Ok. This is a songfic so you've been warned.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the song "How to Save a Life"
Just a Talk
Her heart thuds heavily in her chest as she hears his footsteps drawing near. The front door closes softly. From her dark hiding place, she watches in silence as he creeps past her. She lets out an unsteady sigh and quickly shakes her head, as if to clear it of all doubt. This is her chance. She has to face him. Things will just continue on as they are if she doesn't.
Gathering her courage, she emerges from the dim kitchen.
"Ron," she says flatly. The red head spins about hastily as if in a panic. His eyes quickly soften and he fixes her with an easy grin.
"Hermione," he breaths, "what are you doing awake?" His hair is slightly ruffled and the buttons are unevenly done on his shirt. He scratches the back of his head casually. "I figured you'd be fast asleep by now." At this, he turns swiftly from her, removing his coat and shoes.
His ears are bright red.
Hermione regards him coldly, silently. At three in the morning she is tired, and unwillingly to play this game with him again tonight.
Step one, you say, "We need to talk."
He walks, you say,
"Sit down; it's just a talk."
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
"I need to talk to you, Ron." Hermione's voice suddenly sounds very tired. Ron pales slightly at her tone and glances hesitantly at the now lit kitchen. "Please, sit down." She gestures to the kitchen table.
"I'm awfully tired. Can't it wait until morning?" he asks, forcing a yawn and rubbing his eyes unconvincingly. Without waiting for an answer, he begins his way quickly up the stairs, the unfamiliar scent of jasmine trailing behind him.
"This can't wait," Hermione says rather firmly. "Please. We just need to talk."
Ron sighs heavily and turns around. She is already sitting in the kitchen. He smiles weakly at her as he takes his seat. She regards him quietly, but does not return the smile.
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lies of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came
"Where have you been?" she asks slowly. Her gaze travels away from him and out the window. Hermione swallows hard as she awaits his answer. She's ready for the lie that's coming. She momentarily focuses on his reflection as it shifts in the window.
He's not looking at her either.
"With Harry," he says simply. The lie comes easy at this point. It rolls off his tongue smoothly. Something between anger and hurt flashes briefly behind Hermione's eyes.
She continues to stare out the window.
"Harry's been here just hours ago. So you weren't with him, were you." It's not a question. Her voice holds an icy, accusatory tone.
Neither one looks at the other. Silence fills the room. Minutes pass.
He still hasn't answered.
Hermione shakes her head and moves to get up. She should have known she wouldn't get the truth from him. Why did she even bother?
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Ron sighs. "Dean Thomas?" he half asks, then puts his heads in his hands. Hermione turns back toward Ron, eyes glistening with unshed tears. That jasmine scent fills her nose again.
Another lie.
"He's away on Ministry business." Her voice is hard, flat. She chokes back a sob trying to form in her throat as her frame shakes. A rebel tear escapes her eyes, betraying her hardly controlled composure. She wipes it away hastily, destroying any trace of its existence. "You promised this wouldn't happen again," she barely whispers.
Ron remains stubbornly silent.
"Who is she?" He flinches at the question, but otherwise doesn't acknowledge it.
Her eyes turn hard and her face contorts into an expression of barely contained fury. "I can't believe I trusted you!" Her tone is acidic. "I knew I shouldn't have. I just couldn't give up on you, Ron. I couldn't."
Her words hang in the air. Ron's hands are balling into fists on the table in front of him.
He still isn't looking at her.
Let him know that you know best
'Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
"This can't keep happening Ron," she continues on, frustrated by Ron's silence. "You need to decide what's important to you. I can't keep forgiving you."
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Her hands are balls now too. His silence; his resolve to look anywhere but at her. He hasn't even bothered to deny it. No half hearted apology. Not even an empty promise to change. Just his silence.
His face is reddening.
She can't take it anymore.
"Can't you say anything to me?" her voice is shriller than she had intended. His mouth suddenly opens as if to reply, but she's not done yet. "Can't you even have the grace to look ashamed of yourself? Aren't you the least bit sorry? Why can't you just…" she trails off, her breath coming in short gasps. The tears have long since returned. She ignores them as they make tiny trails down her cheeks.
Ron's gaze suddenly jerks in her direction. "What do you want me to say, Hermione?" His voice is almost as shrill as hers. She shakes her head wordlessly. The tears are coming more freely now. His voice is louder. He's yelling. "What do you want, Hermione?"
Their eyes meet for the first time since this whole thing started.
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
She holds his gaze. "The truth."
His eyes lose their fire. He looks away. Minutes creep by. She turns to leave.
"I want a divorce."
The words cut through Hermione like a knife. She stops short of the door. Her back turned, her mouth opens and closes several times, but she is speechless. The tears are back. She blinks rapidly to keep them from falling.
"A divorce…" she whispers mostly to herself. She turns to face Ron.
He's gone. The back door hangs slightly ajar.
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Hermione sits back down in the kitchen. The tears fall, but she hasn't the pride or energy to stop them.
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
How to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
How to save a life
Well I hope you guys liked it. Review please.