Chapter 2
The Break-Up
As Harry and Ginny went downstairs, Ron walked up to Hermione, with a nervous expression on his face.
"Er, Hermione..."
"What, Ron? Is the school burning down?"
Ron was puzzled. "Er, no."
"Oh, then there must be a troll coming to get me."
"Troll? There isn't one."
"Then, if the school isn't in danger, I don't see the point in you talking to me." Hermione walked off.
"But, Hermione...I'm..."
"Yes?"
Ron tried desperately to read what was written on his hand. He had copied what Harry told him to tell Hermione on the back of his hand, so he wouldn't forget and mess up. "I...er...'m fnorry... soo...cen... louu... ffogriev... ne?" He was sure that was not what Harry had said...maybe he'd written it down wrong, or smudged it.
"I WAS hoping you were going to apologise then, but obviously you are too pig-headed to do something that emotional." Hermione snapped.
Ron finally lost his cool. He had been fuming throughout, but enough was enough. "Who said I needed to apologise, Hermione? If anything, YOU should, for blaming me!"
"ME?" Hermione calmed down. "Fine then. If you want to behave so immaturely, you go on and do it. I don't need you, Ronald Weasley."
"Of course you need me." Hermione could detect a slight tremble in Ron's voice. "That's why you're going out with me, isn't it? Ron gulped. He knew what was coming, but hoped desperately that he was wrong.
"I can rectify the situation right now." Hermione hoisted up her sleeve, revealing a golden string bracelet. With one movement, she snapped it. "That's it Ron. I have had it up to here. You are now officially dumped."
The words echoed through the corridor, eventually reaching Harry and Ginny, on their way to breakfast. They looked at each other, and ran back up the corridor. When they reached them, Ron was pleading with Hermione.
"But, you can't dump me, you just can't!"
"And why not?"
"Well, the seventh year ball is coming up, and I won't have anyone to go with...and..."
Ginny squeezed Harry's arm, and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll go with you. You won't be alone."
Hermione interrupted Ron's stuttering. "Is that the only reason? God, I knew you were hopeless, but I didn't think you were this bad."
Harry looked at Hermione. Her eyes were full of tears, one of which was slowly making its way down her alabaster cheek.
"And...and..."Ron gulped, "...I bought you this."
Hermione's expression immediately softened, as Ron took out the little gold box, and opened it. There, inside, was a beautiful necklace, with a pendant hanging from it. The colour of the pendant was such a deep chocolate brown; you would think you see the universe contained inside it.
Hermione carefully took the necklace from its box, lifted her hair up, and put the necklace around it. As she began to fasten it, she said to Ron,
"Where did you get this beautiful necklace? I mean, they don't have jewellery shops in Hogsmeade."
"Oh, I asked Fred and George to get it for me. They left school, and so they can buy stuff from Diagon Alley whenever they want to."
As soon as Ron said the word 'Fred', he blanched. He must have just realised that they weren't the most reliable of people. Still, he had given them 10 Galleons to buy a necklace, so surely they used the money wisely.
Hermione fastened the necklace. The pendant shimmered in the light. She looked at Ron, and her expression became one of gratification.
"So, Hermione... will you go back out with me?"
"Oh, Ron!" she hugged him. "Of course I.........AAARGHHHHHH!!! GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF ME! HEEEEELP!" she shrieked.
The necklace had turned into a huge, slimy green plant, which was firing pus everywhere. Everywhere the pus touched, a boil then grew. Suddenly, tentacles sprung from the plant, growing longer and thicker. They wrapped around Hermione, and rendered her unconscious. Then, finally, it grew root, and implanted itself in the ground.
Meanwhile, two floors below, everyone was eating the special breakfast feast. Suddenly, the enchanted ceiling cracked, (stars and clouds falling everywhere) and two massive roots came through. They went straight down, almost flattening a few Hufflepuff second years. Following the two main roots, another twenty roots followed, which completely destroyed half of Hufflepuff table.
Most of the teachers started firing spells at the root, whilst Professor Sprout tried to identify it. Amidst all the commotion, Dumbledore went to try to find where the plant was.
Upstairs, in the corridor leading from Gryffindor common room, everyone surrounded the plant containing Hermione, and each person tried to get her out.
"Don't worry, Hermione, we'll get you out off there!"
"You'll be out in no time!"
"Hang on! Dumbledore's coming!"
"Eugh, this pus is giving me boils..."
The crowd dispersed, everyone trying to escape from the boil-causing pus. Dumbledore approached quietly, and with a simple 'cuttus' charm, cut the roots off the plant. They immediately turned to powder, which disappeared. Dumbledore gave his orders.
"Will you three," Dumbledore pointed at Ginny, Harry and Ron, "please carry Miss...Granger up to the hospital wing? I need to go and repair Hufflepuff's table. And with that, he walked off.
Madame Pomfrey got rid of the plant in about a minute, and Professor Sprout carried the seed head, which the plant had grown, down to the greenhouses. Hermione was allowed to leave in an hour, but unfortunately, missing 1st period. The others were also kept in, for ½ hour for Ron and Ginny, an hour for Harry. They were all well dosed with 'Boil-o-Gone: as publicised by Gilderoy Lockhart!' and left to rest.
In the hospital wing, they all argued. Ginny taking the side of Ron, and Harry just listening.
"You stupid bastard! I could have died! That plant was lethal!"
"I didn't know it was jinxed...I told you, I thought it was a normal necklace!"
"Yeah; don't blame Ron, blame Fred and George! They were the ones that got it; Ron didn't know what they were going to do, right Harry?" Ginny looked at Harry encouragingly.
"But it was Ron's responsibility to know! He paid for it, I bet you didn't even question Fred and George, did you? And again, what would you have done if I had died? Which, might I remind you, could have happened! Right, Harry?" Hermione looked at Harry expectantly.
Harry gulped. Now, he was expected to give his own opinion. No matter what happened, someone would be pissed off with him. Ginny was his girlfriend, after all! However, Hermione... she was his best friend.
He came out of his thoughts, and looked up to meet the eyes staring at him. Slowly, he told them what he thought. "I think..."
Then he remembered. Why should he be afraid? His best friend could have died. Why should he be scared of telling the truth? He got angrier and angrier with Ron and Ginny.
"Ron. you should have checked that necklace. You know Fred and George; you're their brother for God's sake! How long have you known them? How many pranks have they played on you? You shouldn't be so innocent! Imagine if Hermione had died."
He looked at Hermione. She looked oddly gratified, but there was something else in that look. It looked almost like hatred, because he had betrayed his girlfriend.
"As, and for you, Ginny," he looked at her. She was glaring at him. "As for you, don't express your opinion until you know both sides of an argument. Ron was responsible for the necklace, he should know by now that you can't trust Fred and George. And Ginny, don't expect me to always agree with you. Just because I'm your boyfriend doesn't mean I'm always going to stick up for you. You're behaving like a spoilt child." She glared at him. "OH, JUST GROW UP!!!"
There, he had done it. He looked up, to meet Ron's stare. He couldn't bring himself to look at Ginny.
Ron looked shocked, but embarrassed. "I think you were right, there. I have behaved like a right plonker. I can understand why you mightn't forgive me, Hermione..."
"Good, 'cause I don't!" Hermione wasn't in a very forgiving mood, after nearly being suffocated by a plant.
"...but... I was in the wrong. I'm really sorry."
Harry brought himself to look at Ginny. "Nice speech there, Harry," she said coldly, "but you got one thing wrong."
Harry's heart sank. Two couples in one hour. That must be a new record! "What did I get wrong?" he said blandly.
"You aren't my boyfriend. I never liked you!" Ginny started to cry. "couples stick up for each other, but didn't stick up for me! The only person you stick up for is your perfect," she spoke the word with distaste, "absolutely perfect prissy girlfriend Hermione!" she finished triumphantly.
Harry was at a loss for words. "Ron...I...I'm not going out with Hermione, I swear! I never have done!"
"Don't worry Harry, I believe you. You tried to help me, I just messed up. Hermione," he said awkwardly, "d'ya think we can go back to just being friends?"
"Sure!" she said brightly.
"Oh, and one more thing..."
"What's that, Ron?" Hermione was slightly nervous.
"Did you EVER fancy me?"
"Er...kinda...at the beginning..."
Just as Hermione was getting really hot under the collar, Madame Pomfrey came in, and shooed out Ron and Ginny. Ron grinned at Harry and Hermione, and Ginny glowered at them. Then, it was just the two of them.
Hermione got out her quill, and wrote a letter to Harry. It said 'Harry 'Thank you for standing up for me. 'You have always protected me. 'You are a great friend. 'I really like you. 'Don't tell Ron, but I only felt sorry for him. 'I need your advice, because you're such a mate.'
Harry started to read more eagerly.
'I really fancy this guy. 'He's in Ravenclaw. 'I don't know if he likes me. 'What should I do? 'Mione'
Harry's heart fell. She didn't feel the same about him. He wrote back,
'Mione 'Let him make the first move. 'Drop a few hints 'Just don't tell him. 'Guys like to be in control. 'We like to make the first move 'We get really embarrassed if the girl does. 'We say no, if the girl tells us, or we avoid them. 'Don't tell him, or face rejection 'Hope this helped, 'Harry' Hermione's heart also sank. She couldn't believe that Harry misinterpreted that letter. 'Boys can be so thick sometimes' she thought.
It was too late for any further letters. Madame Pomfrey came in, told them they could go, and they went. Harry went to Care of Magical Creatures, whilst Hermione went to Arithmancy.
It was only when Harry was helping care for the Thestrals, when he realised what Hermione was trying to say.
"Harry Potter, you fool! She likes you, and you missed your chance!" he said aloud, attracting a few odd glances.
'Oh well, hopefully there will be a second chance...'he thought glumly.
A/N Hopefully this will be more understandable. I got several reviews saying they lost track of who was saying what, so I updated chapter 1, and my beta has told me this chapter is far easier to understand.
If you are a first-timer, or just crap at spelling, I will beta for you! First three people only, though, because there are only 24 hours in a day! Don't worry, I am a great speller; I come first in any spelling competitions/ bees.
Oh, and think this is getting strange? Wait until next chapter. You will get the final battle, but not now. Wait and see...
PLEASE KEEP R&Ring!
Thanks for reading so far.
Your pal,
introducing ginny
As Harry and Ginny went downstairs, Ron walked up to Hermione, with a nervous expression on his face.
"Er, Hermione..."
"What, Ron? Is the school burning down?"
Ron was puzzled. "Er, no."
"Oh, then there must be a troll coming to get me."
"Troll? There isn't one."
"Then, if the school isn't in danger, I don't see the point in you talking to me." Hermione walked off.
"But, Hermione...I'm..."
"Yes?"
Ron tried desperately to read what was written on his hand. He had copied what Harry told him to tell Hermione on the back of his hand, so he wouldn't forget and mess up. "I...er...'m fnorry... soo...cen... louu... ffogriev... ne?" He was sure that was not what Harry had said...maybe he'd written it down wrong, or smudged it.
"I WAS hoping you were going to apologise then, but obviously you are too pig-headed to do something that emotional." Hermione snapped.
Ron finally lost his cool. He had been fuming throughout, but enough was enough. "Who said I needed to apologise, Hermione? If anything, YOU should, for blaming me!"
"ME?" Hermione calmed down. "Fine then. If you want to behave so immaturely, you go on and do it. I don't need you, Ronald Weasley."
"Of course you need me." Hermione could detect a slight tremble in Ron's voice. "That's why you're going out with me, isn't it? Ron gulped. He knew what was coming, but hoped desperately that he was wrong.
"I can rectify the situation right now." Hermione hoisted up her sleeve, revealing a golden string bracelet. With one movement, she snapped it. "That's it Ron. I have had it up to here. You are now officially dumped."
The words echoed through the corridor, eventually reaching Harry and Ginny, on their way to breakfast. They looked at each other, and ran back up the corridor. When they reached them, Ron was pleading with Hermione.
"But, you can't dump me, you just can't!"
"And why not?"
"Well, the seventh year ball is coming up, and I won't have anyone to go with...and..."
Ginny squeezed Harry's arm, and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll go with you. You won't be alone."
Hermione interrupted Ron's stuttering. "Is that the only reason? God, I knew you were hopeless, but I didn't think you were this bad."
Harry looked at Hermione. Her eyes were full of tears, one of which was slowly making its way down her alabaster cheek.
"And...and..."Ron gulped, "...I bought you this."
Hermione's expression immediately softened, as Ron took out the little gold box, and opened it. There, inside, was a beautiful necklace, with a pendant hanging from it. The colour of the pendant was such a deep chocolate brown; you would think you see the universe contained inside it.
Hermione carefully took the necklace from its box, lifted her hair up, and put the necklace around it. As she began to fasten it, she said to Ron,
"Where did you get this beautiful necklace? I mean, they don't have jewellery shops in Hogsmeade."
"Oh, I asked Fred and George to get it for me. They left school, and so they can buy stuff from Diagon Alley whenever they want to."
As soon as Ron said the word 'Fred', he blanched. He must have just realised that they weren't the most reliable of people. Still, he had given them 10 Galleons to buy a necklace, so surely they used the money wisely.
Hermione fastened the necklace. The pendant shimmered in the light. She looked at Ron, and her expression became one of gratification.
"So, Hermione... will you go back out with me?"
"Oh, Ron!" she hugged him. "Of course I.........AAARGHHHHHH!!! GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF ME! HEEEEELP!" she shrieked.
The necklace had turned into a huge, slimy green plant, which was firing pus everywhere. Everywhere the pus touched, a boil then grew. Suddenly, tentacles sprung from the plant, growing longer and thicker. They wrapped around Hermione, and rendered her unconscious. Then, finally, it grew root, and implanted itself in the ground.
Meanwhile, two floors below, everyone was eating the special breakfast feast. Suddenly, the enchanted ceiling cracked, (stars and clouds falling everywhere) and two massive roots came through. They went straight down, almost flattening a few Hufflepuff second years. Following the two main roots, another twenty roots followed, which completely destroyed half of Hufflepuff table.
Most of the teachers started firing spells at the root, whilst Professor Sprout tried to identify it. Amidst all the commotion, Dumbledore went to try to find where the plant was.
Upstairs, in the corridor leading from Gryffindor common room, everyone surrounded the plant containing Hermione, and each person tried to get her out.
"Don't worry, Hermione, we'll get you out off there!"
"You'll be out in no time!"
"Hang on! Dumbledore's coming!"
"Eugh, this pus is giving me boils..."
The crowd dispersed, everyone trying to escape from the boil-causing pus. Dumbledore approached quietly, and with a simple 'cuttus' charm, cut the roots off the plant. They immediately turned to powder, which disappeared. Dumbledore gave his orders.
"Will you three," Dumbledore pointed at Ginny, Harry and Ron, "please carry Miss...Granger up to the hospital wing? I need to go and repair Hufflepuff's table. And with that, he walked off.
Madame Pomfrey got rid of the plant in about a minute, and Professor Sprout carried the seed head, which the plant had grown, down to the greenhouses. Hermione was allowed to leave in an hour, but unfortunately, missing 1st period. The others were also kept in, for ½ hour for Ron and Ginny, an hour for Harry. They were all well dosed with 'Boil-o-Gone: as publicised by Gilderoy Lockhart!' and left to rest.
In the hospital wing, they all argued. Ginny taking the side of Ron, and Harry just listening.
"You stupid bastard! I could have died! That plant was lethal!"
"I didn't know it was jinxed...I told you, I thought it was a normal necklace!"
"Yeah; don't blame Ron, blame Fred and George! They were the ones that got it; Ron didn't know what they were going to do, right Harry?" Ginny looked at Harry encouragingly.
"But it was Ron's responsibility to know! He paid for it, I bet you didn't even question Fred and George, did you? And again, what would you have done if I had died? Which, might I remind you, could have happened! Right, Harry?" Hermione looked at Harry expectantly.
Harry gulped. Now, he was expected to give his own opinion. No matter what happened, someone would be pissed off with him. Ginny was his girlfriend, after all! However, Hermione... she was his best friend.
He came out of his thoughts, and looked up to meet the eyes staring at him. Slowly, he told them what he thought. "I think..."
Then he remembered. Why should he be afraid? His best friend could have died. Why should he be scared of telling the truth? He got angrier and angrier with Ron and Ginny.
"Ron. you should have checked that necklace. You know Fred and George; you're their brother for God's sake! How long have you known them? How many pranks have they played on you? You shouldn't be so innocent! Imagine if Hermione had died."
He looked at Hermione. She looked oddly gratified, but there was something else in that look. It looked almost like hatred, because he had betrayed his girlfriend.
"As, and for you, Ginny," he looked at her. She was glaring at him. "As for you, don't express your opinion until you know both sides of an argument. Ron was responsible for the necklace, he should know by now that you can't trust Fred and George. And Ginny, don't expect me to always agree with you. Just because I'm your boyfriend doesn't mean I'm always going to stick up for you. You're behaving like a spoilt child." She glared at him. "OH, JUST GROW UP!!!"
There, he had done it. He looked up, to meet Ron's stare. He couldn't bring himself to look at Ginny.
Ron looked shocked, but embarrassed. "I think you were right, there. I have behaved like a right plonker. I can understand why you mightn't forgive me, Hermione..."
"Good, 'cause I don't!" Hermione wasn't in a very forgiving mood, after nearly being suffocated by a plant.
"...but... I was in the wrong. I'm really sorry."
Harry brought himself to look at Ginny. "Nice speech there, Harry," she said coldly, "but you got one thing wrong."
Harry's heart sank. Two couples in one hour. That must be a new record! "What did I get wrong?" he said blandly.
"You aren't my boyfriend. I never liked you!" Ginny started to cry. "couples stick up for each other, but didn't stick up for me! The only person you stick up for is your perfect," she spoke the word with distaste, "absolutely perfect prissy girlfriend Hermione!" she finished triumphantly.
Harry was at a loss for words. "Ron...I...I'm not going out with Hermione, I swear! I never have done!"
"Don't worry Harry, I believe you. You tried to help me, I just messed up. Hermione," he said awkwardly, "d'ya think we can go back to just being friends?"
"Sure!" she said brightly.
"Oh, and one more thing..."
"What's that, Ron?" Hermione was slightly nervous.
"Did you EVER fancy me?"
"Er...kinda...at the beginning..."
Just as Hermione was getting really hot under the collar, Madame Pomfrey came in, and shooed out Ron and Ginny. Ron grinned at Harry and Hermione, and Ginny glowered at them. Then, it was just the two of them.
Hermione got out her quill, and wrote a letter to Harry. It said 'Harry 'Thank you for standing up for me. 'You have always protected me. 'You are a great friend. 'I really like you. 'Don't tell Ron, but I only felt sorry for him. 'I need your advice, because you're such a mate.'
Harry started to read more eagerly.
'I really fancy this guy. 'He's in Ravenclaw. 'I don't know if he likes me. 'What should I do? 'Mione'
Harry's heart fell. She didn't feel the same about him. He wrote back,
'Mione 'Let him make the first move. 'Drop a few hints 'Just don't tell him. 'Guys like to be in control. 'We like to make the first move 'We get really embarrassed if the girl does. 'We say no, if the girl tells us, or we avoid them. 'Don't tell him, or face rejection 'Hope this helped, 'Harry' Hermione's heart also sank. She couldn't believe that Harry misinterpreted that letter. 'Boys can be so thick sometimes' she thought.
It was too late for any further letters. Madame Pomfrey came in, told them they could go, and they went. Harry went to Care of Magical Creatures, whilst Hermione went to Arithmancy.
It was only when Harry was helping care for the Thestrals, when he realised what Hermione was trying to say.
"Harry Potter, you fool! She likes you, and you missed your chance!" he said aloud, attracting a few odd glances.
'Oh well, hopefully there will be a second chance...'he thought glumly.
A/N Hopefully this will be more understandable. I got several reviews saying they lost track of who was saying what, so I updated chapter 1, and my beta has told me this chapter is far easier to understand.
If you are a first-timer, or just crap at spelling, I will beta for you! First three people only, though, because there are only 24 hours in a day! Don't worry, I am a great speller; I come first in any spelling competitions/ bees.
Oh, and think this is getting strange? Wait until next chapter. You will get the final battle, but not now. Wait and see...
PLEASE KEEP R&Ring!
Thanks for reading so far.
Your pal,
introducing ginny