Chapter 4 ~ A Realization ~
Hermione stood in front of her house, hoping that Anthony had given up and gone home. She just couldn't face him any more, it was too painful.
"You're going to have to go in sometime, you know," she told herself. "I know," she sighed, answering herself. Hermione took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
"Where the hell were you!" Anthony yelled, grabbing her by her arms and throwing her against the wall.
She slid to the floor and covered her head with her arms. "Anthony, calm down," she murmured.
She heard Anthony march towards her, felt him pick her up by the hair.
Hermione screamed, her hair felt as if it had ripped out of her scalp. "Stop! That hurts!" she cried, painful tears pouring down her cheeks.
He threw her on the couch, paying no heed to her terrified cries, and sat on her stomach. "You - will - never - see - him - again!" he roared, punching her after every word. "Do - you - understand?" he wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed tightly. "Now, I get the pleasure of killing you, bitch! I did what I wanted to do and I don't need you anymore. I just wish you could watch as I slowly torture your beloved Harry Potter!" he spat out, laughing cruelly at Hermione's desperate attempts for air.
He suddenly looked down at her and kissed her hard on the lips. "Actually, I think I'll have one more go. You weren't so bad and it has been awhile ..." he mumbled to himself, letting go of her neck.
Hermione gasped for air. "Leave him alone, Anthony. He never did anything to you," she said, as soon as she got her breath back.
Hermione knew Anthony was jealous of Harry, for many reasons. Anthony's dark blue eyes were no match for Harry's emerald greens. Anthony's almost white hair was nothing compared to Harry's adorable black hair. Harry was the hero of the school, the protector. Anthony was the flirt, the cheater, the guy that got a girl, used her, then dumped her for another. Hermione couldn't even remember why she had gone out with him.
Oh, that's right, Hermione thought angrily, you figured since you couldn't have Harry, you'd go for Anthony. You fool! she screamed at herself.
Anthony slapped her across the face, and began to unzip her top. "Shut-up. You have no choice, Hermione!"
No! Not again!! she screamed in her head. "Anthony! Anthony, don't do this!"
"SHUT-UP!" he screamed and lifted his hand. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the blow that was sure to knock her unconscious.
But it never came.
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"Get the hell away from her!" Harry cried as he lunged at Anthony, throwing him off Hermione and down on the ground.
"You son of a bitch, you bastard! I'm going to kill you!" Harry called him every name in the book, sending fists into his face, blinded by rage.
He finally stopped, breathing hard and exhausted. Anthony didn't move and his eyes were closed. Blood was pouring out of his nose. Harry got off of him and looked around for Hermione.
She was cowering in a corner. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, head in her arms, and she was shaking and sobbing all at once. Harry's heart gave a painful leap and he ran over to her.
"Hermione!" he cried as she looked up. Her cheeks were badly swollen, her eye was quickly turning purple, and blood was coming out of her nose and lip.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap. Hermione buried her face in his chest and sobbed, shaking uncontrollably.
Harry felt Hermione's shivers subside and her sobs turned into sniffles. "Are you all right?" he asked, knowing that was a stupid question.
Hermione nodded slowly and gently pushed away from him. She tried to get up but Harry grabbed her arm. "Are you sure you don't need help?" he asked, concern filling his bright green eyes.
Hermione nodded and gave him a weak smile. "I can handle this," she said, not believing herself. She finally got herself up but as soon as her body was straight she felt the room begin to spin. She tried to grab on to something but darkness enveloped her and the last thing she felt was Harry's strong arms catching her before she hit the floor.
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Ron and Sirius ran threw the hospital only to be stopped by a nurse. "Can I help you?" she asked, curtly.
"We're looking for someone," Ron said, trying to catch his breath.
"What's the patient's -"
"Hermione Granger!" Sirius told her before she had the chance to finish the question.
The nurse gave them an annoyed look. "Room 105."
They raced through the hall until they found the room and pushed the door open.
Hermione was laying on a white hospital bed, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow. Her face was beaten up and bruised, giving her an almost 'dead' look.
Harry was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, his head in his hands.
"Harry!" Ron called, shock etched on his face. Tears sprang to his eyes as they rested on Hermione, but he brushed them away.
"What happened?" Sirius asked, placing a hand on his Godson's shoulder. "She looked fine at the party ..."
Harry looked up at them, tears falling down his cheeks, unashamed. "He was going to - to kill her," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Oh, you should have seen her. She looks better now, but, before ..." he let the sentence trail off.
"Anthony?" Sirius asked, quietly.
Harry nodded and covered his face with his hands. "It's all my fault."
"Harry, it couldn't have been your fault. You didn't know," Ron said from Hermione's bed. He looked down at her sadly and a tear fell on her hand.
"No, I heard her scream last night."
"Last night? But ..." Ron trailed off. If all this happened tonight then what happened last night?
Sirius felt Harry shiver. "Yes, last night. She must have been terrified," Harry answered, knowing full well what had happened. He wanted to kill Anthony, to torture him slowly for all the pain he put her through.
"What happened to Anthony?" Ron asked, not wanting to think about last night.
"I knocked him unconscious," this was said sadly, Harry wasn't bragging; he wasn't the type of person to brag.
"Is he still at the house?"
"No, the muggle police came and took him away," Harry stood up and walked over to Hermione. "They should lock him in Azkaban!" he retorted, harshly.
Sirius and Ron watched, quietly, as Harry ran a loving hand across Hermione's battered cheek.
Ron was angry about this too, but Harry seemed almost vengeful; not at all Harry like. Then it dawned on him.
Harry loved Hermione!
That's why he became so upset when Hermione told them she was going to go out with Anthony in their sixth year. That's why he was so upset now. And that look in his eyes ... Ron remembered seeing that same look when Harry saw Hermione at his party.
A huge grin spread along Ron's lips. His best friend loves his other best friend. But did Hermione feel the same? Ron was sure of it.
"Why are you smiling?" Sirius asked him, under his breath, not wanting to disturb Harry.
Ron nugded his head toward Harry and his grin got wider.
Sirius just stared at him, blankly. "What?"
Ron sighed. "Harry, Sirius and I are going out for a bit. We'll be back in a minute," Ron said, taking Sirius outside and shutting the door softly behind him.
"What is it Ron?"
"Don't you see? Harry is in love with Hermione!" Ron told him, excitedly.
Sirius' eyes got wide and a smile formed on his lips. "My goodness. No wonder Harry got so upset when we had that talk yesterday morning!" Sirius said, ignoring Ron's confused frown. "This is great! I always thought those two were perfect for each other!"
Ron nodded in agreement.
"Are you going to be all right, Ron?" Sirius asked, suddenly turning to him with concern.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, Harry and Hermione... They are your best friends .."
Ron gave a small laugh. "Me jealous? I couldn't be happier for them! I've always wanted those two to get together. Besides, I have a girlfriend," he added, with a smug expression.
"Who?"
"Lavender Brown."
That's great! I'm so happy for you!" Sirius said, truthfully.
"Thanks. We really should get back, though," Ron said.
They walked back inside and into the small room. They found Harry asleep; his head next to Hermione, one arm was sprawled protectively across her stomach, and the other arm was under his head. Even in his sleep, Harry looked worried.
Sirius gave a chuckle. "Let's go," he whispered.
"What about Harry?" Ron asked.
"He can sleep here, that's what he would want to do. Besides, only one visitar can stay with the patient. I think Harry should stay, maybe he'll get the courage to tell Hermione how he feels about her."
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~ Thanks to ALL of my reviewers! You guys are the best, and if you have any suggestions or ideas for the story, feel free to e*mail me them. I would love to hear them. Especially on Voldemort and Draco (again, what's Harry without Draco?). Thanks again! Enjoy!
** AnGeLeYeS **
Hermione stood in front of her house, hoping that Anthony had given up and gone home. She just couldn't face him any more, it was too painful.
"You're going to have to go in sometime, you know," she told herself. "I know," she sighed, answering herself. Hermione took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
"Where the hell were you!" Anthony yelled, grabbing her by her arms and throwing her against the wall.
She slid to the floor and covered her head with her arms. "Anthony, calm down," she murmured.
She heard Anthony march towards her, felt him pick her up by the hair.
Hermione screamed, her hair felt as if it had ripped out of her scalp. "Stop! That hurts!" she cried, painful tears pouring down her cheeks.
He threw her on the couch, paying no heed to her terrified cries, and sat on her stomach. "You - will - never - see - him - again!" he roared, punching her after every word. "Do - you - understand?" he wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed tightly. "Now, I get the pleasure of killing you, bitch! I did what I wanted to do and I don't need you anymore. I just wish you could watch as I slowly torture your beloved Harry Potter!" he spat out, laughing cruelly at Hermione's desperate attempts for air.
He suddenly looked down at her and kissed her hard on the lips. "Actually, I think I'll have one more go. You weren't so bad and it has been awhile ..." he mumbled to himself, letting go of her neck.
Hermione gasped for air. "Leave him alone, Anthony. He never did anything to you," she said, as soon as she got her breath back.
Hermione knew Anthony was jealous of Harry, for many reasons. Anthony's dark blue eyes were no match for Harry's emerald greens. Anthony's almost white hair was nothing compared to Harry's adorable black hair. Harry was the hero of the school, the protector. Anthony was the flirt, the cheater, the guy that got a girl, used her, then dumped her for another. Hermione couldn't even remember why she had gone out with him.
Oh, that's right, Hermione thought angrily, you figured since you couldn't have Harry, you'd go for Anthony. You fool! she screamed at herself.
Anthony slapped her across the face, and began to unzip her top. "Shut-up. You have no choice, Hermione!"
No! Not again!! she screamed in her head. "Anthony! Anthony, don't do this!"
"SHUT-UP!" he screamed and lifted his hand. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the blow that was sure to knock her unconscious.
But it never came.
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"Get the hell away from her!" Harry cried as he lunged at Anthony, throwing him off Hermione and down on the ground.
"You son of a bitch, you bastard! I'm going to kill you!" Harry called him every name in the book, sending fists into his face, blinded by rage.
He finally stopped, breathing hard and exhausted. Anthony didn't move and his eyes were closed. Blood was pouring out of his nose. Harry got off of him and looked around for Hermione.
She was cowering in a corner. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, head in her arms, and she was shaking and sobbing all at once. Harry's heart gave a painful leap and he ran over to her.
"Hermione!" he cried as she looked up. Her cheeks were badly swollen, her eye was quickly turning purple, and blood was coming out of her nose and lip.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap. Hermione buried her face in his chest and sobbed, shaking uncontrollably.
Harry felt Hermione's shivers subside and her sobs turned into sniffles. "Are you all right?" he asked, knowing that was a stupid question.
Hermione nodded slowly and gently pushed away from him. She tried to get up but Harry grabbed her arm. "Are you sure you don't need help?" he asked, concern filling his bright green eyes.
Hermione nodded and gave him a weak smile. "I can handle this," she said, not believing herself. She finally got herself up but as soon as her body was straight she felt the room begin to spin. She tried to grab on to something but darkness enveloped her and the last thing she felt was Harry's strong arms catching her before she hit the floor.
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Ron and Sirius ran threw the hospital only to be stopped by a nurse. "Can I help you?" she asked, curtly.
"We're looking for someone," Ron said, trying to catch his breath.
"What's the patient's -"
"Hermione Granger!" Sirius told her before she had the chance to finish the question.
The nurse gave them an annoyed look. "Room 105."
They raced through the hall until they found the room and pushed the door open.
Hermione was laying on a white hospital bed, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow. Her face was beaten up and bruised, giving her an almost 'dead' look.
Harry was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, his head in his hands.
"Harry!" Ron called, shock etched on his face. Tears sprang to his eyes as they rested on Hermione, but he brushed them away.
"What happened?" Sirius asked, placing a hand on his Godson's shoulder. "She looked fine at the party ..."
Harry looked up at them, tears falling down his cheeks, unashamed. "He was going to - to kill her," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Oh, you should have seen her. She looks better now, but, before ..." he let the sentence trail off.
"Anthony?" Sirius asked, quietly.
Harry nodded and covered his face with his hands. "It's all my fault."
"Harry, it couldn't have been your fault. You didn't know," Ron said from Hermione's bed. He looked down at her sadly and a tear fell on her hand.
"No, I heard her scream last night."
"Last night? But ..." Ron trailed off. If all this happened tonight then what happened last night?
Sirius felt Harry shiver. "Yes, last night. She must have been terrified," Harry answered, knowing full well what had happened. He wanted to kill Anthony, to torture him slowly for all the pain he put her through.
"What happened to Anthony?" Ron asked, not wanting to think about last night.
"I knocked him unconscious," this was said sadly, Harry wasn't bragging; he wasn't the type of person to brag.
"Is he still at the house?"
"No, the muggle police came and took him away," Harry stood up and walked over to Hermione. "They should lock him in Azkaban!" he retorted, harshly.
Sirius and Ron watched, quietly, as Harry ran a loving hand across Hermione's battered cheek.
Ron was angry about this too, but Harry seemed almost vengeful; not at all Harry like. Then it dawned on him.
Harry loved Hermione!
That's why he became so upset when Hermione told them she was going to go out with Anthony in their sixth year. That's why he was so upset now. And that look in his eyes ... Ron remembered seeing that same look when Harry saw Hermione at his party.
A huge grin spread along Ron's lips. His best friend loves his other best friend. But did Hermione feel the same? Ron was sure of it.
"Why are you smiling?" Sirius asked him, under his breath, not wanting to disturb Harry.
Ron nugded his head toward Harry and his grin got wider.
Sirius just stared at him, blankly. "What?"
Ron sighed. "Harry, Sirius and I are going out for a bit. We'll be back in a minute," Ron said, taking Sirius outside and shutting the door softly behind him.
"What is it Ron?"
"Don't you see? Harry is in love with Hermione!" Ron told him, excitedly.
Sirius' eyes got wide and a smile formed on his lips. "My goodness. No wonder Harry got so upset when we had that talk yesterday morning!" Sirius said, ignoring Ron's confused frown. "This is great! I always thought those two were perfect for each other!"
Ron nodded in agreement.
"Are you going to be all right, Ron?" Sirius asked, suddenly turning to him with concern.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, Harry and Hermione... They are your best friends .."
Ron gave a small laugh. "Me jealous? I couldn't be happier for them! I've always wanted those two to get together. Besides, I have a girlfriend," he added, with a smug expression.
"Who?"
"Lavender Brown."
That's great! I'm so happy for you!" Sirius said, truthfully.
"Thanks. We really should get back, though," Ron said.
They walked back inside and into the small room. They found Harry asleep; his head next to Hermione, one arm was sprawled protectively across her stomach, and the other arm was under his head. Even in his sleep, Harry looked worried.
Sirius gave a chuckle. "Let's go," he whispered.
"What about Harry?" Ron asked.
"He can sleep here, that's what he would want to do. Besides, only one visitar can stay with the patient. I think Harry should stay, maybe he'll get the courage to tell Hermione how he feels about her."
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~ Thanks to ALL of my reviewers! You guys are the best, and if you have any suggestions or ideas for the story, feel free to e*mail me them. I would love to hear them. Especially on Voldemort and Draco (again, what's Harry without Draco?). Thanks again! Enjoy!
** AnGeLeYeS **