Days That Shape Us

4-June-1998

"Where the bloody hell are they?"

Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron looked at his watch again. "It's only been five minutes."

"They were supposed to Apparate right behind us! If they stayed behind because no one's- If he's- I'll kill him!"

Hermione smiled slightly at Ron's protectiveness of his sister virtue, a virtue Hermione knew had been long gone.

"Harry wouldn't do anything with Ginny under your parent's roof."

"Oh yes he would."

"No, he wouldn't."

"Yeah," Ron said darkly. "Sirius left him his own roof to fondle my sister under. OH GOD! Mental image I did not want in my head!" Ron slaped a hand over his eyes. "Quick! Hermione obliviate the last few seconds of my memory!"

"Oh stop." She said pulling his hands away from his face. "I uh, waned to ask you. Um, do you think your mum would mind me staying the night again?"

Ron stopped trying to shake the image of Ginny and Harry from his mind and gave her a cheeky smile. "I don't care if Mum's Ok with it. You're willing to do things Harry's not under my parents roof."

Ron scooted his chair closer to her but Hermione pushed him away with a laugh.

"You're like a child with a new toy."

"Yeah, and you like being played with."

Hermione blushed crimson. She had created a monster, or perhaps it was Ron who had created the monster? Being with Ron was intense to say the least. It was like they could feel each other when they touched; as if her lust would run through his veins and his through hers. Sometimes his would jump start hers, sometimes hers would jump start his. All she knew was it was hard getting out of Ron's bed that morning, or out of his room after Mrs. Weasley, Harry and Ginny went to visit Andromeda, leaving them with an empty house. They were both like children with a new toy. Actually, now that she thought on it, she found herself annoyed at the possibility of Harry and Ginny off doing what she and Ron could be instead of sitting around waiting for them. Hermione was about to suggest they leave when the couple in question walked.

"Where the hell have you been?" Ron asked menacingly.

"Got held up." Harry said shaking off his jacket. "What are we drinking?"

"Nothing, we were waiting for you."

"Ginny!" Harry called across the room and held up two fingers indicating for Ginny to order two more.

"Why don't you be a gentleman and help her?" Ron suggested.

"And offend her feminist sensibilities? And what do you know about being a gentleman?" Harry said kicking the leg of Ron's chair.

"Harry!" Hermione said a tiny bit outraged.

Harry held up his hand in defense. "No really, she said 'Sod off Potter I can carry two butter beers with out the chosen one's help."

Ron cocked an eyebrow and Harry rolled his eyes and explained.

"George and his girlfriend came by to drop off some boxes–"

"George has a girlfriend?" Hermione asked surprised.

"Yeah."

"Why haven't I haven't meet her?"

"Doesn't leave the house much." Ron explained. "Lost her brother at Hogwarts. They're not taking it well. He was only 15."

"Snuck back like Collin." Harry mumbled with his usual sad eyes when the the dead were brought up.

"What house was he in?" Hermione asked.

"Dunno, Patricia's was a Ravenclaw, so…"

"She seems nice." Harry said after a moment of silence, "George's girlfriend."

"She's kind of like a dementor."

"Ron!"

"What? It's true! When she's around all you feel is depressed. It's suffocating."

Hermione gaped at Ron, just when he was showing progress his insensitivity would pop right back up.

"What were they dropping off?" Ron asked unaware of Hermione's indignation.

"Stuff? Did you know they're moving in together?"

"Mum's gonna love that," Ron said with a snort.

"That's why they came when they knew she wasn't home. Ginny's hacked off because George made a joke about me carrying up the box she was holding."

"Isn't that why she broke up with Dean- Ow Hermione!" Ron exclaimed as he leaned down to rub the shin Hermione just kicked .

"Don't listen to him."

"What! It's true! OW! That's it." Ron lunged at her, and despite her best efforts to escape Ron's long arms grabbed her and began tickling her until she howled with laughter.

"Ron- St-stop-I-can't- breathe."

Ron pulled Hermione on to his lap and nuzzled his nose with hers. "Say you're sorry."

Hermione leaned in to kiss Ron but Ron pulled a way a fraction of an inch. "Say you're sorry first."

"I'm trying to." Ron gave her a seductive smile before capturing her lips with his.

"GAH! Get a room."

Ron and Hermione broke apart to see Ginny had arrived at the table.

"We had a whole house until you decided to come home."

"Oh God!" Ginny said slapping a hand over here eyes. "That's a mental picture I could have lived without. Quick Harry obliviate me before I get sick."

Hermione threw her head back and laughed. "You and Ron are quick to conjure up mental images."

"Unwanted mental images." Ron mumbled. "Hermione's staying over again, Gin." Ron added with a cheeky smile.

"Harry lives with us." Ginny countered, then turned her attention to Hermione. "Won't your parents wonder where you've been? You haven't been home since yesterday morning." Hermione took a sip to delay her answer and saw Ginny and Ron looking at her oddly.

"Oh, well, I've spoken to them, their fine with it."

Harry and Ginny shrugged but Ron studied her. "They just got back and they're OK with you not being with them?"

"They've been spending a lot of time getting their practice ready, late nights and, well, I hate being alone in the house. They understand." Hermione lied smoothly but Ron didn't seem to buy it. Inwardly Hermione begged him to drop it.

"Well," Ron said sliding Hermione off of his lap and flinging an arm over her shoulder. "I'm not complaining."

"Come on Harry." Ginny said getting up.

"Where are we going?"

"For a walk."

"But we just got here!"

"Yes, but Ron doesn't want us here."

"I didn't say that!"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's obvious."

"To who?" Both Harry and Hermione said at the same time.

Ginny opened her mouth to speak but closed it not coming up with an answer.

"Let's just walk."

Hermione watched Ginny and Harry walk out of the three broom sticks before turning to Ron and pinched his arm. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!"

"You must have done something for her to think you wanted her to leave."

"You were sitting right there!" Ron stared at the door Ginny and Harry had just walked through for a moment then turned Hermione's chair so she was fully facing him. "Never mind them. Why don't you want to go home?"

"I- I told you. My parents aren't home much and I don't like being home alone."

Ron looked deep in to her eyes and slowly shook his head. "I don't like you lying to me."

"I'm not lying!"

"Yes, you are. I can tell."

"Rubbish."

"Hermione."

Hermione looked away not wanting to meet his eyes. She hated lying to him and she hated that he could see right through her. She needed to give her parents some time to cool off and change their minds; she needed time to figure out what her next move would be if they didn't. Mostly she just didn't want to think about it.

"It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. It's bothering you. A lot. I can tell. Ginny's worried too."

"Did she say something?"

"No, I can just tell."

"I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Fine, fine, just- promise me you'll talk to me if it gets worse?"