A/N: Hmm...reviews dropped after the last chapter. Maybe it sucked...Thanks to all who did review, though! I'm glad people found the 'save a broom...' thing funny. Oh, yeah, and Emily's one of those friends who seems like a complete ditz most of the time, but deep down she really cares, and it turns out she's a psychology master. lolz.
Disclaimer: HPNOTMINE!AHH!
So Sick of It
KiahWMConnie
Chapter 7
Hermione woke up with an almost pleasant ache in her body. Then she remembered exactly why her body ached as she acknowledged the man beside her.
Ron looked so beautiful when he was asleep. They were both still nude, under the covers in her bedroom. Hermione reached out and cupped his face in her hands, admiring his cute freckles. She wanted this moment to last forever, but she knew it sadly wouldn't, for it was Friday and she still had work. If only it was one day later...But there was no use in dreaming of such things.
Mentally groaning, Hermione rose out of bed and began to get dressed. By the time Ron woke up, Hermione was putting on her shoes.
"Hermione?" he mumbled, still heavy with sleep.
"Good morning, Ron," she leaned over and kissed his forehead, "Better hurry and get up. We still, unfortunately, have to work."
Ron moaned and covered his face with his hands.
"I'm going now," she leaned down and kissed his forehead again, "If I'm lucky, I can get off early today," she walked out, then heard Ron call from the bedroom.
"Have a good day, Love."
She stopped. He called her 'Love.' Hermione smiled.
"Well, Emily," Hermione ran up to her friend, "You won! You were completely right!"
"Good morning to you, too, Hermione," Emily said rather surprised, "Now, what?"
"Ron...and I," she said, "We're together now."
Emily's eyes brightened up, "Really?" she squealed, "Oh, Hermione! That's great!" she hugged her friend, "You must tell me everything!"
"Hey, Ron," Harry greeted his best friend, "Have a good day off?"
"Harry!" Ron grinned broadly, "Boy, do I have a story for you."
"What is it?"
"It's me...and Hermione. We're together now!" he grinned even more.
"Finally! I mean-wow! Really?"
"Yes...it all just kind of...came out. We wound up kissing...and, well..."
"Ron?" Harry's green eyes went wide. He asked slowly, "Did you two shag last night?"
Ron turned very red, "That's none of your business!"
"You did!" Harry laughed, "Wow, Ron. Less than a week and already-"
"For your information, Harry," Ron protested, "It was not less than a week! I've liked her for several years now!"
"Alright, alright," Harry put his hands up defensively, "Well, congratulations to you both," he said still smiling.
"Thanks, Harry."
"So, um," Harry began a little awkwardly, "Have things improved with your family any?"
The question caught Ron off guard. He'd been so preoccupied with Hermione, he hadn't given it any thought.
"No," he finally replied, "I haven't spoken to any of them since Monday."
"Oh," Harry sighed, "Well, maybe things will start looking up now that you and Hermione are together."
"Maybe," Ron shrugged, "I'd just as soon wait a while longer, though. Y'know, spend some time with Herm."
"True. Well, I'd better get back to work. See you later!"
"You too, Harry. The weekend's almost here!" Ron added with enthusiasm.
Hermione was incredibly happy. She had managed to get off work several hours early. Now she could get home to Ron as fast as possible. She had said her goodbyes to Emily and promised to keep her updated in her love life. She walked out the door, loving the feeling of March around her. The air was cool and crisp, but the sun added enough warmth so that all she needed was her coat. Yesterday's rain had washed everything clean and left a wonderful scent in the air. Hermione would have never expected something strange to happen in such great weather.
"Hermione!" a familiar voice called her in the distance.
Hermione turned around. Her eyes met one red-haired girl about her age. Hermione went into shock...the letter...today was Friday. How could she be so stupid as to forget that?
"G-Ginny...?"
"Hey, Hermione," she smiled sadly.
Hermione approaced her cautiously.
"I assume you got my letter?" Ginny asked.
"That was you?"
"Yes, I'm sorry for not signing it," she apologized softly, "And I'm sorry we can't catch up at the moment, but what I'm about to say is urgent. Do you know anything about Ron the past few days?"
Hermione was at a loss what to do. Ginny was one of her best friends back at Hogwarts, but so was Ron. Giving information behind his back be like betraying him, wouldn't it? Even if it was his sister...Maybe...if she only told half the truth...
"Ginny," she finally replied, "I...did see him."
Ginny looked hopeful, "Where did you see him? Did he say anything? Where is he now? Do you know?"
Hermione gulped, "I found him on the streets. He told me of the fight."
"What about it?" she sounded almost desperate, "What did he say?"
"He said...he was sick of it."
"Sick of it?"
"He said that he was sick of always being left behind and forgotten. He's the youngest boy and was just sick of always being the butt ofeveryone'sjokes.He felt that he didn't really matter anymore in the family. And when Fred called him 'Ronniekins' he just...snapped. Apparently, all of his frustrations over the years finally exploded."
"That's why he left?" Ginny's brown eyes were slightly teary, "Oh, Hermione, what will we do? Do you know where he is now?"
"As far as I know, he said he was still going to work," she told her truthfully, "But I wouldn't try reaching him there."
"Why not?"
"Because...from the way he acted, I think he just needs some time alone."
"He's been alone for almost a week, Hermione!" Ginny yelled, not knowing that he really wasn't alone all that time.
"Ginny," Hermione said firmly, "I just...I just don't think now would be a good time, okay?"
"How do you know?"
The truth was, Hermione did think it best that they waited, but part of her also wanted more time with Ron, alone. She wasn't quite ready to give that up.
Hermione took a very long sigh, "Ginny...do you know what Monday was?"
Ginny looked confused, "Yes, it was March the first...but what does that have to do with Ro-" she stopped. Her eyes went wide with horror and she gasped. Hermione gave her a sympathetic, yet cringed look.
"H-Hermione," Ginny's voice shook, "We forgot his birthday!"
Hermione nodded, "He was a bit torn up about it."
"Oh, Hermione...we actually forgot! How could we? Oh, no wonder he's so angry!"
"Now, calm down, Ginny."
"What are we going to do? There's no way he'll listen long enough to-"
"So don't go looking for him," Hermione demanded. Ginny looked at her with confusion. Hermione continued, "Listen...I'll try to find him and talk to him. I'll do all I can...but...the rest will be up to him."
"How will I tell the others...that we forgot...?" she asked quietly.
"Just be brave, Ginny," she looked in her eyes, "For Ron's sake."
They were quiet for a long time. Hermione finally asked with the slightest of a chuckle, "So, how's Fred's jaw?"
Ginny gave a tiny smile, "It was bruised pretty bad, but I think he's okay now," she sighed, "Thanks, Hermione. Ron and I are so blessed to have a friend like you."
When Hermione got home, she felt very drained. Should she tell Ron what happened today? Yes. He deserved to know. He needed to know his family was at least worried about him.
"Ah, you're home," Ron greeted as she walked through the door, "How was your Fri-what's wrong?" he noticed the worried look on her face.
"Ron, there's something you need to know," she sighed, "You'd better sit down, on the couch."
Ron did as he was told. Hermione explained the whole ordeal, beginning with the letter she had gotten earlier in the week. Ron was silent through the whole explaination. Hermione could only imagine the emotions he was dealing with in such a situation. Hermione finally finished with the lastof their conversation. They were quiet for a long time.
"Then what did she do?" Ron asked unexpectedly.
"Well, she just...apparated away. She seemed rather distraught."
"Hermione, why did you have to tell them about my forgotten birthday?" he asked dryly.
"Because they needed to know Ron."
"No, they didn't," he suddenly got up and ran his fingers through his hair. He whipped around, "Hermione, the last thing I wanted was to seem like a bawl baby by complaining about that to them!"
"You didn't, Ron!" Hermione got up as well, "I was the one who gave them the message."
Ron huffed and after several long moments, muttered, "I can't believe she came looking for me...What kind of useless, little kid do they think I am?"
"They don't, Ron," Hermione almost shouted, "They were worried. Ginny was terrified about what happened-"
"You see!" he shot back, "They still think of me as little, baby Ronniekins! They don't think I can make it a day on my own!" his ears began to go red.
"Well," Hermione shot back, her cheeks flushing with anger, "If you think they still think of you as a baby then go! Maybe you can finally stop being blind and figure out what's happening, here!"
"Fine! I think I will!" he yelled and stomped out the door, slamming it very hard behind him.
"FINE!" Hermione yelled back even louder. Right after the door slammed, she fell back on the couch and buried her face in her hands. He was gone now. Just that morning, she had kissed him on the forehead and he called her 'Love.' That was gone now...
Just outside the door, Ron took a long breath. He began walking away, away from everything that mattered to him at this point. He was fully intending on making it out the building and onto the streets...He made it to the end of the hallway.
Hermione heard a knocking at her door. Getting up and wiping the tears from her eyes, she reached the door and looked through the peephole. It was Ron. Groaning, she slowly opened the door. He stood there with a very apologetic look on his face. They were quiet for a long time.
"Well?" she asked very harshly.
Ron didn't answer. Instead, he bent down, cupped her face, and kissed her with the softest, sweetest kiss he could give her.
Hermione froze, but eventually returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around him. Ron sure had learned how to apologize. They kissed for what seemed like hours before they finally broke apart.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Me too," she also whispered.
"Can I come back?"
"Of course."
Once he was inside, he kissed Hemione again. Once he finished, he asked, "What was that argument about?"
"I don't know," she replied softly, "But it doesn't matter."
"We haven't changed much, have we?"
"Not too much," she chuckled, "We still argue, and we always will. But I'm willing to work through it if you are."
"Challenge accepted," he smiled and kissed her softly one more time. Things were beginning to look up. Whatever would happen with his family, he'd deal with it, but right now, he was just thankful that he had the world's most wonderful woman in his arms.
A/N: Well, hope you liked it. I personally thought the dialouge was a little corny. Yes, yes, I know. It was sooo predictable that Ginny was behind the letter. Kiah sucks at suprise, I know. Anydangway, this fic is more than halfway done, so keep your pants on until the next chapter! It might take me a lot longer than usual.
Remember to review! It makes me go faster!