Three Broomsticks - August 9th (Later Evening)

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione walked into the Three Broomsticks, Ron right behind her. She looked around until she saw a table to suit them-one towards the center of the room-and walked over to take a seat. She thought briefly about waiting to sit and see if Ron would pull her chair out...he hadn't really gotten himself in trouble lately, so that seemed nearly

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[path_ron]

Ron nodded and did his best to lock the words into his brain. Proper vowels, the proper vowels were very important. Accent, accent was important, too. Once he'd turned the word around his mind long enough he pocketed his wand and reached out to the gnome. He put his hand on his leg and resisted the urge to pick him up and swing him. Reflexes.

As soon as he touched his hand to the little creature, he could feel his heart beat speed up, almost like he'd been overworking his body too long. He let go and let out and painful sigh. He'd done nothing to the gnome's leg. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, repeating the spell over and over in his head and waiting for his heartbeat to settle. He straightened his shoulders, then placed his hand to the creature's leg again. His insides were a little wobbly, and his heart was beating fast again, but this time he tried to imagine everything-except his heartbeat and the sickness in his gut-living his body and entering the gnomes. The wounds started to close from where Ron's hand sat all the way up his leg.

With a smile, Ron pulled back, but as he did, the wound reopened itself, small beads of blood falling onto the desk. Ron gulped and, feeling bad that he hadn't done it right the first time," thrust his hand hard onto the leg, leaving it there and watching his knuckles turn white. He waited a couple of seconds after the wound had completely disappeared, then released his arm. It stayed shut. He turned around and faced him. Other than the jelly-like feel in his legs and the little bit of sweat of his forehead, he felt okay. "Does is take less energy with practice? Do you learn how to best use your own energy?" he panted.

[booky_knowitall]

Hermione stared at him, her mouth open a bit. She forgot how good Ron was when he applied himself. His determination made up for so much. Her eyes fell to the gnome's leg, and just how well Ron had closed it up. She smiled warmly and, on a strange impulse, kissed a bead of sweat away from the side of his face. "Well, teacher, did he pass?"

[naught_common]

Theo pushed a chair toward Ron. "He passed. But yes, it gets easier. You weren't healing a person. That takes more energy. Practice, as with everything in magic, makes perfect." Theo was actually fairly impressed. "Perhaps a drink?"

[path_ron]

"A drink sounds fabulous. Anything but wine, I've given up wine for life." He took the seat offered to him and let out a long sigh as he sat down. "But that last time I could actually feel a little bit of a focus, and I used up triple the energy with my three tries on one thing. If I get it right the first time I won't be as drained, right?"

This felt...odd. Being civil to a Slytherin...

[naught_common]

Theo nodded, stepping to his bag and pulling out several bottles of water. "Here you are." He tossed it toward Weasley, trusting that he would catch it, then offered another to Hermione. "Would you like to feel it from the other side? We'd have to wound you a bit, but I always think it is wise to know all sides if possible."

[path_ron]

Ron guzzled most of his water, then lick his lips, nodding. "That's probably a good idea." He looked back at Hermione. "Would Hermione do it on me, or would you?"

[booky_knowitall]

"Well, I would like a chance, thank you!" she said, settling her water down beside her. "The agreement was that we both learn, not just Ron!" Her wand was firmly grasped in her right hand. "Can I wound him?"

[naught_common]

Theo grinned. "You wound him, I'll heal him, and then you can have your own shot at the gnome." Who knew Gryffindors were so blood thirsty. Theo approved.

[path_ron]

Ron jumped out of his seat faster than a Firebolt could take off. He jumped over his chair and ducked behind the professor's podium. "You be careful with that thing, Hermione Granger! You look way too cheerful...if you even think about little yellow birds..."

[booky_knowitall]

"Me? Attack you with cute little fluffy canaries? What do you take me for? A jealous bird? Come here, you scardy flobberworm." Hermione followed him back behind the podium and pointed her wand at his shoulder. A moment later, blood started to seep through his shirt and she grinned. "Now, that didn't kill you, did it? Didn't even leave pock marks on your nose."

[path_ron]

Ron winced. "Doesn't feel great, either...you tore that wound pretty deep." He looked down at his shirt, then glared up at her. "I'm going to pretend you didn't just deliberately bloody up my Cannons t-shirt instead of my holey jeans."

[naught_common]

"The kitten has claws." He tipped an imaginary hat at Hermione. "Take your shirt off Weasley and I'll fix you up."

[path_ron]

Ron was still glaring at Hermione as he got up from his crouched position. He pulled his shirt off and threw it at Hermione. "Have fun getting that blood stain out. You made the mess, you clean it up." He trying to be brave, but in all honesty, his shoulder was pounding something fierce. He brushed around Hermione and stopped in front of Theo, though he was still glaring at Hermione. "Don't look at me like that.

[booky_knowitall]

"I'm not looking at you any particular way," she defended. Okay, so maybe she was very interested in the shape of the muscles she could feel when she leaned up against him. When was the last time she'd seen Ron without a shirt on? Probably some point the summer before. Quidditch had done an amazing number on his chest...She snapped out of ti and smiled.

[naught_common]

Theo shook his head. "Sure you aren't. You've not looked at a thing." Theo reached his hand out and placed it on Ron's shoulder. It wasn't actually a deep wound, but it was well placed. "Breathe, Weasley." Theo closed his eyes, opened them and looked directly at Ron while he felt the wound knit under his hand. "Don't forget, if she'd made this with a knife that spell would do absolutely nothing."

[path_ron]

Ron raised an eyebrow at Nott, then at Hermione. Exactly how was she looking at him? He just knew it made him uncomfortable. He looked down at his shoulder and chewed on his bottom lip. "Are there any magical maladies it won't help with?"