Romione Love Story Chapter 12 - Diya K. M.

(lavender's point of view)

"WHAT do you mean we're not spending Christmas together?" I furrow my brows in confusion.

Ron sighs, clearly frustrated. "Because I'm spending it with my family like I do every year."

"This year is different, though. You have a girlfriend!" I insist. I literally want to scream. When he told me to meet him down here after curfew I thought he wanted to do something more. Turns out he just wanted to inform me that we were not spending Christmas together.

Our first Christmas as a couple and he doesn't want to spend it with me? I even bought a damn Christmas dress to wear!

He sighs again. "I know, trust me, I know." Then he mumbles something I can't make out.

My eyes narrow. "Why can't I come with you? Don't you want me to meet your family?"

"No", he responded quickly than i expected.

"No?" I go and sit down next to him. "Are you ashamed of me?"

Ron gives me a funny look. "What? No I'm not ashamed of you. I just think it's a little soon to meet the family. That's only for when things get serious."

I gasp "you don't think, what we have a serious issue".

At this he rolls his eyes. "Lavender...we've only been together for three months. That's hardly enough time to make any serious commitment."

I get up, ready to respond when I remember something. The other day when I was studying in the library I overheard a conversation between Harry and Hermione. About Harry and Hermione spending Christmas with Ron.

"Is Hermione coming with you for Christmas?"

Ron looks up at me. "Yeah. I mean, she may not come this year because...why?"

"You're letting Hermione spend Christmas with you but not me?"

"Hermione is my family, she's been spending Christmas with me since we met." Ron says matter of fact.

I let out a tiny sigh of relief. "So she's like your sister? Like Ginny?"

"Hermione is definitely not like a sister. She's, she's..." He trails off as a smile spreads across his lips. "Probably the best thing that's ever happened to me."

I scoff. "I really don't get your friendship. What kind of friend ignores you for three months simply because you've got a girlfriend."

"I-," He stammers. "I don't know, but something is wrong with her. Sometimes I think that maybe it's my fault why we aren't talking."

"why would it be your fault?"

"Because I think it feels like I chose you over her. I mean, I have been spending a lot of time with you and I haven't been able to hangout with any of my other friends, not even Harry."

"Well, excuse me for wanting to spend time with my boyfriend!" I march over to the the fireplace. "Besides you shouldn't care what other people think, especially Hermione."

He stand up immediately,"i always care about mione".

"Why can't you give me a nickname? You give Hermione one." I scoff again.

I watch as Ron combs his fingers through his ginger hair. "Hermione is special."

"What? More special than me?" I let out a sigh. Calm down, Lavender. He didn't mean it like that.

"Don't twist my words like that. I never said that."

"I just don't see how you can be friends with someone as stupid-"

Suddenly Ron shortens the distance between us and grabs my hand. "I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you."

I jerk my hand away from him. "You don't make sense. I'm supposed to be your girlfriend but all you can seem to think about is Hermione this and Hermione that. She's even going to spend Christmas with you instead of me. You give her a nickname that only you call her."

"Fine," He relents. "There's no point in lying to you. Hermione has always been special to me. She's been my best friend since first year and we've been close every since then, more so since fifth year. The reason why I'm the only one that calls Hermione, Mione, is because Mione is something I accidentally called her one day during our first year and it just stuck. She loved the nickname and I thought it was cute so we just kept at it. It was something that happened between the two of us, no one else was there so it would not make any sense for anyone else to call her that."

My heart tightens at the way he talks about her. His entire being lights up when he says her name. His smile is bright and genuine, his famous crooked-half smile that I am so drawn to appears on his face. And the one time I have ever seen it in our entire relationship is right now as he is talking about Hermione. Because of her. It never appeared on his face because of me.

"you still didn't answer my question"- i scoff.

"What".

Why dies she means so much to you.

"BECAUSE I AM IN LOVE WITH HER!" Ron shouts at me.

"You are..."

Yes i am crazy in love with hermione!"

"Lavender, I am so sorry. I never meant for you to find out like this-"

Slap!

Ron cures again, one of his hands covering the cheek I just slapped. "Bloody hell!" He pulls back the hand and, to my utter horror, it reveals blood. Lots of it. I look at my own hand and realize there is blood on my finger nail.

"Ron...I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you," I reach for him but he backs away.

"I've think you've done enough for tonight." With that he walks away and marches up the stairs.

**********

(Ginny)

"ow, ouch"

"Hold still, idiot."- i scoff him.

Ron says that He eventually gave up and said that he had slipped last night which caused him to hit his cheek on the edge of the glass coffee table.

But i know it's not true. something isn't right!

I told Ron that he needed to see Madam Pomfrey but the idiot refused, stating that the idea was completely unnecessary and I was taking it to an extreme level. My brother is such a git sometimes, but I knew I wouldn't be able to convince him.

"Ron, I did everything I could but it's not working. It won't bleeding. You need to go see Madam Pomfrey," I say, firmly.

"I already told you, no"-he yells.

Finally he agree because of his pain..

***

"Oh dear it's just a minor cut, no magic necessary!" Madam Pomfrey replies. She takes a piece of cloth and some tape, bandaging up the wound nicely. "There! Come back in a few days to have me look at it and to see if it's healing properly. Alright?"

Ron nods.

''After sometimes... in the hospital wing..''

"Thanks Ginny... For always looking out for me. Sometimes I feel like your younger brother rather than your older brother," he admits. I bite my lip. Instead of replying, I wrap my arms around him, giving him a awkward side hug. We stay like that for a few minutes.

I nod. "Can I ask you a question?"

"what?"

"why are you dating lavender?"

He looks away for a moment before looking back at me. "Because I like her?"

"do you really"- i pry,

I guess..i don't know!

"You're," I hesitate, not sure f I should continue. After a moment, though, I go through with it. "You're in love with Hermione, are you?"

"..yeah" he finally admits.

I go and sit next to him on the hospital bed. "Then why are you dating Lavender?

"the same reason you date dean.."

I gasp "what are you.."

"Did you honestly think I didn't know that you're in love with Harry?" Ron smiles wryly. I just stare at him, stunned. "I'm not that daft."

"i didn't mean it.. it's just happened"

Ron wraps me into a tight hug. I don't think I have ever been hugged by Ron like this. I return his hug, snuggling into his chest.

"You know, ever since last year that look in your eye changed. It changed from a light to a flame. From a crush to love. I know that because I see the very same flame in Harry's eyes. Ginny, Harry loves you. Ever since the day he saved you from the Chamber of Secrets." Ron says.

I blushed.

"Just like you're dating Lavender,Because you don't think Hermione could love you." I pull away to look out my brother. Man I swear he grows two inches each year.

"Hermione doesn't love me. Even if she did, she deserves way better than me. I don't deserve her."

I scoff. "Ronald, you're being a git! Tell me one good reason why you don't deserve Hermione?" I fold my arms together,

He lets out a self mocking laugh."We both know it is. Lets take a look at the previous achievements before me. Bill is getting married soon. Charlie is in Romania studying and training dragons. Percy is working in some top position at the Ministry of Magic. Fred and George have opened they're own joke shop which is the most popular store in Hogsmeade. What have I done? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I all do is slow people down."

"That's not true, you know. You've done all sorts of things. Brave things. You are just scared to admit it. Afraid it won't be good enough," A familiar voice echoes through the hospital wing.

We turn around to see Hermione standing a few feet away from the hospital bed.

(Hermione.)

I sit in the chair next to ginny.

"how did you know i was here"- ron mumbles.

"When you didn't show up for class all morning I began to get concerned. I went to check the common room but you weren't there. So I asked Harry and he told me that Ginny had to taken you to the hospital," I finish.

"i told you not to tell anyone"- ron grumbles at ginny.

It wasn't me. it was harry"- she said.

"Why wouldn't you want to tell me"- i asked to him.

Sensing the tension between us, Ginny stands to her feet. "I'm sure Harry- er- I mean Dean is looking for me. Bye Hermione!" And Ginny runs off.

"she really like harry, isn't it." i laughed softly.

"Isn't it obvious," Ron chuckles but then winces at his wound. Without thinking I gently place my hand on his injured cheek. I can feel Ron gasp. My heart is racing.

What happened? i asked him.

"Lavender and I got into a big fight last night which resulting in her slapping me. One of Her fingers must've had a chipped nail and it slashed my cheek pretty bad. It was an accident. Don't tell Harry, though. I want to tell him I got it from winning a fight against Malfoy."

I can't help but laugh. Ron smiles for the first time in months. This is the first time we've talked in months. Sometimes I regret for putting the blame all on him. It wasn't entirely his fault, how could he know that I am in love with him?

"what were you fighting about"- i asked as a matter of fact.

"You"- he whispers.

I feel my heart tighten. "me? why?"

"I-It's not important. Anyway, while you're here I've been meaning to ask you...are you still spending Christmas with me-er- I mean my family?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," I smile. Suddenly Ron slowly puts his hand over mine and rubs it gently. I force myself not to shiver at his touch.