Harry and Ron are in the Hills

CH.4- The Good, The Bad, and The Stark-Raving Mad

It was a bright morning and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were still at Fred's swimming pool. Sun could be seen streaming through the windows. Though it was now sunny outside, and Harry had found some blankets in a closet for them to sleep with, it was still December, and unbearably cold. Ginny was snuggled closely to Harry, and Hermione and Ron had found a corner to fall asleep in, pretty well hidden from their friends. They were all mostly unclothed, and planned on sleeping in, since they had nowhere else to go. They were definitely still a bit buzzed from their previous night's adventure, and the last thing any of them wanted to see was a visitor, ruing what little time they were to spend together. However, this visitor was completely necessary, and not particularly unhappy to see them, though slightly bewildered.

Footsteps could be heard coming from outside. Harry was the first to stir, turning his head slightly towards the door. At first, he couldn't see anything, but then a certain tall redhead in a bathrobe came sprinting forward. Trailing behind him was a girl Harry was sure he'd seen before, but couldn't place in his current state of mind. The redhead turned the door handle, and the girl wasn't far behind. There was the sound of laughter and both people were smiling, their cheeks rosy from the cold. As soon as they were inside, the girl grabbed the redhead behind the waist, and he turned around and kissed her. Feeling like he shouldn't be watching this, Harry prodded Ginny, and then Ron and Hermione. Ginny seemed to be the most out of it, though she'd had the least amount of drinks last night. But soon enough, all of their eyes widened as they noticed exactly who the redhead was...Fred. And the girl was Angelina, Fred's current girlfriend.

"Shit," Ron mouthed. "We need to get out of here."

But as Fred and Angelina rounded the corner, and were about to go in the pool, Ron knew that they were spotted. Immediately, the girls tried to cover up, leaving Harry and Ron without much cover, and Angelina stared open-mouthed as Fred's mouth turned into a wide grin.

"So, what exactly has been going on out of my presence? I go away for a week and this is my return." He made a face as if attempting to be appalled, but it came off more as amused. Fred now looked at Ron, and then Hermione, who was close to him. "Good job, bro," he said and slyly winked. Fred then turned to look at Harry and Ginny. "Well, well, well. Finally cashing in on that crush, I see," and returned an equally mischievous smirk as before. Now Angelina commented.

"If only we had a camera. Seriously, the looks on your faces were priceless!" Fred now continued speaking, looking at Angelina.

"Well, let's leave them be, Angel. I'm sure they don't need us acting like mom and dad right now. It's not like we've never done anything..."

But before he could finish, Angelina had jabbed him square in the ribs. "Well, we're off like a dress on prom night. We'll see you later," and then she smiled, "or not."

When they had left, Hermione turned to look at Ron. She didn't look at all amused. The incident had obviously sobered her up, as she now prepared to administer a good telling off. She loved Ron, but honestly, she had no idea where his head was sometimes. And why she always let him get her involved was beyond all reasoning at the moment.

"Ron, I thought you said that Fred wouldn't be back for another week! Why in the bloody hell would you tell us to come here, only to be caught by your own brother? Honestly, I don't know where your head is sometimes." Ron only smirked at the inevitable. The best thing he'd found in these arguments was to always let Hermione win. He'd stay quiet and let her blow off some steam. She continued ranting.

"Why are you smiling like you're trying to keep something from me? No more drinking for you... not for at least a month! And another thing, why didn't you say anything! I saw that sly wink he gave you. Bloody good job indeed! Well! That's the last time you're getting anything from me! No kissing... not even one peck on the cheek and don't you even dare think of the alternative."

Harry and Ginny had to laugh at that last comment, as they knew perfectly well that Ron was always the passionate one, and that it was bad enough to not be able to participate in their weekly (sometimes daily) beer bouts, but to be put out from sex. That would be damn near impossible! Hermione continued to scream as she got dressed. "I've never been so embarrassed in all my life! Ron, are you listening to me!?" But Ron only had his head down, so she couldn't see the sly look on his face. He was obviously already thinking of a way to win her back, but just what that was would remain to be seen.

Ten minutes later, the four were outside waiting for a cab. They would have said their good-byes to Fred and Angelina, but no one felt like relating what had happened last night, not that they could remember all of it.

Harry and Ron decided to go back to the flat, and Ginny decided to go back to Hermione's. Her relationship with Harry had grown considerably since they'd graduated, but because neither of them were ready to openly discuss that relationship, nothing had turned out to be "peaches and buttercups" yet.

I can't love, shot full of holes

Don't feel nothing, I just feel cold

Don't feel nothing, just old scars

Toughening up around my heart

Ginny turned to Hermione. "Stupid chorus. Why do they always have to be right?" She sighed.

But I want love, just a different kind

I want love, won't break me down

Won't brick me up, won't fence me in

I want a love, that don't mean a thing

That's the love I want, I want love

Hermione returned, "Oh, Ginny. Don't say that. It'll work out. It was just as uncomfortable with Ron and me, only Ron's an insufferable git... and Harry's not." She grinned, "But what do I know?" Ginny smiled back and they both sighed deeply as they thought about how things used to be.

Stay tuned to find out more about what happens on New Year's Eve. It's the long-awaited and definitely stalled, "booze cruise."