A/N: Very long chapter...am tired...

Chapter 33 – I Dare You To Move

Hermione felt her blood run cold.

'Not like this,' she screamed internally, 'I won't go out like this.'

'Let's see what fascinates Weasel so much shall we,' Malfoy drawled as he closed in on her.

She wanted to scream but she felt as though allthe energy was drained from her.

'I'm scared. I'm scared...'

Hermione held her head in her hands and tried to block the images that replayed in her mind.

"How does it feel being home?"

Hermione was jolted back to reality by the return of her parents from work.

"Great," she smiled.

Her mother leaned down and gave her quick kiss on the forehead.

"Have you eaten anything yet?" her dad asked her taking a seat opposite the kitchen bar where Hermione was sitting.

Hermione simply shook her head.

"Oh dear, I've forgotten to buy groceries for dinner," her mother sighed closing the fridge.

"I know," Hermione replied, "I asked a friend to make us something."

"Oh?" her mother said slowly before a smile appeared on her face.

Her father on the other hand was frowning at her.

"Not that Don boy is it?"

"Ron. Dad, he's name is Ron…Ronald Weasley," Hermione jumped off the stool and walked over to the dining table, "And you don't have to worry about him coming here."

"Hermione…is something the matter?" her mother said as she sat down beside her, "You've been awfully quiet this past week."

"If its about that boy attacking you –"

"No one attacked me dad, I don't know how many times I have to tell you," Hermione sighed before placing her head down on the table, "You don't understand."

"Then help us to," her mother replied, "We may not understand magic but we're here for you."

"It had nothing to do with magic…" Hermione began but her voice broke before she could finish.

"Hermio – What the hell is that!"

Hermione and her mother turned around to find their father hiding behind the kitchen counter.

"Dobby is finished Missy," Dobby said as he balanced two trays in his hands and one on his head, "Dobby apologises for making Missy wait."

"Thanks, Dobby," Hermione smiled at the house elf, "Thanks for helping me out at such short notice."

Hermione took the trays form Dobby and placed them on the table. She turned around and knelt down beside the house elf.

"This is for you, and you better not hide it in my room like last time," she said before placing a bag filled with galleons in his hands.

"But –"

"No buts, you'll hurt my feelings if you don't take the money," she patted Dobby on the head before continuing, "Now come on, lets eat."

She grabbed Dobby's hand and walked him over to the table.

She saw Dobby wipe the tears from his eyes before sitting down across from her.

"U-uh…Hermione dear," her mother spoke slowly sitting down beside her, "What is that?"

"Oh sorry. Mum, dad, this is Dobby, he's my friend and he's a great cook."

"He's the friend who was bringing us dinner?" her father spoke having advanced to the kitchen table by this point.

"Yep. Aren't you going to eat?" she asked her parents before she and Dobby began eating their dinner.

"You're in early," Mrs Cathwight said as she greeted him.

"Yeah, I got a new book and thought she'd like it," Davis explained as he held up the book in his hands.

"Go on then," the nurse said nodding her head towards the hospital doors.

Davis turned and walked inside. It was quite early and most of the patients were still asleep. He walked to the back of the room and pulled apart the curtain.

"Morning," he greeted the woman sitting up in the bed, "How are you today?"

He sat down on the seat beside her and watched her face for a moment.

"I got that book I was telling you about," he explained before opening up the book in his lap, "The lady at the store say's its popular with women so I thought you'd like it too."

He cleared his throat before he began reading.

He stopped when he felt a hand over his own. He looked up and smiled at the woman in front of him. Even though he had been told countless times that she couldn't recognise or talk to anyone, he was certain at times like these that she was trying to tell him something.

"Don't mind me," one of the nurses said as she came in to clear the breakfast tray from the table.

Davis was startled by the nurse but quickly composed himself.

"Umm just wondering," Davis said before the nurse could leave, "Do you know if he's coming today?"

The nurse looked down at her watch.

"Should be here round noon, his grandma should be with him too."

The nurse made a face and Davis laughed.

'I'll be out of here before then anyway.'

He turned back to Alice Longbottom.

"Sorry, where was I," he said as he leafed through the pages of the book.

Hermione woke late the following day. She felt tired and groggy and practically crawled out of bed.

She was still in her pajama's when she heard the doorbell ring. She placed the cup of tea in her hands back onto the kitchen table and walked to the front door.

It was already half past noon, her parents were long gone for work by now. She checked her hair in the mirror near the door but gave up when she realised it would never settle.

She checked the security monitor placed on the wall and her eyes widened in shock.

"Lavender?" she said in surprise as she held the door open for her friend.

"Hi!" Lavender said cheerfully.

"What are you doing here – wait how do you know where I live?"

"Oh you know, asked around," Lavender said as she looked around at the house.

Lavender whistled and gave her an impressed look.

"Didn't know you were rich," Lavender said, "Sure was a shock when I found your house."

"It's not that impressive, um look is there something wrong?" she asked her friend as she led her into the living room.

"Not really, just you know – wanted a chat," Lavender smiled.

"Okay," Hermione said slowly, "Like some tea?"

"Love some," Lavender said following Hermione into the kitchen.

"So how have you been?" Hermione asked as she poured some more hot water into the tea pot.

"Oh you know, working – nothing all that interesting," Lavender took a sip of her tea before her eyes roamed around the kitchen, "So what does Ron think of your fancy house?"

"Ron?" Hermione was startled for a moment but regained her composure, "He hasn't been here – why would he?"

"Hmmm…" Lavender said thoughtfully.

"What?"

"Nothing," Lavender replied though there was something in her eyes that gave her away.

"What's with that look?"

Lavender shrugged before getting up from her seat.

"Could you show me around your house? Don't know when I'll see another one like it," Lavender smiled.

"S-sure I guess," Hermione said slightly confused, "I'll show you the library first."

Lavender giggled.

"Course you would."

"What's that mean?" Hermione asked her as they walked up the spiral stairs.

"Oh you know, something Ron said. From what I gather you're a major bookworm."

Hermione contemplated these words for a moment.

"He talks about me a lot does he?"

"Hmmm? Oh wow this is gorgeous," Lavender said as she walked around the upper levels of the library, "How many levels is this?"

"Two," Hermione replied slightly frustrated, "So does he talk about me often."

"Who?" Lavender replied picking up a book and leafing through it.

"Ron."

"Oh yeah you know – oh, would you look at that," Lavender said walking over to a framed portrait, "This you?"

Hermione saw Lavender point at a picture of her just before she left for Hogwarts. Her parents insisted on taking a family portrait before she left.

"Strange how the pictures don't move. Ron told me that they don't but I didn't think that it was true," Lavender giggled, "Guess I lost that bet with him."

Hermione watched Lavender move around her library.

"Lavender," Hermione said as she walked over to her friend, "Not that I'm not thrilled to have you here but what's really going on?"

"Oh your garden is gorgeous! Is that a miniature maze? Can we go have a look?" Lavender said excitedly as she looked out the window at the gardens.

"Um – " Hermione shook her head before replying, "Sure, but just give me a minute to change, why don't I meet you down there."

Lavender nodded before she walked out of the room. Hermione took a moment to think before she headed to her room to change.

"Oh these are pretty," Lavender said as Hermione approached her.

Lavender leant down and smelled a few flowers in the garden, "Hmmm…"

"What?" Hermione said as she walked over to her friend.

"Oh nothing…it's just…" Lavender stood up and walked over to some more flowers.

"Have you seen Ginny?" Hermione asked as they walked around the garden.

"Oh yeah, she comes in sometimes to see Ron while he works. I think she loves the fact that he works at Allan's – gives her an excuse to visit Hogsmeade every other day."

Hermione sat down on a nearby bench and watched Lavender walking around the fountain in the middle of the garden.

"How is Ron?" Hermione was finally able to ask her friend.

"Did you say something?" Lavender questioned walking over to her.

"I was just asking how Ron was lately?"

Lavender looked at her for a moment before her eyes drifted to something behind her.

"Oh," she said before stepping over and smelling a flower in the bush behind Hermione, "Ah-ha."

"What?" Hermione questioned curiously watching her friend.

"Do you mind if I take some?" Lavender pointed at the white gardenia's behind her.

"Sure, go ahead, my mum had them planted all over the garden. I always have freshly cut ones in my room."

"But you prefer them alive?" Lavender said as began to pick a few from the bush.

"Yeah I do," Hermione looked at her curiously, "how'd you know that?"

"Ron told me," Lavender replied, "He said you always had the faint smell of gardenia's on your clothes. There that's pretty isn't it."

Lavender showed her the small bouquet in her hands.

Hermione frowned at her.

"Lavender, what's going on?"

Lavender sighed before she sat down on the seat.

"I have to tell you something," Lavender began turning to look at her seriously.

"What?" she said cautiously.

"I like Ron."

"I know you do," Hermione replied, "You're his friend."

Lavender shook her head at her.

"More than a friend?"

"Look I wasn't going to do anything 'cause I mean I'm not blind, I see the way he looks at you."

Hermione looked at her in confusion.

"He worships the ground you walk on," Lavender said in exasperation, "How could you not see it?"

"I don't need someone to idolize me," Hermione said instantly though she felt her cheeks heat up.

"Right okay, whatever you say," Lavender sighed before continuing, "So how do you feel about him?"

"I like him…a lot."

Lavender looked at her as though waiting for her to continue.

"That all? You don't love him?"

"I – I don't know…" she trailed off avoiding Lavender's eyes.

"You like him?" Lavender sighed, "You've lived with him for a year, been through a hell of a lot and he was suspended from Hogwarts for protecting you – and you just like him?"

Hermione felt her heart begin to race.

"Yes," she said in barely a whisper.

Was that true? Did she just like him? Like him the way a person likes a friend?

"Look, like I said, I wasn't going to do anything because obviously he loves you and I thought you felt the same way. But if you don't then I'm not going to hesitate."

Hermione instantly turned to look at Lavender.

"What do you mean?'

"Well, you don't love him, so obviously the relationship is not going anywhere."

'Not going anywhere?'

"What? He's my –"

Lavender arched an eyebrow at her.

"Yes?"

Hermione tried to think of the words that would adequately describe what Ron was to her.

"You don't love him – so it's quite selfish of you to keep him hanging like this," Lavender said as she stood up, "I'm going to ask him out when I see him – which is in about," Lavender looked down at her watch, "Two hours."

Lavender turned and walked back towards the house.

Hermione sat motionless.

'The relationship is not going anywhere'

'You don't love him.'

'Selfish.'

'I'm going to ask him out.'

Lavender's words echoed around her head and she felt as though a thousand knives were stabbing her.

"Wait," she heard herself whisper.

She looked and saw Lavender walking into her house. She stood form the bench and felt her breathing and heart race increase.

"Wait!" she cried as she ran towards the house.

"Lavender! Wait!"

She saw Lavender turn around as she reached the front door.

"Yes?"

"I – I," she took a deep breath before clenching her fists in determination, "I won't let you or anyone else have him."

She took a step towards Lavender.

"He's mine. Do you hear? He's mine and I won't let you or anyone else touch him."

"Why is that?" Lavender said her eyes wide.

"Because I bloody love him that's why!"

Hermione gasped as she heard the words echo around the room.

She looked back at Lavender and saw her smiling back at her.

"I know you do you dork," her friend laughed, "Now get on your bloody horse and tell him that."

"I gotta go," Lavender said as she opened the door.

"But I just said –"

"Calm down," Lavender said when Hermione grabbed her arm with a vice like grip, "Allan's here to pick me up."

Hermione looked around the open door to see Allan waving at her awkwardly.

"Hope I'm not too late," he said looking at Lavender.

"Nope, right on time."

Lavender turned round patted her on the shoulder.

"Don't keep that idiot waiting too long," Lavender said as she walked out the door, "Only so much moping a girl can take."

Hermione saw Lavender smile at Allan.

"Are you two…?"

"He's taking me to buy art supplies," Lavender smiled before leaning forward and saying loud enough for Allan to hear, "Not too romantic for a first date but I'll work on him."

"This is a date?" Allan said in surprise.

Lavender giggled.

"Boys," she said with a roll her eyes, "I'll see you later."

"Bye…and Lavender," Hermione ran after her friend and hugged her, "Thank you."

"Whatever it takes to make my – I mean your Ron happy. Now go and tell him how you feel you silly girl."

"Think I will," Hermione smiled as she watched them apparate from her front lawn.

Davis watched from across the corridor as Neville and his grandmother entered the room.

He dropped his folded arms to his sides and turned to leave.

"Hold it."

He cringed before he slowly turned around to see Neville staring back at him.

"What are you doing here?"

Davis looked down at his feet.

"Sorry – I was just –"

"I told you to stay away from her," Neville said taking a step forward, "I don't appreciate you coming here whenever you feel like it."

"I know – I – "

"Just get out of here," Neville said as he shook his head.

'I just like talking to her," he sighed and looked out the window, "No matter what you think of me, I just like spending time with her."

He turned around and saw Neville frowning at him – but whether he was angry or not Davis couldn't tell.

"You don't owe her or me anything," Neville said before he handed him a book.

'I must have forgot it,' he realised when he looked down at the book in his hands.

"I know that...look I – "

He stopped when he felt Neville's hand on his cheek. As he looked up at the boy in front of him he felt his cheeks burn.

The sound of footsteps approached them in the empty hallway and Neville suddenly dropped his hand and placed them in his pockets. Davis watched the nurse walk past them.

"Just get out of here," Neville said before he turned round.

Davis watched him leave before he walked out of the hospital.

When he stood outside once more he felt the light rain on his face, cooling his burning cheeks. Slowly he moved his hand to touch his cheek.

'I really am an idiot.'

Hermione coughed as she picked herself up off the floor.

"Who's that?"

She dusted the ash of her clothes and looked around her. A smile lit up her face.

"This is amazing," she said in awe as she looked around the living area of the house that she had just arrived in.

"Hermione?"

Hermione turned to see Ginny standing behind her, hair askew and still in her pajama's.

"Did you have any trouble getting here?" her friend asked walking over to help her with her suitcases.

"A bit, but it was interesting," she said hugging her friend, "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Well you made it sound like a life and death situation," Ginny said as they dragged her things up stairs.

"Isn't anyone else home?" Hermione wondered aloud.

It was so quiet and Ron always told her that he could never think in his house because of all the noise.

"For now, mum's just gone out for some groceries – should be back soon."

Hermione looked around the small room that Ginny had decorated in Quidditch posters.

"Wanna see Ron's room?"

She turned round to see Ginny smirking at her.

"Ginny…no I don't."

Ginny laughed at her.

"What was that?! You hesitated!"

She tried to keep a straight face but ended up laughing as well.

"Go down downstairs for bit, I've gotta have shower."

Hermione looked at her friend before her eyes fell on the bed. It looked like a clothes bomb had exploded on it. She looked up and smiled.

"So when's Harry getting here?"

"This evening – I mean - "

Hermione laughed. Revenge was sweet.

"Alright, come on I really have to get ready."

"Okay, I'll wait downstairs."

Hermione left her friend and walked down the spiral stairs.

She looked around the kitchen, she walked over to the sink where the dishes were currently washing themselves.

'It's like Fantasia,' she thought before turning round.

Her eyes spotted a basket of clothes on the kitchen table. She looked around to check no one was around before she walked over to it. On top was a white school shirt she hesitated for a moment before picking it up.

She saw the 'RW' stitched into he collar.

'Ron.'

She felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She smiled before she held the shirt to her face. It hadn't been washed yet so Ron's smell still lingered in the shirt.

She took a deep breath.

She jumped when she heard something drop near her. She instantly hid the shirt behind her.

"Um hello."

The woman in front of her looked at her for a moment.

"You must be Ginny's friend."

"Yes, I'm Hermione Granger," she smiled moving to shake the woman's hand but realised she was still holding Ron's shirt so she stopped.

"Oh," the woman replied, "I'm Ginny's mother."

"Nice to meet you Mrs Weasley."

"And you dear," Molly smiled at her.

Hermione bit her lip nervously as Mrs Weasley looked her up and down.

"Hmmm," Molly said thoughtfully before picking up the groceries off the floor.

Hermione quickly leant down to help her.

"Thank you dear," Molly said standing up and walking over to the sink.

Hermione placed the items on the kitchen table before she turned round to see Mrs Weasley smiling at her.

"Um…this is a lovely home," she said in attempt to start conversation.

"It's not much but we love it."

Molly continued to look at Hermione with a strange smile on her face.

"Mum you're home," Ginny walked over and kissed her mum on the cheek.

Ginny turned round to look at Hermione.

"Are you planning on doing the laundry for us?" Ginny asked her friend.

Hermione started.

"Would you like me to, I'd like to help out if I can."

Ginny looked at her before sharing an amused smile with her mum.

"You're holding Ron's shirt," Ginny said nodding at Hermione's hand.

Hermione stood speechless as she looked down at her hands.

"I – uh…this isn't…"

Both women laughed at her.

"Show her how to wash the clothes Ginny," Molly said before she began packing away the groceries.

"Follow me," Ginny said as she lifted the basket off the kitchen table.

"Just me mum," Ron said as he stepped dusted himself off.

He walked out of the living room and pushed open the kitchen door. He saw his family sitting around the kitchen table. They all fell silent when he entered the room.

"Hey Harry," he said when he saw his friend sitting at the table.

Someone coughed uncomfortably.

"What's –"

He stopped talking when he heard someone running down the stairs.

"Who…"

"Ron?"

His eyes widened at the sight before him.

"He – Hermione?" he said in shock as he looked at the girl running towards him.

He almost fell over from the impact of her hug. She looked at him for a moment before she kissed him.

He wanted to relish in the feeling but was uncomfortably aware that his entire family was watching them so he pushed her back.

"What are you doing here?" he began to panic, "Has something happened."

Hermione bit her lip in an attempt to hide the smile on her face. It was then he was finally able to see her properly. She was wearing one of his mother's aprons and she had flour and what appeared to be dough stuck in her hair.

"Have you been cooking?" he said in shock.

"If that's what you call it," he heard someone mumble near them.

"I have," Hermione said excitedly before she pulled him over to the table and pushed him into the empty seat beside his father.

His dad gave him a sympathetic look and looked as though he were trying to communicate with him telepathically.

The entire room was silent and Ron looked at everyone suspiciously.

"Mum, what's going on?"

"Hermione spent the entire day cooking you…something," Ginny explained.

"Something? Yeah sounds about right, it doesn't even have a name."

"Fred!" his mother said instantly.

Hermione came back to the table and placed a slice of what looked like a custard tart on his plate.

He looked up at her.

"You made this?" He asked.

She nodded enthusiastically.

"Try it," she encouraged handing him a spoon.

He looked at her before looking back down at the tart.

'Guess we could talk after dinner,' he thought to himself before he took a large spoonful of the tart to his mouth.

"I'll miss you Ron," George said tearfully from across the table.

"You were a good brother," Fred added.

Ron stared at them in surprise as he ate.

"It's delicious," he said looking up at Hermione with a smile.

She beamed back at him.

He turned round to see even Harry staring at him in shock.

"Don't hold it in," Fred said, "Let it out."

"What the hell are you talking about," Ron said getting annoyed now.

He picked up the remainder of the tart and ate it whole.

"Like some more?"

He nodded at Hermione and she instantly placed another slice of the tart on his plate.

"Hold it!" George said grabbing the plate away from Ron.

He and Fred began spooning mouthfuls into their mouths.

"Oi!" he said grabbing the plate away from them, "What are you two doing?"

He saw their eyes glaze over before they both reached for some water.

"What the hell!" George said through his tears.

"Is your sense of taste messed up or something?" Fred added his face going green.

Ron stared at them.

"Hey," Hermione said in annoyance, "You said that it tasted great when I asked you before."

"We didn't want to hurt your feelings," Harry explained.

Harry turned to look at Ron.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine."

He heard both his parents laughing.

"What? What's so funny?" he said in confusion.

"Nothing, son, nothing at all," his father said as he patted his son on the head.

"You're all acting very strange today," he said before looking up at Hermione.

She leaned down and looked at him in the eyes. She moved forward and whispered in his ears.

"I love you."

Ron froze.

"I knew it, he looks like he's going to be sick," Fred said in triumph pointing at Ron.

Ron ignored his brother as a smile spread across his face.

He stood up and grabbed Hermione by the waist. He spun her around the room. He heard her laughing.

"Say it again," he demanded placing her back on the floor.

She bit her lip and looked around the room in embarrassment.

"I –" she placed her hands on his face, "Love you."

He couldn't stop smiling, not even as he kissed her.

"Oi, we're trying to eat over here."

Ron simply laughed before he kissed Hermione over and over.

After a very long kiss he pulled back and looked at her properly.

"I've missed you," he whispered as he touched his forehead to hers.

She reached up and hugged him tightly.

"As I have you," she replied, "Sorry I'm so slow."

He smiled.

"Well you could hardly resist."

She laughed.

"No I really couldn't."

He leant forward to kiss her again but she pulled back. She arched an eyebrow at him.

"And?"

"And?" he repeated.

"I just said I loved you – aren't you supposed to say something in response?"

"Hmm," he said thoughtfully, "I'm hungry?"

"Funny," she said with a frown.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear causing her to blush.

"Awwww," a chorus of voices said from behind them.

Ron felt his face heat up. He had completely forgotten that his family was in the room.

"So cuuuute!" Fred said before hugging George.

"Hermione I love you," George said to Fred.

"Oh Ron, you big stud you – take me now!" Fred replied pretending to faint.

"Oi!" Ron shouted at them.

"Enough boys," their mother scolded them although she was clearly smiling.

"Can we eat yet?" Fred said releasing his twin.

Ron held Hermione's hand and led her to the table.

"Just don't give us anymore of that," George said pointing to Hermione's custard tart.

"Fine, I'll have it all," Ron replied.

"Ever thought of working in the joke business Hermione?" Fred asked as they began eating dinner.

"We're always looking to expand our Puking Pasties range," George explained.

"Funny," Hermione said rolling her eyes.

Ron simply laughed as he held her hand under the table.

A/N: Darn it all! I can't write Molly or Arthur at the moment. I never had this problem before. Hope it doesn't detract from the story too much :(

HermioneGrangerTwin: Thanks! I knew you'd get what I was doing lol :)

Mishma: Thank you. Hope you liked this chapter too.

Nicole: I'm glad I made you feel that way, I really wanted everyone to feel frustrated but understand how Hermione was feeling at the same time.

CutewithAcapitalA: Oh the sky-writing thing is a good idea lol :) Yeah I know I can't get Ron's parents right - its annoying me, any suggestions? lol you don't like Davis? I do - but I guess that's cause I know his story and I created him for a reason, don't you trust me?

Avanell: Allan is just a year older than the trio, so he's not too old.