A little out of the ordinary Chapter SEVEN By Jammie-Bro

*PUFF* FINALLY! Chapter 7 here at last!!!! So sorry it's taken this long.

Sometimes Hermione would really despise him. Others, she had the strong urge to just run and throw her arms around him for no particular reason. He had the kind of charm of a rugged schoolboy, and posessed the mischeviousness of his older brothers. He would jump to damned stupid conclusions, and his stubornness really riled her at times, but how could she be mad at him for long when a cheeky grin played on his lips and his blue-green eyes sparkled? One of those looks would practically reduce her to incomprihendable goo, without her quite knowing why. A tiny voice on her shoulder had been telling her the answer to her question for a good year and a half now, but she'd been ignoring it, and there was no reason to stop now.
Why on earth had he gone? Was it anything to do with her, or had he just done it to be a great prat?

The snow lay thick and soft on the windowsills, turrets, and every other outdoor surface as far as she could see. There was an amazing view for miles, everything glistening white, up to the horison, where the crisp blue sky and cold sun hung. Few people were walking the grounds round the castle, and although a pleasure to the eye, the scenery seemed......

deserted.

Just how she felt. She couldnt fight the intense longing to be with him; all she wanted was to see him, talk to him, any contact with him would seem heavenly to her. She bitterly laughed quietly to herself. She was having Ron-withdrawal.

*Right* She thought to herself, *I can't sit here looking out the window all day- I'll go and do some homework.... wait a second- where's my bag? Erm, think, hermione, think! Where was the last place i had it? Wait- I know- the prefect balcony! of course!!*

The girl drew her robes tighter around her as she felt the cold outdoor air nip at her body. There was hardly anything out there, no-one seemed to have been out since she had the night before. The freezing white blanket had consumed everything, making her inwardly groan. Her bag would probably be soaked- her books ruined. She turned to face the door back to the common room when she spotted the knapsack. It was dry and untouched by the snow, in a small alcove above a small cuboard door built into the wall. She was surprised she'd never noticed it before. She wondered what was kept in there; it looked of decent size- the door rose to her waist, and about the same width across. It seemed unlocked. Glancing hastily around to check that Mrs. Norris wasnt stalking around, Hermione reached for the handle and quietly prised the cuboard open. She silently gasped. Ron was curled up in the cuboard.

It took all of Hermione's self-composure not to give him a good kick then and there. But as she looked closer at his sleeping form, she noticed that he was shivering from the cold. It obviously didnt help sleeping in a stone box for the best part of a day and a half. She sighed, a sad smile forming on her lips. He did look unbelievably cute when he was sleeping. That almost made her forgive him immediately. Almost. She shook her head at the thoughts spinning around her brain, and put a levitating charm on Ron's sleeping form, his luggage and a rather disgruntled pigwidgeon, retieved her bag and directed herself to the common room.

Later that day, Ron sqeezed his eyes open to find himself covered with a large duvet, a steaming mug of hot chocolate by his side, and his best friends standing over him. Harry looked rather relieved, but Hermione seemed torn between emotions- like she had just remembered to be more than a little ticked off with him. "So you're awake!" Harry greeted cheerfully. "How are you feeling?" "Fine thanks." Ron replied, beginning to get up. Hermione stepped in his way. He looked up to meet her eyes. "Oh no you don't, Ron Weasley. You decide to just run off and expect it to be okay? Do you realise how many school rules I've broken to save your neck??" He sighed and shook his head slightly. He didn't want to explain or argue at that time. Harry made a silent and hasty exit- he could detect a Ron-Hermione face-off approaching. "Thank you very much for saving my neck, hermione. Now will you please move out of my way?" "No I certainly will not, Ron." Her voice was steadily rising. "I'd like an explanation on why you ran off like that! You didn't even tell Harry, and he's your best friend!" "I don't feel like talking about it, Hermione." Ron was starting to get angry. "You don't feel like talking about it? I'll tell you what I don't feel like doing Ron, I don't like lying to Professor McGonagall and everybody else or doing all your prefect duties, or worrying to death about you when you decide to bugger off without an explanation!" By this time the two were standing five feet apart, Hermione blocking the doorway so Ron had no way of getting out of the argument. "Well, you shouldn't worry about me, It's not like I'm your boyfriend! I can look after myself!" angry tears were beginning to show in her eyes. " Sometimes I wonder why I do worry, if this is the kind of response I get! I can't help it if I care about you!!"

Both became silent, tears now streaming down her cheeks. Her fuming hunched shoulders dropped in defeat- she didn't want to fight anymore. Somehow this fight had affected her more, emotionally, than all the others had. The unforgiving stone lump sitting on her heart had just doubled in size and weight. Her gaze dropped to the floor and she turned to leave. A hand caught her shoulder and guided her back round. It pulled up her chin, her gaze returning to him. His thumb wiped away her tears. His face was etched with concern and apologies, with a slight ron grin thrown in for good measure. "I'm sorry." She knew he meant it. Suddenly she was too tired to fight, too tired to hear- or to care about why he had gone, too tired to worry about the lump in her chest that had decreased significantly in size but was still there, and too tired to think properly. As long as he was there now... Hermione found herself burying her face in his crumpled shirt and enjoying the feeling of his arms wrap around her. The girl could feel his breath on her neck, and then she became aware that she was grinning like a complete idiot. She didn't know how long they stood there, like that, for. She couldnt care about time. An eternity wouldnt have been long enough. But she retired to bed with a promise from Ron that he would tell her everything in the morning, butterflies in her stomach and fatigue so great that she didn't question the fluttering inside her.

~*~*~*~*~

Christmas eve seemed to fly by, and although anxiety was prodding at her, Hermione decided to carry on as usual, waiting patiently for her best friend's explanation to why he ran off for a day and a half. By dinnertime, though, the prodding had mounted to a stabbing sensation and she was beginning to think he was avoiding her at all costs. After buying a Gryffindor Christmas Party ticket (which was to be held later on that evening) from Fred and George in a bedecked Great hall, she spotted him at the top of the main staircase, in conversation with Harry. A pretty blonde Hufflepuff girl walked past the two boys, and Hermione watched as Ron gaped at her. Fred had obviously noticed it too, as he nudged george and the two burst out laughing. Hermione fumed. Just when she thought he was beyond that! The bushy-haired teen stormed out of the castle, through the snowy grounds, and all the way to hogmeade. Even though the was still shaking with rage and fighting back angry tears as she entered the streets of the town, she had decided she was going to take serious action: to do some critical de-stress shopping.

Author's Notes: SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY that I havent updated in AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Sorry, I'm in a strange mood. Anyway, here is a long list of BIG thankyous to all those AMAZINGLY KIND ppl who have put up with my awful updating.

^-^ HUGE THANKS TO:

MuggleBornWItch2 Wiccan-One 14 Lovely Heather RonandHerm4eva Hermiones-Hogwarts Chic Ally Highlandgurl Raigeki Hilary Second Breakfast Hermione182 Veronica Robyn Lael Cassgurl087 Elvencherry07 Brat I luv sirius +ron Adina Quill Writer-fan Strayc@t Alouta Rosie Shans Trickhayden CurlsOfGold Ct_lyts Luna_negra Jenny Star

Fewf! I think I got everyone. I VERY MUCH appreciate every comment, and I will get the last chapter up VERY soon! I've already written ¾ of it!!! Cya all soon! (oh and If u feel like reviewing that would be REALLY nice. Thanks.) (