THC

House: Ravenclaw

Class: Head of House

Category: Standard

Prompt(s) chosen: [Dialogue] "I know you", [Time of Day] Sunrise

Word Count: 1177

Notes: Non-Magic AU. Crime and running from the law. Also, Ron semi implies that Hermione is being abused but there is no actual abuse happening.

On the Run

"I know you."

It's not something anyone who is on the run wants to hear. The very idea of it haunted Hermione as they drifted from place to place. That someone would point them out in the crowd, and they'd be arrested at any moment. It's not like she asked for this life, it just happened to be the one she was given.

Her school days were filled with happy memories of making friends and passing exams. Now all she was left with were the horrible things she had done. But people do stupid things when they're in love. Unfortunately for Hermione, she fell under that category. Stupid and in love. Two things that she never thought would apply to her. Everyone would say she wasn't herself when she announced her engagement to Draco. Now she didn't know what they said about her. Her face was plastered on every shop window and telephone pole. She couldn't go a second without seeing the wanted poster of her and Draco.

It had been amazing what shitty disguises did for them, but they never eased her fear. Possibly because she was out every other night committing crimes with her significant other. It started off with this dumb idea that they could change the world they were living in. That all they had to do was steal from the rich and give it to the poor, but life isn't like the fairy tale of Robin Hood. Greed found its way into their hearts and made them lust for money and power. She never expected to end up like this, but here she was in this never-ending cycle of crime and hiding.

Her nightmare became a reality as she walked along the streets of the small village, they were currently living in. She hoped that news from the larger cities didn't find its way here all that often. She had dyed her hair a deep red and Draco's hair had been dyed black. It had been odd at first to see the man she loved look so different. She had gotten used to his stark blond hair that would reflect the sun's rays. But black blended in more with everyone around them. Her own hair had been a gamble, but she felt like it needed to be different from her normal brown hair. A color that she wouldn't normally go with so she could feign innocence if anyone ever suspected her.

She left Draco still asleep in their little cottage as she made her way to the local bakery. Stolen money made her wallet feel ten times heavier than it actually was. They had taken the necessary precautions to make sure it wasn't able to be traced back to them, but she still felt like it was wrong to use it.

Some days she didn't have a care in the world but other days she worried about every little detail. It was like she had two sides to her fighting each other for control. She loved the rush she got when they ran a mission. It didn't compare to anything she had ever felt before. Not when she grew up with the label "little miss goody-two-shoes".

The sun began to break the clouds behind her. It turned the clouds a brilliant pink as it settled into its spot. She smiled as she watched the sunrise, wished that she could have a rebirth like that every day. That she wasn't ashamed of what she had become. That guilt didn't wash over her because she knew she enjoyed what they did.

"Hermione!" She froze at the sound of her real name. Here, she was Emily, a simple name for a woman who lived a simple life. She wasn't Hermione. No one called her that except for Draco when they were sure no one was around. "Wait!"

She began to run. It didn't matter that he knew she was here just that he didn't talk to her. She couldn't go directly home since it would only lead him to Draco. Her hands trembled as she ducked behind a building hoping to lose the man behind her.

"I know you," the voice called out again. She knew he found her. The only person who would be able to find her no matter what. "I know you, Hermione, and I know you aren't like this."

"You don't know anything," She turned around to face him. Her hair almost matched his now, just slightly deeper in shade. "You think you know me, but you don't, Ron."

"I know he did this to you," She wanted to smack that grimace off Ron's face. Draco hadn't done anything to her except love her. Something she couldn't say the same about when it came to Ron.

"Draco hasn't done anything to me. I made this decision on my own, and I'll continue to do so."

"I know you," Ron stressed again as if his tone would make any difference, "this isn't you 'Mione."

"You lost the right to call me that when you broke my heart, Ronald." She wouldn't cry over this. Not now. Not when it's been years. Not when she has Draco who loves her.

"Is this why you're acting like this?" Ron huffed, "Because I broke up with you when we were teenagers?"

Hermione snorted, "It's hilarious that you think this is about you. This is about me and what I want out of life. I've found that."

A rooster cawed as the sunrise finished. More people would be waking up any minute now as the day finally started. She didn't have much time to make it back to Draco before something happened. Her eyes widened with realization as she figured that if Ron was with her then Harry must be with Draco.

"We're here to rescue you, Hermione," Ron folded his arms, "We can get you out of this."

"I don't want out of this," Hermione cried, "I love Draco. He isn't holding me captive, and I don't need you and Harry to "rescue" me. I never needed you to rescue me. I'm a perfectly capable human being and I hate that you both paint me out to be this damsel in distress. So, yes, maybe I did start this because of you. I finally have the ability to feel free and not feel like I'm in need of saving. Who cares if some rich people lose their money?"

"It's wrong and you know that" Ron spat out. In an instant, the look of hope on his face flashed to something darker. "If you won't come with me willingly then I'll just have to arrest you, Hermione."

"I'd like to see you try."

She took off running towards the meet-up spot that she and Draco had settled on. If he wasn't there, then she'd leave a message for him. They had some things stashed there. She was still faster than Ron on foot, and he wouldn't be able to reach her using a car. She could get out of this.

She would get out of this.