Chapter Five
When Ron and Hermione walked through the corridor and into the Gryffindor common room, they noticed that it was incredibly empty. Ron looked at his Muggle watch; it read nine thirty. Under normal circumstances he would have rolled his eyes at some of the House's very "Huffelpuff" behavior, acting like duffers and going to bed extremely early. Tonight however, he was relived; he didn't feel like conversing with anyone at the particular moment.
Harry and Ginny were seated in front of the fire, playing a game of chess. As usual, Ginny, being a Weasley, was beating Harry severely. Hermione looked around the room and nipped strait up to the girl's dormitories so fast, Ron didn't realize that she was gone until he heard a click of the door that she had shut.
Harry looked up from the game and asked, "So, what did McGonagall make you do."
Ron either appeared to be deep in thought or was choosing to ignore Harry's question.
"Ron," he said again.
Ron still didn't answer. He was deep in thought- about Hermione. I seem to be thinking about here a lot lately.
"RON," Harry repeated for the third time, almost at a volume that some would consider yelling.
Ron snapped out of his trance and looked over at Harry, realizing for the first time that he and Ginny were present in the room.
"Yeah, err...right. What? Sorry. What did you say Harry?" Ron asked.
"I SAID, what did McGonagall make you do?"
"Oh, she...err...she made us clean the dung out from the animal cages. Manky, those things were."
Harry scrunched up is nose.
"That's disgusting," he said shaking his head as he went back to his game with Ginny.
Ginny, on the other hand, was staring intently at her brother. She knew something was wrong with Hermione when she entered the common room, and she was almost positive she knew who was to blame for her less-than-perky demeanor.
Even though he didn't feel like chatting, he didn't feel like going to bed either, so he went to sit in one of the plush chairs next to the fire.
"Ron," Ginny said curtly, "what's the matter with Hermione?" She didn't expect to get a truthful answer right from the start, but she would in the end. She always did.
"Ron," Ginny snapped, "what did you say to her this time?"
Ron knew if he were truthful with Ginny, shetoo would give him the silent treatment, and he didn't need both women mad at him right now; the estrogen levels would be more than he could handle. He avoided direct eye contact with her as a means not to give anything away too soon.
He sat in an uncomfortable silence longer than Ginny liked, staring at his hands. He was trying his best to formulate a reply that she would be satisfied with, and one that would, hopefully, keep him in her good graces.
"RONALD WEASLEY!" she bellowed, all too like her mother, as she threw her hands up it the air, "Now I know that you said something wrong, because your silence is telling me everything!"
Harry had now long forgotten his and Ginny's unfinished game. He was now looking from Ginny to Ron, and back to Ginny, nervously. Harry felt pain for Ron, whatever he did to deserve the verbal lashing he was about to receive.
"Why are you always having a go at her?" ranted Ginny. "You never think before you talk, do you? You are so incredibly thick! Sometimes I think you even make a troll look enlightened!"
Ron knew that she wasn't finished, in fact, she was just getting started. Hermione and Ginny had grown close since the start of term and Ginny was getting rather frustrated that Ron was still treating her friend with the same amount of respect as he did when they were eleven. He was having a hard time coping with the fact that people mature, since he himself seemed to be lacking in that area, and something in Ginny just snapped. He knew that he better say something fast, because he could see Ginny turning into his mother. First, her cheeks would turn unnaturally rosy. Then, her temple starts to twitch, slow at first, then faster and faster until it is throbbing ferociously. The last appearance Molly Weasley would assume, before the person her anger was directed at should brace themselves (or do a runner), was the change in her eyes. Her normally honey-brown colored eyes would turn a shade of unnatural dark-brown.
Ginny's cheeks were now almost red in color and her temple was twitching so hard, Ron thought surely she would have a headache in a few minutes time, but her eyes were still honey-brown, however, turning slightly darker by the minute.
Ron was thinking fast. He didn't especially enjoy the thought of having one of her hexes thrown his way, and at the moment, he would not put that very action past her.
Ron's mind was reeling now. He had to try to give her some sort of explanation that would keep him out of trouble and satisfy her at the same time, and suddenly it came to him.
"YOU JUST REALLY HAVE NO IDEA DO YOU? YOU-
"Malfoy was in detention too."
CAN'T JUST EXP-," she stopped after what Ron said had registered.
"Dra-, I mean, Malfoy served his detention tonight?"
Ron wasn't sure if this was a question directed at him, or if it was a comment reserved for herself.
"Yeah, that great prat really hacked her off tonight," Ron said quickly, trying to divert Ginny's attention from him and completely onto to Draco Malfoy. "He really got her riled up."
Ron's mind was still thinking hard on insulting and terrible things to say about Draco, so Ginny would believe that he was to blame for the right state that Hermione had been in for the past three and a half hours. Just as he was to the point of thinking so hard that his head was beginning to throb (or maybe that was from the hard slap that he had received earlier that evening), he suddenly came to a realization.
"Why in the bleeding hell would you worry about what night that peaky twit has detention?" he asked Ginny, in a way that suggested that she asked a question that would put Crabbe and Goyle's thickness to shame.
"Oh…I…err…" she stammered, "well, I overheard him telling someone that he was serving detention, and I was just curious that it was on the same night as Hermione's and yours."
"Yeah," Ron said, clearly confused at the direction that his sister's lecture had turned. Suddenly, a light went on in his head. "Yeah, he was there…do you, by chance, know why?" Ron couldn't help the curious determination to know why Draco had landed his arse in detention- curiosity that was growing stronger by the second.
"NO," she said quickly, her face turning a shade of pale that would put the ferret to shame.
"Ginny," Ron said, in a very slow and clear tone, "why would you be concerned about what night he has detention- and did you almost just call him Draco?"
Ginny's face was getting whiter by the second as she replied, "I don't care, I was just curious, and no I didn't…you must be hearing things, Ron!"
With that last exclamation, she scampered off to the girl's dormitories.
"Oi! Where are you going?" Ron yelled.
She stopped with one foot placed on the first step and turned around slowly.
"I, Ronald, am going to see if Hermione is alright! Who knows what you've said to upset her this time," and with that she nipped the rest of the way to the sixth-year girls' dorms.
All through their little display, Harry had remained silent, too frightened for his own well-being to interrupt a Weasley argument, especially when Ginny was becoming Mrs. Weasley, in the flesh. Now, however, after Ginny's sudden exit from the argument, he felt that he was now on safe grounds to speak to Ron.
"Blimey, Ron! I have no idea how you managed to get out of the wrath that she was about to pour on you, but you ought to be thanking the heavens for that one," said Harry in a voiced that expressed nothing but sheer amazement.
"Yeah, I know. This blasted day couldn't get any worse; I don't need her telling me off when she's in that kind of mood," said Ron.
Harry looked at Ron over his glasses.
"Okay, okay. I don't want her telling me off, EVER!"
With this comment, Harry gave a small chuckle before getting on to a more serious topic of discussion.
"Look mate, I don't know how you managed to elude Ginny with that Malfoy story, but he's been having a go at Hermione for the last five years now, and she has yet to get worked up over it. Hermione knows just as well as us that anything that comes out of his tetchy mouth is codswallop and nothing more. She quit letting him get to her a long time ago. So... something else happened besides a run in with Malfoy," Harry said, his eyes drilling into Ron, waiting on some sort of explanation.
Ron continued on with his silence and as he all of a sudden became very interested in a spot on the floor, so Harry continued.
"She wasn't all that hacked off after the little row that you two shared in Transfiguration today, even though it did take her a good hour to remove all that ink. You two left the common room on speaking terms, so why aren't you now? What happened, Ron?"
Harry knew by Ron's prolonging silence that he was responsible for the state that Hermione was in. He shook his head a little in disbelief, even though the whole situation was quite believable. From the second Ron and Hermione stepped onto the Hogwarts Express on September 1, they started rowing- badly, and it has continued ever since. These rows were no longer like the petty arguments and little snipping remarks that they had thrown at each other when they were younger. No, these rows were getting so bad, they were capable of producing emotional scaring, and Harry was starting to worry. The emotional scarring that was evidently starting to take place would eventually become permanent.
Harry continued to look at Ron, even though Ron was avoiding his gaze at all cost. Harry knew, based on Ginny's round on Ron that he was the one that had made Hermione cry. Hermione was Harry's best friend, and he knew what caused his best friend to cry. He was also growing more and more aggravated at his other best friend for apparently crossing the line of Hermione's emotional limits.
Finally Ron spoke. "Look, Harry, I tried to apologize to her over and over tonight, but she didn't want to talk to me. There was nothing else I could do."
"Apologize to her for what?" Harry questioned.
Ron wasn't sure if he wanted to tell Harry; he was embarrassed and ashamed at the things he had said to Hermione that night. He was even more ashamed when he remembered the fact that all Hermione ever did was care about him and try to help him do things as he really should do them- in that motherly, bossy, know-it-all way. He smiled slightly to himself. Her motherly, bossy, know-it-all way.
"RON," Harry said, no longer trying to hide his irritability towards him. "Apologize to her for what? And what the hell are you smiling about!"
Ron realized that his slight smile had turned into a goofy grin the more he thought about Hermione and straightened it up immediately.
"Oh, err...we had a row on the way to detention. It was bad Harry, really bad," Ron said sincerely.
"I figured that much," Harry said knowingly. "So are you going to tell me about it, or will I have to find out from Hermione or Ginny?"
Ron knew that it wouldn't make the circumstances any better if Harry found out from either of the two, so he decided to spill; Harry needed to know. Ron didn't know why, he just felt that Harry had a right to know what had happened, and he wanted to tell him before Ginny or Hermione got the chance.
"Well," Ron started, "we were walking to detention and I was worried we were going to be late, in fact, I was positive we were going to be late. I was in a right state about it, because McGonagall specifically told us to be on time; I just knew if we got there after she did I would be watching the Quidditch match this Saturday, instead of playing in it."
At this declaration, Harry gave Ron a look of horror- he didn't want Colin to play keeper anymore than Ron did.
"Don't worry, Harry," Ron said quickly. "We arrived late, but McGonagall got there after we did."
Harry let out a huge sigh and waved Ron to continue with his hand.
"So," Ron continued, "I was really worried about being banned from the game, so I started to chivvy her along. That didn't go over so well. She didn't seem to care if I missed the match on Saturday, and that really set me off. So then, she started acting like mum. You know I hate it when she does that, Harry. Then, she started correcting me on my choice of words-
Harry gave Ron a look that clearly said, 'You might have deserved to be corrected on your choice of words' and simply stated:
"You know she doesn't like it when you swear."
"I know, I know," said Ron. "She just had me so damn mad! Err…I mean…oh bloody hell!" he said in frustration and continued, "I let my temper get the better of me."
"Imagine that," Harry retorted in a sarcastic tone, "Ron Weasley, letting his temper get the better of him."
Ron sat in silence for awhile, nervous to go on any further.
"So," prompted Harry, "is that all that happened? She told you to watch your mouth and then started crying?"
"Ah, no," Ron said, "there's more."
He was silent, yet again, pondering how to tell Harry the rest of the story and decided that there wasn't a nice way to say it. Harry was going to think that he was a moronic git, regardless of how Ron told him, so he continued.
"Understand, Harry, she had me seething by now. I was already worried about being late and about being banned from the Quidditch match, so my mood was already less-than-pleasant, and then she refused to hurry and started in on how I needed to control the things that came out of my mouth."
"So why didn't you just go on ahead and let Hermione walk in late without you?" interrupted Harry.
Why didn't I do that? It would have avoided our row, I would have never had made her cry, and most important of all, I wouldn't have this treacherous feeling right now that she may never speak to me again. I guess…I guess I didn't want to go on ahead. I wanted to walk with her.
"I don't know," answered Ron, then took a deep breath and continued, "I decided to do just the opposite, just to spite her. I called her…err…I called her…"
Ron couldn't say the word. It had been so easy to form in his mind and spit out of his mouth just earlier that day, but now he couldn't bring himself to say it, and he was sure that it was a word that he would NEVER say again.
"Ron," Harry said very slowly, "what did you call her?"
"Err…I called her that word that she absolutely loathes. You know- next to Mudblood," Ron answered quickly. He thought if he answered quickly, it would have less of an impact on Harry than if he said it at his normal speaking pace.
He was wrong. The answer had the same impact on Harry as Ron feared. As soon as Harry realized that Ron had called Hermione one of the two words that she absolutely hated, his mouth dropped open and his eyes became as big as saucers.
"Ron!" Harry said fiercely. "How could you have called her that?"
"Harry, you have no idea how many times tonight I have asked myself that very question, and I still don't know the answer. All I can tell you is that I have successfully managed to hurt- I mean really hurt- the one person that I have never wanted to hurt. Now I feel like I am being torn to shreds at the very thought that she may not ever speak to me again, or if she does, that things will never be the same between the two of us, and those very thoughts scare the living daylights out of me."
Harry continued to gawp speechlessly at Ron.
"Harry, you can shut your mouth anytime now," Ron said irritably. "I really don't know what else to say. That's the story. That's what happened. I'd give anything to take it back, hell, I'd give anything to apologize to her, but she won't even look at me, let alone listen to me."
Harry was about to ask Ron if he could blame Hermione for her refusal to look at him, but he decided against it. Harry could tell by the look of utter despair in Ron's eyes that he did not blame her in the slightest.
"So I take it she didn't respond well to your sudden word vomit?" Harry asked matter-of-factly.
"Err, no."
"What did she do, I mean besides cry?" Harry asked, arching his eyebrows.
"Well, she...ah, she hit me harder than I think I've ever been hit in my entire life. Look," Ron pointed to the cheek that she hit. "Is it red? It still stings like hell."
"Blimey Ron! Your face is REALLY red! Maybe you should go to the hospital wing. It's been nearly four hours since she hit you and it looks really bad…maybe even a little puffy."
Ron rolled his eyes at the suggestion.
"I'm not going to the hospital wing, because of a slap given by a girl."
Then he rubbed the swollen red spot on his cheek and continued.
"Even though it hurts bloody bad, I just can't bring myself to do it. It'll get better."
"Okay," said Harry. "If you say so, although, although I must say Ron, you did deserve it. If you are going to call Hermione a name like that, then you can't expect not to get slapped by her."
"I know. I deserved a lot more than that, too."
After Ron said these words, he put his elbows on his knees and put his face in his hands. He held this position for a good minute. Harry was beginning to worry that Ron would never look up, but just at that moment he did and Harry was surprised at what he saw.
Is Ron crying? Harry thought.
Harry quickly decided that he hadn't been, or wasn't at the present time, crying, but he was as close to it as Harry had ever seen before, and he might as well have been, because the look that was present in Ron's eyes was one of the most despairing looks that Harry had ever seen. He had never seen Ron in this kind of state before.
"Ron, are you alright?" Harry inquired.
Ron slowly nodded his head, but Harry deduced from his demeanor that Ron's answer was not entirely the truth.
"No, you're not," Harry stated pointedly.
"Sure I am," Ron snapped back, but then his face fell. He knew that he wasn't going to fool Harry at all: Harry could read him like a book.
"No, you're right. I'm not okay. This whole row with Hermione has made me realize something, and it's confusing the hell out of me."
Ron paused for a moment before continuing on.
"It's made me realize that I care for her."
"Ron," Harry interrupted, "you've been friends for over five years; of course you would care for her. What's confusing about that?"
"The confusing part is," Ron continued, "now that I am starting to come to the conclusion that things may never be the same between us again, I am realizing just how much I truly care for her, more than I ever thought possible."
Ron was silent for a long time- too long for Harry's liking. Then something hit Harry like a Bludger to the head; it was something that Harry had started to suspect back in fourth year, but that suspicion was never strong enough for Harry to feel the need to ask Ron about it, or to see it come into the light. Harry knew he had to ask Ron, and not just for his own sake of wanting to know. He knew that he had to ask Ron for Ron's own good. If his suspicions were true- if this suspicion that he had speculated for the last two years was actually truth and not just a feeling, then Ron needed all the help he could get to awake to the realization. There was no way, in the Muggle and Wizarding world alike, that Ron would realize Harry's suspicion for the last two years all by himself. When it came right down to these kinds of things, the word "thick" didn't even begin to describe Ron.
Harry knew he had to ask. He took a deep breath and prepared to ask Ron the one question that had silently been nagging at him for the past two years. If Ron answered 'no', then Harry's suspicions were wrong.
It wouldn't be the first time, he thought.
However, if Ron answered 'yes,' then his behavior regarding a certain person would have to change...
A/N: Thank-you so much for all who reviewed. It makes my day to know that people like my story, so please, please keep reviewing! Sorry for the small cliffy, but the next chapter is already formulating in my mind and will be coming soon, so hang in there!
Thank-you Emily for helping me out- you are a life saver!
TO ALL THE AMAZING REVIEWERS:
Celi
ch 4, signed
I really love it! Feel so sorry for them...and I can recognize myself in Hermione...if he'd just said it one more time.
I hope I don't nead to wait to long for next chapter:-)
Response: No, hopefully you won't! I'm updating right now! Yeah, I can sorta identify with Hermione right now. There are dozens of times where I've soiled my chances to reconcile with people, because of my stubbornness. Thanks for the review:)
luvergirlgranger
ch 4, signed
I can not wait for more!
Response: Thanks! It's coming:)
warrior of tortall
ch 4, signed
luv this please continue ron is such an idiot nd so i hermione reeli...oh well hope its works out in the end...
Response: LOL! I know! Ron is an idiot and in this chapter and (I think) the next chapter, he is an even bigger idiot! Oh well, I still love him to death though! Thanks for the review:)
Renee25
ch 4, signed
I like how Ron isn't completely BRAINLESS in your story. And as with many of my reviews, I'll mention that there are simple typos...and that's it. I like the story so far.
cooing It was only a BABY monster-spider!
Response: Oh, thank you for pointing that out. I'll try to go through and find them, then fix what I find. Thanks for the review:)
Renee25
ch 2, signed
This isn't much of a review, but is there a defintion to this highly seemingly highly technical term: "collywobble"?
I'm enjoying your story, by the way.
Response: LOL! Yes- the term "collywobbles" refers to a SEVERE upset stomach. (At least, that's what Fionna Boyle tells us in: A Muggle's Guide to the Wizarding World. That's where I picked up the term and she is rather accurate with her book.) I am so glad that you are enjoying the story:)
Emma-Lynn
ch 4, signed
Gah, you have got me on the edge of my seat. Just two words...well three, STILL LOVE IT! and also, tow more...UPDATE SON!1
Emma-Lynn
Response: LOL! Thank you so much! I love your enthusiasm and your love for the story blushes to self Thanks for the review!
Emma-Lynn
ch 3, signed
Ah! OMG! I absolutly LOVE this story! It is EXTREMELY well written AND it's DIFFERENT! Everyone usually just replays the same basic plots over and over again, but yours is UNIQUE! I LOVE it! I'm gonna go read the next chapter now!
Emma-Lynn
Response: Wow! Aren't you sweet! Really, it's different and well written? I am ecstatic that you say that, because this is my first fic and sometimes reviews still make me anxious. However, reviews like yours makes all the anxiety worth it. Let me just tell you that I am soooooooo glad that you like it that much! Thanks for the amazing review:)
SpaceyChic468
ch 4, signed
Great story! It's so original! Please update soon! (I like your writer ID, or whatever too! "Accio Ron" LOL) Update soon!
Response: Thank you so much! Yes, I have developed quite an obsession over Ron Weasley and Rupert Grint, for that matter! Actually (and this was extremely embarrassing) my little sister thought it would be funny to put "Happy Birthday 20th Mrs. Grint" on my birthday cake last December. I believe that my face was red the rest of the night! But...it'll be one to remember:)
Rae Valerious
ch 4, signed
hey! i hope im first for this chapter! hm this story is vey interesting. it has made me switch from a hard core harry/hermione shipper to a not-so -much hhr spipper. thnx!
Response: Yes, you are! YAY! Well, I am SO GLAD that I at least have you started on the right track:D ( I won't get on a tangent about why I think R & H are PERFECT for each other) To each his own, I guess. I am glad that you this story has sparked your interest enough for you to enjoy it...that makes me feel really good! Thank you so much for the amazing review:)
Rae Valerious
cool. i wish you'd finish
Response: Actually, I have up to chapter eleven written, it's just the task of getting them posted. :D I'll try to post one a day. Thanks for the review!
Everhart13
please continue! update quickly! this is a really great story!
Response: Thank you so much! Getting ready to update right now!
warrior of tortall
v v v gd chappie! ron is so clueless. please continue its reeli reeli gd!
Response: I know. And don't you love him for it! Thank you so much for your kind words.
Celi
This is great! More please!
Response: Thanks! It's coming!
MyStIcS number 42
hey thx i like it write more plz and thank u
Response: Thank you so much! I have up to chapter eleven written.
Emma-Lynn
w00t w00t! Love it! Not your average story and thats what makes it so enticing! Update A.S.A.P!
Emma-Lynn :D
Response: Hey, thanks so much! Really? Not your average story? YAY! Glad to hear that! Thanks for the review!
Everhart13
great story, update quickly plz!
Response: LOL! Thanks! That's what I am doing right now!
thesongremainsthesame
Are you going to tell us what they did to get in there? Really good so far...D
Response: Oh yes, you do find out! You will also find out about Draco too, but not until chapter's 7-11, depending on how good your deductive skills are. :D Thanks so much for the review!
Celi
Great! More please!
Response: Thanks and it's coming!
warrior of tortall
it is sossosososososo gd! i luiv this please continue its amazin reeli gr8 writing nd story...
Response: Thank you so much!
summerxkiss2
please update soon. i love it so far. please update soon cause i really want to finish reading it. awesome begining so far
Response: Thank you so much! I'll try (at least until chapter 11, cause that's all I have written so far) to update once a day.