Round 3, Challenge 1: Voting
Below the cuts are the drabbles and the poll for Round 3, Challenge 1 of rwhg_ldws .
• Please mark the drabbles out of 10 using the poll below.
• If you are taking part, please do not vote for your own drabble.
• Please mark ALL of the drabbles. If you don't, none of your scores will count.
• The order of the drabbles random.
New for Round 3! (Unless it properly backfires!)
In previous rounds comments have been screened so people can vote without using the poll, but for this round I want everyone to vote using the poll and then comments can be unscreened, leaving readers the chance to give feedback before the reveals. One thing I think is lacking in ldws competitions is comments and I want to introduce it. However, NO FLAMING WILL BE TOLERATED. This is a small experiment and if it doesn't work out then I'll remove it from future challenges, but I'll give it a go and see what happens.
Challenge 1: Drabbles
Drabble 1
Author: pili204
Title: Absolutely Not
Rating: PG
Word Count: 496
A/N(optional): Many thanks to S for her awesome suggestions and beta work.
"Ron! I have something to tell you," Hermione said excitingly as she Apparated home.
Meeting her in the sitting room, Ron hugged her tightly. "I was worried sick. Where were you?"
Hermione stepped back and frowned. "At the Ministry, where else?"
"I went looking for you after the arrest and you weren't in your office."
"I was at a meeting. I've been appointed to be the prosecutor in Morgan's case! It's huge, and if I win¬-"
"You can't. No," he said firmly, "absolutely not."
Taking her rowing stand, with one hand on her hip, Hermione demanded, "What do you mean I can't?"
"I mean it, Hermione. I don't want you involved with this case. I forbid it."
"You what? Don't go thinking you can order me around, Ron Weasley. I won't have it!"
"I don't care if you think I'm being an irrational, controlling pig. Tell your boss you can't take the case."
"I certainly won't."
"Yes, you will."
"Don't you understand how important this case is?"
"It took months to arrest Morgan; four Aurors were seriously injured while tracking him down. I made the arrest. I know what he's capable of. He's far too dangerous."
"Well, you don’t have to worry. He can't be a threat while in Azkaban."
"That's rubbish and you know it."
"You're being infuriating!"
"I know you, Hermione. You're going to want to question him, intimidate him, and he'll make sure you can't work against him."
"I'll have to question him, of course. I'll have to be able to prepare for the trial… but that's to be expected."
He raked a hand through his hair in frustration. "Look, I didn't want to say anything but when we made the arrest, Morgan made threats-"
"All criminals do."
"Threats specifically against you, against the person I love the most. Hermione, please, this isn't me forbidding you to do something just because… I'm scared as hell. You're in danger because I made the arrest and if you go to trial against him, it'll be worse."
Hermione took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger. She understood Ron's fears… but she wasn't going to be pushed out of doing something she was meant to do. "I'll be careful, I promise you that, but I'm not backing out of the case. I have to do this."
"I don't like it."
"I know, just as I don't like it when you go away to dangerous missions."
"It's not the same thing," Ron said, but Hermione could tell he was close to relenting.
"Now you're just being thick."
"That's how you love me."
"That's because I'm mad."
"I can't talk you out of this?"
She shook her head. "No. But if it makes you feel any better, I won't question him alone."
"It doesn't."
"Ron-"
"Fine. I get it. I don't like it, but I get it."
Hermione smiled. "I'll make it up to you."
"How?"
"I'll think of something," she said, pulling him down for a kiss.
Drabble 2
Author: the_birdnest
Title: The Lucky T-Shirt
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 490
A/N(optional):
"You did it on purpose."
Glaring at him, Hermione crossed her arms. "I did not. I asked you to go through your clothes and pick out the things you didn't want so we could throw them away. When you didn't--"
"You threw out my lucky Cannons t-shirt to punish me!"
"I threw out," her voice rose with those three words, "a ratty old orange shirt that you hadn't worn in ages."
"That's because it's my lucky Cannons t-shirt. I only wear it to the very important matches; like the one this Saturday!"
She brushed passed him with a huff. "Ron, there is no such thing as lucky t-shirt. It's superstitious nonsense."
He followed her into the living room. "I bought it the same day that they signed Galvin Gudgeon as their Seeker. I was wearing it when they beat the Tornadoes, when Gudgeon was chosen for the National Team, when Kingsley asked me to join the Aurors, and when we first... you know. Something you've obviously forgotten."
"I didn't forget," she said, her expression softening.
"I know you didn't because if you had you would have told me then instead of waiting and letting me find out on my own. But you knew you were wrong, didn't you?" he finished smugly.
She was glaring at him again. With a sound of disgust, she sat down on the couch. "It was just a t-shirt! You can buy a new one!"
"Just a --" he sputtered, watching her pick up a book as if to signal that the conversation was over. "That is not even -- fine. Y'know what, Hermione? Fine. It was just a t-shirt. There's loads of those right? I can just buy a new one."
He marched over to the bookshelf, one of several in the house, and looked at its contents.
"What are you doing?"
"I fancy a read. That's not a crime is it?" Searching the shelf, he finally found what he was looking for: a slim hardcover that she loved so much that she owned several copies of it. With a grin, he turned to show her the book. "This is a good one, right?"
She didn't say anything but her entire body tensed as if readying herself to attack.
Book in hand, he grabbed a Self-Inking Quill and not even waiting for to ask, explained, "I might make notes in the margins, it helps me think. That's okay, right? I mean, it's just a book. Loads of those."
Hermione narrowed her eyes in response.
"Great!"
Plopping down in the chair across from her, Ron made a show of settling into his seat. Smirking at her, he opened the book and folding the front cover back, the cracking of the spine sounding unusually loud in the quiet room.
"You are such an arse!" Hermione hissed, before flouncing from the room.
He watched her go with a sense of petty satisfaction. "Just a t-shirt, hmph."
Drabble 3
Author: daisy_button
Title: A Plague on Both Your Houses
Rating: PG
Words: 272
Author's Note (if any):
"Which house do you think she’ll be in?" Hermione asked, as she and Ron watched the Hogwarts Express disappear into the distance.
"What ever she’s in, I still hope it’s not Slytherin," Ron replied, shrugging.
"Well, I suppose so, but what would you think about the other houses?"
"The only one that really matters is Gryffindor," Ron said smugly, "‘cause that’s the house my little girl’s gonna be in."
"Well, personally, I still believe she’ll be in Ravenclaw," she said proudly.
"What do you mean?" Ron scoffed. "Even you were in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw, and you’re the cleverest person I know."
"While that is still very flattering, Ron, Rose has always known that she is a witch, while I only found out not long before I started at Hogwarts, and I feel that after all those books I’ve bought her, over eleven years, she’s learnt more than I did in just a few months," she said matter-of-factly.
"Look, Hermione-"
"I don’t understand why you’re so set on her being in Gryffindor," Hermione said sternly, as Ron started to turn red. "I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was in Gryffindor but I don’t think she will be."
"But Hermione, if I believe that she will, then I can say that she will." Ron replied angrily.
"I still think you should prepare yourself to be wrong; we won’t know until we receive Rose’s owl."
"Ok, but when we get it and you’re wrong, you can expect an ‘I told you so’."
It wasn’t ‘til later that evening, however, when they received Rose’s owl, that they found out she was in Hufflepuff.
Drabble 4
Author: rhweasley4evah
Title: Hugo
Rating: G
Word Count: 481
A/N(optional): How did Hugo get his name?
“Hugo?”
“Yes, Ron, Hugo. Is that a problem?”
Ron scratched his head and stared at his pregnant wife disbelievingly. “Well, I...no - I don’t know. I’ve never actually heard the name before. Why do you want to name the baby Hugo?”
Hermione held up her hand and prepared to tick off the reasons on her fingers as Ron let out a resigned sigh. He knew what was coming.
“Firstly,” she said, holding up her index finger, “it was my great-grandfather’s name. I didn’t really know him, but I love the idea of naming a child after a relative.”
“All right...what’s number two?”
“Number two, Victor Hugo is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read his books both in English and in their original French, and he has a lovely-”
Hermione stopped to frown when she saw Ron rolling his eyes.
“Number three?”
“Thirdly,” huffed Hermione, “the name means mind, heart, or spirit. It seems like the perfect name for our child.” She looked up at Ron expectantly, waiting for his reaction.
“I really don’t know, Hermione,” Ron sighed again. “It sounds like kind of a poncy name for a boy, doesn’t it?”
Hermione crossed her arms irritatedly. “No, Ron, I don’t think it does. I think it’s beautiful and sophisticated. Do you have any better suggestions.”
Ron ran a finger through his hair. “Well, actually, Dad’s been on my back about using the name Septimus.”
“Septimus? You think Hugo’s poncy but you want to name him Septimus?”
“He was my grandfather, Hermione! That’s a closer relative than your great-grandfather! And besides, it’s a very distinguished, Weasley family name.”
“I just cannot imagine having a son named Septimus Weasley.”
“Hermione, are you ashamed of being a Weasley?”
“Of course not, Ron, how could you even insinuate such a thing? I just think that-”
“Mummy Daddy fight?”
A small voice from behind them made both Ron and Hermione jump. Little Rose was standing in the doorway in her footed pajamas, her auburn curls a mess around her shoulders. She rubbed her eyes wearily as she looked up at her parents.
“Of course not, Rosie Posie!” Ron said quickly, tousling his daughter’s already messy hair. “We were just having a...”
“Discussion,” helped Hermione. “Why aren’t you in bed, sweetie? Do you want me to read you a story?”
Rose didn’t answer. She looked up at her father, blinking rapidly. “Hugo, Daddy,” she said simply.
“What?”
“Want Hugo, Daddy.”
Ron looked incredulously at Hermione, who shrugged her shoulders. She had had nothing to do with this. Rose, apparently, had made a decision.
“Well, alright then,” conceded Ron. “I guess that’s a sign. I’ll go owl Dad.” He left the room, a bemused look on his face.
Rose’s eyes followed her father before she turned to her mother.
“Daddy gone,” she stated. “Okay, want you go read me story, Mummy.”
Hermione laughed.
Drabble 5
Author: brumeux77
Title: Over Time, Definitions Change
Rating: G
Word Count: 500
The dictionary has a picture to help people understand the concept of insufferable.
It’s the same picture they use for impossible. And infuriating. And insensitive.
And Ronald Weasley.
I don’t know why I ever expected him to change.
First year he made fun of me behind my back. What am I saying? He didn’t wait to be behind my back. He was perfectly happy to make fun of me right before my face.
Third year when Scabbers ran off and he claimed Crookshanks murdered him.
Fourth year when he accused Harry of being a rotten friend and wouldn’t speak to him for a month. And when he suddenly remembered I was a girl. And when he assumed I couldn’t get a date.
The year of the Horcrux search when he abandoned us.
Why do I bother making lists? Habit, I guess.
“What’s the matter, Ron? Have you forgotten again that I’m a girl?
“Whaa?” he says intelligently, looking totally gobsmacked.
I snatch Quidditch Weekly from him and throw it across the room. “How long since Harry rid us of Voldemort?”
“I dunno. Two and a half years? Why bring this up out of nowhere?”
“How long have we been going out?”
“About two and a half years.” He’s still blinking uncomprehendingly.
“And where are we going?”
“I thought it was Chez Colombes, but if you’d rather…”
“I don’t mean tonight, you-you-” For once, words fail me. “I mean two and a half years from now. Five years from now. Fifty years. Do you see us still just ‘going out’?”
“I-” He looks rather frightened.
“Because I don’t. If you see that, bon voyage. I’ll find someone else. I have options. Whenever we run into Terry Boot he looks so longingly…” I pause and think. “All right. There’s a strong possibility he’s looking at you. But Viktor writes me regularly. Neville’s very sweet and smiles adoringly when we’re together. Charlie’s made a couple of passes at me.
“Give me a good reason I shouldn’t move on if that’s your fifty-year plan.”
His jaw drops a little and his eyes remind me of a puppy who’s been punished. “But-” he says; “but I love you.”
“Words are easy, Mr Weasley,” I sniff. “But they’re not good enough. Maybe you should find someone else for your dinner reservation.”
“But isn’t it the nineteenth? I thought Muggles made a big deal out of this. Picking a special day. Picking a romantic spot. Maybe I should have taken Muggle studies.”
Now I’m the one at a loss.
“I know the ring is right. I checked with Harry.”
He pulls a box out of his pocket and opens it.
There’s a sapphire ring with tiny diamonds around it.
“Happy Birthday, Hermione. Will you marry me?”
The dictionary has a picture to help people understand the concept of wonderful.
Strangely, it’s the same picture they use for romantic. And the only one I’ve ever loved.
And Ronald Weasley.
I hope he never changes.
Drabble 6
Author: willow_wand
Title: Prickly
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 381
A/N(optional): Many thanks to my beta.
“Ouch!”
“Hold still and it won’t hurt as much.”
Ron looked over his shoulder and glowered at Hermione. “Let’s see how still you would be if you had over a hundred thorns sticking in your arse.”
“I wouldn’t be foolish enough to get myself in this sort of predicament,” she said. “Didn’t I tell you not to get too close to the Snargaluff stump?”
“Didn’t I tell you I didn’t want one of those bloody things in my garden? Ouch, Hermione!” Ron yelled when she yanked out another thorn. “You’re doing that on purpose.”
“I’m not. It isn’t my fault that they’re in deep. I could try to Summon them if you’d like, but I can guarantee that method won’t be any gentler.”
“No, thanks,” Ron said through gritted teeth.
“Well then stop complaining, for heaven’s sake,” Hermione said, gripping another thorn with a pair of tweezers and pulling it from his skinny bum. “This isn’t how I wanted to spend my Saturday afternoon either.”
Hermione sighed and put the tweezers down on the dining room table beside Ron, who was lying face down on said table wearing nothing but a scowl.
“You’re stopping?” he asked incredulously.
“I need to rest my eyes for a moment.”
“Hermione.”
She rubbed her eyes with her fingers and sighed again. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Now that both of the children were off to Hogwarts, they had a full run of the house. Over the past few weeks, they’d found themselves making love whenever and wherever the impulse struck.
This morning the impulse had stricken while they were working in the garden. Ron had pulled off his shirt and guided her into the corner of the garden, kissing and nipping at her lips and neck. He’d just wiggled out of his jeans when she noticed that he was backing into the Snargaluff plant. Her warning came too late and he tumbled right onto the gnarled stump, which reacted defensively, whipping its thorny vines angrily toward Ron’s exposed bum. He’d ended up with dozens of thorns embedded in his pale skin.
Hermione picked up the tweezers again. The sunlight was fading fast and she needed to act quickly or else they’d be up all night.
“Okay, now hold still.”
“Ouch!!”
Drabble 7
Author: miss_daizy
Title: Not Quite a Love Letter
Rating: G
Word Count: 471
A/N(optional): Thanks are due to the Beta-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named until the voting is over.
Hermione Granger had turned outrage into an art form.
She stormed up the stairs. Then she stomped down the stairs and through the hallway. The kitchen door flew open before she even touched it. The kettle banged, a cup broke, and a chair screeched across the floor only to be slammed back into the table.
"Guess I better get in there," Ron sighed, reluctantly getting up from the sofa. "Any chance she doesn't have her wand, is there?"
All the cabinet doors seemed to slam simultaneously.
"Sounds like she does, mate," Harry said. "It's been nice knowing you."
He'd made it halfway through the door when the barrage started.
"I can't believe you did that, Ron!"
"It wasn't me. Or if it was, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry?"
"You are an insufferable, interfering, ridiculous PRAT," she spit out. Literally.
Wiping his face, Ron sighed, "What did I do wrong now? And it wasn't me. Probably. I'm sorry?"
"McGonagall!" she shrieked. "You wrote to McGonagall!"
"Oh, that. That was me."
"Yes that and yes it was you! You wrote to McGonagall! I can't believe you wrote to McGonagall!"
"We've covered that bit, Hermione."
"They don't give out NEWTs to students who don't do their seventh year, Ron, and you well know it. What ever made you think it was a good idea to ask for an exception for me?"
"Why not? She knows you'll pass them all anyway."
"What ever made you think I wanted an exception made? I just got my Head Girl badge."
She started pacing around the kitchen, muttering to herself.
"They'll probably take it away. Someone with a boyfriend this stupid really shouldn't be entrusted with other people's well-being. I could tell her you're still not quite right in the head after the battle. They'd be sympathetic to that. She knows how long we've known each other so she'll never believe I didn't realize what an idiot you are. I could tell her George wrote it, she'd believe that."
"Hey, I think idiot is laying it on a bit thick, Hermione."
Big mistake. She turned her attention to him again.
"And you misspelled intellectual."
"I didn't send it," Ron said.
"Oh and why should I believe that?"
"You're holding it in your bloody hand, aren't you?" he shouted.
She looked down at the parchment crumpled in her hand with that slightly confused look she got when a fact interfered with her anger.
"It was just an idea, Hermione. I wasn't going to go through with it. Probably. I really am sorry. I just want all the waiting to be over."
Hermione looked uncertain. "Okay, she finally said, blowing some stray hair out of her face. "Okay, I understand."
Ron looked relieved and moved towards her.
"Do something like this again and I'll hex you into next week."
Drabble 8
Author: charma_10
Title: Hermione Knows Best
Rating: PG
Word Count: Just under 500, me thinks.
A/N(optional):
"Hermione! No. Absolutely not."
"Ron," she replied calmly. "You're being completely irrational-"
"Irrational? Irrational?" Ron spluttered. "We can't afford for me to leave the shop and study to be an Auror."
"I want to go back to work. I love the kids, but you know I was never supposed to be a stay at home mum. You also know that you were never meant to be at the shop for more than a couple of years. It's been nearly eight, Ron. George would understand, you know he would."
"I'm just not sure it's what I want, okay? I'm in my mid-twenties, Hermione. Closer to my late twenties, actually. Most Auror trainees are just out of school, everything they've learnt, fresh in their heads. How can I compete with that?" he mumbled as she took his hand and moved closer to him.
"You know exactly what I'm going to say to that, Ron! How many times do I, and Harry and everyone have to tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to. You've been through a war. You survived that war. You were an integral part of winning that war! I don't know what I have to say to make you believe in yourself the way that we all do," said Hermione, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I want to be an Auror, you know that. I also want a good life for us and the kids, and I don't want us to be struggling with money. If I'm at the shop, we have more than enough to get by. If it comes to a choice between the two, then I pick a good life for us, you know that," said Ron, letting out a long, deep breath.
"You can have both. You've just got to believe you can. I don't know why you doubt yourself so much, after all this time. So, it's settled then, is it? I'm going to go back to work, and you're going to go and see George this afternoon and quit, then floo Harry in the morning and make an appointment to get everything in motion? Ron?" Hermione trailed off when he didn't reply and looked up at her husband to find him gazing at her, a look of awe on his face.
"You're absolutely bloody amazing, you know that? I'm sorry I yelled at you," Ron said, brushing her hair back from her face. Hermione slid over and straddled him, running her hands through his hair and planting a kiss on his forehead.
"You'd do well to remember that in the future. Perhaps you can tell me things instead of bottling them up or trying to hide them from me. It'd save a lot of arguements," Hermione replied, wiggling in his lap. Ron placed his hands on her hips and sucked on her neck.
"Making it up to you is half the fun though, isn't it?"
Drabble 9
Author: ktmarsh
Title: The Best Part of an Argument
Rating: PG-13
Words: 467
Author's Note (if any):
Ron had an itch that only Hermione could scratch. The problem - she was working late on a case, which was going to trial in the morning. Ron thought about making the best use of his time alone, but it wouldn’t be quite the same without Hermione. There was just something about sex with one’s wife that a hand simply couldn’t replace. So Ron sat, slouched on the couch, trying to distract himself.
And then, like a flash, it hit him. The best part of an argument was the make-up sex. He figured Hermione might not be feeling frisky when she came home, but if he could start an argument, then maybe, just maybe, he’d rile her up enough that they would have fantastic make-up sex.
When Hermione stepped through the floo, Ron, still slouched on the couch, scowled at her. His look stopped Hermione in her tracks.
“Ron, what’s wrong?” she asked worriedly.
“Where have you been, Hermione?” he spat out.
“I told you this morning I would be working late.”
“No you didn’t,” he growled out, but inside was chuckling. Hermione’s eyes opened wide at his comment. His plan was working.
“Ron,” she replied exasperated, “I told you this morning before I left.”
Ron stood up, hoping to inflame her further. “When? I don’t remember you saying anything.”
“RON!” she screeched out. Inwardly, Ron beamed. Hermione had screeched. All was good. He had her good and mad which would definitely lead to make-up sex. “When I told you I would be late, you said you would have dinner with Harry.”
“Hermione,” he said patronizingly while placing his hands on her shoulders, “Harry has a new baby right now. He can’t go to the pub with me.”
Her eyes flashed fire as she glared at him. “Don’t speak to me using that tone,” she spat out.
“Why? You do it all the time!”
“That’s it!” she yelled as she twisted herself from his grasp and stepped back. “What has gotten into you? I told you this morning; in fact, we had a conversation about it. Why the suspicion?”
Ron moved in closer to her, grabbed her bag from her right hand, and placed it on the floor. He then began running his hands up and down her arms, knowing that it would sooth her.
“I guess,” he said lowly in her ear, “I was missing my wife.”
A light bulb went off in Hermione’s head. Ron saw it in her eyes: she figured out his plan. The question now was, would she continue to play along?
“And that made you mad?” she replied softly.
“Very,” he said as he kissed her forehead. Hermione leaned into his kiss.
“Well,” she whispered. “I guess I have to make it up to you then.”
Ron smiled in victory.
Drabble 10
Author: nundu_art
Title: Old Dog and New Tricks
Rating: PG (one ugly word)
Word Count: 261
A/N(optional): How many times have you had this argument?
‘You would think after a year you’d have learnt to put the seat down!’
‘After a year you haven’t learnt to put the seat down? I never put the seat down.’
‘I know! That’s the point. I’m tired of falling in!’
‘If you know I never put the seat down then why does it surprise you? Seems simple enough. Put the seat down every time. What’s the surprise?’ A mumble followed.
‘What?’
‘I said if you’re so damned smart I’d’ve thought you’d figured that out.’
She answered with a sound that was a cross between a growl and a scream and stormed out the door.
He grinned and followed to find her abusing the dishes in the sink. He slipped his arms around her waist as she directed hot, soapy water onto the remains of supper. He bent over and nibbled the soft skin just below her ear.
‘I’m sorry. I’ll try to remember next time.’
She huffed a sigh.
‘Really, I’ll try. I just grew up in a house full of men. I’m not used to the delicacies of women.’
‘I’ll be sure to tell Molly and Ginny that.’
He gave her lobe a tug and pulled her closer.
The sigh this time was softer. ‘I grew up in a household with just one man. He never forgets to put the seat down.’
‘I’ll bet he did when they first got married.’
Silence.
‘Maybe so.’
‘Forgive me?’
She turned around and draped her arms around his neck.
‘Always.’
This was his favourite part. Making up.
Drabble 11
Author: shocolate
Title: Pillow Talk
Rating: R for language
Word Count: 500 spot on
"I'm thinking of becoming a lesbian," Hermione said conversationally.
"Hmmm?" I asked, blinking aside my post-orgasmic fug and raising my head from her breasts, to look at her.
"What would you think of me becoming a lesbian?" she asked.
"I think it'd be fantastic," I croaked. "Can I watch?"
"You want to watch me go down on your sister?" she asked.
"My... no," I spluttered, scrambling away from her.
"Then who do you want to watch me go down on?"
"Luna," I said.
Far. Too. Swiftly.
"Really?" she said.
Far. Too. Quietly.
"I can't watch my sister," I said lamely.
"Well, I can assure you," she said, pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts, "I am not going to become a lesbian for your benefit."
"I never said you should," I protested. "I just said... it would be nice."
"And that's your idea of being a supportive and loving boyfriend, is it?" she demanded.
"It was the most coherent I can be, after having just fucked your brains out, only to find you still have enough left to play mind games with me, yes," I grumbled.
"The ability to speak after sex isn't playing mind games," she said severely.
I grunted.
"Your ability to grunt like a caveman, however," she went on, "is what makes me think I would be better off as a lesbian."
"So," I said, "you'd rather be a lesbian for the stimulating conversation, after unsatisfying sex, than have satisfying sex, and a bit of a snooze?"
"I need conversation with someone whose brain doesn't shut down after sex," she said.
"Well, I'm sorry I'm not clever enough for you," I snapped. "I never claimed to be clever enough for the great Hermione."
"Stop putting yourself down!" she shouted. "I never said you're not clever enough..."
"Maybe that's why I suggested Luna," I interrupted cleverly. "You need to be a lesbian with a Ravenclaw, for the conversation."
"If I wanted conversation and no sex with a Ravenclaw, I’d choose Tony," she muttered.
"Since when did you have a thing for Tony?"
"I don't," she said. "Tony is gay, and therefore perfect for intellectual conversation, without having to pretend I enjoyed the sex."
"You don't pretend," I said very quietly. "You're not that good an actress."
"I'm sorry," she said, deflating against her pillows. "I didn't mean it. I just get so frustrated when you fall asleep on me."
"Hermione," I said wearily, "I’d do anything for you, I'll talk to you about anything you want, but I can't fight my hormones, and after they want me to shag you, they want me to sleep."
"I know," she said in a small voice.
"So, choose," I said. "Either sex with me, and let me sleep it off, or sex with Luna, and I'll watch and talk to you, afterwards."
"Those are my only two choices?" she asked.
"Yes," I said firmly.
"Well, it's our choices that make us who we are," she mused, "and I choose you."
Drabble 12
Author: mollywheezy
Title: The Petrol Prank
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 484
"Is this a Muggle prank?" George asked Harry.
"Yes. I heard Dudley and some of his mates talk about doing this once, but it actually seemed funny and not like his usual bullying."
"You think this will really bother Hermione?"
"Of course! She'll go absolutely mental over it. And better yet, she'll think it was Ron who did it."
"A two for one deal!" George exclaimed, as he and Harry shared a mischievous laugh.
***
"Ronald Bilius Weasley! What have you done to the car?!"
"What?"
"I said, What. Have. You. Done. To. The. Car?"
"I heard what you said. Merlin! They probably heard you in Wales. I have no idea what you're talking about, Hermione."
"Our car drives twenty kilometres per litre of petrol. I just purchased petrol TWO DAYS ago, and I already had to refill the tank! Where have you been going without telling me?"
"I haven't gone anywhere!"
"I keep a record of when I purchase petrol and how far I drive, so there should still be plenty of petrol in the car. If I haven't used it, then you must have!"
"But I haven't! I haven't driven that bloody contraption in weeks!"
"Then where did the petrol go? It hasn't leaked. There's no trace of it!"
"Well, I don't know where it went! I certainly didn't drink it!"
Hermione let out an exasperated sigh. "Ronald, you are impossible!" She stormed out of the room in a temper, slamming the door behind her.
***
"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!"
"BLOODY HELL, WOMAN! I'M NOT DEAF!"
"DON'T SHOUT AT ME!"
"YOU STARTED SHOUTING FIRST!"
Hermione took several deep breaths while Ron silently glared at her.
"I took the car into the shop today, and they said there's nothing wrong with it."
"Why would there be anything wrong with it?"
"BECAUSE IT'S LOSING PETROL FASTER THAN IT SHOULD BE!"
"WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE BLOODY MUGGLE THINGS WORK! WHY ARE YOU BLAMING ME?!"
Hermione closed her eyes and counted to ten.
"Honestly, Ronald. Who else would ever touch our car?" Hermione suddenly stopped, looking up quickly at Ron, whose face was bright red. "Maybe I have an idea . . ."
***
"I don't believe those two! I caught them red-handed!"
"Who?"
"Harry and George! They've been siphoning the petrol out of the car every time I refilled it."
"Those bloody wankers!" Hermione didn't bother to scold Ron for his language. "How are we going to get back at them?"
Hermione laughed. "I told Ginny and Angelina what they did."
It was Ron's turn to laugh. "Brilliant!"
"I'm sorry I blamed you Ron, and I'm sorry I yelled at you." Hermione put her arms around Ron's neck and cuddled up against him. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Oh, I can think of several things," Ron waggled his eyebrows at Hermione as he bent to kiss her.
Drabble 13
Author: scribhneoir1
Title: Solid as rock.
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 491
A/N(optional):
“Ron!”
It was the muffled yell, and the squeeze on his outstretched hand, which pulled Ron back to consciousness.
Slowly blinking his eyes, he cast his gaze around the confined space he seemed to have found himself in. The eerie glow of a conjured shield provided the only illumination in the enclosure.
Rocks below him and beside him but, most worryingly of all, rocks were also perilously suspended directly above him.
“Ron!”
“Hermione?” his voice was croaky but must have carried through the rock, as the response was immediate.
“Oh thank Merlin! Don’t you dare scare me like that!”
“Wha...” he was interrupted by the untimely arrival of a hacking cough which seemed determined to deposit a lung beside him. “...appened?”
“You stopped talking to me Ron.”
There was an eerie silence as Ron tried to put things together in his fractured memory.
“No...before...”
“You don’t remember?”
Glimpses of something flashed through Ron’s mind: an investigation of an underground lair, the young trainee Auror striding naively out ahead of him, his order to fall back, a rumble underfoot...
“I pushed him out of the way.” Ron muttered as he let his forehead hit the dusty ground with a resounding thud.
His hand was squeezed again and Ron finally had regained enough memory to have a look at the predicament he found himself in. He was sprawled on a dusty floor, face down, with his right arm outstretched into the rocks. The pressure of the rocks on his arm had been alleviated somewhat by the shield charm he must have been able to hastily cast just before the place came crumbling down around him.
And Hermione?
Hermione was holding on to his hand.
“Yes you did Ron.” He could almost hear her sigh through the stone. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“Hermione...”
“You can’t keep throwing yourself into danger...”
Hermione took a breath and Ron took the chance to squeeze her hand.
“You need to stop trying to save everyone at the expense of yourself Ron.”
“You wouldn’t have me any other way love.”
Her reply was barely a whisper but resounded through the small space.
“I just want you Ron.”
She began a slow movement of fingers against his palm, every once and a while meandering up towards the scars which started at his wrist.
The air was starting to get stale and the light of the shield charm was beginning to flicker.
“What’s going on Hermione?”
“Help’s coming Ron.” A squeeze of the hand accompanied her words. “They just have to take it slowly in order to prevent a further cave in.”
“m’kay...”
“Ron! You need to keep talking to me until help arrives. Can you do that?”
“Absolutely.” A small grin tugged at the sides of his mouth. “Just argue with me for a bit and everything’ll be fine.”
“What the hell did you mean when you said that my roast dinner smells like something Norbert sneezed on?!”
Drabble 14
Author: midnight_birth
Title: Furry Little Secret
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 499
“This is not happening,” Hermione murmured, burying her face in her hands. When she put her hands down and looked in the mirror again, there it was, sure as day, not gone or dreamed or imagined, but very solid and real, swaying from side to side. “Ronald, I’m going to kill you!!!”
She stormed back into their bedroom, where Ron was only barely waking up, his face confused.
“Stop yelling, would you?” He glanced at the clock on the bed-side table. “Blimey, Hermione, it’s six thirty! It’s a Sunday! Come back to bed.”
He looked up at her with a smile, but that smile melted off his face when he finally took a good look at her. “Oh.”
“Oh, yes, oh!” she raged, knocking over a lamp as she walked to the bed. She froze when she saw Ron sticking his fist into his mouth and trying to keep his body from shaking. “You think this is funny?”
He grinned. “Well, it’s not my fault!”
“Not your fault? Ron, I have a tail! A huge, bushy, ginger tail!!!”
“You didn’t seem to mind it last night,” Ron said, getting out of bed, seemingly completely unabashed of his nudity, and approaching her cautiously.
“It was supposed to go away!” she screamed at him. She was thrown right back into her first year at Hogwarts and the botched Polyjuice Potion, and she just knew something like this was going to happen all along.
Ron crossed his arms in front of her and lifted a brow. “You brewed the potion, remember? You found the recipe, you brewed it.”
Hermione scowled. “Something must have gone wrong, but it was your idea! I mean, what kind of strange request is this for a present?” She swung around and slapped him in the face with her tail, which was swinging back and forth violently of its own accord. Now she knew why Crookshanks did it whenever he was displeased. “You really think this... this deformity is sexy?”
Ron grinned, took a step towards her, and wrapped his hands around her from behind. The tail was caught against his chest. She shivered as his lips found her neck.
“You still have marks on your body,” Ron murmured. “Your legs are still weak from last night. Do you even need to ask if I think it attractive?” Involuntarily, she leaned back into him when she felt him stiffen against her. “Besides,” he whispered, “it may be a blessing in disguise. It’s Sunday, we don’t have to go anywhere, and we can wait it out and see if it fixes itself.” She felt him smirk against her shoulder. “We’ll make waiting fun. And if it doesn’t go away, I’m sure you’ll find an antidote. It’s you.”
Hermione cursed him inwardly even as she let him lead her to the bed. Only he could ever talk her into things like this. But maybe if wasn’t such a horrible thing after all. Maybe if she learned to control its movements...
Challenge 1: Voting
Poll Round 3, Challenge 1: Voting
• Please mark the drabbles out of 10 using the poll below.
• If you are taking part, please do not vote for your own drabble.
• Please mark ALL of the drabbles. If you don't, none of your scores will count.
• The order of the drabbles random.
New for Round 3! (Unless it properly backfires!)
In previous rounds comments have been screened so people can vote without using the poll, but for this round I want everyone to vote using the poll and then comments can be unscreened, leaving readers the chance to give feedback before the reveals. One thing I think is lacking in ldws competitions is comments and I want to introduce it. However, NO FLAMING WILL BE TOLERATED. This is a small experiment and if it doesn't work out then I'll remove it from future challenges, but I'll give it a go and see what happens.
Challenge 1: Drabbles
Drabble 1
Author: pili204
Title: Absolutely Not
Rating: PG
Word Count: 496
A/N(optional): Many thanks to S for her awesome suggestions and beta work.
"Ron! I have something to tell you," Hermione said excitingly as she Apparated home.
Meeting her in the sitting room, Ron hugged her tightly. "I was worried sick. Where were you?"
Hermione stepped back and frowned. "At the Ministry, where else?"
"I went looking for you after the arrest and you weren't in your office."
"I was at a meeting. I've been appointed to be the prosecutor in Morgan's case! It's huge, and if I win¬-"
"You can't. No," he said firmly, "absolutely not."
Taking her rowing stand, with one hand on her hip, Hermione demanded, "What do you mean I can't?"
"I mean it, Hermione. I don't want you involved with this case. I forbid it."
"You what? Don't go thinking you can order me around, Ron Weasley. I won't have it!"
"I don't care if you think I'm being an irrational, controlling pig. Tell your boss you can't take the case."
"I certainly won't."
"Yes, you will."
"Don't you understand how important this case is?"
"It took months to arrest Morgan; four Aurors were seriously injured while tracking him down. I made the arrest. I know what he's capable of. He's far too dangerous."
"Well, you don’t have to worry. He can't be a threat while in Azkaban."
"That's rubbish and you know it."
"You're being infuriating!"
"I know you, Hermione. You're going to want to question him, intimidate him, and he'll make sure you can't work against him."
"I'll have to question him, of course. I'll have to be able to prepare for the trial… but that's to be expected."
He raked a hand through his hair in frustration. "Look, I didn't want to say anything but when we made the arrest, Morgan made threats-"
"All criminals do."
"Threats specifically against you, against the person I love the most. Hermione, please, this isn't me forbidding you to do something just because… I'm scared as hell. You're in danger because I made the arrest and if you go to trial against him, it'll be worse."
Hermione took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger. She understood Ron's fears… but she wasn't going to be pushed out of doing something she was meant to do. "I'll be careful, I promise you that, but I'm not backing out of the case. I have to do this."
"I don't like it."
"I know, just as I don't like it when you go away to dangerous missions."
"It's not the same thing," Ron said, but Hermione could tell he was close to relenting.
"Now you're just being thick."
"That's how you love me."
"That's because I'm mad."
"I can't talk you out of this?"
She shook her head. "No. But if it makes you feel any better, I won't question him alone."
"It doesn't."
"Ron-"
"Fine. I get it. I don't like it, but I get it."
Hermione smiled. "I'll make it up to you."
"How?"
"I'll think of something," she said, pulling him down for a kiss.
Drabble 2
Author: the_birdnest
Title: The Lucky T-Shirt
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 490
A/N(optional):
"You did it on purpose."
Glaring at him, Hermione crossed her arms. "I did not. I asked you to go through your clothes and pick out the things you didn't want so we could throw them away. When you didn't--"
"You threw out my lucky Cannons t-shirt to punish me!"
"I threw out," her voice rose with those three words, "a ratty old orange shirt that you hadn't worn in ages."
"That's because it's my lucky Cannons t-shirt. I only wear it to the very important matches; like the one this Saturday!"
She brushed passed him with a huff. "Ron, there is no such thing as lucky t-shirt. It's superstitious nonsense."
He followed her into the living room. "I bought it the same day that they signed Galvin Gudgeon as their Seeker. I was wearing it when they beat the Tornadoes, when Gudgeon was chosen for the National Team, when Kingsley asked me to join the Aurors, and when we first... you know. Something you've obviously forgotten."
"I didn't forget," she said, her expression softening.
"I know you didn't because if you had you would have told me then instead of waiting and letting me find out on my own. But you knew you were wrong, didn't you?" he finished smugly.
She was glaring at him again. With a sound of disgust, she sat down on the couch. "It was just a t-shirt! You can buy a new one!"
"Just a --" he sputtered, watching her pick up a book as if to signal that the conversation was over. "That is not even -- fine. Y'know what, Hermione? Fine. It was just a t-shirt. There's loads of those right? I can just buy a new one."
He marched over to the bookshelf, one of several in the house, and looked at its contents.
"What are you doing?"
"I fancy a read. That's not a crime is it?" Searching the shelf, he finally found what he was looking for: a slim hardcover that she loved so much that she owned several copies of it. With a grin, he turned to show her the book. "This is a good one, right?"
She didn't say anything but her entire body tensed as if readying herself to attack.
Book in hand, he grabbed a Self-Inking Quill and not even waiting for to ask, explained, "I might make notes in the margins, it helps me think. That's okay, right? I mean, it's just a book. Loads of those."
Hermione narrowed her eyes in response.
"Great!"
Plopping down in the chair across from her, Ron made a show of settling into his seat. Smirking at her, he opened the book and folding the front cover back, the cracking of the spine sounding unusually loud in the quiet room.
"You are such an arse!" Hermione hissed, before flouncing from the room.
He watched her go with a sense of petty satisfaction. "Just a t-shirt, hmph."
Drabble 3
Author: daisy_button
Title: A Plague on Both Your Houses
Rating: PG
Words: 272
Author's Note (if any):
"Which house do you think she’ll be in?" Hermione asked, as she and Ron watched the Hogwarts Express disappear into the distance.
"What ever she’s in, I still hope it’s not Slytherin," Ron replied, shrugging.
"Well, I suppose so, but what would you think about the other houses?"
"The only one that really matters is Gryffindor," Ron said smugly, "‘cause that’s the house my little girl’s gonna be in."
"Well, personally, I still believe she’ll be in Ravenclaw," she said proudly.
"What do you mean?" Ron scoffed. "Even you were in Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw, and you’re the cleverest person I know."
"While that is still very flattering, Ron, Rose has always known that she is a witch, while I only found out not long before I started at Hogwarts, and I feel that after all those books I’ve bought her, over eleven years, she’s learnt more than I did in just a few months," she said matter-of-factly.
"Look, Hermione-"
"I don’t understand why you’re so set on her being in Gryffindor," Hermione said sternly, as Ron started to turn red. "I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was in Gryffindor but I don’t think she will be."
"But Hermione, if I believe that she will, then I can say that she will." Ron replied angrily.
"I still think you should prepare yourself to be wrong; we won’t know until we receive Rose’s owl."
"Ok, but when we get it and you’re wrong, you can expect an ‘I told you so’."
It wasn’t ‘til later that evening, however, when they received Rose’s owl, that they found out she was in Hufflepuff.
Drabble 4
Author: rhweasley4evah
Title: Hugo
Rating: G
Word Count: 481
A/N(optional): How did Hugo get his name?
“Hugo?”
“Yes, Ron, Hugo. Is that a problem?”
Ron scratched his head and stared at his pregnant wife disbelievingly. “Well, I...no - I don’t know. I’ve never actually heard the name before. Why do you want to name the baby Hugo?”
Hermione held up her hand and prepared to tick off the reasons on her fingers as Ron let out a resigned sigh. He knew what was coming.
“Firstly,” she said, holding up her index finger, “it was my great-grandfather’s name. I didn’t really know him, but I love the idea of naming a child after a relative.”
“All right...what’s number two?”
“Number two, Victor Hugo is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read his books both in English and in their original French, and he has a lovely-”
Hermione stopped to frown when she saw Ron rolling his eyes.
“Number three?”
“Thirdly,” huffed Hermione, “the name means mind, heart, or spirit. It seems like the perfect name for our child.” She looked up at Ron expectantly, waiting for his reaction.
“I really don’t know, Hermione,” Ron sighed again. “It sounds like kind of a poncy name for a boy, doesn’t it?”
Hermione crossed her arms irritatedly. “No, Ron, I don’t think it does. I think it’s beautiful and sophisticated. Do you have any better suggestions.”
Ron ran a finger through his hair. “Well, actually, Dad’s been on my back about using the name Septimus.”
“Septimus? You think Hugo’s poncy but you want to name him Septimus?”
“He was my grandfather, Hermione! That’s a closer relative than your great-grandfather! And besides, it’s a very distinguished, Weasley family name.”
“I just cannot imagine having a son named Septimus Weasley.”
“Hermione, are you ashamed of being a Weasley?”
“Of course not, Ron, how could you even insinuate such a thing? I just think that-”
“Mummy Daddy fight?”
A small voice from behind them made both Ron and Hermione jump. Little Rose was standing in the doorway in her footed pajamas, her auburn curls a mess around her shoulders. She rubbed her eyes wearily as she looked up at her parents.
“Of course not, Rosie Posie!” Ron said quickly, tousling his daughter’s already messy hair. “We were just having a...”
“Discussion,” helped Hermione. “Why aren’t you in bed, sweetie? Do you want me to read you a story?”
Rose didn’t answer. She looked up at her father, blinking rapidly. “Hugo, Daddy,” she said simply.
“What?”
“Want Hugo, Daddy.”
Ron looked incredulously at Hermione, who shrugged her shoulders. She had had nothing to do with this. Rose, apparently, had made a decision.
“Well, alright then,” conceded Ron. “I guess that’s a sign. I’ll go owl Dad.” He left the room, a bemused look on his face.
Rose’s eyes followed her father before she turned to her mother.
“Daddy gone,” she stated. “Okay, want you go read me story, Mummy.”
Hermione laughed.
Drabble 5
Author: brumeux77
Title: Over Time, Definitions Change
Rating: G
Word Count: 500
The dictionary has a picture to help people understand the concept of insufferable.
It’s the same picture they use for impossible. And infuriating. And insensitive.
And Ronald Weasley.
I don’t know why I ever expected him to change.
First year he made fun of me behind my back. What am I saying? He didn’t wait to be behind my back. He was perfectly happy to make fun of me right before my face.
Third year when Scabbers ran off and he claimed Crookshanks murdered him.
Fourth year when he accused Harry of being a rotten friend and wouldn’t speak to him for a month. And when he suddenly remembered I was a girl. And when he assumed I couldn’t get a date.
The year of the Horcrux search when he abandoned us.
Why do I bother making lists? Habit, I guess.
“What’s the matter, Ron? Have you forgotten again that I’m a girl?
“Whaa?” he says intelligently, looking totally gobsmacked.
I snatch Quidditch Weekly from him and throw it across the room. “How long since Harry rid us of Voldemort?”
“I dunno. Two and a half years? Why bring this up out of nowhere?”
“How long have we been going out?”
“About two and a half years.” He’s still blinking uncomprehendingly.
“And where are we going?”
“I thought it was Chez Colombes, but if you’d rather…”
“I don’t mean tonight, you-you-” For once, words fail me. “I mean two and a half years from now. Five years from now. Fifty years. Do you see us still just ‘going out’?”
“I-” He looks rather frightened.
“Because I don’t. If you see that, bon voyage. I’ll find someone else. I have options. Whenever we run into Terry Boot he looks so longingly…” I pause and think. “All right. There’s a strong possibility he’s looking at you. But Viktor writes me regularly. Neville’s very sweet and smiles adoringly when we’re together. Charlie’s made a couple of passes at me.
“Give me a good reason I shouldn’t move on if that’s your fifty-year plan.”
His jaw drops a little and his eyes remind me of a puppy who’s been punished. “But-” he says; “but I love you.”
“Words are easy, Mr Weasley,” I sniff. “But they’re not good enough. Maybe you should find someone else for your dinner reservation.”
“But isn’t it the nineteenth? I thought Muggles made a big deal out of this. Picking a special day. Picking a romantic spot. Maybe I should have taken Muggle studies.”
Now I’m the one at a loss.
“I know the ring is right. I checked with Harry.”
He pulls a box out of his pocket and opens it.
There’s a sapphire ring with tiny diamonds around it.
“Happy Birthday, Hermione. Will you marry me?”
The dictionary has a picture to help people understand the concept of wonderful.
Strangely, it’s the same picture they use for romantic. And the only one I’ve ever loved.
And Ronald Weasley.
I hope he never changes.
Drabble 6
Author: willow_wand
Title: Prickly
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 381
A/N(optional): Many thanks to my beta.
“Ouch!”
“Hold still and it won’t hurt as much.”
Ron looked over his shoulder and glowered at Hermione. “Let’s see how still you would be if you had over a hundred thorns sticking in your arse.”
“I wouldn’t be foolish enough to get myself in this sort of predicament,” she said. “Didn’t I tell you not to get too close to the Snargaluff stump?”
“Didn’t I tell you I didn’t want one of those bloody things in my garden? Ouch, Hermione!” Ron yelled when she yanked out another thorn. “You’re doing that on purpose.”
“I’m not. It isn’t my fault that they’re in deep. I could try to Summon them if you’d like, but I can guarantee that method won’t be any gentler.”
“No, thanks,” Ron said through gritted teeth.
“Well then stop complaining, for heaven’s sake,” Hermione said, gripping another thorn with a pair of tweezers and pulling it from his skinny bum. “This isn’t how I wanted to spend my Saturday afternoon either.”
Hermione sighed and put the tweezers down on the dining room table beside Ron, who was lying face down on said table wearing nothing but a scowl.
“You’re stopping?” he asked incredulously.
“I need to rest my eyes for a moment.”
“Hermione.”
She rubbed her eyes with her fingers and sighed again. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Now that both of the children were off to Hogwarts, they had a full run of the house. Over the past few weeks, they’d found themselves making love whenever and wherever the impulse struck.
This morning the impulse had stricken while they were working in the garden. Ron had pulled off his shirt and guided her into the corner of the garden, kissing and nipping at her lips and neck. He’d just wiggled out of his jeans when she noticed that he was backing into the Snargaluff plant. Her warning came too late and he tumbled right onto the gnarled stump, which reacted defensively, whipping its thorny vines angrily toward Ron’s exposed bum. He’d ended up with dozens of thorns embedded in his pale skin.
Hermione picked up the tweezers again. The sunlight was fading fast and she needed to act quickly or else they’d be up all night.
“Okay, now hold still.”
“Ouch!!”
Drabble 7
Author: miss_daizy
Title: Not Quite a Love Letter
Rating: G
Word Count: 471
A/N(optional): Thanks are due to the Beta-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named until the voting is over.
Hermione Granger had turned outrage into an art form.
She stormed up the stairs. Then she stomped down the stairs and through the hallway. The kitchen door flew open before she even touched it. The kettle banged, a cup broke, and a chair screeched across the floor only to be slammed back into the table.
"Guess I better get in there," Ron sighed, reluctantly getting up from the sofa. "Any chance she doesn't have her wand, is there?"
All the cabinet doors seemed to slam simultaneously.
"Sounds like she does, mate," Harry said. "It's been nice knowing you."
He'd made it halfway through the door when the barrage started.
"I can't believe you did that, Ron!"
"It wasn't me. Or if it was, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry?"
"You are an insufferable, interfering, ridiculous PRAT," she spit out. Literally.
Wiping his face, Ron sighed, "What did I do wrong now? And it wasn't me. Probably. I'm sorry?"
"McGonagall!" she shrieked. "You wrote to McGonagall!"
"Oh, that. That was me."
"Yes that and yes it was you! You wrote to McGonagall! I can't believe you wrote to McGonagall!"
"We've covered that bit, Hermione."
"They don't give out NEWTs to students who don't do their seventh year, Ron, and you well know it. What ever made you think it was a good idea to ask for an exception for me?"
"Why not? She knows you'll pass them all anyway."
"What ever made you think I wanted an exception made? I just got my Head Girl badge."
She started pacing around the kitchen, muttering to herself.
"They'll probably take it away. Someone with a boyfriend this stupid really shouldn't be entrusted with other people's well-being. I could tell her you're still not quite right in the head after the battle. They'd be sympathetic to that. She knows how long we've known each other so she'll never believe I didn't realize what an idiot you are. I could tell her George wrote it, she'd believe that."
"Hey, I think idiot is laying it on a bit thick, Hermione."
Big mistake. She turned her attention to him again.
"And you misspelled intellectual."
"I didn't send it," Ron said.
"Oh and why should I believe that?"
"You're holding it in your bloody hand, aren't you?" he shouted.
She looked down at the parchment crumpled in her hand with that slightly confused look she got when a fact interfered with her anger.
"It was just an idea, Hermione. I wasn't going to go through with it. Probably. I really am sorry. I just want all the waiting to be over."
Hermione looked uncertain. "Okay, she finally said, blowing some stray hair out of her face. "Okay, I understand."
Ron looked relieved and moved towards her.
"Do something like this again and I'll hex you into next week."
Drabble 8
Author: charma_10
Title: Hermione Knows Best
Rating: PG
Word Count: Just under 500, me thinks.
A/N(optional):
"Hermione! No. Absolutely not."
"Ron," she replied calmly. "You're being completely irrational-"
"Irrational? Irrational?" Ron spluttered. "We can't afford for me to leave the shop and study to be an Auror."
"I want to go back to work. I love the kids, but you know I was never supposed to be a stay at home mum. You also know that you were never meant to be at the shop for more than a couple of years. It's been nearly eight, Ron. George would understand, you know he would."
"I'm just not sure it's what I want, okay? I'm in my mid-twenties, Hermione. Closer to my late twenties, actually. Most Auror trainees are just out of school, everything they've learnt, fresh in their heads. How can I compete with that?" he mumbled as she took his hand and moved closer to him.
"You know exactly what I'm going to say to that, Ron! How many times do I, and Harry and everyone have to tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to. You've been through a war. You survived that war. You were an integral part of winning that war! I don't know what I have to say to make you believe in yourself the way that we all do," said Hermione, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I want to be an Auror, you know that. I also want a good life for us and the kids, and I don't want us to be struggling with money. If I'm at the shop, we have more than enough to get by. If it comes to a choice between the two, then I pick a good life for us, you know that," said Ron, letting out a long, deep breath.
"You can have both. You've just got to believe you can. I don't know why you doubt yourself so much, after all this time. So, it's settled then, is it? I'm going to go back to work, and you're going to go and see George this afternoon and quit, then floo Harry in the morning and make an appointment to get everything in motion? Ron?" Hermione trailed off when he didn't reply and looked up at her husband to find him gazing at her, a look of awe on his face.
"You're absolutely bloody amazing, you know that? I'm sorry I yelled at you," Ron said, brushing her hair back from her face. Hermione slid over and straddled him, running her hands through his hair and planting a kiss on his forehead.
"You'd do well to remember that in the future. Perhaps you can tell me things instead of bottling them up or trying to hide them from me. It'd save a lot of arguements," Hermione replied, wiggling in his lap. Ron placed his hands on her hips and sucked on her neck.
"Making it up to you is half the fun though, isn't it?"
Drabble 9
Author: ktmarsh
Title: The Best Part of an Argument
Rating: PG-13
Words: 467
Author's Note (if any):
Ron had an itch that only Hermione could scratch. The problem - she was working late on a case, which was going to trial in the morning. Ron thought about making the best use of his time alone, but it wouldn’t be quite the same without Hermione. There was just something about sex with one’s wife that a hand simply couldn’t replace. So Ron sat, slouched on the couch, trying to distract himself.
And then, like a flash, it hit him. The best part of an argument was the make-up sex. He figured Hermione might not be feeling frisky when she came home, but if he could start an argument, then maybe, just maybe, he’d rile her up enough that they would have fantastic make-up sex.
When Hermione stepped through the floo, Ron, still slouched on the couch, scowled at her. His look stopped Hermione in her tracks.
“Ron, what’s wrong?” she asked worriedly.
“Where have you been, Hermione?” he spat out.
“I told you this morning I would be working late.”
“No you didn’t,” he growled out, but inside was chuckling. Hermione’s eyes opened wide at his comment. His plan was working.
“Ron,” she replied exasperated, “I told you this morning before I left.”
Ron stood up, hoping to inflame her further. “When? I don’t remember you saying anything.”
“RON!” she screeched out. Inwardly, Ron beamed. Hermione had screeched. All was good. He had her good and mad which would definitely lead to make-up sex. “When I told you I would be late, you said you would have dinner with Harry.”
“Hermione,” he said patronizingly while placing his hands on her shoulders, “Harry has a new baby right now. He can’t go to the pub with me.”
Her eyes flashed fire as she glared at him. “Don’t speak to me using that tone,” she spat out.
“Why? You do it all the time!”
“That’s it!” she yelled as she twisted herself from his grasp and stepped back. “What has gotten into you? I told you this morning; in fact, we had a conversation about it. Why the suspicion?”
Ron moved in closer to her, grabbed her bag from her right hand, and placed it on the floor. He then began running his hands up and down her arms, knowing that it would sooth her.
“I guess,” he said lowly in her ear, “I was missing my wife.”
A light bulb went off in Hermione’s head. Ron saw it in her eyes: she figured out his plan. The question now was, would she continue to play along?
“And that made you mad?” she replied softly.
“Very,” he said as he kissed her forehead. Hermione leaned into his kiss.
“Well,” she whispered. “I guess I have to make it up to you then.”
Ron smiled in victory.
Drabble 10
Author: nundu_art
Title: Old Dog and New Tricks
Rating: PG (one ugly word)
Word Count: 261
A/N(optional): How many times have you had this argument?
‘You would think after a year you’d have learnt to put the seat down!’
‘After a year you haven’t learnt to put the seat down? I never put the seat down.’
‘I know! That’s the point. I’m tired of falling in!’
‘If you know I never put the seat down then why does it surprise you? Seems simple enough. Put the seat down every time. What’s the surprise?’ A mumble followed.
‘What?’
‘I said if you’re so damned smart I’d’ve thought you’d figured that out.’
She answered with a sound that was a cross between a growl and a scream and stormed out the door.
He grinned and followed to find her abusing the dishes in the sink. He slipped his arms around her waist as she directed hot, soapy water onto the remains of supper. He bent over and nibbled the soft skin just below her ear.
‘I’m sorry. I’ll try to remember next time.’
She huffed a sigh.
‘Really, I’ll try. I just grew up in a house full of men. I’m not used to the delicacies of women.’
‘I’ll be sure to tell Molly and Ginny that.’
He gave her lobe a tug and pulled her closer.
The sigh this time was softer. ‘I grew up in a household with just one man. He never forgets to put the seat down.’
‘I’ll bet he did when they first got married.’
Silence.
‘Maybe so.’
‘Forgive me?’
She turned around and draped her arms around his neck.
‘Always.’
This was his favourite part. Making up.
Drabble 11
Author: shocolate
Title: Pillow Talk
Rating: R for language
Word Count: 500 spot on
"I'm thinking of becoming a lesbian," Hermione said conversationally.
"Hmmm?" I asked, blinking aside my post-orgasmic fug and raising my head from her breasts, to look at her.
"What would you think of me becoming a lesbian?" she asked.
"I think it'd be fantastic," I croaked. "Can I watch?"
"You want to watch me go down on your sister?" she asked.
"My... no," I spluttered, scrambling away from her.
"Then who do you want to watch me go down on?"
"Luna," I said.
Far. Too. Swiftly.
"Really?" she said.
Far. Too. Quietly.
"I can't watch my sister," I said lamely.
"Well, I can assure you," she said, pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts, "I am not going to become a lesbian for your benefit."
"I never said you should," I protested. "I just said... it would be nice."
"And that's your idea of being a supportive and loving boyfriend, is it?" she demanded.
"It was the most coherent I can be, after having just fucked your brains out, only to find you still have enough left to play mind games with me, yes," I grumbled.
"The ability to speak after sex isn't playing mind games," she said severely.
I grunted.
"Your ability to grunt like a caveman, however," she went on, "is what makes me think I would be better off as a lesbian."
"So," I said, "you'd rather be a lesbian for the stimulating conversation, after unsatisfying sex, than have satisfying sex, and a bit of a snooze?"
"I need conversation with someone whose brain doesn't shut down after sex," she said.
"Well, I'm sorry I'm not clever enough for you," I snapped. "I never claimed to be clever enough for the great Hermione."
"Stop putting yourself down!" she shouted. "I never said you're not clever enough..."
"Maybe that's why I suggested Luna," I interrupted cleverly. "You need to be a lesbian with a Ravenclaw, for the conversation."
"If I wanted conversation and no sex with a Ravenclaw, I’d choose Tony," she muttered.
"Since when did you have a thing for Tony?"
"I don't," she said. "Tony is gay, and therefore perfect for intellectual conversation, without having to pretend I enjoyed the sex."
"You don't pretend," I said very quietly. "You're not that good an actress."
"I'm sorry," she said, deflating against her pillows. "I didn't mean it. I just get so frustrated when you fall asleep on me."
"Hermione," I said wearily, "I’d do anything for you, I'll talk to you about anything you want, but I can't fight my hormones, and after they want me to shag you, they want me to sleep."
"I know," she said in a small voice.
"So, choose," I said. "Either sex with me, and let me sleep it off, or sex with Luna, and I'll watch and talk to you, afterwards."
"Those are my only two choices?" she asked.
"Yes," I said firmly.
"Well, it's our choices that make us who we are," she mused, "and I choose you."
Drabble 12
Author: mollywheezy
Title: The Petrol Prank
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 484
"Is this a Muggle prank?" George asked Harry.
"Yes. I heard Dudley and some of his mates talk about doing this once, but it actually seemed funny and not like his usual bullying."
"You think this will really bother Hermione?"
"Of course! She'll go absolutely mental over it. And better yet, she'll think it was Ron who did it."
"A two for one deal!" George exclaimed, as he and Harry shared a mischievous laugh.
***
"Ronald Bilius Weasley! What have you done to the car?!"
"What?"
"I said, What. Have. You. Done. To. The. Car?"
"I heard what you said. Merlin! They probably heard you in Wales. I have no idea what you're talking about, Hermione."
"Our car drives twenty kilometres per litre of petrol. I just purchased petrol TWO DAYS ago, and I already had to refill the tank! Where have you been going without telling me?"
"I haven't gone anywhere!"
"I keep a record of when I purchase petrol and how far I drive, so there should still be plenty of petrol in the car. If I haven't used it, then you must have!"
"But I haven't! I haven't driven that bloody contraption in weeks!"
"Then where did the petrol go? It hasn't leaked. There's no trace of it!"
"Well, I don't know where it went! I certainly didn't drink it!"
Hermione let out an exasperated sigh. "Ronald, you are impossible!" She stormed out of the room in a temper, slamming the door behind her.
***
"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!"
"BLOODY HELL, WOMAN! I'M NOT DEAF!"
"DON'T SHOUT AT ME!"
"YOU STARTED SHOUTING FIRST!"
Hermione took several deep breaths while Ron silently glared at her.
"I took the car into the shop today, and they said there's nothing wrong with it."
"Why would there be anything wrong with it?"
"BECAUSE IT'S LOSING PETROL FASTER THAN IT SHOULD BE!"
"WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE BLOODY MUGGLE THINGS WORK! WHY ARE YOU BLAMING ME?!"
Hermione closed her eyes and counted to ten.
"Honestly, Ronald. Who else would ever touch our car?" Hermione suddenly stopped, looking up quickly at Ron, whose face was bright red. "Maybe I have an idea . . ."
***
"I don't believe those two! I caught them red-handed!"
"Who?"
"Harry and George! They've been siphoning the petrol out of the car every time I refilled it."
"Those bloody wankers!" Hermione didn't bother to scold Ron for his language. "How are we going to get back at them?"
Hermione laughed. "I told Ginny and Angelina what they did."
It was Ron's turn to laugh. "Brilliant!"
"I'm sorry I blamed you Ron, and I'm sorry I yelled at you." Hermione put her arms around Ron's neck and cuddled up against him. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Oh, I can think of several things," Ron waggled his eyebrows at Hermione as he bent to kiss her.
Drabble 13
Author: scribhneoir1
Title: Solid as rock.
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 491
A/N(optional):
“Ron!”
It was the muffled yell, and the squeeze on his outstretched hand, which pulled Ron back to consciousness.
Slowly blinking his eyes, he cast his gaze around the confined space he seemed to have found himself in. The eerie glow of a conjured shield provided the only illumination in the enclosure.
Rocks below him and beside him but, most worryingly of all, rocks were also perilously suspended directly above him.
“Ron!”
“Hermione?” his voice was croaky but must have carried through the rock, as the response was immediate.
“Oh thank Merlin! Don’t you dare scare me like that!”
“Wha...” he was interrupted by the untimely arrival of a hacking cough which seemed determined to deposit a lung beside him. “...appened?”
“You stopped talking to me Ron.”
There was an eerie silence as Ron tried to put things together in his fractured memory.
“No...before...”
“You don’t remember?”
Glimpses of something flashed through Ron’s mind: an investigation of an underground lair, the young trainee Auror striding naively out ahead of him, his order to fall back, a rumble underfoot...
“I pushed him out of the way.” Ron muttered as he let his forehead hit the dusty ground with a resounding thud.
His hand was squeezed again and Ron finally had regained enough memory to have a look at the predicament he found himself in. He was sprawled on a dusty floor, face down, with his right arm outstretched into the rocks. The pressure of the rocks on his arm had been alleviated somewhat by the shield charm he must have been able to hastily cast just before the place came crumbling down around him.
And Hermione?
Hermione was holding on to his hand.
“Yes you did Ron.” He could almost hear her sigh through the stone. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“Hermione...”
“You can’t keep throwing yourself into danger...”
Hermione took a breath and Ron took the chance to squeeze her hand.
“You need to stop trying to save everyone at the expense of yourself Ron.”
“You wouldn’t have me any other way love.”
Her reply was barely a whisper but resounded through the small space.
“I just want you Ron.”
She began a slow movement of fingers against his palm, every once and a while meandering up towards the scars which started at his wrist.
The air was starting to get stale and the light of the shield charm was beginning to flicker.
“What’s going on Hermione?”
“Help’s coming Ron.” A squeeze of the hand accompanied her words. “They just have to take it slowly in order to prevent a further cave in.”
“m’kay...”
“Ron! You need to keep talking to me until help arrives. Can you do that?”
“Absolutely.” A small grin tugged at the sides of his mouth. “Just argue with me for a bit and everything’ll be fine.”
“What the hell did you mean when you said that my roast dinner smells like something Norbert sneezed on?!”
Drabble 14
Author: midnight_birth
Title: Furry Little Secret
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 499
“This is not happening,” Hermione murmured, burying her face in her hands. When she put her hands down and looked in the mirror again, there it was, sure as day, not gone or dreamed or imagined, but very solid and real, swaying from side to side. “Ronald, I’m going to kill you!!!”
She stormed back into their bedroom, where Ron was only barely waking up, his face confused.
“Stop yelling, would you?” He glanced at the clock on the bed-side table. “Blimey, Hermione, it’s six thirty! It’s a Sunday! Come back to bed.”
He looked up at her with a smile, but that smile melted off his face when he finally took a good look at her. “Oh.”
“Oh, yes, oh!” she raged, knocking over a lamp as she walked to the bed. She froze when she saw Ron sticking his fist into his mouth and trying to keep his body from shaking. “You think this is funny?”
He grinned. “Well, it’s not my fault!”
“Not your fault? Ron, I have a tail! A huge, bushy, ginger tail!!!”
“You didn’t seem to mind it last night,” Ron said, getting out of bed, seemingly completely unabashed of his nudity, and approaching her cautiously.
“It was supposed to go away!” she screamed at him. She was thrown right back into her first year at Hogwarts and the botched Polyjuice Potion, and she just knew something like this was going to happen all along.
Ron crossed his arms in front of her and lifted a brow. “You brewed the potion, remember? You found the recipe, you brewed it.”
Hermione scowled. “Something must have gone wrong, but it was your idea! I mean, what kind of strange request is this for a present?” She swung around and slapped him in the face with her tail, which was swinging back and forth violently of its own accord. Now she knew why Crookshanks did it whenever he was displeased. “You really think this... this deformity is sexy?”
Ron grinned, took a step towards her, and wrapped his hands around her from behind. The tail was caught against his chest. She shivered as his lips found her neck.
“You still have marks on your body,” Ron murmured. “Your legs are still weak from last night. Do you even need to ask if I think it attractive?” Involuntarily, she leaned back into him when she felt him stiffen against her. “Besides,” he whispered, “it may be a blessing in disguise. It’s Sunday, we don’t have to go anywhere, and we can wait it out and see if it fixes itself.” She felt him smirk against her shoulder. “We’ll make waiting fun. And if it doesn’t go away, I’m sure you’ll find an antidote. It’s you.”
Hermione cursed him inwardly even as she let him lead her to the bed. Only he could ever talk her into things like this. But maybe if wasn’t such a horrible thing after all. Maybe if she learned to control its movements...
Challenge 1: Voting
Poll Round 3, Challenge 1: Voting