The Underdog

THE UNDERDOG

Have you ever noticed in comics, books, and movies, the sidekick always seems to come in second place? I mean, I guess that's why they call him the "sidekick", but it never occurred to me how much I was one to my best friend (or my brothers, for that matter) until I got what I wanted and how people didn't expect it coming. I didn't even expect it myself, which just goes to show that I guess I always considered myself second-rate until now.

While what happened may not be a shock to you, I couldn't be any happier. In the grand scheme of things, this is a moment I will look back fondly on when I'm old and gray. What happened was....well, the thing is....

In the end, the girl picked me.

There! I said it; it's out in the open. I can't stop the smile stretching across my face even if I wanted to. There will always be those times in your life (defining moments I guess you'd call them) where you will just be so deliriously happy that even sad moments in your life can only bring you down for a second or so. This is one of them.

"What? Why? How did Ron Weasley get Hermione Granger to be his girlfriend? It doesn't make any sense!"

This is the gossip I'll hear in the halls as I pass my fellow students when they think I'm not listening. However, one of the advantages of being one of the tallest seventh years is that you can walk through a crowd and people will continue to talk because they think you can't hear them due to your gigantic height. If anything, people notice the trademark flaming-red hair of my family before they realize they have to crane their necks to speak to me.

Anyways, in answer to those other questions...I really don't know. Why did Hermione pick me over Viktor Krum? Or even Harry for that matter? Although Rita Skeeter hasn't written anything about Harry and Hermione since fourth year (well, she hasn't really written anything at all, come to think of it), there were some people in school who believed they would end up together.

Once when I was supposed to be paying attention in Divination (when am I going to use bloody tea-leaves to predict someone's future? It's been four years since I started taking that class and I'm still getting fuzzy sheep symbols in the bottom of my cup), I overheard Lavender talking to Parvati about how perfect it would be if Harry and Hermione got together.

"It would just be like in those Muggle movies! You know, after the hero goes through all the action packed scenes to save people with his sidekick, so obviously Harry and Ron, the hero gets the girl; in this case, Hermione! Wouldn't that just be perfect?" Lavender explained in that squealing voice she always uses.

"You know, I've always thought Ron and Hermione would make a good couple," Parvati replied, twirling her hair.

"That would never work," Lavender answered, in a voice that sounded all too much like Trelawney's. "Everyone knows the sidekick never gets the girl."

I remembered my face growing hot with anger at the time; before I could say anything, Harry poked me in the side as an indication that Trelawney was looking our way, making sure we could read stupid teacups. Although looking back, I don't know what I would've said to them; no one knew about my crush on my female best friend except for Harry and that's only because he tricked me into drinking Veritaserum. It baffles me that he's practically failing Potions with me, yet he could make a truth telling serum.

Anyways, with Harry knowing my secret, I was able to talk to him about what I was going through. And it just seemed like pure coincidence that Hermione and Viktor's on-again, off-again relationship was on-again when I began to realize my feelings. How perfect was that? But that's not even the best part. Because when Hermione wanted to talk to someone about problems in her relationship, guess who she would come talk to? That's right; yours truly (at this point, I was beginning to think God had a wicked sense of humor).

What was I supposed to do when Hermione would come running to me, tears down her face, when she and Viktor fought? Or worse, when she would tell me all the "sweet and wonderful" things he would write in his letters when they made up? It was like going through relationship hell!

Then, things got better, I suppose. I began to immerse myself in Quidditch practices with the Gryffindor team and there was always loads of homework to do because of the upcoming N.E.W.T exams. While I was trying to keep my mind off Hermione, she began to talk less and less about Viktor. Just to be a good friend (although it pained me to do so), I would ask her how things were going. She would act all evasive and claim she had tons of studying to do (although when isn't Hermione studying?).

One day after practice, I plopped down on the couch next to her and noticed tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Hermione, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing," she stammered out, slamming her textbooks closed. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," I told her, always pointing out the obvious. "Did something happen with Viktor?"

"What happens with me and Viktor stays between us!" Hermione said as she gathered her books, only half-shouting at me.

"Since when?" I demanded to know. "You tell me everything that goes on in that relationship! If anything, I just have to ask what's going on with you and next thing I know, you're telling me how sweet and cute and wonderful your boyfriend is!"

"I don't need this right now!" she exclaimed, dropping her books. She muttered some swear words under her breath and I bent over to help pick them up. When the back of her hand brushed against my own, she made a strangled-sounding noise and stood up quickly. I handed her an Arithmancy book and muttered a thank you.

"Hermione, what's the matter with you?"

"I...I just need some time to myself," she replied carefully, like she needed to choose her words just right. With that said, she turned on her heel and stormed off to the girls' dorms, leaving me feel confused and upset; months of repression were building up inside me and I had no way of letting it out. I stalked up to the boys' dorms and let out a scream into my pillow.

Harry, who had been studying, looked at me and could only shake his head. "If you guys fight as much as you do when you're not together, I'd hate to see what it would be like if you were."

"Shut up Harry."

Over the next couple of days, Hermione made herself very scarce around Gryffindor Tower. I found out she would spend most of her free time in the Library, which I avoided at all costs (come to think of it, the only time I would go into a library was when she was with me). For one thing, I didn't want to get into a fight with her about Viktor and I figured she didn't want to see me after the whole episode in the Common Room.

When I sat down at the Gryffindor Table for breakfast, Hermione had been avoiding me for four days. Even Ginny and my dorm mates were beginning to notice the absence of our resident know-it-all. When Harry explained that we got into a fight, Dean, Seamus, and Neville nodded their heads and went back to discussing Quidditch matches.

"I wish she would stop being angry with me and start talking to me again," I told Harry while staring at my plate. "It's not like she never told me about Viktor before; generally that's what we talked about!"

"I know," Harry replied, stuffing his face with blueberry muffins.

"Do you really care? Or are you just being nosy?" Ginny asked, and indication that she'd been eavesdropping. Some other time, I might've cared, but sadly, I was turning into mush because Hermione wasn't talking to me.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked glumly.

"It means that I know why Hermione is avoiding you," my baby sister said pointedly. "But I also know she probably wouldn't want me to tell you until she can figure out what to say to you. She is kind of embarrassed by the way she acted the other night, you know."

"Wait a minute; you know what's going on and you didn't tell me?" I asked, my voice getting slightly higher.

"You let Ron sulk and moan and groan for four days?" Harry asked, with a groan of his own.

"Yeah," Ginny said, an evil grin forming on her face. "Look, do you want to know or not?"

"Yes!" Harry and I said together, both eagerly awaiting the answer.

"She broke up with Viktor," Ginny said triumphantly. I stared at her for a moment, wondering if she was joking. In my family, you always have to be on your guard (especially after the Canary Creams were invented).

"She broke up with Viktor?" I replied slowly, wanting it to sink in. However, I didn't get my hopes up as much as I would've liked. The downfall to an on-again, off-again relationship is that as soon as it's off, someone's likely to turn it back on again.

"Yes, she did," Ginny answered, eating some of her breakfast.

"So what's so special about that?" I replied back, not knowing if she knew about my crush on Hermione. Ginny often had a way of knowing things like that.

"It's not so much as why they broke up, it's more who she broke up with him for," Ginny said elusively. After finishing the last of her bagel, she stood up and walked away, leaving me dumbstruck.

"Who the bloody hell does Hermione like now?!" I asked Harry angrily. "As if Viktor wasn't bad enough..."

Over the next couple of days, I tried to figure out what Ginny meant by her little comment. However, I wasn't too involved with myself to notice that Harry and Ginny were often sitting together in the Common Room, whispering and laughing. They would stop when I walked by or started talking to them and after awhile, that began to get on my nerves too.

One night, I sat in a squashy chair by the fire and prepared for a long night, due to the fact that both Snape and McGonagall assigned some hefty essays, respectively. I could hear the scratch of Harry's quill behind me as he worked on the desk and I got more irritated with myself. I couldn't even do a lousy essay with her help. I began to drift away in my thoughts, figuring I'd do my homework during breakfast.

After an hour had passed, I through down my quill and began to pace around the Common Room, trying to get myself back on to my essays. Eventually, even Harry started getting annoyed with me.

"You know Ron, it's quite nice outside tonight," Harry told me, trying to keep his voice light (I detected some agitation in it though). "Why don't you go for a walk?"

"Want to come with me?" I asked glumly. I didn't really fee like being by myself and Harry was my only other choice besides Hermione.

"No, no. I have too much work to do," Harry said in a rushed sort of tone. "Go take a walk; maybe it'll clear your mind."

"Okay, if you say so," I replied, wishing I had a little companionship.

"I'll let you copy it later," Harry offered as I started toward the door. Memories of late night studying with Harry and Hermione filled my head as I smiled back at him. I tucked my hands in my pockets and headed out of Gryffindor Tower. However, I didn't get very far, due to the fact that I ran into Ginny.

"Hey Ron; going out for a walk?" she asked expectantly.

"Yeah; how'd you know that?" I asked, slightly confused. Ginny hadn't even been in the Common Room when I was talking to Harry. In fact, I hadn't seen her for most of the day.

"Oh...well, I just figured..." Ginny stumbled, not knowing what to say.

"And where have you been all night?" I demanded to know. I could see her bristling at the tone of my voice; Ginny hated being under the protection of her brothers. She'd always been constantly telling us how she could take care of herself.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I've been in the library," she answered. "You would know that if you ever made an appearance in there once in awhile."

"Whatever," I muttered and continued on with my walk as she scurried back to Gryffindor Tower.

A little while later, I made it out onto the Quidditch Pitch and I felt the cool breeze on my body. Walking around it, I began to think of Quidditch matches and brooms; you know normal things. Things I hadn't thought about in awhile.

I broke out of my reverie when I noticed someone else was out here tonight too. I grabbed my wand, just in case, when I noticed I didn't need it after all. The other person noticed who I was and began to walk towards me.

"Hermione, what are you doing here?"

"Well...I really don't know," she answered truthfully. "Ginny said you might be out here tonight...I was hoping you would be too."

Images of Harry and Ginny together over the past week swam through my head and I realized they must've been talking with Hermione; they must've set this whole thing up!

Looking at her, I realized I didn't know what to say. I couldn't think of any fights to pick and I didn't want to ask her about Viktor; she looked like she'd been crying. No way did I want to start that again.

Realizing that I wasn't going to say anything, Hermione sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Look, I'll just go if this is going to be too awkward." She started to walk away from me and I realized, in a moment of panic, that I didn't want her to go.

"Hermione, wait!"

She turned around, her long curly hair caught moonlight in it and it took a minute before I could think of something to say. "Don't go."

She nodded. "Why don't we go sit over there?" Hermione gestured to a set of bleachers that were set up at ground level. We walked over there, in silence. I think both of us were trying to figure out what to say, since it'd been so long since we really talked to one another.

Taking a deep breath, she looked into my eyes and began to speak.

"I know that I always tease you and Harry for being Kings of Oblivion, but I guess you've noticed that I've sort of been...avoiding you," Hermione started, fidgeting a little. "And I know you're going to want to know why, but it's kind of hard for me to say."

"Hermione, if you don't want to talk about Viktor, I completely understand," I said, hoping she wouldn't burst into tears.

"Ron, in essence, this is sort of about Viktor," she admitted. "And if you'll let me, I can explain what happened back in the Common Room and why I've been avoiding you."

"Okay, go ahead."

"You have to promise me no interruptions."

"I promise."

"You have to mean it Ron! You're always trying to jump ahead of me, and this is really important!"

"Hermione, just get on with it!"

Sitting in silence for a moment, she cracked a grin and I smiled back when we realized that we had just gone back to our old ways. And after taking a deep breath, Hermione began to tell me exactly what had been going on.

"For awhile, I hadn't been very happy being with Viktor," she started. "He began to show characteristics that I wasn't too thrilled about, he was never around...I just wasn't happy with him anymore. He accused me of being in love with someone else and at the time, I denied it. I knew it couldn't be true but more and more, our relationship began to fall apart and I realized there might be some truth into what he was saying.

"So, I wrote him a letter, explaining what was going on and why I couldn't be with him anymore. A couple of days later, he sent me a Howler and we got into an awful argument. The day that you and I got into a fight, Viktor had sent me another Howler and when you came into the Common Room, I couldn't take it! I was sick of men at that point and besides, you were the last person I wanted to see at that moment."

"Thanks Hermione."

"Ron, you promised!"

"Okay, okay, sorry."

"Anyways, I needed time alone because I realized that Viktor was right. I was in love with someone else."

After a moment of silence, I had to ask. "Who is it?"

Fidgeting with her hair some more, Hermione's glance went all around the Pitch before she could stare at me right in the eye again. With a heavy sigh, she answered me.

"It's you Ron," she whispered. "It's always been you."

Remember all that repression I'd been talking about? Gone. All the heavy feelings and the past couple of days just seemed to fly away and a feeling of elation came over. To quote that crazy Muggle actress my dad's in love with, she liked me. She really liked me.

And I did the only thing that I could think of at that moment. I bent down and brushed my lips against hers, hoping she wouldn't scream and run away. Luckily, she kissed me back and I felt her soft hand against the back of my neck. I put my own hand in her curly hair (she finally learned how to tame it so there was no fear of my hand getting lost in there forever) and broke the kiss. I put my forehead to hers and smiled. She smiled back and held my hand, tracing the back of my palm with her index finger.

"You've made me so happy in this one moment," I whispered. "And if it weren't for our crazy friends, I'd probably still be pacing up in the Common Room, wishing you would come back from the Library and talk to me."

"I wanted to," Hermione admitted. "But I was dealing with so much...I wanted to make sure that you felt the same way. I'm sure you noticed Ginny and Harry talking. They've sort of been helping me."

"I noticed them together, but I had no idea they were helping you," I said truthfully. Hermione smiled again and shifted herself so that she was leaning against my chest and looking up at the stars. I kissed the top of her head, held her tiny hand in my own, and sighed. Life was good again.