Rating:: PG-13
House:: Astronomy Tower
Characters:: Hermione Granger Ron Weasley
Genres:: Romance Angst
Era:: Multiple Eras
Spoilers:: Order of the Phoenix
Stats:: Published: 07/17/2004

Updated: 04/15/2005

Words: 21,275

Chapters: 10

Hits: 6,523

Half a Man

Austen

Story Summary:: Ron expected to be a happy man when Voldemort was finally defeated. Instead he faces the challenge of putting the pieces of his life back together.``However, questions remain from the final battle that changed Ron's life forever. What are his friends hiding from him? Why is the Quibbler writing stories about him? And most importantly, will he ever find a woman to love him the way he is?

Chapter 07

Chapter Summary:: Ron expected to be a happy man when Voldemort was finally defeated. Instead he faces the challenge of putting the pieces of his life back together.

Posted:: 11/08/2004

Hits:: 502

Another worthless day,
was Ron’s first thought that morning. Waking up had become even more of a chore in the week since Hermione had left. What was the point of getting out of bed when there was nothing you wanted to do outside of it?

But as much as Ron loathed it, he really needed to get up. His favourite fysiotherapeut would be there in an hour. Not that Ron looked forward to the exercise, but he wouldn’t let his bad mood interfere with his training. Getting better now was the only thing that kept him going.

Which was why Ron summoned his airchair. With a flick of his wand he levitated himself to put on his dressing gown, and then he lifted himself into the chair. What he really needed right now was a long shower to rinse off the sweat of a night filled with nightmares.

Ron flew up the stairs to the bathroom, but stopped in the air when he heard some strange noises. It sounded like a light rumbling, as if somebody was stumbling around in Ginny’s room. Ron flew a bit closer to her door. There it was again, but now he also heard a man’s voice murmuring. He knew in an instant that something was very wrong. It was eleven o’clock in the morning; nobody was supposed to be at home. Harry had decided yesterday evening to go with Ron’s mum and Ginny to Diagon Alley to buy books for her last year at Hogwarts.

Ron was concerned because there were still Death Eaters on the loose. And he really didn’t want any of them in his little sister’s room. He decided not to go back to his room to send Pig for help. Instead Ron did what he did best. He let his anger get away with him. He took his wand into his right hand and whispered, "Alohamora." The moment the door opened, he flew his airchair full speed ahead.

"Stupefy," Ron shouted as he pointed his wand at the man in Ginny’s room. With a loud thump, Harry Potter fell face forward onto Ginny.

"Ron, you stupid git," Ginny screamed. "What the hell do you think you’re doing? Revive Harry." After all the time he had spent his last year fighting, Ron could do that in a flash of a second. While Ginny pushed Harry of her, Ron had some time to look around.

There were no intruders here. The only ones in the room were Harry and Ginny, who were both sitting on her bed. Harry’s arm was around Ginny, and her hand was suspiciously close to his best friend’s bum. His sister’s hair was wild as if somebody had been running his hand through it. If Ron didn’t know better, he’d think he interrupted a snogging session.

Harry looked around groggily and rubbed his face. "Nothing like a surprise attack from your best friend. What did you do that for?"

"Sorry mate," Ron said. "Thought that I was alone here. And I heard these noises…"

"So, why aren’t you with Mum?" The question was meant for Ginny, who was trying to comb her hair with her fingers to make it more presentable.

"Oh, you know… I hardly need any books because I have all of yours from last year. So I didn’t need to go. I didn’t want to spent my last day at home in a crowded street, so I stayed here to spend some time with you."

If it wasn’t for the famous Weasley blush, Ginny would’ve gotten away with it. But her bright red cheeks and ears told a different story. She wouldn’t look directly at Ron, and she also avoided Harry’s gaze. When Ron looked more closely, he noticed that she was holding Harry’s hand.

Ron couldn’t believe it. His sister was lying to him. She had been kissing Harry. As always, especially lately, his rage spread quickly through his body.

"You bastard," Ron yelled at Harry. "You and Ginny, you — both of you. You cheating son of a bitch." He felt his blood draining from his face. It was as if ice was floating through his veins.

How could you do that to Hermione," Ron shouted. "She’s only gone for a week. And now you can’t keep your filthy hands of my sister? Nice boyfriend you are. You don’t deserve her."

Harry seemed completely stupefied. "Wha-?" was all he managed to say.

Ginny came back to her senses faster than that. She almost smiled as she answered Ron. "Is that what you think? Harry and Hermione? You’re even more daft than I thought."

Ron didn’t believe a word Ginny said as she tried to deny what she had been doing. He knew what he had seen with his own eyes. The smiles, the jokes, the little rendezvous.

"Ron," Ginny continued. "For the past three weeks Harry and I have been…" She was at a loss for words.

Harry filled her in. "We’re dating," he simply said. "I fancy your sister."

A little ray of hope filled Ron as he watched his best friend and his sister together.

"But what about Hermione?" asked Ron. "You two acted as though you had a secret together and you were always smiling at each other. I reckoned…"

That’s my fault," Ginny said. "He--we-- though that me dating Harry would upset you. Most boys don’t like their friends with their sister. Hermione agreed to keep it a secret even though she didn’t think we should. See, she wanted to tell you. But Harry begged her not to. She only didn’t because she was afraid it would, as she put it, ‘intervene with your healing process.’"

Ron could tell that this time Ginny was telling the truth. Hermione and Harry weren’t deeply in love. Suddenly his day looked a lot brighter.

"What? Harry killed Lord Thingy but his airchaired friend scares him?" Ron started laughing. "Some hero you are, Harry." Ron didn’t feel the need to dwell on the new developments in Harry’s love life. "Come on, you two. Let’s get some breakfast. I’m starving."

Harry looked immensely relieved by the turn of things. He let go of Ginny’s hand and walked past Ron to the hallway. When Ginny followed him, Ron changed his mind and blocked her way with his chair.

"Wait a minute, Ginny. Just want to be sure of some things." Ron pulled out his wand again and twirled around. "Harry’s been through a lot of stuff and deserves a break now. I know that you had that crush on him in your first year. But after that you dated half of Gryffindor. And Harry, well, you’re his first real girlfriend. Since you can’t really count that walking watering can, can you?"

Ron did his best to sound stern, which didn’t work very well with his sister giggling. "Harry’s my best friend and if you ever hurt him ... Let’s say I learned some tricks from Fred and George."

"Ah, that’s so sweet. Still on the look-out for Harry, are you?" Ginny ruffled Ron’s hair. "But no need to worry. My fear of the wrath of Ron Weasley will keep me on the right path." She put up her right hand. "I hereby swear to never cause pain to Harry Potter, unless he’s being a git who deserves it."

Ron moved his chair back so Ginny could pass him. "Can’t believe I’m talking relationships with you, considering the mess you made of your own love affairs," she said.

"What love affairs?" Ron complained. "Pig’s dating more than I am."

"He’s seeing more of Hermione, you mean. I am sure that little bird would love to bring her more than only my letters. He needs the exercise."

The change of subject unsettled Ron more than a little bit.

"Me and Hermione aren’t together like that, if that’s what you mean."

"No, but you would like it that way," Ginny simply stated. "You fancy Hermione, nothing wrong with that."

Ron started to blush. He never talked about this, never. "She thinks I’m a whiny bugger, so what’s the use?"

What? You mean that little fight?" Ginny walked to the hallway. Standing in the doorway she said, "Hermione just got a little irritated. She’s like that when she wants you or Harry to do something. You know how pushy she is. She’s already started nagging me about studying for the NEWTs. This blow-up is nothing a nice letter can’t fix."

You think so?" said Ron. He was more than a little surprised by how well Ginny knew Hermione.

"Harry feels the same," she added. "He said that you two had a much bigger fight in the third year. Don’t worry about Hermione. I know she loves…"

"What’s keeping you?" shouted Harry from downstairs. "I baked eggs and sausages."

"Coming," yelled Ginny back. She didn’t finish her last sentence and seemed now lost in thoughts.

The two of them went on their way to the kitchen. Ron needed the food and then he would have the shower he’d intended to have an hour ago. After his weird talk with Ginny, Ron had made up his mind.

This afternoon he would write a letter. It was time for Pig to pay a visit to Luna.