Chapter 9
XXXXXXXXXXX
Abby and Roger were kept up in a room within castle walls so they were heavily watched and guarded by a bunch of Ron and Harrius's guards. Hermione, however, couldn't help but feel a bit awkward being back at the castle again, but even more awkward being around Ron. After the scene he caused out in the fields the previous day. He had told, no, exclaimed that he loved her. Hermione couldn't help but feel a wee bit scared when he had said this, not that she didn't love him back, but she was scared of what would happen if things got anymore serious than it already was.
Ron was also feeling a little awkward himself; he didn't like the face that Hermione was avoiding him. He blamed himself for it; maybe it wasn't a good idea for him to tell her that he loved her. But he couldn't help it; it just came out when the thought of never seeing her came into place. Ron saw her filling a pale of water out by the well to take back to the castle for Abby, Roger and herself. He decided to take his chance and say something.
"H-Hermione?" she turned around only to give him a bit of an awkward look. "Are you mad at me?" Hermione sighed; she put the wooden pail down on the ground.
"No. I'm not mad, why would I be?" she asked. Ron took a step forward closer to her, now staring down at the pail of water.
"You've…you've been avoiding me ever since you came back to the castle," Ron replied nervously, "Is-Is it because I told you I loved you?" Ron was now in deep eye contact with Hermione, he couldn't tell if the expression in her eyes were saying that she didn't want anything to do with him; or that she loved him back. Before Hermione could answer his question, Ron started up again, "Hermione I'm sorry, I know you don't love me back, but I couldn't help it! I don't know-there's-there's something about you that I find so special. The way you look, the way you act and the way you are. You're not like other young women I've ever met…I-I know you might not think I know because I wasn't neutered by my mother but-…" Hermione put a hand over his mouth to silence him.
"Ron…it's not that I don't love you. I do," she stated. Ron looked at her surprised, his eyes shot up causing the little scar next to his eyes to sting a little. He weakly smiled at her,
"You do? Really?" Hermione put on a little grin on her face; she slid both her hands into the palms of his.
"Yes. I really do," she said, "I have to admit it was a bit strange at first with me being a just another peasant, and you being Prince of Hogwarts. I'm just a little scared…I mean what's going to happen to your future if we were to be together?" Ron just chuckled; he pulled Hermione closer to him.
"I think you worry too much about me, it's me who should be worrying about you," he softly said, not breaking his glance on her, nor did Hermione. "We'll take things one step at a time, at the moment I just want to be able to..." Ron trailed off instead he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. Hermione felt her whole body tingle, her face was getting hot, she ran her hands up and down his chest, kissing him back; for once without hesitation. The two stood there snogging for what seemed like forever. Hermione pulled back, and giggled as Ron didn't break his hold of her but just began to go in contact with her neck. She enjoyed the moment for a couple of seconds before gently trying to get him to back off.
"O-Ok-(giggles)-Ron-(gasps), Ron, ok!" She laughed, as Ron did when he finally let go of her. Hermione hugged him and kissed his cheek. Ron smiled to see that he was able to see that smile on her face again and that she was laughing. He took her hand and led her to the sit down on the brick step next to the well. Hermione now suddenly felt more relaxed,
"So how are you feeling? Sorry I forgot to ask," he said still holding her hand.
"Erm…I'm still a bit queasy but, I think I'll be ok," said Hermione, "I just wish I could remember what happened that night. I got hit to hard on my head." Ron nodded he ran a hand around her head then brushed it across her face.
"Don't worry about that, Hermione, Harrius and I are still tracing," Ron strictly said, "and I've still got J--
"-Yes I know, you've still got Julian in that cellar, I know." Hermione took his hand in hers and brought it to her face, and began to brush it against her cheek for a few seconds before sighing and standing up from the step. She picked up the pail, "I should be heading back to the castle now." Ron nodded clearing his throat.
"You didn't have to come out here to get some water, a page boy could've gotten it for you," Ron told Hermione, helping her with the pail, carrying it back to the castle. Hermione smiled,
"That's alright; I'm used to it anyways."
As hours went by, the fact that the people who had tortured and raped Hermione that night was getting more and more intense. Ron had posted several pieces of parchment to distance land and kingdoms asking if any of the royals noticed any such thing. But of the owls came back denying which didn't make things any better. Hermione found it frightening always having to look over her shoulder every second either in the day time or at night. But she trusted that Harrius and Ron's guards would look after her, Abby and Roger.
Hermione was looking out the window of the room she was staying in. She wasn't particularly looking at anything, but just the people of Hogwarts walking around in the markets, children playing, merchants pulling wheelbarrows with cabbage, the usual everyday things. A pair of hands clutched Hermione's shoulders from behind making her gasp in fright,
"Oh, Hermione! It's ok, it's me," he said in a hurry before she could scream. Hermione closed her eyes for a split second and sighed in relief.
"Oh, Harrius, sorry I'm just so jumpy today," she squealed. Harrius nodded in understandment soothingly rubbing her shoulder.
"I understand." Hermione weakly smiled at him, she moved away from the window and went to sit on the bed. Abby and Roger were out buying food and other nourishments- (a/n is that the word?) They didn't really want to get used to the face that they actually had servants, Roger and Abby, especially Roger, didn't want to get used to the fact that they had servants for them provided by Ron. They wanted to act as normal as they were.
"So…how are you, Harrius? We haven't been able to talk in a while?" Harrius shook his head at her, as he stood in front of her.
"No we haven't," said Harrius, "-…you've been with Ron though." There was a hint of awkward jealousy in his voice that Hermione had caught. She put a hand on his shoulder,
"Harrius, I-I'm sorry, I didn't k--
"No, no," Harrius chuckled putting up his hands, "I understand that you and Ron would want to spend more time together, I mean- you are together, yeah?" Hermione blushed, her color was now scarlet. Harrius smiled knowingly, knowing Ron would have the exact same expression.
"We decided to take things slowly…very slowly, we're not showing it out," Hermione replied, she tried not to smile and remain serious. "I love him, Harrius, is-is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Harrius chuckled shrugging his shoulders.
"I guess it depends on the way you look at it, Hermione," he answered, "and another thing, you keep calling him Ron, he never lets me call him that. I always call him Ronald." Harrius laughed along with Hermione. He now had a curious look in his face as he looked at her, "Hermione, do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"No, but there is this boy who lives out in the fields with his mother, his father died a while ago…he's sort of like a little brother to me," said Hermione said softly smiling, "he's about seven summers old." Harrius smiled and nodded. "Why do you ask?" Harrius had a silly grin on his face, he gave a snort.
"Dunno. Just curious I guess. Tell me more about him." Hermione smiled, she sat back on the bed and put her head back on Harrius' shoulder.
"Erm…he and his mother live near where Abby, Roger and I live; his mother knew them for quite a while, so Owen, that's his name, he just likes to hang around me sometimes in the hut," she explained, "but he's-…"
"He's w-what?" Harrius asked.
"He can't hear at all. He was born without any hearing. So it slows him down a lot," she timidly said. Harrius sighed; he slid his hand into hers. Hermione squeezed back, and smiled, "I take care of sometimes though when his mum's out working."
"That's loyal of you. How do you communicate with him?"
"He points, makes hand gestures, and sometimes he tries to sound things out slowly," said Hermione, "he can't say 'mother' fully yet, usually he just says 'ma', and he tries to say my name sometimes. He's learning." Harrius nodded knowingly. The side door opened, Ron came in with Cedric and some guards behind him. Ron noticed the position that both Harrius and Hermione were sitting in; with him holding her hand and her having her head on his shoulder. Hermione merely just sat up from the bed, along with Harrius as if there were no fuss. Ron shook off all thoughts and cleared his throat.
"I was looking for you, Hermione, I-I couldn't find you and I started to get worried," he said, the tips of his ears going red. Hermione giggled,
"I'm alright, Ron, I was just relaxing in here then Harrius came to keep me company," she said smiling over at Harrius. Ron put on a fake lopsided smile, and nodded rubbing at his sides nervously.
"Well, it was nice being able to talk to you again, Hermione," Harrius took her hand and kissed it, causing Hermione to blush, Ron didn't like any other bloke making her blush the way he did. Harrius walked past Ron and his guards and walked out the door that leads into the corridors. Ron slanted his head and stared after him for a couple of seconds. Then he looked back at Hermione. Before either of them could say anything, there could be distance screaming and things breaking from outside the window. The guards looked at one another in concern; Ron rolled his eyes and sighed,
"Go and see what's going on, Cedric…and you lot, go with him," Cedric along with Ron's guards all bowed their heads and obeyed. They quickly made their way outside the door closing it behind them. Ron and Hermione were left alone in the room. Abby and Roger were due back at any time. There was an awkward silence between the two as they stood there apart.
"Sorry I had you worried, Ron," Hermione apologized, "it's just that I don't like having to be watched every second of the day." Ron sat next to Hermione on the bed; he took her hand in his like he saw Harrius doing.
"I'm just afraid that something is going to happen to you if I don't let my guard down," he replied, "I'd blame myself all over again."
Hermione sighed and shook her head; she lay back down on the bed on her back. Ron unloosened the collar of his elegant robes and took it off, since it was beginning to bother him. He then started to think about Harrius again…with Hermione…alone in the room…so close.
"So, erm…what did eh-you and Harrius talk about? I mean when I came in you two were awfully-…close in a way," Ron's cheeks were now almost matching his ginger hair, along with his ears. "He was-you know-holding-…" Ron trailed off not really knowing what he was saying or wanting to ask Hermione at that moment. Hermione sat up from bed and looked at the expression on Ron's face; she gave a light rhetorical smirk.
"Ronald, honestly are you getting territorial already?" Ron's face was now burning red; he looked down at the neatly made bed sheets. Hermione raised his head with her hand, "Ron, I'm not accusing you of anything; I just want to know what's wrong."
"Well when I came in here, you and Harrius looked well into something…so I just couldn't help but wonder, I mean-after earlier on out by the well-..." he was hushed by Hermione's hand.
"Oh, Ron," she sighed, "I'll take that as a yes. Nothing happened, it's just that I hadn't spent any time with Harrius in a while, so we just decided to relax and talk like before." Ron now relaxed and sighed in relief. He knew that Harrius would never do anything with Hermione that he would do with her, he was his best mate, but after what he walked in on he couldn't help but feel a bit curious. Hermione rolled her eyes, but giggled and gave him a peck on the cheek. Ron leant his forehead against hers, kissing her it,
"I'm sorry I know you or Harrius wouldn't…you know-do anything without telling me," Ron stuttered, "I just like to be the only one who holds your hand, has a shoulder for you to lean your head on and makes you blush and smile the way you do."
Hermione weakly smiled, and when Ron did the same, his smile made her weak to her knees. She couldn't believe all that was happening in her life, she had turn from a peasant girl to something much bigger. And she was enjoying her time with royals of Hogwarts. This is not what she pictured her life to be like, but besides from whatever happened that night while Ron and Harrius were in Romania, she was enjoying every minute of it. Ron leaned his head down and kissed her soft pink lips, Hermione hesitated for a minute hoping Abby and Roger would not burst in on them, but then relaxed realizing that the door was locked. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed back, but the two broke apart when yelling coming from the guards corrupted outside, Ron groaned, his forehead still leaning against hers,
"I will only be a minute," he whispered to Hermione getting up from the bed, "just wait. Don't move."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ron quickly tied his cape back on and scurried out the door to see what all the commotion was about. He saw that his guards were trying to restrain someone, who seemed to be making up a fuss to get out of it. Ron squint his eyes to get a better look, and it was a right surprise to him when he saw it was a little boy, who seemed to come from an unfortunate family. One of the guards was trying to hold him down, to keep him from squirming around. Ron wondered why a boy who came from a family of peasants would be within around the castle.
"Alright then, hold it!" Ron exclaimed putting up his hand. Ron bent his head to get a better look at the boy; his eyes were wondering all around as if he seemed lost. "Where did you find this one?" Cedric stepped forward,
"The guards caught this young one trying to steal goods from the market place," he strictly said. Ron sighed looking down at the boy's now tear strained face; he folded his arms and looked at them,
"Why have you brought him here, men?" he asked.
"You know what the penalty is for theft, my Prince," Ron's head guard replied, "no matter how severe it is, it still goes to frighten children." In Hogwarts the penalty for stealing or theft is the person would get one hand cut off. Even though it was mostly men and women who were given this punishment, it still referred to children as well. Ron didn't know either to go along with it, or just pass the sentence. Ron sighed again, he looked at Cedric who had an approving look on his face, and then crutched down to face the boy who was being held back by one the guards.
"What be your name, boy?" Ron carefully asked. The boy didn't answer his eyes just continued to wonder around, his lip was trembling, and he was scared out of his mind. Ron was never good with children, he didn't know how to get his attention, "look at me, boy." He tilted his head for him to look at him. The boy was now looking at him, but also scared, "What is your name, young one?" The boy's breathing began to labor more as he got more and more frightened of Ron. Ron wasn't trying to scare him; all he wanted was some answers out of him.
"He's clueless, Prince Ronald," Cedric said.
"If he's clueless then why would he attempt to steal, Cedric?!" one of the guards shot at him.
"ENOUGH!" Ron shouted at everyone. He turned his attention back to the boy, "I know you know what I'm saying, boy, so I think it would be wise you answer me."
Harrius came walking towards the small in crowd with his messenger following behind him. He put his hands behind his back,
"What seems to be the problem here?" he asked. Ron sighed; he stood back up to face Harrius,
"Some of my guards caught this little one, stealing some goods from a merchant," he whispered to Harrius, "Harrius, we all know what the penalty is for stealing, but…this one's in no state to receive that, and I cannot get anything out of him." Now both Ron and Harrius looked down at the boy curiously, especially at his eyes which would not stop wondering and moving. But they did after a while, the boy caught sight of something or someone, he started to move around again,
"Ahh-ah! Herm-..." he slowly but loudly shouted out. Ron turned to see who he was looking and shouting out, Hermione was standing there with one hand on her mouth.
"Owen!" she exclaimed loudly. Harrius had now remembered an Owen from the story Hermione had told him. Ron looked back at the boy who had now been able to let himself loose from the guards grasp. He ran to Hermione nearly tripping over his own feet and swung himself onto her, giving her a death gripping hug. Ron, along with Harrius, Cedric and the rest of the guards looked confused but shocked, as this boy had just ran to Hermione. Harrius went over to Hermione,
"This is the boy you were telling me about just now, Hermione?" he asked. Hermione nodded still holding Owen in her arms as he sobbed on her shoulder. Ron still looked confused he looked down at Hermione and the boy,
"I don't understand, Hermione, how do you know him?" he asked.
"He lives out in the fields with his mother, his father died a while ago…h-he c-can't h-hear, Ron. He was born without any hearing." Ron now looked awestruck, he now knew why the boy wouldn't answer him, and it was because he couldn't hear anything. And that was the reason why his eyes kept wondering everywhere, he was probably looking for his mother or Hermione. Ron ran a hand through his hair. He turned back to Cedric and the rest of his guards,
"Were you aware of this?" he asked. They all shook their heads,
"We didn't know he was born like that, he could make sounds and scream a bit." Ron looked a bit scared himself now and guilty. He was about to give a stealing penalty to a little child, not only a child, but a child who couldn't hear. He couldn't believe himself. Hermione tilted Owen's face to the side so Ron could see that his ear was slightly plugged with skin. "This is still no excuse, Prince Ronald!"
"Excuse me? No excuse?! It's bad enough for me to give a young child a penalty like that, but when he can't even hear that's-…" Ron trailed off, he looked at Hermione, "Hermione, I-I'm so sorry I didn't know he couldn't hear." Hermione stood up furiously still clutching Owens' hand.
"What did you do to him?!" Ron held up his hands in defense.
"Ron's guards caught Owen trying to steal goods from some of the merchants," Harrius told Hermione, "so they brought him here, Ron didn't know what to do." Ron was so ashamed of himself; he looked down at the quivering little boy hiding behind Hermione clutching her hand. He had not done anything to hurt him, but he almost did. He would've condemned the boy to get his hand cut off, an innocent boy who was born with no hearing.
Hermione looked up at Ron looking guilty herself for yelling at him. Owen squeezed her hand tighter, he looked up at Hermione; Hermione could tell that he wanted his mother even though he couldn't or wouldn't say it. She sighed and looked back at Ron,
"Ron, it's getting dark outside, is it ok if we keep Owen here with us tonight?" she anxiously asked, "then we can take him back to his mother when it gets light." Ron looked at Harrius first the back at Hermione and nodded approving. Ron turned back to Cedric and the rest of his guards and raised his hand signing them to clear on off back to their duties on night watch. Harrius put a hand on Ron's shoulder and whispered good night into his ear before taking off down the corridors with his messenger following behind him. Ron walked towards Hermione; he nervously took hold of one of her hands,
"H-Hermione, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare him," Hermione shook her head lightly putting her hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright, Ron, I know you didn't do anything to him," Owen tugged on Hermione's hand a bit harder,
"M-mma, ma!" Hermione stooped down to face him; she cupped his face in her hands. She held it facing towards her so she could have his full attention even though he couldn't hear. Hermione shook her head at him and said loudly into his ear that he couldn't see his mother tonight. She didn't know if Owen heard or knew what she had just said, but he only just gave her another hug. Ron stood there not knowing what to say, but he just looked down at the two and saw the deep connection.
"Let's go back to the room now," Hermione said now looking at Ron; he nodded. He followed behind her and Owen who was still not letting Hermione's hand out of his grasp.
Leading into the room struck Owen as odd, his eyes started to wonder all around, so curiously. He wasn't smiling, just still looked nervous and jumpy. Ron, however, still felt a bit angry and guilty with himself, thinking of the fact that he had almost did something very low to a young boy. Not only have that, but a boy who had lost his hearing at birth. As Prince it was obviously his duty and privilege to make commands such as the theft penalty; he had done it before, but never it a situation like this one. Ron tried to picture out what had exactly happened he figured his messenger and his guards wouldn't have brought Owen to him if it wasn't anything serious, but they did. Owen must have forgotten that it was wrong to steal things that didn't belong to you. He must have taken a wrong turn somewhere, and when the merchants caught him they tried to grab hold of him. That's when Owen may have started up a little bit of a fight and was brought in the castle. Ron knew if it was his father who had caught Owen, things would've gotten ugly right then and there and he wouldn't have been able to do anything about it. Even being Prince of Hogwarts, the King was always one step higher and had complete control; Ron was just on the right hand.
Hermione had taken a fresh apple from the elegant bowl at the side, which was holding all the fresh fruits and handed it to Owen. He immediately took it and took a bite out of it. There was still a lot of sorrow and confusion in his eyes, even as he chewed the apple.
"Will he be ok staying here tonight?" Ron asked.
"I think he will," Hermione said nodding her head, "just as long as he stays with me, Abby and Roger." Ron shook his head going over to the window; he rested his elbows on the sill, burying his face in his hands. Hermione now had a worried expression on her face, she wanted to get up, but she knew Owen would just be scared and take it out of surprise. "Ron, what is it?"
"I…I just can't believe myself sometimes! My guards came along the corridors trying to restrain Owen from getting away, they tell me he tries to steal and I almost--," Ron didn't want to say it; the punishment was to painful to think about let alone said. He should've known sinking to that level would just bring him back to where he started being cold and selfish, like his father. That's not the type of Prince and future King he wanted to be. Ron wanted to be a fair King that respected himself and those around him, either royal or peasant. He lifted his head and looked over at Owen again, who was merely just sitting there on the bed was munching on the sweet apple. "H-He's so innocent…what kind of bloody Prince am I?!"
"Ron, listen, its fine! I'm glad that you didn't do anything to him, and that you let him stay in the castle for the night," said Hermione softly, "I think you're a great Prince." Ron sighed looking at Hermione; he came over and sat on the bed beside her.
"I won't be if I keep messing up the way I do," he lowly replied.
"Ron, you expect yourself to be perfect? Or the perfect Prince?" Hermione asked, "no one is perfect, you of all people should know that concerning you're father." Ron nodded agreeing that she had a point; he defiantly knew that his father was not perfect and he didn't think he ever will be. Ron hadn't seen a whole lot of Arthur since he and Harrius had come back from Romania. But it wasn't the issue now; the real issue was that Hermione was back with him and that he and Harrius would find out who was responsible for what happened to her that night. Ron slanted his head over a tad bit and looked at Owen,
"So how is it you talk with him?" he curiously asked. "Do you just have to talk loud into his ear?" Hermione too looked at Owen; she began to stroke his back continuously, while he finished up with his apple.
"Sometimes when its things really urgent," she said, "but usually we just make gestures at him or he does at us." Ron nodded and then smiled looking at her with a fascinated look,
"You really care about him, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do, he's…he's sort of like a younger brother to me," Hermione replied with a twinkle in her eye. She then looked out the door, looking to see if Abby and Roger came back yet. "I'm going to go see where Abby and Roger went off to; will you watch Owen for a while, Ron?" Ron looked a little worried and unsure, not that he didn't want to watch him, he just didn't want to make things worse for little Owen like he already had. But he loved and cared for Hermione, so he could care for him too.
"Alright, I'll look after him, I'll do my best," Hermione giggled and pecked him on the cheek before getting up. Owen made a squeak out of his mouth has he quickly grabbed onto her hand, he began to shake his head, which was his gesture for her not to leave. Ron held him back by the shoulders that too took Owen out of surprise; he quickly scurried away from him and ran under the table.
"Ouch," Ron thought as Owen hid under the table from him.
"Hermione, I don't think he's comfortable around me…I scare him," Ron said looking at Owen shaking under the table. Hermione sighed going over to Owen,
"Ron, please try," she said to him. Ron sighed nodding his head; he crouched down to get a better look at Owen. Owen eyes were wandering as usual before they planted directly to Ron's. Ron stood still looking at him before stretching out his hand. Owen sat there staring at his hand for a moment and then back at Ron. Ron shook his hand for him to take it, Owen however didn't take it, and instead he smiled and began to slap it with his hand for no apparent reason. Ron didn't know what that meant, but he smiled and chuckled along with Hermione when he did this.
A/N- might seem off topic just a smidgen ;) Read/Review while I find the time to work on chappie 10- Danielle aka dandin
