Chapter Eleven
She's A Little Runaway
Author's Note: This was intended to be the last chapter, but I've changed my mind.
It was remarkable how quickly my parents agreed to let me move back home.
I told them I couldn't deal with the hectic atmosphere of the city, and work was stressing me out and that I wanted to find a house to buy near them and they offered to let me stay in my old room until I found a new job and a new home.
The first people I told were Ron and Robbie.
I took them out to lunch and explained it all to them, I couldn't deal with London, I couldn't deal with the magical world, I needed to start over again. Maybe I'd move to New York City and start completely fresh.
They had argued with me about it vehemently, ganging up on me and using different strategies about what I could as an alternative.
"Plastic surgery! You'll feel like a new person and you'll forget everything that happened soon enough!" Robbie suggested.
I shook my head sadly, "Guys, it's already settled, I'm not changing my mind.
So now I sit alone in my flat, looking around at the emptiness of it. I had all my stuff put into a storage place and all that's left are a few of my suitcases that weren't yet at my parents' house.
The whole place feels cold and bare and I shiver.
There's a knock at my door and it opens without waiting, it's Ron.
I smile sadly at him as he closes the door and walks over to me.
"Hey," he says, sitting cross legged on the floor in front of me.
"Hi."
There's silence between us, and I can hear the traffic outside. I wonder if he can read what's going through my head right now, does he know I hate doing this? running from my problems all the time? I should just stay here, stay and suck it up, I'll go to Harry's wedding, cry because it's all so beautiful, not because I want the groom to myself, and act like the kiss never happened.
But it did, and he broke away, that's why I'm running.
My heart physically hurts in my chest and I swallow hard, taking a deep breath.
The whole moving process happened far too quickly, under a week, and Harry still hasn't tried to contact me. Another reason why I need to leave.
I really had hoped he would come and try to stop me, get down on his knees and beg for my love but, he didn't.
"You know, you don't have to leave. . . ." Ron tries to persuade me one more time as I blink slowly.
He's smiling at me hopefully, and there's a pang in my heart that almost convinces me that I need to stay, but I shake my head sadly.
"I have to."
He looks thoroughly depressed, "You're just gonna run away?" he asks. "After you've just figured everything out?"
I laugh, "I haven't figured anything about, Ron! Everything has come undone and ruined, just because I associated myself with the magical world again!"
He's silent.
"I've ruined an engagement, brought up rumors for H-Harry in the Prophet and created enough trouble for a lifetime," I shake my head. "I need to get out of here, and to forget about him completely."
If that's at all possible.
"But he loves you Herm-"
"My God, Ron! When will you learn to drop it? It's over, I tried, I really did, but my attempts were pointless!" I sigh shakily. "Please don't make this harder for me," I say quietly.
He frowns, "But I've only just found you again, you're my best friend."
I choke down a sob, and a tear slips down my cheek, "You'll always be my best friend, Ron."
He looks at the floor, playing with the hem of his trousers.
"But I'll miss you," he looks up.
"I'll miss you too," I stare at his sad, confused face and feel the urge to sob relentlessly. "You've been such a good friend," I lean over and hug him tightly. "Thank you for being there for me."
He squeezes my shoulder.
"Even when I was a relentless whore," I whisper, looking at him.
He smiles, holding back faint tears, "You were never a relentless whore. You were just my Hermione."
I half-sob, half-laugh and hug him again.
"Goodbye Ron."
"Goodbye Hermione."
______________________________________________________________________________
When I reached my parents house in Hertfordshire I was tired and empty.
My eyes ached from resisting the urge to cry and my head hurt from attempting to focus on the road and nothing else.
But I felt relief wash over me when I entered the familiar town I grew up in, passing familiar shops and buildings, pulling to my street and then into my old drive.
It was dark by the time I got there and the second my headlights came into view my parents were outside, waiting to meet me and take in my bags.
"Hello, dear," Mum called as I got out of the car. "How was the drive?"
"All right," I managed to say, and she strode over and hugged me tightly.
I slumped into her embrace, feeling so drained through everything.
"Where are your bags?" Dad asked.
"In the boot," I replied, and I opened it for him.
After we were all in the house and all my things were in my room, my Mum told me and my Dad to go into the living room and watch some of the telly while she finished dinner.
I should be hungry, I thought, but I not.
I had lost my appetite recently.
Dad and I watch the news as we sit here. The voices coming from the TV are monotone, a fake cheeriness, or a serious drawl that fails to distract me from my heartbreak.
Why am I still moping? I'm here to set my life straight and become happy again.
"What's wrong?" Dad asks me.
I'm startled by the question, "N-Nothing."
"I don't believe you," he says.
His hair is light and golden, short on his scalp and balding in the front. His beard is short, light stubble against his face. And his amber eyes are watchful and all-seeing.
I sigh, shaking my head.
"What about life in London has you so tense and upset?" he questions.
"My job is just really stressful, it's so hard dealing with people all day and the traffic is horrible....."
I'm rambling now, whining about a place I loved to live in, a job I loved to work.
I sigh again.
And then it's time for dinner.
______________________________________________________________________________
I wasn't hungry, but I ate everything on my plate and then some. And then I had dessert.
Mum kept commenting on how thin I was looking so I ate as much as I could. And although I didn't feel physically empty anymore, it was still in my head.
After dinner I watched some more television with my parents and talked to them a little about city life and how I just recently started talking to Ron and everyone and how I'm involved with the magical world again.
"How is Ron?" Mum asked.
"Good, he's married."
"And Harry?"
My throat closed, "He's engaged."
"You better hurry up and find someone, love. Everyone's beating you to the altar," they joked.
I laughed.
And now I'm alone in my old room.
I pull out my cell phone and call both Robbie and Ron and tell them I'm here safe and they ask how I am.
"As good as can be expected."
They don't mention Harry, so I know he hasn't asked for me.
And I want to cry myself to sleep but I don't.
Author's Note: Next chapter coming up soon, I know this one was kind of said and a little pointless but I promise you the next few chapters will be good! And to anyone who's celebrating Hanukkah, Happy Hanukkah!