Ron and Hermione walked back to Gryffindor tower in complete and utter silence. Hermione was briskly walking a few strides ahead of Ron, in a mild attempt to avoid being in too close for comfort. As they walked down the stone corridor and up to the seventh floor, they were both thinking hard about the situation with the other:
Hermione's Thoughts
Why does he have to be the way he is? We can get along fine and then he just looses all control and over reacts to my helpful intentions. And tonight…I can't believe he called me that. Sure, he's had a go at me in the past, but they were always said with a smile on his face and ALWAYS said in good humor. He meant what he said tonight and he said it like he positively hated me.
Maybe the only reason we have remained friends for so long and are still friends now is because of Harry. We both get along great with him, so maybe we only tolerate each other because Harry is around- he is our connection to one another. Do Ron and I have a true friendship?
I thought we did, but if he is willing to lash out at one of his best friends like that and not even try to control the anger that is boiling up inside of him, then maybe we don't. I always thought I would do anything for Ron; I even thought I would die for him. I love…er…like everything about him. Oh, I must be so gormless! He doesn't even like me! He DOES tolerate me because of Harry. If Harry wasn't in the picture, I wouldn't even know Ron. I mean, we were childhood friends, but now we have grown apart. Harry is the glue that holds us together, but something is happening that is making us fall apart. Now, there is something different with us, but what is it? I only wish I knew.
Ron's Thoughts
Bloody hell. She must really be hacked off at me and I don't blame her in the least. I do hate it when she acts like my mum. Anyone who knows my mother would know that I get enough of that treatment at the Burrow. Ah, bloody sodding hell! I can't believe I called her that! I wouldn't even call her that in good humor.
To make matters worse, I meant it when I said it! Of course, as soon as the words came out of my mouth I realized how horrible it was and I certainly don't mean it now. Ron, you great thick prat! Learn to control your temper! Hermione is one of my best friends; why would I just lash out at her like that? Why?
I would do anything for Hermione. I would even die for her. I love…er…like, everything about her, well, except her know-it-all attitude, but I've been dealing with that for five years. Why should now make any difference? The strange thing is, and I've never thought this before, but I know I would be friends with Hermione even if Harry wasn't in the picture. Blimey! If someone told me THAT five years ago, I would have said they were off their rocker. Harry had always been the glue that held Hermione and me together, but not now. Now, there is something different with us, but what is it? I only wish I knew.
Since Ron and Hermione were not on speaking terms, the walk back to Gryffindor tower was very lonely and drab. There were three different occasions where Ron tried to break the silence that was killing him and each time Hermione ignored him. I just need to leave her alone right now; she doesn't want to talk to me and if I were her, I probably wouldn't want to talk to me either.
The long walk with Ron back to the seventh floor made Hermione miserable, because of her strong determination to avoid him at all costs. Knowing that he was there and he wanted to talk to her made her misery escalate. She couldn't understand why she just didn't open her mouth and start the conversation that Ron wanted to have back in Professor McGonagall's room. She willed herself to do it. She willed herself to try, but each time she tried to open her mouth, she closed it again, and every time she heard a soft "Hermione" coming from Ron's direction, her heart jumped. Every time he tried to talk to her and she ignored him, she silently pleaded that he'd do it just one more time, just to know if it was real.
The problem was, she had never been hurt that bad before by someone. Of course, Malfoy made it a point to call her 'Mudblood' at least once a day, but that was Malfoy. She was used to it and considered anything that came out of his mouth bilge and nothing more. Ron was different…he was her best friend, and when she heard her best friend call her 'bitch,' her emotions broke, along with her heart. It seemed that when Ron let that word slide across his tongue, onto his lips, and out of his mouth, she put up an invisible wall.
The wall was something that she couldn't control. Once she got over the initial shock and her aching feelings, then maybe she could break it down. Right now, she couldn't talk to Ron; she was hurt too much and the pain went too deep.
I need to try to get over this. Ron would have already apologized and meant it if I would have listened. Ron, try to talk to me just once more, maybe I'll be strong enough to talk back.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a fourth "Hermione?" coming from Ron's direction and her heart leapt. Now was her chance and she had to take it.
"Yes?" she answered timidly, looking him in the eyes.
"The portrait hole is open. Are you coming in?" he said, devoid of emotion or feeling.
Hermione shook off her thoughts and continued to look at Ron. He was standing just inside the corridor leading to the Gryffindor common room. She tried to read the look on his face and found that she couldn't do it, not because his face wasn't readable, but expressionless, and she couldn't look at it any longer in the state that it was in.
Expressionless. I've soiled my chance to reconcile with him.
She frowned at him and walked through the portrait hole.
A/N: I know this chapter is shorter than the last one (by about 2000 words!), so if you like longer chapters, I apologize for that. This chapter sort of needed to be short, because not a lot went on…but at least we know that Hermione and Ron are starting to look at each other as more than just friends grins to self, so it served it's purpose! The next chapter will be longer and more will go one, so hang in there! ALSO, please, please, please don't forget to review… this is VERY important to me and I appreciate them more than you can ever know!
ALSO: Thank-you Emily for all your help!
TO ALL THE AMAZING REVIEWERS:
Rae Valerious
cool. i wish you'd finish
Response: Actually, I have up to chapter eleven written, it's just the task of getting them posted. :D I'll try to post one a day. Thanks for the review!
Everhart13
please continue! update quickly! this is a really great story!
Response: Thank you so much! Getting ready to update right now!
warrior of tortall
v v v gd chappie! ron is so clueless. please continue its reeli reeli gd!
Response: I know. And don't you love him for it! Thank you so much for your kind words.
Celi
This is great! More please!
Response: Thanks! It's coming!
MyStIcS number 42
hey thx i like it write more plz and thank u
Response: Thank you so much! I have up to chapter eleven written.
Emma-Lynn
w00t w00t! Love it! Not your average story and thats what makes it so enticing! Update A.S.A.P!
Emma-Lynn :D
Response: Hey, thanks so much! Really? Not your average story? YAY! Glad to hear that! Thanks for the review!
Everhart13
great story, update quickly plz!
Response: LOL! Thanks! That's what I am doing right now
thesongremainsthesame
Are you going to tell us what they did to get in there? Really good so far...D
Response: Oh yes, you do find out! You will also find out about Draco too, but not until chapter's 7-11, depending on how good your deductive skills are. :D Thanks so much for the review
Celi
Great! More please!
Response: Thanks and it's coming!
warrior of tortall
it is sossosososososo gd! i luiv this please continue its amazin reeli gr8 writing nd story...
Response: Thank you so much!
summerxkiss2
please update soon. i love it so far. please update soon cause i really want to finish reading it. awesome begining so far
Response: Thank you so much! I'll try (at least until chapter 11, cause that's all I have written so far) to update once a day.