How Do "You" Like It?

I may have forgotten to add this in the beginning. This story takes place in fifth year and the Goblet of fire never took place. I thought that might be important information, so this is kinda AU, (duh? In our universe nothing so justified could ever occur).
To the reviewer that was disappointed in the Ron/Hermione pairing: Sorry. I'm sticking with it, so deal. There are other pairings that may not agree with everyone, and that's why fanfictions exist. Every one has an opinion, and this is one of mine.


Chapter Twelve: Repercussions

Seamus sat on his bed staring at the sleeping redhead as Harry explained about the previous evening. The freckled half-blood was turning an odd shade of green and shaking his head. Incoherent words were coming out of his mouth and Dean was watching him with worried look on his face.
"They said that it was probably just because of Hermione being there, but I think it may be something else." Harry added. "I just think you deserve to know before you . . . you know." He said. Seamus looked up, but it was Dean that spoke.
"If it does that to everyone, what will happen to Seamus?" he asked.
"What do you mean? It would be like Ron, I guess." Harry answered.
"Not exactly," Neville supplied and Harry looked confused.
"A'm not like Ron, Harry." Seamus supplied. "I don tink dat Hermione, or any of de gills in dis school, would send me into Weasley's li'l piece o'paradise."
"Oh, OH!" Harry squeaked. "Okay, then. I think that maybe, . . you need to think about the bloke, er, person you would be affected by. Mind you, I'm not sure if it works that way, but best to be prepared, eh?"
Seamus shared a look with the other two before returning to his own bed and curling up under the covers, the curtains closing thanks to Dean's intervention. The rest of the Griffindors left the two to their peace, or lack there of.
In the common room, Hermione was just arriving from the girl's dorm with a hollow look to her eyes. Harry smiled to her, and she returned it weakly. He walked over, offered her his hand to help her away from the wall that she was leaning on. She took it hesitantly. "Did I really tell you all that?" she asked with a blush. Harry smiled. "I'm a bit embarrassed. I'm not even sure why I did, what I did, . . . I don't have the kind of self-assurance it takes to instigate something like that. And Ron, well he's . ."
"Oblivious?" Harry offered as they walked to a nearby couch. "Hermione, you don't have to tell me anything. I can give you what privacy you have left. I'm just worried about you, that's all."
"I know. I want to talk to someone, and lately, you seem like one of the . . ." she began, then hesitated.
"If you were going to say one of the girls, I may have to leave you to your own devices." Harry said.
"I was going to say one of the only understanding ears in the school. I get the feeling you understand completely about my situation." she corrected.
"About someone being oblivious? I have an idea. Some could say that I am a member of that fraternity, as well." Harry assured her. "Seamus is scared." he added.
"He probably should be, but he is in good hands. I'm sure that Dean and Neville will be careful." she said.
Harry thought back to the previous day. Dean and Seamus were playing chess while Neville coached from the side. From the way the game was going, Harry wasn't sure which one of his roommates was receiving the advice. Next to Ron, Neville was the best Wizard's Chess player of their year. Hermione's words made the scene take on a new light.
"What? Dean and Neville? Oh, now I know I have a lifelong membership to the oblivious club. Are you sure?" he said and Hermione laughed lightly.
"Don't make me laugh Harry. I'm too weak." she said, teasingly. "Yes, I'm sure. They got a detention from McGonagall and had to spend most of one night in her office, thinking about why they were all late from a quidditch game. Turns out they were all spying on the Hufflepuff team in the showers, and none of them knew about the other's being there. They started dating just after that. Three ways are hard unless everyone is committed to the relationship. They'll take care of Seamus, together." she stated, firmly.
Harry tried, in vain, to keep his eyes from traveling the distance of the room to where Dean and Neville were finishing their Charms homework. Dean, the taller of the two, his cocoa brown skin tinted gold by the low fire that burned nearby, was leaning over Neville and coaxing him along in an attempt to cast an alohamora on a small locked case. Neville's eyes were fixed and his forehead creased in concentration. He waved his wand and his lips moved over the word and Harry noticed the way that Dean's left hand rested comfortably on Neville's thigh, while his other hand was held behind his own back. The box popped open and Neville smiled in happy shock. Dean's right hand reappeared, wand held loosely, when he patted Neville's shoulder in congratulations. Harry smiled.
"Yeah, I think you're right." he agreed. "Hermione, I'm going to help Draco test the oral sex theory." he told her without turning. Hermione leaned forward to stare at his face, her suprise evident.
"Harry, are you sure? Think about this." she began.
"I'm sure. I've already talked to him, and to Sirius, and we are both prepared. Don't worry." he assured her.
"I'm not worried about you, well not much. But, Harry, what about the baby? If you succeed, there is going to be a little Malfoy to deal with. What about it?" she asked.
"Don't you think I have? Hermione, I never had parents, not really. I don't mean to have a child and leave it unloved. I am going to make sure that there are plenty of people that care and they will be there if something happens to me. And, Draco hides it well, but he really wants a baby, too. I've seen things. . ." he paused here, smiling to himself at the memory of those slate grey eyes misting over when Harry pondered the way that a baby of theirs would look, how it would be to teach it to fly on its first broom and the sound of it saying Daddy the first time. Draco had a hidden collection of baby pictures from his and his parents' supply and with them was a list of names, beautifully scripted by his own hand, that were all geared to sound poised and perfect with his surname. He wanted a girl, Harry was certain, as the most prominent of the names were all feminine. All of his blustering about family duty was just Draco's way to justify his inner desire. "Draco will be a perfect father, and look what all of this has done for the cause."
"What did Sirius say?" Hermione asked.
"He wants me to wait, but he didn't say he hated the idea. He told me about Draco as a baby. He only remembers that and the way his cousin adored him. It's one of those weird things, you know. The Malfoy's seem so hard, but when it comes to babies, especially theirs, they are very human." Harry turned to her and smiled. "Don't think I've forgotten who I'm talking about, but I think I know something that Voldemort doesn't. Family is more important to some people than power. His death eaters are human, down to the core."
"I hope you're right, Harry. Be careful, okay?" Hermione said leaning back to rest again.

Ron woke up just before dinner time. He rolled out of bed and nearly crawled to the loo. He threw up once, took a long shower, careful of his still too sensitive penis, and dressed in the hand-me-down clothes from Fred that fit more loosely than his regular uniform. He showed up at dinner, intent on something other than food for once in his life. He stopped behind Hermione and Harry and waited until the girl had looked up at him.
"Can I talk to you, please?" he asked her, stepping back to allow her room to rise. They walked out of the great hall in the midst of a thick silence.
In the entry way, Ron paced a few times, looking up at her, then down at the floor before making the circuit again. He finally stopped and walked up to stand in front of her, his posture tired and frustrated. "Mione . . . . I am the biggest git in this entire school!" he said.
"I know that, Ron." she said with a smile.
"Don't argue with me, I'm serious . . What?" he continued.
"I said You were right." She repeated. "Do you want me to lie?"
"I'd like it, a little." he admitted. "Anyway, I was a pompous ass worse than Malfoy and I deserved what happened to me. What I didn't deserve was how good you were to me the other day. I'm sorry, Mione. Can you ever forgive me? I promise I'll never take you for granted again."
"Yes, Ron." the girl said with a shake of her head. "Are you alright now? You scared a lot of people."
"Fine, well except I'm starved!" he said.
Hermione laughed and grabbed his arm. "Let's get you some food. You'll need several helpings to catch up for the meals you've missed." they returned to the Great Hall and settled on opposite sides of the table, Hermione next to Harry and Ron sliding in across, his face shy and sheepish now that he realized how many people were looking his way.
"Why are they all staring?" he asked as he filled his plate.
"They're wondering if you'll have a relapse. You're a school legend, Ronald." Fred said from several places away.
"Yeah, and we've fueled the rumor about it being a family trait, of course." George added.
Ron looked peaked.

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