really." He responded cheerily, "Of course, I have splinched myself once before. Left behind my right arm when traveling from my house to Fred and George's shop. Gave them a nasty surprise."
Ginny giggled quite a lot at this story, that didn't seem all that funny to Ron. She then approached Lee, who was unfortunately standing directly in front of Harry's slouched form on the couch.
"So," Ginny began with a demure smile, "How much of your arm?" She placed one hand on Lee's shoulder, who smiled weakly, but looked to Harry apprehensively. Harry seemed to have a death grip on the arm of the couch.
"Well…uh…a-all of it, I guess." Lee stammered, still looking from Harry to Ginny. The twins were looking at Ginny with furrowed brows; they didn't seem to be appreciating the fact that she was returning the tension among the group. Hermione was standing to the side, looking sadly at Harry.
"How awful." Ginny said in a near whisper. She then glided her hand smoothly down the length of Lee's arm, hand, and finally fingers.
Harry suddenly shot up from the couch. Everyone was silent as he and Ginny had a stare-off. They both looked positively livid. Ginny won, however, as Harry jerked his head down, his hands in fists at his sides, before he quickly left to ascend the stairs. As he left, Ginny took on a rather self-satisfied sneer.
"Um, I really ought to be leaving. Hate to run…but, um…prior engagement, you know?" Lee said quietly. "Good seeing everyone again. And, I'll stop by the shop tomorrow." He added with a nod to the twins.
Crack!
"What in bloody hell is your problem?" Ron exclaimed angrily. She was being ridiculous.
"I haven't done a thing." Ginny spat back. Ron threw Hermione an incredulous look, and she shook her head at him, with a look that plainly said, 'it's no use.'
"You have too." Fred began.
"You ran off Harry and Jordan in less time than it takes to milk a Glumbumble!" George finished.
Ginny glared at them both before stalking toward the stairs to the basement. Fred shook his head sadly, "Geez…what did Harry do to her?"
"Must've been bad." George stated with raised eyebrows.
"Ron, I need to talk to you." Hermione said urgently. Ron felt a rush of fear as he stood up slowly from the couch. He suddenly had an image of Hermione standing in front of him with her hands on her hips and saying, 'it's just not going to work, Ron…I've thought about what you did to Harry, and I now know what a great git you are.'
"Uh oh." Fred whispered in mock-horror, "You mean to tell me that there are two women scorned in this house. George…"
"Fred…"
"I think it might be…"
"Time to go?"
The twins looked at one another and gave one sharp nod. "Well, we're going to pop on down to the kitchen and bid farewell to Mum and Dad. See you two later." Fred said, giving Ron a pat on the back and Hermione a small squeeze on her arm.
"Good luck, Ron." George said quietly, before turning to Hermione, "Go easy on him…he's a bit green at this sort of thing, you know?" Hermione blushed a beautiful shade of pink.
Cr-Crack!
"Where are Tonks and Mad-Eye?" Hermione asked quickly, as they were now alone in the entrance hall. Alone… Ron felt a rush of excitement mix with his trepidation of what Hermione needed to talk to him about.
"Dunno…still in the kitchen, I think…" Ron replied shrugging. Hermione gasped and one hand flew to her mouth, as her eyes got wide.
"What?" Ron asked hurriedly. Suddenly Hermione grabbed a hold of Ron's hand and led him at a near run to the staircase leading to the first floor. They by-passed the first floor, and the second, but then they came to the third floor. This was where Fred and George's bedroom from two summers ago had been. However, they by-passed this room too, and Hermione led Ron into a room at the end of the hall that he knew to be Mrs. Black's old bedroom. It was where Buckbeak had stayed. Of course! He had forgotten all about this room!
Hermione pulled him inside the dark, musty room and quickly shut the door. There were a few long stemmed candles burning on a wall candelabrum beside the door, but this was the only source of light in the room. It cast a lovely golden glow on Hermione's face, and before Ron really thought about what he was doing he had wrapped his arms around Hermione and crushed her to him in a fierce hug. She laid her head on his chest, and he felt her small arms wrap around his waist.
"Hermione…" Ron breathed in deeply, taking in her sweet scent. "I know you have something you want to talk to me about, but blimey, I had to do this first." To his delight, Hermione actually giggled. Maybe she wasn't a woman scorned as Fred had said.
"Ron?" Hermione said against his chest.
"Hmm?"
"I still don't think Harry should have dropped his defenses…but I'm not angry with you. I know you were just thinking of me."
Ron felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He hadn't realized how much he'd needed to hear that. "Thank you, Hermione." He said softly before kissing the top of her head.
"Um…Hermione?"
"Hmm?"
"The way Ginny's been acting this morning…" Ron sighed heavily, "Please don't ever use that as a way to get revenge on me. I'd rather you spit on me, slap me, curse me, hex me…anything but that."
Hermione pulled away from him slightly and peered up at him with an adorable wide-eyed expression, "Ron, I don't agree with what Ginny is doing to Harry at all. It's awful."
"I'm glad we agree." Ron said with a small smile.
"Of course…I don't agree with Harry shutting Ginny out either." She said matter-of-factly.
"Me neither."
"Ron?"
"Hmm?"
"Could you please hurry up and kiss me?" Hermione whispered.
Hermione could tell that her request had had a positive effect on Ron. A sultry smile spread across his lips, which seemed to stimulate every nerve in Hermione's body. Ron leaned down slowly and briefly nuzzled her nose with his before his mouth found hers in a titillating, lingering lip lock.
Maybe it was the candles, or the clean, earthy smell radiating from Ron's body, or the amount of time Hermione had been waiting for this contact…but something about this kiss fueled Hermione's desires to a height that actually frightened her a bit. Not enough to pull away from the kiss…or to stop herself from raking her fingers down Ron's chest and back up again…
There was one urge, however, that she was denying herself. It was such a strange thing to want to do. . .But when Ron deepened their kiss, she seemed to forget how to practice self-restraint. Parting her lips a bit more, Hermione bit Ron's bottom lip ever so softly and then slowly moved her tongue over it. He breathed heavily on her lips after this and squeezed her tighter; Hermione heard a soft moan fill the air between them…she then realized that it had been her own.
Ron pulled his mouth away suddenly and rested his forehead on hers. "Bloody hell, Hermione…" He whispered between pants, running his hands up and down her arms, his eyes shut tightly.
Hermione's eyes weren't shut, however, and she saw that jaw muscle working. "Are you frustrated with me?" She asked quietly. That is what that muscle meant wasn't it? Frustration?
"What?" Ron asked, sounding perplexed as he leaned back to look at her.
"Are you frustrated?" Hermione asked again.
"No. Yes. Well, I…" Ron began blushing profusely, but he held her gaze.
"You're a bit scarlet." Hermione stated plainly.
"I know." He said looking down.
Hermione took a deep breath, as she decided to be a bit bolder, "Are you frustrated because you find me…desirable?" She asked, remembering what Ron had told her that night at her grandmother's home.
He looked back into her eyes and smiled softly, "Yeah…something like that."
"What do you want?"
"What do you mean?"
"At my grandmother's home, you became frustrated because you wanted to…well…touch me. And now, you're frustrated again…so what is it that you want this time?" Hermione asked quietly. She wasn't annoyed; just curious and a tad worried. She didn't want Ron to become frustrated every time they had one of these intimate sessions.
"The same." He replied quietly; his gaze was positively piercing.
"Where?"
He sighed and rolled his eyes slightly. But it wasn't the eye-roll that sent angry shivers down her spine…this eye-roll was sort of attractive. "Ah hell, Hermione…."
"Don't swear, Ron."
"Sorry…okay, where do I want to touch you? Honestly?" He asked somewhat nervously. Hermione simply nodded, fully aware that she was now deeply red upon her cheeks.
Ron took a short breath before he replied. "Everywhere."
Hermione felt a warm wave wash through her as she felt flattered, excited, and troubled all at one time. "Oh…so…um…what if I don't…I mean, if I'm not ready…will you always become frustrated with me when we kiss if I don't-…"
A wide-eyed, worried look swept over Ron and he quickly cupped her face with his hands. "No! No, no, no, Hermione…I'm not frustrated with you!" He said reassuringly, although Hermione was still a bit confused.
"Then...I don't understand." She stated bluntly.
Ron looked as though he were searching for the right words and his hands left her face to rest on her shoulders. "I…well, I…I really don't think frustrated is the right word. It's more like…
"Self-restraint?" Hermione offered, remembering how she had felt before biting Ron's lip. Hesitant and unsure at first…but then the inability to restrain herself. "You have these urges, and then you pull away from me because you're unsure if you'll be able to restrain yourself?"
"...Yes." Ron said in a deep whisper that sent chills up Hermione's neck. "But Hermione…I promise I'll never touch you unless you say it's alright. I would never do anything to hurt you."
At these words, Hermione felt a lump form in her throat as Ron tucked one of her stray hairs behind her ear. "I know." She said in a strained voice; her unshed tears were being very stubborn.
Hermione lifted up on her tiptoes and cupping Ron's face with her hands, she brought his lips down to hers. His strong hands gripped tightly to her waist and brought her closer to his body. It was a bit ironic to Hermione that immediately after a brief chat on self-restraint, she and Ron began kissing madly.
She had her hands entwined in his soft locks as she applied pressure to the back of his head to deepen their kisses. Her heart was beating frantically, and she knew that Ron's was as well because she could feel the vibrations against her chest. Hermione slowly moved her mouth from Ron's and kissed a warm trail over the harsh edge of his jaw and onto his neck.
As Hermione planted a stream of soft kisses on this soft area, Ron buried his head into her neck, his hot breath creating pleasant chills down her arms. 'I promise I'll never touch you unless you say it's alright.' Remembering these sincere, caring words, Hermione removed her hands from Ron's hair and grabbed hold of his hands. She then boldly moved them under the bottom of her shirt to rest warmly on the bare skin of her waist. Ron immediately encircled her body so that his hands were splayed across her bare back.
Hermione didn't truly understand why she felt the need to have Ron's hands on her bare skin, but she knew that it had something to do with the amount of love that she felt for him. Just like that night in the shed by his house, she had felt as though she couldn't get close enough to his body. It had made no sense to her then because they had been so very close…but now…Hermione was beginning to feel as though skin-on-skin contact was one of the strongest ways to show and feel love. She could feel it in the tenderness of his touch… the way he rubbed his fingers along her skin in small circles… the way he squeezed her gently…
"Ron?" She whispered breathlessly on his neck.
He rubbed his cheek softly across hers before replying huskily in her ear, "Yeah?"
"I love you." She said before kissing him full on the mouth. When she pulled away, Ron hugged her to him tightly, and then huskily in her ear he replied…
"I love y-…"
BOOM!
Ron threw himself onto the floor, bringing Hermione with him. After landing painfully on his back he rolled himself over Hermione's small frame, lying his body across hers. Shielding both of their heads with his arms, he felt bits of wood and debris hitting him across the back. Dust was falling all around them.
Ron's mind was in a frantic blurred state. What in the hell was that blast? It had shook the entire room! Why was there debris falling all around them? Who had done this? Was there a Death Eater in the house? What about the Fidelius Charm? Had Fred and George returned to accidentally set off a firework?
When Ron realized that there was no longer a steady rain of debris, he raised his head to look about the room. The room was a shambles; wood and dust everywhere…and a rather large hole in the middle of the floor. Light was streaming into Mrs. Black's old bedroom from the room below. Wait…Ron thought, the room below is mine and Harry's room! Ron looked down at Hermione, who was still underneath him shaking slightly.
"Hermione, are you all right? Were you hurt? Did I-…"
"I'm fine, Ron! But…but…what…wha-…?"
"I've no idea, but it came from mine and Harry's room. Hermione, get out your wand, and follow close behind me, all right? We've got to-…"
BANG!
Ron's head snapped up as the door to the room flung open.
"Tonks!" Ron cried. Despite the confusion and fear running through his veins like an unpleasant icy current, he also felt extreme embarrassment as he realized the compromising position he and Hermione were in.
Tonks didn't look at all worried about their awkward position, however. She was glancing around the room frantically, wand raised and a fierce expression that looked ready for battle. She only spared a split-second glance at him and Hermione.
Ron hoisted himself up off of Hermione and reached a hand down to pull her up. There was a small cut above Hermione's eyebrow and an immense amount of dust in her hair and on her clothes. Ron knew he probably looked worse as he was on top of her. There was real fear in her eyes too. He put an arm tightly around her waist.
"Tonks, what's-…" Hermione began, but she stopped as Tonks suddenly strode over to the large hole in the middle of the room, peered down cautiously, and then, to Ron's surprise, jumped down into the room below.
"Hermione, stay back." Ron commanded, pushing Hermione back up against the wall.
"Ron, no! Don't-…"
But Ron had already retrieved his wand and was now striding over to peer down the hole. There was a fair amount of debris about the second floor room, as well, along with Tonks, Harry, Mad-Eye, and possibly some others. Ron couldn't see properly, but he could see that none of them looked exceedingly worried or in a hurry to leave the place.
Ron turned to Hermione, who looked extremely anxious, yet with wand in hand. He grabbed a firm hold on her free hand, and led her from the room. As they reached the stairs descending to the second floor, however, Ron remembered something. Turning to Hermione he took hold of the nape of her neck, pulled her to him, and kissed her briefly, but passionately.
"I love you, too." He said quickly to a taken aback Hermione, before descending the stairs with her hand still clasped in his.
As they reached the second floor landing, they immediately heard shouts. Although the voice sounded vaguely familiar, Ron didn't quite recognize it. However as he and Hermione arrived at the open door to he and Harry's bedroom, an intense scene was playing out before them that would eventually answer all of Ron's questions.
Everyone at Grimmauld Place was crowded into the room. Ron's Mum, Dad, and sister were standing in one corner of the room, while Tonks and Mad-Eye were standing in the middle of the room, where most of the debris was. The slightly familiar voice that Ron had heard from the hallway, however, was yelling out from a portrait on the wall in the room.
"Abominable! What in the name of all that is sacred do you think you are doing to the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black? This is your inheritance, boy, and look what you've done!"
Phineas Nigellus had appeared in his frame. He was extremely red in the face and was shaking his fist in Harry's direction. Harry, however, was sitting on the edge of his dusty, debris-strewn bed with his head in his hands.
"Oh, stuff it, Nigellus!" Mad-Eye growled, before turning to Harry, "Boy, now what do you mean you just looked up at the ceiling?"
"I told you, Moody," Harry said, raising his head from his hands and standing up from the bed. "I just did like this…" Harry raised his hands up to the ceiling, "And I-…"
"Well, don't do it again!" Growled Mad-Eye frantically. "Just sit there! Sit still, too!"
Harry rolled his eyes and sat down hard on the bed, returning his head to his hands.
"RON!"
His mum had just spotted him standing in the doorway and was rushing over to him with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, my poor baby. What's happened to you? Look at the scrapes onyour arms! Where were you two? Tonks said you were fine, but look at you! You're covered in rubble! And, Hermione, dear, you're cut!"
"They were with me when it happened." Tonks said quickly. Ron felt a huge rush of relief, and Hermione must have too because he felt her hand loosen from his slightly. Now that he thought about it, she had been holding his hand with a viselike grip. Ron was holding her hand behind his back, however, so no one in the room was any the wiser.
"With you?" Mr. Weasley asked curiously.
"Yes, we were just looking around Buckbeak's old room. You know…none of us had ever really seen inside it so we just-…"
"Well, why aren't you covered in rubble, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked curiously.
Tonks' eye twitched just slightly before she said convincingly, "Well, I was actually admiring the room from the hallway. It still smells a bit like a Hippogriff in there."
"Jibber jabber! That's all you people do! Think about the problem at hand! This young man needs to be punished! He needs to be taught how to respect this home if he's to live here! Why in my day-..." Phineas yelled.
"Oh, shut up, you old bat!" Ginny cried unexpectedly. Everyone in the room turned to look at her, including Harry. Ron noticedtear trails down her cheeks. Nigellus gasped as if someone had just done him a great wrong, before exiting his portrait with his head held high like royalty.
"I know what happened." Ginny said quietly, looking at Harry and keeping everyone's silent attention. Harry looked back at her with a horribly pained expression on his face. Ron heard a small sniff from Hermione so he squeezed her hand gently and began rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. Hermione must have realized something that Ron hadn't because he was still utterly confused.
"I think Harry was just upset over what happened at breakfast." Ginny said, she and Harry still holding each other's stare as everyone listened. "Voldemort keeps attacking people, ruining lives, taking lives…evoking fear in those he hates so that they can't…" Ginny paused and swallowed hard, "...can't live their lives the way they want to."
"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley cried with a steady stream of tears now falling down her face and rolling off of her chin. "That awful Wolverhampton attack was just the last straw. Arthur I knew you shouldn't have given him that ring! Oh!"
Mrs. Weasley rushed to sit down on the bed beside Harry. She wrapped him in a fierce hug and Harry closed his eyes tightly. Ron was no longer confused, but…his mother was. Wolverhampton was not what upset Harry at breakfast…no…a giggly, ginger-haired maiden had caused enough anger and frustration in Harry, that he had blasted his ceiling to bits with a simple stare. Harry had told Ron of other instances like this. Blowing up his Aunt Marge and setting a python on his cousin Dudley for their cruelty, blasting the door off of the cupboard under the stairs at Privet Drive out of necessity…
And now…blasting a hole in the ceiling of his room at Grimmauld Place because he was denying himself the love of his life…
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This fairly lengthy chapter surprisingly takes place over the span of about two or three hours. But, I guess a fair amount of 'stuff' happened, huh? Well, I hope everyone is still enjoying the story.Sorry I couldn't get this posted sooner, but this chapter gave me a bit of trouble at first...until I found my groove again. Lol...I'm getting antsy for the school year to resume, so for those of you that are also awaiting the second term...it's coming soon! Thanks so so so so much for continuing to review! I read every single review that is sent in and I appreciate every single one as well! Uh oh...I think I just heard Chapter 26 calling my name...gotta go! Lol...