“Ron, I can go the library perfectly well by myself, thank you,” declared Hermione.
Ron had spent the last week of term escorting Hermione to all of her classes. Though he and Harry both knew Malfoy was mostly talk, Ron was not willing to give him any chance to hurt her.
“I know you can go alone. But-“, Ron was cut off by a harsh, impatient voice.
“I do not know what has gotten into you this week Ron, but I will not be followed everywhere I go,” Hermione ranted as she looked up at him defiantly. Ron looked at Harry for support, Harry, however simply shrugged.
“I just-“, again he was cut off.
“I know. But no-one is going to jump out from behind a suit of armour and hex me Ron. Not with Dumbledore here.” Hermione’s voice was softer now, and Ron thought he saw something in her eyes, something he hadn’t noticed before. He couldn’t put his finger on it. However, everything was pushed straight out of his mind when she gently laid a hand on his arm and squeezed it reassuringly, before giving him a small smile and heading off towards the library.
As he watched her walk away, Ron let out the breath he had been holding whilst she had touched him. After she had gone from his sight, lost in the sea of pupils heading for the train station to go home for Christmas. Ron slowly turned to face Harry, only to find his best friend smirking at him.
“You look like Malfoy with that face,” Ron commented, hoping to wipe the look from Harry’s face.
It worked. Harry’s smirk slid straight off his face, only to be replaced by a look of deep disgust at resembling the Slytherin in any way.
They began to make their way back to Gryffindor Tower in silence. Ron was trying to think of a topic to bring up, and was just about to comment on their latest Defence Against the Dark Arts assignment, when Harry broke the silence.
“So, how long have you liked her?” he asked conversationally.
Ron tripped over the hem of his robes in surprise and landed flat on his face. He blushed a deep crimson as he picked himself up and dusted off his robes.
Oh Merlin. Am I that obvious? Ron thought desperately, looking carefully at Harry, trying not to give any more away. Harry was grinning at him, looking highly amused at having caught Ron off his guard.
“Liked who?” Ron asked, trying, and seriously failing, to act as if he had no idea what his friend was talking about. He started walking again, hoping to seem nonchalant.
Harry burst out laughing and stayed on the spot, but was quickly silenced by a glare from Ron, and ran to catch up with him.
“Oh come on Ron. D’you think I’m stupid?” Harry exclaimed in exasperation, looking incredulously at him. Ron didn’t answer. He simply continued to tread the path that led to the Tower, staring straight ahead. After a couple more minutes of silence, it was once again Harry who spoke first.
“I see the way you look at Hermione, mate. I know you like her. Actually, I think you lo-“
“Harry, drop it, will you?” Ron snapped. He was not going to listen to Harry talk about this. After all, Harry had no idea how he felt about Hermione. He did love her; but Harry had no idea how much and Ron not about to announce his feelings to Harry.
You have to tell Hermione before you can tell Harry. A voice said inside his head. Ron tried to ignore the voice, but it was getting louder and louder each day.
And so, he made up his mind, to tell Hermione over the Christmas holiday. No matter what; by the time school started back, Hermione would know how he felt.
The thought made Ron feel sick. But he had to do it; especially if other people knew.
* * *
“Ron. Ron. RON!”
Ron awoke on the first day of the holidays being shaken roughly by Harry. Ron grunted and grudgingly opened one eye. Harry was stood by his bedside looking thoroughly excited. Ron couldn’t help but smile sleepily; he hadn’t seen a smile like that on Harry for months.
Harry turned and walked over to the window, leaning on the sill, gazing out across the castle grounds.
Ron slowly sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He stretched as he pulled the feather duvet from him and stood up, walking across to where Harry was standing. He shivered as he wrapped his arms around himself, trying to warm up. He peered out over Harry’s shoulder and gasped.
It was breathtaking. It had snowed heavily overnight, blanketing the grounds in a glistening white coat. It looked just like a scene out of a snow globe which his dad had brought home from work once.
“Alright!” Ron said determinedly, suddenly very awake and happily anticipating a day of energetic snow ball fights. He walked over to his trunk and threw on some clothes, pulling on his gold and scarlet scarf and hat, knowing how cold it must be out there.
Once ready, he and Harry set off down the stairs, across the common room and out of the portrait hole to grab some breakfast.
The Great Hall was almost empty. There were three pupils at the Ravenclaw table, two at the Hufflepuff table and Ginny and Hermione. Ron couldn’t help but notice the absence of Malfoy and his henchmen. It was all too obvious whilst the school was so empty. They walked quickly over to the girls and sat down.
As Ron began ladling steaming porridge into a dish, he felt someone watching him. He looked up to find Hermione sat looking at him, wrapped up warm just as he was. His heart leapt into his throat to see her sat there looking at him. He forced a smile onto his face, hoping he didn’t look too stupid. Hermione simply smiled back, making Ron’s heart go again.
Ron went back to his breakfast with renewed hope.
Maybe, he allowed himself to think, just maybe.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later the foursome walked out of the main doors into the fresh, sparkling snow. They were obviously the first to venture out on to the pure, untouched snow.
“Wow,” he heard Hermione breathe softly beside him as she gazed across the snow scape. “It’s stunning,” Hermione said as if talking to herself. Ron smiled because she had a knack of accidentally describing herself.
Ron laughed as Ginny ran out across the grounds, making paths in the snow with her footsteps. After a few seconds, Harry and Hermione followed, both laughing heartily.
Ron stood and watched Hermione as a snowball from Ginny hit her on the back of the head. Ron couldn’t suppress a smile when she whirled round, snow already in her hand, and hurled it back at Ginny, hitting her in the stomach. Hermione stood looking at Ginny triumphantly, until another hit her in the leg. With that, Hermione began to run after Ginny, chasing her across the grounds, but not coming anywhere near catching her.
Ron looked around to see where Harry was. He was sat in the snow a little away from him with a pile of snow balls at his side, watching Ron intently.
Harry slowly shook his head and looked in the direction of Hermione’s shrill giggles and screeches, and back at Ron. He gave Ron another look of complete disbelief.
“You can’t keep secrets from me mate,” Harry stated plainly, before lobbing a snowball in Ron’s direction. Ron dodged the assault and raised his eyebrows at Harry who continued to sit staring at him knowingly.
“I guess not,” Ron replied resignedly, before helping Harry up, gathering up some snow and heading off in the girls direction.
Ron hadn’t noticed they were being watched and as they headed off after the girls a silent figure slipped away into the darkness of the forest.