Title: Outcast

Summary: Love is like riding a broomstick. Some people are addicted to it and others just can't seem to get the hang of it.

Disclaimer: I own the plot, which makes me very happy.

A/N: Please all read my story Simple. I would love to get some feedback on it! It won't be a long read, since it's only a oneshot. Please?

A/N2: I've got some stories authored that have only a few chapters. I won't update them for a while because I'm busy finishing off other stories. Right now, I've got 17 stories which I need to finish. So if your favourite story won't be updated for a while, please don't be offended. I will update eventually!

A/N3: Does anybody ever read these things anyway? Well, just in case: this chapters switches POV's a lot, but it is just a filler to get new things started.

As always: Thanks to every single reviewer, and most of all to quidditch7, she never ceases to amaze me with her ideas for this story. Thank you girl!

He let go of her. Her eyes were closed as her fingers travelled to her lips, softly grazing the texture. Her breathing was unsteady.

Ron watched her for what seemed like an eternity. He did not know what to do. What to say. Had he just managed to destroy everything even more? Would she feel more alienated because of what just happened? She probably needed a friend right now, not some guy who couldn't keep his hormones in check. Especially now, with the holidays being just a week away. What if something like this totally ruined her holiday? What if it led to only more self-abuse?

"Come to the Burrow with me."

He said, his voice sounding a little hoarse. Her eyes flew open and she gasped. His own breath nearly stopped too for a second. He hadn't planned to say this! What would Harry and Ginny think? Oh God, they would be furious! They'd totally tear him apart! He couldn't stay here and hear her answer. What if she said yes? He needed to discuss this with his friends first. If they didn't want it...well, Hermione had parents. She'd be okay. Right?

Ron grabbed the razors, looking panicked.

"I...I have...sorry."

And then he was gone. Hermione watched him leave. Her soft and confused "Ron" wasn't enough to make him turn around. He just left her there, feeling more alone than she had in a long time.

(Hermione's POV)

I can't believe he just did that to me. He...he kissed me. His former enemy. The girl who broke her promise. He must have seen me, asleep in the Common Room. I didn't want to fall asleep there, but I was just so tired. Of everything. And now he's asked me to spend the holidays with him. What will I answer? What should I answer?

I bet he just asked me because he wants to keep an eye on me anyway. I'm not stupid...he'll get into a lot of trouble for this. Harry and Ginny won't like this at all. Okay so maybe technically they don't hate me that much anymore. Which, I must admit, I still find very strange. Yes, I was drunk that evening, but I still had kissed Harry. They still were allowed to be angry with me. Things were just so awkward this way. It confused me, made me feel scared. Did they know something I didn't?

What if I said yes then? It would be ridiculous to even consider it, but...what if I did? Would Ron kiss me again? No...he wouldn't hurt his little sister like that. Would he go back to ignoring me? More likely. They were all so much better off without me around. I had done enough harm already; I couldn't just go and destroy their holiday as well. It would just not do. No matter how much I wanted to spend my summer at that house (after all it definitely beat being with my overworked-only-there-when-I-was-sleeping-parents) I just couldn't do that. I wouldn't.

(Ron's POV)

"What?"

"You said what?"

Both my best friend and my little sister looked at me disbelievingly.

"Tell me I misheard that."

Ginny said with a slightly raised voice.

"Tell me you didn't just say 'I invited Hermione to spend the holidays with us at the Burrow'."

"Why would you do such a thing?"

Harry said, backing up his girlfriend. Honestly, they were very cute as a couple, but I hated them suddenly agreeing on everything again. Though this time they were probably right. I should have thought this over, not blurted it out after a kiss. Why the hell had I kissed her in the first place anyway?

"Ron, look, I understand that you want us to patch things up and all, but..."

"It's more complicated than that Harry"

I interrupted him.

"We've done horrible things to her, and she didn't even deserve it!"

"But we didn't know that back then! I want to forgive Hermione so much Ron, I really really do, but I think things would be better if we could all have space from her a little longer."

I bit my lip, moved by the fact that my baby sister was willing to forgive the person that made her cry so much. Yet, after all, why not? She had forgiven Harry as well.

"I really do understand that, I do. It's just..."

I hesitated for a second, not sure whether this was a secret that was mine to reveal.

"She's cutting herself because of us."

(General POV)

"Hermione! Wait up!"

Lavender hurried to catch up with her classmate. Hermione slowed down and greeted her with a smile.

"Hi Lavender. What's up?"

"Are you heading to the library? Can I come with? I could really use some help on my Potions essay."

"Sure. I've already finished it though. What are you having trouble with?"

The two girls chatted animatedly while walking through the hallways. Hermione noticed that Lavender seemed to become more distracted and slowed down with every step they came nearer to the library.

"Lavender? Is something wrong?"

She said, her hand already pressed to the Library door.

Lavender hesitated.

"Okay, you got me. The essay was just a cover. I wanted to talk to you about Ron."

"What about him?"

Lavender looked around to see if anybody was around, then stepped closer to Hermione.

"It's just...the thing is...you've seen that kiss between us, right? Well..."

She continued after Hermione had nodded.

"I loved him. I was totally crazy about him. Just like you. And I knew, well at least I guessed, that he liked you back. So, you can imagine I was pretty heartbroken right?"

"Yes, of course. But why are you telling me this?"

"I...I did something I'm not proud of. I just recently discovered that that was the reason everybody treated you like trash. The thing is...I...remember how you got drunk and kissed Harry? And how you didn't remember anything the next morning? That was my fault. I performed a memorycharm on you."

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