Chapter Six:
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 kind 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...
"Ron," Harry started, "I need to ask you something."
Harry was suddenly anxious about introducing this subject, and couldn't form the words to ask his question and Ron grew impatient.
"What is it that you need to ask me, then?" Ron said with a hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Well…err…"
Now, there was a rumor - no, more like a myth, in the Wizarding world regarding the Weasley men and their emotions. Some believed they were loving, caring, and understanding toward the women they loved. Still others believed the Weasley men to have the emotional capacity of walnut. One would only have to witness the Weasleys in their home, carrying out their day-to-day routine to separate the fact from myth. Harry was one of the few who had the privilege of
doing just that. He could tell you exactly where the myth ended and the fact began: The Weasley men were all loving and caring … with the exception of one, that is. Ronald Bilius Weasley alone was responsible for the slanderous reputation. The seven other Weasley
men's sensitivity combined could not prevent the hideous rumor that had developed. Needless to say, Ron's emotional capacity, or lack thereof, for that matter, gave the rest of the men in his family a tarnished reputation where emotions were concerned.
"Come on, Harry! It's been a long night. I'm tired as hell, and all I really want to do is go to bed and forget this whole night ever happened," grumbled Ron.
"You can't," Harry said quietly.
"What in the hell do you mean, I can't?" snapped Ron. "I can go to bed whenever I damn well please, I -"
"RON," Harry interrupted loudly, "of course you can go to bed whenever you want! What I meant is that you can't forget this whole night ever happened, because Hermione won't forget… and you know she won't, Ron."
At this retort, Ron's face reverted to that same look of despair he'd been wearing just minutes before.
"Yeah, mate, I know she won't," Ron said in a low, sad voice.
Okay, thought Harry, there is no easy way to do this. With Ron, its better just to spit it out than beat around the bush…he's already really annoyed that I haven't gotten to the point. Just get it over with ...
Harry looked Ron straight in the eye and said, "Do you fancy Hermione?"
Now that Harry had finally managed to get the words out of his mouth, he thought Ron was going to have a fit. He jumped to his feet and ran his hands through his hair until it looked as if he'd just crawled out of bed. He paced aimlessly for about ten seconds, and in the process knocked over the chess board and its pieces, sending them rolling across the floor. Completely oblivious to the havoc he was wreaking, Ron paced for a few more seconds, then thumped back down into the chair.
"Bloody hell, Harry!" Ron exclaimed, his face turning a shade of red that was difficult to separate from his hair, "What sort of insane question is that!"
"Actually mate, I don't think it's an insane question at all….and I think-
"What do you think, Harry?" Ron interrupted, growing agitated once again.
"Well, I think you do fancy her. What's more -
"What the hell are you playing at!" Ron said, jumping to his feet again and staring at Harry like he was ready to have a go at him.
Harry rolled his eyes and said, "Ron, what are going to do, fight me or something? Sit down and listen to me! You need to hear me out and you aren't going to bed until you do."
"Fine," Ron replied in a curt manner as he threw himself back down in the chair again.
"Listen, what I was trying to say is, I think you fancy Hermione. I've wondered, and now I'm
convinced that you have fancied her since fourth year. Ever since …well, ever since….." Harry trailed off. He knew that finishing his thought could very well be a death wish. Ron would likely get really worked up, to a level that didn't even compare to his current state.
"Ever since when, Harry!" Ron practically yelled.
Oh no, Harry thought, here he goes.
"Since Hermione went with "Vikky darling" to the Yule Ball? Ever since she decided to betray you and go with a guy who was trying to get information out of her to use against you? The same sodding enemy who planned to use the Cruciatus Curse on anyone who might get in
his way in that maze? He was a bloody traitor and I wouldn't be surprised if he was out there right now running around with the Dark Mark on his effing arm!"
Ron didn't despise Viktor Krum….not all the time, anyway. Whenever his amazing Quidditch ability was the topic of discussion, Ron thought he was a right good bloke and admired everything about him. However, there were also times when Ron absolutely hated Krum with
every fiber of his being…like at this particular moment. Anytime someone mentioned the shocking moment that Hermione arrived at the Yule Ball back in fourth year, with Viktor Krum as her date, Ron would get worked up to the point of stepping right over the edge. Harry
knew that he was treading on dangerous ground with Ron and had to choose his words very carefully. He watched Ron as he sat in the chair, his chest heaving, his fists resembling white marble as they clutched the arms of the chair, and his face turning a deep shade of red. This wasn't an embarrassed blush, like before. It was sheer rage.
"Ron," Harry said in an exhausted tone, "First of all, Viktor never tried to use Hermione to get to me. She told both of us that, and I believe her and I think it's high time you get over it and start believing her too. Honestly, Ron, Hermione's one of the best judges of character that I know! Second, when Viktor used the Cruciatus Curse, he was under the Imperious…he really didn't have a choice in the matter, did he? Think about it, Ron. When Moody put you under the Imperious during class, you got a taste of what it's like to be completely unable to control your own actions, no matter how hard you fight it."
Ron looked down at his feet and said quietly, "Yeah, mate, I reckon he didn't really have a choice." He did recall the painful event all too well. He remembered first seeing Dean Thomas jumping around while singing the national anthem, Lavender Brown imitating a squirrel, and Neville Longbottom performing gymnastics, all while under the Imperious. Ron remembered
his determination to be the first one who would resist it. He was determined to fight it off, and his determination was strong. However, the moment that Unforgivable Curse blanketed his skin and seeped into his soul, that determination faded into a mist and disappeared. It was replaced by a sort of relaxed happiness that was unlike any sensation Ron had ever felt. He remembered being so relaxed that he had no desire to fight it off and willingly climbed the stairs as Moody had instructed him to do. He understood the sense of being completely controlled by an invisible force and decided that his argument about Viktor using an Unforgivable Curse was not credible at all. Not willing to concede all his points on the matter, he looked up quickly and said, "But I'd still wager he has the Dark Mark on his arm!"
Harry was determined to get this all straightened out with Ron, even if it meant talking him through it like he was seven years old. He took a deep breath and continued, "Ron, we aren't going to start talking about your suspicions that he is in league with Voldemort again. Besides, I already told you I think that's a load of rubbish. We are talking about Hermione here."
The sound of Hermione's name had a calming effect on Ron, and he slumped down a little in his chair as he relaxed.
"Ron, I didn't want to bring up Vik-….err him, but it was necessary. I think it's possible that you have always, deep down, fancied Hermione, but you just didn't realize it until you saw her with another guy. Actually, you probably still didn't know the real reason you were so mad that night, but that's when I started seeing it. When I saw how you reacted to the way she looked, how you treated her, and then rowed with her later that night, I suspected that you fancied her. So, now that I've explained why I think you fancy Hermione, tell me - do you?"
Harry almost had to laugh at this ludicrous question. Ron was the only person that Harry knew who had to be told how he felt, because everyone knew that he was incapable of figuring it out on his own.
Ron sat deep in thought for a while, so long in fact, that Harry had deduced that Ron had chosen to ignore the question, but Harry wasn't going to give up. He would sit here all night playing the staring game with his best friend if he had to.
Then suddenly Ron exclaimed, "Bloody hell Harry, I can't possibly fancy Hermione! She's my best friend! That would be like admitting that I fancy you…which I don't," Ron added quickly.
Harry couldn't believe how thick Ron actually was. He was sitting here, comparing Hermione to Harry as if there was no difference between them.
"RON," Harry said sternly, "There is a difference between Hermione and me."
Ron cocked his head a little to the left and looked thoughtfully at Harry, "There is?"
"Yeah, mate," Harry said very slowly, hoping that what he was hinting at was becoming clear to Ron.
"What difference?"
My word, Harry thought, I really am dealing with a seven year-old!
"Ron … Hermione is a girl!"
"What the bloody hell does that mean? I know that Hermione is a gir!"
The light that had previously been off in Ron's head finally clicked on. His mouth dropped open and his eyes appeared to be five times their normal size. Ron gave a small, nervous laugh and said, "Oh…yeah…right…."
"AND," Harry continued, "I think that you saw her as a girl for the first time at the Yule Ball, and since she attended…well…with another bloke, it only made the change in Hermione more, I dunno, significant to you."
"Harry," Ron interrupted, "You are talking way over my head."
Harry had to rephrase his words into something that Ron could understand. Sometimes, things didn't sink in with Ron, unless the conversation was about Quidditch or having a
go at Draco Malfoy.
Harry figured he would say it again, this time in the simplest way possible and hope with all his soul that Ron would grasp what he was trying to get across, although he was beginning to
worry it may never happen.
"You fancy Hermione and you have for two years, ever since she showed up looking, well, amazing at the Yule Ball, standing next to another fellow. I know it, and it's about time you realize it and admit it. And more importantly, deal with it."
It can't get any clearer than that, Harry thought. He waited for the comment to sink into Ron's thick skull. Harry waited and waited. He was willing to wait it out all night if he had to. He was sick to death of Ron and Hermione's rows and he wanted them to end.
Finally, after about five minutes of agonizing silence, Ron spoke. "Harry, I do have feelings for her…and they aren't the kind of feelings that I have had about her for the last five years- these
feelings are different, but I don't know what they are. It's all really strange to me. In the past, when she would start bossing me around, telling me what to do, how and when to do it, I would just get really annoyed and ignore her for awhile."
After Ron's this last comment, Harry gave an obvious snort.
"Okay, okay," Ron admitted, "I would usually ignore her for days …but…there is no way that I could do that now. I have to talk to her. I have to be around her and if I don't, I feel incomplete…I feel….depressed!"
Harry was delighted to see that he may finally be making a bit of progress on Ron's emotions and asked, "So, when you are around Hermione, how do you feel?"
"Well," Ron said as he suddenly sat up straighter in his chair and got a hint of excitement in his voice, "she makes me feel better about myself. Hermione is always telling me that she knows I can do well, with my revisions or exams. And, even though I know that what she is telling me is not necessarily the truth, I like that she has confidence in me."
Harry just smiled and motioned Ron to go on with a wave of his hand.
"I have fun when I'm around her. I like being around her, more so than ever since I have known her. I love ... err ... like ...
Harry gave a small smile and simply asked, "What do you like?"
However, Ron didn't answer his question. He continued sitting in the plush chair, staring off into the distance, wrapped up in the whirlwind of thoughts that seemed to have captivated him. Finally, however, he sensed the need to speak and when he did, his voice was very low and very serious, "Harry, there is something odd going on here. You asked me if I fancied Hermione. I thought that the more I let that question sink in, the more I would reject it. Well, it's completely sunk in and I haven't rejected it…"
"Ron?" Harry inquired.
"Yeah, mate," he replied slowly and then looked at Harry, his face becoming the same shade of red as his hair.
My best friend is going to cost me my sanity tonight thought Harry, his frustration mounting with every word Ron said, or wouldn't say, for that matter.
"Will you please just answer the question you've been avoiding for the past thirty minutes?"
Ron squinted his eyes a little and looked at Harry, "And…what question could you possibly be referring to now?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"Blimey, Ron! You are the thickest person I have ever met! DO - YOU - FANCY - HERMIONE?" Harry practically yelled.
If it were possible, Ron's face turned an even brighter shade of red than it had previously been. The imprint from Hermione's hand was hidden by the new skin shade that Ron seemed to have adopted. Ron looked down at the floor and quietly, "I already answered your question, Harry ... please don't make me say it again."
"What in the hell are you talk-, then the realization hit Harry. "Oh…you did answer. I didn't realize the 'Yeah, mate' was THE answer."
After a short silence, Harry said happily, "Well, bully for you Ron! This is bleeding fantastic!" and he gave Ron a smack of congratulations in the back.
"Harry," Ron said in a tone slightly above a whisper, "I feel a little odd talking about this."
"Well of course you do," Harry replied in awe, "You just admitted that you fancied your best friend…your other best friend." Harry continued with a sly smile, "I wonder what your brothers will say?"
"Harry," Ron whined.
"Alright, alright. So, how long have you fancied her?"
"Well, now that I think about it, I've fancied her a little since the middle of third year, but thanks to you, I've just now realized it … but it doesn't really matter," Ron said in a despairing voice.
"And why not?" Harry asked, matter-of-factly.
"Well…she hates me. I made her cry and I mean REALLY cry. I've never pushed her over the edge like that before. I've never called her a ... a ..."
"Ron," Harry cut in, "you need to set things right with her and once you have, you need to tell her how you feel."
"Oh hell, no! Harry, there's no sodding way that I'm telling her I fancy her!"
"Why?" Harry demanded.
"Well… I just can't, alright? Besides, there's no bloody way that she feels the same way about me."
"Well Ron, you'll never find out, unless you tell her. Besides, Hermione isn't like you, mate. You may be surprised what she is capable of feeling. As I mentioned earlier, she is a girl ..."
"Yeah, thanks for the breaking news," Ron interrupted sarcastically.
"Yes, well, you most certainly are not a girl, nor do you have the faintest idea how her mind works, nor her heart, which is actually more important here. You know, there are many people who actually admit they have emotions, and even act on them. It may be 'news' to you that it's even common for people to share those emotions with each other," Harry said. "Specifically the people - or person - who stirs the emotions in the first place." With this, Harry stared pointedly at Ron, willing him to understand what he needed to do.
Ron chuckled anxiously and said "Okay, point taken. I'll really try to tell her how I feel, but first I need to get back in her good graces."
Harry thought Ron was agreeing to this easily…too easily. Harry knew what Ron was doing. He was telling Harry exactly what he wanted to hear, so he would get off of Ron's back about it. The whole idea of trying to tell Hermione he had "feelings" for her scared the hell out of Ron. That much was clear. What Ron didn't realize was that Harry was completely fed up with their constant bickering. Of course, the prospect of his best friend fancying his other best friend would take some getting used to. The possibility for this situation to turn out well was very good. Harry figured the odds were good enough to gamble. Harry wasn't sure how Hermione felt about Ron, but he had a pretty good idea (at least he thought he did, before tonight). Ron may not suspect it, but Harry was not giving up that easily. How could he? He just got Ronald Bilius Weasley - the only Weasley who actually did have the emotional capacity of a walnut - to admit that he had fancied Hermione Granger for three years! Who knew - that walnut may just break right through its shell and grow into a steadfast, powerful tree. It certainly had strong roots! It would be foolish to stop now.
To all the amazing reviewers since my last update:
Emma-Lynn
2005-05-08
ch 5, signed
You MUST MUST MUST update a.s.a.p! Each chapter just keeps getting better and better!
Emma-Lynn
Response: LOL! Thank you so much!
Ronaldandchicken
2005-05-08
ch 5, signed
Agh! It did NOT just end there!
I hate cliffhangers. Ha.
Update soon!
Response: I know, I know! I had to though, it seemed like a perfect place to leave on! Sorry. Thanks for the review and no...not the end. Not the end at all!
warrior of tortall
2005-05-08
ch 5, signed
continue! it is the most amazin thing ever i cannot believe how thick he is! but he sweet neway. Wot is going on with ginny nd malfoy?
Response: Thanks so much!
Celi
2005-05-08
ch 5, signed
Really great! Love it! Can't wait for next chapter! Like the way Harry stands up for Hermione, he's acting great! And Ginny is great too, now I wan't to know what the thing with Draco was..:-) Will you tell us in this story?
Response: Thank you so much! I think in this situation, Harry would be rational and defend whoever he thought needed to be defended. Yes, you will eventually find out about that. I drop lots of clues and I think this is the first chapter where they begin. So...more to come very soon!
summerxkiss2
2005-05-07
ch 5, signed
omg ron seems to be really taking this matter to heart. it seems to be so sweet that he finally realize that he cares for her more than a friend. hopefully they end this row. please update soon.
Response: Yes, Ron is very mad at himself for hurting Hermione the way he did. I believe he really is a good friend, he just has a problem of thinking before speaking. AND, oh yes, he does like Hermione as more than a friend. Thanks so much for the review!
DramaQueen12313
2005-05-07
ch 3, signed
i thought itwas very repetitive in the beggining when you were telling us how badronfelt about hurting her feelings,but i do likethe story and you updated quickly.
Response: Yeah, it was a little repetitive, but I felt that it was necessary. I felt that it was a little out of character for Ron to call her that, so I felt it was necessary to make up for it by expressing how truly remorseful he was for his actions. It is imperative that he is sorry for his actions, to usher in the whole prospect of liking her as more than a friend. I am glad that you like the story and thank you so much for reviewing!