DISCLAIMER: Anything you recognized belongs to JK (I'll get book five out when I'm good and ready) Rowling. I do own the aged computer this was written on. I would be more than willing to make a trade….
I am giving this fic a rating of R for later chapters. R for restricted, responsible for your actions and read something else if you are not mature enough to handle adult themes. You should know better anyway.
Author's Notes: Thank you so much for your reviews. And if you think you hate her now just wait for these next few chapters.
And to those of you who asked, yes we do get into Harry and Ginny a little more. I promise not to disappoint. Good things come to those who wait and review often.
CHAPTER EIGHT – I Didn't Know They Had Lasagna In Hell?
"OH BLOODY HELL…" was all Hermione could manage before jumping off the table and retrieving her clothes. Her bra had disappeared somewhere and since pausing to find it would not be the best idea given her current situation, she resorted to throwing on her blouse and running her fingers through her hair. She had managed to look half-way reasonable when Ron and the Bitch Du Jour entered the kitchen.
Large as life, Marie Elena stood. Long blonde hair hung halfway down her back. Blue eyes glittered like sapphires. Her designer clothes clung to her form, reveling in her abundant curves. Perfectly made up, perfectly dressed, perfectly nauseating. Hermione looked her up and down half out of disdain, half out of pure appreciation. And in that one instant the euphoria and ecstasy that had threatened to overwhelm her a few precious minutes ago disappeared. She suddenly felt like a toad; small, insignificant and covered in warts. She could not compete and all she was doing was setting herself up for a fall from which she might never recover.
The look Marie Elena gave her only confirmed her amphibian-ness. "Oh hello there….Henrietta isn't it?" A blinding smile.
"Hermione," she replied through clenched teeth, "Lovely to see you again….Marie Antoinette, right?"
"Mar- ie E-len-a" she over enunciated each syllable of her name. "Ron didn't tell me you would be here."
The look of hurt flashed on Hermione's face before she could stop it and Ron quickly responded. "I told you I was going to be with my sister and my best friends."
Marie Elena gave a giggle. "Well of course darling but I assumed it was that delightful Harry….speaking of which where are they?" Despite the situation her tone held no suspicion, as if the thought of something going on between Hermione and Ron was ludicrous. So unbelievable in fact that it never entered her vapid mind.
"Gathering firewood….Hermione and I stayed behind and made dinner." He motioned to the pan on the counter top.
"Oh lovely, I'm famished……what….what is that?" Her eyes went wide and Hermione stomach dropped. 'Perfect. Just perfect.'
"Lasagna," she managed to say.
"Are you sure? Looks a bit frightening, doesn't it. Did you use a recipe?" She started to laugh at this point and Hermione nearly snarled. Undaunted by the waves of hatred emanating from the brunette, Marie Elena continued to laugh and to completely ignore her existence. "Tell you what, if you give me half an hour I can whip up a fabulous meal. Ron, you can help me while …..Herm-eye-o-knee is it… while Hermione goes and spruces up. You look awfully flustered dear. I can image you are not used to preparing a meal? Don't worry, Marie Elena to the rescue."
Hermione was ready to pull each of Marie Elena dazzling white teeth out of her head when she was stopped by a pleading look from Ron. She exhaled. Now was not the time for this. They were here for Ginny and like it or not their intimate group has just increased by one. 'Though if you factor in her ego that would make it two more, not to mention her breasts which require a room of their own.….' Hermione derailed that train of thought before it got her in more trouble. "I'll be up stairs." She turned to leave when she spotted her bra dangling off the door knob just behind Marie Elena's back.
As inconspicuously as possible she motioned to Ron who turned and found the incriminating item on display. He grabbed it and tucked it in his shirt before Marie Elena turned around.
"Something wrong, love?"
"No…no," he managed. He began to rub his stomach where he was holding Hermione's bra. "My stomach is a bit upset, that's all."
"You didn't eat any of that did you?" Her voice was full of concern. Hermione's wand hand started to twitch.
"No. I just have to get a tonic from my room. Excuse me?"
He left and Hermione followed. "I'll be getting cleaned up? Let me know if you can't find something."
Marie Elena gave her a nod of dismissal as she threw the lasagna in the trash. Not bothering to withhold the look of disgust as she dumped it out.
Hermione bit her lip to keep from screaming as she left and made her way upstairs to where Ron was waiting by her bedroom door. "Hermione look…" His face was full of remorse and uncertainty and Hermione knew what was coming. If nothing else she needed to spare herself the 'It was a mistake' speech if she was going to retain any dignity.
"No Ron….Don't say anything……I understand….things got carried away and now she's here and….anyway it doesn't matter….none of it matters, just go down stairs….I'll be fine."
"Hermione wait…"
Oh Gods…please Ron…not now….I just can't. "No, Ron. This is not the right time…We can talk later….Ginny and Harry will be back any minute and ….just go down stairs…I'll be all right really. You don't want to keep her waiting."
"Hermione…"
"Just go please," she managed in a strained whisper.
He pursed his lips and gave a small nod and went to leave. After a few steps he stopped. "Hermione wait."
Their eyes locked. "Yes." The slightest hint of hope escaped her lips.
He paused and then sighed. "Here…" reaching under his shirt and he extracted her bra.
"Oh….yes….thanks…"
They stared at each other for a while before finally separating. Ron went downstairs and Hermione went in her room and closed the door. When she was sure he was back in the kitchen she threw herself on the bed, unleashing the tears that begged to be released.
