Disclaimer: HP isn't mine. Just the plot and any additional characters.
"How is she?"
Ron looked up to see Mr. Weasley standing there. Ron shrugged and looked back down at the fire. "I don't know… she stopped talking when she found out that she was hallucinating," he answered.
"She's just a little traumatized that's all, Ron," his father whispered, sitting down beside him.
Ron ran his hands through his long red hair, sighing. "She was screaming, dad… she was afraid and I couldn't do anything about it," he whispered.
Mr. Weasley couldn't help but smile. "Now you know what childbirth is going to be like," he muttered.
Ron glanced over at him and shook his head, a small smile on his face. "How do you do it? Deal with mum, I mean."
Mr. Weasley smiled. "I just learned that your mother's always right. As long as I knew that, I could deal with her little mood swings."
"Hermione's always right," Ron grumbled.
Mr. Weasley leaned back in the couch. "You'll get used to it."
"It's been eleven years, dad. I'm sick of it," he responded.
Mr. Weasley chuckled and patted his son on the back. "You'll be a great husband, Ron."
"Thanks, dad," he whispered.
Harry sighed, pushing the files away and looking out his door window. The lights were all out and everyone had left save for him and another Auror who had been chosen to stay behind to make sure no one tried to break in again. Deciding to take a walk around the building, he got up and left the Headquarters, taking the elevator down the main floor and walking over to the fountain, his mind wandering back to fifth year and the painful memories that came with it.
"Some things never change," came a familiar voice.
Harry turned around to see Ginny standing there, watching him. She was holding a box of papers as well as her purse. Her ministry robes were hanging of her shoulder and were unbuttoned, exposing her smooth legs and knee length black skirt.
"Taking your work home with you?" he asked.
"I wouldn't be the only one," she commented, walking over to him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were dating Helton?" he asked suddenly. She turned to him.
"I didn't think you cared, nor did I think you needed to know," he responded.
"I thought the saying was not to mix business with pleasure."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's not business if it's someone else's boss, Harry. Not mixing business with pleasure would be referring to what you did six years ago," she said bitterly, moving passed him.
"I thought you understood," Harry said.
Ginny looked over her shoulder as she continued to walk. "Oh I understood, Harry. After all, the hero likes to go solo and everything… what I couldn't understand is why, after six years, he never tried to go back to a duet," she whispered before walking over to the fireplaces and placing her stuff down.
Harry walked over to her, frowning. "Ginny-"
"I'm fine, Harry. Really. I've moved on, and you've moved on and I'm happy with Brendon," she said.
She reached out and took some Floo powder from the little vase on the small table. She was about to throw it when Harry took her arms and pulled her to him, their lips meeting. Ginny gasped into his mouth, surprised by his forwardness. Her heart once again began pounding, her mind remembering the lips that so boldly caressed hers with a desperate passion. Her body was so close to Harry's that she swore she could feel his heart pounding as well, but then again, her heart was beating so fast that it was heart to tell the difference. She could feel her knees wobble from the sudden onslaught and it took forever for her to realize what was actually happening. Pulling away, she held his face in her hands, her eyes closed. She took some deep breaths, trying to clear her mind from the protest at the loss of touch.
Come on, Gin! What the hell was that?!
She opened her eyes and gazed into his beautiful green ones. "You should know that I'm not that easy, Harry," she murmured before pulling away and grabbing some more Floo powder. She threw the powder down and announced her address before disappearing in bright green flames. Harry watched her go then closed his eyes, cursing his stupidity. Why had he tried something like that? He was supposed to be over her… right?
Harry looked around then cursed again.
Get a grip, Potter, he scolded himself. She's not interested in you anymore. You broke her heart because you were too much of an idiot to realize that trying to be a hero meant losing her for good. Leave her alone. She deserves someone better than you. She wants someone better than you…
Harry sighed and looked over to the fountain. He needed to get back to work…
"Hermione, you awake?"
"Well, I am now," she answered, coming out of her room and smiling as he came over to her.
Ron pulled her to him, kissing her gently before leaning into her ear. "Are you ok?" he asked.
Hermione nodded. "I'm fine, Ron," she whispered, pulling away and walking over to her couch.
Ron followed her, sitting down beside her. "Hermione… about what you saw-"
"Can we drop it Ron?" she interrupted. "We've all agreed that I was hallucinating and I'm fine and you're fine, so let's not delve into it. Besides, it was three days ago," she whispered, her eyes on her hands.
Ron watched her for a moment then nodded, sighing. "Fine… we'll drop it," he conceded.
Hermione nodded, playing with the ring on her finger. It was a beautiful platinum gold band with a simple diamond on top. Though it wasn't the most expensive thing, the fact that it was Ron's grandmother's had made her heart swell with pride to wear it.
"I wish my parents could be here to see this," she whispered.
At this Ron stiffened and looked away. Instantly, Hermione wished she hadn't said it. Her mind went back to that horrible night six years ago and she looked up at him only to see the pained look in his eyes. She turned to him fully, touching his face.
"I'm sorry, Ron… I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay… I know you didn't," he whispered, getting up and walking over to the kitchen.
Hermione watched him go then looked back down at her ring, her heart pounding in her chest. They hadn't really talked about it. The fact that they had been dating and the fact that it wasn't really his fault come into play with that part. She had just kept it in and he did the same, though she could tell that he was watching her, searching for any hints of her remorse. She just ignored it. She knew it hurt him to go on without talking about it but he didn't have the nerve to bring it up and shrugged her off every time she wanted to talk about it. Standing up she walked over to him, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Ron… can we talk about this?"
"I always thought you never wanted to talk about it," he whispered.
"They were my parents Ron."
"And I'm the reason they're dead," he replied bitterly.
Hermione turned him around. "No… you couldn't control the situation," she said.
"I wouldn't have been in the situation if I had just listened to you," he muttered.
"Don't say that," she chided.
"It's true, Hermione."
"It wasn't your fault," she whispered.
"Yet you still blame me," he murmured, looking up at her through icy eyes.
Hermione took a step back. "I don't blame you," she defended, stunned.
Ron looked away. "Don't lie, Hermione. I can see it in your eyes sometimes… the way you look at me… you blame me for killing your parents…"
"It wasn't your fault!"
"But you still blame me!" Ron shot, turning to face her fully.
By now tears were flowing freely down her face as she shook her head. "I love you," she whispered.
Ron closed his eyes. He hated to see her cry, knowing he was usually the reason why she did. She walked over to him and pulled his face down to hers, kissing him deeply.
"I love you," she whispered again into his mouth.
Ron pulled away and buried his face in her neck, needing to hold her. They both just stood there, needing to feel something other than the pain.
"He kissed me! He kissed me!"
Hermione looked up and raised an eyebrow as a frustrated Ginny Weasley entered her office and flung herself into a chair. Hermione set down her quill and leaned back in her chair.
"I'm guessing we're talking about Harry?"
Ginny looked up. "He kissed me!"
Hermione sighed. "I gathered that much when you came barging in here. Would you care to tell me why you're so surprised?"
"Surprised? Surprised?! I'm not surprised! I'm pissed!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "That's not the point. Now will you tell me what happened," she said.
Ginny took a deep breath to calm down and looked down at her hands. "We got into this little fight thing, if that's what you want to call it. It was more like me telling him how much of an arse he is, but not in those exact words," she added quickly. "I was about to floo away when he grabbed me and kissed me like that. Then I pulled away and told him that I wasn't that easy and left…" she babbled.
"You said that?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Yeah, why?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Ginny… you just gave him the signal that says you're still open for discussion about what happened six years ago when all your actions as of late clearly say you're not," she explained.
Ginny frowned. "Really?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You told him that you weren't that easy, which obviously means that you're inviting him to try harder, which obviously means that you're willing to give him a second chance," she told her friend.
Ginny swore and put her face in her hands. "I'm an idiot," she groaned.
"So you don't want him to try harder?"
"Yes! I mean no! I mean… I don't know anymore!" she exclaimed in frustration. "I want him to leave me alone! I'm tired of being toyed around with. I accepted it for a while back in Hogwarts, but I can't keep putting myself out on a limb with a man who's too afraid to get close to anyone!"
"He kissed you," Hermione pointed out.
"SO! He's kissed me before, that doesn't mean anything! He still broke my heart and I'll be hard-pressed to let him do it again," Ginny hissed.
"So you don't want him to try harder?" Hermione repeated, watching her friend with amusement.
"I… I just want to go on with my life without feeling confused," Ginny whispered.
"Harry cares about you," Hermione whispered.
"Harry's an arse," Ginny growled, standing up.
"Why did you come here if all you wanted to do was talk about something you didn't really want to talk about?"
Ginny sighed. "I don't know… I just wanted to vent, that's all… I was a little confused last night," she whispered.
Hermione stood up and walked over to her friend, pulling her into a hug. "Harry's a very confusing man," she whispered.
Ginny snorted. "I just want to be able to see him without feeling…"
"Guilty?"
"No! No, not guilty… condemned…"
Hermione held her for a while until she pulled away. Ginny leaned over and grabbed a tissue off Hermione's desk and dabbed her eyes. She took a deep breath and looked up at Hermione.
"So, how are you and Ron?"
Hermione shook her head, sitting back down. "I don't know… I accidentally brought up my parents and he clammed up again. He's convinced that I still blame him for what happened," she explained.
"But you don't… do you?"
Hermione shook her head furiously. "No! I've gotten over it… well, obviously I haven't gotten over it, but I don't blame him…"
"Are you ok, Hermione? I mean after what happened a couple days ago…"
"I'm fine, Ginny," Hermione said quickly, not wanting to talk about it.
Ginny watched her for a moment frowning. "Look, Hermione. I know you don't really want to talk about it but… what did you see?"
"It was a hallucination," Hermione assured Ginny. "It doesn't matter what I saw, it wasn't real."
"I know… I was just curious that's all. Ron said that you saw him…"
Hermione closed her eyes. "Yeah… I saw him… I saw him and something not worth discussing," she said. Thankfully for her, before Ginny could ask any questions, Christopher Winston, her boss, came in.
"Granger! You're needed now," he barked, glancing down at Ginny, who flushed and stood.
"Sorry… I was just going… Besides, I think I'll pay Ron a visit," she muttered, turning to Hermione. "I'll see you later, okay?"
Hermione smiled and nodded, watching as she left before turning to her anxious red faced boss.
Ron watched Harry pace in front of his desk, amusement dancing on his lips. Harry had just relayed the same story Ginny had in much less words. Ron just watched.
"Normally, this would be the moment where I'd pin you to the wall and tell you to stay away from Ginny."
"But you won't," Harry finished, still pacing.
"I've got enough to deal with without having my sister mad at me. That would mean that Helton's mad at me and then that wouldn't make for a good working environment."
"You're always trying to save your own job, aren't you?"
"I like my life as it is, thank you."
Harry glanced over at Ron then sat down. "Why did I bother talking to you?"
Ron frowned, observing the way Harry ran his hands through his unruly hair nervously.
"I thought you were over Ginny," he whispered.
Harry looked up. "I am!"
Ron snorted. "People who are over other people don't just kiss them randomly," he pointed out with a chuckle. "You still love her, don't you?"
"I… I don't know, Ron," Harry whispered. "It doesn't matter. She's with Helton and I shouldn't get involved. She deserves something better."
"That's what got you in trouble in the first place, Harry. That whole self-sacrificing thing," Ron said. He chuckled, looking around to the pictures on the wall. "Do you think I'd be able to get away with doing that to Hermione?"
"Hermione's different," Harry said.
Ron snorted. "Hermione and Ginny are persistent, annoying as hell, smart, strong and both of them happened to fall in love with stubborn arses. The only difference between the two was that you were stupid enough to fall in love with Ginny and then let her go," Ron said, grabbing a quill. He started writing something down when the door opened.
"Ron, can we… Never mind," Ginny said, catching sight of Harry. She put a hand on her hip, frowning. "It seems you already know."
"Ginny…" Harry started, standing up.
Ginny held up her hand, stopping him. "I came here to talk with Ron, not Harry Potter," she snapped.
"Ginny," Ron warned, standing as well.
Ginny glanced over at her brother then sighed. "I'll talk to you later," she whispered before exiting.
Ron studied Harry for a moment then smirked. "Oh yeah… you're definitely not over her," he commented. He grabbed his coat and started for the door. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"Fred and George's shop then Hermione's place. Hermione wanted me to pick something up for her," Ron explained.
"Hermione buys stuff from them?"
Ron glanced over his shoulder and smiled. "Hermione's always had a soft spot for the twins."
"Hello, Crookshanks," Hermione greeted, setting down her purse and picking up the fat thing.
The small animal purred loudly in Hermione's arms as she walked into her bedroom and set him down on the bed. Sitting down beside him, she took off her shoes and then began to unbutton her ministry robes, tossing them into a chair and lying down on her back. Crookshanks crawled up on her stomach and continued to purr.
Hermione reached up and scratched him behind the ears. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
Instead of purring, Crookshanks got up and hopped off the bed. There was a thud and Hermione frowned. She knew he wasn't that heavy. Sitting up she watched him move around on the floor then suddenly turn to her bed and start hissing. Getting up, she walked over to him and picked him up.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
The cat continued to hiss at the bed. Sighing, she set him down and got down on her knees, leaning over and raising the skirt of the bed. There was nothing there. Rolling her eyes, she got up and went over to her dresser.
"You're getting old, buddy," she commented as she pulled out a large t-shirt and some shorts. She wasn't planning to go anywhere else for the rest of the day.
She had just stepped out of the shower when she heard a yowl. Quickly getting dressed, she exited the bathroom and found Crookshanks glaring at her bed again, panting. Rolling her eyes, she bent down and picked up the feisty feline.
"What is wrong with you? Look," she said, getting on her knees and bending over, pulling up the skirt. "There is nothing under there," she said.
LISTEN TO ME!!!
Hermione only had time to scream before the thing lunged out from under the bed and surrounded her.
"Why are you guys here?" Ron asked, slightly annoyed.
Fred and George smiled as Ron pulled out a key. "We wanted to check in on Hermione. See how she was."
George frowned. "Why are you using a key?"
"It's a Muggle building," Harry whispered, glancing around.
Fred raised an eyebrow. "She lives here?"
Ron glanced over at them as he opened the door. "It's better than living on Diagon Ally," he commented before entering the flat.
"Hermione?" Harry called as they left their jackets in the small hall and entered the living room.
"Hermione likes to keep things clean," Fred observed with a smirk.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Just don't touch anything," he told them as he peeked in the kitchen. "She's probably taking a shower," he said.
George grinned and nudged Fred. "You know when she takes showers?"
Ron's face went completely red. Pushing passed them, he started for her bedroom. "Tossers," he muttered.
"NO!"
"Hermione!" Ron shouted, running to her door. Once again, it was locked. "Bloody hell," he growled, taking out his wand. "Alohamora," he muttered. It didn't open.
"GET AWAY!"
There was a loud scream then something crashed.
"Hermione!" Harry called.
"HARRY! HELP ME!" Hermione begged, pounding on the door. "NO!"
George came up. "Stand aside, Ron," he ordered.
Fred took something out of his pocket and slid it under the door. He then pulled Harry over to him as George moved to the opposite side, taking Ron with him. "Move out of the way," Fred told them before holding out his wand. "Open up!"
Sparks shot out around the door then it was wrenched out of its bolts, slamming into the hall wall. They all moved forward into the room looking around.
"Hermione!" Ron called, searching frantically for her.
"In here!" George called out. The three men ran into the bathroom to see George kneeling down beside Hermione, who was sitting against the shower corner, eyes closed. There were cuts all over her drenched body and blood floating in the shower base.
"Hermione," Ron gasped, kneeling down beside her as well, reaching out and taking her face in his hands.
Fred looked around, eyes growing big to see Crookshanks slink out of a cabinet, drenched as well. The cat meowed loudly, irate at being wet and looking rather indignant. Fred picked up the poor thing as George helped Ron with Hermione. Harry had gone back out into the bedroom and was looking around, searching for anything.
"Ron… there was no one in here," he said.
"So you mean to say there was no one in the room?" Mr. Weasley asked as he, Moody, Helton and a few other Aurors followed Fred and Harry into Hermione's bedroom. It was hours after the incident.
Harry pointed to the windows which were shut and then around the room. The only sign of disturbance was the shattered lamp and mirror. Some of the shards of glass were stained with blood. "Those windows are shut and you know as well as I do, you have to close them from inside."
"Not with magic," Fred pointed out.
Harry shook his head. "Whoever was in here wouldn't have had the time to close the window even if he was in here. Hermione was still screaming when Fred blasted the door open."
"Apparation?" Helton suggested.
Harry shook his head. "Hermione's flat, as well as Ron and mine are rigged so that you can't apparate into it. No one could have apparated into here," he explained.
Mr. Weasley frowned, looking around as Aurors busied themselves in picking up shards of glass and running over the room with charms. "But if no one was in here, then that would mean…"
"Hermione made the whole thing up," Harry finished.
"Why would Granger make this all up?" Moody asked, just as confused as everyone else.
Fred shrugged. "Maybe she was hallucinating like she said she was the last time," he offered.
Harry shook his head. "No… she never actually admitted to hallucinating until we convinced her that no one saw anything. She thought it was real," he corrected.
"So you're saying Hermione Granger's gone mad?" Helton asked.
Harry shook his head. "No… I'm saying that she's not telling us what really happened."
A/N: Things just keep getting stranger.
Wesker888: Yes... very mysterious...
someone: I'm happy you're enjoying this.
GTK-123: I find it very interesting to write.
NairobiDawn: Just wait and see what happens next...
Coconut Girl: Well, each character has to have a story or it doesn't make for a good read! I was so happy to see you review! Hope things are going well and hope you update soon!
sballLuvr5: There certian things that will happen that even I can't explain.
mione-ron-4ever: Finding out what's going on with Hermione will take alot of work... and writing.
Chapter Tease:
"He's dead," she whispered. "He's dead…"
Ron frowned, reaching out to touch her.
"Hermione… who's dead?"
"Harry! Harry's dead!" she screamed.