Hermione took the cup from Ron. Ron however blushed "Uh... by the way, I have a somewhat diffrent recipe than most people so I hope you don't mind"

Hermione looked at Ron in suspicion "And what kind of recipe is that"

Ron named it off and Hermione looked once more into his eyes, once again she got that curious sensation but despite that she determined that he was honest.

Hermione looked at the tea cup with an odd expression, then after a moment she looked at Ron

"... Um... Thank you... " she said somewhat guardedly but her voice was much higher pitched that it had been, gone was the agressive tones in her voice and it was a much more pleasant sound, normal for a young woman her age and it sounded somewhat familiar but Ron couldn't place it. Her expression was still stone cold and guarded. In addition, Ron also felt alittle sorry for her. She had somewhat stumbled on the phrase as though she hadn't used it in a long time.

"No problem" Ron said politely.

Hermione took a cautious sip, then a look of bewilderment crossed her face. She then took a much larger sip of the tea and seemed to breath in the aroma. The smell, the taste... she closed her eyes and began to daydream. Ron looked at her concerned and then frightened.

Hermione felt diffrent... as though she were in some other location in a diffrent state of mind. She sat alone at a large table sipping the exact same type of tea at this place that looked somewhat worn, but it was warm feeling. She looked up at a woman who gave a motherly smile at her. She gave a warm smile back.

"Ms. Warren?..."

Hermione couldn't place where the voice was coming from and the woman seemed to not hear it.
"Ms. Warren?"

Hermione sat in confusion 'Who on earth is Ms. Warren... It certainly isn't me, my last name is... is... damn it how could I not know my own last name?...'

"Ms. Warr... er... Hermione? Are you okay" Ron said, he didn't know why using her first name would yeild any better results but her eyes opened as though waking up from sleep "Ron?"

Ron stared at her "Yeah? you okay?"

Hermione shook her head "Yeah... for a moment there... I couldn't... I couldn't remember... uh... I mean I couldn't remember why I would fall asleep like that... I'm sorry..."

Ron nodded but could tell she wasn't being entirely truthfull about the last part of her statement but he didn't want to press the issue.

Hermione looked up at Ron "Ron... um... oh I'm sorry I mean..."

Ron shook his head "No no you can call me Ron"

Hermione gazed at him for a second trying to see if he was going to start trying to hit on her but decided he was just trying to be friendly. "Sorry, but um... did you just call me Hermione?"

Ron nodded "Yeah... you weren't responding to 'Ms. Warren' and for some reason I called you by your first name instead... sorry I don't mean any disrespect or anything..."

Hermione shook her head this time "If I'm going to call you by your first name, you might as well call me by mine... I don't mind either way but... I do have to admit your one of the few to get my name right on the first try." she said with a nervous laugh

"Yeah... it... it sounds familiar..." Ron shrugged "Anyways..."

"Um... Ron... if you don't mind me asking... where did you learn that recipe?"

Ron shrugged again "Not sure... picked it up somewhere... why?"

"I think I've had it before... it reminds me... of home... or just kind of the concept of home... somewhere I feel safe... and welcome... not neccesarily my literal home"
Hermione said somewhat dreamily.

Ron stared at her then slowly picked up his own cup and gave it a sniff as though to make sure the ingredients hadn't gone bad.

Hermione blushed "Sorry I guess I just spaced out there for a little bit"

Ron nodded but still stared at her "Home?" he suggested

Hermione was still blushing "I guess thats it, I don't know why..."

"Yeah... I know what you mean but It's kinda..."

"Personal?"

Ron looked at his landlady strangely "Yeah... I mean... well... your the only one I've ever come across that said that... That is alittle strange"

"Sorry... I'm uh... I'm abit weird sometimes" Hermione admitted. Her cheeks started going slightly pink

"Yeah... guilty of that myself sometimes"

Hermione laughed "Yeah?"

"Well... I don't know... It's just... Hermione... I don't really know how to explain it... its just... weird"

Hermione gave a slow nod. Then gave a start "Oh I'm so sorry Ron, we've been here for over an hour and I still haven't goven you a proper set of directions." She said a little flustered but every hint of suspision left her voice as she gave her standerd orientation speech but Ron nodded and listened and asked questions, which made Hermione feel very grateful. then at the end of her explanation she blushed embarrased

"Ron..."

"Yeah"

"I just wanted to tell you.. thank you... for... for giving me a chance and for being patient with me when I didn't give you a chance."

Ron nodded "Believe me Hermione I understand..."

Hermione looked in his eyes, but this time in suprise rather than mistrust, he really did understand... or atleast had some sort of understanding of why she acted as she did.

"Ron... thank you... but thats still no excuse I should have never..."

Ron just gave a nod

Hermione: "Oh... and by the way... on Fridays, like today, we usually go out to the diner across the street"

Ron nodded "Alright thank you, how uh... how expensive is it?" He asked trying to not look too concerned but Hermione saw through this one

"Not very... and the food is good..." Hermione said assuringly

Ron smiled "Sounds good then..."

Hermione: "Yeah... it is, well hope to uh see you there then..." She said alittle awkwardly then got up to leave

"Wait... Hermione... the rent... I still haven't..."

Hermione turned around and looked red in the face "Oh... yes, thank you..." she said embarrased taking the money from Ron

"Hermione that's only enough for one month's rent and the security deposit..."

"Right... that's... that's all I need for now..." Hermione told him.

"But Hermione..."

"Ron... I trust you... don't worry" she said earnestly.

Ron nodded "Alright then"

"Yes... it was... it was nice meeting you" Hermione told him smiling. She pocketed the money as she opened the door, forgetting who was on the other side.

'How on earth did I forget about the rent?' Hermione asked herself 'He had to remind me for pete's sakes' She thought to herself as she gave one last 'thank you' to Ron from his doorway before shuting the door. She was brought out of her elation by a large shadow. She looked up at the man and resisted giving a gulp. Rick was a large man and a supposedly well-connected man whatever that ment.

"So Sweetcheeks about my bed..."

Hermione groaned.

"Bad night?" Asked the man licking his lips

"Bad century" Hermione said waspishly

"Then i'll make it quick"

"No"

Rick had a manic gleam in his eye: "You sure about that?"

Hermione didn't give a damn how well-connected this man was supposed to be, she punched him as hard as she could. He fell over but got back up

"Nice try" He said. His eyes were buring with a demonic fire. Hermione backed away giving an unaudiable whimper.

Suddenly a door slammed open

"Oh the newbie... whats wrong... she forget to tell you how to flush the toliets" He asked laughing and eyeing Hermione.

"Well Ms. Warren I did ask nicely..." Rick said walking toward the small young woman.

"Leave her alone..." Ron said managing to get inbetween Hermione and a man about twice the size of him.

"Yeah?" Rick asked

"Yeah" Ron said staring him in the eye

"Heh... first day here and you make the second biggest mistake of your life."

"Oh Yeah?" Ron said not backing down.

"Yeah that would be trying to get in the way of me and my business, the first biggest mistake of your life is being too much of a wuss to take out a knife or gun before I did" He said followed by the sound of a metallic flick "Just isn't your day huh kid"

Ron only watched the metallic blade out of the corner of his eye not taking his eyes off of Rick's "Try me" he said confidently

"Your going to die for this bitch?" Rick mused

"Only If I screw up" Ron told the man. Ron's expression showed that he he didn't 'screw up' too often.

"Oh... you've definately screwed up mate"

"Well can I invite you in for some tea then?" Ron asked indifferently

"Tea?!" Rick asked confused. His brain clearly wasn't proportional to his stature

"Yeah"

"What the bloody hell are you talking about... tea?"

"You know... hot beverage... you brew leaves in water and..."

Rick brought up the knife near Ron's throat "Keep talking smart-ass"

Ron still went on unphased "Well if you know what it is then you could give me an answer"

"To what?" Rick grunted

"You want some tea or not?"

"Non-violent type huh? wanna settle our diffrences over a cuppa? Is that it..." Rick asked laughing

"Something like that"

"Better be some damn good tea then... you lead the way" Rick said bearing down on the skinnier man

"You know where my apartment is... go ahead" Ron said pointing at the open door.

"While you help 'Ms. Warren' escape huh? Whatever... let the bitch run away see if I care..." Rick told the redhead. Ron's expression didn't shift.

"Fine, tea's in the kitchen, cups in the cabnit" Ron told him trying to come up with a plan.

"Any jewlrey or valubles I should know about?" Rick ask laughing

"I'm broke I can't afford anything like that"

"Yeah that's right... damn shame..." The larger man said as he went into Ron's apartment

"Ron... don't... he actually knows people Ron, if we run... we won't get very far..." Hermione whispered urgantly

"Just get going okay..." Ron whispered back

Hermione nodded then went to her apartment that was directly below Ron's, she'd be safest there but also she'd hear everything that the two do. She listened to the muffled voices coming from the ceiling.

"So back already?" Rick's baritone voice asked

"I don't need a new meat cleaver thanks, if you had a set of forks on the other hand"

"Haha funny... so the knife don't scare ya huh?... your dumber than I thought.."

"and your drunk..."

"So?! little late to be try'n to convert me Catholic don't you think... no damn wonder you stick up for that bitch... you think just like her..."

"And you think I'm dumb?!... your going to try to get in a knife fight with me when you don't even have a proper sense of balance?" Ron pointed out.

"...The fuck you know 'bout knife fighting, fuck you and your pussy-ass tea... We're here right? You gonna do something?"

"If I have to" Ron replied sighing

"the fuck kind of answer is that? Tell you what, this is what's going to happen alright... I use this shiny knife of mine against you. We fight. Then I throw you out the second story window into the dumpster below."

"Whatever"

"Your going to die for that bitch?, Your seriously going to die for that stupid, annoying, jumped up, bossy bitch. I mean... hell I get that you're life aint all that great and you can't just kill your own Catholic ass of course, against the gods or some shit like that... so here you are... defending some stupid bitch"

"You got the second part wrong"

"Not Catholic huh?"

"No not suicidal"

"Just stupid then?"

"Whatever"

"What you gonna drink some tea then?" Rick asked.

"Yeah gimme a second"

Hermione was literally terrified for Ron's safety in her bedroom. 'Please don't let Ron get hurt, Please don't let Ron get hurt' she prayed fiercely. She had witnessed her share of fights but none of them involving her being defended. After a moment of harsh silence she heard a scuffling sound and the shattering sound of glass pane followed by a thump in the dumpster below. Hermione gave an expression of horror at the sound.

She heard footsteps go from the bedroom of the apartment above to the kitchen to run some water then she heard the footsteps go towards the front door. Soon she heard the same footsteps come towards her door. Hermione thought her heart stopped until she heard a gentle knocking on the door.

"It's me"

Hermione opened the door and starred at Ron

"Ron... you... Rick..." Hermione got that far then Ron gently held her hand. She suddenly felt a sensation go through her.

"Here, you'll need this" he said and handed her an ice pack, Hermione nodded and put it to her aching hand she'd almost forgotten about it.

"Thank you... but Ron... be careful... Rick... He's..."

"...As long as he won't go after you"

Hermione shook her head "Well I have some things I have to do but..."

"Yeah... good punch though"

"Ron... don't... why... why did you... do that?" Hermione asked desperately. Of all the tennants she had she just couldn't figure this one out.

Ron shrugged "Just had to"

Hermione gave a slow nod "Well, thank you Ron, thank you so much" She said then suddenly wrapped her arms around him for a brief moment.

"No problem" he said smiling

"You... you think its funny?" Hermione asked him.

"Alittle yeah... poor Rick"

"Ron... how on earth did you...?"

"I didn't, I was just trying to pin him down until he came to his senses"

"He's just as bad sober..." Hermione told him.

"Oh... well anyway we got into a struggle and he got knocked off balance and went through the window."

"But Ron..."

"Thank god that dumpster full of trash was there, he could have gotten himself killed"

"Yeah... I... I guess so..." Hermione said in a tone that was a little less than sincere.

"I... I know you probably wouldn't care either way but..."

"No its not that its... I don't want him dead if thats possible but Ron you could be in big trouble"

"Don't worry, He didn't even break anything... thank god... all thats going to be bruised is his ego. If we don't mention it, I bet he won't either.

"I... I guess... yeah... that has worked in the past..." Hermione said in agreement

Ron nodded "Well, I guess I owe you a new window then..."

No, I won't charge you for that... you practically saved my life Ron" Both knew that technically Rick probably would have left her still alive but neither could comfortably state what would have happened without Ron's intervention. "... anyways I can't hold that against you." Hermione told him.

"Alright... well I guess you should go on then" He said as he left.

Hermione closed the door and sighed, What was Ron thinking, what made him try to save her, he didn't even know her, and yet...

'If the tables were turned... if Ron's life was in danger and I were there...?' She didn't have to think about it for hardly anytime it was almost a gut reaction. 'Yes' she concluded she would do anything to try to help out, it just was the right thing to do. And that scared her alittle

'If thats how I feel then was that ever put to a test?" Hermione pondered to herself