Chapter 4
"Wow…so, you're really…wow…" Harry kept repeating.
Hermione's mouth was set in a thin line, her eyes rimmed red from another crying, sleepless night. "I don't know what to do. I just can't believe Ron shagged Lavender. Then for me to be…as I am… everything is a mess. My life is ruined." She felt so tired, and let her head drop down to the wide, mahogany table in the library.
"Don't say that, Hermione. Your life isn't ruined. With a baby or without one, you'll be fine. I know you. What I don't know is what Ron was thinking when he went with Lavender, but then, he probably felt depressed because you ditched him."
"Obviously, he didn't care that I ditched him because look what he ran out and did," Hermione sighed.
"It's not that simple with blokes, Hermione. Trust me, that didn't mean anything to him. I know for a fact that he's in love with you, as he's always been. I'm just sorry he's acted so stupidly."
"It's not your responsibility to apologize for his behavior," Hermione said, sitting up and rubbing her forehead. "Thanks for listening to me, by the way."
"Anytime," Harry said. He paused for a minute, then continued, "So…"
"So, what?"
"I was just wondering if you had thought of telling Ginny. She might be able to help—"
"With what? Working things out with Ron? It's over between us, Harry. I'll never forgive him for what he did."
"But aren't you keeping the baby?"
Hermione sat stunned for a moment, then picked at her fingers. "Yes."
"Er…you do realize you'll have to talk to him eventually, then? He'll no doubt be driving me mad with questions," Harry said.
"Don't answer them. Don't you tell him anything about me," Hermione said, looking suddenly fierce. Harry sighed, and put his hands over hers, squeezing them tightly.
"Hermione, listen. You two are both my best friends. I don't want to be in the middle of this. I think--"
"Oi! Not interrupting anything, am I?"
Harry jerked away from Hermione, and both of them turned to see Ron staring down at them, looking angry enough to explode. Harry shook his head.
"No! Hermione was just—"
"Leaving," Hermione said, snatching her bag and rushing from the table. Ron gave Harry a quick once over before chasing after Hermione.
*****
"Hermione! Hermione!" Ron yelled. She had started to run, but Ron was faster. He caught up with her in no time, grabbing her arm and swinging her around.
"Let me go, get away from me!" she cried. People stared at them as they walked by. She tried to break free from him, but he held fast. "Please…just let go of me…"
"I want you to listen to me," Ron said. Hermione sniffed and squeezed her eyes shut. It hurt her to even look at him, to look at his face, his lips, his lips that had been on Lavender the night before.
"Go find her. Go and shag her some more, leave me alone, you'd better, before she sees you talking to me. You know how jealous she is. She's probably pregnant by now with your baby, too," Hermione said in a wavering voice.
Ron blinked. "That's a cruel thing to say. That's downright disgusting to say—"
"You are cruel and disgusting!" she cried.
Ron pulled her around a corner, away from the main corridor, where too many others were now craning their necks to watch the two of them, trying to see what was going on. He knew that this very public argument had probably started a million rumors off, but he didn't care.
"Hermione, I love you and I want to be with you. I don't give a damn about anything else except making you understand that. Whether you keep the baby or you don't, I'm still going to love you and I'll still want to marry you. I fucked up when I shagged her, I admit that. But the things you said to me…how cold you were to me, not talking to me...I was out of my mind. All I could think about was you and the baby, and you shutting me out of your lives for good. Lavender played on my weakness. She kept telling me how much you fancied Harry and everyone knew it—"
"What rubbish! How could you believe that?"
"Well, I just walked in on you two holding hands!"
"I don't love Harry! I love you, Ron. You! That's why this hurts so much, because I never thought you would…want me…I never thought you could feel the same…I'm not popular like you and your brothers, or Ginny. I'm not glamorous and prissy like Fleur or Lavender. I'm just plain! I hear what people say about me, that I'm bossy and an anorak! And that's obviously not good enough to hold your attention, because look who you go running to the first chance you get!"
"Oh, for Christ's sake, Hermione! You've never been plain to me! And who gives a shite if people call you names? I've always thought you were smart and beautiful. I don't want anyone else, Hermione. I would die for you. I would face Voldemort a thousand times for you. Forgive me for what I did, forgive me and come back to me, Hermione. I can't stop thinking about you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Hermione was trembling all over, her eyes cast downward and she gulped. She felt so vulnerable that she could barely stand it. Ron tilted her chin up to look at him. Looking into his eyes, she saw that he meant every word he'd just said, she saw how much he did love her.
"Ron, I love you. So much. I'm keeping the baby…but I don't think I can get over what you did. I'm sorry," she said.
"I won't give up on you. I don't care what I have to do."
"Ron," Hermione said, now sounding very tired. "I'll let you know about the…about it, of course. There's no need to be uncivilized about the matter. But it's over between us. I'm sorry," Hermione said, and rushed away from Ron, melting between the throngs of students rushing to class before they were tardy.
Ron punched the brick wall in frustration, cursing loudly as he watched her go.
A/N: This chapter was short, I know. I apologize, I took a break from my hectic schedule to feed you a spoonful of Hermione and Ron angst. The next chapter is written, it just needs major editing. By the way, I looked up British words for "geek" or "nerd" and the only one I found was "anorak". So that's what I used.
