"I love you! I love you, Ron!" Hermione screamed, running after him. He didn't come back. Hermione ran and ran and finally caught up with him, in the neighboring field of the Burrow where she, Harry, Ginny, and Ron had once played Quidditch. "Ron, please, stop!" Hermione yelled, grabbing the collar of his jacket, and nearly ripping out a chunk of his red hair. Ron spun around and stared at her.
"No, Hermione, I love you too, and I always will, but you're right, our lives are going in separate directions, and I think we need to just leave it where it is," said Ron. "But, no, Ron! I want to be with you!" cried Hermione, holding back her tears that she knew were soon to come.
"Hermione, you said it yourself, we're two people traveling in opposite directions, and we need to just forget it now," said Ron, beginning to walk away again. "But Ron….", Hermione began, but Ron turned back around and cut her off. "Hermione, you're going to America to join their ministry, and I'm going on tour with Cannons, we just need to forget everything we ever had," said Ron, even though the expression on his face suggested that was not at all what he wanted. "Ron, why does it have to be all or nothing? Can't we still have a relationship, I mean obviously you'll be coming there soon to face their team, so…..", Hermione's voice trailed off. She knew it was no use. Ron had made up his mind.
"Hermione, please, don't make it harder than it has to be, we can still end this relationship on good terms with each other," said Ron. He turned and began walking away again towards the trees.
Hermione became frantic, running after him, she grabbed the back of his jacket, turned him around, shoved him hard against a tree and kissed him, one hand holding his neck, the other grasping the back of his head. He returned the kiss for only a mere 5 seconds, wrapping his arms around her back and then pushed her away with his arms.
Hermione's arms slid off of him, but their faces were not even a foot apart when she grabbed the back of his head with one hand and kissed him more fiercely than before. Ron responded with enthusiasm. His back was digging into a piece of bark that was jutting out of the tree, but he didn't seem to mind. He wanted to push her away, but he couldn't. He loved the sweet flowery smell that came from her, the way her mouth tasted on his. He couldn't resist her. But he had to. He pushed her away.
Hermione was surprised. He had kissed her back, allowing her to kiss him, to hold him, to touch him. And then he just pushed her away. Why? She asked herself. Why must he do this shit to me? Ron's face was deep red, and he was panting horribly, as if he had just ran a mile. He was leaning over, one hand on the tree Hermione had shoved him against, holding himself up with it.
"Hermione, I told you, it won't work between us," he said, taking his hand off the tree and standing upright, looking into Hermione's eyes. "But Ron," she began, taking his arm with her hand, "we belong together, and everyone knows it. They've known it since the beginning."
"Maybe we do belong together, but that doesn't mean we're going to end up together," Ron said, looking down at his feet. This remark stung Hermione's heart. She let go of his hand. "Well, then, I guess this is goodbye, for good, then," said Hermione, now the one to begin walking away. "Don't be like that," came Ron's voice from behind her. Hermione ignored him and continued walking. "You know we'll have to see each other again soon," said Ron. His voice was getting louder, which meant he was struggling to keep up with her.
"Oh come on, Hermione," said Ron. She felt his hand on her shoulder and turned around, looking into his eyes. "Come on, what? We have nothing, according to you," Hermione said, giving him a dirty look. "I never said that," Ron said firmly. "YOU MEANT IT!" Hermione now screamed, her face becoming red with fury. Half of her wanted nothing more to slap Ron repeatedly across the face, but the other half of her only wanted to hold him, kiss him, touch him. "Look, all I meant was that…….was that we can't be together, if we're not together," said Ron. "No, Ron, I know what you meant, and this is goodbye, for good," said Hermione. She turned away from him and began walking the direction toward the Burrow.
Ron's arm gripped hers so suddenly she jumped. He spun her around, grabbed the back of her head, pulled her face toward his and kissed her. Hermione wrapped her arms around him and he lifted her up, her feet dangling at least a foot from the ground. Hermione could smell the sweat coming from Ron's body. Ron put her back down on the ground after a minute or two. They stumbled toward the cluster of trees and this time it was Ron who shoved Hermione against a tree, although much lighter than she had done to him.
Hermione could feel Ron hardening, and she knew it was time to push him away. And she did. "What?" he asked, his arms still wrapped around her. He had a determined look on his face, as if he wanted to kiss her again. Hermione would not let him. "We can't," she said, pushing his arms off her reluctantly. She walked past him toward the Burrow. It had been Hermione who wanted them to stay together, but now she was doubting their relationship. How could they still have a relationship when they would be an ocean away.
But I want him so bad, thought Hermione. He's the greatest person in the world, no matter what he does. I need him, he means everything to me. But how can we stay together if we're going to be an ocean apart, so far away from each other. I think Ron's right, we need to end it now. I love Ron so much, but our futures are so different. They could never go together.
"Why not?" he asked. "BECAUSE WE CAN'T! I'M LEAVING. WE'RE GOING OUR SEPARATE WAYS. AND THAT'S THAT!" yelled Hermione. She turned back, gave Ron one last look, and stormed back toward the Burrow.
1 Week Later
"When are you leaving Hermione?" asked the lady sitting in the desk next to hers. "Oh, erm, tomorrow," said Hermione, looking up from her paperwork at Hannah Abbott. She turned back to it. She kept reading the same sentence over again in her letter from the American Ministry of Magic.
Hermione Granger, we are happy to say that we have a job opportunity for you…….Hermione Granger, we are happy to say that we have a job opportunity for you…….Hermione Granger, we are happy to say that we have a job opportunity for you……Hermione Gran--
"Neville and I are going to dinner tonight. Would you and Ron care to join us?" asked Hannah. "No, actually, Ron and I aren't together anymore," said Hermione, feeling sad. "Oh, er, sorry," said Hannah, turning back to her work. "It's alright, most people don't know," said Hermione. "Well, who are you staying with, then? I know you've been staying with the Weasleys for two years," said Hannah. "I'm staying with my parents," said Hermione.
"Oh," said Hannah. "Yes," said Hermione. "What happened between you two?" asked Hannah. "Well, Ron's going on tour with the Cannons, and I'm going to America to work, we just fell apart," said Hermione. "That's sad, you two were so right for each other, and everyone knew it," said Hannah. When Hermione didn't reply, she continued. "I first suspected it in fourth year. At the Yule Ball, he was upset when he saw you with Krum, and he wouldn't dance with Padma Patil at all. He only was thinking about you. Ernie and I knew it, but of course we didn't last," said Hannah shrugging and going back to her paperwork.
"I'll be right back," said Hermione to Hannah, the person she shared her room with. Hermione suddenly felt nauseous. She stumbled out of her and Hannah's large room, and walked down the hallway of the eighth floor of the Ministry of Magic towards the one of the bathrooms on the floor. She stumbled in there too. There was another lady, much older than her, standing and looking at herself in the mirror, holding her wand up to her face, which was magically being covered with too much makeup.
Hermione stumbled past her and went into the first stall. She lifted up the toilet seat and vomited into the toilet. "Miss, are you all right?" asked the old lady. Hermione could see the shadow of her feet in front of her door. "Fine," Hermione managed to get out, before vomiting again. "I'm going to get the nurse," cried the lady, and Hermione heard her apparate. Only a minute later, Hermione heard two small "pops" and heard a much softer, younger voice address her.
"Miss, are you all right?" called the voice. Hermione recognized her voice, but she couldn't figure out whose exactly it was. "I'm fine!" Hermione repeated in a much louder voice than needed. "Miss, I'm only trying to help," came the nurse's voice from the other side of the door. "Alohamora" said the nurse's voice.
The door unlocked and Hermione saw that the old lady had returned with the nurse. The nurse was a young darker skinned, beautiful woman. "Parvati," said Hermione. "Hi, Hermione," said Parvati Patil, looking at her childhood friend. She leaned down toward Hermione and examined her. Hermione imagined she smelled like vomit, and that her face was white. One hand was resting on the toilet and the other was lying on the floor next to her.
"Come on, Hermione, you're sick," said Parvati. She hoisted Hermione off her feet and the old lady conjured up a trash can and handed it to Hermione. She held it under her mouth, and vomited again.
"Thank you for your help, mam," said Parvati to the old lady. Hermione felt herself spinning and before she knew it she was in Parvati's office. She sat down on the bed. Parvati moved to her desk and picked up a clipboard. "Have you been experiencing this for quite a while, Hermione?" asked Parvati. "No, this is the first time, I just all of a sudden felt sick," said Hermione. "Hmmmmm," said Parvati, writing on her clipboard. "Let me take your temperature," Parvati said. Parvati pointed her wand at Hermione and a silhouette of a thermometer appeared next to Hermione. It read 99.6 degrees.
"Well, you don't have a fever," said Parvati. "Then, what's wrong with me?" Hermione asked, as she vomited into the trash bin. "Well, there are certain types of bugs some wizards can get, that humans can't get, like anomia, phylisia, and triliola" explained Parvati, setting her clipboard down onto her desk. "So you think I have one of those?" asked Hermione. "I'm not sure, vomiting and having a low temperature are side affects of most of them, but there is one other explanation for your problem," said Parvati, suddenly looking uncomfortable, as if not wanting to tell Hermione what it was.
"Well, what is it?" Hermione asked, looking up from the depths of the bucket, which had been emptying itself every minute. "Well, I'm not really sure that it is what you have, but…." Parvati began, but her voice trailed off. She walked and sat down next to Hermione, whom was surprised. Hermione knew she must have smelled terribly. "It is possible, but I'm not sure I'm the right one to tell you," said Parvati putting her head down. "What is it?" asked Hermione, vomiting once again. Parvati shifted away from Hermione. "You might be…..pregnant," said Parvati.
Hermione felt woozy. The bucket fell from her hands and hit the floor, no vomit came out, it must have emptied itself. Hermione fainted and fell off the bed onto the floor. The next thing she knew she was lying on a bed, her head resting against a very soft pillow. She opened her eyes and sat up. Parvati was sitting at her desk, writing on her clipboard. She saw Hermione and smiled. "I told Hannah that you were up here so she wouldn't worry," said Parvati standing up and going to the foot of Hermione's bed.
"Wow, I had a dream where you said I could be pregnant," said Hermione, laughing slightly. "That wasn't a dream," said Parvati. Hermione couldn't think. Her stomach was filled with butterflies, just as hers was when she had first kissed Ron. "But we, we were safe," said Hermione. "Well, I'm not certain yet. I haven't done the spell to see if you are. I can only do it with your permission," said Parvati. Hermione stayed silent. "I imagine you know how it works," said Parvati. "Yes, I do. You just point your wand at my stomach and it's sort of like an X-ray, you can see my bones, and all of my organs. Then you'll be able to see if I'm pregnant if you see the baby," said Hermione, her voice sounding slightly flustered.
"So you want me to do it then," asked Parvati. Hermione thought for a moment. Of course she'd want to know now. "Yes," she said. "You'll need to lift up your shirt," said Parvati. Hermione lifted up her shirt to reveal her skinny stomach. Parvati pointed her wand at Hermione, obviously performing the spell nonverbally. She left her wand there for a minute or two and then pulled it away, looking down. "Well?" Hermione asked. "You are…..pregnant," said Parvati.
"But we were safe! We used the correct charm. I'm positive I used it right," said Hermione. "I have no doubt that you didn't, Hermione, but just like the muggle way there are certain instances in which it can not work," said Parvati. Hermione sighed. "I don't know what I'm going to do," said Hermione, throwing the sheets off of her and standing up. She put her hand to stomach. A baby is growing inside me, she thought happily , but then she realized what this meant. She was a single mother. Her baby would not have a father to be with them. A look of grief spread across her face. "Hermione, are you okay?" asked Parvati noticing the look on her friend's face.
"Fine. But I'm leaving tomorrow, I need to say goodbye to everyone," said Hermione. She gave Parvati a hug. "Thank you," Hermione said, as she pulled away. "You're welcome," said Parvati. Hermione left her office.