~*Forgive me, Hermione*~
By ~*Our Lady of the Flame*~
Genre: Yummy, fluffy R/H romance! My fave! :) OK...I hated my last fic. I kind of got stuck....something that's never happened, EVER, to me before!
Rating: PG
Summary: A new girl from America gets transferred to Hogwarts, and she steals Ron away from Hermione. Heartbroken, Hermione goes through a number of things: Deadly diseases, suicide attempts, and finally, something that changes Ron's view forever......STRICT R/H!
Author's Note: Ignore my last fic. It was going nowhere. Anyway, this girl is modeled after someone I'd really, really like to smack over the head in real life. Maybe you'll hate her, too, once she gets annoying. :) PG for a few little words you wouldn't say in front of your mom. Read this if you are an R/H fan! Can't you see it's DESTINY, people? Ron has GOT to marry Hermione! And that's that, so :P!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own ANYONE but Alex. If I owned all the characters, I wouldn't need to borrow my mom's money to go shopping! :P
~!*!~
Chapter One: Alex Arrives
Harry Potter tapped his fingers on his plate and sighed. He knew he was being rude, but the Sorting ceremony was over, and it was taking an unusually long time for Dumbledore to make his start-of-term speech. Ron seemed to be thinking along the same lines, his forehead resting in his hand, eyes glazed over.
Or maybe that was because his one-year and still going girlfriend, Hermione Granger, was on his other side. The trio was now in its sixth year at Hogwarts, and during the past year, Hermione had changed a lot. Her hair was always either straight or curly, not bushy these days, and she had grown into a very sophisticated witch. Still setting the grade record, she was a Prefect and the favorite of many teachers. She had also grown to wear make-up, something that enhanced her pretty features even more; she never wore much, but it was just enough so that it would stand out a little.
"What's taking them so long?" she asked, turning around in her seat to see the High Table. Professor McGonagall seemed to be discussing something very urgent with Professor Dumbledore. His ear was cocked towards her as she whispered, and he was nodding, a small frown on his face. Then he turned towards the front of the Great Hall, and everyone fell silent.
"Welcome, wizards and witches; students young and old," he said, with his usual benign smile. "I see some new faces, some familiar ones; welcome to a brand new year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry....welcome, welcome!"
Everyone applauded enthusiastically, and Harry suddenly felt a hole in the bottom of his stomach. Young and old.....no more Fred and George to brighten things up. They'd graduated the past year, and were now working to build their joke shop, which, after many heated arguments, Mrs. Weasley had grudgingly given into. And Cho...she'd be leaving this year.....he snuck a glance at the Ravenclaw table.
"I have a few announcements to make," Dumbledore told the excited crowd. "We have a new transfer student, from the United States of America." Whispers broke out all over the Great Hall.
"American?" Said Ron, frowning. "I've never met one."
"I have," said Hermione, beaming. "They're really very nice. My half sister is American. She works in New York."
Ron shrugged. "If you say so." He turned to look at Harry, who was still staring over at the Ravenclaw table. "Still not over her, Harry, eh?"
Harry snapped out of his trance, blushing furiously. "Wha-? Er....dunno what you're talking about," he said quickly, taking his fork and trying to spear some invisible food, bringing it to his mouth. Hermione stared at him, then she giggled.
"Harry," she explained when he looked up at her, "there's no food on the fork."
"Wha-? Oh....yeah. I knew that." He said sheepishly, dropping the fork with a clang. "So....who do you think this American is?"
His question was answered almost immediately as Dumbledore bellowed, "And now! I give you......Alex McCarthy!" The doors to the Great Hall opened and everyone burst into applause as a tall, blond girl walked in, beaming at her classmates. After the cheering ceased, Dumbledore led her over to the Sorting Hat. Harry watched as Alex slowly put the Hat on with trembling fingers.
There was silence as the Hat slipped over her eyes. Harry could see her shaking, her fingers crossed. There was a long, empty pause. Then-
"GRYFFINDOR!" Announced the Hat. Harry sat there, stunned, as everyone at the Gryffindor table cheered madly. She made her way towards the end of the table, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting. Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle as she passed by, sending chills up and down his spine. Something was wrong about this girl. Something was very, very wrong.
She looked down at Ginny and smiled dazzlingly. "Hey," she said, grinning at her. ("'Hey?'" muttered Harry. "It's the American way of greeting," whispered Hermione.) "I'm new here.......can you scoot over so I can sit here?"
Ginny looked like she was ready to answer back sharply, but seemed to hesitate, then change her mind. She smiled back at Alex. "Well....since it's your first day....I guess so," she said hesitantly. Alex beamed and sat- directly across from Ron.
"I LOVE your hair," she told him, that nerve-wracking smile still in place. "You never really see ANYONE in America with red hair. Are there lots of people in England with red hair?" She certainly knew how to converse!
"I guess so," said Ron, laughing. He stopped when she looked at him in a funny way. "Oh, it's just that I didn't think that my hair was lov-er- likeable, you know?" Hermione stared at him, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. She seemed to be reconsidering her statement on Americans now.
"*I* like it," Hermione interrupted, smiling at him. He grinned gratefully and put an arm around her shoulder, then kissed her affectionately.
"You'd better," he teased. "If you're my girlfriend, you have to at least like my hair." She laughed and rested her head on his shoulder drowsily, apparently satisfied that Ron wasn't cheating on her....for now. He held her close to him, then turned back to Alex for more conversation.
"Your.....your girlfriend?" Harry noticed that Alex's smile seemed to falter a bit. "You...you mean you're going out?" Ron looked surprised.
"We've been going out for a year so far," he told her. "She's the best," he added, ruffling her straight brown hair. "She's everything, in fact. She's smart, pretty, funny, mischievous at times, and there's nothing she can't do. She's my girl." He finished proudly, kissing one blushing cheek. Hermione raised her head, her eyes dancing.
"Well, I didn't use to be ALL of those," she admitted. "I was AWFUL, just awful, until these two boys over here....." she nodded towards Ron and Harry, "helped me out of my hibernation. They, and Ginny," she smiled at Ginny, who grinned back, "are the best things that've happened to me."
"Sappy, sappy," Harry teased. She frowned at him playfully, and he gave her a friendly hug.
Alex raised her eyebrows. "Is that so?" she asked. "Sometimes, back home, I mean, I've been said to have those qualities, too. I guess lots of people have it," she said, laughing. Harry frowned. He didn't like this girl. That laugh was downright fake. And there was something about Alex that made him want to hurl his plate of chicken pie right into her stupid, grinning face.
Ginny didn't seem to like her very much, either. "Not EVERYONE has it!" She exclaimed defensively. People who'd been listening turned to stare. Ginny flushed, but keep on going defiantly. "Hardly anyone is like Hermione is! She's one-of-a-kind!" She glared at Alex, as if daring her to argue.
Alex shrugged. "Yeah, well, in AMERICA, a lot of people are," she said. "No offense," she added quickly. Harry stiffened.
"What year are you in?" He asked through gritted teeth.
She smiled. "Oh! You must be Harry Potter! Pleased to meet you," she added, holding out her hand for a shake. When Harry didn't take it, she took it back, the smile still frozen on her lips. Harry looked coldly back at her.
"I'm in yours, I think. Sixth year?" Three of their group nodded. "Yeah, that's me." She looked at Harry one last time, confusion on her face, before turning to look at Ron, and dragging him into conversation again.
Harry had a strange kind of rushing in his ears. He didn't like Alex. In fact, he didn't like her at all. He had a sudden urge to say something mean, something that would hurt her, and bring her off her high horse.
"Hermione," he interrupted loudly. "You scored the highest on our O.W.L.s, didn't you?" Hermione looked over at him, frowning confusedly.
"Yyyyyyyes," she said slowly. "I thought I told you that already....in my letter?" Harry shook his head, his eyes innocent. "Oh," she said. "I...I thought you might remember. You were really happy for me." She looked a little hurt.
Harry felt like slapping himself in the face. He HATED hurting Hermione. She was one of his best friends! "Well," he said, winking. "I...I guess I forgot, then." Hermione saw his wink and stared at him for a moment, then mouthed,
*Harry, what-?*
"I'll tell you later," he whispered. She nodded and winked back, the smile back on her face, before turning to Ron and asking him how the Chudley Cannons had been doing in their competition. As Ron began answering excitedly, Harry snuck a look at Alex and saw that she was looking at him, too. Her eyes were narrowed. In fact, Harry was sure of it now.....she was jealous. Obviously, she was thought to be smart, too, back in America, and didn't like being upstaged by some British girl.
*Hah! Caught you!* Harry thought, with a triumphant grin. *Americans can't beat that easily, can they, Alex?* Then his smile vanished as they gazed at each other coldly, before Alex turned her attention back to Ron, staring at him with a dazed sort of look. She'd been doing that a lot, lately. Harry made a point to warn him later tonight. He wanted Ron to be on his guard.
"Do you want to play a chess game with me tomorrow, Hermione?" Ron was asking her, his arm around her shoulders. "I promise I'll go easy on you."
Hermione shook her head. "No, thank you," she told him, smiling. "I was thinking of going to that new restaurant in Honeydukes with you, Harry, and Ginny. The food there is Italian, and I haven't had it for ages! Of course," she added, with a wicked gleam in her eye, "option two would be-"
"Uhhh....I think I'll go with option one." He hugged her again, and, to Harry's satisfaction, Alex darkened. She recovered quickly, though. Harry noticed, with alarm, that she was now looking at Hermione with interest, maybe more than one should normally intend. She seemed to be looking at her now as if she was something of worth.
"Oh!" She said, giggling falsely, "You play chess? Me, too! It's my favorite wizard game. In fact, some people tell me I'm the best in America! Maybe........." and here, she leaned forward, looking into his blue eyes, "...maybe, we could play together sometime?" Hermione frowned at her.
Ron leaned slightly away, though he held his gaze. "Uhhhhh....sure, I think so," he said. Alex beamed. "I mean, it's really hard finding a match around here...." But he broke off when Dumbledore stood up.
"Off to bed with you, now," he told them all, beaming at the sea of faces. "Time is of the essence." Slowly, the crowd dispersed and streamed out the doorway. Harry grabbed Hermione's arm and gave Ron a pleading look. He nodded, and made his way towards the Gryffindor common room, closely followed by Alex. Harry watched her with narrowed eyes before turning to Hermione.
"Watch out for Alex," he muttered to her. "I have a feeling you'll have to do that. Keep a close eye on Ron whenever you can. I'll watch him when he's in the dormitory, and at Quidditch."
Hermione stared at him. "Harry? Why were...ARE....you acting this way?"
"Didn't you feel that? That feeling that something isn't right with her at all?"
She fidgeted with the locket Ron had given her last Christmas. "Well, yes," she muttered. "But maybe it's just jealousy, the way she was watching him. Give her a chance, Harry, OK?"
He darkened. "'Give her a chance?' 'Mione, I can hardly STAND that girl! There's just something there.......I HATE her!" he hissed. Hermione stared at him.
"Oh, alright," she sighed. "But, Harry," she added severely, "PLEASE control yourself. It'll look really suspicious if you're acting like you hate her, even if you DO."
"OK," he sighed. "Let's go." She watched him with a knowing expression in her eyes, but didn't budge.
"Er....what?" He asked her.
She grinned. "First, stop pinning me to the wall. It's kind of hard to go ANYWHERE with you leaning on me." He blushed and released her.
"Smooth, Potter!" She told him. He gave her a hug and they set off for the Gryffindor common room. As they rounded the corner, they saw that Ron was waiting for them at the entrance, with, as Harry darkened, Alex. Ron grinned playfully.
"Don't be trying to fool with my girl, Potter," he teased. "What were you two doing there? French or eskimo kissing?"
"RON!!" gasped Hermione. He laughed and turned to the impatiently waiting Fat Lady. "Pixie Dust."
"Well, it's about time." She muttered, then swung forward to reveal the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione and Ron squeezed through, then Harry, and lastly, with some doubt in her eyes, Alex.
The common room was mercifully empty. Ron turned to Harry. "Why don't you go up and wait for me? I have to discuss some things with Hermione for tomorrow." He added hastily, blushing. Alex glared.
"The dormitory is THAT way," Harry sneered at her, pointing up the right staircase. She gave him an annoyed look.
"I KNOW!" She stormed up the staircase and slammed the door a little harder than was necessary. Ron waited until they were alone, then turned to Hermione.
"'Discuss', Ron?" she asked him, grinning. He laughed and pulled her to him, gazing deeply into her brown eyes. She wrapped one arm around his neck, the other around his back while he held her possessively in his arms.
"Discuss can mean.....OTHER things, too, 'Mione," he whispered with a devilishly winning grin, then pulled her into his lap on the couch. She sighed happily and, with a serene smile on her lips, closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest.
"I submit willingly, Weasley," she whispered back, smiling as he planted little kisses up and down her neck. In response, she kissed him on the cheek, then clung to him tightly, her legs now curled up in his lap. He held her as if she were a little girl, then brought her to his lips, where she closed her eyes and waited. He leaned forward and gave her the longest, most passionate kiss that most women would KILL for. After two minutes, they pulled apart, grinning dazedly, breathless.
"I knew you would," he told her, blinded by love. "I must have a special gift for getting women. Or maybe it's just the fact that you are the best kisser on this side of the wizarding world, Hermione Granger." He laughed with sheer pleasure to himself as she gave a longing sigh and closed her eyes. He kissed her neck, then those, too. There was silence for a moment, in which he held her tightly, and she clung to him lovingly.
"Ron," she murmured. "How much do you love me?" He stroked her hair.
"Very much, Hermione," he told her at last, holding her in his arms.
"But HOW much?" She prodded, privately hoping he knew the answer, considering that he knew how to answer pretty much everything else.
"Much, much. Much more than you will ever know, Hermione. More than anyone. I'd kill for you."
Satisfied, she dozed off again. "And I'd die right along with you. See if I don't." She added stubbornly, then let her dreams claim her. He kissed the top of her head, then smiled.
"That's my girl." There was a long pause, a ten minutes pause, in which Ron just sat there, holding her for all his life was worth. After ten minutes, he looked down at her.
"'Mione, it's about 11:50. You really should be getting to bed. I don't want you tired." There was silence. "Hermione?" There was still no response. With a shiver of pleasure, Ron realized she'd fallen asleep against him. Gently, he slid one arm around her back and shoulders, then one behind her knees. Slowly, so as to not disturb her, he rose with her cradled in his arms. *If you looked at her now,* Ron thought, grinning, *You would think she was goodness itself.* She was glowing, like some kind of sweet angel. He looked down at her and fought the sudden urge to lay her on the couch and kiss her until the night was over.
"Love is forever," he whispered to the sleeping form in his arms. "We'll always be together, Hermione. Always." And he kissed her forehead, not being able to resist himself. *OK Weasley, lips off,* he told himself, then turned towards the Gryffindor girls' staircase. He carried the sleeping Hermione inside the girls' dorm and found an empty bed, which he assumed was hers, and laid her in it. Gently, he pulled the sheets over her, just so that they covered her as was needed. He didn't want her to get hot.
Reluctantly, he turned to leave, but as he did so, Hermione stirred softly and smiled sweetly in her sleep. With the smile still on her lips, she gave a long, peaceful sigh. He stopped in his tracks, then turned back towards her, kissing her tenderly. "I love you, Hermione Granger," he whispered, then turned and disappeared through the door, closing it gently.
He didn't stay any longer. If he had, he would've noticed that not all of Gryffindor Tower was asleep. Alex watched him with slitted eyes, then smiled wickedly as he closed the door.
"Soon, very, very soon, you will be mine. All mine. And when I'm through with you, you won't care dragon dung for Hermione Granger," she whispered, sneering as she looked at Hermione's sleeping form.
"You'd better be as strong as they say, girl. Because your heart will never be whole again."
~!*!~
A/N: *hehehe* Yes, I'm going to be mean and selfish and end here! Bwahahahahahaha! I'm already working on Chapter 2, but this will likely be the shortest chapter of the several that I'm planning to make. I WON'T POST CHAPTER TWO WITHOUT AT LEAST 5 REVIEWS!!!!!!!!! REVIEW!!!!!!!
By ~*Our Lady of the Flame*~
Genre: Yummy, fluffy R/H romance! My fave! :) OK...I hated my last fic. I kind of got stuck....something that's never happened, EVER, to me before!
Rating: PG
Summary: A new girl from America gets transferred to Hogwarts, and she steals Ron away from Hermione. Heartbroken, Hermione goes through a number of things: Deadly diseases, suicide attempts, and finally, something that changes Ron's view forever......STRICT R/H!
Author's Note: Ignore my last fic. It was going nowhere. Anyway, this girl is modeled after someone I'd really, really like to smack over the head in real life. Maybe you'll hate her, too, once she gets annoying. :) PG for a few little words you wouldn't say in front of your mom. Read this if you are an R/H fan! Can't you see it's DESTINY, people? Ron has GOT to marry Hermione! And that's that, so :P!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own ANYONE but Alex. If I owned all the characters, I wouldn't need to borrow my mom's money to go shopping! :P
~!*!~
Chapter One: Alex Arrives
Harry Potter tapped his fingers on his plate and sighed. He knew he was being rude, but the Sorting ceremony was over, and it was taking an unusually long time for Dumbledore to make his start-of-term speech. Ron seemed to be thinking along the same lines, his forehead resting in his hand, eyes glazed over.
Or maybe that was because his one-year and still going girlfriend, Hermione Granger, was on his other side. The trio was now in its sixth year at Hogwarts, and during the past year, Hermione had changed a lot. Her hair was always either straight or curly, not bushy these days, and she had grown into a very sophisticated witch. Still setting the grade record, she was a Prefect and the favorite of many teachers. She had also grown to wear make-up, something that enhanced her pretty features even more; she never wore much, but it was just enough so that it would stand out a little.
"What's taking them so long?" she asked, turning around in her seat to see the High Table. Professor McGonagall seemed to be discussing something very urgent with Professor Dumbledore. His ear was cocked towards her as she whispered, and he was nodding, a small frown on his face. Then he turned towards the front of the Great Hall, and everyone fell silent.
"Welcome, wizards and witches; students young and old," he said, with his usual benign smile. "I see some new faces, some familiar ones; welcome to a brand new year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry....welcome, welcome!"
Everyone applauded enthusiastically, and Harry suddenly felt a hole in the bottom of his stomach. Young and old.....no more Fred and George to brighten things up. They'd graduated the past year, and were now working to build their joke shop, which, after many heated arguments, Mrs. Weasley had grudgingly given into. And Cho...she'd be leaving this year.....he snuck a glance at the Ravenclaw table.
"I have a few announcements to make," Dumbledore told the excited crowd. "We have a new transfer student, from the United States of America." Whispers broke out all over the Great Hall.
"American?" Said Ron, frowning. "I've never met one."
"I have," said Hermione, beaming. "They're really very nice. My half sister is American. She works in New York."
Ron shrugged. "If you say so." He turned to look at Harry, who was still staring over at the Ravenclaw table. "Still not over her, Harry, eh?"
Harry snapped out of his trance, blushing furiously. "Wha-? Er....dunno what you're talking about," he said quickly, taking his fork and trying to spear some invisible food, bringing it to his mouth. Hermione stared at him, then she giggled.
"Harry," she explained when he looked up at her, "there's no food on the fork."
"Wha-? Oh....yeah. I knew that." He said sheepishly, dropping the fork with a clang. "So....who do you think this American is?"
His question was answered almost immediately as Dumbledore bellowed, "And now! I give you......Alex McCarthy!" The doors to the Great Hall opened and everyone burst into applause as a tall, blond girl walked in, beaming at her classmates. After the cheering ceased, Dumbledore led her over to the Sorting Hat. Harry watched as Alex slowly put the Hat on with trembling fingers.
There was silence as the Hat slipped over her eyes. Harry could see her shaking, her fingers crossed. There was a long, empty pause. Then-
"GRYFFINDOR!" Announced the Hat. Harry sat there, stunned, as everyone at the Gryffindor table cheered madly. She made her way towards the end of the table, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting. Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle as she passed by, sending chills up and down his spine. Something was wrong about this girl. Something was very, very wrong.
She looked down at Ginny and smiled dazzlingly. "Hey," she said, grinning at her. ("'Hey?'" muttered Harry. "It's the American way of greeting," whispered Hermione.) "I'm new here.......can you scoot over so I can sit here?"
Ginny looked like she was ready to answer back sharply, but seemed to hesitate, then change her mind. She smiled back at Alex. "Well....since it's your first day....I guess so," she said hesitantly. Alex beamed and sat- directly across from Ron.
"I LOVE your hair," she told him, that nerve-wracking smile still in place. "You never really see ANYONE in America with red hair. Are there lots of people in England with red hair?" She certainly knew how to converse!
"I guess so," said Ron, laughing. He stopped when she looked at him in a funny way. "Oh, it's just that I didn't think that my hair was lov-er- likeable, you know?" Hermione stared at him, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. She seemed to be reconsidering her statement on Americans now.
"*I* like it," Hermione interrupted, smiling at him. He grinned gratefully and put an arm around her shoulder, then kissed her affectionately.
"You'd better," he teased. "If you're my girlfriend, you have to at least like my hair." She laughed and rested her head on his shoulder drowsily, apparently satisfied that Ron wasn't cheating on her....for now. He held her close to him, then turned back to Alex for more conversation.
"Your.....your girlfriend?" Harry noticed that Alex's smile seemed to falter a bit. "You...you mean you're going out?" Ron looked surprised.
"We've been going out for a year so far," he told her. "She's the best," he added, ruffling her straight brown hair. "She's everything, in fact. She's smart, pretty, funny, mischievous at times, and there's nothing she can't do. She's my girl." He finished proudly, kissing one blushing cheek. Hermione raised her head, her eyes dancing.
"Well, I didn't use to be ALL of those," she admitted. "I was AWFUL, just awful, until these two boys over here....." she nodded towards Ron and Harry, "helped me out of my hibernation. They, and Ginny," she smiled at Ginny, who grinned back, "are the best things that've happened to me."
"Sappy, sappy," Harry teased. She frowned at him playfully, and he gave her a friendly hug.
Alex raised her eyebrows. "Is that so?" she asked. "Sometimes, back home, I mean, I've been said to have those qualities, too. I guess lots of people have it," she said, laughing. Harry frowned. He didn't like this girl. That laugh was downright fake. And there was something about Alex that made him want to hurl his plate of chicken pie right into her stupid, grinning face.
Ginny didn't seem to like her very much, either. "Not EVERYONE has it!" She exclaimed defensively. People who'd been listening turned to stare. Ginny flushed, but keep on going defiantly. "Hardly anyone is like Hermione is! She's one-of-a-kind!" She glared at Alex, as if daring her to argue.
Alex shrugged. "Yeah, well, in AMERICA, a lot of people are," she said. "No offense," she added quickly. Harry stiffened.
"What year are you in?" He asked through gritted teeth.
She smiled. "Oh! You must be Harry Potter! Pleased to meet you," she added, holding out her hand for a shake. When Harry didn't take it, she took it back, the smile still frozen on her lips. Harry looked coldly back at her.
"I'm in yours, I think. Sixth year?" Three of their group nodded. "Yeah, that's me." She looked at Harry one last time, confusion on her face, before turning to look at Ron, and dragging him into conversation again.
Harry had a strange kind of rushing in his ears. He didn't like Alex. In fact, he didn't like her at all. He had a sudden urge to say something mean, something that would hurt her, and bring her off her high horse.
"Hermione," he interrupted loudly. "You scored the highest on our O.W.L.s, didn't you?" Hermione looked over at him, frowning confusedly.
"Yyyyyyyes," she said slowly. "I thought I told you that already....in my letter?" Harry shook his head, his eyes innocent. "Oh," she said. "I...I thought you might remember. You were really happy for me." She looked a little hurt.
Harry felt like slapping himself in the face. He HATED hurting Hermione. She was one of his best friends! "Well," he said, winking. "I...I guess I forgot, then." Hermione saw his wink and stared at him for a moment, then mouthed,
*Harry, what-?*
"I'll tell you later," he whispered. She nodded and winked back, the smile back on her face, before turning to Ron and asking him how the Chudley Cannons had been doing in their competition. As Ron began answering excitedly, Harry snuck a look at Alex and saw that she was looking at him, too. Her eyes were narrowed. In fact, Harry was sure of it now.....she was jealous. Obviously, she was thought to be smart, too, back in America, and didn't like being upstaged by some British girl.
*Hah! Caught you!* Harry thought, with a triumphant grin. *Americans can't beat that easily, can they, Alex?* Then his smile vanished as they gazed at each other coldly, before Alex turned her attention back to Ron, staring at him with a dazed sort of look. She'd been doing that a lot, lately. Harry made a point to warn him later tonight. He wanted Ron to be on his guard.
"Do you want to play a chess game with me tomorrow, Hermione?" Ron was asking her, his arm around her shoulders. "I promise I'll go easy on you."
Hermione shook her head. "No, thank you," she told him, smiling. "I was thinking of going to that new restaurant in Honeydukes with you, Harry, and Ginny. The food there is Italian, and I haven't had it for ages! Of course," she added, with a wicked gleam in her eye, "option two would be-"
"Uhhh....I think I'll go with option one." He hugged her again, and, to Harry's satisfaction, Alex darkened. She recovered quickly, though. Harry noticed, with alarm, that she was now looking at Hermione with interest, maybe more than one should normally intend. She seemed to be looking at her now as if she was something of worth.
"Oh!" She said, giggling falsely, "You play chess? Me, too! It's my favorite wizard game. In fact, some people tell me I'm the best in America! Maybe........." and here, she leaned forward, looking into his blue eyes, "...maybe, we could play together sometime?" Hermione frowned at her.
Ron leaned slightly away, though he held his gaze. "Uhhhhh....sure, I think so," he said. Alex beamed. "I mean, it's really hard finding a match around here...." But he broke off when Dumbledore stood up.
"Off to bed with you, now," he told them all, beaming at the sea of faces. "Time is of the essence." Slowly, the crowd dispersed and streamed out the doorway. Harry grabbed Hermione's arm and gave Ron a pleading look. He nodded, and made his way towards the Gryffindor common room, closely followed by Alex. Harry watched her with narrowed eyes before turning to Hermione.
"Watch out for Alex," he muttered to her. "I have a feeling you'll have to do that. Keep a close eye on Ron whenever you can. I'll watch him when he's in the dormitory, and at Quidditch."
Hermione stared at him. "Harry? Why were...ARE....you acting this way?"
"Didn't you feel that? That feeling that something isn't right with her at all?"
She fidgeted with the locket Ron had given her last Christmas. "Well, yes," she muttered. "But maybe it's just jealousy, the way she was watching him. Give her a chance, Harry, OK?"
He darkened. "'Give her a chance?' 'Mione, I can hardly STAND that girl! There's just something there.......I HATE her!" he hissed. Hermione stared at him.
"Oh, alright," she sighed. "But, Harry," she added severely, "PLEASE control yourself. It'll look really suspicious if you're acting like you hate her, even if you DO."
"OK," he sighed. "Let's go." She watched him with a knowing expression in her eyes, but didn't budge.
"Er....what?" He asked her.
She grinned. "First, stop pinning me to the wall. It's kind of hard to go ANYWHERE with you leaning on me." He blushed and released her.
"Smooth, Potter!" She told him. He gave her a hug and they set off for the Gryffindor common room. As they rounded the corner, they saw that Ron was waiting for them at the entrance, with, as Harry darkened, Alex. Ron grinned playfully.
"Don't be trying to fool with my girl, Potter," he teased. "What were you two doing there? French or eskimo kissing?"
"RON!!" gasped Hermione. He laughed and turned to the impatiently waiting Fat Lady. "Pixie Dust."
"Well, it's about time." She muttered, then swung forward to reveal the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione and Ron squeezed through, then Harry, and lastly, with some doubt in her eyes, Alex.
The common room was mercifully empty. Ron turned to Harry. "Why don't you go up and wait for me? I have to discuss some things with Hermione for tomorrow." He added hastily, blushing. Alex glared.
"The dormitory is THAT way," Harry sneered at her, pointing up the right staircase. She gave him an annoyed look.
"I KNOW!" She stormed up the staircase and slammed the door a little harder than was necessary. Ron waited until they were alone, then turned to Hermione.
"'Discuss', Ron?" she asked him, grinning. He laughed and pulled her to him, gazing deeply into her brown eyes. She wrapped one arm around his neck, the other around his back while he held her possessively in his arms.
"Discuss can mean.....OTHER things, too, 'Mione," he whispered with a devilishly winning grin, then pulled her into his lap on the couch. She sighed happily and, with a serene smile on her lips, closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest.
"I submit willingly, Weasley," she whispered back, smiling as he planted little kisses up and down her neck. In response, she kissed him on the cheek, then clung to him tightly, her legs now curled up in his lap. He held her as if she were a little girl, then brought her to his lips, where she closed her eyes and waited. He leaned forward and gave her the longest, most passionate kiss that most women would KILL for. After two minutes, they pulled apart, grinning dazedly, breathless.
"I knew you would," he told her, blinded by love. "I must have a special gift for getting women. Or maybe it's just the fact that you are the best kisser on this side of the wizarding world, Hermione Granger." He laughed with sheer pleasure to himself as she gave a longing sigh and closed her eyes. He kissed her neck, then those, too. There was silence for a moment, in which he held her tightly, and she clung to him lovingly.
"Ron," she murmured. "How much do you love me?" He stroked her hair.
"Very much, Hermione," he told her at last, holding her in his arms.
"But HOW much?" She prodded, privately hoping he knew the answer, considering that he knew how to answer pretty much everything else.
"Much, much. Much more than you will ever know, Hermione. More than anyone. I'd kill for you."
Satisfied, she dozed off again. "And I'd die right along with you. See if I don't." She added stubbornly, then let her dreams claim her. He kissed the top of her head, then smiled.
"That's my girl." There was a long pause, a ten minutes pause, in which Ron just sat there, holding her for all his life was worth. After ten minutes, he looked down at her.
"'Mione, it's about 11:50. You really should be getting to bed. I don't want you tired." There was silence. "Hermione?" There was still no response. With a shiver of pleasure, Ron realized she'd fallen asleep against him. Gently, he slid one arm around her back and shoulders, then one behind her knees. Slowly, so as to not disturb her, he rose with her cradled in his arms. *If you looked at her now,* Ron thought, grinning, *You would think she was goodness itself.* She was glowing, like some kind of sweet angel. He looked down at her and fought the sudden urge to lay her on the couch and kiss her until the night was over.
"Love is forever," he whispered to the sleeping form in his arms. "We'll always be together, Hermione. Always." And he kissed her forehead, not being able to resist himself. *OK Weasley, lips off,* he told himself, then turned towards the Gryffindor girls' staircase. He carried the sleeping Hermione inside the girls' dorm and found an empty bed, which he assumed was hers, and laid her in it. Gently, he pulled the sheets over her, just so that they covered her as was needed. He didn't want her to get hot.
Reluctantly, he turned to leave, but as he did so, Hermione stirred softly and smiled sweetly in her sleep. With the smile still on her lips, she gave a long, peaceful sigh. He stopped in his tracks, then turned back towards her, kissing her tenderly. "I love you, Hermione Granger," he whispered, then turned and disappeared through the door, closing it gently.
He didn't stay any longer. If he had, he would've noticed that not all of Gryffindor Tower was asleep. Alex watched him with slitted eyes, then smiled wickedly as he closed the door.
"Soon, very, very soon, you will be mine. All mine. And when I'm through with you, you won't care dragon dung for Hermione Granger," she whispered, sneering as she looked at Hermione's sleeping form.
"You'd better be as strong as they say, girl. Because your heart will never be whole again."
~!*!~
A/N: *hehehe* Yes, I'm going to be mean and selfish and end here! Bwahahahahahaha! I'm already working on Chapter 2, but this will likely be the shortest chapter of the several that I'm planning to make. I WON'T POST CHAPTER TWO WITHOUT AT LEAST 5 REVIEWS!!!!!!!!! REVIEW!!!!!!!
