Chapter Ten

by The Steppy One

I had discharged myself from the hospital about twenty minutes after Ron had stormed out. There was nothing wrong with me. I'd put up with a lot more than a Confundus charm before without any medical help, and the pain relief was still doing its job.

Harry really didn't want me to leave, he said it was because I should be resting, but I knew that he just didn't want to be left alone to mull over what had happened to Ron. He might drive himself mad if he did.

I couldn't stay at the hospital though; I had some thinking of my own to do.

I didn't know whether to go after Ron or not, but if I'm honest with myself, I couldn't face him. I just didn't understand why he was snapping at everything. Mind you, I didn't exactly help the situation when I echoed Harry's suspicions that he had gone to a loan shark to borrow money. In hindsight, of course, I knew that he wouldn't do something like that, but after his behaviour today I just...didn't know anymore.

Ron's behaviour.

Merlin was that a puzzler. The way he kissed me during breakfast caught me off guard. I'm past denying my feelings for Ron. I've wasted far too much energy on that in the past, but for one reason or another, a war for example, we just never got round to making anything official.

We're only a couple of weeks after that final battle; I don't want to press anything. We're all still adjusting to the new way things are. Harry's up and down and Ginny's not much better. I'm sure if one of them would just talk to the other, it would make that situation a whole lot better.

But their problems with communication were not my main concern.

I walked for a while through Muggle London. Over the years, the streets had become a comfortable sanctuary from the Wizarding world. Although, the fact that they had become familiar to me because I've visited the hospital many times, wasn't so comforting. I had visited that hospital more times than one person should ever have to visit a hospital.

I turned down a side alley that Ron would more than likely have stopped me going down if he were with me, but the thought that it might not be safe didn't cross my mind. It wasn't until I was lying on top of a huddle on the floor that I noticed it.

'Any spare change, luv?' he grunted.

Normally, I would just say, 'no, sorry' and carry on, but today I stopped and rummaged in my pocket, keeping my distance, just in case.

I pulled out a handful of wizard coins and hastily shoved them back in my pocket before the man saw.

I saw his questioning glare at my pocketed hand.

'They're foreign coins,' I said quietly.

'Been on holiday, 'ave ya?' he asked kindly.

'Yeah,' I replied. 'Something like that.'

I dug deep in my other pocket and felt a scrunched up piece of paper. I pulled it out and saw it was a grubby five pound note. I thought for a second and then held it out to the man.

He hesitated before taking it from me.

'Cheers, luv.'

'You're welcome.'

I walked through the passageway and emerged in the street on the other side.

Money.

That's what everything comes down to. Well, at the minute it seemed to be what my problems revolved around. That and Ron's stubbornness.

I stepped off the pavement onto the road to walk round a group of friends who took up the whole pavement. As I landed off the small drop, my whole body jarred. Pain shot through my spine and into my head, making me clamp my eyes shut and take a sharp intake of breath.

My need to walk stopped there. I literally stopped exactly where I was and looked around for the best place to Apparate from. I knew I should have found an official Apparation point but my head was protesting against the idea. I turned and walked back through the alleyway I had just walked through and stopped halfway along.

I quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching and was about to turn on the spot when a figure stepped into the street at the other end.

'Damn!' I muttered to myself.

The figure walked towards me and I leant against the wall, waiting for them to pass.

When the footsteps slowed, I looked up but not in time to react to whoever it was pinning me against the wall. An arm pressed against my throat and the rest of their body weight pushed against mine.

I tried to gasp but I couldn't, the pressure was too strong on my throat.

I think whoever it was realised they were stopping me breathing, as the pressure on my throat released slightly.

'What...what...do you...want from...m...me?' I managed to stutter.

I could hear my heartbeat hammering in my ears and my head was pounding from the knock I received on the back of my head. All I wanted to do was shut my eyes, but I knew I couldn't.

I forced my eyes open and searched for theirs. It was then I realised they were cloaked with their hood up, covering all but their neck. Whoever it was, was magical.

'He deserves more respect than you give him. He worships the ground you walk on and all you do is put him down and think the worst of him.'

What the hell?

'He...deserves...better!'

'What the hell are you talking about?' I snarled.

I tried to push them away from me, but my newly healed hand protested. I had no idea who it was; I couldn't even tell if it was male or female.

Think Hermione!

I looked at what I could see of them, namely their neck. There was no Adam's apple; it was a witch.

Flashes of memory from earlier on flooded my mind. Surely this couldn't be...?

'Treat him with respect! He cares for you, more than...more than you deserve.'

Their tone had changed.

'What do you want with us?' I said as calmly as I could. 'First Ron, now me? I suppose I should be thankful Harry's in hospital or else you'd be after him, too!'

She let go of me and took a step back. I fumbled in my coat for my wand but before I had chance to grab a hold of it she had turned on the spot and Disapparated.

I sighed and slid down the wall. Tears stung my eyes and the blood pounding in my brain made my head hurt.

I just sat there for a few minutes, then I heard shuffling to my left. I panicked and stood up as quickly as I could.

'You alright, luv?'

I sighed in relief as I recognised the voice of the man from before.

'Er...yeah...yeah, I'm okay.'

'No 'fence luv, but you don't look it.'

Despite myself I smiled.

'You want a bit of this?'

He held up a polystyrene cup and I smelled the coffee inside it.

'I made it Irish, if you know what I mean.'

I shook my head.

'No, thanks. I have a headache already, I doubt that will help it.'

'I dunno, luv. I've always found this numbs the pain.'

I smirked.

'I've been in that much pain recently I think I'm used to it.'

Where did that come from?

'Look, thanks for the offer, but I have to go.'

I turned and walked back through the alleyway the way I'd come. I looked over my shoulder and watched the man shuffle the other way. I turned on the spot and Disapparated.

I appeared at the end of Grimmauld Place and started walking towards number eleven and thirteen.

After I had gone through the rigmarole of getting into the house, I quietly made my way through to the kitchen so to not awake the wench that was asleep in her frame.

I pushed open the door and saw Remus sitting at the table eating.

'Hermione!' he said after he had swallowed his mouthful. 'How are you? Arthur gave us a brief run down of what happened this morning after Ron had told him. Are you okay?'

He stood and walked towards me.

'I'm fine, Remus.'

He pulled an 'I don't believe you' face.

'Really, I'm fine. I've taken worse than a Confundus charm recently.'

For some reason, I didn't tell him about my latest encounter. I have no idea why; I think I just needed time to think over it before I told anyone.

'Yes, well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask.'

'Well, I could do with some more pain relief. What they gave me at the hospital seems to have worn off.'

Remus smiled. 'Of course.'

He went to a cupboard at the back of the kitchen and took out a small bottle.

'When did they give you the last lot?'

'Er...I dunno, but it was the blue one, so it wasn't that strong. Not like this stuff.'

Remus chuckled.

'Yeah, it's good.'

'Remus, do you mind if I go to one of the rooms upstairs? I just fancy a bit of a rest and a bit of thinking time.'

'Oh, course not. You know you're more than welcome here, and after all this is Harry's house, and I don't think he'd have a problem with it, either. Just make sure to let me know if you need anything.'

'I will. Oh! Could you tell me where Ron is?'

'He's still at the Ministry, I think. Arthur said he'd be there a while and then the remaining members of the Order have been asked to go to the Ministry to be told everything properly.'

'Oh, okay. Thanks.'

I left the kitchen and made my way upstairs. I automatically went into the room I normally slept in when I stayed there. I locked the door behind me and flopped down on the bed. I curled up and stared at the wall.

I replayed my altercation with the witch in my head. I was convinced that the same witch had attacked Ron earlier. But then Ron's question came back to me. Was she really attacking him? It didn't look like it when she was holding him up.

I sighed. Really, I had no idea what she was doing.

And then there were her words to me.

'He cares for you, more than you deserve.'

What did that mean? Yes, we argue and bicker, but that's normal. The few days before the final battle, for once, Ron and I weren't arguing constantly and Harry had said this concerned him more than the impending confrontation with Voldemort. He'd said it just wasn't normal!

Even through all that we still know we care for each other. We'd been best friends for years.

Best friends.

My head gave another painful throb and my grip tightened on the bottle still in my hand. I sat up and took the potion in one go. My eyes closed as I felt the pain recede, but then I started to feel sleepy.

Crap! There's a reason why this stuff is good. It puts you to sleep during most of the pain.

I laid back on the bad and curled up again and let sleep overtake me.

I woke up a few hours later and checked my watch; it was half five. I sat up and was pleased to feel no pain. I squinted around in the darkened room and noticed a piece of parchment on the floor next to the door.

I picked it up.

Hermione,

We went to the Ministry and saw Ron. He told us what happened and we've set things in motion to monitor the situation.

I hate that phrase so much. It meant that the Order were concerned about what they'd heard but really there was nothing they could do about it, so were going to wait and see what transpired.

I carried on reading.

Arthur was taking Ron home to The Burrow and told me to tell you, you were welcome there, too, if you wanted to go.

We've all left to see what we can do about what Ron told us, but we didn't want to disturb you.

See you soon, take care.

Remus.

I was glad there was no one in the house. I unlocked the door and made my way down the stairs, careful to not to wake the sleeping beauty.

I went to the lounge and threw some Floo powder into the fireplace.

'The Burrow!' I shouted, after I'd stepped into the green flames.

Grimmauld Place disappeared in a whirl of colour and a few seconds later, I stepped out of the fireplace at The Burrow.

Instantly, I knew there was something wrong.

I heard the familiar sound of Molly's sobbing and then I heard Ginny throwing unending questions at some poor soul.

'Hermione!' Arthur exclaimed.

'Dad! Why won't you answer me?'

Apparently, it was Arthur who was on the receiving end of Ginny's interrogation.

'Arthur, what's going on? What's happened?'

I felt the familiar feeling of panic rising up inside me.

'Oh Merlin, you don't know.'

'Know what?'

'Its...it's Ron.'

'What? What's happened to him? Is he alright?'

'He's disappeared. You haven't seen him, have you?'

'NO! Not since he left the hospital. I've been at Grimmauld Place sleeping a headache off! Where was he before he disappeared?' I demanded.

'We were at the pub. I was about to make a Portkey to bring us here but when I went back to get him, he wasn't there.'

I felt my legs go wobbly and moved to the sofa before I fell down.

'How come you'll answer her questions but not mine!' Ginny screeched from behind Arthur.

'Because, Ginevra, I've told you everything I know once already, but Hermione doesn't know what has happened and she needs to!'

Arthur was very close to shouting, something I had only seen on a few occasions, namely when he thought he was to blame for something and was having trouble coping with his conscience. I had never known his self-blame to ever be justified, but that never seemed to matter with him.

Ginny scowled and turned a brilliant shade of red.

'I'm sorry,' she replied quietly.

Arthur turned back to me, but before he said anything, I cut him off.

'Arthur, there's something I need to tell you.'

He sat down on the sofa next to me. I prayed to Merlin I wasn't going to regret the decision I made earlier.