Burrow the Lust
CHAPTER 2
"Want toast with that?"
"No thanks dad, I already had some."
"But you've barely eaten anything sweetie." Her mother protested.
"I'll eat some lunch at The Burrow." Hermione answered before eating her last piece of bacon. "I'm going to get my things from upstairs."
"I already brought them down for you." Mr. Granger grinned.
"Thanks dad."
"Anytime… so where do you get on this bus of yours?" He asked curiously.
"Anywhere really… well, where there's a road obviously. You really should try and find a place that's not too full of people, then you just sort of stick out your wand, and it appears." Hermione explained.
"Incredible!" Her father answered in amazement.
Hermione tried to stifle her laughter as she was reminded of Mr. Weasley and his fascination with the Muggle world.
"This bus, is it safe?" Her mother questioned taking a sip of coffee.
"I've been on the Knight Bus before mum." Hermione said in an attempt to avoid answering the question. She really didn't think she could honestly say that it was a safe experience, driving at what felt like a hundred miles an hour and stopping so suddenly that you often found yourself smashed up against a window.
"You worry too much dear." Her father said softly to his wife.
"Well, I guess I best be off." Hermione stated pushing her chair back towards the table, and giving her mother a peck on the cheek.
She did the same for her father before standing back and seeing the hint of sadness in their eyes. Remorse seemed to cloud her vision slightly as she recalled how little time she had to spend with them over the last year. She felt guilty enough leaving her Christmas vacation after she got word of Harry's crestfallen state, but now that feeling nearly tripled. Of course, her parents were always very understanding, but that's what seemed to hurt her most. Perhaps if they had been angry with her she would have decided that they had no idea what they were talking about, and that it was her life after all, not theirs.
"Take care of yourself Hermione." Her dad said softly, breaking the mournful silence.
She nodded.
"And Hermione,"
She looked to her mother.
"Promise you won't go on any ludicrous missions in some sort of ministry affairs on account of your friends, or any other reason that may present itself." Her mother finished sternly.
"Yes I agree with your mother, you could have been seriously hurt."
Hermione then realized how little her parents really knew about the dangers she had faced through her years of Hogwarts. After all, she had been seriously hurt last year; she was lucky, very lucky to come out of that entire situation the way she had.
"I…I can't exactly promise that… all I can say is that I will be careful and that I love you both very much."
"We love you too sweetheart." Her mother said with a muffled sniffle.
"With all our hearts." Mr. Granger added, cupping his hand on his wife's to comfort her.
Hermione made her way out of the kitchen and gathered her things near the entrance. After fighting Crookshanks into his carrier and an apologetic goodbye, she closed the front door behind her.
She ambled down the driveway and through the neighborhood street, until she felt safe from prying eyes.
"Lumos." She said extending her wand towards the street just before her.
Her hair ruffled before a heavy wind struck her face, so strong that she had to close her eyes from the lifting dust.
There was a deafening BANG before an enormous triple-decker, violently purple bus appeared out of no where just before her.
A conductor in a purple uniform jumped out of the bus and surveyed Hermione for a moment, before clearing his throat and speaking loudly.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is,"
"Hello Stan."
"So, we've met before then?"
Hermione nodded.
"Woos yer name?" Stan questioned rubbing his pimpled chin in thought.
"Hermione." She said politely.
" `Minee wha?" He persisted.
Hermione gave him a weak smile and handed over her eleven Sickles, before climbing on the bus.
"Choo hiding?" He questioned suspiciously, helping Hermione with her trunk.
She shrugged and took a seat near the front in a fluffy armchair.
"Hello Ern." She greeted, crossing her legs and taking hold of the Daily Prophet that lay abandoned in the seat next to her.
"You know `er Ern?" Stan asked placing Hermione's trunk by her side.
Ernie swiveled sideways in his seat at the wheel of the bus and stared hard at her through his very thick glasses.
"Nope." He said finally.
Stan shrugged and took his seat in the armchair next to the driver's seat.
"Where to?"
"Otterly St. Catchpole, just slightly south of there please." Hermione stated briskly.
"Awh, yes… The Burrow?" Stan asked, taking his chance to observe her a little more closely.
"Yes." She grinned.
Hermione hadn't expected to be delivered right up to Ron's house; she had figured Ern and Stan wouldn't know about The Burrow.
"Can't go right up to The Burrow can we Ern?"
"Nope." Ernie answered. "Can get fairly near I think, you'll have to walk a short ways."
"That's no problem."
"Alright then...take `er away, Ern." He directed. " `Old tight then."
BANG
Hermione plastered her hands to her eyes as the bus sprang to life, the force compressing her into the armchair as though she was sitting on the world's fastest roller coaster.
Prying her fingers slightly apart, she surveyed the many lamp posts, fire hydrants, bushes and parked cars lunging out of the way of the speeding bus for a moment, before her stomach tossed unpleasantly from the rapid movement. Everything was a complete blur.
"You really do look familiar." Stan persisted, his eyes falling on the Daily Prophet next to Hermione. "I know who you is!"
Hermione arched an eyebrow, doubting very much that Stan even had the slightest idea who she was.
"You're `Arry Potter's girlfriend!... Ern, `ey Ern, its `Arry Potter's girlfriend!"
Ernie seemed to be concentrating too much on the road to take a glance backward, but he did give a slight jump every time Stan mentioned Harry's name.
Hermione flushed, and covered up her flustered emotion by spreading out the Daily Prophet just in front of her to hide her face.
"No… I'm not." She stated in a rather dignified tone.
" `Course not anymore, you've been USE-in `im havn't you? With that Krum bloke? Breakin `is `art!"
Hermione lowered the newspaper enough to stare over the top, at an angry Stan Shunpike, with widened eyes.
"What?" She questioned stupidly, hoping the whole outburst was some sort of joke.
"Still with Krum are yah? While `Arry's sitting there with those horrible muggles he `as for family, wishin' `e was in yer arms…All yer fault he's not `imself, lost `is godfather and you go `round two timin' `im!"
A flame burst in Hermione's dark brown eyes, before she could gain control, she found herself ripping the Daily Prophet and throwing it in Stan's face screaming at the top of her voice,
"It was a stupid article by that wretched Skeeter woman!- how is any of that my fault? I tried to get Harry to open up to me, well he won't!… so just lay off!"
Stan stood petrified a few feet in front of Hermione; opening and closing his mouth while bits of newspaper fell from his dark hair.
BANG
CRASH
With a moan, Hermione peeled herself from the front windshield of the bus; she had smashed up against it when the bus had come to its usual abrupt stop.
Brushing her clothes off and grabbing her luggage along with an empty carrier, she muttered a quick goodbye to Ernie before marching off the bus in pain; followed by her matted orange cat who growled with displeasure.
As the violently purple triple-decker bus disappeared just before her, she found herself dropping her luggage and gripping her ribs. They didn't feel broken again, but the agony was similar.
She took a few deep breaths to calm herself and pushed the pain into a far corner of her mind; it was all mind over matter after all, if Harry could do it, so could she.
She picked up her luggage bags and surveyed her surroundings.
"Oy Hermione!"
Startled, she had dropped her trunk which clattered loudly against the pavement and burst open; just missing her toes and scattering half her contents over the deserted road.
Shaking with intense rage, she clamped her teeth together and tried to steady her nerves.
"Shouldn't pack your trunk so full." Ron said picking up a textbook from the pavement and casually flinging it into her open trunk.
"Ron!"
"What?" He asked innocently.
"Are you trying to ruin my life?" She questioned yanking the book from his hands and gently placing it in her trunk.
Ron scowled.
"Ruin your life, Ruin your life? What's that suppose to mean, Hermione-impossible-to-figure-out-Granger?"
"If you can't reason that on your own, that's your problem, you don't even know what you want!" She huffed, piercing his eyes with a look of venom.
Ron's ears turned blood red and he hurled another textbook into the trunk with rage.
"Don't throw my books!"
"I'm helping you!"
"I don't need your help!"
"Fine!" Ron thrust A Theory of Numerology quite forcefully against Hermione's sore ribs, causing her to bend slightly.
Crookshanks placed himself just in front of Hermione looking demonic with his ears pressed backwards, fangs bared in his puffed up protective form; hissing repeatedly and set in position to attack.
"Fine, I don't care!" He added before slumping off in the direction of The Burrow, muttering something about stupid cats and stupid women.
"Wait, Ron, wait!"
"Why should I?"
She caught up to him and bunched his sleeve in her delicate hand; he stopped and faced her, a scowl still etched on his reddened face.
"Just listen to me will you?" She pleaded softly.
He didn't say anything, just continued to stare into her dark almond shaped eyes.
"I'm sorry Ron, okay… I'm just… I'm on edge lately." She had almost confessed her anxiety about Harry's state, when she realized it would stir Ron into further anger.
Ron nodded and silently helped Hermione clean up the remainder of her scattered belongings; she had half thought Ron was going to say something to comfort her, but he had said nothing.
They walked the short distance to The Burrow in silence; the tension was so thick it could have been cut with a knife.
She stopped him before the door to his home, with a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Let's not argue, at least for the remainder of the summer," for Harry, she thought, but instead a different explanation escaped her lips. "If we could put our differences aside, maybe we can get to know each other a little better." She felt a hot blush sweep across her cheeks, and a heavy shame settle at the pit of her stomach for using Ron's weakness as a peace agreement.
He nodded and gave her a sheepish grin. His eyes glazed over as if he had just been given the world's best Quidditch broom, and Hermione felt her stomach twist in a nauseating knot.
What am I doing?
Just as she was about to explain herself and take it all back, the front door swung open. Hermione felt herself being smothered by Mrs. Weasley's loving embrace.
"So good to see you Hermione dear, so glad you were able to come, and Harry will be pleased I'm sure."
Ron looked in the opposite direction at the mention of Harry's name.
"Come and have something to eat, you look so tiny, a wizard likes a witch with a bit of fat on you know." Molly continued, ushering Hermione to a seat at the kitchen table. "What would you like dear?"
"Just some toast and jelly." She smiled, knowing well that Molly never listened to breakfast requests.
Ron sat down a few chairs away from her with a bowl of porridge he obviously hadn't finished eating before he'd come out to meet her.
She watched him from the corner of her eye and when he gazed at her, she gave him a feeble smile. He didn't return one; instead, he tucked a full spoon of porridge into his mouth and took to staring out the kitchen window.
"How was your trip dear?" Molly questioned loading a pair of eggs on her plate.
"Eventful." She stated truthfully, creasing her eyebrows at the thought of Stan Shunpike.
Mrs. Weasley watched her for a moment, obviously unsure of what to say before mumbling a quick, "That's good dear." under her breath.
"Hermione, you're here!"
She felt a pair of arms curl gently around her neck from behind, and a handful of fiery red, smooth hair flowed over her right shoulder.
"How are you Ginny?" Hermione asked pulling out the seat next to her for Ginny to sit down.
"Horrible, this just might top my worst-summer-ever list." Ginny answered with a grimace. "And it's all Phlegm's fault."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, while Ron rolled his eyes.
"Phlegm?"
"Ginny, for Merlin's sake, would you stop calling her that!" Molly warned crossly.
Ginny ignored her mother; with a heavy sigh she muttered,
"Fleur Delacour."
"Oh…what, but I don't understand, how could Fleur,"
"Married… her and Bill are getting married," Ginny announced.
"Well, then, that's…nice then isn't it?" Hermione questioned feeling particularly uncomfortable with the Weasley's family problems. She felt it wasn't her place to offer her distaste of Fleur before Mrs. Weasley; especially with such an announcement.
"Nice? …Come on Hermione, you've got to be joking; you hate her as much as I do. She's been here for three days and I've already decided I'd rather have Umbridge living here." Ginny stated with heavy annoyance.
"She can't possibly be that bad." Hermione laughed.
"Oh you'll be taking that back, spend a day here and you'll see."
Hermione stole a glance at Ron who rolled his eyes again; she stifled a giggle and shook her head with amusement.
"So, uhh, when's Harry getting here?" She asked Ginny, noticing her blush at the mention of the boy in question.
"We're not really sure. Dumbledore's been busy and all, so it'll probably be some time tomorrow or the day after."
"I hope its tomorrow, I've been itching to play some Quidditch out in the back." Ron stated, his bitter mood fading in an instant.
Hermione sighed heavily.
"I… I'd like to be excused…I-I'm a little tired still…I think I'll go and lay down for a little while." She stated avoiding all eyes; especially Ron's.
"Are you feeling ill dear?" Molly questioned, concern etched in her tone of voice.
"No… I'm fine Mrs. Weasley…I just need some rest."
"If you're sure dear. You can rest in Ginny's room, it's all ready for you."
Hermione gave Mrs. Weasley a quick nod and set off up the stairs at a brisk pace; Crookshanks followed at her heels.
Enclosing herself in Ginny's room, she leaned her back up against the door, allowing her head to loll backwards with a quiet thump. She closed her muddy brown eyes, feeling the hot tears swarm through them.
She felt so confused. Hermione Granger, the bloody all knowing, had no trouble reading emotions like an open book, couldn't figure herself out.
She'd always been so very close to both Harry and Ron, yet she had thought that there was something more with Harry; much more.
In fact, she became aware of it sometime during her fourth year and then was sure of her emotions as soon as she had seen Harry arrive at Grimmauld Place. Harry ignited a certain spark in her; it brought her to life, yet at the same time hurt her deeply, as she became painfully aware that he wasn't the least bit interested in her. Or so she had
calculated by his actions.
And then there was Ron.
She wasn't stupid; she knew very well that Ron fancied her. She knew very well how jealous he had been when Hermione had accompanied Viktor Krum as his date for the Yule Ball, and how he used argument as a form of displaying his feelings for her. It drove her ridiculously mad, and even made her feel uncomfortable at times, but she did have the occasional thoughts about him. Perhaps foolishly, she even half convinced herself that Ron would be a different person if she was to be with him; but to be honest with herself, Ron wasn't, and never was going to be Harry. He was however, extremely loyal and had a big heart, which were two attributes that were, without a doubt, enticing to her.
How so very confused she was indeed.
With another sigh, she ambled over to the bed and collapsed into the mattress.
Ginny wasn't kidding about this being the worst summer ever; no, forget summer, this would be her worst year ever. It was just something she felt deep down at the pit of her stomach.
Hermione curled up into the fetal position and wished to stay that way forever; or at least until she could sort out her troubles.
Her thoughts were stirred by a soft rap on the door. Ignoring it, she hoped whomever it was would just assume she was asleep, and leave her alone.
She exhaled irritably when the door creaked open ajar; allowing two pale blue eyes to watch her for a moment.
"I-I'm sorry Hermione, I just- I thought maybe you weren't sleeping, and we could talk?"
"That's alright Ginny, come on in." Hermione replied reluctantly, patting the bed next to where she lay.
Ginny gave her a warm, weak smile as she strolled over to Hermione's curled form, and gently sat down next to her.
"So…you want to talk?...what about?" Hermione questioned, knowing well she wasn't going to like this conversation.
"It's…well…it's about Harry." Ginny answered fidgeting her thumbs helplessly.
Hermione sighed; she knew it, she just knew this was going to be about Harry.
"You're not over him are you?" She questioned, wishing she hadn't asked.
Ginny shook her head.
"No…I'm not, I just can't stop thinking about him, you know?"
Hermione nodded patiently; inside her stomach squirmed unpleasantly.
"I'm ashamed to admit-I'd be kissing Michael, yet I'd pretend it was Harry." Ginny confessed, staring at her shaking hands.
Hermione took a deep breath in an attempt to compose herself; yet her heart hammered uncontrollably deep within her ribcage. Her fingers wiped a stray tear from the young girl's face, and settled her light scarlet hair behind an ear.
"Don't cry Ginny, we all make mistakes."
"Oh Hermione, I just want him to notice me." She sniffled, wiping her eyes against her forearm. "But it's hopeless, completely hopeless."
"No it's not," Hermione said soothingly, pulling Ginny into an embrace. "You just…you just have to give Harry some time, he's got a lot on his mind."
"I know I'm being selfish. He has Vol-err He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named on his shoulders, and here I am crying because he won't notice me…I'm so stupid!"
"You're not stupid Ginny…you just have a lot of love to give to a boy who's not only clueless about girls and his emotions, but a boy who's quite determined to rid the world of evil."
Ginny nodded, pressing her tears further into the shoulder of Hermione's blouse.
"You need to give Harry some space, he needs to grow up much faster then those around him because of everything he's faced, and will face in the future. He hasn't had time to mature in matters of the heart," Hermione explained calmly, feeling as though she was giving herself a lecture. "Let him get to know you as a friend, someone he can count on, someone he can talk to…let him figure out what he wants and what he's looking for in life."
"Maybe…maybe you're right Hermione." The pretty, freckle faced, red head agreed. "I can do some dating and figure out what I want too." She continued, giving the bushy haired girl a feeble toothy grin.
"Oh…well…yes, I suppose that wouldn't be a bad idea." Hermione answered sadly.
"Hermione? You okay?"
"I-I'll be fine Ginny." She said, giving the young girl an unconvincing smile.
"You sure?"
"Yeah…"
"Don't worry about Ron, he'll come around." Ginny stated, giving Hermione a noticeable wink.
"Huh? Oh…right."
"Can't you two just put your quarrels aside and get together already?" Ginny giggled.
"Me and," Hermione blushed.
"Ron, yes…don't think I haven't noticed Hermione, and I'm not the only one you know?"
"What? Who else?"
"Ha, I'm not telling. But you're being ever so crewel playing hard to gets with that brother of mine, I like how your mind works, but don't be too hard on him, alright?"
"Listen… why don't you go ahead to the kitchen, and I'll meet you down there in a few minutes…I just want to change, okay?"
"Alright then, just so you know, you can talk to me when you need to Hermione. Oh, and watch out for Phlegm." Ginny stated rolling her eyes, and making her way to the door where she closed it, rather hastily, behind herself.
Hermione pulled herself up into a sitting position and, for a while, just perched on the edge of the bed, willing her mind not to wander, but as usual, not succeeding.
Ginny still liked Harry…she liked him a lot, perhaps a lot more then Hermione would have thought, more then she would have liked to admit to herself.
Without really understanding it, she felt a sudden hole within, it ached with an unforgettable pain of daggers twisting their way through her delicate skin, and stabbing her already bleeding heart with sharp thrusts. It was a feeling that frightened her most, it was the familiar feeling of failure. She felt her eyes sting, while she fought back the flood of tears, ready to cascade down her pretty pale cheeks.
Harry and Ginny…Ginny and Harry.
It seemed rather obvious really; she being his best friend's sister, she being the young, beautiful version of his deceased mother, she enjoying Quidditch probably just as much as he does, she being fun, funny and flirtatious… so unlike herself.
She closed her eyes, allowing the salty tears to stream down her face from the sides.
With a heavy heart, she folded up the internal picture she had taken of Harry, and buried him deep within; so deep, that if she wished to find it again, it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Harry was her friend, she needed to accept that; she needed to forget the thought of Harry ever being something more to her, move on with her life, and open the possibility for others to take her heart and give her love.
She changed her tear stained shirt, ran her fingers through her bushy hair, and made her way down to the kitchen, determined to have a decent summer.
AUTHOR NOTE: My goodness, this chapter took a LONG time to write, it's still missing bits that I was sure I would be including in here, but it appears that'll have to wait until the next chapter… Thank you all for the support, hope you continue to enjoy this fan fic, it's a hard one to write, knowing the events of book six and such, but I'm glad I am given the freedom of Hermione's thoughts and entering events that didn't happen in the book… its an interesting adventure for me… Now, I must go and work on my other fan fic.
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