sekkoon

Chapter 20:

'Ron! Ron please wait! Ron!' Hermione cried as she tore down the corridor after her boyfriend, who was carrying on running, as distressed as she was. The few people who were still lingering in the corridors all turned to watch, whispering and pointing, some actually jogging and keeping up with the scene unfolding before them.

'Ron!' Hermione called again as they reached Gryffindor Common Room. He slammed away inside of it, and Hermione quickly followed, her heart jumping when she saw how full it was. She prayed he wouldn't out her in front of everyone.

'Get lost Hermione.' Were the first words he yelled back over his shoulder as Hermione grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back to face her.

'No! Ron please, let me explain-'

'What's to explain? I saw, Hermione. I saw. How long did you plan to hide it from me? WELL?' Ron bellowed as the common room fell eerily silent.

'I wasn't hiding anything - it didn't mean anything it just-'

'Happened? Sure. Leave me alone, Mia.' Ron turned to walk away, as people carried on staring, amazed at the fighting pair, and intrigued as to find out what was going on. Ginny rushed up to her Brother, and flashed a sympathetic look at Hermione, as if apologizing for not reaching her first.

'Ron, calm down - whatever it is I'm sure-'

'SHUT. UP.' Ron roared to Ginny, who flinched and stepped back. Hermione pushed Ginny away from Ron, who spun back to face her.

'DON'T shout at her - she hasn't done anything!' Hermione protested, and Ron observed her heatedly.

'Whereas you've ruined everything! What was it about me, then, Mia? Huh? Not good looking enough? Not 'bad' enough? Not rich enough?' Ron spat, as Ginny looked completely confused, as did everyone else in the common room.

'Don't be ridiculous - I told you Ron, I didn't plan this. I don't even like him - why the h.ell would I like him? He just... well... and then... then I... then we... then you came in, and-'

'And you thought 'uh-oh busted', turned on the water works and you're now trying feverishly to think of an excuse, right?' Ron hissed, and Hermione shook her head, the tears falling faster than ever now.

'No... it's not like that... He-'

'Why do you keep saying 'He', Mia? Are you afraid people will know who it is we're talking about? Well why don't we tell them, eh? Give everyone something good to talk about for a change!' Ron turned to the onlooking crowd, and Hermione let out a gasp of air.

'Ron! Please! Stop it!' She sobbed, but Ron wasn't listening.

'You all want to know what's happened, I take it?' Ron called loudly, and Harry stepped forwards, his eyes mainly on Hermione, but flickering to Ron as he spoke.

'Ron mate, shut up. Calm down - don't say things you'll regret-'

'This, unbelievebly Harry, has nothing to do with you.' Ron pushed Harry hard out of the way, and Ginny steadied him, placing her hands on his arm as they all stared, wide-eyed at Ron.

'Anyway-'

'Ron... please... I've said sorry... I-'

'I don't care what you say or do anymore Hermione. SO!' Ron turned his attention back once more to the people watching, open mouthed. 'I just found my girlfriend, my dear, sweet, innocent girlfriend,' Ron put his arm tightly around Hermione as he said it, and Hermione felt more tears streaking down her cheeks when she realized Ron wasn't just trying to frighten her.

'Hermione, you all know her, yes? Hermione Granger - never puts a toe out of line, yes that one - all curled up cosily, kissing as if there was no tomorrow... someone who, stunningly, wasn't me!' Ron shouted, pushing Hermione forcefully away from him, making her stumble to keep her balance. Everyone's gaze was on her now, some shocked, some amused, some who knew her better, disgusted.

'Oh wait! It only gets better!' Ron bellowed, as Hermione qiped at her eyes slowly. 'Wait until you hear who it was she was kissing!'

'Ron... I'm begging you... I'll do anything...' Hermione cried harder, but Ron dismissed her pleas with a wave of his hand.

'The one and only -'

'PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!' Came a shout, from somewhere to Ron's left, and a flash of blue light. It hit Ron on his left arm, and he instantly became frozen, his mouth still open, about to form the name Hermione hated so much right now. He fell back to the floor with a thud, and there was a collective gasp from the audience, many stunned and looking around for the culprit, others dissapointed at not having heard who it was Hermione had been 'with'. Hermione turned to Harry, who was lowering his wand, but glaring at Hermione all the same.

'I think we should talk.' He said coldly to her, and Ginny nodded instantly, her long hair bouncing on her shoulders, her narrowed eyes boring into Hermione's.

Harry and Ginny moved Ron's frozen form up to the boys dorm, and were followed by a still tearful Hermione. People in the common room fell silent when she walked past, their chattering about the situation halting so as they could all stare at her properly.
Once the four - well, three, really - were safe and alone in the boys dorm, another silence, worse than the one downstairs, enveloped them.

'Well?' Ginny's high, sweet voice pierced the heavy quietness.

'I...'

'Is it true? Who were you kissing? When? Where? Why?' It was Harry who was speaking now, watching her as if she had grown three more heads right in front of them.

'I... I didn't mean for it to happen...' Hermione whispered, and Ginny laughed bitterly.

'Oh, yes, of course - let me guess; you tripped and fell onto someone else, right? And your lips just happened to meet? And from the height of Ron's anger, I'm guessing it wasn't just a peck on the lips either...' Ginny hissed, and Hermione flinched at the ice in her voice.

'No.' She admitted. 'It was a lot more than a 'peck on the lips'.' She stopped, but Harry and Ginny both stayed silent now, waiting for her to continue.
'Ron's note was forged by- ... someone else. And when I got there, that person was there waiting; and I tried to leave - I wanted to! Sort of... but I just... and then he said something... and... and then... then we were kissing all of a sudden - and then Ron camw crashing in, and-'

'Who are we talking about here?' Harry interrupted, and Hermione bit down on her lip hard.

'I... I can't say...' She whispered.

'If you don't, then Ron will when he comes around.' Ginny warned.

'You'll hate me.' Hermione cried, and Harry and Ginny said nor did nothing to rest her fears, they mainly carried on watching her, waiting.

'Malfoy. Draco Malfoy.' She said it quietly, so quietly it was almost incomprehendable, but Ginny and Harry both caught it. Well, they thought they did.

'What?' Harry spat.

'Excuse me? WHO?' Ginny gasped, and Hermione nodded, more tears spilling down her cheeks.

'Please - you can't tell anyone; it was a mistake and I told him the last time that-'

'The last time?' Ginny's whisper cut through Hermione's own voice like a knife. Harry stood up as if automatically, and began pacing back and forth in front of both girls.

'I... He follows me sometimes... and he corners me... says things... nice things... and I get confused - Harry, Gin, I'm so sorry! Please it won't happen any more, ever again, and-'

Harry stopped walking and turned to Ron, before slowly to Hermione.

'Malfoy?' He whispered. 'I'll kill him.'

'No!' Hermione shrieked, her feelings towards her torturer becoming a lot clearer in one, little, word.

# posted by Sek Koon @ 6:34 AM