Disclaimer: All situations are my own, all recognisable characters are not.
Summary: Her fiancé dead, overrun with work, over tired, under appreciated, barely surviving but still alive, and then he arrives…
Author's notes: Enjoy!
Warning: this chapter contains sexual references and scenes, so if you do not wish to read them I would suggest that you do not read towards the end of the chapter!
Ubiquity: Chapter One
The wet gravel crunched loudly underneath her feet as she ran. Forever running. Her heart was pounding in her ears, the wind whistling past in a vague attempt to tug her back.
In…out…in…out.
Forever running. Round the bend, left, right, left, left and then straight. Picking up momentum she began to work her legs until they screamed with pain. Instead of slowing her down, she gritted her teeth. Forever running. Branches and twigs cut into her skin stinging her as she ran past, but that would not stop her.
In…out…in…out.
The grey twilight had arrived at last, illuminating the path ahead of her. Green grass, like his eyes, ran along beside her as a strand of hair finally pulled itself free from her hair and stuck itself to the sweat on her forehead.
In…out…in…out.
The red brick houses were coming into view, red bricks, red hair, red blood. She felt sweat run down her back as she unceremoniously dragged her hand across her face to stop the sweat getting in her eyes. With no warning she stopped running and heaved loudly, with her hands on her knees.
In…out…in…out.
With a final sigh she slumped against the wall and let the cool surface seep into her back. Her watch read 5:00 AM in a bright happy green colour. Green like his eyes. Furious with herself she blinked back tears and leapt to her feet for there was work to be done today. Dragging herself up the stairs she peeled herself out of her clothes and stood naked in front of the mirror with a look on her face. Sighing again she turned the taps on in her shower.
In…out…in…out.
The cold water fell gratefully over her body, instantly cooling her, all thoughts of the earlier tears were banished. They should be banished. They had to be banished. Standing in the shower she leans against the wall feeling goose bumps climb through her body making her shudder involuntarily and her body harden against the cold. With a slight screech of protest from the taps she began her day, as she started the day before and the day before that and the day before that. A quick piece of toast, a glimpse of her reflection, no make up, no elegant clothes and the door slammed shut.
In…out…in…out.
Reaching St. Mungos she smiled wearily, 'home again' she thought sadistically. At her desk she found seven files stacked up, of course she had requested extra cases. Anything to keep her from her red brick house and her green watch. Mrs Cracknell, the head of ward, popped her head in briefly to make sure she had received the Dubney file; severe burns, suspected misuse of magical artefacts and as per usual, he wasn't talking. Already she could feel the beginnings of a headache, but anyone would agree that a headache was far better than a heartache. Her desk bore several scorch marks from six months ago when she had thrown the contents of her desk on the floor and tried to rip it to pieces. Photos and quaint sayings still sat in her very bottom draw and where once it had said it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, now was nothing. Only work. Nothing else.
In…out…in…out.
Pulling on her white healers robes she began the daily rounds, starting with her patient that refused to speak. Briskly she strode into the room announcing:
"I am Healer Granger and you are lying. We have two options here, either you tell me the truth about what happened and I will help you accordingly or you sit there and say nothing and get none of this skin replenishing potion" she dangled the potion temptingly in front of him to prove her point whilst glaring fiercely.
As always her patient cracked and told her everything and she left leaving the potion in his hands. And so on went her day. Until she reached Mr and Mrs Diem. The old woman was suffering from Dragon Pox, not unusual for her age. But her husband was there carefully rearranging the pillows, gently feeding her soup and softly caressing her hand as she slept.
In…out…in…out…IN…OUT…OUT DAMN DAMN DAMN
She ran straight to the forth floor bathroom which was always unoccupied since it didn't look like a bathroom. Glaring at herself in the mirror she angrily swiped at her tears as she tried in vain to choke them back.
In…out…in…out.
"Hermione, um…well there is something, that I want…no that I need to ask you" Ron stuttered his ears turning red.
"Oh, Ronald do sit down" Hermione bossed jokingly.
But he didn't sit down, instead he got down on one knee and pulled a small velvet box from inside his new dress robes. Hermione's mouth fell open when she realised what was happening.
"We have lost so much the last couple of years. Your parents, Charlie, Dumbledore, Sirius and…Harry" he paused as if merely saying his name was painful "just to name a few. But…but Hermione, Dumbledore and Harry…they were right! We deserve to be happy because we love each other, because I love you and I never want to loose you. Hermione would you do me the honour…
She slammed her fist against the wall, not today NOT TODAY. She was going to get through today. Splashing some water against her red cheeks she felt a little better. Pulling her bushy hair back with a bobby pin she mentally shook herself.
In…out…in…out.
Healer Sampson approached her just before lunch.
"Would you like to have lunch with me today Granger" he commanded in his deep booming voice.
"No thank you George" she replied coolly.
"You know, you could be really pretty if you fixed that bushy hair and wore some make up. You might even make a good wife one day" he laughed to himself as he strode off. Hermione should have been furious, but George had making jibes at her ever since she turned him down three months ago. She did not care that everybody could see the bags underneath her eyes or her pale face or that her hair was bushy.
"I love your hair like that Hermione, don't ever change". Ron reached over and stroked her hands gently.
"I can't believe you said yes" he remarked astounded twirling a lock of her hair through her fingers…
In…out…in…out.
She could not believe it, it was already 8 in the evening and Mrs Cracknell had banished her for the night saying what everyone always said 'you look tired dear. Go home and rest'. She was sick of resting especially in that bed. With another quick glance at the green illuminating figures, she left.
As soon as she arrived home she threw the windows open in her room. Some days she could still smell him on her pillows, in her bathroom and even on her skin. Or perhaps she just thought she did. Dragging on a large T-shirt she climbed into bed and fell into a restless sleep.
"Hermione, Hermione are you awake?" Ron asked as he carefully climbed into bed.
"Mmhmm" she muttered sleepily not opening her eyes.
He placed a soft kiss on her slightly parted lips. Surprising him she laced her arms around his neck and drew him in closer kissing him softly, occasionally letting her tongue slid into his mouth. He ran his hands up and down her back slowly as if teasing her he slid her nightgown off exposing her breasts, which hardened under his touch. Tantalising slowly he drew lazy circles around her breasts slowly bringing his mouth closer and closer to her skin until just his breath was driving her crazy. Closing his mouth gently over one nipple he let one hand trail down her stomach and across her thin panties. Ever so slowly he stroked her, but only over her panties, while he stroked her thighs and then the inside her thighs and with his teeth pulled the panties off. He brought his mouth back and gently used his tongue to engulf her clit and she could almost feel herself exploding
"Oh..oh GODS RON…"
Her eyes opened slowly as the scene she had just witnessed slipped away from her, she still felt aroused from the vivid dream but now that she was awake, she was also wracked with guilt.
"Why? WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?" she cried out staring at the ceiling.
"Why, Ron, why?" she sobbed over and over. The green numbers told her it was 4:13 AM, time for running.
In…out…in…out.
"I love you Hermione, I mean it"
In…out…in…out
"Can't wait to see you Hermione, I miss you already. Last night was amazing!"
In…out…in…out.
"You are beautiful"
In…out…in…out.
The wet gravel crunched underneath her feet as she ran round the corner and…
SLAM she had finally run straight into someone and fell in a rather ungracefully heap.
"I'm sorry about that" a voice offered and then paused offering his hand to her.
"Wait a minute…Granger?" the same voice asked as he looked her over.
"Malfoy"
In…out…in…out.
A/N: Well what do you think? Should I continue? As usual up to you!
equiniminity