Chapter Four

"Ron? Ron!"

Ron blearily opened his eyes to see Harry's concerned face floating over his. He glanced around, discovering that he was in the Infirmary. He felt like something was wrong with his rib cage, someone had placed a beating bongo in his head, and like someone had shoved a large wooden implement up his ass...

"I know I shouldn't be one to talk, but, I mean, what the hell were you thinking? So, he asked Hermione out on a date. So, he called her hot..."

Ron stopped listening to Harry, whose voice had risen to a shout.. Lately, he had felt funny whenever he heard people saying Hermione's name. He felt... possessive. Like they shouldn't be saying it. Like she was a toy that he owned and that he didn't want other kids to play with. The more he thought baout it, the more he thought that maybe George was right. Maybe he should ask Hermione out. How long would it be before someone like Seamus snatched her up? It was like at the Triwizard Tournament. He and Harry had waited until the last moment to get dates, and then Krum had come along...

"Okay, so look, I've brought Hermione here so you guys can talk or something, Come up with a solution to your little love problem. Okay? Harry looked at the two of them (his having brought in Hermione earlier, her now standing off to the sidelines), before violently screaming "Argh!" and leaving the hospital wing all together.

Hermione sat next to Ron's bedside, staring at the floor.. She then looked up at Ron, and glared.

"Have you seen Seamus' face, Ron?"

Ron shook his head no.

"Well, it's a pretty sight, I'll tell you! It's completely mutilated! If Madame Promphery wasn't here, his face would be a massive scar! What'd you do, scratch his eyes out or something? How could you do that to someone?"

Ron remained silent for a couple seconds. He didn't remember much of the fight, as at some point he must have been knocked out. Looking directly into Hermione's eyes, he then said "Hey, Hermione... will you go out with me?"

Hermione's face flashed for a second an expression of incredulity before quickly changing to one of disgust.

"No! How could you even think that, you...disgusting... you pig!"

She stood up very quickly, her face flushed. "I don't think you understand, Ron. I'm going out with him. Like girlfriend and boyfriend."

Hermione knew this would make him mad, but she did it anyway. Ron sat up painfully, for the simple reason that he knew it would make him louder.

"Hermione!" he shouted into her resolute face. "Have you ever..." his voice grew quiet, "...day-dreamed about the person you liked, or had a crush on, and just imagined the two of you accidentally ending up alone? And then somehow, while you were along, the two of you miraculously find out you like each other? No pain, no worries, no nervousness – and then the next second you're making out? The next day, going out? And, even though you only just started getting to know each other, you're perfect soul mates?" Ron started to blush, but the red in his face and ears soon become results of anger. "Well, it never happens like that in real life! And yet, it has seemed surprising easy and like a daydream for you and Seamus, Hermione! What was it you put in his drink yesterday, Hermione?"

She grimaced. Gritting her teeth, she slowly pulled out a small vile half-way filled with a bright pink liquid which Ron immediately recognized as love potion.

"Yes, Ronald," she said softly, her voice dripping with malice. "I spiked his pumpkin juice. So what? He'll only be in 'love' with me for three days before the potion wears off. Tomorrow's our date." She breathed deeply. "And well, I'm going to make sure these three days are the best of my life! I might've gotten started last night, if you hadn't almost bed-ridden him."

Ron's eyes widened. What the hell has happened to her?, he questioned himself.

She slowly backed towards the door, finally putting her hands up in the air as though exasperated. She planted herself firmly inside the door, resting her arms on the doorframe. She stared up at the ceiling in an almost bored manner. "Hey, who knows? I still have some potion left. I might make it the best week. I have the instructions on how to make the potion. I might make it the best month. Year."

Ron stared at her in horror. "Hermione – "

"No, Ron. You don't get it. He's like a toy..." Ron's mouth fell open – "... a toy that I don't want the other kids using. I wanted him, paid for him, and now he's mine, mine for me to only take out and play with while the other kids aren't looking."

She stared at the bottom of the doorframe as though she was regretting what she had said. She then bit her bottom lip, and looked into Ron's eyes again, and ran out of the room.

Ron laid back in the bed. He didn't understand how Hermione had been thinking the same way about Seamus the way he had her. And yet, when she had said it, it sounded strange. There had been a strange glint in her eye.

When she said it...

... It sounded twisted.


Dun dun dun! Who woulda thunk it, Hermione's obsessed! Sorry to everyone who thinks this is out of Hermione's character. I tried hard to make it seem realistic, but I can understand people thinking this is outta whack... Anyhoo, review! I'll even give you some of the cheetos that are sitting by my computer... even though they're kinda stale. O.o Sorry about that.