Chapter 7: A Lover's Revenge

Ron awoke to find a small flower and an elaborately folded letter hovering above the place where Hermione had slept. As he reached for the letter, it helped him by unwrapping itself. The flower then vanished at his touch, leaving Ron, as usual, quite impressed by the little details Hermione put into things.

Ron,

Good morning. I hope you slept well. You looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake you. I've gone to take care of some things. I'll be back at Harry and Ginny's later. I will send an owl when I return.

Love from, Hermione

P.S. Thank you for staying.

She felt awkward about the two of them, he could tell from her note. He didn't need to witness her writing the letter to know that she had paused for some time after the P.S., not knowing what was appropriate or inappropriate. She had tried to keep things neutral. Ron himself did not care to be neutral, not after last night. He felt they'd said everything they needed to say to each other; they'd done all they needed to do to make things work between them…

Well, almost. He still had to break it off with Lacey. Whom he worked with. He looked over at the clock and saw that he would be hard pressed to get to work on time. With a sigh, he forced himself up quickly. Best to get it over and done with.

I'll take her to lunch, and tell her everything then, he thought as he shoved his feet into his trainers and went downstairs.

"Well, I didn't hear any headboards creaking, but you're still here, so I guess things went well," Ginny said. She had just tightened the lace of her right Quidditch uniform boot, and now stood upright, scooping her long hair up into a high ponytail.

"As if I'd allow you to hold that over my head…shagging in your house. All we did was talk, really," Ron said. He noticed some rolls on the table that must have been leftover from breakfast and helped himself to three of them.

"Don't rush her into anything, Ron. I'm not saying she loved Robert, but she's been acting out of sorts since the night she went to your flat. I think this whole thing has got her all confused," Ginny said, and then pointing to the food he had grabbed, added, "I was saving those, Ron."

"For Merlin's sake, you talk as if I've forced Hermione into something! I just said, all we did was talk! You turn more into Mum every day!" Ron said grumpily. He swallowed half of the second roll. "…those are really good…"

"I've got to get to practice. Are you alright?" Ginny asked him.

"I've got to break up with Lacey as soon as possible. That should be loads of fun," he replied.

"I won't even comment on that. Owl me if you need me. I guess I'll be seeing you later on, then." They walked together to the fireplace, both of them traveling by Floo Network.

Before Ginny entered the Network, she turned to Ron. "I'm happy you're together with her. But remember that sometimes, people don't take the end of a relationship so well. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Please, be careful."

"I'm not worried about Lacey," Ron said.

"I wasn't talking about Lacey," Ginny said. She stepped into the fireplace, and disappeared.

Ron grabbed a handful of green powder and threw it into the fireplace. He wasn't really worried about Robert. Robert didn't hold a candle to him as far as weight or height. Ron was fully confident he could flatten Robert in seconds, no wand necessary, if it even came to that. Besides, he had more pressing issues to deal with at the moment, and that was all he thought of as he hurtled through the Floo Network towards his flat to get ready for work.

Ron dressed in a hurry, cursing to himself as he realized that he would have to go the entire workday before breaking up with Lacey. He hadn't had time to do it in the morning, and breaking it off with her during the lunch hour was just cruel.

Since he'd arrived late, the shop was in full swing by the time he'd arrived. He'd owled Grant to let him know he'd be coming late, and could tell Grant was relieved when he'd finally walked in.

"Got loads of complainers today. Getting downright sick of them myself…ready to hex this old bag in the orange jumper," Grant hissed to Ron under his breath. There were several irritated customers in line, waiting for their turn to be heard. Some of them were holding what looked like gag gifts gone wrong. Ron could see at least three wizards clutching broken No Cook Cauldrons.

"Shite, I thought I told George those things didn't last," Ron swore. He turned to Grant with a shrug and said cheerfully, "I'll take it from here. Thanks for opening up for me. Alright, who's first?"

At the sound of his raised voice, he saw Lacey peek out from her office and give him her biggest, brightest smile. He could tell she wanted to come over, but couldn't at the moment. She had always been very careful not to let on that they were seeing each other. Ron smiled back at her at platonically as he could, feeling even more guilty at what he was going to have to do.

The work day proved to be so busy that Lacey did not find time to corner Ron and smother him with kisses, as she usually did when things slowed down a bit. He was grateful for it, but also anxious, because it was all just adding fuel to the fire he was going to have to douse out.

Finally, the last customer left with a big bag of practical joke gifts.

"Well, what pandemonium those Pygmy Puffs created when that chubby little bugger broke the cage! My head's been searing ever since!" Grant said, rubbing his temples. "Good night to all of you, I've got to get home and get some sleep!"

He disappeared to the back to get his things, still muttering to himself about the Pygmy Puffs.

As soon as he'd gone, Lacey grabbed Ron to her in a tight hug. "What kept you this morning? I was getting worried!"

Ron stiffened, and drew in his breath. "Lacey, listen. I've…We need to talk," he said firmly. No point in prolonging the inevitable. He hated doing this. She had been so excited to be with him, and he honestly did like her. He just didn't love her.

Lacey pulled away, looking alarmed. "What do you mean, talk? About what?"

Ron glanced around, clearing his throat. Some other employees were still within earshot, helping to clean up before closing. "Not here, Lacey. We'll talk later, tonight—"

"No. Absolutely not. Right now. Are you about to ditch me?" Lacey asked him, her voice going up an octave.

Ron took Lacey's elbow and led her to his office, which he closed firmly once they'd gotten inside. When he'd turned back to face Lacey, he could see she was breathing hard; she looked as ferocious as a Death Eater.

"Well?" she demanded angrily.

"Let's go to dinner, what do you say to that?"

"Stop changing the subject, you wanker! Tell me the bloody truth!"

Ron shook his head, not knowing where to begin. "Okay. The truth is that I do like you. A lot -"

Here, Lacey snorted and rolled her eyes.

"–and I think you're beautiful and smart and fun. You'll make a perfect girlfriend to, er, someone else. I…this isn't going to work between us. We can't see each other anymore. I mean, we can, as friends, but not, you know, as we were."

"Unbelievable! You selfish, cold hearted, troll! You fucking prick! You used me!" Lacey screeched, pointing an accusing finger at him. He was sure that everyone still at work was now listening. He should have used the Muffliato charm. As it was, he would probably have to Apparate home from his office to avoid the embarrassment of what was becoming quite the spectacle.

"No, I didn't. I never meant…I never wanted to hurt you. I just love someone else, it's that simple. And I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry."

"That's a load of bollocks, and you know it. How dare you, how dare you try that shite with me, Ron! Is it Hermina? The one you swore was just your friend?"

"Er, it's complicated, it's more than—"

"It is her! I knew it the day she came here acting like a first class bitch when she saw the two of us together!"

"Please, Lacey, keep your voice down—"

"Isn't she married? What a fucking slag. Both of you are fucking slags!" And before Ron could move a muscle, Lacey had whipped out her wand, and had it aimed directly at Ron.

"What the hell-What are you doing?" he asked her, shocked.

"You won't make me cry," Lacey said to him in a cold, determined voice.

Before he could reply, she screamed at him, "Flipendo!"

Ron flew backwards and crashed to the floor, completely stunned. He blinked several times as he suddenly found himself staring up at the ceiling, then at the angry face of Lacey. She pointed her wand at him again.

"Stop! Grant, get in here, she's gone mad!" Ron shouted just as Lacey cried out shrilly, "Furnunculus! Furnunculus! Furnunculus!"

Ron let out a cry of pain as he felt a burning sensation creeping over his face, neck and arms. As he looked at his arms, he saw with horror that they had broken out into hideous boils. They were spreading fast. His hands flew up to touch his face. Boils. Hot, burning, stinking boils.

Lacey, giving him a smug and satisfied look, added insult to injury by spitting down at him as he lay on the floor, the horrible boils filling the inside of his cheeks and ears.

"I quit. And may you have a fucking wonderful evening, Mr. Weasley," she sniffed, and turned on her heel and walked out as if she'd just collected a pay check or asked him what the time was.

Ron began to panic as his eyes closed shut against his will. "You foul little witch! Grant! Where the hell are you? Arrrgghh, my eyes!"

"Bloody hell, Ron… we all heard the shouting, what is Merlin's name-oh, hell, what's she done to you?" Grant was saying.

By this time, Ron could neither talk nor see. His boils had started to itch, and some of them had burst. A putrid odor filled the room as the larger wounds popped.

"Shite, I've never in my life…we've got to get you to St. Mungo's right away! Come on, mate, up you go," Grant said, and Ron felt himself tugged up. He was sure that Grant was not touching him, that Grant was relying on magic to help lift Ron's body. He was starting to gag as boils began to burst and spill their burning juices down his throat.

"We'll apparate, here, just take my arm, there you go, careful, don't drip it on me," Grant said. Ron wanted to shout at him that he couldn't help it, but he was in too much pain. To think that he'd only just told Ginny that he wasn't worried about Lacey reacting badly. He could only imagine what might have happened to him if the relationship had been more serious.

As soon as Ron and Grant arrived at St. Mungo's, Ron felt himself whisked away for what he heard someone say "immediate spell reversal".

He felt a sharp pinch near his wrist and within seconds found himself feeling extremely woozy. He hoped the doctors were able to clear up his skin without leaving scars. It would be a damn shame if he had to walk around the rest of his life looking like a gargoyle…

Ron's eyes opened slowly, his breathing calm and steady. He saw Ginny, Harry and his mother sitting by his bed. And suddenly, he bolted upright in bed, grabbing at his face.

"Bloody hell, have I—", he started. He looked at his arms. Nothing but smooth, freckled skin. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mum stopped me from hexing the life out of Lacey for what she did. She could have really hurt you," Ginny said angrily.

"Bollocks. It was just a couple of boils," Ron said, and lay back down. "Look, I'm good as new."

He just wanted to forget about Lacey. He wasn't going to shout or be angry about her hex on him, and he certainly didn't want his sister involved. He started to grin at everyone when he noticed that Ginny's eyes were bloodshot.

"Ginny? It's really alright. I'm fine," Ron said. "Harry, Mum, tell her, it's not worth crying about—"

"Ron. Darling," his mother started, and her tears spilled over. "I'm afraid I've got some bad news."

A roaring sounded suddenly in Ron's ears. "W-what do you mean, bad news? What's happened? What's going on?"

Ginny and Harry looked at each other, then down at the ground.

"It's Hermione. Ron, she's here. She's…she's not doing so well," his mother said in a strained voice. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.

"What happened? Somebody tell me what the hell is going on!" Ron shouted.

"Apparently, Hermione went back to her flat to get the rest of her things. Robert was there waiting on her. They got into an argument, and he…he attacked her. It was bad, Ron. They don't know if she'll come around. I'm sorry, darling," his mother whispered.

Ron threw back his blankets and leapt from the bed. "Robert's a dead man. Where's my wand?"

"He's already been taken to Azakaban. They're holding him there until they get more information. He was trying to leave London, but they caught him," Ginny said, grabbing the front of Ron's shirt. "She'd owled me before she went. She told me to check on her if she wasn't back at our place by supper. I had a bad feeling and I went early, and I found her, just laying there." She was crying now, and hugged Ron, wailing into his chest.

"I have to see her. Where is she?" he said, stepping back from his sister. He couldn't do this right now, wouldn't.

"Let me ring one of the nurses and have them check to see if it's okay for you to get out of bed -"

"I don't need a bloody nurse! Either tell me where she is, or I'll find her myself," Ron said, already storming to the door.

"Wait, Ron. I'll take you," Harry said. "I'll take you to her."

The room where Hermione lay was quiet, and dark. She looked so peaceful, there in the hospital bed. Her face was bruised only slightly above her left eye, but as Ron looked closer, he saw her throat, which was covered with ugly, purple welts. The same markings were on both of her wrists. Robert had really, honestly tried to kill her. Had he used his hands to do it? Or a spell of some sort?

Ron pulled a chair up beside Hermione's bed, and grabbed her hand. "I should have been there to protect you…dammit, I should've been there! I'll never forgive myself if…if…" he whispered to her. "Never."

He was shaking all over, so much so he knew that if he tried to stand, his legs would betray him and he would end up on the floor. Ron had never felt more terrified in his life. This was the only woman he'd ever loved, lying in a hospital bed, broken, seeing nothing around her, hearing nothing. Not knowing that Ron was right beside her; perhaps beside her too late.

"You can't do this, not here, not now," Ron told her fiercely. "We have a life to live together. Give me the chance to marry you, and we'll have children, lots of them, all running about. We'll raise them up to be strong and brave and read books like you and curse when they oughtn't to, like me. We've got to do that, we've got to have that life. I want to sleep beside you every night and see your face when I come home at the end of each day. I need that. I have to have that. Damn you, you pull through! You must!"

He leaned down, touching her face. "I wish you would smile at me. Won't you, Hermione? Just open your eyes, my darling, won't you? Please…" he begged her, and then he could speak no more, for his throat grew tight.

"Hermione…" he whispered to her, giving her shoulders a small shake.

And he lay across her, hugging her tightly, and wept.

A/N: I actually wrote this story years ago and forgot about it. I found my old zip drive and uploaded what I had to this site. There's only one more chapter left and I know how it's going to end in my head, the problem is writing it out. I'll work on it dutifully and try to get this story finished as soon as possible!