Chapter Ten – WAITING FOR GINNY
The following week passed without much incident. Ron and Hermione were barely talking to one another, which made Harry wonder what exactly had happened between them after the big game. Ron consumed himself with school work which was almost as disturbing as the amount of time Hermione spent avoiding classes and assignments. Not knowing where else to turn, Harry arranged to have lunch with Declan on Wednesday, hoping he could provide an insight into why Hermione was acting the way she was.
"I have no idea, Harry. Could have something to do with the fact she's totally in love with him. As for him, could have something to do with the fact that he's totally in love with her. Other than that, I have no idea what could possibly be up with either of them." Declan said, smiling.
"Yeah, well, WE know that, but do you think they do?" Harry asked, relieved in some part that he wasn't the only one thinking what he was about Ron and Hermione.
"She has no idea, that much I know," Declan replied, "You know him better than I do, but I'd imagine he's not so sure of it, either."
"Think we should tell them?" Harry suggested.
"I've tried telling her that she loves him. Tried telling her he loves her, too. But she won't believe it. I think she's waiting of some sign or something. Don't know exactly what she's expecting, though." Declan admitted to Harry.
"Perhaps the ball ..." Harry thought out loud.
"Do you think he'll still go?" Declan asked.
"I'll guarantee it." Harry replied.
"Good, because the minute he sees her in that dress, he'll give her all the sign that she needs." Declan said, decisively.
"That good, huh?" Harry laughed.
"It made two gay men question their sexuality, so yeah, I would say it was that good." Declan said, raising an eyebrow.
"So, I'll get him there ..." Harry began.
"And I'll make sure we arrive fashionably late, so that her entrance is something that he can't ignore. And then you and I sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labours." Declan continued with a wink. "That Ginny of yours still coming? Hermione's been talking about it for ages."
"Yeah, she'll be here." Harry said, blushing.
"She's not likely to give the game away, is she?" Declan said, suddenly concerned.
"Not at all. Next to you, she's my number one ally in the fight for Ron and Hermione. Mate, we can count Ginny as one of our co-conspirators." Harry said, smiling.
"Good." Declan replied.
"You know he thinks you're her boyfriend, don't you?" Harry said, needing to clarify the situation.
"He thinks what?" Declan asked, both shocked and stunned at the same time.
"Yep. Her boyfriend" Harry reiterated.
"Does he have any idea how ridiculous that is? Are you honestly telling me he has no idea that I'm ..." Declan began before being cut off by Harry.
"None whatsoever" Harry replied.
"It'd be funny if it wasn't sad." Declan thought aloud. "And you haven't told him?"
"And spoil the fun of watching him squirm every time the two of you are anywhere near him?" Harry said, smiling.
"And what about Hermione? Hasn't she said anything?" Declan asked.
"I'm not entirely sure that she knows that he doesn't know." Harry confirmed. "I think she just expects everyone knows."
"It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" Declan asked once again.
"I thought so. But Ron is ... well, he's Ron." Harry said, hoping that would be enough.
"I see" Declan replied, laughing to himself about the situation. "She's coming to dinner with my brother and me tonight, so I'll do some 'fishing' then. Can I rely on you to do the same?" he asked.
"Absolutely." Harry replied, smiling.
Walking into the apartment that evening, Harry felt a little more at ease. He was certain that he was on the right page of the epic RON AND HERMIONE story. Feeling reassured that he and Declan had come up with a plan to finally sort things out between their two friends, Harry now focussed on the impending arrival of Ginny the following day. He dropped his keys on the hall stand and walked into the lounge room where he saw Ron struggling with a muggle vacuum cleaner.
"Ron, what are you doing?" He asked, amused.
"Mum and Dad are coming to drop Ginny off tomorrow, and I don't want them thinking we live in a hovel." Ron replied, looking quite frantic.
"You know, Hermione could do this in a minute. Why don't you just ask her to help?" Harry suggested.
"Well, I would, but she's off having dinner with Declan and his brother, isn't she?" Ron snapped back in response.
"That's tonight?" Harry asked, trying not to let Ron know that he already knew about the dinner date.
"Perfect timing, huh?" Ron said, his frustration growing.
Harry insisted on taking over vacuuming duties while Ron went to clean the kitchen. Walking into the kitchen, Ron noticed that it was spotless. His eyes gazed over the room and saw a note taped to the refrigerator door. It read:
Dear Harry & Ron,
As you can see I've cleaned the kitchen in preparation for Ginny's impending arrival. Please don't make a mess. I've left some money on the table so you can order pizza or something. If you two could take care of your rooms, I'll do the rest when I get home. I've also done the bathrooms, so please be careful when you're showering. I know neither of you will have thought of it, so I did some shopping so we can give Mr & Mrs Weasley some afternoon tea when they arrive, so don't even THINK about touching ANYTHING in this refrigerator. Oh, and I took it upon myself to do your laundry as well. You'll notice its all hanging up in your wardrobes. I left your underwear, though. That's entirely your domain. Other than that, enjoy your evening, and for Merlin's sake, please don't make a mess.
Hermione.
Ron took the note and walked back into the lounge where Harry was finishing the vacuuming. He handed the note over, not sure what to make of it. Harry read it and said "She did our laundry?"
"Apparently so" Ron replied.
"And left us money to get dinner so we wouldn't make a mess?" Harry asked.
"So it seems" Ron answered.
Harry picked up the phone and ordered pizza, just like Hermione had suggested, as Ron went upstairs to take a shower. Walking into his room was like walking into another dimension. It had been quite a while since he had seen the floor in his room, and Ron had to admit that even though he still had loads of work to do, his room already looked a million times better than it had when he left home that morning. Opening his wardrobe, Ron noticed his clothes hanging up in his wardrobe, washed and ironed. "Hermione" Ron said quietly as he flipped through his clothes, wondering what to wear the next day. He began to wonder just how he would survive without Hermione. Ron admitted that he had begun to take Hermione a little for granted. After grabbing a clean outfit from his wardrobe, and a fresh towel from the linen closet, Ron headed towards the bath room.
The following morning Ron woke early, and headed downstairs where, sure enough, Hermione was up early and had prepared breakfast. "Mione? Do you ever sleep?" Ron asked, leaning in the doorway.
"Of course I do" Hermione replied sipping her coffee. "But I was up early and so I thought I'd make some breakfast quickly, before I headed off to class. I have some catch up work to do in the library before your parents get here with Ginny this afternoon, so I might not be back much before they get here, so I thought I'd clean up quickly before I left. What are your plans for today?" She asked.
"Me? Um ..." Ron thought, "class first, but then nothing much. Something I can do for you before mum & dad get here?"
'Oh Ron, you're an angel." Hermione replied, helping herself to another bowl of fruit, "If you could manage to just give the kitchen a once over after you and Harry are done, that would be wonderful. And if you could take the rubbish out, it'd be a big help."
"Once over the kitchen and take the rubbish out; done" Ron replied, letting Hermione know he had it under control.
"Thank you so much, Ron." Hermione replied.
"Hey, it should be me thanking you. You've been amazing, Mione. Really, I mean that. Without you, I don't know how Harry and I would cope. Thanks for cleaning the house, doing our laundry, buying afternoon tea ... thanks for everything." Ron said, honestly.
"It's my job" Hermione replied smiling.
"Oh, hey, how did dinner with Declan and his brother, what's his name ... ... Liam go?" Ron asked, curious as to how Hermione got along with Declan's family.
"Oh, that? Alright I guess" Hermione replied quietly.
"Only alright?" Ron questioned her.
"Well ... ... ..." Hermione began hesitantly, before continuing with more conviction, "they're so different ... I mean, I adore Dec, but I didn't like the person he became when he was around Liam. It was like Liam had the power to bring out everything negative in Dec. And the same was true the other way around. Liam ... well, I didn't get the best first impression. I'm not one to say this lightly, but I hope I never have to see him again."
The rest of breakfast passed without further incident. Ron relished the chance to spend time with Hermione that didn't result in an argument. They had been treading on eggshells since the night after the game; the night when he had almost said what he had been thinking for so long.
Hermione returned home after class that afternoon. She decided not to go to the library after all, Declan having promised to give her all his notes. Walking in the door, Hermione was greeted by the most unusual sight she had ever encountered. Ron stood in the kitchen wearing a pair of pink dish gloves and a frilly apron that Molly had left them when they first moved in, busily washing the breakfast dishes. Hermione cleared her throat loudly and Ron turned around abruptly.
"Mione!," he said in a voice that reminded her of when his voice was breaking before clearing his own throat and continuing, "I didn't expect you home so early."
"I decided against going to the library. Dec was a love and said he'd give me his notes so I could come home and make sure everything was ok here ... but I see you've got things under control here." Hermione replied, smiling.
"Yeah, I can manage things here" Ron answered, blushing, "Oh, mind not telling Harry about... you know..."
"I saw nothing" she answered reassuringly, and Ron smiled. "I'm just going to run upstairs and take a shower and get dressed. Then I'll come down and get afternoon tea ready. You sure you're right with everything?"
Ron responded by nodding his head, and Hermione left the kitchen, headed for the stairs. She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the image of Ron in that apron and gloves, and an inexplicable smile crept over her face. He really is quite adorable Hermione thought to herself as she closed the bathroom door behind her.
The bathroom smelt like Ron. From the scent of his shampoo to the now familiar fragrance of his cologne, Hermione was surrounded by Ron's smell. She showered longer than she usually did, allowing herself to relax under the pulsating jets. It was soothing, comforting even, and Hermione allowed herself to switch her mind and unwind. The constant strain to be a perfect student was beginning to take its toll on her, and she was agitated and tired more often than she cared to admit.
After a healthy amount of time had passed, and her cares sufficiently down the drain, Hermione switched off the water, and stepped out of the shower. She began drying herself off when she realised that she had failed to bring a change of clothing into the bathroom with her. "Merlin's Beard, I'm an idiot" Hermione muttered to herself before wrapping a now wet towel around herself, and opening the bathroom door.
In the corridor, Hermione ran into Ron who, satisfied with the state of the kitchen, had come upstairs to get changed.
"Mione!" Ron exclaimed, stunned.
"Ron! I ... ah ... that is, I ..." Hermione was flabbergasted.
"I was just going to get dressed" Ron spoke in starts.
"I forgot to take clothes into the bathroom." Hermione said a little too quickly.
"I'd better let you go, then." Ron replied before racing down the hall into his bedroom.
Once safely within the confines of his own room, Ron drew breath, something that had become increasingly difficult after his encounter with a near naked Hermione in the hall way. Of all the times he could have bumped into her, that moment was possibly the least appropriate. He slumped on his bed, wondering why he was so shaken. After a while, Ron stood up from his bed, straightened the covers, and headed to his wardrobe to select an outfit for Ginny's arrival.
Standing, staring at the wardrobe, Ron almost didn't hear the knock at his door.
"Ron?" a familiar voice came from behind the closed door.
"Come in, Harry" Ron called out, and the door opened, revealing Harry who had just arrived home from getting his hair cut.
"You're not ready yet?" Harry asked.
"Just deciding what to wear." Ron replied.
"Ok," Harry responded, "I'll head downstairs and wait there. Hermione home yet?"
Hermione Ron thought. "Yeah, mate, she's getting ready, too. You seem nervous" Ron said, smiling at his friend.
"A little. I mean it has been a while since I've spent some decent time with Ginny. What if she doesn't ... you know ... I mean, what if it's been too long" Harry replied, mellifluously.
"Harry, mate, this is Ginny we're talking about, right? The girl who has loved you since she was 10? It'll be fine, I promise." Ron answered.
Harry, satisfied with the outcome of his conversation with Ron, left the room and headed downstairs to wait what would seem like an eternity for the arrival of Ginny Weasley.
Hermione stood with her back pressed to the back of her door for Merlin knows how long. She felt listless and dazed, but willing herself into action, forced herself from the door, and in the direction of her wardrobe. Standing in front of it, she quickly selected the red wrap around dress she had worn to Fred & George's birthday party that year, and dressed quickly before applying a tiny bit of make-up, and tying her hair back into a low, loose pony tail. Having looked in the mirror, a satisfied Hermione left her room and headed downstairs to wait for Ginny.
In his room, Ron selected a pair of beige cargo pants that Hermione had picked for him on -their 'pre-university' shopping trip, and threw on his Hogford Quidditch long sleeve polo and his good pair of addidas trainers. He looked in the mirror and, deciding that even his mother wouldn't find fault in his appearance, headed down to the lounge room to join Harry in the wait for Ginny.