Here's a shorter chapter to get us to the next one. Thanks for reading and responding!
Hermione swung her legs over the cot bed, stretching her limbs and trying to rub a knot out of her neck. The bed had been stiff, causing her muscles to ache this morning, but somehow she felt rested. It was as if she'd slept better than she had in years, calmed somehow by an outside presence. She looked down then at the stuffed bunny in her hand. Funny, she didn't remembering bringing it the previous night.
Suddenly, she remembered everything; the questions, the cell, leaving Rose behind. At the thought of Rose her head dropped to her knees and she wrapped her arms around her legs, ready to give in to a good cry.
"Hermione Granger?" a guard called. "You have guests."
The barred door swung open then and in walked Harry and Ginny, Arthur and Molly, and Ron and Lavender. Hermione suppressed a groan at the sight of Lavender, though she supposed the girl would be the least of her worries that day. Ginny sat down next to Hermione on the cot and handed her a fresh cup of tea, and Hermione smiled in thanks.
"What's going to happen?" Hermione asked as Harry sat on a bench across from her.
"We're going into the formal trial soon. It'll be tough, but I know the presiding head. He should be fair."
Hermione nodded, noticing Harry looked like he hadn't slept in days. They all did actually, except maybe Lavender.
"Where's…"
"Rose is at home with Bill and Fleur," Ginny answered quickly, before Hermione could finish her question. Hermione let out a sigh of relief, and then eyed the group around her. She knew the tests they'd performed on her last night had something to do with Rose, but she wasn't sure how much was revealed.
"Hermione, we know," Harry said. Hermione's eyes darted up to his then, and she knew they were both thinking about the same thing.
"Yes, dear, they say there's something about Rose," Molly said delicately. "That perhaps you're not her mother."
Hermione took her time looking at each of them carefully, like a caged animal at a zoo might eye the intruders watching it from outside the glass. She shook her head softly no, telling them she wouldn't speak on the subject.
"Great, well I'm glad we got that all cleared up," Lavender said sarcastically. "You know, we are trying to help you Hermione."
"I can take care of myself, thanks." Hermione pulled her knees closer as she said it, knowing she was doing a poor job of convincing anyone of that fact. But she wouldn't take pity, least of all from Lavender Brown. She was Hermione Granger, for goodness sake. She helped kill Voldemort, she was the cleverest witch of her age. She'd lived three years with a burning secret and a mission that would have seen Lav-Lav collapse after one day. She could at least handle this.
"Mr. Ron," a high pitched male voice squeaked. Hermione looked up to see one of the officers who'd checked her in passing by her cell.
"Hiya Smidgehorn," Ron said distractedly.
"You know Mr. Ron, if you want to sleep here again, you just let me know," Smidgehorn continued. "I can at least get you a blanket and pillow, you must have been freezing sleeping on the floor like that."
"That won't be necessary Smidgehorn, thanks."
Hermione looked at Ron, confused. He had slept here? Outside her cell? All night? Ron was looking resolutely at the floor, the tips of his ears turning telltale red and his arms crossed tightly against his chest.
"You spent the night here?" Lavender said, half whisper and half hiss.
"Can we talk about this later?" Ron begged quietly. "In private?"
Lavender huffed and turned to leave the cell.
"I'll be in the trial room," she said loudly. "I'm sure you'll all be joining me in there soon." She stared pointedly at Ron as she turned on one heel and exited.
"The Wizengamot won't be so tough after her, huh?"
"Ginny," Ron shot back, "please?"
"What?" Ginny asked innocently. "Just trying to lighten the mood."
The group began readying themselves to leave as well. Molly and Arthur both hugged Hermione and told her to keep her chin up. Ginny embraced her tightly and whispered in her ear that they would all be out there for her, then left herself. Hermione turned finally to Ron and Harry, not sure what to say to them.
"It will be all right Hermione," Harry said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Do you believe me?"
Hermione nodded as Harry hugged her, then she whispered in his ear.
"Remember…"
"I remember, protect Rose," Harry replied, letting her go. "But you've got to stop being so cryptic."
Harry left then with one backward glance at Hermione and Ron, left by themselves in the cell. It was the first time in three years they'd been alone together.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Hermione."
Hermione looked in his eyes and held her breath. His stare was so earnest, so sincere. She knew he meant it, and it killed her.
Ron made a move as if he were going to embrace her then thought better of it, instead reaching out to grasp one of her hands in his own. He caressed her fingers slowly, back and forth. It was the first time he'd touched her since she'd been back, and it was intoxicating. But it wasn't enough. She wanted to fling herself at him, wrap her arms around him and bury her head into his chest. She wanted to sob to him, beg him never to let her go, plead with him to do whatever it took to keep them together.
"Ron," she said instead, removing her fingers from his hand. "Leave me alone."