If You Love Her (Ron Weasley)

Sixteen.

Strangely enough, Ron had been right in wishing me a Merry Christmas when he did, for I didn't see him again before the end of term. In fact, he left in such a way that I wasn't sure I would see him again for a long, long time. 

I woke the morning after the DA meeting, feeling on cloud nine, excited for the holidays, and equally excited to return after the holidays and attend more meetings, get to know my new friends more. 

But sadly, my good mood didn't last very long, as I was woken by a very distressed Hermione.

"What's wrong?" I mumbled, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and wondering if I was still asleep and dreaming when Hermione had yanked back the covers of my four-poster bed, hysterical. 

"I didn't know who else I could trust, can you just get ready and come downstairs?" She asked, stress evident in her tone which had me jumping out of bed, pulling on some jeans and a jumper, and not bothering to shower before running down the staircase to find out what on earth had bothered the girl this much. 

"What's the matter?" I asked, looking around the Common Room and noting the absence of the Weasley's, and Harry, who could almost always be found nearby. "What's happened? Is Ron okay? Harry?"

"They're fine, they're all fine," I breathed a sigh of relief when she spoke, though the confusion grew within me, for if they were all okay, why the dramatics? 

"So what is it?" She looked around her, ensuring nobody was eavesdropping, and lowered the tone of her voice. 

"It's Ron's Dad," She whispered. "He's been hurt, really hurt," 

"Merlin," I mumbled. "Where are they?" 

"With him, I think. I don't know much, as you can see, they've left me behind," She seemed disgruntled about this, but quickly shook it off, clearly understanding that Ron's father was more important. 

"So what happened?" I asked, and she looked at me. "How did he get hurt, I mean?" 

"Oh, I can't really tell you that bit," She shook her head, and I attempted to push down the annoyance bubbling within me.

"Why tell me anything if you can't tell me what happened?" I asked, and she looked at me with sorrow in her eyes.

"I definitely can't tell you, in here," She looked around at all of the people around them. "But if we can find somewhere more secluded, maybe I could let you know some of it," 

And with that, we walked silently to the Room of Requirement, where we could know for a certainty we would not be disturbed. Keeping a look out for Umbridge or Filch all the while, we finally made it to our destination, and by this time the theories whirring around my head were frankly crazy.

"Right, what happened?" I asked, and Hermione took a deep breath. 

"I need you know understand that nothing I'm about to tell you is public knowledge, and I'm telling you this because I feel I can trust you," She stated, and I nodded. "And also, the fact that Ron has really pushed the narrative these last few months. To trust you, I mean,"

"He has?" I wanted to punch myself in the head for being so obvious, she was about to tell me some big dark secret, and still all I could think about was Ron bloody Weasley. 

"He has," She smirked. "Anyway, it's always best to start at the beginning, I think. Last time You-Know-Who rose to power, Dumbledore formed an army. It was called the Order of the Phoenix,"

"I've never heard of it," I stated, and she shook her head. 

"No, it was top secret. Nobody ever spoke of it, during or after. It consisted of mostly the Auror's of the time, but also the younger witches and wizards, like Harry's parents, and Professor Lupin. Ron's parents, as well," 

"Wow, that's impressive. Harry's parents and Lupin must have only been teenagers,"

"Yeah, they were. So, as you know, we won the first war. Job done, they never spoke of it again and everyone just moved on. But then, in the summer, when he returned, Dumbledore reformed the Order, and they've been working behind the scenes. I like to think of the DA as just being the faction here at Hogwarts," She continued. 

"Have you joined? The actual Order, I mean," I asked, and she shook her head.

"No, we aren't allowed. Even Harry isn't allowed to join up. Ron's parents are in it though, so are his oldest brothers. They've all been guarding something, I don't even know what it is, but it's some sort of weapon. And that's where Mr Weasley was last night, when he was attacked,"

"Attacked? By what?" I asked.

"A snake," I gasped audibly when she said this, unable to imagine what that could be like. 

"Bloody hell," I whispered, and she smiled slightly.

"You sound very like Ron," She said, and I felt myself blushing.

"So, how is he? Ron's Dad?" I enquired, and she shrugged, the concern growing in her eyes once again. 

"Honestly, I haven't got a clue. McGonagall told me this morning where they had gone, and that I'd see them in a few days, when we go home for the holidays. She couldn't give me an update on his health, just that he was still alive, and in the hospital," Tears were brimming Hermione's eyes, and I took her hand in mine. 

"I'm sure he's okay, Hermione. No news is good news, they would have told you if he wasn't alright," I tried to reassure her. 

"I believe that," She nodded, a sad smile on her face. She coughed slightly, before changing the topic. "So, anyway, you and Ron?"

"What about me and Ron?" I asked, as innocently as I could.

"Don't play stupid, Aoife, I see the way you both look at each other," She laughed slightly, a bright smile on her face now replacing the sad one she had previously adorned. 

"I don't see whatever it is you see," I shrugged.

"You like him, though?" She asked, and I thought for a moment. I knew the feelings within my own heart, but speaking them aloud just felt far too real, too honest. 

"I suppose I do, yeah," I almost whispered, and she gasped.

"I believed it, but I never thought you would confess!" She laughed, and I blushed once again. 

"You won't tell him, will you? I'm almost certain he would laugh in my face," I said, suddenly self-conscious.

"Of course I won't!" She said. "Though, I think you're lying to yourself. I've never seen him so happy around anyone else, not even Harry. I think he's utterly besotted with you, and I've known him for years,"

"I hope you're right, Hermione, he's wonderful," I smiled to myself, wishing he was in the castle so that I could go and see him, talk to him, make sure he was okay. 

"I think you and I are going to be good friends, Aoife," Hermione grinned, squeezing my hand in her own.