Hmm. More alerts than reviews… But the few that I did get were quite encouraging. Hope you like this chapter. The next one's all written and ready to go, so if I get enough reviews for this one, I can promise a speedy update! Enjoy!
Hermione watched as Ron's body crashed to the floor…again. Again, she flew to his side and cried over his body. Again, the Death Eater provoked her into attacking him. Again, he pinned her down, reaching to undo her belt. Only this time, Ron didn't come to her rescue. She looked over to where his body had fallen to find him still lying there, his eyes wide and unseeing. Tears forced themselves down her cheeks as the Death Eater roughly jerked her jeans down over her hips. "He won't save you this time, Mudblood." he sneered in her ear as he fumbled with his own trousers. Squeezing her eyes shut, she opened her mouth and screamed.
Ron had been staring into the fire contemplating everything that had happened and trying to analyse everything that had happened between when he'd arrived at Hermione's house right up until he'd put her to bed just an hour ago. He was, however, ripped violently from his musings at Hermione's shriek.
Turning quickly to look over the back of the couch, he saw her thrashing about before launching herself upright. Throwing himself off the couch, he ran over to her. "Hermione?" he asked, tentatively reaching a hand out to her. Her eyes, which had been darting around the room, settled on him, tears forming as she tried to slow her rapid breathing. "Hermione?" he repeated, softer this time, edging slowly towards her.
Her eyes shot to his hand before returning to his face, before she dissolved into tears, her hands cradling her face as she wept. Sighing, Ron closed the distance to the bed and sat next to her, placing a comforting hand on her back. "What's wrong? Was it a bad dream?" he asked quietly, rubbing her back slightly. Seeing her nod, Ron sighed again, moving his hand to her shoulder and pulling her into his arms gently.
"Y-you were dead and you c-couldn't save me!" she sobbed brokenly, curling into his chest and drawing her knees up to her own. Ron frowned and tightened his grip. He hadn't even considered that she might have nightmares about what had happened, about what had nearly happened.
Well, that was clever, huh? Leave her alone to fight off her terrors herself. You're supposed to protect her from everything! he scolded himself mentally.
"Hermione. I'm alive and so are you. We're fine now. I did save you, ok?" he murmured, rocking her gently. "I'll always save you." Hermione sniffled and pulled back, wincing slightly and placing a hand to her ribs. Fixing her with a concerned look, Ron tilted her face up so he could see her properly.
She looked worse now that she did before, the bruises marring her face having darkened significantly. The cut on her lip had split from her crying and a small trickle of blood was now trying to worm its way down her chin.
"Come on. Let's get you fixed up, alright?" he gently slid from under her before offering her his hand. Gripping it tightly, she swung her legs off the bed and, with a hiss of pain, clutched her ribs again. Reaching out with his free hand, Ron supported Hermione's back and, as slowly and gently as he could, eased her to her feet.
"Thank you." she mumbled, not meeting his gaze. She was embarrassed about breaking down in his arms yet again and by the fact that she couldn't even get out of bed alone. Shuffling slowly to the couch, Ron still resting an arm at her back, the other hand holding hers, Hermione had to fight down the urge to cry again. She'd done enough of that in the past few days and, quite frankly, she was sick of it.
Finally reaching the couch, she slowly sat and it was then that she noticed the slightly bloody bandage wrapped around Ron's arm. Frowning with guilt, Hermione bit her lip. "I'm sorry. I was supposed to help you with that." she mumbled. Ron chuckled.
"Yes, Hermione. How dare you faint and leave me to my own devices." he replied sarcastically, feigning an outraged look. Smiling slightly, Hermione lowered her head in mock shame. "Anyway, now that your awake, let's get you sorted out." he continued, reaching for the kidney dish and refreshing the water.
"Now, what's wrong with your ribs?" he asked. Flushing slightly, Hermione shook her head. "I think they're just bruised from when he tackled me." she replied, hoping he wouldn't press the matter. They hurt something shocking but there wasn't a lot they could do about it.
"Can I, uh, see?" he asked awkwardly, hoping that she wouldn't take offence. Averting her gaze, Hermione tried to think of an excuse to avoid the no-doubt uncomfortable situation that they were setting themselves up for.
Seeing her hesitation, Ron tried to think of a way to make it less awkward. "I won't look, I just want to look." he continued, realising that he'd made little sense but still hoping she'd understand. Sighing as deeply as her injuries would allow, Hermione nodded.
Self-consciously, she turned her back to him and took her jacket off, before lifting the hem of her singlet top to expose her waist. Hearing Ron's sharp intake of breath, Hermione held her own, not knowing what had prompted the sound.
"Is it bad?" she asked nervously, her words holding a double meaning that she hoped he wouldn't pick up on. As he said, he's not looking. Try to keep the hormones under wraps, Hermione! She jumped slightly as his fingers gently brushed her ribcage, his skin cool and soothing to the bruised and tender flesh.
"Not as bad as I thought it'd be, but still not good." he replied, forcing himself to keep his voice level. His heart was thumping so loud he was sure she could hear it. The smooth skin of her midriff was a pale shade of peach but as it went higher, the alabaster blended with dark red and blue, creating a mottled canvas on what should have been clear skin.
"Sorry if I hurt you, but I need to see if there are any breaks." he stated quietly, pressing slightly harder as his hands roamed over her skin. Hearing her sporadic gasps of pain, Ron hated himself but knew that it had to be done. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it, right? his mind teased, causing Ron to growl softly in the back of his throat. Yeah, like I'm getting any pleasure out of this. he shot back angrily. Under different circumstances, maybe. But not when she was hurt like this.
Hearing his growl, Hermione looked back over her shoulder, wondering at the sound. Seeing his face creased into a frown, she had to beat down the panic rising in her chest. It must be pretty bad. she thought to herself. "Tell me, doctor, will I ever walk again?" she asked in mock distress, trying to lighten the mood.
Starting at the sound of her voice, Ron looked up from his intense study and allowed himself a grin. "It's a waiting game." he replied, laying his palm flat against her side as he checked the other side. She moaned quietly and he withdrew his hands hastily. "Sorry!" he winced, misinterpreting the sound.
"No! It didn't hurt." she replied hurriedly, praying that, from his current position, he couldn't see the blush that was creeping up her neck and cheeks. "It felt nice. Your hands are cold." she continued. "Now I know how you felt before."
Ron had to fight to suppress the grin that was trying to break free and the blush that was trying to stain his own cheeks. Taking a deep breath and watching her for any signs of discomfort, he tentatively pressed his hand back to her side, delighted when she sighed softly and trembled slightly at his touch.
Her skin was velvet smooth and he had to resist the urge to move his hand further. Under different circumstances, remember? his inner voice cut in. Shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts, he reached for the bandages, still keeping his hand in contact with her ribs.
Hermione was lost in her own thoughts. She was relishing in his touch. His cool hands resting on her burning skin was a heavenly feeling. She closed her eyes and concentrated on keeping her breathing even, her heart rate steady. It wasn't an easy task.
Hearing Ron shift behind her and feeling something unfamiliar and rough against her stomach, Hermione's eyes snapped open and she looked down. Ron had fetched a bandage and was preparing to wrap it around her. He must have longer arms than I thought, she thought absently.
Glancing back over her shoulder, she was startled to find that he was a lot closer than he had been, his chest brushing against her back. "Sorry, but I think we should bandage them, just in case." he murmured, searching her face for protest. Nodding, Hermione turned to look ahead and braced herself for what would no doubt be a painful experience.
As gently as he could, Ron proceeded to bind her ribs, being sure to keep the bandages tight but not too tight, an even amount of pressure the whole way round. Every time his fingers brushed her stomach, Hermione's breathing would hitch slightly and Ron would flush. Finally, though, the bandage came to its frayed end and Ron tucked it into his wrapping.
Hermione thought she would die from the sheer relief of the ordeal being over. Reaching up to pull her top back down, she found Ron's hands already there. Looking back at him again, she noticed that he was blushing but none of his awkwardness was showing in his expression. He met her gaze steadily as he pulled her shirt back down over the bandages, before gently placing his hands on her sides and turning her around.
"Now for your face." he said softly, reaching for the kidney dish of water and some gauze. "I'll do what I can but I'm not a miracle worker."
Hermione snickered sarcastically. "You're hilarious, Ron. Really." she replied, rolling her eyes, but unable to keep from smiling slightly. In truth, she was very grateful that he'd found a way to ease the tension that had built between them.
Gently wiping the dried blood and dirt from her cheeks, Ron's chest tightened as the firelight lit her injuries clearly. He worked in silence, apologising now and then when she winced. Eventually, Ron lowered the gauze and inspected her critically before nodding in satisfaction.
Hermione watched him almost curiously as he cleaned her wounds, his stoic expression giving nothing away. Clearing his throat slightly, Ron dropped his gaze and put the kidney dish on the table, which was now void of food. "All done." he stated, turning back to her with a satisfied, if somewhat uneasy, smile.
"You missed a bit," she whispered, regretting it almost immediately. Ron's brow creased in confusion as his eyes wandered over her face, trying to find anything he'd overlooked, before they finally came to rest on her lips. A look of comprehension dawned on his face and he reached for a fresh piece of gauze, dipping it in the water. Cupping her face in one hand and using it to turn her towards the fire so he could see, Ron gently brushed the dampened gauze over her lip.
"Done?" he asked, returning his gaze to Hermione's eyes, which hadn't left his. She nodded slightly, struggling to breath steadily. Ron nodded once, placing the gauze on the table, fully aware that his hand was still resting on her jaw and he felt absolutely no inclination to move it.
Meeting her eyes once more, Ron realised that his heart had picked up pace somewhere along the line and that, judging by the thrumming under his hand, Hermione's had too. He wanted nothing more than to lean forward and press his lips to hers and, apparently, neither did she. So, what's stopping you? came the voice in his head. Unless, you don't want it to stop at just a kiss? If you can't have the whole lot, you don't want any? Ron clenched his jaw. If the voice had a body, at the moment, Ron would be flogging the hell out of it.
Dropping his head and his hand, Ron sighed. "We should go to bed." he mumbled, leaning away from her. Hermione leaned away as well, turning toward the fire, furious at herself and at the humiliated blush working its way across her face. She had been so sure that he was going to kiss her!
"You're right." she murmured, still gazing at the flames and hating herself for sounding so dejected. Misinterpreting her tone, Ron rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I'll sleep on the couch, if you want." he suggested, hoping that he hadn't insulted her.
"Well, it's a king bed, so I'm sure we'll both fit. And besides," she continued, trying to rid her voice of the desperation that was so evident, "I don't really want to be alone. After what happened last time…"
"Ok." Ron nodded and got to his feet, holding out his hand to help her up. Hermione took the offer, but dropped his hand as soon as she was on her feet, still avoiding his gaze. She was too embarrassed to look at him. Too afraid of seeing his disapproval at the way she'd acted. Like a scarlet woman…
"Hermione? What's the matter?" he queried, peering at her in concern. She met his gaze quickly with a short, small smile, before dropping both and shaking her head. Frowning, Ron reached for her arm.
Pulling out of his reach, she turned and began walking to the bed. "Hermione!" he called after her, following. She stopped and spun around to face him. "I'm tired, Ron. If you hadn't noticed, we've been through a bit of an ordeal and that can take its toll on one's mental health." she snapped, regretting her words as she saw the shock flash across his face. It was short-lived.
"Well, if you hadn't noticed, Hermione, I'm the one who hasn't slept yet. You at least got an hour in!" he shot back, also regretting his words. It wasn't her fault. "Why are you so angry all of a sudden?"
"I'm angry because I'm tired and hungry and hurt and I still can't quite believe we're still alive!" she folded her arms, glaring at him. "I didn't fail to notice the lack of food. When you said you had first dibs, I assumed you'd at least leave some for me!" she cried.
"What! I didn't even eat any! I was too worried about you!" he snarled back, taking a step closer to her. She rolled her eyes sceptically, shaking her head. "Guess what, Hermione. I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm hurt and I can't believe we're alive either!"
Hermione scowled back at him, unable to come up with a response. Rolling her eyes again, and knowing she'd sound like Lavender Brown but not caring, she uttered the most pointless phrase known to man: "Whatever, Ron."
He knew he was being ridiculous but he didn't care. Ron rolled his eyes, mimicked her stance and, putting on a ridiculously whiny voice, repeated her words. " 'Whatever, Ron!'"
Scoffing, Hermione rolled her eyes again and turned on her heel, stalking towards the bed. "Real mature reply, Ronald!" she called over her shoulder. Heaving an angry sigh, he followed after her, catching up with her in two strides. Grasping her shoulder and spinning her around to face him, he ignored the look of indignation on her face. "You want a mature reply?" he growled.
Cupping the back of her head in one hand and her neck in the other, Ron crushed his lips against hers roughly. He felt a twinge of doubt when he heard her make a sound of protest and felt her try to pull back, but she'd wanted a mature reply out of him, so she'd get one.
He could taste blood from the cut on her lip and suddenly realised that he must be hurting her. Pulling back, still cradling her head in his hands, he studied her intently, panting.
Hermione's eyes were closed and she, too, was breathless. A light flush coloured her cheeks, whether from the argument or the kiss, he wasn't sure. There was a slight frown on her face. Ron felt guilt ripple through him at the sight of the blood on her lips, the taste of it on his. He was beginning to regret acting so harshly.
Slowly, her eyes flickered open. They slid lazily over his face as she tried to focus. Blinking a few times, she finally succeeded. Ron watched as her tongue snaked out to taste the blood that she could no doubt feel was there. Suddenly, he realised that he had been too rough with her.
"I'm sorry." he muttered breathlessly, releasing his hold on her and taking a step back. Hermione's face creased in confusion, prompting Ron to continue. "I'm supposed to be protecting you and I just seem to keep getting you hurt."
Hermione shook her head. "I'm not hurt, Ron. Just a little…dazed." Ron cocked an eyebrow sceptically, eyeing her bruised face and bandaged ribs. "At least I'm still alive." she continued. She studied him, really looked at him, for the first time since they'd left the Burrow. He'd been right. He was just as bad as she was.
He looked pale and drawn, dark circles under his eyes backing up his claim about not sleeping. Her eyes travelled to his arm, which had begun to bleed again, the bright liquid now seeping through the white bandage. They trailed down his defined forearm, coming to rest on his hands. The hands that had shown such tenderness with her wounds, yet had beaten a man to pulp. Testament to that were his knuckles, which were swollen and an angry red colour.
Sighing, Hermione took a step towards him, closing the distance that he'd created. Reaching out, she gently took his hand in hers, running her fingers lightly over his knuckles. "I'm sorry. I yelled at you." she murmured, shifting her gaze to his curious and slightly wary face. "I haven't even thanked you and I yelled at you." She shook her head before raising his hand to her lips and pressing a soft kiss to them. "Thank you, Ron."
Releasing his hand, she leaned up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly, squeezing her eyes shut against the tears that, once again, were trying to form. Ron hesitated for a moment, before wrapping his arms as tightly as he dared around her waist. "You're welcome." he whispered, turning slightly and pressing a kiss to her hair.
"Come on," he loosened his hold on her. "Let's go to sleep." Nodding, Hermione let go and turned to the bed, blushing at the thought of how the bare skin of Ron's arms had felt against her own. With a sigh, she sat on the bed and leaned against her pillow, watching Ron walk around to the other side of the bed, kicking his shoes off before also sitting.
Now the awkwardness kicks in, Ron thought to himself. He, too, leaned up against his pillows, willing to sit up for as long as Hermione wanted to. They sat in silence for a few minutes, each hoping the other would break it. Finally, Hermione cleared her throat.
"Ron?" she started hesitantly. He turned to look at her and she looked away, suddenly very nervous. "I was just wondering…" Why do you keep kissing me? "…do you think there'll be more food when we wake up?" she finished, closing her eyes in annoyance at her inability to ask what she actually wanted to know. Opening her eyes again, she looked back at him to see his confused and somewhat questioning stare. "Probably, why's that?" he asked, still watching her with careful eyes. Shrugging, she stretched out a finger and began to trace patterns on the quilt covering her knees. "Curious." she replied quietly.
Ron nodded before turning to face her more fully. "Hermione?" he waited until she looked at him before he continued. "What were you really going to ask?" Busted! the voice in her mind cheered. Dropping her gaze to her hands again, Hermione shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about." she mumbled, fully aware of his incredulous 'how-stupid-do-you-think-I-am?' expression.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, braced her hands on her knees, leaned her head back and gave in. "I was going to ask you why you keep kissing me." she rambled hurriedly, as though saying it faster would lessen the awkwardness. It didn't.
Ron was silent for a few minutes, apparently contemplating the question. "Sorry." he replied finally. "I'll stop." Hermione's eyes popped open and she turned her head so quickly she practically broke her neck. "No!" she cried, wincing at the desperation evident in her voice. "No," she repeated in a more calm tone, "I don't mind, I was just wondering why."
Ron fixed her with a slightly amused and somewhat disbelieving stare. "You really don't know?" he asked. She just looked back at him in mild embarrassment and curiosity. "I would've thought you'd have figured it out by now." he chuckled, trying to cover his own embarrassment. "It's only been 7 years." This last part was mumbled so low, Hermione wasn't sure if she'd heard him correctly.
"What?" she asked blankly. Ron sighed impatiently, before turning to face her.
"Think, Hermione. In first year, why do you think I went up against a mountain troll? To save you.
In second year, why do you think I went up against a whole forest of gigantic spiders? To save you. Why do you think I hexed Malfoy? To defend you!
In third year, why do you think I hated Crookshanks? Because you wouldn't hear a bad word against him and you just assumed I was in the wrong.
In fourth year, why do you think I was so horrible at the Yule Ball? Because I hated seeing the way you looked at Krum, and the way he looked at you!
In fifth year, why do you think I always teased you about S.P.E.W? Because I loved seeing you get so passionate about something!
In sixth year, why do you think I said your name in the hospital wing? Because I was dreaming about you!
And this year, why do you think I broke the rules to come and get you, went up against Death Eaters for you, practically killed a man for you, and went without food for you!"
Through his little tirade, Hermione's eyes had steadily gotten bigger and bigger, her mouth had opened wider and wider, her breathing more and more rapid. By the time, he'd finished, tears were again streaming down Hermione's face. "Why?" she whispered, hardly daring to hope.
With a groan, Ron stood and made to walk away. Getting up quickly to follow him, Hermione cried out slightly from the pain in her ribs. Ron turned at this. "Are you ok?" he asked, concern evident on his face. Holding a hand to her ribs and frowning, Hermione shook her head. "Don't change the subject! Why did you do all those things?" she pressed. Letting out a frustrated growl, Ron slammed his hands to his head. "How can you not get this yet!" he moaned. "Get what?" she cried in exasperation.
Spinning around, he charged over to Hermione, who took a step back in alarm. Gripping her shoulders, Ron shook her slightly in aggravation. "I love you, ok!"
Another long chapter! Yay! Not sure how well I handled the recap of Ron and Hermione moments from each year, but there's only one way to find out. Please R&R! Love y'all! XOXO