Chapter 9
Why Are We Yelling
Ron and Hermione slipped out the front door and immediately Ron lead them away from the main path out and onto the central path down the middle of the property to the orchard. Away from the borders where the Aurors were setting up watch.
"Sorry, I just needed to stretch my legs a bit."
"Me too, Ron, no apologies needed."
"I do want to thank you, for both."
"Both?"
"Handling Rita and keeping me from looking like a total prat for once."
She stopped them. "Ron," she said softly. "You were nowhere near a prat. If anything you were very confident and determined. You should try that more often. It suits you."
Ron just shrugged, "Easier said than done."
"Ronald!"
"No, I just mean, since the three of us started up 1st year, you were straight out of the gate the smart one. Bloody brilliant you are."
Hermione blushed. "All I do is study a bit more, nothing you couldn't do yourself."
"Maybe, meanwhile Harry is damn near unstoppable."
"I will acknowledge Harry has a tendency for beating the odds. A damn infuriating one."
"Infuriating?" Ron asked.
"Ron, can this stay between the two of us?"
Ron smiled, "Why do you think I asked to go for a walk? Five brothers and lil' sis, only damn way to have some privacy sometimes is to take a walk."
"Language." Hermione said, but truly only spoke it, no scolding correction.
"Sorry, little sister." he 'corrected' with a grin.
Hermione laughed. "Thank you Ron. "
"So sometimes Harry makes you mad, you were saying."
"Thank you, yes. Well it's not him specifically, or at least nothing he can consciously have any control over so there would be little point in actually being mad with him about it…. Argh, I'm babbling."
Ron put an understanding hand on her shoulder. "'Moine, I've got all night for you and we are just now getting to the orchard. Take your time."
"Well as you observed, I generally believe in facts and probability, cause and effect. Within general ranges most outcomes are predictable."
"Except Harry?"
"YES! Except Harry! Please don't misunderstand me. He's a dear friend, and I certainly don't wish him ill just for statistics sake. But the way he beats probability so often that I look at him and my analytical mind just twitches at how not right he is. It's like looking at a paradox, a living breathing paradox. But he's such a damn fine person.. Argh!" a few steps and a few breaths later. "Sorry, frustration vent."
Shook his head, "Don't worry about it. I guess I just took the simple approach and considered him lucky? Figured if he's had such rough go with everything else, and that was before last week, that we happen to be around when his number does come up. You know, we see his highs, but nowhere near all his lows."
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. "Faulty data set." She turned to Ron and hugged him. "Thank you. That actually helps."
Ron happily hugged back. "Always happy to help."
"See, that's where you shine, Ron. I wish you would give yourself more credit."
"Where I shine?"
Coming from a hug and going straight into an explanation, Hermione's brain was occupied enough it didn't notice her heart taking Ron's arm as they walked and talked. "For the sake of argument, if you want to call me the smart one, fine, there are worse things I could be called. As we've mentioned, Harry is the brash and lucky one. You, Ron, are reliable, and you seem to have a knack for seeing the bigger picture. Fixing problems. You make things better, even in the quiet ways."
"Quiet ways… um yay." he joked.
That did elicit a giggle from Hermione with a playful hit to his arm. "Ronald, I will have you know there are many girls that would greatly appreciate a brave, quiet, reliable, and kind man on their arm. All are qualities you have in abundance."
"You mean like you have for the last ten minutes?" Ron pointed out with a cheeky grin.
Hermione's brain finally recognized that fact and had a slight panic run through her mind, but also registered the statement of 'ten minutes' and with clearly no objection from Ron. In fact if she were to observe Ron's behavior she would almost think he appreciated it. Once that calculation ran through her mind, she smiled and blushed. "It's getting dark out, a gentleman's duty to safely escort a lady."
Soon they started to approach the center of the orchard. "'Moine?"
"Right here, Ron, I'm your guest here."
"I am sorry I didn't think to drop an owl to you sooner."
"Oh, don't worry about it. Just, next time write sooner. I really do like hearing from you. When Luna owled me…. " her brain made her trail off… not yet ready to finish that sentence.
Ron actually slipped in front of her to look her in the eyes. "'Moine, were you actually worried about me?"
Eye contact was something Hermione was trying desperately to avoid. "What? No. That would be so stupid. I came to check on Ginny. The only girl in the Burrow needs a friend."
Ron nodded his head, and actually grabbed both her hands. "And that's exactly why the second you flamed in you were yelling for me… and then yelling at me… all for Ginny?"
Damn it, he heard that! She thought. "Well, there's a very good reason for that."
"And that is?" Ron pressed with a smile on his face.
"What has gotten into you today?" she smiled back.
"I don't know. I survived against an entire squad of Death Eaters. Pretty girl called me a hero and said I should try to be more confident. I figured I would try it."
Hermione was caught completely off guard. She didn't know what she expected with and evening stroll with Ron, but certainly not this. "Ron, please don't joke like that, It's been a nice evening. Don't ruin it."
Instantly, Ron let go of her hands. "I'm sorry, I-I-I guess I got carried away."
"What? No, the hand holding is fine." She said but still feeling awkward she turned her head to the side and brushed a loose hair behind her ear. She mumbled, "The 'pretty' joke."
"Wow, you really don't see it, do you?" Ron said in a minute of realization.
Still hurt, "See what, Ron?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Summoning up as much courage as he could. "Alright for 10 minutes no jokes."
"Sure." she shrugged.
"You first. Why was my name the first one you're crying out the moment you flamed in today?"
She could tell he wasn't going to let this go. So going from hurt to frustration, She finally burst out, "BECAUSE I CARE! I care what happens to you. I thought you were hurt or worse! Is that what you want to hear?!"
Ron never one to back down from a yell. "YES! Because I bloody well care too! That meant the world to me! And then you said you would actually stick around just to keep me from looking like an arse, and THAT meant the world to me. And then I try to tell you you're pretty and you think I'm joking around. And I get it, I'm a joker. I am often having a laugh. But I do know how sensitive you are about that, so I wouldn't do that! Blimey, 'Moine, I will never understand how you can be so smart, and pretty, and funny, but be so blind to yourself! "
"The world?! My showing up and caring means the world to you?!" Hermione screamed.
"YES!" Ronald yelled back.
"You think I'm pretty?!"
"YES!
"You care about me?!"
"YES!"
"Then why are we yelling!"
"I don't know!" Ron yelledback.
Then he finally stopped yelling. "Because we're always yelling, So I'll try being brave again and stop yelling." He reached out and grabbed her hands again to look in her eyes. "Hermione Granger, I care for you, a lot more than just as a friend, could we please talk about this?".
Finally at the end of an emotional roller coaster. Hermione just fell into a hug with Ron. "Yes." she replied and nodded into his chest. Ron welcoming the hug and returning it gave the lady a few moments to compose herself. "Yes, Ron, I think I would very much like to actually talk for once."
"Come over here," he guided with an arm around her shoulder. "I know a place." Hermione was happy to follow Ron's lead as this round of yelling and mutual spouts of honesty had temporarily shorted out her logic centers. For the first time in a while she was letting her heart take the wheel.
"We call this the orchard because obviously there are a ton of apple trees. But there are a few other types scattered around." Ron lead her to the largest tree in the orchard, easily three times higher than any others. "We call it the Old Oak." When they got to the edge of the branches he grinned. "Can you trust me for a moment?" Ron asked.
Rather enjoying feeling rather than thinking for a moment, she just nodded.
Ron pulled out his wand and wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist. "Right, well, give me a hug and hold on tight."
Hermione was about to ask a question, then Ron called 'Levosa' and suddenly they took to the air. Hermione instinctively wrapped around Ron's neck tighter. Ron couldn't help but smile.
Towards the top of the tree, about eighty feet up, there was a strong limb about eighteen inches thick that sprang out of the canopy. Ron flew them up and gently and sat Hermione onto it, then straddled the limb and sat next to her.
"Are you sure it's safe up here?" she asked nervously.
"Yes, I've been coming up here longer than I've been at Hogwarts. Of course, before school I got up here the hard way."
"You climbed?!"
"Never climbed a tree before?" Ron smiled.
"Not this high. Why would you?"
Ron shook his head. "Mione, stop looking down. Start looking around."
So she did and the London born and raised girl took her first real look at the open country night sky, clear of all city shine, able to see the stars in all their glory.
"Oh! Oh Ron," she gasped as reached her hand out to his. "Thank you. This is beautiful."
"Welcome to the Burrow. This is where I come when I want to be alone. Figured it would be a good place to talk." Stretched his left arm out, and pointed out to the heavenly bodies. "That arch there is Draco the dragon. The dragon is surrounding Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, looking for supper. But then the great Hercules arrived, ripping the Dragon apart and saving Little Bear." Ron said with a grin. From his wand he cast waves of magic that formed illusionary images of the constellations that moved and fought along with his story.
Hermione turned to Ron in surprise. "You know Astronomy?"
Ron shook his head. "Na, I know Stargazing."
"Ronald, you're teaching Astronomy." Hermione, she insisted in joy, "and you're doing it well. Better than Professor Shah. Where did you learn this?"
Ron shrugged, "Dad," he answered plainly. "You didn't expect us to live under this kind of view and not enjoy it, did you?. Damn near a crime not to appreciate true beauty."
Hermione caught the glance and smile he gave her way with that last sentence. "Why didn't you ever take Astronomy at school? You would do well."
"None of you were. Didn't want to be the odd one out." he shrugged.
"Ronald," she said softly, raising her hand and rubbing his cheek. "Separate classes don't end a relationship. "Especially if you are following your strengths." He was about to speak but Hermione put a finger on his lips. "Just think about it, please?" Ron nodded.
"Thank you, now continue the lesson…please." she asked with a smile as she brushed away a few stray hairs.
"Well, as Hercules is saving Little Bear, Ursa Major, or Mama Bear, is coming to protect her cub. For our more practically minded students, Ursa Major is actually one of the more useful constellations. Within it is the Big Dipper. See the two stars that make the dipper edge. Follow in that direction…. right… there. That one right there is Polaris, North Star. The only star in the sky that never moves. It's the stable star that helps everyone get home."
Hermione looked over to her astronomy teacher. "Just like you."
That caught Ron off guard. "I don't know about that," Ron replied but he couldn't hide a smile.
"Thank you for sharing this. I've never seen things this clearly before." She was still in awe of the view, and pleasantly distracted by the company enough, as she looked around following the lesson, forgetting she was in a tree.
Fortunately, Hermione was the center of attention for Ron. As she arched backwards she lost her balance. The moment she yelped, falling backwards, Ron's right hand was there at the ready to slip around for support.
"I wondered if that would happen." he said with an expectant tone, easily catching her. Gently, he raised her back upright and then gently left a hand on her knee for balance.
Blushing, Hermione simply replied, "Thank you again, Ron." During the fall her left arm had quickly wrapped around Ron's neck, but didn't feel the need to move it anytime soon.
"I asked you to trust me." he grinned.
"You did," she nodded. Turning to look at Ron face to face. In a softer tone she clarified, "I do."
"Well… seeing as I have a captured audience, will you trust me when I tell you that I care for you?"
She nodded. "You've just … never actually said anything."
"I was scared, still am to be honest."
Hermione smiled. "You don't look it."
Ron smiled. "Ya, well right now I'm a lot more focused on you than me."
"Isn't there a limit to how much a person can blush?" she thought, but what she managed to say was "How am I scarry?"
""Mione, you are brilliant. Smartest person I know. So much so, I never have a clue what I could say you haven't thought of yet."
"You're doing fine now." Hermione smiled.
"Great, so when I want to talk to you, I just need to fly you up a tree. Merlin."
They both laughed.
"Or… just … try more like this." she offered.
"Point taken, Sorry it took a 4 to 1 Death Eater attack to knock some sense into me."
"Merlin, when I read that letter. I couldn't breathe. I was terrified you were gone, and with all our … stupid arguments and jealous spats… that we never would…well, do this."
"Hermione, I care about you…a lot, and I would truly like to try this summer as a couple, and not like the idiots we have been.
"Well, you know me Ron, I never want to be thought of as an idiot. So yes, that does sound like the smart thing to do."
"So that being the case, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure Ron, ask me anything." she smiled.
"What would be the odds that if I kissed you, I wouldn't get slapped?"
Hermione gave a coy grin. "Couldn't say. You're just going to have to be brave again."
So again, Ron was brave, and was not slapped. Rather when their lips met, Hermione's arms wrapped around neck to welcome him. They spent several minutes that way, catching up for missed opportunities. When they finally separated, Hermione just leaned into Ron's chest.
"You realized we are complete idiots right?"
"What, for not getting here sooner?"
"Exactly," she laughed and finally let a happy tear go.
Ron wrapped his arms around her waist. "I take full responsibility."
"No," she denied, with a smile. "I contributed a fair bit too, but I suppose in the end we finally found our way," as she returned Ron's kiss.
After Rita left, Harry walked down to his trunk room and collapsed onto bed. He was emotionally drained. He had never felt more out of his element with something more important. His lungs felt like he had been holding his breath for hours. He closed his eyes in relief, that perhaps, for once, maybe something went right.
Then as if to be a sign from on high he felt a gentle hand on his cheek. Harry opened his eyes to see Ginny kneeling beside him absolutely beaming. "Hello love," she greeted with the brightest of smiles.
"Wow, hi, I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come down the stairs." he smiled as he started to sit back up.
"Shh, Stay comfy. Don't worry about it. I can be quiet when I want to be. More importantly, I warned you what would happen next when we were alone." she smiled wickedly.
"Warning? I kinda hoped that was a promise, Gin."
"Mmm, good answer," she purred as she leaned into Harry's lips and delivered the promised kiss. She didn't try to pounce or ravage him, but she absolutely poured extra energy and feeling into him. Just wanting to physically convey how much she appreciated him, all his new efforts, how fiercely he had fought the night before and now brilliant he was with Rita.
When her lungs made her have too, she finally stopped and just summed it up with four simple words, "I love you, Harry." It felt so very freeing to be able to say that.
"I love you too, Gin." as he sat up for her to slip on to his lap.
"I am so very proud of you," she offered.
"You may want to dial back on that praise, babe. That was 90% acting."
The gleam in her eye was unaffected. "So?"
"You don't mind I played up the bravado card?"
"Harry, first I think you were acting less than you think. You've shown that steely courage in the past. Second, no, the fact you played a roll to spread courage and inspiration. Babe, if anything you get bonus points for pushing yourself through something hard."
"I swear, I felt like I didn't breathe the entire time she was here."
"It didn't show. If I didn't know better, I would have sworn I was sitting with a nobel head of house." she smiled.
"Thank you, Gin." his cocky grin returned and the gave a sigh of relaxation. Then he looked up at her. "Wicked on a broom? Vengeance?"
Gin laughed as head fell onto Harry's shoulder. "You weren't the only one playing up for the readers. Once Hermione came up with the idea, I completely knew where she was going with it."
"Speaking of her, did you catch where she went? That was a brilliant idea, she at least deserves a thanks."
Ginny's face became puzzled. "Yes, and no. If I'm not mistaken, she went out for a walk."
"That doesn't seem odd."
"With Ron."
"Really," Harry said. "Wow."
"Do you know something I don't? You know that's not fair anymore. Girlfriend access rights. " she grinned.
"Nothing that hasn't been obvious to everyone. But to be fair, we were the exact same, likely worse."
"True." Ginny admitted.
"The only detail I could add is I did tell him to actually talk to her."
"Harry Potter, matchmaker?"
"Hardly, Motivator is the furthest I would go. Having experienced the benefits of saying 'what the hell' and trying things. I am trying to encourage others. Night of our little bonfire, I told Ron to be so bold as to tell her he cared for her and to ask to talk."
"So very aggressive, one step shy of marriage, I see." she teased.
"Hey, I know it might be subtle, but tell me if I'd said something like that a few months back that wouldn't have caused a reaction?
"Also true."
"I wish them good luck."
Back at the Burrow, Arthur stood outside looking over the orchard, sipping a cup of tea. Molly came out with a grin, and walked into her husband's waiting arm.
"Seen them yet?" Molly asked.
Arthur pointed with his tea. "Old Oak, saw some of Ron's stargazing illustrations."
"That sounds lovely." Molly said. She took a moment to remember things. "Wasn't stargazing our first date?"
"Yes, Mollywobbles, I believe it was." Arthur replied as he sipped his tea and grinned.
Molly leaned over to kiss Arthur on his cheek. "I'm just happy the kids are finding good people for their lives."
"Very much agreed." Arthur said as he walked his wife back inside.
