Harry Potter and the Ring of Loyalty

Harry Potter sighed and stared blankly out the window of a 757 jet, winging its way across the Atlantic Ocean. It was evening, and the sun was setting in front of the plane, sending streams of color back through the clouds as darkness approached. He pressed his forehead against the window and peered at the murky ocean below.

The night was clear - there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The plane had taken off from Heathrow International Airport in London only a half hour earlier. In about nine hours they would be landing in beautiful Hawaii.

It was the first time he'd ever been on a plane. The Dursleys didn't even take him grocery shopping; they'd never take him on a flight. And sure, he'd flown before, but only on a broomstick. Swooping through the air chasing the small golden snitch was a lot different than sitting first class on one of the biggest airplanes known to the Muggle transportation system. He was a bit uneasy, but he couldn't tell if it was from the plane ride or the excitement for his vacation.

One of his best friends, Ron Weasley, sat next to him, his fingers entwined together in his lap, his thumbs twitching nervously.

"Honestly, Ron, you need to settle down," said Hermione Granger, Harry's other best friend. She was seated on the other side of Ron, studying a Muggle book she'd bought at the airport. "It's just a plane. There's nothing to be frightened about."

"I'm not scared," he retorted. "I'm just... anxious. We're thousands of feet up in the air! Why couldn't we just use Floo Powder or something? Why did we have to take the Muggle way?"

"There aren't many fireplaces in tropical Hawaii," Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, said as he turned around in his seat. "And you might as well get used to the flight, Ron. We've got a long ways to go."

"Argh," Ron said. "I hope my ears pop before then. They're all plugged."

"Gum might help," Harry said. He reached into his pocket and took out a stick of unmarked gum. He handed it to Ron, who took it and quickly unwrapped it, then hastily shoved it into his mouth.

Hermione turned to Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, who was wedged between Sirius and a man who was about the size of Harry's Uncle Vernon. "How are you doing, Ginny?"

Ginny's small figure turned around. Her face was paler than usual, contrasting against the trademark of the Weasely family: her red hair.

"I'm all right," Ginny said quietly. She gave a small smile. "I'm just anxious too, I guess."

"I'm sure Harry would give you some gum if your ears are bothering you," Sirius suggested.

Harry grinned. "Trust me. You don't want any."

Ron made a moaned as his jaw snapped shut. He started to panic and gasped for air. "It's Fred and George's Super Jaw Lock Chewing Gum," Harry announced. "They gave it to me before we left the Burrow."

The girls giggled, but Hermione stopped short. "Harry, that's horrible!"

"It's not a big deal," he muttered and turned to Ron. "You can breathe through your nose, you twit."

Ron stopped struggling and sucked in air through his nose. He blushed as red as the hair on his head.

"If you swallow the gum, your jaw should be back to normal in a few minutes. I tried some while we took off from Heathrow. I almost had a heart attack." He laughed.

It felt good to laugh again. A vacation was just what Harry needed. His fifth year was somewhat uneventful. His house, Gryffindor, had won both the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup at Hogwarts. He hadn't heard from Voldemort since his fourth year, at the end of the Triwizard Tournament. Sure, there were rumors, but no action. His scar hadn't hurt in over a year. But it felt as though he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. He couldn't shake the ominous feeling of what was to come.

But it was so easy to forget about Voldemort and concentrate on the tropical traits of the Hawaiian Islands. He had butterflies in his stomach. Ever since Sirius had finally been able to adopt Harry at the end of the Hogwarts term, life was more cheerful. He didn't have to spend the summer at the Dursleys. Instead, he would be soaking up the Hawaiian rays with his best friends the week before Hogwarts started up again.

"Sirius," said Hermione, quite importantly, "I was wondering - are there a lot of wizards in Hawaii? Do they have a school like Hogwarts there?"

"Well, I suppose nobody knows for sure," Sirius replied. "But Hawaii isn't really of wizard origin. They have their own special magic - though a lot of it is Divination. However, the Hawaiians have their own culture."

"Culture?" Ron questioned, his jaw apparently unlocked. "You mean language and everything?"

Sirius nodded. Ron was uneducated in the Muggle department. "They have their own language, food, local lore..."

"Do you know any of it Sirius?" Ginny questioned. "I've seen pictures of those women who wear grass skirts and cocoanuts."

"Cocoanuts?" Ron questioned.

"Yeah, they're Hula Dancers," Harry interrupted. "They use their hips and hands to tell a story."

"Oh really?" Ron said. "I think I'd definitely like to see that - ouch!"

Hermione had elbowed him in the ribs. "I think you're definitely not going to see that."

"Right." Ron cleared his throat. "I will be lying on the beach, tanning with Hermione in her brand new bikini for our whole four-day vacation."

"Liar," Ginny laughed. "You know you won't turn any color but beet red."

Ron sighed and turned to Harry. "You ever have one of those days where it seems like the whole world is out to get you?"

He smiled. "You've no idea," he said, and turned back to the window.

Harry was happy that Ron had finally come to terms with his feelings for Hermione. In the past year, the two of them had been growing closer and closer together. After everything he'd put them through, it was great to hear Ron talk about how much he liked Hermione. Ron even had big plans for this Hawaiian vacation. However, Harry couldn't help but feel a little sorry for himself. The only girl he'd ever had his eye on wouldn't give him the time of day.

Ever since Cedric Diggory died during his fourth year, things had never been the same between him and Cho Chang. Harry didn't want to move in too fast. Cho's heart was precious, and Cho was precious to him. She reminded him so much of his mother, with her green eyes and kind features, that sometimes his heart would stop when he caught her eyes.

He'd kept his distance when she told him she couldn't bear to look at him because Harry only reminded her of Cedric. He stopped sending her gifts on holidays when she said people were talking about how fast she was moving onto dating the famous Harry Potter. He'd waited a whole year for her heart to heal and mourn over Cedric, but it was no use. When he'd asked her to the Farewell Ball, she'd turned him down, saying she just wasn't ready.

Harry wasn't sure if she meant she wasn't ready to date, or just to date him.

Ginny Weasley turned around to study Harry. Lately, he'd be getting that faraway look in his eyes so often she thought he spent more time lost in his thoughts than in reality. She knew who he was thinking about : Cho Chang. Cho Chang, the beautiful Ravenclaw Seeker.

She didn't like to admit it, but Ginny had been jealous of Cho the minute she saw Harry lay his eyes on her. She had gorgeous, silky black hair. She had curves in all the right places and had never had a zit in her life.

As long as Cho was around, there was no way Harry would ever even consider pursuing a romantic relationship with Ginny. He was just always going to feel miserable about Cho.

Her idiot of a brother wasn't making Harry feel any better. When it came to Hermione Granger, Ron always lost his head. She smiled to herself. Her brother was very sweet with her, but Ginny thought he was also being a little insensitive to his best friend when Harry was obviously troubled.

"Sirius," Ginny asked, "what kind of magic do they do in Hawaii?" That turned Harry's attention from Cho back to the topic at hand.

"Well, let me think for a moment." Sirius rubbed at the stubble that was growing on his chin after not shaving for a few hours. "A lot of their magical powers have to do with divination. The used it for building fires, finding fresh water..."

Hermione scoffed. She was not a fan of divination class back at Hogwarts. "Did they read tea leaves too?"

Sirius laughed. "I'm afraid not. Their divination isn't exactly the same as Professor Trelawney's interpretation. That old bag's been at Hogwarts forever."

"I'll keep that in mind," Ron said. "I'll put that I was gazing into my crystal ball for my summer homework and foresaw that she should strongly consider early retirement."

"That woman is an absolute nut," Hermione interrupted. "What a waste of time."

"You're just mad because you're stuck taking a class from her again," Harry said, "now that everyone is required to take that new class about modern divination."

"It'll be great Hermione," Ron encouraged, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "She'll be predicting Harry's death in much more innovative ways."

***

"Ron, you know you should put some sunscreen on," Ginny scolded as they left the hotel the next morning. After landing and catching up on some sleep from their jet lag, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Sirius, and Ron were ready to hit the beach.

"You should listen to your sister," Sirius said. "You'll be paying for it later."

Ron shrugged and flung a towel over his shoulder. "It'll be okay. I burn, and then I tan."

Hermione shook her head. "Don't be an idiot. You know it'll be nothing but trouble, and you'll be sore and whine about it for the whole trip."

Ron grinned. "At least I'll be tan."

"I don't know, Hermione," Harry spoke up. "Maybe if you helped him put the sunscreen on he'd wear it."

Hermione blushed. Ron turned to her with a smile on his face and had a pleading look in his eyes. She made a quick recovery and smacked him with her towel. "Don't even think about it."

Ron loved to see Hermione blush. She was usually so cool and in control. He loved that he could make her so flustered she forgot how to speak properly. Ever since the Yule Ball during their fourth year at Hogwarts, it seemed as though a light bulb had gone off in Ron's head. Actually, it was more in the general area of his heart. He started having feelings for Hermione that he'd never had for any other girl - not even Fleur Delacour, the beautiful student from Beauxbatons Academy.

Now was the time to make his move. He'd been imagining this vacation ever since Harry told him that he and Hermione were coming along. Ginny only ended up in the mix so that Hermione would have another girl to keep him company. Frankly, Ron didn't want his little sister tagging along with them. He could keep Hermione occupied - if he got his nerves up. Sadly, his mother seemed to be trying to push Harry and Ginny together, something that Ron knew would never happen as long as Cho Chang was still in the picture.

The group walked along the beach in silence, the beauty of the Hawaiian afternoon overwhelming them. Harry had that faraway look in his eyes. Honestly, he was a complete bore to talk to sometimes, Ron thought. Though he imagined he'd feel like a third wheel if he were in Harry's shoes.

Sirius chose a spot in the shade, near a tall palm tree. Everyone set out their towels and prepared for an afternoon of some much-needed relaxation.

"Anybody hungry?" Sirius asked. He had been playing the father role quite well on their vacation so far. He seemed to be enjoying himself as well, and there was a little more color in his usually pale cheeks.

"I'm starved," Ron replied. That was no surprise to anybody.

"I could eat too," Harry said.

"We just passed that restaurant. We could go back there and eat," Ginny suggested.

"What about you Hermione?" Sirius asked.

"No thanks," she replied. "I had a big breakfast, and I think I'd rather just sit here and read for a while."

"Reading?" Ron questioned. "We're in the middle of paradise and all you want to do is read?"

"Well, all you want to do is eat."

Ron opened his mouth, about to protest, and then thoughtfully closed it. If they all went to dinner and he stayed with Hermione... They'd be all alone together for quite some time.

"On second thought, I think I'll stay back here." He sat down on the blanket next to Hermione and her book. "And I'll... you know... experience some culture and all that other stuff. If it's all right with you, Hermione."

She rolled her eyes. "Suit yourself."

Ginny glanced at him suspiciously. Harry winked. He felt his face go red. "So, I guess we'll meet you back here then."

"Right," Sirius said. "We should be back in a half hour or so."

Ron nodded and gave Harry the thumbs up sign as the three of them headed back towards the restaurant.

Ron breathed a sigh of relief and put his arms behind his head. He laid back and enjoyed the bright sunshine. There was a sweet scent of cocoanuts and salt in the air, mixed in with the aroma of Hermione's apple blossom sunscreen. He loved the way she smelled. It reminded him of being at home, his mother baking in the kitchen, and Hermione sitting near the fireplace with him. She had only been to the burrow on a few occasions, but Ron hoped to change that.

And sure, he loved the way she smelled, but even more than that, he loved the way she looked. Her thick honey-dipped hair was tied back in a loose braid and was draped over her shoulder. Her swimsuit was blue - a conservative one-piece that she still, somehow, managed to look great in. She chewed her fingernails on one hand as her eyes darted back and forth across each page, the other hand holding up her book. She had even painted her toenails a light lavender color, which surprised Ron, because Hermione wasn't the type to take the time to do her toenails, let alone her hair. She was not Cho Chang.

"What are you staring at?" she asked, not looking up from her book.

There were so many ways Ron could have answered her. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen. No, that was too corny. Someone I'd like to kiss. No, that was worse. Finally he decided on the simplest answer.

"Nothing."

"Right." She turned the page and Ron caught her rolling her eyes again, but there was a tint of red in her cheeks.

Ron sighed. How could he tell her Hermione how he felt about her without overwhelming her and scaring her away? He'd never done this sort of thing before. He couldn't ask his parents. Bill and Charlie had all moved passed their days of teenage angst; they wouldn't know what to do. Ron wouldn't ask Percy romance advice if he was the last person on earth. Fred and George were more interested in money than girls. And if he asked Ginny she'd tell him to start spouting poetry or love songs or something.

The silence was killing him. "What are you reading?" he barked.

"The Hawaiian Dictionary I picked up at the airport."

"What?" Ron cried. "You're reading the dictionary?"

Hermione laid the book down across her stomach. "Just the preface. They have some very interesting facts about the origin of the Hawaiian language. For example..."

Another thing Ron loved about Hermione was the way her eyes lit up when she learned something new. She could talk a mile a minute without making an ounce of sense to him, and he'd never get annoyed.

"Ron!" she shouted. "Are you listening?"

"Not really," he replied, not realizing what he said until it was too late.

"Honestly, I don't know why I bother!" She scowled and picked up the dictionary again.

Ron frowned. This wasn't going the way he planned it. Maybe honesty was the best policy. If he just came right out and said it, then he wouldn't be so uncomfortable anymore.

"Hermione?"

She groaned and slammed the dictionary shut, rolling over on her side to face him. "What is it Ron? What are you trying to say? You're driving me crazy!"

Ron gulped. "I... I guess what I'm trying to say is..." He turned his head to face her. "Hermione, I love you."

There, I've said it.

Hermione sat up so fast her hair nearly hit him in the face. "You what?"

He covered his face with his hands. "You aren't going to make me repeat it are you?" he groaned.

Hermione grabbed him by the wrist and jerked him into a sitting position. "What do you mean you love me?"

Ron struggled free from her grip - she was stronger than her realized - and tried desperately not to look Hermione in the eyes. "Well, you know..."

"No, I don't know. Tell me."

"Well, after all these years... You... You've just..." He paused thoughtfully for a moment. "You've grown on me."

"I've grown on you?" she cried.

Ron covered his ear with one hand. "Do you have to shout?"

"Somebody who has been my best friend for six years has just told me he loves me, so excuse me if I'm a little apprehensive." Her eyes were intense, her face flushed. "Do you mean you love me like a friend, like a sister?"

He cringed, thinking of Ginny. "No, definitely not."

"Then, how do you love me?" She studied Ron closely. "No, wait, don't answer that." She ran her fingers through her hair until they reached the end of her braid. She bit her lip nervously. Ron had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he was pretty sure it wasn't all the fruit he'd eaten for breakfast.

"Hermione..."

She stood up and began pacing in the sand. "Ron, I think I know what you're trying to say, but love is not a word you can just throw around when you feel like it."

Ron jumped to his feet. "So you think I'm just throwing it around?"

"No. Yes. I don't know."

"Hermione, you've no idea how long it's taken me to find the courage to tell you this."

"But Ron, did you ever stop to consider what would happen to our friendship? What about Harry?"

He raised one eyebrow in surprise. "What about Harry? As far as I know, Harry has nothing to do with me being in love with you!"

Hermione shook her head, knowing that she said the wrong thing. "Okay, okay. But what about our friendship? The three of us? What if something happened - what if I didn't love you back?"

Ron hadn't thought of that. He'd just assumed that Hermione felt the same way about him that he felt about her. "You don't love me?"

Hermione sighed. She looked down at the sand. "I don't know how I feel about you right now."

Defeated, he hung his head in shame. "I understand."

"No, you don't." Hermione walked over to him. He took a step back, not daring to meet her eyes. "Love is just... It's a strong word."

"I'm quite aware of that."

"Look," Hermione said, grabbing Ron's shoulders and looking him straight in the eyes. "I just need some time to think about this. To think about you."

Ron wondered what there was to think about, but he agreed. "Right. Time. I can give you that. I've given you everything else," he muttered, feeling his heart drop into the depths of his stomach.

"Good." She managed a weak smile. "Do - do you want to catch up with the others and get something to eat?"

He turned away from her and headed towards the shore. "No thanks. I'm not very hungry anymore."