Chapter 9
Why Are We Yelling

Ron and Hermione slipped out the front door and immediately Ron led 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." he said as he stretched his back also.

"Me too, Ron, no apologies needed."

"I do want to thank you, for both."

"Both?" Hermione repeated, trying to count in her head.

"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!" she scolded, cocking her head to the side.

"No, I just mean, since the three of us started up first year, you were straight out of the gate, the smart one. Bloody brilliant you are."

Hermione blushed, as she resumed their walk. "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?" she looked up with a pleading expression.

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. "'Mione, I've got all night for you and we are just now getting to the orchard. Take your time."

Seemingly without noticing it, she raised her own hand to cover Ron's and press it closer to her. "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."

Ron 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 a 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 really 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." Coming from a hug and going straight into an explanation, Hermine's brain was so focused she didn't notice that she had taken Ron's arm as they walked and talked.

"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 then registered the words 'ten minutes', 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. "'Mione?"

"Right here, Ron, I'm your guest here."

"I am sorry I didn't think to send 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 moved to stand in front of her to look her in the eyes, "'Mione, were you actually worried about me?"

Eye contact was something Hermione was trying desperately to avoid. "What? No." Hermione half heartedly scoffed and shook her head unconvincingly. 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… that was all for Ginny?" Ron nodded his head, taking both of her hands.

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 an 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 disbelief.

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?"

Hermione 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, 'Mione, 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 yelled back.

Then he lowered his voice, and tried quiet honesty. "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 welcomed 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 led 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.

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 'Ascendo' 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 helped 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 she reached out for his hand with hers. "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," he said, stretching his arm out and pointing out to the heavenly bodies 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. With his wand he began casting waves of magic, forming 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. "Nah, I know Stargazing."

"Ronald, you're teaching Astronomy." Hermione, she insisted joyfully 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 Ron's attention. She arched backwards and she felt herself losing balance. She yelped as she started to fall backwards, but Ron was there at the ready, slipping an arm around for support.

"I wondered if that would happen," he said with an expectant tone, easily catching her. Gently, he raised her back upright, leaving a hand on her knee to help keep her balance.

Blushing, Hermione simply replied, "Thank you again, Ron." During the fall her left arm had quickly wrapped around Ron's neck, but she didn't feel the need to move it anytime soon.

"I asked you to trust me," he grinned.

"You did," she nodded. Hermione turned to look at Ron face to face, and in a softer tone she added, "I do."

"Well… seeing as I have a captured audience, will you trust me when I tell you that I care about you?"

She nodded. "You've just … never actually said anything."

"I was scared. I still am, to be honest."

Hermione smiled. "You don't seem like 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 scary?"

"'Mione, you are brilliant! You're the smartest person I know. So much so that I never have a clue what I could say that you haven't thought of yet."

"You're doing fine now," Hermione assured him with a smiled.

"Great, so when I want to talk to you, I just need to fly you up a tree. Merlin." he said, shaking head.

A moment of quiet filled the air as they ignored the stars and truly honestly looked at each other. They both laughed.

"Or… just … try more like this?" she offered.

"Point taken. Sorry it took a four to one Death Eater attack to knock some sense into me."

"Merlin, when I read that letter…." The emotions even now forced her to bite her lip, remembering it was over, and things were alright now. "I couldn't breathe. I was terrified you were gone, and with all our" She shook her head in frustration. "With all of our stupid arguments and jealous spats, I was absolutely terrified that we never would…well, talk or be like this."

"Hermione, I care about you… alot, and I would really like to try this summer as a couple and not like the idiot's we have been."

"Well, you know me Ron, I never want to be thought of as an idiot." She smiled and brushed her hair out of the way. "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?"

A coy grin appeared on Hermione's face,"Couldn't say. You're just going to have to be brave again."

Once again, Ron was brave and wasn't slapped when their lips met and Hermione's arms wrapped around his neck. They spent several minutes catching up for missed opportunities and when they finally separated, Hermione just leaned into Ron's chest.

"You realize we are complete idiots right?"

"What, for not getting here sooner?"

"Exactly," she laughed, and she let a happy tear fall.

Ron wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close. "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," she said, then pulled Ron into another kiss.

After Rita left, Harry walked down into his trunk room and collapsed onto the bed. He was emotionally drained. He had never felt more out of his element with something so 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 thought 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, wanting to physically convey how much she appreciated him and all of his new efforts, how fiercely he had fought the night before, and how brilliant he was with Rita.

When her lungs screamed for her to, she finally pulled away and summed it up with four simple words: "I love you, Harry". It felt so freeing to finally be able to say them.

"I love you too, Gin." he said as he sat up for her so she could slip onto his lap.

"I am so very proud of you," she told him.

"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 role to spread courage and inspiration - Babe, if anything you get bonus points for pushing yourself through something hard."

"I swear, I felt like I couldn'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 noble head of house." she smiled.

"Thank you, Gin," his cocky grin returned. He gave a sigh of relaxation, then looked up at her. "Wicked on a broom? Vengeance?"

Gin laughed as her 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 gave him a puzzled look. "Yes, and no. If I'm not mistaken, she went out for a walk."

"That doesn't seem odd."

"With Ron."

"Really," Harry said with a surprised, but happy smile. "Wow."

"Do you know something I don't?" Ginny paused a moment to read his face like a card player. "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, the 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. The night of our little bonfire, I told Ron to be bold and to tell her he cared for her, and 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.