Got chapter 4 up! I'm rating this one PG-13 just in case.
It's got a little more of that type of content in it, if ya know what I mean, but nothing really bad.
I just like to be safe.
Chapter 4 – Ron the RescuerRon waited until he heard Hermione's footsteps disappear down the hallway behind him, and then slumped down the wall with his head in his hands.
I can't believe Fred and George!! I'm going to kill them! I almost kissed Hermione! Now things are going to be completely weird between us. She probably doesn't even like me...I might as well just go out to dig a hole and bury myself in it already.
He took his face out of his hands and looked up at the ceiling, feeling completely helpless.
The bug from inside the room made its way into Ron's personal space and attempted to go up his nose.
Ron was getting really angry now. He was through dealing with these dumb bugs. Was he a magnet for them or what? The bug flew around and landed on his arm, biting him before Ron could do anything about it. A little pink welt was already forming.
Ron was fuming now. That bug should consider itself dead. But he was too late; it had zipped down the hallway that Hermione had just gone down. Ron was thinking irrationally and angrily, so he tried to chase the bug down the hallway.
As he was running past another one of Filch's closets, he heard a muffled yell. He stopped dead in his tracks, and forgot about the fly. He heard the yell again, but clearer this time.
"GET OFF!" yelled a familiar female voice, coming from the closet.
That's Hermione!! Ron moved his hand to the doorknob and discovered it was locked.
"Alohomora!" he yelled at the closed door. It swung open at Ron's command. What he saw was the most horrible, most anger-provoking thing he'd ever seen.
The creepy 6th year Slytherin from earlier had Hermione backed against a wall in the small closet. He was holding her wrists against the wall, and tears were streaming down her face. She looked like she was about to throw up.
Ron didn't know what came over him. The Slytherin was a lot bigger than he was, and probably a lot stronger too, but Ron attacked him. No one would hurt his Hermione. No one.
He jumped on him from behind, pulling him off Hermione. He was so angry, he could barely think clearly. He shouted the first spell that came to his mind.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
The Slytherin's arms snapped down to the sides of his body, and his legs locked together. He fell to the ground in the full body bind, knocking a couple buckets and mops down, as well as knocking himself out, in the process.
Fred and George, who were still in a nearby classroom, heard the commotion, and rushed to the closet. Their jaws dropped at the sight. They could practically see the steam coming from Ron's ears.
Through gritted teeth, Ron said, "Take this guy to Dumbledore."
Fred and George didn't question him. The Weasley temper was a dangerous thing, and they knew from experience not to mess with a Weasley when he was mad. They each grabbed an arm, and dragged the guy out of the closet and down the hall. Of course, they had no idea where Dumbledore's office was, but they wanted to get out of there before Ron did something that might cause permanent damage.
Hermione was still against the wall, trembling, with tears running freely down her face. Ron's heart melted. He felt like crying too, just seeing Hermione like that. He walked right up to her and put his arms around her, pulling her head to his chest, and stroking her hair.
"Shhh Hermione, its over now, its okay. I'm here now," he whispered soothingly.
She lifted her head from his chest a little to say, "Can you…take me back to my dorm? I don't...I don't want to stay in here any longer..."
Ron understood, and he moved away from her a little so they could walk out. He kept an arm around her shoulder to support her, and they walked back to the common room. He led her up the stairs to her room.
Ron thought that Hermione would have probably wanted to be alone, but as soon as they got through the door, she threw her arms around his neck and started sobbing again. Ron felt so horrible for her. He held her tight against him and whispered reassuring things to her.
After a while, she finally stopped, and pulled away. She looked so helpless, standing there with such wet eyes and such a sad face. She looked like she was struggling to say something.
"Its okay, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to," Ron said softly.
"No, Ron, I..." her voice trailed off. She took a deep breath and started again, with more courage this time.
"Ron, he...he kissed me. He ruined my first kiss... It was horrible. It felt so wrong, and Ron...he was...he just...he made me do it. He forced me into the closet, and he...he hurt me Ron." A couple of tears forced their way from her eyes down her cheeks.
Ron didn't know what to do. He felt like punching something, screaming, and kicking in a wall all at once. He kept his anger inside though. That's the last thing Hermione needed right now. What she needed was someone to be there for her. He knew how important a first kiss must have been to her. And to have it ruined like that...
"Hermione, I'm...sorry." Ron didn't really know what to say.
"Ron, I..." Hermione seemed to be gathering all her courage to say this. She took a deep breath. "I wanted my first kiss...to be with... you." She looked down at the floor, completely mortified. She couldn't believe she just said that.
Ron's mouth opened into a little "o" shape, and he quickly closed it. She wanted her first kiss to be with me??? She does like me!!!
"Hermione." She didn't lift her gaze from the floor. "Hermione, look at me, please." Hermione lifted her face and looked at Ron a little unsteadily. He walked forward and took her face in his hands, wiping away the stray tears with his thumbs.
"What that guy did to you, it doesn't count as a kiss. It has to be with someone you care about to count, okay? Just pretend it didn't happen. What he did is not worthy to be called your first kiss. You deserve much better than that. Just erase it from your mind, and pretend this will be the first time."
Does that mean what I think it...
Hermione didn't get to finish her thought, for Ron had pulled her in closer, and pressed his lips softly onto hers.
Hermione felt like time had stopped. There was a great whoosh in her stomach, and her knees almost gave out. Ron's kiss was so different than that other one. He was gentle, and sweet, and she could practically feel his love radiating into her body. Ron really cared about her; she knew it for sure now.
She knew she felt the same way about him too.
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To be continued in Chapter 5!
Coming soon to a webpage near you.