Hermione couldn’t help but grin to herself as she climbed the steps, happily humming by the time she reached the landing and entered the hallway.
“Hey ’Mione,” came a familiar voice.
Hermione felt herself blush a little, but nevertheless smiled at Ron, who returned it with a sheepish grin of his own.
“Hi,” she said, taking his hand.
The tops of his ears brightened, but he laced those long fingers with hers nonetheless, his grin widening.
“So - what has you so happy?” he asked. “Besides the obvious, of course.”
She laughed a little.
“Oh - it’s just something rather interesting.”
“What?”
“Oh - nothing,” said Hermione with an airy laugh. “I’m not so sure you’d want to hear about it, anyway.”
“Hermione - I actually found the courage to ask you something I never thought I’d ask you before,” said Ron, his eyes suddenly overbright. “I think I’m ready for anything.”
Hermione smiled, squeezing his hand, using the other to run up and down his arm tenderly. Am I glad he did.
“Well . . .” she began.
She didn’t know how to put it, really. How would Ron take it?
“Yes?” prompted Ron.
“Erm . . . well -”
“Come on, Hermione, it can’t be that bad,” Ron rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “It’s not like you saw Harry and Ginny snogging or something . . .”
Hermione’s lips tightened. Ron’s eyes widened.
“Oh Merlin,” he said faintly. “I-I . . . you did . . . I don’t believe it.”
“Now, Ron, don’t be rash,” said Hermione. “I thought you wanted this!”
“I did - I mean, I do!” said Ron, rubbing a hand along the back of his neck. “I just didn’t think it’d happen - so soon . . . and Harry - Harry he’s . . .”
“I know,” said Hermione. “But Harry’s seemed to find just a little happiness - so let him have it.”
“Of course,” said Ron. “I mean - why wouldn’t I?” he then grinned and laughed. “This is great - I’m happy for him!”
“Don’t you tease him, Ron!” Hermione said warningly.
“I wouldn’t do that!” said Ron in mock outrage. “Me, Hermione?”
Hermione pushed at his chest playfully, and they laughed.
Thunk, thunk, thunk!
“Oh - that must be Harry!” whispered Hermione. “I’d better go.”
She stood on tip-toe to briefly kiss him on the cheek and hurried to her shared bedroom with Ginny, waving at him before she closed the door. She was pleased to see him wave back while touching that spot on his cheek with the other hand.
Hermione sighed when the door finally closed, going to lay on her bed. She couldn’t help but grin as she buried her face in her pillow. Ron Weasley wasn’t so bad, now was he?
She chucked at the incredulity. Ron Weasley is wonderful.
The door suddenly groaned open and Ginny came in, her face flushed, eyes over bright, yet an unsure look about her. It wasn’t like her nowadays. What happened to her self-assured Ginevra.
“’Ello, Gin!” Hermione said brightly, sitting up.
Ginny jumped.
“Hermione,” he said, reverting to her old self, “it’s utterly evil to be cheerful at this time of night.”
Hermione simply smirked.
“I expect Harry went to bed then?”
Ginny glared at her.
“Don’t -”
“Don’t what?”
“You know what, Hermione Granger!” said Ginny, sinking into her bed.
Hermione was suddenly confused.
“What’s so bad about it, Ginny?” she asked.
“Did you see the way he ran from the room?” asked Ginny.
“But -”
“It was a mistake, Hermione,” Ginny said, turning to face the wall, away from her best friend. “It’s probably not going to happen again.”
Oh no, thought Hermione. This certainly wasn’t going to be taken as a mistake. Ron did the impossible tonight didn’t he?
Then maybe he would be up to helping Hermione do some matchmaking business, then.
“Hey, mate,” grinned Ron as Harry entered the shared room across the hall.
“Oh - er - hi,” said Harry awkwardly. He’d been hoping his best friend would be asleep, giving Harry much needed solace to clear his head.
What am I gonna do? he thought desperately. What will Ron say? Will he be mad at me?
“What’s wrong?” asked Ron.
“N-nothing - it’s - it’s nothing,” muttered Harry, bending over in his trunk to hide his red face.
“Don’t give me that,” said Ron. “You were fine five minutes ago.”
“Odd how things can happen in a span of five minutes,” Harry muttered, gathering his pajamas.
“What was that?”
Taking a deep breath, Harry stood up straight to face his best friend.
“Ron - if I tell you something you have to stay calm,” he said. “You promise not to hex me o-or punch me?”
“Why would I do that?” Ron furrowed his brow.
“Because . . . ” began Harry hesitantly, “because I kissed Ginny.”
He expected Ron to roar and start beating the hell out of him, or hex him; he expected Ron to angry and begin to make threats, or something. To curse under his breath - anything.
He did not expect his best friend to grin.
“Good for you, mate,” he said.
“W-wait,” said Harry, clearly confused. “You're - you're not mad?”
Ron sighed.
“Did you not hear what I said on the train home this summer?” he said, exasperated though grinning. “I knew she was going to pick somebody better - who not better than you?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you - are you that thick?” said Ron.
“B-but -”
“Harry - you don’t worry about me,” said Ron, sitting on his bed. “I’m happy for you, mate, I really am. So stop being a prat.”
Harry sat on the foot of his own bed.
Even if Ron’s words were relieving, Harry was not settled. He’d probably confused Ginny when he practically bolted from the kitchen.
He didn’t know what to do - he’d never been this confused. Not even with Cho Chang. Come to think of it, in comparison to what had happened downstairs was what he and Cho shared even a kiss?
“You know what I say?” said Ron, interrupting Harry’s thoughts. “I say you and Gin have your own time at Diagon Alley, hmm? Then me and ’Mione -”
Harry smirked mischeviously at his friend as comprehension dawned him. “’Mione? You never call her ‘’Mione,’ Ron.”
It was Ron’s turn to go red.
“I - well,” he stammered, “I - erm -”
“Well,” said Harry, plopping back first into his be, “I’m glad Ginny’s become quite the matchmaker.”
I very much liked the moment shared between Ron and Hermione - put's a warmness in yuor heart, doesn't it?
More soon to come. Please review in the meantime!