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Author: Zelthian Story: The Gryffindor Four Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 4 Words: 31,336
Ron and Hermione got back about and hour after they left. Harry and Ginny barely had time to discuss the finer points of their plan, as simple as it was, before they arrived. Harry and Ginny were "finishing up" a game of wizard chess as Hermione headed upstairs with her things. Ginny immediately went after her. "Ron, come play Harry. He needs to lose for once," Ginny said over her shoulder as she rushed up the stairs. "Sure thing, sis." Ron sat across from Harry and reset the board. "So what did Hermione need to get?" Harry asked. Ron rolled his eyes. "You know her. She gets a scratch on her quill, and it's off to buy another one. I'm telling ya, she's still mental." "You really think that?" Harry said, moving a pawn to block one of Ron's knights. Ron shrugged. "Yeah. Well, maybe mental in a good way. Annoying, but I'd be lost without her sometimes. I'm glad she's my friend but sometimes..." Ron trailed off with an odd look on his face. "Sometimes what?" Ron sighed. "Sometimes I wonder why she hangs around with me. You I can understand, but me? I'm a nobody," he said dejectedly. "I wonder at times if she just hangs around with me because I'm Ginny's brother. She's always arguing with me and correcting me." He looked up to Harry and asked, "Do you know what I mean?" Harry stifled a laugh. It was so clear to him now; Hermione did these things because she liked Ron and didn't want to admit it. "You ever think about asking her out?" Harry asked, as Ron attacked his pawn with a bishop. "Are you mad? No way," he exclaimed, his face twisted in shock. "We may be friends, but she's out of my league, you know? She's a brain and I can't write a paper to save my life. Why'd she want to date a guy like me?" "Just asking," he said, with a shrug. "Hey, listen. I'll be right back." Harry left, heading for the restroom. He saw Ron looking over the chessboard, and he knew he was trying to decide which ploy to use to defeat him. Harry quickly changed directions and headed to Hermione's room, hoping Ginny's part of the plan was going well. He went to the door, and making sure Ron was out of range, knocked a particular rhythm on the door. "Come in, Harry," Ginny said. Harry walked in and closed the door. Hermione was sitting on the bed, and Ginny was sitting on the chair where Harry sat the night before when he and Hermione had talked. Harry looked at Ginny. "So, do we have a confession yet?" Hermione stared stonily at Harry as Ginny nodded. "Excellent," Harry said, grinning. Looking back and forth from Harry to Ginny, Hermione couldn't hide her discomfiture at their wide smiles. "You two are up to something!" said the brown-haired girl indignantly. "You had this planned, didn't you, Ginny?" Hermione exclaimed, almost panicking. Harry held up his hands. "Relax Hermione. It's pretty obvious to a lot of people that you and Ron have feelings for each other," Harry explained simply. "Ginny and I just thought it was time for some honesty around here." Hermione listened to Harry slack-jawed. She then turned on Ginny and said with a gleam in her eye, "Well, my fire-haired friend, isn't this something like the pot calling the kettle black? What about YOUR dark little secret?" Right on cue, Harry came and sat down next to Ginny, who moved up and sat in Harry's lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he put his arms around her waist. Hermione was in shock. "No way! Oh.... Oh no!" "Oh yes, Hermione," Ginny giggled. "You can't blackmail us now. We have no such inhibitions." Hermione put her head in her hands. "We are prepared to go down and deliver your confession of love to Ron right now," Ginny continued. "There's only one way to keep us from doing it." Hermione's head jerked up and she stared at them. Harry was sure she was trying to burn a hole in their heads with her eyes. "But I can't! Ron will laugh at me. Why would he want a bookworm like me? We're friends, and he's always been there for me when I've needed him, but... Oh, he'll think I'm bonkers." Harry smiled. "Oh, I think not. I have a feeling he thinks the same about you." Hermione studied Harry carefully, and then sighed. "I'll get you two, you mark my words! Okay, let's get this over with." Hermione got up and walked quickly out the door and down towards Ron. It was all Harry and Ginny could do to keep up and Harry certainly didn't want to miss this. Ron heard a commotion and looked up just in time to see Hermione coming right at him with a determined look on her face, Ginny and Harry in tow. He looked confused and scared at the same time. "Uh, what's the matter, Hermione?" Ron asked as he stood up. Hermione came to a stop right in front of Ron. Ron looked like he half expected to be smacked upside the head, but Hermione just stood there for a few seconds. "Ron, there's something I have to tell you," Hermione said, very matter-of-factly. Ron looked terrified. "Whatever it is, Hermione, I swear, I didn't do it! I swear! And even if I did, I'm sorry, really! Please, whatever it is, I... I... I'm sorry..." Ron looked down at his feet. Harry almost felt sorry for him, but he had faith that it would be much better very soon. Hermione looked livid. "Ronald Weasley! What on earth are you talking about? You are the most aggravating, clueless, frustrating person on this earth! I swear I'm going to knock some wits into you if you don't stop that this instant!" Ron's ears were really red now. "Me? You're the one that storms in here, scaring the living daylights out of me, looking all mad. You're mental, you know that?" "Oh yeah?" Hermione shot back. Suddenly she stopped herself. Harry would have given a sack of Galleons to know what was going on in her mind that moment. He watched the two of them stare at each other, wondering how Hermione would break it to him. He wouldn't have to wait long. "You know something Ron, you're really cute when your ears get red like that." Ron's ears paled a bit, but his cheeks were now flushed. "What?" Hermione just smiled. Harry could tell Ron was trying to figure out what to do. He looked at Harry. Harry just smiled and raised an eyebrow. Ron gulped. "You think I'm cute?" Hermione nodded. "Uh huh. Cute. Attractive. Handsome. All at the same time." "Really?" Ron's voice cracked. Hermione giggled and nodded. "I uh..." Ron started. "Well, I, uh.... To tell you the truth, Hermione... Ever since the Yule Ball, I haven't been able to get over how pretty you are." Hermione's jaw dropped. He'd actually said it and Hermione was speechless. Harry wished he could say something, but he knew the two of them had to do this alone. "Oh Ron, you're just saying that," Hermione replied, taking her turn to look at the ground. "No, Hermione, really! I mean, I just never said so because I thought you'd laugh at me. I didn't think you really liked me that way or anything, so I just kept it to myself," he finished lamely. "I really thought it was hopeless when you started seeing Viktor..." Hermione laughed, but didn't look up. "Hermione, you're my best friend. Well, next to Harry and all. I don't want to lose you as a friend, but I do think you're very pretty and... well, do you want to go out sometime?" Hermione finally looked up. They were still standing there, looking at each other. The suspense was almost more than Harry could stand! "I'd like that a lot, Ron." Their faces competing to see which could most resemble a ripe tomato, they smiled, and Hermione looked back down, obviously more embarrassed than she'd ever been. Suddenly Ron started and looked back at Harry. Harry put up his hand quickly and motioned furiously towards Hermione. Ron gulped again and looked utterly terrified, but Harry tried to will confidence into his friend. Ron nodded tentatively. Turning back to Hermione, Ron slowly grasped her hands in his and brought them up between them. Hermione looked back up. Harry took Ginny's hand as Ron leaned in to kiss Hermione. Their lips finally met and Harry and Ginny gave them five seconds before they started clapping and cheering. Ron quickly broke away from Hermione. "Do you two mind?" Ron shouted and Harry, Ginny and Hermione all laughed. "Yeah, actually we do. This is all wrong. Ginny?" Harry said turning to his girlfriend. Ginny nodded, and they walked over to Ron and Hermione. Ginny put Hermione's arms around Ron's neck as Harry showed Ron the proper way to hold Hermione around her waist. Then Harry backed up a bit as Ginny followed suit. "There, much better. You may proceed." Ron and Hermione looked clumsy but that was to be expected. It was a beautiful thing to behold, watching them finally getting to this point. Harry imagined the kiss they were experiencing now was almost as good as Ginny's had been. He was so glad he had been here to see it happen and to help them along. Harry felt Ginny put her arm around his waist. Without thinking, he put his arm around her neck and held her tight. They looked at each other, and Harry gave her a quick peck on the lips. Suddenly Ron started gasping and coughing. He regained control with some effort. "HARRY!" Ron didn't look mad really, just confused. Then looking at his sister, he said, "Ginny?" "Yes, big brother?" Ginny smiled. Ron looked really confused now. "But... But... I thought.... You said..." "I know, Ron, I know," Ginny replied, and then she looked into Harry's eyes. "I recently admitted to myself that I wasn't being honest about my feelings for Harry. Then I found out today that he had feelings for me too, and... well, here we are." "Today? You mean..." "Yes, Ron, while we were shopping," Hermione answered. Ron turned towards Hermione. "You knew?" Hermione nodded. "Actually, Harry confided in me about Ginny, so I though I'd help him out by giving them the opportunity to talk alone." Ron's expression changed. "But that's brilliant! I have to admit, mate; I had always wanted you and Ginny to get together. Only the best for Ginny, says I." Harry smiled. "You know, Hermione didn't do so bad herself." "Here, here!" Hermione cheered. Ron wiped happily at his eyes, trying to conceal his tears. Harry knew it was a rare emotion for Ron. Just as Harry was thinking this, Ron got a very concerned look on his face. "Harry! How are we going to tell mum and dad about this?" "Tell us about what
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