To The Contrary
By Emma
Chapter Nine: Why Him, Anyway?
Disclaimer: Shaddup. I know you own it. I'm just borrowing so SHADDUP!
Oooooh boy. I swear, this time thing is not my fault. I haven't been allowed on the computer AT ALL for the past month. It just so happens that in the past month I lost my entire written down part of this so I'm basically going from scratch. Bear with me, or flame me. I need warmth so it will be used to light a fire. BRR! (And I'm really sorry, guys, for making you wait so long for this crappy chapter. School's messed and life is messed at the moment.)
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Hermione awoke an hour later with a skull splitting headache.
"Oww, dammit!" she moaned and crawled under the covers of her bed, "What am I, on my period now too?"
She wasn't. She knew it.
*I need to get out...I need food. I'm starving. I wonder why I suddenly have a craving for ice cream?*
She pulled herself out from her bedspread and hobbled groggily over to her door. After practically falling down the steps to the common room, her heart lit up at the mass of freckles and red hair that lay sleeping over his homework near the fireplace.
She sat down beside him, "Ron?"
"Shndoisnnnsggharg?" Ron replied, and Hermione shook him slightly.
"Wha?"
"Ron? You awake?"
"I am now. Tell me, do I have ink all over my cheek? I feel like my face needs a wash."
Hermione bit her lip, "No."
She had never been good at lying, but she didn't want him walking away at this moment when she needed to talk to somebody.
"I don't have ink on me, then? 'Cause it feels~"
"Ron, I'm having a problem."
His eyebrows shot up, "What kind of problem? Is it a school problem, or a friend problem, or a f-f-female problem, because there's nothing I can do with those~"
"A- a guy problem, actually."
"A WHAT?"
Hermione bit her lip, "A guy problem. You know, male? Not female? Usually broad shouldered, smooth skinned, no breasts, owns and is run by a penis?"
"HERMIONE!" Ron shouted, turning purple-ish, "What in the BLEEDING HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!? Watch your MOUTH!"
Hermione giggled for a moment, "I'm not allowed to say pe~"
"NO!"
"Alright," she said, trying to get over her giggles, "You know what I mean then. Guy problems."
Ron looked skeptical, "Since when do you have guy problems?"
"Since I started dating one."
"What?" Ron's jaw dropped, "You're joking! Who?"
Hermione paused, "It's very embarassing and I'm sure you would go out and strangle him dead if I told you..."
"Well come on, then! It's not as bad as Malfoy, obviously. Spit it out."
Hermione felt sick, "Well, you're right. It's not as bad as Malfoy. It kind of IS Malfoy."
You could have heard a pin drop. And then-
"WHAT!!!!!!!!!"
"Ron, I~!"
"NO! WHAT!? NO! NO!" he screamed, staring at her like SHE was the one that was screaming her head off in the middle of a crowded common room, "WHAT THE BLEEDING HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, WOMAN!?"
Hermione looked at her hands and saw a lone tear drop onto them. Ron apparently saw this too, because he didn't shout anymore.
"Why, Hermione? Why him? Why not anybody else...why not me?"
Hermione's eyes went wide, "What? Ron, what are you~"
"I don't mean it like that," he said, turning slightly paler than a tomato (which was an improvement from the moment before), "I mean...it's just, I'd want to see you happy. I know any guy EXCEPT him could make you happy, Hermione. Why though? I just don't get it."
"He was nice. He was romantic. He was good looking. And I suppose I've been feeling a little too perfect lately and needed something to be rebellious about. This secret relationship~"
"It's a relationship now? I just thought you liked him."
"No," she said nervously, "We've been dating for about a month."
Ron looked crestfallen, "And you didn't tell anybody? Or am I the only one who didn't know?"
"No, Ron. Nobody knew. Well, I think Pansy Parkinson figured it out when he'd stare at me from the dinner table...but the thing is, he seems to now just want to get in my pants."
Ron's face turned red again, "BASTARD! I'll KILL him! I'll KILL HI~"
"No you won't," Hermione said firmly, "Don't say anything. It'll just make it worse. But can you tell me why he's acting that way?"
"I honestly can't, Herm. I mean, even though you've been looking great and you're a very nice person all in all, I wouldn't just use you -or any other girl-" he said hastily, "as a plaything, as a toy to use and throw out. It's weird though...I really hate the stupid git, and I don't want you with him but he doesn't strike me as the kind of fellow to just date a girl, especially one like you just to get in her pants."
Hermione smiled. This wasn't working out her problems exactly...but it was exactly what she needed. Time with friends. Talking. Having fun. She just needed time. Time to grow, time to lean and time to heal. And then...maybe she could have a talk with her sexy blonde friend.
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I know, I told you...it sucked. I'm not inspired right now, forgive me. I'll try to be on here by next week but if I'm not then just yell at me over reviews. Thanks guys, for holding on.