A/N: Hey guys thanks so much for those of you who reviewed, added my story to their favorites and have my story on alert. It does wonders for my motivation! Of course, thanks to those of you who are reading! I really do have a clear idea as to where I'm going with this, and I just want everyone to know that this fic will NOT take place all during Hogwarts. I'm just starting it off there. Also, to clear up anything else, the war has already ended and the students are finishing up their school year after coming back. Once again, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
I don't own Harry Potter!
Hermione sighed as she looked over at Ron. Her left hand was absentmindedly rubbing her stomach while the other held a spoon, mixing her uneaten oatmeal. It had been a week since they had talked in the Room of Requirement and he'd been ignoring her like the plague. She was sitting next to Ginny a ways away from both him and Harry. The only explanation either of them gave was that they had a fight, and were not ready to speak just yet. Harry and Ginny, not wanting to get involved, left it alone. She looked at him intently, hoping to catch his attention. He ignored her, knowing very well what she was trying to do.
"Ginny, has Ron said anything? About…us?" she asked her hopefully.
Ginny put her goblet down and sighed. "I'm sorry 'Mione. Ron hasn't said a single word regarding what happened between you two. Are you ready to tell me yet? You know, as one of your close friends, I would think you would have told me by now. It's been a week, you know!"
"I know how long it's been!" she accidently snapped. "Sorry…it's just…I want to clear things up with him before I talk to anyone else."
With a look of confusion in her eyes, Ginny just nodded and turned her attention back to her food. Not looking at her, she added, "Harry's worried about you, you know? He doesn't like to see you down in the dumps like this. If Ron's done something horrible, he wants to know!...I want to know!"
"Let me work things out for myself this time Ginny, please." She begged her. "I promise, I'll tell you soon." She didn't wait to hear Ginny's response. Picking up her bag, she got up and headed out the door, looking one last time at Ron before disappearing completely.
X=X=X
He watched with cold, grey eyes. His gaze fixed on the girl whom he had terrorized throughout their previous years at school together. The one he watched being tortured by his aunt in the drawing room of his own home. The one with the annoyingly bushy hair. The one he couldn't seem to stop thinking about. No, he wasn't in love. That would be preposterous. But why, oh why, could he not stop looking at her? He scoffed at himself as he took a bite of his half eaten muffin. He continued to look at her, taking note that she wasn't sitting in her usual place, next to Harry and Ron. 'Trouble in paradise, I see.' He paused for a second. 'What? Why do I care?' He looked away towards Blaise in an attempt to shake all thoughts of a certain Gryffindor from his head. He pretended to listen as Blaise began to tell of his recent escapade with a certain blonde Ravenclaw. He nodded in all the right places, even adding an 'oh?' or 'hmmm' here and there.
"And what about you Draco? Anyone interesting catch your attention?" he winked as he teased him.
Draco glared at him as he hissed, "You know very well of my situation Blaise. Don't play dumb with me." Blaise only smirked at him, a knowing look in his eyes. "If I so much as glance at another woman, Astoria will have a fit. That witch is annoying as bloody hell!" He thanked Merlin she wasn't around to hear what he was saying. Even more thankful she wasn't around to catch him glancing at the Gryffindor table.
"I know mate, it must be horrid to have to marry a wretched witch like her." He offered in a bad attempt to comfort his friend.
"Yeah well, consider yourself lucky that you get to choose who you shag every night." He said bitterly. "I on the other hand, have no choice but to tolerate Astoria Greengrass for the rest of my life. Damn these pureblood customs."
Blaise just patted him on the back and turned to gather his things to leave. Once he was alone, he turned his attention back to where it was before. Just as he located her, Hermione stood up to leave. He watched as she looked at Ron, an unknown feeling in the pit of his stomach caused him to grimace.
"It's just indigestion…" he tried to wave it off.
X=X=X
The day went by just like it had for the past week. Hermione trying to catch Ron's eyes every chance she could, in every class they shared together. Ron, knowing very well of her attempts to talk to him, coldly ignored her. Now, she sat in the Gryffindor common room, watching him and Harry play a round of wizards's chess.
Harry glanced at her and then looked back at Ron. "When are you gonna talk to her again?" He questioned. "She looks really sad Ron, stop being so insensitive."
"Blimey Harry, can't you just leave well enough alone?" he asked annoyed. "I'll deal with it when I see fit."
"Ron…" he warned. "She's my best friend also, and I don't like to see her like this. Now, you either go talk to her, or I'll ask Ginny to hit you with a nasty stinging hex!" He pounded his fist on the table and stood to leave. "We'll talk once you've settled things with her." He headed towards his room, nodding at Hermione as he left.
She smiled at Harry as he nodded at her. 'thank you…' She thought as she realized what he had done. Taking the opportunity he handed to her, she walked towards the redhead she loved so dearly. Clearing her throat, she took Harry's seat and looked at Ron. He looked up warily into her eyes. 'There's no avoiding it anymore. I have to work things out now.'
"Ron, we need to talk." She pleaded.
He let out a breath. "What is it Hermione?"
"Please, stop avoiding me. I feel horrid right now. Tell me how you're feeling. Tell my why you're acting like this!" She cried.
"Why? You know why! You've ruined my life! You've given me a responsibility I'm not ready to take on!" he yelled as he slammed a chess piece down.
Tears slowly began to spill from her eyes. "I'm sorry you feel that way Ron. It takes two to make a baby, so whether you like it or not, you will have to–" She was interrupted by a loud smack against the wall.
"WHAT?" fumed Harry as he walked towards them angrily. He stopped in front of Ron, looking at him with angry, green eyes. Clenching his fist he continued, "You got her pregnant? You've been ignoring her because of that?"
"Harry, I…I'm Sor–" Ron tried to apologize.
"No. No Ron. Don't you dare apologize to me. I'm not the one you knocked up and ignored for the past week." He hissed. "Some man you are, trying to get out of something like this. Don't you dare hurt Hermione like this."
Shocked, Ron looked at him with wide eyes. "Harry, you're my best friend. Why are you defending her?" He slowly turned red in the face. "Why can't you understand how I feel about this?"
"She's my friend also, and more importantly, she's you're girlfriend. This is something I would only expect from a git like Malfoy." He yelled at the redhead.
Getting even more read, Ron yelled back. "Some friend you are! Can't you see it's not my fault? I'm always careful. " He looked angrily at her. "She's the one that messed up. She's probably just trying to force me into marrying her!"
Hermione was sobbing uncontrollably now. Her eyes were red and her face blotchy. 'Why is he acting like this? Does he not love me anymore? Or…did he ever love me?' She looked blurrily from Harry to Ron. 'He's right. This is my entire fault! This…' Her thoughts were broken when she noticed Harry raise his fist. Her eyes went wide and she jolted up.
"Harry NO!" she cried.
But it was too late. Harry's fist made contact with Ron's face and before he knew what hit him, he fell backwards and into unconsciousness.
She stared at the scene in front of her. The color of her face turned a pale white. She raised her hands to her mouth, and started crying again. 'I've just ruined a friendship. I've destroyed everything the three of us ever had.'
A/N: So I hope you guys liked it! I was eager to get this chapter out for y'all and I hope it's to your liking. I'm leaving tomorrow for San Antonio for my freshman orientation! I'm so excited! But unfortunately, that means I won't be posting another chapter until probably Thursday, when I get back. I'll start work on chapter three later today, and if I somehow miraculously finish before tomorrow morning, I will post it. But don't get your hopes up too high! I still haven't packed and I always take forever to do that. Best wishes to all of you and pleasssse review! It makes me happy.
-nemoliciouss