Dream On
By Siriusly Amused
Author's Note: And I'm back...sorta. I would like to apologize a thousand times over for the lateness of this chapter. I have reasons, but they're unimportant. What's important is that this is a long chapter. Close to five thousand words, I believe. I would like to dedicate this chapter to my good friend, Kari, who not only forced me to sit down and write it but also let me bounce my ideas off of her and also gave me a few ideas. -glomps Kari- I would also like to make clear that this will not become a dead fic! I know I complained in one of my previous ANs about the lack of reviews, but that was because I was sick and wanted reviews to make me feel better but I only got half of the reviews that I got for the other chapters so I was like, "Well, life sucks!" I love this fic, and I love my reviewers and I intend to finish this.
Disclaimer: I like peanuts.
Chapter Five:
I'm the guy in the dream that you had last night… 'Uh Huh' by B2K
The 17-year-old girl walked into her family's living room to see that the TV was on and that her friend was silhouetted against the screen. It was late at night and the TV was the only light in the room.
"Can't sleep?" the girl asked, causing her male friend to jump slightly from shock and turn around to look at her. He smiled upon seeing her in her pajamas, and he scooted over slightly so that she could join him on the floor.
"Yeah," the boy replied.
"Does my Muggle house make weird noises?" she asked playfully. The boy smiled.
"It does, but that's not why I'm up. I sleep under the attic at home, you know. The ghoul likes to make weird noises too. I'm just worrying about Harry. Why are you up?"
"I'm worrying about Harry too. And I'm excited."
"You're excited?" the boy raised shocked eyebrows. "We're about to partake in what could very well be the most dangerous adventure of our lives and you're excited about it?"
"No," the girl stated simply. The boy knitted his brow in confusion, urging her without words to explain. "I'm excited because out of the nearly seven years that we've been friends, this is the first time you're staying at my house," she elaborated.
"Thanks for inviting me, by the way," the boy stated, his blue eyes returning to the TV in front of him. "I think I should get used to Muggle appliances before we move in at Harry's. Don't want to make things bad for him with the Muggles just because I'm fascinated with the microwave."
The girl laughed softly. "Well, I don't think the Muggles will dare to do anything to him while we're there protecting him. We can use magic outside of school now and I'm sure that'll scare them enough to treat Harry nicely."
"True," the boy stated, leaning back on his elbows. His face suddenly turned more serious as he stared pointedly at the TV screen. "Why did your parents go to that convention? I mean…most parents don't leave their teenaged daughter home alone with a guy friend for the entire weekend. And they know that we're leaving for Harry's on Monday."
The girl shrugged. "They trust me," she stated simply, though the truth was that she was just as confused over their willingness to leave the two teenagers home alone as her companion was.
"Okay," the boy replied, his eyes remaining on the TV. The two were silent though neither was paying much attention to the infomercial that was currently on.
"Ron," the girl said suddenly, turning toward the boy laying next to her.
"Hmm?" the boy, Ron, asked, his eyes breaking away from the screen to look at her.
Before her brain could tell her otherwise, the girl leaned down, placed a hand upon the boy's cheek and brought her lips to his. After a few seconds, the girl pulled back slightly. Ron was gazing at her.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time," the girl admitted. "And once we meet up with Harry, we may not…"
But the girl was cut off by Ron suddenly sitting up and capturing her lips with his own, his hand running through her hair. The girl sighed and relaxed, letting him wrap her in his arms. She couldn't believe that it was finally happening, and she couldn't believe that it was so wonderful. Her other kisses seemed so horrible next to the one she was currently experiencing. Krum was too gentle, as if he was afraid that he would scare her away. Cormac was too rough and had nearly choked her with his tongue. But this kiss was different. It was gentle but passionate, and it was doing something wonderful to her.
Sighing once again, she adjusted herself onto Ron's lap, trailed her hands down his chest and slid them under his T-shirt to explore the skin underneath. Ron jumped suddenly at her touch and broke their kiss. He was panting slightly.
"I think we should stop," he said rather quickly. Her heartbeat quickened in her chest; his voice had a husky edge to it that she had never heard before.
"I don't want to," she whispered, leaning in for another kiss, but he only pulled away.
"No, Hermione, I don't think you understand," Ron replied frantically. He adjusted himself slightly so that Hermione felt something firm brush her inner thigh. She gasped softly but she didn't move away. Ron caught her eye; he was looking at her seriously. He wasn't blushing. He wasn't going to apologize for it. "Hermione," he said, his gaze remaining completely serious, "we're alone for the night, we can use our wands without getting in trouble, and I know contraceptive charms. We should stop."
Hermione was silent for a moment as her mind ran a thousand thoughts through her head. Finally, she placed her hands upon Ron's chest, leaned down, and kissed him again.
"I." Kiss. "Don't." Kiss. "Want to." Kiss. "Stop." She straightened slowly, bit her bottom lip slightly, and took off her top. She wasn't wearing a bra and she felt her cheeks burn as a desire to cover her chest with her arms crossed over her. She didn't give into it, however. Instead, she traced patterns on Ron's shirt with her hands.
"You're quite sure, then?" Ron asked, his voice squeaking slightly.
"Yes." Hermione was slowly lifting Ron's shirt up, and he helpfully raised his arms so that she could pull it over his head. Once he was free of his shirt, Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist once again and pulled her closer to him so that her chest was touching his. He began placing kisses upon her jaw line.
"And you want to do it on your living room floor?" he asked between kisses.
Hermione smiled mischievously. "Well," she stated before kissing Ron again. "We could Apparate to my bedroom."
"I don't have my license yet," Ron reasoned.
"Then hold on to me," Hermione ordered, hoping to God that she had enough focus for what she was about to do.
"As if I would ever let go," Ron replied with a smirk, and a moment later, the couple had disappeared from the living room floor and landed with a soft plop onto Hermione's bed.
.X.
Hermione's eyes shot open. Her pulse pounded in her ears as her mind frantically tried to make sense of everything. The wind continued to howl outside of the window, which was gray with the little morning light that had made its way through the blizzard. She and Ron were buried under a multitude of blankets to protect them from the cold. Ron was still asleep, snoring softly, his right arm wrapped around her waist. She brought her hand to interlace her fingers with his in an attempt to calm herself. She was getting a massive headache.
The dream. Was it a dream? It had seemed so real, so vivid. It didn't make any sense to her though. Why had she dreamed about her and Ron as teenagers? She hadn't known him as a teenager, though she congratulated her imagination; it did a very good job of recreating a teenaged Ron.
And who was the Harry that they spoke of? Hermione was quite certain that she had never befriended a guy name Harry. Why would she dream about having a friend named Harry as a teenager when she didn't?
And what was with the magic? A ghoul in the attic? Being able to use wands outside of school? Contraceptive charms?
That reminded Hermione that she needed to take her birth control pill. Especially after the night she spent with Ron. Sighing at the fact that she would have to leave the warm bed (and Ron's comforting embrace), Hermione threw her legs over the edge of the bed, found her underwear on the floor, put it on and reached for Ron's bath robe before heading over to the bathroom.
.X.
"Come on, Ron. It'll be fun."
"It doesn't sound like fun."
"Well, fine. If you don't want to do it, you can just go play dolls with Ginny like some stupid little sissy boy."
"Sissy boy! Sissy boy! Ron's a big sissy boy!"
"Shut up! I'll do it."
"Knew you would. Now, we have to kneel facing one another and take each other's hand like this. Right. Now, George will stand over us with the wand."
"Is that Bill's wand?"
"What does it matter?"
"We're not allowed to steal Bill's wand. We're going to get into so much trouble! Remember when we turned Ginny's hair blue? I didn't get to eat sweets for a week!"
"Who are you? Percy? Just shut up before we decide to walk two miles and hang out with Cedric Diggory instead of you. George, if you will."
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"
"Oh, hello Dad. We were just practicing a bit of…"
George wasn't able to finish his sentence for Arthur had strode across the room in two steps and knocked the wand from the twin's hand. Ron hurriedly dropped Fred's hand and scurried into a corner, watching as his father bellowed at the twins.
"YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM!"
"What's going on, Dad?" a teenaged boy asked, poking his head into the twin's room.
"William! How many times do I have to tell you to not leave your wand lying around where these two can get it? Pick it up and take Ron downstairs. I'll deal with you later."
Bill hastily did as he was told, picking up his wand and younger brother before hurrying out of the room.
"Were they really going to kill me?" Ron asked as Bill carried him down the steps.
"I'm sure they didn't realize what they were doing," Bill replied, though he was looking white. "Ginny's got some fairies in her room; why don't you go play with her?"
"But I don't want to play with Ginny and her dumb fairies!" Ron whined, but it was too late. His older brother had dropped him in their sister's room, which was indeed filled with fairies.
"Ron!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly. "You're just in time! The fairies and I were going to have a tea party!"
"Joy," Ron said, scowling as he plopped himself down in front of the tea kit.
.X.
Ron Weasley opened his eyes, groaned and closed his eyes once again. He had a headache, a weird dream and Hermione was already out of bed, crushing his hopes of a good morning shag. His eyes suddenly shot open. She had left the bed without waking him! Did that mean that she regretted what happened the night before?
Ignoring his pounding head and the fact that it was twenty degrees colder outside of his bed than in it, Ron rummaged his floor for his boxers and jeans and rushed out of his room without bothering to find a shirt. He had to talk to Hermione. He had to know where they stood.
He found Hermione in the kitchen, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt as she placed some bacon onto a plate.
"Good morning!" she greeted brightly, turning the stove off and placing the frying pan in the sink before coming up to Ron and wrapping her arms around his waist. She placed a soft kiss on his shoulder and Ron sighed in relief at the gesture.
"You okay?" Hermione asked, pulling away slightly and giving Ron a concerned look. "You look rather pale."
"I'm fine," Ron replied hastily. "I just had a weird dream last night, that's all. But I'm better now."
"You are?" Hermione inquired, looking dubious.
"I'm with you, aren't I?" Ron answered. Hermione smiled and blushed slightly at the comment, making Ron's ears go pink. "What's for breakfast? I'm starving." Ron walked over to the table and sat down, digging into the bacon and eggs Hermione had made for him. Hermione sat down next to him, wrapping her hands around a warm cup of coffee.
"Ron?" she asked suddenly. "Did you happen to have a friend named Harry growing up?"
Ron paused, his hand extended in attempt to help himself to some more bacon. A shiver rippled down his spine, which he dismissed to being shirtless. "I don't think so," he stated slowly, though his brain was questioning himself. For some reason an image of a messy-haired boy popped into his mind. Had he known a Harry? Did they play rugby together or something? "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," Hermione answered quickly, adverting her eyes back to her coffee.
Ron stopped his eating and looked at her. "I know what this is about," he stated seriously.
"You do?"
"Yeah. You want to know the guy you're shagging better."
Hermione smiled and seemed to sigh in relief. "That's it," she confirmed, placing a hand on Ron's shoulder.
Ron smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Well, I was born on a rainy Wednesday in March…"
.X.
Neville's eyes nearly doubled in size as he felt someone grab him around his waist. Turning around to investigate, he found himself face to face with Ginny Weasley, who was beaming at him.
"Morning, Neville," Ginny greeted brightly. "Where are you heading?"
Neville looked at her quizzically. He was sure that there was a law against being that chipper on a Monday morning.
"I'm going to work. Shouldn't you be doing the same?" Neville brushed a lock of Ginny's flaming red hair out of her face as she continued to smile at him.
"I told them that I was sick," Ginny admitted.
"You're obviously not," Neville observed.
"Shh," Ginny shushed, bringing a finger up to her lips. "I'm skipping out so I can go shopping in Muggle London for the perfect outfit."
"The perfect outfit for what?" Neville asked, continuing his trek down Diagon Alley to get to the herbology shop that he worked at.
Ginny skipped merrily beside him, holding on to his arm casually. "Ron and Hermione invited me over to their apartment for dinner," Ginny whispered in Neville's ear.
"That's nice," Neville said at first before stopping short and shouting out, "What!" He brought his head very close to Ginny's. "Are you talking about the same Ron and Hermione that I'm thinking about?"
Ginny smiled. "Yes. Remember when Ron put out an advertisement for a roommate?"
Neville nodded.
"Well, Hermione answered."
"Wow, so there is such a thing as fate," Neville commented.
"Yeah. And according to Fred, they're an item now."
"Already? It took them long enough the first time around! You'd think they'd spend the remainder of their twenties bickering at one another before shagging."
Ginny laughed. "That's not the best bit, though," she continued. Neville's eyes widened, urging her to go on. "I'm not sure about Hermione, but Ron's remembering bits and pieces of his childhood!"
Neville's jaw dropped as Ginny squealed with delight.
"Hey, Neville? Why don't you close the shop for the day and come shopping with me?" Ginny asked. "I know the last thing you'd want to do is hold clothes while I try on outfits, but I'll buy you lunch! It's just…I don't know if Hermione remembers anything, and if she doesn't then this will be like the first time we're meeting and I want to make a good impression."
Neville opened his mouth to answer, but couldn't form the words. True, shopping wasn't his most favorite activity in the world, but to spend the day with Ginny Weasley who was quite possibly the most beautiful witch he had ever seen…
"Neville?" Ginny was waving a hand in front of his glazed-over face.
"What? Oh! Well, how can I say no when you're offering to buy me lunch?"
.X.
Hermione Granger gazed quizzically at the test tubes on the table in front of her. She knew that she was supposed to do something with them, but she couldn't figure out what. She tried to recall her schooling, but when she did, she only thought of weird Latin words such as 'Lumos' and 'Wingardium Leviosa'.
"Hermione, are you alright?" her partner asked, gazing worriedly at the bushy-haired woman. Hermione shook her head and brought her hands to cover her face. What was going on with her? Why was her head hurting so much and why couldn't she remember simple chemistry that she had learned in high school?
"I think you should go home, Hermione," her partner continued. "You've obviously been working yourself too hard lately. Take some time off. As much as you need. I can handle things here."
"I couldn't possibly…"
"Hermione. You're no good to me when you're overworked like this. Take some time off." Her partner smiled and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Relax. See a movie. Shag that new boyfriend of yours. Then when you're feeling like yourself, come back."
Hermione continued to protest but soon found herself heading back to the apartment. She was shocked to find Ron home early, slaving away in the kitchen for his sister's arrival.
"Hey, beautiful," he greeted, giving her a quick hug and kiss on the forehead. "Come home early just for my stupid sister?"
"They sent me home early. Said I was overworked and should take some time off," Hermione paused and smiled slyly. "And shag my boyfriend."
Ron smirked. "Should we tell Ginny to stay the hell away?"
Hermione froze at the name 'Ginny'. In her latest dreams, the younger, red-headed sister of teenaged Ron was named Ginny.
"No, I want to meet her!" Hermione said, turning away from Ron before he could distinguish the scared look on her face at the mention of the name. Ron didn't say anything though Hermione felt him looking at her turned back. "I'm going to…um…take a shower. Can you handle things in the kitchen for awhile?" Hermione asked quickly.
"Yeah. I've got the roast in the crock pot. Most of the vegetables are in there too. I was just making the salad."
"Great. Well, I'll hurry up in the bathroom so you can get in." Hermione's back was still toward Ron. There was an inexplicable tension between them. Hermione was afraid of what was happening and she didn't feel comfortable telling Ron about it, and therefore left Ron confused at her sudden change in demeanor.
"Don't bother. I'm not going to shower just for my sister. We used to play in mud; she's seen me at my messiest," Ron replied, trying to lighten the mood.
Hermione laughed very softly and started heading towards the bathroom only to be stopped by Ron who had strode forward, grabbed her arm, and spun her around before kissing her. The kiss was unlike the other kisses. It wasn't passionate, but frantic--as if Ron was trying to hold on to her for dear life. It seemed like he knew something was going on with her. He just didn't know what.
Hermione broke the kiss and rested her forehead on his chest, her hands grabbing his shirt. The world was spinning dizzyingly around her.
.X.
Ron sighed and ran his hands through his flaming locks. Hermione had finished her shower and was now applying her make-up in the bathroom. She hadn't said a word to him since he kissed her, and he was worried over what was wrong with her. Did she want to break up with him? Move out of the apartment? Could he live without her?
Ron was interrupted in his musings by a knock on the door. He strode across the living room and opened the door, letting Ginny in. The young woman's long hair cascaded down her back in shiny waves, her cheeks were pink from the cold and stood out against her creamy complexion, and her eyes sparkled as she smiled at her brother.
"Hello, Ron," she greeted, hugging him and standing on tip toe to kiss his cheek. Ron, still in thought over Hermione's behavior, returned the hug half-heartedly before closing the door. Ginny was looking at him in a scrutinizing manner when he turned back around.
"What's wrong?" she asked, facing her brother and placing her hands upon her hips.
"Nothing," Ron mumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets. Ginny scowled and looked as if she were going to press the matter, but her eyes quickly shot over Ron's shoulder and widened as she gasped softly. Ron turned and saw Hermione standing at the end of the hall. Her hair was tame in loose curls and she was dressed in a golden, long-sleeved dress.
Hermione also gasped upon seeing Ginny. The older woman's eyes were wide as she brought one hand up to cover her mouth and the other hand supported her by resting against the wall. Confused by the gesture, Ron turned back to Ginny who seemed to have regained control of herself. Her eyes were no longer wide and her mouth was no longer hanging open in shock. Ron did notice, however, that her eyes were glossy with what seemed to be tears.
"You must be the lovely Hermione that my brother keeps telling me about," Ginny greeted, beaming at Hermione and extending her hand.
Hermione brought a trembling hand to shake Ginny's. Ron gazed at his sister and girlfriend quizzically. This introduction wasn't going as he planned.
"Shall we open a bottle of wine?" he asked, breaking the silence (for Hermione continued to stare at Ginny as if she were seeing a ghost).
The trio moved into the dining room and the girls sat down at the table as Ron opened a bottle of wine and poured it into three glasses.
"So…Ginny," Hermione stated at last, seeming to get over her initial shock upon seeing Ron's sister. "Ron tells me that you're a journalist."
"Yes," Ginny replied before hastily adding: "And you're a lab assistant?" Hermione nodded. "That's wonderful," Ginny continued. "My friend, Neville, owns a plant shop and he likes to combine different plant extracts to make lotions and healing remedies."
"Is he the bloke that made me that tea when I had pneumonia last year?" Ron asked, joining the girls at the table with his own rather large glass of wine.
"Yep," Ginny replied, gazing down at her hands.
Ron turned toward Hermione. "The stuff tasted horrible, but I was cured within a few hours. It was a miracle, really. Just like magic."
Both Ginny and Hermione choked on their wine. Ron looked at them oddly before commenting on how they should probably start eating.
.X.
Ginny sighed as she gazed into Hermione's vanity mirror and reapplied her lipstick. After dinner, Ron had excused himself to use the bathroom, taking the latest sporting magazine with him, so Hermione had offered her room for Ginny to freshen up in.
"Excuse me, Ginny. Is Star Wars: Episode Three alright?" Hermione asked, standing in the doorway to her bedroom and gazing at Ginny curiously. Ginny had never heard of Star Wars before and was sure that starting on the third episode would only confuse her.
"Got the first one?" Ginny asked.
"Episode Four? Yeah, we have it. You know, I kind of feel like watching that one too. I'll go put it in."
Ginny blinked as Hermione returned to the living room. Four came before Three? Did Muggles know how to count? Sighing, Ginny shook her head and stood, intending to join Hermione in the living room but stopping short when her eye caught something on Hermione's dresser. It was the picture of Harry that she and Fred had left in their apartment on that fateful night--and it was framed.
Ginny's breath caught in her chest as she came closer to the dresser and picked the picture up, cradling it in her hands. The picture had been taken during her first year. Colin had taken so many pictures of Harry that year that he didn't mind giving a few of them to a love-sick Ginny.
Though Harry's hand was blocking his face in the picture, Ginny could see his scar and piercing green eyes clearly in her mind. How many times had she stared into those eyes? How many times had she rested her forehead against Harry's and felt the three-dimensional abrasion that made him famous?
Tears filled Ginny's eyes and her hands shook so violently that she dropped the picture, sending it crashing to the floor where the glass cracked open.
"Piss it!" Ginny cursed, taking her wand out of her pocket and muttering 'Repairo' under her breath.
"Ahh!"
Ginny turned suddenly to see Hermione, who must have heard the glass breaking, standing in the doorway, her eyes wide and fearful and her hands clasped over her mouth to smother another scream.
"Hermione, I can explain," Ginny said quickly, pocketing her wand and setting the picture back on Hermione's dresser. Ginny took a step closer to her friend, but Hermione frantically backed up into the wall. The gesture hurt Ginny. Her best friend was afraid of her. "Hermione, there's something I need to tell you."
"Don't!" Hermione choked. "I don't want to know. I just want it all to stop!"
"Want what to stop?" Ginny asked, wishing that she could calm her friend down somehow.
"All the weird things that are happening."
"Hermione, listen to me. They're not weird. They're perfectly normal."
"No!"
"Hermione, we're witches."
Ginny had barely finished the sentence when Hermione fainted, her limp body falling onto the floor with a resounding thud.
"What's going on in here?" Ron had rushed into the room, his eyes were flicking from Ginny to Hermione. He crouched down next to his girlfriend and checked for a pulse.
"She just fainted," Ginny informed, crouching next to her brother, tears falling from her eyes.
"Ginny, what happened?" Ron asked through gritted teeth.
Ginny continued to cry. "I can't tell you, Ron. There are so many things that I want to tell you, but I can't! I just can't!" Ginny glanced down at her unconscious friend once more. "Take care of her," she whispered before rushing out of the room and apartment.
Ginny hurriedly pushed the elevator button in the hall, needing to get out of the building and wanting to talk to someone. But who? It would hurt her parents to know how scared and confused Ron and Hermione were. She couldn't go to Bill's, lest his young children overhear the conversation. God only knew what Fred and Angelina were doing. Ginny stepped into the elevator and stood there, pondering. Finally, Ginny Apparated, appearing outside of a small house, smoke issuing from the chimney.
"Ginny?" Neville had opened the door before she had even raised her fist to knock. Ginny immediately hugged Neville, burying her face into his shoulder. "Ginny, what's wrong?"
"I told Hermione that she's a witch," Ginny explained in a whisper.
Neville led her inside and closed the door before pulling back from her embrace and tilting her chin so that she would look at him.
"You what?" he asked softly.
"She saw me use magic!" Ginny explained, taking a step away from Neville and using her hands to emphasize her words. "I don't even know why I brought my wand. Habit, I guess. But she saw me and I couldn't bring myself to make her forget it. Her memory's been through enough." Ginny stopped as her voice cracked and tears streamed down her cheeks once more. "I'm scared, Neville. What if we lose them?"
"We won't," Neville replied firmly.
"But…"
"We won't," Neville repeated. The two stared at one another before Neville finally mentioned something about tea in the kitchen.
"Neville?"
Neville paused from entering the kitchen and turned around. "Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For always being there."
Neville smiled. "Yeah, yeah. Come on now, before the tea gets cold."
End Author's Note: Okay, now I'm gonna babble about the chapter. First, I want to thank Mariah for providing me with the movie they should watch...though they didn't. She actually said 'Return of the Jedi' but I hate ewoks... Now...to the real babbling about the chapter. The little R/Hr scene/dream/memory that we started out with... In my head, Ron and Hermione don't join Harry at the Dursley's right off. Harry would want Hermione to spend at least a few days with her parents seeing as she hardly ever sees them. And Hermione asked Ron to come along because she wanted her parents to really get to know Ron. As for her parents leaving...that was just me getting rid of them. I really don't believe that Mr. and Mrs. Granger would leave Ron and Hermione alone for a weekend (unless R and Hr are married). Why did R/Hr go all the way? Because I'm a frustrated R/Hr shipper who can only vent through fandom. I think Canon!R/Hr will either tease us all throughout Book 7 until they finally hook up at the end...or they'll be like, "OMG, we might die doing this! Let's shag like bunnies!" I've had other things that I wanted to ramble about, but I forgot them. What did you guys think of this chapter?