Chapter 9 – A Frosty Train Ride
Ron awoke the following morning, groggy, grumpy and groaning. He remembered last night. Once more he'd made Hermione cry, but what was he supposed to do? He left for one minute at the most and she was already underneath a mistletoe with Cormac McLaggen.
She probably thought she'd have enough time to snog him and hide it from me. Unbelievable…perhaps her cruel way of getting back at me for putting our friendship on ice for a few weeks…
Harry made no attempt to talk to Ron when he had returned from Slughorn's party. Harry was too caught up with Snape and Malfoy discussing an Unbreakable Vow in a corridor. He'd wanted to tell Ron about it the moment he got back to the dorm, only to find Ron buried deep inside his blankets, shaking slightly.
Harry had thought to have heard a sob or two at times, but didn't dare make any assumptions. Based on the fact Harry had neither seen Ron nor Hermione the rest of the night after Hermione had left in a hurry, he predicted the worst…the two had rowed again.
And it went on to reveal itself as much worse than Harry had anticipated. Harry was unable to convince Ron to join him for breakfast, which was highly unusual for Ron, and Harry still hadn't seen Hermione since last night. Before going down to the Great Hall, Harry checked the library and was yet again disappointed. At eleven o'clock Ron and Harry went aboard the Hogwarts express.
As Harry entered after Ron he thought to have spotted a mane of curly brown hair whip into one of the train carriages further down the platform. Hermione was making no attempt to ride the train with her two best friends…clearly something must have happened.
Two hours into the train ride, with Ron gloomily staring out of the window, making no effort to chime into the conversation whatsoever, Ginny left Ron's and Harry's compartment to go see Dean, and Harry quickly closed the door shut behind her.
"So," said Harry in a strong voice. "Wanna tell me what's up with you?"
Ron shrugged, his eyes peeled on the green landscapes passing by.
"Something happened between Hermione and you, didn't it?" Harry took out his wand and flicked it at the carriages door. It clicked, and was locked. Harry then went on to cast Muffliato.
"I haven't seen Hermione since last night and she's clearly making no effort to come and look for us, what happened? I won't stop asking until you tell me! The two of you rowing back and forth, when is it ever gonna en-"
"She kissed Cormac!" said Ron, getting up from his seat. "First she invites me to that bloody stupid Slug Club, and decides to snog another bloke behind my back! And before you say anything Harry: I know Hermione and I aren't dating, but to ask me to come as her date and kiss another guy? That's the lowest move I've ever seen anyone pull for revenge, honestly!"
"She didn't kiss Cormac, you idiot!" shouted Harry. "She told me last night that Cormac conjured a mistletoe above them and tried to make a move. Hermione shoved him off, mate!" Ron's expression remained unaltered, glaring at Harry.
"When McLaggen came running for her she practically Disapparated! She ran off as soon as she saw that git coming! She told me she'd wait outside the office for you, and that's the last I've seen of her!"
Ron's expression softened. He slumped down back onto his seat, staring out of the window.
"Yeah, well…I went to get Butterbeers and saw both of them looking up at that mistletoe. Cormac was getting closer and closer and she made no effort to stop him so I left…" said Ron gloomily.
"So…" started Harry calmly. "You're telling me you didn't even see them snog? How can you claim that they snogged, but not actually have proof?"
"I had plenty of proof last night!" shouted Ron, getting up from his seat once more. "D'you really think I'm gonna stand and watch the girl I love snog another bloke, just to be sure they're really doing it?"
"No…I don't," said Harry. Ron had just used the word "love" and Harry was doing his best job at pretending he hadn't heard that part. "But nothing happened between them, Ron."
"I know that now!" shouted Ron. "Wait…what did I just say?" he said in a completely different voice, his face drained of all color.
Did my dumbass just confess my love for Hermione to Harry…did I just..?
"You were er— saying that you couldn't stand watching them snog just to make sure they were…sort of," said Harry, awkwardly shifting in his seat.
"Oh, okay," said Ron, mouth slightly ajar. "Where was I…oh! It's just…something did happen between me and her in the common room…"
"What?" said Harry, furrowing his brows.
"I—I called her out on it. And—she—" Ron paused. He looked down at his shoes. "And she started crying, and I couldn't properly hear what she was saying. I didn't believe her so I left…"
"You're an arse," stated Harry simply. "I'm sorry mate, but you're a complete arse. Why would you not believe Hermione? When's she ever lied?"
"Like that time she didn't tell any of us she snogged Kr—"
"ENOUGH, RON!" shouted Harry. "That was two bloody years ago! Get over it! She asked YOU to the Christmas Party and not Krum, not McLaggen, but YOU!"
Ron's expression softened once more. He slumped down onto his seat with a loud thud and looked at his hands in his lap.
"Well, you better find her and apologize before we reach King's Cross," said Harry. "I won't have my two best friends not talk to each other over Christmas. Winter is cold and icy enough for that as it is." Harry flicked his wand and the compartment door clicked open again.
"Go," said Harry. Ron looked up at him. "She's in one of the carriages in the back, so go right. Should be either two or three carriages away from ours."
Ron remained still.
"I said 'go'," said Harry forcefully. "And don't think for a second that you were in the right in any of it. Had you listened to Hermione for at least a minute, this mess of dragon dung could have been avoided, now go."
Ron walked through each of the carriages peering through the windows, looking out for a mane of bushy brown hair. Three carriages down from his and Harry's; he saw her. Hermione sat alone in a compartment, looking out of the window, a flock of yellow birds twittering around her.
Ron felt his heart thumping against his chest, his palms were sweaty and he felt very cold. He shakily slid open the compartment door and Hermione's head snapped at him. Her eyes were swollen and bloodshot and her cheeks were wet…with tears.
"Hey…I wanted to—" But Hermione had gotten up and pointed her wand at him. "Oppugno!" she shrieked and the flock of yellow birds soared towards Ron, who covered his face with his arms, the birds pecking and scratching away at every exposed piece of flesh. Ron stumbled out of the compartment.
"Ouch! Gerroffme!" he yelled.
Hermione flicked her wand and the compartment door closed shut and the curtains were drawn.
Ron ran for it, loosing a portion of the birds after he had closed the door of one of the carriages on them, the rest of them still chasing him. Ron had finally managed to shut out the last birds when he'd reached the carriage Harry and him were staying in. Ron entered their compartment, his arms, neck and forehead covered in scratches and blood.
"How'd it—" started Harry. "Bloody hell…" Harry groaned noisily at the sight of Ron. "What did you d—"
"I didn't do anything!" said Ron. "I couldn't even get a sentence out and she had already sent these bloody canaries after me! I just lost them! Those ruddy beasts where chasing me for two full carriages…"
"Well…" said Harry. "I'll see if I can talk to her."
"Not likely, mate," said Ron, conjuring tissues with his wand to wipe blood off his arms. "She's locked the door with some kinda spell."
"Alright…I'll try and talk to her."
"Third carriage…fourth compartment to the left," said Ron distractedly, dabbing the back of his neck with a tissue.
Harry found the compartment Ron was referring to. The curtains were drawn and Harry was unable to slide it open without magic.
"Alohomora," said Harry. It clicked and Harry slid open the compartment door. Hermione's head snapped towards Harry from the window, her expression dangerous.
"You! Oh—" said Hermione. "It's you, Harry…"
"Ron came to apologize…why'd you—"
"Because he's a complete arse!"
"I know, but I told him what happened," said Harry. "And he believed me, felt terrible and…" Harry hesitated for a moment. "…and wanted to apologize."
"Oh, how noble of him," sneered Hermione. "Ronnie felt bad and wanted to say sorry."
"I get it, he was a buffoon, but he's bleedi—"
"I don't care!" scoffed Hermione. "He can bleed all he wants, I really don't care. He treats me like I'm some sort of evil monster all the time, and I've had enough. I give up."
"Hermione…" started Harry. "I know he was mean, but he's not always like that and you know it!" Hermione continued to glare at Harry, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"It's just…he told me that from his perspective, it looked like McLaggen was leaning in closer and closer and you didn't move back…that's when he left. He thought you were gonna let it happen and snog him and he wasn't gonna…stay around for that…"
Hermione opened her mouth to retort, but Harry intervened quickly. "Obviously, had he waited longer he'd have seen you push Cormac away…or if he'd listened to you in the common room."
Hermione opened her mouth again. But Harry was too quick.
"I know this doesn't excuse his behavior, but can you…at least…hear him out?" Harry said, instantly realizing his poor choice of words.
"So he doesn't hear me out and only believes the truth when it comes from you, but I'm supposed to hear him out?" said Hermione waspishly. "Unbelievable…"
"I know he hurt you, but for you to physically injure him, Hermione you're a prefect! It's one thing to hurt using words, but another to send a bunch of birds to poke his eyes out."
"I—I did not send them to poke out his ey—"
"You should have seen him, then!" exclaimed Harry. "He's covered in scratches and blood…all over, Hermione. You went too far! Let's just…" Harry sighed. "Just call a truce. Both of you went too far this time."
"Well…" started Hermione. Her glare and expression seemed to have softened slightly as soon as Harry had talked about Ron being covered in scratches and blood. "I won't come to him, you can be sure of that."
"Fine," said Harry, exiting the compartment leaving a bewildered Hermione behind.
"Come," said Harry, grabbing Ron by his upper arm. Ron had mostly been able to wipe off most of the blood, although some of it had dried, and Ron's forehead bore a scratch which was still bleeding. Harry was irresistibly reminded of his own scar.
Ron didn't ask any questions but followed Harry in absolute silence. Harry unkindly shoved Ron into Hermione's compartment, locking the door behind him with a flick of his wand. Ron turned to face Harry through the compartment window.
"Harry! I haven't got my wand! I can't run away! The birds!" But Harry flicked his wand at Ron's face and the curtains were drawn shut.
Ron gulped and turned around to face Hermione who was glaring at him.
"Sort it out!" came Harry's muffled voice from outside.
Ron took a seat as far away from Hermione as he could, his arms on edge, in case he needed to cover his face quickly. Some blood from the scratch his forehead ran down onto his nose. Ron didn't notice and kept his eyes fixed on Hermione's wand.
"Ron, I—" started Hermione, her voice calm and softer than he felt he deserved.
Ron twitched at the sound of her voice, thinking she was going to hex him. A single drop of blood jerked away from Ron's nose, leaving a deep red spot on Ron's jeans. Hermione swiped her wand at Ron in a fluid motion. Ron let out a gasp and covered his face with his arms, expecting to be attacked.
"Please, not my face!" he screamed in genuine terror. But the attack didn't come. Ron didn't lower his arms. He was sure she had trained the birds to only attack once someone let down their guard.
"Ron, I'm sorry about the birds…" Ron didn't move much, except that he peered through a slit in between his arms. Hermione looked genuinely apologetic. The sight of him being so afraid broke heart. Her eyes began to water. What had she done to him?
"Put your wand away," said Ron's muffled voice. Hermione felt her heart wrench. He didn't trust her enough to have her wand…she immediately regretted attacking him. Hermione stowed her wand in her bag at her feet.
Ron's eyes darted around the room looking for any birds, but there weren't any. So he reluctantly lowered his arms. The blood in Ron's face was gone but the scratch on his forehead began to bleed again. Hermione squeaked and reached for her wand, causing Ron to jump and cover his face again.
"I just want to make that scratch on your forehead stop bleeding!" she said. "Honestly Ron…" Ron lowered his arms and slid the back of his hand across his forehead, gathering a fair amount of blood.
"Oh, right," said Ron, looking at the back of his blood covered hand.
Hermione flicked her wand and the blood vanished. She swooshed it at Ron once more and a bandaid stuck itself to Ron's forehead out of thin air.
"Thanks," said Ron, not looking at her.
Ron eyed her wand suspiciously out of the corner of his eyes.
Truthfully, the scratches the birds had left were far more painful than he had anticipated. If Hermione felt it was okay to physically harm him like that, who knew what else she was willing to do to hurt him. Hermione stowed her wand away in her bag and looked at Ron, crossing her arms in front of her chest whilst doing so.
"You're here because?" said Hermione simply.
"Hermione…I'm sorry…about the Slug Club, Cormac…everything," said Ron, still not looking at her. "I should've listened to you…but…you shouldn't have brought me in the first place…wasn't your brightest of ideas…"
Hermione glared at him.
"Evidently not, no," said Hermione. "Had I known you'd throw a fit over seeing Cormac trying to corner me I wouldn't have brought you, indeed." Hermione paused, her gaze still on Ron.
"Yeah…" said Ron insecurely. "Thought you wanted to get back at me for…you know…the past few weeks."
"You thought I'd want to get back at you after I desperately came to you apologizing? You actually thought I'd make up with you, just to…"
"I know it sounds stupid when you put it that way, but…"
"It certainly does," scoffed Hermione.
"…you don't know what goes on in my head, do you?" continued Ron. "Can't exactly think away certain thoughts," said Ron.
"Yes, you can! It's called logic! You could have thought 'Hermione brought me here, surely she won't go off snogging some bloke,'" snapped Hermione. "Cormac McLaggen no less! He's vile! I already told you!"
Ron scratched the back of his neck nervously. Scratching of the back the neck was something many people did instinctively when faced with situations pertaining to awkwardness, nervousness, guilt or discomfort. In Ron's case it was guilt.
However, he had forgotten the fresh bite marks the birds had left at the back of his neck. Ron winced in pain as he accidentally tore at a bite mark, causing a burning sensation to course through his neck and spine, emanating from the scratch. Ron felt wet warmth wash over his neck, he was bleeding—badly.
"Bloody…bloody hell," grumbled Ron, looking at his bloodstained fingers. He pressed his palm onto his fresh cut, wincing in pain once more, but at least able to keep the blood from escaping. Hermione's glared dissipated, only to be replaced by guilt and desire. Desire to ease his pain.
"Oh," started Hermione. "D'you want me to?" She took out her wand again, presenting it as if Ron needed to inspect it first. Ron simply nodded, got up and turned his back to Hermione. Ron removed his hand and more blood came gushing out of the back of his neck.
Hermione gasped at the sight and quickly swished and flicked her wand a number of times, causing the blood to vanish and the wound to be patched up. Hermione slumped back down, guilt washing over her like a tidal wave.
What have I done? That blood…last time I saw that much blood on his was…was when Sirius bit his leg…oh god what have I done…
Ron sat back down and gave Hermione a lopsided grin. One which would usually make her giddy and happy, but could only produce guilt and shame within the depths of her heart. As if undeserving of a signature, lopsided Ron Weasley smile.
"Ron," started Hermione, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry about the birds, I really am!"
"S'fine," said Ron, waving his hand at Hermione dismissively as if to say "no big deal."
"No. It's not fine." said Hermione, looking down and shaking her head, tears dripping into her lap. "It was a terrible thing to do and I shouldn't have done it. I'm sorry…I—It won't happen again, I promise…I won't ever hurt you like that again…"
Ron's grin faded away and was replaced by a frown.
"No, it is. I deserved that. I was a bloody prat, assuming things before even listening to you…I hurt you first, so…I'm the one who's sorry. I—I won't ever cut you off again or leave in a storm, I promise. From now on…I'll hear you out. I'm sorry…again…"
Hermione looked up at Ron, tears swelling in her eyes.
"Can we…" said Ron nervously. "Can we be friends again?" Ron hated himself for having to use precisely that word, but then again: He was the one who ruined his chance at being more than friends by storming out of the common room last night. If he'd simply walked back to Hermione towards the mistletoe…surely…surely she'd have ran off the same as with Cormac wouldn't she?
Maybe. Maybe not. Ron couldn't tell anymore as he'd given up attempting to answer these impossible questions for himself.
Hermione simply nodded her head in agreement at Ron's request.
"Brilliant…so d'you wanna join Harry in our compartment or…do you wanna stay here?" said Ron.
"Stay here," mumbled Hermione, sniffing every once in a while.
"Okay," said Ron simply, making to get up.
Hermione looked up at him.
"Stay here," she said in a voice so quiet he hadn't heard her. Ron looked out of the window, not noticing Hermione's gaze.
"Weird…being on the other side of the train. View feels the same, though. What?" he added as he finally looked at Hermione.
"N-Nothing, I-I thought you'd leave?"
"Why would I? I asked if you wanted to stay in here and you said yes. And I wanna be here with you, so I'm staying too." said Ron confidently, ignoring his glowing red ears. "If—if I can stay, that is. I can leave if you wa—"
"Stay," said Hermione quickly as Ron made a gesture which signaled departure. He gave a lopsided grin and settled back into his seat. Hermione blushed at her sudden movement concerning Ron's leaving.
"Well…" said Ron quietly. "Since you… wanted me here, what d'you s'pose we should talk about?"
"I don't know," said Hermione truthfully.
"Bloody hell," muttered Ron, more to himself than to Hermione —whilst looking at his shoes.
"What is it?" asked Hermione earnestly.
"I—I was really looking forward to last night and I ruined it like an absolute —like a—a—" Ron was looking around the room as if he was waiting for a proper insult to conjure itself out of thin air.
"It's not entirely your fault," said Hermione calmly.
"Yes, it is," said Ron. "You most certainly didn't do anything to ruin the night."
"No…" said Hermione, breaking her gaze at Ron and looking down at her shoes. "But McLaggen surely did…conjuring a mistletoe and all…"
Ron scoffed nearly inaudibly, but if Hermione had heard him correctly he had muttered the word "git."
I want to beat McLaggen as much as I want to ask him for that mistletoe conjuring spell…perhaps I'll be able to find it somewhere in the schoolbooks…
"I'll have to remember hexing his arse next time I see him, that foul—"
"No, Ron!" said Hermione eagerly. "He's not worth the effort…just…just drop it, okay? We'll forget it ever happened."
Ron stared at Hermione for what felt like an eternity and then looked back down at his shoes.
Ron still couldn't help feeling shameful and guilty at how he'd left Hermione squealing…pleading for him to listen…crying for him…in the common room. He hated his own guts more than McLaggen's and that was really saying something.
"Know any good defensive spells against…you know…birds," chortled Ron, trying his best to lighten the mood and perhaps extract laughter from Hermione once more.
But Hermione didn't laugh. Instead she looked at Ron with eyes that seemed to be gleaming with sadness, regret and guilt. Ron furrowed his brows.
Hermione shook her head.
"I'll never do anything like that to you again…I promise," she said.
Ron looked down at his shoes again. Once again he felt like an idiot, who had said the wrong thing. Why did he have to bring the birds up again? Clearly Hermione regretted sending them his way. Ron sighed in frustration. Was there anything left for him and Hermione to talk about? Something to joke about? Something that didn't concern their rowing and bickering? Something other than apology after apology?
"Reckon you're allowed to show you parents some magic now, eh?" said Ron, grateful for having found something completely unrelated to their situation.
"What?" said Hermione, looking up from her own shoelaces at him.
"Well, you're seventeen now, right? Means you get to do magic outside school."
Truthfully, Hermione had completely forgotten.
"I'd say," continued Ron, "start with Wingardium Leviosa and move up to a Patronus. It's quite beautiful magic, to be honest, a Patronus that is. Oh—you're great at Transfiguration so maybe turn a pillow into a kitten or something, that'd freak them out for sure!"
Hermione laughed.
She's bloody laughing!
"So you think I ought to start with some simpler bits of magic?" said Hermione, her lips forming a smile.
"Yeah, exactly," said Ron. "You might as well just Accio the Telephone remote from the sofa."
"You mean Television," said Hermione.
"Bloody hell. There's a difference?" said Ron. Hermione chuckled again. The sudden image of Ron sitting on a sofa trying to get the television to work flashed into her mind. For some reason, there were red-headed children playing on the living room floor in the very same image, and Ron was wearing a…wedding ring?
Hermione blushed as she visualized the full image of her kissing her husband on the cheek, taking the remote out of his hand to show him how to work it…again. Ron…her husband? Well, who was she kidding? Who else had ever made her feel the way Ron did? Who else could it be? It had always been him. Always.
A/N: I know, lots of angst in this chapter as well, but please stick through it! You'll see exactly why and how it will pay off. And pay off it will. Trust me! I have the next few chapters roughly written out already, but I'll still have to make a bunch of adjustments and that could take me a while! (a few weeks at most) Until then; Thank you so much for reading!