A Future of Hope

Chapter Two: One More Day

December

It's late and all I can do is stare at the canopy above my bed. I'm not even tired but I know I need to get some rest. We've got a killer exam in Potions tomorrow morning. If I fall asleep, Snape'll have my neck for sure. I can't let my grades slip any more or Hermione will start nagging at me to pay more attention to my studies and less to Quidditch.

Damn the feeling in my stomach! Why does she have to be so darn amazing? If she weren't so wonderful, this feeling would never be a problem for me. I don't even know how it began or when. I just know that each time her hand brushes mine or she is near, my stomach does this little flip-flop thing. I don't know how she does it or even if she knows. All I know is how much I love the time we share.

I've got to do something about it, but I don't know how. What if she rejects me and I have to face that fact every day and every second she's around? "Bloody hell, Weasley," I say aloud.

I hate having these complicated emotions. I wish there was a simple way of telling someone how you feel about them without having to worry if they feel the same. I wish she would be the one to say to me that she wanted to be with me. Then again, why would she? I'm always hassling her about either her obsession with books or her infatuation with Vicky.

Well, what's a bloke to do? When you've liked someone as long as I have, you'd get boiling jealous too. Especially when he didn't deserve her. Not that I do, that is. I've never been good about showing her that I care for her as a friend. What could I possibly do to show her how I really feel?

I know it isn't a matter of impressing her. She's been around me for close to six years now. If she's not impressed by now, there's no hope for it. Its just that I would like to know that I do appeal to her in some way. I know I'm not as smart as her or as brave as Harry, but I do have good qualities. I do. Really. I'm sure I do.

Beside me in his bed, Harry starts tossing and muttering in his sleep. "Shite," I mutter under my breath.

Not this again. I hate it when Harry can't fight off You-Know-Who in his sleep. Harry always wakes up screaming, his scar red, and full of knowledge he had no desire to know in the first place. Annoyed with the world, I get up from my bed and walk over to Harry's. He'll wake in a moment or two, I'm sure. So I sit down on a stool and wait.

In the meantime, I need to think about what to say to her and what I'll do if she says she doesn't feel that way about me. I decide that I have to be honest. I have to tell her about these feelings I'm having and how I often think of her. I'll have to do my best not to rush what I have to say and not to rush her to reply. Damn, patience was never a strongpoint of mine.

If she says that she feels the same way and wants to try a relationship, I don't know if I could contain the joy from showing on my face. I just hope I don't make an idiot out of myself if that does happen. I wouldn't want our first more-than-friends moment to be ruined by my stupidity.

If she says she doesn't feel that way, well, there is nothing I can do. She doesn't go for the type of guy who keeps on trying to make a move. I'd be hurt of course, but I would respect her decision and her wishes.

If would be awkward for a few days but then we'd decide to go back to the way things were because our friendship is worth it. Then we'd stop sidestepping each other, but it would still be weird. I suppose I'd keep on having these butterflies in my stomach every time I saw her. She'd probably never look at me the same way. Harry would wonder what was the matter with us and we'd say nothing. And eventually, things would go back to the way they are now.

Not that the way we are now is bad. Its great having her for a friend, not just because she helps me with homework, but because of who she is. She can figure anything out and is just as brave as Harry. Well, maybe not as brave as Harry, but damn close. And speaking of Harry...

The screams have started. I start shaking on his arm to wake him up while Seamus gets some light into the room. Neville and Dean are busy gathering some shoes and cloaks for both Harry and me. We've got this Harry/You-Know-Who nightmare business down pat. We agreed at the beginning of term that defeating evil wizards was more important than lack of sleep and fighting with one another.

Harry eyes finally open and I'm not surprised to see them bloodshot. "Ginny, oh shite Ron. He's going after Ginny," Harry says quickly.

"What?" I say, my voice cracking ever so slightly.

Harry and I accept the shoes and cloaks the guys give us and start making out way through the castle to Dumbledore's office. Harry says nothing more on the subject until we're past the stone gargoyle and waiting in the Headmaster's office. I signal to Fawkes to wake the old wizard and then Harry and I wait.

When Dumbledore comes into the office, I can tell he hasn't slept much tonight either. Though I'm sure his reasons were far different than mine. "What news, Harry?" Dumbledore asks as he sits down across from us.

Harry takes a deep breath and replies, "He's after Ginny. He says if he gets her there will be nothing to stop him from killing me. He knows that we've become close since the Ministry accident and the fact that he took over her once only helps him. He's going to have one of his spies take her either when she goes home from here for the holiday or at a Quidditch game."

"What can we do to keep my sister safe?" I ask, my thoughts thinking of the tortures she might be forced to go through.

"I assure you Mr. Weasley, we will do all we can to keep your sister from harm. I think it would be best to inform the Weasley's and discuss her remaining at the castle throughout Chirstmas. It might also benefit her to stay away from Quidditch games until further notice. Was there anything else Harry?"

Harry fidgets in his seat and I know something worse is coming. So, it seems, does Dumbledore. "He is also planning on initiating Draco Malfoy a year early. He does not have the amount of supporters he used to," Harry informs us.

Now, I don't know about you, but this doesn't seem so horrible to me. Draco Malfoy has always supported You-Know-Who. Its only natural for him to join. "How is that bad?" I venture the question.

Dumbledore gazes at me intently and replies, "With Draco initiated, dark magic would be used in the school and Voldemort would have another excellent source of information."

I cringe at the name and worry even more about my sister. "You may go back to your dormitories, I must speak with Arthur and Molly," Dumbledore tells us.

Harry and I nod our heads and start back through the school. I want so badly to ask more about what You-Know-Who would do to Ginny, but I hold my tongue. Harry doesn't need to be bothered more about it.

It's amazing how quickly the night took a turn for the worse. I started out worrying about Hermione and how to tell her that I love her and now I'm scared for my sister. Everything seems to be falling apart at my feet. I want to tell Hermione but now the timing is wrong. I want to hug my sister and never let her go because I don't want her in the hands of evil men. I don't know what to do.

Harry and I climb into our respective beds and try to claim the sleep we've been missing. "What will we do?" I whisper to him. "We won't have much of a chance keeping her safe."

"One problem one day at a time, Ron. We've lasted this long, we can last one more day if we need to," Harry replies yawning. "G'nite Ron."

"G'nite Harry," I reply and start to feel sleep finally claiming me. Tonight, I can do nothing more than what I have. I'll wait for the morning and then I'll see what I can do for Ginny. And then, when the smoke clears, maybe I can find some time to tell Hermione what I've wanted to tell her for so long. Harry's right. I can wait just one more day.