A/N: Thank you all for the fab reviews. My hubby dear is hogging the laptop and so I'm posting from the phone. Will post all my replies here tomorrow.

Looking forward to those reviews. Thanks a tonne to all my readers.

All characters and props belong to JKR.

Chapter 11: To Be or Not to Be

He sat on the living room couch watching a faint glow emanating from the stone basin as the silvery vapours swirled inside it. The sun had set hours ago. In fact, it had been quite a while since he had been waiting for her in her empty quarters. Finally, she emerged from the Pensive, still clad in her school uniform although the front of her robe was unbuttoned to show the shirt and pleated skirt underneath. Her wand was dangling from her hand and she looked as if in a trance.

He watched silently as she stumbled a little to catch her balance and then without even glancing at the couch where he sat, walked ahead towards her bedroom.

"You've literally started living in the Pensive, Granger." he said softly and noticed her turn around in shock at his voice, the wand tumbled out of her hands and dropped at her foot with a loud clutter.

"When did you arrive?" she asked averting her eyes, bending low instead to pick up the dropped article. He did not miss how she kept her back at him as she moved to the table after stuffing the wood inside her pocket. She poured water from a pitcher into a goblet and drank deeply. Even after she had replaced the empty goblet back, her hand briefly appeared near her face. Once she turned he noticed that the moist marks of hastily wiped tears were still faintly visible on her cheeks.

"I've been waiting for you for a while now." he replied while she came towards him, pulling her robe fronts together at the same time and sat down on the second couch.

"What brings you here Weasley?" she asked meeting his eyes. Her voice was cracked and it was evident she was still fighting tears but unwilling to let him see.

"I haven't seen you in a while. It's been, what fifteen days, since you've got that thing over there?" He asked indicating the Pensive. For the first few days, she had eagerly awaited his arrival. From the fourth or the fifth perhaps, he had found an empty vial and a note in small and neat handwriting on the centre table, requesting him to transfer the memories in it and also leave her assignments along with it. She had been absent in person and Ron had noticed silvery vapours filled the stone basin. The scene had been just the same when he had returned later in the night to collect the memories back. This time a small note of thanks and completed assignment scrolls accompanied the vial containing his memories. She was literally immersed in her own thoughts.

The story had been the same ever since. At first he had been glad not to have to see her but eventually, he had got curious or perhaps a tad bit worried? So today once Harry had left for Dumbledore's office, he had come straight in here.

"How does it even matter to you where I've been spending my time?" she asked curtly but it was way too easy to mark the sadness underlying that show of indifference.

"I-" he began but stopped as if rethinking his words.

"It makes no sense to live in one's memories Granger," he said finally and looking into those mesmerising blue eyes she was surprised to find no trace of hatred but only genuine concern. For some unknown reason, it made her heart constrict even further. It was getting even more difficult to keep the force of tears that was fighting for release in check.

"It makes a hell lot of sense if that's the only place where I have people who care," she answered. What did she care for his mocking remarks now? It was the truth. Dumbledore had undoubtedly provided for her safety and well-being but as a human, she craved company, craved to be actually cared for, to be loved; things that neither these stone walls nor her cold books could provide.

"So you are reliving your own memories?" he asked, watching her curiously.

"Yes. Watching my parents, my friends…"

She noticed him taking a long, hard look at her. Those eyes appeared to be calculating to figure out any discrepancy, maybe searching for a lie?

"What?" she asked annoyed. Was he really assuming that she was faking her grief?

"Nothing." He replied averting his eyes from her and looked ahead.

"Why are you here?" she asked again impatiently.

"I was wo- … I haven't seen you in around ten days, Granger. I had to check on you," he replied briskly.

"You have seen me now. Why are you still here?" She didn't really want him to leave. But she couldn't figure out his actual intentions or the reason for the change in his attitude for that matter and it bothered her greatly. If he was here just to taunt and throw nasty comments at her, she wished he'd leave her alone. She'd rather brood in solitude rather than have hateful company.

Ron let out a sigh and stretched his long legs in front of him, crossing them at the ankle and rested his hands behind his head before he answered.

"You'll do better in the company of real people rather than flashes of past."

"So you are concerned about me now? Why?"

"Don't flatter yourself. I'm not concerned, just doing my duty. If you go insane during my watch, it doesn't work well for my reputation." He added with malice, but she noticed the familiar expression of loathing that accompanied his words was missing. Hermione realised with extreme surprise that his angry words were an act, a superficial show of hatred, at least this time. He really was concerned...

"You haven't given me the memories about the class work yet." She said indicating the empty vial.

"I'm still here. I'll give it to you before I leave."

She stared at him for a while and he looked back in a battle of wills and she was the one who looked away first as a tiny blush crept up her cheeks at his gaze.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked finally.

"Go ahead."

"Why did you take this assignment? You definitely hate me and I'm sure you are not enjoying it. Then, why?" she asked meeting his gaze again.

"Of course I'm not enjoying it, Granger. Who likes a memento of how he was fooled and played with? Your presence is a constant reminder of how you mislead me and how big a dick I was to fall for the deception. But this is war and once we are in it, we have our jobs assigned."

"May I ask you something?" he asked after a while because she had gone quiet.

She looked up to meet his eyes. "Yes, I guess you may."

"Was the reason that you gave me the only reason or was there something else?" he asked and she could see the hint of loathing returning back in his eyes. She didn't want to reply as she feared he would get up and leave. It felt good to have a real conversation even if the topics chartered uncomfortable territories.

"I- . No, that was just it," she replied uncomfortably. She wasn't exactly ashamed. She had always justified her actions to herself stating that after all, it was a revenge. And Hermione truly believed that it wasn't the fault of the person who fooled you, it was your fault for being naïve and vulnerable enough to get fooled. But for some reason, looking at the tall boy sitting in front of her she felt a tiny hint of unease at what she had done.

He looked away and laughed mirthlessly as he shook his head. She noticed how his fringe fell over his eyes before he ran his long fingers through that gorgeous mane and pushed them back.

"With the world going topsy-turvy, you took revenge for not winning the school house cup, that too during our first year?! You sure have strange priorities, Granger. But then, you are on the different side of the wall altogether, aren't you? This war, innocent people losing lives; it doesn't affect you at all, does it? Or maybe it does now that your own house has become the target?" he inquired and she saw a mix of curiosity and pity in his features.

"You tell me, why are you fighting? You belong to a pure blood line and you are a wizard by birth! Why are you defying this new order that just aims to give the true wizards their rightful place in the society?" she asked defensively. As much as she was grateful to the Order, it was difficult to change the outlook and believes that had been drilled into her since birth. She was a pureblood, wealthy witch, that itself put her on top with the crème of the wizarding masses, way ahead of the teeming million half-bloods, muggle-borns and even the penniless purebloods. The muggles, her Father said, were not even worth considering.

"True wizards? What defines a true wizard, Miss Granger? Is it the ability to kill and maim the helpless, to misuse the power that nature has bestowed upon us? Who gave them that right?" he asked and she drew herself out of her thoughts.

"It's the law of nature. We are genetically more advanced than the muggles and yet, we are the ones in hiding, why?"

"How many muggles have you seen in your lifetime Granger?"

"What?!"

"I asked, how many muggles have you seen till date?"

She looked scandalised. "Why would I see muggles? Our mansion and lands are guarded against them."

"Are you scared of these 'lesser' people then?" he mocked.

"How many have you seen?" she asked defensively.

"Quite a few," he replied noticing her eyes widen in shock. "My brothers and I used to sneak down the village and play with the local boys. They are very much the same Granger, just like us. Although I know a few that are nasty," he said remembering the Dursleys, "but we too have some of those kinds amongst us."

"Don't they have these horrible diseases?" she asked in a whisper.

"You read so much! How can you still hold on to these stupid notions?" he asked incredulously.

"Of course I don't read about muggles! What is the need, honestly?" she sneered and looked at the table as memories of her childhood came crashing in. "Mother always said that they are filthy and they have these crazy diseases that cause blisters on their skin and…"

"Of course your Mother said and so it must be true! The same happens for people who are poor, right Granger?" he asked coldly and she looked up to find that loathing filled face again.

"I- I no… I mean…" she stuttered.

"Come on, don't deny! That's what you truly believe!"

She gulped down her discomfort and averted his gaze but looked up again as shuffling of feet indicated that he had stood up.

"Wait… You are leaving?" she asked, getting up too.

He did not bother answering but made his way towards the table next to the Pensive and picking up the vial, touched his wand at his temple. Dropping the long strand of wispy thread into the empty container, he corked it and turned around to meet her eyes.

"You are no longer the protected princess, Granger. I don't know if you realise how much bang in the middle of the war zone you stand now. But these few months and everything that has happened should give you a rough idea that the world and the people in it are not how you imagined them to be. Use that brilliant brain inside that pretty head of yours and for once, I suggest, decide the truth for yourself."

She looked on as he took a few long strides and left the room.

...

She turned and fidgeted around in the bed. Even after hours, his words were haunting her. She struggled to decide what to believe, the words that she had always assumed to be the ultimate truth now lay in shambles hit by the force of reality. Neither all the wealth in their vaults nor their blood status had saved her parents from the hands of Father's own power hungry master. And now she was at the mercy of the very people who she had deemed to be crazy and foolish. Looking up at the overhead curtains of her four-poster bed she let out a sigh. Ever since her rescue, she had often wondered how it would have been if she had been captured by her own side. She shuddered to even imagine the treatment she would have received. People who were capable of burning down their own allies could do anything, stoop to any level. And yet she wanted to see it for herself. What if it was a trick planted by the Order? She bolted up straight at that single line of thought. All these days she was so immersed in her own grief that she had overlooked this possibility. Why it was very much possible that her parents were not actually dead and she was being fooled! Maybe this was just a kidnapping as her father had feared! And they were still looking for her out there while she was kept hidden within the school walls. The more she thought about it the more sense it made. Of course, it would be so easy to lure her into a false sense of security by telling her that it was all done for her safety, although in reality she was hidden away from her parents.She had to get out of here. She had to get in touch with someone from her side, but who? Daphne... Or perhaps even Draco... But how? She got down from the bed and paced around the room. There had to be a way...

It was almost light outside when she climbed back into the bed feeling ecstatic. She had finally found a way and a pawn to help her out...her so-called guard, Ronald Weasley.

A/n: Thanks for reading! I am waiting eagerly for that review :)