One Young Heart
Chapter 10: The War of the Worlds
Hermione reached Gryfindor Tower at midnight, and discovered that a good approximation of the war of the worlds had broken out. Harry and Ron were standing opposite each other; Harry red faced and gasping, wand clasped in his hand; Ron pale and frightened, his wand still tucked away. Vases, textbooks, and chairs were overturned in various corners of the room, with a good collection scattered around Ron's feet. All of Ron's irritation was gone, as his argumentative side always disappeared in a conflict; Harry was in full swing, shouting and breaking things, letting off his forceful personality the only way he could. As Hermione entered, she saw a group of simultaneously frightened and fascinated first years watching their hero and his best friend dukeing it out. It took Hermione, exhausted from her time with Snape, a second to figure out what they were fighting about. Harry cleared that up quickly "How could you abandon me, Ron? What, I suppose you think you're too good to be friends with Harry Potter, hunh? Sick of riding on my coattails, is that it? going off to discover the secrets of time and space, huh? Or maybe you'll throw people into that veil, and see what happens? Bet you'd think that was fun!"
Hermione wanted to scream, to run between the boys and tell Harry how mean he was being, how it wasn't fair to Ron, who'd always taken care to avoid that very thing, that Ron was jealous all the time, but never let Harry know, he'd always run to her instead. But she could see that Harry was off, was letting loose his personal demons. At the mention of the veil, he got a sick look in his eyes, knew, perhaps, that he'd gone too far, but he didn't stop. "You didn't have to worry Ron, you could've told me, we both know that you are smarter than me, after all, you are a prefect, aren't you? Ickle Ronniekins, all grown up. Well, in case you care, Ron, I'd have liked to know that I was losing my friend." Ron had started to speak, but at Harry's final dig, he turned pure white, and, when he looked about to faint, he whispered "I wish I'd known that, Harry. I just thought you'd laugh at me, but if I had known you would get mad I'd have taken Auror lessons with you. I didn't mean to be cruel, but f you think I'm hanging on your coattails, well, I'll just stay out of your way." His strength seemingly exhausted, he sank to his knees and buried his face in his hands.
Hermione wanted to help them, but she sensed that they had to be left alone in this, that she would have to pick sides. And it wouldn't be fair to support Ron. Harry had had a rough few years, and he just needed support. Just then, she felt deathly tired of conflict and sorrow. Silently, she walked between the boys, past the first years, who were now in shock, and climbed the stairs to her dormitory. Behind her, Harry was beggining to understand what he had said to Ron, but unable to take it back. Was this what Voldemort did to people? he wondered frantically. Drove them apart until they had no one to turn to, and then watched them fall to pieces? in the end, he saw no choice but to turn and walk back up the stairs to the dormitory, shooting the first years a death glare as he went. Ron remained in the common room for some time after their footsteps died away.
Chapter 10: The War of the Worlds
Hermione reached Gryfindor Tower at midnight, and discovered that a good approximation of the war of the worlds had broken out. Harry and Ron were standing opposite each other; Harry red faced and gasping, wand clasped in his hand; Ron pale and frightened, his wand still tucked away. Vases, textbooks, and chairs were overturned in various corners of the room, with a good collection scattered around Ron's feet. All of Ron's irritation was gone, as his argumentative side always disappeared in a conflict; Harry was in full swing, shouting and breaking things, letting off his forceful personality the only way he could. As Hermione entered, she saw a group of simultaneously frightened and fascinated first years watching their hero and his best friend dukeing it out. It took Hermione, exhausted from her time with Snape, a second to figure out what they were fighting about. Harry cleared that up quickly "How could you abandon me, Ron? What, I suppose you think you're too good to be friends with Harry Potter, hunh? Sick of riding on my coattails, is that it? going off to discover the secrets of time and space, huh? Or maybe you'll throw people into that veil, and see what happens? Bet you'd think that was fun!"
Hermione wanted to scream, to run between the boys and tell Harry how mean he was being, how it wasn't fair to Ron, who'd always taken care to avoid that very thing, that Ron was jealous all the time, but never let Harry know, he'd always run to her instead. But she could see that Harry was off, was letting loose his personal demons. At the mention of the veil, he got a sick look in his eyes, knew, perhaps, that he'd gone too far, but he didn't stop. "You didn't have to worry Ron, you could've told me, we both know that you are smarter than me, after all, you are a prefect, aren't you? Ickle Ronniekins, all grown up. Well, in case you care, Ron, I'd have liked to know that I was losing my friend." Ron had started to speak, but at Harry's final dig, he turned pure white, and, when he looked about to faint, he whispered "I wish I'd known that, Harry. I just thought you'd laugh at me, but if I had known you would get mad I'd have taken Auror lessons with you. I didn't mean to be cruel, but f you think I'm hanging on your coattails, well, I'll just stay out of your way." His strength seemingly exhausted, he sank to his knees and buried his face in his hands.
Hermione wanted to help them, but she sensed that they had to be left alone in this, that she would have to pick sides. And it wouldn't be fair to support Ron. Harry had had a rough few years, and he just needed support. Just then, she felt deathly tired of conflict and sorrow. Silently, she walked between the boys, past the first years, who were now in shock, and climbed the stairs to her dormitory. Behind her, Harry was beggining to understand what he had said to Ron, but unable to take it back. Was this what Voldemort did to people? he wondered frantically. Drove them apart until they had no one to turn to, and then watched them fall to pieces? in the end, he saw no choice but to turn and walk back up the stairs to the dormitory, shooting the first years a death glare as he went. Ron remained in the common room for some time after their footsteps died away.