Disclaimer:

If he wanted the world to be a happier place, he'd lift my tears up off of my face. And if he wanted the world to keep spinning around, he'd pick the pieces of my heart up off of the ground.

Anonymous

Harry was sitting on his bed, looking out the window, watching the storm clouds darken and swell causing more rain to fall. He sighed. It had been raining all night and it didn't seem to be letting up any time soon. He glanced over to Ron's bed. Ron was sitting cross-legged and reading the most recent letter from his brother. Harry was worried about his redheaded friend. He hadn't spoken at all since Hermione had yelled at him and Harry was afraid that if he kept it in any longer he might take out his feelings on an unsuspecting bystander. Harry looked back out the window, musing over this in the stifling silence. Hermione had retired to Ginny's room and a haunting silence, which she had kept up all morning. At the moment, Harry had no idea what was going on outside the bedroom. There had been relative silence throughout the house, as if everyone sensed the need to be cautious as to not awake the seething surface that was Ron. Harry sighed again, listening as the rain pounded harshly on the roof.

He turned around when he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," he called. Hermione poked her head in meekly.

"Harry," she whispered, glancing tentatively at Ron. His eyes momentarily looked up then returned to his letter. Harry stood up, beckoning her over. She hesitated, her eyes still on Ron. Finally she entered the room and crossing over to Harry. He frowned.

"What's wrong?" She avoided his eyes, looking uncertain.

"I… I'm leaving." Harry gaped at her. Her eyes traveled over to Ron. He didn't look up, but she could tell he was no longer interested in the letter by the intensity in which his eyes were boring into the parchment. She looked back up at Harry. "I think that it would be better if I did…" Harry glanced over at Ron also, nodding slightly.

"Yeah…" he murmured absent-mindedly. He turned back to her. "Where are you going?" She frowned.

"That's what I came to ask you about. We wanted to know if it would be alright if we stayed at Sirius's place, seeing as it is practically yours." Harry looked taken back for a minute, the mention of his godfather bringing back unwanted memories. He shook his head, clearing it of the awful images and brought himself back to the present. He nodded.

"Of course, yeah." She nodded. There was an awkward silence and then Harry pulled Hermione into a big hug. He kissed her on her head. "You don't have to go," he whispered. Hermione pulled away slightly, looking up at him.

"If I stay it will only get worse… I don't think I can handle that kind of pain." He frowned and nodded. She gave him a weak smile and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'll be fine," she whispered. He looked doubtful but gave her a hopeful smile non-the less. Pulling away from him, Hermione reached into her pocket and pulled out a wrinkled envelope. Smoothing it out as well as she could she placed it in front of Ron.

"I'm sorry for what I said yesterday," she said. Pointing to the letter she whispered, "Please read it." He didn't look up, but his eyes did shift to the letter. She reached out for his hand, but he pulled away. She frowned and straightened up. She turned back to Harry.

"We're leaving right now," she said sadly. He nodded, his eyes now fixed on Ron.

"I'll be down in a sec," he assured her. She nodded and exited the room. Harry waited until Ron looked up at him.

"See what you've done."

"I wish you didn't have to go, Margaret," Molly complained, embracing Hermione's mom. Mrs. Granger smiled slightly.

"I think it's for the best," she said, glancing to her daughter. Molly nodded understanding the reason perfectly. Mr. Granger steered his wife to the fireplace and they stood with Lupin, waiting for Hermione.

"Hermione," her mother called gently. Hermione turned and nodded. Giving Cadin one last hug she stepped into the fireplace and just like that they were gone. They all turned around to find Ron standing there on the stairs, gazing at the empty hearth. When he realized he was the center of attention he turned around and started back up the stairs.

"Where do you think you're going?" Molly asked angrily.

"My room," came the quiet answer. Molly put her hands on her hips and shifted her weight to one foot. Fred and George grinned, waiting for the onslaught.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley! You should be ashamed of yourself. That girl is your best friend and you hurt her! She cares a lot about you!" Ron refused to turn around.

"I really don't want to talk about this."

"Too bad! You think that you can just treat her how you wish! Ever since you two were young, you've been the bane of her existence! You've always made her cry and you never apologize! That girl loves you and all you can do is break her heart!" Ron's grip on the banister tightened, his knuckles growing white. His jaw was set and his body visibly jerked at the mention of Hermione's feelings towards him, but he still refused to turn around.

"Ronald Weasley, look at me when I talk to you! I cannot believe that you would do such a thing. Didn't I raise you better than that? You should know better that to-" Ron had finally snapped. Whirling around he glared at his mother.

"SOD OFF!" His mother gaped at him, along with everyone else. No one had ever dared to go against the Weasley matriarch. Ron's chest rose with exertion as he glared at her. Mr. Weasley stepped forward, outraged.

"Now you listen-" Ron rounded on him.

"No you listen to me! What I do is my bloody business! If you think that I don't care that she left then you're wrong! So piss off!" With that he stalked up the stairs, leaving the room in a deadly silence.


It was a week later and Hermione found herself in her room, gazing at an old photo of Ron, Harry and her. They were waving back at her with smiles on their faces and it made Hermione question the whole thing. Had her and Ron really been friends or were they just nice to each other for the sake of Harry?

No…No it wasn't because of Harry. We spent times alone… intimate times.

"Hermione?" She looked up to see her father standing there at the door. She smiled and patted the space next to her. He came over and sat next to her.

"You ok?" She nodded. He frowned. "You're thinking about him aren't you?" Hermione looked away from her father.

"Dad…" He took her face in his hands.

"Hermione, look at me." When he had her attention he continued. "He's treated you in the worse possible ways and yet you still love him?" Hermione could feel the tears starting again. Placing her hands on her father's she opened them.

"He wasn't always like this…" Her father cocked an eyebrow. She sighed. "Sure he made me cry, but… it wasn't always like that… I mean one minute he would be a mean and insensitive prat but the next he would treat me like I was the only girl alive. Like I was worth something…" she bit her lip, looking at anything but him. Mr. Granger frowned and pulled his daughter into a much-needed hug. Collapsing into his arms she began to cry, hated tears pouring down her face. Her father held her close, stroking her hair like a small child, whose pet had just died. His daughter had been reduced to nothing but tears and it broke his heart.

"Anyone who does this to you doesn't deserve you…" They were silent for a while, Hermione clinging to her father.

Suddenly there was a crash down stairs and voices could be heard. Then they could hear feet approaching up the stairs and the door opened to reveal Ginny and Harry. Hermione stood up.

"What are you two doing here?" Ginny paused to catch her breath as Harry walked over to his friend.

"Ron and Cadin are missing." Hermione gasped.

"What? When?"

"Last night probably. We haven't seen them since then." Hermione glanced over to her father. He frowned, but nodded. Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him out the door, followed by Ginny.

"What are we going to do?" Harry pointed to Ginny. She nodded and pulled out a small object. Hermione moved closer.

"A shot glass?" Ginny nodded.

"I think it's a portkey." Hermione's face dawned with realization. She shook her head.

"No… no way! We are not going to take a rogue portkey. Do you know how dangerous that is? Harry! You of all people know that! Look where it got you! It could be a trap!" Harry grabbed Hermione's arm.

"If we don't take that portkey Ron and Cadin could die!" Hermione looked torn. She glanced at the small item with extreme dislike and finally gave in. Moving over to Ginny she touched the glass. Harry placed his hand on it also.

"Ok… one… two… three!" The familiar tug at the navel and before she knew it Hermione was flying, banging into Ginny. Finally it ended and they all came crashing to the ground.

"Ow!" Ginny exclaimed, landing on a root. Harry placed a hand to his lips pointing to the rather large crows that were watching them with extreme interest.

"Shhh…." Hermione noticed as well and grew extremely uncomfortable. She looked around as Ginny observed the strange birds.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked, scooting closer to Harry. He looked around.

"What are we doing here?"

"Look..." Hermione murmured. Ginny and Harry turned around.

"The Shrieking Shack?" Hermione frowned.

"Do you think they're in there?" Ginny stood up straighter.

"Only one way to find out." Hermione nodded and followed Harry as he headed for the ominous building. As they drew closer Hermione had a bad feeling. They should have brought someone else with them. Harry managed to get through the boarded up door and helped the girls through. They stood there in the broken hall looking around when Ginny heard something.

"Did you hear that?" They looked at her.

"What?" Hermione asked eagerly. Ginny frowned.

"It… It sounded like…" It came again; this time all of them heard it. Harry frowned also.

"It's coming from the Whomping Willow entrance. Hermione took off running, lifting up the trapdoor and lowering herself down.

"Hermione wait!" Harry called, cursing instantly. If someone was hiding here, they certainly knew they were there now. He grabbed Ginny's hand and followed Hermione into the tunnel. Ginny pointed.

"There she is," she whispered, following Hermione until she stopped. Hermione pointed to a small hole in the wall.

"It's coming from there." Harry moved in front of her and lowered himself into the hole. Looking around his eyes found something that made him gasp. On the far wall was the bloodied form of what Harry assumed to be Ron; though it could have very well had been Cadin. He couldn't tell. He heard Ginny and Hermione drop in behind him and heard them gasp. Hermione moved forward, but Harry stopped her. He shook his head.

"It could be a trap…" He could hear Hermione whimper in protest, but she stayed put. Stepping with caution, Harry approached the wall.

"Ron?"

"HARRY!" They all whirled around to see Ron being slammed into the wall by a rather large man. Ron gave a small grunt and then slid to the ground, unconscious.

"GET THEM!" Someone screeched, and more men appeared. Harry hesitated, then whirled around, grabbing Ginny and shoved her to the hole.

"Go!" She realized what he was doing and tried to push back, angry.

"I'm staying here!" Harry glanced behind him to see that the men were advancing fast. He rounded on Ginny, his eyes pleading with her.

"I don't have time for this! Get up there and go get help, now!" Ginny could tell that he'd do anything to get her out of there. She turned around for the hole, hesitated and then turned back around, giving him a quick kiss.

"Stay alive," she whispered, then disappeared up the hole.

"There goes one!" Harry whirled around to see a wand.

"It doesn't matter… look we got here… The Boy Who Lived…" The group parted, letting through a woman that Harry loathed. "Nice to see you again, Harry." Harry spit at her.

"You're a bitch." Bellatrix Lestrange grinned wickedly.

"You wont be saying that once the Dark Lord arrives…" her gaze turned to Harry's struggling friend. Bellatrix glided over to Hermione, grazing her finger across Hermione's cheek.

"Until then… I'll have my fun with this one." Harry started for Bellatrix when two deatheaters grabbed him.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Bellatrix turned, an amazed look on her face.

"My, my. You don't seem to remember what I did two years ago…" She leaned in so that her face was an inch from Harry's. "I'll soon teach you the same lesson I gave to Sirius before I killed him." Harry lunged; the only thing holding him back was the full strength of the two deatheaters. Harry glared at Bellatrix with the deepest loathing.

"I'll kill you… I swear I'll kill you," he murmured, the promise of death dripping from his voice. Bellatrix ignored him, turning back to Hermione. She addressed the men holding Harry.

"Put him and that redheaded one in the arena cell."

"Which redhead?" Bellatrix touched Hermione's face.

"Potter's little sidekick." Hermione watched as Harry was hauled off. She tried to follow him, but she was held back.

"Harry!" Harry struggled to get back to her.

"Hermione!" Then he disappeared into a rocky hall. Hermione struggled some more until Bellatrix grabbed her hair and pulled her head back.

"Listen Mudblood. I suggest you stop squirming. Once I get your little boyfriend down to the arena, you'll have plenty to wriggle about." With that she dragged Hermione off.


"Ron…"

"Hmm…"

"Ron get up." Ron moved around, then opened his eyes. He tried to get up and felt someone help him stand. Ron rubbed the back of his head and looked around.

"Harry?" Harry patted him on the shoulder.

"Glad you're back." Ron groaned, feeling the bump where his head had made contact with the wall.

"Please tell me that we aren't where I think we are." Harry pointed to the small stone arena outside the cold, moldy stone cell.

"Hate to break it to ya," he responded. Ron moved to the bars and grabbed hold of them, leaning his head against them.

"Did Hermione get away?" he asked quietly. Harry stepped beside him, looking out into the empty arena.

"No… but Ginny did…" To Harry's surprise, Ron chuckled and turned his head slightly to look at Harry with a slightly sarcastic smile on his grave face.

"Of course…" Harry frowned.

"What?" Ron sighed and shook his head, shifting his gaze beyond the bars.

"Nothing… you did what you had to…" They were silent for a while until they heard some voices coming down one of the many corridors. The voices resonated in the theater. Suddenly Hermione appeared, staggering across the floor and then tripping.

"Hermione!" Ron and Harry yelled. She looked up from her place on the ground, her eyes wide with fear.

"Ron! Harry!" She tried to crawl over but Bellatrix appeared and grabbed her hair, causing Hermione to yelp in pain. Ron slammed his fist against the bars.

"Let her go!" Bellatrix ignored him. She waved away the guards and smiled at the writhering girl in her hand.

"It's time for you to learn your place," she sneered as she motioned into the dark. Hermione whimpered as Cadin stepped forward, wand raised. Bellatrix smiled wickedly.

"You remember Cadin, don't you." Hermione continued to whimper. Harry watched on in horror as Hermione closed her eyes, trying to shut out the reasons why she woke up screaming at night, only to open her eyes to the nightmarish reality she was faced with.

"Oh no…" Harry muttered. Ron frowned.

"What?" Harry didn't take his eyes off the horrific situation unfolding before them.

"Hermione's been having these nightmares… She's dreamed about this." Ron grabbed Harry's arm.

"She dreamed that Cadin would hurt her?" Harry finally turned his gaze to the restless Ron. He shook his head.

"Not Cadin… you…"

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long. I was having a hard time coming up with a good ending to this chappie! Just to reward you for waiting so long, I made this chappie much longer than normal.

PigonQueen: Yes, well Ron has a few issues to resolve before he tell Hermione how he feels.

connieewing: It was starting to look like that. But now it looks like she wont have either one.

Coconut Girl: No, he's not possessed. He's just really agressive.

jayne-ron-leo: If you think he was afraid of losing her then, imagine how he feels now!

x-Drama-Queen93-x-: I updated finally!

katerina: She was even more brave when she left the house!

KittyMojo: Like I said before, Ron has to deal with some of his problems before he verbally admits that he loves Hermione. Hermione always had a feeling that he loved her, but he never wanted to say it.

For good behavior, I give you... a Chapter Tease!

"We need to get out!" He nodded, grabbing her hand and racing down the corridor. Suddenly, she stopped and whirled around.

"Where's Ron?" Harry looked around.

"He was just behind me!" Hermione started back down the stone path.

"Hermione wait!" Harry raced after her, entering the arena again.

"HERMIONE! MOVE!" Hermione looked toward the voice and then up. She screamed...