Disclaimer: See chap. 1
A/N: I know, I know . . . the character's are slightly (oh, who am I kidding) out of character. If I realize while I'm writing they are WAY too out of character, I try to add in a little 'side track' paragraph where I explain in the quickest way possible how I wanted that character to gain that difference through time. But, hey this is based on two years after HBP. People can change right? Fine, the plot just works better if they did change just a little. Hopefully J.K. Rowling will see it my way and make their personalities change just slightly enough to make my fanfic more believable (please? puppy dog face). Oh well, at least they aren't too out of character . . . right. . ?
Chapter 2
Wind rushed wildly through the deserted acres that surrounded the Burrow. Hermione stood there for a quick second, watching the calming dust devils that emitted in the distance . . .
Her mind was set still, helping release the stress of her long working day. The only thing that could make it absolutely complete was Ron.
The meditation ceased and she was able to pick up her feet and move closer to the numerously leveled house.
Its messy lawn, littered with weeds and numerous farm animals guarded the house with a loose, wooded fence.
A tall and lanky eighteen year old, with thick long red hair sat on the fence, throwing bread crumbs at random chickens that walked past his legs. With his back to the approaching Hermione, she made sure to walk lightly on her feet. Her shoes walked delicately as she snaked slowly towards him.
Once reaching him, Hermione took her hand and placed it gently through his hair. He jumped in surprise and turned to her. His face immediately gleamed at the sight of her. Dropping everything he jumped the fence and put his arms around her, firmly. She felt relieved to feel him close to her once again. She looked directly into his eyes and wrapped her arms above his shoulders. Their bodies meshed so perfectly together.
"Hey." He said simply.
She grinned. "Miss me?"
"Of course."
Inside the Burrow there were, ironically, only couples.
In the living room was Tonks and Lupin, speaking with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Fleur and Bill. In the dining room was Fred with Angelina on his arm, George with a female employee from their successful joke shop, and Charlie with someone Hermione had never met before.
Charlie eyed them as they entered with a smile and pulled the new mystery woman by the hand towards them for a proper introduction.
"Hermione- Ron, this is Veronica. Veronica, this is my little brother, Ron, and his girlfriend Hermione."
The sight of Charlie's "Veronica" made Hermione want to turn polity and vomit all over the Grandfather clock. Veronica was wearing two tons of eye shadow around her eyes, making her look like a raccoon resting on a decapitated human body. Below her neck, however was a rather small tube top looking as if it were stretched farther then intended by the maker. A blue gem hung from her naval, decorating her naked stomach. She bore tight, midnight-blue, dragon skinned jeans and eight-inch boots. A half inch-wide thread stretched up, from her backside, and sat above her jeans.
"Charmed." She whispered sweetly, gracefully taking Hermione's hand, and turning to give Ron a peck on each cheek.
"Isn't she something?" Charlie asked proudly. "We met when she moved from Bulgaria to Romania."
After Charlie and Veronica slipped away, Ron's cheeks were extremely red, his eyes avoiding Hermione's glare at his stained cheeks.
"It's just the way she greets everyone. It means nothing. It must be something that's common in Bulgaria." He told the tile.
Strange, Hermione never noticed this in the other Bulgarian women she had met in her forth year. But she took the thought quickly out of her mind, she trusted Ron.
At the smell of food, Mrs. Weasley ran back towards her kitchen, with Mr. Weasley following closely behind. Parts of their conversation came clear as they raced past Hermione.
"But Arthur, have you seen her? She looks like he just picked her up off the street!" Their subject was evident. Ron and Hermione fought off bits of laughter after exiting earshot.
Darkness hastily swept the open dusty skies in the burrow's back lawn. Mr. Weasley stumbled across, with floating mismatched tables being led by his wand towards its center. Meanwhile, all the Weasley siblings (save for Ginny, of course) and Hermione were diligently helping set up silverware, some under the order of Mrs. Weasley.
Lupin came out, with many chairs following him, out into the lawn.
"Is that the correct number of chairs, Lupin? Of everyone that's coming?" Mrs. Weasley looked at him, distressed.
"Yes, of course. Counted them myself."
Mrs. Weasley turned to the tables at the heart of the yard. Her face bore a disapproving frown. "Oh dear, I'm afraid there isn't going to be enough room. Lupin would you mind please going up stairs and fetch one more table, just so we wont be so cramped. Ronald will go with you."
Ron jerked up from the pile of shining silverware and looked at his mother. "I'll do what?"
Piled food sat on the counter. Mrs. Weasley and Hermione waited diligently in the kitchen.
Waited . . .
and waited . . .
and waited . . .
and waited . . .
To fight the awkward silence, Hermione tried to start the conversation. "It should be nice to have Ginny back home now."
Mrs. Weasley's dream-like face turned to instant concern. "Yes . . . only for awhile I suppose."
Interest aroused. "What do you mean?"
"Didn't Ron tell you why we were having this party?" She looked up surprised. "Oh, well I suppose not, he probably wouldn't want to talk about things like that."
"Things like what? Ron only told me we were having a party for Ginny. I just assumed it was for her finishing up her last year at Hogwarts."
"Well that, and . . ." she smiled, but still showed slight concern. "Ginny planned the party to introduce her new boyfriend."
"Oh." Hermione wasn't really surprised she could have a boyfriend; she was just surprised her life didn't falter after Harry's death as much as everyone expected. This started Hermione into thinking Ginny had set a new level of maturity since their last meeting.
"Yes. Very serious, I hear." Hermione knew better then to think that Mrs. Weasley was happy with this news. Ginny had been her youngest child and only daughter, she wasn't about to give her up to a mystery boy that easy. She forced a smile towards Hermione until she couldn't think of anything else to add on the subject. "Lupin and Ron do seem to be taking quite awhile with that table, aren't they?"
Where were those boys? She sent them up nearly twenty minutes ago. It can't be too hard to find.
The food threatened to become cold as it sat on the tacky kitchen counter, being untouched.
Another ten minutes passed before Hermione spoke up. "I'll find them, Mrs. Weasley. Just up the stairs, right."
Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth, but she was droned out by Hermione's shoes hitting the hardwood staircase. How hard could it be? They just went to the attic, right? So, it should be at the top of the stairs. It's common sense.
Apparently, common sense doesn't admit itself in the Burrow. Instead, at the top of the stairs was a single hallway, filled with five doors. Which was the attic? Hermione wondered. Ok, behind door number one is . . .
The first was a large room, containing nothing but a sofa and a larger then usual window. The second, was filled with long grass that slowly swayed from an invisible breeze, some spare gnomes seemed to have created a huge network of neighborhoods through the brush. Into the third, was a large, impressive library, every wall was covered completely in bookshelves except for one corner of the room that seemed to be occupied by two human bodies . . . in an intimate embrace.
Embarrassed at her intrusion, Hermione was quick to turn and shut the door to allow them privacy . . . until she recognized the two . . . the messy red hair and blue thread was unmistakable . . . Ron and Veronica!
Their bodies seemed irremovable, clamped tightly together by the twos' arms. Heat radiated from them as Veronica placed her leg around him, playfully rubbing his; her hand up his shirt, feeling the rock solid abs that had formed over many hours of Keeper practice. A devilish grin was laughing menacingly at the corners of Ron's mouth, being covered passionately with hers.
Hermione gaped at the two. Her knees shook. What the hell is going on? Her throat double clutched on her and no words could reach her lips. She felt suffocated. Walls in her mind were slowly closing in on her; her breath weakening with every passing moment. She made the only sound she could; a deep groan, coming from the back of her neck, she was desperately trying to form into words.
Ron and Veronica still did not turn.
How could this be happening? What did I do to deserve this? Her head spun. She grew faint and lost control of her body weight, collapsing hard on the floor.
The tight grip around her throat clenched further.
Oh God, what is happening?
Finally, Veronica broke the grasp she had on Ron's lips and turned towards Hermione. "Should we help her, Ronald? She looks as if she's going to be sick."
A look of revenge flashed in his face, as he saw Hermione lying helplessly on the floor. "No . . . Besides, who cares about her, anyway? Just a little brat."
With an airhead-like shrug, Veronica turned back around and pressed herself onto Ron.
Hermione tried to get up, but her arms wouldn't support her.
Please Ron, what is wrong with you. . ? Or is it me?
What have I done Ron? Please tell me! Don't do this.
She closed her eyes tight to keep her gaze off of Ron and Veronica, now not paying any form of attention to her.
Please, Ron . . . I love you.
