Hi! Thank you for reading chapter two. This ones an important one for Ron! Enjoy & review!
Ginny slams the door to the sixth years boys dormitories, making Ron jump.
"Have you seen her? Hermione?" He questions, sounding a little broken hearted.
"Don't do that," she scathes, "don't decide now to care."
A look of hurt washes over him and for a moment the youngest Weasley wishes she could take it back.
"I've always cared! Don't act like I haven't!" His voice is growing angry.
"Alright then Ronald," she sounds just like Molly, it makes him shiver, "if you care so much, then where were you when Lav-Lav called Hermione a fat cow last week!"
He didn't know about that.
"Or that Hermione practically lives in the common room!"
Okay, that one he heard about. He thought it was a lie. Ron even asked Harry, who just shrugged, but in Harry's defense, he asked while the black haired boy had been looking over the map. So in other words, Harry probably wasn't even listening.
"Or when Cormac McLaggan groped her after Slughorn's this weekend! Tore her dress and all!"
That one, he definitely did not know about.
Scrunching a fist, he began making a move for the door, until Ginny blocked his path.
"Move." He spat.
"Where are you going?" She retorted.
"To kill McLaggen!" He exclaimed seriously.
She rolled her eyes, "don't bother, Fred and George already helped out with that."
He shrinks back, "they're not even at Hogwarts, how'd they know?"
She scoffs, "goes to show how little you care, huh?" Ginny said nastily.
Feeling even more awful then before, if possible, Ron clambered to sit on the edge of his bed.
"I swear Gin, I didn't know about that. If I did, I would've," he began angrily
Sighing, she stepped over and sat next to him, "I know Ron. I know you care, I shouldn't have said that."
"It's alright, I suppose I deserved it. I didn't even know about that stuff, so you're right, says a lot about me."
Guilt was beginning to seep its way into the back of Ginny's head. Tears stung her eyes.
"I have to tell you something." her voice shook.
Ron looked over to her worriedly, Ginny rarely cried.
"I lied to you, that day in the hallway with Dean. I lied." She confessed.
"What?" He feels like a dementors trying to suck his soul.
"Hermione and Viktor Krum... they never snogged." She clarified, though Ron could sense she already knew what was coming.
He stood up, clearly ready to yell, before she stopped him, "he kissed her, but Hermione didn't want him to." She began.
"Did he..." Ron asked, fists clenching.
"No," she assured quickly, "nothing like that, he went in and pecked her and she was taken off guard. When he tried again she told him she couldn't. That there was someone else."
"Someone else." He repeats a surge of hope growing inside him, "me?" He dares to question. Feeling a little full of himself for it after.
This was Viktor ruddy Krum they were talking about here. Anyone who picks him, Ron Weasley, over the Bulgarian seeker must be mental.
And just like that, Ginny's annoyed with him again, "yes Ron, you. Blokes are daft but you give a whole new meaning to the word."
"Did she tell you that? That it was me?" He knows he sounds pathetic.
"She didn't have to," Ginny starts quickly, like it meant nothing, even though to her brother, it was everything, "that's beside the point. Look, I'm telling you I'm sorry, what I did was wrong, but what you did, what you're doing, isn't right either." She throws his way.
He bows his head, "yeah, your right, I didn't mean those things about you, you know, getting around and whatnot. It's just you're my little sister Gin, it's kinda hard to see you grow up, makes me feel like I have to do the same."
Ginny offers a tight lipped smile, "thanks Ron, really, but I wasn't talking about that." Her voice is a little softer, "you know what I was talking about."
He groans. Of course he knew what she really met. Part of him wanted to apologize to his little sister, but another part was avoiding the inevitable.
"I'm not saying you're not entitled to date anyone, but we both know how wrong it is. You did it just hurt Hermione and you liked hurting her!" Her voice was growing louder.
He stood a little taller, "Oi Ginny! Don't you ever tell me something like that again! Ever!"
She stepped closer, "it's true isn't it? Admit it!" The girl demanded.
"At first it felt good, I felt wanted!" He yelled before he could help himself, a look of disgust coming over his sisters face "I'm not proud of it," Ron's tone dropped, "I swear I only felt it for a second. Only after that snog after the match, now, now I feel like the biggest arse on the planet. I swear Ginny, I didn't know about all that stuff, about the common room, about Lavender, McLaggen." He barely got out.
"I know you didn't Ron," her tone matches his, "but that's the problem isn't it? Even if you didn't feel anything like that for Hermione, she's still supposed to be your best mate." Ginny reminds.
He flops back onto the bed. He knows he fucked up. He known it from the moment he saw Hermione's face that night of the Slytherin match. It was just a lot to take in because someone finally called him out on it rather than dancing around it like Harry and his roommates had been.
"I've gotta break up with Lavender." He states.
Ginny let's out a humorless laugh.
"I've been trying for weeks Ginny, I swear, she makes it bloody hard, can never get a word in with her." Ron groans.
"You better. If you don't Fred and George will take the mickey out of you all holiday." She decides to go easy on him.
At this statement Ron feels a chill run up his spine. He thinks if he's the center of Lavender taunts for the next few weeks he'll have to jump off his broom.
They're silent for a few moment, each reflecting on what just transpired.
Ron speaks first, "I know it's wrong," he starts with a gulp, "but I do feel that you know. I do think I lo,"
He's cut off when the door swings open, causing the pair of siblings to jump to their feet.
"Neville!" Ginny exclaims, she forgot all about Harry's plan for them.
He keeps over, grasping his knees, "give me a minute." He gasps.
The red head rolls her eyes, "just tell me where to go. I can't have you passing out, now can I?"
The brunette smiles gratefully, stepping aside for Ginny to go.
"Where is she?" She asks halfway to the door.
They glance at Ron's awaiting eyes. The youngest Weasley leans over to Neville, beckoning him to whisper in her ear.
Once he does, she steps back, "I know my way, make sure he doesn't go anywhere." She tells lowly, a little worried whether if Neville will be able to contain her brother.
If either boy says anything, she doesn't hear. Ginny's running on the path to the potions stock closet, ducking behind a nearby tapestry she knows leads to that particular corridor.
Just as she approaches her destination, she notes the door cracked a little as voices float from it.
"I'll just stay here. I can't go." She hears Hermione's voice admit sadly.
"Can't go where?" She asks before she can help herself, barging into the room.
The sight of Ginny makes Hermione sink further into Harry as the tears come again. It's silly really, but part of her hoped it was Ron. The fact that he didn't come solidifies how much has changed.
The curly haired witch doesn't realize, but silently Harry passes over the piece of parchment as means to fill Ginny in.
She reads the letter with wide eyes. Once she takes in the last line, she can infer what Hermione meant when she first came in.
Ginny slouched to the other side of Hermione, "I'm so sorry about your grandma, you're pretty close yeah?" She chooses to leave out the fact she knew this information from Ron.
Sadly, Hermione nods as she turns to rest her head on Ginny's shoulder, welcoming the embrace.
After a few more minutes of crying, the brunette girls breathing slows and Ginny takes it as her opportunity to speak, "you can still come to the Burrow of course."
"Ginny," it's Harry who scolds her.
Hermione lifts her head from the girls shoulder to look her in the eyes, expecting to see mischief behind them. Instead, she seems rather genuine.
"Harry," she mocks his tone, "I am not letting Hermione stay at Hogwarts for holiday, alright?" The ginger turns back to her friend, "Hermione it seems as if everyone's forgotten," her eyes flick to Harry, "but the Burrow is just as much my house as it is Ron's and you're just as much my friend as you are his."
Probably even more so as of late.
She sucks in a jittery breath snd shakes her head, "I can't impose really, they wouldn't even be expecting me." Hermione tries, not particularly wanting to bring him into it.
"I never told Mum you weren't coming. It didn't feel like my place, merlin knows Ron doesn't write home, so as far as they know you're coming. They're more excited to see you than Phlegm anyway."
She manages a small chuckle at this before asking what everyone else is surely thinking, "but what about Ron?" She's avoided speaking his name for weeks, it feels foreign on her tongue.
"I'll talk to Ron." They're both surprised that it's Harry who says it.
"I reckon he'll be happy about it anyway. Maybe you two can finally talk." Ginny comments what she hopes is casually. After her talk with her brother today, she knows not all hope is lost.
At this Hermione let's out a small scoff in between hiccups.
"Just trust me Hermione," The ginger says, "anyway, I don't know about you, but I don't fancy being caught and accused of stealing something in here." She says standing.
Holding out her hands, Hermione takes them as she helps her up, Harry doing the same with a hand firmly pressed to her back.
They all begin to leave, ushering Hermione as they go. Ginny still holding one of her hands, Harry's resting between her shoulders.
Then she stops.
"Is," she can't even get it out, "is Lavender going to be there?"
Ginny looks horrified and makes a noise of disgust, "Merlin no! I'd rather spend Christmas with the Malfoy's!" She exclaims making gagging noises.
This illicits a small laugh from both Harry and Hermione.
They all fall into pace again, "you can use Hedwig to owl your parents Hermione, I'll talk to Ron and find you after. Common room, yeah?" He asks as they near the portrait hole.
She nods solemnly as they part ways.
...
"Is she alright? Is everything okay?" Ron jumps from where he was sitting on his bed as Harry swings the door open.
He looks startled, the chosen one didn't even have a moment to breathe before being bombarded with questions.
"I reckon I have the same questions mate." Neville calls from where's he's reading on his bed.
"She's not hurt I guess, not psychically." Harry shrugs lamely.
Neville places his book down. Ron looks as if he's about to explode.
"It's her grandma she's ill, Hermione's parents have sent word they're going to France to make sure she's comfortable, you know if..." he starts sadly.
Neville's chest tightens for Hermione. He can't imagine if that was his Gran.
Ron's heart also breaks a little. He knows how close the two of them are.
"They also told her they didn't want her to come, to see her like that, so some arrangements have been made." He begins, bracing himself for what's to come.
"Arrangements?" Ron asks eagerly.
Harry nods, "yeah, she's uh, well she's going to spend holiday at the Burrow." He says it quickly.
Neville let's his book roll to the ground with a thud, as he scrambles from his bed. "I'm just gonna go check on Hermione." He squeaks, hurrying from the room.
"Ron." Harry turns to face him tentatively.
"Brilliant." Ron says.
Harry's shocked to find no sarcasm in his tone. Instead, he's wearing a lopsided grin.
"What?" The Boy-Who-Lived asks confused.
Ron stands happily, "well it's brilliant! We're sure to get all sorted if we're gonna be in the same house for weeks. No library to run to. No lessons to go to. And bonus, the stairs at the Burrow won't move if I try to get into her room."
"I'm sorry, what?" Harry says again, taking in this information
"I don't really get what's so confusing mate."
Harry looks like he wants to say something but doesn't know how. Ron encourages him with a wave of his hand.
"It's just that, look, I don't wanna be the one to say it, but somebodies got to! I don't think that, well, the thing is," he doesn't even know what he's saying. He's been doing his best to not interfere with whatever Ron does for weeks, "Lavender!" He settles for out of breath.
Surpassingly, Ron let's out a chuckle at his friends word vomit, "you're a little late to that one mate. I'm gonna chuck Lavender before we leave."
"We leave tomorrow." Harry reminds.
He cringes, he forgot about that, "right, well, I've been trying to do it for weeks, honest, but Ginny's really made me realize what an arse I've been." Ron drops his voice down, tone turning serious, "why didn't you tell me about McLaggen?" His tones hurt.
Harry sighs, fiddling uncomfortably with the end of his shirt, "she didn't want anyone to know. Neville was the one who found her and Ginny, Luna, and I had already been looking." He informed.
"Come on Harry, I had a right, didn't I?" He needed the reassurance. Part of him was unsure whether he still had the right to know.
Harry shrugs, "McLaggen's been dealt with, you should be more worried about Lavender. Hermione's taken to sleeping in the common room, she's been awful to her."
Doing his best not get angry, he responds, "I asked you if that were true two weeks ago, you shrugged."
The chosen one looks apologetic, "I'm sorry Ron, I don't remember that, honest."
Weasley nods, he knew Harry wasn't paying attention when he asked, and Ron never bothered bringing it up again, "what has Lavender been saying?"
This is the second time someone's brought it to his attention. Not to mention, before he was running away from the blonde, she'd often mercilessly tease Hermione, which he'd always got upset at her for.
"I don't think it's my place to say. I've heard a few of my own though, in the halls, in class, in the common room." Potter says.
"Can you at least tell me what you've heard?" He hopes he doesn't sound as desperate as he feels.
"Hermione Stranger, that's a favorite," Ron cringes, he knows that's a taunt she got before she came to Hogwarts, "it's usually about how she looks, how she's weird, or about," he stops.
"About what?" He probes.
"About how you don't want her. How you never would, Lavender tells her she's too ugly, too strange."
"Rubbish!" He exclaims.
"I know," Harry soothes, "but it doesn't really look that way, does it?" He points out.
Falling onto his bed in frustration for the umpteenth time that day, Ron groans.
"Ginny lied, did you know?" He started, "about Krum."
Harry has witnessed the fight. He knew just how ugly the words and accusations were.
"What?" He asked shocked, he knew that row was what started this whole Lavender business. He wasn't that daft.
"Yeah, turns out that git tried to kiss her at the ball, she told him there was someone else though."
"Oh, wow." Harry says sounding winded. He knew as well as Ron that this changes everything.
"Right tosser aren't I? Mione had some self control at the ripe age fourteen," it felt nice to let the nickname slip after so long, "I'm gonna be seventeen soon and I can't even breakup with my," the word girlfriend felt wrong at the moment, "with Lavender.
"Ron," Harry begins, a little unsure of what he's gonna say, until like before, Neville intrudes on the moment.
"How is she?" Ron asks sitting up.
"She's upset Ginny took her to Pomfrey. She'll have a sleeping draught and a bed to sleep in. It'll be a nice change from the couch," he catches himself, "uh I mean, her couch bed, yeah, you know how she uh, talks about her bed, like a couch. Just an expression you know."
"He knows Neville." Harry interjects.
"Oh."
Ron still feels horrible about it.
"Alright." Is all Ron says, getting up to wipe his trousers and heading for the door.
"Where are you going?" Neville questions as Seamus and Dean saunter in.
"To break up with Lavender." He states like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"Someone finally realize they broke Granger's heart." Seamus comments.
Now that Ron's mentioned it, it's like the flood gates have opened.
Dean elbows him in the ribs, making the irish wizard yelp.
"No can do Ron, it'll have to wait till tomorrow. It's curfew." Dean points out.
"I'm a prefect." He retorts.
Dean shakes his head again, as much as he wanted Ron to break it off, he couldn't right now, it wasn't possible. "I don't think the staircase cares that you're a prefect." He claps him on the shoulder with a sympathetic smile.
"Bloody effing stairs." Ron curses. He's also pissed he couldn't go to the common room and at least apologize to Hermione about her grandma.
"Wait so he does care about something!" Seamus exclaims with mock excitement.
"Shut up Seamus." Ron bites.
"Well everyone in here knows I'm right? You've been walking around for weeks caring less if dear old Hermione was miserable. And there's no way you didn't know! Even the Creevey's picked up on it." He bellowed.
Ron was getting annoyed, everyone kept insisting he could care less about Hermione when that was far from the truth.
He walked over to Seamus before Dean stood in between them, "let's just all go to bed yeah?"
The ginger and the shorter brunette stared each other down for a few moments before both admitted defeat.
"Goodnight." Neville called out as the lights dimmed, enveloping the room into black.
"Night." Harry called, shoveling under his blankets to cast a 'lumos' and watch the map.
Ron and Dean chorused a goodnight, the latter sounding more cheery than the former.
"Goodnight boys," he paused, "goodnight Hermione." He said with a drawl.
Ron threw his sheets back before taking a deep breath and calming himself down. By tomorrow he would be on the right path to fix this.
By tomorrow him and Lavender would be done.
Will Ron do it? Will be break up with Lavender? Stay tuned to find out! Up next, Ron and Hermione finally talk as he works to set things straight.
See you next time! Please review!
