A/n: Okay, so I decided that I am not going to write the chapter about the dance class or the jacuzzis (don't throw shoes at me!) cuz, well, the truth is it's not very much contributing to the mood of the story and I really really wanna get to that part that you know you've been waiting for…:::grins evily::: so…thanx so much for those perty reviewies. You guys rock, I know I've said that before, but you guys like getting compliments, huh?

Disclaimer: I even asked JKR if she would give me the rights on my birthday (last Tuesday the 14th) and she said that I was very odd and recommended a couple of support groups who are now in rehab trying to recover from my weird ways…

Chapter 14: Talk on a Hammock

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Hermione had her chin cradled in her hands, her elbows propped up on the sill of her large balcony. Ever since she was a little girl, she had always felt like a princess whenever she stood on a balcony like this. She would beg her mom to buy her nightgowns that flowed down to her ankles, and she would stand in her balcony at night, twirling so her dress would fly around her. She had never told anyone this, especially not Ron or Harry, because she was sure Ron would at least start the mocking and taunting. Hermione smiled. She didn't know how that thought had crawled into her mind, but it had. Then again, it also put away the image of the disturbing actions of her father that morning, when he found her on the hammock with Ron.

****Flashback****

"Sunshine, I cannot believe you slept all night in a hammock with him!!!" Mr. Granger bellowed, glaring evily at Ron.

Hermione grimaced. "Daddy, don't yell, my head hurts! And I'm sorry, we just fell asleep!" Ron nodded and hoped he would live to see Christmas morning.

"You just fell asleep?! After what?! A very nice rendezvous?!!" Mr. Granger roared.

Hermione rubbed the sleep and lassitude from her eyes before glancing nervously at Ron. She looked at her father and said, "Dad, there was nothing. We were both very tired and we just drifted off." She looked at him with two imploring pools of brown eyes, the look that made Ron's stomach feel like pudding, and she took his hand. "I'm sorry, Daddy," she mumbled, her voice quivering. "It won't happen again." Mr. Granger sighed as if wishing to say more and nodded. Then he turned and stomped into the hotel. Ron raised his eyebrows at Hermione. Apparently, he knew her better than her father did because he could tell what an act she had just pulled off.

"He believed you?" he said in disbelief. Hermione turned, a grave look still on her face. A second later, her lips curled into a satisfied smile. She winked at him and said, "It always works on guys." She didn't hold his gaze for a very long time, just collapsed into the sand around them.

"Hermione, you're gonna get your dress all full of sand," Ron warned her, watching her giggle sprawl-legged on the sand.

Hermione shrugged and sighed. "I'm soo very tired," she said dramatically, biting her lip to see if Ron was believing her. Ron crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow. Hermione rolled her eyes slightly and ordered, "Carry me in," holding up her arms. Ron looked like she was asking to prepare his own funeral. He shook his head. "No way," he said. "Your dad would truly kill me with another glare."

Hermione smiled slyly. "And we don't want that, do we?" she said, before grabbing her sandals and walking back to the hotel.

***End Flashback****

Hermione watched as the sun sank slowly into the horizon, a blazing orange light springing from it. She loved when the sun was in this position. Lights sprung here and there throughout Alexandria and far off towards Cairo, the Nile River shining against the setting sun. Stars were seen above, in the part of the sky that was darkening into navy blue. Hermione was so entranced by the sunset she barely realized there was a hand on her shoulder. When she finally realized this, she turned swiftly.

Ron grinned at her. "Hey, calm down," he said softly. "It's just me." Hermione gave him a small smile and turned her gaze back to the sky. Ron stepped next to her and looked into her eyes, the sunlight making them look the color of sweet honey. He kept staring at her, aware that she could feel his gaze on her. But she stared straight ahead and stayed silent as the sun hid itself more behind the horizon. After some ten minutes Ron leaned closer and swept the hair away from her ear. He saw her tense up and he whispered, "What are you thinking about?"

Hermione didn't reply. After a minute or so, she said, "I'm sorry…about this morning and last night." She still didn't look at him. However, Ron could see how hard it was for her to bite back a smile. He furrowed his brow.

"There's no need to be sorry for anything that happened last night." He let his fingers sweep over her fingertips and then looked up. Now she was looking at him, without blinking. Did he remember her sensitive plea? Had he meant all those questions he asked? She still stayed silent and, after gazing at him for a few seconds more, she turned back to the sunset.

"Don't you think the world is so big?" Hermione asked gently. Ron gave her a questioning look, which she didn't see. She was now leaning over and watching as lights flickered, sort of reflecting the many stars that had now appeared. The sun was almost completely out of sight. "Don't you?" she asked again.

Ron thought she looked like she was transfixed by the setting sun, making her eyes flicker and seem in a sort of trance. He looked down and shrugged. "I guess it's big."

Hermione, still staring ahead, said, "Think about it. So many people, bustling with their own thoughts and worries, with their own friends and enemies. Those friends and enemies also have thoughts and worries of their own, and friends and enemies of their own, and so on." She hesitated and finally turned away from the sun. "At times, it just kind of makes me feel…" she sighed, "insignificant, I guess." She watched as Ron grabbed her hand immediately.

"No," he said softly. "You are not insignificant, never say that again." Ron brought his free hand to her cheek and delicately raised her face so her gaze met his. "Please realize how significant you are to some of us. And those who don't find you important are probably too ignorant to see who you are." Hermione gave him a small smile, but her eyes looked clouded.

"If that's the way you think," she said, "then why do you treat yourself so crudely?" Ron started to turn away, but Hermione held his hand tighter. "You always put yourself down with your comments of being poor but…you know you shouldn't." She stepped closer to him. "It's about time you realize how significant you are. Especially to me."

Ron stared down at her, her face partly in shadows due to the dusk. The hand that had lingered on her cheek moved to the back of her neck. Hermione smiled and murmured, "Your hand is warm." Before he knew what he was doing, Ron was leaning forward ever so slowly. Hermione's eyelids flickered as she closed her eyes. When Ron was so close he could hardly breathe, he heard a voice that froze his insides. "Helloo! Teddy! I'm out here!"

Not now…Damn it…

Hermione's eyes opened slowly and she took a step back. Her eyes were two dark pools of disappointment. Ron was still motionless on the spot. Hermione saw the terrified look on his face and glanced towards the edge of the balcony. Then she stepped towards it to look down. Ron's mind clicked and he flew in front of her. "Wait!" he said, eyes wide as dinner plates. "Just wait a second." He turned and glanced over the balcony. Hermione watched him as he signaled something. Apparently the person did not understand what he was trying to say so he finally shouted, "Wait inside!" Then he turned around and smiled sheepishly at Hermione, avoiding her eyes. "Gotta go! It's, erm, Percy's friend! Yeah, Percy's old girlfriend to be exact." He grinned and his smile froze when he saw Hermione was frowning. "O-kay…why don't you wait while I get rid of her…" Hermione nodded slightly and turned around to sit in a soft settee near the elevator door. Ron nodded as well and ran down the stairs to the right.

Hermione's shadow of foreboding seemed to grow with every passing day.

Percy's old girlfriend? She had never heard of her before. And why had she called Ron "Teddy"? No…Ron was lying. Hermione rubbed her eyes. Why did he have to lie to her like that? It just didn't make sense to her. And what about just now…is that what he wanted or was he just hurting her in another way? Hermione narrowed her eyes. The only way to find out was to confront him. She would do just that.

Not too long afterward, Ron bounded up the stairs, red in the face and breathing heavily. He grinned broadly as he saw Hermione waiting, but when she looked up, his smile faded.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Ron walked slowly towards her, feeling distrust coming from her steely glare. "Are you all right?" he asked carefully. Hermione shook her head. "What?" he asked, a little forcefully.

"You just lied to me." Hermione sneered at him, her eyes darker than usual. Ron tried not to notice the accusing tone in her voice. With such an intense glare, Ron couldn't contradict her. He knew she would see right through another lie. Hermione smiled a cold triumphant smile. "So you don't deny it." She stood up in front of him. "Why? And who was down there?"

Ron closed his eyes. "Please, Hermione, don't do this…"

Hermione scoffed. "Don't do this to you? You've been lying to me for five damn months!" Ron raised her eyebrows at her swearing. "Don't you think I can sense it? I've known you for five years! I'm not stupid, Ron, I know when you're lying to me…that's all you've been doing."

"Stop yelling."

"Why? It's the only way I'll drag the truth out of you!" She sighed. "Who am I supposed to trust if I can't even trust my own best friend?" She was obviously trying to keep her voice steady.

"You can trust me, Hermione! Just—just give me time! Please, you don't understand!"

"I don't understand?" She nodded. "You're right. I don't. You wanna know why? 'Cause you've chosen to exclude me from your life! I'm not significant to you at all." She turned away from him. "And I've given you more than enough time…for more than enough truths," she murmured.

Ron's eyes widened. "What truths?"

Hermione spun around, her eyes narrowed and an angry tear making its way down her cheek. "You're unbelievable! I've given you enough time, I'm done waiting!" Ron's eyes widened more, if possible. Hermione let out a frustrated groan and stomped down the stairs, leaving Ron shocked and flabbergasted.

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Ron had been lying in bed, staring into the ceiling, for the past hour. His watched ticked away the seconds ever so slowly. His mind was filled with mixed thoughts but, even worse, his heart was filled mixed feelings. He was furious with Hermione for not giving him a chance to explain and for not trying to understand. Then again, he sympathized with her since he hadn't given her a reason to understand. He also felt pity for her; knowing that her own best friend was lying to her must have been hard to take. And most of all, he liked her more than ever. Slowly, Ron sat up. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could do this…maybe…

Bloody hell…

Glancing at his watch, Ron saw it was 7:25. Not too late for a talk with her. That is, if she wanted to talk to him. Okay, Weasley, this is not the hardest thing you've ever done. Okay, maybe it is, but who cares? Ron put a hand on his forehead. This was not good. How was he supposed to tell her if he didn't know how to tell her? Deal with it, just do it, just do it…

Ron walked slowly out of his room and down the stairs towards the entrance of the hotel. Outside, he kicked off his shoes and left them at the foot of a palm tree. Somehow, he was almost sure Hermione was in one of the hammocks in the oasis. Sure enough, as he made his way barefoot towards the group of hammocks, he saw Hermione sitting with her back to him in the very same one they had slept on. As he got closer, he heard her humming. What was that song, that sounded remarkably familiar? She continued to hum and he suddenly remembered what song it was. It was Dreaming of You, the song Hermione had sang at the ball back at Hogwarts.

He could only wonder what significance it held for her.

Ron stood behind Hermione for a few minutes until the last note of her hum faded into the night. Then he tapped her lightly on the shoulder. Her head spun around. When she saw him, her eyes narrowed slightly. "What is it?" she mumbled. Ron looked into her eyes for a second, then looked away. Hermione cleared her throat. "Um, do you wanna sit?" she whispered, staring at her hand. Ron grinned and walked to the other side and sat in front of her in the hammock.

Hermione didn't look at him. Ron bit his lip and watched the ocean's waves crash softly, breaking the deafening silence that had settled between them. Hermione finally looked at him, and when he felt her gaze on him, he met her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I lost my temper…I just feel a little isolated. But if you know the truth and you know how to tell me properly, and you feel you have to wait, then go ahead." She gave him a small smile. "I'm not mad at you for it."

Ron nodded. "You have every right to feel isolated. I don't want you to feel like that, though. So…" He sighed. This was really hard for him. "I'm sorry. I'll tell you…soon." Hermione mumbled an okay and watched him for a moment. Ron returned her small smile and looked down at his lap.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

Ron shook his head. Then he gave her an answer she hadn't been expecting. "It's—it's Harry." When he didn't further explain, Hermione spoke.

"Um…what about Harry?"

Ron looked up, his eyes clouded, making them look a dark, dark blue. "He begged me not to tell you, 'cause he was sure you would worry, but he didn't think about how much I would worry." He sighed. "Before we left Hogwarts, he kept waking up in the middle of the night. He woke me up too. I would lie in bed listening to him rip apart his curtains and run to the bathroom to splash water on his face. One night I sat up and asked if he was okay. He obviously wasn't 'cause his face was red and he was breathing hard and sweating. We went down to the common room and he told me. It's nightmares, Hermione. They've been haunting him since June, but up until October they were only about Cedric. But then they changed. The night after our first Quidditch game while we were in the hospital wing his scar started burning, and you know what that means." He shuddered and continued. "You-Know-Who is up to something, and Harry can feel it. That's why his nightmares changed." Hermione nodded and opened her mouth to speak but Ron kept talking. "He told me that his dreams scare him more than ever 'cause…Hermione, he's dreamt about you—about you dying." He said the last word in a trembling whisper.

Surprisingly, Hermione neither gasped nor screamed, which is what Ron was expecting her to do. Instead, she put her head in her hands and muttered, "Oh, poor Harry." She lifted her head and stared at the stars. "Harry didn't tell us everything."

"What d'you mean?"

Hermione looked straight at him. "He told you he had dreams about me dying. But he told me he had dreams of your death." She closed her eyes for a moment and then gazed at him again. "Don't you see? Harry's trying not to tell us that he's dreamt we're gonna die when in reality he has had to endure that all by himself." Ron looked about ready to find Harry, wherever he was with Ginny, and never let him out of his sight. "I know what you're thinking," Hermione said quietly. "He didn't tell both of us everything because he thought we might take it seriously and get worried. I don't care if he's having nightmares about me dying as long as the two of you are okay."

"No. If anyone wants to get rid of either of you they're gonna have to deal with me first 'cause I am not letting anyone hurt you. Ever. I'd give my life for the both of you any day. Don't ever think you have to sacrifice yourself for me. I'm a nobody. You have more important stuff to worry about in your life."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Shut up," she muttered. Ron's brow furrowed. "You don't get it!" Hermione said, louder than she meant to. "Damn it, Ron, I've told you time after time but you don't LISTEN! What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you keep thinking like that." She grabbed his hand tightly. "I've said it once and I'll say it again as long as I have to so you can understand. Did you read the book I gave you?" Ron nodded. "Well, I thought you would get a clue from there but apparently you didn't." Ron's eyes widened. What was she getting at? "You and Harry are the most important thing to me. You take up all the love I have to give. You two are the ones who can never be replaced in my heart. You are not a nobody; you are so much more. You are the one who's always loyal. You are the one who always loves. You are the one who I pray about every night, just so I can spend another day with you. You and Harry are the only friends who make me feel wanted in a world where people seem to hate me wherever I go. That's why I love you guys, 'cause you love me for who I am, and if I haven't made that clear enough, then maybe I'm not as clever as I thought I was."

Having finished her little speech, it was Ron's turn to speak. "Okay. I promise I'll never criticize myself again. But you've gotta promise that you're gonna stop saying you are ugly and hated by everyone 'cause that's not true. Deal?" Hermione smiled and nodded then shook his hand firmly.

They were quiet for some time when Ron spoke again. "When was your most embarrassing moment?" Hermione looked puzzled at the sudden question. "What?" Ron asked innocently. "I'm just curious. And it always helps to have some sort of blackmail material…"

Hermione grinned and punched him playfully on the arm. "I can't tell you. It's way too embarrassing."

"What? You got a C on some stupid Muggle test?" He sniggered and said, "I promise I won't tell anyone and (this is a big sacrifice) I won't blackmail you."

Hermione eyed him suspiciously and said. "Okay." She took a deep breath. "Well, the summer before I started at Hogwarts I went to a Muggle camp." When Ron looked confused, she explained. "You go to this place where you share a cabin with a bunch of other girls for about 4 weeks and you do a bunch of activities. So one of the activities was kayaking."

"Yeah, Dad's told us about that. It's in those queer long boats, right?"

Hermione nodded. "So you know I'm not very sporty, right?" Ron sniggered, earning another punch from Hermione. "And we had to, we were forced to go kayaking. So the kayaks were on the lake and I put on my lifesaving vest and grabbed an oar. Then I stepped into the kayak. As soon as my foot was in the boat, it tipped over and I fell into the lake with a huge splash," Hermione finished.

Ron looked at her for a moment, blinking continuously. Then he sniggered, and soon his sniggers had turned to roars of laughter. Hermione glared playfully at him and said, "Well, what's your most embarrassing moment?" Ron stopped laughing and shook his head, muttering, "No, no, no, no, no." Hermione gave him teary puppy eyes. When he looked away, she knew it had worked.

"Fine," he mumbled reluctantly. "One time I was in front of a ton of people at this restaurant when I was like six. I loved swings so I started to swing on one the moment I saw it. All of my brothers were standing around; Charlie was pushing Ginny. I was giggling 'cause I was swinging really high. Then all of a sudden, I slipped off. Everyone, and I mean everyone, laughed till their ribs hurt and I sat there on the ground, my face red and looking like a little baby idiot." His ears reddened as he told Hermione the story. Hermione giggled a little. "I know it sounds stupid, but it really sucks to have people laugh at you."

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, I know. It was really annoying how kids around me laughed when I fell in." Ron was obviously trying not to laugh when she mentioned her falling in. She giggled a little and he let out a loud laugh. Then they were quiet, studying their hands intently. All of a sudden, Ron looked up, his expression very grave.

"Hermione, have you ever…wanted to do something, and told yourself you would do it, but you backed out?" After seeing the question marks in her eyes, Ron explained further. "It's like, you tell yourself, 'Today's the day to do it, I know I can do it,' but when you're about to do it, you back out."

"Do what?"

"Anything that you really wanna do but when the opportunity comes, you don't do anything." Hermione looked confused for a moment. But when realization dawned on her, she looked at Ron in an entirely different way. "Yeah," she said, nodding. "Why do you ask?"

Ron glanced at her but then avoided her eyes. "Just 'cause it happens to me all the time." Hermione touched his hand lightly and said, "It happens to me too." He looked up and Hermione could tell he was on the verge of revealing one of those truths. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "I just—um, can you just hear me out? Don't say anything, just…just wait. I—I—" He sighed dejectedly and looked at the ground. "I just wanted to know if you remembered the party…I mean after you got drunk."

"Oh," said Hermione, her voice dripping with disappointment. "Um…no, I don't, not at all." She stepped down from the hammock roughly. "I gotta go to bed, I'm tired," she said tonelessly. Ron nodded and held his head in his hands. Hermione saw he didn't reply and turned away to start walking toward the hotel.

"Hermione?" When Ron said her name, she turned. Ron felt like her eyes were begging for him to stop backing down. That's why he couldn't look at her; and he backed down once more. "Um…good-night." Hermione sighed loudly and walked away without replying. Ron threw himself back and spent time well into the night staring at the stars hanging above him.

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A/n: So that's that people and guess what's coming next….you guessed it, it's the big chapter, the one you've all been waiting for. Willie, tell them what they've won! :::Willie stares::: okay, fine, be a poo, you butt…sorry, just spending time with my computer, lol. Anyway, there's just some H/G stuff in the beginning of the next chappie, but at the end :::coos::: oooh, won't you be sooo happy with me? You'll just love me…until the chapter after that, but that's all I'll say, kk? And finally I'll put in some comments for you guys cuz you deserve it. No, I won't make Adnap Nottap's really long (sorry Kat.)

Mela, CurlsofGold, angel14, anonymous-Thank you!!!!!! You guys give me the best encouragement EVER!! And I'm glad I'm making you really wanna read my little ficcie :::smiles sheepishly:::

Laurie- New reviewer, woo-hoo!! Nooo, it is not a one-time thing with Voldie, as you guys will soon find out…and you want an R/H kiss? Aaah, don't we all?

snwflakesweety- Yeah, When Things Start to Change is really good! And yeah, I thought I would have like one review but I don't (thank Merlin). I'll see when I can read your ficcie!

Ketchum- You are one of my fave reviewers, I always love to read your reviews. Anyway, yeah, there's stuff coming for Harry…and for Harry and Gin…all really soon…

Island-In-The-Sun- I totally agree with you on the snogging and cliffhanger stuff, lol. And of course, Legolas…aaaah, Legolas…don't worry, the British authors have changed another Californian too! (hint: it's me…)

Adnap Nottap- :::dances and thinks she's very odd::: of course, I loved your review!!!!!! Hey, did I thank you enough about that Rupe and Ron stuff? If I didn't then I'm stupid, so I must do it…now. THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway…oooh, don't you just love the song "I'm Still Here" from Treasure Planet??? eek, this is gonna start getting long if I don't shut up…so I'll write as soon as finals are over, since I'm gonna have a four day weekend from Friday till Monday and no PE on Thursday, isn't that nice? kk, ttyl.

Taryn, kris10michelle, eva- Thanx, guys, your reviews rock, and it's soooooo great to get new reviewers.

ferggirl99- ooh, you wanna know who Ronnie's writing to? Next chapter…hehe, yeah, Ron probably tampered with her drink, that silly poo…I love him sooo much, lol.

HermioneG- Wow, another new reviewer! Your reviews are sooo hilarious! And if your mom asks about her china, blame it on someone named Willie (don't tell her it's a computer, specifically mine, cuz she'll get suspicious…)

ltnikki- AAAAAAHHHH!!! You don't like this, you don't like that…poisoned….poisoned, I tell you….poisoned…

Ooh, and one more thing: ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, ORDER OF THE PHOENIX!!!! When I found out, I screamed, cried, and stuffed marshmallows in my mouth, lol.

Love you guys!!!