Chapter 8 - Hermione's turn

3,658 words

AN: never let it be said that your reviews of this 'work' aren't directly helpful to the course of this tale, in spite of loud protests from the crowd – I am not perfect. yes- yes - its shocking - - but true

I just read one that mentioned Hermione's casual sex obsession in regards to Ron - and reading my tale again I had to agree, I have therefore tweaked my story accordingly. So please review - it helps more than you know.

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"And Now that you've both kept me chatting about old-times for far longer than I ever intended - - it's time to end this little visit," Ron said while withdrawing the blade from its sheathe and handing it - - hilt first, to Hermione's outstretched hand. "We'll start with the locket, Potter - - so I'll need you to speak parceltongue to open it.

"How did you know to use parceltongue?" Hermione annoyingly asked.

"NO MORE QUESTIONS - HERMIONE", Ron shouted as his Occulmency shields slipping once again. Then he paused long enough to put them up again.

"Go ahead Granger, once Harry opens it; stab it straight down - - as quick as you can."

The moment the locket opened a thick-black smoke began to rapidly pour out of it along with a unearthly voice that hissed out of the Horcrux.

"I have seen you inner heart and it is mine. Your mind is better protected than Potters and yet I have still seen into your soul.

"Don't listen to it Granger," Ron said firmly "Just stab-it"

"I have seen your dreams Hermione Granger; I have also seen your spinster fears. In spite of the colossal mistake you made last February with my help, you can win him back. Stun the one you want and …kill the spare,

"Stab it … stab it!" Harry shouted as the smoke was getting thicker now like a smoke screen.

Friendless as a Muggle - - friendless as a witch - - unloved by workaholic parents. You've worked tirelessly for years to be the best at every subject and what have you gotten for it? All of your teachers regard you as aloof and arrogant - - all of your peers hate you for your overachievements.

Exactly - how useful has you giant intellect really been on this trip, how many answers have you really provided - - none. Kreacher knew where the locket was - not you! - - Incompetent planning has left you both starving and broke - - your brilliant suggestions only lead to barely escapable death traps. Your clumsiness broke Potters wand. Face the truth girl; the bookworm has proven impotent - - the know-it–all is nothing of the kind – your claim to brilliance is a fraud.

"Don't listen," said a voice hidden in the smoke.

"Out of one thousand students at Hogwarts how many female friends do you have right now? How many boys have asked you out in six years …two-or-three? Your dorm mates go through that many boyfriends in a single month – every month. When was the last time someone called you beautiful? Potter never did in all the time you've shared his bed. Why do you think he dislikes you so intensely now? It's because you've failed him in so many ways, in bed and out!

Hermione had back away from the Horcrux by now - - sobbing uncontrollably as the black smoke obscured everyone's vision.

"Stab it Hermione … for Merlin's sake - just stab it"

Barely pretty - - with a pipe cleaner figure, that Potter had to force himself to touch. Clever with books while useless in bed, unresponsive as a stone-cold cadaver - - breasts so small they don't require a bra. And yet - with my help, you don't have to suffer loneliness for the entire rest of your life. The red-headed beefcake you desire can once again be your dimwitted and devoted love-slave.

What good has intellect really done for your love-life, when you've lived these last months unloved and now rejected by Potter? The red-head alone - was the only one not intimidated by your book smarts. Potter has used your body - yes – but he never really respected you – the red-head did, until you lied to him, but you can regain his respect with my help. How long can one night stands - - of casual-sex replace the warmth the embrace of the man that actually loves you.

For Potter never loved you; and said so from the get-go – all he wanted was to get laid - he doesn't even like you that much - and never did. The red-head alone made your existence bearable to him, and you betrayed the gullible fool. Sold-out your virtue for a meaningless lark - -

You've just been a fill-in for Ginny Weasley, his real love – you've always known that. A disposable bunk-up to toy with during the quest - - A walking library reference guide and sperm catching whore - - You are a brain attached to a scarlet woman, a useful combination but not something worthy of true love - - -

The smoke abruptly cleared. Harry rose to his feet and realized that the hissing voice had been suddenly silenced. Looking over at the stone garden bench, he saw Ron kneeing in front of it, his left wandless hand palm down hovering over what had once been the two Horcruxes. A blinding ball of white light was just underneath his outstretched hand that was rapidly reducing both Horcruxes into pools of molten metal. They had been destroyed - - but at a high cost, for Ron's appearance had aged noticeably; the gray and white streaks in his hair had literally doubled - the age-lines on his face intensified.

"Sweet Merlin Ron …what kind of magic is that?" Harry asked clearly far more interested in what Ron was doing than in the condition of his "lover" who lay a few feet away lying on the ground in the fetal position sobbing softly and rocking back and forth as if in the midst of an emotional breakdown.

Ron looked back and forth between Harry and Hermione and shook his head in disappointment. Apparently from what he'd overheard the Horcrux say - the honeymoon period for Harry and Hermione relationship was over. If even only half of he'd heard was true - the happy couple was nothing of the sort.

The Horcrux also seemed to imply a longing on Hermione part to get back with him - but Ron quickly discounted it - - a Horcrux was a skilled deceiver, with what it said was most likely a lie to give him the heartache pain of false hope. And-yet – the Horcrux had spoken some truth – for what better evidence of discord could there be than to see Harry so unmoved by Hermione's near catatonic state. Harry still had not gone to Hermione's aid when a very much feeling his age Ron slowly regained his feet

'Was what the Horcrux said to be believed, or a mixture of truth and lies - - did she really want me back?' Ron asked himself, with just the possibility tormenting him worse than a thousand cutting curses. It took all his will-power to fight-down the surge of hope in his chest. With his only weapon – the truth of his conscious:

"Forget it you fool – even if she did want to give us another go - - once she knows how much blood is on your hands - - how many you've killed in cold blood - - she'll run from you in horror, Now forget this nonsense and get back to business.

"It's called core magic Potter;" he said aloud, "and as you can see it comes with a heavy cost to the caster."

"You look like you've aged ten-years,

"Yeah that's about right, but as you can see it's also highly affective, so it's worth the price.

"But it's killing you Ron.

"Yes it is, but what do you care, - you killed your sidekick a year ago when behind my back - you turned the girl I worshipped and adored - into an amoral - thrill seeking … cock-hungry …fuck-toy.

"That was all her doing, Ron …

"…pure bullocks Potter - - rubbish that I'm not buying," Ron interrupted. "It takes two to tango you dolt. Or are you trying to say that she raped you - - against your will - - over and over again?

"Well …ah no …not exactly," Harry replied with a deer in the headlights expression on his face.

"You're a real piece of work Potter, and to think I once admired you, dreamed of stepping in-front of the killing curse for your sake. I thought of you as a classic hero, worth two of the likes of me - - but clearly you're not. You've changed from first year, you both have, or perhaps this was the real you all along and I was too dumb to see it. Well; me-boy-oh, the rose-colored glasses are off now. And I've just decided that you two backstabbers really do deserve each other; I just hope your marriage is long and painful.

"Oh, we're not married. And believe me …we never will be;" Harry interjected a little too quickly. "She's been driving me mental for months now – and frankly - I can't stand being around her anymore". Harry said franticly -seemingly desperate to explain him-self – and feeling hurt by what had just been said – for Ron's option of him really mattered to Harry.

"I don't love her and never did, what the Horcrux said was god's simple truth – please believe me. There is no way I could be with her for a lifetime. It's over between us."

"So it's all been just a friend with benefits lark for you, eh? Sewing some wild oats before the battle with Tom, is that it?

"Yeah - and so what if it was? We're teenagers for Merlin's sake." Harry said without thinking, his nerves still rattled by what he'd seen and heard. "Only a complete idiotic moron gets married before age twenty-five. Did you ever consider the possibility that Hermione might want to do something with her life other than pop-out your babies? She's brilliant – she wants a career you royal Pillock. She doesn't need you - - and if she does need a bloke - she can do loads better than - -

"- - than me, Potter," Ron snarled his eyes glowing.

"Well - - you've said it yourself, loads of times," Harry spat back as his Horcrux disquiet began to fade. "Did you ever bother to ask her if she wanted to settle down fresh out of Hogwarts at nineteen? Do you know how scary marriage is anyone with a brain in their head? The total commitment for a lifetime that it represents?

"Especially for a girl that's never been on a real date with a bloke who could afford to take her someplace nice - - Krum was at fourteen – Cormac a self-loving jerk. Do you blame her for wanting to experience dating - with a score of regular blokes - to live - before she became anyone's breeder? Did you ever ask her how she felt about your precious restrictions – of course not!

"Hermione and I didn't want any strings, we just wanted to experience life – and who and bloody hell are you to judge us, you prude! You may be old fashion enough in your thinking to embrace the old-ball and chain right out of the box, but she wasn't any more ready for that, than I was - - go on - - you dimwitted Prat - - ask her?

"Oh I don't doubt you - - and of course you're right –"Ron said calmly without emotion. "I just assumed I knew what she wanted. What a fool I was - - me and my lower middle class urban morality. Why didn't I realize that this has been 'all-my-fault', and that you two national heroes are totally blameless. Hint at marriage and the natural reaction to that kind of unfair pressure is for the bird in question to spread her legs for her semi-sibling - - at the drop of a hat. Sweet merlin – it's the natural thing to do - isn't it? - - - Yes sir, what a world class chump, I was, for selfishly not seeing this your way," Ron replied with thick sarcasm. "Sewing a few wild-oats with a dozen different partners and risking lord knows how many diseases - - is expected of young people, these days."

Then turning toward Hermione Ron saw Harry's unpleasant truths reflected in her face. She was sitting up now - looking like she'd been hit repeatedly by a half-ton lorry. Nodding her head slowly in agreement she said.

"Harry's right Ron, all we shared during our trysts at Hogwarts were carnal experiences, there were no feeling behind anything we did, beyond friendship. So sexually, it's been over between us for a-while now".

"Then it was never serious between you – no love involved?," Ron asked in a soft - deeply hurt tone.

"No, not really, we deluded ourselves for a-bit 'Pretending' it was, but basically all our undying love talk was a really lame excuse for meaningless …no strings-attached sex," Hermione said in a shock-induced bit of surprisingly blunt candor, the aftershock effect of her encounter with the Horcrux.

"Then I didn't know-you like I thought I did," Ron said to her in a semi-daze. "I was mistaken – in thinking that we shared core values. Casual sex just isn't my cup of tea, another of my shortcomings, I suppose - - eh-Granger? Ask Lavender, she didn't like my 'wait until after marriage' attitude either at least during the time we dated," Ron admitted in a semi-shocked, almost an absentminded trance - - as a score of incorrect notions about his former friends abruptly-died.

"Church-goers as nippers we were - brainwashed by the local vicar about Christian right and wrong - - my Mum taught us to respect women - - shouldn't judge what others do - - not fair - - we Weasley's were always – out of tune with the modern me-first attitudes and the current flexible-morality," Ron continued to semi-mumbled in bafflement, the painful regret in his voice thick. "Thank-god I've finally wised-up about people'.

Then swaying like a drunker, he shook his head to clear-it and then took a galleon from his pocket. He then pointed his wand at it and concentrating hard uttered the spell 'Portus' softly. "This illegal portkey will take you to the south of England - - there is a nature park and modest woodlands southeast of Millington cove, you should be safe there for a bit," Ron said his voice sounding drained. "Take the sword with you …as you can see, I don't need it".

"Come with us Ron, you're knackered", Hermione pleaded - trying to keep the desperation out of her voice.

"Naw - - still have loads to do today," four down, three or four to go - - half way there - Horcrux wise.

"Then let us come with you," suggested Harry eagerly.

"Toffs don't mingle with the servant class, you Hero types can't be seen with common murders. Just think of the affect it would have on your reputations. Historian's world-wide would be appalled at the very notion.

"We're not above you Ron - we are - -" Hermione began only to be interrupted.

"- - You got that right in one go", Ron spat at Hermione - swaying from near total magical exhaustion, "all these years I had it wrong, - you and your morals aren't better than mine – or superior - - just different. I thought we were on the same page in our beliefs - - that you and I had so much in common - and as it turns-out – you're city sophisticated and I'm rural.

"Then we should set on your garden bench for a-bit and try to find common ground again, I've missed you Ron - - so very much," Hermione pleaded

"But I have a very different concept of what's right and wrong than you-lot. Not that I'm claiming that what I believe is in any way loftier to your way of doing things. I'm not judging either of you, really I'm not. If what you do works for you – casual sex and such - - then that's fine, just don't expect me to play that game.

"Meaningless sex, hasn't exactly worked-out gang-busters for us either - - you Git. Harry said feeling awkward "Hermione and I lost the people we loved to gain our experiences. Maybe your value system isn't the wrong way to go.

"We have a different understanding of the value of loyalty and fidelity as well. Had you fallen in love, like you loudly claimed at the time," Ron said to Hermione - "it would have still hurt, but I could have dealt with it loads better than - - - this. Since the Yule Ball, as Harry probably already told you - I had half expected to lose you to; him – sooner or later I knew it would come - for sidekicks don't ride off into the sunset with the heroine.

"But you didn't lose me to Harry, I loved you back then - - and I might still.

"Loved me – but couldn't resist shagging Harry - listen to yourself, for God's sake." Ron said in a once-again fully controlled monotone - His Occulmency shields fully in place - -and yet a single tear tracked down his cheek.

"I've always shared whatever I had with both of you, my home - my family – my sister. For six years what was mine was yours," Ron said steeping back away from them. "But my backward rural morality draws the line at my girlfriend's bed. To stab me in the back, betray our friendship over something without meaning to either of you _ I can't describe how much that hurts.

As out of date as such archaic concepts of right and wrong are to you modern hero-types, they still remain my core values. Think of it; the one and only - love of my life, is a common slag, with all the morals of an alley-cat. And my best mate is no better.

"Ron don't go – we need to talk - I need to explain. Please give me another chance?" Hermione pleaded. But Ron's ears had shut down – from emotional sensory overload.

"Fallen in with bad companions; I have" – Ron mumbled half to himself - - "Mum wouldn't want me hanging-out with a Scarlet-lady and a self-centered hedonistic bad-boy, I just thank-God Ginny caught you-lot when she did," Ron said looking with pity directly at Hermione, "if you see no problem cheating while dating - - I doubt you'd do less as my wife.

"That's not true, I'd never - - - as your wife - -" Hermione protested starting to cry again.

"Isn't it? - With my maturity level according to you - that of a tiny teaspoon - and suffering from out of date morals, the trio's clown is luckily too ruddy stupid to know different. Ignorance is only bliss, until it ends. Anyway, it's been a painfully-informative and awkwardly-productive visit" - - Ron said steeping back to apperate - - "I'll be in touch".

"How" … Harry said franticly trying to keep Ron with them - - for his red-haired ex-best mate had accomplished more in the past hour than Harry and Hermione had done since September of the previous year.

"Deluminator - - blue ball of light - - brought me straight to you," Ron said determined to leave with a joke - - "no wait – I shouldn't have told you that," Ron said in a flawless imitation of Hagrid - causing both Harry and Hermione to smile and chuckle, the first time they'd done that in ages.

But before another word was spoken Ron had turned on the spot and disaperated. Instantly the smiles faded.