Heh! So I finally updated! I know it's been a loooong time, and I'm really sorry for that but in my defence I've been trying to get this chapter down for a couple of weeks now. But because I've kept you all waiting so long it's twice as long as my normal length chapters, I thought you deserved a treat for all the reviews you've been giving this story. (Plus there was nowhere to break it and I didn't really want this to drag into two chapters, but that's beside the point!) I've also been busy co-authoring something else, anyone who visits my lj, may have some idea of what I'm on about, and I'm really enjoying that, but don't worry, now that Heartfelt Dream is coming to an end, this is at the forefront of my writing list! I'm having too much fun with this for it not to be!
So anyway, on with the chapter...let me know what you think :D. Step ;)
Chapter 15
It had been three days since Ron and Hermione had been issued with 'their' punishment. They were at breakfast when a harsh looking owl had delivered a letter to Ron, stating where and when he and Hermione were expected to be that night, and for the next three nights. If Hermione's suspicions were correct, then McGonagal had been way to soft on Ron, and it was hardly a punishment for her either.
All she had to do was sit in the empty classroom Ron was cleaning (without magic) and do whatever she wanted to. If she felt like doing nothing, then she could, however, most of the time she did her homework, (and only watched Ron on occasion, when he wasn't looking of course!).
On the morning of their last detention Hermione woke up and made her way to the bathroom. As she made her way there she managed to open her eyes properly, only just though, and by the time she had got to the bathroom she had closed them again. She took a step into the doorway of the bathroom and was immediately buffeted backwards by the invisible force blocking the doorway.
'What the hell?' she said after she had just about regained her balance.
'RON! What are you doing in the bathroom? You always let me in first!'
She had a feeling today was going to be one of those days where everything irritated her, just because!
'Huh?' Ron shouted through the barrier
'Oh very loquacious Ron!'
'Huh?'
'Oh for Merlin's sake! How long are you going to be?'
'I dunno, ten minutes?'
'TEN MINUTES!' she screeched. 'I never take that long. You'll be five minutes and be grateful!'
She turned around and stormed back to her bed. She was annoyed to say the least, she had a routine and this morning Ron had turned it on its head. She grumbled to herself, then decided that she might as well get herself dressed. Even if it was out of her normal order.
Unfortunately for Ron he was longer than five minutes, and it took Hermione all of two minutes to get dressed, so she had a good eight minutes to get herself even more annoyed at the red head.
When he finally resurfaced from the bathroom it was with a frown on his face and with his fringe covering as much of it as possible. Hermione didn't bother asking why he had been so long, that could wait, she really needed to brush her teeth!
When she emerged from the bathroom, now ready to go down to breakfast she ignored Ron until she could do it no longer.
'Ready?' she snapped.
Ron shrugged and stood up off the bed.
'You could at least have the decency to answer my question properly!' she hissed at him.
'Oh give it a rest Hermione! I'm coming!'
He stormed past her and left the room. Hermione had to stretch to catch the door from shutting and therefore rendering the both of them unconscious. She tutted loudly but Ron didn't hear her, he was too far down the corridor.
She caught up to him and tried to keep up with his pace without running, but she couldn't.
'Ron slow down! I can't keep up with you!'
He sighed irritably and slowed down so Hermione could keep up with him.
'What's wrong with you this morning?' she asked him.
'What's wrong with me? I'm not the one who was screeching through the bathroom door! Why are you all uptight?'
'I asked you first! Don't think you're getting out of answering my question by asking me one in return.'
He sighed again. 'Fine!'
He continued walking without adding to his one word answer.
'Well?'
'Well what?' he asked, actually stopping and turning towards her.
Hermione glare at him but then decided she couldn't be bothered with his attitude this morning.
'Oh forget it!'
They carried on walking and arrived at the breakfast table to find Harry not there yet. They sat in their own little worlds for a minute before starting to make their breakfast. It was only as Hermione was cutting the bacon sandwich she had just made in half, and as Ron put down the milk bottle he had just emptied into a bowl of cereal that they realised they had, once again, made each other's breakfast.
It was the fourth time they had done it, and they were now used to it. They raised their eyebrows at each other and pushed the other's breakfast to them.
'You know, you do get the amount of milk just right!' Hermione said with a puzzled smile.
Ron managed a half smile.
'Well, it has to be said you put just the right amount of tomato sauce on the bacon,' he said quietly. 'It's strange isn't it? We've never asked each other how much milk or sauce we put on our breakfast, but we both know how the other likes it. This connection thing is…weird to say the least!'
'Well it might not be the connection you know,' Hermione replied.
'What else could it be? We certainly didn't make each other's breakfasts before we swallowed Harry's potion did we?'
'No, I know that Ron, but we've spent the last five and a half years eating breakfast together, it's not really surprising we've picked up on little things like this. Even if we don't consciously look for them, subconsciously we pick up things.'
'You think?'
'I'll prove it to you!'
'How?'
'Well, I'm guessing Harry's overslept, he should be here by now, so why don't we make things a little easier on him and make his breakfast for him? That we I'll prove my point and he won't have to skip breakfast to get to our lesson on time.'
'Er, okay.'
'You make him what you think he'll want to eat and I'll make him his drink. I bet we're both right!'
'Really? How much?'
'Nothing!'
'That confident eh?' he asked with a smirk.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Actually, Ronald, I am, but I know if I bet against you, you'll not try properly, so it wouldn't be fair. Now hurry, up, Harry'll be here soon. In theory that is!
Ron set about making what he thought Harry would want for breakfast. He thought about it; he wouldn't want anything hot, because it would take too long to eat, but then again, the dungeons were cold so he wouldn't want anything cold. Then there was the fact that Harry was always grumpy when he slept in, so some comfort food may be in order. Ron smiled as he reached for the bowl in front of him
Hermione looked at the selection of drinks in front of her and surveyed each one.
'No, no…no' she muttered to herself as she went along the line of drinks. The two on the end caught her eye and she smiled. After a brief thought she knew exactly which one to choose.
Harry fell out of the portrait hole and knocked a first year Gryffindor flying. After he hurriedly put him back on his feet and uttered a hasty apology he sprinted down to the great hall, careful to slow down when he glimpsed a teacher or heard something that could have been Mrs. Norris creeping up on him.
He landed hard on the bench next to Ron.
'Afternoon!' Ron said with a smirk.
'Oh shut up! You living in your own private room is so bloody inconvenient, I never get up on time anymore.'
'Yes, because that's the real inconvenience!' Hermione retorted.
'Oh, right, sorry,' he mumbled.
'S'okay mate. Now eat your breakfast!'
Ron gestured to the food that was sat in front of them.
'My breakfast?'
'Yes your breakfast.'
'So, not only are you making each other's breakfasts, now you're feeling the urge to make mine too?'
Ron pushed Harry's head backwards so much so that he almost lost his balance. As he regained his composure Ron pushed Harry's food in front of him.
'There's a reason why we made it. Hermione's trying to prove a point.'
He rolled his eyes so only Harry could see.
'There's no need to roll your eyes, Ron!' Hermione said indignantly.
'How-?' He turned round to look at Hermione and she raised her eyebrows at him. 'Never mind!'
'What point's she trying to prove? Harry asked, still not having started to eat his breakfast.
'She has a name Harry!' Hermione replied, slightly annoyed, but she continued regardless. 'Well, Ron thinks that the only reason we know what the other wants for breakfast is because of our connection, whereas I think it has more to do with the fact that we've eaten together for five and a half years. So I said we should make yours and whether you want what we've made you should determine which of us is right.'
'Oh no don't say that your moods for the rest of the day are determined by what comes out of my mouth right now! You know I hate it when you ask me to choose which one of you is right. I can't win either way!'
'Calm down Harry,' Hermione said with a smirk. 'It's not as if this is a major thing, I'm sure whichever of us is wrong will recover. And hurry up you've only got five minutes.'
Harry picked up the spoon that was next to the bowl and eagerly tucked into his porridge.
A small 'mmm' escaped his lips.
'It's hot, but not too hot that you can't eat it quickly. It's cold in the dungeons, I thought you'd like something to keep you warm,' Ron said with a small smile.
'Mmm,' Harry replied through a mouthful of porridge. 'Cheers mate!' He beamed before shovelling more porridge into his mouth.
'So…did I get it right?' Ron asked. Hermione thought he sounded a bit nervous, but she had no idea why.
'Yeah you did, if I'd thought about breakfast properly then I'd have chosen this. Did I get a drink too?'
'Yep, Hermione did that.'
Ron picked up the goblet and handed it to Harry.
'Ah! Hot Chocolate there's nothing like it in a morning!'
He grinned and drank a mouthful. Like Ron, Hermione had made it hot enough so it was sill 'hot' but not overly so, so he could drink it in time.
'So Hermione got it right to?'
'Was there any doubt?' Harry replied with a smirk before finishing off his porridge.
'No, I suppose not.'
'Well really, it was an obvious choice,' Hermione said in a superior tone. 'It's like Ron said; it's freezing in the dungeons so you'd want something to warm you up, plus I knew you'd be in a foul mood for being late so chocolate was the obvious choice, it'd make you feel better and relieve Ron and me of your temper!'
'Yeah, thanks Hermione,' Harry said through his last mouthful of breakfast. 'Kind of wish I hadn't proved your point now!'
'Yeah, I suppose that does make you right,' Ron said with half a smile.
'Well, for what it's worth, I think you're both right,' Harry said before downing the remains of his hot chocolate and standing up off the bench. Hermione and Ron followed and the three of them started walking out of the hall to the dungeons.
'How?' Ron asked.
'Well, it's true the three of us know each other very well by now and if we thought about what the others would want for breakfast then nine times out of ten we'd get it right no problem. Careful!'
A small Slytherin had rounded a corner and nearly gone head first into Harry.
'No running the corridors short ar-'
'RON! You can't say that!' Hermione screeched, scandalised.
'Well he is!'
'As I was saying…' Harry glared at Ron and Hermione, both of whom were glaring at each other. 'We'd be able to do what you two did this morning most of the time. Which is great, but I think with you two it's a bit different.'
'Why?' Ron asked again.
'You know, you can ask me questions that are more than one word long mate!'
Ron shoved Harry in to the wall, but his momentum bounced him back quite well so was able to carry on walking as if nothing had happened.
'Oww!'
Ron ignored Harry's cries of pain.
'Well, as I was saying, there's something different about the way you do it. You don't have to think about it at all, you don't think about it at all from what I've seen, you just do it! And it's always right. There's definitely something deeper about this connection thing that you have than not being able to leave the room without each other.'
Ron turned the slightest shade of pink and rubbed his nose with the back of his hand.
'Yes, I think you're right Harry,' Hermione replied. 'Which makes us both right for once!'
Harry laughed.
They had reached the entrance to the dungeon. Before they went in Harry turned to Ron and Hermione.
'Thanks for this morning though, I appreciate it, although I'd appreciate it more if you could somehow wake me up on time.'
Hermione smiled. Ron started to feel a bit strange, and he didn't know why.
'I do miss you two, you know!' Harry said with a grin. 'I know you're not spending a lot of the time in your room but when you do, it's not the same. I've got no one to watch arguing for entertainment!'
Ron didn't know what was wrong with him, he was starting to well up and he had no idea why. He looked over at Hermione but she was rummaging in her bag.
What is wrong with you Weasley? He thought desperately. He looked up at the ceiling, willing himself to pull it together. He had no idea why he was feeling like this, there was no explanation. He'd just woken up feeling strange.
Luckily for him Slughorn opened the door and he managed to get into the classroom without Harry noticing he was teary eyed. He hastily wiped his eyes and sat down with a heavier than normal 'thump' on his seat. To his slight surprise Hermione sat down next to him. It had been a while since she had done that willingly, but this time she had. Harry sat opposite Ron and when Ernie arrived in the classroom, he sat opposite Hermione.
To Ron's dismay today's lesson was theoretical and not practical. It was all of five minutes before he noticed his concentration starting to wander. As much as he tried he couldn't concentrate properly on the facts and figures Slughorn was continuously throwing at the class, not that this was anything unusual; Ron was hardly the best at taking notes, but even he thought it was worse today. Something was wrong with him, but he had no idea what.
His stomach had started squirming twenty minutes into the lesson and it wasn't until it was almost over that he noticed the squirming had turned to pain. He sighed in relief when Slughorn told them they could leave the lesson, and the pain in his stomach lessened when he got up.
The three of them made their way to the common room and as one, slumped into their favourite chairs.
'Won-Won!'
'Oh Merlin!' Ron mumbled, but loud enough for Hermione and Harry to hear.
They both smirked at each other, but buried their heads in books so they didn't have to see the public display of affection that was imminent.
'Hi Lavender!' Ron said in a non-committal tone.
'How are you my darling?' Lavender asked in a very dramatic way.
She twirled around and swept her arms wide before sitting down on Ron's lap. Well, that's what she intended to do.
Ron hadn't actually looked at Lavender since she had greeted him and as she went to sit on his lap he crossed his right leg over his left and she ended up as a heap on the floor.
Ron, Harry and Hermione all stared at Lavender; it was a few seconds before they moved. Harry and Hermione instantly hid themselves behind their books as they fell into their silent but quite vicious giggles. Looking at each other only made the situation worse, so they tried desperately to calm themselves down.
Ron, however didn't have the luxury of having a book to hide behind and one glance at the retreating faces of Harry and Hermione made his laughter move to the back of his throat and threaten to burst out of his mouth in a very undignified fashion.
He swallowed hard and bent forward to help Lavender up.
She hadn't screeched or screamed as she'd fallen, too shocked to realise what had happened for a few seconds. But when she realised what had happened she whipped her head around to face Ron and glared at him.
Unfortunately for the red head Harry gave a very untimely snort and Ron burst out laughing, much to Lavender's dismay. She struggled to her feet and stormed off without another word to Ron. She left the common room and it was only when the portrait had slammed shut that Ron, Harry and Hermione allowed themselves to dissolve into sidesplitting laughter. Ron tried to take the high road and not laugh, but his self-restraint lasted all of five seconds and he joined his friends in their uncontrollable laughter.
After they had all settled down Ron tried to get comfortable in his chair, but he couldn't sit still for more than a couple of minutes. After his continued shuffling didn't stop Hermione sighed and put her book down.
'Ron what's wrong? Why can't you sit still?'
'I just can't get comfortable! Any position I sit in feels weird after a bit, and I've got stomach ache too!'
Hermione's eyes widened but she didn't say anything. She just buried herself back in her book.
'Well you can't have eaten too much, you've only eaten breakfast!' Harry replied with a grin.
'Thanks Harry, I know exactly what I've eaten! I thought I might be hungry but the thought of eating anything makes me feel worse.'
Harry's grin slipped. 'You don't feel like eating?' he asked in a slightly more concerned tone. 'Okay, now I'm worried.'
'Ha bloody ha!' Ron retorted, obviously irritated.
'No, seriously Ron, even when you're throwing your guts up, it's not long after that you're eating again because you're hungry!'
Ron shrugged. 'I dunno, I've just felt weird all day, I woke up feeling strange!'
Hermione coughed and Harry and Ron turned to look at her, but she didn't lower her book so they turned back to each other, Harry's look of concern returning to his face.
'Why don't you go and see Madam Pomfrey if you're not feeling well?' Harry suggested.
Hermione made a small noise that was neither a word nor a squeak, but still she remained behind her book, so Ron and Harry's questioning stares once again, went unanswered.
'Nah, I'll see if it gets any worse, I'm okay at the minute.'
…oooOOOooo…
The next hour was spent in the common room doing homework, but Ron was finding it more and more difficult to concentrate on anything but the growing pain in his stomach. Five minutes before lunch, he made a small whimpering pain but tried to cover it up.
'Er…Ron?' Harry asked, having noticed the small sound escaping Ron's lips.
'What?' Ron snapped.
'Are you okay? You sound like you're suffering.'
'My stomach ache's got worse.'
Hermione looked up at Ron and decided to take action.
'Come on Ron, we're going to see Madam Pomfrey.'
'But I-'
'NOW!' she shouted as she walked to the portrait hole.
Ron's eyes widened and he hurriedly got up out of his seat, trying not to whimper as he did so.
'Hermione wait!' he called as he ran after her down the corridor. 'Why did you demand we leave?'
'Because I can't be bothered with your pathetic whining that's why!' she snapped.
'I wasn't whining!' Ron retorted.
'Yes you were.'
'No I wasn't!'
'Yes you were!'
'No I was-'
'RON SHUT UP!'
He was too shocked to say anything in return so just followed Hermione in silence.
They arrived at the hospital wing and walked through the room towards Madam Pomfrey's office. Ron saw the silhouette of the nurse moving around inside the small room as Hermione knocked on the door.
'Oh Miss Granger! What can I do for you? Are you feeling unwell?'
'Er, not unwell exactly, it's…you know…'
'Ah of course, I should have known. Pain relief I take it?' she asked, as she walked back into her office and opened one of the many cupboards in there.
'Yes thank you, a bit stronger than usual if possible. It's quite bad.'
'Of course.'
'Pain relief?' Ron asked Hermione quietly. 'Finally!'
Hermione turned and smiled sweetly at Ron. For some reason Ron was slightly unsettled by the smile, there was something slightly sinister about it.
She turned back towards the office as Madam Pomfrey came out holding a small bottle of potion.
'Here you are miss Granger, it should work in a few minutes, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait a few hours before you can have some more, it's quite strong!'
'Thank you Madam Pomfrey.'
Ron stepped towards Hermione and held out his hand, waiting for her to put the small bottle in it. Instead she uncorked it and drank the contents in one go, leaving Ron open mouthed and confused.
'But-' he started, trying to understand what had just happened.
Hermione handed the bottle back to Madam Pomfrey. The nurse turned and went back into her office cleaning the bottle with a wave of her wand. Hermione turned to face Ron, an innocent expression on her face.
'Sorry?' she asked.
'I thought that was for me!' Ron asked, his voice getting louder with every word.
'What would give you that impression?' Hermione asked, innocently.
'Well…I…I'm the one with stomach ache!'
'Yes you are, aren't you. What you've failed to notice Ron, is that I've been suffering with the same…well not quite the same…but I've been suffering this morning too, not that you noticed!'
'What? Why didn't you say anything?'
'Because I'm used to it by now.'
'You're used to it by now? What the hell does that mean?'
'Honestly Ron, you have absolutely no idea! Now, do you want something for your stomach ache or not?'
'Yes! But I don't know what it is yet.'
'Don't worry about that, I do!' Hermione replied before turning back towards the office.
'You do?' Ron replied quietly.
He watched as Hermione spoke to Madam Pomfrey quietly. He was slightly concerned when the nurse's eyes widened and she looked quickly at Ron before continuing to look at Hermione. By the end of their conversation – and after a wry smile had slid across Madam Pomfrey's face – Hermione had acquired another bottle of potion for Ron and they left the hospital wing.
'Hermione where are we going? It's lunch time!'
'I thought you weren't hungry!' she replied over her shoulder.
'Well I'm not, but I might be if you'd let me have my potion!'
'I need to talk to you first, there's something you need to know.'
She tried her best to suppress the smile that was creeping on to her face.
'What? And why are you smiling, what's so bloody funny?'
'Language Ron, and I'll tell you in our room. I need to get my things for this afternoon, so do you for that matter.'
Ron huffed. 'Fine!'
They made their way through the school, through their portrait and up the seven flights of stairs to their room. Hermione let the two of them in the room and shut the door behind them.
'So what's wrong with me?' Ron asked, looking a little concerned.
'Don't worry Ron, there's nothing sinister wrong with you.'
'Well, what is it then?'
'You've er…you're experiencing pain because I am. It's another side effect from that potion I'm afraid, apparently you're feeling my pain.'
'What? So there's nothing wrong with me then?'
'No Ron, nothing.'
'Oh okay, well that's annoying…but then what's wrong with you?'
Hermione mumbled her response.
'Pardon,' Ron asked whilst moving a step closer to Hermione.
'I've er…' she went a slightly darker shade of pink. 'I've got…period pain.'
Ron's eyes widened and he started looking around the room, anywhere but Hermione.
'Oh…OH! But that doesn't mean…I've not…how come…?'
Hermione tutted. 'Succinct as ever Ronald!'
'Please don't tell me that I'm…you know…I can't…'
'Oh calm down Ron, obviously you can't have proper period pain so you've got the nearest thing, stomach ache! Oh, do you want this?'
'Finally!' Ron said before taking the bottle off her and downing the contents.
He threw the bottle onto his bed and then he remembered how he'd felt all this morning.
'But I've been-' he started, then decided not to finish his sentence.
'You've been what?
'I've been feeling…strange this morning. One minute laughing hysterically and then about to burst into tears the next!'
He blushed instantly and Hermione giggled.
'You've er…you've been having mood swings?'
'YES!'
Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
'I knew you'd laugh!'
Hermione did her best to stop laughing and she managed it temporarily.
'Calm down Ron, you're only reacting that way because it's how I've been feeling! It's just like we've experienced before, any extreme feelings of emotion we've had, the other's felt. Well, it's the same thing! Only with the mood swings you've got pain too!'
'And you put up with this every month? Bloody hell!'
'Finally a bloke understands! Although it has to be said you've had it easy!'
'What do you mean I've had it easy. I've never felt stomach ache like this!'
Hermione's brow furrowed and she looked determinedly at him.
'Ron when did you first notice you had stomach ache?' she asked him.
'Er, during potions, towards the end of the lesson.'
'Ah yes I remember, it was about that time I was in quite a lot of pain and started to feel really quite sick from it. I've been in pain since I woke up this morning! You've got off lightly!'
'Lightly! Lightly!'
'Careful Ron, be very careful!'
Ron realised there and then that it would be no use arguing with Hermione. He realised that he had probably had a diluted version of Hermione's pain. Saying anything different might result in him being hexed.
'You feel like eating anything now you're potion's had time to take effect?'
Hermione smiled, Ron had made the right decision.
'Yeah actually, you?'
'Yeah, getting there.'
'Good, I have a feeling Harry might have carted you off to St. Mungo's if you'd not felt like eating your dinner.'
Ron smiled. 'Yeah I think he might have!'
They left their room after collecting their books for the afternoon's lessons and watched their door turn back into the wall.
They were about to turn into the Great Hall when Ron caught Hermione by the hand, quickly letting go after she'd stopped and turned around.
'What is it?' Hermione asked.
'Would you er…could you not tell anyone about this…what I'm feeling? It's not exactly…good for my image…'
'You're image?' Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
'You know what I mean! Having mood swings isn't exactly manly is it? I'd never live it down!'
'Trust you to think about your image!'
'Wow, talk about mood swings!'
Hermione glared at him.
'Oh, wrong thing to say Ron, wrong thing to say!'
She turned on her heel and stalked into the Great Hall where Harry was sat waiting for the both of them. Ron hurried in after her.
'How's the stomach Ron? Better?'
'Oh he's feeling much better, aren't you Ron?'
Ron looked at Hermione warily.
'Yes,' she continued, 'his manly pain is all better!'
