Harry Potter and the Brethren of Ares
Expect monthly updates for a while, probably until May! I'm so sorry!
Chapter 21: Vigil
"I'm frightened."
Before the words even completely left her mouth, Hermione regretted them. She never admitted her feelings, whatever they were at the moment, to Ron, and he never did to her. It was an unspoken agreement between them, and an unofficial part of the pact they had made more than a year ago to keep their problems away from Harry. The pact was one they rarely thought of anymore; they never spoke of it nor needed to; it was something automatic to the both of them.
"I am too."
Ron's quiet admission surprised her. They were huddled together outside of the hospital wing, waiting impatiently for news of their lost comrades. The letter/Port Key had taken Dumbledore, Remus, that young auror- Adrienne, Hermione reminded herself- and Harry.
Hermione sucked in a large intake of breath when Ron cautiously put his arm around her shoulder. Harry had done it hundreds of times, and it had never bothered her. She relaxed into his side and into the steady rhythm of his fingers stroking her shoulder. It was strange, but somehow entirely familiar.
She sighed. "Ron."
"Hmm?"
"I'm worried about them."
"I a-am too." Hermione didn't even notice the shake in Ron's voice, nor the slight red tinge to his ears. She was too distracted.
"It's just that- you know we should have known about this!" she burst out savagely, "It's not right! Dumbledore should have- Remus and Adrienne had taken- Harry knew something, I know it!"
"Hermione. Calm down."
She shook her head vigorously, frizzy curls flying everywhere. "I can't! Harry is in danger! If something happens to Harry, then we'll lose our best friend! Voldemort will take over! Ginny will be depressed- I'll be depressed! I'd never be able to read The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts ever again! And what about-"
"-HER-MY-OWE-NEE! You just likened Harry's death to losing a book."
She blinked at him. "What do you mean? Of course I didn't! Are you saying I'm mad? Ron, what are you saying? I'm not mad! I'm Hermione! I read! Harry Potter is my best friend! I'm not mad at all! What happened to values, Ron? Why is Dumbledore off his rocker? Will Neville and Luna ever just get it over with? And just who is Mr. Bo Jangles anyw-"
"Hermione, shut the hell up!" He clamped a hand over her mouth. "Babbling about all sorts of rubbish isn't going to do shit for Harry!"
She squealed, and licked his hand.
"What the- Mione!"
Hermione felt herself blush. She wondered what had made her do that.
Ron grinned at her. "So that's the ticket, eh?"
She blinked at him, and found herself gasping for air as he began to tickle her. She squirmed, laughing uncontrollably, until-
"Oof!"
She had fallen over, and Ron had fallen right on top of her.
She never thought that she had been so embarrassed in her entire life.
And now he was looking at her mouth...oh, Lordy, he was looking at her mouth! He was going to kiss her!
Hermione almost panicked, but quickly reminded herself of what she had read....chin up, slowly close the eyes, and don't keep the mouth gaping wide...
Their lips had just barely brushed when a loud, distinct hoot interrupted their reverie, as.....
.....Viktor's huge eagle owl swept in through a window and onto the floor next to them.
Hermione watched as Ron scrambled to his feet, his face slowly turning blood red.
"Ron..."
He glared at her. "Go on, then. I don't want to keep you from dashing off to read the words of your beloved ruddy Vicky."
She sprang to her feet, embarrassment, anger, and loss coiling in her stomach. "Don't call him Vicky, Ronald Weasley!"
"Why? Is that not your lover's pet name?"
Hermione saw red. "I know that you did not just say that!"
Ron smirked, but his eyes were far from smiling. "Well, what do you know, the Know-It-All is wrong!"
That was when she lost it.
"Why do you even care, Ron? I'm just a last resort to you! I'm one of those trolls you always go on about! I'm not a girl; I'm the queer boy you hang around with! Why would you care that I'm writing to Viktor?"
Ron looked away.
"Answer me!"
His eyes snapped up. He stalked slowly towards her; she moved back until she felt her shoulders touch the cold stone wall. She could feel his breath on her face and could sense the rage radiating off of him. She had never seen him looking so dangerous in all the time she'd known him.
"Do you really want to know, Hermione?"
She refused to tear her eyes away from his glare. She nodded once.
"I don't think you could handle the truth. But, answer me this and I'll never bring it up again: Do you love him?"
She'd never wanted to hurt someone so badly in her entire life.
She'd never been hurt like this before.
"Yes."
It was a lie, she knew it was, but it didn't matter. She did care for Viktor.
Ron looked away. "Then I'll leave it alone."
He turned on his heel, and walked away.
Hermione sank down to the floor, blinking back tears, and began her silent vigil once again.
***
HAH! I left you in suspense! But, as I stated above, please expect updates to be monthly and pretty short for a while. I'm very busy, and while this is one of my priorities, there are other things I have to deal with. But, I promise you this- even if I'm only getting one review a chapter, I'll finish this, because that means there is at least one person out there who cares.
Please review! They keep me going!
A hug, a blown kiss, and a bunch of "I'm sorry's",
Merusa