A.N. Sorry that took such a long time. Despite the fact that exams are over
I still have quite a bit of work to do. But I will keep writing this story!
Review replies:
Trym – Ok sorry this chapter did take ages to write. But here it is and I hope you enjoy it.
Crystal – Hermione does like Harry. Ron's not telling Hermione that he fancies her because he is proud and wants her to come to him instead. That's his character in this fic; that's what he's 'changed' to.
G.K.N. – Awwww don't hex Ron! Read this chapter and you may change your mind.
SarahLou – Hermione becoming fonder of Ron? We'll see...
punkbanana13 – Thank you! Here's the next chapter.
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus – Thanks!
GryffindorGoddess28 – Yeah Ron doesn't want to just tell Hermione he fancies her because he is proud of his...'status'. Yeah I feel really sorry for Harry. Ginny plays the 'big sister' role in this story, so she will be helping all three characters.
doriansportrait – Duel Hermione? Close...quite close...
airhead14 – Yeah Ron is a lot nicer in the books when he is poor. But if he didn't change...then this fic wouldn't exist.
sailor-helios – Harry and Ron are very OOC, I agree. But after all, that is the whole point of the story. Hermione's life is miserable because the two have changed so much. And I definitely agree that I have been sticking to the plot of MG too much; I will try to add something of my own to the fic. Thanks so much for your review.
The-Dark-Rose-of-Insanity – Thank you! Here's the next chapter.
Chapter 8
Ron frowned as he peered curiously at something in the Heads' rooms. He hadn't seen Hermione for nearly a week now. He had guarded the Heads' rooms but she managed to escape, going into her room immediately and locking her door. He had guarded the Gryffindor common room but she was never there. Hell he even spent an entire day in the library ("Wasted all my time and I still didn't get to talk to her..."). She was still definitely attending lessons because they shared quite a few together, but whenever he tried to talk to her she would disappear so quickly in the crowds that he couldn't follow her. Finally, he resorted to Harry.
"Can I borrow the Marauder's Map?" he had asked him one evening. Harry had nodded and had handed it over to him. So now he was, in the Head Boy's room, trying to find Hermione. Only she was up at the North Tower. What on earth could she be doing there? She had made it clear in third year that she wanted nothing to do with Divination.
He scanned the map again and saw Harry in some random corridor. Seamus and Dean were up in the Gryffindor dormitories. Ginny was also in hers. Oh yeah it's her birthday soon, he thought. I need to get her a present.
Ron grinned as he tapped the map, said "Mischief managed!" and headed towards the North tower. At least he knew where she was now. He hated to admit it but he was...worried. Was she ill possibly? The weather is getting kinda cold, he thought. But she doesn't have to keep avoiding me. Oh well. I can find out tonight why. As long as she doesn't leave the North tower.
But there she was, looking out of the small stone balcony. However, somebody else was there as well. And they were talking.
"-would I hate you?" asked Harry in confusion.
"I know that sometimes I may seem really selfish or something...and I can't compare with Ginny. Ever. But please don't hate me." Hermione bit her lip. She probably sounded really stupid at that point. Great, Harry probably thinks that I'm even odder now, she thought miserably. He was one of my best friends for nearly six years but no, I have to fancy him when he's madly in love with my other best friend.
"If I hated you," said Harry softly, "then I wouldn't be talking to you. I wouldn't have danced with you at the Halloween Ball."
Ron couldn't stand it any longer. He stormed towards the Gryffindor tower, yelled the password to a very startled Fat Lady ("The manners of young people these days...") and wrenched the door open to the seventh year boys' dormitory.
"Woah, Ron, be quiet won't you? Neville's trying to sleep," said Seamus, looking up, raising one eyebrow. "Besides, I thought you slept in the Heads' rooms now?"
"Did you know that Harry and Hermione have been meeting at the North tower?"
"What? No. Why? They're best friends aren't they?"
Seamus continued to talk on, although Ron didn't really take in anything. She fancied Harry. But yet she kissed him at the Halloween Ball. Why on earth did she do that? It was enough that she didn't like him, but why did she pretend to and then go off to talk to Harry about goodness knows what?"
"-are Ron Weasley, the most popular guy at school. You can get whatever girl you want without any worries anyway," he continued, trying to cheer Ron up and placed an arm around his shoulder.
"Get off."
"What?"
"Get your hands off me." Seamus immediately brought his arm back again, looking worriedly at Ron who was walking out of the room.
"He's got that look again," he said to Dean. "Remember when he got into that fight with Draco Malfoy and nearly strangled him to death last year? It's that same haunted look he had then."
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
Ron sat in front of Hermione's room, his face expressionless. She had to come back soon. It was nearly curfew and she always returned to the Head Girl's room now.
He was right. After a few minutes a space opened in the wall where the portrait of Hogsmeade was on the outside and Hermione walked in, her bag swung over her shoulder. She walked towards her room but Ron stood up, blocking her away.
"Excuse me. I need to get past."
He grabbed her arms and swung her across, pinning her against the door. "How dare you," he said quietly. It might've been better if he shouted. Then she would've been able to tell it was anger. But the way that he said it...she felt fear. She was truly afraid.
"W-what? Let me go!" She pushed against him but his grip was too strong and she remained where she was. She looked up at him. His eyes were so...different. They didn't look human, seeming to burn with hatred.
"Why did you make a fool of me like that?"
"Like what?" Tears were beginning to fill her eyes now. She had no idea what Ron was talking about. As far as she knew, she hadn't done anything to him. She gasped as he raised his fist and hit the spot that her head had been a few seconds ago. She seized that chance when he was only holding her using one hand and slapped his hand with hers. He let go and she tried to run as fast as she can, but only succeeding in being pushed into a corner of the room, Ron in front of her and the wall behind her.
"Why did you do that, Hermione?" he demanded.
"I didn't do anything!" She cried out in fear and shock as he leaned down and started to kiss her forcefully, one hand by her face and the other pinning her. "What are you doing? Get off!" However it didn't seem to work. Her tears were running freely down her face now. "Get off!" she repeated. "Stop it! Ron please, stop it!"
Her sobs seem to finally bring him to reality as his eyes widened at what he had just done. She was crying uncontrollably, sinking down onto the floor. His heart was pounding with guilt as he knelt down and held her gently in his arms. From her reaction it seemed that she didn't 'two-time' him. But he had to find the answer himself. However, now wasn't the time.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
Hermione woke up on Saturday morning, taking a while to realize why she was feeling so miserable. It was bad enough that he had taken her first kiss, but now he had her second one too. Neither one was 'enjoyable'. She didn't want them. Why couldn't he just leave her alone?
But last night, a different side of him seemed to come out. He was so...scary – she resorted to a childish word. It was the most suiting for that situation. But he had come out of that in the end, hadn't he? He had hugged her and whispered over and over again that he was sorry. She still hated him for what he had done...but somehow she thought that the 'usual' Ron wasn't responsible for what happened.
She got out of bed groggily and put on a thick white jumper over her nightdress, glancing at the clock on her bedside table. (A.N. I've just realized that technically clocks shouldn't work as they are part of Muggle technology and so cannot be used in Hogwarts. But seeing as JK Rowling uses them and this is a fanfic, please accept the use of clocks and watches.) It read 10am. Had she really been sleeping that long?
Tying her hair into a loose ponytail, she opened the door and entered the 'study room', as she preferred to call it seeing as all she and Ron ever did in there was study. But something unexpected was waiting for her on the table.
Someone had left a bunch of pink and white orchids on it. They were still wet with dew, as if they had been freshly picked that morning. Beside them was a box with an envelope on top. Hermione tore it open and found a card inside, with the words 'I'm sorry' written in elaborate red ink. When she opened it she recognized Ron's untidy writing and sighed as she realized who the sender was. She put the card to one side and proceeded to open the box. Inside was a simple silver-white bracelet with an occasional white bead which seemed to turn a different shade when under the light. That was rather odd as white was a definite colour with only one shade to it.
The flowers were beautiful and so was the bracelet. Hermione gave an exasperated sigh as she wondered how Ron knew exactly what to give her. She hadn't expected him to apologise at all. He seemed too proud for that. Even if she did, she thought that he would've given her something which displayed a sign of his wealth and power in the wizarding world. But no. He had given her orchids. They weren't her favourite flowers, but amongst the ones she liked a lot. He had also given her the bracelet which she had taken an immediate liking to. It reminded her of meteors somehow.
However, they were from him. She accepted his apology, but she refused to accept his gifts. Making sure that he was out of his room, she took the flowers and the bracelet inside and placed them on his bed, but keeping the card in order to show him that she had forgiven him. Or at least acknowledged his apology.
Hermione was surprised that he kept his room so well and tidy. She had expected it to be a mess with clothes strewn everywhere and parchment scattered on the table. However his books were neatly placed on his bookshelf, pieces of parchment stacked on one side of his table. Some of his clothes were folded on his chair. The others, she presumed, were hanging in his wardrobe. Pigwidgeon's cage was placed on top of a cabinet, but the tiny owl was nowhere to be seen. He was probably out delivering a letter or something.
She returned to her room, collapsing on top of her bed. She had always believed that her friendship with Ron and Harry would last. But apparently not. Harry kept himself to himself, and Ron was just...Ron. Have I changed as well? she thought, turning her head so she was looking into the mirror at herself. Is it me or them? She hated to admit it...but she was developing a small...a tiny liking for him. He was so arrogant and stubborn, but also incredibly sweet and rather innocent sometimes.
A.N. I got my Maths SATs results back! I got an 8! (That's the highest level I can get for Maths by the way.) Now I have to worry about English and Science. I'm hoping that I've done well in those subjects. If I stop updating, it means I crapped up my English and Science and have been killed by my parents.
Review replies:
Trym – Ok sorry this chapter did take ages to write. But here it is and I hope you enjoy it.
Crystal – Hermione does like Harry. Ron's not telling Hermione that he fancies her because he is proud and wants her to come to him instead. That's his character in this fic; that's what he's 'changed' to.
G.K.N. – Awwww don't hex Ron! Read this chapter and you may change your mind.
SarahLou – Hermione becoming fonder of Ron? We'll see...
punkbanana13 – Thank you! Here's the next chapter.
MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus – Thanks!
GryffindorGoddess28 – Yeah Ron doesn't want to just tell Hermione he fancies her because he is proud of his...'status'. Yeah I feel really sorry for Harry. Ginny plays the 'big sister' role in this story, so she will be helping all three characters.
doriansportrait – Duel Hermione? Close...quite close...
airhead14 – Yeah Ron is a lot nicer in the books when he is poor. But if he didn't change...then this fic wouldn't exist.
sailor-helios – Harry and Ron are very OOC, I agree. But after all, that is the whole point of the story. Hermione's life is miserable because the two have changed so much. And I definitely agree that I have been sticking to the plot of MG too much; I will try to add something of my own to the fic. Thanks so much for your review.
The-Dark-Rose-of-Insanity – Thank you! Here's the next chapter.
Chapter 8
Ron frowned as he peered curiously at something in the Heads' rooms. He hadn't seen Hermione for nearly a week now. He had guarded the Heads' rooms but she managed to escape, going into her room immediately and locking her door. He had guarded the Gryffindor common room but she was never there. Hell he even spent an entire day in the library ("Wasted all my time and I still didn't get to talk to her..."). She was still definitely attending lessons because they shared quite a few together, but whenever he tried to talk to her she would disappear so quickly in the crowds that he couldn't follow her. Finally, he resorted to Harry.
"Can I borrow the Marauder's Map?" he had asked him one evening. Harry had nodded and had handed it over to him. So now he was, in the Head Boy's room, trying to find Hermione. Only she was up at the North Tower. What on earth could she be doing there? She had made it clear in third year that she wanted nothing to do with Divination.
He scanned the map again and saw Harry in some random corridor. Seamus and Dean were up in the Gryffindor dormitories. Ginny was also in hers. Oh yeah it's her birthday soon, he thought. I need to get her a present.
Ron grinned as he tapped the map, said "Mischief managed!" and headed towards the North tower. At least he knew where she was now. He hated to admit it but he was...worried. Was she ill possibly? The weather is getting kinda cold, he thought. But she doesn't have to keep avoiding me. Oh well. I can find out tonight why. As long as she doesn't leave the North tower.
But there she was, looking out of the small stone balcony. However, somebody else was there as well. And they were talking.
"-would I hate you?" asked Harry in confusion.
"I know that sometimes I may seem really selfish or something...and I can't compare with Ginny. Ever. But please don't hate me." Hermione bit her lip. She probably sounded really stupid at that point. Great, Harry probably thinks that I'm even odder now, she thought miserably. He was one of my best friends for nearly six years but no, I have to fancy him when he's madly in love with my other best friend.
"If I hated you," said Harry softly, "then I wouldn't be talking to you. I wouldn't have danced with you at the Halloween Ball."
Ron couldn't stand it any longer. He stormed towards the Gryffindor tower, yelled the password to a very startled Fat Lady ("The manners of young people these days...") and wrenched the door open to the seventh year boys' dormitory.
"Woah, Ron, be quiet won't you? Neville's trying to sleep," said Seamus, looking up, raising one eyebrow. "Besides, I thought you slept in the Heads' rooms now?"
"Did you know that Harry and Hermione have been meeting at the North tower?"
"What? No. Why? They're best friends aren't they?"
Seamus continued to talk on, although Ron didn't really take in anything. She fancied Harry. But yet she kissed him at the Halloween Ball. Why on earth did she do that? It was enough that she didn't like him, but why did she pretend to and then go off to talk to Harry about goodness knows what?"
"-are Ron Weasley, the most popular guy at school. You can get whatever girl you want without any worries anyway," he continued, trying to cheer Ron up and placed an arm around his shoulder.
"Get off."
"What?"
"Get your hands off me." Seamus immediately brought his arm back again, looking worriedly at Ron who was walking out of the room.
"He's got that look again," he said to Dean. "Remember when he got into that fight with Draco Malfoy and nearly strangled him to death last year? It's that same haunted look he had then."
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
Ron sat in front of Hermione's room, his face expressionless. She had to come back soon. It was nearly curfew and she always returned to the Head Girl's room now.
He was right. After a few minutes a space opened in the wall where the portrait of Hogsmeade was on the outside and Hermione walked in, her bag swung over her shoulder. She walked towards her room but Ron stood up, blocking her away.
"Excuse me. I need to get past."
He grabbed her arms and swung her across, pinning her against the door. "How dare you," he said quietly. It might've been better if he shouted. Then she would've been able to tell it was anger. But the way that he said it...she felt fear. She was truly afraid.
"W-what? Let me go!" She pushed against him but his grip was too strong and she remained where she was. She looked up at him. His eyes were so...different. They didn't look human, seeming to burn with hatred.
"Why did you make a fool of me like that?"
"Like what?" Tears were beginning to fill her eyes now. She had no idea what Ron was talking about. As far as she knew, she hadn't done anything to him. She gasped as he raised his fist and hit the spot that her head had been a few seconds ago. She seized that chance when he was only holding her using one hand and slapped his hand with hers. He let go and she tried to run as fast as she can, but only succeeding in being pushed into a corner of the room, Ron in front of her and the wall behind her.
"Why did you do that, Hermione?" he demanded.
"I didn't do anything!" She cried out in fear and shock as he leaned down and started to kiss her forcefully, one hand by her face and the other pinning her. "What are you doing? Get off!" However it didn't seem to work. Her tears were running freely down her face now. "Get off!" she repeated. "Stop it! Ron please, stop it!"
Her sobs seem to finally bring him to reality as his eyes widened at what he had just done. She was crying uncontrollably, sinking down onto the floor. His heart was pounding with guilt as he knelt down and held her gently in his arms. From her reaction it seemed that she didn't 'two-time' him. But he had to find the answer himself. However, now wasn't the time.
............................................................................ ............................................................................ ......
Hermione woke up on Saturday morning, taking a while to realize why she was feeling so miserable. It was bad enough that he had taken her first kiss, but now he had her second one too. Neither one was 'enjoyable'. She didn't want them. Why couldn't he just leave her alone?
But last night, a different side of him seemed to come out. He was so...scary – she resorted to a childish word. It was the most suiting for that situation. But he had come out of that in the end, hadn't he? He had hugged her and whispered over and over again that he was sorry. She still hated him for what he had done...but somehow she thought that the 'usual' Ron wasn't responsible for what happened.
She got out of bed groggily and put on a thick white jumper over her nightdress, glancing at the clock on her bedside table. (A.N. I've just realized that technically clocks shouldn't work as they are part of Muggle technology and so cannot be used in Hogwarts. But seeing as JK Rowling uses them and this is a fanfic, please accept the use of clocks and watches.) It read 10am. Had she really been sleeping that long?
Tying her hair into a loose ponytail, she opened the door and entered the 'study room', as she preferred to call it seeing as all she and Ron ever did in there was study. But something unexpected was waiting for her on the table.
Someone had left a bunch of pink and white orchids on it. They were still wet with dew, as if they had been freshly picked that morning. Beside them was a box with an envelope on top. Hermione tore it open and found a card inside, with the words 'I'm sorry' written in elaborate red ink. When she opened it she recognized Ron's untidy writing and sighed as she realized who the sender was. She put the card to one side and proceeded to open the box. Inside was a simple silver-white bracelet with an occasional white bead which seemed to turn a different shade when under the light. That was rather odd as white was a definite colour with only one shade to it.
The flowers were beautiful and so was the bracelet. Hermione gave an exasperated sigh as she wondered how Ron knew exactly what to give her. She hadn't expected him to apologise at all. He seemed too proud for that. Even if she did, she thought that he would've given her something which displayed a sign of his wealth and power in the wizarding world. But no. He had given her orchids. They weren't her favourite flowers, but amongst the ones she liked a lot. He had also given her the bracelet which she had taken an immediate liking to. It reminded her of meteors somehow.
However, they were from him. She accepted his apology, but she refused to accept his gifts. Making sure that he was out of his room, she took the flowers and the bracelet inside and placed them on his bed, but keeping the card in order to show him that she had forgiven him. Or at least acknowledged his apology.
Hermione was surprised that he kept his room so well and tidy. She had expected it to be a mess with clothes strewn everywhere and parchment scattered on the table. However his books were neatly placed on his bookshelf, pieces of parchment stacked on one side of his table. Some of his clothes were folded on his chair. The others, she presumed, were hanging in his wardrobe. Pigwidgeon's cage was placed on top of a cabinet, but the tiny owl was nowhere to be seen. He was probably out delivering a letter or something.
She returned to her room, collapsing on top of her bed. She had always believed that her friendship with Ron and Harry would last. But apparently not. Harry kept himself to himself, and Ron was just...Ron. Have I changed as well? she thought, turning her head so she was looking into the mirror at herself. Is it me or them? She hated to admit it...but she was developing a small...a tiny liking for him. He was so arrogant and stubborn, but also incredibly sweet and rather innocent sometimes.
A.N. I got my Maths SATs results back! I got an 8! (That's the highest level I can get for Maths by the way.) Now I have to worry about English and Science. I'm hoping that I've done well in those subjects. If I stop updating, it means I crapped up my English and Science and have been killed by my parents.