Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter.
Chapter Two:
Ron Weasley was sitting in his bedroom, reading a book on the Chudley Cannons when he heard his mother's voice calling out his name. Curious as to what could be the problem now he stood and made his way to the door. "What?" he yelled standing in the doorway and was surprised to hear his mother announce that Hermione was at the house. An excited grin fell onto his face and he quickly hurried downstairs. He was however, not greeted by the usual smiling Hermione he remembered. This Hermione in front of him was too thin and her face was pale with worry. There was something in her eyes that made Ron worry and he looked at his mother, whose eyes were fixed on Hermione, a motherly concern in them.
"Hermione?" Ron said carefully. Hermione was staring off into space, at nothing but seemingly at something that had engrossed her attention quite well. She looked up at the sound of his voice and a small and weak smile curved her lips slightly. Taking a step towards him the smile grew until finally she looked almost normal. Her arms came around him and she held onto him for a second longer than she normally would have. This surprised Ron but he said nothing and as they pulled away he gave her a warm and welcoming smile. "I'll tell Ginny that you've arrived" he said and Hermione nodded.
Ron was worried about her and as he made his way to his younger sister's room he wondered what was upsetting Hermione. He hadn't even been told that she leaving her home. Harry had owled him saying that Hermione had sent him a letter the muggle way saying she needed to get away for a while. Both Ron and Harry had found it slightly strange but had not tried to contact Hermione. If being away and having a little time off from things was what she needed then they would not intrude on that solitude. But now that Ron had seen Hermione he wasn't so sure that his and Harry's decision to not question her sudden need for a departure had been a good thing.
"Ginny" Ron said, knocking on his sister's door. After a loud thump, indicating that Ginny had either been surprised or fallen out of bed, and much muffled muttering from behind the thick door, Ginny's red haired head peaked out from around the door as it opened partially. Her hair was tousled and she rubbed one eye sleepily. A yawn skewed her features and then she glared at him.
"What do you want Ron" she said in annoyance. She hated being woken up, even if it WAS long past noon and she needed to wake. Ron gave her a surprised look.
"Still sleeping?" he asked and Ginny just glared at him. "Oh alright Gin, calm down. I was just telling you Hermione's here, and warning that she doesn't seem quite herself..." he trailed off. Ginny's eyes widened in surprise and she allowed her door to swing open all the way. Instantly Ron's face went red and Ginny's quickly followed. She was wearing nothing but a very revealing night shirt and extremely small and tight shorts. Wishing he had never seen that sight Ron turned around muttering under his breath about damn girls and their need to always be scantily dressed.
Her face bright red Ginny quickly closed the door and a few seconds later emerged with her bathrobe firmly secured, hiding her previously exposed body. She gave Ron a weak smile "you said she doesn't seem herself?" Ginny asked and Ron nodded, not meeting his sister's eyes. With an exasperated sigh Ginny threw her hands in the air "Ron Weasley, come on, you didn't even see anything and if you HAD, well then I would not be standing here talking to you!" Ginny cried. Ron looked at her and then shook his head.
"I saw more than I wanted" he muttered. With a sigh Ginny stalked past her brother to go and greet her friend, all the while wondering what in the world could be wrong that would make Hermione not act like herself.
Later that night Hermione lay in Ginny's bed not really thinking but just staring off into space. No one had treated her any different, but they had seemed somewhat concerned for her, which was to be expected. Truthfully, she was a lot skinnier than she had ever been before, and at times more skittish than normal. Her habit of drifting off into her thoughts had occurred at dinner, but Ginny had merely nudged her arm, not saying one word at all. Hermione was grateful that no one was pressing the matter, or trying to get her to talk about what was wrong, because it was so evident that something WAS wrong. It must also be just as evident to them that she wasn't ready to delve into that with them.
Rolling onto her side she listened to the quietness of the house, only disrupted now and then by the loud snores of Mr. Weasley in another room. A smile played across Hermione's lips as she realized this was the first moment all summer that she had actually been glad to be alive. She had missed her friends dearly.
The next morning Hermione descended the stairs into the kitchen with her hair completely disheveled and a sour look on her face, followed by an almost identical Ginny, minus the red hair, shorter height, and well, everything but the state of her hair and the look on her face. Mr. Weasley looked up from the Daily Prophet, which he was reading, and saw the two girls. He laughed and glanced over at his wife who was dishing food onto plates. "Looks like these two girls woke up on the wrong side of the planet today" he said lightly and Mrs. Weasley chuckled.
"Well, perhaps we wouldn't have if that son of yours Ronald Weasley would NOT allow his flying PIG to disrupt us in our sleep" Ginny growled. Mr. Weasley laughed again. Pigwidgeon (a/n: please let me know if spelled that wrong), Ron's very small owl had incredible amounts of energy and on occasion even Ron woke in the same annoyed fashion at the tiny bird.
As Ginny and Hermione sat down Ron entered the room. He glared at Ginny and then sat down on the complete other side of the table. Hermione tried to hide a smile, but Mr. And Mrs. Weasley saw it and looked from Ron to Ginny. "What mess are you two making while we have company?" Neither one spoke for a moment and then Mrs. Weasley crossed her arms and stared sternly at each in turn. "OUT WITH IT, this unexceptable Virginia and Ronald Weasley, to be behaving towards each other in this manner when company is present!" she said. Hermione wanted to say that it was all right, really, but refrained, not wanting to be given a look that meant to shut her mouth and let Molly Weasley do her job at teaching her two youngest children some manners.
Ron said nothing but looked at Ginny who in turn gave him a weak smile. "'m sorry Ron for" and after that she was mumbling so badly no one could understand her. Mrs. Weasley gave her a look and Ginny sighed. "FINE, look Ron, I am SORRY that I hit Pig with my book but he was bothering me and it was the first thing I saw" Ginny said and Mrs. Weasley's eyes opened wider in horror as Mr. Weasley chuckled good naturedly at the thought.
"Virginia Weasley, how could you?" Mrs. Weasley asked horrified. Ginny just gave her a look and shrugged her shoulders.
"If you had been in the situation you would have too mum" she said and that was the end of that conversation. Ron seemed somewhat satisfied but still refused to talk to Ginny. The rest of the meal went by with the Weasleys asking Hermione where she had spent her summer, since she had been away from home. Hermione looked away from them at first and then smiled.
"Various places in London" she said and then looked down at her food and continued to eat in silence. No one further broached the subject, but all of the Weasleys exchanged concerned looks.
The few remaining weeks of Summer went by quickly, and Hermione soon forgot all about the horrors that haunted her past, well not completely, but she did think about them much less and she seemed healthier and happier. The day that Harry came to visit, the very last day of summer, she and Ron had been alone in his yard, waiting for him to arrive when Ron had suddenly turned to her, his blue eyes filled with concern, and something else that Hermione could not quite place.
"Mione, what happened?" he asked and then seeing the look on her face turn from happy to suddenly nervous he added quickly, "and I know you don't want to talk about, so that's why I haven't said anything so far, but I am really worried about you Hermione... sometimes at night I can hear you cry... and I don't want you to be hurt like that Hermione" he said looking into her eyes. Hermione was surprised. She had always known Ron had cared about her, because he was her best friend, but she had never known him to really express things like his worry outright to her, normally she heard it through Harry, because, well Ron was nervous with girls, he didn't know how to handle them.
"Ron, it's not something I want to talk about..." Hermione said slowly, afraid that she would offend him but he just nodded and gave her a warm smile.
"Don't worry about it Mione, whenever you are ready, and if that's never, then that is fine with me as well" he said touching her arm lightly. Hermione smiled back and then it hit her, what that other look was in his eye. It was love.
Harry arrived to find Hermione and Ron sitting alone together outside the Burrow. He had never been more excited in his life, except for when he had found out he was a wizard, and learned Sirius was innocent, and when he had fallen for Ginny, and in that tiny moment when he thought he had won the triwizard cup. Well, perhaps it wasn't the most exciting moment in his life, but he was extremely delighted to see his friends and eager to start his final year at Hogwarts.
"Hey Harry" Ron said looking up and seeing his friend. Harry gave them a big smile and hurried to join them. Without caring Harry pulled Ron into a hug, and his friend wasn't embarrassed to hug him back. Hermione was then enveloped in a similar but more gentle hug. She seemed somewhat fragile. And after they had exchanged hellos and said what they had each done over summer, Harry having done nothing due to the Dursleys and Ron visiting Charlie in Romania briefly while Hermione had "visited" London, they sat down and talked excitedly about what the new year might bring. Hermione didn't seem quiet as worried with school as she normally was, and she seemed preoccupied. Harry noticed that she seemed to sneak quick glances at Ron, in which she wore a confused look on her face. He wondered what that was all about.
Authors Note: Yes, I know the chapters are incredibly short, and I am fixing that with this one, which obviously is not. From now on I will try to continue to add to the story instead of just leaving it short. Thank you for your comment Chisox727, it really was helpful, and I am glad you are interested. And the man from the doorway will be explained in a later chapter. Sorry if this was boring... Please R&R. thanks.
Chapter Two:
Ron Weasley was sitting in his bedroom, reading a book on the Chudley Cannons when he heard his mother's voice calling out his name. Curious as to what could be the problem now he stood and made his way to the door. "What?" he yelled standing in the doorway and was surprised to hear his mother announce that Hermione was at the house. An excited grin fell onto his face and he quickly hurried downstairs. He was however, not greeted by the usual smiling Hermione he remembered. This Hermione in front of him was too thin and her face was pale with worry. There was something in her eyes that made Ron worry and he looked at his mother, whose eyes were fixed on Hermione, a motherly concern in them.
"Hermione?" Ron said carefully. Hermione was staring off into space, at nothing but seemingly at something that had engrossed her attention quite well. She looked up at the sound of his voice and a small and weak smile curved her lips slightly. Taking a step towards him the smile grew until finally she looked almost normal. Her arms came around him and she held onto him for a second longer than she normally would have. This surprised Ron but he said nothing and as they pulled away he gave her a warm and welcoming smile. "I'll tell Ginny that you've arrived" he said and Hermione nodded.
Ron was worried about her and as he made his way to his younger sister's room he wondered what was upsetting Hermione. He hadn't even been told that she leaving her home. Harry had owled him saying that Hermione had sent him a letter the muggle way saying she needed to get away for a while. Both Ron and Harry had found it slightly strange but had not tried to contact Hermione. If being away and having a little time off from things was what she needed then they would not intrude on that solitude. But now that Ron had seen Hermione he wasn't so sure that his and Harry's decision to not question her sudden need for a departure had been a good thing.
"Ginny" Ron said, knocking on his sister's door. After a loud thump, indicating that Ginny had either been surprised or fallen out of bed, and much muffled muttering from behind the thick door, Ginny's red haired head peaked out from around the door as it opened partially. Her hair was tousled and she rubbed one eye sleepily. A yawn skewed her features and then she glared at him.
"What do you want Ron" she said in annoyance. She hated being woken up, even if it WAS long past noon and she needed to wake. Ron gave her a surprised look.
"Still sleeping?" he asked and Ginny just glared at him. "Oh alright Gin, calm down. I was just telling you Hermione's here, and warning that she doesn't seem quite herself..." he trailed off. Ginny's eyes widened in surprise and she allowed her door to swing open all the way. Instantly Ron's face went red and Ginny's quickly followed. She was wearing nothing but a very revealing night shirt and extremely small and tight shorts. Wishing he had never seen that sight Ron turned around muttering under his breath about damn girls and their need to always be scantily dressed.
Her face bright red Ginny quickly closed the door and a few seconds later emerged with her bathrobe firmly secured, hiding her previously exposed body. She gave Ron a weak smile "you said she doesn't seem herself?" Ginny asked and Ron nodded, not meeting his sister's eyes. With an exasperated sigh Ginny threw her hands in the air "Ron Weasley, come on, you didn't even see anything and if you HAD, well then I would not be standing here talking to you!" Ginny cried. Ron looked at her and then shook his head.
"I saw more than I wanted" he muttered. With a sigh Ginny stalked past her brother to go and greet her friend, all the while wondering what in the world could be wrong that would make Hermione not act like herself.
Later that night Hermione lay in Ginny's bed not really thinking but just staring off into space. No one had treated her any different, but they had seemed somewhat concerned for her, which was to be expected. Truthfully, she was a lot skinnier than she had ever been before, and at times more skittish than normal. Her habit of drifting off into her thoughts had occurred at dinner, but Ginny had merely nudged her arm, not saying one word at all. Hermione was grateful that no one was pressing the matter, or trying to get her to talk about what was wrong, because it was so evident that something WAS wrong. It must also be just as evident to them that she wasn't ready to delve into that with them.
Rolling onto her side she listened to the quietness of the house, only disrupted now and then by the loud snores of Mr. Weasley in another room. A smile played across Hermione's lips as she realized this was the first moment all summer that she had actually been glad to be alive. She had missed her friends dearly.
The next morning Hermione descended the stairs into the kitchen with her hair completely disheveled and a sour look on her face, followed by an almost identical Ginny, minus the red hair, shorter height, and well, everything but the state of her hair and the look on her face. Mr. Weasley looked up from the Daily Prophet, which he was reading, and saw the two girls. He laughed and glanced over at his wife who was dishing food onto plates. "Looks like these two girls woke up on the wrong side of the planet today" he said lightly and Mrs. Weasley chuckled.
"Well, perhaps we wouldn't have if that son of yours Ronald Weasley would NOT allow his flying PIG to disrupt us in our sleep" Ginny growled. Mr. Weasley laughed again. Pigwidgeon (a/n: please let me know if spelled that wrong), Ron's very small owl had incredible amounts of energy and on occasion even Ron woke in the same annoyed fashion at the tiny bird.
As Ginny and Hermione sat down Ron entered the room. He glared at Ginny and then sat down on the complete other side of the table. Hermione tried to hide a smile, but Mr. And Mrs. Weasley saw it and looked from Ron to Ginny. "What mess are you two making while we have company?" Neither one spoke for a moment and then Mrs. Weasley crossed her arms and stared sternly at each in turn. "OUT WITH IT, this unexceptable Virginia and Ronald Weasley, to be behaving towards each other in this manner when company is present!" she said. Hermione wanted to say that it was all right, really, but refrained, not wanting to be given a look that meant to shut her mouth and let Molly Weasley do her job at teaching her two youngest children some manners.
Ron said nothing but looked at Ginny who in turn gave him a weak smile. "'m sorry Ron for" and after that she was mumbling so badly no one could understand her. Mrs. Weasley gave her a look and Ginny sighed. "FINE, look Ron, I am SORRY that I hit Pig with my book but he was bothering me and it was the first thing I saw" Ginny said and Mrs. Weasley's eyes opened wider in horror as Mr. Weasley chuckled good naturedly at the thought.
"Virginia Weasley, how could you?" Mrs. Weasley asked horrified. Ginny just gave her a look and shrugged her shoulders.
"If you had been in the situation you would have too mum" she said and that was the end of that conversation. Ron seemed somewhat satisfied but still refused to talk to Ginny. The rest of the meal went by with the Weasleys asking Hermione where she had spent her summer, since she had been away from home. Hermione looked away from them at first and then smiled.
"Various places in London" she said and then looked down at her food and continued to eat in silence. No one further broached the subject, but all of the Weasleys exchanged concerned looks.
The few remaining weeks of Summer went by quickly, and Hermione soon forgot all about the horrors that haunted her past, well not completely, but she did think about them much less and she seemed healthier and happier. The day that Harry came to visit, the very last day of summer, she and Ron had been alone in his yard, waiting for him to arrive when Ron had suddenly turned to her, his blue eyes filled with concern, and something else that Hermione could not quite place.
"Mione, what happened?" he asked and then seeing the look on her face turn from happy to suddenly nervous he added quickly, "and I know you don't want to talk about, so that's why I haven't said anything so far, but I am really worried about you Hermione... sometimes at night I can hear you cry... and I don't want you to be hurt like that Hermione" he said looking into her eyes. Hermione was surprised. She had always known Ron had cared about her, because he was her best friend, but she had never known him to really express things like his worry outright to her, normally she heard it through Harry, because, well Ron was nervous with girls, he didn't know how to handle them.
"Ron, it's not something I want to talk about..." Hermione said slowly, afraid that she would offend him but he just nodded and gave her a warm smile.
"Don't worry about it Mione, whenever you are ready, and if that's never, then that is fine with me as well" he said touching her arm lightly. Hermione smiled back and then it hit her, what that other look was in his eye. It was love.
Harry arrived to find Hermione and Ron sitting alone together outside the Burrow. He had never been more excited in his life, except for when he had found out he was a wizard, and learned Sirius was innocent, and when he had fallen for Ginny, and in that tiny moment when he thought he had won the triwizard cup. Well, perhaps it wasn't the most exciting moment in his life, but he was extremely delighted to see his friends and eager to start his final year at Hogwarts.
"Hey Harry" Ron said looking up and seeing his friend. Harry gave them a big smile and hurried to join them. Without caring Harry pulled Ron into a hug, and his friend wasn't embarrassed to hug him back. Hermione was then enveloped in a similar but more gentle hug. She seemed somewhat fragile. And after they had exchanged hellos and said what they had each done over summer, Harry having done nothing due to the Dursleys and Ron visiting Charlie in Romania briefly while Hermione had "visited" London, they sat down and talked excitedly about what the new year might bring. Hermione didn't seem quiet as worried with school as she normally was, and she seemed preoccupied. Harry noticed that she seemed to sneak quick glances at Ron, in which she wore a confused look on her face. He wondered what that was all about.
Authors Note: Yes, I know the chapters are incredibly short, and I am fixing that with this one, which obviously is not. From now on I will try to continue to add to the story instead of just leaving it short. Thank you for your comment Chisox727, it really was helpful, and I am glad you are interested. And the man from the doorway will be explained in a later chapter. Sorry if this was boring... Please R&R. thanks.