A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. -Ingrid Bergman
This is the quotation I should have used for the last chapter. :-)
Hermione stood before the mirror and stared at herself. She took a deep breath. He had, for some strange reason, asked her out. It had been four years and Harry and him had just gotten back from Auror training. She checked make up and was about to head for the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. She closed her eyes and walked to the door.
"Hey."
Oh Merlin, he has changed, she thought.
He was much taller, making her glad she had decided to where heels. He was wearing a navy long sleeved shirt and black trousers. He smiled when he saw her. She bit her lip.
"I'll go get my purse," she mumbled and then ran to the kitchen. She grabbed her bag and took a deep breath. She straightened her black dress and swatted the hair out of her eyes. After entering the foyer again she grabbed her coat and they were off.
When they got to the restaurant, he helped her into her seat and they soon ordered their food. They sat in an awkward silence until their food did arrive.
"So how've you been?" he asked, looking up from his drink. She smiled.
"I've been… ok… I missed you…both of you." She added. Ron smiled; something she hadn't seen in awhile. She looked down at her food, searching for someway to ask him why he had wanted to see her.
"Anyone new in your life?"
She sputtered on her salad and looked up surprised at the sudden shift in gears. She stared at him for a minute, entranced by his beautiful crystal blue eyes. She then smiled weakly. She wanted to say him but that was too… sudden… too scary…
"No… not yet…"
She tilted her head slightly. "What about you?"
He rolled his eyes.
"Me… All the women I dated were either to intense about something I wanted to end or to wrapped in it all that they didn't see that it already ended," he shrugged. "I'm not the type of guy who's good with long term relationships."
Her heart jumped. He's single…
After they had finished their dinner, they decided to take a walk around the park near by her flat. The whole time they talked about the old days and about how life was treating them now. During that time, Hermione tried to introduce the whole dating subject again.
"What about you?"
He looked up from the ground.
"What about me?"
She smiled.
"What's your idea of the right woman?"
He looked down, thinking. He shrugged.
"What's your idea of the right man?"
"I don't know… honesty, kindness… he has to care…"
"About what?"
She looked at him.
"I don't know."
He looked up at the sky.
"Well… I think that she'd have to care about… my dreams… me… my family… my friends."
She stared at him, amazed.
"Have you found anyone like that?"
He smiled and nodded. Her heart skipped a beat.
She stopped walking.
"Once…"
"Who?"
He looked over at her and smiled. He then continued to walk again.
"What about you?" he asked over his shoulder. She bit her lip.
He turned around and approached her. She stepped back slightly, uncomfortable with how close he was.
"Well?"
She looked into his eyes and then broke the gaze and shook her head.
"No one."
They started to head back to the flat when it started to rain. She started to run when she realized Ron wasn't behind her. She turned and stared. There he was standing in the rain with his hands out.
"What are you doing?" she called.
It was starting to rain harder and already her hair was soaked. He smiled and went over to her and grabbed her hand. He pulled her closer and began to dance. She repeated her question. He began to laugh.
"We never danced at the Yule ball."
She stared at him.
"So! It's raining!"
He shrugged.
"What's a little rain going to do?"
She looked into his eyes.
"I didn't want this day to be ruined."
He smiled causing her legs to wobble slightly.
"Isn't this nice?"
"I'm wet."
He laughed. She could feel his heart beating. It was a slow beat. She looked up at him.
"You're so calm."
He grinned.
"I'm with you…"
She opened her mouth to say something but stopped.
Instead she stepped closer, placed her head against his chest and closed her eyes. Enjoying this moment with him, even if it was raining. She hated herself for not responding to what he had said.
Why didn't you say something?
They were silent for a while when Hermione felt vibrations from his chest and heard something. She raised her head. He noticed and decided to break out in song.
"Raindrops keep fallin' on my head, but that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red. Cryin's not for me 'cause, I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'. Because I'm free, nothin's worryin' me."
She burst out laughing.
"Where did you learn that?"
"Harry taught me."
She smiled.
"Did Harry teach you how to dance, too?"
Ron rolled his eyes.
"You don't want to really see me dance."
They stayed out in the rain for a while before heading over to Hermione's flat.
"Ron…"
Ron turned around, from leaving. He had just dropped her off.
"Hmm."
She paused.
There were so many things she wanted to say…
She smiled.
"Thank you."
He smiled back and winked.
"Don't mention it."
With that he disapparated. She leaned on the door post and watched the rain come down.
BANG!
Hermione jolted and instinctively reached out next to her. Her eyes opened and she looked over at the covers next to her.
He's not there…
"I'm over here."
She looked over at the door to see him sitting at the edge of the bed on her side, watching her intently in nothing but his boxers. She felt a deep blush creep up her neck and spread across her face as his bright blue eyes bore into her soul.
Last night had been so unlike Ron that she had no words to describe what had happened after he had barged into her room. What had happened last night was not sweet, or gentle. It was completely different from their first time. That had been loving, sensual and dare she admit it, intimidating. Last night was nothing like that. Last night had been demanding and desperate. Last night had been a fight.
She had fallen asleep that night filled with so many different emotions that she couldn't wrap her mind around it. She had hated him for everything he had said and for everything he had not said. She was angry at herself for allowing him to continue, but she also loved him for it.
All of a sudden, all of these emotions boiled up inside of her and she let out a small gasp when her heart swelled painfully and her stomach knotted up.
Ron had been watching her this entire time, fearing that she would bolt instead of wanting to face the reality of their situation. Things still had to be said, no matter what had happened last night. He knew that even as he had kissed her. He knew that he would have to face the fact that he had still hurt her and that they would have to talk it out to ever move forward.
There was a small creak from downstairs that brought him out of his thoughts and he glanced over at the door, hoping no one would come knocking, though he doubted it. Judging by the way Harry had exited quickly after retrieving his clothes and the way no one had said anything during their brief fight downstairs suggested that they knew what was going on upstairs and had no intention of disturbing it any time soon.
He turned back to Hermione, who was now looking down at her hands, her face growing redder by the minute. He was afraid that if she kept blushing, she'd end up redder than his hair.
He allowed himself this one moment to look over her carefully. Her pale skin glowed slightly in the sunlight that trickled through the shaded windows. He noticed how she bit her swollen lips and clung to the bed sheet that draped over her naked body. He watched as her chest moved up and down slowly and how she avoided his gaze as she contemplated the next words that would come from her mouth.
His mind went back to the morning after their wedding night. He remembered every emotion he had felt. He remembered the joy of realizing that they were finally married… then he remembered the fear… the panic that had filled his entire being when he had heard her scream his name in terror. He remembered feeling the cold steel slice through him and for that one moment believing that he would die without her, knowing she was in the next room…
"Hermione-"
There was a crash downstairs.
"Tonks!"
Ron smiled, knowing that everyone downstairs was trying to give them their privacy.
Hermione watched him smile and sat up, having the undeniable urge all of a sudden to be as close to him as she possibly could. Before he could begin again she leaned in and caught his lips in hers, lingering for a moment before she opened her lips with his, wanting to taste him and know that was real. He raised his hand to her face, brushing his fingertips across her cheek before moving his hand to the back of her neck and pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. His other hand trailed down her neck to her back where he felt her tremble and gasp. She pulled away slightly, eyes closed and lips slightly open as their breath mingled. He looked over her face in awe and felt his heart constrict painfully in his chest.
He let his hand rest around her neck as they leaned against each other for support. Both of them struggled to collect their thoughts. Hermione was finding it hard to with Ron's hot breath teasing her lips. She longed to feel his lips on her skin again and feel his warmth engulf her with a feeling of security. She wanted to stop thinking.
Ron came to his senses faster than she did, knowing he had to be the first to say something.
"Hermione," he murmured.
Her eyes opened and gazed into his blue orbs.
"Yes," she muttered.
He stared at her for a moment then leaned into her ear, holding her close.
"Why are you still here?" he asked and she felt her heart sink. She knew it would come down to this, but she didn't want to accept the fact that Ron would never forgive himself for what had happened. Though he had said what he had, she had every right to feel just as bad because of her behavior.
She pulled away and looked into his eyes.
"Ron," she whispered, reaching out and placing a hand on his bare chest. She didn't know why but she suddenly started whispering a song. "Raindrops keep falling on my head… but that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red-"
"Cryin's not for me, cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'…" Ron whispered.
"Because I'm free," Hermione finished.
Ron traced her lips with his fingers.
"There's another line, Hermione," he said matter-of-factly.
She smiled and leaned in until their lips were brushing.
"The rest doesn't matter," she replied, kissing him fiercely. He pulled her flush up against him and she gasped. He caught her lip in his, deepening the kiss to a heated fight as he pushed her back into the sheets. He wanted to explore her again. He wanted to rediscover everything that had been lost in the time they had spent hurting each other. He could feel Hermione slowly releasing herself to him again as they continued to kiss each other passionately.
A sudden shiver went up Hermione's spine and suddenly she couldn't think.
I don't want them dead… I just want them so far removed from their current status that they won't have any recollection of their former life…
Hermione let out a gasp of air and broke away from Ron suddenly, surprising him.
"Ron…" she whispered, pulling herself out from under him.
You're married to one of the men I'm trying to kill…
"Hermione," Ron said warily, watching her as she struggled to breathe.
She reached out for his hand and took it, needing to know that he was still there.
"Ron…" she said again, looking up into his eyes. "He's going to try to kill you… he wants to destroy you… all of you… he wants to take you away and destroy you."
Ron was panicking now. Tears were starting to fill her fearful eyes and he didn't know how to handle it.
"Hermione, what are you talking about?"
"John Doe! He's going to hurt you! He's going to take you away from me-"
Ron took her face in his hands, holding her close and kissing her lips gently.
"Shhhh… it's okay, love. He's not going to hurt anyone. He can't," he whispered into her lips reassuringly. Hermione shook her head, the tears falling. She didn't know why she was doing this. She didn't know why, all of a sudden, she was fearful. She didn't know why she was thinking about it…
She didn't know why she felt that something bad was going to happen…
"Ron... something… something's happening-"
You can't escape it, Hermione!
She gasped for air but she couldn't breathe it in. She let out another choked gasp and Ron's eyes grew, realizing that something was definitely wrong.
"Hermione… Hermione, what's wrong?"
Hermione tried to say his name but another wave of pain flooded her.
You feel it, don't you! You feel it! You can't ignore it any longer. This is our time!
"No…" she choked before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed on the bed. Ron grabbed her quickly, feeling her pulse.
"Oh no… Hermione… Hermione!"
She wasn't breathing.
Ron rushed over to the door and yanked it open.
"SOMEONE GET HELP!" he yelled.
There was a pause and then Harry appeared, running up the stairs quickly followed by Ginny, Mrs. Weasley and Bill. Ron went back to Hermione's side, shaking her. Her skin was cold.
"She's not breathing," he said frantically.
Ginny and Mrs. Weasley rushed to her side as well and Ginny gasped.
"She's cold," she whispered.
Fear took hold of Ron and paralyzed him as they moved around him. It had only been moments ago that they had been embracing each other… now she wasn't breathing… He couldn't bear to think of what would happen if she died right then and there. He had not yet even told her that he loved her and knew his world would fall apart if would never be able to tell her. Ron needed her. He knew that, even though he wouldn't admit it to himself most of the time.
"RON!" Harry bellowed, shaking Ron out of his moment of dread.
"She's dead…" Ron whispered, surprising and scaring Harry at the same time. The poor man had gone completely pale and looked completely lost standing there in the middle of his old room in nothing but his boxers. There was a decaying look on his face that suggested to Harry that he had been out of the loop for the past three minutes in which Bill had disapparated with Hermione and Ginny and Mrs. Weasley had gone off to tell the rest of the family.
Harry shook his head.
"No! Hermione isn't dead, Ron. She's been taken to St. Mungos. You need to put on some clothes so we can go and help her!" he told his friend quickly, grabbing Ron's discarded clothing on the floor and shoving them into Ron's hands. Ron, having only heard the first four words Harry had said, snatched the clothes from Harry and pulled them on quickly before looking around frantically for his wand, forgetting that he had lost it in the woods the night before. Harry, who had dealt with that problem that morning, handed Ron his new wand before disapparating. Ron followed suit a second later, praying desperately that Hermione was still alive.
Bill placed Hermione on a stretcher offered by two nurses who rushed over to him upon noticing the woman he was carrying in his arms. As soon as she was down, they began to rush her off through some double doors that were to the left of the waiting room. Bill tried to follow, but another nurse stopped him.
"But I need to make sure she's okay!" he protested, knowing Ron would kill him if he let Hermione out of his sight.
"Sir, I assure you that she will fine sir, but you're not allowed past this point!" the nurse told him, backing up as he tried to get through the doors.
"I have to be with her. Her husband would kill me if he didn't know how she was!"
A Healer came out to see what the matter was. When he saw who it was, he told the nurse to go.
"See how they are doing with the patient Charlotte, I'll tend to Mr. Weasley," he said.
The nurse glanced over at Bill, nodded and disappeared behind the doors. Bill looked thoroughly upset, but was glad that a Healer was talking to him now.
"I should be in there," he said.
The Healer glanced at the doors and then nodded.
"Don't worry. She's new here. Come with me."
He led Bill through the double doors and down the long hall. Bill followed him, noting that there the corridor was empty as they went into another room. As soon as they entered the door slammed shut and Bill cursed himself when he found himself face to face with a wand. The Healer smiled at him as Bill pulled out his wand and dropped it on the floor. Bill glanced over to the side to see the two nurses, including 'Charlotte', who had taken Hermione standing by a small bed that held Hermione's limp form. The Healer picked up Bill's wand and tossed it over to one of them.
"Your brother will be glad to know that you've decided to join him," the man said before muttering something.
Everything went black.
Harry and Ron arrived at the waiting room and went over to the desk where a woman sat.
"Could you help us? My brother just brought my wife in. Hermione Weasley," Ron said urgently.
The woman at the desk looked over her list quickly then shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but she wasn't checked in."
"You mean she's not here?" Harry demanded.
The lady nodded.
"A person's name is put down automatically when they go through those doors," she said pointing over to the double doors to the left of the waiting room.
Ron began to panic again. He needed to know where she was. He needed to know she was alive. He needed to know she was safe.
"Maybe there's a mistake," he snapped angrily.
The woman shook her head.
"There's no mistake."
Ron slammed his hand down on the counter.
"Damn it! She's here!"
Harry grabbed Ron's arm and dragged him away from the desk.
"Calm down, Ron. Being angry won't help Hermione," he said. "Bill probably took her to a different part of the hospital," he reasoned.
Ron sighed and nodded.
"Yeah… sorry…"
They walked off towards the stairwell, not aware of the nurse exiting the double doors and not aware that her nametag read Charlotte.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this!
smore4u1: Yes, the argueing was getting quite tedious. However, I don't think they can work as a team if Hermione's missing. :-)
wasu: I'm glad you liked the end of the chapter. As long as you liked the end of the chapter... I'm happy...
sballLuvr5: I'm not sure he's going to stop acting crazy, but I'm pretty sure that he's going to kick someone's arse.
nextbestthing: More liked showed her, but I know what you mean.
Adelaide MacGregor: Thank you! Hope you like this one.
ThEnAmEsGiGi: Yes, he did protect her and he did step up! I'm not so sure if the freaking out part will go away, seeing as she's gone again...
Rumpleteaze: I'm not too sure about that.
lucy2525: Yes... oy... :-)
Oobe: I loved that last part as well! It took me a while to figure out how to start this chapter though.
Okay, okay, okay... just in case you haven't noticed or in case you did notice and were severely confused, the beginning of this chapter is taken from Things I'll Never Say. I just got rid of the lyrics... obviously.
No chapter tease. Sorry!
I might be starting a new story, I'm not sure. It might either be a D/G one, which, before I get the spitting, hissing and nashing of teeth from my loyal readers, is for my own little enjoyment and probably won't be much of anything. Just a story because I feel like it, not because I absolutely love the pairing. I'm stepping out on a limb, so bare with me! The other might just be a Hr/R story, but whether or not it will be Hogwarts Era or Post-Hogwarts is undecided. I have two different ideas.
Hope you're all fat and happy!
Or at least happy!
R/R!