Chapter 14

As he expected, Ron found Hermione in Percy's room straightening it up. She was still making the bed when he entered the room and shut the door behind him.

"So, what did your father want? Hermione asked as she plopped the now fluffed pillow down at the head of the bed and then sat down on the edge of the old wooden desk.

"You don't want to know," Ron grumbled, wishing he could blot the entire conversation out of his mind.

"Oh," she replied as she saw his face flush slightly and realized what had happened. Ron had been forced to have 'the talk;' that mortifying experience almost every teenager has had with a parent at one point or another. "It couldn't have been that bad," she finally said. "You weren't even down there for 10 minutes. Did... did he say anything about what he saw in the kitchen?" she asked, unable to restrain herself any longer. The last thing she wanted was for his parents to think she was some sort of 'scarlet woman.' She'd tried hard to hide it, but the fact that Mrs. Weasley believed all that rubbish she'd read about her in Witch Weekly had bothered Hermione immensely.

"No, he never even mentioned it. He just said that... well, he just reminded me that I needed to be respectful. You know...," Ron said as his ears reddened. "I should treat you the way I'd expect a bloke to treat Ginny. Oh yeah," he added, rolling his eyes. "he also told me that Mum has decided that we shouldn't be closing the door when we are in a room alone together."

"But... you closed the door," Hermione gasped as she jumped up off the desk.

"Leave it," Ron demanded as he grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the door.

"But..."

"I don't want Fred and George listening to our private conversations."

"But, your Mum said..."

"She's not here right now."

"That's not the point," Hermione said sternly.

"Yes, it is," Ron shot back. "Dad's always saying 'what Mum doesn't know won't hurt her' so if I get caught it'll be his fault."

"Ronald Weasley," Hermione fumed. "If you think I'm going to let you get away with using a feeble excuse like that to break your mother's rules..."

"It's a stupid rule, Hermione," Ron interrupted.

"I don't care," she retorted. "It's still a rule and we're going to follow it."

"No, I'm not."

"OH YES, YOU ARE!" Hermione cried loudly. "Because if you don't," she added, purposely lowering her voice, "I'll make sure we aren't alone together for the rest of the summer."

Ron gaped down at her for a few seconds before he managed to close his mouth and narrow his eyes. He knew what she was doing and he wasn't about to stand for it. If he backed down now, he may as well admit that she would always be the one in control. "Then I guess you better leave," Ron said as he crossed the room, threw the door open, and stepped out of the way so she could exit.

"Fine!" Hermione shouted, prepared to call his bluff. If he weren't so damned stubborn, she thought to herself, unable to believe that they were fighting yet again over something so meaningless.

"Don't bother," Ron informed her before she made it halfway to the door. "I was leaving anyway. That's what I came up here to tell you."

"Leaving?" Hermione asked, forgetting that she was supposed to be angry. "Where are you going?"

"Dad wants me to go with him to get your school stuff," he said, walking out into the hallway.

"I'll go," Hermione protested as she followed after him.

"No," Ron replied rather sharply. "It's not safe," he added. "Your parents aren't even allowed to be there right now."

"Why not?" Hermione asked, her voice full of concern. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Ron replied, regretting nearly everything he'd said since he'd walked in the room. He didn't want to fight with her and he certainly hadn't meant to scare her. "They just cleared off for a while so Moody could check the place for hexes and stuff. You know, just as a precaution. Dad talked them into going on holiday somewhere and by the time they get back, Dumbledore will have a protective ward around the house and everything will be fine."

"If it's dangerous, I don't want you to go."

"I'll be fine. Besides, someone has to pack up your stuff and I didn't think you'd want Dad or Bill doing it," Ron informed her. "Mum's still gone... I might be able to convince Dad to let Ginny go if you'd rather she packed your...."

"No, you're right," Hermione said as she grabbed Ron by the arm, dragged him back into the bedroom, and shut the door. "It is better if you are the one to do it. There are some things I... er..." she dropped her voice down to a whisper, "...don't really want your parents to see."

"What kind of things?" Ron asked quietly. He didn't know what was more startling. The fact she had just closed the door and broken his mother's rule after making such a fuss about it, or the fact she had something so scandalous hidden in her bedroom that she wasn't going to try to talk him out of going to her house, even though he'd admitted it might be dangerous.

"Books mostly," Hermione replied as her face flushed.

Ron couldn't help felling a bit disappointed. "I think my parents already know about your little book fetish," he replied.

"Oh stop it," Hermione hissed as she smacked his arm. "These aren't just regular books," she informed him as she walked over to Percy's desk and started rummaging through the drawers. "I'm going to write you up a list," she said as she grabbed a quill and a bottle of ink and started scribbling furiously on the parchment she found in the bottom drawer. "Most of them are still locked in my trunk," she told him as she continued to write. "Along with all my notes. These two are under my mattress," she said underlining the titles of the last two books on the list and handing the parchment to Ron. "Make sure you double-check the ones in the trunk so you can be sure they are all there."

Ron's eyes widened in shock as he quickly scanned the list.

Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts

Curses that Kill

Self-Defensive Spell Work

Jinxes for the Jinxed

A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions

The Dark Arts Outsmarted

Moste Potente Potions

"Hermione?"

"Now you see why I don't want your parents finding them," she whispered.

"What the hell are you doing with all these books?" Ron asked, his voice faint with disbelief.

"Research."

"RESEARCH?" he all but shouted.

"Shusssssshhh," Hermione hissed in an effort to quiet him down.

"But... where on earth did you get them? BLOODY HELL! You nicked them from Hogwarts didn't you?" Ron asked incredulously.

"I didn't steal them. I borrowed them," she clarified.

"Oh and I suppose that makes it ok?" Ron asked sarcastically. "Just because you only borrowed them doesn't mean Madame Pince isn't going to notice they're missing from the restricted section."

"I didn't get them in the Library," Hermione shot back. "Honestly, I have more sense than that."

"Then where?"

"I took them from the Room of Requirement," she stated as if it were obvious and he shouldn't have even had to ask.

"When?"

"During our D.A. meetings. Honestly Ron, we walked back to the common room together. Are you telling me that you never noticed I was taking books?"

"You always have a bloody book," he retorted.

"Ron, don't swear," she scolded, more out of habit then because she thought he'd stop doing it.

"This one is from the restricted section though," Ron said, pointing down at Moste Potente Potions. "I recognize the title."

"Er... actually that one is mine," Hermione admitted. Her face flushed slightly when Ron looked at her oddly. "It was a Christmas gift from Sirius," she explained uncomfortably.

"You never told us he got you anything," Ron said, still not sure if he should believe her.

"That's because he gave it to me it in box full of catnip with a stupid feathery little cat toy," Hermione stated, both embarrassed and irritated by the turn the conversation had taken.

"For Crookshanks?"

"No," Hermione confessed as she turned crimson. "For me. Harry must have told him what happened to me when we took the Polyjuice Potion."

Ron tried to stifle a laugh and repress his grin when Hermione glared at him, but he didn't do a very good job. He silently wondered if Harry knew his godfather had given Hermione a practical joke as a Christmas gift.

"Look at the Polyjuice section when you get the book," Hermione instructed. "He circled the passage that says it is only for human transformations and drew a little cat with a great big bushy tail."

Unable to hold it in any longer, Ron doubled over with laughter.

"It's not funny," Hermione stated angrily.

"Yes... it is," Ron chuckled.

"Oh shut up," she replied irritably. "There's something else I need you to get for me," she said, dropping her voice down to a whisper. "But don't let anyone see it."

That got his attention. Ron immediately sobered up as he looked at the serious expression on her face.

"Don't lock it in my trunk either," she stated. "You Mum might insist on going through it later. The books I can explain away if I have to, but I don't want to risk her tossing this out."

"Tossing what out?" he asked warily.

"In the bottom drawer of my bureau, on the left-hand side, under the jumpers you'll fine a... a container with... with some pills in it."

"Pills?"

"Muggle medication."

"I know what they are," he said crossly. "Why do you need them? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"Then why are you taking them?" he asked as he studied her suspiciously. "And why don't you want anyone to know?"

Hermione remained silent for a few seconds as she stared into Ron's eyes. As if he could sense her thoughts, Ron knew she was contemplating whether she should tell him the truth or attempt to lie. That knowledge only served to deepen his concern. If she's going to lie to me about it, it must be really bad.

"All right. Fine," Hermione said in a huff. "Why can't anything ever be easy with you?"

"Picking a fight isn't going to work," Ron informed her. He wasn't about to let her distract him. Not when something might be wrong with her. "Why do you need them? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Hermione admitted with a sigh. "It isn't that kind of medication."

Ron studied her intently, not sure if he ought to believe her.

"They aren't to cure anything," Hermione assured him. "They are to prevent something from happening."

"To prevent what from happening?" Ron asked, still clearly concerned.

"Oh for God's sake, do I have to say it?" she replied in an agitated tone of voice.

"To prevent what, Hermione?" Ron demanded to know.

"Please, can't you just let it go? I'm not even taking them."

"To prevent WHAT?" he asked again, feeling the anger start to surface.

"To prevent me from...," she stopped in mid sentence and lowered her voice, "... getting pregnant," she whispered as her face instantly darkened. "All right? Are you happy now?" Hermione asked irritably.

"Pregnant?" he cried loudly as his face heated and became a shade of red even more brilliant then Hermione's. "You're not... You haven't... Bloody Hell, not with..." Ron stammered as his embarrassment gave way to genuine anger.

"OF COURSE NOT!" Hermione shouted indignantly. "Viktor never touched me."

"He didn't..." Ron started to ask.

"No."

"You haven't..."

"NO!"

"Ever?"

"NEVER! Have you?" she asked.

"What?"

"Have you ever...you know? Done that?"

Ron ignored her question and fired back one of his own. "If you haven't, then why do you need those... things?"

"You answer my question first," Hermione demanded. " Have you ever..."

"No."

"Ever gotten close?" she pressed on.

"Once," Ron admitted. "I thought about it last night."

"Looks like you answered your own question then, didn't you?" Hermione replied. The heat from her face was so intense now, she was afraid she might spontaneously combust if the conversation went on much longer.

"What?" Ron asked. He wrinkled his brow in confusion as he played her comment over again in his head. "Oh," he uttered quietly as the realization dawned on him.

"Just because I have the pills, doesn't mean I'm ready to... you know... do that," Hermione said as she looked down at her feet. "And even if I was taking them, which I'm not, they take a while to start working. I just wanted to be prepared, if... when... well, you know me. I'm always prepared."

"You don't need to take those ruddy things," Ron stated. "You're a witch. All you have to do is cast a contraception charm. Oh..." Her Mum's a muggle, he thought. She wouldn't be able to teach her how to do that. "That's ok," Ron reassured her. "Bill and Charlie taught me and the twins how to..." he faltered and blushed again deeply. "Well, they taught me what to do ages ago."

"Actually, your mother taught me how to cast a contraception charm last summer."

"My Mum?" Ron asked looking completely horrified.

"She taught Ginny and me."

"GINNY?" Ron shouted angrily. "She's too young to be doing that."

"You do realize I'm practically the same age as Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"You're not my baby sister," Ron muttered.

"But I am practically the same age as your baby sister. I agree with you though. I'm too young."

"I didn't say you were too young, I said Ginny was. Besides, your birthday is in September."

"You're impossible," Hermione stated as she shook her head at him. "Just bring me the pills."

"All right, but why? If you can cast the charm, why even bother with that Muggle rubbish?"

"Because it's easier and.... more effective."

"How could it be more effective them magic?" he asked.

"Sometimes it's not so easy to remember to cast the spell before you... you know. And you have to cast it every single time for it to be effective. Just ask your Mum. If you forget, even once, you can end up with... twins."

"Those two weren't just an accident. They were a bloody catastrophe," Ron tried to joke.

"You shouldn't talk about your brothers that way. You know you love them."

Ron just looked at her as if the very idea made him sick.

"Anyway," Hermione continued. "My point is that the magical way isn't necessarily the better way." Besides, I have no way of knowing if a contraception charm will interfere with the other spell I'm going to cast, she thought. I'm only going to get one shot at it and there is too much at risk to mess it up.

Before Ron could reply, there was a knock on the door. Arthur Weasley waited a moment and then pushed the door open and stepped into the room. "Not interrupting anything am I?" he asked.

"No sir," Hermione answered quickly.

"We were just talking," Ron added.

"And you have my word that I won't do anything improper with Ron under your roof," she continued.

"HERMIONE!" Ron groaned loudly as his face flushed. Have you gone completely mad? he tried to say with his eyes.

"What?" she asked, oblivious not sharing Ron's mortification. "Your parents have to be able to trust us," she explained.

"No need to worry about that," Mr. Weasley chuckled. "Molly was saying just this morning how lucky we were that Ron chose such a responsible young woman to..."

"Bloody Hell," Ron cried out, his face now beet red. "Dad, please..."

"All right, son," Mr. Weasley chuckled as he clasped Ron's shoulder. "Are you ready to go?" he asked. "The portkey Dumbledore left is set to activate in about 5 minutes."

"Yeah, I'm ready," Ron grumbled. "I got a list and everything," he added, holding up the parchment for his father to see.

"We shouldn't be gone long," Mr. Weasley informed Hermione. "Bill is downstairs and Fred and George are locked in their room doing Merlin knows what. You'll be perfectly safe. Shall we?" he asked Ron and he motioned towards the door.

"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute," Ron said, hoping his dad would take the hint and leave.

"I can't stall the timer," his father warned from the doorway.

"I know. I'll be right down," Ron assured him.

Mr. Weasley smiled knowingly and then walked off towards the staircase.

"Here," Ron said as he reached into the back pocket of this trousers and pulled out his wand. "Just in case," he added, holding it out for Hermione to take.

"Ron?" Hermione said in shock as she looked up into his determined blue eyes. "What if you need it?"

"I won't," he said, giving her a confident smile. "But, I knew you'd worry, so I borrowed Ginny's."

Hermione made no move to take his wand from him, so Ron set it down on the desk beside her. Logically, he knew that he ought to keep his own wand and leave Ginny's with Hermione, but for some reason he just felt better leaving his own wand behind. In a way, it was an extension of himself and he felt better knowing that she'd have it to protect herself with if anything happened. Besides, it wasn't as if he hadn't used his siblings' wands before. He'd spent his first two years at Hogwarts with a hand-me-down wand after all. He had no doubt that Ginny's wand would work for him, even if it wasn't attuned to him specifically.

"I'll see you in a bit," Ron said as he folded up the list of books Hermione had given him and shoved it in his back pocket. "You didn't get enough sleep last night," he informed her as he approached the door. "Why don't you take a quick nap?"

"Actually, that's not such a bad idea," Hermione admitted. She did feel rather drained. A good nap would probably help.

"I'll let Ginny know," Ron said as he walked out into the hall and closed the door behind him.