New chapter!
We finally see Ron return to Hogwarts and what that looks like!
Also, I've started posting this fic over on tumblr, my name is rons-hermiones, so check it out if you want!
I've also just finally got a working laptop charger, so hopefully I am able to post quicker then on my tablet! Woo!
Review & Enjoy!
Ron hadn't said a word all morning. He's of course been quiet since everything went down just what, two weeks ago?
The person he has the least trouble talking to is Harry. His whole family and The Order are right devastated, but no one gets how he feels quite like Harry does.
Her parents were an entirely different story.
That day when they left Hampstead Hermione's parents had showered the three boys with tender embraces and promises that things would be alright. But that shouldn't be the case.
Not when Ron was responsible for this whole thing. Not when he spent more of his time at the Granger residence locked away in Hermione's room, explaining to her father all the times he's been a right tit to her over a game of chess.
He should've been the one giving the reassurances that he would get their daughter back, not the other way around.
That was only two days ago.
Now he stands on the chaos that is Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, still having not spoken a peep to anyone. Not even when Harry told him he'd been screaming for Hermione again in his sleep last night.
However, time was running down as the Hogwarts Express rolled up and opened its doors.
His Mum was tearful, more so than usual, probably with the notion of sending three of her mourning children off to school.
That's right, three. Ginny, Ron, and Harry.
"Come here sweet girl, promise me you'll write darling." Molly cried into Ginny's shoulder, the girl stifling a nod through sniffles.
Soon, pulled away to embrace Harry tightly, her sobs only becoming louder, causing a slight scene.
Arthur noticed and gently patted her back as he turned to Ron, "I know you can do this son." He said in a whisper.
After a moment he spoke, "I don't know if I can Dad." This man right here is his hero. He couldn't help but be honest with him.
He dropped his hand from his wife's shoulder and switched it atop Ron's. "I know you can do this Ron, I know you'll be strong. For Hermione." He told his boy, who somehow has grown into a man.
Knowing his fathers words to be true, the youngest Weasley brother managed a nod as he grasped at his Dad's shoulders.
"Someone will be sent there within the week, yeah? Make sure everything's alright down in Hampstead."
"I promise Ronnie. I'll see to it myself. Someone from The Order will check the wards and debrief the Granger's." Arthur swore.
As they departed a few days ago, Bill had promised Hugo and Jean someone within the Order would be stopping by to properly debrief them and check the wards. Ron was determined to make sure this promise was kept.
"Swear to me Dad that you'll write if anything changes," his father opens his mouth, "I know Mum thinks I'm too young and it's too dangerous, but I'm going mental as is, I reckon it'll only get worse at school. Please promise me you'll tell me what's being done if anything, anything at all changes. Please?" He begs.
After a few moments, a little misty eyed, the man nods, "I promise son. I promise."
The conversation ends as Molly halts herself at her youngest son. Crying and whispering sweet nothings. Words of encouragement. The promise to bring Hermione home.
"I promise Ronnie, she'll come back. She'll come home." She cried softly.
He rubs his mother's back gently, "I'll hold you to it Mum." Ron responds, just as tenderly.
At this Molly pulls away to gaze up at her son, who now towers over her. So proud of the man he's become. At the things he's able to face.
And she tells him as much, "I'm so proud of you Ronnie. Please know it, I am. You're so strong." She fusses with his hair gently.
Not willing to let himself cry here, he leans forward and places a soft kiss on his Mum's cheek. Really caring less who saw.
"I'll write, okay?"
"Okay." She answers, stepping back into her husbands awaiting arms.
A whistle sounds as more kids pile onto the train.
"You guys need anything to help you out," Fred winks, "you just owl us, we'll send it in a tick."
"On the house." George promises, clapping Ron on the back as he smiles at Harry.
"Goodbye gits." Ginny supplies with a watery smile.
The pair of them just grin back, silently wishing the three of them luck. Letting them know to be strong through a simple expression.
As they turn to board, Harry whispers low in Ron's ear, "it'll be alright mate. It will."
Not in the mood for sentiments any longer, the ginger just grumbles. "Let's get on this ruddy thing before anyone finds us."
Somehow, they managed to discreetly find a private compartment, drawing the shade and sitting in silence.
As the engine gained speed and the train began rolling forward, Ron blocked out whatever nonsense Ginny and Harry were going on about. Instead, he watched the pastures speed by.
It all felt so wrong.
For the first time since he was eleven he sat here in this compartment, in their compartment, without her here. It was almost too much to bear.
No asking if he'd catch up on any assignments. No listening to her talk about her holiday as her eyes shined with joy. No shutting Harry down for wild theories.
Nothing.
And despite Harry and Ginny rattling off nearby, there's nothing.
Just silence.
Apparently, a lot of time passed with Ron sitting like that. Gazing out the window and feeling empty.
The only thing that pulled him from his trance hours later was the door sliding open. He gazed at it with hope, because for some stupid reason, for one second, he imagined Hermione being on the other side.
Of course, she wasn't.
"Oh finally! I've checked just about every compartment." Neville told them, taking a seat next to Ginny. Diagonal from Ron.
He soon reverted his eyes back to the window, hoping Neville would leave him be. He wasn't in the mood to socialize.
"Hey Neville." Harry said sitting up and trying to smile, though it faltered.
However, the fellow Gryffindor didn't seem to notice.
"How was everyone's holiday? Mine was quite good if I say. You see here," he held up a pot with a pretty flower, "this is a Whispering Lily, my Gran managed to get one, rare things they are. I'm not even entirely sure what it can do. I just know it's properties are similar to a Dancing Daisy." He sounded off like they understood.
"You see I was hoping Hermione could help me, I'd bet she knows. I can nurse plants, sure, but knowing everything about them? Not particularly. So where is she?" He finished, at the mention of her name Ron finally looked up.
"She's not here." Harry said shakily, though calm.
"Oh, loo?" He figured.
Ginny shook her head, "no Neville she's not here. As in, she's not on the train."
It took a moment but it finally registered with him what Ginny was saying. Neville knew Hermione wouldn't miss school for anything. Unless of course..
"No! We've been owling over holiday, we had been sending letters back and forth, she told me about her Gran!" He exclaimed in disbelief.
For a brief moment something bubbled deep within Ron. It wasn't the same insane jealousy he felt when he thought of Hermione and Viktor Krum, but it was more feelings of disappointment. Disappointment in the fact that she didn't feel sure enough to find that sort of comfort within Ron, despite sharing the same house.
He soon pushed away those thoughts because soon enough something dawned on him, "When was the last time you owled her?" He finally spoke harshly.
Neville jumped at the aggression behind his words and the look in his eyes, "uh I don't know!"
Ron leaned forward, determined to know the truth. He knew it was far fetched to think she was owling Neville somewhere but at this point he wanted to cling to anything.
At his look, the brunette shut his eyes in thought, "I sent a letter late Christmas Eve night, it probably arrived in the morning. I haven't heard from her since. I swear." He said defensively, though unsure why.
Harry flicked his gaze to Ron's nodding at Neville's words. He can recall the golden owl that he knows to belong to Grandma Longbottom pecking on the Burrow window while the Weasley's were at Muriel's.
At the chosen one's gesture, the red head eased a bit, though his stomach was still turning. The brief hope now squashed and turned into terrible parasites.
"What's this all about then? The lot of you are acting like wherever Hermione is she'll never come back." Neville piped up after the long tense silence.
"Of course she's coming back!" Ron snapped sharply before he could help himself, causing the other boy to flinch.
"What I think he means is," Harry starts softer, "is that Hermione's Grandmother passed over holiday so she's gone home, to Hampstead to deal with it all and the arrangements." He said, voice quivering over the lie, but to Neville it appeared as mere sadness for their friend.
"Oh Merlin! That's terrible! Harry, please tell me next time you write her, will you? I'd like to send a letter out with Hedwig." He responded sadly.
At this, the dark haired boy could only morosely nod.
"Have you heard from her? Is she alright?" He asked next frantically searching their eyes.
"No Neville. We haven't." The youngest Weasley brother said to them.
He knew he was letting his anger get the best of him. Not anger at Neville, but at the situation he, Harry, and Ginny have been put in. More importantly, the unknown situation that Ron can only imagine is a grueling hell, that Hermione's in.
Neville takes a shaky breath, "I'm sorry if I've done something to upset you Ron."
Suddenly he feels guilty, but can't bring himself to justify his behavior.
"Ron's just a little upset, him and Hermione never got to say goodbye." Ginny commented softly, placing a gentle hand on Neville's arm.
"I'm sorry mate," and again, Neville's apology feels wrong, like the roles should be reversed, "tell me you sorted everything out with her, yeah?" He asked hopefully.
Nothing came from the ginger but a rough growl, anger displacing his sadness yet again.
Sensing as much, Ginny piped up with raised eyebrows and a tone that left no room for argument, "Ron, don't you have a prefect's meeting?"
And he did. Normally Hermione would drag him there ten minutes early, but this is how things are now. She's not here.
Wordlessly, he stood and exited the compartment, needing some time to breathe. The distraction.
The only thing that registered were Harry, and Ginny's voices assuring Neville he did no wrong as they continued their elaborate lie.
Not wanting to think about all that's wrong, he let his body go on auto pilot to the prefects car. Just as he reached it, a body knocked into him.
"Sorry." They said.
Turning to investigate he was left mouth agape because Draco Malfoy had apologized for bumping into him.
"Sorry?" He repeated.
Draco said nothing but instead pushed on into the compartment and moved to talk to Katie Bell, who seemed to pass back from her poisoning.
Ron remained outside for a little, mentally preparing himself for the barrage of questions that's bound to come about his absentee partner. Another thing that also remains in the back of his mind is Draco Malfoy's behavior, something he'll have to catalogue and look into later.
After all, his father is a Death Eater. His Aunt is Bellatrix Lestrange.
Not realizing he'd been lingering for five minutes, he soon entered behind Ernie Macmillan.
The first five minutes of the meeting dragged on. He spent most of his time observing an uncharacteristically quiet and squirming Draco Malfoy.
Maybe he was spending too much time with Harry. Looking into something as simple as an apology and now he's suddenly got a hundred different scenarios conjured you that involve the blonde git holding Hermione somewhere. Torturing, mocking, hurting her.
It drives him wild with rage, but he knows it's something just capitalizing on. Something he's determined to fixate on just to distract him from the Order's failed attempts to bring in Hermione.
But would it do more harm than good raising suspicions with Malfoy? On the very off chance he is right, asking could only-
"And because of Hermione not being here. We've rearranged the schedule a bit for you Ron."
His eyes instantly snap to Katie's at the mention of her name. It's used in such a nonchalant, casual manner. Everyone at the Burrow has just been referring to Hermione as 'she' for the better part of a week.
All he can do is deafly nod in response. His ears suddenly ringing, with all thoughts of Malfoy leaving his brain. He feels like for the first time since it all happened, the weight of his much everything is going to change is now laying on his shoulder as heavy as ever.
No more prefect rounds. No more doing homework in the common room. No more dining hall. No more classes. Hell, even no more of him watching her ignore him. Even that was better than this.
And on top of it all, to everyone around him, he had to appear as if that were okay. That he could survive without Hermione, that it wasn't killing him.
Surely he's already failed at that, he could barely speak to Neville without biting his head off.
As much as all of these dark thoughts swim in his brain, he knows he needs to remind himself that this isn't forever. That Hermione will come home and they can do all those things again.
He tells himself this over and over, despite knowing that if, when, she comes home, things will never be the same.
For the remainder of the meeting the only thing that rings in his head are those three horrid words she spoke before vanishing.
Come find me.
Over and over playing out in his head. He's so distracted, he's failed to notice the cart is not vacant, save for Katie, and the meeting over.
"-go." He hears her say.
Soon he shakes his head, "sorry what?"
"I said you can go Ron." The brunette seventh year says.
"Oh right, sorry." Quickly he moves to exit the compartment.
"Bye Ron, like I said, let me know-"
He stopped abruptly, something just now dawning on him. Not even able to focus on the fact apparently she'd been having a full blown conversation with him.
"Hey Katie?" He halts, voice rather shaky.
"Yes Ron?" She asked with a quirked brow, almost sensing his unease.
"How did you know about Hermione?" He asked almost forcefully, "that she's taking some time uh, away." The ginger managed softer, willing himself not to cry.
"Oh, well Draco told me." She responded like it was the most simple thing in the world, like that would make sense.
"He did?" Ron asked rather taken aback.
Katie nodded, "sure. He said he'd heard she was spending time with her folks," her voice dropped into a whisper, "I had around the tower her Grandma was ill."
Not wanting to give himself away Ron just nodded shakily, "right."
Still, how did Malfoy know she wouldn't be here? Could Harry have been right... no there's no way. He's a tosser! What would You-Know-Who want from him? Fashion advice?
Noting the far off look on his face, the Head Girl spoke again, "hey if you're worried about doing this alone we can always get someone to help until-"
"No!" He jumps in quickly, rather loudly too, "no, I mean, I'll be fine." The ginger covers up
Still looking skeptical Katie nodded and offered a weak smile before vacating the compartment.
He needed to find Malfoy right now.
Another one down!
I'd love it if you guys let me know what you think/any predictions you may have. I know I'm excited for where things go hehe.
This Tuesday I got a pretty extreme brace for my arm making it harder to function, so bare with me if writing takes a bit longer. Thankfully I already have the next 5 chapters written.
Until then, here's your preview:
"It's about," he stopped, eyes finally meeting his, "it's about Granger."
Suddenly, his hand slackens in his pocket as he advances forward.
"Her-Hermione?" He squeaks.
The blonde nods, "I know where she is."
Ah! Tune in next time to find out what happens!
Please review!
