I will start off by saying how much it bothers me when people don't update their stories frequently enough. And I hate myself for not updating enough. I know it's annoying =\ so for that I sincerely apologize. BUT I hope to make it up to you with this chapter. I have to say, so far, it is my favourite. It may be a little mushy and not a whole lot happens, but for the next while there won't be much time for mushiness.
And I keep forgetting to bring up Pottermore. Merlin. What do you think of it? I hear a lot about how boring it is and this and that, but I think it's really cool that we can find out so much more about the characters! It's a fanfic writers dream, I tell you. Well, my username is CrimsonWatch81 =) I'm in Slytherin!
Ok, read.
:::
"Bloody hell, are you alright?"
Pandora looked up into Ron's deep blue eyes and noticed regretfully just how close he was to her. She could count his every eyelash, feel every exhale of his warm breath, and see every emotion float to the surface in his gaze. He really was terrible at hiding what he was feeling, but Pandora could not explain what she saw. Finally, his attention returned to her hand and she felt as if she could breathe again and she would made a witty remark about her current situation but she suddenly felt very aware of her tongue and her careful intake of air was interrupted when she felt his now cool breath whisper across her hand like silk and she froze. Concern etched his features as he attempted to calm the burn, but he was only making it worse as Pandora was fighting against the fire that streaked through her blood at his touch. His lips were simply too close to her skin and she could not understand why such simple, innocent acts were causing such a range of emotions to erupt within her soul but she couldn't control a damn thing and it was frustrating. Surely, he must have heard her heart rate double in speed once he looked up from what he was doing. Surely, he must have seen past her carefully built walls as he searched her eyes. But she could not look away. His powerful, blue irises glanced down hesitantly and hungrily at her extremely dry mouth and as if suddenly aware of it, she ran her tongue along her lower lip. She was barely aware of him removing one of his long hands from her distantly throbbing one to slowly graze her cheek. His movements were slow, as if he was waiting for her to stop him, but she didn't think she had it in her to move at all. Ron's shy yet determined touch slid down to her neck and his fingers played with a small strand of her hair before he seemed to have made a decision.
Pandora couldn't breathe. She couldn't move. All she could do was just stand there and stare at his lips.
His face moved ever so carefully toward hers and his eyelids closed to hide his piercing gaze. This seemed to break Pandora free of the spell he had on her.
"Hermione..."
Pandora's eyebrows furrowed together at how husky her voice had sounded, but with Ron's face mere centimetres away from hers, it was the most effort she could make in that moment. Ron looked slightly dumbfounded but he did not move from where he was.
"It's...it's 'Ron', actually. Common misconception, really."
Pandora shook her now clearing head looked fiercely into his eyes. "No. Hermione." Ron looked more confused and Pandora became irritated. Did he already forget about that woman? "You're with Hermione."
His eyebrows rose into his hairline. He was busted.
"Wha – I – I'm not with Hermione." He stuttered. Pandora slowly withdrew her hand from his and backed away from his hand curled around her neck. "Pandora, I...what makes you think that?"
She didn't have the time or patience for his silly games. "I heard you, alright?" His eyes shifted back and forth as if trying to remember something. "Honestly Ron, you sounded so bloody sincere when you two were talking. I didn't think you'd forget this damn easily." Ron blanched at her tone, completely taken aback by her words. "You and Hermione were in the kitchen yesterday morning. I heard both of you confess your feelings for each other. Now, I don't disapprove, but I'm quite disgusted that you could forget so soon."
He finally seemed to understand. A small part of her, a part that she ignored, wished he'd keep up with the facade. "Yesterday...but that was – Pandora, we were – "
"I don't want to hear it! But you should leave."
A familiar look spread across his face. She recognized it as stubbornness. "Would you just fucking listen to me?"
Pandora's eyes snapped to him in shock.
"How much of that did you even hear?"
She had never been this intimidated by him before, but she narrowed her eyes. "Enough."
Ron shook his head and took a step back from her. "Obviously not. I was telling her that I don't have feelings for her anymore! We were trying to clear the fucking air because we were clearly losing interest in each other. So, I had to tell her because I'm fall – "
Pandora motioned for him to continue his sentence, but all he said was, "So, I had to tell her. Now, you have all the facts. Make your decision. I've made mine."
She didn't know what to say. She felt so very foolish, assuming something that she knew nothing about and letting her feelings think for her. She hadn't done that in quite a long time. She only wished that her heart would calm down as she tried desperately to ignore the smile that threatened to show itself. Merlin, what was wrong with her? Acting like a lovesick puppy over...
His intense eyes captured her once more.
Damn.
"Well?"
"What is your decision, exactly?"
Ron shook his head in amusement. "No. For once, I think I have you in a vulnerable spot." Pandora's eyes bulged at his bold statement. "Let me know when you've made a decision then."
She stared after him as he departed the kitchen, feeling absolutely speechless. Maybe she had done too good of a job on his confidence. He now possessed more than she could deal with at the moment.
What the bloody hell just happened?
:::
Christmas Eve dinner had turned out to be quite awkward for the raven-haired witch, only because she ended up sitting directly across from that confident, red-headed git. He glanced at her knowingly and shamelessly throughout the feast and she cursed the fact that he was in her direct line of vision. She thanked the heavens above that everyone seated was too busy to notice her flustered blush when she and Ron reached for the bowl of peas at the same time. She felt like a silly little girl now, and she simply despised the feeling but she found it extremely hard to control her body anymore. Pandora was almost disgusted with herself for being so worried about menial things when the entire wizarding world was in such peril and devastation.
Simply to clear her head, Pandora offered to wash the dishes while everyone visited and talked in the living room. She pondered the decision she would make about Ron, but realized she really had no idea what he was talking about. Was she to assume again? Allow her feelings to think for her? No. She had already done that and it only made her look foolish. So she would just wait. Maybe everything would suddenly make sense to her and an answer would conclude in her mind.
Not bloody likely.
The rest of the night was full of laughter and jokes and stories of the past and for a little while, the war was temporarily forgotten. Pandora found out so much more about the large family, like how much larger it actually was, with cousins and aunts and uncles all over the country. She was amazed at how old the lineage was in these bloodlines and became very aware of how little she had known about her grandparents. Tales of each Weasley captured her attention, most of them being told by either Fred or George, and nearly every one of them had her in stitches. Pandora enjoyed the evening spent with a normal family who laughed and loved and enjoyed life. She had even nearly forgotten about what had happened with Ron earlier and simply enjoyed hearing about the time his older brothers had set a fake fire to his hair that couldn't be put out with water and Mrs. Weasley couldn't hide the amusement lining her disapproving expression. Unfortunately, the night had to come to an end and everyone made a drowsy attempt to clamber up to their rooms while Pandora worked on getting her own bed ready. To her dismay, Ron was the last one left.
"Have you made a decision yet?"
Pandora sighed. "Could I get a choice of what to decide on?"
Ron grinned and shook his head. "Come on, Pandora. I know you're not stupid."
She threw her hands up in the air. "Only when it comes to matters such as these, obviously."
He raised an eyebrow. "What matters would those be?" She blanched. "See? I knew that you knew what was going on." He casually headed for the door to the stairs. "You know where to find me."
Pandora remained where she stood for several moments after he left. What...?
:::
Caught somewhere between consciousness and sleep, Pandora groaned and willed her mind to relax for just a few more minutes. The natural instincts of her body took over and she became awake and alert too soon for her liking. Her hands rubbed the sleep from her eyes and she sat up on the couch before deciding she may as well change and get ready for the day. As she tugged on a pair of jeans and shrugged into a navy blue jumper, Pandora contemplated what this Christmas would bring. It had been nearly five years since she had spent one with someone she actually cared about and now there was an entire family, along with two new friends, to spend it with.
It felt odd to her to think that she had friends. The only true friend she had ever had before she came here was her sister. She never met someone else that she could trust and be open with, and now there were three of them. Three people she would trust with her life. And she couldn't explain why. Pandora was pulled out of her thoughts when she came face to face with Ron on her way to the wash room.
He grinned nervously as he stood rather awkwardly in front of her. "Happy Christmas."
"Err...Happy Christmas, Ron."
"What...what are you doing up so early?"
Pandora narrowed her eyes as she realized that his hands remained behind his back and he looked far too suspicious. "What are you hiding?" she retorted.
Ron was not very convincing as he feigned innocence. "Absolutely nothing. Why?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Well, let me see it. Come on."
"Don't be silly, there's nothing to see."
"All right, spin around for me, then." she smirked.
Ron scoffed. "Men do not 'spin'."
"Fine. Then let me see your hands."
He looked as if he were heavily contemplating something before a look of defeat appeared on his face. "Just, umm...back up." Pandora crossed her arms. "Please?"
Pandora sighed and retreated into the living room again before she turned to face Ron. He looked like he was struggling with himself, but he finally withdrew what he had been hiding. It was difficult to spot all the details of it, but its shape was recognizable by the curved body, long neck, and exactly six strings. Her eyes widened and she froze.
"Ron, what did you do?"
The tall ginger carefully made his way over to the guitars new owner, but she backed away fiercely, her eyes never leaving the object in his hand.
"Pandora, you...you told me it relaxes you...makes you happy. I thought- "
"Well, you thought wrong, didn't you?" Pandora's poison green eyes shifted from the instrument in his hand to his worried face.
"Will you please take it? I know you want to. I know it's hard and you don't want to go back to that place in your mind but...I just really want to hear you play it. I know it'll make you feel better."
The battle between her heart and mind began, and the silence stretched on, but Ron did not move or say a word. She sighed. She had shown this man every part of her soul so far. Why stop now? Swallowing a large lump in her throat, Pandora reached out a shaky hand to grasp the neck of the guitar and held it close to her trembling body before she picked delicately at each string in order to properly tune it. She noticed how used it looked, the wood surrounding the sound hole worn down to the original colour. She absolutely loved it and she felt as if she were glowing.
Pandora moved to sit on the couch, Ron right there beside her, staring in fascination as she finished tuning the old Les Paul. A familiar song sprung to her mind and she began idly strumming different chords, occasionally missing a note from lack of practice, but soon a soft sound with a haunting edge emerged from the hollow of the instrument.
"What is this song?" inquired Ron.
"It's a muggle song." Her concentration never lifted. "Probably never heard it."
"I don't care."
Her strumming ceased and she looked up into Ron's eyes to see such intensity in them that she felt as if she couldn't breathe for a moment. His eyes threatened to tear into her soul and a small part of her wanted him to.
"Could you sing it?"
Pandora silently cursed him for looking so bloody curious. "Err...I'm not very good..."
"I don't care."
Her will to resist him was fading away each time she looked at him and finally gave in completely. She was not sure how she could possibly give him any more of herself after this, but she cleared her throat and began strumming the tune once more, her eyes never leaving his as she sang.
"Spend all your time waiting for that second chance,
For the break that will make it okay.
There's always some reason to feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day.
I need some distraction, oh beautiful release.
Memories seep from my veins.
They may be empty and weightless and maybe
I'll find some sleep tonight.
In the arms of an Angel, far away from here,
From this dark, cold hotel room and the endlessness that you fear.
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie.
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here.
So tired of the straight line and everywhere you turn
There're vultures and thieves at your back.
The storm keeps on twisting; you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack.
It don't make no difference, escaping one last time.
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees.
In the arms of an Angel, far away from here,
From this dark, cold hotel room and the endlessness that you fear.
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie.
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here."
The finishing notes of the song hummed through the still and silent air and neither of them spoke for several moments. Pandora could only hope that Ron understood what nearly every single line meant and why it was so important to her. She was unsure as to why she chose this particular song to play, but at the moment it was worth seeing all of the emotions pass over his eyes as she felt them herself; understanding, guilt, anger, sadness, concern all passed between their eyes and seeped into their veins.
She couldn't take the silence any longer. She needed him to talk.
"Ron, where...when...h-how...?"
Silly girl couldn't even talk herself.
Ron chuckled half-heartedly. "I...err...got it in London yesterday morning. Had a few scraps of Muggle money stowed away so, I thought I'd put it to good use."
Pandora shook her head in slight disbelief. "You spent your...Ron, why did you...I know you don't have much." she finished weakly.
Ron shrugged his broad shoulders. "I wouldn't have spent it on anything else."
Pandora gazed sullenly at her home made gifts. "I...have nothing." She sighed and reached for that clean piece of white cardboard, so plain in appearance that she felt uncomfortable clutching onto the smooth guitar. "Just this."
Ron's blue eyes shifted from her green ones to the gift in her hand and he tenderly grasped it. "What is it?"
"Just look."
He braced both hands on both sides of the cardboard and Pandora watched as the emotions danced across his face as he watched a certain happy memory sketch itself across the cover. At first he looked surprised, but soon a warm happiness spread across his eyes and she was instantly mesmerised.
"There`s a card too."
Ron's gaze lifted from the memory and glanced up at her, eyes filled with curiosity. He eyed the simple sheet of parchment in her hand and reached over to hold it in his own. His eyes widened and he glanced over at the Weasley clock hanging on the wall.
"How...blimey Pandora, how the bloody hell did you do that? Not even Dumbledore could figure the thing out..."
"Just...a full day of tampering with magic. It was quite fun, actually. Rather exhausting, but – oof!"
Pandora was thrown back into the cushions of the couch when Ron wrapped his arms about her shoulders and buried his face in her neck and thick hair. Although temporarily stunned, she tenderly snaked her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest, which rumbled in her ear when he spoke.
"Thank you."
She grinned against his soft shirt and tried to remember the last time she had felt so happy.
The small card with nine Weasley's carefully sketched and detailed, each appearing to be in mortal peril, lay beside the clean piece of cardboard, the simple memory of the first time Pandora had ever spoken to him slowly fading from the surface.
:::
"Mum...another one?"
The sound of Ron's exasperated voice caught Pandora's attention and she glanced over in his direction to see him holding up what looked like a hand-knit maroon jumper with the letter 'R' sewn in the front.
"Oh Ronald, you've already grown out of last years."
"Yeah, and I was finally rid of the bloody thing." Ron muttered under his breath. Pandora held back an amused snort.
"AAHG!"
Everyone in the room nearly jumped out of their skin at the sound of Ginny's scream
"FRED! GEORGE! YOU COMPLETE ASSHATS!"
"Oi, why are we always the assumed culprits?"
Pandora peeked over the top of Charlie's head to see a fuming Ginny covered in green slime that appeared to be moving across her skin.
"Because no one else has the audacity to pull a prank on Ginny knowing full well the effects of her Bat-Bogey Hex." countered Hermione. "Scourgify." The slime disappeared from Ginny's pale skin and dark green turtleneck jumper and she shot Hermione a grateful look.
"Fred, George, I thought I told you not to take the Joke Shop home with you?"
"Dear mother, if you really feel that way, then I suggest you not open the small blue one on your left." replied George as he pointed to a small box set innocently on the ground. Mrs. Weasley eyed the gift disapprovingly and instead reached for a lumpy looking package wrapped in ribbon.
"Pandora, dear, this is for you." she said with a warm smile.
Pandora froze and eyed package as if it might blow up at any moment, but she slowly took it from Mrs. Weasley's outstretched hand to avoid being seen as rude. Everyone in the room continued their vague chatter but it seemed quieter than before, more forced, and she suddenly became aware of everyone's eyes as they flickered towards her. She carefully hid her emotions from her face as she slowly unwrapped the gift to reveal a dark maroon coloured, hand-sewn jumper with the letter 'P' carefully stitched on the front. Her mask crumbled and she blinked rapidly against the moisture that threatened to spill from her eyes but she managed to hold everything back as she looked up into Mrs. Weasley's eyes and for a fleeting moment, saw her mother and her intense kindness. Her voice shook as she spoke.
"Th-thank you."
The rest of the morning was spent ripping open the remaining gifts and Pandora watched carefully as everyone received the home made things that she created. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked beside themselves with happiness at the photo album and gave Pandora the oddest look once they noticed the small note with their entire family's faces drawn on it. Fred and George cackled and proceeded to make their tiny figurines fight each other. Ginny grinned and tackled her to the ground as she gawked at the small mirror. Hermione's face lit up as she discovered what the seemingly simple journal could do. Even before Pandora received a few useful prank objects from Fred and George, a small moving picture from Ginny, and several large volumes about complicated magic from Hermione, she felt quite good about the reactions she saw form on everyone's face and had never felt so accepted in a whole family as she did at that moment.
The day continued on like this, with idle chat here and there mixed with the sounds of gifts being used and admired. Everyone ate sweets and drank Butterbeer throughout the entire afternoon and laughed with Pandora as she tried to teach them all Muggle Christmas songs on her new guitar.
"You know, this Rudolf bloke should pair up with dear old Ronniekins. Between his glowing ears and that nose..."
Ron's ears reddened to prove George's point and nearly everyone in the room roared with laughter, including Ron. All at once, Pandora was getting song requests of the strangest sort and heard titles of Christmas tunes that she had never heard of. So she made them up.
"Okay, okay, what was the name of that one you just mentioned, Gin?"
"'Enchanted Snowball.'"
Pandora crinkled her nose. "Really? That sounds so corny...all right then." She put on a very serious face, obviously trying not to laugh as she came up with a tune and lyrics to a song she didn't know.
"What's that over there?
Oh, could it be?
Your Enchanted Snowball coming for me!
What's that yellow spot?
Oh, dear me.
Your Enchanted Snowball in covered in-"
Pandora's last words were drowned out by a sudden burst of laughter from Ginny and she found she could no longer finish the song anyways because her resolve finally cracked as she doubled over from her fit of hysterics.
"No more...no more requests, I just can't do it!" wheezed Pandora. "Okay, this is an odd one. Just follow me." She began a loping sort of tune and began with a smile on her face.
"I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a Hippopotamus will do
No Crocodiles or Rhinoceros'
I only like Hippopotamus'
And Hippopotamus' like me too..."
The song brought her back to the times that she sang it with her sister in their room, laughing so much at the strange lyrics that they rarely finished, and it brought some sort of warmth to her heart to see everyone grinning and laughing along with her.
Mrs. Weasley had outdone herself with the enormous meal she had set out. Pandora had no idea where she got it or how she had to room to make everything, but two monstrous turkeys took up most of the kitchen table while a smaller ham, a mountain of boiled potatoes and yams, a platter full of hot chips and several other large bowls of vegetables had been crammed into the center so the plates and goblets would fit. After stuffing everyone around the table and pulling on various Christmas Crackers, every last witch and wizard dug into the scrumptious meal and the room was filled with groans of approval.
:::
Pandora hadn't moved from her spot in front of the large window since the snow started to blanket the large lawn long after the family had gone to bed. Her arms rested upon her guitar which was slung over her shoulder and her fingers tingled from the numerous songs that she strummed on it, but still she played one last song.
"Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since there's no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
It doesn't show signs of stopping
And I've got some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm
But if you'll really hold me-"
"Why didn't you play that one?"
Pandora nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Ron's voice directly behind her. Amusement glinted in his eyes, along with something else she couldn't quite figure out.
"Oh, it's, um...too cutesy. I was just going for fun, faster songs."
Ron nodded, the unnamed something still in his eyes. "You can finish that one, you know."
Pandora nodded and scrunched up her eyes, trying to remember where she had left off. "Where was I..."
Ron cleared his through and suddenly looked nervous. "When we finally kiss goodnight..."
Pandora grinned. "When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm..."
While she sang the carol softly and slowly, Ron moved closer and closer to her until the only thing between them was her instrument. Her voice lowered to just above a whisper.
"The fire is slowly dying
And my dear, we're still good-bying
But as long as you love me so
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."
Ron smiled slightly, eyes now twinkling with that something that Pandora couldn't explain. "I like that one." he whispered.
Pandora gently cleared her throat. "I like this one." She strummed the guitar and inhaled deeply.
"I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am..."
Ron searched her eyes as if looking for an answer. "Why?"
Feeling her resolve crumble once again under his gaze, Pandora shrugged casually and lifted the guitar and its strap over her head before settling down in front of the sofa. Ron followed suit and leaned back against the couch beside her, not pushing for an answer but refusing to leave without one.
"You should know that you made it exceedingly difficult for me to block you out of my life completely. Trust me, I've tried. For some reason, though, I felt this need to trust you. You seemed loyal. I thought myself a good judge of character and made the mistake of letting you in just a little bit." She recalled the day when she first stepped into the Room of Requirement. "It appears there was no going back after that. You wouldn't let me shut you out. And you...you kept witnessing my weeping." A small smile tugged at the corners of Ron's lips as he heard the exasperation in her voice. "I think I just needed, after all these years...I needed someone to go to."
"Do you regret it?"
Pandora looked straight into his deep, blue eyes then and replied.
"No. Though, if I were to regret anything, it'd be how close I feel to you now. Especially with the situation at Hogwarts..."
She leaned her heavy head against Ron's shoulder as sleep threatened to take over her mind. Ron boldly took her hand in his and intertwined their fingers.
"Nothing is gonna happen to us, got it?" Pandora nodded her head weakly and gave Ron's hand a small squeeze before falling into a deep sleep.
:::
The bright sun streaked through the curtains of the Burrow, and Pandora squinted against the light. Her neck felt cramped, her back ached and her bottom was numb. Her heart clenched almost painfully in her chest as she noticed her hand wound around Ron's and the previous night flooded her memory. Her head, which had rested against his shoulder mere hours before, had drooped to his chest and his chin was resting protectively on top of her head. Then, she game to a sudden conclusion about the night: she had no nightmares. In fact, she had had no dreams that she could remember whatsoever.
That hadn't happened in nearly ten years.
She subconsciously rubbed her thumb along the back of his hand and simultaneously heard his heartbeat quicken beneath his chest. Pandora peeked up from where her head lay to see his face and blinked in surprise when she saw he was awake.
"Morning." said Ron with a sleepy grin.
Pandora flashed a warm smile. "Morning."
Ron looked as if he were thinking heavily about something while his eyes flickered around her face. As if he reached a decision, he ever so slowly leaned forward and pressed his lips against her forehead. Pandora felt her own heart rate double at the feel of his lips on her skin. What was wrong with her? Such a simple and innocent gesture should not create such a reaction, but it did. She stilled as he spoke, his lips still lingering over her face.
"Did you have a good sleep?"
His voice was deep. Deeper than usual. It rippled over her skin like silk.
"Yes." She struggled slightly using her tongue to speak. "Did you?"
His lips trailed a hot path just above her nose as he nodded. "I did." he breathed.
Pandora was about to say something when a high pitched voice interrupted her thoughts. The last voice she wished to hear during this very moment.
"Oh! Ronald, what are you doing down here?"
:::
Yes. I've finished. I wrote this chapter in spurts. Creative spurts. Whew. On to next chapter! Hope you enjoyed it =) I know there were a lot of songs and singing and stuff of the like in this one, but there is a guitar involved and it IS an outlet for Pandora. Don't worry, it won't turn into t a songfic =P This wasn't meant to be a huge cliffy, btw, it may be obvious who interrupted their little "moment". Speaking of which, did I get enough Ron/Pandora moments in there for ya? =D Let me know if you like it, I LOVE reviews! ...but I refuse to DEMAND them.
Just saying.