Title: Pieces
Author:SweetlyDesolated
Warning: sadistic!Hermione. However, as one anonymous reviewer "requested," I have changed it to warning: psychotic!Hermione
Summary:Hermione was a smart girl. She was also a woman who absolutely adored puzzles. And Ron. Yes, she adored Ron too. HG/RW
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in the books of Harry Potter; they are the property of J. K. Rowling. I just play with them.
Yes, she could do this. After all, she was Hermione Jean Granger, the smartest witch Hogwarts had seen for years, right? Yep, that was her. And this – all of this – was just one big puzzle, with many tiny pieces.
She delicately removed one of the pieces floating on the surface of water and slowly, carefully, placed it in its home. With a strip of magical tape, Hermione bound the piece in place and moved on to the next.
The girl ignored the moan that resulted with each placement, the pressure of the sticking tape.
Another piece in place.
Hermione hummed a jaunty little tune that seemed ideal for this activity; it was perfect for completing this marvelous puzzle. One of the pieces slipped out of her grasp and fell to the floor with a wet plop. "Oh no!" Hermione gasped, lunging out of her chair to grab it tenderly. She held the puzzle piece before her eyes. "Five second rule," she commented airily and gently placed it in.
One more in place.
A gagging noise sounded in one corner. Hermione glanced up and commented, "Oh Harry, if you wanted to participate, all you had to do was say so! I gave you the choice! I guess you'll have to wait until I finish this puzzle; you can join me on the next one."
Someone on the other side of the room whimpered. They were hushed by a malevolent glare from Hermione.
Yet another joined the puzzle.
Hermione frowned; she was running out of tape, and she still had a lot left of the puzzle to complete. She didn't want to spell the pieces into position, as that ruined all of the fun. She took the last strip of tape and joined it between a few pieces of the puzzle. With a sigh, Hermione stood from her stool and left the room to shop; on the way out of her house, she scrubbed her hands with very strong soap.
The girl returned later, whistling loudly and happily. A bag full of tape dangled from one elbow as she held on to the railing with the other hand. "I have more tape!" she exclaimed to the people in her basement.
A few terrified wails rose and Hermione ignored them with ease of practice. The woman sat at her work station and opened a new roll of tape.
More pieces in place.
The puzzle was finished, but Hermione sighed regardless. This always happened! She could never figure out how to keep the puzzle base alive while she reassembled the pieces! It was something that would take many rounds of trial and error to figure out.
The woman slid on to the table and put one arm over the puzzle. It was cold to her touch; the surface was damp with water residue and sticky from the tape she used. "I love you, Ron. Thanks for being my puzzle today," she murmured.
She gazed serenely at the puzzle on her table: the body of Ronald Billus Weasley, spread eagle on his back. Pieces of skin were delicately placed on his body, taped with utmost care.
Hermione sighed and closed her eyes, relaxing on her puzzle table top.
I really can't offer any explanations, other than I kind of like a sadistic Hermione :]. Please review!
As well, vote in my poll on my profile for the length of future "oneshots."
~Deso