This Dance We Do

Chapter 14: The Party

Ron spent the next several days staring intently at the back of Hermione's head, then blushing when she would look at him. Was Angelina right, did Hermione have feelings for him? Ron was not sure.

Well, maybe Angelina's right and Hermione is interested in me. Maybe I should tell her how I feel before she ends up with another prat like Krum. What's the worst that could happen? Ron thought to himself.

Well, she could not fancy you, and things could get really awkward. She might never want to be around you again. Could you live with that?

No. But could you handle seeing her with someone else?

Ron pondered this thought. He was jealous beyond measure when Hermione went to the Yule Ball with Krum, but would he feel the same way if she found someone whom she loved and was happy with?

Yes, a little voice in his head honestly replied. But I do want her to be happy, beyond all else. Does that mean that I might have to see her being happy with someone else?

It just might. Could you do that? Swallow your jealously so that Hermione could be happy?

I'll sure as hell try.

Ron placed his hands on the sink and looked into the fogged mirror. He looked down as beads of warm water still trickled down his body. One droplet traced one of the long scars down his arm.

Ron smiled sardonically as he remembered a time when he envied Harry, his fame, and even his scar.

"Well, you've got your own scars now, don't you, you prat?"

Ron turned away from the mirror and dried off.

He padded down the stairs several minutes later, his hair still warm and damp. As usual, he found Hermione in front of the stove, making breakfast yet again. Ron's heart surged with an emotion he could not quite name, that made his insides squirm and his hands clammy. He cleared his throat as he walked up behind her.

"Smells good, what is that?"

Hermione smiled warmly at him. "It's not this that smells good, this is just bacon. I have hot buns in the oven, though; thought it might be nice to make something special for Harry's birthday."

Ron raised an eyebrow at her.

"You never make me a special breakfast for my birthday."

"Yes, well, your birthday is in the middle of term, isn't it?"

"Your point?"

"Well, I don't have access to a kitchen during term."

"That's not true. I'm sure Dobby would love to help you out."

"Fine. Come March, I'll go into the kitchens and make you something special for your birthday, okay?" She gave him a look before she turned back to the stove.

"You're dripping by the way."

"I'm what?"

"Dripping. Your hair. It wasn't fully dried."

"Oh." Ron reached up to feel his hair. Sure enough, there was still a significant amount of water left in it. He started towards the stairs, intending on getting a towel for his hair, but got a better idea.

He walked up behind Hermoine, then started shaking his head, sending beads of water everywhere, mostly hitting Hermione. She screamed and turned to get out of the line of fire, but Ron wrapped his arms around her to keep her still. She stopped squirming and glared up at him.

"Just you wait, one of these days I'm going to do the same to you."

Ron thought of Hermione in the shower, shaking her long, brown hair out of the way, and he had to let go of her and sit down, immediately.

Harry came into the room minutes later, bleary eyed and slightly ruffled. He seemed surprised for a few minutes when Hermione and Ron chorused "Happy birthday, Harry!" He took his seat next to Ron, blushing slightly as Hermione set out a large plate of hot buns. Ron felt jealousy lick his insides, but he pushed it aside.

"So, Harry, I thought that you, Ron, and myself could go see a film this afternoon. There's a cinema in town and they usually have something good playing there. Does that sound okay?"

Harry looked slightly taken aback, but the sounds that he made around his mouthful of hot bun sounded positive. Hermione smiled and daintily tucked into her own plate.

About an hour later they were walking into town, discussing the school year that was drawing ever nearer, the classes that they had signed up to take, and the summer holiday that seemed to be passing all too quickly.

"Hermione," Harry said as they neared the cinema.

"Yes?"

"What film are we going to see, anyway?"

Hermione hesitated. "Well, it's the only one that's playing that we would really be able to get into. Well, the only one that's not a children's story..."

Ron stopped. "Hermione, what are you taking us to go see?"

"It's a really good story, I swear! It's an adaptation of a novel by Jane Austen."

"Who's Jane Austen?" Ron and Harry asked in unison.

Hermione looked shocked. "Really, you can't tell me you don't know who Jane Austen is!" Ron and Harry shook their heads. "Well, she's a wonderful author who wrote during the early 1800's. I've read all her novels, she's my favorite author."

"Oh, so she wrote Hogwarts, A History did she?"

Hermione glared daggers at Ron and he immediately wished he could swallow his words. Why did he have to be a prat, why when he was trying to ask her to the Winter Ball?

"So what is this film about?" Harry asked pointedly, obviously trying to steer the conversation back onto safe grounds.

"It's about this young woman who lives in a small village in England. Convinced that she will never find love herself, she decides that she will pair other couples together, something she proves very bad at. The story basically follows her attempts and failures at this.

"I'm not describing it very well, but I don't want to give anything away," she added, probably at the looks on Ron and Harry's faces. "It was a truly delightful book, quite humorous, really." Hermione seemed to ponder something for a moment. "You know, the film also has this American actress in it, she's really quite attractive. She plays the main character, so she'll be on screen a good deal."

It was clear that she was trying to play to their hormones, which seemed to pay off, at least in Harry's case. He agreed to see the film, but swore that if he did not like it, Hermione had to see a film of his choice at a later date. Ron agreed to see the film for completely different reasons.

Hermione seemed to really like this Austen lady and her writing. She also seemed to really want to see this film, and Ron knew from what Hermione told him about cinemas that if she did not get to see it soon, she might not get to see it at all. It was with this in mind that Ron walked into the cinema besides Hermione, barely registering the odd flashing lights and several odd boxes making strange noises.

Hermione sat between Harry and Ron when they entered the theater. Ron looked around, quietly asking Hermione about different things, like the small boxes above the doors that glowed and eerie read and spelled out "EXIT."

When the lights dimmed and the picture appeared on the large white square on the wall before them, Ron reached out a hand and grabbed Hermione's. She laced her fingers through his and placed her head on Ron's shoulder.

Ron did not really pay attention to the movie, not even when the attractive blonde American appeared, causing Harry to whistle softly in approval. Ron simply leaned his head against Hermoine's and focused on the feeling of her hair against his cheek.

When they were walking back to Hermione's house, Harry was still talking about the film. Apparently he liked it.

"I mean, how could she not have known that that Knightley bloke liked her? It's not that hard to tell when a bloke likes a girl." He looked pointedly at Ron. Ron simply glared back. Harry smiled and went on, "But for her to think that Churchill fancied her! I mean, he was almost as slimy as Malfoy." Harry shook his head. "I'll never understand girls, I'm telling you."

He started for the front door, but Hermione had started walking around the house.

"It's nice out, I think Mum and Dad might be in the back garden. I want to tell them how the film was, or maybe you should." She smiled at Harry. "Come on." She pushed Harry along so that he was walking in front of her and Ron.

"And that American actress, what was her name? I didn't know they made them like that over there. Maybe that's where I'll go after Hog--"

"Surprise!"

They had reached the back garden, which was nothing like it had been the last time Ron had seen it. There were several tables lined up with piles of food and presents on them. There was a large banner that had obviously been charmed to hover above everyone with "Happy Sixteenth Birthday Harry!" scrawled on it. It seemed as though Hermione had invited all of Harry's friends. Ron spotted his entire family (save Percy), Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Angelina Johnson, Professors Lupin, McGonagall, Moody, Hagrid, and Dumbledore, Mundungus Fletcher, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Tonks, other assorted Order members, and Hermione's parents. Ron was about as shocked as Harry looked to see such an odd variety of people in one place at a time.

Harry turned to face Ron and Hermione, mouthing soundlessly, tears in his eyes. It was obvious how touched he was, and Ron was touched anew at how little Harry actually had.

"Is it all right?" Hermione asked tentatively.

All Harry could do was nod, then pull her into what looked like a bone cracking hug. He let her go after a moment and turned to Ron.

"Happy birthday, mate."

Harry hugged him too, but their hug was much briefer.

"You two...did you...all this..."

"It was all Hermione, mate. She came up with everything."

"Well, not everything," Hermione said as she blushed. "Mrs. Weasley cooked, and everyone helped set up, I just had the idea."

"Thank you," Harry said in barely a whisper. "Really, thank you."

The next several minutes were spent saying hellos to everyone, Harry being hugged a good deal. Finally, Ron heard his mother's voice call out above the din.

"Well, let's not let this get cold. Tuck in everyone!"

Ron sat next to Hermione towards the end of the table. Harry had tried to sit with them, but he was grabbed by several people and placed at the middle of the table, where he could see and talk to everyone. He, Dean, Seamus, and Neville were busy talking about their holidays when Ron leaned in to whisper to Hermione.

"This was a wonderful thing you did, you know that, don't you?"

"Not really. Either of you would have done the same for me."

"I don't think we could have pulled this off. You did a great job," he tucked a strand of hair behind the ear that he was whispering into, "really."

"So, what classes did you two sign up for?" Charlie asked as he took Ron and Hermione's plates. Ron pulled away from Hermione so fast that he was surprised that he stayed on the bench.

"Oh, I," Ron's voice broke, eliciting laughs from Fred, George, and Seamus and he cleared his throat. "I signed up for the same ones that Harry did. Hermione did as well, with the addition of Arithmancy."

"Oh, know her timetables by heart now, do we?" George said not so casually as he took a sip of butterbeer.

Ron cursed himself for blushing. He was sixteen, he should not be blushing like a child anymore. He was grateful when his mother set Harry's cake in front of him and instructed him to make a wish and blow out the candles.

Harry screwed up his eyes, apparently thinking quite hard for a wish. Ron almost laughed at this, thinking about the nonchalance that he blew the candles out with, when he remembered that this was the first time that Harry had ever done this. Harry finally opened his eyes and blew out his candles in one long breath, causing the group to applaud.

Ron's mother cut the cake into several pieces and floated them around the table.

Ron ate through his cake quickly and turned to Hermione.

"Can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

He did not wait for an answer. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand and walked as quickly and discretely as he could away from the table. He pulled Hermione around the side of her house, where they could not be seen. He was going to ask her to the Winter Ball, now, before he lost his nerve.

Ron took several deep breaths to steady himself, his eyes closed. He opened his mouth, about to ask her, when he heard Hermione giggle. He opened his eyes.

"What?" he asked, annoyed.

"It's nothing, just," Hermione reached up and ran a finger along the corner of Ron's mouth. She held her finger up for him to see. Apparently, in his rush to finish his cake, he had gotten a good portion of frosting on his face.

Ron acted before his brain could fully process what he was about to do. He took Hermione's upheld hand in his own and took her finger, frosting and all, into his mouth. He heard Hermione gasp as he licked the frosting from her skin, but she did not pull away.

Ron's mind reeled at the idea of what he was doing, but the sweet of the chocolate mixed with the salty of Hermione cancelled out all logical actions. After several seconds, Ron let Hermione's hand drop from his mouth, and he opened his eyes to look at her.

She was leaning against the wall, her mouth slightly open, her breathing heavy, and her eyes closed. Ron ran a thumb over her bottom lip, causing her to moan.

"Hermione," Ron half growled, amazed at how deep his voice sounded.

"Ron," she replied in a breathy whisper.

Ron leaned forward. He nudged his nose against Hermione's rested his lips very close to hers. It took all the self control he possessed not to kiss her right then, but he had to be sure that she was doing this of her own free will, not just because he had her pinned against the wall. She would have to close the gap herself.

Ron felt what happened next as though it happened in slow motion. He felt as Hermione shifted her body weight to lift herself up on to her toes. He felt Hermione's chest brush against his as she raised herself up to meet him. He almost moaned as he felt her soft lips barely brush against his own. And he almost died when he heard someone loudly clear their throat.

Ron almost fell over as he pulled away from Hermione much quicker than any human being should have to move, especially any human being suffering from the condition that Ron was currently struggling against. He stopped struggling when he saw the smug grin on Dean's face.

"Wow, when Neville said that you two were indisposed, I never would have thought this." Ron wanted to kill him. "Whatever, your secret's safe with me, and I don't think Neville'll tell either. But Harry's about to open his presents, and he was looking for you two, so come on."

Dean walked off looking very smug. Ron followed him, not daring to look at Hermione.