A/N: Thanks to all those who reviewed. There was a mistake in my last author's note. I was trting to say go to JK's site, which is her name .com. They didn't show it. And if you want it give me your e-mail address in your review. Ok now down to business. I know the last chappies was a lil sad, but this chappie isn't. Well (and you can guess by the tittle) that something wied goes on. I just love suspense and cliffys. Ok On with the Chappie!!! : D

Ch 15 Hermione's Episode

Harry and Ginny, who were staring out the window to see if Hermione was coming, were disheartened to see her coming up the walk crying.

"Why is she crying?" asked Ginny concerned.

"Beats me. I wonder what happened." Said Harry. Their eyes watched her until she came through the door. Ginny was first to meet her.

"What happened Hermione?" Asked Ginny sincerely. Hermione just wept on the spot. Ginny went to give her a hug. She cried more, as Ginny led her to the table. She sat down and Harry handed her a tissue.

"Hermione what happened?" Asked Harry eagerly. After some minutes Hermione happened to stop her crying and she told them about the conversation they had.

"But I n-n-never thought he would say t-t-those h-h-hurtful things." she wailed.

"Well Herm I warned you that this would hurt more than help and that it was a very bad idea. What did you expect?" Harry said incredulously. "I mean you know that Ron's ego bruises easily, and you tell him that!" He exclaimed.

"I have to agree with Harry on this one Herm. You shouldn't have told him that, but what was even more rude is that he said he stayed in the kiss because he wanted to see what kissing you would be like. I swear I left him an easy enough clue."

"Hermione you need to be honest and up front. I told you this covertness won't work." Harry said warningly.

"Yeah, Herms you should abandon this plan you've thought of better ones." Ginny said patting her on the back. Hermione was growing angry at everything they said.

"Shut up! Both of you! You know what I'm not going to listen to you. I'm going to do this my way. I've already done it and now the damage's done. My plan stays as is and I don't... don't need... your help. I'll get Ron on my OWN!" She yelled still crying and ran upstairs to the bathroom leaving Harry and Ginny flabbergasted at her outburst.

Hermione was in the bathroom wiping her eyes and pulling out the pins that held back her hair from her face, shaking it in frustration and pushing it back; staring at her reflection in the mirror with disgust.

"Hermione you look stupid crying like this, try and contain yourself. If this is going to work you've got to have some nerve." She said her crying coming to a halt, and taking in a deep breath. "I-I-I just can't believe he would say something like that. Something so hurtful and unlike him. The Ron I know would never want to take advantage of me... like that...THEN! He stayed in it just to see how it was kissing me!" She said irritated. "I mean I know what I said was a bit harsh but he- he was over the top." She began pacing in deep thought disregarding the unusual fact that she was talking to herself. Random thoughts spewing out of her mouth.

"What if he does feel that way? No he said he liked the kiss. But there's only so much you can get from a kiss. But what you do get is the most important part. And I'm sure he felt something too. But what I said could have easily changed his mind. But not his heart not that fast anyway. Do I even know his heart? Do I even know if he was going to pursue anything before I opened my mouth? Well I had this funny feeling he liked me in 5th yr. when he gave me perfume for Christmas. Oh!!! That doesn't matter! What matters is the here and now." She said slamming her fist on the bathroom sink. "I need to get him to say it. I need to be absolutely sure. Ok the snide remarks and distance won't work as I see it or we'll both end up hating each other. Oh what do I do?" She said giving a morose exasperated sigh. "I'll have to think on this." Her eyes cast around the quaint and surprisingly modern bathroom. She put the lid of the toilet down, and sat on the magenta rug-like covering that matched the rest of the bathroom. Her legs crossed with one elbow on her knee; her chin resting on her folded hand, with an expression that displayed utter concentration.

After a few minutes she shot up from the toilet seat wide eyed and grinning.

"I got it!" she exclaimed. "Yes! Yes! Yes! It's perfect. I'll get him for sure. I will still have to keep up the friends things but enhance it a little by being obliviously seductive." She said grinning smugly and with her hands cupped together. "It's not something I'd like to do but, I've already done something I didn't want to do. I'll rely on his male hormones to help." She said optimistically. "This will work won't it?" She said uncertainly. Hermione sat on the toilet seat contemplating her tactics. She had to think hard because being a seductress was not in her nature. She wasn't rather fond of her approach to this and would abandon it if she could find another way; but no way would she abandon it or take help from anyone else. She snorted in anger at the thought of Harry and Ginny.

"The nerve of those two!" She said indignantly through gritted teeth. "Talking as though they know better than me. I mean Who came up with all the plans in the past, or corrects their homework, or gets all the O's? I mean that doesn't matter and I'm not trying to boast, but they make it seem like I can't handle things on my own anymore. All because of last year!" She shut her eyes for just a second and saw a memory of the nights she had spent chained to a wall flash past onto her vision. But she wasn't in the school she was at the Shrieking Shack. To Hermione's bewilderment, she didn't know why Dumbledore didn't close that opening to the Whomping Willow after what happened in their third year. Forgetting her anger she was caught up in the rapid emotional slide show of those horrible days...

Meanwhile.........

Ron had just come up the walk looking surlier and more crestfallen than Harry and even Ginny had seen him. Harry and Ginny exchange worried glances. He walked up to the door came in and slumped into the chair Hermione previously sat in sulking. Remembering that Hermione had told them not to interfere, Harry had to act as though he had no idea of what happened between them. He approached Ron, who seemed to be in a bad daydream, and waved a hand in his face.

"Ron. You alright mate?" Harry asked concerned. Ron did not flinch, but merely sat there. Ginny now more concerned came over to them. "Ron... Ron...RON!"

"WHAT-THE-BLOODY-HELL-DO-YOU-WANT?" He said dangerously slow and nonchalantly through gritted teeth which sounded much like suppressed anger.

"What's wrong with you?" said Harry with an eyebrow raised and a contorted mouth.

"Yeah?" chimed Ginny

"Nothing. Leave me alone ok."

"Well you don't have to take that tone if nothing is wrong do you?"

"You sure don't look like nothing's wrong. We were just asking, next time we won't." Said Harry. Ron was annoyed by their comments.

"And if nothing is wrong why was Hermione crying when she got in here? What did you say to her?" asked Ginny.

Ron blew a fuse in his head at that. How dare she think that he was the only one at fault here. She didn't even know what was said.

"You know what? My problem is you! Both of you!" He said rising up from his spot hastily and yelling.

"What did we do? What happened?" asked Harry obliviously.

"You two had to put your nose in my business. THAT'S WHAT! Told me to tell her. Told me that she felt the same way... and all that other garbage." He said in a mock angry tone. He knew what happened had nothing to do with them, but it felt good to blame somebody for his anger and guilt instead of himself.

"Wait a minute." Said Harry irritated. "I didn't make you do anything. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"YEAH YOU DID! DON'T LIE HARRY! You said it yourself...'I'm your best friend RON.... You can tell me anything.'"

"Oh well that's true but-" Ron cut him off. He was on a roll and didn't want to stop now.

"And YOU...Dear sister. I don't know what you know but you play a part in this too."

"Hang on-" She yelled, but was cut off too.

"NO! YOU HANG ON! I listened to you...BOTH OF YOU!" He said flashing his eyes in one's direction then the next person. "And I- GOT- STOMPED- ON!"

"Wait! Ron sit down and calm down. We can talk this over rationally. Now stop screaming before your mum comes down," said Harry. Ron was pink with screaming but agreed to sit. Still fusing mad at them fecklessly. "Now Ron what happened?" Ron kept his silence for a bit, but then saw that they were not to blame and were genuinely concerned. So his anger subsided.

"I'm sorry guys. It's not your fault. I'm just so frustrated right now. I just can't believe she would say that!" Said Ron as he told them his version of their conversation. Which was pretty much accurate except for exaggerated words and thoughts from his point of view.

"And I never meant to make her cry. I feel really bad about that. But I was so mad and upset and hurt that I just said what came into my head. I mean she practically accused me of taken advantage of the situation," said Ron distraught.

"But Ron, by you saying that you stayed in just to see how it was to kiss her you are saying that you were taken advantage of her. You just don't say that to a girl you claim to love-" said Ginny

"I do still love her." Said Ron annoyed by her comment.

"Ok you say you love. It's not even the fact that you love her or not that is the problem. But you said that after what she had been through, and that's what makes it worse and an awful thing to say." Said Ginny very psychologist-like. That thought hadn't even appeared to him, and made him feel even worse.

"Oh no! I didn't even think of that. All I was thinking was that I told her and she rejected me. I need to apologize," said Ron desperately.

"Well technically Ron, you didn't tell her what you meant by saying you liked the kiss. In fact, that's not telling her much but that." said Harry matter-of-factly and strangely like Hermione. Ron didn't take nicely to being corrected like that. It made him feel incompetent and deficient of ordinary things he should know.

"Well thanks Harry," he said sarcastically. But he knew he was right.

"Look Ron. All I'm saying is that she doesn't know you love her. Actually, by what you told her I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't feel that you do. So you got to tell her."

Ron disregarded that last statement. All he kept thinking about was how he hurt Hermione and possibly pushed her away. All he had to do was tell her the truth. But he knew now was not the time. Not now, that he himself wasn't sure she would want to speak to him in the first place. He just knew that to salvage anything he might've messed up between them he had to at least apologize and be her friend as she wanted.

"So you going to tell her?" asked Ginny

"How can I when she just wants to be friends? I'm not going to force her to love me." Said Ron

"Ron but I bet-"

"You know what, I don't want to hear what you think. And I don't want to hear her words from you. I want her to say it. Then I will believe it."

"If you just tell her the truth..." Mumbled Harry.

"No I'm going to be her friend if that is what she wants. All other feelings aside." He said in an uncertain but determined tone.

"Ron you are going about this the wrong way; I'm telling you." Said Harry very irritated.

"NO! If that is what she wants then that is what I'm going to do OK! And I don't want the two of you to interfere!" He replied sternly. He saw the look on Harry's face. "I mean it Harry! Now I'm going up to apologize."

"Fine! Do whatever you want! Do things the 'Hard Way'. All you have to do is tell her 3...little...words!" Harry said incredulously. "I mean I DON'T GET the two of you sometimes!" Finished Harry hopelessly. And with that Harry left into the next room.

Ron wasn't going to bother with Harry. He was not in the mood, but one thing Harry said that sunk in was that he doesn't get the two of you. Ron didn't know what to make of that. He had too many thoughts and suppressed emotions going through his mind to figure out that puzzle. Ron turned to Ginny giving her a confused look.

"What's wrong with him?" said Ron coolly. Ginny stared at him in disbelief and sighed before she spoke.

"Never mind that just go up there and say you're sorry...again. Go on with what you think is right. I'm not going to be part of it any...more." She said coolly and sunk into a chair with her arms and legs crossed, and a blank face. Ron gave her a bemused look also and wanted to ask what was wrong with her, but refrained and went up the stairs. He heard her call back to him. "Just think before you say anything!" Ron rolled his eyes and ascended up the stairs.

Ron landed on the platform of the hallway and walked towards the bathroom. He could hear her whimpering; his heart sunk. He made to knock on the door when all of a sudden it burst open and Hermione comes out looking dreadful. She saw Ron standing there and she flung herself into his arms. Ron utterly taken aback embraced her. Her face was sweaty and her eyes were puffy and red. She was breathing heavily and fast. He had no idea he hurt her that badly, and why she was hugging him instead of kicking him. He notice she was saying something audible yet incoherent. He also took notice to the scent of her hair still that mixed berry smell. He quickly got out of that to listen to what she was saying.

"Ron... Ron... Thank Gooooodness. Make him stop. Please...Just-make-him-go. Make him go away. Please!!!" She said forcibly and urgently; still crying on his shoulder. "I can't take it... I Just...CAN'T! Please. You have to help. Make it stop Ron, Make... it...STOP!"She trailed off still crying. Ron didn't know what to do. Who was she talking about?

"Hermione! Hermione, what's wrong? Who's here? What's going on?" He asked.

"Ron... You have to make him stop. I ca-c-c-can't take it. Please. It hurts. It hurts! Please!" She was crying more and squeezing Ron tightly. Ron was really worried.

"Hermione! Hermione! What is it?! Talk to me!" He said taking her head into his hands and will her to make sense.

"Take...it off. Take... it off." She repeated. Ron pulled her away from him. He saw that her eyes were shut. She was moving her head indifferently. She seemed not to be there. Ron's eyes grew wide he knew who she was talking about.

"Hermione! Hermione! Snap out of it! Please." He said shaking her slightly. "He's not coming back he's gone you're with me."

"Who's me? Stop!"

"It's me Ron. It's Ron. Come on Herm snap out of it. You're at the burrow."

"Ron...Ron no he's got you too." She wailed. Ron remembered this happened the night he saved her.

"No I'm fine. He's gone you're at the burrow with me. Hermione open your eyes." She was still breathing hard and shaking a little. Ron took a step closer to her and took both her hands.

"Is it really... you Ron?" She asked.

"Yes. Open your eyes Herm. You'll be fine." He kissed her on the forehead. She opened her watery red eyes and blinked several times. Her eyes were moving everywhere gradually focusing on Ron. She stared at him the same way she did right before they kissed last year.

"Ron?"

"Yes it's me Herm." He said reassuringly. She immediately flung into his arms again.

"Oh Ron. I-I-I was... and he... I could feel it. I was so scared. Oh Ron Thank You. Thank you so much. I'm glad it's you." She said relieved. She was hugging him tightly, but in a way that wasn't suffocating.

"You're welcome Hermione. But w-what happened to you?"

Hermione was coming to now and had just realized what happened. She searched for an excuse nothing came to her. She thought, more like hoped he didn't catch most of that. Still hugging Ron loosely, she opted for obliviousness.

"Ron, what are you talking about? I'm right here." She said sounding uncertain. Ron was now confused.

"I know that Hermione. But just now you were- I-I-It was like you weren't here, and you kept saying make it stop and take it off. What happened to you?" He said sounding thoroughly worried. Hermione pulled away and stared up into his face frowning.

'Oh no. He's seen too much for me to pretend. How did I let this happen again? I don't know why I can't control this. He looks so concerned. I don't want to tell him. I'll just have to push him away.'

She looked down and gave a heavy sigh. She turned around and faced the bathroom entrance.

"Hermione." He said quietly putting a hand on her shoulder. "What's going on? You can tell me."

"Really, you sure you don't want a kiss first." Ron immediately drew back his hand guiltily.

"Look Hermione I have to say. I'm really sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it at all. I was just... upset. I didn't mean to-"

"Ron stop. It's ok." She said turning around. "I wasn't exactly nice to you was I? I'm really sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about ok. It was all me. I know we're just friends."

"Yes, and we haven't been too friendly to each other have we?" Hermione interrupted. Ron nodded his head guiltily in agreement looking down. "Yeah we're both sorry and I don't know about you, but there is really nothing to be sorry about. You were telling the truth-"

"No! It wasn't the truth!" He retorted startling Hermione. "And I have a lot to be sorry for. I-I-I..." He stumbled with what to say instead of the truth. Hermione intervened trying to move things along before Ron could ask her about the scene again. She still felt very drained.

"Nevertheless, I'm sorry and I forgive you Ron. I'm fine really. I just want to go back to normal and have our last nice fun week at the burrow before school starts." Said Hermione. Ron grinned.

"Yeah it is our last summer together as students. And I would like to have fun too without any animosity."

"So we're friends now. Uh- I mean like we always were and no problems no arguing I promise. Deal?" She said sticking out her hand smiling.

Ron contemplated this move. If he shook on it would this mean he was giving her up for good, shunning his feelings and desires aside and remaining her platonic friend? Is that what she wanted? Is that what he wanted? He brushed off these questions and decided that whatever she wanted would stand. He out-stretched his hand and gave a half smile.

"Deal."

"Good." She said satisfied. Ron noticed that she looked tired. "Ron I know you saw something just now. I know what you must be thinking. But I can't explain right now. I'm not ready. So please don't tell anyone and don't ask about it." She finished gravely. Ron looked at her with his anxiety building up.

"But you might need some help."

"Ron please." She said in such an elevated voice that Ron stepped back. She saw his expression. "I'm sorry. But please Ron not now. I don't want you to worry about me."

"I'm your friend I care about you. Of course I'm going to worry especially if you are in pain-" Ron stopped and looked at her pleading eyes. "Ok I won't say anything. But if this happens again you promise to tell me what's up?" Hermione looked reluctant to respond.

"Ok deal."

"Now are you sure you're ok? You would tell me if there was something wrong right?"

"Yes. You know I would. I actually feel better." Ron noticed her color had returned, and she no longer looked fatigued. He could see her cloudy eyes come back to the bright amber brown, and the redness disappear right in front of him. He now knew that something was really wrong and that it had to be some type of dark magic.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me that way?" She asked unfazed. Ron noticed that it was like she knew nothing had happened. He was afraid for her but put up a front for the time being.

"No. Nothing."

"I'm glad that's settled. Just friends no arguments right? Now I still need to show everyone the stuff from France." She said walking off towards the stairs. "You'll never guess the policies over there." Her voice trailed off as she descended. Ron forgot their previous deal.

"I'm sure you'll tell us." He said sardonically.

"You can count on it." She said with a small laugh. Ron smiled.

"Hermione?" He called to her. She turned her head around again.

"Hmm?"

"I'm glad... I'm glad we're ok now."

"Yeah me too." She said with a big smile. There was a pause. "Now come on down." She finished and went down the stairs.

Ron watched her go thinking that he let her slip away, but it would be for the best. If they were going to argue half the time, and spend the other half in awkward apology it wasn't worth pursuing. But as he watched her float down, he remembered the kiss and all the new emerging feelings that came with them. A part of him and a rather big part at that, would have given whatever it took to make it work; to make those feelings he had closed up known to her. That same part wished he could just hold her again, and make her feel better so that she would confide in him. He knew whatever it was she didn't want to talk about it, and that it was affecting her greatly. But since they had already vowed for no arguing and had made up he wouldn't try to ask her again. He walked to the stairs and descended.

A/N: Well that's that. What is wrong with Hermione? Will Ron figure it out and help her? Will Harry and Ginny help? Will Ron and Hermione EVERY get together? Find out on the next chapter of my fanfic! PLZ R/R! :D