Chapter 49 :
The Dispute had happened ages ago and Harry finally had everything ready for the next step : The Reconciliation.
He had rented his dorm for a price of two Chocolate Frogs per dorm-mates and made sure to prepare a place with no easy to throw blunt object. There was nothing sharp within five meters of the reconciliation space either -he had added an extra meter in regard for Hermione's Hair-.
Both concerned party were in a state where they wanted nothing more than to make up for their faults, though they were unable to make the first step -Hermione by pride. Ron by terror- He just had to trap them together in the dorm for a while and everything would be perfect.
Of course, Harry had every intention of staying nearby in case things went out of control -as they often tended to do with these two-. He had therefore rearranged his bed into a comfy little nest with closed curtains.
He looked around one last time, to check that everything was as it should be, then nodded in satisfaction at a well done job. He had set up a meeting with both of his best friends separately. He chuckled. He couldn't wait to see their faces when they understood he had tricked them into a room together.
Ron didn't understand why Harry had called him to their dorm when they could just have talked wherever they were at the time. It didn't matter though, because he would finally be able to ask him how to apologize to Hermione without her being around. He felt a little relieved.
Yet, when he opened the door, Harry was nowhere to be seen. The dormitory had been rearranged weirdly. It didn't seem to have changed at first glance but there was something really uncanny about it. He couldn't figure what- wait. Where was his Beater's bat ? Before he could search more thoroughly, someone opened the door with an exasperated sigh :
"Why did you call me here, Harry ?"
It was Hermione.
Shit.
"Ron... ?" She realized with surprise.
Oh shit. Oh shit. She noticed him ! What should he say !? « Hello » ? Too bland ! « Bonjour » ? Too French ! Shit : his brain was corking up ! Wait, was that what « corking up » even meant... !?
"Hey... Ron..." She greeted him awkwardly. "Have you seen Harry ? He called me here but I don't know why-..."
She stopped talking when she saw the look on his face. Ron thought that he must seem positively barmy. His continued silence triggered her sharpest smile. She looked like a Dionaea Muscipula. Why did he know the true name of the Venus flytrap ? Let's blame Neville...
"Heey... Hermione." He finally managed to spit out.
She frowned.
She was upset.
He upset her.
Shit. That was sad.
Ron missed the time where he could freely talk to both his best friends without being scared or awkward. He missed making Hermione laugh and her side-eyeing him when he made puns. His missed her deadpan. Her rants. Her- Her. He missed her. Merlin, he was pathetic...
"I'm sorry Hermione." He blurted out suddenly to silence the ache in his heart.
Hermione opened wide her big chocolaty hopeful eyes. Her Hair stopped moving. Ron hadn't even noticed that It was undulating nervously behind her.
"I'm sorry." He said again but firmer. "I was a jerk even if I didn't mean to. I don't know why I panicked so badly. I know you are a girl. Probably the best girl ever, even. And I'm really sorry that I refused to accept it despite knowing it."
All throughout his excuses, a large beaming smile took the place of Hermione's discontent. It was soft and happy and relieved, all at the same time. Merlin, she was so beautiful...
"Thank you, Ron." She answered with that sweet voice of her. "I'm glad you apologized. I forgive you."
For the first time in more than a week, Ron felt alive again. Morgana bless this girl.
"I-It's a bit late to ask... And maybe a whole lot inappropriate after everything..." He couldn't help but try with an anxious garble. "But I have to ask or I will regret it : do you... Do you want to go to the ball together... ?"
She winced.
"So sorry, Ron." She stammered. "I- I am already going with someone..."
Ah. Well, there went his heart...
"It's fine !" Ron laughed when he saw Hermione genuinely feel bad for him. "I was just asking as a- as a friend !"
She mock-glared at him :
"It wasn't out of pity, was it ?" She scowled playfully.
"No..." He tried to smile through the pain. "No, it wasn't."
There was a long idle silence. It was comfortable, to be able to share these kind of moments together again. Then a loud snore rang out, making the two friends jump out. They looked at each other with suspicion and followed the sound to Harry's bed. Opening the curtains, they found him cosily nestled in his blankets, book in hands. They understood at once that the little rascal had set up everything and fallen asleep in the midst of spying on them. Ron sighed. Hermione giggled. They both grabbed a quill and an ink pot and shared an impish grin : their revenge would be best served in his sleep.
AN : I don't know what "corking up" means, I just didn't find anything else that felt right in my mind when writing this part LMAO
Next time we'll get more of punished Draco. After that I'll probably disappear for a while like usual, only to make a suddden random come back some time later that too like usual. See you then ^^
