Hello again!
Thank you so much for your re-views and please keep them comming. With out revies I loose interst and therfore I stop writting.
Thank you to all who said my spelling wasn't that bad. I appriciate it. I really am trying. Really.
I think thats about all I had to say.
Enjoy!
Oh! All constructive ctritsisim is welcome. :)
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"Ron!" Ginny cried as she gave her brother a tight hug "I thought you had completely forgotten about me! What took you so long?"
"Hello to you too." He said, letting her go. Ginny's smile faded away and a scowl took its place.
"Grandma wanted you to stay for a bit. I tried telling her that we had to leave the minute you got here be she insisted. I'm sorry but I did everything I could." Ron gave a shudder.
"Well, we cant stay long anyway. Hermiones in the car. She fell asleep on the way up and I didn't want to wake h-"
"Hermiones here!?" Ginny asked. She smiled as she headed for the door.
"Wait!" Ron grabbed her arm to hold her back. "Shes..." Ginny gave him a quizical look when he didn't finish his sentance.
"Shes?" Ginny questioned. Ron sighed.
"Not herself. Promise me you wont ask her any questions." Another quizical look
"What?"
"You'll understand when you see her. No questions alright!?"
"Alright. Promise." Ron let go of Ginny and headed for the dinning room where he assumed his grandmother was. Unfourtunetly he was right.
"Ronald! Your horrible! Walking through my clean house with your shoes on!" Ron looked at his feet and indeed his shoes were on....Ron looked at her feet and her shoes were also on. He rolled his eyes and didn't say anything.
"Sorry." He said, slipping them off.
"So how was school?"
He shrugged, "Oh, you know, the usual, sleeping in class, eating in class, not paying attention in class, making faces at the class from the hall..."
This earned him a smack on the back of the head. "Ouch!" He whined as he rubbed the same spot his mother had hit.
"Dont get sassy with me young man!" His grandmother warned "Your no better than your sister. Both of you should take your studies more seriously or you'll never going to pass!" Ron rolled his eyes. "You'll never amount to anything you know, with an attitude like that..." Ron began pulling apart a plastic plant that was as a center piece on the table. Nothing alive ever lasted long in her house so he understood Ginny's hasty retreat.
His grandmother continued to remind him of his faults and how all he would amount to was some begger on the streets in some dirty muggle town."....and your hair! Honeslty boy. Do you not know what a comb is?..." Ron attempted to tame his hair with his hand. Not that it would help any.
"You really know how to make me want feel about three inches high and shrinking fast." Ron mumbled.
"What was that Ronald?" She rounded on him. He hated that name
"Uh. I said that uh...look at the time, I've got to get home fast." Ron looked around, wondering where Ginny and Hermione were when he heard the horn on the car go off. "Thats Gin. Shes waiting for me I guess. It was nice seeing you again." He said in a hurried rush as he made a bee line for the door. His grandmother on his heels. Her standard way of saying goodbye was to tell them they would fail in anything they did.
"Mark my words Ronald! You'll never amount to anything with that attitude, and tell that young Ginny she'll turn out to be is some poor protitute on a corner is she doesn't smarten up!" Ron shook his head as he got into the car. Hermione was still asleep, a blue glow around her head. Ginny must have used the silencing charm when she honked the horn.
"Thanks for abondoning me."
"Sorry." she said sheepishly. A quick flick from her wrist and the blue glow disapeared. "but I really couldn't stand another minute with that old hag."
"Got all your stuff?" She nodded her head. "Good."
As the car pulled away Ginny could see her grandma on the front step shaking her fist. She almost felt bad for not saying goodbye.
almost.
"Man! That was the worst visit with her yet!" Ginny exclaimed "All she does is bitch and complain. Did you know, " Ginny began "That my socks are not the proper socks a lady should wear and i'll never find a husband because of it! She gone mad that women has!" Ron laughed
"So she told me. Appearently in the furute you'll own your own corner."
"Yah. I heard that one about 3 times a day. Did you know that my summer dresses are too short? Chrsit. I'm glad to be away from there. It smells bad too." Ron laguhed. Ginny's summer dresses didn't go past her knees.
They were both silent for a while untill Ron caught Ginny's eyes in the rear-view mirror. Ginny mouthed 'oh-my-god!' while pointing at Hermione. Ron shook his head in return.
"She won't tell me anything." He said in a whisper so as not to wake the topic of converstion. "We'll talk later, kay." Ginny gave her brother a sad smile
"Kay." She whispered. She knew how much Hermione ment to him and she could tell it was eating him up inside but unfoutunalty both Ron and Hermione had diffilculty exprssing their emotions. Well, the postive ones at least. She rememberd Rons exact words when he finally realized his feelings. It was quite unexpected.
They had been talking about Hermione in the great hall. She couldn't remember if it was 5th year or 6th. No, it was 5thb year, she was certain. Anyway, it was the opening feast and the first years were being sorted. Hermione had made Prefect, of course, and was welcoming all of the new Gryfindors personally when Ginny turned to look at Ron, shoock written all over his face. She rememberd asking what his probelm was and if he was sick. He just shook his head and responded
I'I just looked at her as a friend....and I realized I loved her.'/I
The look on his face was priceless.
He of course never told Hermione. Pity really.
Ginny slumped back against the seat, a smile on her face and deep in thought. Soon she followed Hermiones example and fell asleep.
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"Wake up."
silence.
"Come on. Wake up Gin."
more silence.
"Gin!"
A swat in the head.
"Ow!"
"You are so annoying Ron. I'm trying to sleep." Ron pulled on Ginny's arm and began dragging her out of the car. "Ron!" She hollered, swatting his head again. He wondered if brain damage was worth all this.
"Quiet! You'll wake 'Mione up!" Ron snapped. Ginny looked towards the front seat and indeed Hermione was still sleeping. When Ron said she slept like a rock he wasn't kidding.
"Where are we?" She asked as she finllay noticed her suroundings. She didn't recognize a single thing. "Why aren't we home yet. Its only a 3 hours drive from grandmas to our house. We left after lunch. Why is it dark? Where are you taking u-"
"Shutup a sec will you!? Where in Surry." Ginny galred at her older brother. "See that house there?" He said pointing at a small house across the street.
"Uh-huh" She said, eyeing him warily.
"Thats Harry's house." Ginnys jaw dropped.
"Why are we at Harry' house!?"
"Well, I figured that was kind of obvious." Ron sated. "Were gonna bust him out."
"Ron!" Ginny said more forcfully this time "We cant just 'bust him out'!"
"Why not? Hes expecting us anyway." Ginny's jaw dropped for a second time that night and wondered why she didn't know of this.
"Since when!?"
"Shhhhh!" Ron held a finger to his lips and pointed the other at Hermione. "I figure we could all take an unexpeted vacation. Lord knows we need one. Besides, we wont be gone long. Just untill Hermione talks to me is all." Ginny's jaw continued to saty open. Ron smiled as Harry appeard in the window, giving him the thumbs-up signal. Pausing only breiefly to look at Ginny. Ron seemed oblivious.
"Its time. follow me."
Ginny followed Ron to the Drusleys front door and picked the lock. Upon entering the house they made there way upstairs to a door coverd in padlocks. Ron began trying to pick each one.
"Hurry up! Cant you go any faster?" Ginny was pannicing.
"Clam down Gin. Were not gonna get caught."
Click.
"One down...4 to go. Can you say 'trust issues'?"
Click...
Click...
Click....
"Damit. The last ones a combination lock"
"Just use your wand you moron." Ginny said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Can't. left it in the car. You think I like picking locks for fun?"
"Than ask Harry for the combo."
"Cant do that either. Hes been under lockdown since he arrived back for the summer. Wheres your wand?"
"uh-I left it in the care too." Ginny said sheepisly "Well than, we coul-" before Ginny could finish, a beam of light hit the lock and it fell open. Ginny and Ron jerked their heads behind them and found Hermione standing at the top of the stairs with her wand out.
"Honestly," She began "leaving me behind like that. I was awfully offended." Hermione gave them a smile. "Seriously,. What would you do without me?" Ron smiled.
She smiled back at him and pulled the door open, reveling Harry sitting on his bed. His things packed around him.
"'Bout time." He whispered. His smile flickered only slightly as he caught sight of Hermione. Taking Rons advice he didnt't say anything, but that didn't mean that Hermione totally missed the look in his eyes. She gave an audible sigh.
"Come one! Lets get out of here. Everyone grab something." Ginny said breaking the silence. She picked up Headwigs cage and looked at Harry. "I dont want to stay here longer than I have too."
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It didn' take long for them to find a motel. A cheap motel in the middle of no-where, literally, but at least it was a place to sleep. Surprisingly Ron had come prepared and had brought some money. Wizard AND muggle money. Ginny didn' know where he got it from and Ron wasn't about to tell.
They had let Headwig out of his cage. They were at a muggle motel and didn't think it would look that good if they brought an owl in. She needed the excersise anyway.
They had booked two rooms for the night. Obvioulsy one for the girls and one for the guys. They had assumed that the girls had long since retired for the night and Harry wanted to know everyhting that had happened. Ron tried to fill him in on everything as best he could without loosing his temper.
"And you know for a fact Krum did it? Any proof?" Harry asked.
"His goddamn hand prints were on her arm Harry! And you didn't see the worse of it. You think she looks bad now, you should have seen her when she first came to the Burrow!" Ron ran his hands through his hair as he took a seat by the window. "She tried to get rid of most of it with a charm or two. She succeded with the cuts, so there wont be any scaring but you cant make bruises disapear. Only numb the pain."
"But Krum!? I mean, he was always so nice and polite..."
"First impressions can be wrong. He's not who you think."
Harry took a seat at the end of the bed. He had no solutions for his best friend on what to do about his other best friend.
He wish he had the answers.
He knew that their feelings for eachother ran deeper than friendship, but they were both stubborn, too stubborn, to do anything about it. He knew that it was taking all Rons strenghth not to burst in the girls room and demand that Hermione tell him what happened. It was killing him slowly, he could tell.
"I'm not gonna take it anymore Harry." Ron suddenly burst out "I've waited for ages and I've given her, her space. I going to get those answers tonight." Harry was about to respond to Rons ranting, about how that wasn't a good idea and that ther were other ways when Ron interupted him before he could voice his concerns. "Are you hungry?"
"Pardon me?" Harry asked confussed.
"Quick, name me a popular food muggles eat." Harry not quite cathing on named the first thing that came to mind
"Pizza?" He asked slowly. Ron gave him a funny look. Who would eat something called Pizza. It sounded like a name you would give a pet. Harry, about to ask what he was on, was interupted yet again by Ron. Only this time Ron had feld the room. Harry, assuming he was headed for Hermiones room followed.
Once he got to the girls room, Ron was already inside.
"Were kind of hungry and I need you to come with to get some pizza." Ron was saying. Hermione gave him a funny look.
"Why do you need me to go? What about Harry? Or why not Ginny?" Harry couldn't tell for sure but it looked like she was crying. He turned to Ginny but she gave a quick shake of her head. This girl buisness was too comlicated.
"Uh-because I need someone who knows about muggles to come with me." He stated. Hermione raised an eyebrow and looked at Harry over Rons shoulder.
"So whats so special about me? Harry knows about muggles." She said, shruging in Harrys direction. She had a good point. Ron didn't know what to say. It as a really good point. So he stared. He was never one to work well under pressure.
"I was never allowed to leave the house!" Harry shot in a little too enthusiastic. "I wouldn't know what I was doing." Ron looked over his shoulder and mouthed 'thank you' as Harry tried to become inconspicuitous again.
Hermione eyed them warily and glanced at Ginny for some help.
"I think thats a wonderful idea." Ginny said.
O.kay.
So it wasn't the type of help she was looking for.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine." realizing she lost that battle she gave in "Lets go than."
"Hmm. That went better than expected." Ginny whispered to Harry as Ron and Hermione headed out the door. Harry gave a nod of agreement than stopped suddenly. He gave her an odd look. She knew about this?
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Ron and Hermione had been driving for a while now, only making light conversation. Hermione noticed that there didn't seem to be a town or any sort of building for as far as she could see. Even a car would be a welcome sight. She was beginning to wonder if Ron was lost or not.
And when Ron suddenly pulled the car over to the side of the road, Hermione began to worry that they had run out of gas. It would be a long walk back. A very long walk.
"Is everything alright?" She asked, a bit confused when he didn't get out to see what was wrong.
"No 'Mione, everything is not alright." Ron took the keys out of the ignition, threw them out the window and into the bush. Hermiones eyes grew wide.
"What are you doing!?"
"My problem is you Hermione." Hermione would have looked shocked but somehow she had seen that comming. She crossed her arms over her chest and fell back against the seat. "I'm not telling." She snapped. They were both acting like 5 year olds and both of them knew this.
Not that either of them cared.
"Well were not leaving untill you tell me what happened." She galred at him. He galred back.
"Fine! I'll just walk back!"She took off her seat belt, slamed the car door and began walking down the side of the road. Ron not far behind.
"Just wait one damn minute!" He yelled at her. "I've given you, your time, I haven't pressured you into telling me anything and I've waited patiently for you to come to me on your own, but I'm tired of waiting Hermione. I'm tired of being around you and acting like nothing is wrong when you know god-damn well something is! You never gave me a reason to doubt you before. Dont start now!"
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks.
Inside Ron's mind, that tiny little voice that tells him when he's being stupid, was flipping right out.
"I dont need, nor do I want, your help."she turned around to face him. Tears threatening to fall. "I can deal with it, alright. I'm a big girl Ron, I can look after myslef."
"But you dont have to!" Ron excalimed, throwing his hands up in fustration. "You do this every time Hermione! Every bloody time some type of conflict occures, you shut everyone out! This time i'm not backing down. I'm your friend, your best friend, and I'm going to keep reaching out untill you reach back."
He was dead serious.
there was a pregnant paues while each party studied the other.
"And if I dont?" She challanged.
"I care about you too much Hermione," That was about as close as he was going to get to a confession " if you dont tell me, i'll....i'll.."
"You'll what Ron!?" Her voice was gradually getting louder as Ron continued to talk in cirlces.
"I dont know!" He yelled back. He kicked a rock and it landed just cenimeters in front of Her. "I just dont know! Alright! But this is kiling me! I haven't had a good sleep since you came to stay at the Burrow i've been so worried about you! Why wont you talk to me 'Mione. Please." His voice was pleading and if Hermione didn't know any better she would have thought that Ron was about to cry , only she did know better and Ron rarley cried.
"It won't solve anything. It'll just make things more complicated for the boht of us."
Ron didn't back down and it didn;t look like he was going to any time soon.
"He hit me. Alright?" Hermione spoke suddenly, arms dropping to her sides. "Is that what you wanted to hear!? That I, The cleverist which at Hogworts, let him strike me!?" Ron eyes grew wide as he shook his head. He took hold of Hermiones wrist and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Of course not." He whispered , kissing the top of her head. He gave a deep sigh "That was the last thing I wanted to hear. The very last."
The tears were falling freely now.
"Are you mad?"
silence
"Very."
"I'm so sorry." Ron backed away form her slightly, keeping a hold on her shoulders.
"For what!?" Ron asked surprised.
"Its my fault this happened to me. If I didn't feel the way I do we wouldn't be here, this would have never happened." Ron wrapped her in a tight hug again, not believeing what she was saying....
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IHermione screamed as she fell to the floor, her cheek stinging from the sudden blow form Victors hand.
"Vell!?" Victor screamed as she scrambled backwards on the floor. "Answer me!"
"I..I.."
Victor grabbed her by her arms and placed her back on her feet.
Hermione looked around frantically.'Wand!? Wheres my wand!?'
"It is true than. You and this Veasly fellow were having an affair. Vere you not?" Hermione had her eyes squeezed shut as tears began to form behind them. Victor continued to shake her.
"Victor, to be having an affair... I would have to be dating you. I've already told you... I- I only like you as a frien-" She tried to reason with him as he back-handed her again.
"Lies!" He bellowed as she went flying into the china cabnit. Glass shaddered everywhere.
Hermione stumbled to her feet again.
"Victor please. I...there nothing between us...me and -and Ron..." Victor shoved her hard and she went crashing to the glass covered floor. She creid out in pain as her arm hit the floor at an odd angle. She didn't think it was broken, most likely sprained.
"Stop lying!! I am not as idiotic as you think I am. I can tell vhen you look at him , or vhen you read a letter vrom him that you veel more towards him than friendship. No?" Hermione didn't answer and Victor advanced on her. Pinning her againts the wall, he grippied her arms so tight her feet weren't touching the floor. Hermione did her best to galre at him though her tears. "Stop staring at me and answer the question!"
"What do you want from me!? Do you want me to say!? Do you wnat me to say that i'm in love with Ron!? Is that waht you want!? I'm In love with Ron!" She spat. "There, I've said it, now take you hands off of me!"
His grip tightened on her arms as Victor growled at her and slammed her agasint the wall. Hermione took in a sharp breath.
"Do you mean it?" He growled thorugh his teeth. His nose inces from hers.
"With all my heart"
An evil smile appeard on Victors lips as he held Hermione to the wall, lifting her hands above her head. "I guess i'll just have to teach you to love me than." he snarled as he kissed her forcfully on the lips. '
'Whres my wand!'
Hermione wimpered and began to squirm, trying to free herself form his grip. He let out a throughty laugh as he reached for her belt.
Hermiones knee instantly came up between his legs. Tears sprung to Victors eyes as Hermione fell to the floor. Outraged, he kicked her in the ribs causing her to yell in pain.
He roughly picked her up off the floor and threw her at the door joining the living room with the dinnig room.. It broke open apon the impact and pieces of splintered wood went flying everywhere.
"You whore!" He screamed, obvioulsy still in pain.
Hermione had the wind knocked out of her and was trying despretly to escape the advancing bulagian. knowing the outcome would not be pleasent if he caught her.
She lookd behind her in a wave of panic, looking for a door or window, anything. Her vision, blurry with tears, could make out the fire palce on the far wall. She could just make out the Floo powder in a jar on the mantel and her wand next to it. 'My wand!' She quickley reached for a vase on the table to her right and threw it at Victor. He cried out in surprise and stumbled over a large chunk of broken wood, falling to the ground.
Hermione took this as her chance to get to the fire place and turned around, ready to bolt , when a strong hand took hold of her ankle. She fell back to the floor, the back of her head connecting with the hardwood. Pain shot through her skull as she tried to free herself from viktors grip, her vision blurrey, this time not because of the tears.
"I'll teach you to mess with a girl who's tired and cranky!" Hermione screamed as she kicked victor in the nose, rendering him helpless as he gripped his noes in pain. That was all she needed, that small moment. She bolted for the fireplace, stumbling in her frantic hurry. She grabbed her wand and the whole bottle of floo powder and chucked it at the floor. The last thing she saw was victors hand, full of blood, , centemeters form her face as she screamed./I
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Thank you so much for your re-views and please keep them comming. With out revies I loose interst and therfore I stop writting.
Thank you to all who said my spelling wasn't that bad. I appriciate it. I really am trying. Really.
I think thats about all I had to say.
Enjoy!
Oh! All constructive ctritsisim is welcome. :)
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"Ron!" Ginny cried as she gave her brother a tight hug "I thought you had completely forgotten about me! What took you so long?"
"Hello to you too." He said, letting her go. Ginny's smile faded away and a scowl took its place.
"Grandma wanted you to stay for a bit. I tried telling her that we had to leave the minute you got here be she insisted. I'm sorry but I did everything I could." Ron gave a shudder.
"Well, we cant stay long anyway. Hermiones in the car. She fell asleep on the way up and I didn't want to wake h-"
"Hermiones here!?" Ginny asked. She smiled as she headed for the door.
"Wait!" Ron grabbed her arm to hold her back. "Shes..." Ginny gave him a quizical look when he didn't finish his sentance.
"Shes?" Ginny questioned. Ron sighed.
"Not herself. Promise me you wont ask her any questions." Another quizical look
"What?"
"You'll understand when you see her. No questions alright!?"
"Alright. Promise." Ron let go of Ginny and headed for the dinning room where he assumed his grandmother was. Unfourtunetly he was right.
"Ronald! Your horrible! Walking through my clean house with your shoes on!" Ron looked at his feet and indeed his shoes were on....Ron looked at her feet and her shoes were also on. He rolled his eyes and didn't say anything.
"Sorry." He said, slipping them off.
"So how was school?"
He shrugged, "Oh, you know, the usual, sleeping in class, eating in class, not paying attention in class, making faces at the class from the hall..."
This earned him a smack on the back of the head. "Ouch!" He whined as he rubbed the same spot his mother had hit.
"Dont get sassy with me young man!" His grandmother warned "Your no better than your sister. Both of you should take your studies more seriously or you'll never going to pass!" Ron rolled his eyes. "You'll never amount to anything you know, with an attitude like that..." Ron began pulling apart a plastic plant that was as a center piece on the table. Nothing alive ever lasted long in her house so he understood Ginny's hasty retreat.
His grandmother continued to remind him of his faults and how all he would amount to was some begger on the streets in some dirty muggle town."....and your hair! Honeslty boy. Do you not know what a comb is?..." Ron attempted to tame his hair with his hand. Not that it would help any.
"You really know how to make me want feel about three inches high and shrinking fast." Ron mumbled.
"What was that Ronald?" She rounded on him. He hated that name
"Uh. I said that uh...look at the time, I've got to get home fast." Ron looked around, wondering where Ginny and Hermione were when he heard the horn on the car go off. "Thats Gin. Shes waiting for me I guess. It was nice seeing you again." He said in a hurried rush as he made a bee line for the door. His grandmother on his heels. Her standard way of saying goodbye was to tell them they would fail in anything they did.
"Mark my words Ronald! You'll never amount to anything with that attitude, and tell that young Ginny she'll turn out to be is some poor protitute on a corner is she doesn't smarten up!" Ron shook his head as he got into the car. Hermione was still asleep, a blue glow around her head. Ginny must have used the silencing charm when she honked the horn.
"Thanks for abondoning me."
"Sorry." she said sheepishly. A quick flick from her wrist and the blue glow disapeared. "but I really couldn't stand another minute with that old hag."
"Got all your stuff?" She nodded her head. "Good."
As the car pulled away Ginny could see her grandma on the front step shaking her fist. She almost felt bad for not saying goodbye.
almost.
"Man! That was the worst visit with her yet!" Ginny exclaimed "All she does is bitch and complain. Did you know, " Ginny began "That my socks are not the proper socks a lady should wear and i'll never find a husband because of it! She gone mad that women has!" Ron laughed
"So she told me. Appearently in the furute you'll own your own corner."
"Yah. I heard that one about 3 times a day. Did you know that my summer dresses are too short? Chrsit. I'm glad to be away from there. It smells bad too." Ron laguhed. Ginny's summer dresses didn't go past her knees.
They were both silent for a while untill Ron caught Ginny's eyes in the rear-view mirror. Ginny mouthed 'oh-my-god!' while pointing at Hermione. Ron shook his head in return.
"She won't tell me anything." He said in a whisper so as not to wake the topic of converstion. "We'll talk later, kay." Ginny gave her brother a sad smile
"Kay." She whispered. She knew how much Hermione ment to him and she could tell it was eating him up inside but unfoutunalty both Ron and Hermione had diffilculty exprssing their emotions. Well, the postive ones at least. She rememberd Rons exact words when he finally realized his feelings. It was quite unexpected.
They had been talking about Hermione in the great hall. She couldn't remember if it was 5th year or 6th. No, it was 5thb year, she was certain. Anyway, it was the opening feast and the first years were being sorted. Hermione had made Prefect, of course, and was welcoming all of the new Gryfindors personally when Ginny turned to look at Ron, shoock written all over his face. She rememberd asking what his probelm was and if he was sick. He just shook his head and responded
I'I just looked at her as a friend....and I realized I loved her.'/I
The look on his face was priceless.
He of course never told Hermione. Pity really.
Ginny slumped back against the seat, a smile on her face and deep in thought. Soon she followed Hermiones example and fell asleep.
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"Wake up."
silence.
"Come on. Wake up Gin."
more silence.
"Gin!"
A swat in the head.
"Ow!"
"You are so annoying Ron. I'm trying to sleep." Ron pulled on Ginny's arm and began dragging her out of the car. "Ron!" She hollered, swatting his head again. He wondered if brain damage was worth all this.
"Quiet! You'll wake 'Mione up!" Ron snapped. Ginny looked towards the front seat and indeed Hermione was still sleeping. When Ron said she slept like a rock he wasn't kidding.
"Where are we?" She asked as she finllay noticed her suroundings. She didn't recognize a single thing. "Why aren't we home yet. Its only a 3 hours drive from grandmas to our house. We left after lunch. Why is it dark? Where are you taking u-"
"Shutup a sec will you!? Where in Surry." Ginny galred at her older brother. "See that house there?" He said pointing at a small house across the street.
"Uh-huh" She said, eyeing him warily.
"Thats Harry's house." Ginnys jaw dropped.
"Why are we at Harry' house!?"
"Well, I figured that was kind of obvious." Ron sated. "Were gonna bust him out."
"Ron!" Ginny said more forcfully this time "We cant just 'bust him out'!"
"Why not? Hes expecting us anyway." Ginny's jaw dropped for a second time that night and wondered why she didn't know of this.
"Since when!?"
"Shhhhh!" Ron held a finger to his lips and pointed the other at Hermione. "I figure we could all take an unexpeted vacation. Lord knows we need one. Besides, we wont be gone long. Just untill Hermione talks to me is all." Ginny's jaw continued to saty open. Ron smiled as Harry appeard in the window, giving him the thumbs-up signal. Pausing only breiefly to look at Ginny. Ron seemed oblivious.
"Its time. follow me."
Ginny followed Ron to the Drusleys front door and picked the lock. Upon entering the house they made there way upstairs to a door coverd in padlocks. Ron began trying to pick each one.
"Hurry up! Cant you go any faster?" Ginny was pannicing.
"Clam down Gin. Were not gonna get caught."
Click.
"One down...4 to go. Can you say 'trust issues'?"
Click...
Click...
Click....
"Damit. The last ones a combination lock"
"Just use your wand you moron." Ginny said crossing her arms over her chest.
"Can't. left it in the car. You think I like picking locks for fun?"
"Than ask Harry for the combo."
"Cant do that either. Hes been under lockdown since he arrived back for the summer. Wheres your wand?"
"uh-I left it in the care too." Ginny said sheepisly "Well than, we coul-" before Ginny could finish, a beam of light hit the lock and it fell open. Ginny and Ron jerked their heads behind them and found Hermione standing at the top of the stairs with her wand out.
"Honestly," She began "leaving me behind like that. I was awfully offended." Hermione gave them a smile. "Seriously,. What would you do without me?" Ron smiled.
She smiled back at him and pulled the door open, reveling Harry sitting on his bed. His things packed around him.
"'Bout time." He whispered. His smile flickered only slightly as he caught sight of Hermione. Taking Rons advice he didnt't say anything, but that didn't mean that Hermione totally missed the look in his eyes. She gave an audible sigh.
"Come one! Lets get out of here. Everyone grab something." Ginny said breaking the silence. She picked up Headwigs cage and looked at Harry. "I dont want to stay here longer than I have too."
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It didn' take long for them to find a motel. A cheap motel in the middle of no-where, literally, but at least it was a place to sleep. Surprisingly Ron had come prepared and had brought some money. Wizard AND muggle money. Ginny didn' know where he got it from and Ron wasn't about to tell.
They had let Headwig out of his cage. They were at a muggle motel and didn't think it would look that good if they brought an owl in. She needed the excersise anyway.
They had booked two rooms for the night. Obvioulsy one for the girls and one for the guys. They had assumed that the girls had long since retired for the night and Harry wanted to know everyhting that had happened. Ron tried to fill him in on everything as best he could without loosing his temper.
"And you know for a fact Krum did it? Any proof?" Harry asked.
"His goddamn hand prints were on her arm Harry! And you didn't see the worse of it. You think she looks bad now, you should have seen her when she first came to the Burrow!" Ron ran his hands through his hair as he took a seat by the window. "She tried to get rid of most of it with a charm or two. She succeded with the cuts, so there wont be any scaring but you cant make bruises disapear. Only numb the pain."
"But Krum!? I mean, he was always so nice and polite..."
"First impressions can be wrong. He's not who you think."
Harry took a seat at the end of the bed. He had no solutions for his best friend on what to do about his other best friend.
He wish he had the answers.
He knew that their feelings for eachother ran deeper than friendship, but they were both stubborn, too stubborn, to do anything about it. He knew that it was taking all Rons strenghth not to burst in the girls room and demand that Hermione tell him what happened. It was killing him slowly, he could tell.
"I'm not gonna take it anymore Harry." Ron suddenly burst out "I've waited for ages and I've given her, her space. I going to get those answers tonight." Harry was about to respond to Rons ranting, about how that wasn't a good idea and that ther were other ways when Ron interupted him before he could voice his concerns. "Are you hungry?"
"Pardon me?" Harry asked confussed.
"Quick, name me a popular food muggles eat." Harry not quite cathing on named the first thing that came to mind
"Pizza?" He asked slowly. Ron gave him a funny look. Who would eat something called Pizza. It sounded like a name you would give a pet. Harry, about to ask what he was on, was interupted yet again by Ron. Only this time Ron had feld the room. Harry, assuming he was headed for Hermiones room followed.
Once he got to the girls room, Ron was already inside.
"Were kind of hungry and I need you to come with to get some pizza." Ron was saying. Hermione gave him a funny look.
"Why do you need me to go? What about Harry? Or why not Ginny?" Harry couldn't tell for sure but it looked like she was crying. He turned to Ginny but she gave a quick shake of her head. This girl buisness was too comlicated.
"Uh-because I need someone who knows about muggles to come with me." He stated. Hermione raised an eyebrow and looked at Harry over Rons shoulder.
"So whats so special about me? Harry knows about muggles." She said, shruging in Harrys direction. She had a good point. Ron didn't know what to say. It as a really good point. So he stared. He was never one to work well under pressure.
"I was never allowed to leave the house!" Harry shot in a little too enthusiastic. "I wouldn't know what I was doing." Ron looked over his shoulder and mouthed 'thank you' as Harry tried to become inconspicuitous again.
Hermione eyed them warily and glanced at Ginny for some help.
"I think thats a wonderful idea." Ginny said.
O.kay.
So it wasn't the type of help she was looking for.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine." realizing she lost that battle she gave in "Lets go than."
"Hmm. That went better than expected." Ginny whispered to Harry as Ron and Hermione headed out the door. Harry gave a nod of agreement than stopped suddenly. He gave her an odd look. She knew about this?
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Ron and Hermione had been driving for a while now, only making light conversation. Hermione noticed that there didn't seem to be a town or any sort of building for as far as she could see. Even a car would be a welcome sight. She was beginning to wonder if Ron was lost or not.
And when Ron suddenly pulled the car over to the side of the road, Hermione began to worry that they had run out of gas. It would be a long walk back. A very long walk.
"Is everything alright?" She asked, a bit confused when he didn't get out to see what was wrong.
"No 'Mione, everything is not alright." Ron took the keys out of the ignition, threw them out the window and into the bush. Hermiones eyes grew wide.
"What are you doing!?"
"My problem is you Hermione." Hermione would have looked shocked but somehow she had seen that comming. She crossed her arms over her chest and fell back against the seat. "I'm not telling." She snapped. They were both acting like 5 year olds and both of them knew this.
Not that either of them cared.
"Well were not leaving untill you tell me what happened." She galred at him. He galred back.
"Fine! I'll just walk back!"She took off her seat belt, slamed the car door and began walking down the side of the road. Ron not far behind.
"Just wait one damn minute!" He yelled at her. "I've given you, your time, I haven't pressured you into telling me anything and I've waited patiently for you to come to me on your own, but I'm tired of waiting Hermione. I'm tired of being around you and acting like nothing is wrong when you know god-damn well something is! You never gave me a reason to doubt you before. Dont start now!"
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks.
Inside Ron's mind, that tiny little voice that tells him when he's being stupid, was flipping right out.
"I dont need, nor do I want, your help."she turned around to face him. Tears threatening to fall. "I can deal with it, alright. I'm a big girl Ron, I can look after myslef."
"But you dont have to!" Ron excalimed, throwing his hands up in fustration. "You do this every time Hermione! Every bloody time some type of conflict occures, you shut everyone out! This time i'm not backing down. I'm your friend, your best friend, and I'm going to keep reaching out untill you reach back."
He was dead serious.
there was a pregnant paues while each party studied the other.
"And if I dont?" She challanged.
"I care about you too much Hermione," That was about as close as he was going to get to a confession " if you dont tell me, i'll....i'll.."
"You'll what Ron!?" Her voice was gradually getting louder as Ron continued to talk in cirlces.
"I dont know!" He yelled back. He kicked a rock and it landed just cenimeters in front of Her. "I just dont know! Alright! But this is kiling me! I haven't had a good sleep since you came to stay at the Burrow i've been so worried about you! Why wont you talk to me 'Mione. Please." His voice was pleading and if Hermione didn't know any better she would have thought that Ron was about to cry , only she did know better and Ron rarley cried.
"It won't solve anything. It'll just make things more complicated for the boht of us."
Ron didn't back down and it didn;t look like he was going to any time soon.
"He hit me. Alright?" Hermione spoke suddenly, arms dropping to her sides. "Is that what you wanted to hear!? That I, The cleverist which at Hogworts, let him strike me!?" Ron eyes grew wide as he shook his head. He took hold of Hermiones wrist and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Of course not." He whispered , kissing the top of her head. He gave a deep sigh "That was the last thing I wanted to hear. The very last."
The tears were falling freely now.
"Are you mad?"
silence
"Very."
"I'm so sorry." Ron backed away form her slightly, keeping a hold on her shoulders.
"For what!?" Ron asked surprised.
"Its my fault this happened to me. If I didn't feel the way I do we wouldn't be here, this would have never happened." Ron wrapped her in a tight hug again, not believeing what she was saying....
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IHermione screamed as she fell to the floor, her cheek stinging from the sudden blow form Victors hand.
"Vell!?" Victor screamed as she scrambled backwards on the floor. "Answer me!"
"I..I.."
Victor grabbed her by her arms and placed her back on her feet.
Hermione looked around frantically.'Wand!? Wheres my wand!?'
"It is true than. You and this Veasly fellow were having an affair. Vere you not?" Hermione had her eyes squeezed shut as tears began to form behind them. Victor continued to shake her.
"Victor, to be having an affair... I would have to be dating you. I've already told you... I- I only like you as a frien-" She tried to reason with him as he back-handed her again.
"Lies!" He bellowed as she went flying into the china cabnit. Glass shaddered everywhere.
Hermione stumbled to her feet again.
"Victor please. I...there nothing between us...me and -and Ron..." Victor shoved her hard and she went crashing to the glass covered floor. She creid out in pain as her arm hit the floor at an odd angle. She didn't think it was broken, most likely sprained.
"Stop lying!! I am not as idiotic as you think I am. I can tell vhen you look at him , or vhen you read a letter vrom him that you veel more towards him than friendship. No?" Hermione didn't answer and Victor advanced on her. Pinning her againts the wall, he grippied her arms so tight her feet weren't touching the floor. Hermione did her best to galre at him though her tears. "Stop staring at me and answer the question!"
"What do you want from me!? Do you want me to say!? Do you wnat me to say that i'm in love with Ron!? Is that waht you want!? I'm In love with Ron!" She spat. "There, I've said it, now take you hands off of me!"
His grip tightened on her arms as Victor growled at her and slammed her agasint the wall. Hermione took in a sharp breath.
"Do you mean it?" He growled thorugh his teeth. His nose inces from hers.
"With all my heart"
An evil smile appeard on Victors lips as he held Hermione to the wall, lifting her hands above her head. "I guess i'll just have to teach you to love me than." he snarled as he kissed her forcfully on the lips. '
'Whres my wand!'
Hermione wimpered and began to squirm, trying to free herself form his grip. He let out a throughty laugh as he reached for her belt.
Hermiones knee instantly came up between his legs. Tears sprung to Victors eyes as Hermione fell to the floor. Outraged, he kicked her in the ribs causing her to yell in pain.
He roughly picked her up off the floor and threw her at the door joining the living room with the dinnig room.. It broke open apon the impact and pieces of splintered wood went flying everywhere.
"You whore!" He screamed, obvioulsy still in pain.
Hermione had the wind knocked out of her and was trying despretly to escape the advancing bulagian. knowing the outcome would not be pleasent if he caught her.
She lookd behind her in a wave of panic, looking for a door or window, anything. Her vision, blurry with tears, could make out the fire palce on the far wall. She could just make out the Floo powder in a jar on the mantel and her wand next to it. 'My wand!' She quickley reached for a vase on the table to her right and threw it at Victor. He cried out in surprise and stumbled over a large chunk of broken wood, falling to the ground.
Hermione took this as her chance to get to the fire place and turned around, ready to bolt , when a strong hand took hold of her ankle. She fell back to the floor, the back of her head connecting with the hardwood. Pain shot through her skull as she tried to free herself from viktors grip, her vision blurrey, this time not because of the tears.
"I'll teach you to mess with a girl who's tired and cranky!" Hermione screamed as she kicked victor in the nose, rendering him helpless as he gripped his noes in pain. That was all she needed, that small moment. She bolted for the fireplace, stumbling in her frantic hurry. She grabbed her wand and the whole bottle of floo powder and chucked it at the floor. The last thing she saw was victors hand, full of blood, , centemeters form her face as she screamed./I
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