Disclaimer: I now own a Harry and the Potters CD, but not the rights to Harry Potter. Oh well, huh?

Chapter Nine: In Which Hermione Gets Her Punch On

Hermione was sitting on her bed, fuming and bewildered. What business of Ron's was it who she kissed? She felt a swooping in her stomach and then a tingle working it's way up rapidly from her heels. She wanted to be kissing him. She wanted it to be his business, and only his. But right now..it wasn't.

Maybe he wanted it to be his business too. He certainly acted like it already was. A smile crept onto Hermione's face, then quickly fell off as she squashed the hope that was rising inside her.

Or he was just protective of her, like a brother.

Hermione groaned. When she felt this frustrated, she usually talked to one of her best friends. But right now Ron was angy with her for an insane reason. Again. And Harry was..busy. Hermione didn't think she could talk to Harry about this sort of thing anyway.

She sighed and laid back on her bed. Restlessly she flipped over so her face was buried in her pillow. She never felt as alone as when Ron wasn't speaking to her.

Ron entered his room with an air of fury about him. He slammed the door, making Pig rustle in his sleep. He paced the room angrily for a moment. Ideas, mixed with insults to Hermione (and himself) were presenting themselves to him so fast, he couldn't concentrate on any, let alone understand one. He sat down on his bed wearily, thoughts still racing. He rested his head in his palms

Sleep-snog-deservedit-run-what'sfordinner?-you'rethinkingaboutfoodrightnow?-idiot-stupid-toogoodforyou-flirt-

Sorry.

Ron lifted his head, inspired. He had understood that one. He raced out of his room excitedly.

Hermione heard her door creak slowly open. She kept her face buried in her pillow. The dark room stayed silent. Just Ginny. Hermione felt grateful that her friend was thoughtful enough not to ask any questions right at this moment.

She felt the bed depress slightly, and felt a warm body next to her.

Hermione stayed silent.

After a silent moment or two, she looked up, expecting to see a red-haired, brown-eyed girl. Instead, she was shocked to see a certain someone with red hair and blue eyes. Not to mention, a male.

Gorgeous male. Hermione thought dreamily.

Ron clared his throat quietly. "Sorry." He whispered hoarsely, barely audible.

Hermione looked him over. His clear blue eyes were pleading with her to accept the apology. She was considering her choices when a flood of memories burst in her mind.

Lavender.

She felt as if she'd been punched in the gut.

"Well, maybe I don't forgive you." Hermione snapped icily.

Ron's look of quiet repentance quickly changed to one of angry indignation.

Hermione felt some of her anxiety lift off her shoulders. This was the Ron Weasley she knew. She could deal with this Ron.

When Ron spoke, only a few seconds later, his voice was strangely low.

"Hermione--" he paused and seemed to be collecting himself.

"No! Don't tell me to accept your apology! You started this, and if I don't forgive you yet, that's my prerogative!" Hermione shouted. She could feel her eyes prickling as tears built behind them. The image of Ron and Lavender snogging was racing through her mind. Snogging after she thought she'd made her feelings clear. A slow realization sunk in her stomach. The explanation. Yes, she had made her feelings clear. Then Ron did. Albeit quite rudely, but she was talking about Ron here. When did he ever do anything empathetically?

She couldn't be in this room anymore. She made to shuffle towards the door, but Ron grabbed her harm and whirled her around to face him.

"You started this when you snogged Krum," Ron hissed.

..There's that phrase again..

"That's ridiculous," Hermione snapped, while trying to tug her arm out of Ron's grasp. "That was fourth year."

Ron's face visibly paled, but his tone of voice stayed exactly the same.

"You know why he's coming to the wedding, don't you? For information on the Order! And you'll probably just tell dearest Viktor everything you know, just 'cos he as-"

"Or, possibly, because Fleur invited him!"

Ron carried on as if Hermione had said nothing. "I mean, can we really be sure what side he's on? And you're his "excuse" for coming! Don't you see? We're all in danger, because you're so desperate for a boyf--Ouch!"

As soon as Hermione heard the word "desperate, she stopped trying to escape, turned towards Ron with a quiet fury, and kicked him in the shin. Hard.

"Hey! What are you--Ow!"

Hermione punched him in the collarbone, causing him to free her left arm. She immediately took off her shoes. Ron glanced down at his own feet, then back up at Hermione. He looked puzzled, until--

Thunk! Shoe One collided with his chest and--

Thunk! Shoe Two hit him square in the forehead.

Hermione was running around the room gather other small, throwable objects.

"You think I'm" --Whap!-- "some sort of" --Smack!-- "desperate" --Miss! -- "Tramp?" She was sweating slightly, and she could feel her hair growing bushier by the moment, but she really couldn't care less at the moment.

She picked up a book and was about to launch it but Ron, bruised and panting from trying to dodge the objects, grabbed it out of her hand. He wrestled her down to the bed, pinning down her arms. Hermione fidgeted desperately, trying to escape. If she were in a different state of mind, she would have been breathless at how his blazing blue eyes were gazing intensely at her, or how close they were. As it was, she had gone temporarily crazy, or so it seemed, and could not appreciate such details.

"I'll have you know that I was asked nearly twice a month since 5th year. If a Hogsmeade weekend was coming up, I was usually invited by at least three guys. But I always declinded because I thought we had more important things going on in our lives." Hermione paused. "And I..."

Ron was stunned, but was still hanging on to her every word. His eyes got a sort of hopeful gleam in his eyes as he waited for Hermione to finish her sentence.

Hermione took advantage of his momentary speechlessness, spat in his face and pushed him off her. Then she grabbed her wand and uttered the Banishing Charm. In retrospect, she would think perhaps she applied it too forcefully, as he slammed into the hallway wall, but at the moment, she just enjoyed the cracking noise of the wood behind Ron's back. She sprinted to the door and closed and locked it.

All Hermione wanted to do was sit and sulk. As she tried it, she realized she was too angry.

With a crack, she Disapparated.

A/N: Dun dun duuuuun. Where'd she go? Feel free to guess in the comments. I already know, though, so...ha.

Uhm...sorry for...not..updating and all. I hope you will all forgive me, but you know, life got in the way. Ah well. I'm fine now. I've had this chapter written for FOREVER but I kept leaving my notebook in my locker. Maybe my updates will be less sporadic now...if you COMMENT!

Just kidding, I wouldn't withhold chapters. Maybe.

Anyway, so you have an update in time for Valentines Day ( by the by I wish a Happy one to all of you). Sorry it's not more fluffy, or substance-y. But, hey take what you can get. Okaaaay...on to...comments-on-comments!

pinkpygmypuff: What an amazing compliment, thank you so much! I'm not sure if author is the right choice for me, but thanks for showing your support for this story. I really appreciate it. By the by, are you by any chance, the creator of pygmypuffs, or just a fan?

Harry Lvr: I'm pretty sure they will be going on a Horcrux Hunt. I say "pretty sure" because I have been known to change my mind spontaneously. Also, I'm glad I could get a Ginny-hater to change their mind, no matter how momentary. XD

pawpawz: The first part of your comment is really nice, but the second part sounds vaguely threatening. XD.

Rizwan: Congrats! That is officially the longest review I've EVER gotten, and I want to thank you for voicing your opinions. Of course I'd love for you to review again. I absolutely loved the insight, and length. Also, to answer a question I think you had: No, I do not use a beta. It seems like a lot of work for something I'm just doing for fun. P.S. I beat you. I finish OoTP in 8 hours and 45 minutes, and HBP in 7. So there. XD. Also, check my info and you'll see I'm addicted, too. I know this is a long comment-on-a-comment, but that's because your review was frikkin huge!

((All my other readers, feel free to give hugely long reviews too. Even if you have to ramble a bit to get there. I'm a big fan of rambling. As long as you use punctuation and capitalization.))

AnonymousMarauder: My work is "AMAZING," huh? Well, I like the sound of that. XD

Remember, keep those reviews coming. The more you review the better chance you have of getting a comment-on-comment, as long as it has a bit of substance in it. It also doesn't hurt if it's frikkin huge. Tee.