Latrunculus--Part 11

Hermione pulled herself free from Ron as soon as the Burrow appeared. He caught a glimpse of her flaming cheeks before she stomped off toward the house. With a sigh, he followed her.

Why couldn’t he think when he was around her? He wanted to get to the Burrow quickly. Apparation seemed like the best option.

Of course, it also had provided a reason to hold her close. A bonus, really. But like always, his plans pertaining to her backfired.

She was mad at him. Again. Like always.

Despite his longer legs, she entered the house first. His mum was hugging Hermione in welcome while admonishing her for leaving so quickly earlier that day. Ron noted Harry and Ginny were already there. He kissed his mum on the cheek before saying hello to his sister and brother-in-law.

They sat down for dinner. Ron was both thrilled and appalled that he was sitting next to Hermione. They were just beginning to eat when Mr. Weasley arrived home.

After brief greeting, everyone settled back down to the meal. Conversation began about Mr. Weasley’s latest project at the Ministry. It drifted then to the one in his shop.

Ron listened absently. He was acutely aware of every movement Hermione made. It was like he was fifteen all over again.

Ginny and Harry began discussing possible baby names. Mrs. Weasley offered several suggestions, each worse than the last. Hermione occasionally chimed in to voice an opinion.

Ron studied her out the corner of his eyes. It seemed so unreal to him. He couldn’t believe that her magic was gone. He tried not to think about how she would soon leave the Wizarding world to rejoin the Muggle one.

His appetite quickly soured. He managed a few bites of dessert but it was absolutely tasteless to him. The continued discussion of baby names kept his mum from noticing.

“Ron, let’s go have a fly,” Harry said.

Ron glanced from his mate to his sister.

“Oh, go on,” Ginny cried. “Then maybe Harry will quit hovering.”

“I do not hover,” Harry protested. Ginny merely lifted an eyebrow. “Do I?”

“Just enough to drive me mad,” she replied, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Now, off with you.”

Mr. Weasley used it as an opportunity to escape to his shed. Ron followed Harry out into the yard. He could hear female giggles as he closed the door behind him.

His dad soon disappeared into his shop, leaving the two of them in the yard alone. Ron retrieved two brooms. He kept his old broom for himself and passed the newer one to Harry.

They took off and began to follow the river. While Ron couldn’t match Harry, who was a natural on a broom, he did manage to keep up with the famous Seeker. Just as they neared the village, Harry veered off, abruptly changing directions.

He glanced back at Ron, grinning when he saw that his friend had managed to follow. Then there was challenge in Harry’s smile. Ron felt himself grin for real for the first time in days.

He was soon chasing Harry through treetops, barely avoiding branches. They continued their game up and down the river with Harry setting the pace and course. Ron pushed himself and the broom to their limits. Every time Harry glanced back over his shoulder, Ron was there.

Eventually the light began to fade. It was getting harder and harder to see the obstacles in the way. Harry slowed and headed back to the Burrow.

“Excellent flying, mate,” Harry congratulated as they landed.

Ron grinned as he shouldered his broom. “Haven’t flown like that in ages.”

“Well, if you ever tire of the Aurors, you could still have a career in Quidditch.” With a slap to Ron’s back, Harry went to return his broom.

A quiet Ron followed. The mention of the Aurors reminded him of the confrontation with Malfoy. And that thought led him to replaying the conversation in Hermione’s bedroom.

He knew Hermione. Once she made up her mind, she went through with her plan. She rarely backed down.

Which meant she was leaving.

“Ron?”

He glanced over at Harry. “Yeah?”

“Are you going to keep standing there or are you going to put that broom back and come inside?”

Ron blinked. He was still standing outside the storage area with the broom over his shoulder. “Oh, right.”

He quickly put the broom back in its place. He knew that Harry was watching him closely as he closed the door. He was sure to smile as he turned back to his friend. “I wonder if any of that pie is left.”

“There’s something wrong,” Harry said, moving to stand between Ron and the house. “What is it?”

“Nothing, mate.”

“Bullocks! What did Malfoy tell you? Does he have a cure for Hermione?”

“No,” Ron said quietly.

“What?”

“There’s no cure, Harry.” He looked past Harry to the house and caught a glimpse of Hermione through a window. “Her magic’s finally gone, and she’s already made up her mind to leave the Wizarding world.”

Harry was silent, digesting the news. “Malfoy,” he began but faltered when Ron shook his head.

“He said that he made sure that there was no cure before he used it,” Ron said. “If there was even a possibility of a cure, he’d be using as leverage now.”

“You have to tell her, Ron.”

“Tell her what?”

Harry scowled. “How you feel about her.”

“Now’s not exactly a good time, Harry,” Ron spat. He made a move toward the house but Harry pushed him back.

“I’m so sick of hearing you say that! For years, you’ve been waiting for the right time and something’s always held you back. And now you’ll just let her leave without ever knowing!”

“She said that she’d visit.” He risked another glance at the window. “Besides, it’s probably for the best.”

“That’s shite and you know it!”

“Just leave it, Harry.”

“One day, you’ll regret this, Ron.” With that, he turned and headed toward the house.

As he followed, Ron realized that he was already regretting a lot of things.


Part X! Hermione pulled herself free from Ron as soon as the Burrow appeared. He caught a glimpse of her flaming cheeks before she stomped off toward the house. With a sigh, he followed her. Why couldn’t he think when he was around her? He wanted to get to the Burrow quickly. Apparation seemed like the best option. Of course, it also had provided a reason to hold her close. A bonus, really. But like always, his plans pertaining to her backfired. She was mad at him. Again. Like always. Despite his longer legs, she entered the house first. His mum was hugging Hermione in welcome while admonishing her for leaving so quickly earlier that day. Ron noted Harry and Ginny were already there. He kissed his mum on the cheek before saying hello to his sister and brother-in-law. They sat down for dinner. Ron was both thrilled and appalled that he was sitting next to Hermione. They were just beginning to eat when Mr. Weasley arrived home. After brief greeting, everyone settled back down to the meal. Conversation began about Mr. Weasley’s latest project at the Ministry. It drifted then to the one in his shop. Ron listened absently. He was acutely aware of every movement Hermione made. It was like he was fifteen all over again. Ginny and Harry began discussing possible baby names. Mrs. Weasley offered several suggestions, each worse than the last. Hermione occasionally chimed in to voice an opinion. Ron studied her out the corner of his eyes. It seemed so unreal to him. He couldn’t believe that her magic was gone. He tried not to think about how she would soon leave the Wizarding world to rejoin the Muggle one. His appetite quickly soured. He managed a few bites of dessert but it was absolutely tasteless to him. The continued discussion of baby names kept his mum from noticing. “Ron, let’s go have a fly,” Harry said. Ron glanced from his mate to his sister. “Oh, go on,” Ginny cried. “Then maybe Harry will quit hovering.” “I do not hover,” Harry protested. Ginny merely lifted an eyebrow. “Do I?” “Just enough to drive me mad,” she replied, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Now, off with you.” Mr. Weasley used it as an opportunity to escape to his shed. Ron followed Harry out into the yard. He could hear female giggles as he closed the door behind him. His dad soon disappeared into his shop, leaving the two of them in the yard alone. Ron retrieved two brooms. He kept his old broom for himself and passed the newer one to Harry. They took off and began to follow the river. While Ron couldn’t match Harry, who was a natural on a broom, he did manage to keep up with the famous Seeker. Just as they neared the village, Harry veered off, abruptly changing directions. He glanced back at Ron, grinning when he saw that his friend had managed to follow. Then there was challenge in Harry’s smile. Ron felt himself grin for real for the first time in days. He was soon chasing Harry through treetops, barely avoiding branches. They continued their game up and down the river with Harry setting the pace and course. Ron pushed himself and the broom to their limits. Every time Harry glanced back over his shoulder, Ron was there. Eventually the light began to fade. It was getting harder and harder to see the obstacles in the way. Harry slowed and headed back to the Burrow. “Excellent flying, mate,” Harry congratulated as they landed. Ron grinned as he shouldered his broom. “Haven’t flown like that in ages.” “Well, if you ever tire of the Aurors, you could still have a career in Quidditch.” With a slap to Ron’s back, Harry went to return his broom. A quiet Ron followed. The mention of the Aurors reminded him of the confrontation with Malfoy. And that thought led him to replaying the conversation in Hermione’s bedroom. He knew Hermione. Once she made up her mind, she went through with her plan. She rarely backed down. Which meant she was leaving. “Ron?” He glanced over at Harry. “Yeah?” “Are you going to keep standing there or are you going to put that broom back and come inside?” Ron blinked. He was still standing outside the storage area with the broom over his shoulder. “Oh, right.” He quickly put the broom back in its place. He knew that Harry was watching him closely as he closed the door. He was sure to smile as he turned back to his friend. “I wonder if any of that pie is left.” “There’s something wrong,” Harry said, moving to stand between Ron and the house. “What is it?” “Nothing, mate.” “Bullocks! What did Malfoy tell you? Does he have a cure for Hermione?” “No,” Ron said quietly. “What?” “There’s no cure, Harry.” He looked past Harry to the house and caught a glimpse of Hermione through a window. “Her magic’s finally gone, and she’s already made up her mind to leave the Wizarding world.” Harry was silent, digesting the news. “Malfoy,” he began but faltered when Ron shook his head. “He said that he made sure that there was no cure before he used it,” Ron said. “If there was even a possibility of a cure, he’d be using as leverage now.” “You have to tell her, Ron.” “Tell her what?” Harry scowled. “How you feel about her.” “Now’s not exactly a good time, Harry,” Ron spat. He made a move toward the house but Harry pushed him back. “I’m so sick of hearing you say that! For years, you’ve been waiting for the right time and something’s always held you back. And now you’ll just let her leave without ever knowing!” “She said that she’d visit.” He risked another glance at the window. “Besides, it’s probably for the best.” “That’s shite and you know it!” “Just leave it, Harry.” “One day, you’ll regret this, Ron.” With that, he turned and headed toward the house. As he followed, Ron realized that he was already regretting a lot of things.


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