NOTE: I wasn't aware that Fred and George were two years older than Hermione, Harry and Ron, so in my story they happen to be one year older. Sorry for the mistake.
Chapter Two
The Truth Broken, and All Hope Lost
Hermione walked with him to Hogsmeade. She was silent basically the whole way there. After once holding his hand, she neglected to do so again. George started to seem rather uncomfortable with her, she felt sorry for him. His brother pushed him in the shadows and he had to depend on some younger girl.
They didn't talk much at all. Hermione offered to take him to Zonko's, but he didn't want to go. No matter what, he would not step one foot in there knowing that his twin would probably be lurking somewhere around.
Hermione turned to him, his face held so much pain from being pushed in the shadows and she felt horrible. She wasn't sure if she wanted to stay here with him or leave. If she stayed, she was afraid it would only hurt him more.
"Are you alright?" she asked. She was a little nervous from the look he had given her after she asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said putting on a weakened smile.
"No, you're not. George, will you please tell me what's bothering you?" She asked, pleadingly.
"I said I'm fine." He said a little frustrated. Hermione stopped walking. She looked at him with terror in her eyes.
"You are not fine!" She said, and she was completely sure. "I know you are not fine!" She watched him turn to her. She felt pain rushing through her.
She was afraid he would grab a hold of her and just hurt her. She felt his anger boil in his veins and she could see the longing looking in his eyes. If he hurt her, she wouldn't care at all. She wanted to help him, and she would. No matter what happened, she would help him, but something made that change thought.
"I said I'm fine!" George said, raising his voice. Hermione felt his hand grasp her wrist vigorously. She felt his grasp tighten with each word. It felt like cold iron bars digging into her skin. She let out a small whimper.
"Let go of me." She pleaded. Her eyes filled with tears. It was pain and she could feel his nails breakthrough her skin. She gasped. "Please." She begged.
He let go immediately. He looked at her and then looked at his hands. Why had he done that? He was confused. He didn't want to hurt her, but something had made him. He looked at her wrist which was now turning a deep purplish color. He looked at her and tried reaching to her, but she took a step backwards.
"I'm sorry; I don't know what came over me." He said, trying to comfort her. Hermione shook her head and took a step backwards again.
"Don't touch me!" She said sharply. "Don't you ever touch me!" She demanded. He tried harder to communicate with her, but it was no use.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why that happened!" He said and looked at her, his eyes were pleading for forgiveness. "You just got me so crazy that you..." he couldn't even speak, he didn't want to. "I'm sorry, I swear."
Hermione wanted to forgive him, but she couldn't. Her wrist felt broken and it was a deep blackened color. She held her wrist to her and pulled on an over shirt so you wouldn't be able to see her wrist from under her sleeve. She backed away more. Her tears fell hardly and she shook her head.
"No." she backed away more. "No... I can't survive knowing that you have just hurt me." She said, pulling down her sleeve more. "Get away from me!" She demanded.
"Hermione please-" he was going to finish, but she cut in.
"No! I thought I saw something different in you, I thought I saw trust, goodness, but I was wrong. I was terribly wrong... get away from me! I don't want to see you ever again!" She snipped. She turned on her heel and stalked of to the castle.
George tried to stop her once but she turned her wand on him, and he backed away. He was confused by then. He didn't even know, at this point, what had happened. He was scared. He felt like this girl that he had just physically and mentally harmed was the key to a happy life, and he just killed it.
Hermione was cradling her wrist as she walked quickly and fiercely up the grounds and into the castle. She had no choice, but to stalk her way to the Common Room. She hissed the password at the portrait of the "fat lady" and walked herself in.
She picked up a note that George once left for her and threw it quickly into the fire. She sat down on the couch hard, pulled her knees to her chest, and cradled her head in her hands and cried. She cried hardly. She picked up a cloak off the floor.
'Harry's invisibility cloak' she thought to herself. She wrapped it around her so no one would see her, and if they walked in then they wouldn't notice her. She just cried and cried because she didn't know what else to do. She was scared, she was scared to death.
She was whimpering a little and cried fairly loud. You would be able to hear her if you were in the common room. Hermione didn't notice but two young men came walking down the stairway from the boy's dormitory. Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"Do you hear that?" Harry whispered.
"Yeah, but I thought we were suppose to be looking for your invisibility cloak." Ron whispered, rolling his eyes.
"We are, just shut up." Harry said, creeping silently down the stairs. Hermione hadn't heard them because her crying had become louder.
Harry and Ron walked around behind the couch a bit, trying to locate where the sound was coming from. Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder lightly and pointed at the empty couch seat. Harry slowly pushed his hand towards the open area.
He felt something hit his finger and knew immediately what it was. This material he knew so well, and used it all the time. He grasped it slightly and tugged quickly on it so it uncovered what ever was inside. There Hermione sat, head in her hands and her robes stained with tears. She looked up, and saw Harry.
"I'm sorry Harry, I saw your cloak on the floor and I just wanted to hide for a moment!" She was talking faster then usual.
"It's alright, don't worry about it." He sat, circling the couch and kneeling down in front of her.
"What happened to you Hermione?" Ron asked as he took as seat next to her.
"It- it- it was horrible." She cried. Her tears were trailing hard down her cheeks. They made her eyes look shiny. Harry sighed.
"Please tell us." Harry begged. Hermione took a deep breath and held out her arm.
"Look." She said quickly. Harry gave her a confused look but grabbed her arm gently.
He slowly and gently pulled up her sleeve, Hermione was wincing from the pain, but she tried to ignore the pain. Harry and Ron's mouths dropped. Her wrist was very swollen and was now the color of a dark, mauve color. Harry pulled her into an embrace.
"He did this to you?" Ron asked, astounded.
Hermione nodded. She was hugging Harry tightly, determined to not let go. Harry rocked her gently. Ron stood up, anger filling him fast, and marched through the portrait. Hermione watched him go as she looked over Harry's shoulder.
"Where is he going?" She asked, fear rising in her.
"I'm guessing Hogsmeade to tell off his brother." Harry said as he pulled Hermione away from their hug. Hermione gave him a scared look.
"No... No Harry, you must stop him. I don't want anymore trouble, I don't... you must stop him!" She pleaded but Harry only shook his head.
"You know how Ron is. No matter what I'll say, he'll ignore it and do what he thinks he should." Harry said. Hermione gave him another quick hug.
"Why does he have to be so stubborn?" Hermione asked. She wiped a falling tear from her cheek. Her eyes were puffy and sore because she was crying.
"Why don't you go lay down upstairs, and I'll bring back an icepack for your wrist." Harry suggested and Hermione nodded.
"Alright, thank you Harry." She said as she wiped another tear from her eye.
"You're welcome. You might feel better after a nap." He said and she nodded.
"See you later Harry." She said as she kissed him on the cheek lightly. She stood up and disappeared behind the door of her dormitory.
Harry couldn't believe what Hermione told him. How cold someone who was so cool turn so evil. He didn't believe it, there was no way George had done that to Hermione and Harry knew it. It was about four in the afternoon and no classes were taking place that day. Harry got up from his seat.
He heard loud and mean shouts from the hallway. He removed him self from the overly large, plump sofa and walked down the small corridor. The portrait had swung open and he saw Ron and George descending down the stairwell to the right of the portrait. They were screaming at each other.
"What is going on?" Harry asked frustrated. He didn't want them to bother Hermione too much. She had already been through enough; anything more would most likely kill her.
"Will you keep your voices down?" The fat lady shrieked. All they did was ignore her.
"HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID?" Ron yelled as he trailed George down the stairs.
"RON, YOU PRAT, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT... I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! IT WASN'T ME WHO DID IT... I COULDN'T CONTROL MYSELF!" George yelled in protest.
"YES YOU DO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! IF YOU DIDN'T THEN YOU WOULD'NT HAVE DONE IT! SO NOW YOUR ARE BLAMING IT ON SOMEONE ELSE AND SAYING THEY MADE YOU DO IT... IS THAT IT?" Ron yelled and the fat lady started shrieking again.
"Can you please take this argument inside?" She said through gritted teeth.
"SHUT YOUR FAT MOUTH UP, THIS IS NONE OF YOUR BUISNESS!" Ron snipped at her. The lady opened her mouth wide and then closed it. She had never been so insulted.
"Ron, just drop it! IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS EITHER!" George yelled.
"None of my business? SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND AND YOU ABSOLUTLY MAY HAVE SCARRED HER FOR LIFE!" He tried to cool himself down. "Just keep you filthy, unworthy hands away from her." he said through gritted teeth.
They just stared at one another for an awkward minute or so before turning. They were fuming with anger as they turned and face Harry. They were expecting the same thing: for Harry to be on their specific sides.
"Don't look at me like that." Harry said with embarrassment as a couple of Ravenclaw girls walked along the hall giggling.
Harry walked down the stairs straight in front of him, not even turning around. He promised Hermione something, and he would do it. Hermione didn't want anymore trouble so he would stay out, except one thing had to be done.
He was at the middle of the staircase when he turned around, and both Ron and George were still staring at him. He felt slightly pressured to jump to Ron's side, but stayed where he was. He just gave them a furious look and spoke one thing calmly.
"There is only one thing I need to say and that is that you two fighting, making a scene, and embarrassing yourselves in the hallway isn't making Hermione feel any better." Harry spoke calmly so they wouldn't get mad.
"Maybe this will then." Ron had raised his hand and when Harry tried to stop him, he was too late.
Ron's fist had met George's nose directly. George went to strike back, but Ron had ducked. Harry only shook his head and muttered something that sounded a lot like 'children' under his breath.
Harry proceeded to the kitchens. He took a sharp turn around a corner and kept his eyes peeled for any teachers lurking around. He walked down two corridors before descending down another flight of stairs and taking another right.
He came across the large picture of a massive bowl of fruit and stood directly in front of it. He reached up and tickled the pear. It started moving a little before it opened widely and Harry stepped in. Hundreds of tiny house elves surrounded him and asking him if he wanted anything.
Harry wasn't a fan of talking to house elves. Not since his fifth year when he had met Kreacher at Grimmuld Place. He just looked around and noticed a small elf standing right in front of him. Harry knew this elf well and bent down slightly.
"Hello Dobby." Harry said. The elf had a strange outfit on him.
The tiny elf looked up. His body was covered with a maroon sweatshirt and wore a pair of gross, mustard colored socks. The house elf looked most delighted as it looked at Harry with his wide, greenish blue, eyes. Harry smiled gently to the small creature as it spoke its excitement.
"Harry Potter! Dobby knew Harry Potter would come back to visit, Dobby knew!" He said delightfully.
"That's great Dobby." He said with a weak smile upon his face. "I need your help." Harry said and Dobby squealed.
"Dobby always here to help! Dobby loves to help when he is being paid. What can Dobby get young Harry Potter?" He asked joyfully.
"Well Hermione had an accident, and she hurt her wrist." He lied, but he couldn't tell Dobby the truth. Who knows how the creature would respond?
"Harry Potter shall bring Hermione an ice pack!" Dobby said knowingly. "Dobby shall bring Harry Potter one!" he said.
"Thank you Dobby." Harry said.
Harry looked around as a small elf, which was much shorter then the others, held up a round try with a dozen mugs of butterbeer on it. Harry took one, gave her a small wink, and began sipping it. He waited only a minute before Dobby had returned.
Dobby held up the rectangular package that was frozen. He had wrapped it gingerly in a napkin and placed it in Harry's hand. Harry smiled nicely as he clasped his fingers around the item.
"Thanks Dobby." Harry said. He handed Dobby his empty mug and proceeded towards the entrance. Dobby had stopped him though.
"Would Miss Hermione care for a butterbeer and a pastry?" Dobby asked. "Pastries are Hermione Granger's favorite, Dobby knows!" He said happily.
"You know what Dobby?" Harry asked after thinking a bit. "She's had a rough day so I think that's exactly what she needs." He smiled.
Dobby handed the boy a rectangular tray that had a mug of butterbeer and a small, baked apple filled pastry. Hermione's favorite was their apple pastries and Harry felt like she could really use one right now.
He set the ice pack down on the tray with the other things and grabbed the handles of the tray. Before he picked it all the way up, Harry had noticed something. There was a vase sitting in front of him, on the table. Over three dozen roses were stuffed into a small, golden, vase.
Harry took one quickly from the vase. He wasn't sure if he should take one, but the house elves acted like they couldn't care less. He laid the rose across the tray and smiled, it looked pretty good. He grabbed the handles of the tray and proceeded to the entrance where he should have gone five minutes ago.
He walked slowly down the hallway, hoping that Ron and George were not biting each other's heads off anymore. Harry quickly went up the stairs, with the silver tray still in hands, and walked down the two corridors. He went up the last stairwell to find Ron standing directly in front of the Fat Lady's portrait.
Ron was glaring hardly at her and all she was doing was humming. Harry walked up the stairs slowly so he didn't interrupt anything. Harry made a small noise in his throat and Ron turned around quickly. He was fuming with anger and Harry tried his hardest to contain his laughter.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked with a confused smile. He looked back and forth from Ron to the fat lady then back to Ron.
"This portrait is barking mad! She won't let me in!" Ron complained. Harry stepped forwards the portrait.
"He was rude so I won't let him inside." The Fat Lady said stubbornly. "I've never been so insulted!" she whined.
"Maybe this is a good thing. You can steam off out here and not attack George." Harry said with a laugh and Ron glared at him.
"You, I can let in though." The lady said in a light and sweetened tone as she spoke to Harry.
"Thank you, Pixie dust, and don't let him in until he cools down and isn't steaming anymore." Harry said.
"I can't believe you Harry!" Ron said furiously. Harry entered the common room as he heard a yell the said:
"OH NO YOUR DON'T!"
He immediately knew it was the Fat Lady. Ron must have tried running in when she opened the door for Harry to enter. He walked into the empty room and George was sitting on the couch, sulking, and sighing.
Harry didn't say anything he just whistled loudly. The girl's dormitory opened immediately and Ginny came out. She looked around. She walked down the stairs fast and Harry smiled sweetly to her.
"Who did that?" She asked, still looking around.
"Calm down Ginny... it was just me. I need you to take this to Hermione." Harry said and Ginny laughed silently.
"You scared me Harry." She giggled. "Sure I'll take it to Hermione." She said brightly and took the tray from him.
"Thanks luv." He said. He kissed her on the cheek lightly and walked to the table by the boy's stairway.
He watched Ginny disappear behind the girl's dormitory door. He was searching through the pile of papers. He found what he was looking for. He grabbed the piece of parchment and began scribbling words down on it. It was already half done, but he had to finish. He looked to the side and sighed of frustration.
"Talk to me George." Harry said with a slight bit of forcefulness in his voice.
"That's nothing I can say Harry. I don't know what happened." George replied. He was staring uneasily into the fire.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Harry asked astounded. How could he do something and not know he had done it? Harry was nothing but confused.
"That's it... I don't know. I can't explain it! One minute she was asking me a question and the next thing I know, my hand is grasping and hurting her wrist. I don't know what happened, but I'd do anything to understand or at least have her talk to me." He said. Harry noticed that he was practically begging him to talk to her.
"Alright, alright... I'll talk to her. Maybe this was just a misunderstanding." Harry said with a sigh. He really didn't want to do this, but he felt he had to.
"Thanks Harry." George said.
"But- this does not mean I am on your side. I can't even believe that you had done that to her. I'm not surprised that Ron is practically begging to ring your neck." He pointed out and George let out a wary sigh.
Harry picked up the piece of parchment that he was scribbling on and walked around the couch. He put his quill back into the small container of ink and left it there. He was heading for the door when George had stopped him. He started talking with him again and Harry felt he needed to respond.
"Harry, where are you going?" He asked. Harry turned with a smile.
"Owlery," He said and George nodded. Harry sighed. "You're welcome to join me. We can talk on the way." He said with a smile.
"Alright, I need to clear my head anyway." George said with a sigh. He stood.
He stuffed him hands in his pockets and walked towards Harry. He followed him out of the common room. From the hall they still heard Ron and the fat lady fighting. Harry walked out as Ron glowered at him for walking with George.
"What the hell Harry!" Ron yelled, astonished that he was walking with George. "You are sticking with him now?" Ron asked.
"No. George didn't do anything to me, so I have no right to be mad at him. If you were smart then you'd notice the same thing." Harry said coolly. "Why are you still out here anyway?" he asked.
"She's making me sleep out here! She won't let me in because her wide ass is too lazy!" Ron yelled and his voice echoed through – out the hall.
"I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO INSULTED! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I AM HEARING!" The fat lady shrieked.
"Thank you." Harry whispered to the portrait. Ron faintly heard him, but understood his words.
Ron shot Harry a furious glare. George was just standing beside them and trying to contain his laughter. Harry started walking down the stairs and George was fast quickly following. He was still laughing silently.
"Thanks Harry, for what you said back there." George sat as he stuffed his hands into his jean pockets again.
"No problem mate. I don't have any right to be mad at you so I'm not." He gave George a friendly smile.
"I can't believe she won't let Ron in." George laughed silently.
"I know, it serves him right though. He needs to learn to control his anger and keep his mouth shut!" Harry said in his opinionated voice.
"You're telling me." George mumbled and Harry just laughed.
They were rounding the corner and carefully walked up along a spiral staircase that led into the Owlery. The west tower seemed so empty at night but only because it was darker then usual. The sun was just about to disappear behind the rocky looking mountains when they entered the tower.
"Hedwig," Harry called and she swooped down with a gentle "hoo." He gingerly tied the note to her foot. "Here you go Hedwig, take this is to..." he whispered the name so George wouldn't have overheard.
"Is that all you had to do?" George asked as he started petting his brother owl, Pig, but Harry shook his head.
"Not all, I need to run and do something." He said and then he started whispering. "Meet me on the Quidditch Pitch in five minutes." Harry said and George nodded.
"Why?" He wondered but Harry shook his head.
"Don't ask questions, I'll explain down there. I just need you to meet me there in fifteen minutes." He said.
George nodded and left soon after wards. Thoughts were racing in his head with wonders about what this could be. Something told him that he shouldn't go, but he was asked to so he would.
Harry stayed there in the Owlery for a moment as he looked around at all the owls. He looked up to Ron's owl, that was twirling around and showing off, and sighed very slowly to himself. He took a deep breath and let that out too.
"Let's hope this works." Harry whispered and turned to leave.
Harry heard voices coming up the stairs of the west tower. Harry made a dash for it and hid behind a wide, wooden desk that sat in the corner. He squeezed himself under it and listened carefully. He recognized the voices immediately. It was Malfoy and his girlfriend Parkingson.
"You're so clever Draco!" Pansy laughed.
"Yeah, let's just hope that mud blood doesn't find out though. Next time we should possess her lover into killing her." Draco laughed evilly.
"It would serve her right!" Pansy laughed. "How bad was her wrist?" she asked.
"It was bleeding and it was about the color of a nightly sky." He laughed as he pulled down an owl hardly and wrapped a note around its foot.
"It was that bad?" Pansy laughed. "That's wonderful! Stupid mud blood deserves it after what she did to me!" She hissed.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure she never transfigures you into an elephant or anything again. She'll pay." He said happily.
They owl that Draco was holding was squawking louder then ever. Draco was fiercely tying the letter on it, and hoisted it out the window. Harry could hear that he was causing harm to it. He wanted to just stand up and kill both of them.
"Thanks Draco." Pansy smiled as she kissed him on the lips.
"No problem Babe, now lets go plan the filthy whore's death." He said in a laugh.
The next thing Harry heard was the screeching of excitement from Pansy and the door to the Owlery slam shut. More then thirty owls were furiously freaking out when the door had made so much noise. Harry stood up.
He was fuming with anger. He had to get down to the pitch, and fast. The only fast way to do it was to summon his broomstick to him from the Owlery windows. He took his wand from his pocket, yelled "Accio Firebolt!" and waited.
Author's Note:
This story I put on hold because I thought maybe if it was on longer then I would get more reviews... but, I really wanted to update. Thank you to all the reviewed! Your thoughts mean the world!
Thank you:
professionaldooropener
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Thank you all!
Airalynn
P.S: FaErIexFaItH, you asked my why the title was called "A Summer's Romance" if it was set in the beginning of Hogwarts... well, Hogwarts does start in October. But the reason I called it "A Summer's Romance" will be revealed in later chapters. I knew at least one person would ask, lol. Well I hope you understand now.