A.N. I have had two comments from many readers and I will answer them here.
Lavender and Parvarti are very mean. They may not seem now but they will
be. And yes, Ron seems like such a jerk here but there will be reasons,
good reasons as to why and how he changed so much. All will be explained.
So please keep reading .
Review replies:
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus – I hope this will be one of those stories that will be completed. I haven't actually finished a single story so far, but I have the rough plot of this story as it is based on something else so hopefully it will be finished.
popppincorn – Hmm...Ron may be back. Then again he may not.
lunalovegood129 – Nope Lavender and Parvarti are worse than Ron. In the books they didn't seem to be exactly caring, and their characters are slightly exaggerated in this fic.
airhead14 – ;; Sorry...Ron is pretty mean isn't he. He's being like that for a reason. Just keep reading.
Penny Wishes – Thank you.
SarahLou – Yup Ron's mean. And he's going to get worse. But it's not just because he's annoying like Malfoy or something. There will be quite a bit of Ron angst too in this story.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. Meteor Garden belongs to the Taiwanese producers whose names I don't know. So I don't own anything. At all.
Chapter 2
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all of my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
But now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
And though you're still with me
I've been alone all along
My Immortal, Evanescence
Hermione's hand shook slightly as she raised it to wipe away the condensation forming on the windows. Her 'conversation' with Ron as she chose to call it was haunting her over and over again. What had he meant by "You'd better watch out, Hermione Granger"? And the word 'Granger'. It was the first time she detested the sound of her own name. And Harry...Harry had just sat there and let it all happen. He didn't even bother helping her. Although he had always been like that ever since 6th year began, quiet and refrained, not taking interest in much. She presumed that it was because of the event that had happened at the end of 5th year, though Harry never actually said.
She placed her elbow on the windowsill and supported her head using her hand, watching the familiar hills roll by. She sighed as she realized that she would never be on this train to Hogwarts again unless she chose a teaching career which wasn't what she had in mind at all. Although being Head Girl should at the very least signal that her behaviour and knowledge of magic were very good. With a jolt of panic she remembered that she was supposed to conduct a meeting with the prefects and the Head Boy, the very same meeting she had attended in 5th year along with Ron.
She stood up immediately and ran out of the carriage, ignoring Parvarti and Lavender's questions as she headed for the front of the train, sliding the doors open and finding all the others had already arrived.
"Took your time didn't you?" said a familiar voice coolly. Hermione turned and felt her eyes widen as the person sitting in front of her was none other than Ron Weasley, Head Boy.
"You're Head Boy?" she asked, and then realizing that she was slightly overly rude, despite the fact that she felt that Ron had deserved it. "I mean...I-well done..."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Did I ask for your opinion?"
Hermione opened her mouth to reply but no sound came out, so she closed it again and sat down next to him, refusing to turn her head even a fraction to the right because then he would be in her field of vision.
"So," she squeaked as she addressed the eight people sitting before her, looking curious, annoyed and staring in awe at Ron. "Well done for being elected as prefects. Er..." she paused as she thought of what to say. She had completely forgotten about needing to have a 'speech' for the 5th and 6th years.
"You will have other responsibilities as well as completing homework set and handing it in on time. You are expected to set a good example to other students and help out with any tasks required, although those mostly occur at Christmas," said Hermione, the words flowing out of her easily. She paused as another memory hit her. It was Christmas and the prefects were asked to decorate the Great Hall. Ron's neck was wrapped in tinsel because Peeves had decided to have a little fun, and she was easing and unwinding it gently.
"And? Don't tell me you're lost for words," said Ron. Hermione snapped out of her thoughts for the second time that day and swallowed a lump in her throat, trying to think of something sensible to say next.
"Never mind, whatever. Meeting over, get lost," grunted Ron as he stood up and made for the door. Hermione could only stare in shock as the others scrambled to get up and return to their friends, looking annoyed by waiting for ages in the prefects' carriage only to find that the meeting was completely pointless and lasted at the most for five minutes. She could not believe that Ron has just said that. It was true that he didn't exactly restrict himself from swearing, but he had never this rude to others before. However now that she thought about it...his conduct with Parvarti earlier wasn't polite either. Gloomily she returned to her carriage where it finally dawned on her 'friends' that she was chosen to be Head Girl.
For most of the rest of her journey she sat there in silence, not really taking in Parvarti and Lavender's comments and answering with a faint smile whenever they felt like including her in their conversation. As the skies darkened rain pelted down in huge sheets reminding Hermione of the time in 3rd year when they had nearly drowned in the rain.
Hermione sniffed slightly as she placed one finger delicately on the cool glass and started to form a picture on it, although she wasn't exactly sure what she was doing. Before she knew it, the words 'Ron Weasley' had appeared on the window. She bit her tongue as she rubbed away 'Ron', leaving just 'Weasley' left, her eyes feeling wet and her vision becoming clouded. Her throat felt sour but she swallowed, rubbing one hand over her eyes and the other over 'Weasley'. Her shoulders shook as she sat back in her seat, determinately staring at the wall.
Soon the Hogwarts castle came into view, looking mysterious as it was shielded by pounding rain and a faint mist lay on top of the lake. Hermione's face broke into a smile for the first time in many months as the train pulled to a stop. She stepped off the train and got into a carriage with Parvarti and Lavender, watching in silence the movements of the Thestrals. Obviously she knew that after the incident at the end of 5th year she should be able to see them, but panic nevertheless took over her when she set eyes on them for the first time in 6th year. Ron had gasped in shock as well when he saw them and had sat as far back in the carriage as possible.
"Hurry up, Hermione," a voice said to her left. She looked up and saw Lavender, with one leg out of the carriage, looking at her impatiently and indicating the castle.
"Oh right, sorry," she replied and jumped off before proceeding to ascend the marble steps into the stone castle. When she arrived inside, she grinned as she saw that the interior was still magnificently decorated. The ceiling of the Great Hall reflected the heavy rain outside, but the drops disappeared, almost melted into thin air a few feet above her head which gave them a gentle and beautiful feel. The four house tables were covered with elegant plates and cutlery, and the house banners hung from the walls.
Hermione's faint smile disintegrated as she slid onto the only space left on the Gryffindor table – one right at the end and next to empty spaces where the new first years were to sit on. Nevertheless, she could always talk to the first years and give them some information about how Hogwarts was run and generally any questions they had. After all, those were part of her responsibilities weren't they?
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
The lake was always a comforting place for Hermione. It was peaceful, despite the fact the giant squid occasionally decided to poke a tentacle out of the water. Other than that it was quiet and allowed Hermione to get lost in her own thoughts. And so she sat by it everything morning when she could, chewing on a piece of toast or something similar whilst gazing into the water below. Obviously the lake had a bottom where mer-people and other sea creatures lived, but it was so deep down that Hermione found that she could look down at it for hours without getting bored at all. She occasionally wondered what it would be like to swim in the lake, just moving endlessly without worrying that she would hit something and overcoming her fear. That's what she felt like nowadays. Trying to move forwards but something always came forth to block her way. Like trying to forget about Ron, but some memory from their past always flashed in front of her, forcing her to abandon her futile attempts.
As she raised her arm in order to take another bite out of her toast, she felt something push her from behind. It slipped out of her hands as she fell forwards, putting her hands out in front of her. She fell with a loud 'splash' into the water, panic overwhelming her as water rushed in to fill her mouth and oxygen failed to reach her brain. Her arms and legs waved around helplessly...until her face hit the surface again, coughing and she realized that the water was only about knee height. Amidst all her spluttering and coughing, she thought that she heard giggling and laughing somewhere but brushed it off as she climbed out of the lake, her normally tidy uniform now drenched in water.
Hermione opened her mouth to say the first word that came into her mind but decided against it seeing as she had made herself promise that she would not swear at all, not even in private. Instead she made do with the words "oh dear", grabbing her wand from the inside of her robes, muttering an incantation as she waved it in front of herself. Steam started to rise steadily from her robes as they dried before they finally returned to their normal, perfect state.
She decided to head off to her first lesson – Potions which the Gryffindors still had with the Slytherins. When it was time to choose her subjects for N.E.W.Ts she didn't have much of an idea as to what kind of a job she wanted, so in order to keep her options open she took all the subjects possible which unfortunately included Potions as it was a very important subject and could do her good when she applied for a job. She wasn't even sure whether she wanted a Muggle or magical job.
Behind her, she heard somebody yell "Diffindo!" before the weight on her shoulder lightened considerably and everything inside tumbled out into a mess of spilt ink, crumpled parchments and opened books. Sighing as she picked up her books, most of which were covered in blank ink, she tried to gather everything together quickly so as to not be late for her first lesson of the year. Being late as Head Girl and for Snape's class would be more trouble than she could imagine.
She dropped most of her things into the cauldron she was carrying in one hand, carried the rest of the books in the other hand, and headed off to the dungeons with her broken bang dangling on one shoulder.
However the inevitable happened as she burst through the dungeon doors, looking a mess and everyone's heads turned to look at their Head Girl.
"Sorry I'm late professor, I-"
"-better not be late next time or it will be detention for you. Really, I expected more from our Head Girl, Granger. 20 points from Gryffindor. If this happens again it will be 50," said Snape softly, loathe showing obviously on his face.
Hermione didn't reply but moved forwards to find an empty seat. However all the seats had been taken except for the one next to Ron, who still took Potions as his ambition was to become an Auror. But as she turned to sit down, she felt something near the hem of her robes as she tripped and fell, the books she was carrying now scattered again all over the floor.
"Tut tut Granger. 5 points from Gryffindor for your clumsiness."
She tried to swallow the lump that was forming in her throat as she picked her books up for the second time in ten minutes and finally managed to sit down, her eyes glistening. Some of the Gryffindors looked at her with sympathy, but all the Slytherins had a grin plastered to their faces.
"Having fun? Don't worry; the worst is still coming." Hermione turned to find Ron looking at her, his face emotionless apart from a slight sneer at the corner of his mouth.
"But if you apologise to me now and admit that you were wrong, I'll pretend that nothing ever happened."
"What makes you think that I was wrong?" Hermione hissed.
Ron merely shrugged his shoulders. "Your choice. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Hermione looked away again and concentrated on listening to Snape, despite the fact that that was the last thing she wanted to do. Ron was doing it again – whenever he felt that someone 'offended' him he would start playing pranks on them. Not that he played them personally; his fan clubs were delighted to do it for him. However they weren't the sort that Fred and George played when they were still at Hogwarts. He would humiliate them. Once a student was even forced to leave the school. But everyone was too afraid to do anything. After all, he was Ronald Weasley. She wouldn't be like that. She would stand up to him; she was determined not to fall as easily. People may only think of her as a weed, but she will be the weed that they will never be able to get rid of.
A.N. Wow I think that was the longest chapter I've written...ever. Ron's still being a git in this chapter, but there will be reasons, and lots more will happen in later chapters. Please read and review!
Review replies:
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus – I hope this will be one of those stories that will be completed. I haven't actually finished a single story so far, but I have the rough plot of this story as it is based on something else so hopefully it will be finished.
popppincorn – Hmm...Ron may be back. Then again he may not.
lunalovegood129 – Nope Lavender and Parvarti are worse than Ron. In the books they didn't seem to be exactly caring, and their characters are slightly exaggerated in this fic.
airhead14 – ;; Sorry...Ron is pretty mean isn't he. He's being like that for a reason. Just keep reading.
Penny Wishes – Thank you.
SarahLou – Yup Ron's mean. And he's going to get worse. But it's not just because he's annoying like Malfoy or something. There will be quite a bit of Ron angst too in this story.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. Meteor Garden belongs to the Taiwanese producers whose names I don't know. So I don't own anything. At all.
Chapter 2
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all of my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
You used to captivate me
By your resonating light
But now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I've held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
And though you're still with me
I've been alone all along
My Immortal, Evanescence
Hermione's hand shook slightly as she raised it to wipe away the condensation forming on the windows. Her 'conversation' with Ron as she chose to call it was haunting her over and over again. What had he meant by "You'd better watch out, Hermione Granger"? And the word 'Granger'. It was the first time she detested the sound of her own name. And Harry...Harry had just sat there and let it all happen. He didn't even bother helping her. Although he had always been like that ever since 6th year began, quiet and refrained, not taking interest in much. She presumed that it was because of the event that had happened at the end of 5th year, though Harry never actually said.
She placed her elbow on the windowsill and supported her head using her hand, watching the familiar hills roll by. She sighed as she realized that she would never be on this train to Hogwarts again unless she chose a teaching career which wasn't what she had in mind at all. Although being Head Girl should at the very least signal that her behaviour and knowledge of magic were very good. With a jolt of panic she remembered that she was supposed to conduct a meeting with the prefects and the Head Boy, the very same meeting she had attended in 5th year along with Ron.
She stood up immediately and ran out of the carriage, ignoring Parvarti and Lavender's questions as she headed for the front of the train, sliding the doors open and finding all the others had already arrived.
"Took your time didn't you?" said a familiar voice coolly. Hermione turned and felt her eyes widen as the person sitting in front of her was none other than Ron Weasley, Head Boy.
"You're Head Boy?" she asked, and then realizing that she was slightly overly rude, despite the fact that she felt that Ron had deserved it. "I mean...I-well done..."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Did I ask for your opinion?"
Hermione opened her mouth to reply but no sound came out, so she closed it again and sat down next to him, refusing to turn her head even a fraction to the right because then he would be in her field of vision.
"So," she squeaked as she addressed the eight people sitting before her, looking curious, annoyed and staring in awe at Ron. "Well done for being elected as prefects. Er..." she paused as she thought of what to say. She had completely forgotten about needing to have a 'speech' for the 5th and 6th years.
"You will have other responsibilities as well as completing homework set and handing it in on time. You are expected to set a good example to other students and help out with any tasks required, although those mostly occur at Christmas," said Hermione, the words flowing out of her easily. She paused as another memory hit her. It was Christmas and the prefects were asked to decorate the Great Hall. Ron's neck was wrapped in tinsel because Peeves had decided to have a little fun, and she was easing and unwinding it gently.
"And? Don't tell me you're lost for words," said Ron. Hermione snapped out of her thoughts for the second time that day and swallowed a lump in her throat, trying to think of something sensible to say next.
"Never mind, whatever. Meeting over, get lost," grunted Ron as he stood up and made for the door. Hermione could only stare in shock as the others scrambled to get up and return to their friends, looking annoyed by waiting for ages in the prefects' carriage only to find that the meeting was completely pointless and lasted at the most for five minutes. She could not believe that Ron has just said that. It was true that he didn't exactly restrict himself from swearing, but he had never this rude to others before. However now that she thought about it...his conduct with Parvarti earlier wasn't polite either. Gloomily she returned to her carriage where it finally dawned on her 'friends' that she was chosen to be Head Girl.
For most of the rest of her journey she sat there in silence, not really taking in Parvarti and Lavender's comments and answering with a faint smile whenever they felt like including her in their conversation. As the skies darkened rain pelted down in huge sheets reminding Hermione of the time in 3rd year when they had nearly drowned in the rain.
Hermione sniffed slightly as she placed one finger delicately on the cool glass and started to form a picture on it, although she wasn't exactly sure what she was doing. Before she knew it, the words 'Ron Weasley' had appeared on the window. She bit her tongue as she rubbed away 'Ron', leaving just 'Weasley' left, her eyes feeling wet and her vision becoming clouded. Her throat felt sour but she swallowed, rubbing one hand over her eyes and the other over 'Weasley'. Her shoulders shook as she sat back in her seat, determinately staring at the wall.
Soon the Hogwarts castle came into view, looking mysterious as it was shielded by pounding rain and a faint mist lay on top of the lake. Hermione's face broke into a smile for the first time in many months as the train pulled to a stop. She stepped off the train and got into a carriage with Parvarti and Lavender, watching in silence the movements of the Thestrals. Obviously she knew that after the incident at the end of 5th year she should be able to see them, but panic nevertheless took over her when she set eyes on them for the first time in 6th year. Ron had gasped in shock as well when he saw them and had sat as far back in the carriage as possible.
"Hurry up, Hermione," a voice said to her left. She looked up and saw Lavender, with one leg out of the carriage, looking at her impatiently and indicating the castle.
"Oh right, sorry," she replied and jumped off before proceeding to ascend the marble steps into the stone castle. When she arrived inside, she grinned as she saw that the interior was still magnificently decorated. The ceiling of the Great Hall reflected the heavy rain outside, but the drops disappeared, almost melted into thin air a few feet above her head which gave them a gentle and beautiful feel. The four house tables were covered with elegant plates and cutlery, and the house banners hung from the walls.
Hermione's faint smile disintegrated as she slid onto the only space left on the Gryffindor table – one right at the end and next to empty spaces where the new first years were to sit on. Nevertheless, she could always talk to the first years and give them some information about how Hogwarts was run and generally any questions they had. After all, those were part of her responsibilities weren't they?
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
The lake was always a comforting place for Hermione. It was peaceful, despite the fact the giant squid occasionally decided to poke a tentacle out of the water. Other than that it was quiet and allowed Hermione to get lost in her own thoughts. And so she sat by it everything morning when she could, chewing on a piece of toast or something similar whilst gazing into the water below. Obviously the lake had a bottom where mer-people and other sea creatures lived, but it was so deep down that Hermione found that she could look down at it for hours without getting bored at all. She occasionally wondered what it would be like to swim in the lake, just moving endlessly without worrying that she would hit something and overcoming her fear. That's what she felt like nowadays. Trying to move forwards but something always came forth to block her way. Like trying to forget about Ron, but some memory from their past always flashed in front of her, forcing her to abandon her futile attempts.
As she raised her arm in order to take another bite out of her toast, she felt something push her from behind. It slipped out of her hands as she fell forwards, putting her hands out in front of her. She fell with a loud 'splash' into the water, panic overwhelming her as water rushed in to fill her mouth and oxygen failed to reach her brain. Her arms and legs waved around helplessly...until her face hit the surface again, coughing and she realized that the water was only about knee height. Amidst all her spluttering and coughing, she thought that she heard giggling and laughing somewhere but brushed it off as she climbed out of the lake, her normally tidy uniform now drenched in water.
Hermione opened her mouth to say the first word that came into her mind but decided against it seeing as she had made herself promise that she would not swear at all, not even in private. Instead she made do with the words "oh dear", grabbing her wand from the inside of her robes, muttering an incantation as she waved it in front of herself. Steam started to rise steadily from her robes as they dried before they finally returned to their normal, perfect state.
She decided to head off to her first lesson – Potions which the Gryffindors still had with the Slytherins. When it was time to choose her subjects for N.E.W.Ts she didn't have much of an idea as to what kind of a job she wanted, so in order to keep her options open she took all the subjects possible which unfortunately included Potions as it was a very important subject and could do her good when she applied for a job. She wasn't even sure whether she wanted a Muggle or magical job.
Behind her, she heard somebody yell "Diffindo!" before the weight on her shoulder lightened considerably and everything inside tumbled out into a mess of spilt ink, crumpled parchments and opened books. Sighing as she picked up her books, most of which were covered in blank ink, she tried to gather everything together quickly so as to not be late for her first lesson of the year. Being late as Head Girl and for Snape's class would be more trouble than she could imagine.
She dropped most of her things into the cauldron she was carrying in one hand, carried the rest of the books in the other hand, and headed off to the dungeons with her broken bang dangling on one shoulder.
However the inevitable happened as she burst through the dungeon doors, looking a mess and everyone's heads turned to look at their Head Girl.
"Sorry I'm late professor, I-"
"-better not be late next time or it will be detention for you. Really, I expected more from our Head Girl, Granger. 20 points from Gryffindor. If this happens again it will be 50," said Snape softly, loathe showing obviously on his face.
Hermione didn't reply but moved forwards to find an empty seat. However all the seats had been taken except for the one next to Ron, who still took Potions as his ambition was to become an Auror. But as she turned to sit down, she felt something near the hem of her robes as she tripped and fell, the books she was carrying now scattered again all over the floor.
"Tut tut Granger. 5 points from Gryffindor for your clumsiness."
She tried to swallow the lump that was forming in her throat as she picked her books up for the second time in ten minutes and finally managed to sit down, her eyes glistening. Some of the Gryffindors looked at her with sympathy, but all the Slytherins had a grin plastered to their faces.
"Having fun? Don't worry; the worst is still coming." Hermione turned to find Ron looking at her, his face emotionless apart from a slight sneer at the corner of his mouth.
"But if you apologise to me now and admit that you were wrong, I'll pretend that nothing ever happened."
"What makes you think that I was wrong?" Hermione hissed.
Ron merely shrugged his shoulders. "Your choice. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Hermione looked away again and concentrated on listening to Snape, despite the fact that that was the last thing she wanted to do. Ron was doing it again – whenever he felt that someone 'offended' him he would start playing pranks on them. Not that he played them personally; his fan clubs were delighted to do it for him. However they weren't the sort that Fred and George played when they were still at Hogwarts. He would humiliate them. Once a student was even forced to leave the school. But everyone was too afraid to do anything. After all, he was Ronald Weasley. She wouldn't be like that. She would stand up to him; she was determined not to fall as easily. People may only think of her as a weed, but she will be the weed that they will never be able to get rid of.
A.N. Wow I think that was the longest chapter I've written...ever. Ron's still being a git in this chapter, but there will be reasons, and lots more will happen in later chapters. Please read and review!