A/N: This story is more popular than I expected. Some major fluff ahead. In case anyone is confused, this takes place the March after their seventh year.
Disclaimer: (Insert some witty phrase about not owning Harry Potter here)
So Sick of It
KiahWMConnie
Chapter 5
Ron woke up, not quite ready to get out of bed. He rolled over in his bed and buried his face in the pillow. In just an hour or two, he would have to get up to go to work.
'Only three more days until the weekend,' he mentally encouraged himself, 'Come on legs. Do your thing.'
Groaning, he rolled out of bed and fell flat on the floor.
'Nice job, legs,' he thought sarcastically, but was able to eventually stand up.
He reached as high as he could while standing on his toes to stretch his entire body. As he was stretching, he opened his eyes and looked up. His fingers were less than a foot away from the touching the ceiling. He had really grown in the past couple of years...That or the ceiling was extremely low. Heck, for all Ron cared, it could have been both. Putting his arms down, he yawned and scratched his chin. He felt short, prickly hairs along his jaw. This was perfect.
"Ohhh, great!" Ron groaned, "I need to shave, and there's probably not a razor anywhere in this apartment. Just my luck..."
"Ron? Are you up yet?" he heard Hermione's voice outside of his room.
"Yeah, I'm up!"
"Good. Hurry up and get dressed!"
Ron decided he'd go a day or two without shaving and worry about the problem later. Right now, he had bigger things on his mind...like breakfast.
He soon opened his closet and admired the new clothes hanging in it. He took a plain white one and pulled it over his head. He pulled it close to his nose and sucked in the scent of the store it still had. For once in his life, his clothes didn't smell like one of his brothers. It was a great feeling. Ron would have to think of a great way to thank Hermione.
The fast few days began to play in his head. Hermione...where would he be without her? She had cetaintly changed over the past few years. A war could do that to a person. Sure, she was still a bit bossy and she was undoubtably still a genius, but now, there was a definite kindness and generousity in her. Ron was glad that his friend had grown up, just as he had. He thought for quite a while about her. Would he ever tell her how he felt?
Back in their sixth year, he had finally realized the crush he had on her, but the upcoming war prevented him from ever telling her. His feelings went unmentioned throughout the fighting, and before he knew it, they had drifted apart. Ron thought he had gotten over it, but now, he was living with her. Old feelings had begun to resurface.
Suddenly noticing the time, he shook his head from all of his thoughts. Yawning, he wandered into the kitchen.
"Morning, Ron," Hermione casually said, "I'm running a bit behind, so you'll have to make your own breakfast today."
"S'ok," Ron laughed, "I may be helpless in a store, but I can make my own bowl of cereal."
"Hey! You're wearing one of your new shirts! How does it fit?"
"Great!" he beamed.
He moved to where the bowls were and picked up a random cereal box. He never really cared which one he ever got. Hermione began putting some freshly-cleaned dishes up while Ron poured the milk and began munching away.
Ron made a strange face. The cereal was rather odd tasting. It was extremely crunchy and almost tasted like...meat. Heignored it, though.
"So," he said through a mouthful of cereal, "Do you work just weekdays, 'cause I do."
"Yes, I-"Hermione turned to face Ron. When she looked at his bowl, she gasped.
"RON!"
"What?" his eyes went almost as wide as Hermione's.
"THAT'S THE CAT'S FOOD!"
Ron looked down at his bowl. The 'cereal' was shaped in little brown fishes.
"Blech!" Ron dropped the bowl on the ground and rushed to the sink and began spitting out all that was in his mouth. He turned on the sink and washed out his mouth thoroughly. After he had somewhat gotten the taste out of his mouth, he cringed. Hermione would probably be furious. Then he heard laughing.
Laughing? He turned around, and sure enough, Hermione had a hand over her mouth, trying to contain her laughs and failing miserably. Ron was extremely embarrassed, though relieved that Hermione wasn't angry.
Turning red, he began muttering apologies as he bent down to clean up the mess he'd made. Thankfully, the bowl hadn't broken, but there was milk and wet cat food everywhere. He quickly bent down and wiped up the mess as Hermione stopped laughing.
"Are you okay now?" she asked, still slightly chuckling.
"Y-yeah. I'm sorry though."
"Oh, don't be. That was even funnier than you trying to fit into that tiny shirt," she took the bowl from his hand, lightly brushing it with her own.
Ron turned redder, though he wasn't sure if it was from her comment or her light touch. He finished wiping up the milk when he heard a low rumble that he assumed to be the cat. He turned around, still on his knees, and saw the same ginger-haired, yellow-eyed creature that liked to torment him back in school.
"Crookshanks?" Ron asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Hermione answered, "You mean the whole time you've been here, you haven't noticed him?"
"This thing is still breathing?"
Hermione sighed and rubbed her forehead, "Listen, there's other kinds of cereal if you still want-"
"No thanks," Ron groaned, "I don't feel like eating, now."
Hermione made it to work early again. She assumed her position behind the desk before she took her coat off. As she pulled it off, she heard the smallest of a crinkle. Suddenly, she remembered the letter from last night.
'Oh, no!' she thought, 'I forgot to talk to Ron about that! But...what would I talk to him about?' she asked herself. She wanted to tell Ron about the letter, but she was afraid of how he would handle it. Whould he be relieved or angry that someone was looking for him?
"Hermione!" Emily called from the hallway, "Come on! The lecture starts in ten minutes!"
"Oh, right!" Hermione snapped out of her thoughts, though she knew they wouldn't be gone forever.
Ron streched his back and arms as he entered the apartment. Today was rather boring compared to the past few days. He found Hermione already home and in the living room on the couch.
"I see you're home," she said casually.
Ron gave a small smile, "Yeah."
She said it was 'home.' It was a good feeling to Ron. He was certaintly more relaxed here than at the Burrow. The longer he stayed with Hermione, he decided, the more he might get used to it...
'Wait,' he suddenly thought, 'What am I thinking? I'm not going to be here forever! What made me think that?'
"Ron," Hermione said tentatively, interrupting his thought process.
"Yes?"
"Um...sit down."
He did as she commanded and sat on the opposite end of the couch from her.
She took a deep breath and said, "I've been wondering...has your father or Percy tried to reach you at your office?"
Ron was quiet for a second. He replied, "No. And I doubt they ever will either."
"But, why?"
Ron took a long sigh and leaned back in the couch, "Well...Dad won't because he's hard-headed like that. He was never really one to jump up and take action. I think he expects me to come back on my own instead. Something about being responsible enough to do that...I think it's going to be like his argument with Percy a few years ago."
"But he was angry at Percy because, and I'm sorry for saying this, he was a downright git at the time! You're predicament is understandible. And why wouldn't Percy try and reach you? He should understand what you're going through."
"Because he's afraid he'll wind up like Fred," he replied half-sarcastically, "Besides, it's like you said, he was a downright git at the time, and he knows it! But me..." he trailed off.
"What about you?" Hermione pressed on, "Why is it different?"
Ron took another deep breath, "When Percy left, it was very clear to all of us why he left. But me...They have no clue why I punched Fred, much less why left the Burrow. They don't know about my forgotten birthday because it's forgotten. I know it's probably confusing as hell to them, and I knew it when I left. But I couldn't bring myself to tell them before I left."
They were quiet for a long time. Hermione's mind raced. Ron gave good reasons why his father or Percy wouldn't send a letter. She tried again.
"What about any of your other family?" Hermione tried to make it sound like casual thoughts that just floated in her mind.
"I don't know," Ron shrugged. To him, Hermione was just being her own quizzical self.
"Ron," she began, "I'm sure you've tried not to think about this too much, and that's understandable. But I'm curious what you think the others are doing right now. And don't just say, 'Probably forgetting about me' either, because I know them better than that!"
Ron looked surprised, but still tried to think about it. He thought back to the night he left. It was a harsh memory he didn't like playing in his head, but he forced himself to do it. He went over some of the details of his siblings that he barely noticed that night. He couldn't remember any sort of special reaction from any of them. Everyone just seemed to be fine until he punched Fred, then they were all shocked or stunned.
"I don't know..." Ron finally said, "I think they'd still be recovering from the shock."
Hermione sighed sympathetically. That was probably true. She was still recovering from the shock a bit, herself.
Without warning, Ron leaned forward and buried his head in his hands. He let out a long sigh. His head was close to his knees. Hermione expected him to come up and say something, but he didn't. He remained there for several long moments.
"Ron?"
There was a pause, but he replied, "Am I just kidding myself, Hermione?" he remained bent down with his face hidden, "I mean...I love my family, I really do but...this time..." he struggled for a moment, "There's just a certain point where a man can't take it anymore."
"Hey," she said in her most sympathetic voice and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Everyone has their moments like that. Just last year, I had a major argument with my family. You're not the only one. Don't worry, things will work themselves out."
Ron didn't respond. Why did this have to happen to him? And Hermione...she was being so supportive right now. He didn't deserve to be under her roof. He didn't deserve a lot of things, yet he was blessed enough to have a friend like her watch out for him. Was he just being selfish? Was walking out on his family really necessary? Tears began to well up in his eyes.
'No,' he pleaded with himself, 'Not now. Please not now...'
"Ron," Hermione said a little stronger, "Look at me."
Ron did notlook at her. Instead, he bent down even lower.
"Ron," Hermione tried to physically get him to look at her, "Damn it, Ron, look at me," her task proved quite difficult, as Ron was quite a bit larger now than back in his school days, "RON!"
"What?" he shot up without warning. His eyes were glistening and his voice sounded very tight, "Are you happy now? Do you enjoy seeing me like this?" he began to shout, his tears threatining to spill any second.
"Ron!" Hermione shouted back, "Calm down! What's wrong with being like that?" she grabbed his shoulders with her hands.
Ron didn't respond. He hung his head to not look at her. He began shaking slightly and mumbled, "I haven't...not since...I'm...sorry...I just..." he swallowed hard, "I haven't..."
"What?" Hermione almost whispered, "...cry?"
"I'm not going to," he shook his head. Ron was getting a little drastic now, "I haven't since Dumbledore's funeral...not even during the war. I can't now. I need to be strong-"
"Listen to me Ron," she stopped him, "Do you know why women, on average, live five years longer than men do? It's because we cry more often. It isn't whether or not you're strong enough to not cry, it's whether or not you're stong enough to cry. It's whether or not you're willing to be vulnerable," her voice got softer, "It's okay, Ron, it's just me here. You can let yourself go around me any time. That's why I'm here."
Ron finally looked into her eyes. His eyes, Hermione noticed, shone a brilliant blue as a single tear fell down his long nose. Her big, brown eyes began to water as well. Suddenly, she shot forward and wrapped her arms around Ron's strong build.
"H-Hermione!" he blushed a deep crimson, "W-wha-?"
"Shut up, Ron," she demanded as she closed her eyes, blushing as well.
Ron was speechless. He placed his arms around Hermione's frame, being more confident than he really was. He felt her stiffen slightly at his touch, but she quickly loosened back up. Ron looked down at the girl, no, woman in his arms. She looked so tiny and helpless compared to him, as if she'd break if he applied the least amount of strength to her. Ron quickly corrected himself. This was Hermione. She was the strongest woman he knew. No matter what he could throw at her, she would be able to defend herself with perfection. If anyone was helpless, it was him. Yet here she was, hugging him, and he was hugging her back. It was the oddest feeling. He was very awkward, but at the same time, very comforted by this moment.
Hermione took long breaths, taking in Ron's scent. He smelled like freshly cut grass. It reminded her of the Burrow, which was probably where he developed the scent.
"H-hermione," Ron slowly released his embrace and looked at her. 'I think I like you. C'mon, Ron. You can do it. Just tell her. Now's the perfect time!'
"Yes?" she sat up and looked at him.
'Oh, come on! It's one simple little sentence. Just say it! But...how will she respond? She's just a friend right? You git! She lets you live in your house and she just hugged you! Tell her!' he mentally argued with himself.
"What is it?" she got a concerned look on her face.
"I...I think..." he said very slowly.
A few seconds seemed like an eternity. Ron was sure he looked like an idiot with his mouth gaping open, but no words coming out. Eventually, he gave up. He looked away and rose to his feet. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration as Hermione was left sitting on the couch. What was wrong with him? Did his backbone suddenly decide to just get up and leave?
"Ron," Hermione said firmly as she rose and walked over to him, "I want you to take tomorrow off."
"What?" he spun around in surprise, "You can't be serious?"
"I'm a nurse, Ron. I believe I know what I'm talking about. You have way too much stress in your private life to worry about work for the moment. You need a day off to rest or you'll crack at work, which could very well get you fired. Better safe than sorry."
"But I-"
"I'll write them in the morning, and it's not like you've skipped work often before. They'll understand, trust me."
It was just like Hermione to decide things on her own like that. She had been doing it the whole time he had been here. Ron gave a small, defeated smile. He really didn't deserve her.
A/N: And the sap hits the fan...please excuse the crappy pun.
Sorry it took a little longer for me to write this chapter. I really like this chapter, so I wanted it to be really good. I'm sorry if I made Ron seem like a pansy. It's just that the thought of such a strong guy crying is, well...hott. There, I said it. Flame me if you want. They will be used to barbeque my lunch.
Oh, and I feel the need to mention this: For inspiration for Ron's emotions, I kind of dug into my own. I'm the baby of my family as well, so I definitely know where he's coming from...especially about the hand-me-downs. Okay, enough whining from me. Hope you enjoyed!
Please review!