A/N: Hey, thanks for all the reviews! I know, I know, H/G??? WTF? Where's the H/Hr? It's starting ... Everything that you've been waiting for is going to happen, questions answered, ships returning to their proper ports (so to speak ... heh) ... It all starts here, it starts now. And then it'll finish. I'm sorry I irritated everyone with the H/G scenes, but they were a necessity to push Hermione over the edge. Good catch on the Friends episode. It jumped in my head and I knew exactly what I had to do! KUDOS to you all for picking up on that!. This chapter is sponsored by Dido and her song: White Flag ... Lovely song indeed! And without further ado ...
And when we meet
As I'm sure we will
All that was then
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be ...
(White Flag - Dido)
Hermione sighed happily as she snuggled into the warmth of the covers and rolled to her side with a content smile crossing her rosy lips. She inhaled deeply and stopped at the familiar smell in the air.
What? She thought slowly. Her mind didn't seem to want to work properly so she opened her eyes instead. The onslaught of morning light assailed her now pounding head and made her cringe nauseously and snap her eyes shut tightly.
What happened? She put a hand to her eyes and pulled herself into a sitting position on the bed. Hermione fought the stabbing pain in her skull and squinted against the light to look around the one room hut.
"W-Why am I at Hagrid's?" She wondered aloud. A cool breeze floated through an open window and she shivered. Her eyes went wide when she looked down to see that she was only wearing her panties. There was a knock at the door and Hermione quickly pulled the blankets up to her chin.
"'Ermione? Are yeh awake?"
HAGRID!? Oh, please don't tell me! She thought frantically. What happened ... what happened? I can't remember anything after Ron helped me up ... Oh God!
"'Ermione? I'm comin' in." Hagrid said from the front door. Hermione lay back down partly to keep her hangover in check and partly to cover the rest of her bare flesh. She winced as the door opened and she buried her head under the covers.
"Ah, yeh are awake then." Hagrid said seriously. "Right fine 'ouse elf, that Dobby. 'E went an covered for yeh las' nigh' an' even brough' yeh a fresh set o' clothes."
Hermione sighed under the covers.
"Yeh'll find a potion teh take care o' tha' 'angover on th' bedside table." Hagrid said soothingly. "Yer clothes are righ' here." Without another word, he turned and left the hut, closing the door gently behind him.
"What did I get myself into?" Hermione sighed to herself. Despite her best efforts, tears began to well in her eyes and she didn't make a move to stop them. With a final sigh of defeat, she took the potion Hagrid told her about and downed it in a few gulps. She winced at the taste but sighed happily as the throbbing in her head receded and she began to think clearly again. Her nausea disappeared almost immediately and she pulled the covers from her face and looked around.
Ok, what happened? I don't think that Hagrid would ... Her heart stopped at the thought. No, of course not, he wouldn't do that ... She shook her head and reached for her bra. But I've been here all night! I could get expelled! Worry started to crease her face and her heart started pounding as a panic attack started to settle in. She fastened her bra and slipped into her clothes.
Hermione had just finished dressing when there was another soft knock on the door.
"'Ermione? Are yeh decent?" Hagrid asked with concern from the front of his tiny house.
"Yes, Hagrid." Hermione called back dejectedly.
Hagrid opened the door and stepped in. She could see the concern on his face even through the bushy black beard. "Are yeh feelin' better?" He asked quietly.
Hermione nodded as the tears started rolling down her cheeks again. "H-how did I get here?" She asked quietly.
"'Arry an' Ron brough' yeh here las' nigh'." Hagrid said concernedly as he sat in his favorite chair. "Yeh were righ' ou' of it."
She wiped the tears from her face and sat back down on the bed. "Why was ..." She cleared her throat and looked at the floor. "What happened to my clothes?" She asked almost too quietly.
Hagrid nodded. "I was wonderin' if yeh was goin' teh ask." He cleared his throat. "Luna took them off o' yeh after yeh were in bed."
Hermione sighed in relief. "I don't remember anything from last night, Hagrid." She admitted.
It's what you wanted. A voice said in the back of her head. Hermione wiped away a new set of tears that started pouring down her cheeks.
"Wha' in th' world made yeh do it?" Hagrid asked quietly. "I hope yeh realize tha' Firewhisky ain't th' way teh forget."
Hermione nodded. "I've learned that ..." She said with a slight smile. She looked at Hagrid and couldn't help herself. She went to her friend and broke down in his arms.
"I'm sorry, 'Ermione. I wish I could do more fer yeh." He said quietly as he patted her back.
"You've done more than enough, Hagrid. I'm sorry I imposed."
"Yeh didn't impose." He said gruffly. "'Arry an' Ron weren' abou' teh le' yeh ge' caugh' an' expelled."
I don't remember seeing Harry ... Hermione thought hard. "When did I see Harry?" She asked herself quietly.
Hagrid shrugged. "They dropped yeh off here an' said they had teh ge' back teh th' school. They were in a righ' state I tell yeh."
Hermione looked at him curiously. "Why?"
He smiled softly at her and motioned for her to have a seat. "Well, yeh know the talks we had abou' 'Arry ..."
Hermione blanched. Madam Puddifoot's ... Her hand came to her mouth to stifle the gasp of horror that seemed to be stuck in her chest. Her eyes went wide as everything spilled into her head.
She ignored him and opened the door. Hermione glanced around the small, gaudily decorated shop and found Harry and Ginny at a corner table. "Harry!" She waved for him to come over. He looked at her in confusion and after saying something to Ginny wound his way through the tables to her.
"Hermione? What happened?" He stepped back after he caught the smell of liquor seeping from her. "Have you been drinking?" He asked incredulously.
"I need to talk to you, now!" She said demandingly and stumbled out of the door and past a frustrated Ron. Harry followed her a few minutes later and caught up to her in the same alley he was with Ginny earlier.
"Ron what happened?" Harry asked concernedly.
"She went out of her mind and started drinking Firewhisky." Ron admitted. "She said something about you and I being blind then babbled about Ginny and then came up here. She's quite the lightweight it seems."
"Harry, you are blind, and I'm tired of waiting for you to open your eyesh." She said drunkenly.
"What?"
"Let me finish." She held up an unsteady finger and looked quizzically at what could have possibly been two Harry Potter's. "I'm over you, Harry. You hear me?! I'm over you!"
Harry's jaw dropped. "What? Y-You're over me?"
Hermione nodded seriously.
"What ... When?" Harry stammered as Hermione's eyes rolled back into her head as she passed out and fell into his arms.
"I-I didn't ..." She whispered quietly as her shoulders slumped. She looked at Hagrid who was looking at his hands and she just sat in stunned silence.
"'Arry looked like 'e'd seen a ghost an' Ron, well I've never seen 'im so red." Hagrid replied quietly.
Hermione hid her face in her hands and sobbed uncontrollably. "Hagrid, what have I done?!" She choked out.
He sighed heavily. "It'll all work ou', 'Ermione. Those two really care abou' yeh." He handed her a large handkerchief and smiled gently at her. "O' course, it's goin' teh take a bit o' time teh work itself ou'."
Hermione nodded silently. "I-I guess I should get up to the school." She said finally. "I'm going to have to face this mess I've gotten myself into."
Hagrid stood with her and gave her a quick, comforting hug. "Yeh'll be surprised." Hagrid said tenderly. "Yeh have a good set o' friends there."
Hermione chuckled hollowly. "I wish I could believe that." She wiped her face and pulled her hair into a messy ponytail. She looked into his caring face and smiled softly. "Thank you, Hagrid."
Hagrid blushed slightly. "Any time, 'Ermione, jus' don' be startin' any bad habits tha' involve Firewhisky."
Hermione smiled and let out an amused laugh. "No, I won't be making this a habit." She said with a blush.
Hagrid smiled. "Tha's good. Now yer friends are waitin'."
She gave him a quick hug and stepped out into the morning light. With each determined step towards the castle, she felt the dread grow within her. Hermione looked from the ground and concentrated on the doors of the castle before she stopped suddenly. She let out a miserable sigh and quickly hid behind a bush when she spotted Harry and Ginny leave the castle on their way to the lake.
That's where we used to go when he wanted to talk. She thought glumly. Not wanting to burst into tears again, she concentrated on Ron instead.
What am I going to say to him? She frowned and concentrated on what she would say when she met him. A speech quickly formed in her mind and she began to recite it over and over in her head. She peeked over the top of the bush and found the way clear.
Hermione stood determinedly and strode to the castle's front door and went inside. It was still pretty early and the inhabitants of the school were still enjoying their time to sleep in. Hermione found little to no activity along her chosen path and the common room itself was devoid of life.
"Where is everyone?" She asked quietly then turned towards the girl's staircase. She stopped when she heard someone clear their throat by the stairs to the boy's dormitory. Hermione looked back to see Ron glaring at her.
"Hi, Ron." She said quietly and turned towards him. "I-I guess I have some explaining to do."
"Some?" Ron said in a barely audible voice.
Hermione flinched and motioned for him to have a seat in their normal spot by the fireplace. He joined her reluctantly but when he looked at her, his face softened.
"Hermione, why didn't you just tell me that you were interested in Harry to begin with?" He asked quietly.
"I-I didn't want to hurt your feelings, Ron." She admitted as she looked at her hands. She could feel him still looking at her and she fidgeted a bit in her chair. "After I found out that you were interested in me, I guess I was afraid that I'd lose your friendship if I turned you down."
His hand cupped her chin and he gently guided her gaze to meet his. She saw her best friend staring at her intently with a lingering sadness in his eyes and he let out a deep, shuddering sigh. "Hermione, we've known each other for five years now." He dropped his hand back to his lap. "Sure, we fight, and I assumed it was because you liked me so I kept starting them again, hoping to pull your attention from Harry." He rubbed his tired eyes. "After we got you to Hagrid's, Luna pulled me aside and we talked."
Hermione's eyes went wide. "I'm sorry, but you didn't run?"
Ron scowled at her. "I was a little too shocked at the moment, Hermione." He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "I didn't come to argue with you, I'm tired of that." He admitted. "Luna and I had a talk and she made me realize how much you really like Harry." He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to respond. "It's no use, Hermione, I know, if not by what you said to him, but the way you've always acted around him. I'm not saying that I'm ok with this. To tell you the truth I'm bloody angry, but there's nothing I can do about how you feel." He looked into her eyes and smiled apologetically. "I need some time." He said quietly. "So please, don't talk to me for a while?"
Hermione nodded silently. When Ron got to his feet, she did as well and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry, Ron." She whispered. He hugged her for a moment then pulled away. Without looking back, he left the common room.
Hermione wiped away the tears that she didn't even remember releasing and sat back on the couch. She buried her face in her hands and let some of her tension release.
Let's hope that confronting Harry and Ginny will be that easy. She sighed and looked around the room. Nothing to do but wait till those two get back. She changed her mind and went to her room where she found her clothes from the previous day folded neatly on her bed. The locket was sitting on top of the pile along with her wand. Her bags were by her desk. She sat on her bed and opened her birthday present from Harry. The locket glittered even in the dim light that was in the room. A scrap of parchment fell from the lid of the box and fell into her lap.
"What's this?" She picked it up and unfolded the note.
Hermione,
We really need to talk. Room of Requirement, 20:00.
Harry
Hermione sighed again as she re-read the short note. "Well, I guess I know when and where I'll get the third degree from him." Suddenly feeling claustrophobic, she grabbed her wand and stuffed the locket into her jeans pocket. Within a few minutes, she found herself walking the school grounds alone. Time seemed to stand still as she made her way down to the hillock that overlooked Hagrid's and the Forbidden Forest. Picking a spot next to a large boulder, Hermione took a seat and leaned back to let the sun cover her in its warmth. This was countered only by a brisk gust of wind that blew in from the lake.
"THERE YOU ARE!" Ginny screamed at her. Hermione jumped at the sudden, angry voice and backed against the boulder involuntarily. "WHERE DO YOU GET OFF TAKING HARRY FROM ME?!" Ginny was seething, her face was more red than Hermione had ever seen Ron's and with the wind blowing her long, red, hair, it looked like Ginny was on fire.
"Ginny ... Let-Let me explain." Hermione stammered.
Ginny went for her wand and had it pointing at Hermione faster than she could blink. "No, Hermione, you listen to me. I told you that I loved him! I told you about my insecurities for him! And what do you do?! You go and yank him out from under me!"
"It wasn't like that, Ginny!" Hermione stammered. She thought about going for her wand but knew about the infamous Bat-Bogey Hex and she didn't want to be the recipient. "J-just put the wand away and we can talk-"
"I'm tired of talking with you, Hermione!" Ginny spat back. "I've watched you pine for him and not make a move. Year after year, and I finally get the courage to do something that you obviously didn't!"
Hermione stiffened. "You knew I liked him?" She asked evenly. "You've known for how long?" Hermione's eyes went wide, not with shock but with revelation. "Did you know I was going to talk to him this summer?"
Ginny gulped despite her anger. "That's neither here nor there, Hermione!" She spat back. "The point is, I got to him first!"
Ginny didn't know what hit her. "EXPELIARMUS!" Hermione's wand had somehow appeared in her hand.
"Don't you EVER point a wand at me, Ginny Weasley." Hermione said in an angry, cold voice. "Here, I thought you were my friend! All the nights we've spent talking about guys, our wedding days, EVERYTHING! How many times did you stay up listening to me talk in my sleep?"
Ginny's face had lost all color when she'd realized that Hermione was so quick with a wand. She flinched at the accusation.
"I thought so! Is that how you figured out how to talk to Harry? ANSWER ME!" Hermione took a menacing step forward.
Ginny blanched and scrambled back from Hermione. She'd only seen her mother get so angry and it was usually at the twins.
"I'm waiting." Hermione bit out evenly.
Ginny nodded quietly, not taking her eyes off of Hermione's wand.
"Why, Gin? Why would you do this? Haven't I always been your friend? You were like the sister I never had." Hermione's shoulders slumped and she brought her free hand to her face to wipe away the tears that had somehow started to fall.
Ginny looked at her quietly and didn't respond.
"I guess I know why you treated me like a sister for so long." Hermione sighed. With her anger rapidly being replaced with sadness she dropped her wand and walked past Ginny. "I've got to find Harry ... We need to sort this out."
Hermione didn't know what hit her. Ginny tackled her from behind. "STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" She bellowed and wrapped her arms around her. Hermione stumbled and fell backwards, the two of them caught each other in the fall and they started struggling madly. Hermione pulled on Ginny's hair in an attempt to get her off and Ginny scratched at Hermione's eyes in an attempt to keep her from Harry.
The two girls rolled on the ground screaming and kicking at each other until two strong hands pulled them apart and lifted them to their feet.
"LET ME AT HER!" Ginny screamed wildly, trying to grab at Hermione even though the task was futile.
Hermione glared at the screeching young woman strangely. "Ginny! What's gotten into you?!"
Hagrid cleared his throat. "What's goin' on 'ere?! Why were yeh fightin' each other?"
Ginny ignored the two and pulled herself forward with enough force that her shirt started ripping. Hermione's eyes widened as she saw her best friend's shirt come off and she tore at Hermione's eyes again. "STAY AWAY FROM HIM! HE'S MY FUTURE!" Ginny bellowed in an inhuman voice.
Hagrid was stunned by the strength Ginny displayed and watched the half-naked Weasley barrel into Hermione again. After overcoming his shock, he pulled the two apart again, trying to be careful where he touched the angry red-head.
"Ginny? What-What's that on your chest?" Hermione looked at her friend in horror. Between Ginny's petite breasts was a large, gray lump, about the size of a brain. There were red lines wrapped around her body as if she had been tied up for a long period of time. "Oh, God, Ginny! Not from the Department of Mysteries?" Hermione felt bile rise in her throat and immediately fell to her knees in a fit of vomiting.
"'Ermione?!" Hagrid went to the shuddering girl on the ground.
Hermione looked up at Hagrid as her vision started blurring. "Ha-Hagrid?" She asked dizzily. "Why are you staring ...?" Hermione felt the strength start to leave her arms and she started falling forward but someone caught her.
"Hermione! Are you all right?!"
Harry? Her eyes fluttered open and she saw the blurry form of Harry in front of her. He cradled her in his arms as he picked her up.
"Harry? Love? Wh-what are you doing?" Ginny asked nervously. "Harry, put the wand down ..."
"STUPEFY!" Harry shouted and Hermione caught a glimpse of red hair as it dangled from the unconscious girl in Hagrid's arm.
"Hermione, we need to get you to the hospital wing, hold on." Harry shifted her slightly and she put her arms around his neck.
"Harry ... I'm sorry ..." She said weakly. Her vision was starting to get worse and she became very sleepy.
I just need a little nap. Just for a little while. She thought sleepily.
NO! YOU HAVE TO STAY AWAKE! The other voice said.
Hermione's eyes snapped open again and she realized that Harry was the one who was telling her to stay awake.
"Don't you dare go to sleep, Hermione, stay awake!" He jostled her a bit so that she couldn't get comfortable enough.
"I just ... just need a little nap ..." Hermione complained weakly. "Let me take a nap, Harry ..."
It feels good to be here ... She thought contentedly.
"Hermione! STAY AWAKE! HERMIONE ..." Harry was shouting and she could barely hear a word of his wonderful voice. She looked up and saw the white walls of the hospital wing and looked into his deep green eyes.
"I'm ... sor ... ry ... Ha ... ary ..." She said sleepily as her strength gave out. She felt a pinch in her arm and an icy cold feeling spread across her body.
"Hermione! Don't give up! I'm right here!" She heard Harry cry from a great distance.
Harry ... Hermione sighed contentedly as everything went black ...