Round 2, Challenge 1: Voting
Below the cuts are the drabbles and the poll for the first challenge of Round 2 of rwhg_ldws.
If you wish to submit your scores as a comment, please feel free to do so, the comments to this post are screened.
• Please mark the drabbles out of 10
• Please mark all of the drabbles. If you don't, none of your scores will count.
• If you are taking part please do not vote for your own drabble. If you do I shall delete the score you give it from the final tally and making me do more maths than is absolutely necessary is just evil.
• The order of the drabbles is random.
Challenge 1: Drabbles
Drabble 1
Author: manda_lalala
Title:two wrongs don't make a right
Rating: PG
Word Count:
A/N(optional): This is an HBP missing moment
"Hermione Jane Granger, I can not believe you asked Cormack McLaggen to Slughorn's party!" Ginny squealed, plopping down on her friend's bed.
"Why?" Hermione huffed. "He's a... very... nice person." She caughed to hide the laugh that almost escaped.
"Oh please," Ginny giggled. "Cormack McLaggen is not a very nice person."
"I know!" Hermione groaned. Thinking about the upcoming event was making her want to fake sick and hide in her dorm room. "But it was really worth it to see the look on your brother's face when he found out!" she blushed, knowing Ginny would interpret that exactly how she meant it. Why had she fallen for such a big prat? It was against everything Hermione had ever thought stood for. Letting someone else control her emotions, especially someone so... so ... whatever Ron was, had never been part of her plan!
"You know, Hermione, two wrong's don't make a right."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked.
"I think Ron is upset, that's all."
"Yeah, well good. Maybe he'll think twice before snogging that half brained twit in my presence then!" Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth, blushing furiously. "I can't believe I just said that. Do you see what this is doing to me Ginny?! What am I going to do!?"
"You're going to go to the dumb party, and come back looking completely smug in front of Ron, and then you're going to enjoy your Holiday and let Ron sit and stew and think about all his mistakes. And maybe I'll prod him a little bit over Holiday." Ginny winked.
"I thought you said, two wrongs don't make a right."
"Yeah, well I forgot just how dense my brother can be... he needs this."
Hermione cracked a smile at that. "Yeah, he really is dense isn't he?"
"Just leave everything to me."
Drabble 2
Author: nundu_art
Title: Spots and Spats
Rating: G
Word Count: 497
A/N(optional): None
The door slammed with an awful finality. Hermione stared at it, wondering if it would ever open again and the knot in her stomach rose to her throat and threatened to choke her as tears welled in her eyes.
She had been dressed in her ‘grubby’ clothes. He had grinned at the sight of the faded orange tee shirt she had ‘borrowed’ from him years ago. He had arrived to find her with her hair tied back and bilious yellow gloves up to her elbows, attacking the stains in the kitchen sink.
‘You do know you could do that with your wand, don’t you?’
She rubbed her nose on the sleeve of the spotted tee. Why did her nose always itch when she couldn’t scratch it? ‘I know,’ she snapped. ‘But it never seems as clean.’
Ron shook his head, but at the look of annoyance on her face, quickly changed the subject.
‘Would you like to go out for a bit this morning?’
‘I’d planned to clean today. The flat is filthy.’
Ron looked around at the neat room. Every book was in place, there wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen.
‘Um…can I help you with anything? Then I thought we’d have a picnic.’
‘Ron, not today.’ She had resumed scrubbing a particularly stubborn bit of something invisible to him.
She blew a wayward curl out of her face. He sighed. ‘Hermione, please…’
She turned around sharply, with her hands on her hips. ‘What, Ron?’ she snapped.
He opened and closed his mouth, then opened it again. She rolled her eyes, and turned back to the sink.
His exasperation was clear in his voice. ‘I wanted to take you some place nice. I wanted it to be special when I asked you to marry me. But you’re obviously too busy.’
He turned on his heel and marched out the door. The slam left her standing with her jaw hanging, but it only took a moment for her to regain her senses, snatch off the gloves and scarf and bolt out the door. She almost tripped over him, as he sat slump shouldered on the landing step just outside her door.
He was looking at a delicate ring with a sapphire and emerald held in a golden vine nestled in a velvet box.
She sat down beside him. ‘I’m sorry. I was rude to you.’
‘Yeah. But I blundered it, as usual.’
‘No. As usual, I didn’t listen to you.’ She tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and leaned against his shoulder. ‘Now, did you have something you wanted to ask me?’
‘Two wrongs don’t make a right, Hermione.’
‘Everyone thinks we are too different, too opposite to be right for each other, but they’re wrong.’
‘You think so?’ The corner of his mouth was starting to twitch.
‘Absolutely.’
He gathered her in his arms, but as he leaned in to kiss her, he laughed and rubbed a smudge off her nose.
Drabble 3
Author: scribhneoir1
Title: A bump in the road.
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 432
A/N(optional):
The silence had grown and mutated...no longer the comfortable silence of their youth or the familiar promising silence of the early years of their relationship, it had become oppressive and suffocating.
There had always been arguments, it was part of who they were, but they had always found their way through it. It had just made the ‘making up’ all the more special.
Arguments, they could handle.
The silence was a different matter entirely.
Desperate research had led Hermione to conclude that Post Traumatic Stress was encouraging them to constantly be alert for a threat that no longer existed, to jump into action in response to the ghost of a danger long past...to constantly question and doubt the happiness and joy they dared to experience.
The knowledge that everything could be ripped from them in the blink of an eye was tearing them apart.
It was eating away at them and the fear of making a mistake and letting go of the potentially great future kept things brutally honest.
It had all come down to this one pivotal moment, with the two of them facing the fact that they didn’t want to compound the situation by trying in vain to do things the ‘right’ way.
She was at the door, her hand resting on the hard wood and her eyes closed.
“Do you love me?” her voice shook slightly but was loud enough to carry across the silent hallway to the quiet man who watched her.
“More than...more than anything.” Ron said as he began to take a step towards her, tentatively reaching for her arm.
“Then, please don’t make me stay...and please don’t make me say goodbye.”
He stopped, his arm still out-stretched,
“I won’t, for one reason.” Ron resumed his mission and ghosted a gentle touch up her arm until his long fingers reached her cheek. He rested a gentle kiss upon her neck and closed his eyes against the sight of the heavy door in front of them.
“We’re not going to say goodbye Hermione because this isn’t goodbye.” he whispered gently into her ear, “This is just a bump in the road and we’ll see each other soon.”
He heard the sob that escaped from her and gently traced the tears that drifted down her cheeks.
“I love you, we’ll see each other soon.” he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, quietly whispering his promise to her. “It’ll be okay ‘luv, I promise you that.”
The moment was over all too soon and the heavy door was between them, temporarily separating the two sobbing figures.
Drabble 4
Author: belladonna803
Title: Proverbs
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 488
A/N(optional): None.
“Two wrongs don't make a left, Hermione!”
When Hermione was younger, her Uncle Gareth spouted puns like this because he enjoyed her logical retorts. “No, Uncle, but three rights do,” she'd say, and he'd tilt his sand-coloured head back and laugh in that breathless way of his.
It was his voice she heard in her head now for some reason, though the tone was admonitory, rather than teasing. “I know,” she muttered under her breath as the newly hatched plan unfolded its angry wings in her mind.
It was simple. Well, that was a lie, but it sounded good. Yes, simple. What better way to get back at Ron than to flaunt a date to Slughorn's party under his nose? Provided said nose could be prised away from his girlfriend's face long enough to get a whiff. It had to be someone who would really knot his wand. She chewed on her cheek for a moment. Too bad Viktor was out of the question. She hadn't heard from him in months, and it was rather unfair of her to ask this of him. She liked him, after all.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, Hermione tapped her quill on the table. The quiet, wispy sound the feather made reminded her of a ticking clock, and the image of a Time-Turner sprung to mind. It would have been so easy...just a few golden revolutions combined with a quick charm to clear all evidence of her tears away, and it could have been her snogging Ron in the common room that day.
Or could it? Something had happened, it must have. But what? She shook her head to banish the useless question. She'd agonised about it for days and days already, and still couldn't come up with a sound answer.
What was done was done, and there was no Time-Turner to tidily unravel that moment for her. Hermione nodded firmly at her neglected Runes essay, ignoring the leaden feeling in her stomach.
So. Candidates, then? Smith was a definite possibility, and she added his name to the fresh parchment in her mind's eye. Eurgh. Who was she punishing more there? Could she really pretend to enjoy herself with that-that-complete horse's arse? Images of Lavender's hands in Ron's hair sealed the deal like a Sticking Charm.
Yes. She could do it.
Definitely.
Right, so now it was down to asking him. She was sure he-a loud clomping sound interrupted her thoughts as Cormac McLaggen burst through the portrait hole. A scarred and slightly deflated Quaffle was tucked against his side with one hand, his broom casually clutched in the other.
Oh!
“Sorry, Uncle Gareth,” she whispered as she got to her feet, summoning an alluring smile. Two wrongs didn't make a right, as the real adage stated, but the ubiquitous and loquacious “Anonymous” also said that revenge was sweet.
Hermione fervently hoped that it was.
“Cormac?”
Drabble 5
Author: pili204
Title: Planning a Wedding
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
A/N(optional): None
“Mental, completely mental,” Ron mumbled to himself. For the past hour he had been sitting at his desk trying to figure out how his fight with Hermione had ended up so badly.
“What’s wrong?” Harry asked as he walked in the office they both shared.
“Hermione. She’s barking mad,” he said, pounding his fist on the desk. Then his face feel. “I don’t think she wants to marry me anymore.”
“That’s absurd!”
“I wish.”
“You and Hermione row all the time. Whatever happened, she’ll get over it.”
“I don’t know, Harry. You know how she’s so intense?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, with the wedding planning it’s like the time-turner madness back in third year. She’s downright scary.” He shuddered remembering how upset she was. “She’s been asking for help, and when I do help she slams the door in my face while shouting for me to get out.”
“Why, what did you do?”
“Apparently, I offended her by cutting down the wedding guest list, like she had asked, when I crossed off a couple of her cousins.”
“But didn’t she decided a few days ago that you couldn’t possibly invite all the Weasleys because they’re too many of you? Isn’t the same thing?”
“That’s what I told her! But she immediately fired back with ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’ or some rubbish like that. Then, we just continued arguing over everything.” He sighed. “She told me I was infuriating, and then kicked me out.”
Harry was smirking. “She kicked you out of your place?”
“It’s not funny, Harry.”
“Right, sorry. I still think you’re exaggerating.”
Ron was about to continue arguing his case when Hermione burst into their office.
Immediately Harry turned towards her. “Oh, good. Can you please tell Ron that you still want to marry him?”
“Of course I do! Whatever made you think I don’t?”
Harry gave Ron a pointed look and promptly made to leave, but not before adding, “I told you.”
“I’m sorry,” said Hermione.
“Me too.”
“No. I’m the one who completely messed up. I overreacted. You were only trying to help and I… I… well… I wished planning a wedding wasn’t so bloody stressful. Everybody comes to me with different requests, and I can’t seem to please anyone.”
“Hermione,” Ron said, walking towards her and holding her hands in his, “this is our wedding. Believe me, as long as you marry me, I could care less about the colors, sitting arrangements, flowers, or any other detail you’re stressing over. If it were up to me, I marry you right here, right now.”
“Do you mean eloping?”
“Would you?”
“Yes, but I still like a wedding, is that so bad?”
“No. But it should be the wedding you want.”
“So do you forgive me?”
“Yeah.” He kissed her tenderly, then gave her a wicked smile. “Am I allowed back home now?”
“Of course! We have some making up to do.”
Ron didn’t need to be told twice. He Apparated back to their flat at once.
Drabble 6
Author: honourweasley12
Title: The Normal Way
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
A/N(optional): Thanks to my wonderful beta for her suggestions and support, you know who you are :). I hope my "interpretation" of the prompt makes sense!
Ron sat in the back corner of The Leaky Cauldron with a look of frustration on his face. He was in a state of contemplation as he absentmindedly played with the small box in his hands. His thoughts were interrupted by the clink of a butterbeer bottle.
"I've been gone a month and you still haven't asked her?"
"Nice to see you too, Harry," Ron remarked sarcastically before taking a swig of his drink. "I tried, mate. Twice. It was a disaster each time."
"What happened?"
"After I spoke to Hermione's parents and got their blessing, Dr. Granger pulled me aside and told me all about how he had gotten dressed up and proposed to Hermione's mum at some posh eatery. He went on and on about how Muggle girls grew up dreaming of the day they became engaged. So, I bought a suit and took Hermione to an expensive French restaurant. It was horrible, Harry! I couldn't understand the menu, the waiter was a git, and I was so bloody nervous that I accidentally tripped a busboy and ended up with a bowl of soup in my lap. Hermione was embarrassed and the mood was ruined, so I couldn't very well propose after that."
Harry chuckled at Ron's misfortune but prompted him to continue. "You said you tried twice?"
"Yeah, after that mess, I spoke to my dad. He told me about the traditional betrothal spell and how young witches fantasized about the day they would hear it. Hermione came home early one afternoon last week, just as I was practicing the spell. She managed to sneak up on me, and I was so startled that I completely buggered up the charm. After she righted her face, she told me not to go anywhere near her with my wand, and then proceeded to ignore me for the next three days."
Ron slumped lower in his chair as Harry's chortles drew the attention of the other patrons. After his laughter subsided, Harry felt a wave of sympathy for his downtrodden friend and felt compelled to offer some advice. "Look, mate, you've already gotten it wrong twice. You followed Dr. Granger's advice and tried the normal Muggle way, which didn't work. Instead of trying something more creative and personal, you followed your dad's advice about the traditional wizarding way, which also didn't work. Neither one was the right way for you and Hermione. Have you considered trying it your own way?"
"My own way? But I thought women wanted a traditional proposal, like they've always dreamed of."
"Since when have either of you done things the normal way? Besides, Hermione will care more about the answering than the asking."
Ron nodded and pondered this idea. He could picture it: an evening stroll by the pond at The Burrow, dessert under the stars while watching the moonlight reflected in the water, and finally, offering her everything he had to give.
There were no wrongs with that image in his head, only rights.
Drabble 7
Author: writersblock76
Title: The Stance
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 263
A/N(optional): None
She was standing with her hands on her hips again.
Ron wasn't sure what he'd done this time, but whatever it was merited the stern look and a long explanation. He was trying to listen, really trying, but when she stood there with those lovely slender fingers perched on her softly rounded hips, there was little that could draw his mind away from certain thoughts.
But that would get him in trouble, too, he knew. They were waiting. He was okay with it in the way that he was okay with doing anything that made her happy...but did she know what that little stance did to him? Was it really his fault if she wanted him to focus on books left in certain--apparently not the right--spots, but all he could think about was pulling her into his arms?
"Are you paying attention?"
Oh yes, he was paying plenty of attention. To all the appropriate places of her body. Maybe it was only in his head, but it wouldn't be long now till he could show her exactly how she affected him. Forgetting himself for a moment, he stepped up and pulled her into his arms.
"Ron, you can't fix everything with a kiss," Hermione said, obviously exasperated. But she didn't pull away.
"I know," he said, fingers sliding to the back of her neck. Her expression softened a little, and he thought maybe she understood his distraction a little better than he'd thought. "Don't think of it as 'fixing' so much as a guy who just can't help kissing his fiancé."
Drabble 8
Author: queenb23more
Title: Reciprocation
Rating: PG-13 for language
Word Count: 249
A/N(optional): Great prompt with so many possibilities, but with the movie release next week, HBP was predominant in my mind. Many thanks to R for the beta and support.
Before either of them could say anything more, Hermione turned away from Harry and Luna and rushed down the corridor, wiping angrily at the lingering tears on her cheeks and biting her lip to stop them from beginning again.
What was it with Ron? And how hadn't she noticed that he could be so mean-spirited? Perhaps she shouldn't have laughed so derisively at his ridiculous mustache, Hermione conceded, but she wasn't alone in doing so. And if it hadn't been humiliating enough for him to go off with Lavender even though he had already accepted a date with her, was it really necessary for him to embarrass her in the middle of class as well?
"I hate you, Ron," Hermione mumbled as she rounded a corner near the entrance to the dormitory. She knew that she shouldn't react, and a number of clichés echoed through her mind: let bygones be bygones…two wrongs don't make a right…turn the other cheek. But damn it, he had hurt her. Time and time again, Ron hurt her, and at that moment, Hermione wanted nothing more than to hurt him, too.
When a tall, broad-shouldered frame caught her eye, an idea how to accomplish that very thing formulated in her head.
She would show him.
Hermione straightened her shoulders and brushed away the warning in her mind that this was A Very Bad Idea along with the last remaining tear on her cheek, plastering a sickeningly sweet, disingenuous smile on her face.
"Cormac! Wait up -"
Drabble 9
Author: wanderhomeagain
Title: No One Will Ever Know
Rating: PG-13 for suggestiveness
Word Count: 394
A/N(optional): None
Ron's breath was hot against her ear as he pressed her forward, his arms encircling her until she was trapped.
"C'mon, Hermione. You know you want to."
She shook her head, resolved to stay firm, telling herself it was the last thing she wanted.
"N-no, I don't." She cursed herself for stuttering as he ran a hand up her arm. "Besides," she said, trying to unfog her head, "your Mum will have us de-gnoming the garden for weeks if she catches us at it."
Ron wouldn't be deterred. "She'll never know. Plus, you know Harry and Ginny just did it."
Hermione turned in his arms, loving the feel of his warm body against hers, his long arms and skinny hips sandwiching her against the kitchen counter. She couldn't help but reach up to stroke his face.
"I never thought that I would hear you use Harry and Ginny as an excuse. Two wrongs don't make a right, you know."
Ron pulled a face but kept moving in closer. He reached around behind her and picked up a biscuit from a plate on the counter. He broke it in half, swallowed his in one bite, and offered the rest to her. Still she hesitated.
"They're still warm. Just share this one with me. No one will ever know."
Maybe it was the smell of cinnamon, or the look of mischief in his eyes, but she couldn't resist any longer. She took a bite from the piece of biscuit still in his hand.
"Oh, that's good," she said. He grinned, but before he could say 'I told you so!' they heard his mother's voice in the doorway.
"Ron! Hermione! I told you to stay out of those. I baked them specifically for Percy. Out of the kitchen, now, the both of you. Go find something else to do!"
Ron took Hermione's hand and pulled her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. They stopped on the landing next to Ginny's room to laugh and kiss and catch their breath.
"Well," he said after a flurry of kisses that left her lightheaded and with swollen lips. "She did say that we should find something else to do. She." Kiss. "didn't." Kiss. "say." Kiss. "what."
Hermione grinned, and beckoned him to lean down so that she could whisper in his ear.
"Race you to your room."
Drabble 10
Author: ronhermione33
Title: Realizations
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
A/N(optional): None
“She’s gone - you can come out now.”
Ron was cowering behind an armchair in the Common Room.
“Thanks, Hermione,” he said with gratitude, coming out of hiding and taking a seat next to her.
Hermione looked up from her book and smiled.
“You can’t hide from her forever,” she said, amusement in her voice.
Ron sighed. The burden of Lavender was taking its toll.
“I know,” he replied, while running a hand through his hair. “I’m hoping she’ll just take a hint.”
Hermione put her book down. “Ron Weasley! You’re a Gryffindor, for goodness sakes! You had courage enough to get off with her - at least have the decency to end it properly.” Then almost as an afterthought she added, “If that’s what you want to do, of course.”
“Blimey, Hermione.” Ron said, “I do want to break things off with Lavender - you know that!”
“Just making sure you don’t have any doubts,” Hermione teased. “Why on earth did you pair up with her anyway?”
Ron blushed. He decided just to go for it - get it out in the open. If he was ever going to get further with Hermione, he reckoned he needed to be truthful with her.
“Well, err - Ginny said you snogged Krum,” Ron blurted out.
“WHAT?” Hermione gasped, appearing as if someone had knocked the breath out of her.
“Yeah - you snogged Krum! And Harry snogged Cho, even Ginny snogged every tosser she’s been with! I had to show you that I could snog someone, too,” His blush had made its way to his ears, turning them red. “And to show everyone else, of course.” Ron threw this last statement in as extra defense.
Hermione was stunned. Instead of reacting angrily, she reached over and placed her hand gently on his arm.
“Honestly, Ron,” she began. “Haven’t you ever heard that two wrongs don’t make a right?”
“Well - no, not really,” Ron replied. “That’s one of those barmy Muggle sayings, isn’t it?”
“It means it’s never right to wrong someone, even if they’ve wronged you first.” Hermione explained.
“Oh,” Ron said, pondering Hermione’s explanation. “I guess I’ve learned my lesson, then.”
Hermione’s eyebrows rose questioningly. “And what lesson have you learned, Ron?”
“That Lavender - and me - that’s what’s all wrong. And you - err, well, I want to make things right again - between us.”
Hermione was startled as she realized the irony of their situation. That for them, it actually had taken two wrongs to make things right between them.
“We’re going to be alright, Ron,” she assured him.
Ron’s face broke out into a huge grin that was short-lived. The call of ‘Won-Won’ in the distance reminded him that he still had to sort things out with Lavender.
“Bloody hell,” he moaned, taking cover behind the armchair again. But even in his distress, he relished the fact that Hermione had said that they were going to be alright.
And that finally, everything was going to be all right in their world again.
Drabble 11
Author: mollywheezy
Title:Squabbles and Spiders and Squibs, Oh My!
Rating: PG-13
Word Count:479
A/N(optional):Special thanks to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) website
Ron had always thought it completely bloody wrong that Hugo was a Squib. He and Hermione had believed Hugo was just a late bloomer . . . until his Hogwarts’ letter failed to arrive. Hugo’s 11th birthday was one of the worst days in the life of the Weasley family. Thank Merlin Hermione had insisted Rose and Hugo attend Muggle Primary School. And thank Merlin for the Grangers. They had done an excellent job in assisting Hermione in tutoring Ron so he would not embarrass Hugo in front of his Muggle friends. Hugo attended University, earned several advanced degrees, and had a lovely girlfriend who Ron would not mind having for a daughter-in-law some day. Overall, everything had gone swimmingly . . . until now.
“I am NOT going, Hermione!”
“Ronald. You NEED to go. Hugo would be extraordinarily hurt if his father were absent on his big day.”
“Her-miii-ooo-neee!” Ron whined. “I’ve always been fine with our son being a miniature Muggle Hagrid. I didn’t say a word when we had to join the ZSL so Hugo could participate in their education programs. I have taken him to the London Zoo more times than I can count. I didn’t complain when he wanted to adopt Billy the ring-tailed lemur in honor of his Uncle Bill, even though I really hoped he would want to adopt Ronald the giraffe. But this is JUST TOO MUCH!”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Oh, Ron. It’s just a reception . . .”
“A reception! Is that what you call it!” Ron flapped the invitation in Hermione’s face and then began to read:
The University of Cambridge Institute of Zoology cordially invites you to the grand opening of Arachnid Adventure, the newest exhibit of the London Zoo. The designer and curator of Arachnid Adventure, Dr. Hugo Weasley, celebrated author, professor, and arachnidologist, will be honored at the opening reception and be available to answer any questions . . .
“Blah, Blah, Blah . . . Our son plays with effing spiders for a living! What did I ever do to deserve this! It’s just wrong!”
Hermione rubbed Ron’s back, attempting to calm him. “Oh Ron, you always said the same thing about Hugo’s being a Squib . . .”
“Well, two wrongs don’t make a right, Hermione!”
Hermione sighed. “That’s not how that expression is used, Ron.”
“I don’t care! I’m just not going!”
Hermione wrapped her arms around Ron’s waist and cuddled into his chest. “If you come to Hugo’s reception, I promise I will make it VERY worthwhile for you . . .”
“Yeah?” Ron was trying to resist, but Hermione was doing some very distracting things to him.
“Oh, yes.”
“Well, fine. I’ll go. But it’s still wrong that my only son loves spiders, of all things!”
Hermione just nodded, and continued her strategy of taking Ron’s mind off of spiders.
Drabble 12
Author: seatigers
Title: She Knew How To Make a Boy Jealous
Rating: G
Word Count: 101
A/N(optional):
"She's going with who?" Ron asked with disgust.
"McLaggen," Harry repeated.
"Wha-? How? Why!? He's an utter..." Ron was rendered speechless at the news. Cormac McLaggen? Had she lost her mind? (Valid point, that! he thought. Better ask Harry.)
"Has she lost her mind!?" he squealed.
"Well, I think that's sort of how she felt when she found out who you were going with," Harry suggested tentatively.
"What, 'cause I'm going with Lavender?!"
Harry was silent, but his slight eyebrow movement and shrug of the shoulder confirmed it.
"But that doesn't make it right!"
Girls were mad, he thought, completely mad.
Drabble 13
Author: lauryne78
Title: A Bit of Christmas Cheer...
Rating: PG - 13 (mostly because of Ron's potty mouth)
Word Count: 500
A/N(optional): Enjoy a bit of Christmas in July!!
“Bloody George!”
From where Hermione sat, perched on the edge of Ron’s bed in the flat above WWW, her boyfriend’s voice was muffled as he stomped up the stairs from the shop below. But his anger was evident; with every step, he uttered another curse.
“Bloody potions!”
Stomp.
“Bloody holidays!”
Stomp.
“Bloody, bloody, bloody, bloody HELL!!”
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, STOMP.
Hermione fiddled with the hem of her jumper, tamping down the urge to scold and wondering if it were safe to make her presence known.
The decision was taken out of her hands when Ron’s tall form strode angrily past the open door of his room. He was moving so quickly that she only caught a glimpse of his magenta robes, but he must have seen her for he reappeared in the doorway a split second after he’d passed it.
“Hermione?”
“Hey there,” she smiled and stood to walk towards him. It was only then, when she had the opportunity to really look at him, that she noticed what had made him so angry.
Every single one of his beautiful freckles had been turned bright red, and miniscule green leaf shapes had been attached to each of them. Puzzled, she frowned. They looked like…
“Ron, are those holly berries?! What happened?!”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “George happened. We had a fight this morning. Worse than usual.”
She gently touched his face. All fall, Ron’s letters to her had been full of the struggles he’d been having with George. His persistence and loyalty in the face of George’s often unpredictable moods and short temper had only made Hermione’s love for him grow.
“Tell me.”
He looked down at her, blue eyes bright but pained. “We were talking about holiday displays and he was in a terrible mood. I tried joking him out of it. He sniped at me for a bit, then got quiet before telling me that if I was so happy, I must have enough holiday spirit for both of us. This,” he gestured to his freckles, “happened after lunch. He must’ve spiked my tea with something.”
She slid her other palm up so that she was cupping both cheeks. As she did, his arms wound around her waist, pulling her close.
“I hate that he’s still being so horrible to you. And I hate that he doesn’t seem to appreciate how hard you’re trying to help him. It makes me want to march right down there and hex his bollocks off.”
Ron gave a surprised sounding snort.
“But I know that two wrongs don’t make a right, and besides, Professor McGonagall gave me special permission to Floo home for Christmas a day early, and I’m not going to waste that extra time on George.”
“No?”
“No,” she tiptoed up and gave him a long, deep kiss. Breathless, she pulled him towards his bed. “I’d much rather spend the time with my unintentionally festive boyfriend.”
“Well then,” Ron smiled brightly. “Happy Christmas to me.”
Drabble 14
Author: shocolate
Title: A Logical Fallacy
Rating: G
Word Count: 335
A/N(optional):
"So, Rosie Posie, you're gonna be a big sister," Ron said, fastening her dungarees and kneeling to lace up her shoes. "You're gonna have to go to Aunt Ginny's while Mummy works hard to, um…"
"Push the baby out, Daddy," Rose supplied helpfully.
"Yes," he said. "Good. So. I'll take you through the Floo and leave you with Aunt Ginny, and you can play with the cousins, while I look after Mummy."
"Is Uncle Harry gonna be here, to look after you?" she asked, hopping down from her bed.
"Yes," Ron said. "Yes, he is."
"Good."
"Yes."
"I can't play with Lily," she said. "She's too little."
"No, I know," he said. "Lily is brand new, like our new baby is gonna be. But you can play with the boys."
"Boys," Rose said scornfully, sounding so much like her mother had done for nearly twenty years that Ron had to bite his lip.
"What's wrong with boys?" he asked.
"They're loud and dirty and mean and…"
"I had loads of brothers," he interrupted.
"And?" she asked.
"Yeah, they can be loud and dirty and mean," he admitted. "But they can also be… well… they can be… helpful and, um…"
"I'm gonna have a sister," Rose said firmly. "Like Lily."
"Might be a boy," Ron said for the three hundredth time since the Mediwitch had told them it was a boy.
"Might be a girl," she countered.
"Well, the thing is," Ron said seriously. "I've got my little girl, but Mummy would quite like a little boy."
Rose frowned at him.
"Like you?" she said.
"Absolutely," Ron said encouragingly. "Mummy would love to make a Little Ron."
"No, she wouldn’t," Rose said firmly. "She said so."
"She did?" Ron asked plaintively. "When?"
"When I took Jamie's toy hipplegriff and Mummy told me to give it back and I told Mummy that he had broken my teapot," she explained.
"And?" he prompted.
"And she said that that was Ron, and that two Rons don't make it right."
Participants using their skip: mrs_gregsanders
Challenge 1: Voting
Poll Round 2, Challenge 1: Voting
If you wish to submit your scores as a comment, please feel free to do so, the comments to this post are screened.
• Please mark the drabbles out of 10
• Please mark all of the drabbles. If you don't, none of your scores will count.
• If you are taking part please do not vote for your own drabble. If you do I shall delete the score you give it from the final tally and making me do more maths than is absolutely necessary is just evil.
• The order of the drabbles is random.
Challenge 1: Drabbles
Drabble 1
Author: manda_lalala
Title:two wrongs don't make a right
Rating: PG
Word Count:
A/N(optional): This is an HBP missing moment
"Hermione Jane Granger, I can not believe you asked Cormack McLaggen to Slughorn's party!" Ginny squealed, plopping down on her friend's bed.
"Why?" Hermione huffed. "He's a... very... nice person." She caughed to hide the laugh that almost escaped.
"Oh please," Ginny giggled. "Cormack McLaggen is not a very nice person."
"I know!" Hermione groaned. Thinking about the upcoming event was making her want to fake sick and hide in her dorm room. "But it was really worth it to see the look on your brother's face when he found out!" she blushed, knowing Ginny would interpret that exactly how she meant it. Why had she fallen for such a big prat? It was against everything Hermione had ever thought stood for. Letting someone else control her emotions, especially someone so... so ... whatever Ron was, had never been part of her plan!
"You know, Hermione, two wrong's don't make a right."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked.
"I think Ron is upset, that's all."
"Yeah, well good. Maybe he'll think twice before snogging that half brained twit in my presence then!" Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth, blushing furiously. "I can't believe I just said that. Do you see what this is doing to me Ginny?! What am I going to do!?"
"You're going to go to the dumb party, and come back looking completely smug in front of Ron, and then you're going to enjoy your Holiday and let Ron sit and stew and think about all his mistakes. And maybe I'll prod him a little bit over Holiday." Ginny winked.
"I thought you said, two wrongs don't make a right."
"Yeah, well I forgot just how dense my brother can be... he needs this."
Hermione cracked a smile at that. "Yeah, he really is dense isn't he?"
"Just leave everything to me."
Drabble 2
Author: nundu_art
Title: Spots and Spats
Rating: G
Word Count: 497
A/N(optional): None
The door slammed with an awful finality. Hermione stared at it, wondering if it would ever open again and the knot in her stomach rose to her throat and threatened to choke her as tears welled in her eyes.
She had been dressed in her ‘grubby’ clothes. He had grinned at the sight of the faded orange tee shirt she had ‘borrowed’ from him years ago. He had arrived to find her with her hair tied back and bilious yellow gloves up to her elbows, attacking the stains in the kitchen sink.
‘You do know you could do that with your wand, don’t you?’
She rubbed her nose on the sleeve of the spotted tee. Why did her nose always itch when she couldn’t scratch it? ‘I know,’ she snapped. ‘But it never seems as clean.’
Ron shook his head, but at the look of annoyance on her face, quickly changed the subject.
‘Would you like to go out for a bit this morning?’
‘I’d planned to clean today. The flat is filthy.’
Ron looked around at the neat room. Every book was in place, there wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen.
‘Um…can I help you with anything? Then I thought we’d have a picnic.’
‘Ron, not today.’ She had resumed scrubbing a particularly stubborn bit of something invisible to him.
She blew a wayward curl out of her face. He sighed. ‘Hermione, please…’
She turned around sharply, with her hands on her hips. ‘What, Ron?’ she snapped.
He opened and closed his mouth, then opened it again. She rolled her eyes, and turned back to the sink.
His exasperation was clear in his voice. ‘I wanted to take you some place nice. I wanted it to be special when I asked you to marry me. But you’re obviously too busy.’
He turned on his heel and marched out the door. The slam left her standing with her jaw hanging, but it only took a moment for her to regain her senses, snatch off the gloves and scarf and bolt out the door. She almost tripped over him, as he sat slump shouldered on the landing step just outside her door.
He was looking at a delicate ring with a sapphire and emerald held in a golden vine nestled in a velvet box.
She sat down beside him. ‘I’m sorry. I was rude to you.’
‘Yeah. But I blundered it, as usual.’
‘No. As usual, I didn’t listen to you.’ She tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and leaned against his shoulder. ‘Now, did you have something you wanted to ask me?’
‘Two wrongs don’t make a right, Hermione.’
‘Everyone thinks we are too different, too opposite to be right for each other, but they’re wrong.’
‘You think so?’ The corner of his mouth was starting to twitch.
‘Absolutely.’
He gathered her in his arms, but as he leaned in to kiss her, he laughed and rubbed a smudge off her nose.
Drabble 3
Author: scribhneoir1
Title: A bump in the road.
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 432
A/N(optional):
The silence had grown and mutated...no longer the comfortable silence of their youth or the familiar promising silence of the early years of their relationship, it had become oppressive and suffocating.
There had always been arguments, it was part of who they were, but they had always found their way through it. It had just made the ‘making up’ all the more special.
Arguments, they could handle.
The silence was a different matter entirely.
Desperate research had led Hermione to conclude that Post Traumatic Stress was encouraging them to constantly be alert for a threat that no longer existed, to jump into action in response to the ghost of a danger long past...to constantly question and doubt the happiness and joy they dared to experience.
The knowledge that everything could be ripped from them in the blink of an eye was tearing them apart.
It was eating away at them and the fear of making a mistake and letting go of the potentially great future kept things brutally honest.
It had all come down to this one pivotal moment, with the two of them facing the fact that they didn’t want to compound the situation by trying in vain to do things the ‘right’ way.
She was at the door, her hand resting on the hard wood and her eyes closed.
“Do you love me?” her voice shook slightly but was loud enough to carry across the silent hallway to the quiet man who watched her.
“More than...more than anything.” Ron said as he began to take a step towards her, tentatively reaching for her arm.
“Then, please don’t make me stay...and please don’t make me say goodbye.”
He stopped, his arm still out-stretched,
“I won’t, for one reason.” Ron resumed his mission and ghosted a gentle touch up her arm until his long fingers reached her cheek. He rested a gentle kiss upon her neck and closed his eyes against the sight of the heavy door in front of them.
“We’re not going to say goodbye Hermione because this isn’t goodbye.” he whispered gently into her ear, “This is just a bump in the road and we’ll see each other soon.”
He heard the sob that escaped from her and gently traced the tears that drifted down her cheeks.
“I love you, we’ll see each other soon.” he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, quietly whispering his promise to her. “It’ll be okay ‘luv, I promise you that.”
The moment was over all too soon and the heavy door was between them, temporarily separating the two sobbing figures.
Drabble 4
Author: belladonna803
Title: Proverbs
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 488
A/N(optional): None.
“Two wrongs don't make a left, Hermione!”
When Hermione was younger, her Uncle Gareth spouted puns like this because he enjoyed her logical retorts. “No, Uncle, but three rights do,” she'd say, and he'd tilt his sand-coloured head back and laugh in that breathless way of his.
It was his voice she heard in her head now for some reason, though the tone was admonitory, rather than teasing. “I know,” she muttered under her breath as the newly hatched plan unfolded its angry wings in her mind.
It was simple. Well, that was a lie, but it sounded good. Yes, simple. What better way to get back at Ron than to flaunt a date to Slughorn's party under his nose? Provided said nose could be prised away from his girlfriend's face long enough to get a whiff. It had to be someone who would really knot his wand. She chewed on her cheek for a moment. Too bad Viktor was out of the question. She hadn't heard from him in months, and it was rather unfair of her to ask this of him. She liked him, after all.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, Hermione tapped her quill on the table. The quiet, wispy sound the feather made reminded her of a ticking clock, and the image of a Time-Turner sprung to mind. It would have been so easy...just a few golden revolutions combined with a quick charm to clear all evidence of her tears away, and it could have been her snogging Ron in the common room that day.
Or could it? Something had happened, it must have. But what? She shook her head to banish the useless question. She'd agonised about it for days and days already, and still couldn't come up with a sound answer.
What was done was done, and there was no Time-Turner to tidily unravel that moment for her. Hermione nodded firmly at her neglected Runes essay, ignoring the leaden feeling in her stomach.
So. Candidates, then? Smith was a definite possibility, and she added his name to the fresh parchment in her mind's eye. Eurgh. Who was she punishing more there? Could she really pretend to enjoy herself with that-that-complete horse's arse? Images of Lavender's hands in Ron's hair sealed the deal like a Sticking Charm.
Yes. She could do it.
Definitely.
Right, so now it was down to asking him. She was sure he-a loud clomping sound interrupted her thoughts as Cormac McLaggen burst through the portrait hole. A scarred and slightly deflated Quaffle was tucked against his side with one hand, his broom casually clutched in the other.
Oh!
“Sorry, Uncle Gareth,” she whispered as she got to her feet, summoning an alluring smile. Two wrongs didn't make a right, as the real adage stated, but the ubiquitous and loquacious “Anonymous” also said that revenge was sweet.
Hermione fervently hoped that it was.
“Cormac?”
Drabble 5
Author: pili204
Title: Planning a Wedding
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
A/N(optional): None
“Mental, completely mental,” Ron mumbled to himself. For the past hour he had been sitting at his desk trying to figure out how his fight with Hermione had ended up so badly.
“What’s wrong?” Harry asked as he walked in the office they both shared.
“Hermione. She’s barking mad,” he said, pounding his fist on the desk. Then his face feel. “I don’t think she wants to marry me anymore.”
“That’s absurd!”
“I wish.”
“You and Hermione row all the time. Whatever happened, she’ll get over it.”
“I don’t know, Harry. You know how she’s so intense?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, with the wedding planning it’s like the time-turner madness back in third year. She’s downright scary.” He shuddered remembering how upset she was. “She’s been asking for help, and when I do help she slams the door in my face while shouting for me to get out.”
“Why, what did you do?”
“Apparently, I offended her by cutting down the wedding guest list, like she had asked, when I crossed off a couple of her cousins.”
“But didn’t she decided a few days ago that you couldn’t possibly invite all the Weasleys because they’re too many of you? Isn’t the same thing?”
“That’s what I told her! But she immediately fired back with ‘two wrongs don’t make a right’ or some rubbish like that. Then, we just continued arguing over everything.” He sighed. “She told me I was infuriating, and then kicked me out.”
Harry was smirking. “She kicked you out of your place?”
“It’s not funny, Harry.”
“Right, sorry. I still think you’re exaggerating.”
Ron was about to continue arguing his case when Hermione burst into their office.
Immediately Harry turned towards her. “Oh, good. Can you please tell Ron that you still want to marry him?”
“Of course I do! Whatever made you think I don’t?”
Harry gave Ron a pointed look and promptly made to leave, but not before adding, “I told you.”
“I’m sorry,” said Hermione.
“Me too.”
“No. I’m the one who completely messed up. I overreacted. You were only trying to help and I… I… well… I wished planning a wedding wasn’t so bloody stressful. Everybody comes to me with different requests, and I can’t seem to please anyone.”
“Hermione,” Ron said, walking towards her and holding her hands in his, “this is our wedding. Believe me, as long as you marry me, I could care less about the colors, sitting arrangements, flowers, or any other detail you’re stressing over. If it were up to me, I marry you right here, right now.”
“Do you mean eloping?”
“Would you?”
“Yes, but I still like a wedding, is that so bad?”
“No. But it should be the wedding you want.”
“So do you forgive me?”
“Yeah.” He kissed her tenderly, then gave her a wicked smile. “Am I allowed back home now?”
“Of course! We have some making up to do.”
Ron didn’t need to be told twice. He Apparated back to their flat at once.
Drabble 6
Author: honourweasley12
Title: The Normal Way
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
A/N(optional): Thanks to my wonderful beta for her suggestions and support, you know who you are :). I hope my "interpretation" of the prompt makes sense!
Ron sat in the back corner of The Leaky Cauldron with a look of frustration on his face. He was in a state of contemplation as he absentmindedly played with the small box in his hands. His thoughts were interrupted by the clink of a butterbeer bottle.
"I've been gone a month and you still haven't asked her?"
"Nice to see you too, Harry," Ron remarked sarcastically before taking a swig of his drink. "I tried, mate. Twice. It was a disaster each time."
"What happened?"
"After I spoke to Hermione's parents and got their blessing, Dr. Granger pulled me aside and told me all about how he had gotten dressed up and proposed to Hermione's mum at some posh eatery. He went on and on about how Muggle girls grew up dreaming of the day they became engaged. So, I bought a suit and took Hermione to an expensive French restaurant. It was horrible, Harry! I couldn't understand the menu, the waiter was a git, and I was so bloody nervous that I accidentally tripped a busboy and ended up with a bowl of soup in my lap. Hermione was embarrassed and the mood was ruined, so I couldn't very well propose after that."
Harry chuckled at Ron's misfortune but prompted him to continue. "You said you tried twice?"
"Yeah, after that mess, I spoke to my dad. He told me about the traditional betrothal spell and how young witches fantasized about the day they would hear it. Hermione came home early one afternoon last week, just as I was practicing the spell. She managed to sneak up on me, and I was so startled that I completely buggered up the charm. After she righted her face, she told me not to go anywhere near her with my wand, and then proceeded to ignore me for the next three days."
Ron slumped lower in his chair as Harry's chortles drew the attention of the other patrons. After his laughter subsided, Harry felt a wave of sympathy for his downtrodden friend and felt compelled to offer some advice. "Look, mate, you've already gotten it wrong twice. You followed Dr. Granger's advice and tried the normal Muggle way, which didn't work. Instead of trying something more creative and personal, you followed your dad's advice about the traditional wizarding way, which also didn't work. Neither one was the right way for you and Hermione. Have you considered trying it your own way?"
"My own way? But I thought women wanted a traditional proposal, like they've always dreamed of."
"Since when have either of you done things the normal way? Besides, Hermione will care more about the answering than the asking."
Ron nodded and pondered this idea. He could picture it: an evening stroll by the pond at The Burrow, dessert under the stars while watching the moonlight reflected in the water, and finally, offering her everything he had to give.
There were no wrongs with that image in his head, only rights.
Drabble 7
Author: writersblock76
Title: The Stance
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 263
A/N(optional): None
She was standing with her hands on her hips again.
Ron wasn't sure what he'd done this time, but whatever it was merited the stern look and a long explanation. He was trying to listen, really trying, but when she stood there with those lovely slender fingers perched on her softly rounded hips, there was little that could draw his mind away from certain thoughts.
But that would get him in trouble, too, he knew. They were waiting. He was okay with it in the way that he was okay with doing anything that made her happy...but did she know what that little stance did to him? Was it really his fault if she wanted him to focus on books left in certain--apparently not the right--spots, but all he could think about was pulling her into his arms?
"Are you paying attention?"
Oh yes, he was paying plenty of attention. To all the appropriate places of her body. Maybe it was only in his head, but it wouldn't be long now till he could show her exactly how she affected him. Forgetting himself for a moment, he stepped up and pulled her into his arms.
"Ron, you can't fix everything with a kiss," Hermione said, obviously exasperated. But she didn't pull away.
"I know," he said, fingers sliding to the back of her neck. Her expression softened a little, and he thought maybe she understood his distraction a little better than he'd thought. "Don't think of it as 'fixing' so much as a guy who just can't help kissing his fiancé."
Drabble 8
Author: queenb23more
Title: Reciprocation
Rating: PG-13 for language
Word Count: 249
A/N(optional): Great prompt with so many possibilities, but with the movie release next week, HBP was predominant in my mind. Many thanks to R for the beta and support.
Before either of them could say anything more, Hermione turned away from Harry and Luna and rushed down the corridor, wiping angrily at the lingering tears on her cheeks and biting her lip to stop them from beginning again.
What was it with Ron? And how hadn't she noticed that he could be so mean-spirited? Perhaps she shouldn't have laughed so derisively at his ridiculous mustache, Hermione conceded, but she wasn't alone in doing so. And if it hadn't been humiliating enough for him to go off with Lavender even though he had already accepted a date with her, was it really necessary for him to embarrass her in the middle of class as well?
"I hate you, Ron," Hermione mumbled as she rounded a corner near the entrance to the dormitory. She knew that she shouldn't react, and a number of clichés echoed through her mind: let bygones be bygones…two wrongs don't make a right…turn the other cheek. But damn it, he had hurt her. Time and time again, Ron hurt her, and at that moment, Hermione wanted nothing more than to hurt him, too.
When a tall, broad-shouldered frame caught her eye, an idea how to accomplish that very thing formulated in her head.
She would show him.
Hermione straightened her shoulders and brushed away the warning in her mind that this was A Very Bad Idea along with the last remaining tear on her cheek, plastering a sickeningly sweet, disingenuous smile on her face.
"Cormac! Wait up -"
Drabble 9
Author: wanderhomeagain
Title: No One Will Ever Know
Rating: PG-13 for suggestiveness
Word Count: 394
A/N(optional): None
Ron's breath was hot against her ear as he pressed her forward, his arms encircling her until she was trapped.
"C'mon, Hermione. You know you want to."
She shook her head, resolved to stay firm, telling herself it was the last thing she wanted.
"N-no, I don't." She cursed herself for stuttering as he ran a hand up her arm. "Besides," she said, trying to unfog her head, "your Mum will have us de-gnoming the garden for weeks if she catches us at it."
Ron wouldn't be deterred. "She'll never know. Plus, you know Harry and Ginny just did it."
Hermione turned in his arms, loving the feel of his warm body against hers, his long arms and skinny hips sandwiching her against the kitchen counter. She couldn't help but reach up to stroke his face.
"I never thought that I would hear you use Harry and Ginny as an excuse. Two wrongs don't make a right, you know."
Ron pulled a face but kept moving in closer. He reached around behind her and picked up a biscuit from a plate on the counter. He broke it in half, swallowed his in one bite, and offered the rest to her. Still she hesitated.
"They're still warm. Just share this one with me. No one will ever know."
Maybe it was the smell of cinnamon, or the look of mischief in his eyes, but she couldn't resist any longer. She took a bite from the piece of biscuit still in his hand.
"Oh, that's good," she said. He grinned, but before he could say 'I told you so!' they heard his mother's voice in the doorway.
"Ron! Hermione! I told you to stay out of those. I baked them specifically for Percy. Out of the kitchen, now, the both of you. Go find something else to do!"
Ron took Hermione's hand and pulled her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. They stopped on the landing next to Ginny's room to laugh and kiss and catch their breath.
"Well," he said after a flurry of kisses that left her lightheaded and with swollen lips. "She did say that we should find something else to do. She." Kiss. "didn't." Kiss. "say." Kiss. "what."
Hermione grinned, and beckoned him to lean down so that she could whisper in his ear.
"Race you to your room."
Drabble 10
Author: ronhermione33
Title: Realizations
Rating: PG
Word Count: 500
A/N(optional): None
“She’s gone - you can come out now.”
Ron was cowering behind an armchair in the Common Room.
“Thanks, Hermione,” he said with gratitude, coming out of hiding and taking a seat next to her.
Hermione looked up from her book and smiled.
“You can’t hide from her forever,” she said, amusement in her voice.
Ron sighed. The burden of Lavender was taking its toll.
“I know,” he replied, while running a hand through his hair. “I’m hoping she’ll just take a hint.”
Hermione put her book down. “Ron Weasley! You’re a Gryffindor, for goodness sakes! You had courage enough to get off with her - at least have the decency to end it properly.” Then almost as an afterthought she added, “If that’s what you want to do, of course.”
“Blimey, Hermione.” Ron said, “I do want to break things off with Lavender - you know that!”
“Just making sure you don’t have any doubts,” Hermione teased. “Why on earth did you pair up with her anyway?”
Ron blushed. He decided just to go for it - get it out in the open. If he was ever going to get further with Hermione, he reckoned he needed to be truthful with her.
“Well, err - Ginny said you snogged Krum,” Ron blurted out.
“WHAT?” Hermione gasped, appearing as if someone had knocked the breath out of her.
“Yeah - you snogged Krum! And Harry snogged Cho, even Ginny snogged every tosser she’s been with! I had to show you that I could snog someone, too,” His blush had made its way to his ears, turning them red. “And to show everyone else, of course.” Ron threw this last statement in as extra defense.
Hermione was stunned. Instead of reacting angrily, she reached over and placed her hand gently on his arm.
“Honestly, Ron,” she began. “Haven’t you ever heard that two wrongs don’t make a right?”
“Well - no, not really,” Ron replied. “That’s one of those barmy Muggle sayings, isn’t it?”
“It means it’s never right to wrong someone, even if they’ve wronged you first.” Hermione explained.
“Oh,” Ron said, pondering Hermione’s explanation. “I guess I’ve learned my lesson, then.”
Hermione’s eyebrows rose questioningly. “And what lesson have you learned, Ron?”
“That Lavender - and me - that’s what’s all wrong. And you - err, well, I want to make things right again - between us.”
Hermione was startled as she realized the irony of their situation. That for them, it actually had taken two wrongs to make things right between them.
“We’re going to be alright, Ron,” she assured him.
Ron’s face broke out into a huge grin that was short-lived. The call of ‘Won-Won’ in the distance reminded him that he still had to sort things out with Lavender.
“Bloody hell,” he moaned, taking cover behind the armchair again. But even in his distress, he relished the fact that Hermione had said that they were going to be alright.
And that finally, everything was going to be all right in their world again.
Drabble 11
Author: mollywheezy
Title:Squabbles and Spiders and Squibs, Oh My!
Rating: PG-13
Word Count:479
A/N(optional):Special thanks to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) website
Ron had always thought it completely bloody wrong that Hugo was a Squib. He and Hermione had believed Hugo was just a late bloomer . . . until his Hogwarts’ letter failed to arrive. Hugo’s 11th birthday was one of the worst days in the life of the Weasley family. Thank Merlin Hermione had insisted Rose and Hugo attend Muggle Primary School. And thank Merlin for the Grangers. They had done an excellent job in assisting Hermione in tutoring Ron so he would not embarrass Hugo in front of his Muggle friends. Hugo attended University, earned several advanced degrees, and had a lovely girlfriend who Ron would not mind having for a daughter-in-law some day. Overall, everything had gone swimmingly . . . until now.
“I am NOT going, Hermione!”
“Ronald. You NEED to go. Hugo would be extraordinarily hurt if his father were absent on his big day.”
“Her-miii-ooo-neee!” Ron whined. “I’ve always been fine with our son being a miniature Muggle Hagrid. I didn’t say a word when we had to join the ZSL so Hugo could participate in their education programs. I have taken him to the London Zoo more times than I can count. I didn’t complain when he wanted to adopt Billy the ring-tailed lemur in honor of his Uncle Bill, even though I really hoped he would want to adopt Ronald the giraffe. But this is JUST TOO MUCH!”
Hermione rolled her eyes. “Oh, Ron. It’s just a reception . . .”
“A reception! Is that what you call it!” Ron flapped the invitation in Hermione’s face and then began to read:
The University of Cambridge Institute of Zoology cordially invites you to the grand opening of Arachnid Adventure, the newest exhibit of the London Zoo. The designer and curator of Arachnid Adventure, Dr. Hugo Weasley, celebrated author, professor, and arachnidologist, will be honored at the opening reception and be available to answer any questions . . .
“Blah, Blah, Blah . . . Our son plays with effing spiders for a living! What did I ever do to deserve this! It’s just wrong!”
Hermione rubbed Ron’s back, attempting to calm him. “Oh Ron, you always said the same thing about Hugo’s being a Squib . . .”
“Well, two wrongs don’t make a right, Hermione!”
Hermione sighed. “That’s not how that expression is used, Ron.”
“I don’t care! I’m just not going!”
Hermione wrapped her arms around Ron’s waist and cuddled into his chest. “If you come to Hugo’s reception, I promise I will make it VERY worthwhile for you . . .”
“Yeah?” Ron was trying to resist, but Hermione was doing some very distracting things to him.
“Oh, yes.”
“Well, fine. I’ll go. But it’s still wrong that my only son loves spiders, of all things!”
Hermione just nodded, and continued her strategy of taking Ron’s mind off of spiders.
Drabble 12
Author: seatigers
Title: She Knew How To Make a Boy Jealous
Rating: G
Word Count: 101
A/N(optional):
"She's going with who?" Ron asked with disgust.
"McLaggen," Harry repeated.
"Wha-? How? Why!? He's an utter..." Ron was rendered speechless at the news. Cormac McLaggen? Had she lost her mind? (Valid point, that! he thought. Better ask Harry.)
"Has she lost her mind!?" he squealed.
"Well, I think that's sort of how she felt when she found out who you were going with," Harry suggested tentatively.
"What, 'cause I'm going with Lavender?!"
Harry was silent, but his slight eyebrow movement and shrug of the shoulder confirmed it.
"But that doesn't make it right!"
Girls were mad, he thought, completely mad.
Drabble 13
Author: lauryne78
Title: A Bit of Christmas Cheer...
Rating: PG - 13 (mostly because of Ron's potty mouth)
Word Count: 500
A/N(optional): Enjoy a bit of Christmas in July!!
“Bloody George!”
From where Hermione sat, perched on the edge of Ron’s bed in the flat above WWW, her boyfriend’s voice was muffled as he stomped up the stairs from the shop below. But his anger was evident; with every step, he uttered another curse.
“Bloody potions!”
Stomp.
“Bloody holidays!”
Stomp.
“Bloody, bloody, bloody, bloody HELL!!”
Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp, STOMP.
Hermione fiddled with the hem of her jumper, tamping down the urge to scold and wondering if it were safe to make her presence known.
The decision was taken out of her hands when Ron’s tall form strode angrily past the open door of his room. He was moving so quickly that she only caught a glimpse of his magenta robes, but he must have seen her for he reappeared in the doorway a split second after he’d passed it.
“Hermione?”
“Hey there,” she smiled and stood to walk towards him. It was only then, when she had the opportunity to really look at him, that she noticed what had made him so angry.
Every single one of his beautiful freckles had been turned bright red, and miniscule green leaf shapes had been attached to each of them. Puzzled, she frowned. They looked like…
“Ron, are those holly berries?! What happened?!”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “George happened. We had a fight this morning. Worse than usual.”
She gently touched his face. All fall, Ron’s letters to her had been full of the struggles he’d been having with George. His persistence and loyalty in the face of George’s often unpredictable moods and short temper had only made Hermione’s love for him grow.
“Tell me.”
He looked down at her, blue eyes bright but pained. “We were talking about holiday displays and he was in a terrible mood. I tried joking him out of it. He sniped at me for a bit, then got quiet before telling me that if I was so happy, I must have enough holiday spirit for both of us. This,” he gestured to his freckles, “happened after lunch. He must’ve spiked my tea with something.”
She slid her other palm up so that she was cupping both cheeks. As she did, his arms wound around her waist, pulling her close.
“I hate that he’s still being so horrible to you. And I hate that he doesn’t seem to appreciate how hard you’re trying to help him. It makes me want to march right down there and hex his bollocks off.”
Ron gave a surprised sounding snort.
“But I know that two wrongs don’t make a right, and besides, Professor McGonagall gave me special permission to Floo home for Christmas a day early, and I’m not going to waste that extra time on George.”
“No?”
“No,” she tiptoed up and gave him a long, deep kiss. Breathless, she pulled him towards his bed. “I’d much rather spend the time with my unintentionally festive boyfriend.”
“Well then,” Ron smiled brightly. “Happy Christmas to me.”
Drabble 14
Author: shocolate
Title: A Logical Fallacy
Rating: G
Word Count: 335
A/N(optional):
"So, Rosie Posie, you're gonna be a big sister," Ron said, fastening her dungarees and kneeling to lace up her shoes. "You're gonna have to go to Aunt Ginny's while Mummy works hard to, um…"
"Push the baby out, Daddy," Rose supplied helpfully.
"Yes," he said. "Good. So. I'll take you through the Floo and leave you with Aunt Ginny, and you can play with the cousins, while I look after Mummy."
"Is Uncle Harry gonna be here, to look after you?" she asked, hopping down from her bed.
"Yes," Ron said. "Yes, he is."
"Good."
"Yes."
"I can't play with Lily," she said. "She's too little."
"No, I know," he said. "Lily is brand new, like our new baby is gonna be. But you can play with the boys."
"Boys," Rose said scornfully, sounding so much like her mother had done for nearly twenty years that Ron had to bite his lip.
"What's wrong with boys?" he asked.
"They're loud and dirty and mean and…"
"I had loads of brothers," he interrupted.
"And?" she asked.
"Yeah, they can be loud and dirty and mean," he admitted. "But they can also be… well… they can be… helpful and, um…"
"I'm gonna have a sister," Rose said firmly. "Like Lily."
"Might be a boy," Ron said for the three hundredth time since the Mediwitch had told them it was a boy.
"Might be a girl," she countered.
"Well, the thing is," Ron said seriously. "I've got my little girl, but Mummy would quite like a little boy."
Rose frowned at him.
"Like you?" she said.
"Absolutely," Ron said encouragingly. "Mummy would love to make a Little Ron."
"No, she wouldn’t," Rose said firmly. "She said so."
"She did?" Ron asked plaintively. "When?"
"When I took Jamie's toy hipplegriff and Mummy told me to give it back and I told Mummy that he had broken my teapot," she explained.
"And?" he prompted.
"And she said that that was Ron, and that two Rons don't make it right."
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