Summary: Hermione and Ron find themselves stuck in a Labyrinth. If they're going to get out, they'll have to learn to work together. But once they do, what will happen when they discover much more than meets the eye?
Rating: PG
Pairing: Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger
Disclaimer: I do not, did not and never will own Harry Potter.
The Labyrinth of Love
Chapter 10: Katarina
"Welcome!" a husky female voice said, "to Mexico City!"
Hermione and Ron whirled around to see a dark haired girl, a little younger than them, with bright red braces and pretty brown eyes. She had a wide smile too. She was wearing a colorful flowing dress so Hermione couldn't see her shoes. She also had creamy almond-colored skin that made Hermione look at her own pale skin and frown.
"My name is Katarina", she spoke slowly but so consistently with a hint of a Spanish accent, "and I'm here to help you on your quest"
"Quest?" Ron said, staring into Katarina's eyes, "we just want to get out, really"
"Exactly!" Katarina said, smiling, "To exit this room, you will have to go to three different places, Mexico City being the first"
"And how do we go to these places, exactly?"
"How should I know?", Katarina asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Aren't you supposed to help?" a frustrated Hermione asked.
"I was kidding…" Katarina laughed. Ron's insides started to melt. "You can go use a car, a train, a bus, a plane…any Muggle way…"
"We don't have any money", Ron said suddenly.
Katarina held up her hand and flicked an imaginary wand. A small brown envelope appeared, floating. Katarina moved her hand towards Hermione and the enveloped moved towards Hermione and she caught it. She looked into it and saw the biggest amount of money she had ever seen at any one time.
"I'm really not sure how much is in there", Katarina said, her smile not as wide, "Truly, Hermione—Ron—I'm just the messenger…it's sort of my job…"
"How did you get this job?" Hermione asked, "it must be hard to find a labyrinth door and just apply…?"
She was oblivious to the fact that Katarina's smile was slowly disappearing.
"I got stuck in the Labyrinth…" she said with a brave face, although she didn't sound the part. Her voice was faltering. Ron suddenly gave her a reassuring smile.
"Stuck? How can you get stuck?" Hermione asked, her brows furrowed.
"Certain things can happen… things that are not concerned with time, but of the Labyrinth's magic. It is not full of obstacles, but there are creatures—creatures that can take you away from your path and change your destiny. I learned that I was destined to become a famous alchemist, working for the Mexican Ministry of Magic, but now I am destined to be…nothing more than a tour guide"
Ron felt sorry for Katarina, although he didn't know what to do. Hermione seemed not to care about Katarina's feelings and that annoyed him a lot. Hermione didn't usually act this way.
On the other hand, Hermione was feeling really jealous, especially after seeing Ron's genuine smile at Katarina. Hermione, acting on impulse, held Ron's hand and gripped it tightly, causing Ron to look at their intertwined fingers and become unsure of what to feel.
"So, anyway, my friends—this is your first city", Katarina said, back in her perky mood, "Your job is to collect the magical sombreros"
"Where can we find them?" Ron asked.
"Different places. As long as you stay in this small town, you will be safe" Katarina said, smiling widely, "and, by the way, the first one is over there, in the bushes", her voice almost a whisper.
"How many are there?"
"I'm not sure—maybe 3? Under every sombrero is a note, giving a clue to where you can find the next one. Make sure you keep all of them, how many there may be. I wish you good luck. I shall see you at your next destination"
Then she disappeared, the wind blowing from the east.
Hermione tucked some hair behind her ear and pulled Ron to the bushes where Katarina pointed them to.
Hermione saw the multi-colored hats. As soon as she touched it, it hovered to shoulder level and Ron stepped backwards. Hermione looked at him, irritated. A small piece of pink paper fell from under the sombrero. She picked it up and read it, with Ron looking over her shoulder.
Delicious.
"Delicious?" Ron repeated and looked at Hermione.
"It must pertain to food" Hermione said and she looked around. They weren't alone. There were several townsfolk going about their business, not really minding the two. Someone would pass by sometimes and wave at them.
Hermione approached the nearest man and asked him, "Are there any places to eat here?"
Then she realized she wasn't speaking English anymore. She was speaking Spanish.
The man responded and she understood it clearly.
"There are canteens on either side of town", said the man and he smiled. People there sure were friendly. "Just go straight ahead for Canteen #24 and over there for Canteen #36"
Hermione thanked the man and went over to Ron, who was wearing the sombrero. Hermione managed to smile and said to Ron, "I think it's best if we stick together and go to that one first"
They went straight ahead, like the man told them to. Hermione sped towards the eatery, decorated with confetti-like pieces of paper and posters and signs of different kinds. The place seemed friendly, although not many people were there. There was a clock on the wall with several different words and numbers instead of 1-12. Hermione wasn't sure what to think about the place, then someone approached her. It was nice old lady, wearing something similar to Katarina's dress.
"May I help you?" she spoke choppy English, but Hermione understood. Ron appeared by her side and said, "Where is the sombrero?"
"I am not sure what you are talking about, my child, there are many sombreros around you, take your pick"
Ron looked around and saw that there were indeed at least twenty sombreros of different sizes and colors, but nothing similar to the first one.
"Oh, the one we're looking for isn't here, thank you" Hermione said politely.
The old lady smiled. "You look very hungry, my children, a meal?"
"Oh no thank you", Hermione replied and started to exit.
"No, no have some food. I shall have some delicious food prepared, and you shall eat, free of charge"
"Okay, sure, thanks", Ron said quickly and Hermione gave him a look that said, "You should NOT have done that"
Ron ignored it, and they sat down at the nearest table.
"Ron, we don't have much time…we have to go"
"On the contrary, my dear child, we have all the time in the world—Hermione, lighten up a bit" Ron said with a chuckle.
A few minutes later, the old lady appeared with two plates of food. The first plate had two burritos and the second had some cheese quesadillas. Ron eyed the food hungrily as the old lady set them down on the table. A waiter followed with drinks.
Ron took the burrito and bit into it with utmost pleasure. He couldn't even remember the last time he ate such good food. He smiled at Hermione, who merely rolled her eyes and sipped her drink quietly while observing the eatery.
After eating his second quesadilla, Ron felt his stomach hurt. It was really painful. He doubted that it was because of eating too much or too fast, because it was way too painful. It was an aching pain and a piercing pain at the same time, a pain that quickly spread throughout his entire body. He clutched his stomach, and Hermione noticed.
"Ron, are you alright?"
"No I'm not, Hermione. I feel really, really bad", Ron admitted.
Hermione bit her lip and gave Ron a glass of water. He drank it quickly and the pain just became worse.
"Ron!"
"Hermione, I need some medicine"
Hermione reached for the backpacks under the table and quickly helped Ron up. They staggered to the exit of the eatery and hid themselves as quickly as they could.
Hermione took her backpack and rummaged through it, finally finding the medicine box. She looked through every pill and syrup, but there was nothing there that could help Ron.
Ron then suddenly blacked out, leaving Hermione to stare at nothing in particular, not knowing what to do.
She checked for a pulse. He was breathing, and he was very much alive. He laid in the grass where they hid, clutching his stomach, without knowing anything that was going on.
Hermione started crying.
She found herself thinking about so many things. If only she had taken him away from the eatery before it was too late. If only she had told him to split up so he would've gone to the other canteen and found the sombrero there. If only she had eaten too, so that she wouldn't have to endure thinking these thoughts. At some point, during that time, a thought crossed her mind.
Maybe I love him.
A teardrop fell on the grass, then one on Hermione's left hand and a teardrop fell solemnly onto Ron's cheek, making it look as if he was crying too.
Then his hand moved slowly and Hermione looked at him hopefully, touching his cheek. Another teardrop fell onto his cheek, falling down to his neck.
Ron opened his eyes. He felt so weak.
"Hermione?" Ron said slowly.
"Ron!" Hermione said in a loud whisper, crying tears of joy, "Ron! I thought you were gone"
Ron breathed heavily, looking around, trying to take in his surroundings.
"What happen—" Ron started to say, then he slowly sat up and said, "I think I remember now. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you Hermione, I really am. I feel so stupid now"
"You're not stupid Ron," Hermione said, "Oh never mind what I said…the thing is, you're okay now and I'm glad that you are"
Ron laughed.
"What?" Hermione said, wiping away tears.
"Nothing"
"What is it?"
"It's just that—I never thought you'd cry over me"
"Of course I would…of course" Hermione spoke with a cracking voice and a slight hint of annoyance.
"Thank you, Hermione", Ron said sincerely, then he stood up and wiped away some dirt that clung onto his clothing. Hermione took out the Just-Enough juice and gave it to Ron, who took it gratefully and sipped like crazy.
Then, not being aware that he was doing it, Ron stared at Hermione for quite sometime and started to think happy thoughts, imagining what it might be like to…kiss her.
"Let's go" Hermione said suddenly, snapping Ron out of his trance.
Hermione had that effect on people. She'd make people love her because of her unguarded moments and then suddenly make people hate her with her serious moments. Ron didn't hate her though, he was just…back to the reality that Hermione would never like him the way that he was starting to like her.
Ron picked up the packs and started walking. Hermione smiled that Ron had the courtesy to carry them all but frowned that maybe he was still too weak to do so. "Nah…", she thought as she stared at Ron. He was walking briskly and his hair sometimes blew along with the wind. Hermione was about to say that Ron needed a haircut but she decided that Ron looked better that way.
Hermione and Ron walked towards the second cantina which took a little longer to find. They were rewarded, though when they reached it and they were given the sombrero the instant they walked in. Inside the sombrero was a note saying "Shiny".
"Shiny? How extremely vague is that?" Ron complained and Hermione started looking around for something shiny.
"How do we know what this shiny thing looks like?" Hermione asked herself out loud.
"How am I supposed to know, Hermione…you're the smart one"
"Oh shut up Ron Weasley"
Ron chuckled and stared at Hermione for another while.
"What?" Hermione asked, "Why do you keep on staring at me? Do I have something on my face?"
"Nothing" Ron said, reminding himself that staring was quite rude, even if you were staring at the most beautiful thing in the world.
Most beautiful thing? Where did that come from?
Then Ron caught sight of a huge bell in the town's plaza. It was the shiniest thing that he ahd seen so far, and without a word, he pulled Hermione towards the bell.
Make a wish, ring the bell. One per person, please
"I wish I could find the third sombrero", Hermione whispered to the wind, half-joking and she rang the bell. It tolled loudly and out of thin air, the sombrero appeared.
Hermione took it and examined it.
Meanwhile, Ron was making a wish of his own. "I wish…" he thought as hard as he could, "…that I could give Hermione the one thing she wants…like, something material…and beautiful…that would match her beautiful eyes…and would look good with everything"
He smiled at himself and glanced at Hermione and rang the bell, making it toll loudly.
Hermione looked at him, "What did you wish for?" she asked.
"Nothing"
Hermione didn't quite believe him but she was satisfied anyway. She didn't really like to pry.
Looking inside the sombrero, there was a pair of plane tickets going to Australia.
"This room will take FOREVER to pass thru" Ron complained as loud as he could.
000
A/N: THANK YOU FOR YOUR AWESOME REVIEWS! YOU ARE LOVED. SORRY THIS CHAPPY TOOK SO LONG. I HAD FINALS AND ALL.
Liz- thank you
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m.k slade- yes the door is going out
kaylee- I have a few DMHG fics. You could search my username.
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