Twisted Fate

Chapter 3

Realization

Mrs. Weasley led Hermione up the slightly odd small staircase. It seemed to be growing smaller as they got farther up; this was partly due to the fact that the Weasley's continued to add stories to their home that could only be supported by magic.

She led Hermione into an oddly shaped door which was the entrance to their bathroom. This bathroom also was small in comparison to what Hermione was used to at Victors. It was hardly suitable for 3 people to share. Hermione found it remarkable that at least 9 people shared this bathroom at once.

Mrs. Weasley walked in and over to the bathtub, she started the water and checked it to see how warm it was. She reached above the shower curtain and grabbed a bottle of green liquid gel. She poured a tea spoon in and in a heart beat the bath was full of rainbow bubbles.

"There you are my dear. If you need anything at all just ask." Mrs. Weasley said politely as she laid a peach colored towel down on the counter.

"Well actually Mrs. Weasley I do have a question." Hermione said rather abruptly.

"Oh yes? Well what is it then?"

"I...I...I was wondering...did umm anything happen while I have been gone? I mean anything abnormal or something?"

"What do you mean by abnormal dear?"

"Well...has...umm..." Deciding to just blurt it out..."have you heard anything about Voldemort? Has he tried to attack you or Harry? Has he hurt anyone, do you know where he is, what he is doing, anything?" Hermione said rather quickly and quietly.

Mrs. Weasley cringed as he heard his name but quickly recovered with worry in her eyes. "Why no he hasn't tried to attack any of us. And anything we know about him is best to be kept to the Order dear, you understand. But why all the sudden questions?"

"Well...I...kind of had a...oh...never mind. I was just wondering that's all. It's okay, and thank you for the bath and everything." She said forcing a smile across her lips.

Mrs. Weasley looked at her for a minute longer and then gave her a warm motherly smile. "Okay dear. Remember anything you need just call. I will have a bit of something for you to eat when you are done." And with that she left the room leaving Hermione to her own thoughts and problems.

Hermione turned and sat down on the toilet, resting her head in her hands and closing her eyes. Everyone was okay including Harry and Ron, and Voldemort hadn't tried to attack them yet. It was all a stupid dream! She had rushed out here to see them for no reason at all. Well, no, this wasn't true she admitted to herself, she missed them all terribly. Victor was a great friend but he couldn't ever begin to fill the place that Harry and Ron had in her heart.

She stood up and turned the water off on the bathtub and walked over to the mirror. She looked a right sight that she did. Her hair tangled in parts and clung with mud. She had bits of leaves and debris all in her hair. Her face muddy and scraped, while her clothes where torn and grimy as well.

Picking up a brush she tried to pull it through her hair but with no use. Finally giving up she got undressed and settled down into the bath. As the water soaked around her all of her troubles seemed to dissolve with the bubbles. She rested her head against the back of the tub and before she knew it she was humming along to an old song she had heard when she was a child. And not soon after that she was singing, and rather loudly at that.

3 hours and 2 shouts from Mrs. Weasley Ron and Harry had finally finished cleaning the front entrance way. They lazed down on the couch and started talking idly about quidditch.

"How long has Hermione been up there?" Said Ron looking at Harry questioningly.

"I am not sure. How long does it normally take you to have a bath?"

"Me? Like 10 minutes. Are you sure she is still alive?"

"Of course I can still hear her singing, can't you?"

And sure enough they could hear her just as clear as if she was standing right next to them. Ron and Harry began to laugh because her voice wasn't that pleasing to the ears.

"Well I wish she would hurry up. I have had to use the bathroom for the last hour." Said Ron clutching his crotch and making the jumping "I need to pee" motion. Harry laughed and leaned over the board of chess they had been playing earlier.

"Care to finish the game then? While you wait for the bathroom of course." He said smiling.

Ron sat down and began playing with Harry. It was perhaps another hour and a half before they heard Hermione stop singing, and the water begin to drain from the tub.

"Oh my god! Finally!" Ron shouted standing up. "I will be right back to finish you off." He said as he headed up the stairs. He half ran half sprinted up the last flight of stairs as he rounded the corner to the bathroom. The door was slightly ajar so he just pushed it open and stopped dead in his tracks. Right before him stood Hermione picking up her clothes on the floor, and before his very eyes she dropped the towel that had been the only thing keeping Ron from seeing her in her fullness.

Hermione had just been about to leave the bathroom when she remembered to grab her clothes. She had left the door open as she went back to get her clothes on the floor, but she couldn't hold onto the clothes and the towel so she let it fall to the floor. She stood up and straightened herself as she turned to leave the room. Just then she saw Ron standing in the doorway staring at her. She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Oh my god Ronald! Get out you sick pervert!" She screamed throwing her shoes at him and hitting him directly between the eyes. Ron who was already stunned staggered back and slipped falling directly into Harry who had run up to see what the screaming was about. Harry caught Ron as he fell into him and helped him to his feet.

"What the..." But just then he saw into the bathroom and his jaw dropped as he caught site of Hermione standing in the middle of the room naked. "Oh my!" He said under his breath as he stared at her with Ron who was still gaping at her.

Hermione turned blood red in the face, nearly purple as she walked over to the door and slammed it in Ron and Harry's faces. "Go away! Both of you. I don't want to see or talk to you. Just leave me alone." She screamed from the other side of the door.

Ron and Harry both just looked on at the door with wide eyes and cavernous jaws. They had never thought of Hermione in that sense before. It just seemed to both of them as if she had turned into a young woman right before their very eyes. And they liked what they saw.