A/N:
Hello everyone! Time's up and here is my story all for your enjoyment… I'm stopping here since I know you want to read my story now…
Disclaimer: Wish I may, wish I might. Oh, man, I think my star's broken… It won't grant my wish… I mean, all I want is to own Harry Potter…;-)
Who Knows
By: Carla P.
Chapter 7- The Request
Harry woke up that morning with thoughts swimming through his head. His fight with Ron, Hermione, their visit to Hagrid, Hermione, the scene by the lake, Hermione, talking Quidditch, oh why not admit it, he was really thinking about Hermione. What a good friend she was and what a special person she was…
Harry's head suddenly snapped up and to stop his mind from thinking such traitorous thoughts, he glanced around the boys' dormitory. More specifically, at Ron's four poster. Noting that he was still asleep, Harry thought of going back to sleep himself. So he laid his head back down on his pillow.
After a couple of minutes of trying futilely to go back to sleep, Harry finally decided to rise from bed. He gropes at his bedside table for his glasses. The glasses he took off after he saw that Ron was still asleep.The first thing he did when he had donned his spectacles was glance at the clock hanging on the far wall of their dormitory. Noting that it was only a few minutes before six, Harry let out a groan, as it was an unearthly time of the day. Realizing that the best thing to do was ready his self for the day ahead, he got out of bed and proceeded to put on some ordinary clothes. It was Sunday, after all.
In his mind, Harry had a feeling that today had to be the day he made up with Ron. Of course, there was no denying the fact that he was feeling a certain sense of foreboding but that was to be expected if he was to confront the friend he had had for over 6 years.
With these thoughts swimming around in his head, Harry left the dormitory and started down to the common room. He heaved a huge of relief when it was established that he was all alone in the room, of course it being early, that was obvious.
He strode purposefully to a chair near the foot of the stairs and facing the door leading to the common room. When he reached the high backed arm chair he slowly lowered himself to the soft material. He gripped the arms of the chair and settled his eyes on the foot of the stairs. With each passing second he heard the clock ticking as its sound echoed loudly in the room.
About a half an hour later, in bed, Ron's eyes snapped open. He moaned as he was disturbed from such a fascinating dream. He tried to force himself to fall asleep again or at least to remember what the dream was about. But he couldn't do either so with a small whine, he sat up on bed, brooding about the events of the past few days. The great muddle that was his friendship with Harry and the fact that, maybe, Hermione knew of his feelings for her.
With a roll of his eyes, and incoherent grumbling, Ron finally decided that getting up was the best thing to do unless he wanted to drive himself insane. When he was finally on his feet, the first thing he did was glimpse at Harry's bed. Discovering that it was empty, he came to the conclusion that Harry must have been up before him. Looking at the time, which was 6;30 in the morning, he had that sinking feeling that if he went down to the common room, they would be all alone and that would conclude in an enormous battle of wills ending in an inevitable confrontation.
Realizing that turning back would be cowardice, Ron straightened himself and proceeded towards the door with an air of pretend dignity. He took in a huge breath of fresh air as he twisted the knob on the door.
Harry caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. It was the door, he thought. 'It's time, yes, it's time.' Harry tensed as he heard Ron's footfall in going down the stairs. He moved not a single part of his body and his eyes remained fixed on the foot of the stairs he had been staring at for a long 30 minutes. But even though he couldn't see, he could sense and the moment before Ron reached Harry's line of vision, he moved and stared at the red-haired boy, the challenge visible in his eyes.
Ron tensed up the moment he pushed the door open and found out that he had assumed correctly. They were going to be alone in the common room. And, yes, it was obvious that a confrontation was in order, as Harry looked ready for battle. With each step, the echoing sound ominous, the muscles in his body became more and more tense. A step to go and he would face his destiny when suddenly, for the first time, Harry moved. Run almost quaked with fear when he saw the challenge so visible in Harry's eyes.
'He acts brave but he seems scared.' Harry thought with a laugh, 'Well, let's start this.' "Good Morning, Ron." Deciding that it would be stupid not to answer, Run replied, more like grumbled, "Good Morning, Harry…" The tone of his voice containing a note of something incomprehensible.
Harry fought the urge to raise his eyebrows or to snigger. After all, they had something to settle, it wouldn't do good to turn the whole thing into a comedy. Instead, he countered it with a, "Don't know 'bout that 'good', Ron." Harry's tone of voice was cold and biting, showing all the things that was ailing him. "After all, if I remember correctly, I spent a miserable day yesterday and, of course, it was because of you. Though the thing is, you really don't care do you?" Harry's voice was as cold as winter and as sharp as a knife. It pierced through Ron's inner self but instead of feeling sorry or repentant, he bristled with the same anger he felt that day in Hogsmeade. He answered in same, "Well you're not in the running for friend-of-the-year, either, you know!" Harry raised an eyebrow but offered no reply, so Ron deemed it best to go on with his oration, "I mean, you know that I like Hermione and what do I find you in just a couple of days ago? Betrayal, that's what I call it."
Harry was brimming with anger but he had promised that he would settle this calmly or not at all. So he merely crossed his arms over his chest and finally replied, "Ha, you really think that was a betrayal? The problem with you, Ron, is that you jump to conclusions without asking people just because you're a paranoid, insecure and insensitive prat. So don't go telling me that I betrayed our friendship. What with your attitude and all, I wouldn't exactly call it a friendship."
Ron stood there, quietly assessing Harry's cold, bitter and surprisingly, guilt-inducing words. He, thought, "It's true that he didn't go behind my back… but I still really like Hermione, only one thing for it."
Harry had been standing there, waiting till Ron came to his senses, he saw the emotions in his eyes and he couldn't help but hope that everything was alright between them again. He almost jumped from surprise at as Ron opened his mouth to speak.
Ron said, "Seen your point, mate… And I admit I'm really sorry for being a prat, as you say." He shifted from one foot to the other as though he had something really stupid or hard to say.
Harry was nearly startled at the pained expression on Ron's face. He had expected him to be sorry, annoyed maybe, and angry even. But not that look of deep thought and concentration. Without realizing it, Harry inclined his to one side and Ron was caught by surprise at this movement that he nearly shouted, "Alright! I'll tell you already!"
Harry's eyebrows drew together at the outburst more from bewilderment than surprise. But Ron continued what he had started, "You see, Harry, I have a little request that I hope you could possibly?" Harry stared more intently into his friend's eyes but offered no reply so Ron went on, "Well, mate, seeing as you know I like Hermione, I was hoping that you would steer clear of her. Seeing as that would improve my chances in making her my girl, and all. So, what do you think?"
Had Harry not stopped himself, his answer would have been an extremely long and open jaw. He was, however, rendered speechless by his request that he, more like both of them, didn't notice a slight movement at the top of the stairs...
A/N:
Please pardon the big change in the flow of story from my previous chapter to this one… I promise I'd get to that part… For now, I thought I'd just focus on Ron and Harry (I mean, they've been friends for too long for me to ignore them, right?)
Anyway, I'm so terribly sorry that it took me a month (yes, a month! Or maybe more?) to update.. And to give you a terribly short chapter as this… I'll try to make it up next chappie…
Oh, yeah, I know my ending was totally, boringly predictable but I couldn't think of anything else… That's all for now… till next time…
Oh, thanks again to Kelly for being my beta and being my friend! You, go girl! And, of course, to you, yes you, my RevIEwerS!
LOve
CArLa xXx