Little Things You Hide

Mr. Weasley appeared at the house just before noon to escort them all to Diagon Alley. Madam Malkin's was crowded when the five of them entered. The girls split off immediately to look at dress robes and the boys grumbled but followed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Hermione and Ginny each picked out some robes to try on and went into the dressing room. It was crowded so they decided to share a stall. Hermione was holding up a particularly flattering navy dress for Ginny's opinion when she heard familiar voices in the next stall.

Parvati's voice said. "I told him, I don't think so, Mister-Ants-In-Your-Pants."

"Can't say as I blame you. Ron had his way, and we see what that got me. Not a week later, he's mewling around Hermione just like he used to."

Hermione dropped the dress, her eyes wide. Ginny looked at her.

"I warned you not to get between them," Parvati continued.

"But he's so cute. I don't see what he sees in her. She's built like a stick and all that bushy hair. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe he likes her because she reminds him of a broom." Both girls giggled.

"Come on, Lav," Parvati admonished. "She's not that bad."

Hermione had been frozen, but now she felt like she couldn't get out of the dressing room fast enough.

"Her–" Ginny started.

"Don't!" Hermione hissed and fled.

Ginny was only partially dressed so it took her a minute before she could follow. When she walked out of the dressing room Hermione was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey," Ron said, walking up to her. "Where'd Hermione run off to?"

Just then Lavender and Parvati came out of the dressing room. Lavender tossed her hair as she walked by Ron, ignoring him. He shrugged until he saw the deadly look Ginny was giving her. A pit began to form in his stomach.

"What–" he started to ask.

"You need to find Hermione," Ginny said, pointedly. "You need to find her right now."

"But–"

"Right now, Ron." Ginny said. "I'll hold off Mum and Dad."

Ron didn't ask anything else and took off out the front door. It worked to his advantage that Diagon Alley was not as crowded as it used to be. He could just see Hermione way up the street going into the Leaky Cauldron.

xXx

Hermione walked into the pub, up to the bar, and ordered a glass of red wine.

The barkeep looked at her suspiciously but he poured the glass of wine. "Touch your wand to the glass, Miss."

Hermione did. The glass glowed green for moment.

"Enjoy," the barkeep said.

She found a quiet table in the corner and sat down. Do not cry, do not cry, she chanted in her head, and drank her wine. It's none of your business what he did with Lavender. You weren't dating. You don't own him. She couldn't help thinking though, that she thought what they had was special, that she was special, and now she didn't feel that way. Don't cry. Don't cry.

xXx

Ron's eyes took a moment to adjust once he entered the pub. He scanned the room and finally saw her in a dark corner past the fireplace.

"Are you mad?" he said as he sat across from her. "You can't go running off by yourself. It's not safe."

"I'm fine," Hermione said without looking at him.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked. "Did you and Lavender have a row? I saw her come out of the dressing room after you. Did she say something to you?"

"To me?" Hermione shook her head. "No."

"Then what?" Ron asked, exasperated.

"It's nothing," Hermione said. She could feel herself tearing up and hated it.

"Why are you acting like this? Surely just running into Lavender couldn't put you such a state."

She glared at him. "I didn't run into Lavender. I just overheard her talking to Parvati."

"About what?"

She continued glaring at him.

"What? Me?" He looked horrified.

"Just go away. I need some time to digest this. I'll meet up with you later."

Ron's eyes widened. "Digest what? And I'm not leaving you alone. It's not safe."

"I didn't realize you'd had sex with her, all right?" Her voice cracked. "There I've said it, are you happy now?"

Ron's jaw dropped. "Hermione, I didn't."

"So you're telling me Lavender lied to Parvati."

"No. I mean not exactly, I mean…what did she say?" He was nervously tapping his fingers against the table.

Hermione shook her head. "You're pathetic."

His face reddened. "Well, nothing would have happened at all if it hadn't been for you."

Hermione arched an eyebrow. "I made you have sex with Lavender?"

"I didn't have sex with Lavender," Ron hissed, looking around the room. No one seemed to be listening. "Not proper sex anyway." His face was scarlet. "Just…a knob job and just once."

All the blood drained from Hermione's face. "And that was my fault?"

"Well, you were the one who came home from that Christmas party with your hair all a mess and your dress askew," Ron stammered.

"What are you suggesting?" There was a threatening edge to her voice.

"Well…"

"That's just great," Hermione said, standing. "You really are stupid."

"Hey!" Ron protested, but then instantly backed down as Hermione's wand appeared. He had a sudden wave of fear and something primal reminded him that angry Hermione equals pain. To his great relief, she didn't hex him. Instead, she disappeared with a soft pop.

I hate that she can Apparate now. He walked slowly back to Madam Malkin's. His parents were paying at the register when he walked in. Harry and Ginny were waiting by the door.

"Where's Hermione?" Ginny asked.

Ron shrugged.

"Didn't you find her?" Harry asked, worry clear on his face.

"Yeah, I found her. She was having a glass of wine at the Leaky Cauldron."

"Wine?" Harry asked, taken aback.

"Well, where is she now?" Ginny insisted, ignoring Harry.

"I don't know, do I?" Ron said pointedly. "She Apparated."

"Who Apparated?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she and Mr. Weasley walked up.

"Well, I need to," Mr. Weasley said, bending to kiss his wife's cheek. "Back to work." He handed the packages he was holding to Ron and disappeared.

"Where's Hermione? Did she go back home? Is she sick?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Ron frowned. "Let's just go home. I'm sure she's there." He walked toward the fireplace.

When they all emerged from the fireplace at the Burrow, Ron was disappointed not to see Hermione.

"She's probably upstairs," Ginny said, as if she could read his thoughts. "I'll just check on her."

"Oh, poor dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "Do let me know if she needs anything."

No one corrected her assumption that Hermione was sick.

Ron looked at Harry. "Fancy getting some flying in before dark?"

"Yeah, sure," Harry said.

They went and got their brooms and tossed around a Quaffle for a while, but Ron's heart wasn't in it.

"Why don't you go and talk to Hermione?" Harry asked.

"She doesn't want to talk to me."

"I'm sure that's not true." Harry tossed the Quaffle lightly up in the air and caught it.

"It's not fair," Ron said. "She acts like I'm the only one who's been with other people."

Harry sighed. He couldn't believe Ron was still upset about Krum. That was ages ago.

"She didn't think I saw her come in from Slughorn's stupid party, but I did."

"Hang on," Harry said. "What did you say?"

"I saw her after her date with that git, McLaggen."

"Ron," Harry said, shaking his head. "You didn't accuse her of going at it with McLaggen, did you?"

"Well…I mean…" Ron stammered.

"McLaggen got really fresh with her at that party, dragged her under the mistletoe and groped her. She couldn't get away from him fast enough. Didn't you notice how early it was when she got back? Didn't you notice McLaggen wasn't with her?"

Ron felt his stomach drop to the earth far below him. "Why didn't you say something about this then?"

"Because you and Hermione weren't really speaking, so I didn't see how it was any of your concern," Harry said.

"Did you at least hex that slimy git?"

"Well..." Harry shrugged. "Not at the party."

Ron ran his hands through his hair. "I've got to go. Listen, I need some time with Hermione. Can you cover for me? I'm going to fly right to Ginny's window."

Harry nodded. "Go on then."

When Ron got to Ginny's window the blinds were closed. He tapped on the window.

Ginny opened it. "Use the door."

"Come on, Gin. Be a brick. I've bollocksed this whole thing up."

"Hang on," she said, shutting the window behind her. A moment later she reopened it. "Come in. For some strange reason, she's willing to talk to you."

Ron stepped on to the window ledge and went inside.