A/N: Thanks so much for all of your kind words so far! Don't forget to leave a comment when you're done reading - it means so much to us as writers!
Adenei has continued to be an invaluable source of assistance and help throughout the beta process - thanks so much!
I hope you enjoy this chapter - things are getting interesting :)
Chapter 6: "I think you could really pull off a tweed blazer."
It was lightly snowing as Hermione walked back home, and the campus looked beautiful. A clean layer of white shimmered around her neighborhood. Snow always made everything seem more peaceful to her, and she loved walking through the quiet town as the streetlights illuminated the falling flakes.
When she arrived at her apartment, she found her roommate sprawled out on the sofa, reading for her Classics course.
"Hey, how'd it go?" Parvati asked, gently closing her book.
Hermione grinned as she removed her coat and her warm wool hat. "It went really well, actually. He did such a good job on his exam, and I think that kind of encouraged him to keep putting in the effort."
"That's great! Now, aren't you glad you kept at it?"
"I am. It's not as bad as I thought it would be."
"And maybe now you'll admit that I was right about him?"
"How so?"
"That he deserved a chance, that he was capable of doing well…that he wasn't just a dumb jock!"
Sighing as she dropped into her favorite armchair, Hermione nodded. "I know, I know. You were right. I wasn't being fair to him before. He's really turned it around from where he was several weeks ago. I'm honestly quite proud of him."
"Well good for both of you," Parvati answered. "Just goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover. And look, here's the bright side; now that you know he barely needs your help, you can just enjoy staring at his fine ass for the rest of the semester."
With a groan, Hermione sunk lower into her seat. "That's part of the issue, though. Honestly, I'm not even sure he needs the tutoring anymore. He can obviously do it on his own, I can't see why he'd need me to work with him."
Parvati grinned and mischievously raised her eyebrows at her. "I don't know, I doubt your professor would look too kindly on that. Study for a couple weeks, help him get one good grade, then drop him? Doesn't sound like a great idea if you want to stay on her good side. I think you should keep it up."
Parvati's motives may have been suspect, but she had a point, and while it was true that Professor Sprout probably wouldn't appreciate her stopping the tutoring sessions, Hermione couldn't help but feel gloomy for other reasons at the thought of no longer seeing Ron each week. Butterflies danced through her stomach as she admitted to herself that those reasons had nothing to do with Professor Sprout, her responsibilities as a TA, or her medical school applications. She realized that she would miss him. Their meetings had strangely become a highlight of her week, and even if there was no longer a strong reason for the sessions, she knew that her life would feel a bit less complete without him in it.
How could that have happened so fast? A few weeks ago, I could barely stand him!
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I wouldn't want to jeopardize the position I have with Professor Sprout."
"Exactly. And besides, now you can just focus on him. Getting to know him. Enjoying his company. Who knows, maybe he thinks you're kinda cute, too."
"Oh, I very much doubt that," Hermione replied, hoping that she wasn't blushing. "He's…tall and athletic. He's probably dating some blonde with never-ending legs or something."
"See, there you go judging again. And give yourself more credit than that; you're a catch! Any man would be lucky to have you."
A roll of her eyes told her roommate exactly what she thought. "Right, I'm sure every guy at this university is just sitting in their house at night and dreaming about meeting a pre-med with frizzy hair and commendable study habits."
"Maybe they are! The point is, you never know unless you keep your eyes open, stop making assumptions, and put yourself out there a little. Take Ron, for example. You find him attractive, so try to open up a little bit. Nothing overt, just a little flirty, you know? Maybe a graze of your fingertips across his arm, very subtle. Little points of contact like that can say a lot more than you think."
"I don't know. I'm not very good at those types of things. Besides, it wasn't exactly a little point of contact when he gave me a big hug today, but I suppose–"
Nearly spitting out her drink, Parvati leaned forward in her chair. "He WHAT?!"
"Oh stop it. It was no big deal," Hermione said with a dismissive scoff. "He was just happy because he did well on his exam."
"Umm, okay," Parvati started, her eyes still wide with shock. "Then answer a question for me. You get lots of good grades on exams. When was the last time you hugged your teacher?"
"But…I mean, it's totally different. I'm helping him for free. I'm sure he was just appreciative, that's all."
"Hermione, look. I know I joke around a lot, but…I don't know, that doesn't sound like nothing. People don't just hug someone they're obligated to see once per week to help keep their grades up. At a minimum, he clearly has some level of comfort with you that he didn't have before."
Before she could help it, a small smile played across Hermione's face. "Maybe. I don't know. But it was one hug. No big deal. I'm sure it doesn't mean anything."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Hermione contemplated her friend's words. Could there be an element of truth to them? Never in her life had she considered hugging anyone she was affiliated with academically. But perhaps that was just her. Lots of people hug as a greeting or as a sign of friendship. Maybe Ron was just more of a touchy-feely type of guy and he did that with everyone.
"Was it good, though?" Parvati finally asked.
"Excuse me?" Hermione stalled, the tips of her ears heating up.
"The hug…was it good?"
After a few seconds of reflection, Hermione decided it wasn't worth it to try to keep a secret from her roommate; she'd surely figure it out somehow. It was a very strange gift Parvati had. "It was actually really nice."
"Aww, Hermione!" Parvati responded, waving her hands in front of her face as if she was about to cry.
"Oh stop it, now you're just reading into it what you want to. He's still just a fellow student that I'm tutoring, nothing more."
"Perhaps, but who knows, right? You two are definitely getting more friendly, and it's clear that you have a crush on him, so…"
"I do not have a crush on him! Don't be so juvenile."
"Oh, okay, sure you don't," Parvati added with a wink.
Hermione laughed, but she knew that her roommate's assertion might be accurate. But just because she might allow herself to daydream about him now and again didn't mean that there was anything real there. Odds are, he didn't reciprocate her feelings at all. It was best not to get her hopes up.
And besides, figuring out Ron's intentions was practically inconsequential compared to the pressing issue that she wanted to discuss with Parvati.
"I had another episode," Hermione offered with a sobering tone, a weight settling over her chest.
Concern replaced the smile that was plastered on Parvati's face a moment ago. "Another one? Hermione, don't you think you should tell someone?"
"I don't know, it only lasted for a couple seconds. I couldn't quite tell how low my heart rate got, but it popped back up relatively quickly."
"Yeah, but you know Dr. Pomfrey would want to know about that. Healthy people's heart rates don't drop off for no reason in the middle of the evening."
"Well, I'm far from a healthy person, but I see your point. I promise, if it keeps happening, I'll send her an email."
"You're making me nervous, Hermione," Parvati said as she sat straight up, her eyes filled with worry and locking on her roommate. "It isn't like you to ignore symptoms."
"I'm just trying not to be too alarmist. Any time I tell them any little thing that's gone wrong, they insist on a full battery of tests. I don't have time for that right now."
"Isn't it better to figure it out before it becomes an emergency, though?"
"They're short episodes, a few seconds maximum. I'm sure it's not an emergency."
Parvati shifted in her seat, her eyebrows still knitted together with concern. "You're not a doctor yet, Hermione. You shouldn't assume that you know what's happening. I know you're very aware of your body and your health, but you know better than to mess around with stuff like that."
"I know, and I'm not taking it lightly. But a three-second period of low heart rates isn't usually a huge deal. I'm keeping track of it. If it keeps happening or gets worse, I'll say something."
"Please do. Better safe than sorry, right?"
With a sigh, Hermione stood up. It was sweet that her roommate cared about her well-being, but sometimes she could be as overbearing as her mother. "Right, I know. Anyways, I think I'm going to finish up my homework and get some sleep. See you in the morning?"
"Okay, see you in the morning."
A good night's sleep helped to clear her head, and over the next few weeks, the fantasies that Parvati had tried to put into her mind had begun to fade. Their lessons proceeded like normal, more enjoyable than before but still professional. Ron was nothing more than a student who needed help, and while they might remain friends in the long run, they wouldn't be more than that. Her time was better spent studying and getting her work done, not sitting around thinking about some guy. Not that it completely stopped her from thinking about him from time to time, of course.
Each week, they seemed to become more familiar with each other, and she found herself more at ease with him than she had been at the start. Hermione tried to temper her anticipation prior to each meeting but always wondered if he would give her another hug. When he'd had his arms around her, the sensation had been warm and comforting, and she wouldn't mind experiencing it again. But much to her chagrin, it never happened, and after each session, she felt a bit stupid for expecting it. They were just friends.
Unfortunately, the anxiety surrounding her romantic life took a back seat to a more concerning issue. She had noticed a few more episodes of low heart rates, some of which were starting to last for longer stretches. Unlike when the first ones happened, she kept her mouth shut, not mentioning anything to Parvati or her doctors. She hadn't passed out, so she was confident that she could push through until the semester eased up. That wasn't to say she didn't feel a bit unnerved.
But the prospect of seeing Ron again shoved any concerns out of her mind. Excitement and anticipation had come to characterize her Wednesday evenings, and this week was no different, aside from the fact that his third exam was only days away. She always showed up fifteen minutes early to any meeting, and like clockwork, her watch read quarter to seven when she walked in the door to the library. Much to her surprise, though, Ron was sitting on the bench where she usually waited for him, twiddling his thumbs and shooting her a clever grin.
"Gotcha," he said as she approached.
"Congratulations," she replied, doing her best to maintain a neutral expression. "I'm officially impressed."
He stood and collected his bag before walking with her up the stairs toward their customary study room. "Really? I've finally managed to impress you?"
"You've impressed me long before today."
"Oh," he replied, scratching the back of his head. "Thanks."
Warmth was building in Hermione's body already. Her face flushed with anxiety, and they hadn't even started studying together yet. Who was she kidding? If he had this effect on her within fifteen seconds, there was no way she could convince herself that she wasn't falling for him.
"I mean it," she continued. "I don't think I've ever seen someone turn it around after a difficult first exam the way you have. You're putting in the effort and it really shows. I'm so proud of you."
"If I am, it's all thanks to your help. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you're an excellent teacher."
"Thank you, that means a lot."
"It's true. I know you're dead set on being a doctor, and I'm sure you'll excel at that too, but you'd make a great professor."
Hermione could tell she was blushing at the compliment. "Oh, I don't know about that."
"Course you would. You're smart, you clearly love the material, and you can actually present it in a way that makes sense to people who don't know it. Plus," he said, grinning at her as he sized her up, "I think you could really pull off a tweed blazer."
"Oh, umm, perhaps," she answered, blinking rapidly and brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe."
"You could," he insisted.
What was happening? Was he flirting with her? She didn't have too much experience in that department, but it sure seemed like it. Perhaps that's what emboldened her to be a bit braver herself. "Most students aren't like you, though."
"Oh yeah?" he answered, shooting her another sly smile. "And what am I like, exactly?"
"Dedicated. Motivated. Willing to admit you need help."
He chuckled and shook his head. "That last one wasn't easy. I'll be honest with you, if my spot on the team hadn't been at stake, I probably would've thought twice before getting tutoring."
"Well, I agree that it isn't easy. Even embarrassing, sometimes. Admitting you need help, be it in class or in real life, is one of the most difficult things in the world. That's why it's all the more extraordinary when it happens."
"Maybe."
"And even if the team was your reason at first, is it still your reason now? Now that you've proven to yourself what you're capable of?"
He glanced over at her, his eyes narrowed and his lips parted as he considered his reply. "No, it isn't."
"Oh," she squeaked.
She swallowed hard, a lump growing in the back of her throat. What did he mean by that?
Her question would go unanswered, though, since he didn't elaborate and she was too shy to ask. When they arrived in the study room, both were blushing as they sat down in their normal seats to start working. Since Ron had been keeping up so well with the lectures, they used the meeting as a review session for the upcoming exam. Halfway through the hour, Hermione pulled out her gummy bears, not hesitating to turn the opening of the bag toward him after taking a couple for herself. He teased her before eating a few, and she grinned back at him, completely losing her train of thought. It took her a few minutes to get back on track, but she didn't mind the interruption at all.
With five minutes left, a sudden thudding sensation in her chest and a slowing of her heart rate sent a familiar pang of panic through her. She clenched and unclenched her fists under the table, trying to subtly hold her breath and correct the rhythm, but her heart rate remained unchanged. As unfortunate as the timing was, she had noticed enough similar episodes lately that she felt she needed to finally say something to her doctor. She couldn't ignore it any longer.
"Ron, I'm going to run to the restroom quickly, I'll be right back."
He nodded at her and went back to looking at his book, and Hermione cautiously made her way to the bathroom, standing close to the wall the whole way in case she began to lose consciousness. She made it into a stall and sat down on the toilet seat, trying to steady her swaying body. Once several moments had passed, her pulse returned to normal and she took a deep breath, finally feeling like herself again. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she felt the tightness subside throughout her body, and she pulled out her phone.
After pulling up the app she used to contact her cardiologist, she tapped out a brief message describing the episodes and asking for guidance and pressed send. She sighed, knowing that she'd likely just committed herself to a full day of doctor's visits and testing, but the symptoms were becoming concerning enough that the missed classes or lost study time would be a reasonable price to pay.
She exited the stall, splashed her face with cool water, and dried it with a paper towel before returning to their study room.
"Sorry about that," she said, resituating herself across from him.
"No worries, it's almost time to pack up anyway. I'll keep working on this stuff on the way to the Ultimate game. We have a two-hour bus ride and might not be home until almost midnight, so I can probably get some studying done then."
"Oh, that's right! I'd forgotten that your game was tomorrow. I hope you have a safe trip and a good time."
"Thanks," he replied with a smile as he organized his materials. "It'll be fun to see how we measure up with another team. I think we're going to do really well."
"I'm sure you will. Umm, good luck, of course. Not that you'll need it."
"Couldn't hurt, though."
Grinning back at him, she picked up her bag from the table and went to stand up when the insidious feeling returned to her chest and her heart rate dropped again. As she stood up from the table, she wobbled on her feet, bracing herself against the desk. Ron jumped to his feet, sliding his arm under hers, a look of concern on his face.
Dammit, why does this have to be happening now? Why is it always when he's around?
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Oh, yes, I will be. I'm sorry, probably dehydrated again."
While he may have believed her the first time it happened, the fact that it was becoming a recurring issue seemed to trigger more suspicion in him. His eyes narrowed under wrinkled brows as he supported most of her weight.
"You sure seem to be dehydrated a lot. Are you sure that's the problem?" he asked.
"I suspect so, I've always been bad with that. I'm sorry you have to keep dealing with it."
"I mean, it's nothing to be sorry about," he stated, gradually pulling back his arms as she balanced herself. "I'm just worried about you."
If her heart hadn't already been slowing down and skipping beats, it surely would've after he said that. She knew he didn't mean it the way she wanted to interpret it, but it was still nice to hear.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me, I'll be fine."
"I kind of can't help it, though," he said before his eyes widened and he cleared his throat. "Umm, I mean, I feel responsible…yeah, you know, because you're only here to help me when you could be relaxing and uhh…well, drinking more water, I guess."
"That's very kind of you, but this has nothing to do with you. Maybe I need to set an alarm on my phone to remind me to bring my water bottle or something."
"Oh, and what about getting home? What if it happens again on your way back? I have a car, you know. You could just wait here and I could come back and get you. It's really no trouble."
"No, that's ridiculous. I'll be fine, I promise."
"You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Thank you, though, that's very considerate."
He didn't look completely convinced, but he still nodded his assent. As they walked out of the room and down the staircase, his hand was on the small of her back, applying light but constant pressure just in case. It made Hermione feel safe, like no matter what happened, he would take care of her. Sad as she was to admit it, she'd never experienced that type of prolonged contact with someone before, even if it was totally innocent. It did nothing to tamp down her burgeoning feelings for her mentee.
"You're sure you're okay?" he asked as they walked outside. "I could walk with you, I really don't mind."
"No, you don't need to go to all of that trouble. I'm okay now."
"Okay. Maybe…I don't know, maybe you should go to the doctor, though. Just to be safe."
"Maybe. We'll see."
"Alright, well thanks again for everything," he said, making no move to step away just yet.
Hermione grinned back at him. "Of course. I know you're going to do just as well on this exam, I can feel it."
"Here's hoping. Oh, speaking of which, what about next week? The test is on Friday, so I'm guessing there will be new stuff already by next Wednesday?"
"Yes, there will be. Same time as usual, then?"
"Sounds great. Hopefully I'll know how I did by then."
"Tell you what," she said, zipping up her jacket, "if you like, I can grade your exam right after the test and let you know how you did."
His eyebrows raised in response. "Really? You'd do that?"
"Sure. Here, give me your number, I'll text you."
"Oh, my number?" he clarified, his face turning red as he took a deep breath.
Humiliation swept over her as soon as he answered her. Asking for a guy's number wasn't exactly an innocent proposition. Was he taking it the wrong way? She just meant…not that it mattered now, she'd already let the cat out of the bag.
"Oh, yeah, you're right. I mean, I could just email you, right?"
He continued staring into the distant night, looking as though he was weighing his options, until he finally turned back to her with a smile, fidgeting in his pocket to find his phone. "No, you know what, that's a good idea. I mean, what if one of us is running late or something? It would be good to be able to get in touch. For studying. Or, like, lateness purposes."
"Right," she replied with a relieved exhale. "Good thinking. Here, let me see your phone, I'll add my number."
"Great."
After she added herself to his contacts and sent herself a message, she pulled out her own phone to update his details before turning back to him. "Perfect, thanks."
"Yeah, no problem," he answered. "Smart thinking…not that I'm surprised."
"Thanks, yeah, I agree."
"Okay, well, I have to ask again, you're sure you're okay to get home by yourself?"
"I'm sure," she responded with a nod. "Good luck tomorrow and I'll see you on Friday at the exam."
He snickered and looked down at his feet. "I'll be the one fully prepared."
"I'm sure. Alright, well take care and, umm…study, study, study!"
Study, study, STUDY?! What is wrong with me?!
But he chuckled again and adjusted the strap of his backpack on his shoulder. "I will, I promise. Have a great night, Hermione."
"You too, Ron."
She did her best not to watch him walk away, but couldn't help but sneak a quick peek over her shoulder. Even in the darkness, his hair looked amazing. And the way he said her name had sent her head spinning for thoroughly non-medical reasons. As she glided back home, she couldn't stop thinking about him, finally admitting to herself that she had a major crush on Ron Weasley.