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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm sorry if those of you that reviewed on the "wrong" Chapter 35 couldn't review on the newly submitted one. I received a review through my personal email b/c one of my reviewers had that problem. If anyone wants to comment on chapter 35 in chapter 36, by all means feel free to do so!
In regards to jadedangel's question: Don't ever be sorry for asking questions! I love them! Especially good ones like this one! Lol… I wondered if anyone would be wondering about that, and actually his eyes were glowing b/c he didn't like what Ron was implying about he and Ginny's 'activities.' Harry, like Ron, would never dream of taking advantage of the woman he loves. And, just as Ron shouted at Harry in anger for accusing him of that deed, Harry's eyes began to glow in anger. Does that make sense? It was kind of a hidden thingy, and I actually asked my fiancé if he caught on to why his eyes were glowing…he didn't. Lol… but that's okay! Anyways, thank you for the very good and observative question!
ALSO: There's more information at the bottom of this page on why this chapter took so long to post, but seriously writing a 5k to 9k word chapter is very time-consuming. I love writing, obviously...but please understand that if it takes longer than 24 hours for me to post a chapter, it has nothing to do with me not wanting to write or 'slacking.' I really love writing, so don't worry about me just quiting or giving up b/c NEVER I say NEVER! I will prevail! Sorry, I don't really know what that was all about, but I just felt the need to get that off of my chest... lol...
Chapter 36
Saturday mornings were not supposed to be stressful. You could sleep in until noon if you wanted, and you could stay up late and not have to worry about morning classes the following day. They were supposed to be the one day of the week that you could be guaranteed a sunny, cloudless, fun-filled day. Of course, Ron knew that this was not always the case, but he had really been looking forward to this Saturday, and it was rainy, wet, cold, and just plain taxing…
This Saturday was the first class-free day of Ron and Hermione's courtship! No flirtatious Defense teacher, overbearing Transfiguration professor, or spiteful Potions master. Ron had been hoping that he and Hermione could walk about the grounds, but it was wet and cold outside. He had also hoped to sit before the fire with her without the worries of homework, but that was actually sounding less and less appealing as he and his friends entered the Great Hall.
The common room was always rather crowded on rainy days, but in a somewhat cozy way… However, if the stares and whispers he felt on the way to the Gryffindor table were going to follow him about the castle, he didn't want to be around people at all! Ron and Hermione had informed Harry and Ginny of the whispers that they had to endure at lunchtime, and this seemed to take all four of their appetites away for dinner. Nonetheless, they had all decided to come to breakfast together. Ron had thought that, in a group a bit larger, people might be a little less obvious with their idle gossip…but he had been wrong.
It was really vile! Whispering was one thing, but then there was also pointing, laughing, and some who didn't even try to whisper at all! Of course, there were also those that would give them timid smiles of support, but every time Ron received one of those, he felt as if he heard two new rumors! At least the Great Hall wasn't as crowded on Saturday mornings as it was the rest of the week. And Ron was very relieved to see that Malfoy was not at the Slytherin table this morning. His skinny, scowling face might have been the last straw preventing Ron from punching the rat in the jaw again.
"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed when they all took their seats. He immediately grabbed Hermione's hand under the table. It was sort of habit by now. "Did you hear that one fellow at the Hufflepuff table?"
"Which one?" Harry grumbled as he reached for a link of sausage.
"Said something about…about you being a Death Eater!" Ron replied in disbelief. Hermione sighed heavily, and Ron could tell by her expression that she must have already heard that one from quite a few people.
"Yeah…" Harry began blandly, "I think the story about Dean killing Avery over the holidays is widely known. People are assuming that Voldemort wants me to take on Avery's unfinished assignment."
"Like you would kill him in the middle of the Hogwart's entrance hall!" Ginny said while rolling her eyes. Hermione nodded at Ginny in agreement, although as Ron remembered the panicked look on Dean's face while he lay suffocating…he had definitely thought that Dean might take his last breath in the middle of the Hogwart's entrance hall. Luckily, Dean was released from the hospital in good condition yesterday evening.
Ron had been in detention during Dean's release, but Hermione had been in the common room studying over her Arithmancy. She had told Ron that many people had greeted Dean upon his entrance to the common room, but that he had simply gone straight to bed without talking to anyone. When Ron had returned that evening from his detention of helping Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest, Dean had already been asleep with his curtains closed.
"It seems to me that there are three primary rumors being thrown about." Hermione said suddenly. "I've heard many, but from what I heard while studying in the common room and during yesterday's lunch…I think there are only three that people are really all that worried over."
"Yeah…that's what Hagrid said, too." Ron said glumly. Ron reckoned Snape hoped Ron would be doing something dangerous, which was what Hagrid's chores usually were, but they had only visited Grawp. Which, thankfully, was no longer all that dangerous. So, he had actually had a fairly nice visit with Hagrid and his brother.
"Well, what were Hagrid's three?" Hermione asked curiously.
"He wouldn't say." Ron stated with a shrug. "Said he didn't want to talk about it anymore."
"Anymore?" Harry asked.
"He said the attack had-…" Ron began, but Ginny slammed her hand down on the table.
"I swear, Ron! Not you too!" She said aghast, "I'm so sick of people calling it an attack! It was an accident…"
Ron just stared at his sister with his mouth partway open for a moment before regaining his train of thought. Hermione had even jumped slightly when Ginny slammed her hand down, but Harry was simply staring at his plate. Ron cleared his throat before beginning in a more quiet voice, "Hagrid said that the accident was a topic of conversation at the Order meeting last night."
"Order meeting?" Harry asked with interest, looking up from his plate.
Ron nodded. "I reckon that's why Madam Pomfrey came to fetch Dumbledore from the hospital. Hagrid said the meeting wasn't about you, mate, but I think Dumbledore must have brought it up." Sighing heavily, Ron added, "Anyway, Hagrid wouldn't say what the meeting was actually called for, or what three rumors they suspected would circulate the most."
"So what do you think the three primary rumors are, Hermione?" Ginny asked leaning forward a bit.
"Well," Hermione began matter-of-factly, "There's the one about Harry being a Death Eater, like Ron mentioned. There's the one about Harry not wanting competition as an Auror."
"Which is ridiculous…" Ginny spat angrily. Harry gave her a small smile, but she was too busy stabbing at her eggs with her fork to see it. Ron suddenly noticed that there was a good foot between his sister and Harry. Of course, there was always a space between them at mealtimes, but Ron had allowed himself to hope that Harry would not see a need in hiding his and Ginny's feelings any longer after yesterday's events.
Ron realized that Hermione hadn't resumed talking since Ginny's interruption. He looked down to see her staring at Ginny with her head tilted to one side. "And? Hermione?" Ron prompted, squeezing her hand gently.
Hermione looked up at him, looking a bit confused for a second before nodding her head. "Oh, yes…and," Hermione continued, "There's the one…well…obviously, some people figure that Harry fancies you, Ginny."
"Which is the truth…" Ginny began as she cast Harry a sad look, "I think…"
"Ginny…" Harry said in a low voice.
Ginny sighed and crossed her arms. "I don't see why you want to keep pretending if everyone knows now…" She said in a soft whine.
"We've talked about it, Ginny." Harry said tiredly. "People will forget that rumor if we continue to appear to be just friends."
"Harry, mate…" Ron began tentatively, "Do you really think people will just forget it? I mean, it-…"
"They'll forget it." Harry said harshly giving Ron a warning look. Ron just sighed.
"So you would rather them think you a Death Eater or an egotistical maniac than my boyfriend?" Ginny asked heatedly.
Harry didn't look at her or respond; he simply used his fork to play with the eggs on his plate. Ron reckoned he could still see both sides of the galleon, but he couldn't help feeling as though Harry were being unrealistic in his idea of keeping his and Ginny's feelings hidden.
Ginny began whispering something fiercely to Harry, who began whispering fiercely back. Ron looked down at Hermione to see what her reaction was to all of this, and was surprised to see that she actually looked a bit teary-eyed as she watched Harry and Ginny quarreling.
Ron released his hold on her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. She looked up at him and he gave her a kind smile.
Leaning close to her ear to whisper, he said playfully, "You'll get your breakfast soggy if you don't stop."
She simply nodded at him with her brows furrowed in concern, clearly trying not to cry. He rubbed his fingers along her side and added softly, "It's going to be alright, Hermione."
Hermione swallowed rather hard before kissing him gently on the cheek. "Ron?" She whispered looking across the table at Ginny and Harry, who were still whispering urgently to one another.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think you could change their topic so they don't get in another big argument…like yesterday morning?"
Ron gazed at her a moment. Change their topic? What could he possibly bring up that would capture the attention of both Harry and Ginny? There was absolutely nothing he could-…hmm…Ron smiled at Hermione before leaning down to kiss her lips. "I'll try…" He whispered as a plan began forming in his mind.
Leaning away from her, Ron sighed heavily, "Hey." He said to call Harry and Ginny's attention. They both looked up with scowls.
"Uh…I was wondering…what would you two say to a bit of Quidditch practice?" Ron asked casually.
"It's raining, you know?" Ginny asked in a somewhat bored voice, pushing her plate forward.
"It's just drizzle." Ron stated. Harry stood up quickly.
"Sounds great." Harry said at once, "I need to get out of this castle."
Ron beamed at him as he too stood up from the table. "Brilliant!" He said as he looked down to Hermione, who was standing up slowly from the table with a slight frown.
Hermione cleared her throat and in a somewhat sad tone said, "I'll just get a bit ahead on my Ancient Runes."
Ancient Runes? Ron thought. No! That's not what he'd had in mind for his first Saturday with Hermione as his girlfriend!
"Ah…Hermione…" Ron whined, grabbing her hand. She looked up at him in puzzlement. "I was hoping you'd come along."
Hermione actually laughed as she led Ron down their side of the table toward the double doors of the hall. "Come along?" She asked in disbelief, "To Quidditch practice?"
"Well…yeah!" Ron said excitedly. She looked at him in confusion as they met up with Harry and Ginny, who were waiting for them at the base of the Grand Staircase.
"Ron…I'm not too keen on sitting out in the cold rain, while you three fly." Hermione said. Ron grabbed her hand as they began climbing the stairs; the silent Harry and Ginny following close behind.
"I know." He said with a somewhat playful smile.
Hermione stopped in her tracks and Ginny actually bumped into her. "No, Ron." Hermione said evenly. "I…I hate flying and I…I don't even own a broom."
"It's not that bad when you get used to it, Hermione." Harry said matter-of-factly. She turned around and raised her eyebrows at him.
"Harry, you were brilliant on a broom after your first flying lesson." She said with her hands on her hips. Harry merely shrugged.
"Please, Hermione!" Ron begged, as they all resumed their climbing of the stairs.
"Ron, I told you…I don't have a broom!" Hermione repeated, beginning to look a bit nervous.
"I promise I won't let you fall…" Ron continued, trying to sound casual. Hermione turned to him with wide eyes.
"Ron, no! You want me to-…" She looked from him to Harry and Ginny as if expecting one of them to be as astonished as she, however, they were just staring at her, "Ron, I am not letting you fly me around one-hundred-feet up in the air! It's not safe for two people to ride a one-man broom!"
"Yes it is, Hermione." Ginny said plainly. Hermione glared at her. "Well, it is…Fred and George used to fly me around all the time."
"I'm sure they did…when you were three." Hermione countered. Ginny shrugged.
Ron was still holding tightly to her hand. "Hermione? What do you say?" He asked.
She looked away from him as she muttered, "Ron…I don't-…"
"We won't even be flying around all that much!" Ron added, "And, we'll only be fifty feet in the air! Not one-hundred! I'm keeper remember?"
Hermione stopped again, but this time Harry and Ginny just moved around them and continued up the stairs. "You mean you actually want to guard the posts with me up there with you?" Hermione asked incredulously. They were now one floor shy of the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione made to step onto the next landing, but Ron moved in front of her and kneeled down on one knee, grabbing both of her hands in his.
"Ron, what are you doing?" She asked as her face turned red. There were students walking up and down the stairs going to and from breakfast, and Ron knew that they were receiving many curious glances.
"Please, Hermione?" He begged, with a big toothy grin that made Hermione give a small giggle. "If you hate it, I'll never ask you again!"
"Ron…people are looking." Hermione said under her breath, shielding her face with one hand.
"Oh, who cares?" Ron asked. "I'm getting quite used to the stares, aren't you?"
Hermione giggled again, which caused Ron to chuckle along with her as he stood up. Then, feeling a bit bold, Ron grabbed her and hoisted her over one shoulder, causing her to yelp.
"Ron!" She cried. He was carrying her up the stairs, and people were definitely looking now. "I haven't agreed to fly with you!"
"Sure you have!" He said as they reached the Fat Lady. "Lemon Meringue!"
After Ron proceeded in carrying her over the threshold to the common room, he sat her down gently in front of the girls' stairwell. Ginny was waiting on her. "Now," He said excitedly, "Dress warmly, and meet me back down here!"
"Ronald!" Hermione called desperately, but his long legs had already taken him halfway to the boys' dormitories.
Ron hurriedly climbed the stairs and entered the dormitory, where Harry was moping about in his preparations. Harry didn't seem all that excited about their spontaneous flying trip, which was rare for Harry, but Ron was too excited about taking Hermione up on a broom to worry much over his best mate's mood. Ron changed into an older pair of jeans, a blue thermal shirt, and a thick jacket.
He and Hermione had never been flying before. Ron had never been flying with anyone before! He needed something to take his mind off of all the rumors and worries this first week of the new term had created. And what better way to do that than by flying around with Hermione Granger, practicing his favorite sport in the world? Of course, Ron didn't actually expect to do much practicing. There was no way he was going to risk Hermione getting hit with a quaffle! He would need to take it much slower than usual, too, seeing as how Hermione was scared of heights. But if he could just show her how amazing it was up in the air, maybe she would learn to love it.
After Ron and Harry had finished dressing, they each grabbed their brooms, Harry grabbed his practice snitch he'd gotten from Ginny for Christmas, and they headed for the common room. They stopped short as soon as they'd left their dormitory because they had come face to face with Dean Thomas.
Dean had a towel thrown over his shoulder, and appeared to have just left the shower rooms. All three of them stood frozen, just staring at one another. Dean didn't seem to have sustained any injury; he looked as healthy as ever. The only difference in his appearance was the uncomfortable, almost fearful, expression he wore. Finally, Dean mumbled, 'excuse me,' and quickly moved past them up the stairs.
As soon as Dean entered the dormitory and closed the door shut behind him, Harry continued down the steps. He didn't mention the confrontation, so Ron decided that he wouldn't either. Ron reckoned that was the first Harry had seen of Dean since the incident. It could've been worse than an awkward silence. Ron thought…at least Harry's eyes didn't glow green again…
Ron and Harry were only left waiting in the common room a few minutes before Hermione and Ginny descended the stairs together. Hermione had on a white thermal shirt similar to Ron's only Hermione-sized. He reckoned she'd borrowed it from Ginny. She was also carrying a thick jacket in front of her with her arms crossed at her stomach. And, for some reason, she seemed to be blushing quite a lot.
"You ready?" Ron asked as he approached her. She nodded quickly without looking straight at him. "Alright." Ron replied hesitantly. Was she really all that nervous about flying? Maybe he shouldn't take her up if she were this worried… He wanted it to be fun for both of them.
Harry and Ginny headed for the portrait hole door so Ron reached for Hermione's elbow to guide her ahead of him. However, she backed away from him.
"Hermione…what's wrong?" He asked worriedly. Her cheeks seemed to turn a deeper pink. "Look, Hermione…I don't want to take you up if you're this scared…"
"No! It's not that!" She replied quickly, before looking down and saying quietly, "I…um…I'd rather you walk ahead of me."
Walk ahead of her? She was beginning to act a bit mental… "Why?" Ron asked confusedly. She rolled her eyes at him.
"Are you two coming?" Ginny called impatiently from the door.
"Yeah!" Ron called back, just as impatiently, before looking back down at Hermione with furrowed brows. He then asked gently, "Hermione…why would you rather-…"
"Ginny used a charm on my jeans so that the broom wouldn't give me sore spots." Hermione said quickly. For a moment Ron just looked at her without comprehending what this had to do with anything.
She rolled her eyes at him again, and then quickly moved the coat she'd been holding in front of her away from her body before quickly moving it back. She hadn't moved it from her for long, but it had been long enough for him to see how skintight Ginny's Shrinking Charm had made Hermione's jeans.
"Blimey..." Ron muttered, feeling quite dazed, before clearing his throat. In an attempt at sounding casual, he said, "I…um…I don't see anything wrong with them."
He could tell that she was trying very hard not to smile. But a serious look quickly took over her. "Ron, I don't feel comfortable walking out of the castle like this."
If she walked out of the castle holding that coat in front of her no one would see anything… Then again… Ron attempted to peer around her body to see the backs of her jeans, but she took a step back from him.
"Well," Ron began, suddenly feeling warm as he imagined what the backs of her jeans might look like, "I don't feel comfortable with that either." And that was the honest truth! He didn't want anyone else seeing her figure in those jeans!
"Just put your jacket on." He added.
She sighed slightly before pulling the jacket on. Ron had never realized how sensual the act of putting on clothing could be…until now. Looking up at him as she straightened the sleeves, she whispered, "Alright then…I'm ready."
Ready? She was ready? Ron didn't think so. He was looking up and down her form and he at least knew that he wasn't ready… Her jacket barely covered her hips, and it did nothing to shield the curves of her legs.
"Ron…" She groaned, crossing her arms self-consciously in front of her. He shook his head slightly and looked up into her eyes.
"Wear mine." Ron said hastily, handing Hermione his broom and then removing his own jacket, which went down to his mid-thigh.
"Why?" She asked curiously.
"Yours isn't long enough." He said quickly, trying not to continue staring at her, "It's just…I can still…wear mine." He stammered, as she began taking her jacket off again.
He then took his broom and her jacket from her and motioned for her to turn around. She did so, and it was impossible for his eyes not to wonder over her legs and…well…from this angle. Bloody hell! Quickly, he helped her into his jacket so that he could cover her and regain the ability to think properly. When he'd finished, the jacket nearly reached her knees, and her hands were not visible at the cuffs. He couldn't help but chuckle at her.
"What?" She asked apprehensively, turning around to face him as she fixed her collar. He shook his head at her.
"You're adorable." He whispered as he placed his hand on the small of her back to lead her from the common room. Adorable and…desirable, he thought to himself.
Harry and Ginny were waiting with unconcealed impatience in the corridor. Neither of them seemed at all happy, and Ron was considering telling them to just go back so that he and Hermione could have a nice romantic flight in the rain. But he didn't do that. He decided that they each would be better off if they too got out of the castle.
So, all four of them made the trek to the Quidditch pitch. The clouds were dense and grey, but the drizzle was very light. It really wasn't raining hard at all. Just a nice mist that seemed to be making Hermione's hair curl even more than usual… Ron liked it.
"Okay, Captain." Harry began unenthusiastically once they'd reached the stadium. "What's the plan?"
"Well," Ron began calmly, "I don't really want Ginny throwing the quaffle at me while Hermione's up there. So, I'm just going to practice on my maneuvering of the broom around the posts. You and Ginny can use the practice snitch to seek against one another."
"How is that going to help my chasing?" Ginny asked moodily with her hands on her hips.
"It's always good to practice basic flying skills." Ron said with a shrug.
"Did you even bring the quaffle?" She asked with a frown.
"No." Ron said plainly. Ginny rolled her eyes at him, mounted her broom, and shot up into the air.
Harry sighed heavily as he mounted his own broom. Ron exchanged glances with Hermione. Harry and Ginny had been so doting on one another yesterday afternoon in the hospital wing. What had happened between now and then? Ron actually knew exactly what had happened. Ginny had, like Ron, expected the rumors of Harry fancying her to make their hidden relationship pointless. She thought that Harry would openly date her, but he was still being stubborn. Would the rumors about him and Ginny really just go away like Harry believed…and did Harry really even believe that?
Swoosh!
Ron looked up from his daze and saw Harry zooming upward, into the drizzling rain. He then looked down at a visibly shivering Hermione, crossed to her and wrapped his arms about her.
"You're freezing cold, aren't you?" He asked her quietly. "We don't have to fly today, Hermione. Okay?"
She looked up at him with wide eyes and shook her head quickly, "N-No! I w-w-want t-to fly w-with you." She said through chattering teeth.
"Hermione…" He began disbelievingly.
"R-really." She added, nodding. He continued to give her a questioning look, and she suddenly took his jacket off of her and handed it to him.
"Hermione, no…" He said trying to hand it back, "You keep it."
"R-ron…" She began tenaciously, pushing a damp strand of hair from her face. "Can y-you wear m-my jacket?"
Ron looked at her jacket, which he was still holding from earlier. "Well, no…but…"
"I w-won't f-fly if you d-don't have a j-jacket!" She said with her chin stuck out stubbornly.
Ron was really beginning to doubt whether or not going flying with Hermione were as good an idea as it had seemed earlier. He hadn't thought it was all that cold, but Hermione sure seemed to be fairly frigid. And there was also the rain…and the longer he waited; the wetter they were each becoming. So, Hermione was standing their frigid, wet, and jacketless! He really needed to make a decision… Her white, thermal shirt was getting increasingly more damp and…and… Ron quickly handed Hermione her jacket before turning away from her and donning his own.
He only turned back around after he'd given her plenty of time to properly button and zip her jacket. She had, but she was standing with her arms crossed and her teeth chattering.
"Hermione…" Ron began, his brow furrowed, "You're miserable… We can seriously just go back inside and-…"
"Ron!" Hermione nearly shouted, stamping her foot on the damp earth.
"Okay! Okay!" He said quickly, mounting the broom. Once he had the broom steady and hovering beneath him, he held his hand out to her. "Alright, come on."
She slowly and awkwardly got on in front of Ron, with her back to him. He put one arm tightly around her waist, and the other on the broom handle in front of her. He could tell how heavily she was breathing from the expanding of her abdomen beneath his palm. Ron closed his eyes and prayed to the stars that he would be able to concentrate on his flying despite the warm, damp body of the woman he loved pressed firmly against him. Had this really been his idea? Ron wondered as he pushed off from the ground.
Hermione gasped and grabbed Ron's arm with both hands. He had just risen into the air and they were ascending slowly. Five feet…ten feet…fifteen feet.
"Ron!" She whispered urgently, but the light rain, which was becoming less and less 'light,' and the wind, swallowed her voice.
Twenty feet…twenty-five feet. Hermione rested her head back on Ron's shoulder, closed her eyes, and turned her head to call him once more.
"Ron!" She said a bit louder. His hold tightened around her and the broom suddenly stopped to hover. Oh…Hermione thought…I don't like hovering… However, from this position, she could see Harry and Ginny zooming about the goalposts at the far end of the pitch. Her untrained eye couldn't see the snitch, but she was sure each of them had it in sight.
"Did you call me?" Ron said low in her ear, which gave Hermione a shiver that was quite unrelated to the cold.
"I w-want to go b-back down." She said, her head still resting against his shoulder. He squeezed her just a bit tighter and kissed her warmly and tenderly on her cheek as he began lowering them slowly to the ground.
As soon as her feet touched ground, Hermione dismounted. "I'm sorry, Hermione…" Ron began, "I knew I shouldn't have-…what are you doing?" He asked confusedly.
Hermione remounted the broom while Ron watched her in confusion, but this time she sat facing him. She hooked her legs under his, slid her hands underneath his jacket and around his waist, and then rested her head on his shoulder.
"Okay." She said against his neck. "We can go back up now."
Again, one arm gripped the broom while the other encircled her. "You're sure?" Ron asked.
She leaned her head back to look up at him as she nodded. He smiled broadly at her, and she felt his legs tighten over hers as he pushed off from the ground. Just as before, he raised them ever so slowly.
"You'll never get proper practice in with me tagging along." She said, gazing up into his stern expression. He looked very attractive as he focused on not only flying, but also keeping her safely on board.
He looked down at her, as they continued to rise, "Exactly." He said simply before giving her a wink. Her heart fluttered as it always did when he did that.
"What about Ginny, though?" Hermione asked. Suddenly her teeth had stopped chattering. Ron's body was very warm against hers.
"What about her?" Ron asked simply.
"Well, I think she might have been a bit angry about not being able to practice with the quaffle."
"No." Ron said with an unconcerned lip-twist. "She's just like that because she and Harry have been rowing."
"Yeah…" Hermione said quietly. She hated that Harry and Ginny were arguing so much lately. They were just going to have to work out some sort of compromise before they both went mad!
Hermione looked up to see Ron looking at her. He wasn't smiling or frowning…just staring. They each began leaning in to one another at the same time. Their lips met in an incredibly tender and slow kiss, but as they continued to kiss, Hermione realized that something was different. Ron's hands… Since one of his hands had to remain on the broom for balance and the other around her waist for support, he couldn't really rub her back or touch her face or hands… all of the things that he usually did when they kissed.
So, Hermione removed her hands from their warm haven under Ron's jacket, and she then grabbed hold of his lapel. She pulled him to her and he deepened their kiss. The chills Hermione had because of the cold seemed to multiply. Hermione released his lapel and cupped Ron's face, placing a warm kiss on his rain-dampened lips. The feeling of kissing him in the rain was very exhilarating, and Hermione couldn't seem to stop.
However, the broom shook slightly and Hermione quickly pulled away.
"It's okay." Ron said quickly and a bit breathlessly, "It's just the wind."
Hermione nodded as she realized that the wind was picking up a bit, along with the rain, which could no longer be called drizzle. She was actually becoming quite drenched.
"Look, Hermione." Ron said with a smile as he looked about them.
She looked over Ron's shoulder to see the three golden hoops standing tall and graceful in the rain. The Hogwarts Castle was strong and still on its hilltop…and the lake was rippling with the falling of the raindrops.
"It's beautiful up here." She said softly.
"Yeah…it is." Ron replied in a strange deep voice that made Hermione look at him. He was gazing at her with slightly furrowed brows, and as she met his gaze, she felt his arm tighten around her back.
"Harry!"
Ginny… Hermione's heart was already beating frantically from the passion that had been growing in her and Ron's kisses, but now it was beating even more rapidly from fear. Hermione tried to turn around to see behind her, but Ron was holding her too tightly against him for her to move much. She could see Ron's expression, however, as he looked over her shoulder. And it was an expression of…amusement.
"What is it?" Hermione asked urgently.
"They're just-…" He began, before shaking his head slightly and maneuvering their position so that Hermione could view the opposite end of the pitch.
Hermione looked out across the way to see Harry and Ginny flying about for the snitch, only… they both seemed to be laughing hysterically as they raced neck and neck for the small golden ball.
"Har-RY!" Ginny shouted as Harry made a nosedive on his broom, which Ginny mimicked.
Hermione giggled a bit before turning to look at Ron. "I think you had a fine idea in coming out here, Ron Weasley." She said in a mock-serious tone.
"Why, thank you, Hermione Jane." He replied with a smile.
Hermione was smiling as well, and was about to kiss him once more, when her eyes truly looked down for the first time since they'd risen into the air. She gasped loudly and lunged forward to cling to Ron by throwing her arms about his neck.
"Whoa!" He said as the broom wobbled for a moment after her lunge. He quickly steadied it. "Hermione?"
"Sorry!" She cried, still clinging to him. "I just…I…we're really high and I…"
"You're trembling!" Ron exclaimed as he held her tightly to him. Without another word, Hermione felt them descending from the air, slowly.
She knew all along that they were fifty feet in the air. But when you look straight down and realize that the only thing between you and the effects of gravity is a broom, it sort of takes your breath away! Well, maybe it didn't take Ron's…or Harry's…or Ginny's breath away, but Hermione was now, as Ron had noted, trembling!
Eventually, however, she felt her feet touch ground. Ron dismounted rather quickly and immediately helped Hermione off. The rain seemed to be falling in steady sheets now. Hermione wondered if it had been doing this moments ago, or if it were just more noticeable on the ground. Ron grabbed her hand and began leading her toward the locker rooms.
Once inside he led her to a bench where she sat down while he went over to a cabinet and began rummaging through some things. Although it was cloudy outside, it was still brighter out on the pitch than it was in this tent-like structure. Hermione looked about her, as she had never actually been fully inside the Quidditch locker rooms before. There were double doors that led onto the pitch. Two benches were bolted down at one end of the tent, which was where Hermione sat. Then there were the actual lockers, some cabinets, and a door to the shower rooms at the opposite end.
Hermione heard the shutting of a metal door and looked up to see Ron coming toward her. He had a couple of thick white towels in his arms. He unfolded one and handed it to Hermione before sitting down on her other side with the other towel. He ran it over his head a few times, which almost completely dried his hair. That wasn't fair. Hermione thought. It took her a good ten minutes to fully dry her hair.
"Do you know a drying charm we can use?" He asked.
"Y-yes." Hermione said nodding. Her shivering had returned. So, it was probably a good idea that they get warm and dry before they caught their death of cold…
Setting the towel down beside her, she began unzipping her jacket, which was completely soaked through. It would be easier to perform the Drying Charm if they weren't covered in layers. Before removing her jacket she stood up and motioned for Ron to stand up, as well. For some reason he seemed to be avoiding looking at her, however, he did stand up.
She reached up and moved the jacket off of his shoulders. Getting the idea, he removed it the rest of the way and tossed it down on the bench. After retrieving her wand from her jacket pocket, she did the same with hers. Ron then turned his back to her completely, so she guessed he wished her to dry his back first.
As she cleared her throat to perform the spell, she couldn't help but notice the lean form of his back clearly visible beneath his dampened, blue shirt. Maybe if she just stared at Ron long enough, she wouldn't need a Drying Charm to warm her… She actually giggled at herself, but not loudly enough for Ron to hear. Okay Hermione, she thought. Get on with it!
"Exar-r-resssc-co." Hermione stammered. A pitiful spurt of air came forth from her wand.
Sighing, Hermione tried again, "E-exaresss-c-co." Another pitiful spurt of air.
She tapped Ron on the back. He would have to do it. The longer she stood there in wet clothing, the colder she got! He turned around, but he seemed to be fighting some sort of battle with his neck and eyes. They couldn't agree on where to turn.
Suddenly a light went on in Hermione's brain. She looked down, gasped, and hastily crossed her arms over her chest. Hermione had never been an expert at riddles, but even she should have known what happened to the dim girl that got soaked while wearing a white shirt and blue bra!
"Here, Hermione." Ron said quietly, reaching for a towel and handing it to her. She took it, turned away from him, and wrapped it around her torso.
Hermione slowly turned back around to look up at an awfully red-faced Ron. He wasn't smiling or laughing or doing anything that would make her feel more embarrassed. Although, his jaw muscle was working furiously, and Hermione remembered what that meant…he was using self-restraint. It made Hermione blush even more.
"Is it Exaresco?" Ron asked, removing his wand from his jeans pocket. Hermione nodded at him.
He closed the space between them and slowly coaxed her hand to release her towel, which she then allowed to fall to the floor. He placed one hand on the small of her back to hold her against him. They were so close; Hermione didn't have to worry about Ron seeing anything other than the top of her head. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. His heart was beating rapidly.
"Exaresco." Ron muttered. Hermione heard the strong, jet of air streaming from Ron's wand, but she could not feel it yet.
Suddenly, however, one of Ron's hands moved slowly up her back and into her hair, while the other held the wand up to dry her mass of wet curls. The warm air felt marvelous. She looked up at him and he was looking down at her with an incredibly appealing stern look. She realized that they were swaying back and forth as they stood there, similar to when they danced with one another at Christmas.
Hermione couldn't stop herself from reaching her hands up to rest on the back of his neck. He continued to dry her hair, running his one hand through it lovingly as he bent down to kiss her. As they kissed, Hermione felt the warm air move from her now dry hair to drift over her back. Her heart was beating like mad, and she was positive that her teeth would no longer chatter if she attempted the drying spell on her own. How could they chatter? She was closer to sweating than shivering!
Hermione slowly pulled away and reached in her back pocket for her wand. Ron took a step back from her and turned around, giving her privacy. She smiled to herself as she began drying the front of her shirt. He truly was a gentleman. He had turned a potentially mortifying moment into a romantic tryst.
After she was completely dry, Hermione performed a spell on her jeans to take them back to their normal size. Ron then began drying their jackets, while Hermione went to the doors of the tent and glanced outside. The rain was returning to a light drizzle, and a timid sun was peeking through the dispersing clouds. At first she did not see any sign of Harry or Ginny, but she then saw them up in the stands where the commentator usually stood. They were under an awning, watching the subsiding rain together…sort of watching the rain…
As Hermione stood watching them, she saw something quite unexpected. An owl…no…two owls. One was flying straight up into the stands toward Harry and Ginny, and the other was flying straight toward the tent.
"Ron!" Hermione called. His Drying Charm stopped and he quickly came to her side. "Ron, look…"
The owl was now slowing down as it neared them, and Hermione could see that it was carrying a letter. Why would two owls be delivering letters at this hour of the morning? Breakfast had come and gone… And they weren't owls that Hermione recognized.
She and Ron backed away from the door to allow the owl entrance. It swooped in, dropped the letter at Ron's feet, and then quickly circled the tent and departed. Ron hastily picked it up and turned it over, where it simply read 'Ronald Weasley.' He ripped it open with a furrowed brow before reading aloud.
Mr. Weasley,
Your presence is requested at the Entrance Hall of the Hogwarts Castle as soon as possible. Please make haste.
Professor M. McGonagall
Hermione looked up into Ron's troubled face as he stared out over the pitch. Ginny and Harry were now zooming toward them. Hermione opened her mouth to ask what this letter meant, but no sound came forth.
"Hermione?" Ron asked in an odd strangled voice, "Do you think you could ride with me long enough to get to the castle?"
"Of course." Hermione responded at once.
She ran to the benches and snatched up their jackets. She threw hers on quickly, and handed Ron's to him. She then grabbed hold of Ron's hand as they went back out into the mist. Once they reached his broom, Ron brought her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss before helping her on, backward. Harry and Ginny pulled up beside them to hover, as Ron quickly mounted the broom.
Hermione noticed that Ginny's face was quite pale, and their letter was in her hand. Harry and Ginny then sped off, but Ron gripped Hermione even tighter than before and leaned down to whisper. "I'm going to go fast. All right, Hermione?"
She simply nodded before…swoosh! … They were flying at full speed, behind their two friends, toward the castle. Hermione kept her eyes closed and her head pressed firmly against Ron's chest. There was no need to worry about getting wet in the drizzle at this speed.
But Hermione wasn't worried about the dampness of her clothes anyway. She was worried about that urgent letter. Why would Ron be receiving a letter that urgent in the middle of a Saturday morning? And, it looked as though the other letter had been delivered to Ginny. Hermione's stomach cramped painfully with worry, and it had nothing to do with speed or heights…
Harry and Ginny landed quickly and were able to nearly jump off of their brooms once they'd touched ground. However, Ron lowered he and Hermione slowly to the ground and helped her down. They all four entered the huge castle doors to the entrance hall and were immediately greeted by Professor McGonagall.
"Mr. Weasley…Miss. Weasley…" She began with her brows furrowed as she wrung her hands together. "Could you follow me please? Mr. Potter and Miss Granger may follow along."
Before anyone could respond she turned abruptly on her heel and began walking toward the corridor off of the entrance hall.
"Professor?" Ginny said in a small voice as the four of them followed, "Has something happened?"
"If you four will just follow me to my office please." McGonagall said crisply, ignoring Ginny's question.
Ron was beginning to go quite pale, too. "Professor," Harry began firmly, "Has this to do with yesterday's accident?"
McGonagall sighed, "Mr. Potter, I'm afraid that there was more than one accident yesterday." She said as she continued through the doubled archway and down passed the classrooms.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked somewhat desperately. She had stopped in her tracks with tears in her eyes. Everyone else stopped with her, including McGonagall, who looked incredibly anxious. Hermione noticed a few passerbies now looking curiously at the four of them. There was an opened door to the courtyard at the end of the hall, thus this corridor was heavily trafficked on Saturdays.
"Please, Miss Weasley." She began quietly, "I will tell you everything once we've reached my office."
"But I want to know now." Ginny said in a pitiful beg. Harry looked very uncomfortable. He was looking around the hall at the few onlookers, but then back to Ginny with an intensely pained expression.
McGonagall also looked uncomfortable, but with a small sigh she clasped her hands and said in a near whisper, "I am afraid that there was a confrontation between some of You-Know-Who's men and some Order members. And-…"
"No…" Ginny whispered as tears began welling in her eyes. Ron was just staring at McGonagall with a very stern expression.
"Miss Weasley." McGonagall began firmly, "Calm down. There was an injury, but he-…"
"Who?" Ginny nearly shouted. There were some concerned passerbies continuing slowly down the hall, trying to overhear the commotion without looking too suspicious. Harry had one eye on them and the other on Ginny, and he seemed to be having trouble deciding whether or not to keep his arms crossed or down by his sides.
"Who?" Ginny repeated, "Is it Dad? Is it my dad?"
"No, Miss Weasley…no." McGonagall said firmly, before adding quietly, "It's your brother, Fred. He-…"
"No…" Ginny breathed before grabbing at her stomach. Tears were now falling freely from her eyes as she shook her head over and over. Ron had gone completely stony-faced. Hermione grabbed his hand and squeezed it, but she wasn't sure if he even noticed because he just kept staring at McGonagall.
"He is at St. Mungo's emergency ward, Miss Weasley." McGonagall continued, "Your parents are there with him."
"But i-is…h-he alright?" Ginny asked between sobs. Hermione could tell that McGonagall did not know how to answer this question.
"He…" McGonagall cleared her throat before answering calmly, "He is alright, but we need to hurry because your parents are waiting on you at St. Mungo's. You four can floo there from my office."
Hermione wasn't sure that she entirely believed that Fred was all right because McGonagall almost never faltered in her speech… But saying 'he is alright,' seemed to give her a bit of trouble. Ginny must have noticed because her crying only worsened and she actually turned to look at Harry, who was still fidgeting.
"Harry…" She whispered.
Harry glanced around at the current passersby. There were probably ten students walking through the hall, looking at them all peculiarly. He sighed heavily before taking two long strides toward Ginny and encircling her in his arms. She clung to him desperately, and her sobbing increased.
Hermione looked up at Ron, who was still stony-faced. She didn't know what to do. There was nothing she could say. The only thing she could think to do was squeeze his hand as hard as she could, so she did. He looked down at her for the first time since they had met McGonagall in the entrance hall. His blue eyes were worried, but he squeezed her hand back gently. Hermione then lifted the back of his hand to her lips and kissed it softly.
McGonagall cleared her throat calling Hermione and Ron's attention. Harry was prying Ginny's fingers from about his neck, but he did not release her hand as they all followed McGonagall up the marble staircase and into her office.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: OMG! This chapter gave me so much trouble! First I didn't get to post it 8-18 b/c of writer's block and then 8-19 I had a lot of interruptions… including my Internet not working properly! ARGH! I logged on at about five o'clock to post this and my Internet was down, and then it remained down for-EVER! Well, anyways… I'm sorry it's taken a while for this chapter to be posted. I hope it was enjoyable… I was frustrated with Internet problems and such while writing it, so I hope it didn't affect my writing.
But, ah well…Time to move on! Chapter 37 is coming up next! Thanks everyone for reviewing!