Chapter 13

"So," Ginny said as she came back in the room and dropped a pile of clothing on the bed next to Hermione, "you and Ron finally...saw the light?"

"Is that a subtle way of asking if we..." Hermione let the unfinished sentence speak for itself as she picked up a green shirt and studied it. It wasn't exactly something she'd choose. The wispy flowing material that the sleeves were made out of was a bit too feminine for her tastes.

"Did you?" Ginny asked with a grin.

"Of course not," Hermione replied as she felt her face heat up. "We just kissed a bit, that's all."

"Looked like it was a bit more than that to me," Ginny teased. "Or are you forgetting you were topless when I walked in?"

Hermione bit her lower lip and cocked her head to one side as if she were contemplating how to respond. She knew that it was going to be easier to tell Ginny. That wasn't what was holding her back. She knew Ginny would understand and she would certainly be able to help her deal with Ron's reaction. The problem was, Hermione knew that if it worked, Ginny would want to do it too. That created an entirely different set of problems. Ron's protective tendencies towards his sister being one. And Harry? Harry would flat out refuse to let Ginny do something so drastic. Of course Hermione didn't want Ginny involved either. Yet at the same time, she realized there was no way they were going to keep her out of it. Like it or not, Ginny was going to make sure she got involved. But not yet, Hermione told herself.

"I was going to teach him something and then changed my mind," Hermione finally answered. Actually I'm going to teach you too, she thought as she spread the pile of clothing out, hoping to find her own shirt amongst the ones Ginny brought for her to chose from. You just don't know it yet.

"I don't even want to know," Ginny scoffed as she watched Hermione search through the shirts. "Mum tossed all your clothes in the bin," Ginny said when she realized what Hermione was looking for. "You'd think they were all contaminated or something. She wouldn't even let Dad touch them."

"Everything?" Hermione questioned.

"Except your trainers," Ginny informed her. "And that muggle money you had in your pockets."

"Oh well," Hermione said, slipping the green shirt on over her head. "This is a bit tight, Gin," she continued, grabbing the front of the shirt and pulling on it in and attempt to stretch it out.

"Mum can enlarge it for you when we get downstairs," Ginny replied. "Probably ought to have her do it before Ron sees you, or he'll run off and take another shower."

"You shouldn't tease him."

"Me? You're the one that 'teased' him into the shower," Ginny chuckled. "Besides, you better get used to it, because Fred and George are going to be merciless."

"I'll show those two merciless," Hermione muttered to herself as she slipped on a pair of white cotton shorts. Hermione stared off into space for a few moments, obviously contemplating something. When she looked back at Ginny, she noticed her red headed friend looked rather amused. "Listen Gin, I have to ask you a favor."

"Ok...er... wait a minute," Ginny replied. "This isn't going to end with Ron sneaking into my room in the middle of the night is it?"

"No," Hermione said. "Honestly, I think we can control ourselves."

"You have met my brother, Ron, right?" Ginny asked sarcastically. "Tall bloke. Red hair. Never stops to think before he speaks or acts. Oh yeah, I'm sure he can control himself. For all of about 5 seconds," she laughed. "So anyway, about this favor?"

"Please don't tell Harry that Ron and I are... you know...together."

"Why not?" Ginny asked, clearly surprised by the request. "He's been waiting long enough for you two to come to your senses."

"It's just not the best time right now. He's having a hard time of it, and he's all alone, and well... Ron thinks it would be better if we waited until he was a bit happier himself... you know. Once he's away from those awful muggles and all. I'd just rather I was the one to tell him, if you don't mind."

Ginny considered what Hermione said for a few moments before she replied. "Ok. I guess that makes sense. He won't hear it from me."

"Thanks Gin," Hermione replied as she grabbed the dressing gown off the chair and slipped it on over her clothes. "That doesn't mean you can't write and talk to him about... other things though," Hermione added with a knowing smile.

"I wouldn't know what to say."

"Well you could start by telling him that I really am all right, because he'll believe it coming from you as opposed to Ron or myself," Hermione suggested. "You could tell him how your summer has been so far. You could simply tell him that you were thinking about him and thought you'd write to say hi. Or... you can tell him how I've been reduced to wearing your clothes which happen to be 'as green as a fresh pickled toad'," Hermione chuckled.

"OH SHUT UP!" Ginny said defensively. "I don't fancy Harry anymore."

"If you say so, Gin," Hermione replied as she walked out into the hallway. She couldn't help but be amused by just how similar Ron and Ginny really were sometimes.

"I don't," Ginny protested as she followed Hermione towards the stairs.

....................

When the girls enter the kitchen, they were surprised to discover that Ron had beaten them downstairs. He hadn't been kidding when he said his shower was going to be quick. He'd obviously taken one, because his hair was still damp. But how he managed to take a shower, get dressed, and beat them to the kitchen, Ginny couldn't begin to understand. Ron was notoriously slow in the morning. In fact, his mother usually had to shout at him two or three times before he'd actually show up for breakfast. Yet here he sat, his arms crossed in front of his chest, glaring at Fred and George.

Aww, Ginny thought as she noted the gleeful expressions the twins wore. Suddenly it all made sense. Ginny rolled her eyes when she saw Fred elbow George and then grin wickedly as he watched Hermione slowly cross the kitchen and ease herself into an empty chair next to Ron.

"Morning, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, too busy with her cooking to look up. "I hope you slept well," she added. Ginny watched Fred and George smirk at each other as she took her own seat at the table. "You must be starving. There's toast on the table," Mrs. Weasley continued.

"A bit tender this morning, are you?" George asked Hermione before she had a chance to reply to his mother. He wasn't about to let the two of them start a conversation. It would completely ruin the plan.

"You'd expect that though," his twin brother snickered. "It's normal to feel that way after... OUCH!" Fred cried when Ron's foot collided with his shin under the table. "Bloody Hell. That hurt."

Mrs. Weasley turned away from the stove and shot a warning glare at her sons and then returned to her cooking.

"Sorry," Ron mumbled. But even as he apologized, he fixed Fred with a glare that let him know he wasn't sorry at all.

I told you to leave her alone, Ron thought as he reached out and grabbed a piece of toast off the plate in the center of the table. He ventured a quick look over at Hermione to judge her reaction, then locked his eyes on his brothers again. This isn't good, he told himself after he noted Hermione's expressionless face. Ron knew her well enough to know that she dealt with teasing one of two ways. Occasionally she would get flustered and try and flee, but more often then not, she'd simply put up a brave front and pretend that it didn't bother her. She assumed that if she didn't react, people would get bored and find someone else to bother. That might work with most people, Ron told himself. But Fred and George will NEVER give up. If she doesn't react, they'll just kick it up a notch or two and go after her until they see her resolve crack.

"How would you like your eggs, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked Hermione.

"Scrambled," she replied. "If you don't mind."

"Not at all," Mrs. Weasley said, reaching for a basket of eggs on the counter.

"A bit of a grouch this morning, are we?" George asked Ron. "What's the matter? Didn't you get any sleep?"

"You'd think he'd be a bit more relaxed," Fred chuckled, scooting his chair away from the table just enough to ensure he was out of the range of Ron's feet. "Considering what you saw this morning," he continued, arching his eyebrows suggestively at George.

George's eyes darted over to look at Hermione in an attempt to gauge her reaction. He was disappointed when he noticed that she looked rather bored. Ron, on the other hand was clearly incensed. George couldn't help but smile as he watched his younger brother struggle to keep his anger in check while he jabbed his knife into the jar of jam and then plopped a huge glob of it onto his toast.

"Here you go, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, dumping a large pile of bacon onto Hermione's plate. When she was sure Hermione had enough, she divided the rest between Ron and Ginny, then she turned around to finish cooking the eggs.

Ron lifted the toast up to his mouth, his eyes still on his brothers, and took a bite. As he did, a large portion of the jam slid down the bread and came to rest on his wrist. He dropped his toast on his plate and was just about to reach for his napkin to clean it off when he felt Hermione grasp his hand and turn it towards herself. Ron turned to question her, but found himself unable to speak when she leaned forward, darted her tongue out, and seductively licked the jam off his wrist.

George gawked at her in absolute disbelief.

Fred, who had unfortunately chosen that exact moment to take a drink of his pumpkin juice was forced to spit it across the table to stop himself from choking.

"What's the matter with you?" Mrs. Weasley asked irritably as she turned around and glared at Fred. "Honestly. You'd think that you were raised by a pack of wolves the way you behave at the table."

"S... sorry... Mum," Fred coughed, still goggling at Hermione who was now eating her bacon as if nothing had happened. "I guess it just went down the wrong way."

"Honestly," Mrs. Weasley said as she shook her head and doled the eggs out between Ron, Ginny, and Hermione.

Looking across the table at the expressions of astonishment plastered across the twin's faces, Ginny started to giggle. When she looked over at Ron, and realized he was just as gobsmacked as they were, she laughed even louder.

"George," Mrs. Weasley said, "Do me a favor and clean this mess up now that you're done with your breakfast," she said, pointing to the pans she'd placed in the sink. "And for Merlin's sake, wipe off that table," she added to Fred.

"What do we look like?" George cried

"Bloody house elves?" Fred finished.

"It won't hurt you two to do a little housework every now and then. It isn't like I asked you to clean your room."

"No, you asked us to clean Ron's," George grumbled under his breath.

"I'll be gone most of the morning," Mrs. Weasley informed them, as she grabbed her cloak off a hook by the fireplace. "If you need anything," she said, ignoring the twins and looking at the other three, "you can ask your father. He's taken the day off work." That said, she vanished from the kitchen with a pop.

The instant she was gone, Fred and George began to grin like two identical Cheshire cats.

"Oh no," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "Here we go."

"SO..." Fred said, looking as if Christmas had just come early.

"Did you two...sleep well?" George asked with a smirk.

Ron glanced over at Hermione and saw her roll her eyes. Ok, so maybe it really isn't bothering her, he reflected.

"You looked pretty cozy this morning," George laughed.

"I would have thought you'd be smart enough to close the door," Fred added.

"Hell, I would have locked it and shielded the room," George continued. "But then... you two aren't old enough to do THAT yet, are you?"

"Shut up!" Ginny said, as she watched Ron glare murderously at his brothers.

"Maybe they'll make an exception now that Ickle Ronniekins is a man," Fred said and both the twins erupted in a fit of laughter.

"THAT'S IT!" Ron shouted, as he pushed his chair away from the table and stood up, obviously prepared to launch himself right over the table to get at his brothers if they opened their mouths again.

Hermione reached up, grabbed his hand, and then shook her head when he looked down at her.

Ron flopped back down in his chair in a huff, crossed his arms, and glowered at his brothers menacingly.

Fred and George exchanged a look. So far they had concentrated most of their ribbing on Ron, knowing that even subtle innuendos, especially when made in the presence of their mother, would get under his skin. They had assumed that Hermione would be equally affected. They hadn't expected her to be unfazed by their insinuations. Even more unexpectedly, she had called their bluff and turned the tables on them by performing what could only be interpreted as a sexual act on their brother right under their mother's nose. With a silent look they agreed that she would have to pay. They had been too easy on her. They would have to reclaim control of the situation. But they'd have to do it delicately or Ron would come to her defense, whether she wanted him to or not.

"So that's the way it is now, is it?" Fred asked.

"Got Ickle Ronnie wrapped around your little finger?"

"You snap them and he heels like a good widdle boy," Fred laughed.

"Better give him a treat?" George said, pushing the jar of jam towards Hermione. "Or he might start growling again."

"You think you're very clever, don't you?" Hermione asked condescendingly.

"Never in my wildest dreams," Fred declared, "would have I expected to see the prim and proper Hermione Granger..."

"Bookworm extraordinaire..." George added.

"...do something so brazen."

"Clearly you've been holding out on us," George snickered.

"It's always the quiet ones, isn't it?" Fred scoffed.

Hermione just snorted, and shook her head at them as she continued to eat her breakfast.

"Tell us Hermione..." George began.

"Did Ron teach you that little trick last night, or did you learn it... somewhere else?" Fred finished.

"WATCH IT!" Ron shouted angrily.

"It isn't going to work," Hermione stated calmly. "You aren't going to embarrass me."

Fred and George glanced at each other and silently agreed they'd have to take it up another notch.

"I'm not ashamed of it," Hermione said locking her eyes on the twins seated across from her and staring at them defiantly. "I'll even admit it for you if you'd like me to."

"Admit it then," George said even though he wasn't sure what she was going to own up to.

"I fancy Ron," Hermione replied, completely straight-faced. It took a great deal of effort on her part, to hide the fact she was both agitated and annoyed, but she managed to do it.

For a moment, neither one of the twins was sure how to react. They just sat there staring at her. Then the side of Fred's mouth curled up into a roguish smirk.

"Then snog him," Fred demanded.

"What?" Hermione asked, in a scandalized tone of voice.

The twins ventured a quick glance at one another, sensing their victory was close at hand. They had gotten to her.

"You heard me," Fred replied. "SNOG HIM!"

"Right here at the kitchen table," George added.

"In front of all of us," Fred continued.

"I've already seen it, thanks," Ginny muttered, as she stabbed her eggs with her fork and brought a large clump up to her mouth.

Ginny's comment took Fred and George by surprise, but they managed to cover it up quickly.

"You two are mad," Hermione declared, causing them both to dissolve into a wave of laughter. "Barking mad," she clarified.

The twins turned to face her with identical smirks.

Ron instantly saw their mistake and he bit his lip as he fought to suppress a smirk of his own. You almost had her and then you had to go and get smug about it, Ron thought to himself. Too bad you don't know her like I do, or you'd know that there is nothing that irritates Hermione more than some condescending prat that thinks he has her beaten.

"So much for not being embarrassed," George chuckled.

"I am not embarrassed," Hermione lied smoothly.

"Then snog him," Fred chuckled.

"I will not," Hermione stated in a dignified manner. "It would be inappropriate."

"Inappropriate?" Fred cried and erupted into another fit of laughter.

"Let me get this straight," George snickered. "You won't snog him at the kitchen table because that would be... inappropriate?"

"But you'll lick him?" Fred added. "How appropriate was that?"

"I suppose you are right," Hermione admitted with a sigh as she turned to look at Ron.

BLOODY HELL! his mind cried. She's going to do it. Wait a minute... Ron thought, trying not to smile. She's going to do it.

"So you admit that we are right?" Fred asked.

Hermione's only answer was to shrug her shoulders an instant before she leaned forward and kissed Ron softly on the lips. She lingered there for a few seconds, then pulled away.

"That's not a proper snog," George laughed.

"Yeah," Fred added. "The kiss Mum laid on him when he became a prefect was better than that."

"SOD OFF!" Ron cried, as his face flushed. He would have given just about anything not to have Harry and Hermione witness that mortifying incident. Leave it to Fred to bring it up when he least suspected it.

"Oh, it was to be a proper snog, was it?" Hermione said. "Well in that case..." She quickly stood up and to Ron's surprise, she ended up sitting on his lap. "Is this what you had in mind?" Hermione asked, as she dipped two fingers into the jar of jam George had pushed at her earlier, then brought them up, and ran them over Ron's lips.

Not thinking, Ron darted his tongue out instinctually to lick the jam off his upper lip, then realized what she was going to do and forced himself to leave it there.

Fred and George watched with wide eyes as Hermione licked her fingers and then pushed them into her mouth.

Ginny groaned and dropped her head to the table so she wouldn't have to watch Hermione suck them clean as she pulled them out again.

Finished with her fingers, Hermione looked at Ron and licked her lips.

Bloody Hell, Ron thought, his eyes nearly as wide as his brothers. Again he had to fight the urge to lick his own lips, this time in anticipation.

"Ron?" Mr. Weasley asked as he pushed the door open and popped his head in the kitchen. "Can I have a word with you in the living room when you're finished with ...," the rest of his sentence died on his lips when he noticed exactly where Hermione was sitting. His eyes widened a bit and he watched his son and Hermione both jump to their feet. Ron instantly swiped his hand over his mouth and both of them blushed furiously.

Fred and George's laughter instantly filled the awkward silence in the room.

"Who would have ever thought Dad would be the one to get to her?" George snickered.

"SHUT UP!" Ron shouted at his brothers.

"Ron? Can I see you in the living room?" Mr. Weasley asked, deciding it may not be wise to let him finish his breakfast because he'd likely try and disappear afterwards.

Ron looked over at Hermione nervously and then back at his brothers, who were still laughing like a couple of idiots. "Right now?" he asked his father, reluctant to leave her alone with them.

"Oh I see," Mr. Weasley chuckled. "Giving her a hard time are they?" he asked. "You two," Mr. Weasley said sternly to the twins, causing them to laugh even harder. "Whatever you're doing, knock it off," he ordered as he gave Hermione an encouraging smile. "Or I'll tell your mother."

It was his threat to tell their mother that sobered the twins up. They knew that she would go ballistic.

"Thanks, Mr. Weasley," Hermione said as she walked her empty plate over to the sink. "But that won't be necessary. I'm used to dealing with them."

Mr. Weasley shrugged his shoulders and looked at his youngest son once more. "Ron?"

"Yeah, ok," Ron said, shoveling some eggs into his mouth before he put the rest of his bacon on a piece of toast, folded it in half, and rose up out of his chair. He halted at the doorway just long enough to glare at his brothers one last time and then followed his father into the living room.