Chapter 9: The Purple Tin
It had been a week since Ron and Hermione's date. Hermione was exceedingly cheerful and the increase in customers made her even happier. They were now earning a great amount of money each week. Their merger with Fred and George turned out to be a good move on both parts.
Hermione placed a box of Canary Creams and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans in a plastic bag and handed it to the young man standing in front of her. She took his money and said, "Thank you, come again." He smiled and left the shop. Hermione subtracted half of the earnings from the Canary Creams and put the money in the box that belonged to Fred and George.
As she straightened up and stretched she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her. She felt Ron's body pressed against hers and she smiled despite herself. He twirled her around and kissed her on the lips. She reluctantly pulled away and said, "I thought we agreed not to kiss in the shop." She pushed his hands down, grinned at him, and turned back around.
"Yeah, but come on," he urged. "We can just put that Out-to-Lunch sign up and go to the back room…"
"No, we cannot," she said sternly.
He sighed. "Okay," he said as if he was a child giving up at begging his mother for a toy.
"We actually should be going out to lunch soon, though," Hermione said as she glanced at her watch. "We'll give it a few more minutes then we can go down and get a bite to eat."
"Alright," Ron muttered as he lifted the trapdoor that led to the basement where they stored the extra candy. "I've got to go get some more Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and few more chocolate bars."
Hermione nodded and looked through the record books to double check that she'd noted all the sells that day. The bell on the door rang, announcing that someone had entered. Her face fell immediately when she looked up and saw who it was.
Standing there with her dark hair in a tight bun was Tabitha. She was holding a round purple tin in her slender hands and she was smiling toothily. Hermione fixed her expression to obvious dislike but she was determined not to lose her temper.
"What are you doing here?" she asked coldly. "I told you not to come back."
"Oh, and for good reason too," said Tabitha in a sweet voice. "That's why I've come actually. I wanted to apologize for how I acted. I was horrible to you and I had no right to be. I've brought this peace offering." She held up the tin enthusiastically and placed it on the counter. "Oh, hello Ron."
Ron had climbed back into view, carrying a box with gum inside and with a few chocolate bars balancing on top. He nearly dropped the box when he saw Tabitha standing there. He regained his composure quickly and seemed to hold the same feelings as Hermione did.
"What do you want?" he asked as he sat the box down on the counter.
"As I've just been telling lovely…uh…I've forgotten your name dear," she said. "So sorry," she added with a grin.
"Hermione," Ron said through gritted teeth.
"Ah, yes," Tabitha grinned. "How could I forget such a…uh, beautiful name? Well anyway, as I was telling lovely Hermione here, I've come to apologize for my abysmal behavior. I really was out of line and I don't know what got into to me. I've just come to say how terribly sorry I am. I really must be off but I do hope you forgive me."
Without waiting for an answer she fleeted from the shop and didn't look back. Ron looked from the door, to Hermione, and back again.
"Wow," he murmured.
"Yeah," Hermione said. Ron picked up the box and went over to the display of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and began stacking them. By the time he was finished Hermione had locked up everything and was ready to go to lunch. They walked down the street to the restaurant.
When they'd finished their meals, Ron and Hermione and went back to the shop. Hermione unlocked the door.
They'd only been back inside for a few minutes when the door opened and in came Harry and Ginny.
"Hi!" said Ginny.
"How are you?" Hermione asked.
"I'm good," said Ginny.
"Same here," said Harry.
"What're you two doing here?" Ron mumbled through a mouthful of cookie.
"I needed to get some things," Ginny said holding up the many shopping bags she was holding. "Harry offered to come with me to keep me company."
"What kind of stuff did you need to get?" Ron asked as he stuffed another cookie in his mouth.
"Oh, just little things," Ginny said. "I wanted to get some new robes and ink and stuff. Nothing special."
"How's business today?" Harry asked.
"Pretty good," Hermione answered. "Except for that—Ron what's wrong?"
Ron had suddenly froze and was staring unfocusedly at the wall. "Nothing," he said promptly.
All three of the others stared at him. "Ron?" Ginny said worriedly.
"I need to find her," Ron muttered.
"Find who?" Harry asked.
"Tabitha!" Ron exclaimed as if it should have been obvious.
"Why do you need to find her?" Hermione asked. Her voice was slightly harsher than she intended it to be.
"Because I have to tell her that I love with her," he answered.
"What?" chorused the others.
"Ron, what do you mean?" Harry asked. "You're with Hermione."
"No," he said. Hermione stared at him with a hurt expression. "No, I love Tabitha. She's so beautiful. And she's got the prettiest hair. I love her."
Hermione's eyes were brimming with tears now. She looked down so nobody would notice. When she did she noticed that Ron still had a cookie hanging limply in his hand. She looked up at the counter and saw that the purple tin Tabitha had brought was open. The lid lay beside it on the counter and it was full of peanut butter cookies, identical to the one Ron had in his hand.
"Oh my God," she muttered. Ginny and Harry turned to her. "That bitch."
"What?" Harry asked.
She glanced at Ron who was now staring dreamily at the wall again. Then she lowered her voice to a whisper and said to Harry and Ginny, "Tabitha brought those cookies that Ron's eating. She must have filled them with a love potion. That's the only way to explain it because this morning Ron still hated her." She thought for a moment and then whispered, "Look, I'm going to go deal with Tabitha. Harry, can you watch Ron? Put up the closed sign and don't let him eat anymore of those cookies." Harry nodded. "Ginny, will you go to the Apothecary and get some antidote? We don't have time to make our own." Ginny nodded this time.
Hermione turned toward Ron. "Ron, I'm going to go find Tabitha and bring her to you okay?"
"I'll go with you!" Ron said enthusiastically.
"No, no," Hermione said urgently. "It'll be faster if I go alone. I'll go quickly. You stay here with Harry and get ready. Okay?"
"Alright," Ron said. He began messing with his hair and asked Harry, "How do I look?" Hermione grabbed the tin from the counter and closed it.
She whispered to Harry, "Do you know Tabitha's last name?"
"I think it's Moore," he said.
Hermione and Ginny exited the shop. Ginny went to the left in the direction of the Apothecary and Hermione went to the right toward the Owlery. She entered and walked to the front desk. An older witch was behind it filing letters.
"Hi," Hermione said with a wide, polite smile.
"Hello," the witch said pleasantly. "How may I help you?"
"Well," Hermione said thinking fast. "I'd like to send…these cookies," she held up the tin, "to my friend, Tabitha Moore. But I don't know her address."
"Well, I'm sure an owl could find her with no problem," said the witch.
"Yes, well…" Hermione began with her mind racing. "This is a gift and I'd really rather deliver it in person."
"Oh, I see," said the witch. "Well just one moment and I'll get the address."
That's really not safe, Hermione thought. She shouldn't give addresses out to just anyone. But in this case, it's a good thing she does.
The witch returned holding a slip of parchment and she handed it to Hermione. "Thank you so much," Hermione said.
"You're welcome."
Hermione hurried out of the Owlery and ran to the nearest Apparation spot. She thought of Tabitha's address clearly and Disapparated. She reappeared in front of an apartment building that she'd never been to before. She looked down at the paper and saw that Tabitha lived in apartment number eleven. She ran as fast as she could up the stairs until she reached the door with the golden eleven shining on it.
She took a deep breath and knocked. She only hoped that Tabitha was home and not out or at work.
The door flew open and Tabitha was standing there wearing a revealing red negligee and a small silk bathrobe. Her hair was now down and she seemed to have a lot of perfume on. When she saw that it was Hermione at her door her face fell and she hastily pulled her robe around her and tied it.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped. She then glanced down and saw the tin in her hands. Her face loomed with guilt and fear.
"Expecting someone else?" Hermione said, not bothering to hide her anger.
"What are you doing here?" Tabitha repeated.
"I've come to return your cookies," Hermione said. She shoved the purple tin into Tabitha's hands. "And to tell you that what you did was not only morally wrong and extremely pathetic, but also completely stupid. One, it was ridiculous for you to think that Ron's friends wouldn't think anything weird about him suddenly falling in love with you. Two, how would it have been if I'd eaten one of those? Or anyone else for that matter?"
Tabitha started to say something but Hermione interrupted her. "Stay away from Ron. He doesn't want you anymore. Find someone who does."
Hermione turned to leave but Tabitha had stepped out into the hall and yelled, "Look you little Mudblood bitch! Ron isn't the real issue. The real issue is winning. Ron's the trophy and we're the contestants. We both know it!"
She had struck a nerve. Hermione whirled around and pulled out her wand. Without hesitation she murmured a spell. Red light shot from her wand and hit Tabitha in stomach. She stumbled backward into her open door, clutching her middle. She looked up and Hermione smiled with satisfaction. Two devil-like horns had grown out of the top of her head through her dark hair.
"Stay away from us or I won't be as nice next time," Hermione said. She left Tabitha there looking dumbstruck. She obviously didn't know that there'd been two new additions to her appearance. Though Hermione knew as she walked out of the building that she'd finally caught on because just as she Disapparated she distinctly heard an angry, piercing scream come from inside.
She reached the candy shop and pushed the door open. Ron was being forced to stay on one of the stools behind the counter by Harry who was struggling and looking very annoyed. Ron looked angry and determined as he fought with Harry.
"Thank God," Harry yelled as he got a firmer grip on Ron's right arm. "He's hit me about ten times."
"Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked.
"She hasn't come back from the Apothecary yet," Harry answered, dodging Ron's leg as he made to kick him.
"You want her for yourself!" Ron yelled. "Well, you can't have her. I love her, not you!"
He seemed to suddenly notice that Hermione was there. "Where is she!" he yelped. "Where's Tabitha? I want to see her."
"She's…uh…she's coming," Hermione said anxiously glancing at the door. She hoped Ginny would return soon. "She'll be here in a few minutes."
"Good," Ron said without discontinuing his fighting with Harry. "I can't wait to see her beautiful face."
Hermione rolled her eyes. Come on, Ginny! she thought.
Finally, Ginny ran inside. She was pink in the face and she was out of breath. "Sorry it took so long," she said. "But there was a really long line and then the guy that works there had to go in the back and look for it. But I got it. Here," she held out a little vile of clear liquid. Hermione quickly turned her back on Ron and conjured a glass. She murmured, "Aquamenti," and water shot out of her wand and into the glass. She pulled the tiny lid off the vile and tilted all of the antidote into the water. She swirled the glass around a little bit and went over to Ron.
"Here, Ron," she said. "Have some water."
"I don't want any," he said. "I want to see Tabitha. Why isn't she here yet?"
"She'll be here soon," she said. "Come on, Ron. You need to drink something."
"No," he said.
Hermione sighed in desperation. She looked pleadingly from Ginny to Harry. Harry gripped Ron's arms even tighter and said, "There's only one thing we can do. Me and Ginny will hold him down and you force the water down his throat."
Hermione nodded. Harry took a brave move and kicked Ron's stool from underneath him. It went flying over to the wall and skidded to a halt. He strained against Ron's fighting and finally got him so he was lying on his back on the floor behind the counter. Harry held his arms down to the floor and Ginny ran around them and knelt above Ron so she could hold his head still.
"What the hell are you doing!" Ron yelled as he continued to resist their efforts. "Let go of me! Where's Tabitha?"
Hermione hurried over and tried to pour some of the water in his mouth. She got a little of it in but most of it spilled over the sides of his mouth and ran down his face. "Lift his head up a little, Ginny."
Ginny did as she was told and Hermione began pouring the water into Ron's mouth. It was difficult to do and a lot of it spilled out but she managed to get most of it in. When she finished they all watched Ron expectantly. It took a couple minutes before he stopped fighting them. When he did he lay motionless on the floor staring at the ceiling. A few minutes passed and then Ron sat up. Hermione glanced from Harry to Ginny to Ron. After what seemed like an eternity Ron looked around at them all and said, "What's going on?"
