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Harry could hear Ron and Hermione argueing in Ron's room. It sounded like Hertmione was giving him what for when they suddenly went silent and Harry found himself rushing into the hallway to make sure they were ok.
George was standing in the hall, looking in at the two. Obviously they had stopped yelling when they saw George standing there.
"Mum wants to leave if you guys are ready." he said in a cold tone Harry had never heard him use before. He turned and gave Harry and odd look before disappearing down the stairs.
"We should go." Hermione stepped out of the room and hesitated when she saw Harry standing there. Without making eye contact with him she hurried to her room.
Without caring what Ron would think Harry followed her and just stood there for a second as she picked up her bag and a few books, unsure what he should say.
"If you don't want to stay there you can come back at any time. Just use the Floo." Harry said at last and forced himself to leave.
"Is she ok?" Ron asked once Harry was back in the hall.
"Does she look ok?" Harry snapped, "What were you yelling about anyways?"
"None of your bussiness." Ron turned his back on Harry and headed down the stairs to where the rest of the family waited to return to the Burrow.
When Harry said goodbye to the Weasley's he kept his eyes on Hermione who was avoiding looking at him all together. She didn't even glance up when she said bye.
This was the first time that Harry actualy felt mad at Ron for everything he'd been saying and even what he must have been thinking. It wasn't often that Hermione couldn't meet his eye and he blamed Ron for it. Ron had said something and now Hermione felt like she couldn't look at Harry.
Making his way back upstairs Harry half wished he had gone with them if only to make sure Ron didn't yell at Hermione again. He stayed behind because he wanted to know what it felt like to have his own house all to himself for once.
He had never stayed in Grimmauld Place without Ron or Hermione before. It was more lonely than he had thought it would be and he found himself thinking about Hermione reading outloud to him. He'd never been a history fan but when she read it to him he had to admit that he enjoyed it more.
Bored and lonelier than he wished to say he thought about turning in early just to make the morning come quicker and to stop his mind from wondering. It sounded like a good plan but Harry stopped short when he reached for the blankets on his bed.
There on his pillow was the book Hermione had been reading to him. The one that he had thought of just moments before. Inside was a note written in her neat handwriting.
'I don't know what Ron's going on about but I have to try to talk to him. I'll see you in the morning.'
She'd written it in such a hurry that she hadn't even signed her own name. There was a line on the bottom of the parchment like she had been about to sign but she must have been interupted.
Harry just hoped that Ron hadn't seen it.
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Harry had forced himself to sleep and it seemed that he really was tired because sometime before midnight he must have fallen asleep because he woke to his door being opened around 3 am.
"Hermione?" Harry was awake at once. He had recognized her outline even without the help of his glasses. Grabbing them from the nightstand he stood up and opened his arms to his friend.
"I didn't mean to wake you up." Hermione walked over to him slowly and rested her head on his chest, "I just don't understand him anymore."
Harry just held on and let her think. She'd tell him what was wrong when she was ready.
"He yelled at me for using aspirin." Hermione almost laughed, "He said I was witch and should act like one. It's just a small head ache. Just bad enough that I couldn't fall asleep." She took a breath and looked up at Harry, "We ended things officialy just before I hexed him."
"And then you ran?" Harry asked, trying not to laugh.
"No. First I woke Molly up and told her what had happened. Then she said I should go home. I wasn't thinking straight when I stepped into the fireplace and I ended up here." she really loked confused about that last part.
"At least here you won't have to answer any questions." Harry gave her a small smile, "Do feel up for something from the kitchen?"
"Not really. I'm just thirsty." she stepped back and shrugged, "I'll just ask Kreature for some water."
"I'll get it." Harry offered, "You just get in bed."
"You sure?" she tilted her head to the side and he could see she was worried about being a bother.
"Yes." Harry started for the stairs, "Now go get in bed."
Harry rushed from the kitchen, not wanting to botherKreature and found that Hermione was already asleep. He set the water on her nightstand and headed back down to the kitchen.
"Kreature?" the elf appeared at once and bowed. Harry knew that he had woken as soon as Hermione had come to Grimmauld. The elf rarely missed anything, "Could you send the Grangers a message. If Ron looks for Hermione there they need to send him to talk to me."
"Yes, Master." Kreature stepped into the fireplace, no flames or Floo powder and vanished.
Harry made himself a cup of tea and sat there waiting. He knew sooner or later there would be at least one Weasley in his kitchen.
He didn't have to wait long.
Suddenly green flames appeared in the fireplace and out stepped Arthur and Ron Weasley. Both were still in the night clothes.
"Is she here?" Arthur asked, looking concerned, "Your elf said she was."
"Yes, she said she came here by mistake." Harry stayed seated and ignored the glare Ron was giving him.
"Did she tell you what she did to me?" Ron asked, looking more shocked than mad for a second or two.
"She said she hexed you."
"Made my head swell up till I fell over backwards." Ron was mad now, "It was very childish."
"So is yelling at her for using muggle medicine." Harry shot back and Ron turned red.
"That's what you were yelling about?" Arthur looked like he couldn't believe this had been over medicine.
"Everything about her lately just makes me want to scream!" Ron sat down heavily at the table, "I guess I should have ended things when it first started but i just couldn't."
"No. Instead you had to go around trying to find an excuse to make it all her fault that you two couldn't be together." Harry shook his head, happy that Ron was able to step back from his anger to look at the whole picture.
"I'm sorry I accused you, mate." Ron quickly stole a glance at Harry.
Arthur looked like he was very uncomfortable to be in the room during this talk.
"At least you're not blowing up about all this." Harry leaned back in his chair. He'd never really thought Ron could control his temper when it came to anything that had to do with Hermione.
"I want to." Ron admitted, looking at his hands, "I really do, but I won't. I think that's why she hexed me in the first place- to keep me from saying anything as she left."
"I think she's just very mad." Harry almost grinned but caught himself. What he wouldn't have paid to have seen Ron's head so swollen he couldn't hold it's weight up.
"No kidding." Ron went quiet before looking up at Harry, "Swear to me you don't like her."
"What?" Harry sat up straight, "What are you going on about?"
"Swear you will never date Hermione." Ron leaned forward, "It's easy. Just say it. You told me you had no feeling for her so just say it."
"Harry doesn't have to say anything to you." Hermione made them all jump as she came into the room, her epmty water glass in her hand, "You and Harry both have no say what so ever in who I date or like. If I liked Harry I wouldn't stay away because you'd get mad. You're the one being an ass, Ronald, not us."
Ron opened his mouth and then closed it with a snap as he stood up quickly. Harry jumped out of his chair and put himself between Hermione and Ron as Mr Weasley grabbed at Ron's arm.
"I'll just leave you two to your little love nest then." he all but spat in Harry's face. So much for Ron controlling his anger.
"You being a thickheaded idiot!" Hermione screamed at him as he turned to leave, "It's not anyone elses fault but your own that we didn't work out. Blame whoever the hell you like but it will always have been your fault!"
Hermione sagged against Harry's back when Ron and Arthur had disappeared through the Fire.
"Sorry about that." she said quietly and Harry could hear her crying, "It's just like him running off again because he doesn't know what to do."
Harry didn't say anything. He didn't dare. Everything he wanted to say was in one some way or another really mean to Ron. So he kept his mouth shut.
He helped her over to one of the chairs and took the glass she was still clutching. Kreature seemed to appear out of nowhere with another full glass of water and a box of tissues. Both of which Hermione seemed happy to see.
"I can't believe Ron said that to you." Hermoine wiped her face and looked up at Harry, "I knew he was mad at you about something but I had no idea that it was about that."
"I told him you were amazing and then he started acting wierd." Harry shook his head and just stared at the table.
"He told me you said that." Hermione sounded tired but her laugh made Harry look up, "Probably didn't help any that I had been talking about how much fun it was spending the days with you."
"Probably not." Harry laughed too.
"We should get some sleep." Hermione sipped her water, "I'm sure Molly will be by in the morning to check on us."
"Why?" Harry asked in confusion. Molly usualy came to Grimmauld around noon or later whenever she wanted to pop in.
"Because Ron will no doubt be complaining about our 'love nest' to anyone who will listen." she saw Harry pale and added quickly, "I don't think he'd tell the press anything like that though. I mean, he would know better."
"I hope somewhere in that thick head of his he does. You know how he can be." Harry tried not to think about the last time the wizarding wolrd thought Hermione was his girlfriend. All those hate letters bothered him if even she was able to laugh about it.
"We'll just deal with whatever happens when it happens." Hermione yawned, "I'm too tired to think about it right now anyways."
"Goodnight."Harry said as Hermione got up and headed for the door, "I'll see you in the morning."
"Night Harry." Hemrione stopped at the door and looked back at him, "And don't worry about Ron or what he said. With just the two of us here all the time my parents were also thinking that we might be secretly dating."
"You're kidding." Harry was stunned.
"I wish I were." she laughed, "They even asked if they sould invite you or Ron to the family get to together." suddenly her smiled dropped, "I should have said you." she smiled again, a little smaller than last time but it was still a Hermione smile, "You can come in his place anyways. It'll be fun."
And she turned and left him sitting at the table wondering he'd just been dragged into. The only family things he'd ever been invited to were the Weasley's holidays. Not once had he ever seen any relative of the Dursley's aside from Aunt Marge.
Harry wasn't sure how well he was going to sleep as he walked back up the stairs. He had so many things on his mind now. First there was Ron and how much he wanted to punch him. Then there was the fact that Ron could say the wrong thing in front of the wrong person and suddenly he and Hermione would be all over the papers. And now he was wondering if there was anything special he'd have to do at Hermione's family thing.
He stopped outside her bedroom door and stood there wondering if he should ask her but then again he didn't even know when this family thing was. He was hoping he'd have time to talk to her before he was dragged into all that.
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Just as Hermione had predicted Mrs. Weasley woke Harry up just a little after sunrise. He'd been so deeply asleep he hadn't even heard her open his door or pull up a chair next to his bed.
"What's wrong?!" was the first thing out of Harry's mouth. He'd forgotten about the whole drama of the night before.
"I wanted to talk you about Hermione." Molly frowned and suddenly Harry remembered.
"There's nothing to talk about." Harry grabbed his glasses and shoved them on, "Hermione and I are not dating. Ron is just over reacting as usual."
"Oh, thank Merlin." Molly sagged in the chair, "I was so worried when I heard Ron talking to Ginny this morning about how two would want your privacy."
"He's just being a git." Harry spat and Molly shot him a surprised look.
"Well, no one's really telling me the whole story so I don't know eaxctly what's going on but I take it you two fought?" she guessed.
"He and Hermione fought."
"I know about that, dear." Molly nodded, "What about after that?"
"Hermione came here and Ron showed up and started being a jerk." Harry didn't want to tell her everything because he knew it'd get back to Ron.
"But why didn't Hermione go home." the tone she used had Harry sitting up straighter.
"This is also her home." he said deffensively, "She's been here for three months now."
"I know but it was different when Arthur or I were here." Molly smiled gently, "Her parents may not like her living here with just you."
"Well, she'll have to talk to her parenst about that." Harry said, already knowing that Hermione wouldn't leave. The more she was pushed the more she would refuse. That was just her. Once her mind was made up that was that.
"I'll go have a word with her." Molly got up and left quickly, giving Harry the impression that she had had the same thought he had.
Harry dressed slowly and waited. He knew Hermione well enough to know that she would be knocking on his door any second to tell him about Molly's chat with her.
When nearly thirty minutes had passed Harry began to worry that Hermione was actualy thinking that everyone was right and that she'd move out.
Harry had to restrain himsefl from running to her room and just barging in. He managed to walk down the hall and even knock lightly when he got there.
"I'm so sick of people making decisions for me!" Hermione all but yelled when she threw the door open, "I am not going anywhere unless I choose to and I am not dating anyone just because everythinks I should!"
"Ok." was all Harry could think to say as he watched Hermione storm around her room obviously looking for something, "So you're not leaving?" he asked cautiously.
"No." she stopped to look at him for the first time that morning and she suddenly looked unsure, "But if you want me to..."
Harry hugged her so tightly he feared he might hurt her, "No. Never. I was afraid you'd leave."
"Well, I was planning on going out today." she smiled at him, "You wanna come?"
"Sure." he didn't even ask where she was going because it didn't matter. He'd been in that house for so long that anywhere was better than sitting around waiting for Ron or one of his family members to show up to 'chat'.
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The yard wasn't as full of reporters as it had been on other days and with a neat little spell Hermione cast none of them could get within ten feet of Harry or her as they walked to the disapperation point, which had been moved by the Minister to keep random people from showing up on Harry's front doorstep. It was only fourty or so feet from the house but it took forever to get there with the reporters shouting questions at them.
Harry was doing very well when it came to ignoring them when suddenly one question caught his attention.
"Is it true the Weasley family has left and it's just the two of you there now? What do you think our readers will make of that?"
Harry turned to try to see who had asked that but was blinded by flashing bulbs. How could they have known so quickly that the Weasley's were gone from Grimmauld?
"Just ignore them, Harry" Hermione slipped her hand around his wrist and sudden his feet left the ground but not before more flashes of pictures being taken blinded him again.
When his feet touched ground again he managed to stay upright despite Hermione stumbling into his side.
"I haven't done that for awhile." she mumbled as they walked out of Diagon alley and into the Leaky Cauldron.
Hermione acted like she didn't even see the people pointing and staring at Harry as they walked past so he tried to not to see them as well. It was hard but he managed mainly because Hermione hadn't let go of his wrist yet and was literaly pulling him through the place. He became more worried tripping than about the poeple around him.
When they walked out of the wizard bar and into muggle London Harry asked where they were going.
"Anywhere where we won't be recognised the first second we step through the door." Hermione sighed.
They went to a few muggle bookstores just for something to do. They weren't really looking for something to buy.Harry had never really been one ofr shopping but with Hermione he was having fun. He had even found a muggle book about mythical creatures he thought Hagrid would like.
Many of the beasts in the books were in all truth very real and as they looked through it Harry found something that looked very much like a thestral.
"It's called a Nightmare." Hermione frowned down at the name.
"Well the first time I saw one I thought I had lost my mind." Harry turned the book so Hermione could see it better, "The wings on a Thestral don't have feathers on the ends though. Their eyes also don't look human like these."
"Good." Hermione shivered, "That's just creepy."
To the joy of the waiting reporters, who had tripled in numbers Harry and Hermione made their way back to Grimmauld place a little after nine that night. Hermione performed the same charm as before and when reporters shouted questions Harry was able to block most of them out. Not once did he turn to look at them.
Hermione pushed him through the door a head of her and straight into Ginny who must have been waiting for them.
"Is Ron telling the truth?!" she yelled before Hermione could even close the door.
"Depends on what he was talking about." Harry took a step back from her and ran into Hermione as she pulled the door shut.
"Give me those." Hermione squeezed past Harry and took the bags from his hand, "You two talk."
"Yes, Harry." Ginny put her hands on her hips, "Talk."
"Wait." Harry shook his head, "You're not my girlfriend, remember. You're with Seamus now. This is none of your bussiness." it felt good saying that "Believe what you want to believe but for now will you please get out of my house."
"What?" she growled, glaring at him.
"It's getting late, Ginny. I want to go to bed." Harry said truthfully and watched as she silently fumed. She wasn't so different from Ron after all. Get mad now, think about the facts later.
Harry didn't wait to see if she would actualy leave. He was mad that Ron would go to Ginny and say all that crap to her and more mad that she had believed her brother so quickly. Not to mention she was acting like he had done her wrong somehow.
Hermione was his best friend and he'd just had a really fun day with her. So what if might like her? It wasn't that big a deal was it?
Harry froze just outside his room. Had he really just thought that?
Harry shook himself mentaly and went into his room. It was probably just everyone making such a big deal out of everything that was to blame.
Thinking about Hermione was normal. She'd been his friend so long and she had helped him out more times than he could even count. She wasn't ugly or annoying and he was comfortable around her. That didn't mean anything. She was just his friend, right?
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A/N: I had one of you tell me you'd never been a Ron fan, well, I've never been a Ginny fan. Ron's not all that bad but he just always seemed to be in the way if you ask me.
Anyways, please review! Keep this going!
Next chapter will be a bit of fluff, I think. I just have to see what happens. :)