The Red Moon series
Phase Four: Scarlet Thread
---
Blaise was making his way to the Great Hall when a certain red head stepped in his way, stopping his progress,
"What do you want Weasley?" Blaise hissed, crossing his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at her,
"I- I-" she took a deep breath then tried again, eyes narrowed in determination, "I want to know where Malfoy is."
"Probably in the Great Hall," Blaise shrugged,
"He's not and he didn't show up for last night's session," Ginny said then placed her hands on her hips, "And I won't let you pass until you tell me where he is."
"I haven't seen him since yesterday at lunch. He didn't go to afternoon classes. For all I know, he's probably laying in the middle of the Quidditch pitch, dead as a doorknob because he fell off his broom flying and snapped his neck," Blaise replied before pushing past her, "Why are you asking me anyways? Try Goyle and Crabbe, they follow him everywhere."
"I already have," Ginny said before sighing heavily, arms dropping to her sides, "And I'm asking you because I know you worry about him to."
"Why are you worried about him?" Blaise asked,
"Because I tried to help him two nights ago but he refused and suddenly he's disappeared and- I don't know," she sighed again, her posture slouching.
Blaise looked around them and saw several students walk by whispering. A Slytherin talking to a Gryffindor? That was almost blasphemous. He looked back at Ginny then took a step forward,
"Well, well Weasley. Never thought you'd have the guts to go interrogating Slytherins," Blaise stated as he began to circle her, "I'm telling you now, whatever ideas you have in your head having to do with Malfoy, get rid of them now. C'mon, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor? Are you mad?"
"I'm just trying to help him out. He is helping me out by tutoring me," Ginny defended,
"Well, if you're looking for someone to help, you could always help me," Blaise suggested as he stepped forward.
Ginny stepped back and somehow, she found herself against the corridor wall. Blaise put his hands on he wall on both sides of her head and leaned his head in. Ginny shut her eyes tightly as she searched her robes for her wand. However, she stopped when she heard Blaise's voice in her ear,
"It's been as sunny as summer these past two days. He's protected from it by his magic as a wizard, but magic does have its limits," Blaise whispered. He heard Ginny release a breath of relief, "Next time, don't approach me in public, Weasley, you don't want both our reputations questioned and a fight to break out between our Houses, do you?" She shook her head negatively, "Good."
With that, Blaise straightened up, glared at anyone passing by to stop their whispering. Then with one last look at Ginny, he continued on his way to the Great Hall, leaving Ginny confounded. For the second time she had had Blaise act kind towards her and for the second time, she was finding another person who wasn't completely like what they seemed.
---
Draco pulled the curtains shut violently, "Damn sun. I've never been a morning person, but this is starting to get annoying."
Suddenly, a familiar weakness filled his chest as his head began to pound steadily. Hand clutching the green shirt cloaking his chest, Draco slumped slightly against the wall for a moment. A few deep breaths after, his hand dropped to his side and he headed for his common room, stumbling through the doorway.
He walked across the room to the desk and opened the small black box sitting on top. Inside were vials of the red potion Snape had brewed for him and a single row of vials containing a blue potion. He reached for one of the blue potions, uncorked it and downed it immediately, replacing the empty vial as he waited for it to take affect. Slowly, the pounding in his head ceased and he let out a breath of relief.
He knew his limits, yet he had to look out the window that morning. He had to see how it was outside, but he wasn't prepared for the immense amount of sunlight. The past two days had been extremely sunny for autumn and Draco couldn't handle it, his magic unable to protect him to that degree. It felt like those unbearable summer days when Draco had to lock himself up in the mansion or risk perishing in the bright sunlight.
Once the headache, which came from excessive sun exposure, disappeared altogether, Draco put a palm down on the table, leaning against it. The weakness was still there, but he knew it wasn't from the sun. He gazed loathingly at the red vials and tentatively took one. He had to try something, he felt weak enough to collapse on his common room floor! Uncorking it, he slowly brought the vial to his lips. After a three-count, he tipped the vial's contents completely into his mouth and swallowed hard. He waited and counted the seconds before his body would reject it.
Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine-
The vial dropped from his hand that had gone limp. He wrapped his arms around his stomach as he felt the familiar feeling of his stomach crumpling itself into a ball and turning over. His torso lurched forward slightly and a hand went to his mouth, but he stopped whatever that wanted to come out from doing so. It happened again and he stopped it once more.
Letting out a frustrated growl, he grabbed the black box and flung it across the room. It hit the mantle of the empty fireplace and fell to the ground. The vials had spilt out of the box when it hit the mantle and now lay broken on the floor, the solutions pooling into a huge mess before the fireplace.
Draco felt the feeling of the potion wanting to leave his body, but he held it in again as he stumbled towards the sitting area. He let his body fall onto one of the couches, his head hanging over the side and finally, he let his body cough up the potion. Once again, he felt as if he were watching his blood being coughed up. When the last drop of the potion had been purged out of him, he lay on the couch, stomach down and was breathing deeply. The weakness had returned; had it ever left? He closed his eyes as strands of his hair fell carelessly over his forehead. Slowly, he felt sleep overtake him; he was too weak to stay awake.
---
When dinnertime came around, Ginny felt the anxiety ebb at her resolve. Blaise had tried to dissuade her worries, and she appreciated it, but it didn't work. She found herself searching the halls between classrooms and perking her ears to every conversation around her listening for anything that could be connected to Draco. She wasn't sure what brought on her constant worry; she never gave a damn about him before, so why start now? During the day, she had begun to attribute her concern for him after he had taken care of her, but she realized it didn't start then. If she was being honest, the connection she felt with Draco began when they started the tutoring sessions. They were hardly friends, barely acquaintances; however, she began to anticipate their squabbles and fights. After the first few nights, things would seem off if she didn't get into some kind of row with the Slytherin.
She began to realize that he added challenge and excitement to her otherwise dull school days. The night he saved her from a poisonous death, she realized there were two sides of him and she found herself compelled to get to know both sides. Then, she was reminded of what fear was like the night she found him coughing up the potion. He had pushed his pride aside to ask for her help and when he told his story, she had listened. The fear she remembered was not of learning what Draco was; the fear was for his well-being and his survival. That was the reason why on that night, her willingness to give Draco her blood was an easy decision. By the end of the day, all the pieces were falling into place and she finally realized that Draco Malfoy was beginning to mean something to her.
When she entered the Great Hall, she purposely walked along the length of the Slytherin table under the guise that she was stopping to talk to friends in Hufflepuff, whose table was adjacent to Slytherin. As she was talking to one of her classmates, her ears perked up when she heard Draco's name,
"Malfoy's not here again," Crabbe's voice noted,
"He's right there," Goyle's voice replied,
"Malfoy's not Asian, you dunderhead," Blaise's voice snorted,
"He hasn't been around lately," Goyle realized, "He doesn't even sit with us in class,"
"Maybe Malfoy's dead?" Crabbe suggested,
"Will you two shut up? Malfoy's not dead," Blaise retorted,
"How would you know Zabini? He hasn't been eating, I'm stupid, not deaf!" Goyle said,
"You mean you're not blind!" Blaise sighed exasperatedly, "Malfoy's fine. If he heard you two idiots planning his funeral he'd send you both to the bottom of the lake."
The conversation continued amongst the Slytherin Boys, however Ginny had stopped listening and focused on something Goyle had said: he hasn't been eating.
Ginny said her goodbyes to her friend and bolted over to the Gryffindor table but the person she was looking for had already finished dinner and left.
Anxiously, Ginny headed to the third floor corridor. As a prefect, she had to memorize the Head Boy and Girl's nightly routine in case of emergency. Once she found no luck on the third floor, she began to head to the fourth floor, however, she spotted her target just turning the corner at the top of the stairs,
"HERMIONE!"
A head of wild curls appeared from around the corner, "Ginny?"
Ginny sprinted the rest of the steps up, scared that the stairs would randomly decide to change on her. As she caught her breath, Hermione asked her if there was a problem,
"No, yes. I need to know where Malfoy's room is,"
Hermione raised a curious eyebrow, "Why?"
"Has Ron told you that Malfoy tutors me in potions?"
"Yes, he's not very happy about it. Whenever we ask him about it he just says that you're being tutored by a giant spider because that's more pleasant than you being tutored by Malfoy," Hermione laughed slightly,
"Yes well, Snape said he wants me to have a potion done for tomorrow morning, but Malfoy didn't show up last night and I need him to help me," Ginny explained, shocked at how easily the lie rolled off her lips,
"Well Ginny, I could always help you," Hermione offered, "I'm not Malfoy, but I'm just as good as he is at Potions."
Ginny thought fast to counter this small obstacle, "I would love to have you help me Mione, but at night Snape puts up wards in his classroom so no one can get at his storage. The wards only let Malfoy and me get through and it'd be hard for you to help me if you can't even be there with me."
"I can stand in the hallway while you -"
"The wards are soundproof, I wouldn't hear any of your instructions. Never mind that now, can you please just tell me where his room is? I don't know how long it'll take me to make the potion," Ginny rushed but was not faking her anxiety or her pressure for time.
"Okay, okay, on the fifth floor like mine is," Hermione explained, "But the entrance to his is behind that tapestry of the Bloody Baron. I'm not sure how to get the wall behind it to open, but maybe if you hit it or something he'll hear the noise and come out ready to kill?"
"Thanks!" Ginny called behind her as she bolted for the fifth floor.
---
With little trouble, Ginny was able to find the tapestry of the Bloody Baron (pre-ghost and pre-bloody). For lack of reason, she pulled up one side of the tapestry and began yelling at the stones beneath, calling Draco's name. Nothing. She took out her wand and began casting various spells and charms, but still nothing happened. Releasing the part of the tapestry she held up, she sighed in frustration. She was so close yet so far.
She stared up at the tapestry, if only she had the password. Hermione didn't even know it, but who else -
"Zabini!" She turned on her heel and began to run back to the Great Hall.
On her way down the steps leading to the second floor, she ran into somebody but before she could fall back onto the stairs, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her straight up. She looked up to find Blaise holding her arm,
"You really don't watch where you're going, do you?" Blaise snapped,
"I need his password Zabini, please," Ginny pleaded with him as he let go of her wrist,
"I don't know what you're talking about," Blaise sneered as he turned around and began to head down the stairs,
"You're worried about him to, aren't you?" Ginny asked, her voice a whisper even though no one was around,
"Now I know you're mad, Weasley,"
"I'm not crazy! You were going to check up on him, weren't you? Otherwise you don't have any other reason to be going up here," Ginny pointed out, "Zabini, if you're as concerned for Draco as I think you are, you'll tell me his password."
"Why should I give you his password?" he demanded,
"Because maybe you're not the only one worried about him!" Ginny blurted out. She looked away immediately, feeling her face burn. She hadn't meant to admit that, after all, she hadn't even admitted it completely to herself yet. However, in all her anxiousness to get the password and Blaise's persistent stubbornness to withhold it, she had a slip of the tongue.
"Nike."
Ginny's head snapped towards Blaise in confusion,
"The password, it's Nike," he chuckled as he continued down the stairs,
"Where are you going? Aren't you going to check up on Malfoy?"
"It seems that he doesn't need me to make sure he stays alive," Blaise called over his shoulder before he disappeared down the stairs.
Unsure of what Blaise was referring to, Ginny turned back up the stairs and returned to the fifth floor.
---
Upon arrival, she lifted up the tapestry, "Nike!"
Immediately, the stones rearranged themselves and an opening appeared. Peering through, Ginny was in awe as she saw a dimly lit common room. Stepping through, the entrance closed behind her. She looked around the common room. She saw the desk in the corner, the small window to one side, a door opposite to her and the fireplace, a small fire burning. Unsure of what to do, she began to head towards the door. Her progress stopped when she heard a noise from the sitting area. She looked over and saw some movement on one of the couches.
Tentatively, Ginny approached and finally found Draco. He was lying on his stomach with his head and his right arm flung over the side of the couch.
"Malfoy?"
Draco titled his head slightly then let it drop back to where it had been, "I don't have the strength to yell at you right now Weasley, so just leave."
"Malfoy, are you okay?" She walked around the couch and stood at his side,
"You don't bloody listen, do you?" His voice was a low growl, "Leave."
She looked around the sitting area and saw the pools of potion and the broken shards. She gasped, "Is that the potion Snape brewed for you?"
"Merlin's ghost you are the nosiest person I have had the misfortune to have in my life!" Draco muttered bitterly,
"That's why you haven't been around, isn't it? You haven't had any nourishment for a month and now you're just too weak. I'm right, aren't I!?" She demanded,
"Sod off Weasley!" Draco countered, the command seeming unthreateningly without his strength behind it.
"Why don't you just take blood?" Ginny asked quietly,
"Because I don't need -"
"Stop being a stubborn prat Malfoy! I understand it's hard for you to deal with the fact that you're a vampire now, but either accept it and take blood or deny it and let yourself waste away!" Ginny exclaimed,
"It's not that easy to just take blood Weasley, but perhaps that's just too complicated for you to understand," Draco retorted,
"Why, because you need to find someone? Or because you need to find a way to do it without someone outing you to Dumbledore? Is that it? Did you swear you wouldn't bite anyone as long as you were allowed to return to Hogwarts?"
Draco remained silent; he was surprised at how well Ginny had figured it all out. So, he thought, she's not just book smart.
"Weasley -"
"My offer is still on the table, Malfoy."
He turned onto his back, leaning back on his elbows for support as he looked at her in surprise, "What are you going on about now?"
"The other night Malfoy, I'll still let you take my blood," Ginny said, fighting the tremble in her body,
"It's not that simple,"
"Are you scared to take my blood now because you like how it tastes?" Ginny repeated her question from that night.
Draco hadn't answered it the last time, but this time he did, "Yes," he breathed,
"W-why?" She inquired, feeling her fear overtaking her previous courage,
"Because I'm scared that once I take your blood, I won't be able to stop - that I'll keep coming back for more," Draco admitted in a casual tone as if he wasn't scared at all,
"Then keep coming back," Ginny said quietly as she removed her robe and sweater and draped them across the adjacent armchair. Silently, Draco watched as she undid the top two buttons of her school shirt to completely expose her neck. Slowly, Ginny stepped towards him and sat down on the edge of the couch.
With all his strength, Draco pushed himself up and found himself looking down into her eyes. Even sitting down, he was taller than her. His right hand came up and held the back of her neck, he left hand came to the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. He felt her slightly shaking beneath his hands,
"You're scared," he stated, "you can still leave Weasley. If you get up and leave, we can go on with life and pretend this never happened."
"If I get up and leave, you may not be able to go on living," she said, concern lining her words,
"And you're willing to let me bite you to keep me alive?" She nodded slowly, "are you sure?"
She nodded as she raised her right hand, brought it to the back of his head and pulled it down to the right side of her neck. She closed her eyes as her hand dropped to her side.
"Thank you," he breathed into her skin before he bared his fangs and pierced her ivory skin.
By instinct, Ginny's right hand clenched the arm that was holding her waist and her left arm wrapped around his back and grabbed at his right shoulder from behind. Her head lolled back as she felt him begin to suck. Her shaking had stopped, but her breaths became deep. His hold on her tightened but it didn't hurt her, instead, Ginny felt protected. He held her body captive against his own body as he feasted on her blood.
When Draco had his fill, he pulled his head away from her neck and absent-mindedly leaned his cheek against the side of her head. Ginny was leaning her forehead against his shoulder and still holding onto him tightly. She was scared that if she loosened her grip, she would surely fall to the floor - she felt weaker.
After a silent moment that seemed to stretch across eternity, Draco spoke, "Are you okay?"
Ginny nodded against his shoulder. Suddenly, she pushed herself from Draco and stood up, avoiding his eyes,
"I should go," she murmured as she pulled on her sweater and threw her arms into the sleeves of her robe.
"Weasley," Draco said quietly as he grabbed her wrist before she could walk away, "Do you regret it?"
"No," she said steadily. She was thankful her back was to him, that way he wouldn't see her tears as she walked away.
When the entrance closed behind her, she leaned back against the stones, the tapestry draping around her. She took deep breaths to calm herself and to stop the tears. She didn't know why she was crying and she didn't understand any of the feelings roaming inside her. She had felt this way before, she realized as she wiped away her tears with the back of her sleeve. This cold feeling was familiar, the hollowness an old friend- she was feeling lonely. Somehow, when she was just sitting there in the circle of Draco's arms, she was reminded of just how lonely she was. What frightened her was the fact that she was beginning to want Draco to fill the void.
She felt the stones behind her begin to rearrange themselves and without thought, she ran away before the entrance had appeared.
---
Ginny stood before a mirror in the Prefects' bathroom. She had showered and washed away any blood that may have spilt. She tilted her head as she examined herself in the reflecting glass.
"I don't look different," she said quietly to herself.
Gingerly, she tilted her head to the left to expose her neck better in the mirror. Tentatively, she ran her forefinger over the two small bite marks on her neck. She began trying to adjust the collar of her white shirt to hide the marks. She struggled with the collar for a few minutes, but nothing short of flipping her collar up would hide the marks. She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair and pulled pieces of her soaked hair over her shoulders. It hid the marks well, but it'd be difficult to make sure her hair was constantly covering it. Frustrated, she pulled her hair back, twisted it up and clipped it back. Pulling out her wand, she pointed to her neck and conjured bandages that wrapped around her neck snugly.
"That'll- that'll have to do," she whispered, "What happened Ginny?" She asked her reflection. Surprised, a lie spilt from her lips easily, "I slipped while I was showering and nicked my neck on a tap. I bruised other parts of my body, but my neck was the only one that had skin broken." She looked at her reflection again. It was probably a weak and transparent lie, but it would have to suffice until the marks healed. The next time Draco bites her, she'd have to come up with something better, but she'd cross that bridge when it came. And it would come because she opened that door for him.
---
Blaise walked through the entrance into the Head Boy's common room. He found Draco sitting in an armchair before the fireplace once again. Elbows resting on the armrests, hands folded in his laps, his head slightly titled towards the ceiling, he sat with closed eyes and steady breathing.
"Sleeping or thinking?" Blaise asked as he sat on the couch just hours ago Draco had collapsed on.
"Both. Go away Zabini," Draco muttered, nothing but his lips moving,
"Hmm- you're looking healthier Malfoy," Blaise commented,
"A few days away from the sun does a vampire well," Draco replied in the same mutter,
"A few days in the dark- or human blood?"
Draco remained silent for a moment before opening his eyes and answering, "I don't know what you're going on about,"
"You were never skilled in cleaning spells," Blaise stated as he took out his wand and cleaned up the pool of collected potions and shattered glass before the fireplace. Then, Blaise stood up, took the few steps to Draco's side and pointed the wand at his collar, "You've never been a sloppy eater. But I suppose we're all a little messy when we first start learning to eat." He said another cleaning spell and the red spot that his wand was pointing at disappeared in a few seconds. He pocketed the wand and began to leave, "Was it worth it?"
Silence.
"The temptation's only going to get worst Draco," Blaise said seriously as he stood by the entrance, pausing before activating it, "It's not right to make her your portable kitchen."
"I know that," Draco said through gritted teeth,
"Really? You could've fooled me." With that, Blaise exited the common room and left Draco with his thoughts.
Showing posts with label CHAR: Hermione Granger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CHAR: Hermione Granger. Show all posts
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
[MWS] Hermione Granger - the Bookworm
The Many Woes of Ronald Weasley series
Part 2 | Hermione Granger - the Bookworm
Harry Potter isn't my only best friend. No, he just happens to be my only best friend with the same reproductive organs as myself (which is male if you were being a smart prat-). Hermione Granger is my other best friend. Hermione has always been titled the brains' of our infamous trio. I don't blame the title. She has the brains and all the hair to keep it in.
Now, I know all about those rumors saying that Hermione and myself are together. And they're all true! (Yeah baby, I bagged me a smart girl!) I treat her with respect, dignity, trust and love. I've never cheated on her (I swear, Lavender kissed me! And the time after that I swear I tripped and fell on her!), lied to her (okay that's a lie) or underappreciated her (not a lot actually-). And how does she repay me? The bloody woman repays me by- Well, I'll tell you. It all started one October night during our Seventh Year-
Hermione and myself were serving detention up in the Astronomy Tower. Yes, Merlin's gift to teachers received a detention. Of course, she blames it on me - but that's another story-
So we were out in the terrace of the tower cleaning telescopes for tomorrow night's class while Professor Sinistra was in her office grading papers (but we both knew she was really sleeping).
I was absentmindedly wiping a lens for the fiftieth time while Hermione was busy on the other side of the terrace cleaning several different telescopes simultaneously (you don't know the true meaning of multi-tasking until you've seen that woman work). I glanced over at her and she was already packing up her cleaning materials.
"You can't be done!" I gasped. She merely looked up at me for a moment before returning to what she had been doing. "Mione, you can't still be mad at me!"
"Oh, but I am!" Hermione replied as she stalked towards me. She poked me in the chest several times as she spoke, "I could be spending my time writing up study notes for Snape's test next month, but no, I'm here cleaning telescopes with you!"
"Well, you are done," I offered grinning as I pointed my wand at the telescope I had finished cleaning so it would move aside..
She glared at me then snatched my wand and smacked me in the face. Hard. Real hard. So hard, it felt like it had turned from a smack to a punch. Before I realized it, I had stumbled backwards over the telescope stand and was flipped over the edge of the turret-
I was hanging onto the edge for dear life and do you know what that blasted woman did? Well I'll tell you! She had the nerve to ask Ron, are you okay?'.. I mean, DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M OKAY? I'm hanging off the edge of a bloody tower for Merlin's sake. With so much brain, you'd think she'd have a shred of common sense.. Really now- But don't you see now what Hermione's been doing this entire time? She's be in on it with Harry since the beginning. She's been trying to get rid of me too!
You see, I'm smart, real smart actually! It's just that Hermione makes me out to be dumb! She's trying to dumb me down! How do I know? I see her slipping an orange liquid into my goblet every morning (but it strangely tastes like pumpkin juice-) See, she has her own motives to bring upon my downfall. She's scared I'm going to become smarter than her. So, she's making me dumbier than I am now!
When she realized her efforts in using liquids to de-smart me were failing, she tried to push me off the turret! And do you know what she did afterwards? Well then, I'll tell you-
I clung to the edge, hoping that the feeling my hands were slipping were merely in my imagination. I tried several times to pull myself up, but that proved useless.
"Ron, are you okay?" I looked up and saw Hermione looking over the edge of the turret with what looked like concern.
"Yes Hermione, I'm fine as a daisy. You wouldn't mind fetching me a cup of tea perhaps so I may enjoy this wonderful view of the landscape?" I drawled sarcastically before yelling, "BLOODY HELL I'M NOT OKAY! WOULD IT BE SO MUCH AS TO HELP ME BACK ONTO THE TOWER?"
She bit her lip, "I don't think I'd want to save someone who's yelling at me Ronald."
"Hermione, I'm slipping. Help me up and we'll continue this fight once I'm sure I'm not going to die any second," I suggested through clenched teeth. When that woman was provoked, she was difficult.
"Okay, okay," she said in a rushed tone, "Let me find Professor Sinistra."
"Mione wait!" But before I could say anything else, her head disappeared. I listened to her footsteps disappear, so I held on with every ounce of my strength.
After what seemed like ages, I heard footsteps and when I looked up I saw Hermione and Harry's faces.
"How's the weather down there Ron?" Harry questioned as he grinned.
"You cheeky prat help me up!" I yelled.
"I dunno, Ron-" He said as he cocked an eyebrow.
I glared up at him and purposely removed one of my hands from the edge. I hung there while only holding on with one hand. Somewhere in the back of my brain I was mentally smacking myself for doing so, but it was done and I didn't have the strength to get my other hand back up there.
"RON!" Hermione and Harry exclaimed when I had let go. Immediately they both latched onto my wrist and heaved me over the edge.
When I was back on my feet again, I casually dusted off my robes, "Would have been much easier to use the Levitation Charm."
I saw Hermione's cheeks tinge with pink in the moonlight as it dawned upon her what would've been easier in the situation. Harry doubled over with laughter,
"I never thought I'd see the day when Ron outwitted Hermione," Harry grinned as he clutched his stomach while trying to stifle his laughter.
He stopped laughing when Hermione shot him a dark look. She turned that deathly gaze on me, "Well since you seem to know how to do things, why the blood didn't you do it yourself?"
I cocked an eyebrow not completely believing what she was saying to me. I crossed my arms and stared at her, "Because, my beloved, you took my wand from me before you slapped me over the edge of the tower."
This little revelation caused her blush to brighten and spread to her face-
The woman actually went to find someone to help me up! She's the smartest person at Hogwarts and she doesn't even use common sense! Why? Because she was hoping that while she was running to find "help" I'd slip of my own accord and the blame of my death wouldn't be on her conscience! And who indeed did she get for help? Harry! My best friend and archenemy! They're both in cahoots to get me! Let's not forget how they deliberately stalled to help; contemplating to see if they even SHOULD help! Now, if that doesn't rouse suspicion that they're both trying to kill me, then I don't know what does!
Hermione's been hinting for sometime now that she'd like for us to be married. She doesn't need to hint, I know she wants us to be married and I want us to be married. However, after that nights' events I'd been wondering if I should. Being married to Hermione Granger, a person trying to see my demise, would mean I couldn't escape her! She could kill me anytime on our honeymoon and no one would figure it out until my body washed up on land!
Now you're all thinking Hermione's not evil' and what not, but surely you haven't overlooked the facts. Hermione's smart and during our time at Hogwarts she seemed to know quite a lot of knowledge on things going on at Hogwarts. She knew too much. I mean, sure she doesn't like chocolate pudding - she hates it - but isn't it just odd how she knew the solution to just about every problem? Besides that she practically lives in the library! Anyone who's in the library longer than they're in their own rooms is positively screaming evil! Madame Pince the librarian works in the library and we all know she's batty! Let's not forget Draco Malfoy! Yeah, he seems to be in the library quite a lot as well! Always stalking between the shelves, pretending his reading a book, acting like it's just a casually trip to the library for school work and what not. So you see, she's out to kill me. I can prove it just by the proof that she lives in the library.
(Part 3: Neville Longbottom - the So-Called Innocent Bystander)
Part 2 | Hermione Granger - the Bookworm
Harry Potter isn't my only best friend. No, he just happens to be my only best friend with the same reproductive organs as myself (which is male if you were being a smart prat-). Hermione Granger is my other best friend. Hermione has always been titled the brains' of our infamous trio. I don't blame the title. She has the brains and all the hair to keep it in.
Now, I know all about those rumors saying that Hermione and myself are together. And they're all true! (Yeah baby, I bagged me a smart girl!) I treat her with respect, dignity, trust and love. I've never cheated on her (I swear, Lavender kissed me! And the time after that I swear I tripped and fell on her!), lied to her (okay that's a lie) or underappreciated her (not a lot actually-). And how does she repay me? The bloody woman repays me by- Well, I'll tell you. It all started one October night during our Seventh Year-
Hermione and myself were serving detention up in the Astronomy Tower. Yes, Merlin's gift to teachers received a detention. Of course, she blames it on me - but that's another story-
So we were out in the terrace of the tower cleaning telescopes for tomorrow night's class while Professor Sinistra was in her office grading papers (but we both knew she was really sleeping).
I was absentmindedly wiping a lens for the fiftieth time while Hermione was busy on the other side of the terrace cleaning several different telescopes simultaneously (you don't know the true meaning of multi-tasking until you've seen that woman work). I glanced over at her and she was already packing up her cleaning materials.
"You can't be done!" I gasped. She merely looked up at me for a moment before returning to what she had been doing. "Mione, you can't still be mad at me!"
"Oh, but I am!" Hermione replied as she stalked towards me. She poked me in the chest several times as she spoke, "I could be spending my time writing up study notes for Snape's test next month, but no, I'm here cleaning telescopes with you!"
"Well, you are done," I offered grinning as I pointed my wand at the telescope I had finished cleaning so it would move aside..
She glared at me then snatched my wand and smacked me in the face. Hard. Real hard. So hard, it felt like it had turned from a smack to a punch. Before I realized it, I had stumbled backwards over the telescope stand and was flipped over the edge of the turret-
I was hanging onto the edge for dear life and do you know what that blasted woman did? Well I'll tell you! She had the nerve to ask Ron, are you okay?'.. I mean, DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M OKAY? I'm hanging off the edge of a bloody tower for Merlin's sake. With so much brain, you'd think she'd have a shred of common sense.. Really now- But don't you see now what Hermione's been doing this entire time? She's be in on it with Harry since the beginning. She's been trying to get rid of me too!
You see, I'm smart, real smart actually! It's just that Hermione makes me out to be dumb! She's trying to dumb me down! How do I know? I see her slipping an orange liquid into my goblet every morning (but it strangely tastes like pumpkin juice-) See, she has her own motives to bring upon my downfall. She's scared I'm going to become smarter than her. So, she's making me dumbier than I am now!
When she realized her efforts in using liquids to de-smart me were failing, she tried to push me off the turret! And do you know what she did afterwards? Well then, I'll tell you-
I clung to the edge, hoping that the feeling my hands were slipping were merely in my imagination. I tried several times to pull myself up, but that proved useless.
"Ron, are you okay?" I looked up and saw Hermione looking over the edge of the turret with what looked like concern.
"Yes Hermione, I'm fine as a daisy. You wouldn't mind fetching me a cup of tea perhaps so I may enjoy this wonderful view of the landscape?" I drawled sarcastically before yelling, "BLOODY HELL I'M NOT OKAY! WOULD IT BE SO MUCH AS TO HELP ME BACK ONTO THE TOWER?"
She bit her lip, "I don't think I'd want to save someone who's yelling at me Ronald."
"Hermione, I'm slipping. Help me up and we'll continue this fight once I'm sure I'm not going to die any second," I suggested through clenched teeth. When that woman was provoked, she was difficult.
"Okay, okay," she said in a rushed tone, "Let me find Professor Sinistra."
"Mione wait!" But before I could say anything else, her head disappeared. I listened to her footsteps disappear, so I held on with every ounce of my strength.
After what seemed like ages, I heard footsteps and when I looked up I saw Hermione and Harry's faces.
"How's the weather down there Ron?" Harry questioned as he grinned.
"You cheeky prat help me up!" I yelled.
"I dunno, Ron-" He said as he cocked an eyebrow.
I glared up at him and purposely removed one of my hands from the edge. I hung there while only holding on with one hand. Somewhere in the back of my brain I was mentally smacking myself for doing so, but it was done and I didn't have the strength to get my other hand back up there.
"RON!" Hermione and Harry exclaimed when I had let go. Immediately they both latched onto my wrist and heaved me over the edge.
When I was back on my feet again, I casually dusted off my robes, "Would have been much easier to use the Levitation Charm."
I saw Hermione's cheeks tinge with pink in the moonlight as it dawned upon her what would've been easier in the situation. Harry doubled over with laughter,
"I never thought I'd see the day when Ron outwitted Hermione," Harry grinned as he clutched his stomach while trying to stifle his laughter.
He stopped laughing when Hermione shot him a dark look. She turned that deathly gaze on me, "Well since you seem to know how to do things, why the blood didn't you do it yourself?"
I cocked an eyebrow not completely believing what she was saying to me. I crossed my arms and stared at her, "Because, my beloved, you took my wand from me before you slapped me over the edge of the tower."
This little revelation caused her blush to brighten and spread to her face-
The woman actually went to find someone to help me up! She's the smartest person at Hogwarts and she doesn't even use common sense! Why? Because she was hoping that while she was running to find "help" I'd slip of my own accord and the blame of my death wouldn't be on her conscience! And who indeed did she get for help? Harry! My best friend and archenemy! They're both in cahoots to get me! Let's not forget how they deliberately stalled to help; contemplating to see if they even SHOULD help! Now, if that doesn't rouse suspicion that they're both trying to kill me, then I don't know what does!
Hermione's been hinting for sometime now that she'd like for us to be married. She doesn't need to hint, I know she wants us to be married and I want us to be married. However, after that nights' events I'd been wondering if I should. Being married to Hermione Granger, a person trying to see my demise, would mean I couldn't escape her! She could kill me anytime on our honeymoon and no one would figure it out until my body washed up on land!
Now you're all thinking Hermione's not evil' and what not, but surely you haven't overlooked the facts. Hermione's smart and during our time at Hogwarts she seemed to know quite a lot of knowledge on things going on at Hogwarts. She knew too much. I mean, sure she doesn't like chocolate pudding - she hates it - but isn't it just odd how she knew the solution to just about every problem? Besides that she practically lives in the library! Anyone who's in the library longer than they're in their own rooms is positively screaming evil! Madame Pince the librarian works in the library and we all know she's batty! Let's not forget Draco Malfoy! Yeah, he seems to be in the library quite a lot as well! Always stalking between the shelves, pretending his reading a book, acting like it's just a casually trip to the library for school work and what not. So you see, she's out to kill me. I can prove it just by the proof that she lives in the library.
(Part 3: Neville Longbottom - the So-Called Innocent Bystander)
[SF] Separated
DISCLAIMER: The song, lyrics, rythym and beat belong to Usher Raymond. I merely put the story to the song.
If love was a bird
Then we wouldn't have wings
If love was a sky
We'd be blue
If love was a choir
You and I could never sing
Cause love isn't for me and you
Harry stood on the platform in Hogsmeade; it was hard to believe that it had been one year since he had left Hogwarts. He ran his hand through his hair, making it more untidy than before. He sighed heavily as he shoved both his hands into his pockets. The autumn air was strong and cold. Sighing heavily as he looked at his watch. 5 minutes to boards.'
If love was an Oscar
You and I could never win
Cause we can never act out our parts
If love is the Bible
Then we are lost in sin
Because its not in our hearts
Suddenly he heard someone call his name. He spun around to find Hermione. She wrapped her arms around him and pressing her lips to his but he pulled away. She raised her eyebrow,
"Okay. So Harry, why'd you want to meet me here today? Our date isn't until Saturday!"
Harry took in a deep breath before beginning.
So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated
"Hermione, there is no date on Saturday," Harry replied and she looked up at him in confusion. Harry hadn't called her Hermione since before they began dating in their 6th Year. "I'm sorry Hermione, but it's just not working." He could see the pain in her eyes and he himself had a pain in his heart, but he had to do this.
"But Harry, I thought you loved me?" Hermione looked up at him with pleading eyes, tears forming in them.
He looked away reluctantly, "Not anymore."
If love was a fire
Then we have lost the spark
Love never felt so cold
If love was a light
Then we're lost in the dark
Left with no one to hold
"What!?" Hermione gasped as she stepped back, "But you told me you'd always love me! You said that to me 2 years ago! How could you all of a sudden say you don't?"
"Things change Hermione, people change. It's just different now," Harry replied,
"How is it different Harry? How? Tell me!" Hermione pleaded with him.
If love was a sport
We're not on the same team
You and I are destined to lose
If love was an ocean
Then we are just a stream
Cause love isn't for me and you
"I'm not sure," Harry admitted, "But things between us have changed. Whenever we're together we don't have the same fun we had years ago. Just admit it Hermione, the spark between us is gone. The magic isn't there anymore."
Hermione didn't reply, but then asked, "So what now?"
So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated
"It's for the best. It would be better if we just ended it now before we got into a marriage where the chemistry's gone." Harry replied.
The tears in Hermione's eyes started to trickle softly down her face, "So one month after purposing to me you're going to break up with me? When did your feelings change if you purposed to me last month?"
"I don't know." Harry replied.
Girl I know we had some good times
It's sad but now we gotta say goodbye
Girl you know I love you, I can't deny
I can't say we didn't try to make it work for you and I
I know it hurts so much but it's best for us
"Hermione, I still love you, you know. I still love you," Harry pushed strands of hair behind her ear, "But it's just not the same anymore. Sometimes when we're together I wonder if you even still love me and it pains me to wonder it, but I do."
"Harry I still love you!" Hermione took his hand, "Listen to me, I still love you as much as I did 2 years ago!"
Somewhere along this windy road we lost the trust
So I'll walk away so you don't have to see me cry
It's killing me so, why don't you go
"I know you do Hermione and I love you, but it's just not the same anymore. Going on dates with you seems more like a chore now and I can tell you feel the same way. It isn't the same and it doesn't feel right," Harry replied, "We may love each other, but it's not meant to be."
"How do you know it isn't?" She stepped closer and held his face with bother her hands,
"Because if it was meant to be, I wouldn't be feeling this," Harry said as he placed his hands on top of hers. Gently he pushed them off his face, pulling off her ring at the same time. He held her hands for a moment before leaning into her and pressed his lips onto hers. He hesitantly pulled away and looked at her. "Good bye."
As he turned to leave Hermione could see tears falling down his face. He opened a door to the Hogwarts Express, entered and shut it behind him.
So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated
Leaning against the shut door he lowered his head, hair falling over his forehead and eyes as he cried, clutching her ring in his hand, "I'm sorry Hermione."
Hermione gazed at the door which had been closed and watched as the train slowly pulled away from the station. Tears streaming down her face when she noticed something in her hand. Opening up her hand she found Harry's ring there and realized that Harry had pressed it into her hand while they shared their last kiss. She held the ring between her thumb and index finger and brought it up to her face and kissed it. "I'm sorry Harry," she whispered because deep in her heart, she felt the same way as Harry.
If love was a bird
Then we wouldn't have wings
If love was a sky
We'd be blue
If love was a choir
You and I could never sing
Cause love isn't for me and you
Harry stood on the platform in Hogsmeade; it was hard to believe that it had been one year since he had left Hogwarts. He ran his hand through his hair, making it more untidy than before. He sighed heavily as he shoved both his hands into his pockets. The autumn air was strong and cold. Sighing heavily as he looked at his watch. 5 minutes to boards.'
If love was an Oscar
You and I could never win
Cause we can never act out our parts
If love is the Bible
Then we are lost in sin
Because its not in our hearts
Suddenly he heard someone call his name. He spun around to find Hermione. She wrapped her arms around him and pressing her lips to his but he pulled away. She raised her eyebrow,
"Okay. So Harry, why'd you want to meet me here today? Our date isn't until Saturday!"
Harry took in a deep breath before beginning.
So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated
"Hermione, there is no date on Saturday," Harry replied and she looked up at him in confusion. Harry hadn't called her Hermione since before they began dating in their 6th Year. "I'm sorry Hermione, but it's just not working." He could see the pain in her eyes and he himself had a pain in his heart, but he had to do this.
"But Harry, I thought you loved me?" Hermione looked up at him with pleading eyes, tears forming in them.
He looked away reluctantly, "Not anymore."
If love was a fire
Then we have lost the spark
Love never felt so cold
If love was a light
Then we're lost in the dark
Left with no one to hold
"What!?" Hermione gasped as she stepped back, "But you told me you'd always love me! You said that to me 2 years ago! How could you all of a sudden say you don't?"
"Things change Hermione, people change. It's just different now," Harry replied,
"How is it different Harry? How? Tell me!" Hermione pleaded with him.
If love was a sport
We're not on the same team
You and I are destined to lose
If love was an ocean
Then we are just a stream
Cause love isn't for me and you
"I'm not sure," Harry admitted, "But things between us have changed. Whenever we're together we don't have the same fun we had years ago. Just admit it Hermione, the spark between us is gone. The magic isn't there anymore."
Hermione didn't reply, but then asked, "So what now?"
So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated
"It's for the best. It would be better if we just ended it now before we got into a marriage where the chemistry's gone." Harry replied.
The tears in Hermione's eyes started to trickle softly down her face, "So one month after purposing to me you're going to break up with me? When did your feelings change if you purposed to me last month?"
"I don't know." Harry replied.
Girl I know we had some good times
It's sad but now we gotta say goodbye
Girl you know I love you, I can't deny
I can't say we didn't try to make it work for you and I
I know it hurts so much but it's best for us
"Hermione, I still love you, you know. I still love you," Harry pushed strands of hair behind her ear, "But it's just not the same anymore. Sometimes when we're together I wonder if you even still love me and it pains me to wonder it, but I do."
"Harry I still love you!" Hermione took his hand, "Listen to me, I still love you as much as I did 2 years ago!"
Somewhere along this windy road we lost the trust
So I'll walk away so you don't have to see me cry
It's killing me so, why don't you go
"I know you do Hermione and I love you, but it's just not the same anymore. Going on dates with you seems more like a chore now and I can tell you feel the same way. It isn't the same and it doesn't feel right," Harry replied, "We may love each other, but it's not meant to be."
"How do you know it isn't?" She stepped closer and held his face with bother her hands,
"Because if it was meant to be, I wouldn't be feeling this," Harry said as he placed his hands on top of hers. Gently he pushed them off his face, pulling off her ring at the same time. He held her hands for a moment before leaning into her and pressed his lips onto hers. He hesitantly pulled away and looked at her. "Good bye."
As he turned to leave Hermione could see tears falling down his face. He opened a door to the Hogwarts Express, entered and shut it behind him.
So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated
Leaning against the shut door he lowered his head, hair falling over his forehead and eyes as he cried, clutching her ring in his hand, "I'm sorry Hermione."
Hermione gazed at the door which had been closed and watched as the train slowly pulled away from the station. Tears streaming down her face when she noticed something in her hand. Opening up her hand she found Harry's ring there and realized that Harry had pressed it into her hand while they shared their last kiss. She held the ring between her thumb and index finger and brought it up to her face and kissed it. "I'm sorry Harry," she whispered because deep in her heart, she felt the same way as Harry.
[OS] Beautiful
I woke up that morning with my limbs feeling as sore as ever. Rolling out of bed, I slowly padded towards my apartment's bathroom. Bypassing the mirror, I shut the door with a back kick of my foot. Undressing as quickly as my aching muscles allowed, I hopped into the shower and allowed the hot water to ease my pain.
After showering, I wrapped a towel around my body and stood before the bathroom sink and mirror. With a few quick swipes with my hand, the mirror was divested of most of its steam. I calculated the damage. Slowly, I ran my fingers over each bicep and winced as I felt pain. More sensitive than usual. Sighing heavily, I left the bathroom to dress for the day.
As I stood within my walk-in closet, I forlornly looked at the tops I could not wear on this summer day, but it had to be so. I could not let the others see. Without dwelling on it for too long, I picked out a knee-length jean skirt, white cami and a zip-up, pink long-sleeved shirt. As I stood before the full-length mirror, I was satisfied with the covering. Yes, it was perfect for me to go out to lunch with my two best friends on one of their birthdays.
However, while I stood in the bathroom, brushing my hair, I realized something I had not earlier. Quickly clipping back my thick curls, I grabbed for the small make-up bag I kept in the medicine cabinet. Taking out the compact, I nearly dropped it into the sink as I heard the familiar sound of people apparating into the appartment. Quickly with shaking hands, I applied the powder around my left eye.
"Hermione?" Unison voices called.
Quicker. More. I looked at the result. Perfect.
"I'm here!" I call back and in mere seconds, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are standing in the doorway of my bathroom.
"Ready to go? I'm starving," Ron inquired with his infamous lop-sided grin.
"You know I'm never late," I reminded with a small smile as I slipped the compact back into the bag and replaced it in the cabinet.
"Make-up? 'Mione, you never wear make-up," Harry pointed out,
"Once in awhile I get a blemish. So hex me for not wanting the entire world to see it," I replied as I pushed past them into the hallway, "So, are we going out or not?"
Harry nodded, "I was thinking of a nice Muggle café I pass by everyday to work."
"Sounds good to me," I agree cheerfully, a smile I only half-fake plastered on my face.
---
"And one BTL.. I mean, BLT sandwich. Oh, and one of these cheeseburgers - they look tasty - and a glass of water," Ron finished this order with a smile.
"Is that all?" The muggle waitress inquired hesitantly,
"For now," Ron said.
"Okay... Your orders will be here in about fifteen minutes," she insisted then hurried off.
"Ron, you ordered out the entire café!" I gently laugh at him,
"Yes well, an Auror's got to eat," he defended when suddenly a fuzzball flew into the café and smashed into Ron's chest. Harry and I stiffled laughs as Ron held up his beloved owl and quickly admonished it for flying into a place full of Muggles. After it nipped his hand and appeared to be threatening to fly around him, Ron held it firmly and took the message from Pig.
"What does it say?" Harry asked as Ron absent-mindedly dropped Pig onto the table and it began to hop around.
"I'll be back in an hour, I swear!" Ron said as he stuffed the paper in his mouth and began to chew savagely,
"What on earth are you doing!? You won't miss lunch, we'll wait," I whispered at him,
"It's procedure that any message we get, we destroy. Usually I burn them but since we're here, well, this is the best way to do it," Ron explained after swallowing hard. "There's been a problem at the Ministry and Neville says he needs my help on a case. One hour, promise Harry!"
"It's fine, go," Harry insisted, "we'll keep your food hot for you."
He smiled with gratitude before speeding out of the café, Pig flying loyally behind him.
Harry turned to face me, "So, 'Mione, how've you been lately? Haven't seen you in over a week!"
"Seven days isn't that long Harry," I laughed lightly,
"I know, but I'm still not used to not seeing you and Ron every day," he admitted sheepishly, "even if it has been four years since Hogwarts."
I smile and cross my arms before dropping my arms immediately and hoped that I contained the flinch that wanted to escape. With the look on Harry's face, I didn't.
"Are you okay?" He inquired and I mumble an affirmative.
"Well, things at the store are running smoothly. It's the best job - surrounded by -" I involuntarily cringe after crossing my right leg over the left. I checked my legs, hadn't I? Grimly, I realize I had not because I had forgotten the misfortune of falling back against the bottom of the stairs at his house.
" 'Mione, what's wrong?" Harry asked,
"Nothing -"
"But you just -"
"I said nothing Harry. Please, just drop it!" I pleaded
He nodded reluctantly, "So how is Krum?"
I stared at him as I suddenly fell into a reverie...
"Where have you been?" He asks gruffly as I close the door behind me.
"At work. Where I always am on a weekday," I reply tartly. We had just lost a new shipment of books because they were sent to the wrong store; naturally, I was more than miffed.
"It's past six o'clock!" He argues as I push past him, dropping my bag on the hallway table.
"I had some extra paperwork to do," I said defensively, "I'm here now right? So let's go to dinner already."
"You were with them again, weren't you?" He demanded,
"I told you! I was at work! Merlin, you're always so paranoid," I mutter angrily as I start heading towards his kitchen, in need of a glass of cold water to ease my pounding head.
A flash of pain stops me in my tracks as I look back and see that he has a hand wrapped around my left arm.
"Maybe I wouldn't be so paranoid if you didn't spend every waking moment with them!" He defended, his grip gradually getting tighter.
"How can I spend every waking moment with them if after work I go out to dinner with you!?" I argue as I struggle to release my arm.
He pulls at me, getting hold of my other upper arm, glaring down at me, "Don't lie to me Hermione."
"When have I ever lied to you, Viktor? When?" I question, praying my voice doesn't crack.
Suddenly I feel my body flying and I smash into the foot of the stairs. Ignoring the sting, I sit up straight and look up at him,
"Damn it, don't you see what they're trying to do Hermione? They're trying to take you from me now that they realize how beautiful you are!" He exclaims as he towers over me,
"They're not trying to do that! They're just my friends!" I insisted defensively.
Pain.
"Stop protecting them!" He screamed, withdrawing his balled hand to his side, "I'm your boyfriend! I should have priority over them!"
Gingerly I touched my face with shaking fingers and felt the pain throbbing. Hot tears stung my eyes and I whip my head back to look at him, "Damn it Viktor! I love you, not them!"
As if realizing for the first time what he had done, he dropped to his knees before me and took my face in his hands, "I... I'm sorry, Hermione. I just love you so much." He kissed my forehead, "I'll help you apparate back to your apartment. We'll go out another night." He stood up straight and extended a hand to help me up.
I looked up at him and took it.
... " 'Mione?"
I shook my head to clear it, "Sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked you how Krum was, y'know. You're boyfriend," he reminded,
"I know who he is!" I snapped before sighing heavily, "Sorry. I'm just a bit on edge."
"You weren't on edge until I said Krum's name," Harry pointed out, "Is everything okay with him? Did you two have a fight?"
"Yes. No. I have to go," I said suddenly and I made to leave, but he grabed my wrist,
"Hermione, what's wrong?" He inquired, pleadingly.
My lips were trembling as I looked at his expression of pure concern. I attempted to yank my wrist free, only to have my arm slip out of my zip-up long-sleeves. Almost instantly, Harry dropped my wrist. I was frozen in place, my feet refused to move. He stood up and slowly, he gently ran his fingers over the purpled skin. He withdrew his fingers the instant a cringe crossed my face. Anxiously, I slipped my arm back into the sleeve and satt down, knowing that if I left, Harry would find me anyways.
Falling back into his seat, Harry just stared at me in silent awe, "You two did have a fight. Didn't you?"
Bitting down on my bottom lip, I nodded slightly, eyes fixated to the table,
" 'Mione, why'd you let him do this to you? You can easily fight off that jerk!" He asked after quickly placing a silence barrier around us.
"I love him Harry." I simply said.
"How? Why!? Hermione! Look what he did to you!" He exclaimed,
"It'll go away in a few days! He's just stressed from work and gets upset easily, that's all!" I defended as I looked up at his quizzical expression.
"He's done this before..." Harry realized and I nodded in silent response, eyes dropped back to the table. We remained in silence as the waitress returned with the food and left soon after.
I panicked when I heard Harry stand up, "Harry, no!"
"I'm not going to let him get away with this Hermione!" He argued. He turned to leave, but I grabbed his hand with both of mine, pulling him to stand beside me,
"Harry, please don't!" I begged,
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't!" He demanded, "Tell me why you stayed with him after the first time he hurt you!?"
"He called me beautiful," I replied quietly,
"What?"
"Hadn't you or Ron ever wondered why I agreed to be his date to the Yule Ball back in our fourth year?" I asked as he sat back down and I released his hand.
"Yes."
"Well, it was that. When he first approached me and asked, I asked him why he was bothering with me when there were plenty others. He said I was beautiful and I accepted," I explained,
Harry looked at me with bewilderment, "Hermione, you don't need that jerk to tell you you're -"
"He was the first person to ever say it Harry!" I interrupted, my voice gaining its strength once more, "He saw me beautiful, above all others and before I was all done up at the Yule Ball. He was the first to do that. The first."
"Hermione, Ron and I always thought you were beautiful," He insisted calmly,
"Did you? It took Ron to realize I was a girl four bloody years! And it's not like you ever said anything before then!" I stood up immediately, "I have to go. Happy birthday Harry." I threw a wrapped box on the table and it landed in one of the dishes Ron had ordered.
Before I left, Harry said in a low voice, "How long until he goes too far, Hermione?"
---
Later, I lay on the floor of my apartment, sore from head to toe. The door had slammed behind Viktor at least an hour ago. Struggling, I pushed myself from the ground and supported myself against the coffee table as I rested. A small pool of blood had formed where my face once lay on the wooden floor. As quick as I could - which wasn't quick at all - I wiped the blood from my jaw and the once pink sleeve was then stained with red.
I grasped for my wand, still laying where it had rolled to during the arguement. My fingers barely grasped it as I pulled it towards me and dropped it on the table. I breathed shallowly, my chest felt as if it collapsed every time I would breath normally. Arm on the table, my head slumped onto it as my other hand grabed the wand once more. It took me longer than normal to recall the appropriate incantation, and I apparated.
---
I knocked on the door before me, weakly at first. Then, as I supported myself against the door frame, I knocked as hard as possible. Light seeped into the darkness of the city street as the door slowly opened.
"Hermione!" Harry gasped as he held the door open for me.
I stumbled into 12 Grimmauld and turned back to look at Harry as he closed the door. I felt my legs finally lose all their strength. He moved to catch me and I lay in his arms as he fell to his knees.
"Ron! It's Hermione!" Harry yelled.
Ron came from the direction of the kitchen, a nearly empty bottle of firewhiskey in his hand, "Bloody hell..." He knelt down as well, "Harry said... and I would have... but you would've been mad..." He stopped trying to form sentences. Finally he asked, "What happened this time? A fight? Was he drunk?"
I shook my head negatively, "He just went too far."
---
Today, I sit in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld, drinking a cup of tea. Ron sits beside me, one hand flipping the page of the Daily Prophet, the other placed comfortingly on my upper arm.
"Are you ready?" Ron inquires,
"Of course. Besides, you and Harry will be there with me," I say with a strength and confidence I don't quite feel.
"He'll be punished, 'Mione. Susan Bones took the place of her aunt, and I know she'll convict him," Ron says as he looks up from the Prophet and gives me the first lop-sided grin since Harry's birthday, almost two weeks ago.
I place a hand over his and smile back, "Thank you."
Suddenly, he retracts his hand, "Did I hurt you? The bruising there.. I forget sometimes and -"
"It's fine," I insist, "My arms, for the most part, have healed. I'm just worried about the bruises and cuts on my face."
"You look fine, so there's no need to worry," Ron replies, "Besides, another few days and those bruises will be gone. And your cuts are healing nicely."
I roll my eyes at him as I take another sip from my tea. Harry enters and says a good morning as he immediately heads for the coffee pot laying on the table beside the tea pot.
"Harry, will you please tell Hermione she looks fine despite her injuries? She refuses to believe anything either of us says unless the other confirms it," Ron says exasperatedly, but smiles all the same.
Harry looks up from his cup of coffee and stares at me. He smiles warmly and I immediately remind myself how lucky I am to have both him and Ron in my life.
"You look beautiful."
After showering, I wrapped a towel around my body and stood before the bathroom sink and mirror. With a few quick swipes with my hand, the mirror was divested of most of its steam. I calculated the damage. Slowly, I ran my fingers over each bicep and winced as I felt pain. More sensitive than usual. Sighing heavily, I left the bathroom to dress for the day.
As I stood within my walk-in closet, I forlornly looked at the tops I could not wear on this summer day, but it had to be so. I could not let the others see. Without dwelling on it for too long, I picked out a knee-length jean skirt, white cami and a zip-up, pink long-sleeved shirt. As I stood before the full-length mirror, I was satisfied with the covering. Yes, it was perfect for me to go out to lunch with my two best friends on one of their birthdays.
However, while I stood in the bathroom, brushing my hair, I realized something I had not earlier. Quickly clipping back my thick curls, I grabbed for the small make-up bag I kept in the medicine cabinet. Taking out the compact, I nearly dropped it into the sink as I heard the familiar sound of people apparating into the appartment. Quickly with shaking hands, I applied the powder around my left eye.
"Hermione?" Unison voices called.
Quicker. More. I looked at the result. Perfect.
"I'm here!" I call back and in mere seconds, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are standing in the doorway of my bathroom.
"Ready to go? I'm starving," Ron inquired with his infamous lop-sided grin.
"You know I'm never late," I reminded with a small smile as I slipped the compact back into the bag and replaced it in the cabinet.
"Make-up? 'Mione, you never wear make-up," Harry pointed out,
"Once in awhile I get a blemish. So hex me for not wanting the entire world to see it," I replied as I pushed past them into the hallway, "So, are we going out or not?"
Harry nodded, "I was thinking of a nice Muggle café I pass by everyday to work."
"Sounds good to me," I agree cheerfully, a smile I only half-fake plastered on my face.
---
"And one BTL.. I mean, BLT sandwich. Oh, and one of these cheeseburgers - they look tasty - and a glass of water," Ron finished this order with a smile.
"Is that all?" The muggle waitress inquired hesitantly,
"For now," Ron said.
"Okay... Your orders will be here in about fifteen minutes," she insisted then hurried off.
"Ron, you ordered out the entire café!" I gently laugh at him,
"Yes well, an Auror's got to eat," he defended when suddenly a fuzzball flew into the café and smashed into Ron's chest. Harry and I stiffled laughs as Ron held up his beloved owl and quickly admonished it for flying into a place full of Muggles. After it nipped his hand and appeared to be threatening to fly around him, Ron held it firmly and took the message from Pig.
"What does it say?" Harry asked as Ron absent-mindedly dropped Pig onto the table and it began to hop around.
"I'll be back in an hour, I swear!" Ron said as he stuffed the paper in his mouth and began to chew savagely,
"What on earth are you doing!? You won't miss lunch, we'll wait," I whispered at him,
"It's procedure that any message we get, we destroy. Usually I burn them but since we're here, well, this is the best way to do it," Ron explained after swallowing hard. "There's been a problem at the Ministry and Neville says he needs my help on a case. One hour, promise Harry!"
"It's fine, go," Harry insisted, "we'll keep your food hot for you."
He smiled with gratitude before speeding out of the café, Pig flying loyally behind him.
Harry turned to face me, "So, 'Mione, how've you been lately? Haven't seen you in over a week!"
"Seven days isn't that long Harry," I laughed lightly,
"I know, but I'm still not used to not seeing you and Ron every day," he admitted sheepishly, "even if it has been four years since Hogwarts."
I smile and cross my arms before dropping my arms immediately and hoped that I contained the flinch that wanted to escape. With the look on Harry's face, I didn't.
"Are you okay?" He inquired and I mumble an affirmative.
"Well, things at the store are running smoothly. It's the best job - surrounded by -" I involuntarily cringe after crossing my right leg over the left. I checked my legs, hadn't I? Grimly, I realize I had not because I had forgotten the misfortune of falling back against the bottom of the stairs at his house.
" 'Mione, what's wrong?" Harry asked,
"Nothing -"
"But you just -"
"I said nothing Harry. Please, just drop it!" I pleaded
He nodded reluctantly, "So how is Krum?"
I stared at him as I suddenly fell into a reverie...
"Where have you been?" He asks gruffly as I close the door behind me.
"At work. Where I always am on a weekday," I reply tartly. We had just lost a new shipment of books because they were sent to the wrong store; naturally, I was more than miffed.
"It's past six o'clock!" He argues as I push past him, dropping my bag on the hallway table.
"I had some extra paperwork to do," I said defensively, "I'm here now right? So let's go to dinner already."
"You were with them again, weren't you?" He demanded,
"I told you! I was at work! Merlin, you're always so paranoid," I mutter angrily as I start heading towards his kitchen, in need of a glass of cold water to ease my pounding head.
A flash of pain stops me in my tracks as I look back and see that he has a hand wrapped around my left arm.
"Maybe I wouldn't be so paranoid if you didn't spend every waking moment with them!" He defended, his grip gradually getting tighter.
"How can I spend every waking moment with them if after work I go out to dinner with you!?" I argue as I struggle to release my arm.
He pulls at me, getting hold of my other upper arm, glaring down at me, "Don't lie to me Hermione."
"When have I ever lied to you, Viktor? When?" I question, praying my voice doesn't crack.
Suddenly I feel my body flying and I smash into the foot of the stairs. Ignoring the sting, I sit up straight and look up at him,
"Damn it, don't you see what they're trying to do Hermione? They're trying to take you from me now that they realize how beautiful you are!" He exclaims as he towers over me,
"They're not trying to do that! They're just my friends!" I insisted defensively.
Pain.
"Stop protecting them!" He screamed, withdrawing his balled hand to his side, "I'm your boyfriend! I should have priority over them!"
Gingerly I touched my face with shaking fingers and felt the pain throbbing. Hot tears stung my eyes and I whip my head back to look at him, "Damn it Viktor! I love you, not them!"
As if realizing for the first time what he had done, he dropped to his knees before me and took my face in his hands, "I... I'm sorry, Hermione. I just love you so much." He kissed my forehead, "I'll help you apparate back to your apartment. We'll go out another night." He stood up straight and extended a hand to help me up.
I looked up at him and took it.
... " 'Mione?"
I shook my head to clear it, "Sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked you how Krum was, y'know. You're boyfriend," he reminded,
"I know who he is!" I snapped before sighing heavily, "Sorry. I'm just a bit on edge."
"You weren't on edge until I said Krum's name," Harry pointed out, "Is everything okay with him? Did you two have a fight?"
"Yes. No. I have to go," I said suddenly and I made to leave, but he grabed my wrist,
"Hermione, what's wrong?" He inquired, pleadingly.
My lips were trembling as I looked at his expression of pure concern. I attempted to yank my wrist free, only to have my arm slip out of my zip-up long-sleeves. Almost instantly, Harry dropped my wrist. I was frozen in place, my feet refused to move. He stood up and slowly, he gently ran his fingers over the purpled skin. He withdrew his fingers the instant a cringe crossed my face. Anxiously, I slipped my arm back into the sleeve and satt down, knowing that if I left, Harry would find me anyways.
Falling back into his seat, Harry just stared at me in silent awe, "You two did have a fight. Didn't you?"
Bitting down on my bottom lip, I nodded slightly, eyes fixated to the table,
" 'Mione, why'd you let him do this to you? You can easily fight off that jerk!" He asked after quickly placing a silence barrier around us.
"I love him Harry." I simply said.
"How? Why!? Hermione! Look what he did to you!" He exclaimed,
"It'll go away in a few days! He's just stressed from work and gets upset easily, that's all!" I defended as I looked up at his quizzical expression.
"He's done this before..." Harry realized and I nodded in silent response, eyes dropped back to the table. We remained in silence as the waitress returned with the food and left soon after.
I panicked when I heard Harry stand up, "Harry, no!"
"I'm not going to let him get away with this Hermione!" He argued. He turned to leave, but I grabbed his hand with both of mine, pulling him to stand beside me,
"Harry, please don't!" I begged,
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't!" He demanded, "Tell me why you stayed with him after the first time he hurt you!?"
"He called me beautiful," I replied quietly,
"What?"
"Hadn't you or Ron ever wondered why I agreed to be his date to the Yule Ball back in our fourth year?" I asked as he sat back down and I released his hand.
"Yes."
"Well, it was that. When he first approached me and asked, I asked him why he was bothering with me when there were plenty others. He said I was beautiful and I accepted," I explained,
Harry looked at me with bewilderment, "Hermione, you don't need that jerk to tell you you're -"
"He was the first person to ever say it Harry!" I interrupted, my voice gaining its strength once more, "He saw me beautiful, above all others and before I was all done up at the Yule Ball. He was the first to do that. The first."
"Hermione, Ron and I always thought you were beautiful," He insisted calmly,
"Did you? It took Ron to realize I was a girl four bloody years! And it's not like you ever said anything before then!" I stood up immediately, "I have to go. Happy birthday Harry." I threw a wrapped box on the table and it landed in one of the dishes Ron had ordered.
Before I left, Harry said in a low voice, "How long until he goes too far, Hermione?"
---
Later, I lay on the floor of my apartment, sore from head to toe. The door had slammed behind Viktor at least an hour ago. Struggling, I pushed myself from the ground and supported myself against the coffee table as I rested. A small pool of blood had formed where my face once lay on the wooden floor. As quick as I could - which wasn't quick at all - I wiped the blood from my jaw and the once pink sleeve was then stained with red.
I grasped for my wand, still laying where it had rolled to during the arguement. My fingers barely grasped it as I pulled it towards me and dropped it on the table. I breathed shallowly, my chest felt as if it collapsed every time I would breath normally. Arm on the table, my head slumped onto it as my other hand grabed the wand once more. It took me longer than normal to recall the appropriate incantation, and I apparated.
---
I knocked on the door before me, weakly at first. Then, as I supported myself against the door frame, I knocked as hard as possible. Light seeped into the darkness of the city street as the door slowly opened.
"Hermione!" Harry gasped as he held the door open for me.
I stumbled into 12 Grimmauld and turned back to look at Harry as he closed the door. I felt my legs finally lose all their strength. He moved to catch me and I lay in his arms as he fell to his knees.
"Ron! It's Hermione!" Harry yelled.
Ron came from the direction of the kitchen, a nearly empty bottle of firewhiskey in his hand, "Bloody hell..." He knelt down as well, "Harry said... and I would have... but you would've been mad..." He stopped trying to form sentences. Finally he asked, "What happened this time? A fight? Was he drunk?"
I shook my head negatively, "He just went too far."
---
Today, I sit in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld, drinking a cup of tea. Ron sits beside me, one hand flipping the page of the Daily Prophet, the other placed comfortingly on my upper arm.
"Are you ready?" Ron inquires,
"Of course. Besides, you and Harry will be there with me," I say with a strength and confidence I don't quite feel.
"He'll be punished, 'Mione. Susan Bones took the place of her aunt, and I know she'll convict him," Ron says as he looks up from the Prophet and gives me the first lop-sided grin since Harry's birthday, almost two weeks ago.
I place a hand over his and smile back, "Thank you."
Suddenly, he retracts his hand, "Did I hurt you? The bruising there.. I forget sometimes and -"
"It's fine," I insist, "My arms, for the most part, have healed. I'm just worried about the bruises and cuts on my face."
"You look fine, so there's no need to worry," Ron replies, "Besides, another few days and those bruises will be gone. And your cuts are healing nicely."
I roll my eyes at him as I take another sip from my tea. Harry enters and says a good morning as he immediately heads for the coffee pot laying on the table beside the tea pot.
"Harry, will you please tell Hermione she looks fine despite her injuries? She refuses to believe anything either of us says unless the other confirms it," Ron says exasperatedly, but smiles all the same.
Harry looks up from his cup of coffee and stares at me. He smiles warmly and I immediately remind myself how lucky I am to have both him and Ron in my life.
"You look beautiful."
[OS] Unneeded Thank-You
As I sat in the darkness I remembered a time a few years ago when I was still in Hogwarts. A time were terror rang throughout the land; when the Dark Lord Voldemort reigned the darkness and fed off our fears. It was hard to go outside those days and the sun outside didn't seem to be as bright as before. Then before my 7th year at Hogwarts had ended I remembered the war that had begun amongst the dark wizards and the good wizards. I lost so many friends in that war and people's true colors shone those days.
Neville Longbottom was a stronger person than anyone had ever imagined. His courage truly shone that day when he took a Death Eater by himself head on. He didn't overcome the Death Eater without the help of Seamus and Ron, but his courage was unmatchable!
Pansy Parkinson was a coward during the entire thing. I never saw her once during the war and I heard other Slytherins saying that she and other Slytherins were hiding in their common room.
Ernie McMillan always bothered me with his smart mouth and his bossiness, but during that time he never gave up. I saw him several times fall in battle but not once did he give in or surrender. I recalled him pushing a Slytherin out of the way of a deadly curse. That really showed what type of person Ernie was when he pushed Draco out of the way. He was lucky enough to dodge the curse himself.
Yes, those were definitely dark times and it was even harder during the aftermath of the war. Millions were injured and thousands had perished. Hundreds of Mystical Creatures had died including Firenze the centaur and Aragog the giant Spider. Many of my fellow students died as well including Dean Thomas, Pavarti Patil, Dennis Creevy, Blaise Zambini, Gregory Goyle, Luna Lovegood and Justin Finch-Fletchley.
It was the hardest times I've seen the Wizarding world go through. One thing I can never forget was when I was about to be added to the list of deceased.
"Colin run! There's nothing you can do now! We can't save Dennis, you have to get back inside that castle!" I yelled at Colin who was still mourning over Dennis' body,
"But, I can't just hide inside the castle!"
"I can't let Dennis' death be in vain! If you die too then his sacrifice for you will be a waste!" I insisted and it killed me at the time to yell at Colin.
Tears poured from his eyes as he knelt by Dennis' lifeless body. Finally he wiped away his tears, picked up Dennis and ran into Hogwarts' castle. I watched him run into the castle almost forgetting about the war around me. Suddenly as I turn around things seemed to go in slow motion.
"Avada-" I heard a cloaked figure being,
"Expelliarmus!" I cried and saw the Death Eater's wand fly out of his hand but he caught it in mid air and pointed it at me again,
"Avada Ked-"
Before the Death Eater could finish all I remember was falling to the ground by a powerful force, hearing a second voice cast the same deadly curse and everything going dark. Those were dark ages indeed and I couldn't have gotten through them without my friends and my beloved.
In the dead of night, I sat in a dark room slowly rocking back and forth on an old wooden rocking chair. Moonlight shone into the room but just ever so slightly. The house was in a complete mute mode and nothing seemed to be moving. I could barely hear myself breathing, but I did and I felt my heart reek of pain and cry of sorrow.
How long have I felt this pain and sorrow? It mustn't have been long for the feeling seemed unfamiliar. Unfamiliar probably because I was happy once, yes, very happy. I had my beloved by my side everyday and I had my friends love and support. I was even more happy because I had a little bundle of joy beginning to grow within me- those were the days.
"Wait, wait, wait! Did you say you were pregnant?" My red-headed friend asked me her eyes gleaming with excitement.
I nodded my head with equal amounts of excitement, "I just took the test today and it came out positive! I went to the healer's after and they say I've only been pregnant for about a week or so."
"When are you going to tell him? Tonight?" she squealed.
I crossed my arms and scrunched my face up in thought, when was I going to tell him? "I want it to be special when I tell him so we can both enjoy the news, you know? I don't want to come in while he's reading the Daily Prophet and just say it casually."
"Oh you and your "special" ways. So dramatic!" she flung her arms in the air in frustration, "Really girl, either way you say it he'll still be excited!"
I had to give her credit, she was right.
That was one of the happiest days of my life, besides my wedding day of course. My thoughts broke as I felt a hand on my shoulder. Not even caring to look up I continued my gentle rocking. For days on end I sat in that chair and never left it for more than 2 minutes. He knelt down beside my chair and put a mug in front of me full of coffee. I took it and held it on my lap. Finally I lifted the mug to my lips and the aroma filled my nostrils and I closed my eyes as I took a slow sip.
"You've been sitting here for days," he said suddenly, "I know how depressed you are because I'm going through what you're going through."
I placed the mug back down on my lap as I looked at him. I placed the mug on a table nearby and I looked at him once again. I stroked his smooth, pale skin with him left hand. I longed for him for days; I longed for someone to clear my heart of the pain and sorrow; longed for a time where such sorrow didn't exist in my life, where everything was still perfect in my eyes.
Later that night when I had found out I was pregnant I told him and my friend was right, he was still excited as ever. One week after we went to the healer's to make sure everything was going well with the baby. That was the day my world seemed to end.
We sat there excitedly in the healer's office. He gripped my hand as a signal of comfort for me and I appreciated that. A few minutes ago the healers had taken tests on me to assure the baby was developing well and healthy. The healer came in with a folder in her hands as she sat down at her desk she opened up the folder and looked through several papers.
The anxiety inside me grew and I couldn't hold in my excitement any longer, "Well ma'am? Is our baby well?"
She remained silent for a few seconds, seconds which seemed like hours to me. Finally she looked up at us in a calm yet serious manner,
"I would like to say that, I really would," she began slowly, "Unfortunately according to our tests your baby hasn't been developing well at all."
I began to tremble slightly and I felt his grip around my hand tighten slightly to give me a sense of strength,
"What do you mean?" he asked knowing well I couldn't sum up the strength to ask myself,
"Well from the tests we took it seems that your baby has stopped developing. Your body has begun to reject the baby. All we can assume is that something is wrong with its number of chromosomes and that's why the body is rejecting. In other ways you've had a miscarriage."
The words were like daggers to my heart and I just lost control of my emotions. He held me then and there. The healer provided comfort and left us alone to give us time.
However there was never enough time for me to accept what happened.
"I know," I said finally, "it was unfair of me to stay here these past days,"
"No, you needed time to cope with what happened to your baby, our baby," He said as he cradled my face in his hands, "We'll get through this. Next time it won't happen and months later we'll have a baby with us in this house. We'll get through this together."
He kissed my forehead and tears trickled down my face as I realized how lucky I was to have him. He pulled back and wiped away my tears,
"Thank you," I said in barely a whisper and he gave me a quizzical expression, "You've been there for me for a long time. You've stood by me through some of the roughest times of my life. No matter how rocky we were in the beginning we made it through all right. Now after the miscarriage you continue to stay with me and support me and love me. I'm truly lucky to have you and I've never thanked you."
He shook his head as he was kneeling before me, "You don't need to thank me because I did it because I cared, not to be thanked. I'll stay with you forever because I love you."
"But still, you saved me from that Death Eater years ago, you sat with me in the healer's office when we were first told and now you're with me, comforting me as I try to piece back the meaning of my happiness."
I wrapped my arms around him and dug my face into his shoulder as I cried and not for sadness as I had done so the previous days but of joy for knowing how lucky I was to have him.
"I love you, Mione," he said as he stroked my hair,
Smiling to myself I knew I'd be able to live life again to have my perfect' world full of happiness. I knew that together I'd be able to get through this miscarriage with him and whilst thinking this I whispered back to him,
"I love you too, Draco."
Neville Longbottom was a stronger person than anyone had ever imagined. His courage truly shone that day when he took a Death Eater by himself head on. He didn't overcome the Death Eater without the help of Seamus and Ron, but his courage was unmatchable!
Pansy Parkinson was a coward during the entire thing. I never saw her once during the war and I heard other Slytherins saying that she and other Slytherins were hiding in their common room.
Ernie McMillan always bothered me with his smart mouth and his bossiness, but during that time he never gave up. I saw him several times fall in battle but not once did he give in or surrender. I recalled him pushing a Slytherin out of the way of a deadly curse. That really showed what type of person Ernie was when he pushed Draco out of the way. He was lucky enough to dodge the curse himself.
Yes, those were definitely dark times and it was even harder during the aftermath of the war. Millions were injured and thousands had perished. Hundreds of Mystical Creatures had died including Firenze the centaur and Aragog the giant Spider. Many of my fellow students died as well including Dean Thomas, Pavarti Patil, Dennis Creevy, Blaise Zambini, Gregory Goyle, Luna Lovegood and Justin Finch-Fletchley.
It was the hardest times I've seen the Wizarding world go through. One thing I can never forget was when I was about to be added to the list of deceased.
"Colin run! There's nothing you can do now! We can't save Dennis, you have to get back inside that castle!" I yelled at Colin who was still mourning over Dennis' body,
"But, I can't just hide inside the castle!"
"I can't let Dennis' death be in vain! If you die too then his sacrifice for you will be a waste!" I insisted and it killed me at the time to yell at Colin.
Tears poured from his eyes as he knelt by Dennis' lifeless body. Finally he wiped away his tears, picked up Dennis and ran into Hogwarts' castle. I watched him run into the castle almost forgetting about the war around me. Suddenly as I turn around things seemed to go in slow motion.
"Avada-" I heard a cloaked figure being,
"Expelliarmus!" I cried and saw the Death Eater's wand fly out of his hand but he caught it in mid air and pointed it at me again,
"Avada Ked-"
Before the Death Eater could finish all I remember was falling to the ground by a powerful force, hearing a second voice cast the same deadly curse and everything going dark. Those were dark ages indeed and I couldn't have gotten through them without my friends and my beloved.
In the dead of night, I sat in a dark room slowly rocking back and forth on an old wooden rocking chair. Moonlight shone into the room but just ever so slightly. The house was in a complete mute mode and nothing seemed to be moving. I could barely hear myself breathing, but I did and I felt my heart reek of pain and cry of sorrow.
How long have I felt this pain and sorrow? It mustn't have been long for the feeling seemed unfamiliar. Unfamiliar probably because I was happy once, yes, very happy. I had my beloved by my side everyday and I had my friends love and support. I was even more happy because I had a little bundle of joy beginning to grow within me- those were the days.
"Wait, wait, wait! Did you say you were pregnant?" My red-headed friend asked me her eyes gleaming with excitement.
I nodded my head with equal amounts of excitement, "I just took the test today and it came out positive! I went to the healer's after and they say I've only been pregnant for about a week or so."
"When are you going to tell him? Tonight?" she squealed.
I crossed my arms and scrunched my face up in thought, when was I going to tell him? "I want it to be special when I tell him so we can both enjoy the news, you know? I don't want to come in while he's reading the Daily Prophet and just say it casually."
"Oh you and your "special" ways. So dramatic!" she flung her arms in the air in frustration, "Really girl, either way you say it he'll still be excited!"
I had to give her credit, she was right.
That was one of the happiest days of my life, besides my wedding day of course. My thoughts broke as I felt a hand on my shoulder. Not even caring to look up I continued my gentle rocking. For days on end I sat in that chair and never left it for more than 2 minutes. He knelt down beside my chair and put a mug in front of me full of coffee. I took it and held it on my lap. Finally I lifted the mug to my lips and the aroma filled my nostrils and I closed my eyes as I took a slow sip.
"You've been sitting here for days," he said suddenly, "I know how depressed you are because I'm going through what you're going through."
I placed the mug back down on my lap as I looked at him. I placed the mug on a table nearby and I looked at him once again. I stroked his smooth, pale skin with him left hand. I longed for him for days; I longed for someone to clear my heart of the pain and sorrow; longed for a time where such sorrow didn't exist in my life, where everything was still perfect in my eyes.
Later that night when I had found out I was pregnant I told him and my friend was right, he was still excited as ever. One week after we went to the healer's to make sure everything was going well with the baby. That was the day my world seemed to end.
We sat there excitedly in the healer's office. He gripped my hand as a signal of comfort for me and I appreciated that. A few minutes ago the healers had taken tests on me to assure the baby was developing well and healthy. The healer came in with a folder in her hands as she sat down at her desk she opened up the folder and looked through several papers.
The anxiety inside me grew and I couldn't hold in my excitement any longer, "Well ma'am? Is our baby well?"
She remained silent for a few seconds, seconds which seemed like hours to me. Finally she looked up at us in a calm yet serious manner,
"I would like to say that, I really would," she began slowly, "Unfortunately according to our tests your baby hasn't been developing well at all."
I began to tremble slightly and I felt his grip around my hand tighten slightly to give me a sense of strength,
"What do you mean?" he asked knowing well I couldn't sum up the strength to ask myself,
"Well from the tests we took it seems that your baby has stopped developing. Your body has begun to reject the baby. All we can assume is that something is wrong with its number of chromosomes and that's why the body is rejecting. In other ways you've had a miscarriage."
The words were like daggers to my heart and I just lost control of my emotions. He held me then and there. The healer provided comfort and left us alone to give us time.
However there was never enough time for me to accept what happened.
"I know," I said finally, "it was unfair of me to stay here these past days,"
"No, you needed time to cope with what happened to your baby, our baby," He said as he cradled my face in his hands, "We'll get through this. Next time it won't happen and months later we'll have a baby with us in this house. We'll get through this together."
He kissed my forehead and tears trickled down my face as I realized how lucky I was to have him. He pulled back and wiped away my tears,
"Thank you," I said in barely a whisper and he gave me a quizzical expression, "You've been there for me for a long time. You've stood by me through some of the roughest times of my life. No matter how rocky we were in the beginning we made it through all right. Now after the miscarriage you continue to stay with me and support me and love me. I'm truly lucky to have you and I've never thanked you."
He shook his head as he was kneeling before me, "You don't need to thank me because I did it because I cared, not to be thanked. I'll stay with you forever because I love you."
"But still, you saved me from that Death Eater years ago, you sat with me in the healer's office when we were first told and now you're with me, comforting me as I try to piece back the meaning of my happiness."
I wrapped my arms around him and dug my face into his shoulder as I cried and not for sadness as I had done so the previous days but of joy for knowing how lucky I was to have him.
"I love you, Mione," he said as he stroked my hair,
Smiling to myself I knew I'd be able to live life again to have my perfect' world full of happiness. I knew that together I'd be able to get through this miscarriage with him and whilst thinking this I whispered back to him,
"I love you too, Draco."
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
[OS] Finding the One
She sat on the bay window of her room. Looking down at the street in front of her house, she waited patiently, watching for what she wanted to see. The street was abandoned, as usual at the hours after nine o'clock in the evening. The lamp posts provided some soft light to provide some sight to those wishing to venture in the dark nights. The sky above, which was usually studded with stars, was covered in thick, grey clouds this evening. Pulling her knees to her chest, she leaned back against the one side of the bay window as she watched the street for any signs of vehicles. Headlights appeared at the furthest point of the street she was able to see, but it drove by.
Sighing softly, she ran a careless hand through damp, thick, wavy locks of hair. The other hand, clasping tightly around a mug of hot chocolate, brought the mug to her lips and she took a small sip. Absent-mindedly playing with a lock of her short, dark-caramel tresses, her eyes went back to the end of the street. She finished her drink and set the mug carefully on the ground by her window. How long was it she had been waiting here? It was around ten, her internal clock informed her, and he had left at approximately seven o'clock in the evening. She certainly had not been sitting at her window awaiting his return since he left; had she?
"Susan? Really?"
The voice pulled her violently out of her reverie and she pressed her back against the window in slight shock. The voice didn't shock her, more of the sudden presence of it did. Regaining composure, she relaxed as she faced the man standing at the door of her bedroom.
"I didn't see you pull into the driveway," she explained her reaction as the concern on his face ceased.
"You probably had your eye on the street then," he said as he loosened his tie and walked over to her. He sat on the edge of her bed closest to her, which was about a meter away.
"Maybe- but I didn't even see you drive down the street," she pointed out as she looked down the street again and back at him,
"Well, you were looking down the street towards Lancaster Avenue. The place I went to was on the opposite down by Derby." He explained as he took off his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt, "If I ever have to go to another formal dinner like that, I'll hex someone!"
She rolled his eyes at him, "How was your date with Susan anyways?"
"Well, I predicted it wouldn't turn out good before the date anyway," He said as he leaned back on his elbows,
"And why is that? I believe I have good match making skills," she inquired,
"Well obviously you're not that good if you set me up on a date with someone who likes formalities and fancy restaurants like that. You know I hate dressing up," He reminded bitterly,
"Well besides the restaurant, was it really that horrible?" she asked,
"Yes. Susan Bones is as boring as she was back in Hogwarts four years ago! All she does is talk about the Ministry, Politics and some other boring stuff. I can't exactly how our conversation went down, I sort of phased out after she began talking about new Ministry policies she's trying to get approved with Madame Minister of Magic," he answered in dull tones,
"You mean she could have proposed and you agreed and you wouldn't know?" she let out a melodic laugh and he couldn't help but grin.
"I wasn't that unaware of what was going on," he defended, "But if we were engaged, I wouldn't be surprised. I mean, she was really boring! I could've joined a new generation of Death Eaters and I wouldn't know," he laughed. "Seriously," he gave her a serious look with narrowed eyebrows, "if you ever set me up with her again, I will hex you."
"Oh please Ronald Weasley, you haven't been able to hex me since we were in our First Year of Hogwarts," she said exasperatedly while rolling her eyes at him,
"It isn't that I haven't been able to, it's just that I haven't attempted," Ron replied coolly, "I wouldn't underestimate me, Miss Granger."
"Okay fine, but I'll find someone else for you to date," Hermione offered as she swung her legs onto the edge, knocking the mug over. She retracted her legs onto the bench again as the mug shattered into shards, "That always happens. Ron, can you just grab the broom from the closet?"
Rolling to the other side of the bed as to avoid stepping on the broken pieces of mug, he padded over to her closet and withdrew the broom. He walked over and began sweeping the broken porcelain. When he gathered a small pile of the pieces, he looked around to see if he missed anything. Sweeping his eyes quickly on the floor, he took out his wand and pointed to the shards. He levitated them and guided them into the trash can.
"Thanks," Hermione said as she smiled at him, "I may be one of the most learned witches in all of England, but I still haven't mastered the simple home spells as Ginny has."
"Well, she did have my mother as a mom, so no doubt she would have mastered them at a young age," Ron reminded as he abandoned the broom against the wall and reclined back on the bed, "Speaking of my dear sister, has she returned from Paris?"
Hermione shrugged, "She hasn't sent an owl since last week. Are you really okay with her being with him?"
"I'm not against it and if I were, I can't really do anything about it," Ron explained simply, "So, who do you have in mind this time, Mione?"
"Why not try Lavender again?" Hermione suggested, "I mean, you guys were together at one point in Hogwarts, couldn't you try dating her again?"
Ron shrugged, "Depends if she's changed since then."
"She has," Hermione insisted, "She works with me at the Ministry. She's more nicer than back then, we're together every day. Besides, she wasn't that bad in Hogwarts." Ron gave her a scrutinizing looking, "Why did you even break up with her? You never said it. To me or Harry."
Ron answered without hesitation quickly, "I told you, I have my reasons. I'm surprised you're even bringing her into this after what happened."
Hermione looked away, "Fine, I won't pry into your reasons. But trust me, you guys will hit it off without a hitch."
Ron ran a hand through his hair wearily, "I hope. Who knew searching for the one' would be so difficult?"
"You'll find her," Hermione insisted, "For all we know, she's Lavender."
Ron shrugged carelessly as he laid his head back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He really did want to stop this search for the one', but something in his gut didn't really think Lavender would turn out to be the girl he had been searching for.
***
Ron lay awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had always felt awkward sleeping in guest rooms of other people's houses, but he didn't feel that way here in Hermione's house. Then again, he was a frequent visitor to her home and he usually did sleep there anyway. It had become such a routine she just gave up and gave him a copy of her house key. Fingers folded behind his head, he tried to think clearly.
He had been searching for the one' since the end of the Great Magical War just two years prior. Perhaps the thing that propelled him to being searching for the love of his life in a serious manner was the words Harry had spoken to him just hours before the end of the War-
---
"Ron, do me a favor," Harry huffed as he leaned back against a broken, dungeon wall of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ron nodded, "Get yourself and Hermione out of here."
"Harry, I –"
"No, let me speak, I just got the signal from Kingsley, Dumbledore wants to head in now," Harry said, "Ron, get out of here. Hermione's still out in the stair well fighting the resistance of Death Eaters, finish them off and get out."
"Harry, I'm not going to let you go in there alone! We should be fighting there side by side, as best friends should," Ron argued,
"That's noble Ron and I appreciate what you want to do, but you and I both know I'm the only one who can defeat Voldemort. I don't want anymore deaths on my conscience," Harry explained, "Please Ron, just do this last thing for me."
"It won't be the last –"
"Ron. You and I both know the chances of me surviving a duel with Voldemort is slim to none, so please- this is already hard enough parting ways with you like this," Harry said as he forced back the tears,
Ron hugged Harry tightly, "Harry you're my best friend, there are so many things I want to say –"
Harry released Ron out of their embrace and held up a hand to silence him, "There's nothing you need to say. Our friendship has been much more than enough. But listen, if I don't get out of this alive," he shook his head when Ron attempted to talk, "if I don't, just promise me that you and Hermione stick together okay? The same we've been since nine years ago."
Ron nodded, "Of course."
"Now get out of here!" Harry pointed towards a dungeon door leading back the way they came.
Ron hesitated then turned to run. "Wait." Ron stopped and turned to face Harry, "Ron- listen, I never exactly got to be with the person I love before this point. So do me another favor and don't wait until the last minute to be with that one person you're meant to be with."
Ron shot him a quizzical expression, "That's a bit easier said than done!"
"I know. I know. I'm just saying I'm regretting not spending more time with her now. So, when this war's done, just think about it. I don't want you to have the same regrets I do."
Ron nodded, "I promise then Harry." With that, he turned back on his heel and ran out of the dungeons.
---
-Ron lay there and contemplated. He did stay true to his promise. When the war ended and the rebuilding of a broken world began, he had started his search for the one'.
Rolling onto his stomach, he faced the window on the wall which the bed was pushed against. He remained silent and tried to listen for any sounds in the house. Nothing. Absolute silence besides his own breathing. This disturbed him, so he threw off the covers of the bed, swung his legs over and left the room, wand already taken from his bedside table.
***
Ron went to the room across from his own and gently opened the door. He peeked in and there was still silence. He whispered lumos' and entered the room. Besides the furniture within, no one was there. Alarmed, he left the room and proceeded to Hermione's bed room. He knocked with anxiety, awaiting for some sounds telling him she had been awaken.
The door opened on its own and he entered. Hermione looked up from her bed as she replaced her wand on the bedside table. Her short locks were tied back away from her face, as she preferred at night, and he could clearly see her face as the moonlight poured through her bay window. She glared at him in annoyance and concern,
"Ron- it's," she paused to look at the muggle clock on her table which emitted the time in a red glow, "it's three in the morning. How can you even be up? After a second dinner you're usually knocked out!"
"I know, I know, but I couldn't sleep and I realized it was too quiet and- where's Neville?" Ron finally questioned,
Hermione rolled her eyes as she let her head fall back onto her pillow. "He's at the Burrow."
Ron let out a sigh of relief, "Why didn't you tell me? When I went to go see him, he wasn't there and I freaked out."
"You've been paranoid since the end of the war Ron," Hermione muttered loud enough for him to hear, "I know Auror training was good for you and all, but it made you a tad paranoid."
"Auror training was a year ago and I'm not even in that business anymore. And I am NOT paranoid!" Ron exclaimed, "So, why didn't you tell me why Neville wasn't here?"
"You never asked?" She offered as she buried her head back in her pillow, "Go back to sleep Ron."
"You mean I have to walk back down the hall?" Ron whined.
Hermione looked up at him, "You prat." She threw a pillow at him as she edged to one side of her bed, "Well, are you going to sleep by the door or sleep beside me?"
"The door's more tempting right now," He muttered as he padded towards her bed and laid down on the other side of the bed, tucking the pillow under his head. "Thanks Mione."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered as she turned on her side so she was facing him, "You know, this could be a reason why some of the women you date only date you once."
"Why?" Ron inquired,
"Because you sleep in my bed often," Hermione pointed out,
"What should that matter? We're just friends. We're just sleeping together. It's not like we're sleeping together'," Ron defended, "You girls always have a dirty mind in these things."
"And you guys don't?" Hermione gasped,
"We do not," Ron answered as he closed his eyes, "Now will you stop talking? I need my beauty sleep."
Hermione smirked as she pushed him off the edge of the bed. "Good night Ron," she said innocently as he hit the floor with a thud and stood up to glare down at her.
He huffed, "Good night indeed."
***
Ron felt himself slipping out of his deep slumber the next morning. He felt the slightly warm rays of sun on his face and felt another warmth right beside him. Lazily, he opened his eyes and looked down to see his arms wrapped around Hermione as she snuggled to his side, head laying on the crook of his shoulder. The sun glittered on the natural gold strands in her hair and she looked, he had to admit, ethereal.
What if he tried dating Hermione again? It worked once before and, besides a little mishap and their fighting - their relationship was perfect. Maybe it could work again? Here he was, after all, in her bed, with her in his arms. It wasn't the first time, as Hermione mentioned the night before. Maybe she invited him to sleep in her room because she wants to start things up again? The thought lingered in his mind. However, as he relished in the idea of perhaps being with Hermione again, another thought came into his head. Less a thought and more so a memory of their conversation the night before-
---
"Why not try Lavender again?" Hermione suggested, "I mean, you guys were together at one point in Hogwarts, couldn't you try dating her again?"
-
Hermione looked away, "Fine, I won't pry into your reasons. But trust me, you guys will hit it off without a hitch."
Ron ran a hand through his hair wearily, "I hope. Who knew searching for the one' would be so difficult?"
"You'll find her," Hermione insisted, "For all we know, she's Lavender."
---
What if he was getting her signal crossed and what he mistook for affection was really just a deep friendship? After all, if she wanted to be with him again, wouldn't she have mentioned it by now? The one fact that convinced him he was being silly to even think of being with Hermione again was that she was always trying to help him find dates.
Sighing slightly, he closed his head as he let his chin rest on the top of her head. He breathed in the scent of her which was vanilla and strawberries. Why hadn't he been able to have success with any of the girls Hermione set him up with? They were all terrific people, great personalities and, although appearances weren't a big department for him, they were each beautiful in their own way. He opened his eyes again as he stared out the window, maybe the problem was found in himself. What was wrong with him that he had no success at all in any relationship? Not even his previous relationship with Hermione was perfect considering they fought often. What was it that drove him to cause his relationships to go ruin?
"You're upset about something."
Pulled out of his reverie, he looked down at Hermione who looked up at him, "Why do you say that?"
"Well, you've got this horrible look on your face," Hermione explained as she pulled out of his embrace and got out of bed, "And it's six in the morning and you're up. Do you have practice with the team today?"
"Later around noon," Ron explained before adding, "But I know the rest of the Chudley Cannons will be there way after noon."
"You're all amazing players in the games. Until it's practice, then you're lazy prats, the whole lot of you." Hermione chuckled as she opened the door to her room, heading to the bathroom.
She came out seconds later, "I just remembered, so I'll set things up with Lavender today if that's alright?" Ron shrugged submissively, "Well, when is it good to go out?"
"When would it be okay with her?" Ron asked,
"Ron, she's just a secretary at the Ministry, not a department head like myself. Besides, you're the one with the big job," Hermione reminded,
"Then tomorrow after the match is good for me," Ron said simply.
"Great," Hermione exclaimed as she headed back to the bathroom, "You two will hit it off. I'm sure of it!"
Ron sighed as he headed back to his room as he passed the closed door of the bathroom, "I wish I were as sure as you."
***
Hermione finished reading and signing a stack of contracts just as Lavender popped her head through the door.
"Did you call me?" Lavender grinned,
"Yes, yes. Come in," Hermione beckoned as she magicked the papers into a filing cabinet behind her desk.
Lavender sat down at a chair in front of Hermione's desk. A muggle cell phone on her desk rang and Hermione gave an apologetic look as she answered the call. As Hermione conversed as quickly as possible to the person on the other end of the phone, she stole glances at Lavender, looking her up and down.
Today, Lavender wore robes of deep purple which complemented nicely with her blonde hair and blue eyes. Hermione took a second to assess Lavender again, perhaps she was being too hard in judging? Her hair had a golden sheen to it and her eyes were a deeper blue than most others; certainly could not hold a feather to the blue in Ron's eyes, however.
Hermione looked down at her desk as she ended the conversation and put the phone away in her desk, "Sorry."
"It's okay," Lavender insisted, "So, why'd you call?"
"I know this is odd and out of the blue, but would you like to go on a date with Ron Weasley?" Hermione asked as if she had memorized and said this line over and over before. In truth, she had. She said that exact question to every girl she had set up for Ron and, she had learned after the first few girls, no one could resist. Lavender, if Hermione knew her as well as she thought, would also accept the date.
"He's in the market?" Lavender questioned as she examined Hermione's expression. Hermione nodded solemnly, "And he wants to go out with me?" Although Hermione knew Ron was hesitant, she did not hesitate to nod a positive answer to Lavender. "When would he want to go out?"
"Tomorrow after the match?" Hermione suggested,
Lavender chewed on her lip as she contemplated her answer. She looked at Hermione, but she had plastered on a blank expression she had learned to force on herself. Lavender, Hermione knew, would accept.
She's just putting a show,' Hermione thought as she stared at Lavender who continued on with her contemplation facade.
Lavender let out a sigh as if she was submitting to the date, "Very well. Is this all?"
Hermione nodded so Lavender stood up and left the office. Hermione smirked as she heard a little squeal of joy after Lavender had left the room. Although she appeared annoyed with the thought of dating Ron, Hermione knew quite well that Lavender was ecstatic.
***
Signing the last of the papers due for the next morning, Hermione placed a stack of papers in a filing cabinet. Closing it and placing a locking charm on it, she returned to the pile of books laying haphazardly around her desk. Shaking her head at the disorganization, she pulled back her leather chair to sit in it. Practically collapsing into the chair, she closed her eyes as she tried to regain some energy the day took away from her. After Lavender had left her office, she began to become swamped with piles of work from Madame Minister along with other cases around London dealing with her department in the Ministry.
"You look tired."
Her eyes shot open in alarm and after seeing who it was, relaxed and closed her eyes once more, "What are you doing here Ron? I thought you had practice."
"I did. From noon until seven. It's seven-thirty," Ron explained as he sat down in a chair before her desk, "Busy day?" Hermione could do nothing more than nod in confirmation, "I passed Lavender on my way into the Ministry, she seemed awfully friendly. I'm assuming you set things up?" Hermione nodded again, "Mione, you better be right in saying she changed. She seemed like the same, flirtatious Lavender back there."
"Don't worry Ron, she's changed," Hermione insisted, "She's not a ditsy, annoying air head like she was back in Hogwarts. She's got a good head on her shoulders."
"I'm just saying, appearances can be deceiving," Ron said casually as he picked up one of the books laying on her desk closest to him,
"Is that referring to the reason you broke up with her in Seventh Year?" Hermione inquired and Ron nodded as he began to read the page the book was opened to, "Are you going to tell me why, now?"
Ron abruptly closed the book and placed it back on the desk as a dismissive sign. "So," he continued as if the question had never been asked, "are you ready to leave? I'm starving."
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed exasperatedly,
"What?" He whined,
"If you wanted to go out for dinner, why didn't you ask Lavender?" Hermione demanded, "You know you're going to go out with her anyway and here you came looking for company to dinner!"
"Because I'm going to dinner with her tomorrow anyway," Ron said simply, "I came here to escort one of my best friends to dinner."
"Oh please, every time we go out for dinner it's always the Leaky Cauldron," Hermione rolled her eyes as she stood up to collect her books and place them on a shelf on the other side of her office.
"Is there a problem with the Leaky Cauldron?" Ron asked with an edge to his voice,
"No, I'm just saying that it'd be nice to eat dinner elsewhere," Hermione answered as she sent the books flying to the bookcase.
"Well good, because I wasn't going to take you to the Leaky Cauldron anyway," Ron revealed.
Hermione raised her head from her briefcase to give him a quizzical expression, "And where did you plan to take me?"
"The Burrow," Ron grinned from ear to ear, "Charlie's cooking."
"Charlie's the only one around to cook," Hermione reminded him.
Ron shrugged, "It's not my fault he took it upon himself to take on mum's burdens."
A silence fell on them as the awkward subject of Ron's parents entered their conversation. Hoping for another topic out of it, Hermione asked the only question seeming reasonable enough to ask,
"What's he cooking?" Hermione asked,
Ron shrugged, "It's always a surprise with Charlie. Now grab your stuff and lets go."
"So bossy," Hermione scoffed, "If you want to go there so badly, you can go there and I'll meet you there."
"How do I know you'll come?" Ron inquired as he scrutinized her,
"Neville's there," Hermione answered simply, "I was going to go to the Burrow after work anyway. So, it's only convenience that you're there as well. He's anxious to see you."
"How do you know?" Ron asked,
It was Hermione's turn to shrug, "He's been asking for you all week."
Ron's expression softened, "Really? I miss Neville. I'll have to apologize for not coming by and visiting then."
Hermione nodded, "Since you haven't seen him, I won't barge in on you guys. You should go ahead, I'll be there in ten minutes."
Ron nodded in agreement and left her to her thoughts.
***
"Good evening Hermione!" Charlie greeted happily as he turned away to his finished creation on the stove top.
"To you too, Charlie," Hermione smiled as she hugged him, "That smells good!"
"Why thank you," Charlie said as he picked up his wand and got three bowls out of a cupboard,
"Three? I guess Ginny's still in Paris then?" Charlie nodded, "Do you have any idea when she'll be back?"
"Well, the last owl I got was two days ago. She mentioned something about running away to the Americas to elope. Oh yes, she did mention she'll be returning shortly after the birth of her second child," Charlie smirked as Hermione rolled her eyes,
"You Weasley boys never grow up," Hermione stated as she took a seat at the kitchen table,
"We would if we wanted to," Charlie chuckled as he began to pour some stew into each bowl, "So, what brings you to our humble abode? Fetching Neville I'm assuming?"
Hermione nodded, "If you don't mind me stealing him back. What did he do yesterday after I left in the morning?"
Charlie shrugged as he tried to remember, "He stayed mostly with Fred and George at the shop in Diagon Alley."
Hermione shook her head in dismay, "Those two will have a bad influence on him if they're around him this much."
Charlie laughed, "Don't worry Herms. Fred and George have good heads on their shoulders. They won't let anything bad happen to Neville while he's with them."
Hermione smiled as she nodded. Charlie may have been laughing, but Hermione sense the seriousness behind his smiles. "Yes well, I couldn't do much if I wanted to get him to spend less time with them if I wanted. He has too much fun with them and I'd hate to take away the one thing that makes him laugh until he goes blue in the face." She thanked him when he handed her a bowl of stew and a spoon. She was about to taste it when she stopped and placed the spoon back down.
"It can't be so horrible that you already hate it?" Charlie raised an eyebrow,
"I just remembered we're eating without Ron. You know he hates it," Hermione smirked, "Where is he anyway?"
"Last time I checked, he was up in his bedroom talking to Neville," Charlie explained. Hermione sat silently as she avoided looking at Charlie, "Herms, if you want to go up there, you don't need to be shy about it. You've lived here since your Second Year. I'm not necessarily going to demand you ask when you can roam around the house!"
"Thanks Charlie," Hermione said sheepishly. She got up and kissed him with sisterly affection on the cheek, "I forget sometimes."
With that, she trotted out of the kitchen and headed to the familiar, squeaky stairs.
***
Hermione stopped outside the old door leading to Ron's bedroom. She pressed her ear against the door in hopes to catch what Ron was saying to Neville.
"I know you've been her tons, but I had to bring you to see my room. I've lived in this room for ages," she heard Ron say, "Harry's lived in this room almost as long as I have. But, as you know, he's gone."
There was a silence before she heard Ron's voice again, "Hermione, I know you're out there. You might as well come in already."
Grinning sheepishly, she entered and closed the door behind her. "How'd you know?"
"How else? I heard you come up the stairs," Ron smirked.
Hermione shook her head as she went to Ron's bed and sat next to Neville. She gently patted his head as she looked down at her son with affection, "He's getting so big now, don't you think?"
"He is. He's almost two right?" Ron inquired and Hermione nodded as she lifted little Neville under the arms and onto her lap. "He's very energetic," he commented as Neville attempted to squirm out of his mother's grasp,
"He is. Just like his father," Hermione smiled with a hint of something Ron was unsure of, "it's obvious he loves his father."
Ron smiled, "It is." For a few silent moments, he watched Hermione talk with her child. He smiled with affection as he watched the maternal instinct in Hermione came out while she was with her son. He was there the first moments of Neville's life and felt himself lucky to see her when she first held Neville in her arms. Now, as they sat on his bed, he felt himself lucky again. Here, with Hermione, it felt right. He wasn't sure why, but it did. He felt a pang of guilt reside in his heart and so, he stood up and walked to his window. He hoped if he didn't watch Hermione with Neville, the feeling would go away; the feeling and the guilt that came with it every time he was around the two of them.
***
Ron sat in the dim restaurant with Lavender sitting across from him in a skin-tight, maroon dress. As she pondered over the menu of what to order, Ron examined her in a fashion he did with the other girls Hermione had set him up with. Her hair fell to her mid back and was a dull blonde. Nothing spectacular there. Her eyes, the last time he looked at them a few moments prior, were a plain blue. He had seen that same shade of blue everywhere. She wasn't the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Frankly, she was plain. However, appearances weren't big to him, and he prided himself of that. It was her personality that worried him the most. Plain looking or not, Lavender's personality was the one thing that either drew people to her, or cast them away from her sight.
She looked up slightly and looked at him through slightly-lowered lashes, "Like what you see Ronald?"
"I was just waiting to see if you were done and ready to order," Ron replied casually as he placed his menu aside.
When she nodded and also set aside her menu, a waiter was there in record time, taking their orders. When the waiter had left, Ron was grasping at threads for conversation,
"So, what have you been up to since Hogwarts?" Ron inquired,
"I'm a secretary to Madame Minister herself," Lavender boasted, "Quite the position, I know? I get to be with the Minister every day. Not many people are so fortunate as I."
Ron rolled his eyes discreetly as he looked away, "Why are you bragging about this to me? She's my sister-in-law, Penelope did – after all – marry Percy. I see her every Sunday for lunch." He returned his gaze at her.
Lavender blushed a shade of red before calming down and continued as if she had not been embarrassed, "What about you Ron? What have you been doing since we left Hogwarts? Riding a broom stick professionally I assume?" She mocked,
Ron locked eyes with her. If she wanted to throw low blows at him, he'd take them and counter them back, "Actually, it's only the beginning of this year that I've begun playing for the Chudley Cannons." Lavender's jaw dropped slightly, "I'm sure you've heard of us? So far our season is 6-0. In first place actually."
"I guess I've been too busy to stop and watch such juvenile a sport," Lavender regained her composer, "And what about before that? It took you four years to get on the team? Not something one would brag about Ron."
"Actually, I would've gone there right after Hogwarts. But I decided to go for Auror trainings right after school. It takes a good three years to be finally qualified. Of course, it was difficult with the war during that time," Ron replied casually, "but besides being a fully qualified Auror and professional Quidditch player, my life's been pretty mundane."
Lavender was fuming underneath her make up and Ron could tell. He relished in the thought of it before scolding himself internally. He knew Lavender and himself could not be together again, and this conversation proved it. He shouldn't be enjoying the feeling of embarrassing Lavender.
"Ron, I've come to this conclusion that we have a lot of skeletons in our closets," Lavender said coolly, "but, I think we can still make it."
"Oh really?" Ron asked as he raised a curious eyebrow, intrigued to see where she was going with this. If she's really changed,' he thought, she'll prove it now.'
"Yes. There's just one thing I want," Lavender explained. Ron inclined his head, signaling her to continue, "Don't ever see Hermione Granger again."
Ron sat back in his chair, crossing his arms across his chest, "Really? And why would you want that?"
"It's simple Ron, we went through this when we first dated in Seventh Year," Lavender reminded, "I know how it is between the two of you. Ron, if she wanted to be with you, don't you think she'd already gotten together with you by now? Besides, you and I both know she's the mother to Neville Longbottom's child." She leaned back in her chair with a twisted smile and smug expression in her eyes.
Ron's jaw dropped as he stared at her in dead shock. "I thought you were delusional when you mentioned me never seeing one of my best friends ever again, but it shocks me to hear you say she's the mother of Neville Longbottom's child. That just confirms you belong in a mental institution," Ron laughed as he stood up from the table,
"Don't deny it Ron! Why else would she name her son Neville?" Lavender demanded,
"Because Hermione and the father of her son wanted to name their son after a person who, not only meant a great deal to the both of them, but saved both their lives during the war," Ron informed,
"How do I know you're not lying?" Lavender inquired,
"Well, first off, Hermione's never thought of Neville as more than a brotherly figure and, if you've forgotten, Neville died in the first year of the war after Seventh Year. Meaning he wasn't around to get Hermione pregnant. He took down six Death Eaters right before he was killed," Ron said in a dark tone, "It wouldn't be wise to forget the dead and their sacrifices Lavender." He turned to leave,
"Wait." Sighing, he turned back to face her, "That still doesn't deny the fact she has a child Ron. And the father of her son, what about him? Even if they're not together, if you two got together, you'd always be third in her heart! Her son and the father would always be placed before you."
Ron nodded as he said calmly, "I know Lavender. As they should be placed in her heart. I can't believe you act like a friend to Hermione and the second her back's turned you're already insulting her and bringing up accusations attempting to make me end my friendship with her. Don't you ever do that again Lavender," he looked darkly at her; threateningly even. "If you cause Hermione or her son any problems, I will make your life a living hell. Do I make myself clear?"
Lavender nodded as she swallowed the lump which had formed in her throat, "Very clear."
He turned to leave but paused before taking a step away from the table. He smirked as he looked at her over his shoulder, "It wasn't wise to say those things so freely in a public restaurant Lavender. The father of Hermione's child is in this restaurant."
Lavender grew a shade of brightest cherry, "Where!?"
Ron scoffed, "Why should I tell you? So you can go and slander his good name behind his back? Goodbye Lavender." Not allowing her another word, he strode out of the restaurant – leaving Lavender with her thoughts and her embarrassment.
***
Hermione looked up from her seat by her bay window when she heard a noise coming from down the hall. Uncertainly, she put down her mug of hot chocolate and grasped her wand in the other hand. Swiftly, she crossed the floor to the door and opened it with the most subtlety she could muster. She saw the door to Neville's room open. Taking a deep breath, she jumped in the doorway, wand pointed.
"Ron, if you keep entering the house without telling me, I'll kill you one of these days!" Hermione scolded as she dropped her arm to her side,
"Well why should I announce my arrival? I do have a key," Ron reminded as he walked away from Neville's gated bed. "Sorry I scared you, I just wanted to make sure Neville was here before I came to see you."
"It was one night I didn't tell you where he was," Hermione rolled her eyes as she retreated back to her room, Ron in toe.
He closed the door behind him and walked over to her bed, laying down as she sat back by the bay window.
"Why are you here so early?" Hermione inquired as she finished the last of her hot chocolate and placed it on the ground,
"We had a rough game today. I'm tired," Ron explained, "and since your house is closest, I thought I might as well sleep here."
"That's not what I meant," Hermione said, "what happened with Lavender?"
"Mione, I told you that appearances are deceiving," Ron said,
"What are you playing at?" Hermione asked hesitantly,
"Let's just say she hasn't changed a single bit since Hogwarts Mione," Ron answered simply as he closed his eyes,
"How do you know? Did she do anything?" Hermione inquired,
"Oh yeah," Ron answered, "She did a lot."
"Like-?" Hermione egged on,
"Hermione, just let it rest," Ron said,
"Ron!" She flung her feet over the edge, knocking the mug over and it broke to shard. She cursed and stepped down to get the broom close by. She jumped back onto the window seat with a loud yell.
Ron sat up straight and stared at her, "What happened?" Hermione was too busy with the pain in her feet to answer, but Ron soon realized what happened when he saw the broken pieces of porcelain on the ground. "Bloody hell, Mione."
Taking out his wand, he pointed to the shards. Summoning them to all float, he sent them flying into the bin. He knelt down before her. Cringing at the sight of several shards impaled into her feet, he went to grab one.
She grabbed his wrist, stopping him, "Ron, don't." He looked up at her in confusion and saw the tears pouring down her face. He nodded, realizing it would hurt even more if he took them out by hand. He stood up, put an arm behind her back and behind her knees and picked her up, "What are you-?"
He walked her over to the bathroom and sat her down on the closed toilet seat and elevated her feet on the rim of the tub. Kneeling down before her again, Ron took out his wand, "Mione, will you be okay?"
She nodded violently as she closed her eyes tightly. One by one, he summoned the shards out of her feet. A cry escaped each time a shard was set free from her skin. By the time all the shards – seven rather large shards and ten smaller pieces – were out of her feet, blood was dripping down the edges of the tub, both in and out, onto the small rug before the tub.
"It'll take forever to get those stains out of the rug," Hermione sighed as she wiped away her tears. She had watched Ron the entire time. She examined him as he worked on the shards and she realized there was something different about Ron. Something was there that she hadn't realized before.
Ron, who had been silent the entire time, took off his dress shirt and magicked it to rip apart.
Hermione gasped, "Ron! That's your dress shirt!"
"I know Mione," Ron said as he took one half and wrapped it around her left foot, tying it securely, "but you need something to cover these wounds so they can begin healing overnight. I'm not Madame Pomfrey, but I sure as heck know what to do in these situations."
"But- that's your good shirt," Hermione reminded him,
"Mione," he looked up at her as he finished securing the last of his shirt around her right foot, "I know already. Besides, they have Lavender stench on them."
He stood up and dusted off his dark pants. He reached down to help her up. She swung her legs off of the tub's edge and, grabbing his hands, she stood up. Pain immediately stung her feet and she clung onto his arms for support, "Ron, could you please?"
He picked her up once again like before and carried her back to her room.
***
Placing Hermione down gently on her bed, Ron sat down beside her, "They'll probably still hurt tomorrow."
"Thanks for the warning," she smirked up at him, her face visible as moonlight flooded into the secluded room. "So, what happened with Lavender?"
"Mione- this conversation is what caused you to your feet slashed like that," Ron said with a warning tone, hinting her to stop asking,
"No Ron, your stubbornness to answer me did," she defended, "You might as well tell me! I'll find out one way or another. Lavender will tell me."
"Lavender will tell you a whole bunch of lies," He corrected quickly. She shot him a quizzical expression, Mione, one of the reasons I broke it off with Lavender back in Seventh Year was because she talked about you behind your back."
Her jaw dropped slightly, "One of the reasons? What else is there besides one of my so-called friends from Hogwarts talking behind my back?" Ron shook his head, "Ron, tell me."
"No, this subject is obviously upsetting you. I won't say another word," Ron said sternly,
"Ronald Weasley. You will tell me. I deserve to kn-"
"She wanted me to stop being friends with you," he interrupted as he looked out the window, avoiding eye contact.
Hermione sat in shocked silence. "And she asked you that tonight, right? She asked if you two were going to be together you'd have to stop being friends with me?" He nodded, still not looking at her, "And you said yes. You came by tonight to say goodbye to Neville and me because you've decided to stop being friends with me."
He jerked his head at her, eyebrows narrowed, "Hermione you know me better than that! You think I'd give up our friendship over some other girl?"
"But you should if she's the one!" Hermione exclaimed,
"She's not!" Ron insisted aggressively, "Mione, she even brought Neville into the conversation trying to sway me towards her and away from you. You think I'd want to be with someone who would try to use my son as a way to separate me from the mother of my child - my best friend since First Year?"
"So you told her you're Neville's father?" Hermione inquired,
"She didn't deserve to know," Ron spat, "trust me, she is NOT the one."
"You've found the one though, haven't you? That's why you look so serene and- different? As if you've had an immense epiphany of some sort." Ron nodded, "So who is it?"
"It's someone who you spend every day with, so you know she's perfect in every way. The girl you've been trying to help me find, and all of this time she's been right here," Ron explained,
"Ron you've just described Lavender," Hermione said reluctantly, a certain tone to her voice.
"Do you want to see her?" Ron asked and, hesitantly, Hermione nodded. He left the room and soon returned with something in his hand. He sat back down and handed it to her.
"I'm curious to see who it is, after all, I was the one always helping you to find her. Is it Susan? Or Hannah? How about Ca-" Hermione's words caught in her throat when she turned it over to find herself looking in a mirror. She looked up at Ron who was looking out the window once more, "Ron this is-"
"Mione, I know what it is." Ron said sternly as he continued to avoid looking at her, "I realized how I felt yesterday morning and it was only confirmed tonight when I spent dinner defending you in front of Lavender. Hermione- I never stopped loving you."
"I know," she muttered as she looked down at the small mirror in her lap, catching rays of moon.
He jerked his head to look at her, "You know? How?"
"Because I never stopped loving you," she admitted, keeping her gaze down.
"You never- but then why have you been trying to get me to date other women this entire time if you knew we still loved each other?" Ron demanded,
"I was scared," She answered in a strong tone.
"Scared of what? Of me?" He asked,
"Yes!"
"Why? Why me?" He demanded,
"Because I don't want to get hurt again Ron!" Hermione exclaimed as tears brimmed her eyelids and lined her eyelashes, "I don't want to be with you if you're just going to cheat on me again. If I'm pregnant again, I don't want you leaving me again!"
He turned to face her, "I won't hurt you like I did. I didn't even know why I did what I did."
"With Lavender to boot!" Hermione reminded bitterly, "Ron, I don't want to be walking down Diagon Alley and then suddenly see you snogging in an back alley with Lavender!"
"It won't happen!" Ron insisted,
"How do I know Ron? You did it once and you could very well do it again."
"Because Neville's in our life now," Ron said softly,
"So you want to be with me so Neville doesn't have to grow up with separated parents?" Hermione spat as she threw her arms in the air exasperatedly,
"No!" Ron exclaimed as he collected her hands in his, "No, that's not it," he sat closer to her and forced her to look at him, "I want to be with you because I love you. I'll never hurt you again because I love you. I was an idiot and I didn't realize back then that the most wonderful love I had in my life was you."
"I want to believe you Ron, I do believe you. But a part of me still doesn't know if I can trust you again like that," Hermione cried as she looked into his blue eyes which screamed sincerity.
"I was there when you found out you were pregnant at the Healer's office. I was there when you told your parents and then when you told my parents at their graves. I was there when you gave birth to Neville. I've been here every day of your life," Ron reminded gently, "I'm not going to leave you now or ever. Mione, I want Neville to be a part of my life as he should be. I want to be a part of his life. I want to be a part of your life."
"You are a part of my life, Ron," Hermione insisted in a whisper,
"You know what I mean. Mione, I want to be with you again," Ron admitted,
"I don't kn-"
"When I woke up yesterday morning with you beside me and in my arms, it felt right! When we were in the Burrow and we were there together, you, me and Neville – it felt right.
"Hermione," he took her face in his hands, "I want to wake up everyday with you in my arms. I want to live each day by your side. I want to be with you while we watch Neville grow up. I want to be the one to give you a second child and be the one at your side when you give birth to that child. I want to be the one you come home to every night. I want you to be the one who kisses me before and after my matches. I want to not only be your best friend but your boyfriend; lover; husband; confidante; partner in crime; father of your child- I want to be everything you look for in a man."
She tried to look away in order to conceal the tears, but he moved her head so she was looking at him again and he held a stern yet gentle grip on her face. Tears trickled down her cheeks as he gazed into her chocolate eyes. He moved so he was now kneeling beside her, "Look at me. I am not lying to you. I am a man, on my knees and begging for forgiveness. Begging my sins be forgiven and forgotten. Begging that the one woman – the one I have only ever loved and do love and will ever love – will give me another chance."
Tenderly, she pushed back a lock of hair which had fell out of place across his forehead, "I'll give you another chance if you give me one."
"For what?" Ron inquired curiously,
"Pushing you away the past two years since after the war. For pushing you into the arms of other women," Hermione said softly, "For being a horrible friend in the fact I could not trust you fully even though you're right. You've been there for me every step of the way, even after we broke up."
He kissed her then and there, too deliriously happy to allow another word stall this moment he had been hoping for. It was in that brief moment that Ron found out that he knew she was the one for him all along just that it had taken a few years and some trivialities for him to come to that realization. It was passionate and sweet at the same time. It was infused with both lust, love and a tenderness she felt spread throughout her body. The sensation was both familiar, yet new as if they had never been together. It was like their first kiss, as if they had come full circle.
"Are we interrupting something?"
They pulled away quickly: Ron stumbling to his feet and Hermione pushing away the furious blush creeping on her cheeks.
Looking at the door they saw two people, one of them holding their son.
"When did you get back, Gin?" Ron inquired as he approached his sister who had interrupted their explosive kiss. He kissed her on the forehead, "And why in Merlin's name did you wake up Neville?"
"Oh please, he was practically calling out for his Auntie," Ginny said dramatically as she walked over to the bed, sat and greeted with Hermione.
"Is Ginny really telling the truth?" Ron turned to Ginny's fiancé of two years,
"You know you're sister mate, she loves her nephew," He grinned as he embraced Ron, "It's good to see you Ron."
"You too Harry. It seems like ages since you left," Ron offered a lop-sided grin,
"It was only three weeks," Ginny reminded as she handed a fidgeting little Neville to his mother, "It didn't even seem that long, right Harry?"
"Right m'dear, it seemed longer," Harry smirked as she gave him a scowl, "Just joking my love," he insisted as he walked over, giving Hermione a kiss on the cheek and ruffled the little crown of hair on Neville's head. "How is my other best friend?" Harry inquired as he sat at the bay window, "and her handsome son?"
"She is quite well and he is growing too fast for his mother's liking," Hermione beamed at him.
"I still think it was nice of you guys to name your son after Neville," Ginny admitted,
"Neville Longbottom was and still is a dear friend to both of us," Hermione explained as she let Neville crawl around the bed, "not to mention he saved both of our lives in the war before he died."
"We thought if we were going to name our son after someone, it should be someone of honor, loyalty and true bravery," Ron added, "I will personally tell him the history of his name."
Harry and Ginny nodded in agreement.
"You know," Hermione began as Ron walked over and stood against the wall beside Harry. "you shouldn't leave for too long Harry. Ron mopes around too much."
"He wasn't moping when we entered," Harry smirked,
"Cheeky prat," Ron muttered as he playfully punched Harry then headed over to the bed, "Don't listen to Mione either. I don't mope."
"No, you whine, cry, rant, have tantrums-" Ginny listed as she switched places with her brother and stood next to Harry. "Only joking," she added after he shot her a dark look, "So, what was going on when we entered?"
"Nothing," Ron said simply as Neville began to crawl towards his lap. He absent-mindedly faced his palm up on his knee so his son could playfully punch at it. "Nothing at all."
"I just helped Ron finally find the one," Hermione explained casually as she tore her eyes away from the heartbreakingly sweet scene of Ron and their son,
"Yeah, I kept my promise Harry," Ron glanced at them, "I was just thanking Hermione as you guys walked in."
"So you guys are getting back together?" Ginny squealed and they both nodded in a calm demeanor, but happiness and joy shone through. She gave them both a hug just before snatching Neville from Ron, "Congratulations you two!"
"You only congratulated us so you could take Neville," Ron accused as he rolled his eyes at his sister.
Harry glared at Ginny when she returned to his side, "How come you never thank me like that?"
Ron let out a hearty laugh, "Maybe she's not the one for you. Actually she is the one for you, mate and it hasn't hit her yet. She'll thank you when it hits. But I'm telling you mate, I've found the one and only for me."
With that, Ron pulled Hermione to him by the collar and pressed his lips against hers in a swift and passion-filled kiss. Pulling back, he looked at her deep brown eyes with his cerulean baby blues,
"I love you."
Sighing softly, she ran a careless hand through damp, thick, wavy locks of hair. The other hand, clasping tightly around a mug of hot chocolate, brought the mug to her lips and she took a small sip. Absent-mindedly playing with a lock of her short, dark-caramel tresses, her eyes went back to the end of the street. She finished her drink and set the mug carefully on the ground by her window. How long was it she had been waiting here? It was around ten, her internal clock informed her, and he had left at approximately seven o'clock in the evening. She certainly had not been sitting at her window awaiting his return since he left; had she?
"Susan? Really?"
The voice pulled her violently out of her reverie and she pressed her back against the window in slight shock. The voice didn't shock her, more of the sudden presence of it did. Regaining composure, she relaxed as she faced the man standing at the door of her bedroom.
"I didn't see you pull into the driveway," she explained her reaction as the concern on his face ceased.
"You probably had your eye on the street then," he said as he loosened his tie and walked over to her. He sat on the edge of her bed closest to her, which was about a meter away.
"Maybe- but I didn't even see you drive down the street," she pointed out as she looked down the street again and back at him,
"Well, you were looking down the street towards Lancaster Avenue. The place I went to was on the opposite down by Derby." He explained as he took off his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt, "If I ever have to go to another formal dinner like that, I'll hex someone!"
She rolled his eyes at him, "How was your date with Susan anyways?"
"Well, I predicted it wouldn't turn out good before the date anyway," He said as he leaned back on his elbows,
"And why is that? I believe I have good match making skills," she inquired,
"Well obviously you're not that good if you set me up on a date with someone who likes formalities and fancy restaurants like that. You know I hate dressing up," He reminded bitterly,
"Well besides the restaurant, was it really that horrible?" she asked,
"Yes. Susan Bones is as boring as she was back in Hogwarts four years ago! All she does is talk about the Ministry, Politics and some other boring stuff. I can't exactly how our conversation went down, I sort of phased out after she began talking about new Ministry policies she's trying to get approved with Madame Minister of Magic," he answered in dull tones,
"You mean she could have proposed and you agreed and you wouldn't know?" she let out a melodic laugh and he couldn't help but grin.
"I wasn't that unaware of what was going on," he defended, "But if we were engaged, I wouldn't be surprised. I mean, she was really boring! I could've joined a new generation of Death Eaters and I wouldn't know," he laughed. "Seriously," he gave her a serious look with narrowed eyebrows, "if you ever set me up with her again, I will hex you."
"Oh please Ronald Weasley, you haven't been able to hex me since we were in our First Year of Hogwarts," she said exasperatedly while rolling her eyes at him,
"It isn't that I haven't been able to, it's just that I haven't attempted," Ron replied coolly, "I wouldn't underestimate me, Miss Granger."
"Okay fine, but I'll find someone else for you to date," Hermione offered as she swung her legs onto the edge, knocking the mug over. She retracted her legs onto the bench again as the mug shattered into shards, "That always happens. Ron, can you just grab the broom from the closet?"
Rolling to the other side of the bed as to avoid stepping on the broken pieces of mug, he padded over to her closet and withdrew the broom. He walked over and began sweeping the broken porcelain. When he gathered a small pile of the pieces, he looked around to see if he missed anything. Sweeping his eyes quickly on the floor, he took out his wand and pointed to the shards. He levitated them and guided them into the trash can.
"Thanks," Hermione said as she smiled at him, "I may be one of the most learned witches in all of England, but I still haven't mastered the simple home spells as Ginny has."
"Well, she did have my mother as a mom, so no doubt she would have mastered them at a young age," Ron reminded as he abandoned the broom against the wall and reclined back on the bed, "Speaking of my dear sister, has she returned from Paris?"
Hermione shrugged, "She hasn't sent an owl since last week. Are you really okay with her being with him?"
"I'm not against it and if I were, I can't really do anything about it," Ron explained simply, "So, who do you have in mind this time, Mione?"
"Why not try Lavender again?" Hermione suggested, "I mean, you guys were together at one point in Hogwarts, couldn't you try dating her again?"
Ron shrugged, "Depends if she's changed since then."
"She has," Hermione insisted, "She works with me at the Ministry. She's more nicer than back then, we're together every day. Besides, she wasn't that bad in Hogwarts." Ron gave her a scrutinizing looking, "Why did you even break up with her? You never said it. To me or Harry."
Ron answered without hesitation quickly, "I told you, I have my reasons. I'm surprised you're even bringing her into this after what happened."
Hermione looked away, "Fine, I won't pry into your reasons. But trust me, you guys will hit it off without a hitch."
Ron ran a hand through his hair wearily, "I hope. Who knew searching for the one' would be so difficult?"
"You'll find her," Hermione insisted, "For all we know, she's Lavender."
Ron shrugged carelessly as he laid his head back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He really did want to stop this search for the one', but something in his gut didn't really think Lavender would turn out to be the girl he had been searching for.
***
Ron lay awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had always felt awkward sleeping in guest rooms of other people's houses, but he didn't feel that way here in Hermione's house. Then again, he was a frequent visitor to her home and he usually did sleep there anyway. It had become such a routine she just gave up and gave him a copy of her house key. Fingers folded behind his head, he tried to think clearly.
He had been searching for the one' since the end of the Great Magical War just two years prior. Perhaps the thing that propelled him to being searching for the love of his life in a serious manner was the words Harry had spoken to him just hours before the end of the War-
---
"Ron, do me a favor," Harry huffed as he leaned back against a broken, dungeon wall of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ron nodded, "Get yourself and Hermione out of here."
"Harry, I –"
"No, let me speak, I just got the signal from Kingsley, Dumbledore wants to head in now," Harry said, "Ron, get out of here. Hermione's still out in the stair well fighting the resistance of Death Eaters, finish them off and get out."
"Harry, I'm not going to let you go in there alone! We should be fighting there side by side, as best friends should," Ron argued,
"That's noble Ron and I appreciate what you want to do, but you and I both know I'm the only one who can defeat Voldemort. I don't want anymore deaths on my conscience," Harry explained, "Please Ron, just do this last thing for me."
"It won't be the last –"
"Ron. You and I both know the chances of me surviving a duel with Voldemort is slim to none, so please- this is already hard enough parting ways with you like this," Harry said as he forced back the tears,
Ron hugged Harry tightly, "Harry you're my best friend, there are so many things I want to say –"
Harry released Ron out of their embrace and held up a hand to silence him, "There's nothing you need to say. Our friendship has been much more than enough. But listen, if I don't get out of this alive," he shook his head when Ron attempted to talk, "if I don't, just promise me that you and Hermione stick together okay? The same we've been since nine years ago."
Ron nodded, "Of course."
"Now get out of here!" Harry pointed towards a dungeon door leading back the way they came.
Ron hesitated then turned to run. "Wait." Ron stopped and turned to face Harry, "Ron- listen, I never exactly got to be with the person I love before this point. So do me another favor and don't wait until the last minute to be with that one person you're meant to be with."
Ron shot him a quizzical expression, "That's a bit easier said than done!"
"I know. I know. I'm just saying I'm regretting not spending more time with her now. So, when this war's done, just think about it. I don't want you to have the same regrets I do."
Ron nodded, "I promise then Harry." With that, he turned back on his heel and ran out of the dungeons.
---
-Ron lay there and contemplated. He did stay true to his promise. When the war ended and the rebuilding of a broken world began, he had started his search for the one'.
Rolling onto his stomach, he faced the window on the wall which the bed was pushed against. He remained silent and tried to listen for any sounds in the house. Nothing. Absolute silence besides his own breathing. This disturbed him, so he threw off the covers of the bed, swung his legs over and left the room, wand already taken from his bedside table.
***
Ron went to the room across from his own and gently opened the door. He peeked in and there was still silence. He whispered lumos' and entered the room. Besides the furniture within, no one was there. Alarmed, he left the room and proceeded to Hermione's bed room. He knocked with anxiety, awaiting for some sounds telling him she had been awaken.
The door opened on its own and he entered. Hermione looked up from her bed as she replaced her wand on the bedside table. Her short locks were tied back away from her face, as she preferred at night, and he could clearly see her face as the moonlight poured through her bay window. She glared at him in annoyance and concern,
"Ron- it's," she paused to look at the muggle clock on her table which emitted the time in a red glow, "it's three in the morning. How can you even be up? After a second dinner you're usually knocked out!"
"I know, I know, but I couldn't sleep and I realized it was too quiet and- where's Neville?" Ron finally questioned,
Hermione rolled her eyes as she let her head fall back onto her pillow. "He's at the Burrow."
Ron let out a sigh of relief, "Why didn't you tell me? When I went to go see him, he wasn't there and I freaked out."
"You've been paranoid since the end of the war Ron," Hermione muttered loud enough for him to hear, "I know Auror training was good for you and all, but it made you a tad paranoid."
"Auror training was a year ago and I'm not even in that business anymore. And I am NOT paranoid!" Ron exclaimed, "So, why didn't you tell me why Neville wasn't here?"
"You never asked?" She offered as she buried her head back in her pillow, "Go back to sleep Ron."
"You mean I have to walk back down the hall?" Ron whined.
Hermione looked up at him, "You prat." She threw a pillow at him as she edged to one side of her bed, "Well, are you going to sleep by the door or sleep beside me?"
"The door's more tempting right now," He muttered as he padded towards her bed and laid down on the other side of the bed, tucking the pillow under his head. "Thanks Mione."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered as she turned on her side so she was facing him, "You know, this could be a reason why some of the women you date only date you once."
"Why?" Ron inquired,
"Because you sleep in my bed often," Hermione pointed out,
"What should that matter? We're just friends. We're just sleeping together. It's not like we're sleeping together'," Ron defended, "You girls always have a dirty mind in these things."
"And you guys don't?" Hermione gasped,
"We do not," Ron answered as he closed his eyes, "Now will you stop talking? I need my beauty sleep."
Hermione smirked as she pushed him off the edge of the bed. "Good night Ron," she said innocently as he hit the floor with a thud and stood up to glare down at her.
He huffed, "Good night indeed."
***
Ron felt himself slipping out of his deep slumber the next morning. He felt the slightly warm rays of sun on his face and felt another warmth right beside him. Lazily, he opened his eyes and looked down to see his arms wrapped around Hermione as she snuggled to his side, head laying on the crook of his shoulder. The sun glittered on the natural gold strands in her hair and she looked, he had to admit, ethereal.
What if he tried dating Hermione again? It worked once before and, besides a little mishap and their fighting - their relationship was perfect. Maybe it could work again? Here he was, after all, in her bed, with her in his arms. It wasn't the first time, as Hermione mentioned the night before. Maybe she invited him to sleep in her room because she wants to start things up again? The thought lingered in his mind. However, as he relished in the idea of perhaps being with Hermione again, another thought came into his head. Less a thought and more so a memory of their conversation the night before-
---
"Why not try Lavender again?" Hermione suggested, "I mean, you guys were together at one point in Hogwarts, couldn't you try dating her again?"
-
Hermione looked away, "Fine, I won't pry into your reasons. But trust me, you guys will hit it off without a hitch."
Ron ran a hand through his hair wearily, "I hope. Who knew searching for the one' would be so difficult?"
"You'll find her," Hermione insisted, "For all we know, she's Lavender."
---
What if he was getting her signal crossed and what he mistook for affection was really just a deep friendship? After all, if she wanted to be with him again, wouldn't she have mentioned it by now? The one fact that convinced him he was being silly to even think of being with Hermione again was that she was always trying to help him find dates.
Sighing slightly, he closed his head as he let his chin rest on the top of her head. He breathed in the scent of her which was vanilla and strawberries. Why hadn't he been able to have success with any of the girls Hermione set him up with? They were all terrific people, great personalities and, although appearances weren't a big department for him, they were each beautiful in their own way. He opened his eyes again as he stared out the window, maybe the problem was found in himself. What was wrong with him that he had no success at all in any relationship? Not even his previous relationship with Hermione was perfect considering they fought often. What was it that drove him to cause his relationships to go ruin?
"You're upset about something."
Pulled out of his reverie, he looked down at Hermione who looked up at him, "Why do you say that?"
"Well, you've got this horrible look on your face," Hermione explained as she pulled out of his embrace and got out of bed, "And it's six in the morning and you're up. Do you have practice with the team today?"
"Later around noon," Ron explained before adding, "But I know the rest of the Chudley Cannons will be there way after noon."
"You're all amazing players in the games. Until it's practice, then you're lazy prats, the whole lot of you." Hermione chuckled as she opened the door to her room, heading to the bathroom.
She came out seconds later, "I just remembered, so I'll set things up with Lavender today if that's alright?" Ron shrugged submissively, "Well, when is it good to go out?"
"When would it be okay with her?" Ron asked,
"Ron, she's just a secretary at the Ministry, not a department head like myself. Besides, you're the one with the big job," Hermione reminded,
"Then tomorrow after the match is good for me," Ron said simply.
"Great," Hermione exclaimed as she headed back to the bathroom, "You two will hit it off. I'm sure of it!"
Ron sighed as he headed back to his room as he passed the closed door of the bathroom, "I wish I were as sure as you."
***
Hermione finished reading and signing a stack of contracts just as Lavender popped her head through the door.
"Did you call me?" Lavender grinned,
"Yes, yes. Come in," Hermione beckoned as she magicked the papers into a filing cabinet behind her desk.
Lavender sat down at a chair in front of Hermione's desk. A muggle cell phone on her desk rang and Hermione gave an apologetic look as she answered the call. As Hermione conversed as quickly as possible to the person on the other end of the phone, she stole glances at Lavender, looking her up and down.
Today, Lavender wore robes of deep purple which complemented nicely with her blonde hair and blue eyes. Hermione took a second to assess Lavender again, perhaps she was being too hard in judging? Her hair had a golden sheen to it and her eyes were a deeper blue than most others; certainly could not hold a feather to the blue in Ron's eyes, however.
Hermione looked down at her desk as she ended the conversation and put the phone away in her desk, "Sorry."
"It's okay," Lavender insisted, "So, why'd you call?"
"I know this is odd and out of the blue, but would you like to go on a date with Ron Weasley?" Hermione asked as if she had memorized and said this line over and over before. In truth, she had. She said that exact question to every girl she had set up for Ron and, she had learned after the first few girls, no one could resist. Lavender, if Hermione knew her as well as she thought, would also accept the date.
"He's in the market?" Lavender questioned as she examined Hermione's expression. Hermione nodded solemnly, "And he wants to go out with me?" Although Hermione knew Ron was hesitant, she did not hesitate to nod a positive answer to Lavender. "When would he want to go out?"
"Tomorrow after the match?" Hermione suggested,
Lavender chewed on her lip as she contemplated her answer. She looked at Hermione, but she had plastered on a blank expression she had learned to force on herself. Lavender, Hermione knew, would accept.
She's just putting a show,' Hermione thought as she stared at Lavender who continued on with her contemplation facade.
Lavender let out a sigh as if she was submitting to the date, "Very well. Is this all?"
Hermione nodded so Lavender stood up and left the office. Hermione smirked as she heard a little squeal of joy after Lavender had left the room. Although she appeared annoyed with the thought of dating Ron, Hermione knew quite well that Lavender was ecstatic.
***
Signing the last of the papers due for the next morning, Hermione placed a stack of papers in a filing cabinet. Closing it and placing a locking charm on it, she returned to the pile of books laying haphazardly around her desk. Shaking her head at the disorganization, she pulled back her leather chair to sit in it. Practically collapsing into the chair, she closed her eyes as she tried to regain some energy the day took away from her. After Lavender had left her office, she began to become swamped with piles of work from Madame Minister along with other cases around London dealing with her department in the Ministry.
"You look tired."
Her eyes shot open in alarm and after seeing who it was, relaxed and closed her eyes once more, "What are you doing here Ron? I thought you had practice."
"I did. From noon until seven. It's seven-thirty," Ron explained as he sat down in a chair before her desk, "Busy day?" Hermione could do nothing more than nod in confirmation, "I passed Lavender on my way into the Ministry, she seemed awfully friendly. I'm assuming you set things up?" Hermione nodded again, "Mione, you better be right in saying she changed. She seemed like the same, flirtatious Lavender back there."
"Don't worry Ron, she's changed," Hermione insisted, "She's not a ditsy, annoying air head like she was back in Hogwarts. She's got a good head on her shoulders."
"I'm just saying, appearances can be deceiving," Ron said casually as he picked up one of the books laying on her desk closest to him,
"Is that referring to the reason you broke up with her in Seventh Year?" Hermione inquired and Ron nodded as he began to read the page the book was opened to, "Are you going to tell me why, now?"
Ron abruptly closed the book and placed it back on the desk as a dismissive sign. "So," he continued as if the question had never been asked, "are you ready to leave? I'm starving."
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed exasperatedly,
"What?" He whined,
"If you wanted to go out for dinner, why didn't you ask Lavender?" Hermione demanded, "You know you're going to go out with her anyway and here you came looking for company to dinner!"
"Because I'm going to dinner with her tomorrow anyway," Ron said simply, "I came here to escort one of my best friends to dinner."
"Oh please, every time we go out for dinner it's always the Leaky Cauldron," Hermione rolled her eyes as she stood up to collect her books and place them on a shelf on the other side of her office.
"Is there a problem with the Leaky Cauldron?" Ron asked with an edge to his voice,
"No, I'm just saying that it'd be nice to eat dinner elsewhere," Hermione answered as she sent the books flying to the bookcase.
"Well good, because I wasn't going to take you to the Leaky Cauldron anyway," Ron revealed.
Hermione raised her head from her briefcase to give him a quizzical expression, "And where did you plan to take me?"
"The Burrow," Ron grinned from ear to ear, "Charlie's cooking."
"Charlie's the only one around to cook," Hermione reminded him.
Ron shrugged, "It's not my fault he took it upon himself to take on mum's burdens."
A silence fell on them as the awkward subject of Ron's parents entered their conversation. Hoping for another topic out of it, Hermione asked the only question seeming reasonable enough to ask,
"What's he cooking?" Hermione asked,
Ron shrugged, "It's always a surprise with Charlie. Now grab your stuff and lets go."
"So bossy," Hermione scoffed, "If you want to go there so badly, you can go there and I'll meet you there."
"How do I know you'll come?" Ron inquired as he scrutinized her,
"Neville's there," Hermione answered simply, "I was going to go to the Burrow after work anyway. So, it's only convenience that you're there as well. He's anxious to see you."
"How do you know?" Ron asked,
It was Hermione's turn to shrug, "He's been asking for you all week."
Ron's expression softened, "Really? I miss Neville. I'll have to apologize for not coming by and visiting then."
Hermione nodded, "Since you haven't seen him, I won't barge in on you guys. You should go ahead, I'll be there in ten minutes."
Ron nodded in agreement and left her to her thoughts.
***
"Good evening Hermione!" Charlie greeted happily as he turned away to his finished creation on the stove top.
"To you too, Charlie," Hermione smiled as she hugged him, "That smells good!"
"Why thank you," Charlie said as he picked up his wand and got three bowls out of a cupboard,
"Three? I guess Ginny's still in Paris then?" Charlie nodded, "Do you have any idea when she'll be back?"
"Well, the last owl I got was two days ago. She mentioned something about running away to the Americas to elope. Oh yes, she did mention she'll be returning shortly after the birth of her second child," Charlie smirked as Hermione rolled her eyes,
"You Weasley boys never grow up," Hermione stated as she took a seat at the kitchen table,
"We would if we wanted to," Charlie chuckled as he began to pour some stew into each bowl, "So, what brings you to our humble abode? Fetching Neville I'm assuming?"
Hermione nodded, "If you don't mind me stealing him back. What did he do yesterday after I left in the morning?"
Charlie shrugged as he tried to remember, "He stayed mostly with Fred and George at the shop in Diagon Alley."
Hermione shook her head in dismay, "Those two will have a bad influence on him if they're around him this much."
Charlie laughed, "Don't worry Herms. Fred and George have good heads on their shoulders. They won't let anything bad happen to Neville while he's with them."
Hermione smiled as she nodded. Charlie may have been laughing, but Hermione sense the seriousness behind his smiles. "Yes well, I couldn't do much if I wanted to get him to spend less time with them if I wanted. He has too much fun with them and I'd hate to take away the one thing that makes him laugh until he goes blue in the face." She thanked him when he handed her a bowl of stew and a spoon. She was about to taste it when she stopped and placed the spoon back down.
"It can't be so horrible that you already hate it?" Charlie raised an eyebrow,
"I just remembered we're eating without Ron. You know he hates it," Hermione smirked, "Where is he anyway?"
"Last time I checked, he was up in his bedroom talking to Neville," Charlie explained. Hermione sat silently as she avoided looking at Charlie, "Herms, if you want to go up there, you don't need to be shy about it. You've lived here since your Second Year. I'm not necessarily going to demand you ask when you can roam around the house!"
"Thanks Charlie," Hermione said sheepishly. She got up and kissed him with sisterly affection on the cheek, "I forget sometimes."
With that, she trotted out of the kitchen and headed to the familiar, squeaky stairs.
***
Hermione stopped outside the old door leading to Ron's bedroom. She pressed her ear against the door in hopes to catch what Ron was saying to Neville.
"I know you've been her tons, but I had to bring you to see my room. I've lived in this room for ages," she heard Ron say, "Harry's lived in this room almost as long as I have. But, as you know, he's gone."
There was a silence before she heard Ron's voice again, "Hermione, I know you're out there. You might as well come in already."
Grinning sheepishly, she entered and closed the door behind her. "How'd you know?"
"How else? I heard you come up the stairs," Ron smirked.
Hermione shook her head as she went to Ron's bed and sat next to Neville. She gently patted his head as she looked down at her son with affection, "He's getting so big now, don't you think?"
"He is. He's almost two right?" Ron inquired and Hermione nodded as she lifted little Neville under the arms and onto her lap. "He's very energetic," he commented as Neville attempted to squirm out of his mother's grasp,
"He is. Just like his father," Hermione smiled with a hint of something Ron was unsure of, "it's obvious he loves his father."
Ron smiled, "It is." For a few silent moments, he watched Hermione talk with her child. He smiled with affection as he watched the maternal instinct in Hermione came out while she was with her son. He was there the first moments of Neville's life and felt himself lucky to see her when she first held Neville in her arms. Now, as they sat on his bed, he felt himself lucky again. Here, with Hermione, it felt right. He wasn't sure why, but it did. He felt a pang of guilt reside in his heart and so, he stood up and walked to his window. He hoped if he didn't watch Hermione with Neville, the feeling would go away; the feeling and the guilt that came with it every time he was around the two of them.
***
Ron sat in the dim restaurant with Lavender sitting across from him in a skin-tight, maroon dress. As she pondered over the menu of what to order, Ron examined her in a fashion he did with the other girls Hermione had set him up with. Her hair fell to her mid back and was a dull blonde. Nothing spectacular there. Her eyes, the last time he looked at them a few moments prior, were a plain blue. He had seen that same shade of blue everywhere. She wasn't the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Frankly, she was plain. However, appearances weren't big to him, and he prided himself of that. It was her personality that worried him the most. Plain looking or not, Lavender's personality was the one thing that either drew people to her, or cast them away from her sight.
She looked up slightly and looked at him through slightly-lowered lashes, "Like what you see Ronald?"
"I was just waiting to see if you were done and ready to order," Ron replied casually as he placed his menu aside.
When she nodded and also set aside her menu, a waiter was there in record time, taking their orders. When the waiter had left, Ron was grasping at threads for conversation,
"So, what have you been up to since Hogwarts?" Ron inquired,
"I'm a secretary to Madame Minister herself," Lavender boasted, "Quite the position, I know? I get to be with the Minister every day. Not many people are so fortunate as I."
Ron rolled his eyes discreetly as he looked away, "Why are you bragging about this to me? She's my sister-in-law, Penelope did – after all – marry Percy. I see her every Sunday for lunch." He returned his gaze at her.
Lavender blushed a shade of red before calming down and continued as if she had not been embarrassed, "What about you Ron? What have you been doing since we left Hogwarts? Riding a broom stick professionally I assume?" She mocked,
Ron locked eyes with her. If she wanted to throw low blows at him, he'd take them and counter them back, "Actually, it's only the beginning of this year that I've begun playing for the Chudley Cannons." Lavender's jaw dropped slightly, "I'm sure you've heard of us? So far our season is 6-0. In first place actually."
"I guess I've been too busy to stop and watch such juvenile a sport," Lavender regained her composer, "And what about before that? It took you four years to get on the team? Not something one would brag about Ron."
"Actually, I would've gone there right after Hogwarts. But I decided to go for Auror trainings right after school. It takes a good three years to be finally qualified. Of course, it was difficult with the war during that time," Ron replied casually, "but besides being a fully qualified Auror and professional Quidditch player, my life's been pretty mundane."
Lavender was fuming underneath her make up and Ron could tell. He relished in the thought of it before scolding himself internally. He knew Lavender and himself could not be together again, and this conversation proved it. He shouldn't be enjoying the feeling of embarrassing Lavender.
"Ron, I've come to this conclusion that we have a lot of skeletons in our closets," Lavender said coolly, "but, I think we can still make it."
"Oh really?" Ron asked as he raised a curious eyebrow, intrigued to see where she was going with this. If she's really changed,' he thought, she'll prove it now.'
"Yes. There's just one thing I want," Lavender explained. Ron inclined his head, signaling her to continue, "Don't ever see Hermione Granger again."
Ron sat back in his chair, crossing his arms across his chest, "Really? And why would you want that?"
"It's simple Ron, we went through this when we first dated in Seventh Year," Lavender reminded, "I know how it is between the two of you. Ron, if she wanted to be with you, don't you think she'd already gotten together with you by now? Besides, you and I both know she's the mother to Neville Longbottom's child." She leaned back in her chair with a twisted smile and smug expression in her eyes.
Ron's jaw dropped as he stared at her in dead shock. "I thought you were delusional when you mentioned me never seeing one of my best friends ever again, but it shocks me to hear you say she's the mother of Neville Longbottom's child. That just confirms you belong in a mental institution," Ron laughed as he stood up from the table,
"Don't deny it Ron! Why else would she name her son Neville?" Lavender demanded,
"Because Hermione and the father of her son wanted to name their son after a person who, not only meant a great deal to the both of them, but saved both their lives during the war," Ron informed,
"How do I know you're not lying?" Lavender inquired,
"Well, first off, Hermione's never thought of Neville as more than a brotherly figure and, if you've forgotten, Neville died in the first year of the war after Seventh Year. Meaning he wasn't around to get Hermione pregnant. He took down six Death Eaters right before he was killed," Ron said in a dark tone, "It wouldn't be wise to forget the dead and their sacrifices Lavender." He turned to leave,
"Wait." Sighing, he turned back to face her, "That still doesn't deny the fact she has a child Ron. And the father of her son, what about him? Even if they're not together, if you two got together, you'd always be third in her heart! Her son and the father would always be placed before you."
Ron nodded as he said calmly, "I know Lavender. As they should be placed in her heart. I can't believe you act like a friend to Hermione and the second her back's turned you're already insulting her and bringing up accusations attempting to make me end my friendship with her. Don't you ever do that again Lavender," he looked darkly at her; threateningly even. "If you cause Hermione or her son any problems, I will make your life a living hell. Do I make myself clear?"
Lavender nodded as she swallowed the lump which had formed in her throat, "Very clear."
He turned to leave but paused before taking a step away from the table. He smirked as he looked at her over his shoulder, "It wasn't wise to say those things so freely in a public restaurant Lavender. The father of Hermione's child is in this restaurant."
Lavender grew a shade of brightest cherry, "Where!?"
Ron scoffed, "Why should I tell you? So you can go and slander his good name behind his back? Goodbye Lavender." Not allowing her another word, he strode out of the restaurant – leaving Lavender with her thoughts and her embarrassment.
***
Hermione looked up from her seat by her bay window when she heard a noise coming from down the hall. Uncertainly, she put down her mug of hot chocolate and grasped her wand in the other hand. Swiftly, she crossed the floor to the door and opened it with the most subtlety she could muster. She saw the door to Neville's room open. Taking a deep breath, she jumped in the doorway, wand pointed.
"Ron, if you keep entering the house without telling me, I'll kill you one of these days!" Hermione scolded as she dropped her arm to her side,
"Well why should I announce my arrival? I do have a key," Ron reminded as he walked away from Neville's gated bed. "Sorry I scared you, I just wanted to make sure Neville was here before I came to see you."
"It was one night I didn't tell you where he was," Hermione rolled her eyes as she retreated back to her room, Ron in toe.
He closed the door behind him and walked over to her bed, laying down as she sat back by the bay window.
"Why are you here so early?" Hermione inquired as she finished the last of her hot chocolate and placed it on the ground,
"We had a rough game today. I'm tired," Ron explained, "and since your house is closest, I thought I might as well sleep here."
"That's not what I meant," Hermione said, "what happened with Lavender?"
"Mione, I told you that appearances are deceiving," Ron said,
"What are you playing at?" Hermione asked hesitantly,
"Let's just say she hasn't changed a single bit since Hogwarts Mione," Ron answered simply as he closed his eyes,
"How do you know? Did she do anything?" Hermione inquired,
"Oh yeah," Ron answered, "She did a lot."
"Like-?" Hermione egged on,
"Hermione, just let it rest," Ron said,
"Ron!" She flung her feet over the edge, knocking the mug over and it broke to shard. She cursed and stepped down to get the broom close by. She jumped back onto the window seat with a loud yell.
Ron sat up straight and stared at her, "What happened?" Hermione was too busy with the pain in her feet to answer, but Ron soon realized what happened when he saw the broken pieces of porcelain on the ground. "Bloody hell, Mione."
Taking out his wand, he pointed to the shards. Summoning them to all float, he sent them flying into the bin. He knelt down before her. Cringing at the sight of several shards impaled into her feet, he went to grab one.
She grabbed his wrist, stopping him, "Ron, don't." He looked up at her in confusion and saw the tears pouring down her face. He nodded, realizing it would hurt even more if he took them out by hand. He stood up, put an arm behind her back and behind her knees and picked her up, "What are you-?"
He walked her over to the bathroom and sat her down on the closed toilet seat and elevated her feet on the rim of the tub. Kneeling down before her again, Ron took out his wand, "Mione, will you be okay?"
She nodded violently as she closed her eyes tightly. One by one, he summoned the shards out of her feet. A cry escaped each time a shard was set free from her skin. By the time all the shards – seven rather large shards and ten smaller pieces – were out of her feet, blood was dripping down the edges of the tub, both in and out, onto the small rug before the tub.
"It'll take forever to get those stains out of the rug," Hermione sighed as she wiped away her tears. She had watched Ron the entire time. She examined him as he worked on the shards and she realized there was something different about Ron. Something was there that she hadn't realized before.
Ron, who had been silent the entire time, took off his dress shirt and magicked it to rip apart.
Hermione gasped, "Ron! That's your dress shirt!"
"I know Mione," Ron said as he took one half and wrapped it around her left foot, tying it securely, "but you need something to cover these wounds so they can begin healing overnight. I'm not Madame Pomfrey, but I sure as heck know what to do in these situations."
"But- that's your good shirt," Hermione reminded him,
"Mione," he looked up at her as he finished securing the last of his shirt around her right foot, "I know already. Besides, they have Lavender stench on them."
He stood up and dusted off his dark pants. He reached down to help her up. She swung her legs off of the tub's edge and, grabbing his hands, she stood up. Pain immediately stung her feet and she clung onto his arms for support, "Ron, could you please?"
He picked her up once again like before and carried her back to her room.
***
Placing Hermione down gently on her bed, Ron sat down beside her, "They'll probably still hurt tomorrow."
"Thanks for the warning," she smirked up at him, her face visible as moonlight flooded into the secluded room. "So, what happened with Lavender?"
"Mione- this conversation is what caused you to your feet slashed like that," Ron said with a warning tone, hinting her to stop asking,
"No Ron, your stubbornness to answer me did," she defended, "You might as well tell me! I'll find out one way or another. Lavender will tell me."
"Lavender will tell you a whole bunch of lies," He corrected quickly. She shot him a quizzical expression, Mione, one of the reasons I broke it off with Lavender back in Seventh Year was because she talked about you behind your back."
Her jaw dropped slightly, "One of the reasons? What else is there besides one of my so-called friends from Hogwarts talking behind my back?" Ron shook his head, "Ron, tell me."
"No, this subject is obviously upsetting you. I won't say another word," Ron said sternly,
"Ronald Weasley. You will tell me. I deserve to kn-"
"She wanted me to stop being friends with you," he interrupted as he looked out the window, avoiding eye contact.
Hermione sat in shocked silence. "And she asked you that tonight, right? She asked if you two were going to be together you'd have to stop being friends with me?" He nodded, still not looking at her, "And you said yes. You came by tonight to say goodbye to Neville and me because you've decided to stop being friends with me."
He jerked his head at her, eyebrows narrowed, "Hermione you know me better than that! You think I'd give up our friendship over some other girl?"
"But you should if she's the one!" Hermione exclaimed,
"She's not!" Ron insisted aggressively, "Mione, she even brought Neville into the conversation trying to sway me towards her and away from you. You think I'd want to be with someone who would try to use my son as a way to separate me from the mother of my child - my best friend since First Year?"
"So you told her you're Neville's father?" Hermione inquired,
"She didn't deserve to know," Ron spat, "trust me, she is NOT the one."
"You've found the one though, haven't you? That's why you look so serene and- different? As if you've had an immense epiphany of some sort." Ron nodded, "So who is it?"
"It's someone who you spend every day with, so you know she's perfect in every way. The girl you've been trying to help me find, and all of this time she's been right here," Ron explained,
"Ron you've just described Lavender," Hermione said reluctantly, a certain tone to her voice.
"Do you want to see her?" Ron asked and, hesitantly, Hermione nodded. He left the room and soon returned with something in his hand. He sat back down and handed it to her.
"I'm curious to see who it is, after all, I was the one always helping you to find her. Is it Susan? Or Hannah? How about Ca-" Hermione's words caught in her throat when she turned it over to find herself looking in a mirror. She looked up at Ron who was looking out the window once more, "Ron this is-"
"Mione, I know what it is." Ron said sternly as he continued to avoid looking at her, "I realized how I felt yesterday morning and it was only confirmed tonight when I spent dinner defending you in front of Lavender. Hermione- I never stopped loving you."
"I know," she muttered as she looked down at the small mirror in her lap, catching rays of moon.
He jerked his head to look at her, "You know? How?"
"Because I never stopped loving you," she admitted, keeping her gaze down.
"You never- but then why have you been trying to get me to date other women this entire time if you knew we still loved each other?" Ron demanded,
"I was scared," She answered in a strong tone.
"Scared of what? Of me?" He asked,
"Yes!"
"Why? Why me?" He demanded,
"Because I don't want to get hurt again Ron!" Hermione exclaimed as tears brimmed her eyelids and lined her eyelashes, "I don't want to be with you if you're just going to cheat on me again. If I'm pregnant again, I don't want you leaving me again!"
He turned to face her, "I won't hurt you like I did. I didn't even know why I did what I did."
"With Lavender to boot!" Hermione reminded bitterly, "Ron, I don't want to be walking down Diagon Alley and then suddenly see you snogging in an back alley with Lavender!"
"It won't happen!" Ron insisted,
"How do I know Ron? You did it once and you could very well do it again."
"Because Neville's in our life now," Ron said softly,
"So you want to be with me so Neville doesn't have to grow up with separated parents?" Hermione spat as she threw her arms in the air exasperatedly,
"No!" Ron exclaimed as he collected her hands in his, "No, that's not it," he sat closer to her and forced her to look at him, "I want to be with you because I love you. I'll never hurt you again because I love you. I was an idiot and I didn't realize back then that the most wonderful love I had in my life was you."
"I want to believe you Ron, I do believe you. But a part of me still doesn't know if I can trust you again like that," Hermione cried as she looked into his blue eyes which screamed sincerity.
"I was there when you found out you were pregnant at the Healer's office. I was there when you told your parents and then when you told my parents at their graves. I was there when you gave birth to Neville. I've been here every day of your life," Ron reminded gently, "I'm not going to leave you now or ever. Mione, I want Neville to be a part of my life as he should be. I want to be a part of his life. I want to be a part of your life."
"You are a part of my life, Ron," Hermione insisted in a whisper,
"You know what I mean. Mione, I want to be with you again," Ron admitted,
"I don't kn-"
"When I woke up yesterday morning with you beside me and in my arms, it felt right! When we were in the Burrow and we were there together, you, me and Neville – it felt right.
"Hermione," he took her face in his hands, "I want to wake up everyday with you in my arms. I want to live each day by your side. I want to be with you while we watch Neville grow up. I want to be the one to give you a second child and be the one at your side when you give birth to that child. I want to be the one you come home to every night. I want you to be the one who kisses me before and after my matches. I want to not only be your best friend but your boyfriend; lover; husband; confidante; partner in crime; father of your child- I want to be everything you look for in a man."
She tried to look away in order to conceal the tears, but he moved her head so she was looking at him again and he held a stern yet gentle grip on her face. Tears trickled down her cheeks as he gazed into her chocolate eyes. He moved so he was now kneeling beside her, "Look at me. I am not lying to you. I am a man, on my knees and begging for forgiveness. Begging my sins be forgiven and forgotten. Begging that the one woman – the one I have only ever loved and do love and will ever love – will give me another chance."
Tenderly, she pushed back a lock of hair which had fell out of place across his forehead, "I'll give you another chance if you give me one."
"For what?" Ron inquired curiously,
"Pushing you away the past two years since after the war. For pushing you into the arms of other women," Hermione said softly, "For being a horrible friend in the fact I could not trust you fully even though you're right. You've been there for me every step of the way, even after we broke up."
He kissed her then and there, too deliriously happy to allow another word stall this moment he had been hoping for. It was in that brief moment that Ron found out that he knew she was the one for him all along just that it had taken a few years and some trivialities for him to come to that realization. It was passionate and sweet at the same time. It was infused with both lust, love and a tenderness she felt spread throughout her body. The sensation was both familiar, yet new as if they had never been together. It was like their first kiss, as if they had come full circle.
"Are we interrupting something?"
They pulled away quickly: Ron stumbling to his feet and Hermione pushing away the furious blush creeping on her cheeks.
Looking at the door they saw two people, one of them holding their son.
"When did you get back, Gin?" Ron inquired as he approached his sister who had interrupted their explosive kiss. He kissed her on the forehead, "And why in Merlin's name did you wake up Neville?"
"Oh please, he was practically calling out for his Auntie," Ginny said dramatically as she walked over to the bed, sat and greeted with Hermione.
"Is Ginny really telling the truth?" Ron turned to Ginny's fiancé of two years,
"You know you're sister mate, she loves her nephew," He grinned as he embraced Ron, "It's good to see you Ron."
"You too Harry. It seems like ages since you left," Ron offered a lop-sided grin,
"It was only three weeks," Ginny reminded as she handed a fidgeting little Neville to his mother, "It didn't even seem that long, right Harry?"
"Right m'dear, it seemed longer," Harry smirked as she gave him a scowl, "Just joking my love," he insisted as he walked over, giving Hermione a kiss on the cheek and ruffled the little crown of hair on Neville's head. "How is my other best friend?" Harry inquired as he sat at the bay window, "and her handsome son?"
"She is quite well and he is growing too fast for his mother's liking," Hermione beamed at him.
"I still think it was nice of you guys to name your son after Neville," Ginny admitted,
"Neville Longbottom was and still is a dear friend to both of us," Hermione explained as she let Neville crawl around the bed, "not to mention he saved both of our lives in the war before he died."
"We thought if we were going to name our son after someone, it should be someone of honor, loyalty and true bravery," Ron added, "I will personally tell him the history of his name."
Harry and Ginny nodded in agreement.
"You know," Hermione began as Ron walked over and stood against the wall beside Harry. "you shouldn't leave for too long Harry. Ron mopes around too much."
"He wasn't moping when we entered," Harry smirked,
"Cheeky prat," Ron muttered as he playfully punched Harry then headed over to the bed, "Don't listen to Mione either. I don't mope."
"No, you whine, cry, rant, have tantrums-" Ginny listed as she switched places with her brother and stood next to Harry. "Only joking," she added after he shot her a dark look, "So, what was going on when we entered?"
"Nothing," Ron said simply as Neville began to crawl towards his lap. He absent-mindedly faced his palm up on his knee so his son could playfully punch at it. "Nothing at all."
"I just helped Ron finally find the one," Hermione explained casually as she tore her eyes away from the heartbreakingly sweet scene of Ron and their son,
"Yeah, I kept my promise Harry," Ron glanced at them, "I was just thanking Hermione as you guys walked in."
"So you guys are getting back together?" Ginny squealed and they both nodded in a calm demeanor, but happiness and joy shone through. She gave them both a hug just before snatching Neville from Ron, "Congratulations you two!"
"You only congratulated us so you could take Neville," Ron accused as he rolled his eyes at his sister.
Harry glared at Ginny when she returned to his side, "How come you never thank me like that?"
Ron let out a hearty laugh, "Maybe she's not the one for you. Actually she is the one for you, mate and it hasn't hit her yet. She'll thank you when it hits. But I'm telling you mate, I've found the one and only for me."
With that, Ron pulled Hermione to him by the collar and pressed his lips against hers in a swift and passion-filled kiss. Pulling back, he looked at her deep brown eyes with his cerulean baby blues,
"I love you."
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