A/N: I promise I really don't hate Ron! It gets better….not in this chapter, but soon.
The day passed by slowly. Hermione simply paced her room, wondering where Ron went, if he'd be back, if she should call Harry and Ginny, what she should do…. But everything sounded lame and unhelpful. So instead she peered out her window and out her door from time to time, hoping to catch a glimpse of him or hear him. She sent a message to Minerva but she hadn't seen him either.
She picked at some toast in the afternoon but nothing settled her. She started a hundred letters to Ron but what could she possibly say? She had already told him everything and no matter how many times she said she was sorry it would never be enough.
It was late in the evening before she finally broke down. She needed to speak to someone. And the only one she wanted was Severus. Penning a quick message, she sent it off and poured herself a cup of mulled wine to calm her nerves.
The castle was quiet at this time of night, and sitting in front of her fireplace, the sound of crackling embers filled the room. She inhaled the smoky scent and downed the remnants of her wine goblet. She thought about Severus and wondered if he'd be happy that she had ended things. She imagined him bursting into her room, snatching her up into a tight embrace and telling her over and over how much he loved her. He hadn't said it more than once or twice but it warmed her soul when she heard it.
A noise came from outside her door, and she snapped her head around. No one came in, so she rose and walked over, thinking perhaps it had been a knock and she didn't hear correctly. Opening the door, she blanched at seeing a red faced, swaying Ronald. He held a bottle limply in his hand, and his eyes were unfocused. Hermione felt a chill of fear go through her.
"Ronald? What are you doing here?" She asked slowly. He scoffed at her and roughly pushed her out of the way.
"This is still my room too, 'Mione. My things are here. We're not divorced yet – you can't throw me out!" He slurred, stumbling in to the room. She turned to watch him, but left the door open, hoping to guide him out.
"You shouldn't be here." She said. Ron spun towards her and narrowed his eyes.
"Oh. He's here, is that it? Where's the old lech, huh? Is he under the bed?" He leaned heavily on the bed and looked beneath.
"Nope! Oh, how about behind the curtains? Come out come out wherever you are, Snivellus." He sneered. He lunged to look behind the curtain but fell instead, ripping the curtain down with him. Hermione sighed and went to help him up.
"He's not here, Ron. But you need to leave. Go sleep this off and come back when you are sober." Ron ripped his arm out of her grasp and shook his head, pointing at her.
"You can't kick me out. I'm still your husband." A dangerous look spread across his face. "And you, Hermione, are still my wife." Hermione took a step back but nodded.
"Yes, Ron, I'm still your wife. For now."
Ron stepped towards her, smiling. "Well then. What do you say we give it one more go then, 'Mione? You still have your wifely duties to attend to." He spread a hot hand out over the side of her face. She pushed it away and shook her head.
"No, Ron. You need to go. I'll find you a -" The bottle Ron had been holding hit her hard on the side of her head. Everything got blurry and quiet for a few moments and then she found herself looking up at the ceiling. He had put her on the bed.
He came closer, hands fumbling with his belt. She shook her head weakly, trying to move her arms and legs but they were too heavy. She felt something hot running down the side of her face and pooling by her neck. She cried and whimpered but couldn't find the strength to get away or call out for help.
Ron grabbed her legs and pulled her to the edge of the bed, pressing himself against her. As the world started to fade to black she heard a familiar voice say her name. She smiled weakly. Severus's voice sounded so real in her mind. She only somewhat heard the sound of breaking glass and a grunt before she blacked out.
Severus had been sitting on his bed, running his hands through his hair, bouncing his leg and waiting impatiently for some sort of word from Hermione. He hadn't been able to eat or sleep or even think clearly since he saw her in the window.
When the owl arrived, he practically sprinted to the widow, absentmindedly gave the owl a whole piece of toast and ripped the letter open as fast as he could.
Dearest Severus,
I've told Ron all about my affair, though I'm not sure he knows it was you. He knows I have been continuing to take my potions and he knows I want a divorce. I've been honest with him and now I need to be honest with you. My heart is breaking for him, Severus. I don't even know how I could have hurt him so badly. All I know is that I need you. I need someone to talk to, and I need the comfort of your touch.
Please, I beg you, come to me tonight. I love you.
-Your Hermione
His heart quickened and a very rare smile crossed his lips. She finally called for me. She needs me. Running to the bathroom, he did a few quick cleaning charms to spruce himself up and he changed his clothing. After a deep breath and a brief pep talk, he strode as slowly as his legs would allow him to her chambers.
Once he approached her room from the corridor, he knew something was wrong. Her door was open, spilling light into the hall. Some muffled noises came from inside and the hairs stood up on the back of his neck.
"Hermione?" He called out softly.
Peering inside carefully, he saw Ron standing beside the bed, clutching a pair of slender legs and fumbling with his trousers. Disgusted, he almost turned away, thinking Ron had brought some other woman back to Hermione's room. But Ron shifted to the side just in time for Severus to catch a glimpse of the woman on the bed. It was Hermione. Her eyes were fluttering, her cheeks were stained with tears and thick blood ran down the side of her head onto the bed beneath her.
Thinking quickly, bile rising in his throat, he glanced around the room and saw the liquor bottle on the floor, not far from them. It was stained with her blood. Rage filling him, he crossed the room, grabbed the bottle and smashed it over Ron's head. The glass shattered and Ron's body crumpled to a heap on the floor.
Shaking, he rushed over to his sweet Hermione and felt for a pulse. She was limp and cold, but he felt a weak pulse. She had lost a lot of blood – it looked like Ron might have fractured her skull. He gathered her into his arms, trying to ignore the memories of the last time he had held the woman he loved like this and fled to the hospital wing.
He burst inside and fell to his knees from exertion. Poppy appeared, still in her nightgown and robe. She quickly levitated Hermione to a bed and got right to work on her. Severus breathlessly told her about Ron and she sent a house elf to fetch him. Severus paced the floor outside the curtains for hours, his mind filling with all sorts of horrible thoughts. Finally Poppy appeared, grim faced.
"Is she alright?" He choked out.
"I've done all I can." Poppy said softly. "It's up to her now. Her skull had indeed been fractured and she lost a lot of blood. I've healed her the best I can but the swelling in her brain is keeping her from waking."
"But she'll wake?" He asked, voice shaking. Poppy looked at him sympathetically and touched his shoulder.
"I'm not powerful enough to know, Severus. I have faith that she will but we shall have to wait and see."
He didn't try to stop the pain twisting his face or the tears streaming from his eyes. Now was not the time for composure. Poppy led him to her bedside and sat him in the chair beside her. Then she backed away to give him some privacy.
Severus clutched Hermione's hand and kissed it over and over.
"Please, Hermione. Please wake up. I can't lose you, too. Please wake up. I love you, Hermione. Please." He dropped his head to her thigh and cried, holding her hand tightly as though it were a lifeline. He didn't notice her slight smile in her sleep at his words, or the color slowly returning to her face as the sun rose higher and higher.
A/N: Again, I don't hate Ron, I swear! Ron sober wouldn't do anything even close to this, and makes up for it in the end. I wanted something big to finally snap Hermione out of it and be confident about leaving him. Also, in my writer's mind I don't think he would have actually done something. I more envision him maybe trying, but breaking down and crying after realizing what he was doing and how badly he hurt. Hope that helps! :)