Chapter 7

Ron stood quietly in the corner leaning against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed over his chest. He was listening to the boisterous catching up of his brothers and Harry when the greasy git came trudging down the stairs. With what seemed to be a sour expression on his face, Roberto announced that Hermione would be down shortly.

Ron tensed immediately and averted his eyes to the linoleum floor. There was not a doubt in his mind that she was going to look stunning. She would come gliding down those steps, and his chest would clench painfully and his stomach would flip flop at the sight of her.

'No!' He thought sternly. 'I won't do it.'

He inhaled deeply, and closed his eyes.

'A week ago I hated her. Now, I'm bartering with myself for just a glimpse. What the hell is the matter with me'

Then he heard it; the telltale sound of heels on wooden stairs. He peaked through his lashes, and was treated to the sight of thin, smooth, tanned legs sauntering down the steps.

He squeezed his eyes shut, and clenched his fists. 'Damn it! Knew that was a bad idea.'

Then it came. The catcalls and whistles.

Fred's voice rose above the rest. "Miss Granger! My how you have grown!"

'Git! Git! Git!' Ron swore internally.

His other brothers all laughed jovially.

"Why Mr. Weasley, you're making me blush." He heard her say through a giggle.

Charlie, of course, was next.

"If I had known you were going to grow into such a goddess, I would have encouraged that crush of yours on me and paid more attention to you when you were thirteen."

"Charlie Weasley, you are such a prat!" She said, laughing outright and slapping his arm playfully.

'I bet she's blushing.' Thought Ron miserably. 'She looks so bloody good when she blushes.'

Unable to resist any longer, Ron opened his eyes and raised his head in the direction of her voice.

Their eyes met instantly, and the reaction was staggering. His expression grew clouded, and her breathing hitched noticeably in her chest.

"Be careful there Charlie," Harry piped in not realizing the feral connection that had been made between the two former lovers. "Roberto here might take offence."

Truly confused, Charlie asked. "Why would he do that?"

Harry chuckled slightly. "Because he's Hermione's boyfriend."

The room fell deathly still. They all knew they could joke about Hermione's newly acquired hotness, but there was never any question who she belonged to. Or so they thought. Five sets of eyes shifted to Ron, who reddened considerably under the scrutiny and looked back to the floor.

"Really? Well that's… unexpected." Bill offered uncertainly.

"When did you two get together?" Percy asked, trying unsuccessfully to take the focus away from Ron and his very apparent embarrassment.

Hermione fumbled her arm around Roberto's waist, and answered anxiously. "Oh, about two or three years ago."

"Really… wow." Charlie uttered still not quite believing the new turn of events.

With a certain amount of awkward discomfort, Roberto wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulder and placed a light kiss on the top of her head.

Ron had to get out. He'd been subjected to the affectionate endearments of the "two lovebirds" enough to last him a lifetime. This was the main reason he'd made himself so scarce over the past two days. He couldn't get his head around the fact that she could have kissed him and touched him so intimately and passionately only days ago, and yet was still happy with this prat.

Ron pushed off from the counter, and left the kitchen without a backward glance. His departure was purposely unheeded by everyone in the room except the lone female.

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As all the Weasleys continued to talk around her, Hermione was unaware of their attempts at friendly chatter, focusing instead on Ron's flight from the room.

When she'd first arrived, he had looked at her only once for the longest brief moment of her life before casting his eye line back to the floor. Although it was mere seconds, his expression took her breath away. It bore no boyish awe, or adolescent lust. Instead, his eyes were predatory, and his lips a thin tight line of determination. Her body had reacted almost instantly to his sexual agitation.

She'd been staring after him for only a moment before putting herself in motion to pursue him.

"Ron, wait!" She called.

He stopped half way down the darkened hallway but did not turn to look at her.

"Can I talk to you for a moment? Please."

He slowly turned around and jammed his hands into his pockets, but still refused to meet her eyes.

It had been four long days of avoidance. Plenty of time for her to work out exactly what she wanted to say. Now that she had his full attention though, she felt herself becoming uncertain. She didn't know where to begin.

Uncomfortable with the yawning silence that had settled between them, Ron broke the quiet first.

"So talk."

"What?" She sputtered.

"You said you wanted to talk. So talk."

"Right… um… well… You look really nice tonight."

His eyes snapped up to meet hers for a split second before returning his gaze nervously to an invisible mark on the wall.

"Um… Thanks. So do you," he responded, a light flush making its way up his neck.

Another gaping silence took hold.

"Listen Ron, about the other day. Behind the shed…"

Not waiting for her to finish, he blurted out. "Why don't we pretend it didn't happen?"

"Excuse me?" This was not the response she was expecting.

He cleared his throat to force down the rising emotion. He knew this moment was going to come, and he had prepared himself for it. He had prepared himself to say what he thought she wanted to hear. He knew it was going to be nearly impossible for him to be convincing, but he had to try.

"I obviously didn't mean it, and neither did you." He supplied.

Nonplussed, she simply set him with a disbelieving stare.

"Oh, you didn't. You just go around madly snogging every girl you see?"

"Don't be ridiculous, 'Mione. I don't know why it happened. I guess I was just all riled up from the row, and… and that's what we do when we're riled up... or what we used to do... but we can't do that anymore, alright?"

"You kissed me, Ronald. Repeatedly." Her voice started to climb to a dangerous pitch. "You had me pinned against the shed, and you want me to act like that didn't happen or that it didn't mean anything?"

"Hermione, keep your voice down. Somebody might hear you."

"I don't bloody care who hears me."

"Do you really want Roberto to find out?"

She looked around anxiously, but then leveled him with a piercing glare.

Dropping her voice to a low growl, she answered. "It may have meant nothing to you, but did you ever stop to think that maybe…"

She stopped herself and her eyes grew wide. She spun around and stormed down the hall back to the kitchen.

"Hermione." He followed after her and grabbed her arm.

She looked down at his hand and without meeting his eyes, she said in a quiet, trembling voice. "Let go of me, Ronald."

Stunned by the emotion he saw playing across her face, he released her and watched her race back into the kitchen.

Ron was at a loss. 'What the hell just happened? Did she want it to mean more?'

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The five Weasley boys, plus Harry and Roberto all stood laughing amicably trying to recover from the first social misstep of the evening when a crying Hermione suddenly flew into the kitchen and out the screen door. Not a moment later, Ron came tearing through along the same path. His course, however, was impeded by a tall, dark, imposing figure stepping in his way.

When Ron looked up, he found himself the unfortunate recipient of an Italian death glare.

"Um… do you mind?" He mumbled almost incoherently motioning for the man to get out of his way.

Completely undaunted by Ron's less than civil request, Roberto stared daggers through him.

In a disturbingly calm voice, he finally spoke. "You have quite the talent for making my Bella cry."

Ron knew Italians could be menacing and were known for their tempers, but the look he was getting was downright scary.

"Excuse me, gentleman. I believe I am needed outside."

Roberto gave Ron one final threatening look before turning on his heels and heading out the screen door.

"Way to go, Ron. Just like old times." Fred snickered breaking the precarious silence.

"Shut it, Fred." Ron snapped viciously.

He then bolted for the stairs taking them two at a time until the inevitable door slam shattered the tense silence.

Harry looked around awkwardly, and mumbled a quiet. "Excuse me." Then slowly made his way up the stairs and out of sight.

George exhaled slowly. "Just like old times."

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Roberto came out searching the darkness for Hermione's familiar form.

"Bella?" He called out tentatively.

"Over here, love."

He followed the sound of her small voice to the garden, and found her hugging herself and staring up at the night sky. Coming to a stop beside her, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, and looked up as well.

"What happened?" He finally asked quietly.

"He wants to act like it didn't happen." She said her voice cracking slightly.

He looked at her in shock. Not because of what Ron had said, but more for her reaction to it.

"Can you blame him? He thinks you're with me. I would do the same in his position."

He paced a bit running his hands through his dark brown hair, and growled loudly in frustration.

"Roberto…"

He suddenly turned to face her placing his hands on his hips.

"You know Hermione, when I first agreed to come with you, I was so angry with this manga cake for treating you so poorly and breaking your heart. I was ready to make him suffer. But now… I don't want to do this anymore. That boy is still in love with you. And if that is not enough, he is staying away from you because he is actually trying to do what he thinks is best for you. This whole sham, what we're doing to him, it is completely wrong."

"What about the whole Lavender thing?" She protested.

"You have to admit that was pretty funny." He snickered.

"No, it wasn't." She screeched in defense.

"Oh, but it was. The look on both your faces when she went into labor was priceless. Bella, the whole thing blew up in his face, and only lasted a day at most. Yes, he tried to hurt you. He only did it though because you were flaunting me around. What we have been doing has been going on for more than a week now, and is far crueler. Hermione, you have to tell him the truth."

"I know. I will." She muttered begrudgingly.

"Tonight. If you don't, I will." He threatened.

"Fine, tonight." She sighed out heavily. "Merlin, you're such a bitch sometimes."

He smiled playfully and grabbed her hand. "Yes, but you know you love me anyway."

She laughed despite herself, and let him walk her back inside.

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"Ron?" Harry poked his head into the dimly lit room.

Ron just sat on his bed staring dismally at his clasped hands. "I don't want to talk about it mate."

"That's too bad, now isn't it?" Harry moved a little further into the room, and leaned against the dresser. "What happened? I thought you said things were fine now."

"Well, they're not, are they?"

When Harry said nothing, Ron looked up and found himself pinned with an expectant stare. Feeling uncomfortable under the close scrutiny, he returned his gaze to his hands.

"You're not going to let this drop, are you?"

"Pretty much."

Ron sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Fine. You know all about the Lavender nightmare, yeah?"

"Are you kidding? Ginny has been railing about that one for days. Mate, that was a nasty thing to do."

"It got worse."

"Worse? How could it possibly have gotten worse?"

Ron shifted awkwardly on the bed. "We kissed. Hermione and I… Bloody hell, we more than kissed. If Roberto hadn't shown up, I… I don't know what would have happened. We were pretty far along. I don't think I would have been able to stop."

"Blimey…" Harry walked over and sat next to Ron on the bed. "What did Roberto say?"

"That's the thing, he didn't say anything. He hasn't even mentioned it, and I know he saw us. I can't even tell if he's mad over the whole thing or what…"

Harry shook his head. "There's something about that bloke that's not right, but I can't place it."

"I know what you mean." Ron jumped in. "I can tell he loves 'Mione, but he doesn't seem to get jealous over anything. Even her ex snogging her senseless."

"Speaking of which, does that have anything to do with what happened downstairs?"

Ron looked down at his clasped hands, and his face flushed crimson.

"Ron, what did you do?"

"Nothing! I didn't do anything. I've purposely stayed away from her for days now. Harry, it's nearly killed me, but I did it. Then, when I told her in the hall that we should just forget it…"

"Wait, what did you say to her?" Harry could not keep the disbelief out of his voice.

Ron became sheepish. "That we should just pretend the whole thing never happened."

"And what did she say to that?" Harry asked.

"She um… She got really upset with me. I don't get it, Harry. She's with Roberto. Why in Merlin's name would she get that hacked off with me for saying that?"

Harry just rolled his eyes in response, and patted his best friend on the back.

'Because she's still in love with you, you great prat.' Harry mused to himself.

"Listen mate, we should really head back down and join the others before people miss us. The last thing you need right now is Gin thinking you and Hermione are in another fight."

"Good point."

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Ron and Harry wandered into the living room to find everyone happily mingling.

Spotting them in the archway, Ginny called out. "There you two are. We've been waiting for you for ages."

"Sorry about that." Ron offered, shyly eyeing Hermione, who was standing in the corner talking with Roberto.

"No problem. It's just that we were all supposed to meet Luna, Neville, Dean, Parvati, and Padma at the restaurant ten minutes ago." Ginny offered.

As everyone started to disapparate away, Ron's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

"SHIT!!!" He cried, grabbing Harry's sleeve.

"What? What's wrong?" Harry asked slightly alarmed.

"Parvati's going to be there." He whispered, mortified by the implications.

Harry's eyes widened in realization, and he released a slow, ragged breath. "Shit!"