Chapter 7: The Row.
After days and days of slow progress, nothing had changed in the landscape. They seemed lost in the middle of an endless forest of huge trees, weeds up to their waists, and mud up to their knees.
That afternoon Hermione had sprained her ankle. At least that's what she said. Whatever the case, Ron had preferred to camp and rest. For Merlin's sake, he needed it. Each day Hermione seemed stronger and more vital, while he felt weaker and more exhausted.
They sat around a small fire, sheltered by a huge fir tree. Ron threw a couple of twigs into the fire and watched as Hermione massaged her injured ankle. As soon as she told him, he used a pair of Episkey. There wasn't much more he could do. "How is it? It doesn't look swollen."
"It hurts." She answered without looking up. Hermione didn't talk much... except to insult him.
Ron reached into Ginny's bag and pulled out a bun. If they were to spend the night there, they might as well eat something. He gave half to Hermione. "Here. We'd better eat something."
Hermione seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally, she took it.
"For the thousandth time, they're not poisoned." Ron ate his in one bite.
Hermione stared at her piece. "Where do you get them? And why do you have so many?"
"Wha... What?" He had to think of some excuse... And fast.
Hermione looked at him suspiciously. "Why do you have a bag full of food?"
"Eeeh... Ginny brought me some food in Azkaban. There were half a dozen of them, but I'm multiplying them with Gemino spells." An imaginary Ron did the victory dance in his head.
"I haven't seen you do it. Not once." Hermione didn't seem too convinced.
He replied with a mocking smile. "Maybe it's because you're such a heavy sleeper now. Years don't pass in vain. Eh, Hermione?" He tried a little provocation to divert her attention. Would it work?
"They haven't passed for you neither. You're still the same jerk."
She took the bait! "How much hostility! I see you're still as delightful as ever."
Her face turned red. Hermione could never bear to have her anger taken for granted. "How sensitive you are for a murdering traitor. If you can't stand me, you know what to do: Go away and leave me alone!"
"Don't worry. If I put up with the psychopathic tantrum you got in our sixth year, I can put up with anything." Yes. A low blow, but with that, Hermione would forget about the buns for sure.
Hermione lifted her head to cast a look of pure disgust at him. "I was just defending myself. It's not my fault that you showed your lascivious, cowardly and vindictive nature from your earliest childhood."
"Vindictive, cowardly, and... Lascivious?... Nature. You are not short of it! And since my childhood. That doesn't seem very consistent. I think you're raving again." Ron retorted.
"I don't mean just your filthy slobbering with Lavender. Actually, you were always the same. Or have you forgotten about the Yule Ball? You wanted to go with me, but you were too much of a coward to ask... But when someone else did what you didn't have the guts to do, you got jealous and tried to ruin my night... You see! Fourteen years and you were already a coward, lascivious and vengeful."
Obviously, Hermione hadn't lost her touch. In five minutes she could make a Viking cry... And she still would have three left. "You exaggerate way too much!" Ron couldn't help laughing. "Okay, it wasn't my best day, but at fourteen, what did you expect? A prince charming?"
Hermione only grunted. "A vengeful lout, you mean."
Ron had never talked about it to anyone before, least of all to her, but... Why not? Not that it mattered a shit at this point.
"You know, believe it or not, in the fourth year I was very innocent."
He heard Hermione whispering. "Very stupid."
Ron ignored it and concentrated on memories of times past and, now he knew, much happier.
"I remember when I saw you go into the Ball Hall, so incredibly beautiful. I think my heart stopped for a moment. But then, I realised that all those wonderful changes were not for me, but for Krum. That it was only for him that you had become so beautiful... I think that day I experienced my first crush and my first broken heart in less than a second".
Ron laughed softly. "It's normal I behaved like a drunken troll. I didn't understand half that was happening to me. I just knew that I had never felt so bad."
"Totally immature." Hermione said.
"Of course I was immature. But at least I proved it at fourteen, not at seventeen like you."
That struck a nerve. "It wasn't my fault that you betrayed me and got involved with the first big-titted brainless cow you came across!"
"Betrayed? You asked me to accompany you only as your guest." Ron said it emphasizing the last word. "And according to you, only because you had to go with someone, and you thought I was a little better than Cormac... Although later you changed your mind."
"Yes. Whatever you say."
"Yeah, right. You could make your snogfests with Vicky, but I couldn't do the same with Lavender. Eh, you little hypocrite?"
"I INVITED YOU! And you had an affair with that... Harlot."
"ONLY FOR PITY. And that harlot showed me more appreciation in two months than you've ever shown me in your entire life."
"Of course! And this appreciation that she showed you were inside a DD cup bra. Right? If you think..."
A big laugh from Ron interrupted her.
"What the hell are you laughing at now?" She screamed furiously.
Ron just smiled, "It's like old times, huh?"
For a second Hermione was speechless, but she recovered quickly. "You wish!"
"Come on! Don't tell me you didn't miss our little arguments."
"Now it's clear you're totally insane." Hermione could deny it, but Ron thought he saw a telltale blush on her cheeks.
"You know what they say: Children and fools tell the truth." Ron took out his wand. Hermione tried to hide it, but she could never stop a flash of fear to show in her eyes.
"Don't worry. It's time for bed. Make yourself comfortable." Ron said as calmly as possible.
Hermione grumbled, but lay down by the fire and wrapped herself in her blanket. "If I find that you've touched a single hair on my head while I'm asleep..."
"Every day the same!... Yes, woman. Do not worry. I give you my word that your virtue is safe with me."
"Great. The traitor gives me his word of honour. Now I feel safe."
Ron pointed his wand at her and watched as Hermione closed her eyes, preparing to receive the spell.
"Stupefy!" He watched as Hermione's chest slowly rose and fell with each breath. She would sleep until he woke her up the next morning.
Ron stared at Hermione. Her words hurt more than he wanted to admit, but at the same time, he was happy to see that the war had not been able to destroy Hermione Granger's spirit.
This row is important, not because of what they discuss, but how they do it.
At first, Hermione treats Ron as the killer she thinks he is, but in the end, she rows with him as she would do it with the "old Ron". Hermione still maintains her spiteful behaviour, but things are changing, even if she isn't ready to accept it.