For the Love of the Land
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part 12
Hermione was not at all surprised to get a summons from Luna as she entered the common room. She, Neville, and Ginny turned and went right back out to the corridors.
They filed into Luna's office in silence, Draco and Cho right behind them. The sat down and looked up at Luna expectantly in perfect unison. All five had a look of mixed determination, hate, bewilderment and guilt. They had thought, for a while, that they were going to save the world...and they hadn't been there.
"I don't know what there is to say," Luna said, carefully choosing her words. They were in a state of wild emotion, and Luna knew better than to say anything to provoke it.
"I know what to say," Draco said. "Voldemort's a-"
"DRACO!" Cho, Hermione, and Ginny yelled in unison. Neville hid his laugh in a cough.
"Listen, guys," Luna said, sighing. "Voldemort's attack is close at hand, and-" Her sentence was cut off when they heard the door to Luna's office open. All six of them turned to look at the doorway.
"Uh...hi?" Sirius said, waving at them a bit.
"Sirius?" Hermione said. "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I'd see how Luna's running the place," Sirius replied, sitting down behind the Defenders.
"What...how do you know about this?" Hermione replied in shock. The other four (who, remember, were still digesting that Sirius was innocent) waited impatiently for the reply.
"Of course," He said, raising an eyebrow at Luna. "You didn't tell them of the Days of Yore, Luna?"
"I didn't think it would be wise, but with you around I don't suppose I have a choice." She sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Ginny demanded. She very much detested being left out of the loop.
"Sirius is referring to when we were in school...as Defenders." Luna explained.
"YOU were a Defender?" Hermione asked in shock, spinning around to stare at Sirius, who was smirking.
"I can't believe you didn't tell them about this, Luna," He said. Luna rolled her eyes.
"All right, well, if you guys want to hear about it..." She said, looking warily at the Defenders. They could tell she didn't particularly want to explain, but she had peeked their curiosity and it was too late to turn back now.
"Definitely," Neville replied, voicing the thought of the other four.
"All right then. Sirius, you will have to help me, I can't remember everything."
"That's what happens when you get old," He sighed dramatically.
"Excuse me?" Luna lifted an eyebrow. "You're just as old as I am,"
"Yes, but I don't act like it," He replied, smirking again.
"Could've fooled me!" Luna snapped. The Defenders looked at each other, silently agreeing that Sirius was nuts and that he brought out a side in Luna they never knew was there.
"The dark side of the moon," Draco muttered. Ginny, Cho, and Hermione giggled.
"What? Oh, sorry guys," Luna blushed. "Anyway, my days as a Defender...
"I was in sixth year when we were told. We were trained by the Potions professor-"
"Poor guy," Sirius interrupted. "Old Cobblestone wasn't very fond of James and me."
"And for good reason!" Luna snapped. "Anyway, his name was Professor Cobblestone, and he had been a wind Defender during the height of Grindlewald's power."
"We called him a windbag for good reason," Sirius confirmed, nodding his head. Luna just rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, there were five Defenders. I was the lightening. Sirius here was Water-"
"So THAT'S why the water went cold," Hermione muttered, nodding.
"Uh-huh," Luna nodded. "Our Fire Defender was Lily Evans; Harry Potter's mom, and James Potter; Harry's dad, was Wind. We also had a Divinator..." The reference seemed to bring pain to Luna's eyes.
"Dirty rotten..." Sirius continued for quite some time, and Hermione became impressed with his fluency of swear words.
"Well?" Draco demanded, getting impatient. "Who was it?"
"It was..." Luna cast a wary glance at Ginny. "Peter Weasley."
"My uncle..." Ginny muttered, her eyes wide. Draco took her hand and squeezed it.
"Yes, well, it's true." Luna looked very embarrassed. "Peter was a year above James, Lily, Sirius and me. The five of us were to fight Voldemort just as you are. I only hope that none of you chose the path Peter did...either one."
"That's it! I figured it out, Luna! People named Peter are evil!" Sirius exclaimed.
"I have a neighbor named Peter, and he's not evil...to my knowledge anyway," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"I knew a guy who worked at the Apothecary in Diagon Alley named Peter," Cho added.
"I had a great-great-great-grandfather Peter," Neville said.
"They're all evil! THE PETERS ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD EVERYBODY RUN FOR IT!!!!!!!!!" Sirius yelled, jumping out of his chair.
Luna, along with the Defenders, were sent into gales of hysterical laughter.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Everyone in Hogwarts attended Angelina Johnson's funeral service. Harry was very quiet...he had known Angelina very well, because they had been on the Quidditch team together.
Ron's brother Fred was there too. Neither Harry, Ron, nor Hermione had seen him so solemn. He had been engaged to Angelina for just over a month. Ron and Ginny even temporarily put away there feud in a desperate, futile effort to cheer him up. He smiled weakly at their antics, but his eyes remained dead. His smile scared Hermione more than anything else.
Dumbledore made a short speech at the funeral, and there were a lot of people crying...some just because it was a funeral, and others out of sheer fear of Voldemort. Those who were there for Angelina herself-her family, Fred, and her friends-were in too much shock over losing someone who loved life so much to cry.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned from the funeral silently, each lost in their own thoughts. They all went to bed much earlier than usual. Hermione slept dreamlessly, and Harry dreamed memories of playing Quidditch with Angelina.
Ron's dream was much different.
*~*
A red haired boy around sixteen or seventeen was sitting in a small stone room. From what Ron could tell, it looked like Snape's office. Except the teacher sitting on the other side of the desk wasn't Snape. It was an older-looking man, with graying hair that was once a handsome brown, and tired brown eyes.
"What did you call me here for, Professor Cobblestone?" The boy asked. He looked like a Weasley, but not someone Ron recognized.
"Peter, my boy," The man-Professor Cobblestone-sighed. Ron felt his eyes widen...if such a thing can happen in a dream. Uncle Pete? The one who betrayed the family? The one who got Memaw killed? "Dumbledore has instructed me to give you something. You must use it wisely, and be very careful with it."
"What is it, sir?" The boy, who Ron was assuming was Uncle Pete, asked curiously.
"This," The professor replied, reaching into a drawer of his desk and pulling out a small, round object. Ron watched carefully as he placed it on Pete's outstretched palm. As Ron concentrated, he felt himself being pulled toward the marble...closer and closer until it took up all his range of vision.
It was an orb shaped object, and Ron was reminded of a gobstone. It was glowing, and it's color was constantly changing and swirling. In the center, there was a single drop of a black liquid. It looked like ink. Ron studied the black droplet curiously. After a brief moment, he saw a figure WITHIN the droplet. It was a pretty teenage girl with red hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a blue dress and twirling and giggling. She continued twirling and twirling and twirling and...
*~*
Ron sat straight up. It was still the middle of the night. He was soaked in sweat. He glanced at the clock. It was three in the morning. Frowning, he laid back down. What a strange dream.
What could that have meant?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Hogsmeade trip had finally been rescheduled. Many of those who knew Angelina decided to stay out of respect for her. However, Ron, Harry, and Hermione decided that they needed to get out...and that they needed to get their Christmas shopping done.
They passed Filch's careful inspection, his eyes narrowed for students trying to sneak outside. Though why anyone would want to, Hermione couldn't begin to imagine. It was freezing, and snowing on top of it. She wished she had a thicker cloak as soon as she set foot outside.
Draco didn't seem to mind.
Hermione was glad to be going to Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron. Recently, she had hardly made time for them around Defender meetings and schoolwork. They chatted happily as they skipped down into the village. Hermione's cheeks were already turning red from the cold...as were Ron's she teased him, saying his face matched his hair. This turned out to be a bad idea, because then Ron threw a snowball at her.
Hermione threw a snowball back at Ron, who ducked. Instead, it hit Harry square on the shoulder. Soon the three were involved in a wild snowball fight, which ended with them in a giggling heap on the snow.
When they finally resumed the path to Hogsmeade they decided to check out the newly erected Weasley's Wizard Wheezes first. The twins were finally in business (after getting several of their products cleared by the Ministry of Magic) and Hermione couldn't wait to see the shop. They had worked hard for it.
They were having a blast checking out everything the twins' joke shop had to offer. The shop was doing well and (according to George, anyway) Mrs. Weasley was finally beginning to soften up to the idea of her boys owning a joke shop.
They picked their way carefully around the people sprouting feathers and fins. The three of them had learned that the only thing all the products had in common was that they were unheard of, especially when it came to the sweets. Before picking anything up, or even touching it, they waited for some unsuspecting innocent to finger it. They were glad more than once.
Ron and Harry left with five huge bags between them, and even Hermione had a bag of things she just couldn't pass up.
"Let's go to Zonko's!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.
"All right!" Harry exclaimed.
"You boys!" Hermione sighed. "We just got out of a joke shop! Not to mention your brothers won't be too happy if they find out you're buying from the competition."
"So?" The replied in unison. Hermione sighed again; she really didn't want to go to Zonko's.
"Tell you what, 'Mione," Ron said, immediately sensing that she didn't want to come. "We're only going to be in there for a few minutes. So while we're doing that, why don't you go get us a table at Three Broomsticks, and Harry and I will pick up the butterbeers on the way in?"
Hermione flashed him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ron," She said.
"Anytime," Ron replied, kissing her on the nose. Harry made a face, and Hermione laughed. As Hermione walked toward the pub, she heard them laughing. She smiled; happy because her boys were.
As Hermione opened the door, she heard a bell tinkle, and felt the rush of warm air on her face, heavy with smell of betterbeer and Christmas scents of gingerbread and cider. She got a few scowls because of the snowflakes that accompanied her arrival, but all was well when the door was safely shut behind her. She started searching for an empty table...not an easy feat considering most of the Hogwarts had sought refuge from the weather with a nice warm butterbeer.
"Hermione!" Someone called. She looked toward the voice and saw Draco gesturing madly to her. She pushed through the crowd toward where he was sitting.
"Who's sitting there?" Hermione asked, gesturing to the empty seat next to him. She noticed a second butterbeer, only half finished, sitting on the table next to Draco's empty tankard.
"Ginny," He replied. " But you can sit there till she gets back."
I think I will," She smiled. "Where is Ginny?"
"With some fifth year friends," Draco replied, making a face. "Sometimes I remember that she's a fifteen-year-old girl." He put on a high falsetto. ""Oh Draco, you'll never guess what Caitlin said about Vicky when she saw her with Andy!"
Hermione laughed, and Draco smiled.
"I am exaggerating a bit." He said, chuckling. "But enough about me, let's talk about you."
"What about me?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Where are Potty and the Weasel, for instance?" Draco replied.
"Didn't I tell you not to call them that?"
"Fine then, Miss Granger. Can you inform me of where I might locate Mr. Harry Potter and Mr. Ronald Weasley?"
"Why do you want to know?" Hermione replied. She was having fun answering his questions with questions.
"It shouldn't matter Granger!" Draco cried exasperatedly.
"And why not?" She asked.
"Because...because you're their receptionist, that's why!" Draco declared. Hermione put on a face of mock hurt.
"I am not,"
"Are too,"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"AM NOT!"
"ARE TOO!"
"AM..." Suddenly, Hermione realized how childish they sounded and began laughing hysterically.
"ARE TOO!...what?" He asked, confused at Hermione's spontaneous laughing fit.
"It's just..." But Hermione was laughing so hard that she could hardly breath, let alone talk.
"What?" Draco asked again, trying desperately not to laugh...and failing miserably. Within a few moments they were laughing so hard that they couldn't breath, and they didn't hear the little bell at the door tinkle.
"Oh Draco, I really should go," Hermione sighed once she had gotten control of herself. Draco pretended to pout.
"Must you?"
"Well I don't want Ron or Harry to see me here and-"
"It's a little late for that," Came a voice full of ice and hardly constrained rage from behind her. Hermione's heart stopped as she turned.
"Ron-" She began desperately.
"I don't want to hear about it, Hermione," He said, obviously using all his willpower not to yell. He turned to walk out. Right out of the pub and Hermione's life.
"Ron, wait! Please! I can explain!" She called out.
"No, Hermione!" He yelled viciously as he spun around, and Hermione saw, for an instant, his face contorted with the full extent of a wave of emotions she didn't even want to try understanding. In that instant, she felt her heart break. "No, I know exactly what going on. It's not bad enough that Malfoy takes my sister's heart and is just waiting for the right time for the blender, but he's decided to add my girlfriend to the recipe!" With every syllable Ron's voice got louder and more out of control. Hermione felt tears running down her cheeks. He thought she was cheating on him with Draco! Rage, confusion, helplessness, loss, guilt, and denial suddenly decided to drop by and keep her heartbreak company.
"That's NOT TRUE!" She screamed, choking on her own tears and rage. "You won't even give him a chance-"
"That's the same thing Ginny said," Ron interrupted icily.
Hermione stared at him, her eyes wide and tears flowing freely down her face, rage and shock flowing through her veins, killing all sensations. She stood, numb, trying to talk and only emitting a few unintelligible syllables. Ron stared back, his jaw set, his fists clenched, his eyes blazing.
"Ron..." She pleaded meekly.
"No, Hermione," He whispered. Hermione felt her eyes widen, and, from deep with her, huge, heart wrenching sobs that hurt her chest. Burying her face in her hands, she fled. She never saw Draco glare at Ron, stand, and leave. She never saw Harry try desperately to convince Ron to think rationally. She never saw the shocked look on the faces of the other people in the pub. In fact, she saw nothing through her tears mingled with the snow.
She ran through the streets in the snow that would've been freezing, had she the ability to feel it. Eventually she collapsed onto her knees in the middle of the street. Her tears froze, then shattered as they hit the iced road.
A/N Whoa, a lot happened there. What will happen to Hermione and Ron? What was up with that dream? Peter Weasley was a Defender? Lolz, lot's of torture here. Many answers coming.
There are only THREE more chapters left in this story! Can you believe it! YAY! I'm so close! Don't worry, the sequel is already in the works...you're gonna love it! As of right now, it's going to be titled 'A Glimpse of the Hidden'.
This chaptered is dedicated to one of the evil Peters I know personally...a few of you know who I mean (if you ever READ this, hint hint, Sierra! Star*dust! Diana!)
I'm working hard on chapter 13, and I hope to have it up next weekend, but I'm not sure. Next week is the school musical, but I'll try. Chapter 13 is a HUGE chapter, so don't kill me.
It's great to be back! (I was on vacation, you know...if you could call it that.) Hugs and kisses to all my reviewers.
Until next chapter, tootles!!!!!!!!
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part 12
Hermione was not at all surprised to get a summons from Luna as she entered the common room. She, Neville, and Ginny turned and went right back out to the corridors.
They filed into Luna's office in silence, Draco and Cho right behind them. The sat down and looked up at Luna expectantly in perfect unison. All five had a look of mixed determination, hate, bewilderment and guilt. They had thought, for a while, that they were going to save the world...and they hadn't been there.
"I don't know what there is to say," Luna said, carefully choosing her words. They were in a state of wild emotion, and Luna knew better than to say anything to provoke it.
"I know what to say," Draco said. "Voldemort's a-"
"DRACO!" Cho, Hermione, and Ginny yelled in unison. Neville hid his laugh in a cough.
"Listen, guys," Luna said, sighing. "Voldemort's attack is close at hand, and-" Her sentence was cut off when they heard the door to Luna's office open. All six of them turned to look at the doorway.
"Uh...hi?" Sirius said, waving at them a bit.
"Sirius?" Hermione said. "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I'd see how Luna's running the place," Sirius replied, sitting down behind the Defenders.
"What...how do you know about this?" Hermione replied in shock. The other four (who, remember, were still digesting that Sirius was innocent) waited impatiently for the reply.
"Of course," He said, raising an eyebrow at Luna. "You didn't tell them of the Days of Yore, Luna?"
"I didn't think it would be wise, but with you around I don't suppose I have a choice." She sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Ginny demanded. She very much detested being left out of the loop.
"Sirius is referring to when we were in school...as Defenders." Luna explained.
"YOU were a Defender?" Hermione asked in shock, spinning around to stare at Sirius, who was smirking.
"I can't believe you didn't tell them about this, Luna," He said. Luna rolled her eyes.
"All right, well, if you guys want to hear about it..." She said, looking warily at the Defenders. They could tell she didn't particularly want to explain, but she had peeked their curiosity and it was too late to turn back now.
"Definitely," Neville replied, voicing the thought of the other four.
"All right then. Sirius, you will have to help me, I can't remember everything."
"That's what happens when you get old," He sighed dramatically.
"Excuse me?" Luna lifted an eyebrow. "You're just as old as I am,"
"Yes, but I don't act like it," He replied, smirking again.
"Could've fooled me!" Luna snapped. The Defenders looked at each other, silently agreeing that Sirius was nuts and that he brought out a side in Luna they never knew was there.
"The dark side of the moon," Draco muttered. Ginny, Cho, and Hermione giggled.
"What? Oh, sorry guys," Luna blushed. "Anyway, my days as a Defender...
"I was in sixth year when we were told. We were trained by the Potions professor-"
"Poor guy," Sirius interrupted. "Old Cobblestone wasn't very fond of James and me."
"And for good reason!" Luna snapped. "Anyway, his name was Professor Cobblestone, and he had been a wind Defender during the height of Grindlewald's power."
"We called him a windbag for good reason," Sirius confirmed, nodding his head. Luna just rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, there were five Defenders. I was the lightening. Sirius here was Water-"
"So THAT'S why the water went cold," Hermione muttered, nodding.
"Uh-huh," Luna nodded. "Our Fire Defender was Lily Evans; Harry Potter's mom, and James Potter; Harry's dad, was Wind. We also had a Divinator..." The reference seemed to bring pain to Luna's eyes.
"Dirty rotten..." Sirius continued for quite some time, and Hermione became impressed with his fluency of swear words.
"Well?" Draco demanded, getting impatient. "Who was it?"
"It was..." Luna cast a wary glance at Ginny. "Peter Weasley."
"My uncle..." Ginny muttered, her eyes wide. Draco took her hand and squeezed it.
"Yes, well, it's true." Luna looked very embarrassed. "Peter was a year above James, Lily, Sirius and me. The five of us were to fight Voldemort just as you are. I only hope that none of you chose the path Peter did...either one."
"That's it! I figured it out, Luna! People named Peter are evil!" Sirius exclaimed.
"I have a neighbor named Peter, and he's not evil...to my knowledge anyway," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"I knew a guy who worked at the Apothecary in Diagon Alley named Peter," Cho added.
"I had a great-great-great-grandfather Peter," Neville said.
"They're all evil! THE PETERS ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD EVERYBODY RUN FOR IT!!!!!!!!!" Sirius yelled, jumping out of his chair.
Luna, along with the Defenders, were sent into gales of hysterical laughter.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Everyone in Hogwarts attended Angelina Johnson's funeral service. Harry was very quiet...he had known Angelina very well, because they had been on the Quidditch team together.
Ron's brother Fred was there too. Neither Harry, Ron, nor Hermione had seen him so solemn. He had been engaged to Angelina for just over a month. Ron and Ginny even temporarily put away there feud in a desperate, futile effort to cheer him up. He smiled weakly at their antics, but his eyes remained dead. His smile scared Hermione more than anything else.
Dumbledore made a short speech at the funeral, and there were a lot of people crying...some just because it was a funeral, and others out of sheer fear of Voldemort. Those who were there for Angelina herself-her family, Fred, and her friends-were in too much shock over losing someone who loved life so much to cry.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned from the funeral silently, each lost in their own thoughts. They all went to bed much earlier than usual. Hermione slept dreamlessly, and Harry dreamed memories of playing Quidditch with Angelina.
Ron's dream was much different.
*~*
A red haired boy around sixteen or seventeen was sitting in a small stone room. From what Ron could tell, it looked like Snape's office. Except the teacher sitting on the other side of the desk wasn't Snape. It was an older-looking man, with graying hair that was once a handsome brown, and tired brown eyes.
"What did you call me here for, Professor Cobblestone?" The boy asked. He looked like a Weasley, but not someone Ron recognized.
"Peter, my boy," The man-Professor Cobblestone-sighed. Ron felt his eyes widen...if such a thing can happen in a dream. Uncle Pete? The one who betrayed the family? The one who got Memaw killed? "Dumbledore has instructed me to give you something. You must use it wisely, and be very careful with it."
"What is it, sir?" The boy, who Ron was assuming was Uncle Pete, asked curiously.
"This," The professor replied, reaching into a drawer of his desk and pulling out a small, round object. Ron watched carefully as he placed it on Pete's outstretched palm. As Ron concentrated, he felt himself being pulled toward the marble...closer and closer until it took up all his range of vision.
It was an orb shaped object, and Ron was reminded of a gobstone. It was glowing, and it's color was constantly changing and swirling. In the center, there was a single drop of a black liquid. It looked like ink. Ron studied the black droplet curiously. After a brief moment, he saw a figure WITHIN the droplet. It was a pretty teenage girl with red hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a blue dress and twirling and giggling. She continued twirling and twirling and twirling and...
*~*
Ron sat straight up. It was still the middle of the night. He was soaked in sweat. He glanced at the clock. It was three in the morning. Frowning, he laid back down. What a strange dream.
What could that have meant?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Hogsmeade trip had finally been rescheduled. Many of those who knew Angelina decided to stay out of respect for her. However, Ron, Harry, and Hermione decided that they needed to get out...and that they needed to get their Christmas shopping done.
They passed Filch's careful inspection, his eyes narrowed for students trying to sneak outside. Though why anyone would want to, Hermione couldn't begin to imagine. It was freezing, and snowing on top of it. She wished she had a thicker cloak as soon as she set foot outside.
Draco didn't seem to mind.
Hermione was glad to be going to Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron. Recently, she had hardly made time for them around Defender meetings and schoolwork. They chatted happily as they skipped down into the village. Hermione's cheeks were already turning red from the cold...as were Ron's she teased him, saying his face matched his hair. This turned out to be a bad idea, because then Ron threw a snowball at her.
Hermione threw a snowball back at Ron, who ducked. Instead, it hit Harry square on the shoulder. Soon the three were involved in a wild snowball fight, which ended with them in a giggling heap on the snow.
When they finally resumed the path to Hogsmeade they decided to check out the newly erected Weasley's Wizard Wheezes first. The twins were finally in business (after getting several of their products cleared by the Ministry of Magic) and Hermione couldn't wait to see the shop. They had worked hard for it.
They were having a blast checking out everything the twins' joke shop had to offer. The shop was doing well and (according to George, anyway) Mrs. Weasley was finally beginning to soften up to the idea of her boys owning a joke shop.
They picked their way carefully around the people sprouting feathers and fins. The three of them had learned that the only thing all the products had in common was that they were unheard of, especially when it came to the sweets. Before picking anything up, or even touching it, they waited for some unsuspecting innocent to finger it. They were glad more than once.
Ron and Harry left with five huge bags between them, and even Hermione had a bag of things she just couldn't pass up.
"Let's go to Zonko's!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.
"All right!" Harry exclaimed.
"You boys!" Hermione sighed. "We just got out of a joke shop! Not to mention your brothers won't be too happy if they find out you're buying from the competition."
"So?" The replied in unison. Hermione sighed again; she really didn't want to go to Zonko's.
"Tell you what, 'Mione," Ron said, immediately sensing that she didn't want to come. "We're only going to be in there for a few minutes. So while we're doing that, why don't you go get us a table at Three Broomsticks, and Harry and I will pick up the butterbeers on the way in?"
Hermione flashed him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ron," She said.
"Anytime," Ron replied, kissing her on the nose. Harry made a face, and Hermione laughed. As Hermione walked toward the pub, she heard them laughing. She smiled; happy because her boys were.
As Hermione opened the door, she heard a bell tinkle, and felt the rush of warm air on her face, heavy with smell of betterbeer and Christmas scents of gingerbread and cider. She got a few scowls because of the snowflakes that accompanied her arrival, but all was well when the door was safely shut behind her. She started searching for an empty table...not an easy feat considering most of the Hogwarts had sought refuge from the weather with a nice warm butterbeer.
"Hermione!" Someone called. She looked toward the voice and saw Draco gesturing madly to her. She pushed through the crowd toward where he was sitting.
"Who's sitting there?" Hermione asked, gesturing to the empty seat next to him. She noticed a second butterbeer, only half finished, sitting on the table next to Draco's empty tankard.
"Ginny," He replied. " But you can sit there till she gets back."
I think I will," She smiled. "Where is Ginny?"
"With some fifth year friends," Draco replied, making a face. "Sometimes I remember that she's a fifteen-year-old girl." He put on a high falsetto. ""Oh Draco, you'll never guess what Caitlin said about Vicky when she saw her with Andy!"
Hermione laughed, and Draco smiled.
"I am exaggerating a bit." He said, chuckling. "But enough about me, let's talk about you."
"What about me?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Where are Potty and the Weasel, for instance?" Draco replied.
"Didn't I tell you not to call them that?"
"Fine then, Miss Granger. Can you inform me of where I might locate Mr. Harry Potter and Mr. Ronald Weasley?"
"Why do you want to know?" Hermione replied. She was having fun answering his questions with questions.
"It shouldn't matter Granger!" Draco cried exasperatedly.
"And why not?" She asked.
"Because...because you're their receptionist, that's why!" Draco declared. Hermione put on a face of mock hurt.
"I am not,"
"Are too,"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"AM NOT!"
"ARE TOO!"
"AM..." Suddenly, Hermione realized how childish they sounded and began laughing hysterically.
"ARE TOO!...what?" He asked, confused at Hermione's spontaneous laughing fit.
"It's just..." But Hermione was laughing so hard that she could hardly breath, let alone talk.
"What?" Draco asked again, trying desperately not to laugh...and failing miserably. Within a few moments they were laughing so hard that they couldn't breath, and they didn't hear the little bell at the door tinkle.
"Oh Draco, I really should go," Hermione sighed once she had gotten control of herself. Draco pretended to pout.
"Must you?"
"Well I don't want Ron or Harry to see me here and-"
"It's a little late for that," Came a voice full of ice and hardly constrained rage from behind her. Hermione's heart stopped as she turned.
"Ron-" She began desperately.
"I don't want to hear about it, Hermione," He said, obviously using all his willpower not to yell. He turned to walk out. Right out of the pub and Hermione's life.
"Ron, wait! Please! I can explain!" She called out.
"No, Hermione!" He yelled viciously as he spun around, and Hermione saw, for an instant, his face contorted with the full extent of a wave of emotions she didn't even want to try understanding. In that instant, she felt her heart break. "No, I know exactly what going on. It's not bad enough that Malfoy takes my sister's heart and is just waiting for the right time for the blender, but he's decided to add my girlfriend to the recipe!" With every syllable Ron's voice got louder and more out of control. Hermione felt tears running down her cheeks. He thought she was cheating on him with Draco! Rage, confusion, helplessness, loss, guilt, and denial suddenly decided to drop by and keep her heartbreak company.
"That's NOT TRUE!" She screamed, choking on her own tears and rage. "You won't even give him a chance-"
"That's the same thing Ginny said," Ron interrupted icily.
Hermione stared at him, her eyes wide and tears flowing freely down her face, rage and shock flowing through her veins, killing all sensations. She stood, numb, trying to talk and only emitting a few unintelligible syllables. Ron stared back, his jaw set, his fists clenched, his eyes blazing.
"Ron..." She pleaded meekly.
"No, Hermione," He whispered. Hermione felt her eyes widen, and, from deep with her, huge, heart wrenching sobs that hurt her chest. Burying her face in her hands, she fled. She never saw Draco glare at Ron, stand, and leave. She never saw Harry try desperately to convince Ron to think rationally. She never saw the shocked look on the faces of the other people in the pub. In fact, she saw nothing through her tears mingled with the snow.
She ran through the streets in the snow that would've been freezing, had she the ability to feel it. Eventually she collapsed onto her knees in the middle of the street. Her tears froze, then shattered as they hit the iced road.
A/N Whoa, a lot happened there. What will happen to Hermione and Ron? What was up with that dream? Peter Weasley was a Defender? Lolz, lot's of torture here. Many answers coming.
There are only THREE more chapters left in this story! Can you believe it! YAY! I'm so close! Don't worry, the sequel is already in the works...you're gonna love it! As of right now, it's going to be titled 'A Glimpse of the Hidden'.
This chaptered is dedicated to one of the evil Peters I know personally...a few of you know who I mean (if you ever READ this, hint hint, Sierra! Star*dust! Diana!)
I'm working hard on chapter 13, and I hope to have it up next weekend, but I'm not sure. Next week is the school musical, but I'll try. Chapter 13 is a HUGE chapter, so don't kill me.
It's great to be back! (I was on vacation, you know...if you could call it that.) Hugs and kisses to all my reviewers.
Until next chapter, tootles!!!!!!!!