CHAPTER FOUR – A new normal

As they sat down, Ginny turned toward Ron and Luna with a smile. "Where've you been Ron? Haven't seen you since the match ended, not that we've been looking for you, but we're curious why you left the celebration party so soon?"

Ron looked over at Luna and then turned toward his sister and said calmly, "I was just talking with Luna. I needed to thank her for believing in me enough to help Harry out this morning. I know that everyone here is aware that I'm not the most confident person and I'm grateful to Harry and Luna for helping me overcome my insecurity this morning. Even if that confidence came through a bit of deceit, it is now instilled inside me and I know going forward that I can be a great quidditch player, just like my sister and my brothers. I wanted Luna to know how grateful I was, and we just went off to a quiet place to chat."

Ron smiled at Harry and Ginny and then scowled at Hermione before turning back to Luna. "Thanks again, Luna, you were a good friend to help me out like that."

Ron and Luna leaned into each other and smiled. "I wonder how long it will be before someone asks about us holding hands?" Luna whispered. Ron just grinned.

As they were all finishing their lunch, Hermione got up and walked over to Ron. Ron ignored her at first but responded once she tapped him on the shoulder.

"Yes, Hermione, what do you need?"

Timidly she replied, "Could we talk somewhere, alone, please? I'm really sorry and I want to talk please."

"I don't know, Hermione, there doesn't seem to be much to talk about."

Hermione put her hands on Ron's shoulder, "please Ron, please? It's important to me, please?"

Ron looked over at Luna. Luna nodded and nudged him with her shoulder. "You should go listen Ron, it'll be ok. I'll be ok."

Ron shrugged and looked up at Hermione, still standing at his shoulder. "Ok, Hermione, ok, let's go talk."

Ron stood and followed Hermione over to a quiet alcove in the Great Hall. Hermione sat down on a bench and gestured for Ron to do the same.

"That's ok, I'll stand."

"Please Ron?"

Reluctantly Ron sat down. "Ok, Hermione, talk."

Hermione looked at Ron and he could see tears starting to form in her eyes. "I'm sorry Ron, I shouldn't have said what I did. I know you're a good quidditch player and I don't know why I said what I did. I was just so afraid that Harry'd broken the rules and you'd both get in trouble and I just lost reason. I'm so sorry, Ron, I'm really really sorry."

Ron kept his face neutral as he silently watched her for several moments. "I know you're sorry, but what you said really hurt me and it will be hard to forget for a while. You know how important quidditch is to me and you basically said I was rubbish at it. It just seemed like one more time you didn't support me. Just like when you couldn't believe that McGonagall made me prefect. I guess I'm just tired of you thinking so little of me."

"I'm sorry Ron, I'm really sorry and embarrassed. I know I haven't been a good friend to you."

"You're one of my best friends Hermione and I try to take care of you by looking out for you whenever and however I can, but I'm tired of it being just one sided. I've tried to show how much I care for you ever since second year but I guess it hasn't worked. Maybe I should just quit trying."

Hermione's eyes went wide and she stifled a sob. "Uh, um no, please, please Ron, no. I'll be better Ron I promise, really I will."

Ron shrugged his shoulders and replied simply "ok, we'll see."

Hermione now looked at Ron with teary eyes. "But now you seem to be with Luna. Are you with her now, do you fancy her? I saw you kiss her in the common room and then you came back holding hands. It seems like you're together?"

Ron grinned at the memory of kissing his girlfriend. "Yeah, I guess we are. She told me that she'd had a crush on me since we were kids and she was always trying to get me to notice her. That was one reason she was so eager to help Harry this morning. I'm not quite sure how I feel about her, but there's something terribly attractive about a girl who really wants to be your girlfriend and someone who is supportive and everything. It's nice to have someone who believes in me."

"So, she's your girlfriend now?"

"Yeah, we thought why not? and we agreed to see where it goes. Who knows how long we will last, but it's been starting out pretty nice so far."

After pausing a moment, Ron continued, "was there anything else you wanted to talk about? I heard your apology but it's going to take some time for me to deal with it. Is there anything else?"

Hermione was actively crying now but trying to keep her voice even. "I want to be your best friend still Ron, so I'm going to try and be better and maybe down the road if it doesn't work with Luna, maybe we could be something more than friends?"

With that, Hermione covered her face with her hands and walked away quickly, leaving Ron to wander back over to where Luna was.

Over the next couple weeks, a new normal pattern developed. Ron treated Hermione the same as always, but he was spending more time with Luna than with her. Ron and Harry still worked with her on their studies in the common room, only now Luna was usually with Ron when they did.

Hermione would see Ron and Luna together often and it seemed that they were always touching each other. She was grateful their displays of affection were subtle, but they were constant. Hermione would tamp down her feelings of jealousy when she'd see them on a couch in the common room. Luna would have her feet up on the couch and be leaning up against Ron's side with Ron's arm around her shoulders holding her tight against him. Other times Luna'd be reading with her head in his lap or sometimes sitting in his lap with her arms around his neck. Hermione was really jealous when she'd see Luna's feet in Ron's lap and he would remove Luna's shoes and socks and tenderly massage her feet after a long day. They ate together at most meals and when they were walking they always seemed to be connected, either with their arms around each other or holding hands or even just hooking fingers. It looked to everyone like they were falling in love.

When she saw them together Hermione would just close her eyes and wish it were her that Ron was holding. At times she wanted to scream, but then she would just push down those jealous feelings and keep going or most often she'd escape to the library.

The first Hogsmeade weekend came and went. Hermione knew that Ron and Luna went together, and rather than be a third wheel with Harry and Ginny, Hermione just stayed in the castle.

It seemed that Ron and Luna were getting along just fine despite Hermione's desire otherwise. Frequently they were seen laughing together or just quietly looking at each other. Ron was calmer than before and Luna seemed less distracted by her imaginary creatures. At times Hermione would simply close her eyes and try to envision how it could have been her with Ron instead of Luna.

Hermione was trying hard to be a better friend and had stopped with the negative nagging and correcting of Ron as well as Harry. She was trying to be pleasant and positive as best she could. She cheered on Ron during the next Quidditch match and even led the chorus of 'Weasley is our King!' with her dormmates. With his newfound confidence Ron played another outstanding game and Gryffindor won easily against Hufflepuff.

After Harry had caught the snitch Hermione felt a keen sense of jealousy as she watched Ron fly over to Luna in the grandstands where they kissed in celebration. As always the kiss wasn't a snog, it was just a sweet kiss of affection that was the norm for Ron and Luna, but it brought tears to Hermione's eyes.

In the common room during the post-match celebration Hermione just couldn't take it anymore, seeing Ron standing tall with a huge grin and his arm around Luna with her snuggled into his chest. Hermione headed toward the portrait door with the intent of escaping again to the library, only both Ron and Luna noticed her leaving. They both saw the tear tracks on her face.

"Ron" said Luna, leaning back to look him in the eyes. "You should go talk with her. She seems upset."

"I know, but I don't know what to say."

"Maybe you don't have to say anything. Just go find her."

"Really?"

"Really"

"Ok, if you think it's a good idea. You've always been the smart one."

Luna laughed, "just go. You can find me later or at dinner, ok?"

Ron leaned over and gave Luna another sweet kiss. "Ok, beautiful, I'll see you later."

With that, Ron let go of Luna and headed out of the common room knowing exactly where to find Hermione. He had no idea what he was going to say, they hadn't talked since the day he got together with Luna.

Rounding a corner in the hallway Ron saw Hermione just a little way in front of him.

"Hermione, wait up, hang on, wait for me."

Hermione stopped and turned around looking surprised when she saw Ron. Ron could see her tears as he approached. As he closed the distance between them, he took a deep breath and said to himself ok, here we go.