Chapter 5 - Steak Knives and Shotguns
The warm June days were almost over when Harry, Ron, and Hermione paid the first month’s rent and officially moved into their house. Two days prior, Molly Weasley had sneaked out of the Burrow and persuaded the landlord to allow her entrance to clean and stock some essentials. As she went from room to room making notes and casting anti-dust charms, the arrangement became more agreeable to her standards. Hermione would have her privacy and her own bath on the second Floor. The boys' rooms, connected by the bath, were off the living room and also provided them with privacy. The kitchen was small but clean and in good working order, and the living room was just large enough to comfortably fit a stone fireplace. Molly inquired about hooking it up to the Floo network but was informed that Harry had already done so. A few bits and bobs of shopping were left on the kitchen counter, along with a card from Molly and Arthur welcoming them to their new home. All appeared ready for the new occupants.
On the morning of June 26, the trio met at the estate agents and obtained the occupancy documents, giving them legal access to the property for one year, with an option to renew the contract. Leaving the building, the three walked to the house and found the welcome card and items from the Weasleys'. Hermione cooed over them but Ron could only complain about the brand of toilet tissue his mother had bought. Harry walked from room to room as though he were conducting an inspection or looking for an intruder. After Ron had poked around in the basement and back yard, and Hermione finished putting together a list of necessities, they went looking for Harry, who had ended his survey by sitting on the front step.
“Well, mate, what do you think?” Ron asked Harry. Hermione was a little miffed in being left out of the question and offered an unsolicited answer.
“Well, Ron, WE think it's splendid, right, Harry?”
“The bee’s knees, Hermione. I was just sitting here thinking that this is the first real home I have had outside of Hogwarts, and I’m glad you two are here with me.”
After a while they went back inside and added a few items to Hermione’s list, very few things actually, and set out to make purchases. Pooling their money, not a very large sum to begin with, they found that they should have gone to the grocer first if they wanted to eat. By the time they had arrived almost no money was left.
“Well, we can eat at the Burrow tonight,” Ron offered.
“Ron, we can’t just invite ourselves in like that, we’re supposed to be independent.”
“Come on, Hermione, we…”
Harry could smell a fight brewing. “Look you two, I was planning on treating us to dinner tonight as a celebration.”
Hermione stood, waving off Harry’s offer. “Thank you, Harry, that’s really generous but you can’t do that every night. We need to budget better. Since it looks like we underestimated our expenses…what is it, Ron?”
Ron was shaking his head and smiling at Harry. “Some things never change, eh?”
Harry placed himself between Ron and Hermione and with a gentle push on both their backs, led them off to dinner. “Ok, I go for any place except Madam Puddifoot’s.”
* * *
The next morning was the start of the summer holiday at the Burrow. Molly Weasley was looking forward to a distraction from the nagging guilt she was feeling for not having visited Bill and Charlie’s grave the day before. The weather was turning dreadfully hot and humid, but as guests started to arrive, no one complained; the company was an antidote and cheered everyone up. Besides the Weasleys', Harry, Hermione, Remus, and Tonks were house guests, and Molly told them to expect others dropping in over the next few weeks.
After a big Weasley dinner that evening, Fred and George treated their family and friends to a decent show of fireworks which ended the day with shouts and cheers. When the display ended Arthur stood and said he had an announcement. “Even though this only affects one of us here directly, I thought everyone would be happy to know that The Hogwarts Board of Governors have approved a contract to…” But the rest of his statement was disrupted by Ginny, running through the guests seated on the lawn, howling in delight, and wrapping herself around her father.
“…I think my daughter guesses the rest of my announcement! Hogwarts will be rebuilt and should be ready for the next school term.” Everyone cheered, and Ginny jumped on Harry, knocking him over, and giving him a kiss that earned a comment from George.
“Look, more fireworks!”
The fun and camaraderie of the following days helped everyone forget the oppressive heat. Neville stopped in for a few days and seemed happier than he had been in a long time. The old brooms were brought out, and small-sided games of Quidditch ran late into the night. Lawn games and big dinners every evening, long walks and cleaning up from the previous night filled the mornings. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, though Harry noticed Mrs. Weasley looking at the clock in the parlour and pondering the two missing hands, and a third, Percy’s, pointing to “Lost.”
One afternoon, about a week after the start of the holiday, Molly Weasley announced that everyone would be going to “the kids' place,” as she called Ron, Harry, and Hermione’s house. Ron and Harry gave each other an inquisitive look but Hermione told them that they had planned a house warming party.
Ron commented that the “temperature outside made it warm enough.” (Harry wasn’t quite sure if Ron was intentionally being thick.) When the Weasleys' were not looking, Hermione gave him a quick kiss on the mouth and told him to “shut up.” Ron just mumbled his consent. Harry thought Hermione’s kiss could have mucked up the whole arrangement if Mr. or Mrs. Weasley had seen them, and Hermione’s quick glance after the kiss confirmed Harry’s suspicion that neither had notified their parents of their feelings toward each other. He could only hope that everything would work out.
Hermione’s parents could not make it to the house warming party but it went well and everyone had a good time. Neville, Seamus, and a couple girls Ginny knew in their sixth year stopped in; Oliver Wood stopped by also. Harry and Ron, who would likely run into him during the Quidditch season, traded insults but enjoyed the unexpected reunion. But the talk of the house later that evening shifted after the news Professor Grubbly-Plank brought with her. She first told everyone that neither the house ghosts nor Peeves had been seen since the final battle. No one really cared about Peeves, though Fred and George might have, if they thought about it twice; but the absence of the other spooky personalities would be missed to some degrees.
The most interesting story was the change in staff. Gone were Flitwick, McGonagall (which they already knew,) and Snape; silence echoed when Grubbly-Plank mentioned his name and many glances were exchanged. Harry had mixed feelings, especially after the role he heard Snape had played in the final battle, but he was happy for Ginny and the students who would not have to endure him. There was not much word about replacements, though rumours abounded that Mad-Eye Moody may take the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, in person this time.
As the evening wore on and most of the guests departed, Fred, George, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Neville sat in the living room talking about old times. Some of the stories had Ginny laughing so hard she cried, especially those from the year before she attended Hogwarts. Her favourite was how Neville broke his wrist in his first year flying lesson (Neville just looked embarrassed through the story, but Hermione sat next to him for comfort).
After midnight, everyone was tired but wanted to hang on to the magic of their friends a little longer. Fred suggested a pint at Bellies-Up but Neville resisted, saying he had to be in London early and Ginny had a midnight curfew which she had already missed. Hermione offered to go back with her in case her parents gave her a hard time. The Weasley men found this very amusing…just what was Hermione going to do? They laughed as the girls Floo’d to the Burrow. Finally Harry said he was going to bed and the party broke up. He and Ron ended up talking back at the Burrow until four in the morning, and paid for it the next day when Mrs. Weasley sent them to clean up their house at 8 am.
* * *
The sweltering heat continued day after day with little relief in sight. For a country unaccustomed to this weather, and for this length of time, everyone was trying to think up ways to stay cool. At dinner one evening Arthur Weasley informed everyone that the Fairlings, a Muggle family down the road with whom he often spoke, offered him the use of their small spring-fed pond on the edge of the two properties while they were on holiday in the Canary Islands. The table seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and talked about picnicking there the next day. Molly Weasley made certain that everyone knew the rules about having a partner when swimming. Harry, who’d never learned to swim, was happy at the prospect of having time to sit back and relax or read.
Over the next few days the temperature finally moderated a little, but the pond continued to draw most of the Burrow’s guests, and even Mrs. Weasley once or twice. Harry was catching up on some good fiction stories and getting plenty of rest; in fact, he felt as though he had never really rested until this point. Like everyone else, the sun was giving Harry a light tan, another novelty.
Between the sun, and the total relaxation, and watching Ginny play around in the water, Harry thought that staying here for the rest of his life would be a brilliant idea. Sometimes he would wade in to the water, which was far colder than he expected, and splash around with the others. Ginny tried to teach Harry to swim but he was not interested, although having Ginny hold him when she was teaching him to float was not altogether unpleasant. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were there every day. Others popped in a few times as well as Remus; Tonks refused but did sit with Harry a couple times and joined him in reading.
As the time drew nearer for Hermione to leave, Ron and Harry discussed returning to Hog House together so she would not be alone for the week between her arrival and the date Ron and Harry were originally planning to arrive, July 14th. But Hermione would not hear of it and insisted they stay that last week at the Burrow. Besides, she could drop in after work and on Tuesday and Thursday.
July 13th, the day before Ron and Harry would head to Hogsmeade, the two slept in then came down to the kitchen together finding Ron’s mother busy with some kitchen cores.
“Morning, Mrs. Weasley,” Harry croaked.
“Good morning, sleepy heads.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry, Mum, good morning. Where is everyone today?”
“Your father is at the office, Fred and George had to inventory some mishandled goods from one of their suppliers, Hermione popped in earlier, she and Ginny went for a walk about an hour ago. I prepared a basket for the four of you, would you mind taking it with you if you go to the pond?”
“Sure, Mum. Harry…you want…to head…over now…or wait…a bit?” Ron muttered between bites of food.
“And, Harry, dear, when you and Ron are living together, please try to break him of that habit. I never had much luck.”
“Ok, Mum.” Harry answered; it was the first time he had ever called Molly “Mum.” He thought it was an accident but then decided it was appropriate and did not correct himself.
As for Molly, she froze for a second in shock. She thought back to Hermione’s words at Leaver’s Day and accepting her as part of their extended family. Harry was…different. In Molly’s mind he had almost always been her son, but she also understood why he kept his distance by using the more formal “Mrs. Weasley.” Between Harry’s utterance and her talk with Ginny she felt a deep sense of satisfaction and success.
When Ron and Harry had left for the pond, Molly sat and thought again about what Harry had caller her. She knew Harry, as much as she loved him, would never be able to replace Bill or Charlie, but that was not what she was looking for. Bill and Charlie would always be Bill and Charlie, but Harry was a part of the family now and it was helping fill that horrible emptiness in her heart. By the time Molly stopped thinking about Harry, it was nearly noon and she realized, for the first time in almost three months, the crushing emptiness of her son’s deaths had been forgotten.
Harry and Ron walked silently the half-mile to the Fairling’s pond. It looked like there would be a storm soon, so the picnic might have to be brought short, but the rains usually brought cooler weather, so it was a fair trade. As they came around a corner in the road they heard Hermione and Ginny splashing and shouting in the pond. Ron handed Harry the basket of food, kicked off his shoes and ran through the dense pine and boxwoods that surrounded the pond and let out a yell to surprise the girls as he jumped in the water. Harry thought this was a brilliant idea and followed Ron through the undergrowth, but stopped at the edge of the pond.
Ron was standing, frozen, facing Harry with an expression on his face somewhere between surprise and dismay. Harry thought Ron might have landed on a rock and twisted his ankle until he looked behind him and saw two very quiet young ladies. Ginny was apparently sitting (the water was only about one meter deep at that spot), with her back to him and Ron, her head twisted far to the left and watching them out of the corner of her eye. Hermione was facing them, crouched down, but with her hands folded across her chest, flushed-face, and wearing a look of utter horror. Harry’s brain took a moment to process the scene before he realised what was wrong: neither Ginny nor Hermione were wearing their bathing suits. Ron had probably got an eye-full before the girls had a chance to cover up. His calculating expression was changing from surprise and dismay to surprise and delight. It was comical to see the gears churning in Ron’s head, but Harry knew what he had to do.
“Er “ Ron, why don’t we head back to the house, it looks like a storm is coming.” Ron frowned and started to follow Harry’s advice, then stopped.
“I don’t see a storm, Harry. Look, how often do we find ourselves with this opportunity? Maybe we should...” he started to say quietly.
“No, Ron, now.” And without another word he helped Ron out of the water, pushing him reluctantly behind the bushes to collect his shoes and the basket. Shortly thereafter they heard one of the girls say something and then sounds of them frantically wading to the shore.
“Blimey, Harry, do you think we will get in trouble for…” But Ron stopped and thought it through. They most certainly would not get in trouble. There was absolutely no chance Ginny or Hermione would ever mention this to anyone. It would be their little secret.
Walking back to the house, Ron was silent but Harry finally asked Ron what he had been thinking. “Ron, er, what exactly DID you see back there?” He felt a little embarrassed for asking.
“Uh, just saw Ginny’s bum, she was facing away. But Hermione…” Ron smiled to himself and stopped talking, leaving Harry wondering about his unfinished observations.
* * *
The rain started at noon and lasted for the rest of the day. By mid-afternoon Hermione had returned to Hogsmeade, and Harry and Ron were packing as Ginny sat on Harry’s bed with a look of abandonment. The next day, July 14th, Harry and Ron were ready to go. Ginny was in tears, but Harry did not know what to tell her to cheer her up. Even when she turned seventeen in a few weeks they both knew there was no chance whatsoever her parents would allow her to visit Harry without a chaperone, no matter how much they trusted him. Arthur had actually taken Harry aside a few days back and had a “father to son” talk with him; Harry could tell that Mr. Weasley was terribly uncomfortable; he suspected Mrs. Weasley had put him up to it.
At lunch the three were quiet and did not eat much, though with Ron ’not eating much’ was relative. Harry and Ron lingered for a while afterwards but knew they had to leave soon. At around one-thirty, after sitting silently in the living room while Mrs. Weasley worked in the kitchen, Ginny got up quietly and took Harry’s hand, leading him up the stairs while Ron sat behind with an inquisitive grin on his face.
As they reached the top of the stairs Ginny threw herself at Harry kissing him feverishly. Harry could tell she was upset and he tried to just hold and comfort her, but Ginny would pull away and start kissing again. Harry’s heart was not into anything passionate, but he let Ginny think he was, not wanting to cause any further pain for her. After a couple minutes, and no interruptions from her mother, Ginny mouthed to Harry, “Follow me,” and taking his hand, led him to Bill’s old room. Closing the door, Ginny again threw herself at Harry and tried to manoeuvre him to the bed.
Harry was becoming apprehensive about the whole situation and tried to tell Ginny to calm down and stop, but she kept after him. Finally she stepped back from Harry with a completely unreadable look on her face, and in one swift motion removed her shirt. But this action seemed to wake Ginny up to what she was doing; Harry thought the flabbergasted look on his face probably helped a lot, too. Ginny stood there awkwardly, her face slowly falling with the realisation of what she had done “ not embarrassment, just shame.
Harry wondered how she could be so beautiful and so miserable at the same time. Under her shirt she wore a gray athletic bra and Harry could see the beautiful shape of her body from the waist up. There was just a hint of ‘baby fat’ remaining on her hips, her abdomen almost athletic in contour, with a diamond-shaped patch of tan skin that matched her bathing suit. Harry glanced further up, seeing the marvelous statement of her approaching adulthood; beautiful in shape if not ample in size. Ginny’s muscular shoulders and arms had been toned and sculpted over the past month by the daily swims and Quidditch games.
Standing there, they both seemed to have the same thought…not this way. With an ashamed look on her face, Ginny put her shirt back on, then Harry wrapped her in his arms and spoke softly into her ear, “Someday, Gin, someday.”
Downstairs they could hear Mrs. Weasley yelling at Ron.
Sitting on the bed and holding each other, a soft knock on the door was followed by Molly Weasley’s head poking into the room and telling Harry it was time to go; she did not look pleased. Harry kissed Ginny on the top of her head but as he tried to embrace her again she broke away and ran to her room. Feeling rotten and lonely, even though Ginny was just a few feet away, Harry said good bye to Molly and headed off to his new home.
Ron and Harry moved the trunks to their respective rooms and started to unpack. After a while they looked around and noticed a few improvements Hermione had made in the house. The walls and trim in some rooms had been painted and a new picture hung on the living room wall above the fireplace. It was a Muggle picture, however, and Ron commented about how boring it was just sitting there, not moving. There were fresh flowers in every room and a note on the kitchen counter telling them to not start dinner. Opening the fridge, Harry saw that it had been supplied with a number of items including bottles of butter beer and water. Taking a drink for himself and tossing a water to Ron, they sat down to wait for Hermione.
* * *
After about an hour the wait was becoming old; Ron and Harry had played a game of chess and looked at some newspaper stories about Quidditch teams. Harry was anxious to get to tryouts and meet the coaches, hoping it would take his mind and heart off of Ginny. As he was about to leave and scribble a note to Ginny the front door opened and Hermione called in, “hello, anyone home? We have company.” Harry thought it was good idea she said this because Ron had his “I’m going to snog Hermione” look on his face. It turned out Hermione’s comment was particularly important because their guests were her parents. Ron changed his eager sprint to the front door into a gentlemanly effort at helping Hermione with the bags she was carrying.
“Hello, Ron, Harry,” hailed Mr. Granger “Jeannie and I are so sorry we couldn’t make the house-warming party so we thought we’d make it up to you by treating you three to a home-made dinner.” Tom Granger set the bags on the kitchen counter and shook Harry and Ron’s hand.
“We got in a few hours ago and found our daughter redecorating here and there. Having my first place was a big thing for me at Maya’s age; I’m sure you’re all terribly excited.” While Jeannie Granger was talking and unpacking various items Harry and Ron looked at each other and mouthed, “Maya?” Then Ron followed Hermione out to the front where she had left a bag; “Here, Maya, let me get that for you, Maya.” Ron sniggered, but Hermione ignored him and carried the bag in by herself.
Jeannie sent Ron and Harry to work preparing vegetables while Tom got a small grill they had brought with them, and lit it for cooking. Hermione set the table and prepared a salad. It occurred to Harry that Ron had probably never seen a meal prepared by hand. He kept going back and forth between the kitchen and grill with an amazed look plastered on his face. In fact, Harry realized that Ron looked just like his father when he was clucking over a Muggle gadget. His suspicions were confirmed when he announced: “This is great, I have to tell Dad about this stuff!”
The meal was prepared expertly by Hermione’s parents and soon they were all seated around the kitchen table, ready to eat. Just as Ron was about to grab a piece of corn, Tom cleared his voice and looked at him.
“Ron, Harry, Maya, we know this is not a Wizarding custom but we think it proper to thank God for our food before meals.” Then, folding his hands and bowing his head, he continued: “Heavenly Father, we ask for your blessing on this food, that it may nourish our bodies as you do our hearts. Please look over and protect your three children living here that they may find your way and your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
Hermione and her parents were the only ones to say “amen,” and for a couple seconds there was a very awkward silence. Then Hermione said, “Let’s eat,” and the dishes were passed around.
* * *
“Pardon me, Ron?”
“Yes, Mr. Granger?”
“Would you please not use that at the table, son?”
“What? My wand? How am I supposed to cut the meat?”
Harry stopped what he was doing to watch Ron. He and Hermione had always used their forks and knives for cutting, unlike most of their Hogwarts classmates, including Ron, who had used a simple tableside cutting charm.
“Well, Ron, instead of using magic why don’t you try this.” Tom Granger held up a steak knife.
“Uh, that looks sharp, sir.”
“Right, that’s how you cut your meat, with a sharp knife.”
Harry could tell that Mr. Granger was enjoying himself, at Ron’s expense, of course. He suspected Hermione was trying to stifle a laugh, too. And as if on cue, Hermione snorted back a laugh and set her silverware down to help Ron.
“Here you go, Ron. Hold the knife in your right hand like this…RIGHT hand, Ron. There, now hold your steak in place with the fork. No, not there, right where you want to cut. Good, now turn your knife over so the serrated side…the rough side, Ron, faces the meat…and…saw back and forth. Well, you’ll get the hang of it.”
Harry was about to split his side trying not to laugh at Ron when he saw Hermione give Ron’s left hand a little squeeze and then lean toward him, apparently whispering something in his ear. Whatever she said made Ron’s eyes open wide and he cracked up. But as he started laughing the hand holding the cut of meat so firmly against the plate slipped and sent his bite of steak, fork still embedded, sailing across the table into Tom Granger’s plate. Harry exploded with laughter and was shortly joined by the rest of the table, all except Ron; he recovered his food with an embarrassed apology to Tom and was diligently working on the next piece when Hermione commented, “When Ron’s hungry enough he’ll do anything right to eat.”
The rest of the meal was filled with family chatter, Hermione’s old schoolmates and what they were doing, and Harry and Ron’s imminent departure to camp. After dinner was finished, and the table and kitchen cleaned, the Grangers announced that it was time for them to leave. Harry, followed by Ron and Mr. Granger, walked out the front door, thanking Hermione’s parents for the meal and steak knives. Jeannie Granger, with her arm around her daughter, brought up the rear.
Stopping suddenly just outside the door, Tom Granger put his arm around Ron’s shoulder and asked in an easygoing voice, and with a smile. “Ron, do you know what a ‘shotgun wedding’ is?” Harry knew exactly what a ‘shotgun wedding’ was, and froze in his tracks.
Hermione face went from a smile to a frown and she blurted, “Daddy, what’s that supposed to mean?” Mrs. Granger seemed a little taken aback, too, but was playing along.
“Ron, if you’re going to date our daughter you must play by the rules.” Harry could only imagine what was brewing in Ron’s head after that revelation. He looked to Hermione and her expression went from anger to horror.
“You knew, Daddy? You knew? Mother, how did you know?” Then realizing that she was in a very precarious position, and in the wrong to boot, she said simply. “I’m sorry. Mum, Daddy, I never intended to deceive you. Ron and I only started going out…” Then looking to her mother. “When we talked a few weeks ago, this was the complication I meant to tell you about, but I didn’t want to ruin it for Harry and Ron…and myself. I’m so sorry.”
An awkward silence was followed by the gentle voice of Hermione’s mother. “Maya, you’re an adult now, both you and Ron have proved that to us, and your father and I have to let you live your life. Just remember, though, that having that freedom also means accepting the responsibility for your actions.” Jeannie Granger took her daughter in her arms and spoke softly into her ear. “Maya, we’ve known for a long time, since Leaver’s Day; we may have been the only ones, but we heard your mistake when you talked about Ron’s family. From that point on it was quite easy to see, really.”
This whole time Tom Granger was watching his wife but also keeping a firm hand on Ron’s shoulder. Ron just looked sick; Harry thought if he had to say something he might lose his dinner and making the flying fork embarrassment seem trivial.
“Ron,” Hermione’s father continued, “don’t start a relationship off with a lie. Now take care of my daughter.” After patting Ron on the back, then shaking his hand, the conversation was over. Ron and Hermione were off the hook, ashamed, but thankful.
A little while later the three sat in the living room and talked about what had happened. It was funnier now, but Hermione spoiled the mood by looking seriously at Ron and saying “Now, I’m off to bed and we need to tell your parents, soon!”
Ron looked stricken, but realized Hermione was right. “Ok, first thing tomorrow…Maya.”
* * *
The next day Harry took off to the trials and Hermione to her job; Harry was excited but Ron looked sick, again. Hermione gave him a kiss and told him to wait for her to get back in the evening and they would talk to his parents together. Then she wished Harry luck, and Apparated to work.
“Well, mate, good luck and have fun. It’ll be lonely around here without you.” Ron looked dejected but Harry suspected he would not be too lonely and reminded him that he was leaving in a few days also. “Yeah, Harry, you’re right.” But Ron was already getting nervous about having to talk to his parents.
Later that evening, Ron and Hermione returned to the house after their talk with Ron’s parents. Again the parents, this time Ron’s, already knew that they were in a relationship. Molly was uneasy about the situation but Arthur continually eased her fears by insisting that they had already been living together for seven years. Hermione did not think his logic very sound, they had been “together” only in that they lived under the same roof, but she kept quiet and appreciated the backing. A tense dinner that included Remus and Professor Flitwick followed. Ron did not look his mother in the eyes, but Lupin looked pleased throughout the meal and Ron thought his parents had probably told him about their talk earlier. Later, after returning to Hog House, Hermione kissed Ron goodnight and the two went to their separate rooms.
* * *
The Chudley Cannons camp began a few days later, and after a week Ron was wondering what he had landed himself into. Every day he came home with bruises and the occasional bloody nose. Hermione was worried but Ron insisted that the team was just more physical, and the Quaffle seemed to go twice as fast than at Hogwarts. Overall, Ron’s confidence was high, though he knew it would be a long time before he made it off the bench.
July 31st was Harry’s eighteenth birthday, and Ron expected him in late that afternoon. When he heard the front door, however, he thought it sounded more like Hermione.
“Maya? Is that you?” Ron had started using Hermione’s parents' nick-name and she seemed to like it.
“Hi, Ron, how was your day?”
“Bloody painful, but otherwise ok. That Chaser from Sherington is pretty good.”
“Did you fall again, or just general bumps and bruises?”
“Well, I fell, but not from the broom. Chad and I were hanging decorations for Ashley’s birthday and I fell into a pile of unfolded chairs. I’m hurting in places I didn’t know could hurt.”
“Ohhh, poor baby!” Hermione pronounced baby like “Bay-Bee”, pouting at Ron.
“Want me to work out some of the kinks?” She asked, putting her arms around Ron’s waist and her chin on his shoulder; Hermione had to stand on her toes to do that. “Whew, Ron, did you take a shower after practice?”
“Nah, was going to come home and rinse off then but I got distracted studying the playbook.” Ron laughed and turned to Hermione, touching her face gently.
“Want to help me get rinsed off?” This was a new “joke” between the two, and Hermione gave him the standard answer.
“No thanks, I have had better offers.” Giving Ron a quick peck on the lips, Hermione went off to change and relax.
Running up the stairs after Hermione, Ron pushed her bedroom door open, intentionally slowly, and asked “You sure?”
“Go away, Ron, flee, get yourself cleaned up and then ask me to do something with you.”
Well, Ron thought, that’s something.
Heading down to take his shower Ron thought about Hermione’s constant struggle with anything physical in their relationship. It was starting to annoy him and he was wondering how (or if) it would eventually work out. They held hands, hugged, and kissed like any other couple, but his few tentative attempts to touch Hermione more intimately had failed, and miserably; a couple hard slaps and then one punch which almost ended their relationship. But, no, Ron thought, it was just part of who Hermione was, and in a way, it was strangely exciting…forbidden desires and that sort of rubbish. Ron went off to the shower and scrubbed the sweat and dirt off himself, letting the hot water massage his new bruises. After a few minutes he heard Harry call, “hello” into the bathroom.
“Hi, Harry, how’s the big leagues?”
Harry stuck his head into the room and replied: “Not what I expected, there won’t be much happening until next month so it’s pretty much just ‘study the playbook’ rubbish and some working out. Hey, leave some hot water, ok?” Harry felt a hand on his shoulder trying to tactfully push him out of the doorway.
“Hi, Harry, Happy Birthday! Pardon me.” Hermione greeted Harry cheerfully, pushing the bathroom door open. “I have to talk to Ron.”
“Hi, Hermione, ah, see you guys later.”
“Hermione!” Ron yelled. “Can’t I take a shower in peace?” Beating a quick exit, Harry headed to the living room to relax.
“Ron, listen to this.” Hermione called back, ignoring Ron’s protest. Looking at the counter to find a place to sit, she started moving a couple things around, then grabbing a damp hand towel she contemplated cleaning off a spot but gave up. “Ron, have you EVER cleaned this room?” Hermione said while giving the hand towel a suspicious sniff.
After a pause, “No. Why?”
Hermione shook her head and continued. “Look, Ron, I found an interesting story about the cycles of female fertility and how they are detected…”
“HERMIONE! Get OUT!” Ron bellowed furiously. Hearing the door slam shut, Ron found it amusing that Hermione was not interested in messing around but she had no problem walking in on him while showering. Shaking his head, Ron grabbed his towel, dried, and dressed before Hermione could barge back in. Women!
Harry jumped up when Ron came into the living room, ready to head to the shower, but seeing the look on Ron’s face he decided to venture a question. “Everything ok there, Ron? Hermione looked bloody annoyed after that long conversation she had with you.”
Harry’s attempt at calming Ron with humour failed.
“Harry, honest to God, I do not understand that woman. First I ask her to take a shower with me, then she says ‘no,’ then she barges in and tries to give me sex education while complaining about how dirty our loo is.” Obviously irritated, Ron did not realize he was voicing some personal tidbits. Harry had suspected as much but never heard him actually admit to any.
“You asked Hermione to take a shower with you, Ron?” Harry asked, half amused and half incredulous.
Finally realizing that he had revealed a little more than he planned, Ron tried to backtrack. “Well, I fell today and was really sore, so I asked…What are you laughing at?”
But Harry could not help himself, Ron might as well ask him to quit playing Quidditch. “Look, Ron, no worries, I promise not to tell Fred and George.” Harry was trying really hard not to crack-up, so in a more serious tone he continued: “Ron, you know how Hermione is, she probably heard that chances of having a baby girl were…5% higher during full moons. I’m sure she just read it and wants to share some interesting…” but Harry was REALLY having a hard time being serious. “…statistic about gerbil reproduction.” Smiling at Ron. he clapped him on the back and headed to the shower. Ron watched Harry walk down the hall and go into the loo. After thinking for a minute he followed.
Coming to the door, he knocked and called for Harry.
“Ron, I’m in the shower. Can it wait?”
“Oh, sure, Harry, sorry.” Retreating back to the living room couch Ron tried to make himself comfortable while listening to Hermione banging things around upstairs. Then the banging stopped and Hermione started down. Trying to act as if nothing had happened, Ron greeted her with a smile and asked if she wanted to run down the street and have a drink with him.
“Ronald Weasley, I…” Uh oh, Ron thought, this was going to be a bad one. She never calls me Ronald unless she is properly angry. “…no, not now, maybe after dinner, ok?” Waving to Ron she trotted down the hall and left the house. Ron sat there for a minute wondering what had just happened; in a split second Hermione had gone from “bad-news” to “sunny-day”. Ugh, what am I missing?
Hermione was far from “sunny-day,” in fact, she was far from “bad-news;” she was livid. For three weeks she had been trying to talk to Ron about their future, now she was wondering if there would be a future together. How could that insensitive clod throw me out? Was sex the only thing he had on his pea-sized brain?
Leaving the house and walking down the street as calmly as she could, Hermione headed towards Hogwarts before she realized what she was doing. No one there to talk to except Hagrid, and I don’t think I’m ready to talk to him about this. Stopping and turning into the Blueberry Inn, she sat for a while at the bar and sipped a glass of white wine. After calming down a bit, Hermione ask Kate, the innkeeper, if she could please borrow her fireplace for a quick trip. Kate happily waved her to the common area. Around the corner, and taking a hand full of Floo Powder, she threw it onto the hearth and said “The Burrow.”
* * *
Later, Ron and Harry went to the Weasleys' for Harry's birthday. Hermione came down from Ginny's room with a gift for Harry but few words for Ron. The evening turned out fairly quiet and the tension between Ron and Hermione was obvious. But Harry enjoyed the time with Ginny, his first in two weeks, and she did not seem as lonely when Harry left later in the evening.
The next day, Ron returned to the Cannons' summer training camp. Hermione was cool but ended up giving him a warm kiss good bye. Unlike Harry, Ron would be back about every other day so he looked forward to spending more time, alone, with Hermione and figuring out what she was after.