I managed to squish third year all into one Chapter... which isn't a good or bad thing really. I added both book and movie versions because Ron doesn't get stabbed in the movie and Hermione doesn't hug Ron in the book. :)
Chapter 6 – Crookshanks
Hermione's POV
They had told me he had been at the store a long time; that he would only show affection to someone worthy of his companionship. And for some reason he'd chosen me to care for. I had to admit, he was adorable.
Crookshanks. My new pet cat. And just in time for third year!
But on the Hogwarts Express, Crookshanks proved just how much trouble an intelligent cat could cause.
I couldn't remember much besides running down the train corridors after Crookshanks while Ron ran behind me. We shoved past a couple of first years. "Crookshanks no!" I yelled breathlessly. He didn't seem to understand, which confused me.
"Scabbers!" Ron finally managed to shove past me and threw himself at the two animals. There was a lot of hissing and some high-pitched squeaking. Then I heard Ron's triumphant grunt and I grabbed Crookshanks as fast as I could, stroking him gently and restraining him at the same time.
Ron stood up and glared at me, or more precisely the cat in my arms. "I'm warning you, Hermione," he threatened, "keep that bloody beast away from Scabbers!"
"He's a cat, Ronald," I spat, "what do you expect?"
/
"And that's more than enough said," I shuddered, not wanting to relive that particular year especially. It had been a very lonely year for me.
"Hang on," Ron insisted. "What about when Scabbers disappeared? Or the good stuff? So far third year was the most romantic year!"
I rolled my eyes, more than happy to think about those awkward moments. "Fine, I've got two more memories that are worth sharing from third year. Otherwise it's as good as history to me. Well, three if you count that time I slapped Malfoy…"
I started before Rose could say something in Draco's defense. "So one day we were in Care for Magical Creatures Class…"
/
Harry neared Buckbeak. I stiffened as the Hippogriff clapped his beak at Harry. Not thinking, my hand shot out and grabbed Ron around his wrist. I concentrated on taking a few deep breaths. Poor Harry… this could be dangerous.
And then I realized I was holding Ron's hand. I looked down at our hands and then up at Ron to find he was looking at me with the strangest expression. In sync, we stepped away from each other.
Well that was awkward….
/
Now, how to explain this next part? "So the cats and rats wasn't the only fight we had that year," I said. "On top of that, Ronald was mad at me about turning in Harry's Firebolt."
"Oh, come on Hermione, even you have to admit that it was a-"
"Quiet, Ron! I stand by my actions."
"Even though they were the wrong ones."
"They may not have been at the time, you didn't know."
"Whatever."
"Anyway," I said, "one night, Ron woke up the entire Gryffindor tower screaming his head off because Sirius Black had woken him up standing over him with a knife."
"It was bloody scary!"
I shuffled my fingers. "That was when we became friends again."
/
(I apologize that I do not have the book with me... I read it a few months ago and only know what happened so this isn't going to be the same as the book but it's still a big moment in their relationship and it doesn't feel right to skip it.)
What had happened this year? Ron and I hadn't spoken in months... and now he'd almost been stabbed. My eyes welled with tears every time I remembered his scream... every time I thought about him lying motionlessly in his bed while Sirius Black huddled over him, his knife soaked in the blood of my best friend.
Yes, even after all this time, Ron was my best friend. That was a fact I was not afraid to admit. His friendship meant more to me than any other friendship I'd ever had (though there hadn't been many due to my initial weirdness) and I was just throwing it away as if I could walk into the nearest store and pick up a new one.
I had to set things right with Ron.
That night, I walked up to his Dorm room. Ron was alone, looking through a book (to my immense surprise). And then I realized it was a book called How To Play Quidditch for Dummies.
"Hey," I said quietly.
Ron looked up at me, his eyes flashing. "Harry's not here," he said in a slightly cold voice.
"I know, I saw him down in the Common Room."
"Then what do you want?"
"To apologize." I sniffed, forgetting his rudeness as I remembered his near-death experience. "I'm so sorry, Ron. A-about Scabbers a-and a-about the F-firebolt... I'm sorry! But I've missed you... I mean, you and Harry. I-I've been an... an arse this past year-" his eyes widened at my language, "-so I want you to know that. I-I want to be your f-friend again, Ron. Please?" my eyes were watering uncontrollably.
Ron shrugged, looking at me a little more kindly. "Well... maybe. But you have been an arse..."
I smiled and restrained myself from hugging him. I was feeling better than I'd felt all year. He'd talked to me.
/
"And then there was that one time when Buckbeak 'died'."
/
Silence was thick in the air. I tried to hold back the sobs that were racking my body as I watched the executor approach where Buckbeak was waiting. He raised his ax, aiming carefully at his target and my stomach twisted in a painful knot. Why was this happening to an innocent Hippogriff?
The quiet was broken by the sound of a neck (or pumpkins…) being severed. Crows flew away from the scene of the death, giving an ominous feel to the air.
I didn't fight the tears. Turning to Ron, I wrapped my left arm around the front of his chest. My right arms slid behind his neck and I buried my face in his shoulder. I was vaguely aware of Harry leaning on my back, his hand on my shoulder.
I sniffled loudly and cried into Ron's jumper. Ron's left arm was wrapped around me, his hand on the small of my back. (If I'd looked up, I would have noticed Ron giving Harry a strange look.)
Then Scabbers bit Ron and things went downhill from there. I didn't think about that moment until I lay down to sleep that night, where I realized that in that moment only two things had been important to me.
I'd almost witnessed the death of an innocent animal.
I'd turned and hugged Ronald Weasley for comfort.
/
Dear Mum and Dad,
Once again my story is too long for my letter. Remember Sirius Black? Yeah, well turns out he isn't evil. He didn't try to kill Harry or stab Ron. In fact, he just wanted to hex Scabbers and that's why Crookshanks kept attacking him.
Will explain more later. I've had a very long day and I just want to rest.
Oh, and Ron's forgiven me… I think. He's talking to me again and he seems friendlier to Crookshanks. Sirius got him a new pet owl – Pigwidgeon – and Ron asked for Crookshanks for approval. Crookshanks likes Pig, so there won't be any more pet business.
See you soon!
Love, Hermione.
Pig is so cute. 3 ... even though they decided to leave him out of the movies too. Well, we still got that awkward hand scene... and if you look really carefully, there's some Drapple action going on in the background there! :D
Anyway, thanks for reading and feel free to put down your feelings in that little box down there purposefully dedicated to reviews!
