by squidward
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A/N: Alas, here's the update. Sorry if it's kinda short, but I think this is all what this chappie has to be. Thanks for your warm reviews lot, and for your patience. Let's all cross our fingers that I could update sooner next time…
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
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Chapter VII: Aggression and Regression
"Hermione," Crookshanks started when Harry and Hermione arrived at the Gryffindor table, "Professor McGonagall told me that she wanted to see us in her office after lunch."
"Why?" Harry and Hermione asked.
"Prefect matters," Crookshanks grumbled and he turned back to his steak. Harry and Hermione took the seat on either side of Crookshanks and started eating too. Hermione placed some fish and milk in a plate and gave it to Ron, who was waiting on the floor for his food. He ate the fish with gusto, wanting to have full energy when he attacked Crookshanks again.
Crookshanks was the first one to finish his lunch, but he still remained on the table and waited for Hermione. Harry was surprised that Crookshanks only ate one serving. "Ron, are you sure you're not sick?"
"Huh? Ofcourse not. Why did you ask?"
Harry thought about it before giving an answer, wondering if telling him that he always ate a lot would be offensive, "Er, it's just that you didn't eat much today."
"Really? But I'm already full. I guess I had too much for breakfast," Crookshanks replied with a slight note of nervousness. Harry had a suspicion that he was hiding something from them, for he clearly remembered that he said that he was starving when he went out of the dungeons.
"I think Professor McGonagall is already waiting for us, Ron," Hermione mumbled, craning her neck to have a better look at the staff table. She put down her fork and knife and stood up. "Harry, we'll go ahead. We will just follow in Charms."
"Yeah, see you later," Harry said.
Crookshanks waved goodbye to Harry too and followed Hermione out of the Great Hall. Ron, who was still enjoying his fish to the last bone, reluctantly put it down and ran after them.
Hermione and Crookshanks were already in the middle of the stairway when Ron saw them. Crookshanks was saying something to Hermione which, by the looks of it, was something either complicated or far-fetch because Hermione was wearing a baffled expression.
Ron, whose imagination had always gone wild whenever it involved Crookshanks and Hermione together, sprang up from his spot with dashing agility and quickly caught up with them. He tried to tail them in secret but his angry hisses betrayed him and immediately announced his presence.
Crookshanks eyed him with soaring dislike while Hermione, who was always caught in the middle in all of Ron-vs.-Crookshanks fights, was nervously watching her pet and her bestfriend.
"Oh… Croo-crookshanks," Hermione stammered, protectively grabbing Ron away from the red-haired figure standing beside her. Crookshanks just rolled his eyes and turned his back at them, making Hermione sigh in relief.
"Honey, behave yourself okay," Hermione whispered hastily, washing Ron's face with her hot, sweet breath. "I have to go to Professor McGonagall now so I'll just leave you here. Be a good boy, alright?" she affectionately beamed at him, gently put him down and hurriedly followed Crookshanks. Ron waited for his fast heartbeat and hard breathing to normalize before running after his target.
But when he finally got back to hunting mode his target was already out of sight. Ron scanned the vicinity, taking the route he and Hermione always take whenever they went to McGonagall. But there was no bushy-haired or red-haired among the thin crowd.
'Where have they gone?' Ron muttered, running back and forth in the corridor. 'They can't have gone that far…'
Ron darted to Professor McGonagall's office but he didn't see any sign of Crookshanks and Hermione. When he reached her office he tried to peak inside, but only a Minerva McGonagall sitting tartly and marking the essays was to be seen. Completely sure that Crookshanks and Hermione were not there, Ron scampered away and went back to where he started, hoping that he could catch a glimpse of his target and his bestfriend.
'Where are they?' Ron cried exasperatedly. He was sure he didn't miss them, he had been running around too much and he could have met them along if they took that way.
But what if they didn't take that way? Ron started to panic. It was possible. Crookshanks knew that he was after them. But it didn't matter since they were only going to McGonagall, right? Unless…of course… unless the prefect meeting was only a blab…
This was a trap! There was no prefect meeting all along. Crookshanks only wanted to be alone with Hermione!
'That slimy schemer!' Ron muttered under his breath as he started to run around the castle again to look for them. Why hadn't he realized this earlier? 'If he's trying to touch Hermione again I'll kill him!' But he had left them alone together for a long time. It was not far from possible that Crookshanks had already made his move to Hermione. The thought made Ron angrier. He needed to find them right away.
Ron's hope of finding them was starting to evaporate. It might be too late. But his feet kept on running as if they had their own life. Perhaps saving Hermione was one of his basic instincts. His energy was running low and he could already feel fatigue.
When he was about to give up and resort to waiting for them in the Charms corridor, Ron found out what he was looking for. In a deserted corridor that leads to Arithmancy classrooms Ron spotted Crookshanks and Hermione. Ron's first reaction was delight, he had finally found them and his effort had somehow paid off. But when the scene started to sink in his worn out body started to fuel up with immense ferocity.
Crookshanks and Hermione were standing in a corner – in a very dangerous (at least in Ron's opinion) position. They were standing too close, with Crookshanks' left hand on Hermione's waist and his right hand on her chin. Hermione's face was very red and her body was stiff. She looked tensed and confused but she wasn't pulling away as Crookshanks' face inched closer and closer to hers…
Then everything happened in a flash. Ron dashed towards them with a speed that could rival that of the sound's. He was so fast Crookshanks and Hermione didn't notice him. He jumped on the top of the armor suit's head - elevating him and making him stand higher than Crookshanks' vulnerable skull. Crookshanks' back was facing him and his body was hiding Hermione from Ron's view. Ron tried to pull the spear the armor was holding and – many thanks to adrenaline rush – he successfully pulled the spear and poked it hard on Crookshanks head.
Loud crashes and a shrill screech rang on the deserted corridor. Ron fell over the floor but he landed gracefully, quickly evading the falling armor suit. Hermione was still standing on the corner, her eyes popping and her mouth still hanging open after letting out a shriek. Crookshanks lied motionless on the floor, unconscious. When Hermione recovered from the shock she ran to Crookshanks and checked his head.
"Ron! Ron! Oh no!" Hermione cried hysterically. She checked the back of Crookshanks' head and she almost passed out when she saw trickles of blood gushing from it. "Oh no… Ron…" she looked really helpless and her eyes were silently screaming.
Ron came over to them. His fleeting victory was quickly replaced by strong guilt. Hermione seemed oblivious that he was just standing behind her. He watched as she tried to stop Crookshanks' bleeding head with her handkerchief. She pointed her wand at Crookshanks' unconscious body and directed it, without any doubt, to the hospital wing.
Ron didn't follow Hermione. He just watched her in silence as she disappeared out of his sight. Yes, he wanted to hurt Crookshanks alright, but he didn't expect that it would make him feel bad. His conscience was bugging him. What he did was too impulsive - even he admitted that.
His guilt started to swell that it ached his chest. I hope he'd be alright, he thought hopefully. He looked at the suit of armor lying beside him. He could see his reflection on its well-polished shield – a grumpy and oddly squashed face of a ginger cat.
Then a new feeling began to seize him. It was panic. How stupid! How could he forget? Crookshanks was doing everything so they could go back to their respective bodies! How foolish was he to interfere when Crookshanks was doing everything for their sake! And now, he even assaulted his own physical body!
"How could I be this stupid!" Ron roared angrily. He saw Mrs. Norris at the end of the corridor and he knew that any seconds Filch would be coming there. Ron ran quickly away from the crime scene, hoping against hope that Filch wouldn't catch him. Being caught would just complicate matters, he thought.
When he was sure he was already too far from the Arithmancy corridor he stopped. Now his and Crookshanks' fate rested on his hand. To atone for his sin he had to do everything just to get back to their old selves. But how on earth could he make Hermione kiss Crookshanks?
Trembling, Ron looked out of the window. The sun shining amidst the bright blue sky blinded him. There was only little time left, and now he had to do everything by himself.
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