Sorry this update took so long. I was pretty sick for a while, I even took off work for a week, it was ridiculous. But I'm finally sort of back to normal. I did update my other story, George Weasley's Breaking Tradition, if you have been at all following that at all. Also, thanks so much for the reviews. They were really insightful this time around and I appreciate the constructive criticism, it really helps me improve on my writing and story line. There is a response to reviews at the end of the chapter.
I really hope I can make it up to readers of this story by giving two chapters quickly instead of just one, so expect another one soon. Also, sorry no memory watching yet, I guess I lied at the end of my previous chapter. Though I must say this one was fun to write.
Special thanks to ObsessedRHShipper for acting as beta for this chapter and to SilverDoe23 and sugarfree25 for helping me to find her assistance. If they weren't so helpful this chapter would probably still be sitting in my computer. Also, I'm in search of a permanent beta if anyone has recommendations.
Twelve Fail-Safe Ways
The next Saturday, Hermione sat in the stands of the Quidditch pitch watching the end of tryouts. Ron was in! He was Gryffindor's keeper! Hermione was so happy; she let joy overtake her and hugged him tightly. Once she realized what she had done, she became embarrassed and moved quickly to hug Harry, pretending these were all best friend hugs.
Ron was in the best of moods as he ate his lunch. He worked on making Hermione promise to leave the library and join them later. After a bit of insistent talk, and with Harry's help, he convinced her. So that night, Hermione sat with them on the floor of their dormitory. Since the beginning of school, they had not been able to enjoy time together simply without any planning or training, so this felt like bliss. The trio engaged in a game of exploding snap and then chess. Harry and Hermione played the first chess match under the 'winner plays Ron' philosophy; they really hoped that whoever won got enough of a warm-up to be good competition for the redhead. That plan was failing miserably and Ron was on his first check of the night when Seamus animatedly walked in.
"Harry! Ron! Come to the common room! Your brothers are burning their 'how to' books and there's firewhisky!" announced the Irishman excitedly until his eyes landed on Hermione, who gave him a disapproving look.
"For goodness sake! It's not enough that they use first years for their senseless tests, but now they are burning books!" said Hermione frustrated as they left the boys' room.
"Hermione, they are in the common room and not missing curfew. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal, Ronald, is that we're prefects! We're supposed to set an example and enforce the rules! Allowing firewhisky to be given to everyone, especially first-years, does not set a good example!" she declared as they went down the stairs.
"They might not even be doing anything, you know," murmured Ron close to her ear.
He regretted his words as soon as they got downstairs and saw the red glow of the flames and the crowd surrounding the fireplace.
"They are burning books!" she said exasperated.
"Let's get closer and see," suggested Harry.
"See what? We know what they're doing," said Hermione.
"See if they are really burning books or something else," Harry added finally excited to have something to take his mind off his family, the Black Hand, and Lucius Malfoy.
"Yeah!" said Ron while Hermione looked at him angrily.
"And if they are giving firewhisky to first years, you can take points and give all the detentions you want," assured Ron.
"Of course,I would have to take house points and give detentions! No other prefect here would back me up, right?"
"Fine! I'll take the points away!" answered Ron exasperatedly.
"Right, I can't wait to see it!" she said coming closer to him in defiance.
"Great! I can't wait to do it!" he answered as his ears went red from having her so close. She really did know how to drive him mad.
"Some things never change," Harry murmured to himself as they made their way through the crowd of YPS members and left behind his two best friends in one of their usual rows.
Harry now paid attention to George as he moved about the room with a tray of biscuits.
"Try a biscuit, Neville?" asked George.
"These don't have any of that cream from last year?" asked Neville hesitantly.
"No cream at all. Ella made them for me; they're chocolate-covered and delicious!" assured George. Neville took a biscuit and happily put it in his mouth. Within seconds, he grew long ears, big teeth, yellow fur and a round, white cotton-tail. The entire room burst into laughter.
"Did I tell you my girlfriend likes to help me with spells?" said George with pure mirth.
A soft grunt was heard coming from the yellow bunny.
"My bad, Nev! Bunny Biscuits! Each turns you into a bunny of a different colour! Ten sickles for a large pack! Five for a small one!" George announced joyously as he summoned his WWW case. Neville lost the fur and regained his normal shape within minutes and joined in the laughter, even buying a small pack.
Ron and Hermione approached the fireplace and heard Fred pleading, "So will you go with me?"
"No," answered Angelina Johnson.
"If I promise..."
"No."
"If I burn the books..."
"I said no," she answered before moving to sit on one of the couches next to Katie Bell.
"Your chances might improve if you burn them," Alicia added before joining Angie and Katie by the couches.
"Well then… for Angie and this year's Masquerade!" said Fred before throwing a book with a blue cover and bright red letters into the fire. He continued throwing books in there while Ron and Hermione caught titles. George stopped his sales pitch to save a couple while murmuring "Ella likes these." Harry also began to pay attention to the books. The trio caught that the two books that were saved were "Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches" and "Pleasing a Dream Witch". Some of the ones in flames were, "A Practical Guide for Single Wizards," "Proven Lines for Witch Enchantment," "Witches and Twenty Tips to Tempt Them," and "How to Finish the Fun Without Receiving a Hex."
The burning of the books was quite the event, but at the sight of Hermione, the firewhisky turned into a limited substance only for students of age. 'They are just taking advantage that the sixth year prefects are out on patrol and the seventh years really don't care anymore,' she thought with annoyance. She still kept a close eye on the clock to make sure first and second year students went to bed at a decent time, but the party atmosphere had died down once the burning was done. Many of the boys teased Fred about his regrettable loss and several girls tried to suss out why Angelina kept saying no.
"So, how about now?" Fred pleaded.
"You are incorrigible!" answered Angie before stepping out through the portrait hole.
Fred began to follow her, but George grabbed his shoulder and said, "Let me. It's my fault after all."
"Forge!" Fred said clearly in protest.
"Let me try. It might be easier since she's never been hacked off at me, but she probably will be,"
"Alright."
George left the common room behind Angelina and gave the WWW case to Fred who took over selling the last packs of Bunny Biscuits. Ron, Harry and Hermione sat on one of the large couches close to Ginny, Dean, Neville and Seamus.
"So have you asked anyone to the Masquerade?" asked Seamus looking at the boys.
"We have to ask?" questioned Ron.
"Of course you have to ask!" said Ginny. "Remember the million times mum told us how dad asked her fifth year and then every year after."
"Oh yeah," answered Ron as if he had just remembered something from a lifetime ago.
"Oi, honestly!" exclaimed Ginny before she pulled Hermione away to go talk to Katie and Alicia.
"So, have you asked someone?" asked Ron looking towards Seamus and Dean.
"Yeah, I'm going with Lavender," answered Seamus.
"And I'm going with Parvati. I could ask her if her sister would go with you," offered Dean.
"Padma?" said Ron.
"Yeah."
Ron stayed quiet for a second thinking that this was his chance. 'I could ask Hermione and take her to the ball and…'
"Ron?" asked Harry as he looked at his dazed friend, "Padma, Ron. Do you want Dean to ask about going with her?"
Ron finally broke from his thoughts and answered, "No! I'll ask someone!"
"Right," said Dean.
"Dean... maybe, umm... you, you could ask for me," added Neville nervously.
"Really?" said Dean.
"Yeah, she's pretty and a fifth year, so yeah, ask for me," said Neville still a bit unsure.
"Excellent!" answered Dean.
"And now that Granger's gone," said Seamus mischievously as he pulled a small bottle of firewhisky from under the cushions.
"Don't drink that out here!" whispered Ron strongly.
"Oh come on!"
"No Finnegan! Or even I will have to give you detention!"
"Bloody hell! Let's go!" said Seamus. Dean followed him and they made their way towards Lavender and Parvati.
Two hours later, after a few butter beers, games of exploding snap and loads of laughter from seeing multicoloured bunnies, they all headed to bed.
The next couple of days, all that girls seemed to be talking about was the Masquerade Ball. Even at the prefect meeting Ron had to hear about how their first Hogsmeade trip was on Sunday, so all the shops could be reserved that day for the students to buy any last-minute accessories for the special night.
"It's not as if this is new. The first Hogsmeade trip is always on Sunday because the townspeople want to stay away from the shopping for the ball," he had told Hermione during one of their patrols.
"I know, but everyone's excited," she had answered and smiled at him. He thought about asking her then, but couldn't muster the nerve.
Then the expected October 1st Hogsmeade trip came. Everyone was supposed to head to the village and Ron and Hermione were doing one last patrol of the hallways checking for stragglers. They were chatting amiable and Ron was about to ask her about the ball, but that possibility ended when Hermione heard voices coming from a hallway around the corner.
"It's definitely an area no one should be around," she said.
"Hermione, take it easy. Let's just quietly check if it's not teachers ," Ron pleaded. He really hoped to be able to keep talking to her and enjoying the day instead of having to give detentions, which usually ended up in an argument with Hermione.
"Alright, I'll be quiet, but if students are breaking the rules..."
"I'll personally take points," he assured.
They turned a corner and could now hear the rule breakers.
"We win, but we could wait longer if you want… anything you need," said a male voice.
"If I said I wanted it now... what would you do to me Fun Man?"
"Don't ask things like that unless you mean it."
"But I want an answer."
"Alright... I would... kiss you loads first. Just like this," he said.
Ron and Hermione could now hear pleasurable moans. Hermione's mouth opened like a fish out of water and Ron's face went completely crimson.
"Then I would work on taking those robes of you slowly and then your bra. I'd lick and suck your tits until your begged for more. Then I'd rip your nickers off, take my clothes off and go down on you. I'd lick you slowly and fuck you with my fingers and tongue until you come undone. Then I'd make love to you again and again… me on top, you on top, on the bed, on the floor, on the dresser… we'd fuck until we can't move. We'd fall sleep exhausted and when we woke up, we'd do it all over again," he said huskily.
"Merlin!" she exclaimed.
Then they heard bodies slamming against the wall, more moans and then silence.
"What is it?"
"She's right, I'm thankful she died the day of the train, I'm an awful two-faced Slytherin."
"You're thinking about this now."
"Sorry."
"No, it's just, Ella I... I admit... I'm thankful too. And... I could have run with her that day, she was right by me, but I found you instead. That's probably a lot more awful."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other with confused looks as silence invaded the halls. They were unable to interrupt an obviously intimate and important moment between two people they clearly knew.
"Thank you for choosing me," said Estella before more snogging noises could be heard.
"George... it's been so long..." she uttered in between gasps.
"I know. I need you," he said breathlessly.
"Let's go!"
"Where?"
"Somewhere private."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah... prefects are patrolling and we need somewhere private because I am sure. I want you to do everything you said before. I need you inside of me," she uttered and Ron and Hermione heard their bodies slammed against the wall again. It didn't take too long to hear them running away.
Ron murmured, "Finally... thank Merlin," and then looked at Hermione.
"We should have taken points from them," she said.
He laughed.
"What?"
"I'm just imagining us trying to interrupt that to take points."
"We should have."
"I thought Estella was your friend. Aren't you putting hours in helping defend her and the twins?"
"Yes, but they shouldn't be here. We are supposed to send older students that are roaming the hallways back to their houses or to get in the carriages to the village."
"Too late now, unless you want to try to find them."
"Umm... no... I think they're... busy," she said getting a blush on her cheeks and looking to the floor.
He snorted in laughter again.
"What?"
"Nothing," he answered.
The rest of their patrol was uncomfortable. Talking of the trial was not an option since it brought that weird hallway conversation to mind and that was akward. Quidditch wasn't much better since a talk of the team included the twins. Then there was the ball topic, but he wasn't able to bring that up. So, quietly they went to the carriages.
After that day in Hogsmeade, Harry and Ron decided that the fifth year girls had gone completely mad. Regardless, Ron was determined to ask Hermione, who he thought was even more wonderful because she wasn't talking non-stop about dresses and make-up like Parvati, Lavender, or the whole load of those other barmy witches.
It was Wednesday now. Only three weeks left until the ball. He knew he needed to just do it, but when and how? They had a YPS leader meeting in a bit, tomorrow there was Quidditch practice, on Saturday they had the Quidditch game and on Sunday they would hold the second general YPS meeting of the year. He was lost in thought as he heard Harry.
"This is just ridiculous. All the girls are always together giggling like mad!" Harry growled as they walked to the room behind the mirror to meet and practice.
"Yeah, how are you supposed to ask one of them?" Ron asked loudly and in a frustrated tone.
"Witch trouble, Ronnie?" asked Fred as he and George joined them in the hallway on the way to the room.
"Umm, me. No."
"Right," said Fred sarcastically.
"We overheard you, ickle brother, so give it up," added George.
"I'm fine. What about you? Who are you going with?" asked Ron looking annoyed at Fred.
"Angelina," said Fred in an almost dreamy voice that made Ron wonder if his brother was going round the twist.
"I thought she said no," stated Harry.
"You should both know that if you work things right, witches change their minds," said George.
"Especially if a fine brother explains situations that might have led to confusion," mentioned Fred in a thankful tone.
"No, no, Gred. She said yes to your astonishing Weasley charm!"
"Well, thank you Forge! And she's my girlfriend now," he said looking at Ron and Harry with a proud grin.
"Well mates, just ask someone or else you can go stag. We always did before this year. It's not hard," added George.
"Not hard for you. You don't even have to ask this year," said an annoyed Ron.
"Just because Ella is his girlfriend doesn't mean he won't ask," said Fred as they arrived at the mirror.
Ron and Harry stared at the twins with confused looks.
"Ella might be a menace to society like us, but she's still a girl, who I quite fancy, so watch and learn," said George as Fred uttered the spell to open the hidden room.
They walked in and noticed Draco and Hermione in a corner at the very back of the room sorting through notes and books. Estella wasn't far from the entrance as she practiced the Colovario spell in front of a mirror and changed her hair from black to blonde to red and then brown. George walked resolutely in her direction. Fred nudged Ron and Harry to get a bit closer, so they could hear how this went.
"Gorgeous menace," said George sweetly.
"Fun man," she answered with a smile as she lowered her wand.
"Would you like to go to the Masquerade with me?"
"No better dates for you out there?" she asked playfully.
"They all know I want to go with you."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, I could go with anyone. But I reckon all my dates would know I want to be with you even if you were hexed to look like a troll."
"Since when?" she murmured biting her lower lip.
"You know since when, so give me a yes," he said in a husky tone as he took one of her hands and played with her fingers.
"Alright, yes," she said almost dreamily and then gave him a quick peck on the lips. "We'll finish this later, without an audience," she added.
"Right, later. By the way black is best," he said caressing her cheek with his thumb and using his other hand to point his wand and turn her hair from brown to its normal black. George separated from her and walked back to where the boys were as Ella resumed her spell practice.
"See, not hard at all. Just act like it's alright if she says no, like you have choices, but you chose her over all the others," said George looking at his girlfriend and beaming.
"Right, not hard," said Ron as he headed in Hermione's direction.
"He's testing this on Hermione?" questioned George.
"I suppose there's no time like the present and she's the only witch here besides your girlfriend," answered Fred while Harry simply shrugged.
'This is it. Just relax. Act like it's no big deal... oh Merlin!' Ron thought as he reached her.
"Hermione?"
"Yes Ron," she said.
"Yes Weasley," added Draco. The twins and Harry slowly inched towards them in the hopes of overhearing.
"Ahh...umm... could I talk to just Hermione?"
"Alright," said Draco shrugging and moving towards the other boys.
"Ron?" asked Hermione.
"Hermione," he murmured.
"Yes?" she asked looking up at him and giving him a smile. His stomach twisted and his brain seemed to stop functioning.
"You're not a troll," he uttered quickly.
"Excuse me!"
"I mean, you don't look like a hexed troll... I mean... you're like a girl, I mean... umm... Hermione, ?" he mumbled.
"What?"
"I mean I could go to the Masquerade with anyone, or I could go with you, but..."
Hermione stood angrily and said "just because you think I'm awful enough to be compared to a troll doesn't mean everyone else does! I can get a date without your pity! In fact, someone already asked me!" she answered furiously and gave him the worst of her death glares before walking towards Estella.
He noticed Fred, George, and Draco shaking their heads. Harry simply tried to give him his best sympathetic look. His brothers walked past him. "I said I would want to go with her even if she looked like a troll not that she actually was one," said George. "And try to ask instead of just saying could go with her," added Fred before they moved to a different corner to practice some spells.
Ron's eyes drifted to Draco and he angrily asked, "What?"
"Nothing," answered Draco lifting his hands to show peace before sitting back on the floor in the corner and picking up the parchment he had been reading before. Ron thought he heard Draco whisper, "Smooth." At that point he couldn't figure out who he wanted to kill more - Malfoy or his brothers.
He stood next to Harry and asked, "Why didn't you tell me someone already asked her?"
"I didn't know."
"You didn't?"
"No,"
"You really think she already has a date?"
"Well she said someone asked."
"Who?"
"Dunno."
"It's not Malfoy?"
"It's not," said Draco obviously letting them know that they were still within his hearing range.
"What about you?" Ron now whispered in a lower voice as they moved further from Malfoy.
"Me?" murmured Harry confused.
"Who are you going with?"
"I wanted to ask Cho. I'll try to ask Cho... but what if? Merlin... I might go stag,"
"Me too. Maybe, stag," said Ron tiredly. His head was almost in pain from the awful attempt to ask someone, actually not just someone; he had just put his foot in his mouth while asking Hermione!
'That was a bloody disaster! Everything was going so well. She even hugged me for Quidditch and we've had fun during patrol. I should have never listened to the twins! Who the hell is she going with?' he wondered.
Estella and Hermione approached the boys and called for their meeting to start. Ron's ears were red through the entire meeting. It was a good thing Estella asked Malfoy to read the progress reports because Ron would have stammered and Hermione could have spit fire if she opened her mouth. The group discussed what they would teach and review in the next two months, paying special attention to the upcoming general meeting. They also agreed it would be bad to try to have any branch sessions around the Masquerade days. Then they practiced for a while before calling it a night. Estella reminded everyone that in two Saturdays they would be spending a couple of hours watching memories.
"Ron, can you stay for a moment," asked Estella suddenly. Hermione seemed a bit shocked, but just headed out of the room with everyone except George.
"Yeah?" asked Ron confused.
"I want to tell you something. Umm, George, can you wait for me outside, by the entrance? Please."
"Right," he said while giving her a look that clearly meant he was confused as to why his little brother was staying instead of him.
After George left, she spoke, "Ron, you know you're not like Fred or George, right?"
"What?"
"I mean you don't have to be like either of them. I love George, but... umm... don't tell people that. Anyhow, you don't need to act like him or Fred to impress anyone."
"I don't! I won't!"
"Good. Because instead of trying his style, which probably only works on me because I'm completely daft when he's around, you should try to relax and find your own way. Here," she said as she pulled a book from her satchel and handed it to Ron. 'Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches,' he read in his head.
"This is one of the books George saved," he said.
"Yeah, it sort of has sentimental value for us. Anyhow you can have it, for a while at least,"
"A while?"
"Well, yeah, we'll probably want it back. You should read it though. Loads of the ideas Fred and George used to get with girls came from there. They even bloody worked on me," she said with a giggle, "But you don't have to use it like Fred and George did. It does give really good insight into girls and was a good read for a girl too, not like the other rubbish they had. Thank Merlin for Angelina and the official burning."
"George let you read his "How to get with witches" books?" he asked shocked.
"Not willingly. I won a bet. But back to the point, this book can help both boys and girls. I've used a few tips myself."
"Really?" he stated surprised.
"Yeah."
"Umm, thanks," he added.
"My pleasure," she said before adding, "Also... if a word about me reading or using any of those books comes out of this room, I will use my worst hexes on you."
"Right, not a word," he promised as they headed to the mirror entrance and he remembered some of the spells Estella had shared with them. Suddenly it occurred to him, he should ask her.
"Estella... umm... wait."
"Alright,"
"Do you... you know who Hermione going with?"
"To the Masquerade."
"Yeah."
"I know who asked, but I can't tell you."
"So someone really asked her," he said.
"Yes someone did," she said before they left the room.
Outside George was waiting. As Ron moved further away from the corridor he noticed his brother and Estella going back into the small room and giggling softly.
Here is a bit of a response to some of the reviews (I hope I don't give too much of the upcoming plot away):
I won't torture Ron for too much longer. He'll figure out how and why he's special fairly soon. I guess I'm playing on his insecurities to a crescendo and then those will die down, promise.
I'm also getting to one of the darker/more dramatic portions of the fic. So I can't promise too many romantic/hot moments, but there will be bickering, misunderstandings and some fun among the darkness. Nonetheless, I won't make us suffer until the end for Ron and Hermione like JKR did. Love the HP books to death, but I couldn't believe it took so long for them to get together. I was ready in Order of the Phoenix.
I also got reviews that told me the story has quite the focus on the Snapes, Harry, Estella, the Weasley twins, and characters other than Ron and Hermione. In all truth, I like that because I'm hoping this story has subplots that work together to keep the fic interesting and multilayered. This will be especially true through fifth year. Though I'm definitely going to keep in mind that the major focus is and should be Ron and Hermione, so let me know if I go too astray.
Any plot suggestions and ideas are welcome.