(A/N: Hey everyone…for those of you who have been reading my story…and also have been a bit disappointed with me for not updating soon enough…I'm really sorry. One specific reason that I haven't updated for a while though is because I had started this next chapter maybe about 2 months ago or so…and my mom coincidentally decided to delete it because she had no idea what it was. That put me back a little in terms of writing again…after that I had forgotten the title of my chapter and I'm still not sure that this is what it was. Oh well, enough with the stalling…let's get to the next chapter…I think you've all waited long enough =0) Thanks to reviewers.)
A Cause For A Broken HeartRon stood before the entire school as students sat wide-eyed, breakfast plates long forgotten, and he sighed, not out of relief but out of grief and distress. This year was turning out to be a nightmare…and far more complicated than ever because Hermione was involved. Professor McGonagall faced Ron as the lines in her face spelled out panic. Harry stood beside Ron--after hearing what Ron said—as though for support.
"Oh my word," Harry heard Professor McGonagall murmur to herself. Harry suddenly felt remorseful at the fact that teachers and staff had to deal with such loss throughout their years at Hogwarts and he had never realized it before until now. Professor McGonagall turned around quickly and scanned the Great Hall to find nothing but faces full of fear, anguish and confusion.
"Alright! First of all," Professor McGonagall searched for the proper words to say, "I would like for students to remain calm and listen carefully for the following instructions I will be giving you. Prefects will be leading students back to their common rooms and remain there until your Head of House reports to you and informs you that it is safe to go on to your classes. Teachers and staff will follow me!" Professor McGonagall projected her voice so that everyone would snap back to their senses and realize what she was telling them to do. She was about to dismiss everyone when—
"Alright then do as you are told now—"
"PLEASE REMAIN SEATED!!" Professor Dumbledore bellowed so as to make sure everyone heard him over the commotion. Ron, Harry and Professor McGonagall spun around to find that Professor Dumbledore was standing directly behind them in the entrance of the Great Hall and he looked considerably calm. The Great Hall grew quiet once again and everyone who had risen from their seats slowly began to seat themselves once more.
"It looks as though my trip to the Ministry of Magic was faster than expected and so I would like for students to remain here in the Great Hall instead of proceeding to your first class while the staff and I search the castle and get things sorted out. When it is time for you all to report to your second class we will return with further instructions. One prefect from each house will be in charge of his or her own house and the Head Boy and Head Girl will be keeping order throughout the hall. The Head Boy and Head Girl will be prohibited from allowing students in or out of the Great Hall. Mr. Filch and Mrs. Norris will be accompanying you, as well. Thank you, that is all." Dumbledore finished speaking and all the teachers followed him out of the Great Hall after the students saw him talking to Ron about where he had "stumbled upon" Jake. As the staff followed Dumbledore out of the Great Hall doors Harry walked with Ron back over to the Gryffindor table and sat down to see if they would even be able to finish their breakfast. Ron, Harry was sure of it, had probably lost his appetite.
"Ron…um, are you going to be alright?" Hermione asked Ron. She was concerned and now starting to feel sorry for the way she had treated Ron earlier, especially since he had to endure the sight of Jakes body after she gave him attitude.
"Look Hermione," Ron began telling her, "I'm pretty sure I don't want to speak with you at the moment. I don't want to get you upset and I'm not trying to tell you off just for the sake of it, you can tell because of the fact that I'm acting so calm. But, the fact of the matter is…I don't know how to deal with you." Harry, Ginny, and everyone else surrounding them were watching, listening carefully to Ron's unusually still, spiteful words. Ron continued, "I woke up today thinking I'll talk to Hermione, I'll tell her everything," Hermione's golden eyes had a natural glitter but Harry soon saw, unfortunately, that her glint was more that of the tears that now filled them. "I went down to the common room and you barely said a word that was polite in some way, shape, or form, so, naturally I figured I'd go on after you. I was just so lucky enough, though, to be able to catch you have a little get together with Draco bloody Malfoy." Everyone's eyes bulged just slightly; when Ron was telling Hermione to get over herself and calmly to top it all off…he was just a tad bit dangerous. They also couldn't understand why on earth Hermione would have to go see Malfoy. "After I established the fact that you looked like you enjoyed speaking with him and saw you come down here for breakfast I was once again so INCREDIBLY BLESSED as to be on my way to breakfast and come across Jake. Oh no, don't worry it wasn't Jake they way he usually is, see because he's normally ALIVE." By this time Hermione had already broken down into quiet sobs trying to listen to what else Ron had to tell her. She was like a new puppy, whimpering in the corner while its master was scolding it. "I saw him hanging from a bloody rope Hermione…a damn rope tied around his neck and he was dangling from who the hell knows what. I couldn't see anything, Hermione he was hanging in mid-air. It was absolutely ridiculous and yet, you ask me, 'Are you going to be alright?' No… 'Mione I honestly don't think I'll ever be alright, as long as you're here to make me feel so complicated as I do right now, I won't EVER be 'alright'." Ron made his big finish and everyone at the Gryffindor table suddenly felt a wave of unhappiness wash over them. Ron turned away from Hermione and stared at the table in front of him, he didn't dare look up at anyone, and he could already feel their gazes focusing on him. Hermione kept weeping away and put her head down so no one could see her face and her almost silent sobs and gasps for air were muffled. Harry felt so sorry for both of them but for Hermione most of all, because she had wanted Ron so much and now Harry knew she probably felt as if she would never receive anything more than a somewhat friendly affection from Ron. Harry reached out and put his hand on Hermione's shoulder, softly rubbing her back trying to calm her. As far as everyone else, they thought of this day as the most depressing so far out of the entire school year and many students feared this would not be the last. The Great Hall was once again hushed except for the occasional sound of people whispering to one another or girls' sobs.
Around the time that students would normally be going to their second class, Dumbledore showed up, as well as the other teachers who were with him. Dumbledore made an announcement saying that it would be safe for everyone to return to their dormitories and stay there until it was time to come back down to the Great Hall for lunch, then the teachers would escort the students to their scheduled classes for the rest of the afternoon. As Dumbledore finished saying all of this students slowly began to get out of their seats and head toward the doors to the Great Hall. Harry got up and waited to see if Hermione had stopped crying. But as soon as Dumbledore made his announcement she rose out of her seat she walked toward the entrance to the Great Hall without even a second glance at anyone who was seated around her. She calmly walked out of the hall, yet she looked so unimaginably hurt. Ron didn't say anything either, he just walked out of the hall and if he and Hermione weren't both in Gryffindor Harry would say that Ron was following Hermione, however, that was not the case. Since Ron and Hermione had both left Harry there he figured he wouldn't let them get to him.
"Ginny, walk with me?" Harry asked Ron's sister.
"Sure," Ginny had a half-heart smile but it seemed to upset Harry that her eyes had a gloomy look to them. She wasn't happy.
Hermione walked through the portrait hole to Gryffindor tower but she was no longer crying, she was worse, she felt like she'd lost all hope for her and Ron. She felt as though she was nothing but a vegetable, like she just was, or she just is. She felt like she didn't have much of a purpose unless it was to pester everyone to death. The fact that she was just being herself depressed her even more. If people don't like me for being myself than that can't possibly be a good thing, Hermione thought miserably. Ron came in through the portrait hole next and she didn't expect him to say anything to her, nonetheless look at her. She was quite wrong.
"Hermione! Wait…"Ron looked stressed out, he himself hoped he wouldn't pass out from being so wound up the whole day. Hermione didn't turn around she just stopped in her tracks and waited for him to speak again. "I can't tell you I didn't mean all those things I said earlier…because I did. I just want to apologize for snapping at you the way I did…but I mean, in case you haven't noticed…things have been pretty—" Ron was cut off because before he could even finish his sentence Hermione spun around, sped toward him and the smack she gave him across the face echoed around the whole common room. Ron's eyes widened and he stepped back a couple steps staring at her—bewildered.
"RONALD WEASLEY I HAVE PUT UP WITH A LOT OF YOUR CRAP FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT BECAUSE YOU 'DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH' ME…" Hermione lowered her voice, "I really think we shouldn't spend time with each other… I cared about you so much." By this time Hermione's eyes were swelling up again with tears that were streaming down her cheeks. Ron thought she looked so beautiful. "Ron, the only reason I asked if you were going to be alright…was because I freaking cared ok? I knew you were in a horrible state I mean COME ON! You saw him dead. But honestly, there was nothing else I COULD say, so I asked you that and you got all upset and jumped down my throat like a damn mad man and as far as Draco Malfoy…you had no right to be spying on me." Ron couldn't help but wince at all the words that were emerging from Hermione's mouth. She sounded as if she thought Ron was so revolting, she was speaking to him with such a passionate hate in her voice. Ron knew it; she thought he was scum of the earth. It pained him to think he was the cause of her heartache. He would never want to hurt her. As much as he felt sorry watching her anger explode, at the mention of Malfoy he felt his temper begin to rise and he regretted the argument he knew he was about to get into with Hermione.
"You know what Hermione? You're right, it really wasn't my place to spy if that's what you want to call it, but the thing is, I do have a right to walk outside Gryffindor Tower and if I happen to see you and Malfoy actually interacting out in the open where ANYONE could have seen you then I definitely would NOT call it spying. Just for your goddamn information."
"Even so you shouldn't bring it up because it's NOT YOUR BUSINESS ALRIGHT YEAH I WAS TALKING TO HIM BUT WHO THE BLOODY HELL CARES?"
"I BLOODY CARE HERMIONE, DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK I WANT YOU HANGING WITH THAT CREEP?" Ron was becoming more furious by the minute. "I WANT YOU TO BE HONEST WITH ME NOW…WHY THE HELL WERE YOU TALKING TO THAT BASTARD. DON'T TELL ME IT'S NOT MY BUSINESS WE'RE BEST FRIENDS AND UP UNTIL THIS POINT WE'VE ALWAYS LOATHED MALFOY AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE ALL BUDDY-BUDDY WITH HIM. THAT'S ABSURD HERMIONE. YOU'VE GONE ABSOLUTELY WACKO." Hermione looked like she was panicking and remained facing Ron silent and eyes scanning the common room.
Harry and Ginny were walking next to each other behind everyone else so they wouldn't be separated from the group of students and get in trouble with Professor McGonagall for wandering around the castle while someone had just died. They weren't really talking at all except for an occasional sigh or ahem from Harry or Ginny. In all honest truth, Harry didn't want to go back to his dormitory. When he was sitting on his bed laughing away with Seamus and Neville and Ron, of course he had fun…but he wasn't with Ginny. Harry couldn't remember when he felt like this last. Maybe, he thought, it was when I was around Cho. Harry shook his head. He didn't think the feeling was quite the same. He started walking slower and Ginny looked at him puzzled and slowed her pace, as well. He looked at her and gazed at her elegant features. Her soft, fair skin; her freckles scattered lightly over her nose and just around her rosy cheeks; the way her fiery red hair cascaded down her shoulders in perfect waves. She made his insides squirm and his heart flutter. He gently took her hand in his and they laced their fingers. Neither of them had needed to say a word, they both knew how the other felt and the feeling was wonderful. They continued walking at their slow rate not wanting to part as soon as they got to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and once Harry and Ginny reached the portrait just behind the other students in Gryffindor he affectionately squeezed her hand and she did the same in return, then they let go and walked into the common room after the others. Harry was surprised to see Ron and Hermione both standing facing each other in the middle of the common room and people had taken seats in armchairs just in front of the fireplace that surrounded Ron and Hermione. Harry began to worry; Ron didn't look quite so calm anymore and neither did Hermione, in fact, they both looked as if at any moment the words "AVADA KEDAVRA" would appear coming from their mouths while their wands shot huge bursts of lime green streaks across the room at each other.
"Well Hermione? Do you have an answer for me?" Ron yelled at her.
"Ron not in front of the whole damn house," Hermione glared at him trying to get him to stop as if he was about to announce some sort of hidden secret Hermione kept from everyone.
"No Hermione come on why don't you tell them? Is it so horrible that it would humiliate you if everyone found out?" Ron was getting out of control. Harry rushed over to them.
"Ron, relax ok? There's nothing going on now that can't be fixed—"Harry tried to get Ron's temper back in order.
"HARRY MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. I WANT HERMIONE TO TELL ME. TELL ME THE TRUTH HERMIONE, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU WANT WITH MALFOY?" By this time everyone who was in the common room had their eyes kept closely on Ron and Hermione. "Ron why don't you just back off…please…" Hermione shook her head and stared at the floor. She wished Ron would just leave her alone and stop asking her so many things she didn't want to have to answer. She wasn't even so angry anymore; she was just weary from arguing the whole time, she felt weak and defeated, Ron was finally getting what he wanted. She wanted to be left in peace with her thoughts and she definitely didn't want the rest of the common room watching her as they were at the moment.
"NO HERMIONE. I'M NOT GOING TO 'BACK OFF' NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I WOULD THINK I'D HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN SCREWING THE BLOKE OR—"
"WE'RE GOING TO THE WINTER BALL! GODDAMN RON. GO TO HELL MAYBE YOU'LL STOP BEING SUCH A FUCKING CONTROL-FREAK!" Ron stood before her silent and eyes wide, gaping at her. The rest of the house looked like they were practicing Ron's imitation of Crabbe and Goyle. Harry and Ginny were watching her intently and as a result new tears surfaced in Hermione's eyes and she stormed off to her dormitory, humiliated and detesting Ron. Harry's eyes followed Hermione until she vanished from his sight, then he sat down on one of the couches by the fireplace and he noticed that many of the people surrounding him still had their eyes fixed on Ron.
"Shows over guys come on…" Harry made sure all of them saw him eye them so they would know not to talk about it and stop staring at Ron as he still stood were he was when yelling at Hermione. Ron didn't budge and it looked as if the thin air in front of him was the most entertaining thing he'd seen all day. He suddenly turned and looked around to see if anyone was still watching and when he realized they had become preoccupied doing other things he looked at Harry and shook his head as if things were hopeless. Neither of them said anything and then Ron slowly retreated to his dormitory, most likely to think. Harry sat there perplexed a moment and then Ginny walked over to where he was and sat herself down next to him. She had a serious look to her and they didn't know how they could possibly be of any help to either Ron or Hermione. They both tried to become tranquil as Ginny leaned her head upon Harry's shoulder and he took her hand.
Professor McGonagall walked through the portrait hole and the students started to enclose a circle around her in order to figure out what was going to happen for the rest of the day. Hermione and Ron both emerged from their own dormitory and avoiding each other they walked down to where everyone else was. Professor McGonagall began to speak.
"Students, we've all had a trying day but please make an attempt as not to worry so much. The teachers have sorted everything out and we have come to the conclusion that Mr. Thompson's death was an act of his own. However, as very unfortunate and regretful as this whole situation may be I do not want you to get worked up while it is still early during the school year. Right now you will be able to return to the Great Hall for lunch and after that you shall report to your afternoon classes. If any student and/or students would like to be escorted to their classes by a fellow staff member that is to the student's discretion and is perfectly understandable. Tomorrow we will try to have as normal a day as possible and remember that the Winter Ball is rapidly approaching, it would be wise to think about preparing for it as it will get your mind of things." Professor McGonagall finished her announcement and gave the crowd a weak smile. She quickly turned and stalked out of the portrait hole leaving the crowded room of students talking excitedly about the ball as they were just reminded by Professor McGonagall's announcement. They all seemed to act like what happened today didn't matter anymore. They didn't care some poor Slytherin had committed suicide; they had to decide who they were going with or what they were going to wear.
(A/N: Took me a while huh? Don't worry…I should be posting again soon, I'm in the writing mood. =0) I hope you're all reviewing…I feel like a moron LoL…my best friend=70 reviews…me=16…I'm also hopeful that you liked this last chapter. When I read it over I thought it seemed kind of dull. Ehh…oh well check back soon for another update I already have a great idea for the next couple of chapters and I'm looking forward to writing. Crazy)