Disclaimer: see first chapter
A.N. I'm finally back! (runs around room screaming) RL took over and it has been crazy for the last couple of weeks but now its all settled relieved sigh Anyway, here is the new chapter of nightshade! (ducks flying objects from irate readers who have been waiting for a month to read the new chapter...j.k.) On a sad note I again lost my betas due to their academic demands with the upstart of the school year. Any advice on where I can find new ones! It seems like I can't keep them (pouts) Sorry if I ranted for a while...on with the story! All readers who love Ronald Weasley ...run far away...don't read this chapter because there is some Weasley bashing in it. Major ANGST in this chapter. Now AU since the release of HBP. This chapter is unbeta'd
Running down the rickety stairs into the kitchen of the burrow, Hermione takes a glance around and collapses onto the bench next to the dining table. Molly looks on as a weary looking Hermione puts her head on the table and closes her eyes.
Molly pulls a chair aside and puts her hand on Hermione's shoulder "Hermione, breakfast will be ready and is everything ok? I am available anytime when you need to talk to me."
Startled by the gentle squeeze on her shoulder, Hermione turns her heads towards the kindly face of Molly Weasley and slowly says with a depressed note in her voice "Thank you Ms. Weasley, but I am not hungry right now...is it okay with you if I eat later. Also thank you for the offer, I just want to be alone right now."
With a nod, Molly understands that Hermione needs to be left alone for now to sort out her emotions after the upheaval she has gone through in the past 72 hours and she rises from the chair to walk back to the sink to continue preparing breakfast for the rest of the family.
The rest of the inhabitants of the burrow descends downstairs with Ron in the lead and Ginny bringing up the rear into the kitchen. "Oi! Mum is breakfast ready? I'm hungry." Ginny takes a deep breath and shoots a glare at her brother's back for bringing attention to himself and his stomach! Honestly, how loud can my brother get...he's like a dragon...minus the flames, wings, and scales but with the temper.
With a strained smile, feeling the strain of keeping everything as normal as possible for the family in time of darkness. Molly turns around and brings out the breakfast dishes for everyone to consume and sets aside a plate with warming charm placed on it for Hermione to eat later. Ron looks on and smiles...and starts to dig into the piles of food on the table. Ginny looks on with mingled amusement and horror on how her brother can inhale food so fast and wonders about the depressed state that her friend is in. I wonder how is Harry handling the death of Sirius, it's a good thing that he will be at the burrow tomorrow...maybe he will be the one to pull Hermione out of the depressed state she is in or...make it worse? Ron continues to be oblivious to the inner musing everyone is having sitting around the dinner table. Molly shakes her head on how much everyone has changed over the last few months...Hermione seems like she is slipping even further away from us, Ginny...I hope the fates above will keep her out of harm's way and Ronald, I don't know what to do with that boy. I don't want him nor my other children to die in this war...our family has lost so much since the rise of you-know-who. Hermione continues to keep her eyes closed...despite hearing the loud cow-like chewing coming from Ron sitting next to her. I don't want to be here, I hate being coddled. I know that Ms. Weasley is a sweet lady but she can be a total mother hen sometimes...I feel like I am slowly being smothered here. I know that Ginny is itching to ask questions...personal questions about what is going on with me. I have no desire to talk to her or anyone about it. They have no idea what I am going through...how would they feel if they had their family ripped apart in a matter of days and not knowing what is going to happen. The situation with Percy Weasley is small compared to what is happening with me...I was in a way removed from my family against my free will but I knew I had no choice in the matter. I have to be there for Harry and I cannot abandon everyone. Stupid prophecy...why can't the Order just off Voldermort the muggle way...life would be easier for everyone and innocent lives would not be sacrificed just to defeat that evil megalomanic. The war has gone on too long almost 30 bloody years with nay a victory in sight...Voldermort being vanquished by infant Harry was just a fluke. Someday Harry's luck is going to run out and we are going to be in some deep shit. I hope that the Order comes up with a plan B if that ever happens...its not like that I don't have faith in Harry's ability, but Harry is become even more unstable as time goes by. He is going to snap someday and the result will be disastrous because of Harry's impulsive nature...just look at what happened in the department of mysteries. Headmaster Dumbledore is not getting any younger and the toll of the war is beginning to show on him. Professor Lupin and Professor McGonagall look like they haven't slept well and they are more haggard looking than before. I thought fifth year was bad. What about our sixth year with Voldermort now in the open?
" Hermione...I want you to come outside with me because I want to talk to you about something important." With that comment, Ginny looks at her brother and tries to warn him off about Hermione's fragile state through facial gestures. Oh no...I have a feeling something really bad is going to happen and I don't know how to stop it. Ron please just keep your temper in check because I have a feeling that you are going to make Hermione do something that she and you will come to regret in the future. As usual, Ron misses it because he is single-minded in his mission to have Hermione as his girlfriend. Hermione opens her eyes and gives Ron a glare because her inner monologue was interrupted but complies with Ron's wish with a nod.
Ron leads Hermione out of the door into the garden away from the prying eyes of his mother and sister. Ron takes one last glance at Hermione to summon his courage to ask Hermione to be his girlfriend.
"Uh...Hermione...I don't know what to say. I'm nervous..."
Mildly frustrated and wanting to be left alone Hermione snaps at him "What is it Ron...I don't have times for games right now."
"Hermione...its not a game. I really like you. I think you are beautiful and brilliant. Scary but brilliant and you are a great friend. I would like have you as my girlfriend. I realized when you went down in the battle...I thought you were dead and I never got to tell you that I love you"
"What? What did you just say Ron?"
"Hermione, I want you to be my girlfriend. When this war is over and Harry defeats You-Know-Who. We can get married and have a family of our own. I have been in love with you since our second year."
"OH...Ron all of sudden you want to be my boyfriend... what is the matter with you! Its war...people die! I do not want a relationship right now...even with you. You are not the one for me. Yes, I was attracted to you before but not anymore. You and Harry use me...and its not fair. I am sick of being the bookworm you know and love. I don't want to marry you or have a family. Frankly I think I am not a mother material. I don't want to pop kid out after kid...no offense to your mother nor your family. I am not that kind of girl. Admit it! You are scared of losing me...I was badly wounded in the battle at the department of mysteries. That's why you have worked out in your mind that having me as your girlfriend will keep me safe and that you truly love me. I am not a damsel in distress! I don't need to be protected nor coddled. That explains the sudden 180 in your attitude towards me. Last year, you did not even give me the time of the day. You did not show interest in me at all, why now...why? The only time you and Harry even showed any interest in me was when you needed my help with your bloody homework and trying to figure out what You-know-who was doing. Also what do you mean by the brilliant but scary comment? That was a really nice thing for you to say...you are afraid of me but you only want me because I am the one who is keeping you from failing your classes."
Momentarily shocked by Hermione's outburst...Ron's temper gets the best of himself and dire consequences occurs. Ron snarled "BLOODY HELL! What is the matter with you? I just told you that I love you and I want to be your boyfriend. Its not true about me and harry using you. I am not afraid of losing you!"
Hermione walks up to Ron and gives him a hard poke in the chest "That's really rich, Ronald Weasley! Did I make it clear to you that right now it is not a good time for a relationship nor I ever want to have a relationship with you. You would not admit it but...you seem to have this fantasy built into your mind that I would suddenly fall at your feet and worship you forever when you declared that you loved me. That is not what happens in reality. There is no Cinderella story! No one magically falls in love, it doesn't happen right away. I am not saying that I will fall in love with you in the future. I am trying to tell you that it will never happen. Forgive me for being cruel but this is the harsh reality. I am trying to make you see the rational side. I don't want a relationship period. My whole life has been turned upside down in the last few days and the last thing I need is a relationship that would saddle me down."
Now lashing out in anger and hurt Ron rudely comments, "Thanks a lot Hermione...its actually true that you are a ice witch! You are just a ruddy know-it-all without a heart. No wonder you are so cold...you actually have no feelings at all. I see why Krum dumped you...you gave him frostbite!
"HOW DARE YOU RONALD WEASLEY! YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN VIKTOR AND I ! GET AWAY! I DO NOT WANT TO BE AROUND SOMEONE WHO IS SO CRUEL AND HURTFUL! IN FACT VIKTOR NEVER WAS A BOYFRIEND, HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND...A FRIEND WHO APPRECIATES ME FOR WHO I AM . NOT A FRIEND WHO THINKS HE HAS A RIGHT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME JUST BECAUSE OF MY BRAIN!"
Now crying, Hermione takes one last glare and raises her unsheathed gun and says in a bone chilling voice "call me insane Ronald Weasley, I don't care...just get out of my face...I never want to see you again..ever! You are not a friend...nor will ever be again after what you just said. Just get out of my sight...go! GO! Don't come closer..."
Seeing a unseen breeze start to blow around Hermione. Ron attempts to take a step closer to Hermione in hopes of grabbing her into a bone crushing hug to show that he is sorry and make her see that he wants her out of one last desperate attempt to keep his crumbling dream alive. Hermione takes a step back and Ron feels the ground start to shake and takes one last look at Hermione and he has never seen the menacing energy swirling around her. Hermione lets a bullet unload near Ron's shoes making him jump back " Hermione, you will be sorry someday that you lost me!" Ron shouts back in anger and heartbreak as he runs away towards the house.
Now sobbing, Hermione collapses on the ground...she knows that her world has come to a end..for sure that she now has lost the only friends she has at Hogwarts ...how much worse can her life get. Taking one last look at her gun...I wish I was never born a witch...I just want to be back with my family and safe again. I want to go back to the muggle world and just let the wizard world screw itself up. Hermione wraps her arms around her knees and starts to detach herself emotionally from the world in an attempt to ease the pain she is going through.
T.B.C...
A. N. please don't flame me! (hides behind computer desk) I know its cruel what I did to both Ron and Hermione. When people have a major upheaval or feel like their perfect life is spinning out of control, they tend to act out irrationally often with bad consequences. Like what happened with Hermione...her buttons had been pushed one time too many and it doesn't help that she has no one to lean on for support. They don't think, they just act it out. Please read & review (bites nails out of fear)