Hiya, here's chappy 13 and hopefully I'll get a nice bunch of reviews. In
complete truth, I haven't gotten as many reviews as I would have liked, but
nonetheless, I really really appreciate all the people who reviewed
especially my friend swimfan (sup steph =) and BuckNC who left me a very
very nice review. THANKS! I'm thinking there will only be one more after
this, at most 2 including an epilogue, so ya'll will know soon enough.
Anyways, have fun and pleeeeease R/R!!!
Much Luv,
Sara
Disclaimer: As always, no.
!!!!!
It wasn't long after that Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley came bursting into the hospital wing, with Dumbledore, Ginny, and Harry close behind, causing Hermione and Ron to break away from their kiss very quickly. Ron shot up so fast as if Hermione's lips were on fire.. And in a small way they were after the kiss they had just shared. It was rather tame as far as kisses went, but whenever she was in close proximity with Ron, she felt like her whole body was on fire. She wondered if that feeling would ever go away, and she didn't even know if she wanted it to.
Mr. Weasley hadn't seen anything, but Ron could have sworn he saw a knowing twinkle in his mother's eye. Damn mothers. How did they always know?
Mrs. Weasley wrapped her arms around her youngest son and began to whisper little words into his hair that sounded remarkably like, "my baby, my baby, ooh my little boy.. Thank goodness you all are alright." Mr. Weasley wrapped his son and wife in the hug, thankful that their child was still here. Hermione felt the tears welling up in her eyes watching them knowing she'll never be held like that by her mum ever again, and without realizing it, she sniffed and wiped her eyes. Mrs. Weasley looked over at Hermione with sad eyes and walked slowly over to her. She sat down on her bed, right where Ron was only a few moments earlier. Hermione looked down not knowing what to say. The kiss was still running through her brain.
"Hermione dear, I'm so sorry about everything." Mrs. Weasley said sorrowfully.
She could do nothing but nod her head.
"Hermione.. " She pressed again as if trying to get something out of her.
"Mum," Ron said in a stop-prying-and-leave-her-alone tone.
Mrs. Weasley held her hand up to stop him from saying anything else as everyone sat around the bed. Ron sat on her other side and patted her arm lightly, while Ginny sat right by her head stroking her hair, and Harry at her feet. She opened her mouth to speak again, but instead, Dumbledore spoke.
"I know this has been a terrible ordeal for all of you, especially for Hermione," Dumbledore said. It was the first time he had spoken and it was very calming to her.
"But," he continued, "Hermione is going to need to live somewhere, and I know she will want to continue her studies here at Hogwarts," he said, eyes twinkling down at her, "so there is only one solution."
A million things were running through her brain at once. Was she going back to live at her house without her parents? Was she going to live with her Godmother in New York and then floo to Hogwarts? She didn't know what she was going to do. She saw a tear drop onto the blankets she was under.
"Which is why.. " Mrs. Weasley cut in again, "we want you, Hermione, to come and stay with all of us. At the Burrow."
Hermione raised her head and looked at the people around her. Her mouth was open wide and she croaked out, "Are you serious? You want me to come and- and live w-with you?"
Ron was looking at his mother with joy and bewilderment and Ginny looked as if she was going to burst with happiness. She was smiling wide regardless of the deep cut on her lip. Harry was grinning, but there was a look of sadness in his eyes and winced every once in a while when his scar would burn. Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eyes as he grinned down at Hermione. It was overwhelming how much kindness and love she was receiving. She didn't know what to do. It all came at her so quickly and Mr. Weasley must have sensed it by the look of confusion on her face so he said, "Maybe we should give her some more time to decide."
Hermione didn't need any time to think. She did the first thing that came to her naturally. She reached up as far as she could and pulled Mrs. Weasley into a hug. A fresh wave of tears came down Hermione's face while Mrs. Weasley rubbed her back soothingly.
Eventually they pulled away and Mrs. Weasley said, "we're not adopting you officially or anything. Just putting a roof over your head, food to eat, and a substitute family. Nothing can replace your real family, you know that." She glanced at Harry during the last part.
"Thank-you," Hermione whispered.
Ron squeezed her hand and gave her a look that made Hermione feel like everything was going to be okay. She squeezed it right back and smiled at him.
""WELL!" Dumbledore said clapping his hands together jovially, "we need to get all of Hermione's things from her home. Since Easter holidays are approaching in 3 weeks, I think it would be a good idea to move her things in then."
"Huh?" Hermione asked stupidly.
"Miss Granger, we need to get the rest of your possessions don't we? I'm sure there are other things in your house your mother and father would want you to have too."
"Oh, yeah. " Hermione said.
"We'll need people to go with you of course," Mr. Weasley said.
"I'll go," said Ron at once.
"ME TOO!" Followed Ginny.
Harry nodded firmly and replied with a, "ditto."
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Well it's not safe enough for you four just to go on your own again. I'll have Lupin, Tonks, and Mad-Eye follow along with you and make sure everything goes alright, and there's no danger involved."
Fair enough.
Hermione nodded.
She was upright and tense during the whole conversation, and she finally let herself relax against the pillows. She was still sitting up so she got a clear view of everyone around her. And suddenly she knew how Harry must've felt all these years. People staring at you as if you were on display, and all you wanted to be was alone. She now felt that, and she didn't want to talk to anyone. Just time to sit and think about what she was going to do with her life, and how she was going to live it without her parents.
"I think we'll leave you alone now," Dumbledore said resting a hand on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione was thankful he said the words for her. She felt bad kicking everyone out, but it had been a loooong few days.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to go back home to the Burrow after they had spoken with Dumbledore in his office about some things for the Order. For once, she didn't care about the Order and what they were up to. Nor did anyone else. It was centered around being alive and having each other to lean on.
"Everything will be okay Mione." Ginny said wrapping her arm around her friend.
Ron nodded while Harry stared at the ground.
Hermione appreciated Ginny trying to comfort her but Ron's hand was over hers which actually comforted her more. Letting out a deep sigh, she said hoarsely, "Thank-you."
*~*~*~*~*
An hour later, after Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had good-natured talk, Harry and Ginny left to get some dinner. Ron went down to get some food from the Great Hall and bring it back up to the hospital wing for himself and Hermione. She didn't want to go down yet because she was still in a little pain, and didn't feel like facing anyone's staring faces and Draco Malfoy's taunts.
Ron was walking up the stairs with a plate of food heavily piled upon it for himself and Hermione.
"Hey, I brought you some chicken pie, chips (A/N: which are like French fries for Americans), bread, and some pumpkin juice. Oh! And some chocolate éclairs because I know you like them," Ron said in a rush.
She looked at him dreamily, smiled and said 'thanks' politely.
"You okay?" He asked laying a hand on her knee.
"Yes. I suppose. I mean, well, good as it can get right now," she said with a small grin.
Ron gave her a grin that made Hermione's heart positively melt. The kiss was running through his head at lightning speed. He wanted to lean in and kiss her again, but she was picking at her roll in a thoughtful kind of way and at random times she would let out a shaky sigh that sounded as if she had been holding it in. She picked a little piece of it off and put it in her mouth chewing as if it was taking all of her energy to do so.
Deciding to lighten the mood a bit, Ron made an attempt to cheer her up, "so, I guess you're gonna live with us!" He said it with such enthusiasm that Hermione couldn't help but smile.
"Guess so," she replied as cheerfully as she could. But Ron could tell there was still sadness in her voice. He figured there would be for awhile.
She took another bite of the roll and Ron reached over to take one for himself. Taking a bite, he hardly tasted anything. All he wanted was to take Hermione in his arms and tell her everything will be okay. She'll be happy with us at the Burrow. But it still wasn't the same as being with her own parents.
"Yeah... " Ron said to himself.
"Ron, are we okay?" Hermione asked quite suddenly.
"Huh?" He replied stupidly.
"The thing is - well what I mean to say. It's just that we -"
"Kissed?"
"Yes, and I'm just wondering, did it mean anything to you? Or were you just pitying me?" Hermione didn't say the words with anger, she said it with guilt and sadness. Oh if only she knew..
"Why the hell would you think that?"
Hermione shrugged one shoulder looking down at her blankets as if asking them for answers to life.
"Hermione," Ron said taking the roll out of her hands and taking them in his own, "I kissed you because - well I've been wanting to for a long time now."
Ron felt himself blush. God he was so dead. So embarrassing.
"You like me don't you?" Hermione said grinning slyly at him.
Ron let out a laugh, his blue eyes sparkling in almost a needy way and he said, "I reckon I do."
"Took you long enough," Hermione said in a jokingly mean way.
He smiled wide and Hermione looked at him as if he was the only person left in the world and he couldn't control himself anymore as he leaned forward and gave her a sweet and completely wonderful kiss.
And the best part was, she wasn't pulling away.
Eventually the need for air became to hard to ignore so he pulled away and was upset to see signs of tears in her eyes.
Placing a hand on her face he said, "hey my kissing isn't that bad is it?"
"I'm not crying.... " Hermione said in a tearful voice.
"It's okay Mione'."
"NO RON! Last year, when Harry kissed Cho... she was crying, and you said, 'what kind of person cries when they're kissing someone,' and we argued, like usual, and then you said that some kissing would cheer her up and I called you an insensitive wart," Hermione was speaking with such sorrow and guilt that Ron could do nothing but listen and keep himself from crying.
"And you were right Ron."
This snapped Ron out of everything he was drowning himself in and said stupidly, "What?"
"Kissing did cheer me up a bit, and you're not really an insensitive wart. Especially after everything you've done for me the past week," Hermione had tears flowing down her face, and she said, "I never want to lose you."
He stared at her in a way that was indescribable, he just wanted her to know how much he loved her as a best friend and hopefully as more someday. All he knew at that moment that there was nobody in the world he cared more about than her.
"You'll never lose me."
Hermione was thanking him with her eyes and she reached forward and hugged him around the neck tightly. Ron immediately wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back soothingly. He buried his nose into her hair and kissed the side of her head letting his lips press there for a long time. She held on tighter to him and he whispered into her ear when he felt her give a tearful shudder, "Everything will be okay. I promise."
~*~*~*~*~
*wipes tear* well this was emotional and I hope you all enjoy it. I think 2- 3 chapters should finish off the story. Please R/R and I swear I'll update sooner this time. Love ya'll.
Much Luv Sara
Disclaimer: As always, no.
!!!!!
It wasn't long after that Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley came bursting into the hospital wing, with Dumbledore, Ginny, and Harry close behind, causing Hermione and Ron to break away from their kiss very quickly. Ron shot up so fast as if Hermione's lips were on fire.. And in a small way they were after the kiss they had just shared. It was rather tame as far as kisses went, but whenever she was in close proximity with Ron, she felt like her whole body was on fire. She wondered if that feeling would ever go away, and she didn't even know if she wanted it to.
Mr. Weasley hadn't seen anything, but Ron could have sworn he saw a knowing twinkle in his mother's eye. Damn mothers. How did they always know?
Mrs. Weasley wrapped her arms around her youngest son and began to whisper little words into his hair that sounded remarkably like, "my baby, my baby, ooh my little boy.. Thank goodness you all are alright." Mr. Weasley wrapped his son and wife in the hug, thankful that their child was still here. Hermione felt the tears welling up in her eyes watching them knowing she'll never be held like that by her mum ever again, and without realizing it, she sniffed and wiped her eyes. Mrs. Weasley looked over at Hermione with sad eyes and walked slowly over to her. She sat down on her bed, right where Ron was only a few moments earlier. Hermione looked down not knowing what to say. The kiss was still running through her brain.
"Hermione dear, I'm so sorry about everything." Mrs. Weasley said sorrowfully.
She could do nothing but nod her head.
"Hermione.. " She pressed again as if trying to get something out of her.
"Mum," Ron said in a stop-prying-and-leave-her-alone tone.
Mrs. Weasley held her hand up to stop him from saying anything else as everyone sat around the bed. Ron sat on her other side and patted her arm lightly, while Ginny sat right by her head stroking her hair, and Harry at her feet. She opened her mouth to speak again, but instead, Dumbledore spoke.
"I know this has been a terrible ordeal for all of you, especially for Hermione," Dumbledore said. It was the first time he had spoken and it was very calming to her.
"But," he continued, "Hermione is going to need to live somewhere, and I know she will want to continue her studies here at Hogwarts," he said, eyes twinkling down at her, "so there is only one solution."
A million things were running through her brain at once. Was she going back to live at her house without her parents? Was she going to live with her Godmother in New York and then floo to Hogwarts? She didn't know what she was going to do. She saw a tear drop onto the blankets she was under.
"Which is why.. " Mrs. Weasley cut in again, "we want you, Hermione, to come and stay with all of us. At the Burrow."
Hermione raised her head and looked at the people around her. Her mouth was open wide and she croaked out, "Are you serious? You want me to come and- and live w-with you?"
Ron was looking at his mother with joy and bewilderment and Ginny looked as if she was going to burst with happiness. She was smiling wide regardless of the deep cut on her lip. Harry was grinning, but there was a look of sadness in his eyes and winced every once in a while when his scar would burn. Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eyes as he grinned down at Hermione. It was overwhelming how much kindness and love she was receiving. She didn't know what to do. It all came at her so quickly and Mr. Weasley must have sensed it by the look of confusion on her face so he said, "Maybe we should give her some more time to decide."
Hermione didn't need any time to think. She did the first thing that came to her naturally. She reached up as far as she could and pulled Mrs. Weasley into a hug. A fresh wave of tears came down Hermione's face while Mrs. Weasley rubbed her back soothingly.
Eventually they pulled away and Mrs. Weasley said, "we're not adopting you officially or anything. Just putting a roof over your head, food to eat, and a substitute family. Nothing can replace your real family, you know that." She glanced at Harry during the last part.
"Thank-you," Hermione whispered.
Ron squeezed her hand and gave her a look that made Hermione feel like everything was going to be okay. She squeezed it right back and smiled at him.
""WELL!" Dumbledore said clapping his hands together jovially, "we need to get all of Hermione's things from her home. Since Easter holidays are approaching in 3 weeks, I think it would be a good idea to move her things in then."
"Huh?" Hermione asked stupidly.
"Miss Granger, we need to get the rest of your possessions don't we? I'm sure there are other things in your house your mother and father would want you to have too."
"Oh, yeah. " Hermione said.
"We'll need people to go with you of course," Mr. Weasley said.
"I'll go," said Ron at once.
"ME TOO!" Followed Ginny.
Harry nodded firmly and replied with a, "ditto."
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Well it's not safe enough for you four just to go on your own again. I'll have Lupin, Tonks, and Mad-Eye follow along with you and make sure everything goes alright, and there's no danger involved."
Fair enough.
Hermione nodded.
She was upright and tense during the whole conversation, and she finally let herself relax against the pillows. She was still sitting up so she got a clear view of everyone around her. And suddenly she knew how Harry must've felt all these years. People staring at you as if you were on display, and all you wanted to be was alone. She now felt that, and she didn't want to talk to anyone. Just time to sit and think about what she was going to do with her life, and how she was going to live it without her parents.
"I think we'll leave you alone now," Dumbledore said resting a hand on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione was thankful he said the words for her. She felt bad kicking everyone out, but it had been a loooong few days.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to go back home to the Burrow after they had spoken with Dumbledore in his office about some things for the Order. For once, she didn't care about the Order and what they were up to. Nor did anyone else. It was centered around being alive and having each other to lean on.
"Everything will be okay Mione." Ginny said wrapping her arm around her friend.
Ron nodded while Harry stared at the ground.
Hermione appreciated Ginny trying to comfort her but Ron's hand was over hers which actually comforted her more. Letting out a deep sigh, she said hoarsely, "Thank-you."
*~*~*~*~*
An hour later, after Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had good-natured talk, Harry and Ginny left to get some dinner. Ron went down to get some food from the Great Hall and bring it back up to the hospital wing for himself and Hermione. She didn't want to go down yet because she was still in a little pain, and didn't feel like facing anyone's staring faces and Draco Malfoy's taunts.
Ron was walking up the stairs with a plate of food heavily piled upon it for himself and Hermione.
"Hey, I brought you some chicken pie, chips (A/N: which are like French fries for Americans), bread, and some pumpkin juice. Oh! And some chocolate éclairs because I know you like them," Ron said in a rush.
She looked at him dreamily, smiled and said 'thanks' politely.
"You okay?" He asked laying a hand on her knee.
"Yes. I suppose. I mean, well, good as it can get right now," she said with a small grin.
Ron gave her a grin that made Hermione's heart positively melt. The kiss was running through his head at lightning speed. He wanted to lean in and kiss her again, but she was picking at her roll in a thoughtful kind of way and at random times she would let out a shaky sigh that sounded as if she had been holding it in. She picked a little piece of it off and put it in her mouth chewing as if it was taking all of her energy to do so.
Deciding to lighten the mood a bit, Ron made an attempt to cheer her up, "so, I guess you're gonna live with us!" He said it with such enthusiasm that Hermione couldn't help but smile.
"Guess so," she replied as cheerfully as she could. But Ron could tell there was still sadness in her voice. He figured there would be for awhile.
She took another bite of the roll and Ron reached over to take one for himself. Taking a bite, he hardly tasted anything. All he wanted was to take Hermione in his arms and tell her everything will be okay. She'll be happy with us at the Burrow. But it still wasn't the same as being with her own parents.
"Yeah... " Ron said to himself.
"Ron, are we okay?" Hermione asked quite suddenly.
"Huh?" He replied stupidly.
"The thing is - well what I mean to say. It's just that we -"
"Kissed?"
"Yes, and I'm just wondering, did it mean anything to you? Or were you just pitying me?" Hermione didn't say the words with anger, she said it with guilt and sadness. Oh if only she knew..
"Why the hell would you think that?"
Hermione shrugged one shoulder looking down at her blankets as if asking them for answers to life.
"Hermione," Ron said taking the roll out of her hands and taking them in his own, "I kissed you because - well I've been wanting to for a long time now."
Ron felt himself blush. God he was so dead. So embarrassing.
"You like me don't you?" Hermione said grinning slyly at him.
Ron let out a laugh, his blue eyes sparkling in almost a needy way and he said, "I reckon I do."
"Took you long enough," Hermione said in a jokingly mean way.
He smiled wide and Hermione looked at him as if he was the only person left in the world and he couldn't control himself anymore as he leaned forward and gave her a sweet and completely wonderful kiss.
And the best part was, she wasn't pulling away.
Eventually the need for air became to hard to ignore so he pulled away and was upset to see signs of tears in her eyes.
Placing a hand on her face he said, "hey my kissing isn't that bad is it?"
"I'm not crying.... " Hermione said in a tearful voice.
"It's okay Mione'."
"NO RON! Last year, when Harry kissed Cho... she was crying, and you said, 'what kind of person cries when they're kissing someone,' and we argued, like usual, and then you said that some kissing would cheer her up and I called you an insensitive wart," Hermione was speaking with such sorrow and guilt that Ron could do nothing but listen and keep himself from crying.
"And you were right Ron."
This snapped Ron out of everything he was drowning himself in and said stupidly, "What?"
"Kissing did cheer me up a bit, and you're not really an insensitive wart. Especially after everything you've done for me the past week," Hermione had tears flowing down her face, and she said, "I never want to lose you."
He stared at her in a way that was indescribable, he just wanted her to know how much he loved her as a best friend and hopefully as more someday. All he knew at that moment that there was nobody in the world he cared more about than her.
"You'll never lose me."
Hermione was thanking him with her eyes and she reached forward and hugged him around the neck tightly. Ron immediately wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back soothingly. He buried his nose into her hair and kissed the side of her head letting his lips press there for a long time. She held on tighter to him and he whispered into her ear when he felt her give a tearful shudder, "Everything will be okay. I promise."
~*~*~*~*~
*wipes tear* well this was emotional and I hope you all enjoy it. I think 2- 3 chapters should finish off the story. Please R/R and I swear I'll update sooner this time. Love ya'll.
Much Luv Sara
