CHAPTER 4 (HERMIONE)

The next morning, breakfast was just as bad as dinner. But instead of being shy to one another, they were hostile. They refused to talk to one another, look at each other, or mention each other's name.

"Ginny, can you please tell your brother to pass me the jam?"

"Um, Ron," Ginny said softly.

"Here," he said grumpily. He gave Ginny the jar a bit more force.

Ginny didn't say anything. She knew better than to try and intervene when these two are mad at each other.

After a while, Hermione went to her room without another word or finishing up her breakfast.

"Good job," Ginny muttered to Ron when Hermione was out of the room.

"What?" Ron asked.

Ginny rolled her eyes, got up and put her dishes in the sink. Ginny didn't know why they were mad at one another, but she wasn't going to find out from Ron.

She went up to the twin's bedroom.

"Hermione?" said Ginny behind the door. She slowly opens the door to see Hermione on the bed reading a book.

"Ginny," Hermione said sitting up. "Come in."

Ginny sat on the other bed George use to sleep in. Ginny saw the book opened on Hermione's bed, but there was a piece of parchment on top of the book.

"Writing to someone?" Ginny asked accusingly. Ginny knew whom the letter was for. "Still writing to Viktor?"

"I told you, Ginny," Hermione said, obviously tired of talking about this. "We're just friends."

"Like you and Ron?"

"No! Like Harry and I."

"Well, you better not let Ron find out."

"Right now, I don't care what Ron finds out. I don't understand why he hates Krum so much. When we went to the World Quidditch Cup, he wouldn't shut up about him. You would think he would be excited and want to be friends with him."

"Why don't you figure it out? I thought by this summer, you two would figure it all out."

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you kidding me? You're not as clever as I thought you were, Hermione. You know Ron fancy you." Ginny said.

"Well, he sure shows it well." Hermione said doubtful.

"Hermione, you and I both know how thick my brother could be. He just needs a little push."

"I don't know. We've been friends for so long-"

Just then, Ron walked by, stopped short, backed up, and walked into the bedroom.

"What are you two talking about?" Ron asked looking at the both of them.

"Nothing!"

"Hermione's writing to Viktor Krum!"

They both spoke at the same time, but "Viktor Krum" was what Ron heard. Hermione gave a dirty look to Ginny. She couldn't believe Ginny would give her up like that. Was she trying to get Ron and Hermione to have another fight two days in a row? Ron's face quickly reddens. Hermione knew that wasn't a good sign.

"Well, got to help mum," Ginny shot up from the bed and ran down the stairs before Hermione could protest. Hermione chased after Ginny to the door and slammed it shut.

"Still writing to Vicky are we?" Ron said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, talking to me now are you?" Hermione said angrily and turned away. "Ron, you know perfectly well that we're just friends! And you know for damn sure it's Viktor!"

"Oh ho! Defending him now are you?"

"Ron, what are you talking about?"

"Nothing! I can't believe you would come to my house and write a letter to…to…to him!" Ron said throwing his arms up.

Hermione turned around but didn't move from her spot. "Why does it bother you so much?"

"It doesn't! I'm just thinking of mum. Knowing you're writing to-"

"Ron, you can't start making up rubbish for your lack of an excuse of your jealousy!"

"Jealousy? I am not jealous!"

By now, they are screaming across the room. Hermione and Ron was surprised Mrs. Weasley didn't come up yet to break up the fight yet.

"Fine!" Hermione yelled louder. "You can call it whatever you want!"

"I will!" Then Ron paused to figure out what he just agreed to.

Hermione smiled at the confused look Ron had on his face.

"Hermione," Ron said softly. "I don't want to do this. I don't want to fight with you like this."

This was the second time they were fighting in two days. This summer was suppose to be them having fun, not fighting all the time. Is that what their relationship has turned into? A relationship that only seem to be them arguing all the time?

Hermione looked at him confused. Ron never gave up on an argument so easily before.

Sometimes it's him arguing back that gets her all fired up. And now that she's fired up, Ron doesn't want to argue anymore.

Hermione turned around and wince a little, holding her ribs. It has been almost a month since they were at the Ministry, but the pain has still yet to go away. No matter how much potions she drinks from what Madam Pomfrey gave for the summer, it wasn't getting better any faster.

Ron's face softens and he ran to her side as soon as possible.

"Does it still hurt?" Ron asked, looking really concern now. "Maybe we should go ask mum-"

"No, I'm fine. It's just a little soreness. I'm loads better than before."

Hermione held on Ron's arms to stable herself. But as she did this, she noticed that large bruises on Ron's pale arms.

"Ron! Your arms!"

Ron looked down at his arms, "Oh, it doesn't hurt. But the marks won't go away. Mum bought some of Lockhart's remedy potions, but it doesn't work. It's a bunch of rubbish if you ask me."

Hermione gently caressed Ron's arms.

"Hermione," Ron said softly. "I don't want to have a row every time he is mentioned. So, let's just not talk about him, okay?"

Hermione nodded. "I hate this as much as you do. Do you think I enjoy arguing?" Ron helped Hermione sit down on the bed. Ron sat across from her and gave her a look like she was crazy.

"With you, I mean," she said smiling.

"No more Krum while you're here in my house. And I'm sorry about the shower. I should have known better." Ron said walking to the door.

Ron tried to turn the knob, but it wouldn't budge. He tried again, harder. It still didn't open. Now he was jiggling the handle. Hermione walked over to the door. She pushed Ron aside and gave a shot herself to open the door.

"What's going on?" Ron said.

"We're locked in, Ron." Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"Well, can't we just-" waving his hand around, holding an imaginary wand.

"We're both underage," Hermione cried.

Both Ron and Hermione started screaming and pounding on the door. After a few minutes, they both gave up. Obviously, no one can hear them.

"What do we do now?" asked Ron sitting on the bed. "Do you think we'll starve to death?"

"Don't be silly, Ron," Hermione said crossing the room. She stared out the window and tried to figure out how they can get out. But more importantly, how did it get lock in the first place.

"Why do you hate Krum?" Hermione asked softly still looking out the window.

"What?" Ron jumped up from the bed. "I thought we agree-"

"Just answer the question and I'll drop it, forever."

Hermione turned away from the window and looked at Ron. She was tired of Ron. She was tired how he was so thick. She fancied Ron. There was no doubt. But, it was harder to admit to it. Even now, Hermione thought she could get over her crush for her ginger-haired friend. But every moment they spent alone, the harder it was to shake the feeling. She was also tired of how he never takes any opportunity. It's so hard to know if Ron fancied her back.

Ron was struggling within himself in telling Hermione what's really bothering him.

"Just admit you're jealous, Ron." Hermione said.

"Me?" Ron said shocked. "Jealous? Why do you keep saying that?"

"So, if I went to Bulgaria instead of the Burrow, you wouldn't mind?"

Ron tried to answer but Hermione quickly cut him off.

"Like last summer, when I was with him."

Hermione never talked about her visit to Bulgaria to Ron. Nothing really did happen. She explained she only wanted to be friends, and Victor understood.

"You wanted to know what we did. Well, here's your chance. Ask me. Ask me if he took me out on dates. Ask me if he took me out to dinner. Ask me if we kissed."

"Okay!" Ron screamed. "That's enough! I don't want to hear anymore of this. If you want to go to Bulgaria to be with Krum, no one is stopping you."

Hermione was speechless. She wasn't expecting Ron to say that, let alone scream like that. Maybe she went too far. She wanted to get a rise out of him, but maybe that was the wrong way.

"Ron," Hermione said walking towards him. "I want to be here. Don't you get it? I rather be here, with you." She put her hands on his arms.

They were standing really close to each other, not saying a word. Ron blinked a couple times, and leaned in for a kiss.

"Harry," Hermione said softly.