Rating:
PG-13
House:
Astronomy Tower
Characters:
Hermione Granger Ron Weasley
Genres:
Humor Romance
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix
Stats:
Published: 09/27/2005
Updated: 09/27/2005
Words: 1,774
Chapters: 1
Hits: 438

A Word of Advice

CowardlyLion29

Story Summary:
"I was just trying to get to you before you got to me." Harry and Ginny devise a scheme to prevent Ron and Hermione from dancing around each other any more. It won't take you a minute to read.

Posted:
09/27/2005
Hits:
438
Author's Note:
I was inspired to write this by something a friend said to me, in reference to something completely different than how it is used here. "I was trying to get to you before you got to me." I thought it was nicely worded, so it ended up in here. So, here's to my friend, even though he always gets to me first, I don't seem to mind.


A Word of Advice

If it is possible for someone to sit "furiously" then that's what I'm doing. I'm sitting furiously on Ron's back step, glaring out at the perfectly green yard as Molly throws around pots and pans in the kitchen.

You may know me as Hermione "No-Nonsense" Granger: the know-it-all, Queen of Condescension... And you would be right. However, I have one thing to say in my defense, and that is the fact that I am a lot more confused than many of you would believe to be possible. You may have been wondering why I always seem to have my knickers in a twist. Well, believe it or not, anger is a very effective way to hide confusion, befuddlement as well as any temporary insanity. The more confused I become, the angrier I get, and usually at the object of my quandary: namely, Ron Weasley. If there happens to be a more asinine, imbecilic being than Ron Weasley out there in the world, I would appreciate the privilege of seeing it.

I'm not going back in, you know. I'm just going to bloody well sit here until he comes and says something... I'll be sitting here until hell bloody freezes over, aren't I? God, what I wouldn't do to meet an intelligent bloke. I mean, someone who isn't always getting his head bashed in playing Quidditch. Unfortunately, that quality pretty much canvasses every single guy I'd be willing to go out with. And if you even suggest that I go out with Ronald Weasley, I'll just jinx you into next month that's what I'll do. No, he's NOT sodding perfect for me! You can just shut your face, all right? He is the most ignorant... despicable... I'll even bet you five quid he's upstairs wondering what the bloody hell he did wrong.

***

"Harry! What the bloody hell did I do wrong?"

"Damned if I know, Ron."

"That's the fifth time this week she's gone off it, you realize?"

"I stopped counting after three."

"Merlin, she's always got her knickers in a bloody twist!"

"Maybe you should-"

"I'm NOT going down there, Harry, so you can save your speech."

"You've heard it enough anyway... Ron, just go down there! It's what she wants you to do, you know?"

"Sorry, Harry, nothing doing."

"All right, mate. Then I'm going down to help your mum with dinner."

And with that, he walked out of my room. Sometimes, I really feel sorry for the bloke. He knows so little about girls. I know he wants me to go down there and talk to her. But, since that's what she wants I'm not about to do it. I know Hermione well enough to know that in a few moments, she'll get over it, start feeling guilty and come up here to apologize. There used to be a time when she would just stop talking to me, period. But, as of late, it's been the quantity of the rows she starts instead of the quality. Not much to do about it, I guess, other than wonder why in Merlin's sake she gets so damn angry all the time.

***

Why do I get so angry all the time? I can't really stand it, myself. It takes so much energy and wastes so much time. Not a very effective way to go about rowing. I can't believe I'm trying to improve the way I row with Ron, now. What the bloody hell am I thinking of? Well, I'm nothing if not organized and on schedule. What did we start rowing about this time? Oh, just the way he talks is disgusting. He takes nothing seriously and never considers the fact that what he says might possibly hurt somebody's feelings! I can't believe I even take what he says to heart! It's not as though he actually thinks before speaking. That concept is utterly beyond him. Well, whatever we were fighting about this time, it certainly made me angry. He might have said something about Parvati, and I might have dropped a word about Krum, but other than that, I just don't know what started it.

***

"Hey Ginny,"

"Oh, hi Harry. So, have the lovebirds calmed down yet?"

"Do they ever?"

"Hmh... no, come to think of it. Merlin, you could cut the sexual tension with this butter knife!" Harry sniggered at this.

"I know! They should really just get down to it," he stated. Now Ginny laughed.

"Who should get down to what dears?" Mrs. Weasley said, as she bustled into the room with the plates.

"Nothing Mum," said Ginny with a wink for Harry as Molly bustled out again.

"Harry... What do you say to giving them both a little... advice?"

"What sort of advice?" asked Harry, grinning.

"Oh, you know. Something terribly clever and slightly suggestive might just do the trick. You heard what they were rowing about of course?"

"Yeah, Ron said something about how Parvati's a stunner, and then Hermione retaliated with some line about Krum."

"It sounds like somebody's a tiny bit jealous. Maybe you should go and tell Hermione dinner is ready."

"Yes, and maybe you should go and tell Ron we're waiting dinner for him." One conniving handshake later and Hermione and Ron were each hearing some rather insightful advice.

***

"So, Hermione, what's going on now?"

"Whatever can you mean, Harry?"

"With you and Ron."

"I wouldn't be so quick about using both our names in the same sentence like that."

"That bad, huh?"

"Not bad, just frustrating."

"Well, you know, me and Cho fought a lot when we were... you know."

"What exactly are you suggesting, Harry?"

"Well, maybe the reason you fight all the time is because-"

"Oh, right. You think that just because Ron and I have a row every other day that we're secretly pining away for each other. You're just like everybody else, Harry."

"You mean everybody else tells you that too?"

"Of course."

"And there I was thinking I was some sort of genius." Hermione smiled in spite of herself. "Let me tell you then," he continued, "that this is the first time I've ever seen you get jealous over some girl Ron has mentioned."

"What? Me? Jealous of Parvati? No way."

"If you won't believe that, at least let me give you a word of advice."

"What's that?"

"Don't talk about other guys in front of Ron. I can't stand looking at him when his face goes all red. I know I would be upset if I were him. Poor sap. He just goes red all over, if you know what I mean. Not a pretty sight, I'm sure you'd agree." Hermione stared at him blank-faced. "Well, come on! Dinner won't wait for you!"

***

Ginny waltzed into the room to find Ron on his bed, trying to make the frogs in the tank levitate.

"Oh, Ron. Honestly," she said as the grabbed his wand away from him.

"Where's Hermione?" was the first thing he said. Ginny turned around to look at him in surprise.

"Why?" she said slowly and suspiciously.

"Oh nothing. I just thought she'd want to come up and talk."

"About what?" Ginevra said with a sly grin.

"Merlin!" Ron burst suddenly, "All I said was some stupid thing about Parvati and she goes through the bleeding ROOF! She talks about Vicky enough, though, doesn't she?"

"You know, it's a funny thing. That's the first time I've seen Hermione lose her cool like that over some girl you mentioned. If I didn't know better, I'd say she was jealous." Here Ginny flopped down next her brother and said very softly, "A word of advice, Ron. When a girl's mad on you, she doesn't like to here you talk about other girls. Now, Mum said that dinner's ready, so you'd better get a flaming move on."

***

Dinner that evening was a solemn affair. That is to say it was, until Hermione dropped her fork on her plate with a clatter and Ron spilled his juice all over the mashed potatoes. Harry and Ginny at this point began to snigger uncontrollably, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked baffled. All of a sudden, Hermione stood up.

"I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, but I'm not feeling very well," and she left the room. A minute later, Ron got up without excusing himself but nobody seemed to mind.

Ron marched up to Ginny's room and knocked fiercely on the door.

"Go away," came Hermione's voice from inside, "I think I'm contagious." Ron went in anyway.

"Listen Hermione," he began, "I don't exactly know how to say this, but-"

Hermione stared at him expectantly.

"I was just trying to get to you before you got to me."

"What?"

"I mean, what I said about Parvati... It was just trying to hurt you."

"But why would you want to do that Ron?"

"Why do you think Hermione?" She blushed. "Listen, if you're jealous of the girls I talk about, and I'm jealous of the blokes you talk about then, where does that leave us?"

"Wasting time talking?" she suggested.

"That'll about do it," he said as he walked over to her.

***

Did you know I have discovered that kissing can be a very rewarding pastime? It covers up confusion and embarrassment almost as effectively as anger, although keeping the peace and snogging someone instead of shouting at them can be lovely. Along with keeping the rowing down to a minimum, kissing has been known to increase self-esteem and bring about a general regard for the world one is surrounded by.

Therefore, as I was standing there, being thoroughly kissed by Ron (no longer the scum of the earth) Weasley, I couldn't help but notice how perfect he was. In fact I don't particularly feel like rowing with him ever again. He looked at me then with a soft expression of regard that I realized I had been seeing all the time, practically every day, without knowing what it was. I recognized that look like I would my own room. It was like crawling into bed at night and feeling warm. Where have I been and what have I been doing while I could have been doing this?

He leaned towards me again, pulling me against him, finding no resistance when a rap came at the door. The blood rushed to my face. There were Ginny and Harry.

"Let me give you a little hint," she said exasperatedly, "Close the door," she growled as she slammed it. I am happy to inform you that the interruption didn't put us off in the slightest.


Author notes: Few minutes to read, even fewer to review. Please drop me a line.