Chapter 3

When I made my way back to my apartment I decided that I might as well start packing. I packed up everything I owned since I knew I was thinking about moving anyway due to limited income. I got out the smallest suitcase I owned and put small set of clothes together. If I needed an excuse to get out of the Burrow, a lack of clothes could be believable. I was incredibly nervous about the entire thing, I got a funny feeling in my stomach and a sort of itching in my teeth every time I thought of one of the Weasleys but all I got when I thought of Ron was pure dread. What if Ron lied to you? What if it's Voldemort?

Yet, deep down, I wanted to see Ron. There was this pulling in my stomach whenever I thought of him and…then the memory of that night returns to my thoughts. A wave of nausea comes over me and I grab my desk to steady myself. You touch him, he gets hurt.

I needed to escape. There was no way that I could survive an entire weekend at the Weasleys, not have everyone interrogate me, and not being able to trust myself not telling someone. I started packing everything I could see. Clothes, random make-up, hair controlling spray… which did not work in the least bit, by the way… I had no idea how Fred was going to come and get me, but when he did I was not going to be here. I grabbed my money, my suitcase and started to head towards the door. I was halfway across the room when I hear, "Going somewhere, muggle?"

I stop dead in my tracks. The voice was so menacing and harsh that I was immediately back in the Shrieking Shack. I gasp, my eyes fills up with tears, and I cover my mouth so I don't scream. I slowly turn around expecting to see the man who raped and tortured me and wanted something else with me. What I saw was a man in my fireplace, half-grinning, and muffling his voice with his hands so he sounded different. I collapsed to the floor onto my knees and started to sob. "Oh my god, Fred!" I couldn't talk, sobs were the only thing coming out, and I was hunched over trying to catch my breath.

Fred came running out of the fireplace and immediately wrapped his arms around me on the floor. "Hermione?! Are you okay? I was just playing a joke… I thought… Oh my god, Hermione are you okay?"

I slowly calmed down. My breath got longer and I felt as though I had just run a marathon. My body was exhausted and my whole face looked as though someone hit me repeatedly. When I finally wiped away the last of my tears I tried to smile and said, "Fred, you can NEVER do that to me again. I love your voice as is… no others, ok?"

He looked at me as if I had something repulsive growing out of my head. "Alright, Hermione. Whatever you say." He was still rattled, I could tell when he tried to make his voice go really high and said, "Let's get going to the Burrow."

I grabbed a handful of floo powder and put it in the flames. Green Flames. I stepped in and yelled, "The Burrow!" I wish I had muttered "but if you take me someplace else, it's okay!" but before I knew what was happening I was swirling in ash and dust and feeling sick. Not knowing if I was feeling sick from the swirling around or from the feeling of dread that had stayed with me since Fred tried to be funny.

My feet hit the floor but I kept my eyes closed. What if I yelled for it to take me back? I continued keeping my eyes closed when I heard, " Hermione? Are you okay, dear?"

I looked up and Mrs. Weasley was staring at me inquisitively. I felt like I was in my first year and I was looking at her friendly face for the first time.

"Mrs. Weasley!" I shouted and I threw my arms around her. I heard a commotion in the other room and "Hermione actually came? Wow, this ought to be good." I saw Ginny and she was giving me a cold stare.

Maybe Ron wouldn't be my biggest worry after all…