A/N: I dunno how good or realistic that last chapter was.but thanks for all
the reviews.I appreciate it lots guys! ^.^ btw---I churned out THREE
chapters yesterday, so be proud. Happy Halloween to my readers.
After Malfoy had left Hogwarts permanently, Slytherin had begun to give Hermione evil looks. They made fun of her every chance they got, and were invariably cold. Even Snape, a teacher, issued snide remarks towards her in the middle of class and steeped so low as to give her detentions almost every week. She felt very much alone in this world, with no one to turn to, not even her friends. She received hate mail from the Slytherins, and felt the looks of pity that other students gave her in the halls.
Hermione resorted to not attending her classes on a regular basis. She spent much of her time in bed, not even going downstairs to eat. She studied profusely to keep up with her classmates. Hermione refused to speak to anyone but her professors. She wouldn't even acknowledge her roommates sympathies. She completely, and utterly alone.
That January afternoon, Hermione was busy trying to focus on the essay she was writing for History of Magic. She was grateful to Professor Binns for allowing her to work outside of the classroom like this. As much as she tried to focus, the thoughts of shame and an overwhelming sense of filth filtered through her mind. She had allowed Malfoy's hands on her, and that was the greatest betrayal to her friends. 'No, Hermione. Finish this paper. You need to turn it in to Professor Binns before he gets angry for its lateness. She rushed through the last sentences about Grendela the Wise and measured the parchment to make sure it fit the requirements.
Satisfied that the essay was long enough, she rolled up the parchment and wearily lumbered out of the bed. She reclosed the curtains of the four- poster behind her. Quietly, to make sure that no one would notice her, she tip toed down the stairs and into the common room. She made for the portrait hole when a voice came from behind her.
"Hermione, please talk to me." It was Ron. Hermione turned to look at him, smiled weakly as if nothing was wrong at all.
"Ron, I have to go. I'm in a hurry and need to turn my essay in to Professor Binns." She turned her back to him, and stepped out of the Common Room. Hermione hurried down the hall, hearing footsteps clattering behind her. She didn't want to have to talk to him, didn't want to have to see him. Oh, what he must think about all this. He would look at her differently, piteously. She, a girl whom had her virginity stolen from her. What would he think? Would he think she had done this willingly? Her pace broke into a run, and she panted as she ran faster, trying to get away from Ron, her knight.
"Hermione, stop. Please." Ron cried through pants. As fast as she was running, he was faster. He finally reached her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her around to him. "Hermione, please just listen to me. Why are you so mad at me? I'm sorry Hermione, I really am." His face appeared crestfallen, and his eyes sparkled with tears. "Hermione, I'm sorry."
Hermione looked up at him, in awe at his sudden apology and the tears she saw straining to keep from slipping down his cheeks. 'Why is he sorry?' She didn't know what to feel, confusion settled over her as she looked up at him and gave up the fight. "Your.what? What do you have to be sorry for, Ron?"
He took her other hand in his as well, he turned his face away and kept his eyes on the floor. "I-I should have rescued you sooner, I'm sorry Hermione. I-well I let you down." His voice wavered.
Hermione just shook in disbelief. "It, wasn't your fault Ron. I fell for Malfoy's horrible trick. It was my fault. I guess I let him hurt me. So please, its not your fault." She cupped his cheek with her hand. She gave him a forced smile.
"Hermione, you wouldn't have just let him do that to you. You can't just pass it off like this-"
"But I can Ron. Let's just leave it at that, please. It hurts too much to think about, so just drop it." Her insides were on fire. She wanted to cry out to him, let him understand her pain. She had to hold herself in check, she couldn't just pour her soul out to him like that. He'd find it awkward and ridiculous. She sighed, he was never going to look at her the way he looked at those other girls. She smiled again up at him, dropping her hand from his cheek.
"Ron, I need to get this to Professor Binns, I just really need to .um get going." She gave him a weak smile and then hurried off towards his office.
Ron sadly, watched her run off. She was afraid of him, and now he was worried about her. Could she never find him to be suitable as a boyfriend? He sighed as he walked back towards Gryffindor tower.
After Malfoy had left Hogwarts permanently, Slytherin had begun to give Hermione evil looks. They made fun of her every chance they got, and were invariably cold. Even Snape, a teacher, issued snide remarks towards her in the middle of class and steeped so low as to give her detentions almost every week. She felt very much alone in this world, with no one to turn to, not even her friends. She received hate mail from the Slytherins, and felt the looks of pity that other students gave her in the halls.
Hermione resorted to not attending her classes on a regular basis. She spent much of her time in bed, not even going downstairs to eat. She studied profusely to keep up with her classmates. Hermione refused to speak to anyone but her professors. She wouldn't even acknowledge her roommates sympathies. She completely, and utterly alone.
That January afternoon, Hermione was busy trying to focus on the essay she was writing for History of Magic. She was grateful to Professor Binns for allowing her to work outside of the classroom like this. As much as she tried to focus, the thoughts of shame and an overwhelming sense of filth filtered through her mind. She had allowed Malfoy's hands on her, and that was the greatest betrayal to her friends. 'No, Hermione. Finish this paper. You need to turn it in to Professor Binns before he gets angry for its lateness. She rushed through the last sentences about Grendela the Wise and measured the parchment to make sure it fit the requirements.
Satisfied that the essay was long enough, she rolled up the parchment and wearily lumbered out of the bed. She reclosed the curtains of the four- poster behind her. Quietly, to make sure that no one would notice her, she tip toed down the stairs and into the common room. She made for the portrait hole when a voice came from behind her.
"Hermione, please talk to me." It was Ron. Hermione turned to look at him, smiled weakly as if nothing was wrong at all.
"Ron, I have to go. I'm in a hurry and need to turn my essay in to Professor Binns." She turned her back to him, and stepped out of the Common Room. Hermione hurried down the hall, hearing footsteps clattering behind her. She didn't want to have to talk to him, didn't want to have to see him. Oh, what he must think about all this. He would look at her differently, piteously. She, a girl whom had her virginity stolen from her. What would he think? Would he think she had done this willingly? Her pace broke into a run, and she panted as she ran faster, trying to get away from Ron, her knight.
"Hermione, stop. Please." Ron cried through pants. As fast as she was running, he was faster. He finally reached her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her around to him. "Hermione, please just listen to me. Why are you so mad at me? I'm sorry Hermione, I really am." His face appeared crestfallen, and his eyes sparkled with tears. "Hermione, I'm sorry."
Hermione looked up at him, in awe at his sudden apology and the tears she saw straining to keep from slipping down his cheeks. 'Why is he sorry?' She didn't know what to feel, confusion settled over her as she looked up at him and gave up the fight. "Your.what? What do you have to be sorry for, Ron?"
He took her other hand in his as well, he turned his face away and kept his eyes on the floor. "I-I should have rescued you sooner, I'm sorry Hermione. I-well I let you down." His voice wavered.
Hermione just shook in disbelief. "It, wasn't your fault Ron. I fell for Malfoy's horrible trick. It was my fault. I guess I let him hurt me. So please, its not your fault." She cupped his cheek with her hand. She gave him a forced smile.
"Hermione, you wouldn't have just let him do that to you. You can't just pass it off like this-"
"But I can Ron. Let's just leave it at that, please. It hurts too much to think about, so just drop it." Her insides were on fire. She wanted to cry out to him, let him understand her pain. She had to hold herself in check, she couldn't just pour her soul out to him like that. He'd find it awkward and ridiculous. She sighed, he was never going to look at her the way he looked at those other girls. She smiled again up at him, dropping her hand from his cheek.
"Ron, I need to get this to Professor Binns, I just really need to .um get going." She gave him a weak smile and then hurried off towards his office.
Ron sadly, watched her run off. She was afraid of him, and now he was worried about her. Could she never find him to be suitable as a boyfriend? He sighed as he walked back towards Gryffindor tower.