Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
I hope you guys liked the last chapter, and I changed the ending (I think, for the better). I was just going to have them argue then kiss, but this way makes more sense, I suppose. This chap's a bit lighter (at the beginning), so that makes for a bit of a change. Review when finished! Let's see if we can get 15! If you can, I'll make the next chap extra long!
(Ron's pov)
I had been at the Burrow for two hours and already my mum had fed me chicken soup, pork pies, homemade chips, fruit salad, strawberry ice-cream and special Weasely fudge.
It was good to be home.
"So, Ronnie, why have you come back here, I thought you were going to stay at the castle?" Mum asked, but I knew this was coming, so I said my rehearsed answer.
"Does a son need a reason to visit his mum?" I asked sweetly, and helped myself to some grapes on the table. This was the first time I had eaten anything proper in days.
"Of course not," she said, happy with my answer. "Well, your dad comes in, in four hours, so don't bother looking at me for something to do. Just, oh, I don't know, occupy yourself. De-gnome the garden, weed the flowerbeds, or something."
"Um," was all I managed to say. "I think I'll take a walk instead. But thanks anyway!" I said with a laugh. That was the first time I had laughed in a long time. And, boy, I needed to smile a bit more.
"You do that, son," Mum said, and she resumed her cooking. I walked outside but when I was halfway down the garden, I stopped. And I asked myself, 'why was I here?' To see Mum and Dad? Partly. To see the house? Probably not. I knew why I was here, and I couldn't hide from it, as much as I wanted to.
I was at the Burrow because I was scared. I was afraid; I didn't know what to do. What was I supposed to do? Only a few hours ago, I had kissed Hermione, but then I stopped it. I had to. What was I supposed to do, just forget everything that had happened? I couldn't.
But could I?
I knew I loved her. I've loved her for ages. It was what I thought was unrequited love.
But Hermione says that she loves me. Shouldn't that make me happy? It makes me sad... sad that she lied to me, sad that she told me she loved Malfoy, sad that she only realised these feelings after she had hurt me so much.
And she had. A week ago I would have done anything for her... but now, when I see her, all I see is how much pain she caused me. The only things I see now in her brown eyes are hurt and hatred. For me.
Yet I love her. I have loved her for so now. I love the way she does everything. I love her for being her. Could love cover what she had done?
I wanted to say yes. I really did. All I wanted to do was to just be with her, to let her know how much she meant to me, to let her know that I would die for her, to let her know that I would be a thousand times a better boyfriend than Malfoy had ever been. Because I loved her.
I know I must sound like an idiot; I love this girl, yet she's done all these things. What am I supposed to do? Just forgive her? I just... can't. I can't do it. I could look into her eyes, but all I would see was how she wounded me inside, how she said all those horrid things, and now she wants me back? What the hell does she think she's doing?
I walked to the tree with the swing on it. I slowly sat on it and started to swing.
(Ron's pov – a few days later)
It's a funny thing, really; no words could make me feel better, but just sitting on my bed, doing nothing, for days on end really changed me. I mean, I still can't get my head around how she was to me, but more than anything, I realised that I wanted to be with her. Just to see her, perhaps.
I knew I was still mad. Mad at her. The past lot of days damaged me so much. I now have a new outlook on life. I know I'm a changed man; I look at things differently. I mean, I might get struck down by the night bus tomorrow, and I would never have let anyone know how much they mean to me. My mum would never know how much I missed her fussing at Hogwarts; my dad would never know how much I actually admired his workings with muggles. I hadn't even talked to Harry. I hope he's OK. If I didn't live 'til tomorrow, he would never know how much I really look up to him, as another brother; Ginny would never know how much I loved having a little sister; none of my brothers would know how they influenced me into the person I am today. And Hermione. She'd never know how much she meant to me over the past years; how her helping hand has meant more to me than any other person's; she would never know how hurt I was, but she would also never know how much it changed me.
And I would never know what me and Hermione could have been, if a trampling Hippogriff kills me tomorrow.
And I can't leave that much hanging in the air, now, can I?
I ventured downstairs (after having a shower, of course), and my mum enclosed me in a big hug.
"Why haven't you come down, Ron?" she asked, and I felt a bit guilty. I had ignored her consistent knocks on my door, and just locked it with my wand.
"I, er... I didn't feel too well." I sniffed hopefully at the air, smelling what I thought I could...
"Apple pies!" I shouted gleefully, and raced over to the table, fork in my hand.
Ding Dong!
Who was that? I thought it was Ginny. Or maybe Harry, if he had awoken. But it wasn't. It was –"
"Hermione, dear, you look awful. Come inside, would you. Here, love, have a seat." Poor Mum. She hadn't got a clue what was going on; probably because I hadn't told her. We avoided eye contact, but when we finally locked eyes, she whispered something so quiet I could barely hear it.
"Ron, I need to talk to you," she said. "And I don't need your yelling or slurs; I need you to be Ron. My best friend Ron."
"Sure," I said, not knowing what was coming up. Was she going to tell me why she was in such a state? She certainty wasn't looking her best; she had a purple bruise on her cheek, and she was wearing a huge fluffy jumper which I though hid most of her injuries. Her hair was uncombed, and her eyes red and swollen. Her baggy tracksuits were something new, too.
This was no time for me to be pig Ron, I thought as I led her outside, this was time for me to be best friend Ron. However much I wanted to yell and scream.
When we were outside of earshot from my mum, who was peeking from the window, I looked Hermione in the eye.
"Mione," I said slowly. "Tell me what's wrong."
And she took a deep breath and opened her mouth...
Well, that was chapter six! What do you think? Like I said above, make 15 reviews and I'll make it extra long! (Or at least I'll try!) I think I'm right in putting in that Ron doesn't totally forgive Hermione, and it's probably really obvious what Hermione wants to tell Ron, and if you've guessed it, try and guess why she has to tell him. A chapter dedication and a cookie for the person who guesses both correct!
Autumnlover
Ps. I'm on the hunt for a good, completed (or going to be completed very soon) R/Hr story that's not depressing. Anyone have any ideas? You can nominate your own if you like!
