Chapter 51

If Ron hadn't known better, he would have sworn that someone cast some sort of time acceleration spell over the castle. One minute it was Friday evening and the next thing he knew, Monday morning was upon him and his entire weekend was gone. Of course the problem wasn't really that the weekend was over, so much as what that meant.

He had to attend classes and in order to do that, he was going to have to leave Gryffindor Tower, something he'd managed to avoid doing over the past two days. That's not to say he hadn't left the tower at all, because periodically he had ventured out for meals, but only at odd times. Or times that were odd for Ron.

Sleeping in the Common Room with Hermione on Friday night had produced unforeseen results. Like the fact that he woke up bright and early on Saturday morning with a rather painful crimp in his neck. But in the end that turned out to be a good thing for several reasons. The main one being that later in the day Hermione had tried to massage it out for him. But the crick had also caused him to wake up far earlier than he normally would have and as a result, the two of them were able to sneak up to their perspective dorms before anyone saw them, get dressed, then go downstairs to the Great Hall for breakfast, and make it back to the Common Room before most of their classmates were even out of bed.

It wasn't until lunch that the problems really started, not that Hermione or Harry seemed to mind or even notice the stares and the whispers that follow the three of them as they traversed the halls. Ron, however, did notice and it bothered him more than he wanted to admit. It wasn't that he was embarrassed about being with Hermione. He was actually proud of that and he wanted people to know, but that didn't mean he wanted them all talking about him behind his back, or right in front of his face for that matter. And the fact that they intentionally kept their voices low and whispered as they talked about him made it even worse, because it could only mean one thing. Whatever it was that they were saying, it wasn't good.

Of course nothing could have been as bad as the things Draco Malfoy said about Hermione once the trio had finished their lunch and wandered back out to the Entrance Hall, where he was lying in wait for them. In the end, Ron wasn't the only one to pull his wand. Harry had as well, but his main motivation had been to ensure that Crabbe and Goyle didn't try and interfere. Things would have gotten pretty ugly if Tonks hadn't come walking down the marble staircase at that precise moment, seen what was about to happen, and stepped in before any curses were actually thrown.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher sided with the Gryffindors, but that didn't stop Hermione from lecturing the two of them all the way up to Gryffindor Tower. That's when Ron decided to purposely alter his dinning habits. He knew that he wouldn't be able to go without meals entirely, but if he avoided the Dinning Hall during peak hours, not only would there be less people around to whisper about him, there was also a good chance that he'd miss Malfoy altogether. Not that he was intimidated by Draco or his slimy friends in the least. But he did enjoy being on speaking terms with Hermione and he knew full well what would happen if he gave Malfoy the opportunity to push his buttons again.

But now that the weekend was over and classes were resuming, there was no way he was going to be able to avoid the Slytherins simply by going down to dinner late. They had Care of Magical Creatures together on Tuesday and even worse, double Potions with them on Wednesday. That's when it would happen. Ron knew it without a shadow of a doubt. That's when Draco would provoke him. Why risk doing it in front of Hagrid, when he could simply wait an extra day and do it right under Snape's hooked nose? Malfoy wouldn't even have to hide what he was doing, because the Potions Master would simply look the other way, until Ron finally lost his temper that is.

"Maybe I ought to just skive off Potions," Ron said to Harry as the two of them got dressed on Wednesday morning. "Where's a Nosebleed Nougat when you need one?"

"Hermione would never buy that," Harry replied.

"I could slip a Puking Pastille into my eggs during breakfast?" Ron suggested. "Maybe a Fainting Fancy? She could scold at me all she wanted then, for all the good it would do, seeing as how I'd be unconscious and all."

"Unless you managed to sneak a Skiving Snackbox into your trunk before you left headquarters, you're out of luck, mate," Harry said, as he sat down and tied his shoes. "You know that Malfoy only says those things when you're around because he knows he'll get a rise out of you," he reminded his friend. "He started in on me and Hermione yesterday, when we went down to lunch without you, but neither of us reacted the way he wanted and eventually he stopped wasting his time. Just try and ignore whatever he says to you today. You know why he's doing it. He just wants to get you in trouble."

Ignore it? Yeah right, Ron thought. "That's easier said than done," he grumbled, snatching his bag off the floor and slinging it over his shoulder. "Do me a favor though," he added, reaching into his robes and producing his wand. "Keep this for me," he said, holding it out for Harry to take, "and don't give it back until we're in D.A.D.A."

"And what if he tries to curse you?" Harry asked, as he stowed his best friend's wand in his own pocket.

I still have my fists, Ron thought. "I suppose I'll have to duck, won't I?" he replied. "You can watch my back from the side, right?" he joked. "Because you probably don't want to get caught standing directly behind me."

"Your ears must be burning Potter. We were just talking about you," Draco drawled, as the three Gryffindors approached the Potions Classroom, "or maybe the inflammation is a bit lower. Of course that's to be expected when you're porking a filthy Mudblood. What about you, Weasel King? You feeling the burn yet?"

"DON'T!" Hermione cried, dropping her rucksack on the floor, grabbing a hold of Ron's arm, and dragging him backwards before he had a chance to push past Harry and wipe that smug smirk off Malfoy's pointed face. "Just... don't," she said a bit softer. "It doesn't matter."

"Shove off Malfoy," Harry replied, allowing his own bag to fall to the floor so it wouldn't be in his way if he needed to act fast.

"We're curious though," Draco continued, as if he hadn't heard him. "How exactly does it work? Do you take it in turns or alternate days or what?" he asked Harry. "Or maybe you only get to have a go at her when Potter's tired of boning her himself," he said to Ron.

"Shut your fucking mouth or I'll shut it for you. Even if I have to break your jaw to do it," Ron growled, clenching his fists at his side.

"I always knew you were pathetic," Draco spat back, "but Christ, don't you have any pride at all? You're actually happy with Potter's cast offs, his sloppy seconds. That's just... well, I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised really. You are a Weasley after all. You're used to hand-me-downs. Everything you've ever owned belonged to someone else first. Used clothes, used books, and now you can add that used up Mudblood cunt to the list."

"YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD!" Ron bellowed, as Hermione gasped beside him and squeezed his arm briefly before changing her mind and releasing her hold on him.

As soon as she removed her hands, Ron started moving, but before he even managed to take two steps forward there was a loud bang and a jet of purple light hit Malfoy square in the chest, knocking him off of his feet and sending him skidding down the hallway. Pansy Parkinson screamed and ran to Draco's side just as Snape's threw the door of the Potions Classroom open and stepped out into the corridor to see what the commotion was.

"Weasley, detention!" he barked, before he even bothered to glance at Malfoy, who had sprouted two identical black feelers on the top of his head. "You two," he added, pointing at Goyle and Theodore Nott, when Malfoy tried to stand up and discovered that he was unable to do anything more than flip over on his stomach and scurry along the floor like an oversize beetle. "Help him get up to the hospital wing."

"Yes, sir," Nott replied before jumping into action.

"Explain," Snape said to Pansy, who had stepped out of the way so Nott and Goyle could pull Draco up and drag him out of the dungeon.

"Potter cursed him," she said.

"For no reason whatsoever," Millicent Bulstrode added.

"Is that so?" Snape asked, turning around and locking his cold black eyes on Harry.

"Yeah, that's right," Harry confessed without the slightest bit of hesitation. "I'm the one that cursed him. And I had a damned good reason."

"Well, in that case it's only fitting that you join Weasley in detention," Snape snarled. "And twenty points from Gryffindor. Each."

"WHAT!" the two Gryffindors shouted in unison.

"You can't give him detention," Harry yelled angrily.

"I didn't even do anything," Ron argued.

"I can and I did," the Potions Master retorted in response to Harry's comment. "You two will remain after class and if either one of you even think about arguing this any further it'll be two detentions," he said, before he turned his back on them and swept back into his classroom, his voluminous black robes billowing out behind him as he went.

"That no good slimy son of a bi..."

"RON!" Hermione cried out in warning. "If he hears you talking about him like that he'll give you another detention or worse, he'll kick you out of class."

"Fuck him," the angry redhead snapped. "At least I'll have the satisfaction of having earned that one," he added, as he watched Harry yanks his bag up off the floor.

"Sorry," Harry said, after taking a deep breath and forcing himself to calm down.

"For what?" Ron asked. "It's not your fault Snape is a two-faced bastard. Besides, I would have done the same thing if I'd had my wand. What did you hit him with anyway?" he whispered, as the three of them followed the remaining Slytherins into class.

"Insect Jinx," Harry replied. "I almost used it on Dudley last year. Interesting to see what it actually does. I didn't mean to get you in trouble though," he admitted. "Actually I was trying to keep you out of it. You already got a months worth of detentions for kicking Malfoy's sorry arse on the train. I figured it was better me than you this time. At least I wouldn't get expelled."

"Silence!" Snape demanded, as the students took their seats. "You've got an hour to copy the instructions off the board and brew your Befuddlement Draughts. Without any help," he added, locking his eyes on Hermione, as if he were speaking directly to her. "When the hour is up you will test your concoctions on each other, finished or not," he added, glaring at Ron and Harry, "and then we'll see just how successful you were. You may begin."

It was well past Midnight when Harry dragged himself up the corridor leading to Gryffindor Tower and entered the Common Room. It had been a ghastly Saturday night, thanks to Snape's revolting detention, and all Harry could think about as he trudged out of the dungeons and made his way back to the tower, was how good a long hot shower would feel. Unfortunately, he was so focused on that thought, that he failed to notice the two girls standing in the far corner of the room when he entered it, or the fact that they were quarrelling about something in inaudible whispers. They however, didn't fail to noticing him.

"Where is he?" Ginny barked, turning her back on Hermione and stalking across the room before Harry could disappear up the steps leading to his dormitory. "Where's Ron? Why isn't he with you?" she asked. The two of them had gone to detention together after all, so if anyone knew where her brother was hiding, it would be Harry.

"He decided to use the Prefects' Bathroom," Harry replied, glancing over his shoulder at the staircase that would take him up to a shower of his own. "Look, it's late and Snape had us scrubbing cauldrons half the night, without the use of magic I might add. I'm covered in goo and to be honest, I don't even want to know what it is. I just want to wash it off and go to bed," he said, moving towards the stairs.

"Well that's just too damned bad," Ginny shouted, the anger in her voice taking Harry completely by surprise.

"What?" he asked, as he spun around and discovered her glowering at him. "What's the matter with you?"

"What's the matter with you?" she shot back. "How could you?"

"How could I what?" Harry asked, trying to stomp down the flicker of irritation he felt course through his body before it found a hold and ignited into something else. He was already in a bad mood thanks to Snape, and he didn't really want to take that out on Ginny. But if she was going to push him now, for no reason whatsoever, he wasn't going to just stand there and take it.

"I thought Hermione was your friend."

"She is," he retorted, narrowing his green eyes at the angry redhead, before shifting his gaze to Hermione, who had joined them by the stairs. "What the hell is she talking about?" he asked his silent friend.

"Oh for Heaven sakes," Hermione said to Ginny instead of answering Harry's question. "How many times do I have to tell you that it's not like that. Will you just calm down and leave Harry alone. He didn't do anything."

"Yeah, that's right," Ginny snapped. "And that's the problem. He didn't do anything. He just sat back and let it happen. He stood there and watched while you... while he... why didn't you bloody stop him?" she shouted at Harry.

"Stop who from what?"

"What the hell is going on in here?" Ron asked, as he entered the room and closed the portrait behind him. "I could hear you all the way out in the hallway," he said to his sister.

"I thought you were going to use the Prefect's Bathroom," Harry said.

"I was," Ron replied, looking down at his filthy clothes, "but then I realized I'd have to put these back on, so I..."

"You...you selfish bastard," Ginny hissed, right before she launched herself at her startled brother. "How could you?" she shrieked, as she grabbed the collar of Ron's grimy button up shirt and tore it open.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" Ron snapped, as he reached out and grabbed his sister's wrists to prevent her from doing any further damage.

"How could you even think about doing something so... so despicable," she asked, staring at the charm hanging around his neck. "You're going to take that wretched thing off of her," she demanded, tilting her head in Hermione's direction. "You take it off of her right now or I swear to god, you won't live long enough to finish it."

"Finish it?" Harry asked, his brow creasing with confusion. Ginny had obviously found out that they'd performed the Lànain, which explained her angry outbursts, but it was over and done with. What else was there left for them to do? "Oh," he muttered, as he suddenly realized what she was talking about. They wouldn't actually be married until they consummated the union and she wanted Ron to release Hermione before they took it that far.

"A little help would be nice," Ron said to Hermione, as his sister struggled to get free.

"I already tried, but it didn't work," she replied.

"What do you mean it didn't work?" Ron asked.

"What are you two talking about?" Harry asked in confusion. "Tried what?"

"Well, she's you sister," Hermione said to Ron. "She isn't a threat."

"She just threatened to kill me."

"But, she didn't mean it. That's probably why it didn't work."

"Why what didn't work?" Harry asked again.

"Oh, I meant it," Ginny snarled, "But I won't be doing it myself. Just you wait. Once I tell Mum what you've done she'll floo here and take care of you all by herself."

"It's not what you think, Ginny," Ron said letting go of her wrists and holding one hand out in front of himself as if he thought that might placate her. "Just calm down and let me explain."

"CALM DOWN!" she bellowed. "How am I supposed to calm down? I just found out that my own brother is a ..."

"All right!" Hermione shouted, "That's enough. This is neither the time, nor the place to have this discussion," she added in a much softer voice, looking pointedly at Ginny as she did so. "I told you about this in confidence because I thought we could trust you and here you are shouting about it in the middle of the Common Room."

"You told her everything?" Ron asked in disbelief.

"It's not the way you're making it out to be and you know it." Hermione continued with her speech as if she hadn't even heard him. "I spent the past three hours explaining everything to you, so just stop with the theatrics. He didn't do anything wrong. This is what we both want," she said, purposely lowering her voice, "and we're not taking them off. Not for you, not for your Mum, or for anyone else. It's our decision to make, not yours."

"But you don't understand what those that thing are used for," Ginny argued.

"I understand perfectly," Hermione came back. "You're the one that's confused. Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't fully appreciate how vile this is to you because I'm Muggle-born," she whispered. "But I think that might actually a good thing in this case because I didn't have any preconceived notions to overcome. I know about the sinister origins and what they're traditionally was used for," she said in a hushed voice. "But I was able to look beyond that and realize that it doesn't matter what other people used them for. All that matters is what we're using them for and it has nothing to do with domination, ownership, or control. It's about love and security. This is your brother we're talking about, Ginny. Do you honestly think he's capable of abusing my trust in that way?

"Well, no, but..."

"He promised me that he'd take it off the minute I asked him to," Hermione stated. "That he'd release me if it was what I really wanted. But this is what I want," she said, drawing her own talisman out from under her shirt by the chain so Ginny could see it. "It's what I want and it's staying on," she insisted. "And even if you did force him to take mine off, it still wouldn't change anything come Halloween. We'll still be... married," she whispered the last word so softly Harry wouldn't have known what she said if he hadn't been able to read her lips, "because he's wearing one too. The only difference is that he'd be more protected than I am."

"Halloween?" Harry asked, looking at his friends one by one for an answer. "What's Halloween got to do with any of it?"

"That's when they plan on finishing it," Ginny said. "While we're all at the feast."

"Ron hasn't told you about that yet?" Hermione asked Harry, who was staring at her with wide eyes.

"No."

"I thought you were going to tell him tonight while the two of you were in detention," she said to Ron.

"Yeah well, obviously I didn't get to it," he retorted. "It wasn't exactly a conversation I wanted to have with Snape popping into the room every five minutes to sneer or hurl insults at us."

"But you did tell Ginny?" Harry asked Hermione, who nodded. "Only she freaked out and you spent the past three hours trying to explain it all and calm her down."

"More of less," Hermione replied. Although the truth was that she'd spent most of that time telling Ginny about the Coupling Potion, explaining exactly why they were going to take it, and answering her friends questions.

Ginny had only freaked out about a half hour or so, before Harry showed up, and only because that was when she realized that they weren't going to let the bond created by the potion dissolve, that it would, in fact, be permanent as long as they continued to be intimate on a regular basis. She'd freaked out because she'd realized that kind of bond could be viewed as the equivalent of marriage and that Hermione actually knew this, and was going to go through with it anyway.

So, Ginny, being the good friend that she was, had tried to talk Hermione out of it. Not because she didn't understand how beneficial the potion would be, or because she didn't think it was a good idea for Hermione to be intimate with her brother, or because she didn't like the idea of them being married and Hermione becoming family. The truth was, she had hoped that might happen sometime in the future, but not now. They were only sixteen and they had two years of school left. Getting married now, in secret, was insane. Hermione had even agreed with her on that point, but she still had no intentions of altering any part of her plans.

Ginny had argued that they could still go through with most of it. She thought that using the potion to protect their souls was an absolutely brilliant idea. There was no reason they couldn't finish brewing the potion and add the extra ingredients as planned on Halloween night. All she was suggesting was that they not drink it straight away. Once it was finished, she'd argued, there was no reason they couldn't preserve it and store it away somewhere until it was needed. It wouldn't change their relationship any. They'd still be able to be together as often as they wanted and they'd still have the finished potion in case they ever needed it. The only difference would be that they wouldn't be married, not yet anyway.

But as logical as Ginny's argument had been, Hermione knew that it wasn't that simple. They were already bound to one another by the Lànain, and as soon as they consummated their relationship, whether it be to finish off the Coupling Potion or not, they would be married. At least as far as anyone in the Wizarding World was concerned. So it wouldn't matter if they drank the potion or not. Unfortunately, Hermione made the mistake of revealing this to Ginny, thinking that she'd be able to explain it all to her and that everything would be alright by the time the boys got back from their detention. But it didn't exactly happen that way. Once Ginny realized that her favorite brother had placed a Lànain talisman around Hermione's neck, she flat out stopped listening to reason, and started raving about what she was going to do to him if he didn't take it off.

"So, let me get this straight," Harry said, glancing from Hermione, who was blushing to Ron. "You two aren't going to the Halloween feast?" he asked his best friend, who shook his head, "because you're going to stay here and have s... Ok, wait," he said, holding one hand up in front of himself. "Forget that I asked. I don't think I really want to know anymore. I'm going to take a shower now and then I'm going to bed. I'll see you two in the morning. Goodnight," he said quickly, as he bolted up the stairs and disappeared from view.

"Well, that was an excellent idea," Ron groaned sarcastically, covering his eyes with his hands and rubbing them briefly, "Let's tell them about our Halloween plans so they don't get worried and come looking for us. And now Harry is all uncomfortable again and Ginny thinks I'm some sort of twisted, domineering, brute."

"Everyone knows that I'm the domineering one," Hermione retorted.

"This isn't funny, Hermione."

"I know," she assured him, reaching forward and grasping his hand despite the fact his fingernails were caked with black gunk. "But it'll be all right. You go check on Harry," she said, standing on her toes and giving him a chaste kiss. "And I'll take care of your sister."

"I am standing right here you know?" Ginny said, sounding both annoyed and insulted at the same time. "Take care of me," she muttered under her breath, as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at the couple standing in front of her. "Like I'm the one with the problem."

"Actually you are," Ron stated.

"You aren't helping," Hermione sighed.

"Well she is. It's our life, not hers. What we do or don't do is none of her business. Just butt out, Ginny."

"A bit different when the shoes on the other foot, eh?" his sister snapped back. "It's perfectly acceptable for you to stick your big fat nose into my business all the time and tell me what to do or who I can date and who I can't, but when I'm concerned about you it's..."

"I've never told you who you could date."

"Oh, please. You were always going on about Michael and what a prat he was."

"I was just stating a fact," her brother retorted. "You know it's the truth. That's why you dumped him. And good riddance. He wasn't nearly good enough for you."

"That's not the point," Ginny insisted. "You're constantly telling me what to do."

"I'm your brother, that's my job. I'm supposed to look out for you."

"And I'm looking out for you."

"By threatening to sic Mum on me?"

"If that's what it takes. You can't do this, Ron. It's just.... it's not right. You know that."

"Why?" Hermione asked quietly. "Why isn't it right? Because of the way they've been used in the past? He didn't force me to do this. He didn't trick me or try and deceive me. It isn't about control or ownership. And it isn't just me," she whispered. "Ron let me put one on him too, so we'd be equals in this and so would could protect one another. I have the same control over him as he has over me," she stated. "I'm just as guilty as he is. More so in fact, because I've already used it once. So why aren't you demanding that I release him?"

"You've used it?" Ginny asked, her mouth falling open in shock.

"How do you think Lavender ended up on the other side of the Common Room?" Ron whispered.

"It was an accident," Hermione added, quickly. "When I walked in and saw what was going on, I was jealous. And in that split second that I viewed her as a threat, it kicked in and before I even knew what was happening, I'd repelled her. And that's not even the worst of it," she admitted. "I tried to use it again tonight, on you."

"You tried to...," Ginny stuttered, her eyes going wide with shock. "On me?"

"Not the way I did with Lavender," Hermione tried to explain. "I just ... it was the perfect opportunity to test it out. You'd just jumped Ron and he was holding your wrists so you wouldn't be able to hit him and I thought maybe I could make you back off a bit. I wasn't trying to send you flying across the room," she assured her friend. "Nothing that violent. I just wanted you to back away from him. If it had worked, it should have been like a light shove, but it didn't work. I don't know if it's because you're family, or because I didn't really perceive you as a threat, but it doesn't seem to work on you. But my point is, I purposely tried to use it this time. Ron hasn't done that. So if anyone is in the wrong here, it's me."

"I asked you to do it," Ron insisted.

"But I'd already tried it by that point."

"Because you wanted to see if you could protect me."

"That is the reason we put them on," Hermione said in a soft voice. "It's not about ownership, Ginny. It's about being able to protect one another. If Bellatrix Lestrange ever so much as touches Ron, she'll end up in far worse condition than Lavender, because I won't just think, 'Get your hands off him', it'll be more along the lines of, 'Die you evil bitch!'"

"I don't think you can actually kill anyone with the Lànain, love," Ron whispered. "Even if that is what you're thinking. Unless you repelled her into a tree or something. But I don't think you can really control what direction she'd go, so that would be more of an accident. But the point is," he said to his sister, "we can repel them. Or I can anyway, seeing as how most Death Eaters are male. If we'd done this sooner, Krum never would have been able to restrain Hermione that day in Diagon Alley. I could have forced him to let go and she would have gotten away. I couldn't save her then, but I can save her now. Those sick bastards will never have another opportunity to touch her. Not as long as I'm alive to prevent it. The first one to try it is in for a rude awakening."

"And it's not just for us," Hermione whispered. "All of this will make it easier for us to protect Harry as well."

"You mean the potion and that counter curse you developed?" Ginny said.

"No, these too," Hermione answered, concealing her charm beneath her shirt once more.

"They'll have to go through us to get to Harry," her brother stated. "Only that won't be as easy as they think, even if we're disarmed, because they won't be able to touch us. But, they don't know that, do they? I reckon I'll be able to take a couple of them out before they realize how I'm doing it."

"And what happens after that?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know," her brother replied. "Hopefully it'll give Harry enough time to come up with something, and if nothing else, it might free up a couple wands for us to use. At least it's something they won't know to expect."

"Like Hermione's counter curse?"

"You can't tell Harry about that yet, Gin," Hermione whispered. "Or the potion. Not until he's..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," she replied. "Not until he's got his Occlumency down well enough to block his thoughts from Voldemort. And how exactly do you two plan on hiding the fact that you're connected and reading each others minds? He's bound to notice something sooner or later."

"Well, to begin with, we won't be reading each other's minds," Hermione said softly. "It won't transmit thoughts, just powerful emotions."

"Like fear," Ron added. "So if something happens to one of us, the other will know."

"Of course it will probably take a little while to get used to, but after a couple days I'm sure we'll have it all sorted out," Hermione stated. "I mean it's not like I'll feel everything he's feels. Just really strong emotional reactions. And it's better if we're the ones to test it out. That way you and Harry will know what to expect if you ever need to..."

"WHAT!" Ron yelped, goggling at Hermione with a look of utmost horror plastered across his freckled face. "Are you insane?" he asked his sister. "Absolutely not."

"It's my life, not yours," Ginny retorted, paraphrasing the statement her brother had made to her earlier and purposely quoting it back to him. "What I do is none of your business, so just butt the hell out."

"The hell I will."

"If I want to bind myself to Harry, I will, and you won't stop me."

"You wanna bet?"

"Knock it off, both of you," Hermione interjected. "We're only talking about the basic potion," she added, giving Ron a look that let him know that it probably wouldn't be a very good idea to try and argue with her at the moment. "It won't be like what we're doing. And they'll only use it in an emergency situation so their souls will protected the same way ours will be."

"Oh, ok, then. I guess that would be all right," he acquiesced, seeing as how he couldn't really argue the fact that their souls wouldn't need to be protected if Voldemort and his cronies decided to storm the castle or something. "As long as they let it wear off," he added for good measure. "So you're going to brew a second batch then?" he asked Hermione uncertainly.

"No, I won't need to do that," she whispered her reply. "It's already been taken care of. The potion is ready. I finished it earlier tonight while I was explaining how it works to Ginny. And then I separated some of it out and gave it to her, so she'd have it, if and when she needs it. But she isn't going to use it unless it's an emergency," she stated, looking pointedly at Ginny as she did so, "because anyone that connects to Harry, will more than likely wind up connecting to Voldemort as well, and that's not something one wants to do on a whim."

"Yes Mum," Ginny retorted. "I heard you the first time, and the second time, and the even the third time you told me that. I get it. Leave the experimentation up to you. But what about Fred and George?"

"What about them?" Ron asked, glancing back and forth between the girls.

"Well, we were talking about it and..." Hermione began to explain.

"They're already so in tune with each other," Ginny cut in, "that this kind of connection probably wouldn't be all that much of a disruption for them. I mean they can damn near read each other's minds as it is. What's a few shared emotions? So I thought it might be a good idea to let them test it out as well. You know, so you could compare what they experience with the basic version of the potion to what you two experience with your supped up version. The first Hogsmeade visit is in November. I could write them and have them meet us there. We'd have to work it in between our patrols of course, but..."

"Ron and I won't be going into Hogsmeade," Hermione cut her off. "I already discussed it with McGonagall and she agreed that it would be safer for everyone if the three of us, Ron, Harry and myself, didn't go into the village until...well, the point is, we're not going. The only reason there are patrols at all this year is because Dumbledore is concerned that Voldemort might try and stage an attack there to get at Harry, and the chances of that happening are far less if we're not there, so McGonagall has already taken us off the patrol schedule."

"WHAT!" Ron cried angrily. "When the hell did this happen? I suppose she left it up to you to break the news to the Harry and me. Nice of her to let you do her dirty work for her."

"Actually, it was my idea," Hermione admitted. "Not hers."

"Are you mad?!"

"Are you telling me that you're willing to risk your life, and the life of every other student in this school, for a bag of sweets and a some Zonko's rubbish?"

"Yeah, maybe I am," Ron snapped, as he crossed his arms in front if his chest and glared at Hermione. "You had no right to go behind our backs and make a decision like that without at least discussing it with us first."

"And what about my life?" she countered. "Are you willing to risk that? Is it worth risking my life for a new book or a couple butterbeers?"

"Nothing is going to happen. The place will be crawling with teachers and prefects doing patrols. And don't forget Tonks. She's an Auror for Merlin sakes. Look, I understand that you're worried, because of what happened on Diagon Alley, but it's not the same. No one was watching then. That's not going to happen again."

"You don't know that for sure. All it takes is a second. You could be gone just like that," she said, snapping her fingers, "and I'm not willing to take that risk. Don't you understand what it would do to me if I lost you?" she moaned, covering both her eyes as tears streaming down her cheeks. "I couldn't bear it. Please don't ask me to," she mumbled against his chest, when he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. "Not for something so meaningless."

"All right, love," Ron sighed, watching his sister slip upstairs so they could have some privacy, as he kissing the top of Hermione's head and hugged her body against his.

He hated to see her this upset, but he understood her fear and her pain. He also knew it would be far worse if something did actually happen. Ron didn't really have to imagine what it would be like, because he'd already experienced it once before, and it was something he never wanted to suffer though again. He definitely didn't want Hermione to ever experiencing it either. Especially because of something as trivial as a trip to the Three Broomsticks. "I won't go into Hogsmeade this visit," he assured her. "But I can't speak for Harry. You'll have a hard time talking him out of it, I'm afraid."

"You'll back me up when I tell him though, right?"

"I'll stand behind you, if that's what you mean," he replied. "But you're going to have to explain your reasoning to him yourself." And it'll probably take more than a few tears to bring him around to your way of thinking, he continued in his head.

"Are you angry at me?"

"No," Ron replied, tightening his grip.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I just wish you had talked to me about it first, is all."

"I'm sorry," Hermione mumbled. "I'm sorry about Ginny too. I only meant to tell her about the potion, like we discussed, but the rest just sort of slipped out."

"Yeah, well, that's Ginny for you. She's got a real talent for getting people to reveal things they never meant to divulge. No harm none. Unless she really owls Mum. But she seemed to come around a bit, don't you think? I mean, you don't think she was just trying to throw us off do you?"

"I can go up and check on her if you like," Hermione suggested. "Make sure she's not writing to your mother now."

"It can wait until morning," Ron said, kissing her on the forehead, before placing his hand under her chin, tilting her face upward, and brushing his lips over hers.

"Ron?" Hermione asked, when he pulled back.

"Hum?"

"You won't let her force you into taking it off, will you?" she asked. "Your mother I mean. When she does finally find out. Because sooner or later, she's bound to find out."

"I know," he sighed, "but by then it won't matter. Halloween is just a couple days away and after that we'll really be married and there's not a lot she can do about it. Calling off an engagement is one thing, but Mum would never suggest a divorce. I'm not saying she won't try and strong-arm us into taking the talismans off, but she'll try and force a proper wedding on us first. You do realize that, right?" he asked. "Not that we have to do it, of course," he stammered quickly. "I mean, not if you don't want to."

"I think I might like that, actually," Hermione replied. "Maybe when we're finished with school."

"Really?" Ron asked in surprise. "You don't want to wait? You know, for your parents and all? I mean, I know Muggles do things a bit differently and I just assumed that you'd want to hold off on anything traditional until a suitable period of time had gone by an we both had jobs and all. I don't think it's such a good idea for me to ask your dad for his blessing until I have a good job, because I'll need to prove that I can take care of you and all."

"You take care of me now."

"You know what I mean," Ron replied uncomfortably. "That I can provide what we need. Like a place for us to live and food to eat."

"You don't have to provide those things all by yourself," Hermione stated. "I'm perfectly capable of helping you. Besides, you've got three years of Auror training to look forward to once we graduate and by the time you're finished with that and have an actual paying job, we will have secretly been married for five years."

"Assuming that I get into the program."

"You will, if it's what you really want."

"What I really want is to be with you," Ron said, as he led Hermione towards one of the sofas by the fireplace and plopped down in the center of it. "So maybe I shouldn't even apply for the Auror program," he added. "I've been thinking about it, and if I get a Ministry job straight out of school, I can start saving right away. And if I live at home like Percy did, it'll only take me six, maybe eight months, before I have enough set aside for us to get our own place and then I can talk to your dad without looking utterly pathetic."

"Is that what your father did?" Hermione asked, as she settled down beside him. "Did he take the first job that was offered to him just so he and your Mum could get married?"

"I don't know if it was the first job offered," Ron replied. "Dad has always been fascinated with Muggles, so I wouldn't be all that surprised it if wasn't exactly what he wanted. Merlin knows he's turned down enough promotions."

"What about your Mum?" she asked.

"What about her?"

"Surely she must have had some sort of career aspirations before she fell in love and decided to start a family. What did she want to be?" Hermione asked, genuinely interested in the answer.

It had struck Hermione that Mrs. Weasley was generally the one that pushed her children to excel in school and to get good, respectable, Ministry jobs afterwards, whereas their father didn't seem to care what they did, as long as it made them happy. And so far, Percy was the only one that wound up seeing things the same way his mother did, much to Mrs. Weasley's chagrin.

"I don't know," Ron replied. "Family has always been real important to Mum. She lost most of hers in the first war," he explained. "I just always assumed that she wanted to be a Mum."

"I'm sure she did," Hermione said. "But she must have wanted to be something else as well at some point. Maybe that's why she pushes all of you so hard," she suggested. "Parents generally want their children to have a better life than they did. Maybe she wants you to have what she couldn't."

"What she gave up you mean?" Ron replied. He'd never really given that much thought, but it made sense in a way.

"It doesn't have to be one or the other you know?" Hermione informed him. "There's no reason you need to give up becoming an Auror, just so you can look responsible or respectable for my parents. I don't want you to give up on your dreams, especially when there is no reason for it."

"There is a reason."

"No there isn't. Halloween is in five days. We'll already be married by the time we mention any of this my parents."

"But they won't know that."

"You will, so why would you give up something you want in order to obtain something that you've already got. That doesn't make any sense."

"It makes sense to me."

"Well, that just proves that you're an idiot."

"Oh, that's nice."

"I do understand what you're suggesting, and it's very sweet," Hermione assured him, "but it's just not necessary. We'll already be married by that point, so it's not like they can say no. Besides, it will be our age, not our financial situation that they'll object to. But the point is. I'm not going to let you settle for anything less than what you really want."

"So this is what the rest of my life is going to be like, huh?" Ron chuckled.

"Pretty much," Hermione replied happily.

"And are you going to tell me what it is that I really want as well?"

"No, I thought I'd leave that up to you to decide," she answered. "Provided you don't try and do something stupid, like settle for the first opportunity that falls in your lap. And I will know if that's what you're doing, because we'll be connected, which means I'll be able to feel it."

"Oh well," Ron sighed, draping his arm around Hermione's shoulder and pulling her closer to him. "It's not like I can put anything over on you anyway."

"If you think you're getting a snog when you're covered in filth, you're sadly mistaken," Hermione retorted with a smile.

"Aw, you're no fun," Ron whined. "On second thought," he added, his face brightening significantly. "I'm sure Harry has finished with his shower and gone to bed by now. If you come upstairs with me, I'll let you wash my back."

"You are incorrigible."

"You know that you want to," Ron teased, his smirk becoming even wider, when he saw Hermione bite her lower lip as she considered it. "See, you do want to," he proclaimed triumphantly. "You're just as bad as I am really, you just hide it better."

"Perhaps," Hermione admitted, "but the difference is, I know how to fight temptation."

"Aw, come on," Ron pleaded. "I'll make it worth your while."

"I'm sure you would," she sighed, remembering the last time the two of them had taken a shower together, "but I don't think it's a good idea to risk it. Not with Halloween so close.

"Risk? What risk?" Ron asked coyly. "No one is going to catch us," he assured her, "It's one o'clock in the morning. They're all in bed."

"That's not what I'm talking about and you know it," Hermione retorted.

But you said the potion was ready, Ron whined in his head. So even if we do get carried away, it won't really matter.

Except that it does matter to her, because she wants to wait until Halloween, he reminded himself. It isn't something she wants to rush through and neither do you. Not really.

"Fine," Ron relented, letting his head flop against the back of the sofa in submission. "But you aren't seriously going to go up to bed without at least giving me a goodnight kiss first, are you?"

"Hold out your hands," Hermione said, drawing her wand out of the pocket of the jeans she was wearing, then pointing it at Ron outstretched palms, and casting a Scouring Charm on them. "And take that off," she said, pointing at the stained shirt. "Here," she said, tugging the maroon jumper she'd borrowed from him the week before off and tossing it in his lap. "You can put that on instead."

"I like this better on you," he stated, disappointed to discover that she was wearing a t-shirt beneath it. "It doesn't even fit me anymore," he complained, as he picked up his old Weasley jumper and pulled it on over his head.

"Then you won't object when I take it back."

"What about you?" Ron asked, looking at Hermione's bare arms. It was late and the fire was low, which left the Common Room pretty chilly. "Won't you be cold?"

"I assumed that you'd be keeping me warm," she replied, burrowing into his chest the instant he settled down against the back of the couch. "Until I go upstairs anyway," she added.

"I like the sound of that," Ron replied, hugging her tightly and rubbing his hands up and down both her arms briefly, before he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.