| Part Nine |
Ron surveyed the room from his place atop one of the heaviest, strongest tables. Harry stood beside him, smiling broadly. They had worked it out so that Harry had some role in the festivities, as well. Ron never had enjoyed doing anything without Harry by his side. He returned his best mate's smile, then looked back out at the assembled Gryffindors.
He gazed down at Hermione, who was chatting with Ginny on the edge of the crowd. She still looked slightly put out, but was smiling and seemed to be enjoying herself.
Ron remembered being up here for the first time, a year ago. He'd been spellbound at watching Hermione's face in the crowd, so that he'd barely managed to announce the names of his sister and Natalie, the newest members at the time. Ginny had been ecstatic, of course, but Hermione had simply looked up at Ron with this expression of confidence, and he'd felt he could do anything at all.
Harry raised his hands, shushing the crowd of excited students. He winked at Ron, and then began to speak:
"Gentlewitches and gentlewizards of Gryffindor," he began, making much ceremony of his speech. "May I have your attention, please?"
A few giggles rose up at Harry's comically false formality, but the room way very quiet.
"As a few of you might be aware, there's a little contest we like to hold at this school from time to time. Something of a sport, you might say."
Some lighthearted heckles joined the tittering, now. Harry grinned, enjoying himself. Ron grinned, too, at seeing his best mate have fun again.
"And as the sport is rather popular in these parts, we tend to be a bit choosy about our players. In fact, we've been trying to choose amongst some very fine candidates, over the past few days."
Ron was looking at Hermione again. Her face still bore that confidence, but it was tempered somehow.
Harry was still speaking: "I would like to present to you all a wizard who has great tidings to tell."
What had been different last year?
"He has defended our honour - and our goalposts - for the past two seasons!"
Seamus and Dean, back near Ginny and Hermione, started to chant, "He didn't let the Quaffle in, Weasley is our KING!"
Ron smiled and ignored them. He still hated that song.
He was trying to think, anyway ... last year, last year ..... Hermione had been especially pleased with him, because he'd helped organise a giant party for her the night before .....
"He lead us into victory last season!" shouted Harry, to increasing cheers.
Ron's stomach was plummeting as quickly as the noise level was rising.
He'd helped organise a party for her last year, because it had been ...
Harry's voice cut through, even more boomingly: "I give you, my best mate, the tallest redhead Gryffindor has seen in a century ..."
... And the world's. Biggest. ARSE.
"RON WEASLEY!!!"
Ron's entire house was whipped into a frenzy, excited at the possibility of another winning season like the last two. Ron, however, wanted to go hide under his bed.
Tonight was Hermione's birthday, and he'd forgotten completely. No wonder she'd been so angry at him!
The cheers of the crowd started to falter uncomfortably, as Ron stood frozen, staring helplessly at Hermione. It was only a painful prod from Harry's elbow that got him to speak.
"Um, right. Thank you, everybody! I'd especially like to thank my sister, for conspiring with our older brothers to provide some of the excitement for tonight's party -" A large bang! sounded in a corner, where someone had set off some Filibuster Fireworks.
"Right. As Harry was saying, we had some spaces to fill on the Gryffindor side this year, and I'm very pleased with the new talent we're seeing in this house. If what I have observed is any indication, the Quidditch Cup should make its home in Gryffindor for many years to come!"
A great cheer met this speech, along with a few more explosions in the back. Hermione winced, but smiled. Ron summoned up his courage to tip a wink at her, but he flushed so thoroughly that he couldn't bring himself to watch for her reaction.
"Before I announce the newest members of our team, I'd like to start with the reserves. Yes, reserves. As you all know, Harry and I are leaving after this year -" A chorus of boos and cries rose up. "- And someone is going to have to take up the reins. Really, we should have had a reserve Seeker for years, with the way he carries on getting injured and banned and such."
A laugh went up, as Ron gestured to Harry, who flushed and grinned.
Harry took over now: "I am overjoyed to announce," he said, "that Emma Dobbs will be training with me, to take over as Seeker if I am injured or otherwise unable to play."
Emma flushed and smiled. Harry reached a hand down to her; at first she shook her head and backed away, but her friends pushed her forward until she had no choice but to clamber up onto the table alongside the two seventh-years.
Ron took over again. "As for my position, I will be training a current member of the side, who will move from Chaser to Keeper if I am unable to play: Natalie McDonald!"
Emma jumped up and down next to Harry, as Natalie ran forward and leapt onto the table. She threw her arms around Emma and kissed her full on the mouth. A few catcalls and louder cheers rang out. Ron noticed that Jack Sloper looked crestfallen.
"In addition to these two fine athletes, two more players will train as reserves at both the positions of Chaser and Beater: Euan Abercrombie and Dennis Creevey!"
About half the crowd went silent in shock, while the other half cheered yet louder. It had been assumed, going into tryouts, that either Euan or Dennis would take the open Beater position, except by those who had already seen the newest players fly.
"Gentlewitches and gentlewizards of Gryffindor," announced Harry again. Ron had no idea why he seemed so taken with that phrase.
Harry continued, "I give you this year's Gryffindor Quidditch lineup!"
Ron couldn't believe everyone wasn't exhausted from cheering already.
"In his third year as Keeper, and second as Captain, Ron Weasley!"
Ron smiled, and shushed him. "Yes, yes, you've announced me already. But I haven't announced ... in his seventh spectacular year as Gryffindor Seeker and as my best mate, Mister Harry Potter!!"
The cheers were deafening. There really was something about having Harry on their side that made everyone feel good. Harry was smiling and waving at the crowd, pretending to blow kisses. For this one moment, because it was Quidditch, Harry was allowing himself to enjoy the spotlight. Ron wished it could go on forever.
As the noise started to subside, Ron continued:
"Our unbeatable Beaters: Jack Sloper and, in her first year on the side, I would like to introduce Miss Lauren Jones!"
Lauren, a fourth-year whom Ron hadn't known well before the first day of practice, came running forward out of the crowd. She jumped up onto the table right next to Ron, and tipped him a big wink before throwing her arm around Jack Sloper's shoulders as they took a joint bow.
Lauren was curvy and lively, and swung one heck of a bat. Ron was pretty sure he was terrified of her.
On the other hand, he was pleased to see Hermione looking just a tiny bit jealous of the new recruit.
"Annddd..." thundered Ron, causing the group to quiet a little to hear the final names, "our unstoppable Chasers: I've already introduced the speedy Natalie McDonald ..." Natalie stepped forward and took a small bow.
Ginny was making her way toward the front, and Ron pointed her out before she could arrive: "My darling baby sister, Miss Ginny Weasley!" Ginny laughed, and almost pulled Ron off the table while hauling herself up next to him, where she stood with an arm around her brother.
"And the newest member of our team, a fine Chaser and one of the best scorers I've seen in a while, Miss Suzanne Taylor!"
A petite, brunette second-year witch flushed bright red and tried to melt into the crowd behind her. Her classmates, however, were having none of it, and shoved her up onto the table, depositing her in front of Lauren, who gave her a big hug and a smile.
The assembled Gryffindor students gave a warm round of applause to the Quidditch players on the table. As the clapping died down, conversation started to bubble up, and the horde began to move toward the refreshments table.
Ron took a deep breath. He'd better do this.
"Wait!" he shouted.
Every pair of eyes turned to him, but he was only concerned about the very farthest pair, at the very back of the group.
"Tonight's, uh, tonight's celebration isn't only about Quidditch. Today also happens to be a very special day: it is the birthday of our Head Girl, and one of my very best friends, Miss Hermione Granger!"
Everyone laughed and clapped, and began to sing.
Hermione smiled throughout the song, but her expression looked forced. She kept her eyes on Ron, and something in them told him she was no happier than she had been when she came in.
The song ended, to much applause. Ron jumped down from the table and tried to get to Hermione, but he was held back by housemates wanted to congratulate him or wish him well.
By the time Ron reached the place where Hermione had been standing, near the foot of the stairs, she had disappeared.
Ron climbed up a couple of stairs, to get a better vantage point, and looked all around the room, but couldn't spot Hermione's soft curls anywhere. He did, however, see two other familiar heads coming toward him: one blazing red, and another jet black.
Ron sat heavily on the next step. "Where is she?" he asked through his fingers.
Harry sat next to him, resting his hand on Ron's shoulder. "She went upstairs, mate," he answered. "She said something about 'too little, too late' and left."
Ron gripped his head in his hands. Why, when everything else was going so well, did there have to be this very important thing that he simply couldn't seem to get right?
Ginny pushed a paper-wrapped parcel into his hands. It felt like it contained ... oh no no no.
"Ginny, I can't. I can't give this to her, now!"
Ginny put her hands on her hips, in a perfect imitation of Hermione, or of their mother. "Ron, now is exactly when you should give it to her. Go!"
And with that, Ron had no choice but to climb the stairs toward his judgment.