Chapter 7: Death Kiss
"Okay, Hermione. Spill."
"What?" said Hermione weakly. It was ten o'clock, and she and Ginny were getting ready for bed.
"You've been way too quiet. What's up?" asked Ginny. Her hands were on her hips. She fixed Hermione with a stare that said she wasn't going to let this go.
"Okay," said Hermione. "Earlier, when we were all on the beach, I saw something."
"Does it have to do with Sam?" asked Ginny, although she was sure she already knew the answer.
"Yes," said Hermione, nodding her head. "She and Ron had gone off together, so I followed. At first they were just talking, but then…" Hermione trailed off. She couldn't bring herself to vocalize what she saw. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears, though she couldn't figure out why.
"W-were they…Were Ron and Sam, you know, snogging?" asked Ginny apprehensively.
Hermione tried to answer, but all that came out was a strangled sound. She nodded. Then for no apparent reason, broke down in sobs. Ginny looked at the sobbing figure in front of her with surprise. She got off her bed and sat on Hermione's. Ginny took Hermione into her arms. Hermione's head was in Ginny's lap, and Ginny was stroking her hair.
"Hermione, I had no idea you liked Ron," said Ginny when Hermione's sobs had subsided.
"I don't," said Hermione, sounding like she had a really bad head cold.
"Your tears say otherwise," said Ginny wisely.
"But I don't, do I? Oh, I don't know. He's been nothing but a friend to me."
"How do you feel when you see Ron with another girl?"
"Well," started Hermione, sitting up. "I get angry. I feel protective. Like I should go push the girl out of the way." Hermione hesitated, then continued, "Also, it feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest and torn in half." Hermione fell silent, new tears forming in her eyes. Ginny studied her friend, and for a while neither said anything. "Ginny, I like Ron, don't I?" Hermione asked eventually.
"Yeah, Hermione. I think you do."
"Well, it's too late now," Hermione said matter-of-factly.
" What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"Ron fancies that American girl, Sam."
"He doesn't fancy her. It'll all be over as soon as we get to school. Just a couple more weeks. And I bet what happened was just a fluke. I doubt it'll happen again."
"I hope your right," whispered Hermione. She and Ginny crawled into be and went to sleep.
It became apparent in three days that Ginny was not a Seer. Often times Ron and Sam would disappear and then reappear with messy hair and (in Ron's case) a face color to match his hair. Hermione and Ginny would scowl and look at each other darkly.
One day, about two days before the group was due to meet her parents on Platform nine and three quarters, Hermione noticed something strange.
"Ginny?"
"Hmm…?" said Ginny, who was busy rolling a small ball around for Crookshanks to chase.
"Notice anything?" asked Hermione, gesturing around. Ginny glanced around, confused, until she saw (or rather didn't see) something.
"Sam's missing," Ginny noted.
"Yes," said Hermione, speaking in barely above a whisper. "But Ron is still here." Indeed, Ron was playing a game of wizard's chess with Bill.
"Where's Harry?" Ginny asked, suspiciously.
"He's in his and Ron's room writing a letter to Professor Lupin. Besides, Ginny, Harry's not that kind of guy."
"You're right," said Ginny. She still couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
Hermione and Ginny were yanked out of their quiet conversation by a joyous "whoop" from Ron. They looked around to see that Ron and Bill had finished their chess game, and Ron was now doing a celebratory dance.
"Where's Harry? It's time for me to beat his butt as well," said Ron, going round and round in a circle.
"Ron, knock it off. Isn't it enough that you won?" said Bill, laughing at Ron's idiotic dance.
"Nope," said Ron with a smile. Hermione tried and failed to stifle a giggle. Ron looked at her and winked.
"So, the student surpasses the teacher, eh Bill?" Charlie teased as he reached over and punched Bill in the arm.
"Where's Harry?" Ron repeated.
"In your room finishing a letter," said George.
"Still?" said Ron. "Well, he'll have to finish it after I beat him at wizards chess."
"Lupin told us to send him weekly reports," said Bill. Ron ignored him and left the room. As Ron reached the door he put his hand on the knob and turned it.
As he entered he said, "Harry you can finish the letter later. Come and play me in wizard's—"
The scene he saw upon entering the room burned a hole in his memory. There was Sam with her arms around someone, but that someone was not him. It was Harry. Sam and Harry were in some kind of horrid lip-lock. Time seemed to stand still. One second became on hour, and then one day, and then an eternity.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" yelled Ron as Sam and Harry disengaged from the lip-lock.
"Wait Ron. You don't know what happened," said Harry, taking a step forward.
"I know what happened. You and Sam were…were, you know, while everyone else wasn't looking."
"Ron, I'm sorry," said Sam. "He wouldn't stop. He kept pushing me. I didn't know what to do."
"What are you talking about? Ron, that's not true," said Harry. "It's the exact opposite. Sam came on to me. She backed me into a corner and then kissed me."
"Oh yeah right!" screamed Ron.
"I think I'd better leave," said Sam. As she left she whispered, "It was Harry's fault," in Ron's ear.
"WHY YOU!"
"Ron think about this," said Harry as he watched Ron pull out his wand. "I'm Harry, your best friend. I wouldn't do that to you."
"Then what happened?" asked Ron, skeptically.
"I already told you."
"But why would she do that, huh? She likes me."
"Ron, she was using you. I don't know why, so don't ask."
"But—"
"Who do you trust more, Ron? Me or a girl you just met?" Harry waited for Ron's answer. Ron lowered his eyes. He was thinking very hard. When he reached a conclusion, he looked up.
Ron smiled and said, "I'm sorry, mate."
"It's all right, Ron. Just lower your wand, would you?"
Laughing, the two friends walked into the hall to rejoin the others.
The next day everyone had the laborious task of packing. Hermione, who had of course finished packing, was watching Harry and Ron pack.
"You could help, you know," said Ron to Hermione.
"I could," Hermione agreed.
"Well, I'm off to find my books," said Harry.
"If you had kept them in your room you wouldn't have to find your books," Hermione reminded him.
"I know. I know," said Harry as he left the room.
Hermione and Ron were silent for a few minutes as Ron made a great deal of folding his robes.
"Ron, I'm sorry about Sam," said Hermione quietly. Sam had mysteriously disappeared. Her room was empty when Nathan went to tell her about dinner. All of her things were gone. She had slipped away while no one was looking.
"Don't be. I didn't really like her anyway."
"Didn't like her! Ron you were snogging her every chance you got," said Hermione with a slight smile.
"I realize now that I didn't really like her." At this phrase, Hermione's heart started racing.
"And who do you like, Ron?" asked Hermione walking slowly towards Ron.
"Well," said Ron walking towards Hermione. They met in the middle of the room. "I've always liked you, Hermione."
"Really?" asked Hermione breathlessly.
"Yeah. But I can understand if you don't feel the same."
"Ron, shut up," said Hermione. She stood on her toes and slowly inclined her head toward his. Ron's breath quickened. He leaned in towards her. Hermione could feel his heartbeat. As their lips touched, she felt as though lightening was surging through her entire body. Instead of hurting, though, the lightening felt good. When they broke apart, Ron smiled. Hermione knew he felt the same thing.
"What are you guys up to?" asked Harry. He had a stack of books in his arms.
"Nothing," replied both Hermione and Ron a little too quickly.
"Come on, Harry," said Ron. "We have to finish packing."
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A/N: Tell me what you think. Reviews are welcome! Awwww...how cute! Ron is one of my favorite characters, and I love making him look stupid. Hence the idiotic dance. lol. Please review!
willow
