Author's Note: Finally -- 25 reviews! Actually, I was satisfied with the
fourteen, but I figured I could get much more, seeing the reviews other,
not so good, fics got. Also, HP is a large community so I'm sure that a lot
of people can read Secrets. Thank you for giving me all the reviews -- even
though I *did* ask for some of them. :)
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Of course the captain wouldn't turn around just for her. Hermione sighed as she slumped back into her seat. She should have known that this wasn't some sappy romance where everything worked out just fine. The captain had told her she could get the next train going back to Hogsmeade, or just stay in his train, after buying a ticket of course, and go with him back to Hogsmeade.
The trip seemed to last forever, and Hermione was surprised to find herself waking up to someone telling her to get off the train -- the trip was over.
Hermione did as instructed, but left her trunks in the train as she had discussed with the captain. She did want to tell her parents that she had changed her mind. In fact, she was shocked at herself wanting to not even show up and worry her parents half to death.
"Hermione! Oh, dear, where are your bags? Did they use magic to put them in our car or you room?"
Hermione looked vacantly at her mother and father. "No. My bags are still in the train."
"I'll go get them," her dad said.
Hermione put a hand on his arm. "Dad, no. I-I'm not going home. I want to go back to Hogwarts, I realized this was a mistake. I can figure out how to work it, but I belong at Hogwarts."
Her mum and dad stared at her for a few seconds. "Hermione," her mum said sternly. "I will not have you going back to that school with a baby growing inside of you. What will people think? Going back next year is obviously the wisest choice."
"But, see, it's not," Hermione tried to make them understand. "I *belong* there. Not here. I need to be with Harry and Ron and Ginny, I need to be Head Girl."
"They'll probably take that title away if they haven't already," her mum said bitterly. "What on earth ever possessed you to . . . I'm very shocked to say the least . . ."
"Not to mention disappointed," her dad added.
Hermione glanced at the train, which was whistling and ready for her to get on. "Look, I have to go back. With your good wishes or without, but you can't force me to stay. I'm eighteen now."
"Of course you have our good wishes. We just don't think that you're doing the right thing," her mum said bluntly.
Hermione smiled and shook her head. She hugged both of her parents and ran to the train which looked ready to leave. The captain gave her an annoyed look for making him wait, then the train slowly began to descend back to Hogsmeade. Of course, they had used magic to just pop the train around, instead of having to turn it around on tracks. It was much easier this way.
Hermione waved her parents with a sinking feeling. She was going to where she needed to be, but Hermione wondered whether she'd see much of her parents anymore. Her parents lived in a different world than her, and the gap that had been growing for seven years had become unbearable. Hermione hadn't even realized it was there until now, and now that she did she realized it had been there for years.
* * * * *
Ron couldn't sleep, and he wasn't eating either. Harry and Ginny were beside themselves with worry, and had finally managed to get some turkey down his throat, and were even considering doing a sleeping potion to get rid of the purple underneath his eyes. It had only been two days since Hermione had left, and Harry and Ginny wouldn't let themselves think about what they would do if Ron got worse.
"Harry?" Ron said, late into that night. "Harry. Wake up, Harry." Ron got out of bed and picked up a pillow which I threw at Harry's face.
"What, Ron?" Harry asked, sitting up and putting his glasses on.
"Hermione and I kissed."
"Yeah, I figured that when I found out she was pregnant."
"No, no. At Hogsmeade. That's why . . ." Ron trailed off. "I realized then that I don't want to ever be seperated from her. But she won't let me take off school until next year. Dumbledore was willing, though he did dissaprove, but when Hermione tells you not to do something, you'd better not do it. Unless, of course, you're wanting to annoy her. She is adorable when she's mad, isn't she?"
Harry nodded along, not really thinking that Hermione was cute when she was mad, he actually was always a little afraid of Hermione when she was mad. Harry cracked a grin, wondering what she would be like as a mother.
"Weasley!"
Harry and Ron jumped, and it was assumed that everyone else in the dorm awoke as well, since curtains around the room were being swung open to see who had called Ron's name.
"Potter as well," McGonagall said, her mouth looked sterner than ever.
"We're sorry we were talking, Professor, we were trying to keep quiet and I don't think we woke anybody up," Ron said in a hurry.
"No, no," McGonagall said, waving her hand to dismiss that. "There is something we need to discuss."
" *Now*?" Harry asked in disbelief. "It's three in the morning!"
"You think I don't know that?" McGonagall seemed very upset with this. "Dumbledore's orders so you'd better not give me any more resistance. Throw on your robes and let's go."
Harry and Ron gave each other puzzled looks, then shut the curtains to change.
Professor McGonagall led them for a couple of minutes until they ended up in a dungeon. Harry and Ron were both wondering if they'd done something for detention when they stepped inside and found Dumbledore talking to--
"Mione!" Ron exclaimed, joy flooding his voice. He marched right up to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Why are you here?"
"I will leave you three alone," Dumbledore said pleasantly. "You can find your way back to your common room with not trouble, I presume."
Harry gave Hermione a hug after the two Professors left. " *Why* are you here?"
"Oh, you two sound like you're disappointed," Hermione said, laughing. "I was about ten minutes away from here when I realized that I didn't want to leave. So I came back after explaining to my parents and Professor Dumbledore and I have worked it out. May is about when this baby should be born, late May in fact, so when that comes around, I volunteered you two and Ginny to help me take care of her. Of course, I'll have to drop classes, but I'm willing to do so."
"You -- willing to drop classes?" Ron grinned at her. "I'm glad you're staying here. It wouldn't have been the same without you. It *wasn't* the same without you."
"Ron hasn't eaten or slept since you left," Harry added in a stage whisper to Hermione.
Hermione turned a stern look to Ron. "I want you up in your bed, sleeping, and tomorrow morning you will eat until you can eat no more. It's really not healthy . . ."
* * * * *
Hermione hadn't mentioned the kiss at Hogsmeade to Ron, hoping that he'd bring it up -- and Ron didn't talk about it, thinking that Hermione wasn't mentioning it because she didn't *want* to mention it. Needless to say, there was a lot of confusion between the two. (Really, when isn't there confusion between them?)
"Harry?" Ginny caught up to the famous wizard in the halls, after DADA.
"Yeah, Gin?"
"Well, you're sort of like Ron's best friend, and I know he's yours. And, well, the same for Hermione and I . . . I'm sure Ron tells you things, and Hermione is always talking to me about this . . . situation, so I was thinking we could swap info."
Harry stopped and looked down at Ginny. "What for? I don't know if I want to betray Ron like that--"
"Oh, rest assured, we'll be helping them. I mean, doesn't it bother you how neither of them brings up the subject of anything that has to do with . . . well, *them*."
Harry shrugged. "Yeah, it does, actually."
"Well, I'm sure with you and me working together we can make them realize that they are really meant to be together. I'm sure everyone in Gryffindor will be equally as happy."
"Why?"
"Oh, come on, we're not the only ones tired of them dancing in circles around each other." Ginny laughed suddenly.
"What?"
"Oh, I just suddenly has this image of Ron doing the tango. Anyways, what do you say? I promise to be your best friend forever and ever . . ."
"Well with an offer like that, how can I refuse," Harry teased. Once he stopped laughing he asked, "How are we supposed to get them together?"
Ginny gave him a sly look. "Oh, first we brainstorm, then we'll go from there. I do have a few things up my sleeves . . ."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What does Ginny have up her sleeve? Will Ron and Hermione ever get together? The suspense, I know . . . and, guess what! If I have thirty to thirty five reviews, you'll get to find out! Yes, I've found that blackmailing you helps with my reviews. (j/k) But I know enough of you left reviews that you couldn't wait for more of this, that if you all leave another review for the fifth installment (which is this one), then I'll have plenty of reviews to keep my inspired!
Well, actually I'm inspired all by myself. This fic is a record for me -- I've never written four installments in two days . . . it's just never happened before. And I'm going to keep on writing. I'm also trying to think of a good plot for another Ron/Hermione or a Harry/Ginny one, but so far my mind is blank. Rest assured, however, that I usually come up with really good ones when I do come up with them. (well . . . people who read my fics think they're good . . . I'm kind of insecure, so I really don't know if they are or not. but the people like them and that's all that matters)
Farewell until I have five to ten more reviews. And thank you for the previous reviews, especially about how much you like my writing. I anticipate reviews every second of every minute of every hour of every day.
~HJtheB
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Of course the captain wouldn't turn around just for her. Hermione sighed as she slumped back into her seat. She should have known that this wasn't some sappy romance where everything worked out just fine. The captain had told her she could get the next train going back to Hogsmeade, or just stay in his train, after buying a ticket of course, and go with him back to Hogsmeade.
The trip seemed to last forever, and Hermione was surprised to find herself waking up to someone telling her to get off the train -- the trip was over.
Hermione did as instructed, but left her trunks in the train as she had discussed with the captain. She did want to tell her parents that she had changed her mind. In fact, she was shocked at herself wanting to not even show up and worry her parents half to death.
"Hermione! Oh, dear, where are your bags? Did they use magic to put them in our car or you room?"
Hermione looked vacantly at her mother and father. "No. My bags are still in the train."
"I'll go get them," her dad said.
Hermione put a hand on his arm. "Dad, no. I-I'm not going home. I want to go back to Hogwarts, I realized this was a mistake. I can figure out how to work it, but I belong at Hogwarts."
Her mum and dad stared at her for a few seconds. "Hermione," her mum said sternly. "I will not have you going back to that school with a baby growing inside of you. What will people think? Going back next year is obviously the wisest choice."
"But, see, it's not," Hermione tried to make them understand. "I *belong* there. Not here. I need to be with Harry and Ron and Ginny, I need to be Head Girl."
"They'll probably take that title away if they haven't already," her mum said bitterly. "What on earth ever possessed you to . . . I'm very shocked to say the least . . ."
"Not to mention disappointed," her dad added.
Hermione glanced at the train, which was whistling and ready for her to get on. "Look, I have to go back. With your good wishes or without, but you can't force me to stay. I'm eighteen now."
"Of course you have our good wishes. We just don't think that you're doing the right thing," her mum said bluntly.
Hermione smiled and shook her head. She hugged both of her parents and ran to the train which looked ready to leave. The captain gave her an annoyed look for making him wait, then the train slowly began to descend back to Hogsmeade. Of course, they had used magic to just pop the train around, instead of having to turn it around on tracks. It was much easier this way.
Hermione waved her parents with a sinking feeling. She was going to where she needed to be, but Hermione wondered whether she'd see much of her parents anymore. Her parents lived in a different world than her, and the gap that had been growing for seven years had become unbearable. Hermione hadn't even realized it was there until now, and now that she did she realized it had been there for years.
* * * * *
Ron couldn't sleep, and he wasn't eating either. Harry and Ginny were beside themselves with worry, and had finally managed to get some turkey down his throat, and were even considering doing a sleeping potion to get rid of the purple underneath his eyes. It had only been two days since Hermione had left, and Harry and Ginny wouldn't let themselves think about what they would do if Ron got worse.
"Harry?" Ron said, late into that night. "Harry. Wake up, Harry." Ron got out of bed and picked up a pillow which I threw at Harry's face.
"What, Ron?" Harry asked, sitting up and putting his glasses on.
"Hermione and I kissed."
"Yeah, I figured that when I found out she was pregnant."
"No, no. At Hogsmeade. That's why . . ." Ron trailed off. "I realized then that I don't want to ever be seperated from her. But she won't let me take off school until next year. Dumbledore was willing, though he did dissaprove, but when Hermione tells you not to do something, you'd better not do it. Unless, of course, you're wanting to annoy her. She is adorable when she's mad, isn't she?"
Harry nodded along, not really thinking that Hermione was cute when she was mad, he actually was always a little afraid of Hermione when she was mad. Harry cracked a grin, wondering what she would be like as a mother.
"Weasley!"
Harry and Ron jumped, and it was assumed that everyone else in the dorm awoke as well, since curtains around the room were being swung open to see who had called Ron's name.
"Potter as well," McGonagall said, her mouth looked sterner than ever.
"We're sorry we were talking, Professor, we were trying to keep quiet and I don't think we woke anybody up," Ron said in a hurry.
"No, no," McGonagall said, waving her hand to dismiss that. "There is something we need to discuss."
" *Now*?" Harry asked in disbelief. "It's three in the morning!"
"You think I don't know that?" McGonagall seemed very upset with this. "Dumbledore's orders so you'd better not give me any more resistance. Throw on your robes and let's go."
Harry and Ron gave each other puzzled looks, then shut the curtains to change.
Professor McGonagall led them for a couple of minutes until they ended up in a dungeon. Harry and Ron were both wondering if they'd done something for detention when they stepped inside and found Dumbledore talking to--
"Mione!" Ron exclaimed, joy flooding his voice. He marched right up to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Why are you here?"
"I will leave you three alone," Dumbledore said pleasantly. "You can find your way back to your common room with not trouble, I presume."
Harry gave Hermione a hug after the two Professors left. " *Why* are you here?"
"Oh, you two sound like you're disappointed," Hermione said, laughing. "I was about ten minutes away from here when I realized that I didn't want to leave. So I came back after explaining to my parents and Professor Dumbledore and I have worked it out. May is about when this baby should be born, late May in fact, so when that comes around, I volunteered you two and Ginny to help me take care of her. Of course, I'll have to drop classes, but I'm willing to do so."
"You -- willing to drop classes?" Ron grinned at her. "I'm glad you're staying here. It wouldn't have been the same without you. It *wasn't* the same without you."
"Ron hasn't eaten or slept since you left," Harry added in a stage whisper to Hermione.
Hermione turned a stern look to Ron. "I want you up in your bed, sleeping, and tomorrow morning you will eat until you can eat no more. It's really not healthy . . ."
* * * * *
Hermione hadn't mentioned the kiss at Hogsmeade to Ron, hoping that he'd bring it up -- and Ron didn't talk about it, thinking that Hermione wasn't mentioning it because she didn't *want* to mention it. Needless to say, there was a lot of confusion between the two. (Really, when isn't there confusion between them?)
"Harry?" Ginny caught up to the famous wizard in the halls, after DADA.
"Yeah, Gin?"
"Well, you're sort of like Ron's best friend, and I know he's yours. And, well, the same for Hermione and I . . . I'm sure Ron tells you things, and Hermione is always talking to me about this . . . situation, so I was thinking we could swap info."
Harry stopped and looked down at Ginny. "What for? I don't know if I want to betray Ron like that--"
"Oh, rest assured, we'll be helping them. I mean, doesn't it bother you how neither of them brings up the subject of anything that has to do with . . . well, *them*."
Harry shrugged. "Yeah, it does, actually."
"Well, I'm sure with you and me working together we can make them realize that they are really meant to be together. I'm sure everyone in Gryffindor will be equally as happy."
"Why?"
"Oh, come on, we're not the only ones tired of them dancing in circles around each other." Ginny laughed suddenly.
"What?"
"Oh, I just suddenly has this image of Ron doing the tango. Anyways, what do you say? I promise to be your best friend forever and ever . . ."
"Well with an offer like that, how can I refuse," Harry teased. Once he stopped laughing he asked, "How are we supposed to get them together?"
Ginny gave him a sly look. "Oh, first we brainstorm, then we'll go from there. I do have a few things up my sleeves . . ."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What does Ginny have up her sleeve? Will Ron and Hermione ever get together? The suspense, I know . . . and, guess what! If I have thirty to thirty five reviews, you'll get to find out! Yes, I've found that blackmailing you helps with my reviews. (j/k) But I know enough of you left reviews that you couldn't wait for more of this, that if you all leave another review for the fifth installment (which is this one), then I'll have plenty of reviews to keep my inspired!
Well, actually I'm inspired all by myself. This fic is a record for me -- I've never written four installments in two days . . . it's just never happened before. And I'm going to keep on writing. I'm also trying to think of a good plot for another Ron/Hermione or a Harry/Ginny one, but so far my mind is blank. Rest assured, however, that I usually come up with really good ones when I do come up with them. (well . . . people who read my fics think they're good . . . I'm kind of insecure, so I really don't know if they are or not. but the people like them and that's all that matters)
Farewell until I have five to ten more reviews. And thank you for the previous reviews, especially about how much you like my writing. I anticipate reviews every second of every minute of every hour of every day.
~HJtheB