A/N: Hey! Well another update on Sunday just like I
promised! Is anyone going to see the Harry Potter movie on
Friday? I'm going in the afternoon with my friend. I can't wait
it's like four or five more days now! I will think about making the
I-Hate-Lavender pettition and put the link to it in my authors page but
I don't have alot of time today! Latley I haven't written that
much. I think it's because I don't have internet so I don't have to
update as fast but I am only on chapter 12, marie fay. Thank you reviewers!
About
Tonks and Lupin baby: It won't be born till around June and Hermione is
helping with some DADA classes. Everyone will be prepared for their
N.E.W.Ts, so no worries. And she doesn't miss classes for Healer
appointments or anything because if she has one Lupin will take her on
a weekend.
Thank all of you guys who said you will read my book when I write one!
And it was great to hear about everyone's dream! If any of you ever write a book let me know and I'lll read it!
So on with the chapter...
One and Only
Chapter Eight
The first Quidditch match of the season was nearing and the leaves on the trees were starting to change. As November blew in, it started to look more like fall. The first match was Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Although Ron tried to hide it Hermione could tell how nervous he really was.
On the night before it and Ron and Hermione were sitting by the fire again. They normally did this every night when all of the homework was done. They tended to stay the night and wake up early. Hermione was sitting up and Ron's head was resting in her lap. She wanted to talk to him but wasn't sure if he wanted to talk.
"So are you nervous for the match tomorrow?" Hermione asked casually.
"No I'm fine." He lied. Hermione sighed in an annoyed tone because she wasn't getting anything out of him. When she moved to stand up Ron sat up and looked at her. "What's wrong?" He asked.
"Oh nothing." Hermione said hostilely. "Nothings wrong." She said as she angrily sat down on the couch and pulled a book out of her bag. She was too angry to read but felt that she needed to do something.
"Don't lie Mione. I can see that something is wrong." Ron said as he sat up and sat next to her. She jumped up from the couch and looked to him angrily.
"Don't lie?" She asked bitterly. "How can you tell me not to lie when you're doing the same damn thing?" Ron looked confused.
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
"Oh don't give me that bull!" Hermione exclaimed. "Every time I ask you what's wrong you say nothing or if I ask you if you're nervous you say no. All I'm trying to do is talk to you but you don't talk to me! Even Harry and Ginny have noticed how distanced you've been."
"So you've all been talking about me eh?" Ron asked angrily. Hermione was getting angrier.
"Don't even go there Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed. "Don't even try and turn this around!"
"Turn what around?" He asked. "You're yelling at me for not talking to you and then your telling me that you three have been talking about me!"
"Your impossible!" She exclaimed before turning for the portrait hole. Ron ran to her and grabbed her arm.
"Don't go Hermione." Ron said.
"Why so I can stay and fight with you. I don't think so. Good luck tomorrow." She said and continued to walk to the portrait hole. Ron was tempted, in his anger, to let her go but he knew that they needed to resolve this.
"Well then let's not fight. Let's talk about it." Ron said. Hermione stopped and Ron took her hand and led her over to the couch. She sat back and crossed one leg over the other.
"Alright, talk." Hermione said. Ron wasn't sure exactly where to start but he knew that he had to say something to keep Hermione from leaving.
"I'm sorry for lying to you but you've gotta understand that I would tell you anything and I love you." Ron said. He paused for a moment to look at Hermione. She was sitting there and listening to him calmly.
"Go on." She urged with no particular tone.
"It's just that…I'm rubbish at Quidditch but Harry won't let me resign. You hear the Slytherins in the halls. 'Weasley can't save a thing' its true." Ron muttered. He fell back against the couch. Hermione laughed. Ron turned to her angrily. "If your gunna laugh then you might as well go." He said.
"I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing because you think that your bad at Quidditch and you've been lying to me about it. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." Hermione said. Ron looked confused. "Listen, you are not bad at Quidditch. You just have no confidence."
"Oh that's a whole lot better." Ron said sarcastically.
"No just listen!" She said. "You could save anything but you don't think you can. And it's Malfoy's song that botheres you. He's just a sore loser." She assured him. Ron found these words useless but coming from her they were comforting. He made a vow to himself that he would concentrate on the game and not what Malfoy said, for Hermione.
"Alright. From now on I promise not to lie to you and I will try to not let Malfoy get to me." Ron assured her.
"Ok. That works for me." Hermione said.
"Good." Ron said. He moved over and lifted her onto his lap. She gave him a kiss and rested her head back on his shoulder. She felt much better now that they had gotten everything out in the open.
The next morning Ron was the first one awake and he was careful not to wake Hermione. He was sitting and staring into the empty fire trying to convince himself that he wasn't bad at Quidditch. When Hermione woke up she looked around for Ron she spotted him nervously staring at the extinguished fire. She walked over to him and out a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, let's get some food in you." Hermione said. Ron stood up and followed her out of the portrait hole. When they got back to their dormitories to change, Hermione watched Ron slump up the stairs she sadly turned to her own dormitories. She put on jeans and a shirt before putting her black jacket and Gryffindor scarf on. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and put on her white sneakers. After pinning a red and gold rosette onto her jacket she walked downstairs to find Harry and Ginny assuring Ron that he would do fine but what they didn't notice was that Ron's shirt was on backward. "Uh… Ron, honey, your shirt is on backward." Hermioen pointed out.
"Huh?" Ron looked down and saw that there was no writing on the front. "Oh." He said as he pulled his arms through and turned it around. Harry, Ginny, and Hermione looked at him sympathetically.
"You are going to do fine." Hermione assured him. "And even if you don't I'll still love you." Ron looked at her and laughed. Hermione noticed that he seemed to come to himself slightly.
"And even if you weren't as smart I'm pretty sure that I would still love you." Ron joked as the four of them started for the Great Hall. Hermione had one hand in her jacket pocket and the other one was holding Ron's hand.
"Your pretty sure?" She asked in mock offense.
"Well if you weren't so smart than who would help me with my homework?" Ron asked. Hermione was happy that he was acting normally.
"You would have to help me." She said. "But you wouldn't love me so…" She said in a joking manner.
"Of course I would still love you. I always will." Ron said.
"Knew it." Hermione said. She leaned up and gave him a kiss. He smiled. When they walked into the Great Hall, they could hear the Slytherin's taunts and singing. Ron was about to go back into his sulky mood but Hermione gave his hand a squeeze and walked closer to him. He felt suddenly more cheerful; he had never had this before. Sure she had given him a kiss on the cheek before matches the past two years but he had never had her hold his hand and really kiss him. Ron felt happier as he took his seat and ignored the Slytherin's comments. Many people wished him good luck and he even saw Seamus look up to him and it looked as if he wanted to make an apology or wish him good luck as well but Seamus turned away too quickly. When Harry announced that it was time to go change Ron got up and Hermione stood up too.
"I'll do fine." Ron said before Hermione could get the words out. She smiled at him.
"Of course you will." She said. Hermione stood on her tippy-toes to give him a kiss. Ron kissed back and she gave him a hug. Ron smiled at her and kissed the top of her head. He knew that the second, she was gone he would start to feel worse again. Hermione looked up and smiled at him. "Love you." She said.
"I love you too." He said and gave her one last kiss before starting for the door. Hermione wished Harry and Ginny good luck as they followed Ron out of the Great Hall. Hermione watched as Ron's shoulders sagged and he disappeared from view. She sat back down at the table and turned her fork over until it was time to go out for the match.
In the stands she took her seat next to no one in particular, since her friends were on the team and in the match. Parvati came and sat down next to her.
"Hi." She said.
"Hello." Hermione responded. They had been on pretty good terms with Parvati and Dean. Neither of them felt that they should get involved.
"Is Ron nervous?" She asked.
"Not so much." Hermione lied.
"Dean was pretty nervous considering that it was his first match." Parvati said.
"Well I'd expect anyone to be if it was their first match." Hermione replied dully. She looked around Parvati for Lavender but luckily she wasn't there.
"Oh she went with Seamus to the commentator's podium. He's taking Lee Jordan's place." Parvati informed her. "And Dean went down with the rest of the team."
"Oh." Hermione said. "Look it's about to start." Hermione said. She wasn't too keen on keeping a conversation going with Parvati. Hermione cheered loudly for Ron, Harry, and Ginny. Hermione noticed that Ron waved to her and seemed to have a little more confidence than normal. Ron flew up to the goal post as the game begun.
"And Ginny Weasley has the Quaffle!" Seamus's voice rang through the stadium loudly. Hermione could just picture Lavender beaming up at him or admiring it. Being commentator might have its strong points but to Hermione the admirable position was where Ron was.
"Come on Ginny!" Hermione cheered. She had the feeling that her voice would not be the same after the match. Ginny swerved past some Ravenclaw chasers and passed the Quaffle to Demelza. Then Ginny swerved around by the goal hoops and Demelza passed it to her. Ginny threw the Quaffle and made a goal.
"And Gryffindor scores! That's ten-nil to Gryffindor!" Seamus cheered.
"Go Ginny!" Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs.
"And possession of the Quaffle is to Ravenclaw." Seamus yelled. Hermione was wondering if Seamus would go off on Ron to everyone but when Weasley is Our King was being sung loudly, Seamus was commentating extra loud so that the singing would be drowned out. The chasers passed it back and forth and zoomed to the goal.
"Come on Ron! You can do it!" Hermione yelled. She was jumping up and cheering. Ron could pick her voice out and he took a quick look at her. After seeing her he started laughing. He thought that if Hermione would go through all of that trouble to believe in him than he really had to do this for her. He was feeling considerably more confident as the Ravenclaw Chaser approached him. Ron noticed that he seemed to be heading for his left but Ron saw it as a trick so he swerved to his right and saved it just before it went through the hoop. More cheering rang through the stands but Hermione was by far the loudest. "That's it Ron! Show em' up!" She cheered. Ron looked over to her with a big smile as he chucked the Quaffle to Dean Thomas. He pointed to her to let he know that the goal was for her. She smiled and put her hand to her heart. Ron's focus was back on the game but every time the Quaffle went up his end he would get his inspiration from Hermione's cheering. As the match ended and Harry caught the snitch with the final score being 350 to 100 to Gryffindor. Hermione rushed out of the stands, still cheering loudly for the three of her friends. She ran out onto the field to meet Ron. He dropped his broom and she jumped into his arms.
"That was for you." He said. Hermione smiled.
"I knew you could do it!" She said in a raspy voice and gave him a small kiss. The rest of the Gryffindor team surrounded them and they all cheered loudly. People were starting back to the castle for the after game celebration. Ron put Hermione down but still held onto her hand and walked back to the castle. When they were walking Hermione congratulated Harry and Ginny on a job well done. A little ways on Hannah stopped them to interview Harry on his catch. Ginny stayed with him and Hermione and Ron continued on. When they walked into the Gryffindor common room there was an outburst of Weasley is Our King, the Gryffindor version, and confetti surrounded them. People congratulated Ron and asked him to relive his saves. Hermione listened with a smile and drank her butterbeer. But after hearing it for the fifteenth time she was beginning to get a little bored, and tired. It was getting late. At the start of the sixteenth time she stood up. Ron noticed and stopped for a moment to turn to her.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"Oh, I'm just going to talk to Ginny. I'll be back in a bit." Hermione answered. Ron smiled up at her.
"Alright." He said before turning back to the crowd and going back into details on his catches. Hermione smiled at him before going to find Ginny. She walked passed dozens of people surrounding Harry and asking for details on the Quidditch match. Quidditch was not something that Harry was modest about. She also spotted Parvati fawning over Dean but no one else was asking him to relive the match. She found Ginny hidden away by the steps to the dormitory.
"Hey!" Hermione said as she sat down next to her. "What are you doing here by yourself?"
"Hiding from everyone." Ginny answered simply. She had changed out of her Quidditch uniform and was now in jeans and a shirt. She had a muggle book in her hands, Airborn by Kenneth Oppel.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Too many questions." Ginny said. "Quidditch is fun but I don't enjoy talking about it constantly." Ginny answered. "I was going to go to the Head common room but when I ducked down here to hide from some people it was actually pretty comfortable. What about you?"
"I could probably give you full detail of the game from Ron's point of view if you asked. I've heard it that many times." Hermione replied. Ginny laughed.
"It won't get old until the next match." Ginny said.
"Yeah I know, but that's alright. I don't mind listening." Hermione said. Ginny looked oddly at Hermione because she could not understand how someone could put up with Ron. "So any other news about Bill and Fleur's baby?" Hermione asked Ginny.
"Well it will be a boy and it will probably be born around next June." Ginny said.
"That's good isn't it?" Hermione asked. She saw the look on Ginny's face. It was a look that clearly said that she thought that it wasn't good.
"It means that there is no chance of him ever breaking it off with Fleur then. I didn't even think that it would last this long." Ginny informed her.
"Well maybe they are in love." Hermione suggested. "I don't like her just as much as you and I really did think that they would be over by now but if they're having a baby then maybe it really is real."
"Sadly I can't deny what your saying but I am just going to pretend that this is not happening and be stuck in my own fantasy world." Ginny said.
"Alright, but sooner or later you have to come back to reality." Hermione said. Ginny sighed.
"I hate when your right but better sooner than later." She said. Hermione nodded and watched as Ginny stood up.
"Where are you going?" Hermione asked.
"I never wrote them a letter to congratulate them." Ginny said. Hermione smiled at Ginny and Ginny went off to write the letter. Hermione stood up, herself, and looked around the common room. She spotted Harry talking with Dean and some third year girls were watching him and whispering to each other. When she heard them giggle she figured that they were the Harry Potter fan club. She watched as Harry finished talking with Dean and he sat back on the couch with a butterbeer. One of the girls was pushed forward by the others and was walking toward him. Hermione was debating on going over and helping but she decided to let it play out for a few minutes. Harry looked up at the girl and she started talking very fast and didn't look like she was stopping anytime soon. After she went a whole minute without stopping, even for a breath, Hermione went to intervene. She caught a bit of her babble as she approached.
"But anyways I thought that was a really, really great catch and I think you're an awesome Quidditch player!" The girl said. She stopped and was breathing heavily.
"Umm… thanks." Harry said. The girl looked as if she was about to faint because he spoke to her. She opened her mouth to start speaking but Hermione cut her off.
"Harry, Ginny is looking for you." Hermione said. Harry shot up quickly.
"Thanks a lot. I'll see you later." Harry said to the girl before walking toward Hermione. Hermione saw the girl fall on the couch with a dreamy look on her face. Hermione walked away with Harry. "Where's Ginny?" Harry asked.
"Busy but I thought I'd save you before she professed her love for you on the spot." Hermione said.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Didn't you notice that you have a whole fan club of third years?" Hermione asked. Harry looked confused as they sat by Ron. As soon as Hermione sat down Ron put his head on her shoulder.
"What do you mean fan club?" Harry asked. "Just because I'm famous?"
"No." Hermione said. "That's old news." She laughed. "They're after you because a: your good at Quidditch and b: you've gotten better looking over the years." Ron shot up when he heard Hermione talk about Harry's looks.
"What do you mean he's better looking?" Ron asked. Hermione laughed again but Harry still had the confused look on his face.
"Relax. Harry is like a brother to me. It's not like that. I was merely stating the reason that other people have taken a notice to. Particularly that group of third years and a lot of others." Hermione said calmly. Ron relaxed when he heard this and rested his head back on Hermione's shoulder.
"Oh alright. Just checking." He said. Harry laughed slightly but then looked back to Hermione.
"So you mean they didn't care that I'm the famous Harry Potter? The boy who lived?" Harry asked. Hermione laughed again.
"You need to get with it." Hermione said. "Nobody calls you that anymore. They don't care about that anymore."
"So they like me because I'm good at Quidditch and good looking?" Harry asked.
"Basically." Hermione shrugged. Harry smiled.
"Finally, I've been waiting six years for that." He said.
"Seems about time for a stupid rumor in the paper." Ron said. "What'll it be this time? I'll let you choose." Ron said. Harry laughed.
"What's a new one? One that hasn't been used?" Harry asked.
"I think they got em' all. Sorry mate but I think your all rumored out." Ron said.
"What a shame." Harry said sarcastically. Harry, Ron and Hermione laughed.
Ron and Hermione went back to the Head common room a half hour later. They had their normal seats by the fire. Hermione was sitting in Ron's arms. It was silent before Ron spoke.
"Thanks." He said.
"For what?" Hermione asked.
"For believing in me and telling me that you really thought I could do it. If it weren't for you then I wouldn't have made all of those saves today." Ron said.
"Oh stop, you did that all on your own." Hermione said modestly.
"No, I'm serious. I would not have played as well as I did if it weren't for you." Ron said. Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Ron cut her off with a kiss. When he pulled away she smiled.
"Your welcome." She smiled. She leaned back on the ground and Ron followed her lead and leaned forward.
A/N: So what did you think? Please, please review and let me know! I will try and update as soon as posssible but I don't know when that will be. And since we know the sex of Bill and Fleurs baby I, didn't put this in but Tonks and Lupin want it to be a surprise. Soo I'll let you get to that review!
Love ya guys!
-Kylie-
