A.N. Sorry about the wait, my computer got a virus, and so did I. Here's a nice long chapter to make up for it. I'll stop making excuses now, and get on with the story.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Why do we have to write these? They just depress me. Cheer me up with a nice review.
Ron stomped through corridors of cold stone, not knowing nor particularly caring where he was going. It was at least quarter of an hour before he realised he was hopelessly lost. He was lost, alone, and in Slytherin territory, in a muggleborn girl's body. Not good. He began to wander in a vague direction, hoping it might inexplicably turn out to be a shortcut to Gryffindor tower.
'Jeese, can't Weasley even keep his mudblood on a lead for half an hour?' a snide voice asked incredulously. Ron glared at Malfoy, reminding himself what Hermione had said about not wanting to go back to a beaten-up body. 'I'm not his, Malfoy, and I'm not a sodding mudblood. I'm mine, and 'my' parents are of no concern to you' he said stiffly. Malfoy leered unpleasantly, raising his eyebrow suggestively.
'You ARE a mudblood; you have to belong to a proper wizard. If you don't want that excuse for a pureblood as your owner, I'm sure there's more than enough Slytherins willing to give you a go. Hey, if you're not busy now, there's a broom closet around here somewhere…' Malfoy began to pace towards Ron, who slapped him, his face white.
'You'll regret that, Granger. Your parents may be no concern of mine, but they are of my father's!' he called as he stalked away into the gloom, clutching his hand-printed cheek. Ron ran like buggery until he reached the comfort and safety of the well-lit common room.
Hermione was there, waiting for him on one of the squashy chairs and scowling. 'Ronald Weasley, you have NO right to run off like that! I can be friends with whomsoever I choose, guy OR girl.' Hermione was obviously easing herself into a huge rant. She stopped short, however, when she noticed Ron's expression.
'What happened?' she asked, going over to him, all thoughts of their fight forgotten in the face of his distress. Ron looked sickened 'Malfoy. Cornered me in the dungeons. Called me a mudblood. Said…oh, 'Mione, he said you belonged to me because muggle-borns have to have a pureblood 'owner''. Ron was close to tears.
Hermione looked disgusted, but said 'I've heard him say worse. That's quite old; he's said I was yours since fourth year or so. He's never had the guts to say it when you were with me, though.' Ron was horrified 'Why didn't you tell me?'. Hermione sighed. 'Because I knew you'd just hit him, he'd get angry and make up worse. Besides, if I'm going to belong to any pureblood, I'm glad it's you'.
Ron blushed, and Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth. Before either of them could say anything, Harry clambered through the portrait hole looking confused. 'Why aren't you two at lunch? Ron never misses meals!'. Ron seized the opportunity. 'Yeah, uh, Ron, let's go to lunch, I'm starving'. Without waiting for a reply, he dragged Hermione by the hand out of the portrait hole.
He didn't, however, head towards the Great Hall. Hermione looked at him questioningly, and he noticed. 'I thought Gin might still be collecting bets. You wouldn't like that.' Hermione was touched he was so thoughtful, but nervous. She had no idea where they were going, and Ron was being oddly quiet. She didn't recognise the expression on his face.
After a few minutes they reached a familiar painting of a bowl of fruit. Still silently, Ron reached up to tickle the pear, and let them in. The kitchen was warm and busy, with house-elves bustling around their feet. Almost instantaneously roughly a dozen of the little creatures had bobbed forwards, ushering the 'couple' towards a small table in a secluded corner of the kitchen. Hermione scowled.
Ron caught on by the towel before it could scurry away, and gently asked her to bring them a selection from lunch, and as he was craving it, chocolate. Hermione smiled reluctantly at that. She smiled even more when Ron insisted on tipping every elf that served them. Most just sighed, and gave the money to Dobby, who looked ecstatic, and Ron grinned knowingly at Hermione.
Hermione really didn't know what to say. Ron was being so weird; he was calm, considerate, polite and conscientious. It was beginning to freak her out. 'Ron, why are you acting so oddly?' she asked nervously. She could handle Shouting Ron, Jealous Ron, Prat Ron and melted at Cute Ron, but Silent Ron scared her a little. She wasn't scared OF him, obviously, but she was getting scared FOR him.
'I'm not, 'Mione. I'm just so furious I'm not shouting. I'm planning ways to break Malfoy's neck for what he said about you. And possibly this Sam guy's. He sounds bad news' Hermione sighed in relief. So that was it! All she had to do was get his mind off it and he'd go back to normal. He was just being Ultra-Protective Ron.
'We've got a joint double free after lunch, you know' she informed him. Ron grunted through a mouthful of Dairy Milk. 'Guess what you're going to do, you lucky boy?'. Ron stared at her, his cheeks bulging with chocolate and his eyes wide open in hope. 'You're going to not give us away tonight and get me tortured by Malfoy' Ron's face coloured at the sound of his name, and clenched his fists so hard his fingernails dug painfully into his palms. 'So we're going to have a very nice 'getting to know you' session. Harry's got detention with Filch, so we should have the common room to ourselves'.
Ron swallowed his mouthful, and looked rather offended. 'I've known you for years, 'Mione. I know you'. Hermione sighed. 'I know you know the important stuff, like how we would have had another row if you hadn't paid those house-elves, but I doubt that's the kind of questions that will be asked tonight. We're going to tell all the stuff we wouldn't normally tell each other. Such as first kisses, most embarrassing moments, secret desires and wishes. You know, the stuff they always ask at truth or dare games'. Ron still looked hesitant.
'Do they?' he asked nervously. Hermione sighed. 'You've never been to a sleepover before, have you?'. Ron replied defensively 'Well, I've been in the Burrow when Ginny was having them. Guys just don't do that. It's a girl thing'. Hermione smirked. 'Well, I'll just have to teach you, won't I? Come on, we're going back to the common room'
Hermione led a very wary Ron back up to Gryffindor tower. They settled comfortably onto a squashy couch in front of the fire, shifting a couple of second years who were bunking off. Ron had to push Hermione back onto the couch as she stood up furiously to tell off the little lads. 'Come on, 'Mione' he said soothingly 'We did that a few times at their age. Remember when we had to so you could make the polyjuice potion?' he sniggered. Hermione looked crossly. 'Well, that was for a very good reason. If we hadn't, Riddle might have murdered every muggleborn in the school! They were just skiving'.
Ron's expression darkened. 'We're already in that damn position again. Just this time it's ferret boy, not snake nose. That's why we're got to learn everything about each other right now. Come on, Mione, teach me!'. Hermione sighed. 'I suppose you're right. Ok, you can't react badly to anything I'm about to say, ok? It's the unvarnished truth, and you'll probably not want to even know me anymore, but please don't judge me, alright?' Ron nodded apprehensively.
'My first kiss was…Victor, alright?' she said, avoiding his gaze. Ron gripped the cushion he was sitting on until his knuckles turned white, but said tensely 'Carry on'. Hermione glanced cautiously at his expression, gulped, and continued 'The furthest I've been with a guy is snogging, it only lasted a few seconds, and wasn't very pleasant'. Ron cheered up slightly.
'I don't have a crush on anyone'. Well, that WAS technically true, Hermione thought. Whatever she felt about Ron ran much deeper than a simple crush. Ron's face, however, fell miserably. 'The guy I think is hottest in our year is, um, Malfoy' she lied, blushing. Ron's eyebrows shot up. 'The guy who is threatening to murder your whole family and torture you because you're not pureblooded?' he asked, astonished and bitter. Hermione couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes, and just murmured 'Your turn'.
Ron scowled, and said, slightly spitefully through jealousy 'You saw my first kiss. It wasn't bad. I got under her shirt, but with a slut like Lavender it wasn't hard. The most gorgeous girl in our year is, uh' he thought quickly you, 'Mione, but said 'Probably Padma and Parvati. I mean come on, twins!' he attempted a roguish smirk. 'I guess if I like anyone as a crush, you know, physical attraction it would be' YOU! His mind screamed 'Lavender. I hate her, but have you seen her?' he asked cruelly, winking at Hermione.
Hermione sniffed hard. 'I'm sure you can make up the rest. I have a few letters to send.' She curled her lips up in a humourless smile. 'I'm sure Sam will want to know that I'm coming to see him, uh, sorry, my parents for New Years eve.' Ron's face turned rage red. Hermione just stalked out of the common room and up to his dorm to borrow Pig, her expression daring him to follow her.
Ron sank dejectedly into the couch, his head in is hands. He knew he had hurt Hermione because he was jealous. Why was he such an idiot? Why couldn't he just admit his feelings? Oh yeah, because she'd laugh, reject him, break his heart and leave him her friend, having to watch while other guys took the thing that mattered most to him in the world from in front of his eyes.
His unhappy musings were interrupted by Ginny plonking herself down next to him. 'Where's Ron?' she asked, looking curiously around for 'her brother'. 'He went to send a letter to someone. I think we had a fight' he sighed. 'You think?' she asked, amused 'So there's no need to put up warning signs around the common room?'. Ron just continued to stare moodily into the fire. 'Blimey, Herm, you're being awfully serious. While you're being like this, can I ask your advice on something' Ginny asked, twisting her hands nervously.
'Sure' replied Ron listlessly. 'Can I come to the party tonight? I know it's only sixth years, but I really want to go, and Harry's going, so please?' Ron smiled. He was expecting something serious. 'Of course, Gin. Just be back here in your pyjamas at nine. I'll get 'Ron' to have a word with Lavender'. Ginny laughed. 'I don't want to go that badly, to have you risk him going near that ho! I'll just come, and threaten her with a bat bogey if she tries to get me to leave. See you tonight!' she wandered up to her own dorm.
The time flew by. Ron never even looked up from the fire, and didn't move from his spot on the sofa. At half seven, Harry shoved him off to have some dinner, and was ignored by Hermione while he ate. Harry tried to break the tension, but they both shut him up with frosty glares. Harry eventually gave up, and wandered off to find Ginny, leaving the quarrelling 'couple' alone together.
When he had left the great hall, Hermione leaned forwards and whispered 'Finish that mouthful, you're coming with me' Ron gulped and followed her out, up to her still empty dorm.
Has Hermione forgiven him? Will Ron say anything else stupid? Will Lavender avoid Ginny's bat bogey hex? Will you review?