Chapter 17

True to her word, Hermione refused to speak to Ron as Mr. Weasley led them back to the house. Ron tried to engage her in a conversation once or twice, but was rebuffed with an angry snort after each attempt.

Bill found it rather difficult to keep a straight face as he walked beside his brother. He'd heard about their rows, but he'd never actually seen one in the making. He'd seen them bicker of course, but this... this was something altogether different. Every time Hermione snorted at Ron, she reminded him of an enraged dragon. I have to write Charlie, Bill thought. He'll get a kick out of this. She's clearly angry enough to breathe fire. Maybe he can give Ron some tips, Bill chuckled to himself as he watched his little brother's face harden with resolve.

Evidently Ron had summoned up enough courage to try and speak to Hermione one last time before they reached the house. Poor bloke, Bill thought as he placed his hand on Ron's shoulder and shook his head. Doesn't have a clue why she's so hacked off.

Heeding his brother's warning, Ron slowed his pace and watched silently as Hermione threw open the gate and stormed into his backyard.

As soon as they entered the yard, Mr. Weasley and Bill stopped walking and started whispering together. Not sure if he ought to follow Hermione or avoid her, Ron looked over at his father. Mr. Weasley tilted his head towards the house without halting his hushed conversation and let his son know that he should be inside.

Ron took a deep breath and entered the kitchen just in time to see George grab a letter off the table and wave it under Hermione's nose. "You've had an owl," he informed her.

"Oh, sod off!" Hermione shouted as she snatched the letter out of his hand and tore it in half.

"Aren't you going to at least read it first?" Fred asked, unable to hide his surprise.

"I don't need to read it," Hermione spat out angrily. "I know what it says. It's the same blasted letter Harry got when Dobby cast a hover charm in his kitchen."

"Hermione?" Ron asked, baffled by her behavior. First she had cursed and then she had torn up an official letter from the Ministry without even looking at it. Neither of which Hermione would normally do.

"What?" she demanded as she turned around and glared at him.

"Are you... all right?" he asked as he reached out for her arm. Before his fingers even touched her, she violently yanked it out of reach.

"DON'T!" she cried out angrily as she turned her back to him.

"Oh, this is my fault now?" Ron asked, so irritated that he failed to notice his father had entered the kitchen.

"It was ALWAYS your fault, Ron," Hermione yelled.

"OOOoo. Trouble in Paradise?" Fred snickered.

"Already?" George asked with a hearty laugh.

Neither Ron nor Hermione heard the twins' comments. They were far too focused on each other to hear, let alone acknowledge, anyone else in the room.

"It isn't my fault you did magic," Ron shouted, his voice now deep and angry.

"I wouldn't have had to do magic if you hadn't run off into that field."

"I didn't ask you to follow me," Ron yelled back. "In fact, I specifically asked you to go back to the house. If you would have just done what I bloody well told you to do, none of this would have happened."

"You knew I was going to follow you," Hermione shouted, her face now red with rage.

"But I didn't know you were going to cast spells while you did it."

"I couldn't find you, Ron. What if I had gotten lost in there?"

"You wouldn't have gotten lost," Ron cried loudly. "I knew where you were the whole bloody time."

"Well I didn't know that, now did I?" Hermione bellowed back at him. "Because you didn't bother to tell me. You just ordered me back to the house and disappeared."

"ORDERED YOU?" Ron barked in angry surprise. "I didn't order you to do anything. It would be a bloody waste of breath, wouldn't it? Because you are too pigheaded to do ANYTHING I ask you to do."

"PIGHEADED?" Hermione screamed as she clenched her fists at her side.

"Let's go boys," Mr. Weasley said quietly as he grabbed Fred and George by their arms and dragged them out of the kitchen.

....................

"But Dad...," Fred tried to protest as he was hauled into the living room against his will.

"Why is it you turn everything into a bloody contest to see who has the strongest will?" they heard Ron's slightly muffled voice shout loudly.

"At least we can still hear them," George whispered as he smiled at his twin brother.

"That's not true," they heard Hermione protest.

"Oh yes it is," Ron shot back. "You constantly tell me what to do. But if I ask you to do something you ignore me and now.... NOW YOU'RE ACCUSING ME OF TRYING TO CONTROL YOU !"

"He's got her there," Fred snickered.

"That's enough," Mr. Weasley said, waving his wand at the kitchen door and shielding the room to prevent the twins from hearing anything else.

"Aw, come on Dad," George whined.

"George, go find your sister and help her pack," Mr. Weasley said. "It's no good staying here if they are watching the house," he whispered after he noted the confused look on his son's face. "When you finish with Ginny, go pack your own trunk."

"Dad? Where's Bill?" Fred asked, shooting his father a questioning look.

"He had an errand to run. He'll be back in a minute," Mr. Weasley informed them. "Now go pack," he said to George. "No, Fred," he added, when both of the twins started towards the stairs. "You stay here. I need to talk to you for a minute."

....................

"I have never accused you of trying to control me," Hermione screamed at Ron.

"Yes you did!" he bellowed back, his face screwed up with rage. "You just said I gave you a bloody order."

"You did."

"NO, I DIDN'T!" Ron roared angrily. "All I did was ask you to go back to the house. When you refused, I accepted it."

"You accepted it and then you tried to ditch me," Hermione hissed.

"DITCH YOU?" Ron cried out in disbelief.

"You think I don't know what you were doing? You were hoping I'd go back to the house when I couldn't find you." And it almost worked, she fumed inwardly.

"Have you completely lost your mind?" Ron asked as he gaped down at her. "I have never tried to ditch you."

"OH YES, YOU HAVE!" Hermione screamed. "Just because I didn't call you on it, doesn't mean I failed to notice the fact that BOTH you and Harry tried to leave me at Hogwarts after Harry had that vision about Sirius. 'Ron and I will...go ahead, and Hermione can stay here with you three...'" she quoted back to him furiously.

"I didn't say that," Ron informed her. "Harry did. I didn't have anything to do with it."

"I know who said it," Hermione declared. "You didn't object or try and talk him out of it though. Did you?"

"I didn't have to," Ron shot back quickly. "I knew there was no way you were going to stay behind."

"But you would have liked me to."

"Obviously," he admitted. "But I didn't ask you to, did I? And it isn't the way you are making it sound. Harry was just trying to..."

"I know what he was trying to do and I won't have it. I'm not going to let you two shove me to the side and then watch as you take all the risks. I don't want you to protect me."

"WELL THAT'S JUST TOO DAMNED BAD!" Ron shouted. "Because I am going to protect you and there is not a bleeding thing you can do about it. So you better get used to it, Hermione."

"ARRGGHHH! You are the most infuriating person I've ever met," Hermione cried as she turned away from him and slammed her fist down on the kitchen table to vent her frustration.

Rather then turn around to face him again, Hermione kept her back to Ron and stared out the kitchen window silently. He watched as she brought her fist up and lightly ran her fingers over the spot where it had connected with the table. She had obviously used more force then she had meant to and injured herself. Ron had just come up behind her and was about to insist that she let him look at her hand, when she spoke again. "What was I supposed to do if something had happened to you in that field?" Hermione asked, her voice now faint and anguished.

Ron sighed loudly and took a moment to push down what was left of his own anger before he reached for her. When he grasped her hand, Hermione turned around to face him with tears in her eyes.

Ron didn't say a word, because there was nothing he could say. There was no answer to that particular question. At least no answer he could voice. He'd asked himself similar questions while they were confined together in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, and yet he'd never been able to come up with an answer. All he knew for sure was that the idea of something happening to her terrified him. She obviously felt the same way. Ron could see it in her eyes. That's what this is all about, he thought. She's trying to use anger to drown out her fear.

Rather than speak and risk saying the wrong thing, Ron just tugged on her hand and motioned for her to come closer. It was a small gesture, but all the invitation she needed. Hermione stepped forward almost immediately and let her face fall against Ron's chest as he gathered her into a hug.

"I didn't mean to scare you," he said gently, in an attempt to soothe her. "And I wasn't trying to ditch you. I really did know where you were the whole time. I assumed you knew where I was as well," he admitted, as he held her close. "But... I'm not going to apologize for trying to protect you. Keeping you and Harry safe is always going to be my number one priority."

"I know," Hermione sighed. "It's who you are and I love you for it. But you have to understand that you can't shield me from what's coming. Like it or not, the three of us are caught up in the middle of this war and we are going to have to fight our way out. You can't fight my battles as well as your own. You can't fight Harry's either."

"I know that," Ron begrudgingly admitted. "Look, I realize that I have to let you make your own decisions and fight your own battles, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. I hate this, Hermione. I really do. But I am trying, you know? I asked Ginny to stay at Hogwarts that night. I didn't ask you. I wouldn't have left you behind. I knew that Harry needed you. I regretted that decision...after what happened. I mean... you almost died, but ...if you hadn't been there... well I'm just glad that at least you were there for Harry."

"Don't do that," Hermione said, pulling away and looking up at Ron sadly. "We've already been through this. You were there for Harry."

"Not when it mattered," Ron muttered.

"Stop it!" Hermione demanded. "That's not true and you know it. It wasn't your fault we all got separated, but it worked out to our benefit. You did the best you could and you got Ginny and Luna out of the way before you were hit with that spell. You can't blame yourself for that. You didn't fail anyone."

"Um hum," he muttered, looking down at the floor.

"I'm serious, Ron. If you are going to blame yourself for getting hit, then you have to blame me as well," Hermione informed him. "I could have petrified Dolohov or stunned him. I knew a curse would work, but I wanted to see what a silencing charm would do. If I hadn't been trying to prove that charms could be used defensively, he never would have gotten me. I still think they'll work though... charms I mean. Obviously not the silencing charm. Well, not the way I had hoped anyway, but..."

"Hermione?" Ron interrupted when he saw her eyes alight with excitement and he realized she was about to steer their conversation in a whole different direction. One he didn't really want to think about right now.

"Yes?" she replied, even as she continued to contemplate other charms that could potentially be effective in a fight.

"Promise me you won't try an experiment with charms again during an actual fight," Ron said. "I mean during D.A. meetings is one thing, but not against .... V-Voldemort or his cronies."

"Can I try and transfigure them?" she asked to avoid giving him an answer.

"If that worked, don't you think McGonagall would be teaching us how to do it?" Ron replied.

"I suppose," Hermione admitted. "Ron? You do know that I don't deliberately try and ignore you, right? I mean, I'm not just trying to be stubborn or anything. If it were a true contest of wills neither of us would win, because you are just a stubborn as I am," she informed him. "I know that you are usually the one who gives in and that isn't fair. I know I have to bend a little. I will try, I swear, but ...it's hard. I'm afraid if I give an inch... you and Harry will run right over me."

"We wouldn't make it very far without you, Hermione," Ron replied. " Harry and I both know that. Look," he said, eyeing her cautiously. "I know that you've spent the past 5 years looking after us and it's not something you can just stop doing. But you have to tone it down a little, especially with Harry. I know that you're only worried about him, but he doesn't want you mothering him. I'm not saying that he doesn't appreciate it on some level. I mean... I know we complain and fight you, but we always listen to you. That isn't going to change. Just don't be such a bloody know-it-all about everything. I mean I know you're brilliant," Ron added as he watched Hermione cross her arms and take on a fighting stance, "but is it nice to rub our faces in it all the time?"

"Very funny."

"Seriously, Mione," Ron said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her back against him. "I'm not saying this to upset you. It's just that you said you were going to listen to me more when it came to Harry, right? So just... you know... tone it down a bit. You can be like a big sister or something. You know... look out for him and give him advice and all, just don't be so disapproving if he doesn't always want to follow it."

"I'll try," Hermione assured him. "With Harry," she added.

"Not with me?" Ron asked, pretending to be hurt.

"I don't mother you," she informed him. "We have... different issues."

"Issues? We don't have issues," Ron protested. "Not anything serious anyway."

"Do you really think I try and control you?" Hermione asked. "I don't mean to."

"No," Ron replied with a sigh. "Not really. I was just upset. I know you are just trying to looking out for me. I probably shouldn't tell you this. No, I know I shouldn't tell you this, but... I kind of like that you nag me. I mean...sometimes it REALLY does get on my nerves, but... well... you know, I sort of depend on you to keep me on target. I can mess around without really worrying about it all that much because I know that you're going to step in and get me back on task when I need to be. If it weren't for you, I never would have been able to get though the O.W.Ls. Not with prefect meetings and Quidditch practice and everything else we had going on last year."

"Can I get that in writing?" Hermione teased.

"Get what in writing?" Ron asked, giving her a confused look. "I don't know what you're talking about," he laughed back.

"Seriously though, Ron," Hermione said. "I know that I have to... ease up a little. Not just with Harry, but with you too. I know I'm a bit of a control freak, but you shouldn't have to be the one that always backs down. I really will make an effort to be more flexible. I can't promise I'll be successful though, so if something is really important to you and I'm not listening, you will have to get in my face and make me listen."

"If I do that, you are liable to bite my head off," Ron said, making it sound like a joke, even though he was serious.

"It's never stopped you before," she replied.

"Hummm, that's true," he confessed with a lopsided grin. "I suppose now is as a good a time as any, right?"

"What?" Hermione asked, pulling away and looking up at him in shock. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Um... yeah," Ron replied sheepishly. "Just remember, you're the one that told me to do it."

"Ok," Hermione said, as she took a deep breath and tried to mentally prepare herself for whatever he was about to say. "Just give me a minute," she continued, closing her eyes. "I didn't expect this so soon." I will not get upset. I will not get upset, she chanted in her head. Whatever this is, it's important to him, so just listen and don't get upset. "All right," Hermione said as she opened her eyes and met his gaze. "What is it?"

"It's... um... Dobby."

"Dobby?" Hermione asked in surprise. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but this certainly wasn't it. "What about him?"

"Well...um... I don't really know how to tell you this," Ron replied.

"Just spit it out," Hermione replied. "What about Dobby?"

"He's the one that has been taking all the clothes you've been hiding in the common room."

"What?"

"He's the only House Elf left that will clean Griffindor Tower," Ron said quickly. "The rest of them are afraid you're going to force clothes on them."

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, then shut it quickly, and bit her lower lip.

Ron watched her cautiously for a moment and then decided he may as well finish.

"I was going to let Harry tell you, but... well, I don't think he's going to. It isn't as if Dobby is complaining or anything. I mean, he really likes the hats and all. But then... he's a bit of a nutter, isn't he?" Ron asked. "It's just that... you aren't really helping them, and well... it's a lot more work for Dobby, isn't it? Cleaning the entire tower by himself. Plus it's a lot of work for you, right? Just think of all the other things you could be doing with that time. Aren't you going to say anything?" Ron asked, no longer able to bear the silence. "Or are you just going to let me go on rambling?"

"What do you want me to say?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. Say whatever you want."

"Why did you wait until now to tell me this?" Hermione asked looking down at the floor.

"Um... well," Ron stammered. "I guess I assumed Harry would tell you, only he didn't. And... well, I didn't really want to start another row. And...I guess I sort of thought you'd think I was just saying it because I don't support spew and stuff. But that's not it, really," he assured her. "So are you mad at me?" he asked cautiously.

"No," Hermione said with a sigh. "Not really. A little disappointed, maybe. Not with you," she clarified when she saw him blanch. "With the situation. He really had to clean the tower all by himself?" she asked.

"Yeah," Ron replied as he unconsciously nodded his head. "But he didn't mind. I mean, you know Dobby. He was thrilled to be able to clean up after Harry."

"Ron!"

"What? I'm serious."

"I know you are. But that's not the point. I didn't mean to make more work for him. I'll have to find a way to make it up to him."

"You could invite him to join spew," Ron suggested as a joke.

"You know," Hermione replied. "That's not such a bad idea. Just think of the insight he has. I bet if people heard how the Malfoys treated him..."

"Hermione," Ron said sharply. "Don't go messing with Lucius Malfoy," he said earnestly. "I'm dead serious. I don't want you stirring up trouble with him. He's dangerous. Malfoy is a Death Eater and we both know he isn't going to be stuck in Azkaban for very long. I don't want to give him another excuse to come after you. Promise me that you won't start spreading stories about him."

"What?" she asked in surprise. "He isn't going to..."

"Promise me, Hermione," Ron demanded as he stared at her with determination. He was not going to back down on this and she knew it.

"But... he isn't going to come after me because of anything I say," she protested. "He'll come after me because I'm muggle born."

"You think I don't know that?" Ron asked as his grip on her tightened. "Just don't give him any additional excuses. Now promise me that you won't go spreading any more stories about him."

"Fine," Hermione replied with a sigh. "I promise."

"You promise what?" Ron asked in order to force her to say the words out loud.

"I promise I won't purposely antagonize Lucius Malfoy," she replied. "All right?"

....................

"Awful quiet in there," Mr. Weasley said to Bill after he pointed his wand at the kitchen door and lifted the shield around the room. "Sounds like they've made up," he added with a smile. "Do you suppose we ought to knock just to be safe?"

"Where is the fun in that?" Fred asked with a chuckle as he unceremoniously pushed open the door and strode into the kitchen.

Mr. Weasley looked over at his eldest son, who shrugged his shoulders and vanished with a pop. Assuming that Fred's presence in the kitchen would have brought Ron and Hermione's attempt to 'make up' to a screeching halt, Mr. Weasley decided that it was probably safe for him to enter the kitchen as well.

As he pushed open the door and entered the kitchen, Mr. Weasley noticed that Fred was already standing by the fireplace, looking disappointedly at Ron and Hermione who were standing in front of the table.

"Sorry to interrupt," Mr. Weasley said as he approached the trio. "But we really couldn't wait any longer. I hope you two had a chance to sort everything out," he said, as he glanced at Ron.

"Er... yeah," Ron replied, letting his eyes fall to the floor. "It's fine."

"Well that ought to make this a bit easier then," Mr. Weasley said, looking over at Hermione.

"Make what easier?" Ron asked, his eyes snapping back up to stare at his father. He didn't like the sound of this.

"Well, you see..." Mr. Weasley said. "We think that the Ministry may be watching the house, so we've decided that it's probably best, given the circumstances, if we spent the summer elsewhere. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that the floo network is being watched as well, so you are going to have to floo somewhere that won't rouse suspicion. Fred is going to floo over to the joke shop," Mr. Weasley informed Hermione. "And you're going to follow after him. They won't be expecting you to show up there," Mr. Weasley explained. "Not after what happened yesterday. Diagon Alley is the last place they'd expect you to be. And unless they are monitoring the network closely, they'll just assume you were George flooing to work after Fred."

Hermione glanced at Ron apprehensively. She clearly didn't want to go back to Diagon Alley.

"I'll go first," Ron said, taking her hand and squeezing it reassuringly. "It will be fine."

"No, Ron," Mr. Weasley said. "You're staying here."

"What?" Ron cried in outrage. "I'm not letting her go alone."

"Bill is already waiting outside the joke shop," Mr. Weasley said, as he turned to look at Fred. "Just let him in when you get there and wait for Hermione," he instructed. "George will apparate in as soon as we've finished packing."

"Right," Fred replied, grabbing a hand full of floo power from pot by the fireplace. "Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes," he said, throwing the powder at his feet and disappearing in a ball of emerald flames.

"Don't worry," Mr. Weasley said as he placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder and steered her over towards the fireplace. "Someone from the Order will be waiting for you and Bill at the Leaky Cauldron. They'll take you to Molly. The rest of us will join you as soon as we can."

"Wait a minute," Ron protested. "Why do I have to stay here? Just have George pack my stuff, or Ginny."

"I'm sorry, son," Mr. Weasley said. "But you and Ginny can't use the floo network right now."

"Why not?" Ron asked. "Fred just used it."

"Yes," his father agreed. "He used it to go to work, and 'George' will be using it right after him. If you go with them, it will look suspicious and draw the Ministry's attention."

"He's right, Ron," Hermione said as she attempted to give him an encouraging smile. "It will be fine. Bill will be with me."

Ron looked into her eyes for a moment and then visibly deflated. "Fine," he huffed, crossing his arms in front of his chest to show he still wasn't happy with the situation.

"Here, you may need this," Mr. Weasley said as he scooped a small pile of folded paper off the kitchen counter and handed it to Hermione. "Molly fished it out of your pockets earlier," he added when she took the money out of his hand. "You're going to have to walk through muggle London. It may come in useful."

"All right," Hermione said, stepping backwards into the overlarge fireplace. "See you in a bit," she said to Ron as she reached into the pot of floo powder and grabbed a handful. She wanted to say more, but his father was still standing there and she figured she'd probably wasted enough time already.

"Yeah, see you," Ron replied, obviously wanting to say more himself, but thwarted by his father's presence. He had no choice, but to try and say what he was thinking with his eyes.

Hermione seemed to be able to read what he was feeling there, because she gave him a small smile just before the flames sprang up around her and she vanished from the kitchen.