First off, Thanks a lot RosieLady and starsmiles for your great first and second reviews, respectively. All right, on with the chapter...
Disclaimer: I disclaim Harry Potter and all things concerning Harry Potter.
Chapter Fifteen - Explosions of Feeling
Ron sat on the couch of the Gryffindor Common Room with his arm around Hermione and his head rested on top of hers. Hermione was nestled into him comfortably, pretty much leaning her entire body into him and her head to the side, looking lazily at the fire while everyone else - except for Harry - was in class. Harry was across them in another seat, pensively staring into the fire but not really there. Hermione was on occasion murmuring her thoughts to Ron, but for the most part they were all silent, simply thinking - until Harry suddenly noticed what time it is.
"Guys." Hermione and Ron snapped to attention almost comically from their reveries.
"I think class will end in a minute or two. Shall we go to lunch?"
"Alright," Ron said. Hermione simply nodded and they stood up in unison, Harry leading and opening the portrait hole - only to be stopped by none other than Professor Dumbledore.
"Ah, I was hoping I would catch you three - I was thinking of owling you as I rarely come up in these sorts of directions, but decided it was redundant with such a close distance..." Dumbledore suddenly realized he was rambling and got to the point. "So, Miss Granger, the Order has taken your parents, and we have discovered that...both of your parents are Muggles."
Silence met this proclamation, until Hermione finally spoke.
"So I'm adopted." Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
"Yes, and we also know who the parents are. Perhaps we should go to my office?"
Five minutes later, Hermione, Harry, and Ron were sitting on a conjured couch in Dumbledore's office - confused and bewildered. Dumbledore spoke in a quiet, sad voice.
"Hermione, your mother was an ordinary Muggle, however, your father - he was a wizard. And also..." Dumbledore shuddered. "A Death Eater."
Hermione's eyes widened in shock and she went pale. She spoke in a horrible trembling voice.
"But how?" Dumbledore spoke gravely.
"Your father was a man by the name of Sam Sterling - a supporter of Voldemort when he was powerful. Sterling was killed by an Auror - all of whom had been given permission by Bartemius Crouch to kill Death Eaters - but before he was he had been having a relationship with your mother. Your father was a very - attractive man and your mother fell in love with him unbeknownst to the fact that he was a wizard or even that such things existed. Their - relationship resulted in your conception after your father's death. You would have lived with your mother but she was killed in a vicious Death Eater attack. Your parents found you in a Muggle Orphanage."
"Why didn't they tell me?" Hermione asked, starting to tear.
"They knew of your father's past and felt it better to...withhold the information."
A terrible sorrow was starting to reflect in Hermione's eyes as she found out that her father was a Death Eater - and her mother? A Muggle, and one so shallow as to be tricked by her father.
Ron was worried about Hermione. It was two days after they found out about her real parentage, and she seemed almost trance-like. Sure, she studied hard in class and still got O's and the occasional E all the time, but that seemed all that remained of her. All her character and fun was gone, and she could always almost be found drifting off, not in the present and undoubtedly in the past. When he asked Harry about it, the results were no better. If anything, Ron was now also confused about his other best friend. Ron sighed as he thought of their conversation yesterday.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"How do you think we should make Hermione snap out of it?" Harry smiled at this. Ron was never one for being subtle.
"Well, I don't know...it's a terrible thing, finding out your parents are something you believed they weren't...really messes you up..." Harry went deep into thought and was staring at the floor now, totally unaware of anybody else's presence now and standing stock-still in his own trance. Ron had a suspicion that Harry was keeping a secret.
"Harry? Are you not telling me something?" Harry snapped out of his trance like a deer in headlights.
"What, Ron? What're you talking about? Anyway, I'd suggest...candy? Or something? Or you can just try talking to her, anyway, gotta go meet Luna, I'll see you later." Harry said this all very rushed and then sprinted off towards the library, leaving Ron totally bewildered and confused.
Oh well, Ron thought. Harry did give me some good advice - suppose I should try talking to her.
"Ron? What are you doing up so early, it's Saturday." Speak of the devil, Ron thought grimly. Then he caught himself. Stupid Muggle expressions - Hermione's having an effect on me.
"Oh, hey Hermione. Actually, I wanted to talk to you." Hermione eyed Ron curiously at his words but sat down beside him.
"Alright." She seems almost resigned about this, Ron thought.
"Hermione, you're just not yourself anymore. You don't laugh or smile or anything anymore. Harry and I are worried - Ginny is too - we want to know what's wrong." Ron finished this statement resolutely, and looked at Hermione with growing confusion. She seemed to be swelling with - anger?
This was not the reaction he was looking for.
"WRONG? YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF HELL I'M GOING THROUGH? WHAT IT'S LIKE?"
"No Hermione, I don't, that's why I'm asking you now please just calm down," Ron spoke quickly.
"NO RON, I WON'T CALM DOWN, YOU SELF-CENTERED, ARROGANT, MISUNDERSTANDING GIT!"
Ron flinched and drew back at Hermione's words. He knew that Hermione had never found out that her insults didn't actually bounce off of him - he could vividly remember pretty much every time she had ever done so. Ron's rage ignited as he thought of how she was treating him - he was only trying to help.
"YOU COULD - NEVER - UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE, RON, YOU INSUFFERABLE PRAT."
Ron drew himself up to his full height in absolute rage now.
"FINE HERMIONE - YOU CAN BE SURE I WON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF TRYING TO AGAIN," Ron stormed out of the portrait hole before Hermione could think up something to say to him, and Hermione was left seething in apoplexy.
A week later and Ron still wasn't talking to her. Actually, to be more correct, SHE wasn't talking to him. Hermione was still furious at Ron and hadn't yet bothered to think it over why. Ron was still angry at Hermione for treating him so cruelly for no reason when he had only tried to help her. He had finally decided to give in to Harry and Gin's questions and ask them about it, and he caught them talking amiably in the library with Luna and Dean.
"Hey, Luna, Dean. Harry, Gin, want to go for a walk by the lake?" Ron felt sorry for leaving Luna and Dean without Harry and Ginny to talk to, but this was important. Harry and Gin both looked at him curiously but consented to come, seeing that Ron would not have interrupted unless he wanted to talk to them alone. Five minutes later they were out by the lake.
"So, Ron, what's this about? Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron sighed visibly, answering Harry's question.
"Yeah. Guys, you've probably noticed Hermione's not talking to me lately." They both nodded. Ron recounted the story in exact detail for them about what happened a week ago in the morning.
"You're not altering the story at all?" Gin asked curiously. Ron shook his head.
"I don't know what to do - she won't talk to me and she's clearly not apologizing."
"Well maybe," Harry said slowly, "she's expecting an apology."
Ron and Gin both raised their eyebrows in confusion and Harry hastily explained.
"What I mean is that maybe she doesn't see the error of her ways, so to speak." The two Weasley's nodded in comprehension.
"Alright, then what do I do about it?"
"Leave it to me," Gin spoke resolutely. "I'll have a talk with her."
This was probably a lousy chapter but it needed to be done. It was INCREDIBLY hard to write. I felt an urge to just bring up a new conflict but I hate it when I read stuff and the authors don't tie up loose ends, they just keep leading you on forever and ever (Alias, Season 3 anyone?). Anyway, the next chapter should be easier to write and probably better overall.
Disclaimer: I disclaim Harry Potter and all things concerning Harry Potter.
Chapter Fifteen - Explosions of Feeling
Ron sat on the couch of the Gryffindor Common Room with his arm around Hermione and his head rested on top of hers. Hermione was nestled into him comfortably, pretty much leaning her entire body into him and her head to the side, looking lazily at the fire while everyone else - except for Harry - was in class. Harry was across them in another seat, pensively staring into the fire but not really there. Hermione was on occasion murmuring her thoughts to Ron, but for the most part they were all silent, simply thinking - until Harry suddenly noticed what time it is.
"Guys." Hermione and Ron snapped to attention almost comically from their reveries.
"I think class will end in a minute or two. Shall we go to lunch?"
"Alright," Ron said. Hermione simply nodded and they stood up in unison, Harry leading and opening the portrait hole - only to be stopped by none other than Professor Dumbledore.
"Ah, I was hoping I would catch you three - I was thinking of owling you as I rarely come up in these sorts of directions, but decided it was redundant with such a close distance..." Dumbledore suddenly realized he was rambling and got to the point. "So, Miss Granger, the Order has taken your parents, and we have discovered that...both of your parents are Muggles."
Silence met this proclamation, until Hermione finally spoke.
"So I'm adopted." Dumbledore nodded in agreement.
"Yes, and we also know who the parents are. Perhaps we should go to my office?"
Five minutes later, Hermione, Harry, and Ron were sitting on a conjured couch in Dumbledore's office - confused and bewildered. Dumbledore spoke in a quiet, sad voice.
"Hermione, your mother was an ordinary Muggle, however, your father - he was a wizard. And also..." Dumbledore shuddered. "A Death Eater."
Hermione's eyes widened in shock and she went pale. She spoke in a horrible trembling voice.
"But how?" Dumbledore spoke gravely.
"Your father was a man by the name of Sam Sterling - a supporter of Voldemort when he was powerful. Sterling was killed by an Auror - all of whom had been given permission by Bartemius Crouch to kill Death Eaters - but before he was he had been having a relationship with your mother. Your father was a very - attractive man and your mother fell in love with him unbeknownst to the fact that he was a wizard or even that such things existed. Their - relationship resulted in your conception after your father's death. You would have lived with your mother but she was killed in a vicious Death Eater attack. Your parents found you in a Muggle Orphanage."
"Why didn't they tell me?" Hermione asked, starting to tear.
"They knew of your father's past and felt it better to...withhold the information."
A terrible sorrow was starting to reflect in Hermione's eyes as she found out that her father was a Death Eater - and her mother? A Muggle, and one so shallow as to be tricked by her father.
Ron was worried about Hermione. It was two days after they found out about her real parentage, and she seemed almost trance-like. Sure, she studied hard in class and still got O's and the occasional E all the time, but that seemed all that remained of her. All her character and fun was gone, and she could always almost be found drifting off, not in the present and undoubtedly in the past. When he asked Harry about it, the results were no better. If anything, Ron was now also confused about his other best friend. Ron sighed as he thought of their conversation yesterday.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"How do you think we should make Hermione snap out of it?" Harry smiled at this. Ron was never one for being subtle.
"Well, I don't know...it's a terrible thing, finding out your parents are something you believed they weren't...really messes you up..." Harry went deep into thought and was staring at the floor now, totally unaware of anybody else's presence now and standing stock-still in his own trance. Ron had a suspicion that Harry was keeping a secret.
"Harry? Are you not telling me something?" Harry snapped out of his trance like a deer in headlights.
"What, Ron? What're you talking about? Anyway, I'd suggest...candy? Or something? Or you can just try talking to her, anyway, gotta go meet Luna, I'll see you later." Harry said this all very rushed and then sprinted off towards the library, leaving Ron totally bewildered and confused.
Oh well, Ron thought. Harry did give me some good advice - suppose I should try talking to her.
"Ron? What are you doing up so early, it's Saturday." Speak of the devil, Ron thought grimly. Then he caught himself. Stupid Muggle expressions - Hermione's having an effect on me.
"Oh, hey Hermione. Actually, I wanted to talk to you." Hermione eyed Ron curiously at his words but sat down beside him.
"Alright." She seems almost resigned about this, Ron thought.
"Hermione, you're just not yourself anymore. You don't laugh or smile or anything anymore. Harry and I are worried - Ginny is too - we want to know what's wrong." Ron finished this statement resolutely, and looked at Hermione with growing confusion. She seemed to be swelling with - anger?
This was not the reaction he was looking for.
"WRONG? YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF HELL I'M GOING THROUGH? WHAT IT'S LIKE?"
"No Hermione, I don't, that's why I'm asking you now please just calm down," Ron spoke quickly.
"NO RON, I WON'T CALM DOWN, YOU SELF-CENTERED, ARROGANT, MISUNDERSTANDING GIT!"
Ron flinched and drew back at Hermione's words. He knew that Hermione had never found out that her insults didn't actually bounce off of him - he could vividly remember pretty much every time she had ever done so. Ron's rage ignited as he thought of how she was treating him - he was only trying to help.
"YOU COULD - NEVER - UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE, RON, YOU INSUFFERABLE PRAT."
Ron drew himself up to his full height in absolute rage now.
"FINE HERMIONE - YOU CAN BE SURE I WON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF TRYING TO AGAIN," Ron stormed out of the portrait hole before Hermione could think up something to say to him, and Hermione was left seething in apoplexy.
A week later and Ron still wasn't talking to her. Actually, to be more correct, SHE wasn't talking to him. Hermione was still furious at Ron and hadn't yet bothered to think it over why. Ron was still angry at Hermione for treating him so cruelly for no reason when he had only tried to help her. He had finally decided to give in to Harry and Gin's questions and ask them about it, and he caught them talking amiably in the library with Luna and Dean.
"Hey, Luna, Dean. Harry, Gin, want to go for a walk by the lake?" Ron felt sorry for leaving Luna and Dean without Harry and Ginny to talk to, but this was important. Harry and Gin both looked at him curiously but consented to come, seeing that Ron would not have interrupted unless he wanted to talk to them alone. Five minutes later they were out by the lake.
"So, Ron, what's this about? Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron sighed visibly, answering Harry's question.
"Yeah. Guys, you've probably noticed Hermione's not talking to me lately." They both nodded. Ron recounted the story in exact detail for them about what happened a week ago in the morning.
"You're not altering the story at all?" Gin asked curiously. Ron shook his head.
"I don't know what to do - she won't talk to me and she's clearly not apologizing."
"Well maybe," Harry said slowly, "she's expecting an apology."
Ron and Gin both raised their eyebrows in confusion and Harry hastily explained.
"What I mean is that maybe she doesn't see the error of her ways, so to speak." The two Weasley's nodded in comprehension.
"Alright, then what do I do about it?"
"Leave it to me," Gin spoke resolutely. "I'll have a talk with her."
This was probably a lousy chapter but it needed to be done. It was INCREDIBLY hard to write. I felt an urge to just bring up a new conflict but I hate it when I read stuff and the authors don't tie up loose ends, they just keep leading you on forever and ever (Alias, Season 3 anyone?). Anyway, the next chapter should be easier to write and probably better overall.