Chapter Seven:

That Woeful Touch

Hermione felt guilty finally, but she didn't want to give in. It was three days till Harry's trial, and no one had seen him since their fight. They supposed he locked himself in his room. Each morning, afternoon, and dinner time Mrs. Weasley would leave a plate of heavy food in front of his door. The plates were beginning to pile up with the rotten food as it was untouched for so long.

Hermione sat on her bed, and she had no idea whether she should be worrying or if she could go for just a check. Her room seemed so empty since the night that they spent together, and how much she missed it. How much she wished it didn't end, and how much she wished that she had never said the things she did. She sighed and buried her head in her hands.

She began to cry, without even knowing why they were flowing out her eyes. Her chocolate eyes were full of crystal clear tears and she couldn't stop them. No longer could she bear to hold them back. She let them flow freely and she wiped her eyes when she heard a raping noise against the door. Her heart leaped.

"Harry?" She gasped.

Her head flung up so quickly she was surprised she didn't break her neck. The door opened and her heart was pounding with hope. She wanted to hug him if he was there and she never wanted to let him go, but when she moved to get the door it had flung open by a force. Her heart had suddenly returned to it's feeling of being split in half, and her tears came back.

"Hermione, are you alright?" A man asked as he stood in front of her.

"No," She said. "I will never be alright so leave me alone Ron." She said as her pillow muffled the sound.

"Come now, Hermione," He cooed. "Tell me what's wrong. I might be able to help." He said.

"You'll never be able to help." She said. Then she felt finger tips on the skin of her back.

She could feel the finger tips of Ron trace the details on the back of her slim tank top. She felt a shiver ignite through her body and small bumps began to form all over. She turned to face him and had instantly swatted away his hand. Her eyes were filled with tears and she stared at him like he was a bug.

"Stop it." She said.

"Hermione," he said in a mellow voice. "Let me comfort you." He said in a pleasing tone.

"No, it's not right Ron." She said. "I love Harry, and it's just completely wrong." She said.

"Him?" Ron asked with a snort. "Of all people how are you able to actually fall in love with him?" He sighed. "Am I not good enough?"

"No, Ron," She said. "It's not you it's just… you aren't Harry." She said as her eyes filled with water. "I shouldn't have fought with him, and I'm afraid he doesn't know how much I really love him." She said.

"Hermione," Ron said gently. Inside though, he was beginning to become impatient. "He let you walk away without even a word, and you did the right thing. I have no idea what you fought about, but I guaranteed you were right. Now, please, give me a chance?" He begged.

"I don't know if I-"

Her mouth was taken and her breath had suddenly grown short. She could feel the lips of him on hers. But, yet, she kissed back. Her thoughts were suddenly stopped, but she still wasn't happy. She pulled away as quickly as she could remember than this was not Harry kissing her, but an imposter. He kissed her neck and she had suddenly become quite chilly.

"Ron, I said stop it." She said, but yet the kisses trailed over her neck. "Ron, stop!" She demanded.

His tongue traced over her neck line, but she remained speechless. She could feel him beginning to situate himself upon her body. She meant to let out a scream, but it had suddenly rung through out Ron's mouth. He would not let her scream, he would not let her move, and suddenly she had relaxed herself. He touched her once around the waist and for some reason it felt like Harry.

Her eyes remained closed and she no longer could tell it was Ron. Why she forgot and why she wouldn't open her eyes was a mystery. She, though, let him continue. Then, though, she felt him move down her waist line and touch her under thigh and she shook him off her. She pushed him with so much force that his body had rolled across the floor.

"What the hell?" He growled at her, but she had made a run for the door.

She had covered her face and she peered through the cracks in her fingers to see where she was running. She ran into the bathroom and fell to her knees. Where was she to run, and why did she do this to him? Why did she seem to think it was better for Ron to be without him, yet let him do this to her? She needed to get away from him, she loved Harry, and she was certain that nothing was going to change her mind.

"What have I done?" She asked as she rocked back and forth in the flashing lights. "Why have I betrayed you?"

She wasn't talking to anyone, but the lights were flashing on and off like no tomorrow. She didn't care though, and she couldn't tell him. She felt trapped and then with monstrous loud steps she could hear him approach. She could feel his steps vibrate and her breath became warm and the night became cold. The puffs of breath were now visible.

"Come out come out where ever you are." A dark voice said on the other side.

"This is no time for games!" She screamed in hopes of scaring him.

"Aha, I knew you were in there somewhere." He laughed a malicious evil laugh.

"Leave me alone." She screamed. "I want nothing to do with you. I want you to rot in hell for giving me this torture!"

"That's almost exactly what you said to Harry, and look where you've ended up my dear." He smiled.

"I wanted to hold you, I wanted to make the feeling go away and for some reason I felt like I wanted to know you." She said. "To know everything about you, but then I realized that you aren't him. I don't want to be with you, don't you understand?"

"No," He growled. "What does he have that I don't? Ah, yes, he's famous." She gasped.

"What?"

"That's all you want isn't it? You want nothing but to be famous like he."

"That's a lie!" She protested.

A thump noise was outside the door, and then she could hear footsteps trailing away. The thing was that she could tell they weren't his, but of someone smaller. She put her ear to the door and she could hear breathing, but no movement. When she took a breath in, she had opened a crack in the door. The force wouldn't let her close it, and it swung open.

Ron's motionless body rocked for a bit and then felt flat on her. She screamed once more, but then she bent down. He wasn't dead, nor was he sleeping. Someone had petrified him, and someone had either attacked him or saved her. She knew he was fine, but she needed to get away, so she ran in a different direction. She knew where to go.

She ran down the west wing with tears once again in her eyes and she was pale from fright. She came to a large door, and she kicked away the piles of dishes in her way. She cried and pounded on the door. She cried and the tears ran down her cheeks. How could she have been so stupid to not come here before?

"Harry!" She cried. "I'm sorry, and I didn't mean what I said! I swear. Please believe me, and I need you so much now. I need to hold you close to me, and I wish for you to tell me everything is alright. I want everything to be ok between us, so please believe me. I want us to be together again, and I want you to be alright. You haven't been out in weeks and I'm worried about you. Please, just talk to me. I need you now, and I think Ron might be planning on hurting me. I'm sorry about what happened between us, and I didn't mean what happened between me and Ron. It was an accident. Now he's… he's completely mad! I didn't mean for it to go as far as it did, but I tried to get away, then I thought of you. I only wished it was you. Then the terror of his touch had shred through me like lightning. I had to get away. He wants me to leave you, but I can't leave you anymore. I got mad at you for the stupidest thing in the world, and I shouldn't have. I don't know what else you want from me but I'm so incredibly so sorry that you can't even imagine. Please listen to me, and please hear my plea for you to forgive me once again. We promised no more lies, and I won't lie to you any more. I love you. I love you more than words could explain and I need you to help me." She thought for a moment as her forehead lay against the door. "I am not asking you for forgiveness in only because I need help, but I need you. I can't live any longer without you, and I need you to free me from this torture."

She felt like she was crying out blood as her eyes hurt so much. She feels so dirty, and so unsanitary for having Ron actually touch her. It wasn't who she wanted, it wasn't who she needed. The only person that fit both of those descriptions was the person that was separated by Hermione because of a door. Hermione sighed and fell to her knees. She couldn't take this any longer, and she couldn't tell what was happening. She lay on the floor in a ball.

It was dark, and Hermione could feel the door in front of her creek open, but she couldn't help but keep her eyes closed. She felt hands reach under her, and she wasn't sure if she was trying to go to sleep, afraid to know who picked her up, or just didn't care any more. She wished it wasn't a dream, but if it was then she would wake with the same smile she wore in it.

She felt the skin of her back hit satin sheets, and she didn't even know where they came from. What was this place, and were they still at the burrow? She did as her intention was and opened her eyes. She could see a figure hover above her and she felt her breath grow warm. She couldn't see them fully, but she knew who it was.

"Where are we Harry?" She whispered.

"At the burrow," He whispered back. "With a twist."

"This isn't the burrow." She said. "Molly has no where near enough money to afford sheets or even a bed this size!" She exclaimed.

"Hermione, dear, I have more magic in me than you think I do. This is nothing but a simple spell, and I would think that you, being the brightest witch of them all, would know them." He laughed under his breath.

"Are you still mad at me?" She asked as she sat up and hugged him close. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I honestly had no idea what was going through my head. Somehow I thought that yelling at you would make you stronger and make you have a reason for wanting to fight."

"What would the reason be?" He asked.

"To make up with me, but I knew somewhere inside you that you would never even dared to have done it." She sighed and Harry pulled away.

"Hermione, that's exactly what you did, but why would you have said such a cruel thing to me? I almost jumped out the window." He said and she laughed under her breath. "Literally." And she gasped.

"I didn't mean for that reaction!" She exclaimed.

"I know, but back on subject." He said in an orderly manner. "Why did you say such a cruel thing?"

"I was upset and somehow I didn't want you to leave, but that wasn't the main reason. The main reason was because I needed to find a way to break up with you with out harming myself, but it didn't work." She sighed.

"Why did you want to brake up?" He asked and her teary eyes looked up.

"Ron said you slept with Ginny, and it made me go a little insane." She said. "I'm sorry, I'm seriously sorry." She cried and pulled him into another hug.

"Its fine Hermione, but I want you to know that it's not true." He said. She smiled.

"Harry, do you mind if we pick up where we left off?" She asked. "Before the news that you were having a trial?"

"Fine with me," He smiled. He went to lean in, but seconds before their lips touched he pulled away. "Wait a second, you kissed Ron?"

"Oh, that," She blushed. "It wasn't my fault. He came onto me, and then I closed my eyes and just thought it was you, but then I knew that you would never do that."

"Hermione," He said. "I wouldn't touch you any place unless you asked me to, and is that what he did?" He wondered. "Did he touch you?"

"Barely," She said. "He was going to, and I flung him off the bed to stop." She growled. "If you want a question, then will you please show me the real way?" She asked.

"Hermione," Harry said, a little surprised. "Are you sure you're ready?" He asked. "We've been dating for not that long."

"I want to get the picture of him out of my head." She said as she lay down to find a comfortable spot. "I want to get the fact that he tried raping me out of my head."

"Rape?" Harry asked as he choked on the words. "He raped you?"

"I stopped it before it got out of hand, but yes, he tried." She sighed. "Please, I beg you, save me from this torment."

Harry thought for a minute. He wanted to do this as badly as she did, but they needed something clear first. He sighed and sat next to her, pulling his fingers through her curls and such, but no words were said. It was just a silence until she mouthed the word 'please' to him, and that's when he finally figured out the words to say to her at the moment.

"So you want me to sleep with you so Ron gets mad?" Harry asked as he crossed his arms. He could feel her hot breath upon his hip in the dark night.

"No, Harry," She looked to the floor. "Turn on a light, and then you'll see what I'm talking about."

Harry looked at her, but yet he could not see her. He could feel her, and she was definitely there, but her appearance was blurred out by the navy night. He turned to the side and opened a drawer. He pulled out his wand, and from across the room her turned on a light, when he turned back to her he jumped nearly ten feet. She was just silently crying.

"What... what happened to you?" He asked.

Hermione was covered in bruises from head to feet. Harry looked at her, and the memories came back. This is what he looked like, and even with his pain gone he could somehow still feel it. He could see and feel how much pain she was in, because he had once had it this bad too. How she was able to live with it was unbelievable, considering she had lectured him on it.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked. "If you told me what Ron was doing to you then I would have not cared about what happened. I don't want anything to happen to you." He said.

"I love you, Harry," Hermione whispered.

He didn't want to say the words, because he knew what happened the last time. His swooped his head down, and expecting a gently kiss, he had received a deep and desiring kiss. Without warning Hermione had pulled him close to her and pulled him on top of her body. Aware of what was going on, his mind went blank. The darkness had swallowed him whole too.

He felt a tug on his shirt and he had released his grasp on her. She pulled his shirt over his head and off him as quickly as she could so her lips could continue devouring his. She opened her eyes, to see his staring back at her. Their lips parted for a minute to breathe and Hermione stared at him like he was the key to the world.

"Are you sure you're ready? We can wait." He assured and she bit her lip.

"I'm positive." She said.

"But," He said when he went to kiss her but stopped. "What will happen after my trial?" He asked with a hint of worry in his voice.

"We'll just hope for the best, and hopefully you won't leave me." She said.

"As long as you are here beside me," He noted. "I don't want you to leave me either. I need you more than I thought." He said.

"I won't leave you again, but why is it that you've cut your wrists again?" She asked and he looked to the side.

"It was a small slip, I swear, I didn't mean it." He said rather quickly.

"Harry," She spoke with a voice of pure unbelief. "You have nine full cuts on your forearm." She said.

"Alright!" He shouted. "I wanted to get back at you. Are you happy?" He asked as his eyes looked to the side.

Hermione looked at him with no expression, because she herself had no idea what to think or to even feel about it. Harry looked to the side. She laid a hand against his cheek in hopes of guiding him towards her, but he moved his head once more away. He was determined not to look at her, but she was getting anxious. She tried again, but yet he turned away once again. She sighed.

"Harry," She said. "Come on, look at me!" She demanded. "I'm not mad."

"You have a right to be." He said when his saddened eyes had hit hers. She couldn't help but hold him closer.

"Why is that?" She asked.

"I promised you, and I broke it." He said. "I don't know why you claim you love me if I can't even keep a promise to you." He looked down.

"I don't care anymore about what I said!" She insisted. "I love you, and nothing will ever change that."

"But are you completely sure you want to do this?" He asked.

"Yes, but why do you keep asking me that?" She wondered and he shrugged.

"I guess it's because it doesn't seem like you. This isn't something that I would think top student Hermione Granger would get into." He said.

"So, I'll blow my cover." She winked.

"I dunno, you are rather gorgeous." He said with a frog like smile across his face. He practically drooled.

"Stop it," She giggled as his lips caressed her neck.

"Did I say gorgeous? I meant drop dead sexy." He growled playfully into her skin and she let out a piercing laugh.

"Stop… that!" She said as she pushed him up and pulled his lips to her. "Forget about our past," she said in between kisses. "I love you."

"I love you too."

His mind was telling him this was wrong, but he couldn't help but want this so much. He desired it so much that it hurt, and she lay in front of him, starving for him, and then he realized he was nothing but a plate. A plate of food that a monarchy starved for, and was this all he was good for? Stealing time and feeding the helpless? What would he do once term came around? Feed her once and then unleash his soul to the Dementors?

Author's Notes:

Not a well written ending I might add, but I will be reasonable and admit that I, Airalynn, IS HORRIBLE AT LOVE SCENES! Alright, don't mind that giant outburst but I seriously tried my best, and it didn't really work. –sigh- I hate my work. But, I was also half asleep when I wrote this, so enjoy.

Airalynn

To My Reviewers:

PrincessLuckyCML – Where are your stories Connie? I'm waiting for a damn sequel and you're not giving it to me! WAAAAA! Lol, just kidding. But I'll cry for it! –give puppy eyes- Pweez:p

Goddess of the heart – I could have updated it last week, but I like to screw with y'all so deal with it! Just kidding, but I'm going to keep it at my two week basis.

missradcliffe – I originally was going to have Hermione barge in at the Trial and then say her mind, but I figured that would be too much of a fairy tale. Do you agree? I read stories like that every day, so I am trying to do something different, but it didn't work very well.

call me brit – The romance is back baby! ENJOY IT! Lol.

toga party – I update every two weeks, give me a break! Lol. But I'm not going to post a chapter in two weeks unless I have at least… I'll tell you at the bottom of the page. –wink wink-

Scott – I completely agree with you on the Ron part, and after this I'm sure you'll hate him even more. That's my connoted plan. Lol.

Chris Boyer – Thank you. Very much for reviewing, but especially enjoying it!

Fro Boy – You never know what'll happen later on, and I'm not going to tell you! –sticks out tongue- hahahaha.

That's it for the reviews! I have one thing I request from you. The last couple of chapters I've had even reviews. For example: I have 6 chapters, and 60 reviews. I request ya'll to give me at least ten reviews and I'll update in two weeks. If you give me 20, I'll update NEXT week! Haha, I love presents. Lol.

UPDATED: (SATURDAY) SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS COLUMBUS! Come on y'all, cheer with me. He did an awesome job on The Prisoner of Azkaban!

"Dream as if you'll live forever; live as if you will die today."