A.N. Whoo lots and lots of reviews! I'm so glad that everyone who has
reviewed so far like it.
Review replies:
Trym – Thank you. I'm very glad that you like it.
Coward in the Shadows – Thank you.
lunalovegood129 – Lavender and Parvarti will reveal their true colours in this chapter. Read and see.
airhead14 – Yeah I know making Ron this mean makes me want to hit him with a ton of curses. Not that I can cast magic or anything...but still. I think I'm going to reveal both Ron and Harry's reasons for being like this in the next chapter. Please bear with me!
GryffindorGoddess28 – Thank you so much. From your review it shows that this fic is indeed making people detest Ron and feeling sorry for Hermione which is exactly what I want. But keep reading; some unexpected things will pop up.
SarahLou – Hermione giving Ron a reality check eh? You may find there's something in this chapter that you like.
dorianspotrait – Yup. I think of Hermione as a very independent character and very strong too. Thanks for the review.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. Meteor Garden belongs to its producers. So far I own nothing.
Chapter 3
Hermione managed to survive through Potions without any major injuries – just a few bruises from when she tripped over. The other lessons were slightly better as neither Ron nor Harry took them – History of Magic and Astronomy. Ron's fan club still glared at her but seeing as Professor Binns and Professor Sinistra didn't hate her as much as Snape did, they couldn't do much.
Lunch came, and Hermione walked into the Great Hall feeling happier than she did earlier. Catching sight of Parvarti and Lavender, she tapped Lavender on the shoulder.
"Oh erm...hi, Hermione!" smiled Lavender, sounding falsely cheerful. "Er do you want to sit here? It's ok, we'll move," she mumbled as both she and Parvarti scrambled to stand up.
"What?"
"It's just that...you know...now that you're not exactly on very...friendly terms with Ron Weasley, we think that it'd be best if we don't...go around as much together," Parvarti explained.
"Yeah you know, we can't afford to loose our reputation," added Lavender.
The both of them stood up and started to move to the other end of the Gryffindor table. Hermione sat down, drowning in disappointment and despair. Her hands shook as she picked up her knife and fork, her vision felt misty and her eyes were wet.
"I thought you were my friends," she whispered as she blinked furiously, willing the tears to go away. No. Now was not the time wallow in self pity. That was what Ron wanted...for her to break down in tears and sob at his feet. But she would do the exact opposite. She would be the first person to stand up to him.
Full of fresh determination, she ate a full lunch and made sure she was properly full before heading off to the library as usual where she can sit and read in peace and quiet.
But then it all started again. As she walked out of the Great Hall something burst and splashed cold water over her head, soaking her for the second time that day. As she looked up she saw Peeves, the school poltergeist, cackling with laughter along with most of the rest of the school. Her face was very wet but she convinced herself that it was just the water, and began to walk faster out of the hall. Hermione sighed with relief as she got closer and closer to the exit. However someone was not going to let her go that easily. She felt something grab her around the ankles which caused her to fall, her books tumbling out of her arms again.
The hall rang with laughter as Hermione got up in a kneeling position and picked everything up yet again, her bushy hair hiding her features and the emotions that were displayed. As she stood up she caught sight of Lavender and Parvarti, looking amused, the corners of their mouths obviously turning upwards as they watched her, not bothering to help out at all.
Hermione tried to steady her breathing as she stood up; books held firmly in her arms and practically ran towards the exit, the laughter of the other students ringing in her ears. She didn't care where she went – anywhere...just away from the Great Hall and the sound of others amused by her treatment.
When she finally stopped, she realized that she had climbed up many flights of stairs and was now standing before the entrance of the North tower, somewhere she hadn't been anywhere near since the time she had walked out of her Divination class in frustration.
She walked into the circular tower, where the atmosphere was calm and quiet. The usual noise of the school couldn't be heard from here unless, of course, a class came up here for their Divination lesson. She moved slowly towards a small balcony, watching the Hogwarts grounds and other students having fun.
"You're so stupid, Ron Weasley!" she bellowed out of the tower, all her anger and resentment rising to the surface. "How on earth can you stand yourself being like this? What's wrong with you? Who cares if you're rich? DO YOU REALLY THINK BEING RICH MAKES YOU ABOVE OTHERS? I HATE YOU, WEASLEY!!" she spat out the last word, breathing heavily as all the emotions she had been suppressing spun out of control, sinking down onto the floor and sobbing uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking and her voice muffled as she tried her best to stop any noises from coming out.
"Is there anything else you would like to say?" asked a very familiar voice. Hermione looked up and saw Harry kneeling beside her, his face displaying no emotion whatsoever. She immediately sat up properly and tried to look calm.
"Here," he said gently as he held out a pale green handkerchief in his left hand. She took it gratefully, wiping the tears from her eyes. Then, it dawned on her that he was probably 'in league' with Ron and moved a few inches away from him, although it was hard considering she was sitting on the ground.
"Are you going to attack me as well?" she asked unsurely, and then hit herself mentally as she realized how stupid it sounded. Harry however, merely shrugged.
"Why would I?" he asked in the same flat voice he had always talked in since 6th year.
Hermione looked at him uncertainly. Surely Harry was on Ron's side? He always was. In 3rd year when Harry's broomstick had been inspected by Professor Flitwick and when Scabbers was supposedly eaten by Crookshanks, it was the two of them against her. Why was he being so nice to her then?
"Er...what are you doing here?" she started as Harry straightened and made for the exit. "Your handkerchief!" she called after him, holding it out in front of her.
"Keep it," he flashed her a brief smile – one she hadn't seen in a long time. "I come up here very often...it's very quiet don't you think?" He smiled again. "Goodnight, Hermione."
Hermione stared as Harry Potter walked away, a mixture of different feelings inside her, including confusion and relief.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
Harry returned to his dormitory after dinner and lay on his bed just...thinking until Ron burst in, fury clearly etched on his face.
"She still hasn't cracked yet!" he fumed, the 'she' obviously directed at Hermione.
Harry sat up, looking slightly amused which was the only display of emotion he had on nowadays. "Really?" he replied, deciding not to disclose his earlier encounter with her. "The second girl to stand up to you eh? How is the famous Ron Weasley going to handle this?"
"I'm very capable of dealing with a girl!" he shouted, secretly glad that the room was empty save for Harry and himself. "I'll show her..." he muttered as he too climbed into bed and lay down on his back, not bothering to change his clothes.
"Although..." he mused aloud. "She isn't swarming all over me like all those other pathetic girls who only like me because of my heritage and money. And everyone else who tries to impress me just to get on my good side and therefore Dad's."
"That does make a nice change doesn't it?" replied Harry who had similar experiences, although none were as serious as Ron's.
"Yeah. Take fourth year and the Yule ball for example – no one even remembered that I existed, let alone wanted to go to the ball with me."
"But Padma Patil went with you in the end didn't she?"
"Probably only because she didn't want to be alone."
The two lay in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Then...
"Are you planning to do anything next?" asked Harry.
Ron grinned and turned onto his side so he was facing Harry's bed. "I'm not going to give up that easily. I'm determined to make her apologise to me. No one has held on for as long as she has." He sighed, and then turned again and lay on his stomach. "It's not very...fair is it?"
"Nope," replied Harry who knew exactly what Ron was on about.
"Our...reason for excluding her is...valid isn't it?"
Harry also sighed. "You've seen your lovely fan club. If you two get any closer than you already were in 6th year then they'll probably go and kidnap her and hack her to pieces or something," he said, finding it harder and harder to hide the fact that Hermione had already burst into tears.
"So...this is right?"
"In a way I guess."
"Hmm..." Ron turned over yet again so he was in his original position, lying on his back. He glanced at the 'clock' by Harry's bedside table, something which he said would give the time of the day and made funny loud noises at the time that Harry wished. It read 21:17. Night. The only time when Ron let his barrier down and acted just like someone normal who was only worried about homework, Quidditch and other rubbish. Everything came true from the Mirror of Erised in 1st year. The most popular person in school. Quidditch captain. Head Boy. More responsibilities he would have to handle. More responsibilities than he can handle.
Why did Dad ever get that stupid promotion? he asked himself. He would've been incredibly happy just to be the same nobody he always was, hidden away in a corner with Harry. And Hermione.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
Hermione woke up in her dormitory, feeling a lot better than she had the previous day. According to Professor McGonagall the Head Boy and Girl had their own individual dormitories and rooms, but she was prepared to go anywhere near Ron until he called off his pranks. At least until the end of this month when she would have go to and have a 'meeting' with him.
But after she cried the day before, she seemed to be filled with a new kind of determination. She felt as if she would able to withstand anything Ron threw at her. Smiling as she ascended the staircase into the Common Room, she noticed that all the Gryffindors were crowding around the notice board. When she arrived most of them – mainly the boys – dispersed and walked as far away from her as possible, giving her strange and curious looks.
Hermione frowned as she walked towards the board, immediately seeing what was attracting the attention of everyone.
'Hermione Granger is disgusting. She has slept with two Ravenclaws, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, and that's just in 5th year. She's a disgrace. Slytherins, Granger? You have bad taste as well as looks.'
Breathing heavily, she stormed out of Gryffindor Tower to look for Ron; she was sure he was the one who had done it. When she saw that neither he nor Harry were in the Great Hall having breakfast, she practically flew through the castle and onto the grounds, where she finally discovered him.
"Ron Weasley!" she yelled as he was about to take off on his broomstick on the Quidditch pitch, Harry standing next to him.
"Yes?"
"You...you get rid of that notice this instant! I am a virgin alright? A virgin!"
Ron hovered just above her, a quizzical look in his eyes. "What?"
"That...thing! How dare you? I. Am. A. Virgin! Get down here!" she yelled, jumping up and trying to reach him but to no avail. Instead she kicked Harry in the shins and ran off, determined to do a thing or two about the parchment pinned on the Gryffindor board.
"She told me that she's a virgin..." said Ron, a grin appearing on his face. "Does that mean that she-?"
"You think way too much, Ron," replied Harry, clutching his foot in pain.
A.N. Yay another update! I have a week of holiday next week so hopefully I'll be able to update a lot quicker. Then after that I won't be to update for a week because I'm going on a residential trip with my school. Read and review please!!
Review replies:
Trym – Thank you. I'm very glad that you like it.
Coward in the Shadows – Thank you.
lunalovegood129 – Lavender and Parvarti will reveal their true colours in this chapter. Read and see.
airhead14 – Yeah I know making Ron this mean makes me want to hit him with a ton of curses. Not that I can cast magic or anything...but still. I think I'm going to reveal both Ron and Harry's reasons for being like this in the next chapter. Please bear with me!
GryffindorGoddess28 – Thank you so much. From your review it shows that this fic is indeed making people detest Ron and feeling sorry for Hermione which is exactly what I want. But keep reading; some unexpected things will pop up.
SarahLou – Hermione giving Ron a reality check eh? You may find there's something in this chapter that you like.
dorianspotrait – Yup. I think of Hermione as a very independent character and very strong too. Thanks for the review.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. Meteor Garden belongs to its producers. So far I own nothing.
Chapter 3
Hermione managed to survive through Potions without any major injuries – just a few bruises from when she tripped over. The other lessons were slightly better as neither Ron nor Harry took them – History of Magic and Astronomy. Ron's fan club still glared at her but seeing as Professor Binns and Professor Sinistra didn't hate her as much as Snape did, they couldn't do much.
Lunch came, and Hermione walked into the Great Hall feeling happier than she did earlier. Catching sight of Parvarti and Lavender, she tapped Lavender on the shoulder.
"Oh erm...hi, Hermione!" smiled Lavender, sounding falsely cheerful. "Er do you want to sit here? It's ok, we'll move," she mumbled as both she and Parvarti scrambled to stand up.
"What?"
"It's just that...you know...now that you're not exactly on very...friendly terms with Ron Weasley, we think that it'd be best if we don't...go around as much together," Parvarti explained.
"Yeah you know, we can't afford to loose our reputation," added Lavender.
The both of them stood up and started to move to the other end of the Gryffindor table. Hermione sat down, drowning in disappointment and despair. Her hands shook as she picked up her knife and fork, her vision felt misty and her eyes were wet.
"I thought you were my friends," she whispered as she blinked furiously, willing the tears to go away. No. Now was not the time wallow in self pity. That was what Ron wanted...for her to break down in tears and sob at his feet. But she would do the exact opposite. She would be the first person to stand up to him.
Full of fresh determination, she ate a full lunch and made sure she was properly full before heading off to the library as usual where she can sit and read in peace and quiet.
But then it all started again. As she walked out of the Great Hall something burst and splashed cold water over her head, soaking her for the second time that day. As she looked up she saw Peeves, the school poltergeist, cackling with laughter along with most of the rest of the school. Her face was very wet but she convinced herself that it was just the water, and began to walk faster out of the hall. Hermione sighed with relief as she got closer and closer to the exit. However someone was not going to let her go that easily. She felt something grab her around the ankles which caused her to fall, her books tumbling out of her arms again.
The hall rang with laughter as Hermione got up in a kneeling position and picked everything up yet again, her bushy hair hiding her features and the emotions that were displayed. As she stood up she caught sight of Lavender and Parvarti, looking amused, the corners of their mouths obviously turning upwards as they watched her, not bothering to help out at all.
Hermione tried to steady her breathing as she stood up; books held firmly in her arms and practically ran towards the exit, the laughter of the other students ringing in her ears. She didn't care where she went – anywhere...just away from the Great Hall and the sound of others amused by her treatment.
When she finally stopped, she realized that she had climbed up many flights of stairs and was now standing before the entrance of the North tower, somewhere she hadn't been anywhere near since the time she had walked out of her Divination class in frustration.
She walked into the circular tower, where the atmosphere was calm and quiet. The usual noise of the school couldn't be heard from here unless, of course, a class came up here for their Divination lesson. She moved slowly towards a small balcony, watching the Hogwarts grounds and other students having fun.
"You're so stupid, Ron Weasley!" she bellowed out of the tower, all her anger and resentment rising to the surface. "How on earth can you stand yourself being like this? What's wrong with you? Who cares if you're rich? DO YOU REALLY THINK BEING RICH MAKES YOU ABOVE OTHERS? I HATE YOU, WEASLEY!!" she spat out the last word, breathing heavily as all the emotions she had been suppressing spun out of control, sinking down onto the floor and sobbing uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking and her voice muffled as she tried her best to stop any noises from coming out.
"Is there anything else you would like to say?" asked a very familiar voice. Hermione looked up and saw Harry kneeling beside her, his face displaying no emotion whatsoever. She immediately sat up properly and tried to look calm.
"Here," he said gently as he held out a pale green handkerchief in his left hand. She took it gratefully, wiping the tears from her eyes. Then, it dawned on her that he was probably 'in league' with Ron and moved a few inches away from him, although it was hard considering she was sitting on the ground.
"Are you going to attack me as well?" she asked unsurely, and then hit herself mentally as she realized how stupid it sounded. Harry however, merely shrugged.
"Why would I?" he asked in the same flat voice he had always talked in since 6th year.
Hermione looked at him uncertainly. Surely Harry was on Ron's side? He always was. In 3rd year when Harry's broomstick had been inspected by Professor Flitwick and when Scabbers was supposedly eaten by Crookshanks, it was the two of them against her. Why was he being so nice to her then?
"Er...what are you doing here?" she started as Harry straightened and made for the exit. "Your handkerchief!" she called after him, holding it out in front of her.
"Keep it," he flashed her a brief smile – one she hadn't seen in a long time. "I come up here very often...it's very quiet don't you think?" He smiled again. "Goodnight, Hermione."
Hermione stared as Harry Potter walked away, a mixture of different feelings inside her, including confusion and relief.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
Harry returned to his dormitory after dinner and lay on his bed just...thinking until Ron burst in, fury clearly etched on his face.
"She still hasn't cracked yet!" he fumed, the 'she' obviously directed at Hermione.
Harry sat up, looking slightly amused which was the only display of emotion he had on nowadays. "Really?" he replied, deciding not to disclose his earlier encounter with her. "The second girl to stand up to you eh? How is the famous Ron Weasley going to handle this?"
"I'm very capable of dealing with a girl!" he shouted, secretly glad that the room was empty save for Harry and himself. "I'll show her..." he muttered as he too climbed into bed and lay down on his back, not bothering to change his clothes.
"Although..." he mused aloud. "She isn't swarming all over me like all those other pathetic girls who only like me because of my heritage and money. And everyone else who tries to impress me just to get on my good side and therefore Dad's."
"That does make a nice change doesn't it?" replied Harry who had similar experiences, although none were as serious as Ron's.
"Yeah. Take fourth year and the Yule ball for example – no one even remembered that I existed, let alone wanted to go to the ball with me."
"But Padma Patil went with you in the end didn't she?"
"Probably only because she didn't want to be alone."
The two lay in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Then...
"Are you planning to do anything next?" asked Harry.
Ron grinned and turned onto his side so he was facing Harry's bed. "I'm not going to give up that easily. I'm determined to make her apologise to me. No one has held on for as long as she has." He sighed, and then turned again and lay on his stomach. "It's not very...fair is it?"
"Nope," replied Harry who knew exactly what Ron was on about.
"Our...reason for excluding her is...valid isn't it?"
Harry also sighed. "You've seen your lovely fan club. If you two get any closer than you already were in 6th year then they'll probably go and kidnap her and hack her to pieces or something," he said, finding it harder and harder to hide the fact that Hermione had already burst into tears.
"So...this is right?"
"In a way I guess."
"Hmm..." Ron turned over yet again so he was in his original position, lying on his back. He glanced at the 'clock' by Harry's bedside table, something which he said would give the time of the day and made funny loud noises at the time that Harry wished. It read 21:17. Night. The only time when Ron let his barrier down and acted just like someone normal who was only worried about homework, Quidditch and other rubbish. Everything came true from the Mirror of Erised in 1st year. The most popular person in school. Quidditch captain. Head Boy. More responsibilities he would have to handle. More responsibilities than he can handle.
Why did Dad ever get that stupid promotion? he asked himself. He would've been incredibly happy just to be the same nobody he always was, hidden away in a corner with Harry. And Hermione.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
Hermione woke up in her dormitory, feeling a lot better than she had the previous day. According to Professor McGonagall the Head Boy and Girl had their own individual dormitories and rooms, but she was prepared to go anywhere near Ron until he called off his pranks. At least until the end of this month when she would have go to and have a 'meeting' with him.
But after she cried the day before, she seemed to be filled with a new kind of determination. She felt as if she would able to withstand anything Ron threw at her. Smiling as she ascended the staircase into the Common Room, she noticed that all the Gryffindors were crowding around the notice board. When she arrived most of them – mainly the boys – dispersed and walked as far away from her as possible, giving her strange and curious looks.
Hermione frowned as she walked towards the board, immediately seeing what was attracting the attention of everyone.
'Hermione Granger is disgusting. She has slept with two Ravenclaws, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, and that's just in 5th year. She's a disgrace. Slytherins, Granger? You have bad taste as well as looks.'
Breathing heavily, she stormed out of Gryffindor Tower to look for Ron; she was sure he was the one who had done it. When she saw that neither he nor Harry were in the Great Hall having breakfast, she practically flew through the castle and onto the grounds, where she finally discovered him.
"Ron Weasley!" she yelled as he was about to take off on his broomstick on the Quidditch pitch, Harry standing next to him.
"Yes?"
"You...you get rid of that notice this instant! I am a virgin alright? A virgin!"
Ron hovered just above her, a quizzical look in his eyes. "What?"
"That...thing! How dare you? I. Am. A. Virgin! Get down here!" she yelled, jumping up and trying to reach him but to no avail. Instead she kicked Harry in the shins and ran off, determined to do a thing or two about the parchment pinned on the Gryffindor board.
"She told me that she's a virgin..." said Ron, a grin appearing on his face. "Does that mean that she-?"
"You think way too much, Ron," replied Harry, clutching his foot in pain.
A.N. Yay another update! I have a week of holiday next week so hopefully I'll be able to update a lot quicker. Then after that I won't be to update for a week because I'm going on a residential trip with my school. Read and review please!!