Title: Letters To You
Author: chromatic.daydream
Chapter One: Where It Always Begins
Authors Note: Good afternoon everyone! 13 days until the long awaited HP&HBP! Is anyone else as excited as I am? That excited feeling is what spawned this little tale, as I can't concentrate on anything else. Hope you do all enjoy, review if you know what's good for you! (Oh, and if anyone has ideas as to what other events/dates could be important in Ron & 'Mione's life, feel free to let me know! Thanks!)
…
"Ronald Weasley, you had me worried to death, and you tell me it was one of those FOUL THINGS FROM YOUR BROTHERS?"
Her voice rose drastically in pitch at the end, making the few students assembled in the common room hurriedly pack their bags and take their activities elsewhere. In fact, it seemed to be that only Harry was brave enough to remain in his seat while Hermione's skin color turned a deeper red, reading the Quibbler with some interest.
"Harry?" Ron whispered to his left.
"Sorry mate. You're on your own with this one."
The answer was not the one Ron was looking for, turning back to face the bushy haired brunette with a tight smile. It probably would have been safer to run for it now, there was no chance Hermione would catch him. But then that would mean that he would have to endure her wrath later, a wrath that would only grow.
"Yes?"
"RON! You are sixteen years old and in your sixth year! I would think that someone of your intelligence would understand that you NEED TO BE IN ALL OF YOUR CLASSES! NOT SKIPPING OUT TO GO PLAY WITH YOUR SILLY BROOM!"
"Oy! My broom is not silly, Miss I-can't-fly-worth-dungbombs!"
"My flying ability has nothing to do with this!" Hermione shouted.
"And neither does MY BROOM!"
Hermione's eyes glanced at Harry for just a second; taking in the amused smile he was casting out over the scene. Trust Harry to find amusement in all of this.
"Do you even care what we learnt in potions today? It's a N.E.W.T level course, Ronald! You miss one day and then you're going to be catching up for the rest of the year! Do you want that?"
"Not again with the N.E.W.T's, Hermione!"
"Yes, again with the N.E.W.T's, Ronald! They are going to determine your future and if you don't smarten up and start taking them seriously you're going to- RONALD WEASLEY!"
His head whipped around from reciting Hermione's speech, now memorized to Harry, to look at Hermione, cringing under her glare. She was mad. But it wasn't exactly anything out of the ordinary for the two anymore. Rowing was a common occurrence, but it hadn't been lately that Hermione was so worked up.
"Bloody woman! Calm down!" He yelled over her rantings, "You're as off your rocker as a pregnant woman!"
"I AM WHAT!"
The sound of Harry chuckling into his magazine was lost under Hermione's roar and Ron's protesting; both seeming to mean well but only making it all the worse.
"I just don't understand why you hate going to potions, Ron! It's a very important course!"
"Because Snape is a bloody greasy git!"
"Ron!"
"Don't 'Ron' me, Hermione! You don't have him making comments all class long about you, or breathing down your neck while you're trying to concentrate! He's a bloody fat arse and I for one hate him!"
The complete indignation with which Hermione rose up made Ron cower just a bit lower, taking a step backwards. Her normally beautiful crystal eyes were like the fires of hell, burning and intense with anger as she waved her arms around.
"And what about all he's doing for the Order, Ronald! What about all the times he's saved Harry-"
"Once." Harry interjected calmly.
"Stay out of it mate." Ron lamented, "She's like Ginny during 'that time of the month'."
"THAT TIME OF THE MONTH?"
"I didn't mean it! I didn't mean it 'Mione! Swear! Calm down!"
"I will not bloody calm down, Ron! Someone has got to worry about our futures while you continue to slack off and use those Skiving Snackboxes to get out of class and play around on your broom! When will you grow up?"
Ron rolled his eyes, taking a few steps forward once more, looking down slightly at Hermione. It was a move that always infuriated her, and this time was no different as her eyes stared aptly back at his, lips set in a straight line.
"When little Miss. Bossy Know-It-All stops treating me like I'm SIX YEARS OLD!" His voice roared.
The silence that fell over the room was almost more painful than the shouting, a very irate Hermione glowering at a just as irate Ron, both refusing to back down from each other. From his position, Harry glanced at his watch, knowing all to well what was coming.
"Fine!" Hermione shouted, "I guess since I'm just a bossy know-it-all you won't be needing my potions notes to copy!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Fine! If you need me Harry, I'll be in the library."
Muttering under her breath furiously Hermione gathered up her stack of books, shooting Ron once last look of loathing before stepping out the portrait hole. The silence that had fallen felt foreign, Ron falling back onto the couch beside Harry with a sigh.
"I swear mate, she's completely nutter-"
"Hermione?" Harry asked.
The brunette looked sheepish, refusing to meet Ron's gaping mouth and confused expression, instead shrugging at Harry. As the portrait closed one could hear the Fat Lady complaining about pointless interruptions, Hermione clutching her books to her chest.
"I don't have a reason to be in the library."
And with that Ron snorted, Hermione's shoulders straightening out once again in anger as she shook her head scurrying up the dormitory stairs. Harry just shook his head; eyes trailing back to his magazine for a moment before Ron started up again.
"Doesn't have a reason to be in the library? Honestly Harry, when has that ever stopped her? Bloody nutters that one."
"Maybe she just wants to be close at hand, in case you want to apologize?"
"Apologize? To her?" Ron cried, "She started it!"
Whatever mate."
"Sod off, Harry."
The much taller man just shook his head to himself for a few moments before grabbing a book off the floor, one of Hermione's no doubt from the way she had started to leave them in the common room accidentally. And they sat like that in silence for a bit, Ron reading Hogwarts: A History while Harry was able to now fully enjoy the Quibbler.
"Ron? What are you doing?"
"Sod off, Ginny."
The petite red head exchanged a raised eyebrow with Harry, rolling her eyes, as the obvious once again seemed to have happened. Ron didn't take kindly to his baby sister falling down onto the couch beside him, Ginny reading over his shoulder.
"Oy!"
"Sorry. Just seeing how easy it was to read a book while it's upside down, Ron."
With a loud sigh Ron dropped the book at his feet, leaning back with the two lanky arms crossed over his chest. It was an action that made him look horribly like a two year old, Ginny laughing as she patted his head.
"Come on, Ronniekins! Tell Ginny what happened."
"No."
"'Mione and him had another row."
"Well, obviously!" Ginny said, shaking her head at Harry, "He's only in a right state after Hermione and him fight. It's cute actually."
"STOP BLOODY TALKING LIKE I'M NOT HERE!"
He hated Ginny and Harry at that moment, laughing at him. They always seemed to take such enjoyment in him rowing with Hermione, while as it made him feel like a prat. Like the world's largest prat.
"Sorry, Ron. But it is funny. The two of you refuse to see what's right in front of you."
"And what's that Ginny?"
"Can't tell you. You both need to figure it out for yourself," The younger woman smiled softly, "But if I know Hermione, and I do, I would be thinking about what that is, because you know she's up in her room doing the same. And probably crying."
"Crying?" His face softened slightly.
"Ron, you have no idea how much she hates rowing with you."
Lovely. Now Ron felt like even more of a prat, looking at the book on the ground for a moment. And then it struck him. Like a ton of bricks. Which was probably lighter than a copy of Hogwarts: A History. But that was beyond the point at the moment.
"Gin, have you got any parchment and a quill around?"
"No. But your book bag's right there."
"Right." Ron mumbled.
Stumbling out of his seat, he grabbed the bag, rummaging around for what he wanted before falling down onto a chair in front of one of the tables, flattening out the parchment.
"What are you doing, mate?"
"Shut it, Harry. I'm trying to think."
"Merlin, he's thinking! Call the Prophet!"
Ron bit his lip, quill in hand as he scratched out a few words before finally coming up with a train of thought.
…
…
Hermione,
I'm sorry about rowing with you. I know you only mean best. But calling my broom silly, that just gets me worked up. And you're not a bossy know-it-all. Well, not in a bad way. And I hope you're not crying. Because that would be bloody awful, and I'd feel like more of a prat than I already do. Hope you can find it in you to forgive me.
Your favorite prat,
Ron
…
…
"Gin, take this up to 'Mione!"
"Since when am I your delivery service?" Ginny huffed, grabbing the folded note.
"Since you're a girl. Now go!"
Hermione could hear Ginny coming before she even heard footsteps; the burned fifteen-year-old cursing Ron to no end as the dormitory door opened and Ginny appeared.
"Hermione?"
"Yes? She asked quietly.
"My git of a brother wants me to give this to you."
"Oh, really?"
It was hard to hide the tears that had leaked out of her eyes from Ginny, Hermione smiling the best she could as the younger girl shoved the pile of books away so she could perch on the edge of the bed.
"Should I read it?"
"Dunno," Ginny shrugged, "He told Harry to shut it because he was thinking."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Maybe you-I- should read it." Both girls said, laughing at their simultaneous reactions.
Gently her fingers opened it, chocolate eyes scanning over each word with care before those same eyes were welled up once more with tears, Ginny cursing Ron again.
"What'd he do? I'll kill him, 'Mione! That's the last time the stupid git'll hu-"
"Ginny! Calm down!"
"Why?"
"Because it's fine," Hermione laughed, "It's fine. Could you take a note back to Ron for me, please?"
"Sure."
The red head seemed to be put out at not being able to kill her older brother, Hermione gathering a piece of parchment and dipping her quill into the ink pot.
"There. Thank you Ginny."
"No problem. Coming down?"
"In a moment. I'll give your brother a few moments to read it."
"Okay."
Hermione could only laugh as Ginny disappeared, stepping to her mirror in an attempt to right her appearance, the mirror chirping at her happily.
"You look lovely, dear. He'll think you look lovely."
"Thank you."
Slowly, her footsteps descended the stairs, pausing for a moment in the shadows as she heard Ginny and Ron fighting over the note. Finally Ginny seemed to have gained the paper, clearing her voice as Hermione watched Ron's face turn even more red before throwing his hands up in defeat.
…
…
"Ronald,
Language!
And yes, you are a prat. Whether you are my favorite or not has yet to be seen.
Your favorite know-it-all,
Hermione."
…
…
Ginny just flashed Ron the trademark Weasley grin, winking at Harry as Ron continued to pace and mutter under his breath.
"Bloody hell. Nutter women."
"What was that Ron?"Thebrunetteasked, jumping down the last step.
"Nothing! Not a thing, 'Mione!" He stuttered.
"That's what I thought." Hermione smiled, shaking her head at Ron's intense deer-in-headlights expression.