A/N: Tissues ready?

Chapter 32 – Run

I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done...

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear...

Hermione dried her hair with her wand just as she stepped out of the bathroom.

"Hey Ron, did you want to –"

Hermione stopped when she saw the room was completely empty.

"Oh…right."

Ron had been gone for only a few days but there were always times when she would expect him to suddenly appear and hug her or kiss her. Hermione held her aching head in her hands. It had been only a few days but she felt as though she was already forgetting what his voice sounded like.

She walked over to his bed. She placed her wand on the bedside table before crawling into the covers. She held his pillow close to her face and breathed deeply.

Ink, freshly mown grass and what was that other smell?

Hermione felt something wet on the pillow. She sat up and looked down at it. There were tiny water marks on it. Her trembling fingers reached up and touched her face.

"I miss you," she sobbed as she held the pillow to her face once more, "I miss you…"

"Ron? What are you…"

Ron ignored his fathers call and simply continued sitting on the bench in the garden of their home.

"Ron – time to come in son," his father continued walking closer.

"In a bit," Ron replied lifting his head to look up into the sky.

His father didn't speak for a long time and he had thought he had returned to the house.

"But…"

"In a bit dad," Ron insisted closing his eyes.

He heard his father sigh before walking away.

Molly watched Arthur walking back towards the house and she moved to pour him some tea.

He entered the house and shook the coat of his shoulders. He walked over and kissed her on the cheek.

"Did you know our son is sitting outside?" he questioned her and he took the tea thankfully.

"Yes," she replied taking a seat beside him.

Arthur looked at her.

"And you don't think that's strange?"

"I've spent the last few hours trying to get him to come inside, he just won't listen to me," Molly stood up and walked over to the window to look at Ron.

"But it's raining outside," Arthur said as he moved to stand beside her.

"I know…but its almost like he doesn't even notice the rain."

Silence followed this statement.

"Do you remember the way he talked to me?" Molly questioned her husband.

"In the dorm room at Hogwarts?" Arthur sighed, "Yes, I do."

Molly turned round and leaned against the sink.

"He's not shown that much emotion since before he went to Hogwarts."

"I know," Arthur said slowly, "What is his relationship with this boy John?"

"Harry told me that he is the cousin of Hermione Granger."

Arthur stared at her blankly.

"The girl he likes," Molly continued.

"Ahh…"

Arthur moved over and hugged her.

"I'm worried about him," Molly's muffled voice said.

"I don't think we should be," Arthur replied, "Our son is smart and brave, he'll be himself soon enough."

"I hope so."

"He just needs some time alone I think."

Molly nodded her head before they stepped away from each other.

"I'll make something for you to eat," she said before moving away from him.

But she noticed the concerned expression on Arthur's face as he watched Ron.

"So then I told him to bugger off, if he really wanted to go be on the team he should have tried out like everyone else. I mean…"

Harry's voice echoed in the distance but in reality he was walking right beside her. They were walking to Hogsmeade for a day out because Harry apparently thought she needed to get out of Hogwarts for a while.

"Hermione? Um, Hermione?"

She started when someone suddenly grabbed her arm.

She turned to see that Harry had stopped her just before she walked into a light pole.

He looked at her in concern.

"You alright?"

She simply nodded her head before walking over to sit on a bench.

He sat down beside her.

"Do you feel like talking about it?"

She shook her head.

Harry sighed before standing up.

"Okay, I just gotta pick up this package and then we can go," Harry said before walking into the post office.

"Hello."

Hermione looked up to see a boy standing in front of her.

"Do I know you?" she said.

"No I suppose you don't, I'm Davis," he said extending his hand.

Hermione took it reluctantly.

Unfortunately he took this as an invitation to sit down.

"So, what's a pretty girl like you doing all alone?" he questioned her.

She shrugged before looking away.

"You looked so sad that I thought I'd come over and cheer up," he said with a smile.

The boy beside her began talking but his voice sounded like an echo in a tunnel. She was sure he was a nice boy but…

She gasped when she felt his hands on her face.

"What are you –"

She stopped when she looked into his face. He was gorgeous. She was so shocked that she didn't realise that he was leaning forward to kiss her.

'Hermione,' an image of Ron flashed before her eyes.

"NO!" she screamed pushing him away.

She pushed him so hard that he tripped and fell onto the ground.

The boy simply laughed.

"I was just playing with you," he said as he stood up, "Everyone knows your Ron's girl and who wants to mess with that psycho."

"Ron is not crazy," she said vehemently.

"Whatever you say," the boy said before walking away chuckling.

'What is that guys problem?!'

She turned around and searched for Harry. What was taking him so –

Her eyes widened when she saw the person reflected in the shop mirror.

"Ron!" she turned around to find him standing across the street from her.

She jumped up from the bench and ran towards him.

But as she approached him he turned and walked away.

"Ron, wait!" she called after him.

Had he seen her with that boy? Did he think she was kissing him?

She tried to keep up with him but his legs were so much longer than hers that he soon disappeared into the crowds.

"Ron…" she whispered searching the crowds.

"Hey, why'd you just leave me there?"

She turned round to find Harry looking at her in irritation. His eyes widened when he saw her face.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"I thought I saw Ron," she said as she caught her breath.

"Oh."

Hermione turned around to look at him fully.

"You don't sound surprised," she said slowly.

"Well…err…actually I kinda knew he was here…" Harry trailed off guiltily.

"What?!"

"He's been working at Allan's the past week, remember he got the job there?"

'Of course he did, how could I forget?'

"I'm going to see him."

Harry moved to stand in front her to block her path.

"No, you can't."

"What? Why not?" she said angrily.

"He doesn't want to see you," Harry replied.

"He doesn't want – "

"Actually no, he said you probably didn't want to see him and that you shouldn't until…"

"Until?" Hermione looked at Harry.

"Until you figured out how you felt about him," Harry said quickly.

Hermione sighed.

"I see."

She looked up at Harry who was watching her warily.

"Well I'm going to see Lavender, if he's there it's not my fault."

Without another word she pushed past Harry and made her way to Allan's store.

"Oh you're back," Lavender greeted Ron when he entered the store, "Did you get the new inks supplies?"

"Yeah," Ron replied before moving behind the counter to the storage room.

"Okay," Lavender said as she watched him move around the store.

She watched him carry a large pile of pencils over to some shelves before he began stacking them. She wanted to ask him about what had happened but he didn't seem to talk much these days.

"Ummm," she began as she continued labeling the sketchbooks on the counter, "Ron is anything the matter?"

She looked over at her friend when he didn't reply. His face was completely void of all emotion. She put the book in her hands down and walked over to her friend.

"Ron?" she said as she placed a hand on his shoulder, "What's wrong?"

Ron stopped stacking the boxes and dropped his hands to his sides.

"I –"

The bell that rang when a customer entered the store rang and Lavender looked behind them.

"Hermione?" she waved at her friend as she entered the store.

She felt Ron tense and she looked back at him before walking over to Hermione.

"Can I help you with something?"

Hermione ignored her and moved to walk towards Ron.

"Ah – hey look we got these cool new quills that can change normal ink into coloured ink," Lavender moved to stand in front of Hermione and held the quill up in front of her face.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at her.

"I'm not here to buy anything," Hermione said.

"Well it kind of defeats the purpose if your not even going to take a look at the items in a store," Lavender replied.

"Lavender," Hermione said in exasperation.

Lavender frowned at Hermione. She looked back at Ron who had resumed stacking the pencil boxes.

"Come here," she said to Hermione before pulling her out of the store.

"What do you want?" she folded her arms as she blocked Hermione's path into the store.

"I want to talk to Ron," Hermione replied.

"Well too bad, that's not going to happen."

"What? You can't tell me what to do!" Hermione said angrily taking a step forward.

"Look Hermione, I'd like to think that we're friends now, but the truth is that I was Ron's friend first and I owe him a lot – and right now isn't a good time to talk to him."

"What do you mean?" Hermione questioned her face growing alarmed.

"He hasn't been himself lately," Lavender explained, "He must be taking the suspension really hard."

"No…I don't think its because of that."

"Hmm?" she looked at Hermione curiously.

"Nothing, okay I won't talk to him…but I'll come back next week."

"If you want to, maybe he'll be better by then."

Lavender gave Hermione a friendly squeeze on the arm before turning and walking back into the store. She walked back over to the counter and saw Ron was there, labeling the remainder of the sketchbooks.

"You didn't have to do that," Ron replied in his deadpan voice.

"Ron…" Lavender said slowly as she leant over the counter, "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?"

He sighed before looking up.

"Customer," he said before looking back down at the books.

Lavender turned around when she heard the bell above the door ring.

'I am so tempted to pull that bell off of its hinges, but I'm guessing that won't go too well with Allan.'

"Hi!" she said cheerily, "Welcome to Allan's Artist Alchemy, your source of art supplies."

She glanced at Ron. The first time she had said that he had burst into uncontrollable laughter. But that was before the incident with Malfoy happened. Now he just stood there not a trace of a smile.

Hermione walked back to the centre of Hogsmead to find Harry. She wanted to talk to Ron, to tell that she didn't really hate him. She was just upset and scared and she took her anger out on the only person there.

She closed her eyes as the image of Ron's face appeared before her.

'It's me Hermione, calm down,' his voice echoed in her head.

Hermione felt her foot slip on the wet pavement and her eyes flew open as concrete raced towards her face.

"Whoa! Watch yourself."

Hermione grabbed onto the arms holding her.

"Thank yo – "

Her face fell when she saw the boy standing in front of her. He was the same one who tried to kiss her earlier.

"What do you want?"

He raised and eyebrow at her.

"Just saving your life," he replied.

Hermione looked away embarrassed before mumbling her thanks as she walked away.

"You're welcome," he said following her.

"Can I help you with something?" she said in irritation speeding up slightly.

'Who is this weirdo? First he tries to kiss me then he follows me around.'

"Just wanted to apologise for before, you just looked so upset I wanted to distract you for a bit."

"So you thought you'd try to kiss me?!" she snapped before she speed up even more.

'Curse these short legs!"

"Well yeah…you weren't even listening to what I was saying. I mean I'm a funny guy, been told so many times and yet not a trace of a smile from you. So I had to something to get your attention."

"You are mental," she replied.

"Maybe," he shrugged, "Look I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Hermione stopped and turned to look at him, he did look like he was being genuine.

"I'm fine."

"Good, just be careful alright. It's not good to walk around with your eyes closed."

"Hermione," Harry called as he ran over to her from across the street, "Are you alright? Where the hell you been?"

"I'm fine," she repeated for Harry's sake.

"Well I see you're in capable hands," the boys smiled before he mock saluted her, "Have a nice day ma'ame."

"Hey I know him," Harry said as the boy walked around, "David or something, fifth year Gryffindor – has a habit of butting into other people's conversation."

"Hmmm," she said thoughtfully, "I recognise him from somewhere…"

"Let's just get a drink first before we ponder over the mysteries of weirdos."

"He was nice to me…I guess…"

"Whatever, let's just get inside, I think it's going to rain," Harry said before he opened the door to the Hogshead for them to enter.

"Darn, no seats," Harry said as he and Hermione surveyed the Hoghead.

"Harry?"

Harry turned around and saw Ginny waving him over to her table. It was only when he and Hermione had sat down did he notice who else was at the table.

"Hello Dean," Harry looked at his roommate suspiciously.

"Hey Harry," Dean replied with a smile.

'What is she doing with this idiot?'

Harry glanced over at Ginny and saw that she was leafing through a magazine.

"What's that?" he asked shifting his seat over to have a closer look.

"Quiddicth Weekly," she replied, "Dean lent it to me."

"How nice of him," he said under his breath.

"I'm going to get us some drinks," Dean said standing up suddenly.

Harry watched Dean leave with annoyance.

"What are you doing here with him?"

"Like I said," Ginny replied not bothering to look up at him, "He told me about this magazine and I wanted to have a look."

"You keep in regular contact with him do you?"

"Yes," Ginny replied, "We're dating."

Harry felt a sharp pain through his chest.

"You are?" he said in barely a whisper.

Ginny looked up from the magazine to look at him.

"Did you say something?"

Harry simply looked back at her.

"I'm going back to school, I'm feeling a little tired," Hermione said suddenly.

"I'll come with you," he stood up to follow but she was already out the door.

"I think she needs to be alone for a bit," Ginny said with a sigh.

"She's not the only one," he mumbled just as Dean returned, "I'm going to go see Ron."

"Bye," Dean said as he sat down beside Ginny.

Harry took a deep breath of air the instant he walked outside.

He felt like he was suffocating inside the Hogshead.

'Get a hold of yourself Potter,' he thought to himself before he headed towards Allan's store.

Hermione sat leaning against the tree trunk as she watched the sun begin to set. She stared out over the fields towards the Shrieking Shack.

'That's when it all started,' Hermione thought to herself, 'Would I have been happier if Ron didn't know I was a girl?'

Hermione kicked the dirt at her feet.

Hermione felt a jolt on her arm and looked down. She stood up from her seat on the ground and took off the watch that Ron had given her.

"This is all your fault!" she cried before throwing it across the field.

"Accio!"

Hermione gasped and turned around.

"Ron!" she said in surprise.

Ron was standing behind her, the watch she had just thrown across the field in his hand. He looked at her for what felt like an excruciatingly long time before he walked towards her.

"It's getting dark, I'll walk you back to school," he said before turning round and walking towards the direction of Hogwarts.

Hermione stood motionless for a moment before she ran after him. She remained a few steps behind him on purpose and spent the time just staring at his back.

She felt her eyes begin to sting.

'What's wrong with you?' she screamed at herself, 'Getting all weepy from just looking at his back?'

She looked up from the ground and felt the urge to suddenly hug Ron.

'I hate you!'

The words she had screamed at him last week echoed in her ears, stopping any fantasies of hugging the boy in front of her.

'Why would you say that?' she berated herself.

She saw the wind blow through Ron's hair and she caught the faint smell of cinnamon.

'Cinnamon, yes that's the final smell. Reminds me of home, being snuggled up safe and warm on a cold winter's day.'

She heard the pebbles move beneath her feet and the insects begin to move about as the sun set. They were completely alone - but it was far to quiet, this wasn't normal for them. She looked up at Ron, she wanted to say something – anything but no words came. So they continued walking in silence.

"I can't go in."

Hermione looked up when she heard Ron speak. She was shocked to realise that she was already back at Hogwarts. As slow as the walk back seemed – it also went by far too quickly.

Ron looked at her once more before he turned to walk back to Hogsmeade.

"Wait!" she heard herself say before she even knew what she was going to say.

Ron stopped his back facing her and that urge to hug him rose up again but she quickly pushed it down.

"Before…with that guy – I wasn't going to – I mean he wasn't go – "

"It doesn't matter," Ron cut her off.

A sharp pain ran through her chest.

'Doesn't matter? Doesn't he care that I might be seeing other guys? Has he given up on me?'

"Ron…I'm sorry about what happened. I – I'm just going to tell everyone the truth about what happened with Malfoy."

"NO!" he turned around suddenly causing her to step back in shock, "We stick to the plan, you're too important to let this stop you."

Hermione gaped at Ron before she regained her senses.

"But – you were suspended, don't you care?"

Ron looked at her with what appeared to be annoyance and frustration.

"Don't you get it yet?" he said as he passed a hand over his face as though he was physically exhausted.

"Get what?" she questioned now confused.

He dropped his hand and looked at her once more.

"I love you," she heard his voice break as he said those words.

Hermione felt her heart race and she closed her eyes.

She took a few deep breaths before opening them again.

"I …" she struggled for a few moments before looking down at her feet.

"Don't force yourself."

Her head snapped up at his words.

"I love you," he said with more determination this time, "And if I have to wait for you to say it back, and even if it kills me to see you with other guys or if I get kicked out of Hogwarts – I can endure it all because I know – I know that you'll be mine someday. Because I love you – and that means I'm not letting you go."

He looked straight into her eyes with his piercing blue eyes as he stepped forward and placed a hand on her cheek.

"Don't cry," he whispered wiping the tears from her face, she didn't even realise that she was crying, "Don't cry. Even if it takes you a hundred years, I'll wait for you."

He patted her head before he stepped back. He lifted her hand and placed the watch on her palm and closed her fingers around it. He looked at her once more with his sad, lonely eyes before he turned and walked away.

She couldn't do anything. Couldn't speak, couldn't react – she just stood there staring at his back as he walked away.

When his back disappeared into the distance she dropped to the ground and sobbed.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm so weak - that I'm such a coward."

"We'll just sweep up the store then I'll take you back to school," Allan said as he began wiping the counter.

"Yes sir," she smiled at him before she swept the floor.

"So…" Allan said before trailing off.

Lavender looked up from her sweeping to see him walk towards her a broom in his hand as well. He realised she was looking at him and he instantly took a sharp turn to walk into another area of the store.

She suppressed a giggle and continued sweeping the floor.

"This goes by so much quicker with two people," Allan said happily from the other side of the room.

"I'd think so," she replied fixing up some of the items on the shelf near her.

"Yeah…a lot of things are better with two people," Allan said before clearing his throat, "Like you know…mov –ARGH!"

Lavender dropped the broom in her hand and spun around to see what had frightened Allan.

"Ron!" she said in alarm hurriedly unlocking the door.

She stepped out onto the steps and called out to her friend.

He was standing outside the store in the pouring rain. He was drenched through but his face was completely blank. Lightening suddenly shot through the sky and Lavender eyes widened at what she saw. His eyes. His eyes looked dead - void of all emotion.

"Ron! Get in here before you freeze to death!"

Allan pushed past her and pulled Ron inside.

"Come on now, I'll get you some hot tea," Allan said after he had dried off Ron's clothes.

Allan ran behind the counter into his back room.

"Ron," Lavender said desperately as she looked at him, "Talk to me. Please, let me help you."

Ron looked at her. She watched his blank mask crumble and before she could react he was holding her in his arms.

"I miss her! I miss her so much!" he sobbed into her shoulder, "I - I love her."

Lavender felt the tears seep into her shirt and she hugged Ron back.

"She loves you too, I know she does. She just needs more time to figure it out," Lavender said as she patted Ron on the back.

She wiped her eyes when she felt the tears fall down her face.

"I miss her..."

She felt Ron shaking and she hugged him tighter.

"I know...it's okay. Everything will work out in the end, I'll make sure it does."

'I'll make sure it does.'

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do...

A/N: Uh-oh is the bitch back? Comment and you may just find out :) Song = Run by Snow Patrol, one of my favourite songs :)

Here's the link (remove the _ and replace with a full stop for the link to work): youtube_com/watch?v=9Qen3Xovtfc

Avanell: I can't wait either :)

TiffanyM: Did you think Molly was OOC (out of character)?

You'reTheMoon: Sorry to keep you in suspense but its better this way right? Keeps you guessing XD

EnglishGrlVerity: Thanks! I know - its strange but so fun when they take over :) I'm just glad Ron knows what he's doing.

HermioneGrangerTwin: Oh Hermione and her over analysing, makes you want to hug her and hit her over the head at the same time lol