AN: Sorry the formatting got messed up on this one. Warning for the end of this one especially... Now I'm just going to put this here and run away...

Chapter 9: Ron Lashes Out

Hermione should have known not to tell Ron. Lunchtime was a mess. It started off with him ignoring her. That, Hermione could have handled. However, his spiked drink quickly changed his tune. Ron started off berating everyone that was on the opposite side in the war. Then moved on to the neutrals. Then cursed the whole ministry. Harry tried to get him to hush but was having no such luck. Hermione had finally had enough.

"Ronald. Shut it."

"Make me." He grumbled.
Hermione turned to Ginny and started to talk about their classes. Ron stopped to listen. And suddenly his face got dark.

"Hermione, is the ferret in all of your classes?"
"I do not see how that would matter right now, Ronald." But that was obviously the wrong thing to say.

"Can I speak to you outside? Right now."
Hermione stood and walked out with Ronald following. She didn't want to make a scene, but what else would happen if she refused. Ron kept walking to go out of the foyer of the school. He made it outside the castle and snapped around. Suddenly, Hermione didn't feel safe. Ron's face poured pure hatred from every pore. He shoved her against the castle wall, pinning her arms in place to where she did not have access to her wand.
"You are not to talk to the stupid ferret. Ever. You are going to go to McGonagal right now and resign. Or for the love of Godric I will make you bleed. Every time I held back from hitting you will come back to haunt you. I love you but if you go against me I will punish you and make you pay."
As he finished his rant, he let her go and stormed off. He had wanted to hit her? The alcohol on his breath had almost been too much to take while he was growling at her. But she was not going to take orders from him. She was her own woman. She would still help Malfoy. He needed her almost as bad as Ron did.
She continued her day like there were no problems, but decided to skip dinner to prepare for rounds that evening. She and Blaise would take over form the prefects tonight at 20:00 and stay out until 23:00. The two of them should probably split up to cover more ground. As she was lost in thought, Blaise and Malfoy walked in through the portrait door.
"Nice place Blaise."
"Thanks man. Better than sharing a room with five other guys like you."
They broke her out of her reverie.
"Hi guys. Don't forget we have rounds at 20:00 Blaise."
"Oh. Yeah. I forgot. Let me put my stuff up. Drake, you staying until I get back?"
"I will just go to the library."
Blaise went off to his room, leaving Draco and Hermione in the commons area.
"So, um, when would you want to start the tutoring sessions, Granger? Your schedule's busier than mine."
"Oh! Well, I guess we could start next week?"
Draco nodded his head. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad thing. Blaise returned, and the heads left for their rounds. Draco headed to the library to work on some of the readings they were about to start on in his classes. As curfew grew near, Draco headed off towards the dungeons hopping his spells had stayed through the day. As he neared the entrance to the dungeon, he heard a muffled voice. He could not quite make out what the person was saying, but he could tell whoever was not happy. Suddenly he heard a muffled whimper join the grumbled tone from another source. Curiosity go the better of him. He cast a disillusion spell and snuck over to the alcove that seemed to house the two. As he peered around the corner he saw the bush of hair he knew so well. She was pinned against the wall by the red headed buffoon.
"Why? Huh? I warned you, 'Mione! I didn't want it to come to this, I love you, but I have to. Otherwise, what kind of boyfriend would I be?"
Weasley reached back and smacked her across the face. It was after curfew now, so Draco was the only one to hear the sickening sound of contact. Draco was stunned. He couldn't move. Why? He saw her face. She was shocked. Hopefully she would do something. But she just stood there. When she didn't respond, Weasley punched her in the gut. Hermione doubled over, stifling in a cry. What in the bloody hell? She slumped back into the wall. She looked up to Weasley pleading with him. He turned his head and hit her square in the face this time.
The crunch of her nose was too much for Draco to handle. It took him back that blasted night at the manor. Her blood was being spilt again. And Draco was enraged. He sent a stinging hex at the idiot first, but it didn't even faze the jerk. He started to fling more hexes at the weasel, but he stopped when he saw her face. She looked right at him and shook her head no. Ron looked around but never saw Draco. He turned back to Hermione and said he hoped she had learned her lesson. Then he did the last thing Draco thought he would do. He punched her one more time in the stomach and walked away.