It's Not Like You'll Marry Me!

Chapter 6: The Golden Trio, Broken

Author's Note: Forgive me for that evil cliffie! (Let's just say the story went downhill from there…it may help to have a box of tissues handy for the next couple of chapters.)

The first thing Ron noticed was his head hurt more than it ever did in his life. He was going to get up and ask Harry for some hangover potion, but he felt he was in a dark, wet, place. He popped open his eyes and sat up. He was lying on the wet stones of a place he recognized…

"Oh no." He groaned. "Not the sewers again."

But being in this room brought back memories. It was here, two years ago, that he and Hermione confessed their love for each other. It wasn't exactly a happy memory, but thinking of what Hermione had said back then made him cherish it. It's too bad she doesn't feel that way anymore… Ron said. I just wish I would have known back then…

Suddenly, the door opened, making Ron jump. Standing in the doorway was a silhouette of a figure he did not know. "Who are you?" He asked.

The figure came in the doorway, revealing a young woman. She had long, wavy red hair, and bright green eyes. She had on black robes with ancient silver designs. Gold bracelets and necklaces clanked as she walked. She looked down at Ron, and smiled.

"Gwyneth!" He gasped. "I thought you were dead!"

Her smile widened. "You mortals are so gullible. To think you took my teleportation spell as death!" She gave a small laugh.

"I had hoped you were enjoying an eternity in a little place called hell." Ron rolled his eyes. "At least you got rid of that bodysnatching habit."

"I ran into more powerful magics over the last two years. Much more powerful." She said this in a threatening tone.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it before. So, what you kidnap me for? In case you didn't know, I'm not muggle born."

Gwyneth smiled again. "No, I have you for a different reason. And you can thank your mudblood girlfriend for letting me have you."

Ron stood up. "LEAVE HERMIONE OUT OF THIS, YOU BITCH!"

Gwyneth held out her hand. "Wesan forð!" She yelled, and a stream of bronze light came from her fingertips. He gasped as it came at him, slamming into him and pinning him against the wall. Ron tried to move, but he realized he could not.

Gwyneth came up to him. "In fact, if she hadn't believed my letter, my plan would have never come to be."

"What plan?" Ron demanded. "What letter?"

Gwyneth didn't answer. She just stroked Ron's cheek with her long fingernails. "And to think I would actually kill you! What a silly girl. You're much too precious to kill."

"What are you talking abo—" Ron was cut off.

Because Gwyneth suddenly forced her lips on his.

"Hermione, where is he?" Harry asked.

"I don't know…the spell is very faint." They had used a homing spell, using a few hairs from Ron's hairbrush. They were walking along an alleyway in London, desperately trying to find him.

Harry looked at the ground. "Then he was taken. I'm sure of it."

Hermione started to cry. "And its all my fault, Harry! If I had just told you two about that letter, then all of this never would have happened!"

He patted her on the back. "Don't worry, we'll find him. It's too early to give up hope. If we keep looking, we'll surely find him."

Hermione wasn't convinced. "Harry…I want to believe that…I do…but I just can't!"

"Hermione, let me see the hairs." She gave them to him. "There's still heat. He isn't lost. Come on!" He took off and Hermione followed him, desperately trying to pull herself together.

The trail led to a city park. Harry felt the hairs. "They're getting hot. We must be close!"

As they walked toward the center of the park, they saw two people sitting on the bench. They were talking, and from what Harry could hear, it sounded like they were flirting. He was surprised when he heard the word, "Hogwarts". And he was even more surprised when he saw who the two people were.

"N-Neville?" He gasped. "Ginny?"

They turned, and immediately sat up from the bench. "H-Harry!" Ginny said. "I didn't expect to find you here!"

"What are you doing here…with Neville?" Harry asked.

"Nothing." Ginny said, a small blush on her cheeks. She looked and saw Hermione behind Harry. She didn't even acknowledge her. "Come on Neville, we're leaving."

"Wait!" Harry stopped her. "Don't be so mean to Hermione."

"Why?" Ginny asked. "I'll have you remember, she dumped my brother!"

"Yeah, well, she didn't really have a choice!" Harry yelled. "Trust me Ginny, Hermione didn't mean to hurt him, she just didn't have a choice!"

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.

"No time to explain; just trust me on this one." Harry looked at her pleadingly. "Please, Ginny."

She sighed. "All right."

"Good, we need your help." Harry began following the hairs, since they were getting warmer.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked.

"Ron's been kidnapped, and it's all my fault!" Hermione cried.

"WHAT!" Ginny asked.

"Wait…" Harry stopped, above a manhole. "We're here." He looked down. "Ugh, sewers again. Come on, we can't wait all night."

Gwyneth stroked Ron's cheek. "Your girlfriend is such a fool. You are too cute for anyone to throw away easily."

"You sick freak. So what am I for your plan, your toy?" He spat.

She gave a small laugh. "Ah, no, no, no. You are crucial to it; after all, their deaths will be at your hands."

"So that is what this is about, revenge?" He asked.

"Well," She confided. "Partially, but this is something else too. Something…much bigger."

"You're going to regret this." Ron said, "If you mess with us—"

Gwyneth snorted. "I don't fear your mortals. Your friends will die, but you, lucky you, shall live. After all, I can't resist a big, strong man." She ran her hands over Ron's muscles from years of playing keeper.

"Hey, hey! Only Hermione is allowed to touch me there! You perverted, tree worshipping nutter!"

She stepped back, with anger in her eyes. "What did you call me?"

Ron grinned. "You heard me; you are a tree worshipping nutter!"

She zapped him with a whip of her magic. "I won't have my religion mocked."

Ron fought the pain, still grinning. "Oh, so it's your religion now? I just thought it was some horny tree fetish…"

Gwyneth looked like she was about to explode, before another druid came in. "Lacasca, Your Highness, they have entered our sanctum."

Gwyneth suddenly calmed her anger. "Excellent. Go wait with the others until I give further instructions. I will have nothing meddle with our plan." The woman under the cape bowed and left. Gwyneth looked back to Ron. She smiled. "I guess the time is now to put my plan into action."

"What are you going to—?" Ron asked, before Gwyneth started chanting.

"Hecate, blæc his ferhð, giefan hine lāð. Blæc his ferhð, giefan hine lāð. Blæc his ferhð, giefan hine lāð…" She chanted, while Ron felt as if he was falling into a deep sleep. His eyes shut, and he felt his arms and legs being released. The last thing he noticed before falling into unconsciousness was that he was no longer pinned to the wall…

"You mean she's…back?" Ginny asked, looking wide-eyed at Harry.

"Yes, but worse than before. All else I know is that she wanted Ron for some reason." He told her as they splashed through the tunnels.

"Wait…" Hermione breathed, stopping them. She looked around a corner. She saw for women, dressed in what appeared to be heavy cloaks. "We're in luck." She said.

They gathered around the corner and all at once yelled, "Stupefy!" Before the druids knew what had hit them, they were lying on the damp ground, stunned.

"Well, that worked out." Harry said, walking up to them. They grabbed the cloaks off the druids and placed them around themselves, perfect camouflage.

As they walked around a corner, hoods up, Hermione spotted a person walking toward them. She motioned for them to stop. The person walked forward out of the mist, and when Hermione saw who it was, she forgot that they were sneaking into a dangerous place. She ran up to them, crying, "Ron!"

She hugged him fiercely saying. "We were so worried, Ron! We came all this way to rescue you! Thank god you're safe! Ron, I'm so sorry! I'll explain everything later…but now we need to get out of here."

"No." Was the reply.

Hermione opened her eyes, looking up at Ron. "No? What do you—?"

Before she could finish her sentence, someone yelled, "Crucio!" Hermione screamed. It was pain beyond any pain she had ever felt. It was as if a thousand knives were stabbing her. She heard her companions yell her name, but she wondered about Ron. Why wasn't he helping her? Usually he would at least try…

At last the pain stopped. She opened her eyes. "Ron? Where—?" She stopped. Above her, she saw Ron, holding his wand out, a smirk on his face. It was Ron that had cast the spell.

Hermione looked into his blue eyes. She saw no love, no friendship, no compassion. All she saw was hatred and malice. She screamed, "Ron? RON!"

Author's Note: VERY cliché for anyone familiar with anime, but it works. Poor Ronnikins! I just keep making him suffer. I should cut of my hand in penance. Also, the thing with Gwyneth turned out to be more…ahem…than I thought! Oh well. She's a thousand year old druid queen. She can be horny if she wants, I guess. (Besides, I bet you lot didn't see THAT comin'!) He he…I am so evil.