(A/N) Lol. I know what you're all probably thinking by this chapter title but I promise you it's not. Hermione does not kiss Victor at all in this chapter but there is a reason to the title and you will find out why very shortly. And I have to say that the reason is what makes this chapter my absolute favourite! Read on and enjoy and please don't forget to read my A/N at the bottom of this chapter! Thank you!

(Disclaimer) Nope Harry Potter and everything HP related is not mine. But sometimes I like to pretend Ronniekins is. ;)

Bottled Up Emotions

Ch.7— Kissing Vicky

Dedication: To all my beautiful reviewers!

-

The game came to a resounding end and all the players retreated from the field waving at the loudly cheering fans even despite whether or not they had actually won. It seemed everyone, despite the score, still had had a good time. Well with the exception of some people.

Three Wales players limped off the field sporting bloody noses and bruised eyes all the while still grinning broadly. However it was Bulgaria who strutted about the field, carrying the trophy. Hermione was jumping up and down hugging Ginny tightly around the neck as Krum and the rest of his teammates flew around the field, large grins plastered and whoops and cheers of joy springing from their spirits!

Ron seemed to be the only person in that entire stadium who hadn't showed a single ounce of joy. He was slumped back in his seat with a feeling of hate burning in his chest.

Bloody Krum. Stealing the spotlight again!

Hermione waved up as Krum swooped by their seats and Ginny bounced on the balls of her feet waving energetically. Harry was cheering loudly as well and yet Ron still remained looking glum from the sidelines.

"Oh, come on, Ron! Cheer up a bit!" Hermione said ecstatically as she still bounced a little in her spot. "It's supposed to be fun!" Hermione lifted with her hips to bring Ron to his feet. He stood up a bit, crossed his arms tightly and plopped right back down in his seat.

"I am having fun," he grumbled rolling his eyes sarcastically and looking anywhere but at his friends for the time being. Sure he was having fun. The best time he'd had in such a long time. Yeah…sure. And that giant migraine he was getting from this tension was making it SO much more enjoyable.

Hermione looked down at him sadly her arms crossed with hinting glint in her eyes. But the next second it was lost because it was then that the Bulgarian Quidditch players landed on the soft field and were making their way now back up the stands. And then, there she went once more, bouncing again at the edge of the rail, waving them off the field. How he wished it were Krum standing there by the edge of the stadium railing instead. He might have given him a big push over the edge, if it were.

"Ooh, Hermione we have to go congratulate them! Come on!" Ginny said with wide protruding eyes. Had her coloring been entirely different, she most definitely could have pulled off the Luna Lovegood look.

"Yes, alright then!" Hermione squealed as equally high-pitched in her turn, before they both started bouncing away together.

Enough with the bouncing!

Ron watched the two girls squeeze through the crowd and followed their bobbing heads all the way out of the door, disappearing along with the steadily dissipating crowd. And as he witnessed Hermione's head vanish before the doorframe, it was then he realized that he had never heard her squeal like that before now. So why start now?

A glance over the balcony and Ron could see Hermione and Ginny in the crowd of Bulgarian supporters and the team. Hermione seemed enveloped in a large flirty conversation with Krum. And never more than then had Ron wanted to pry the boy's eyes out with nothing but his bare hands…

"So…Ron," Harry sighed as he sat down by Ron's side. "How are ya, mate?" Ron looked over at Harry and saw ever so clearly the amusement in his best friend's eyes. Could anyone for just one minute be just a little bit nicer to him? Couldn't anyone have any sympathy?

"Oh just corking, Harry! And you?" Ron said not taking his eyes away from Hermione and Ginny now as they were both wrapped in the arms of two burly Bulgarians.

"Me? Oh, I'm fine," Harry shrugged, a lopsided grin sprouting on his lips. "But I think- and I might be wrong with this- but, ugh, I do believe you're a bit on the jealous side, mate."

Ron felt his face heat up from his neck and through to his ears. In fact he could not have been any hotter all day long. "Oh, really, Harry?" Ron said his hands now shaking for some reason Ron didn't quite understand. He placed them under his legs to stop Harry from noticing. "How so?"

Harry looked pleasantly confused and shrugged gently. "Hmmm, just a crazy idea I guess." And then another smile developed, this one greater than the last.

Ron looked over at Ginny and the large Quidditch player along with Hermione and Krum and finally witnessed exactly what Harry was talking about. Krum leaned down and lightly kissed the top of Ms. Granger's head and, my-oh-my, did all hell break loose in Ron's heart.

He couldn't even control it. It was as if one minute he was sitting normally watching them as if in minute amusement, the next second he was on his feet yelling out something he wasn't quite sure about. Hell, he had no earthly idea what he just yelled!

But instincts took over and Ron ducked as fast as he could below the railing, before anyone could see him properly, and then still crouched low, Ron scuttled back to his seat, Harry laughing on the other side.

"What was all that about?" Harry said sarcastically as the crowd all around them suddenly came back into focus. The noise level came back to normal and suddenly Ron couldn't remember the swarms of people being there before now. It was like coming out of a daze.

"I- I…" Ron shook his head and sat down in his chair, trying not to think about what was really coming to mind. "I- don't know…"

Harry pursed his lips and looked at Ron skeptically. "Sure, Ron. Sure."

Ron watched Harry's face and saw the slight disappointment form and disappear from his eyes.

"No, really Harry, do you know why I did that?" Ron sat on the edge of his seat and stared at Harry in awe. If Harry knew and Ron himself couldn't see it what could it be? He had been asking himself that question for the past couple of years now and Harry was about to answer it in a matter of seconds.

Harry's mouth dropped open a little then he turned his head to the side and gazed at Ron with eyes glassed over in bewilderment. "Ron…are you…serious?"

Ron looked slightly to the side. Had he asked something wrong?

"Um, yeah…why?"

"Oh…" Harry turned back forward and looked like he was hanging on desperately to laughter on the tip of his tongue. He sat back in his chair again next to Ron's side. He rubbed his elbow with his other hand and stared forward for a minute.

Ron was on the very edge of his seat listening so intently he thought his eyes might fall from his face.

Harry looked at Ron again, this time in exasperation. He sighed. "Ron, if you haven't figure it out by now, nothing will ever get better than that. You'll just never figure it out. Sorry, mate."

Ron almost fell out of his seat.

That was it? That's all he was going to say?

Ron sighed and reclined in his chair again while rested his head on the back of the seat looking up at the sky passing him by. It couldn't hurt to try figuring it out again. So that's what he did.

He thought of Hermione. He thought of why he always acted the jerk around her, why he always got so jealous when she mentioned anything about Krum, or any boy for that matter. He thought of how she always made his stomach lurch when she touched him smiled at him or really every time she just looked at him. He thought about it for a long while and contemplated exactly what it meant. He was on the very verge of admitting what it was he believed it to be when he shook his head of such wild ideas and rubbed a lazy hand of his eyes, now watering from the sunlight.

Nah! He thought to himself. It's nothing. He shook his head again and sat up straight again as a large crowd started up the stairwell. It's just nerves. And like Harry said, it'll never be any better than that.

Hermione entered the top box again. Ron followed her with his eyes, tracing every movement she made. She was entangled in Krum's arm and smiling at all the reporters like she had done it every day of her life.

A large bubble formed in the boiling pit of Ron's stomach and he felt himself tense with hatred. It was happening again, just like every time something like this happened. The tension, the redness, the hatred, the bubble...as always.

But why?

Really… He just didn't want to think about it.

-o-

The tension Ron was giving off seemed to sink into Hermione's skin and she held onto Viktor's arms even tighter than she meant to. She seemed to be clinging onto him for dear life now and she couldn't stop herself from almost grimacing into the camera instead of smiling anymore.

First the fall, then the reporters, now Ron's mad at her. What else could she add to the wonderful let's-ruin-Hermione's-day-list-of-events?

Viktor waved the paparazzi away and took Hermione's hand in his own. He smiled down at her with giant pearly white teeth and Hermione looked squeamishly back up at him in return. Seriously! She felt like she was about to be sick.

The crowd thinned eventually though and Hermione felt herself feeling better with every second. Ginny had disappeared (probably with that cute Chaser she was talking with earlier) and it was only she and Viktor standing idle at the top of the stairs.

Harry looked up at them and waved from his seat on the bottom row. Hermione smiled and waved back, but Viktor only looked about rather nervously and winked down at Hermione when she took a glance up at him. Harry stood from his seat and made his way up to the two of them while they were on their way down.

"Harry!" Viktor looked as if he had only just realized he was there and stuck his hand forcefully into Harry's hand and shaking it vigorously. "Are you veeling alright lately?"

"Uh, yeah!" Harry was being knocked around violently with the force of which Viktor was using he looked like he was having some sort of seizure. "F-fine."

"Viktor, um…" Hermione took Viktor's hand away from Harry's and patted it in her own. "Why don't we go sit down over by Ron until Mr. Weasley comes back."

"Oh! Hermione!" Harry stuck his hand in front of Hermione before she could take another step and jumped in front of her face. "Look, ugh…" He shifted his eyes about as though trying to find how to explain it. "I'm going to go find Ginny, but ugh, watch out for Ron, okay? He's in a very…well… he's not in a very chipper mood if you know what I'm saying. What with all these people around." Harry shifted his eyes forcefully towards Viktor and Hermione understood immediately.

Viktor. It was always Viktor. Why him? Why?

Hermione smiled at Harry and looked over his shoulder at Ron. Sure enough, there he sat in the front row, looking straightforward and apparently brooding. The Ronald Weasley famous for quarrels about the one and only Viktor.

Hermione groaned under her breath. "Thanks, Harry, but I think I can take him." Harry winked and practically flew down the stairwell. Probably getting away as fast as possible.

Hermione grabbed Viktor by the hand and pulled him down the rest of the stairs to where Ron was sitting. She sat down on his other side and Ron seemed to come out of a sort of trance. But the outcome was a more ferocious stare.

"Ronald Veasley," Viktor said with a nervous smile on his face. "It is nice to see you again." He held out a hand and Ron looked at it for a moment before taking it as he gave an obviously forced smile. Hermione growled inwardly. Must he be so intolerable?

"Krum."

Viktor didn't seem to hear the obvious sarcasm in Ron's tone and looked well relieved.

"So how are things with the team and all? Pretty good I expect." Ron began searching Viktor up and down as though looking for something in particular. Hermione felt herself tighten around Viktor's arm in nervousness. Ron's eyes met her own and daggers shot from the dark pupils in the middle of the blue.

"It is going very vell. Ve have practiced against many teams and have come out as vinners. I think the season should become victory."

Ron turned his attention back onto Viktor again and Hermione was relieved of the burdening stare from Ron. Viktor however got the most sarcastic and judging stare from Ron. Ron tried his best to show how disinterested he was and Viktor noticed it as well.

"Uh…huh…. So anyway."

Ron smiled again this time at Hermione. "Krum, I hear you and Hermione have been getting along pretty well lately."

Hermione felt her face flush as red as a cherry. She could tell where this conversation would be heading and she was sure it wasn't making a pleasant turn. That was probably why Ron was smirking so broadly.

"Yes! Herm-oh-ninny and I have been getting along very vell. She is a very good person, and a very beautiful girl." Viktor looked down at Hermione and smiled as well. Had Hermione blushed anymore she would've been a dark shade of violet.

"Ah, yes." Ron smiled again a little more nastily than before. "She sure is a nice catch." Ron winked at Hermione and she felt herself tense up in anger. She would NOT be treated like that.

"No, no!" Viktor said quickly waving his hands eagerly. "Herm-oh-ninny is not like that to me. She is just my friend. We are only in a friendship like vith you."

Ron stared at Krum for a bit, shook his head and leaned a little farther back in his seat. "Yeah, I'm sure you already have at least ten girlfriends already huh?"

"No!" Viktor looked like he was becoming a nervous wreck. "I am not like that. I have no fancy for those companions yet. I veel…I…I…"

"Viktor!" Hermione interrupted Viktor immediately and Ron seemed somewhat disappointed. "Viktor, why don't you go and find your parents and I'll meet you later."

Viktor looked from Ron to Hermione to the door and then back to Hermione. "Yes. Yes, I think I vill." Viktor started away and turned around once more before going through the barrier. "Goodbye, Ronald Veasley. I vill see you again, I am sure."

Hermione slumped down in the seat next to Ron with a loud humph and turned around to him red in the face. "How dare you, Ron!"

Ron looked at her as though thoroughly shocked and confused. "How dare…how dare I? Well…what do you mean, Hermione?"

"How dare you ask those questions, implying Viktor to being some sort of…sort of…"

"Hermione I was simply asking him a question. What? I can't ask anyone questions any more?" Ron crossed his arms across his chest and stared at Hermione again with a strange passion in his eyes. As if he felt more strongly than he ever had. And it was this strong passion that made Hermione falter long enough to cool down a little.

"You're so insufferable, Ronald Weasley."

Again Ron seemed horribly shocked. "Me? Insufferable? Am I the insufferable one now? Um, maybe I'm wrong but I can definitely say it wasn't me who wasn't there for Harry and Ginny these past two weeks while everyone is hurting the most."

"Ron! You know I wanted to be there!"

"Oh really and why weren't you?"

"I couldn't. I had other plans!"

"Oh and that would be?"

A pause.

Hermione felt her breathing rise and her stomach started fluttering as if it had magically grown wings on the inside.

"Well, Hermione! Where were you?"

"I…"

"Hermione, where were you?

And that's where Hermione blew up.

"I was in Bulgaria, Ronald Weasley, and you know that as well as I do!"

Ron started breathing like he had just run a mile in one minute. His face burned as red as his hair and it was impossible to tell where his hair started and ended. In fact his head looked as if it were on fire.

Hermione felt herself weaken and she suddenly felt guilt bubble in her stomach even though she wasn't quite sure why. Ron turned his face away in hurt and his arms seemed to be trying to squeeze his heart from his chest.

"Ron, I-"

"So did Krum invite you over?"

Hermione hung her head to avoid his eyes. "Yes."

"And you came with him today?"

"Yes, Ron. Why? Are you forbidding me from ever seeing him again?"

"Maybe. Would you listen if I did?"

"No."

"That's why I won't waste my time trying."

"He was going to be playing today and I just-"

"…Wanted to be there for him. Yeah, I know." Ron looked down at his feet and a sad look came across his blue eyes.

Hermione felt the hand around her heart squeeze tighter than before so that it was struggling to break free, and her lungs felt as if they were filling slowly with water.

Ron glanced over at her from the corner of his eyes and Hermione found this to be her only chance to explain.

"Ron, he's a really great guy. You'd really like him if you just gave him a chance."

"Well, here's an idea for you." Ron sat on the edge of his seat and pointed the daggers in his eyes directly at her. He looked on the verge of yelling at the top of his lungs and that fact made Hermione tense in anger. "Why don't you and Vicky run away together and get married, huh? After all, where else are you going to find someone… someone like him!"

"Like what?"

"Think about it, Hermione?"

"About what?"

"Where he's from! Who he is!"

"He's not like that!"

"Then how is he? Huh, Hermione? I'd love to know?"

Hermione's hearted pounded against her chest. "Why would you care? You'd hate him any way!"

Ron stared at her in disbelief and Hermione felt herself start to tremble. She thought he might explode. Instead though, he seemed to calm and he sunk back into his seat. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.

But why? Why did he hate Krum so much? And why did she suddenly feel so guilty about going to Bulgaria?

Because of Ron?

Hermione watched him now as he sat there his chest moving faster than normal. He always worked himself up over Viktor, and she felt guilty for causing him that.

Ron's arm brushed against her side as he leaned forward in his seat. Butterflies burst in waves into Hermione's stomach and her own breathing increased as she turned redder than ever. She hurriedly turned her face away praying he hadn't seen. He'd get the wrong idea.

It was Ronald Weasley of course who did that to her, and only him. And again she asked why.

Was it because he was the only one who could work up her nerves? Or maybe because he was the one person who actually took the time to work her up like that. All the while, Hermione could never find in any book she'd ever read, why exactly that funny feeling came to be.

But she knew two things for sure. It wasn't the thing she almost thought it was. She knew that because Ron was her friend and the things she did to protect him and such were things that friends did. But the other thing was, Ron could do something to her she had never even thought she could feel. Even if she didn't know what is was. It was something that made her all tingly inside- a good sort of tingly no one else could give her.

Not even Viktor.

-o-

Ron looked over at Hermione and watched her as she thought about something he could not quite decipher. She always looked so Hermione-ish when she did that.

But that wasn't exactly what was going through his mind. Well that wasn't all he was thinking about. The other part of his thoughts was contemplating Krum and Hermione's "friendship"

But how was he to ask about it? He had to know what exactly it was going on between them. Yes, he had too! But how?

An idea struck him suddenly and Ron realized he had no other way really to ask her with out her blowing up. Literally.

"So," Ron sighed and tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair trying to look casually serious. It was now or never, so he asked flat out. "Is he a good kisser?"

"Ronald!"

Ron jumped in his seat and quickly looked over at Hermione, confusedly. Her eyes were wide with shock and her mouth was opened slightly.

"How could you ask that?"

Ron was almost scared now. Had he said the wrong thing anyway? "What? What? What I said?"

Hermione stood from her chair with such great force his own chair rocked back and forth. When she had jumped to her feet completely, Ron watched as she stormed up the steps toward the exit, her arms swinging madly at her side. Ron however chose to continue to stare after her as she made her heated exit. Well actually he never chose, he was just, sort of, scared to get up.

"What, Hermione? Did I say something wrong? I was only asking!"

Hermione turned around to face him, a small smile hidden in the corner of her mouth. He could see it very clearly and this somehow made it so much easier to breathe.

"I didn't kiss him, Ron! You should know that already! How could you ever think that in the first place? Besides…besides it's none of you business."

She seemed to be fighting not to laugh.

Ron grinned now, finally confident they had made up. "You didn't?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, Ron, I didn't! And because of you and your heinous ways, I'm leaving! Good-bye!" She turned dramatically on the spot and raced down the stair well.

Ron leaned back in his seat and reclined back comfortably.

Well, Ron thought to himself with a little smirk of interest, that went well.

-o-

(A/N) Well everyone. I hope you enjoyed it. I know I did. It's been so long since I've updated and I'm so excited I found the time to do so. Of course this doesn't mean I'll be updating regularly all the time but I'll try my best to at least finish this story.

I hope you liked this chapter. My Ron and Hermione moments are always the most fun to write. :) Next chapter will mainly about Harry and Ginny. After all, this entire chapter was mainly a R/H chapter right? I'm sure you agree.

Anyway, it's good to be back. See you next chapter.

Love from Lizzie

(Mini Summary of Chapter 8) After the match Harry goes out for a little walk, finally able to think for the first time that day. Which obviously is not a very good thing. When Ginny goes out to find his she knows she's interrupted at a bad time. However in the end it may have been the very best timing afterall.

(Many Thanks to My Infamous Reviewers)

ffadix: Yeah, I guess I haven't. So you're new to this fic? I hope you like it. Thanks for the review and keep reading!

ilovetom88: I glad you like it! Keep reading and reviewing!

Darkflower2113: Ack! You no what? I can finally remember the numbers at the end of your SN. He he. I'm so excited! Can't wait to see more of HH. Aren't you glad I update?

Ronniekinsgrl: Thanks! I hope you actually liked it though. Hmm…

the-insufferable-know-it-all: I'm glad you liked it so much. I really like Ron and he always seems to be the kind of person I'd be best friends with so I always try my best with him. I'm glad it paid off.

the penguin of doom- hehe. Awesome name! I totally LOVE it! I always believed penguins will some day take over the world and that just proves it. Your review was very long (and I love long reviews and find them so much more fun!) so I'll give you a long reply. How about that? Well yes, I made Hermione curse in her head for one reason alone. (Well no, the second reason was because she was pissed but you already knew that) She always seemed to me, that even though she fusses Ron about it, she's really a rebel underneath her good girl exterior. No one is able to get that out just yet though. Not I say yet. Yeah, honor classes suck. My honors Chem teacher just quit his job though and we now have this young stupid dude who took his place and gives us all A's for nothing. So yeah, the load is much easier for now. Once I get to college that'll be another story.But anyway, I hope you do come back for this chapter, otherwise I have just wasted my time. Hehe. Happy Reading!

VoicezWithin- Hey girlie! I was so full of tears when I first started reading you review! I'm so glad you understood. And you called me an amazing author! Ahh! I was so excited!No I didn't go to homecoming. I was so upset, but I got real sick because of the last game we had in the continuously pouring rain. So yeah, that sucked. But Prom is soon and I have a date! My new Boyfriend Scott. Yeah, me and Chris finally ended. It's sad but I feel it was for the better. It's too long to explain too so I don't think I will. Unless for some reason you actually want to know and I'll email you…or something… But anyway. Thanks for everything. You're such a great reviewer. Lots of Love!

RusselGrl15- Wow. From what I read at first in your review I can't understand how the hell you can write as much as you do and accomplish all those things as well. And in college? Wow. I feel like I'm not doing too much anymore. Lol. But anyway. Most of that review consisted of things you did so not much to reply on that. Although I still can't believe it.So, you liked the fall huh? Lol. Yeah, I actually almost cut it from that chapter actually, but it changed the scene so much I couldn't get myself to do it. Besides I like it a lot now too. It amuses me like it didn't when I first wrote it. So yeah, I guess that's a good thing.Again, I'm sure you know I love you by now, but really, all the thanks I can give I do. Thank you thank you thank you thank you! A million times over! Hehe. Lots of love

notdapunkprincess- Thanks for reviewing! I hope you keep reading!

gryffindorgrl123- Yeah, I love R/H H/G too. They're just so made for each other you know? Well, yeah I'm sure you do but I though it sounded about right. Lol. Happy reading and remember to review!