Healing the Broken

Chapter 17- Ron's Nightmares

It was taking him way too long.

He wanted to ask her out, he really did. But things kept happening that would screw it up.

For instance- Rita Skeeter. She was a problem in the beginning. And then Hermione setting out to find her parents after blowing up at Harry. And then her coming back, injured and in a coma, pretty much dead to the world. Now it was just the undeniable feeling in his gut that he wasn't good enough, or that the how he wanted to ask her out wasn't big enough.

Which was stupid. When Ron and Luna had started dating, he had simply pulled her into a quiet classroom and asked her out. Ron had liked luna and her weird ways for a while now. Harry decided that maybe all he needed was some time with Ron, to talk it over and ask him for advice- and besides, they hadn't had as much time in their final year to talk and hang out as they thought they would.

First though, Ron needed to know that Hermione was back from St. Mungo's.

"EXCUSE ME!" Harry shouts into the Gryffindor common room that morning, making people snicker. "I REQUEST A YOUNG MAN NAMED RONALD BILIOUS WEASLEY! IS THERE SUCH A BOY IN THIS RESIDENCE? RONALD? RON WEASLEY!"

Ron comes stumbling up to him from the corner of the room, and he looked terrible. Harry probably did too- neither of them had exactly been 'on their game' ever since Hermione came back hurt.
Harry had apologised profusely the night before, after telling her about the constellations.

Ron rubs his eyes tiredly. "You bellowed?"

Harry smiles, and claps him on your back. "RIGHT I DID RONALD."

Ron frowns. "Why exactly are you yelling my name at-" he checks his watch, "seven in the morning?"

"WELL RON EXCITING TIMES CALL FOR LOUD VOICES."

Ron winces. "Yeah, like that. What the hell are you doing that for?"

"BECAUSE, RONALD, I AM EXTREMELY EXCITED AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT IF YOU COME WITH ME YOU WILL BE EXCITED TOO." Harry shouts. And then adds, "I LIKE TO EXPRESS MY EXCITEMENT IN A EXTREMELY LOUD VOICE. LIKE THIS ONE I AM DOING RIGHT NOW. COME, RONALD!" And then Harry turns and leads him out the portrait hole.

"Bonkers, that's what he is. Gone bloody bonkers." Ron mutters to himself. But, much to Harry's pleasure, before he shuts the door he shouts to the awake and confused people in the common room, "GOODBYE TO YOU ALL!"

When Ron turns around, his mouth gapes open at the girl that is standing across the hall from them. Harry smirks, and Hermione just smiles.

"Hi Ron. We would have told you I was better yesterday, but I got back late at night, just ask Harry-" But she's cut off by Ron, who rushes forward and gives her a bone-crushing hug that would make Hagrid proud.

But not before screaming, "HERMIONE!"

~~~~~

"Alrigh' Harry, Ron... HERMIONE?" Hagrid asks as soon as he opens the door, and he too gives her a hug. Ron's face is still flushed with excitement from seeing his best friend safe. Harry smiles, because he too is still elated.

Harry swears he can here Hermione's bones snap before Hagrid releases her. When he does let go, he takes a good look at her, up and down. She smiles at him. "I'm alright Hagrid- honestly."

Ron glances down at her stomach. "What does the gash look like?"

Hermione grimaces. "I'd rather not show off my fat rolls, thank you very much."

Hagrid laughs out loud. "Fat rolls? You? I ain't talkin' 'bout no fat rolls, and take a look a' me!" He thumps his stomach. "I've eaten me fair share of food, and I don't talk 'bout 'em."