Picking up the Pieces

Disclaimer: I own just the plot here. The fabulous J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and company.

Chapter 5

Ron's Fury

As Hermione sat there waiting for Ron to get home. She needed to talk to him. She had so many thoughts running through her head she just didn't know what to do with them.

Something was really bothering Harry this afternoon. I wish I knew what it was. I know Ron had asked if I was staying at Harry's, but now I don't know why I have an uneasy feeling that something is wrong. I hope Ron comes home sober. I really don't want to get into an all out brawl with him.

The door slamming broke her from her thoughts.

Ron walked into the kitchen and saw Hermione sitting there on a stool next to the island. He was kind of startled by her appearance. She looked as though she hadn't slept in days. She needed to shower. Her hair was so frizzy that she looked like she had just pulled her finger out of a light socket.

"What do you want?" Ron said starting to walk over to the fridge.

"I only came to collect the rest of my things. I wanted to talk to you. I'm not ready to just forgive you. It may take some time. So please don't try to contact me. I'll be staying with Harry for a while, just until I can get on my feet. I need my space. I really want to forgive you, but I just can't do it right now." Hermione said sounding a little excited.

By now Ron's blood was boiling. He had knew Harry was in love with Hermione. This was just his way of getting what he wanted. Always getting the best things in life. Ron had always been quite jealous of him. He had everything. His own restaurant, The quidditch contract, teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, and now Hermione. He wasn't going to let this happen. Not in a million years.

"'Mione, why are you going to stay with him? You could just stay here, I won't bother you. Just don't stay at Harry's place." He said hoping that this would change her mind.

"No Ron, I don't want to see you. Do you know the heartache you have caused me? I can't deal with it right now. Like I said before, I just came here to collect my things. I also wanted to let you know that I wasn't staying at the Leaky Cauldron anymore." She said watching Ron's face getting redder and redder.

"YOUR IN LOVE WITH HIM, AREN'T YOU?" Ron bellowed at the top of his lungs.

"Ron, are you crazy? I'm not in love with the 'famous Harry Potter'. As so you would say. You've always been jealous of him. Besides, WHAT'S SO WRONG WITH ME STAYING AT HARRY'S PLACE ANYWAY?" Her anger was so strong now she began to shake with fury.

"I DON'T TRUST HIM HERMIONE! HE'S ALWAYS BEEN IN LOVE WITH YOU! YOU PROBABLY ALREADY SHAGGED HIM. YOUR NOTHING BUT A WHORE!" Ron screamed while getting so close to Hermione that she could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"HARRY'S NOT IN LOVE WITH ME! WE'RE JUST FRIENDS. YOU CAN'T SAY A BLOODY WORD ON WHERE I STAY. HARRY AND I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TOGETHER. WE SAT UP LATE LAST NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU WERE A BASTARD. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHORE! LET'S TALK ABOUT YOU, RONALD WEASLEY! BESIDES I'M NOT A PRIZE, RONALD..." She screamed.

Before Hermione could react she felt excruciating pain in her left eye. She stumbled a bit, then went to reach for her wand. Feeling around she couldn't find it. She had left it on Harry's end table. She had no form of defense on her at all. She knew how to do wandless magic, not to the extent that Harry had known. She didn't know what to do. She wished that Harry was there with her.

Before Hermione had more time to think, she felt a blow to her stomach. She toppled over grabbing her stomach.

She had completely lost her balance falling and hitting her head on the kitchen table. Ron grabbed a hold of her shirt and threw her into the wall. Hermione felt a snap in her arm. She knew it was broken. But there was nothing she could do about it. Hermione put up as much of a struggle as she could. Ron was just too overpowering.

Ron kept going at it. He kicked her in the stomach. Punched her in the chest. It went on for what seemed like hours. Picking her up by the hair on her head, he dragged her to the bedroom and raped her. The smell of alcohol was so strong.

"Hey pretty baby, this is how you like it. Hard and rough." Ron whispered in her ear.

"Please Ron, don't do this." Hermione pleaded.

"Your mine and I will do as I damn well please. Shut your trap. I don't want to hear you say a thing. This will be one time you will never forget. You stupid whore." Ron said as he thrust into her.

"Ow. Ronald, please stop." Hermione cried. The pain was so bad, Hermione began to cry.

As she lay there with no control of the situation she thought:

Harry I need your help. Please, just please show up.

Meanwhile back at Harry's flat:

"What the hell is taking Hermione so long?" He questioned himself as he began pacing.

"She should have been back here before I got back. She doesn't have that much stuff does she? Maybe she decided that she was going to talk to Ron before she left." He was still questioning himself.

Just then he swore he heard in his thoughts Hermione say:

Help me Harry! I need you!

Harry's first reaction was it was silly. Then something in the bottom of his stomach said to go check on her.

He apperated to her flat.

"Hermione? Are you here?" He yelled.

He could hear some noise coming from the bedroom. It sounded like crying. He walked down the hallway and looked in the door. There he saw Ron sprawled out on the bed. But he still couldn't figure out where the crying was coming from. He walked in trying to get his eyes to adjust to the dark. He quickly scanned the room, that's when he saw Hermione. She was curled up in the fetal position in the corner of the room. He sprinted over to her. He didn't even recognize her. She had been badly beaten.

"Harry? Is that you?" She whispered.

"Baby, it's okay. I'll take you home. But first, I have some unfinished business to take care of." He whispered back.

Ron began to stir. Harry quickly crouched down by the bed so Ron couldn't see him. Ron was sitting on the edge of the bed with his back facing Harry.

"'ello Harry, I should have known you would come. You always did care so much more about her than I did. But I tell you something' right now. She was a pretty good lay tonight. But you wouldn't know that." Ron spat.

Harry rose from the spot he was in. Ron turned around and pointed his wand directly at Harry.

"You leave her to me. She is mine. Your not going to take everything I've ever wanted away from me Harry!"

Ron screamed.

"Weasley, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Harry spat back.

"What are you going to do Potter. Kill me?" Ron said with a smirk on his face.

"Exactly." Harry said.

Ron froze at Harry's response. He quickly sobered up. His mind went into flashbacks of the last eight years. Hogwarts, his proposal to Hermione, and the friendships he had made and broken. He was astonished that Harry had said he was going to kill him.

"Expell..." Harry began to say.

Ron dropped his wand. He just stood there. Not knowing what to do or what to say. Harry was actually going to kill him. He knew he didn't stand a chance against Harry. He would die.

"Take her. She doesn't deserve this. Take care of her. Don't treat her like I did." He whispered.

"Ron, are you okay?" Harry asked. He could see the hurt in Ron's eyes.

"Harry, just take her. Can't you see what I've done? I don't deserve her." He replied.

Harry turned around to Hermione and picked her up. He turned around to take one last look at Ron. He looked so disappointed.

"Wait." Hermione whispered into Harry's ear. "Take me over to him."

As Harry took her over to him, Ron slumped over onto the bed. Harry set her down on the bed next to him.

"'Mione, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I love you, and I know Harry will take care of you. You didn't deserve to be treated the way you did. I'm truly sorry for tonight. I don't know what got into me." Ron said as he started to sob.

"Ronald, I love you too. Your right, I didn't deserve this. You need to get help. Good bye Ron." Hermione replied.

Harry didn't know what to do. He just stood there watching as his best friend tell her fiancée good bye.

Hermione motioned for Harry to come and get her. He slowly walked over to her, but was stopped by Ron's hand on his wrist.

"Harry, I'm so sorry. The friendship we had, I wish we could go back in time and do it all over again. Get that friendship back. Please, just take care of her for me." Ron said.

"Maybe someday." He said as he nodded his head in agreement. "But not for a long time."

Harry bent down and picked Hermione up off the bed. They stood there for a moment and looked at Ron. Harry turned and walked out the bedroom door.

The last thing they heard as they were walking down the hallway was the sobs of Ron.

They apperated back to Harry's flat.

A/N: Read and Review Pleaz! If your wondering, Harry owns Gryffindors Golden Snitch. Hope you liked it. I probably won't post for a little while. I have some studying to do. Hope you liked it.