Chapter 16
"Ron!"
He had been staring at Hermione, not noticing that she was trying to talk to him. This happened a lot lately. He had to focus on the words she was saying because if not, the volume in his head got turned off and all he could see was Hermione talking, not actually hearing the words leaving her mouth.
"About the letters. Tomorrow he's going to send another one. There must be at least hundreds of letters coming in every day. The first question I would like to ask is: Where do the owls drop their deliveries? He must have an owlery or something. Or does Niles just climb out of the window and shovel the letters into a bag? I don't think so."
Now it was Hermione's turn to pace. She took measured steps on the Persian rug. Ron decided to take advantage of the moment and leaned back on the sofa, eyes fixed on the curly haired woman.
"The second question is: Who writes the replies? I for sure haven't noticed Harry too busy with it and if he didn't have anybody replying 'em there'd be a whole lot more pissed fans out there. He must have a secretary to do 'the dirty work'. I guess we'll find out when he gives us the employees list tonight, huh?"
Ron forced himself to answer. "Yeah, probably."
She had no idea how beautiful she looked to him, standing there with the gleaming fire behind her. Business, he reminded himself. Just business. When you two leave this place it will be the same as it used to be. Harry will still be the famous Quiddich star, even if he had enough money to last a lifetime. Hermione will go back to her nice and exciting life with her, no doubt rich boyfriend and he'll be alone. Nothing will change. Except for the fact that maybe they'll get to see each other more often, as he and Harry were back on speaking terms and he was no longer that stupid. No longer stupid enough to think that he was good enough for Hermione Granger.
He had been staring again. Maybe it would just be easier to stop fighting it and give in? Yeah, that would be easier, but if he did, Hermione would, in all probability, never speak to him again. He thought of what it would feel like if his best friend kissed him. He didn't want to make girly sounds but: Yeew! was a pretty accurate description of his feelings. Just imagining Harry kissing him made him feel as if he would rather intentionally put the slug belching curse on himself than have that happen to him.
He hadn't considered Hermione his friend for years now. He had accepted it: he loved her. Not that the words would actually ever leave his mouth in her presence, but yes, he loved her. To be quite exact, he hadn't been thinking of Hermione as a friend since their fourth year. That summer he had realised that the strange feeling, possessing him whenever Krum's name was mentioned in a sentence, was jealousy. He had never told anyone, let alone Hermione. One time he was about to, though. On that night he had asked her to meet him in the Trophy Room. He would have asked Hermione to the ball, but would have let a few words slip, letting her know.
He realised that he had kept staring. He hadn't turned away, he had just kept looking at her and to his horror, he found a small smile had crept to his lips. He was staring and smiling a goofy smile! That was all he needed! Really! Good idea Weasly! Scare your 'friend' away! Never see her. 'Cause if you keep sending her looks like that she'll know about how you really feel about her, even without you telling her!
¤
" I greatly regret interrupting this staring festival, but Harry asked me to so kindly tell you that dinner is being served."
Both of them almost jumped.
"In Merlin's name, Niles! Never do that again!" Hermione shrieked and put a hand on her heart.
"I'm sorry Miss, but I was trying to get your attention for a while now. Me coughing, however, didn't seem to do the trick." Niles smirked at the two of them.
"Alright. Let's get to dinner then." Were Ron's eyes deceiving him or was Hermione blushing?
¤
The dinner was indeed served and looked delicious. Ron could have sworn that he smelt his mom's touch on it. He noticed, too, that there were two extra sets of cutlery and plates on the table.
"Harry? Who else is eating with us?" Rona asked a seemingly, very happy Harry.
"Mh? Oh! Colin and Justin will be joining us for dinner shortly."
Ron sent Hermione a sideways glance at the mention of Colin's name. He was sure that the maniac was Colin and his idea of fun did not include having dinner with the fellow. At that moment Niles appeared with a huge salmon and all thoughts about having dinner with a maniac were instantly wiped out of his mind as he already imagined himself eating the thing.
Seeing Ron's expression Niles proudly announced: "Cooked it myself!"
"Yourself?" Hermione said suspiciously. "I thought Harry had a cook?" She smiled mischievously. Harry's smile faded and he pulled Hermione to the corridor.
"Do not speak about the cook. Got it?" Harry looked relieved. And then suddenly the tensed look was back. "Do not mention Gin either!"
"Harry relax! Ron has no idea she's here, does he?" She studied his face curiously, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Well, no…" He trailed off, baring a guilty expression. "…But imagine me telling him that Gin's here, working for me! He'd go bonkers for sure!"
Hermione giggled. "Yes. I can already imagine the face of a certain Ronald Weasly. Steam coming out of his ears and face as scarlet as the Hogwarts Express."
"Will you stop daydreaming about Ron!" Harry teased.
"I was not daydreaming." She said defensively. "What… hmm…position is she filling?" Hermione asked, the corners of her mouth twitching.
"She's my cook." Harry said calmly.
"Cook?" Hermione snorted with laughter. "Now I understand why Niles cooked the meal. The only thing I remember Gin failing was cooking charms. They, however didn't affect the grades."
"Remember, not a word to Ron about this!"
"Why did you hire her in the first place?" she walked back to the dining room, leaving behind a stuttering Harry.
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"Ron! Hermione!" It was Justin. He came in, almost running and hugged the both of them. "It's great to see you! How've you been?"
"Thanks we're great! You?" Hermione answered politely delighted to see her old schoolmate again.
"Like I could complain. The pay is good, though it always could be better…." He said teasingly eyeing Harry.
"He does nothing all day and I pay him for it!"
"Nothing?" Justin put on an insulted face. "He'd get howlers from every part of England if I didn't sort his letters. " Then turning to Harry. "You should come by and see the wonderfully beautiful masterpieces of letters I write to your adoring fans! They simply love me! I mean you!" He grinned at Harry.
"Yeah, maybe I should come to your office some day. See, what you are writing about. One of them might just want me to sign the letter and a difference of handwriting that'd be!" All of them laughed.
"When we were at school I actually wondered if MacGonagall really read your essays or just gave you a good mark 'cause she was unable to read your untidy scrawl!" Hermione shook with laughter as she said this and leaned on Ron's shoulder for support.
"You are telling me that Ron's handwriting was easier to read?"
"Well, Harry…. How do I put it? Yes!"
"That's probably because you practised reading it more!" Harry grinned widely at them. The both of them turned a little pink.
"Oh aren't you two cute!" Justin imitated Lavender and Pravati. "Look Lav! They even blush alike!"
"Oh stuff a sweaty sock in your mouth!" Ron said, punching him lightly on the shoulder. He was starting to think that Justin had turned less geeky after graduation.
"Let's eat!" He announced and stepped towards the table.
"I kind of recall that being my line," Harry said grinning widely at Ron.
"You would've wanted us to have a civil conversation, stomachs empty, not able to think about anything else than the food on the table. Just like you. Torture hungry people." That was not entirely true, though. He's thoughts had been occupied with the woman standing next to him rather than the food. She was looking more and more beautiful by the second. He was chewing his food, staring at her. More accurately he was staring at her until Harry kicked him under the table. As Ron sent him an angry look he noticed Harry was grinning knowingly once again. From that moment on he decided to concentrate on the food in his plate and chewing it.
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The dinner continued on and on with five former Hogwarts students chatting, eating and drinking. To be precise four. Colin had been awfully quiet and tense for the whole evening. It seemed to Ron that no one but him seemed to notice this. Then again, he was busying himself with not looking at 'Mione and therefore was constantly looking at someone else. Harry, Colin and Justin were his only options and since 'Mione was talking to Harry and Justin, he had no other chance, but to look towards Colin, who had barely opened his mouth to say anything on the particular evening.
When Niles came to bring the dessert, Ron pulled Hermione from the rest of the group.
"Colin."
"What about him?"
"Have you noticed the look on his face? Major depression. I don't know what else to call it. He's been acting like a real outsider. I'd say he's pondering over something."
"Like what? He already said he would send the letter tomorrow. What's there to think about?"
"Innocent until proven guilty. One thing I learned from Dumbeldore."
"We need proof."
"Right. We have to catch him or make him confess. Otherwise…We are on our own as it is…"
"We'll get him." Hermione reassured him.
"Oy! Lovebirds! You want dessert or not?" Justin called.
The two of them looked at each other then hurried to the table. Both were as pink as the strawberry jelly.
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"Okay. That's enough I'm off to bed!" Justin announced at twelve. "Some of us actually have work to do tomorrow!"
"I'll get going too." Colin grumpily muttered.
Harry, Ron and Hermione bid the both of them goodnight and stayed seated at the table. As soon as the two were out of earshot Ron said, without any introduction into the theme what so ever.
"We need the list."
Harry pulled the list from his pocket and handed it to Ron who immediately started scanning it with interest.
"Niles, Justin and Colin. That it?" He said, still looking at the paper, brow furrowed.
Harry sent a nervous glance in Hermiones direction before saying, "Yeah. That's it."
The corners of her mouth were twitching even though she was trying hard to hide it. She ended up smiling goofy.
"What's so funny?" Ron mused.
"Nothing. Let's go, work out plan." She said, almost laughing at the expression on Harry's face. He was acting as if Ron was the father of his girlfriend whom he was afraid to meet.
"I am thinking we have nothing further to discuss. We worked it out pretty well in the library as it is."
Hermione tried thinking about the plan, but could remember nothing except patrolling outside Harry's door. She naturally had been far too busy. Far too busy thinking about Ron. Ron sitting in front of the roaring fire, watching her pacing. She had of course attempted being all professional towards him, but that was proving out to be rather difficult. She kept thinking about him. What was with her? All of her rational thinking, her clear head had gone off somewhere, had gone on a camping trip or something. Before Niles shook the both of them out of their frozen stares she hadn't even realised she was staring. It seemed, thank god for it, that Ron had also fallen into a kind of a trance he seemed to be having quite often these days. Ron was saying something. She practically forced herself to listen to what it was. It felt much better just sitting there looking at him, rather than listening to anything.
"…So we better be off to bed." He finished.
Damn. Damn, damn, damn. She had lost the whole story before that sentence. This was exactly what she was thinking about. When Ron was around she just seemed to lose all common sense. It never happened when she was around Harry. Then again, Harry never gave her that tingling feeling in the pit of her stomach when they were in the same room together.
"'Mione? You coming?" She had been doing it again. She had to pull herself together, that was it. "Harry, how 'bout you?"
"I think I'll go torture a cup of cocoa out of Niles."
"Okay. Night then."
"Night."
¤
"With the mood He was in at dinner, I wouldn't risk it." Ron said as they were continuing up the stairs.
"Right."
Hermione was trying to figure out who'd be guarding Harry's sleep first, without letting him know she hadn't been listening. That was most obviously what he had been talking about and the information Hermione needed. She didn't want to ask him straight however. That would bring out his cocky-bossy attitude again and she wasn't sure she could handle it. He made her swallow all her pride. She had just been so used to the fact that she was the smartest one of the three. Back at Hogwarts Harry was their so-to-speak leader and she was the brain of the group. Now things had changed. Harry was no longer the lead figure and she was no longer the brain. It seemed as if Ron had grabbed both "positions". He was in charge of the operation and the both of them were doing the thinking. She felt vulnerable in his company. She had had her share of boyfriends since Hogwarts but no one, and she meant no one had made her knees grow weak and that was just the kind of thing Ron was good at.
"Night." She said and made her way to her room without waiting for Ron to answer.
¤
At the same time in the kitchen.
"Niles? Would you be so kind to make me a cup of cocoa?"
"He went to bed. Said he had had a hard day. Cooking the meal and everything." Ginny was still sitting at the kitchen table, reading an old Quiddich Weekly with Harry's smiling picture covering the front and drinking cocoa.
"You read Quiddich Weekly?"
"Well, you are seriously lacking any other kind of news carriers and yes I read QW."
"Really? And why would that be?" Harry asked, already knowing the answer.
"Stories of my favourite seeker do occur…" Ginny smiled teasingly.
"And who would that be?"
"Well, it used to be Krum, but since he retired I guess I'd have to say Harry Potter."
"That boy with that horrible scar across his face? I've heard he's really stuck up. Doesn't even bother to contact his closest friends."
"Yes, that's him."
They laughed and Harry stole Ginny's mug of cocoa while she wasn't watching.
"Hey! Give that back!"
"Only if you accept a dare."
"What'd that be?"
"A game of chess."
"You can play chess with Ron. Give it back!"
"A person wants to win every once in a while, doesn't he?"
"What makes you think you are going to win?"
"Years of practise with a certain Ronald Weasly."
"You have obviously forgotten that I am his sister."
"How could I forget that?" Harry laughed.
"Fine. You challenged me. I get the white pieces. Where's your set?" She asked readying for the game.
"Safely put away in my bedroom." A devilish grin played upon Harry's features.
Ginny chose to ignore it. "Fine. We'll go and play there. You do have a table?"
"A table? What would we be doing with a table?"
"We would put the set of chess on it." She replied sweetly, looking him in the eye. "They are not guarding your bedroom are they?"
Harry flinched. "How much do you know?"
"Not enough, but I am also smart enough not to ask you. You'd never let me in on it."
Harry gave her a questioning look.
"I know something is not right. Otherwise you would not have called the Team here, would you?"
"You're right. You'll be safer not knowing." He smiled at her devilishly once again. "Now how about that little trip to my room we were talking about?"
"CHESS. We were talking about chess."
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Hermione had got no information out of Ron. If it was her turn to patrol first and she didn't show up, Harry would be defenceless for two hours. Then again, if it was Ron's and she turned up, he'd find out she'd not been listening. She paced the length of her room and finally decided that Harry was primary (well, duh!) and if Ron found out, it would be just her self-esteem that suffered. She took her wand and walked to Harry's door.
¤
She had been on the post for about an hour, when she heard a crieck of a floorboard and therefore, someone approaching from the other end of the corridor. She tried to melt in with the wall as much as she could and ambush Colin. She hadn't even considered that he may have had already heard her. She had just assumed that he'd turn back when he heard somebody moving.
She listened intensely for about five minutes before breathing out heavily. She turned to face the corridor and was roughly pushed to the ground. Her wand was quickly pulled from her hand and thrown a foot away from her.
"Stay still! You son of a bitch! Where's Hermione and what've you done to her?" An intense whisper asked.
She was slightly confused. Her name was still Hermione Granger, right?
"Answer me!" Ron's voice bellowed.
She started laughing. Most definitely a comic situation.
"Hermione?" Ron asked in a barely audible whisper.
She kept laughing until she realised they were in the same position as when they first arrived in the house. Her eyes were now used to the dark and she could see Ron's staring back at her. If the corridor hadn't been so dark she could've sworn she saw the amazing blue of Ron's eyes. She felt mighty uncomfortable indeed. She couldn't mistake her heart beating heavily in her throat for something else. She could no longer ignore the butterflies in her stomach. If he just got up now without kissing her properly she would… That was about as far as she got before Ron kissed her. It was a strange feeling of home. It felt like… strawberries and whip cream…like a sunny day after a week of rain… like getting the perfect gift on Christmas Eve…like…
"What is this racket all about?" Harry opened the door wide, Gin peeping from behind his shoulder.
After the scene the both had witnessed there were a few moments of quiet before Harry's face broke into a huge grin and he said: "Finally!"
"What?" Ron said not entirely recovered yet.
" Hel-looooo! You were kissing Hermione!" Ginny said, face bearing the identical expression to Harry's.
"I wasn't kissing her. I was whispering in her mouth." In Harry's opinion Ron had never looked so red in his life.
B
