Times of Changes

Times of Changes

Chapter 4

Confessions and Confusion

“Aaaahhhhh! You’re too good. I give up.” Harry cried after losing the 10^th chess game in a row against Ron. Ginny was at the side watching the game. Hermione was rereading ‘Hogwarts, a History’ for the 205^th time. Fred and George have disappeared into their room.

“Come on Harry. One more game.” Ron said, laying out the chess pieces again.

“No thanks. Ask Ginny or Hermione to play with you.” Harry replied. He really did not want to lose another game.

“Nah. Ginny’s way too good, and Hermione’s even worse than you.” Ron answered.

“Hey, I would have you know…” Hermione began, showing that she was listening in, even with her head buried in the book.

“…That you always lose to me. I know that already!” Ron finished for Hermione with a grin.

“That’s not true.” Hermione retorted.

“Then name one time you won me in chess.” Ron challenged.

“Well…” Hermione stopped, thinking hard.

“Told you.” Ron said, without waiting for Hermione to finish thinking. “Ginny’s the only one here that even have a chance to beat me in chess.”

“Really?” Harry asked

Ginny blushed a little, but nodded.

“Wow. I have to play a game with you.” Harry said, smiling.

“… Ok. Ron, you don’t mind?” Ginny replied.

“Not at all. Go ahead. Trash him up. I need a drink anyway. All that argument with Hermione left me thirsty.” With that, Ron stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

Hermione stared at Ron for a moment. “What argument? We exchange a total of two sentences and it’s an argument?”

“Thanks, both of you. For this morning.” Harry said.

“Whatever for?” Hermione asked, looking at Harry.

“For knocking me out of depression, and making me laugh.” Harry answered, his voice quiet.

“You’re welcome. But you better concentrate on the game, or I’ll win this game for sure.” Ginny replied, joking.

Harry smiled.

“Alright then, let’s see how good you are, Ginny.” Harry said.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Checkmate!”

“Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!! I quit! I quit!” Harry cried, losing for the 5^th time in a row.

“What did I tell you? Now do you believe me.” Ron said, laughing.

Harry laughed. “Alright, alright. You win.”

“Of course I win. When it comes to chess, I never lose. Other than to Ginny, of course.” Ron said smugly.

“Come on, let’s go outside. I can’t stand being copped up in the house any more.” Harry said.

“Alright. How about a game of Quidditch?” Ron asked.

“You are not going anywhere without de-gnoming the garden.” Mrs. Weasley said, coming into the living room, hands on her hip. “You’ve had the morning free. Now get to it!”

“I’ve never seen a de-gnoming before. Mind if I join you, Ron?” Hermione asked, putting away her book.

“O…of course not.” Ron’s ears turned red.

Harry sighed and stood up. “I’ll help too. That way we’ll be done faster.”

“Oh no, it’s ok. Why don’t you and Ginny go to the hill first? We’ll go there later with the brooms.” Hermione said with a wink at Ginny, who was clearing up the chess pieces when it is obvious they wouldn’t be playing anymore.

Ginny’s face flushed, but she stood up and said, “Alright.”

Harry looked at Ron, whose ears are still red, and at Hermione, a determined look on her face. Slowly understanding came to Harry’s face.

“Oh, ok. We’ll just leave you alone then. Come on Ginny, let’s go.” Harry took hold of Ginny’s hand and walked towards the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

‘Oh great, Harry had misunderstood. Now what do I do?’ Hermione thought, looking a little sadly at the sight of Harry holding hands with Ginny, walking out of the door of the Burrow.

“Hermione? You alright?” Ron sounded a little concerned.

“Huh? Yeah, sure. I’m fine. Let’s go de-gnome the garden.” Hermione said, turning around and stride out to the garden so fast Ron almost had to run to keep up.

~~~~~~~~~

“How long have those two been together, do you know, Ginny” Harry asked, laughing, as they walked towards the top of the small hill behind the burrow.

“Huh? Know what?” Ginny wasn’t really paying attention, as she was focusing more on the feeling of Harry’s hands than on what he is saying.

“I asked, do you know how long Ron and Hermione have been going out together?” Harry asked again.

“What are you saying? They are not going out.” Ginny replied, still not fully aware of what she’s saying.

“Then why did they want to be left alone?” Harry asked, a little puzzled.

“Oh, that’s just to give me…” Ginny stopped, suddenly realizing what they were talking about.

“Ginny? You ok?” Harry asked, a little worried. “Why did you suddenly stop for?”

Ginny turned to look at Harry. Though it hurt her heart, she must say it.

“Harry, Hermione isn’t going out with Ron. She doesn’t like him like that, she likes you.”

“What? What did you say, Ginny?” Harry sounded shocked.

“Hermione likes you, Harry.” Ginny’s voice wavered a little, but she managed to say it out.

Harry sat down on the grass, pulling Ginny along with him, as he still hadn’t release Ginny’s hand. Ginny sat down beside him.

“Boy, oh boy… Ron’s gonna kill me now.” Harry moaned.

“Whatever for?” Ginny asked, a little surprise at the change in topic.

“Ron liked Hermione, and he told me last night that he would tell her today. I thought he had confessed already, and they were going to spend some time together alone or something.” Harry said, head hanging between his knees.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Have you seen a gnome before?” Ron asked Hermione.

“No. Not a real one anyway. I have a few muggle garden gnomes though.” Hermione answered, still looking a little distracted.

“Let me show you a real gnome then.” Saying that, Ron dived into a bush, leaving only his feet sticking out. The bush shuddered and shook, and Ron crawled out of the bush pulling on a large, knobbly head. He flipped the gnome around and held it upside-down at arm’s length for Hermione to see it. (‘Gerroff Me!’)

“How interesting.” Hermione said, peering at the little creature. “How do you get rid of it?”

“Like this!” Ron said, and started swinging the gnome round, releasing its leg to let it fly out of the garden.

“RON! How could you do that to a helpless thing like that?” Hermione was shocked at the way Ron just threw the gnome.

“Hey, it doesn’t hurt at all. Their heads are too thick to hurt just because they were thrown about a little. Look.”

Sure enough, the gnome had already picked itself up, and was staggering away, shaking its fist at Ron. Ron laughed at the sight, before diving into another bush and pulling another gnome out. “Here. You try it.”

Hermione took hold of the gnome a little reluctantly. “There’s got to be a better way to get rid of gnomes.” She said.

“The only other way is to get a jarvey to do it. But it is too bloody to do it that way, since that jarvey will just tear the gnome to bits.” Ron answered with a shrug.

Hermione looked at the gnome, still a little unsure. The gnome, sensing weakness, sank its teeth into Hermione’s hand. She gave a cry of pain, and threw the gnome way over the garden wall.

“Are you alright?” Ron rushed up to Hermione and took hold of her hand. “It’s bleeding!” Ron ripped his shirt edge out and wrapped it around Hermione’s hand.

“Thanks” Hermione said, looking at the wrapped hand.

Ron looked at Hermione’s eyes, and suddenly he bended down and kissed Hermione on her cheek. Hermione’s eyes widen with shock.

Ron blushed, “Sorry about that. Hermione…I…I’ve liked you for some time.” ‘There, I’ve finally said it.’ He mentally wiped the sweat of his brows.

Hermione’s eyes, if possible, went even bigger than before.

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