CHAPTER FIVE

Hermione's head slumped down to the table as she sobbed to herself and contemplated what she had done to bring her and Ron to this place and time. Ron was leaving her to be with some redheaded bimbo all because she couldn't control her anger and she had taken out her frustrations on him. She had used words that she knew would be devastating to him and she had called him worthless. It was the worse thing she could have called him. She knew that he was anything but useless. She needed him and he had always taken care of her and put her first. If only she had let him explain why he missed her meeting, she would have understood and not said the words she did. Thanks to Ron, George was still alive, but she hadn't let him tell her that. She was so consumed by her work she had disconnected from the people she loved and now it seemed that Ron was gone.

Hermione looked up when she realized that Ron was still standing there. She watched as he shook his head and then gently removed the redhead's hand from his arm.

"No," Ron said softly as he looked at the girls and Jonesy. "No, I can't do it. I won't step out on Hermione. I know that she crossed a line with me last night and said some very hurtful things, but I still love Hermione. In fact, I had planned to propose to her this weekend. Sure, she's over-bearing and oblivious at times, but she's really quite wonderful. I may not forgive her for a while, but I'm not going to leave or break up with her. I promised her I'd never leave her again. Sorry but I've got to go."

Ron stopped and reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box and showed it to his partner. "See, I'm still carrying the ring I found for her. Not sure when I'll need it now, but I'm gonna keep carrying it around."

Hermione gasped as she heard his confession and stood up quickly and ran to Ron sobbing as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. "Oh Ron, I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry!" she said between sobs. "I'm so sorry!"

Ron put his hands on this strange blonde woman and urgently pushed her away so that he could see her face. "Excuse me miss, but uh, who the hell are you and what are you sorry for? I uh, I don't understand and I'm not sure what the hell you're doing."

Hermione quickly realized that she was still under her disillusionment charm so she pulled her wand and returned herself to normal. She shook her head to clear her mind and then pulled herself back into Ron's chest.

"Hermione?" Ron gasped as he looked down at her, the surprise written all over his face. The surprise quickly turned to anger. Had she heard all that he had said? He was still furious after how she treated him last night and wasn't quite ready to see her yet.

"Hermione, what the hell are you doing here? Why the fuck were you a blonde? Why the fuck are you here?"

"Ron, I'm so sorry, come home please? I'm so sorry," Hermione sobbed quietly.

Ron pushed her away and held her at arm's length.

"Go home, Hermione, go home. We'll talk about this later. I'm not yet ready to see you right now. Go Home!"

Hermione looked up shocked at Ron's response, so surprised she couldn't form thoughts or words, so she stood there with tears on her face and her mouth hanging open.

Ron gave her a gentle but firm push toward the floo. "Go home, Hermione, go home."

With that, Ron grabbed his wand and apparated away.

When Ron apparated away, Hermione still stood there in shock, not knowing what to do. Several moments later she realized that everyone in the pub was staring at her. She calmly wiped her eyes and straightened her outfit and walked purposefully toward the floo. Grabbing a pinch of floo powder she simply said "Grimmauld Place" and disappeared into the green flames.

Ron landed in the small park about half a mile away from Grimmauld Place, the home of his best mate. Ron wanted to walk a bit to clear his head before knocking on their door, so he sent his patronus ahead telling Harry that said he needed to talk and that he'd be there in about half an hour. Harry was the only one that he could really talk to right now. Seeing Hermione at the Leaky disguised as a blonde just shook him up a bit. What the hell was she doing? He knew he still loved her and always would, but she would still know that if she had overheard him talking to Jonesy in the pub, but by Godric he was still hacked off at her.

Forgiving her for belittling him as she had would not be easy. What the hell? Trying to save his brother and she jumps all over him without even letting him explain. No, it would not be just kiss and make up this time, but he wanted Harry's advice on what to do. Sure, Hermione said she was sorry when she was disguised as that ridiculous blonde, but what about next time? Would she be as out of control next time something like this came up? Ron wasn't sure he could endure another episode of "wigged out" Hermione.

With all these thoughts running rampant through his head, he started walking slowly toward Harry & Ginny's. When he was about halfway there Ron was met by the slivery shape of Harry's stag patronus. Stopping to listen he heard Harry's voice "Hermione's here. She got here about 5 minutes ago and she's talking to Ginny. She's really upset and you should get here now but come to the back door."

Ron immediately apparated to the back door of Harry's place, worried about what was happening with Hermione. Harry opened the door before Ron could knock, and Ron was surprised he didn't see a worried or concerned look on his friend's face.

"I got here as quick as I could, is she all right?"

Harry put his hand on his best mate's shoulder and gave him small squeeze. "No, she's ok, she's talking to Ginny and she's saying some things that I think you should hear. They're in the lounge and they don't know you're here, but we can listen from the kitchen if you stay calm and quiet."

Ron followed Harry into the kitchen and he started to hear Hermione's voice. He couldn't understand yet what she was saying, but he could tell she was crying and was upset. Hearing her cry was always hard for Ron and this time was no exception. Ron and Harry moved closer to the closed door to the lounge and Ron began to understand what Hermione was saying. His heart plummeted when heard her words.