A/N: Read and review..please? (Does begging work?)
Disclaimer: Yes. We've all heard it before.Harry Potter does not belong to me. this is purely for a non - profit cause - except Claire - she's mine
When one returns to what one should not have left - Chapter two
"Ron? You home?"
"Yep. Where are you Claire?"
"In the kitchen. Hey, come here I bought this new frying pan, but I think I've been ripped off."
Claire Ballantyne looked over her shoulder to find Ron standing there with waves of energy radiating from him.
"What happened today?"
"WELL." Ron sat down on the counter and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. "A very special best friend of mine returned today."
"Really? Would that be the famous Miss Granger I have been hearing non - stop about from you?"
"You are very perceptive Claire. I think you and Hermione will get along famously."
Claire tossed her brilliantly red waves off her shoulders. "Well, from what I've picked up from your 'I will spill my guts now' sessions, she is more than a 'best friend' to you isn't she? And, according to Harry, you have been on and on and on about her ever since your days in Hogwarts."
"Claire m'dear, never trust anything Harry tells you. Most of the time it's total and utter bullshit."
"I'll be sure to tell him that. So when will I meet Miss Granger?"
"Call her Hermione. Actually. Claire." Ron gave her his pleading look. Teary wide eyes, small hopeful smile, the whole look.
"What is it Weasley?"
"I asked Harry and her for dinner."
"That's fine. When?"
"Tonight."
"What?!" Claire's eyes went wide. Ron received a resounding slap on his arm.
"What the hell is your problem? It's almost seven! I can't cook in thirty minutes!"
"I'll help you."
"I'd rather not." Claire let out a long stream of profanities. "Alright. But you owe me."
"Thanks!" Ron bounded off.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"To change!"
Hermione and Harry arrived at the front door of Ron's apartment. Harry raised his hand to knock when screaming came through the door.
"RONALD WEASLEY!! I AM GOING TO RIP YOU APART LIMB FROM LIMB FOR THIS!!!"
Hermione and Harry anxiously waited for a reply but all they heard was grunting.
"Is there anything I should know?" Hermione asked him tentatively.
" Er.you'll find out soon."
Harry knocked on the door. The grunting promptly stopped. What faced her next was definitely what Hermione was prepared for. A red haired woman who's hair matched even Ron's stood there pulling Ron's ear. Ron stood next to her wincing.
"Hallo, you must be Hermione!"
"That would be correct."
"Why don't you come in?" Claire ushered Hermione inside. Numbly Hermione walked in to what was supposed to be Ron's apartment. She looked back and forth from Ron and Harry form an explanation. After a moment of awkward staring, Ron cleared his throat.
"Hermione, this is Claire Ballantyne. Claire, this is Hermione Granger."
"I've heard so much about you!"
"I am sorry to say I can't say the same about you."
"Don't worry.I know about you and Ron."
"Me.and, Ro - Ron?"
"Yep!" Claire smiled again. Somehow her presence in Ron's house unnerved Hermione.
"And you are Ron's.Housekeeper?"
Claire laughed. It was infectious and delicious, soon everyone joined in. Except Hermione that is. "No! I live here with Ron. I was just erm.reprimanding him for making a stain on the carpet here."
Claire pointed to the spreading stain on her cream coloured carpet. Hermione stood staring at this freakishly pretty thing of nature. "You live with Ron?"
"Yep. He's my roommate."
"Room mate?"
"Yeah. Well, I've prepared dinner for everyone, so why don't you all come into the dinning area?" Claire tossed her hair and led the group into the dinning room. "Room mate?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Yeah. I'm sure that concept is not foreign to you." Harry and Claire exchanged knowing glances and sat next to each other, leaving Ron and Hermione to sit together.
Hermione got a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. Ron was actually cohabitating with someone, something that she'd never been able to do. Something that she had never expected Ron to do; he always seemed to have insecurities. Yet there he was. And she had to know more.
"So Claire, where do you work?"
"The ministry; I am a researcher for the old magic department. Would you like more treacle tart?"
"No thank you. I never liked treacle tart."
"Oh, I'll make sure I whip up something else next time; it's just that Ron insisted on treacle tart."
Hermione cringed, oh so now she knows all of Ron's favourite foods too? "So how long have you two been living together?"
"Two years." Ron replied curtly.
"That's a long time now," Hermione said somewhat sarcastically. She looked down savagely at her too - delicious treacle tart. Harry and Ron immediately sensed something wrong but cheery Claire did not notice.
"Yeah, it is a long time isn't it? I have to admit at first Ron's disgusting habits made it so difficult. I mean he'd leave his underwear and stuff on the bathroom floor and everything and never cleared up after he used the kitchen but he's all alright now." Robyn smiled.
Hermione could bear it no longer. "So how long have you two been together?" she asked piercing the heart of her treacle tart with her fork. A nasty nail - across - blackboard sound was achieved. There was total silence as everyone stared wide eyed at Hermione.
"Are you talking about me and Claire?" Ron asked with his treacle tart somewhere in between his mouth and plate.
"NO, I'm talking about you and Harry." Hermione said cuttingly.
"Hermione, Claire and I are not together."
"Eh?"
"We are not a couple." Claire told a Hermione with her mouth hanging open. Hermione cringed. Great, now she looked like an idiot.
"I meant, how long have you two been friends?" she laughed, repeatedly piercing her tart with her fork.
Claire joined in. "Oh, that's what you meant, a little more than two years. Ron and I decided to rent this apartment together after you left."
"Well thank you for a lovely dinner Claire. I hope I see you soon again."
"Oh, we'll see each other again." Claire gave a brilliant smile to Harry, who was getting ready to leave next to Hermione, "See you Harry."
Harry reddened. "See you too er.Claire. Bye Ron."
Harry dragged Hermione out the front door, grabbing her arm painfully as he pulled her down the corridor.
"So, what do you think?" He asked a little breathlessly.
"What do I think about what?"
"About her. Claire."
Hermione raised her eyebrow. "She's.nice. She's a good cook and she's very pretty." Hermione groaned. "Harry you told me that Ron was not seeing anyone!"
"He's not seeing her Hermione. Stop being paranoid for God's sake."
"Well how can I not be? She's everything he wants, good looking, and good cook, cleans up after him, knows exactly what he wants. she's even got red hair. I knew I should have never left. I knew it. Our relationship was just starting to grow and I left it. And now I am even farther from him then I have been before!"
"Calm down."
"I don't want to calm down damn it!"
"Breath calmly, taking deep breaths in from your nostrils and your mouth." Harry recited from his book. Hermione stared.
"Is that book your reading, "A spiritual guide for the stressed"?"
"Yeah! How did you know?"
"I own a copy."
They both sighed.
"I have to sabotage their relationship." Hermione said at length. Harry scoffed.
"Yeah right."
"I'm serious Harry! Going to China just made me realise how I can't live without Ron, I'd miss him too much. I missed his swearing and everything."
"Ron and Claire are just really good friends Hermione."
"I can just imagine her embroidering everything they own with entwined R&C and all their perfect little red haired children. I'd be miserable!"
"Slow down there. Ron and Claire aren't even dating,"
"Yet. They aren't dating yet. One day Ron's gonna realise how great Claire is, go next door to give her a good shag and 'poof!' they suddenly have a relationship! And there going to get married.have perfect little red haired children."
"Hermione STOP! You are loosing your mind."
"Well I am glad. I think a person has the right to loose their mind once or twice."
Harry shook his head. "I'll help you."
"Eh?" Hermione shook her head, she must have heard incorrectly.
"Well.I like Claire, ever since I met her. I don't exactly want her and Ron getting together. So I'll help you sabotage their relationship."
"Thanks Harry."
They both gave each other a weak smile. "You do realise that's not a real solution to our little dilemma here right?"
"Yep. So how can we sabotage their relationship?"
"I'm glad you're back Hermione." Harry gave her a little hug.
Disclaimer: Yes. We've all heard it before.Harry Potter does not belong to me. this is purely for a non - profit cause - except Claire - she's mine
When one returns to what one should not have left - Chapter two
"Ron? You home?"
"Yep. Where are you Claire?"
"In the kitchen. Hey, come here I bought this new frying pan, but I think I've been ripped off."
Claire Ballantyne looked over her shoulder to find Ron standing there with waves of energy radiating from him.
"What happened today?"
"WELL." Ron sat down on the counter and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl. "A very special best friend of mine returned today."
"Really? Would that be the famous Miss Granger I have been hearing non - stop about from you?"
"You are very perceptive Claire. I think you and Hermione will get along famously."
Claire tossed her brilliantly red waves off her shoulders. "Well, from what I've picked up from your 'I will spill my guts now' sessions, she is more than a 'best friend' to you isn't she? And, according to Harry, you have been on and on and on about her ever since your days in Hogwarts."
"Claire m'dear, never trust anything Harry tells you. Most of the time it's total and utter bullshit."
"I'll be sure to tell him that. So when will I meet Miss Granger?"
"Call her Hermione. Actually. Claire." Ron gave her his pleading look. Teary wide eyes, small hopeful smile, the whole look.
"What is it Weasley?"
"I asked Harry and her for dinner."
"That's fine. When?"
"Tonight."
"What?!" Claire's eyes went wide. Ron received a resounding slap on his arm.
"What the hell is your problem? It's almost seven! I can't cook in thirty minutes!"
"I'll help you."
"I'd rather not." Claire let out a long stream of profanities. "Alright. But you owe me."
"Thanks!" Ron bounded off.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"To change!"
Hermione and Harry arrived at the front door of Ron's apartment. Harry raised his hand to knock when screaming came through the door.
"RONALD WEASLEY!! I AM GOING TO RIP YOU APART LIMB FROM LIMB FOR THIS!!!"
Hermione and Harry anxiously waited for a reply but all they heard was grunting.
"Is there anything I should know?" Hermione asked him tentatively.
" Er.you'll find out soon."
Harry knocked on the door. The grunting promptly stopped. What faced her next was definitely what Hermione was prepared for. A red haired woman who's hair matched even Ron's stood there pulling Ron's ear. Ron stood next to her wincing.
"Hallo, you must be Hermione!"
"That would be correct."
"Why don't you come in?" Claire ushered Hermione inside. Numbly Hermione walked in to what was supposed to be Ron's apartment. She looked back and forth from Ron and Harry form an explanation. After a moment of awkward staring, Ron cleared his throat.
"Hermione, this is Claire Ballantyne. Claire, this is Hermione Granger."
"I've heard so much about you!"
"I am sorry to say I can't say the same about you."
"Don't worry.I know about you and Ron."
"Me.and, Ro - Ron?"
"Yep!" Claire smiled again. Somehow her presence in Ron's house unnerved Hermione.
"And you are Ron's.Housekeeper?"
Claire laughed. It was infectious and delicious, soon everyone joined in. Except Hermione that is. "No! I live here with Ron. I was just erm.reprimanding him for making a stain on the carpet here."
Claire pointed to the spreading stain on her cream coloured carpet. Hermione stood staring at this freakishly pretty thing of nature. "You live with Ron?"
"Yep. He's my roommate."
"Room mate?"
"Yeah. Well, I've prepared dinner for everyone, so why don't you all come into the dinning area?" Claire tossed her hair and led the group into the dinning room. "Room mate?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Yeah. I'm sure that concept is not foreign to you." Harry and Claire exchanged knowing glances and sat next to each other, leaving Ron and Hermione to sit together.
Hermione got a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. Ron was actually cohabitating with someone, something that she'd never been able to do. Something that she had never expected Ron to do; he always seemed to have insecurities. Yet there he was. And she had to know more.
"So Claire, where do you work?"
"The ministry; I am a researcher for the old magic department. Would you like more treacle tart?"
"No thank you. I never liked treacle tart."
"Oh, I'll make sure I whip up something else next time; it's just that Ron insisted on treacle tart."
Hermione cringed, oh so now she knows all of Ron's favourite foods too? "So how long have you two been living together?"
"Two years." Ron replied curtly.
"That's a long time now," Hermione said somewhat sarcastically. She looked down savagely at her too - delicious treacle tart. Harry and Ron immediately sensed something wrong but cheery Claire did not notice.
"Yeah, it is a long time isn't it? I have to admit at first Ron's disgusting habits made it so difficult. I mean he'd leave his underwear and stuff on the bathroom floor and everything and never cleared up after he used the kitchen but he's all alright now." Robyn smiled.
Hermione could bear it no longer. "So how long have you two been together?" she asked piercing the heart of her treacle tart with her fork. A nasty nail - across - blackboard sound was achieved. There was total silence as everyone stared wide eyed at Hermione.
"Are you talking about me and Claire?" Ron asked with his treacle tart somewhere in between his mouth and plate.
"NO, I'm talking about you and Harry." Hermione said cuttingly.
"Hermione, Claire and I are not together."
"Eh?"
"We are not a couple." Claire told a Hermione with her mouth hanging open. Hermione cringed. Great, now she looked like an idiot.
"I meant, how long have you two been friends?" she laughed, repeatedly piercing her tart with her fork.
Claire joined in. "Oh, that's what you meant, a little more than two years. Ron and I decided to rent this apartment together after you left."
"Well thank you for a lovely dinner Claire. I hope I see you soon again."
"Oh, we'll see each other again." Claire gave a brilliant smile to Harry, who was getting ready to leave next to Hermione, "See you Harry."
Harry reddened. "See you too er.Claire. Bye Ron."
Harry dragged Hermione out the front door, grabbing her arm painfully as he pulled her down the corridor.
"So, what do you think?" He asked a little breathlessly.
"What do I think about what?"
"About her. Claire."
Hermione raised her eyebrow. "She's.nice. She's a good cook and she's very pretty." Hermione groaned. "Harry you told me that Ron was not seeing anyone!"
"He's not seeing her Hermione. Stop being paranoid for God's sake."
"Well how can I not be? She's everything he wants, good looking, and good cook, cleans up after him, knows exactly what he wants. she's even got red hair. I knew I should have never left. I knew it. Our relationship was just starting to grow and I left it. And now I am even farther from him then I have been before!"
"Calm down."
"I don't want to calm down damn it!"
"Breath calmly, taking deep breaths in from your nostrils and your mouth." Harry recited from his book. Hermione stared.
"Is that book your reading, "A spiritual guide for the stressed"?"
"Yeah! How did you know?"
"I own a copy."
They both sighed.
"I have to sabotage their relationship." Hermione said at length. Harry scoffed.
"Yeah right."
"I'm serious Harry! Going to China just made me realise how I can't live without Ron, I'd miss him too much. I missed his swearing and everything."
"Ron and Claire are just really good friends Hermione."
"I can just imagine her embroidering everything they own with entwined R&C and all their perfect little red haired children. I'd be miserable!"
"Slow down there. Ron and Claire aren't even dating,"
"Yet. They aren't dating yet. One day Ron's gonna realise how great Claire is, go next door to give her a good shag and 'poof!' they suddenly have a relationship! And there going to get married.have perfect little red haired children."
"Hermione STOP! You are loosing your mind."
"Well I am glad. I think a person has the right to loose their mind once or twice."
Harry shook his head. "I'll help you."
"Eh?" Hermione shook her head, she must have heard incorrectly.
"Well.I like Claire, ever since I met her. I don't exactly want her and Ron getting together. So I'll help you sabotage their relationship."
"Thanks Harry."
They both gave each other a weak smile. "You do realise that's not a real solution to our little dilemma here right?"
"Yep. So how can we sabotage their relationship?"
"I'm glad you're back Hermione." Harry gave her a little hug.