~*Forgive me, Hermione*~

~*Forgive me, Hermione*~

By Alanna the Lioness

To all my flamers: I've got news for you. I'm an American too. *DUH!* And I don't appreciate flames. So watch it.......I'm a lot meaner than I sound when people like YOU think you know EVERYTHING.

~!*!~

DISCLAIMER:I own no one but Alex. And I'm not bad-mouthing Americans. LAY OFF!

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NOTE: Where we last left off, Alex did something really odd.....so what happened to Ron? Read on.......

~!*!~

Hermione frowned in her sleep, lines of confusion forming on her forehead. This was odd...

She was standing before a towering, menacing black gateway to......something. There was a kind of eerie gray mist gathering over the top of it, and she craned her neck to see if there was any identification. As the fog cleared away, she blinked, startled.

Cassius Cemetery.

Cemetery? She thought vaguely. What am I doing in a cemetery? The top of the gate was decorated with a single, evil-looking skull. Its hollow, empty eye sockets seemed to glow blood-red. Suppressing a shudder, Hermione backed away, her arms hugging her torso. There was something very, very wrong about this place.

Her fingers brushed something slippery. Yelping, she brought them to her face and spotted......blood.

Blood? She looked down and gasped at the white, floaty dress she was wearing. It was nearly strapless. Shooting a look at her forearm, she saw it. A skull and a cut shaped like a bleeding rose......which really was bleeding.

This was too much. Her wispy curls blew gently as she backed slowly away from the gate. Am I dead? She thought. Is that what this is?

Without warning, everything went entirely black, all except for the skull's glowing eye sockets and the white, rolling fog that covered most of the tombstones on the ground. Soundlessly, the gate swung open, and Hermione stepped cautiously inside. Cringing from the smell coming from the area, she clapped one hand to her nose, trying not to inhale the dead, musty smell that hinted bones lay there.

Her feet began to move all by themselves. Gasping, she fought to gain control, and failed.

What's WRONG with me? She whispered as she backed-HARD-into a large black headstone. Stooping to examine it, if Hermione didn't know any better, she could've sworn it was made of Obsidian!

It was very old, judging by the way the letters were faded. Reaching out with a trembling finger, Hermione brushed aside age-old dust and could just make out a mark identical to the one she had on her arm. Frowning, she peered at the skull's evil-looking eye sockets, which glowed at her. Yelping in surprise, she jumped back, just as a fine line of thin, emerald, luminescent dust seemed to swirl around her, ruffling her breeze and strange white gown. Watching in awe, Hermione stared as the sparkling dust seemed to carve into the stone, leaving elegant gold letters.

Dairine Alexandra Minciellan

"Here lies

The Daughter of Death

The Keeper of Dark

And the Speaker of Bones;

Here lies

The Eye of the Serpent

The Fang of the Evil

The Blood inside Stones;

That she shall cometh

On the 16th of the nine

The Mouth of Black

And the Hair of Shadow

That she shall subtly rise again

Oh sing, Dark Bleeding Rose."

As Hermione stared intently at the hideous poem, pondering its meaning, a heavy wind disturbed her thoughts. Staring at the shapes rising out of nowhere, she braced herself, shivering. They were all skeletal, hideous, and transparent ghostly figures.

But that wasn't what made Hermione scream. What frightened Hermione was the fact that they all were so....empty....their eye socket expressions, everything. They were living skeletons in clothing. A strange, silvery wind stirred behind them, causing Hermione to squint.

And there, there was the most beautiful voice she'd ever heard. It was calling her to it.....this was her home......

I'm coming, she whispered, unable to stop herself.  Be right there.

But a second, stronger voice inside of her was forbidding her to.

Stay back.

Why?

Stay back.

I don't want to.

You must.

The beckoning was sweeter and louder than ever. It wanted her to come; it beckoned and coaxed.

Don't leave. Stay back.

But WHY?

{{You belong here. Come.}} The song beckoned, seemingly more anxious.

Dammnit! Don't do it! Listen to what's BEHIND the music. Hear what this song truly is....

And then, in her ears, Hermione heard the most eerie, chilling shriek. The calling. And it wanted HER. She shivered and tried, in vain, to backstep. That's when the calling revealed itself. She opened her mouth and screamed, but it was eerily silent.

~!*!~

Ron 's eyes snapped open. He'd been dosing off in a hospital wing chair. Had it all been a dream? He'd been down in the school cellar, seeking out something......and then......his eyes narrowed....he'd been attacked. Odd, even for a dream.

"I must've dosed off..." he yawned, stretching. Then he looked curiously at the door to Hermione's room. Carefully, glancing around to make sure no one was around, he slid the door open and slipped inside. Startled, he saw Hermione was awake, her eyes wide as she sat up in bed.

"Ron?" she whispered. He was at her side in seconds, sitting on the edge of her bed and holding her hand in both of his. "I......I have this really strange feeling that.....that something bad will happen to us."

"Don't think that." He touched her cheek gently. "Nothing will ever come between us. Not ever. I love you, Hermione, and that's what matters." He wiped the tears that were brimming in her eyes gently with his finger. "And don't you EVER think otherwise," he added sternly, drawing a little closer.

She pulled away. "There's......there's something else, too," she added, her eyes pleading. Nodding, he released her. "I......it's....it's this dream I just had." She grinned slightly then. "I must sound really stupid, talking to you about dreams."

"You never sound stupid. You're Hermione Elizabeth Granger, daughter of Anne Winstane and Thomas Granger. You may be unpredictable sometimes, and you even surprise ME." He grinned. "But underneath that good, you're a hell of a girl, and all the woman I could ever want." He slid his arms around her once more, pulling her close so that he was looking into her cinnamon eyes.

"You're so good to me," she whispered, tears filling those same eyes. "I don't deserve you, and I never will. You don't know all of me, Ron." The tears poured over. "I'm not as good a person as I seem."

He held her close now, both hearts beating at an incredibly fast pace. "That doesn't matter. *I* think you're a good person, and that's what counts. Listen to me, Hermione," he pleaded as she shook her head, "Listen to me. Stop crying, first of all. Second of all, you need to learn to see reason."

"But I DO know reason!" She protested.

"Not the way everyone else knows it, obviously," he muttered dryly. "Hermione....think about this. Think of US." His lips were nearly upon hers now.

"Wha-? What about us?" She murmured, dazed.

"Would I have chosen you if I didn't think you were a good person?"

(A/N: This is the final bit of R/H fluff until later chapters.)

Hermione stared at him for a long time, then her eyes widened. Slowly, slowly, the usual sparkle was restored as she smiled in realization. Ron pressed his lips gently upon hers. Hermione relaxed in his arms, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being held protectively by someone who truly loved her. They broke apart, arms still around each other. He raised his eyebrows at her, blue eyes twinkling.

"Not enough?"

She looked at him for a long time, then smiled mischievously. "It never has been."

"Alright then." He grinned. "Here it goes......." And he leaned her onto the pillow, holding her, her arms around his neck as he kissed her fervently and passionately. Hermione's heart was racing a mile a minute, and she felt warm and comforted. They lay there for a long time, all talk about the dream forgotten.

~!*!~

Alex and Ginny

"I have him now!" she laughed. "By nightfall, he should be mine! And good thing, too...." She put her blond hair up into a quick ponytail. "Time is running out." She glanced worriedly at the calendar on the Gryffindor girls' right wall. "If I hadn't found him...." She shook her head at the thought.

"Hey, Alex," Ginny's voice floated sarcastically in from the doorway. Startled, Alex spun to glare at the fifteen-year-old redhead who was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Time is running out for WHAT? And WHO will be yours?" She glared right back, brown eyes hard.

"None of your business, Weasley!" Snapped Alex. "I haven't done anything...." Yet, she added silently. "And I do believe that this is the TEENAGE dorm, not the CHILD'S dorm."

Ginny didn't look wounded in the slightest. "Really?" She replied airily. "Fifteen-year-olds are to supposed be looked upon like first years?"

"In America, they are."

"Liar." Ginny's eyes narrowed to slits. "I know all about America. And luckily, only about 10% of the population is crap like you!" She threw the words with a vengeance.

THAT got Alex's attention. She whirled around, eyes flashing. "You've never lived there. And you don't know me. So I'd watch it if I were you."

"I'm bloody glad I'm NOT you," snapped Ginny. "And what have you got against Hermione? What did she ever do to you?"

"Get out."

"Make me." Ginny shrugged. "I've got all day, if you want, Miss America. I sympathize will all those poor people from your country. You've really screwed up their reputation, you know."

"Have I? How do YOU know? YOU'RE just a little British girl who doesn't give a damn about me anyway. So just shove off!" Alex was starting to feel angry now. Who the hell did this girl think she was?

"No." Ginny strode over to where Alex was, maintaining eye contact. Without Alex wearing her platforms, Ginny was the same height she was. "I want to know what you're doing to my brother."

"What business of it is yours?"

"He's my brother. And I mean to watch out for him, like he did for me when I was a kid."

"Well, isn't that touching," Alex sneered. "Because I have other plans. And I'd like to see you and your boyfriend stop me." There, she thought with satisfaction. That got her.

Ginny was blushing scarlet. "I don't know what you're talking about, but your insults are pathetic." She replied. "Any why'd you transfer here anyway? What'd you do......try to seduce the headmaster?"

(A/N: Ooooooooh!)

Alex's mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, mouthing wordlessly like a fish out of water. Her face was turning an interesting shade of purple.

"Get the HELL out of my dormitory, Weasley!" She whispered hotly. "And don't you DARE come back again!"

But Ginny wasn't quite ready to leave. She leaned in closer, her eyes literally flaming at the center. "Fine. But I swear, Alex McCarthy," she hissed loudly and clearly, looking like a stormcloud. "I swear, if you try to seduce my brother, I will KILL you. Is that clear?"

"Whatever." Alex sneered, trying to sound unconcerned, but the fear in her eyes gave her away. "Now get out. I have enough things to do without people like YOU interfering."

Ginny stood there for a moment, glaring at her. Then, she turned around and stormed out, slamming the door in her wake. Alex turned back to her mirror, admiring herself.

"Fine. Try to kill me. But keep this in mind......By the time I'm done, no one will be able to kill me for the next 200 years!" She laughed.

(A/N: Uh-oh...is Alex more than she seems?)

~!*!~

Ron trudged up the stairs to his dormitory, his hair looking slightly tousled as he opened the door. Grinning, he saw it was empty, except for Harry, who had fallen asleep over his Potions homework again. Looking around, he spotted a bottle of butterbeer in the corner. Laughing to himself, he walked over to his sleeping friend, uncorked the bottle, and-

"Put that down!" Yelled Harry, sitting up with a start and turning to look at Ron.

Ron scowled and lowered the bottle. "Damn. That was going to be good."

"Nah." Harry grinned. "You wouldn't stand a chance afterward, anyway."

"Yeah?" Ron made a face at his best friend and seized a pillow, whapping him on the head.

"Not fair! Foul!" Harry howled, then grabbed a pillow himself, turning to face Ron.

"You suck!" Laughed Ron as he ducked just in time to avoid a hard collision. "You can't even hit me!"

"Mmph!" grunted Harry as he swung. "That's because I'm not...TRYING.....OOMPH!" Ron got him in the stomach.

"Whatever, Potter." He grinned. "I'll keep that in mind when-"

"Having fun, boys?" They stopped abruptly, and Harry took the time to conk Ron on the head. Alex was watching them from the doorway.

"We WERE." Answered Harry. "And what do YOU want?"

Her eyes slid over to Ron. "Oh, I was kind of wanting to ask Ron a question. You know....about our Potions homework."

"I'll bet," muttered Harry sarcastically. Alex didn't seem to hear.

"Alright, I'll be there in a minute," Ron sighed. "Go on, catch you up later." Alex nodded and disappeared, while Ron helped Harry to restore the room to its original order. "Be right back."

"Right."

He watched Ron disappear through the doorway, and fought the urge to run after him and yank him back, chaining him to a pole, telling him what a prat he was. Didn't he see Alex was a scandal? And a BAD one, at that?

~!*!~

Ron followed Alex, frowning. He was positive she didn't want to talk about Potions....so what DID she want? Was Ginny right? He stopped short when he saw where Alex was headed.

"No." He said flatly, crossing his arms. "I'm not going in there."

"Yes, you are. You have to. Please? I REALLY need help with my Potions homework." She looked at him, her eyes pleading. But Ron wasn't looking at her eyes. He was looking at the door behind her.....the very door that he dreamed of....or so he thought.

"Potions homework, my ass," he replied, giving her a look. "What DO you want? I've known all along it had nothing to do with homework. No one in their right minds would come down here to do that."

"What do I want?" She repeated. Her smile faltered. Ron was being difficult now......"I want help with my Potions homework."

"That's bull."

"Well, good," she replied. This time, her voice was no longer friendly. It was cold and hard. "You've figured it out."

"Figured WHAT out? That you're trying to get me too fall in love with you?" He took a wild shot, but he was sure it was true now.

"You're already under my control, you know. That was the point of last night."

"What?? What the HELL- Oh....that WASN'T a dream. That was YOU!"

"Very good." She moved closer, looking menacing. "Not all boys are stupid, after all."

"Watch it."

"No. YOU watch it. From midnight on.....(it was 11:59)...you are completely under my control. I can make you do anything I want. You're smart, but you weren't smart enough to escape me."

"I wouldn't count on that." He turned and was about to sprint full speed when the chamber door suddenly bolted, all by itself. He turned to see Alex smirking.

"Come here, love," she cooed. "Let's get to know each other better."

He seized a torch, but it blew out. "No." He pulled out his wand menacingly, but a strange wind wrestled it from his grip.

She took his wand. "Yes."

He lashed out, teeth gritted. "No."

She jumped on him, a dagger pressed to his throat. "Yes," she hissed.

Ten seconds...

...nine...eight....seven...six...five...four...three...two...one....

....Silence.

A/N: I'm TRYING to write! Hermione will be a bit tougher as the chapters go by…don't worry, she won't be THAT hard………but she WILL be bitter and harder to cross.