Rating: R
Ship: HHr (main emphasis)
The (unlovely) procedure: all rights go to JKR for plot and characters, Scholastic, Warner, and whoever else has their hands in HP.
Author Note: I wrote this in a few hours time directly after writing Chapter Six, and I wrote it a little differently. I went back and forth between Harry and Ron's POV, at least in my mind. I wanted to give depth into the problems Ron is having within himself after Hermione left him and how it's affecting him mentally. I wanted to express the pain someone might feel after realizing they had lost someone very special, having taken that special person for granted.
***
Chapter Seven ~ Tainted
"When were we supposed to be there again?"
"Three minutes ago…," I glanced at my watch. I had my arm above my head and leaned into the lavatory. I pried off a piece of lint from my olive-green shirt and adjusted my starched collar before slipping my other hand in my black, pleated khakis.
I looked on at Hermione. Her long-sleeved boatneck t-shirt stretched across her arms, leaving her shoulders exposed. The ochre colour complemented her mahogany curls drifting down in places, one strand caught inside. I reached over, moving in the bathroom behind her and tugged on her shirt. My finger slid along the smooth skin of her back, making her stop applying the eyeliner and gaze at me in the mirror. I saw her bite down on her pink, bottom lip. Her white teeth gathered the fullness of her lip and when she let go, the lip retracted back, firm.
She grinned and bumped the front of me with her rear. I snickered at her smiling reflection, gripped her waist and lowered my hands to her hips where I held her against me taut. I laid my weight into her backside as she leaned closer to the mirror, the black pencil tracing her eyelid. Even though she looked back into the mirror, intent on having her liner perfect, she was very, very aware of my presence.
"It's not like we have to hurry or anything…," I smirked, watching my hands slide easily from Hermione's hips, up her hourglass figure, and back down to her hips.
My God she's warm…
Hermione wiggled her body some in my grasp, and then halted suddenly, moving onto her other eye with the ebony liquid. "Did you get the potato salad from the fridge and lay it out so we can just grab it and go?"
"Of course…," my fingers traced the stitching of her ripped-at-the-knee denim. The dark blue jeans held fairly tight against her legs. I tried to get my fingers under the leading edge, but at the bent angle she stood, I would have had to jostle her around to really get in there. Damn were they tight. How did she get in them?
My fingers made their way to her back pockets, following the lines the jeans made. From the stitching at the edge, I found my fingers moving along the centre of the pants, and down alongside the crack. Lightly they danced between her buttocks until I looped back around, each hand taking an opposite path on each individual pocket. Lifting my hands, I slipped them into her back pockets and held her. I'd like to point out how difficult it was not to have my hands on her. Not to mention the wait I endured, and my sexuality overloading to the brink of bursting.
I heard the sharp intake of breath, and then of the release. She redirected her focus on me, having to straighten her hand once more from her body's shivered reaction. She smiled at me and said, "Already to go again?" She laughed.
I smirked, feeling a dimple appear in the side of my cheek, "I'm always ready to go when you're around."
Hermione rolled her eyes and chuckled. She bit down on her lip and circled back around the other side of her eye, "Are you guys ever satisfied? You're never-ending, like that rabbit on the Energizer commercial: just keep going, and going, and going."
"Who do you think keeps my battery `energized'?" The smirked hadn't ceased and only grew bigger. Hermione shook her head, looking down at the sink for a moment, and then back into the mirror. She bumped me again with her rear and laughed. Hastily, I moved my hands out of her back pockets and into the front two. I pulled her body into my front and held her there. I kept my eyes on her as I watched hers open-and-close slowly. I could feel the gentle, sloping crease where her thighs and hips met under her jeans.
"I think we should get naked."
Hermione's eyes opened wide. Her pearly whites dazzled as she smiled. The strict authority in my tone made her giggle, "And play…naked monopoly? Whoever gets Park Place first scores?"
"I was thinking more like…," My thumbs pressed into her soft flesh outside the pockets; though, that wasn't the only object pressing against her. I leaned forward, my abdomen and chest lightly relaxed along her back so my chin became level, above her shoulder in the mirror. I kept watch of her nuances, the blink of her eye, the raise of her brow, how her lips curled in that beautiful smile. I lowered my voice, "…Hide-and-go-Peek."
"Who's doing the hiding and who's doing the peeking?" Hermione lightly laughed into what I considered a subtle moan. I had my hands out of her pockets. Both went northward, the first, my left, settling under her shirt. I pulled her back with me when I lifted, standing up away from the countertop. Plucking the vial of black liquid from her hand, I set the eye make-up down carefully with my opposite.
Hermione turned her face towards me, our bodies aligned. Her hair draped beside my throat, tickling me into a frenzy. The hand I'd taken her make-up bottle with join its twin alongside her figure. My left arm tightened around her flat stomach, now lying bare for me to see in the mirror. My hand rubbed, stroking her soft abdomen while my other arm held against her cleavage, pushed into her chest, its respective hand clutching beneath her face.
Hermione's hands slipped against mine. Her left met my own on her stomach. Her right first grazed my hand upon her chin, but swiftly fell to my side. I felt her hand grip my waist, my hip, and slide around behind me to find my back pocket. She squeezed me, making my reflexive action in turn grind into her. I felt her heart pounding behind her ribcage. I felt her breath hot against my mouth, our lips intertwined. I forgot we needed to leave for Ginny's Christmas Eve party all together. Who wouldn't?
I couldn't stand it any longer. All of me wanted her, and by her responses, especially her nails digging into my arm, I knew she wanted me just as bad. With one, single motion, I swiftly picked Hermione up and tossed her over my shoulder. I heard her squeal with laughter. Her legs kicked around in front of me and I had a time holding them. Thankfully, the bed wasn't too far away, throwing her on it and watching her bounce with a sexy giggle. I crawled my way across the bed and gathered on top of her. She made a space for me, her legs spread and angled. She gripped me with them when I'd come in, like crab claws pinching into my torso-but a Hell of a lot better.
She wrapped around me and moaned, the thick of my tongue licking at the hollow of her throat.
***
I needed a cold shower. Hermione needed a cold shower. We would have showered together, but that would have gone against the grain of what we were trying to do: calm ourselves. We get to fooling around and it's hard to stop. She wanted to wait. Parts of me didn't. Those parts ached painfully for attention. One day I'm going to burst at the seams, I know it. Something is going to give at some point as much as I tried to contain the monster toiling inside me.
Ginny and Neville's house rocked to the pulsation of music. I'd parked between cars scattered around their front lawn. I helped Hermione out of the car, the bowl of potato salad in her arms. She cradled it, my arm looped around her torso, as we made our way up the stained woodened steps of their porch. We stood at their door. Hermione gave me a once-over, being particularly aware of anything off on my clothes. I did the same to her, assisting an adjustment in her shirt to make the elastic band evenly stretched across her arms and flicked away a leaf that had dropped from their trees surrounding the flat.
Everyone was supposed to be here. Considering the line of vehicles, they all were definitely here. We were late. I kidded to Hermione on the way here that we'd obviously have to make a special entrance. I was, after all, the "Boy Who Lived," and she my partner in crime. Multi-coloured lights flashed our skin the spectrum of the rainbow, going from red to green, to purple to blue, to yellow to orange. Laughter overtook the music, and when I knocked on the door things quieted down. I heard footsteps coming up to the door and I noticed, from the corner of my eyes, Hermione getting ready for what was to come. She tilted her head up and faced forward. She became a little stiff, my arm still draped loose around her.
The door opened, the wreath jumping from the pull on the knob. Of course, who else were to see us first than Ginny? She delightfully screamed when she saw us, "You guys came!!"
Ginny half-hugged Hermione, having a time getting around the bowl between them. They took turns kissing each other's cheek. She looked over at me and pointed, "I didn't call a bajillion times. Happy?"
"Extremely," I smiled, sarcastically. Ginny slipped from Hermione and hugged me tight.
"Merry Christmas!" Ginny peck-kissed my cheek. She wore a piece of garland around her neck. Silver, it was, with a jade green dress. If we were in Hogwarts, the Slytherin would be pleased to see her attire. Draco might have even hit on her. When she broke from me, she side-stepped back so she paralleled the door, "Come in! Come in! It's getting a bit cold out there, brr."
Hermione moved in first, wiping her feet on the doormat as she entered. I followed suit, wiping mine and breached the entryway. Warm on the inside, the crackle of a fire came to my ear. The aromas of various foods wafted into me. Spices, like cinnamon and peppermint, surrounded me. Music, of course, pounded from the speakers farther into the house. We were in a hallway, stopped to let Ginny on through to make her grand announcement. We kept up with her pace, walking behind her.
"Guess who just had to make an entrance!" Ginny skipped into their living space. Hermione and I turned the corner and we were met by a dozen or more eyes upon us. I was instantly overcome by the people's stares that, when they first hit me, I became stunned. Slowly, I saw them in their suits, dresses, and other casual wear: Neville, of course, Luna, Seamus, Lavender, Dean, Lee, George, Parvati, Padma, Angelina, Katie, Oliver, and Cho. I hadn't seen most of these eyes since the Battle for Hogwarts.
All at once, we were taken aback by the mass of people. Seamus came to me at once and Lavender leapt on Hermione. Ginny took away the potato salad and galloped her way into the kitchen whilst each and every soul embraced or kissed us in greeting.
For most of the night, we talked amongst ourselves. Hermione was with me in the beginning, our hands held together. We told everyone about us, and how we'd been together for a little over a month now. Our fingers were laced limply. I stroked her hand, listening to her tell tales of our love. Nothing intimate, just stories with a smile. Hearing her affectionately overwhelmed, I got goosebumps. We really were in love and everybody in the room knew it; not only by how and what we spoke, but our body language, and how we kept looking over at each other constantly.
Seamus and Lavender were engaged like Ginny and Neville. Lavender held up her finger to show us the heavy diamond upon it. The rock's circumference could be compared to the size of a dime-it was huge. They were the only other couple besides us, Ginny and Neville, and George and Angelina. Socially, us couples sat together and gradually broke off into separate groups throughout the night.
Ginny took pictures of everyone together.
I had my hand around a mug of egg nog. I stood near the fireplace with Oliver and Seamus talking about the good ol' days of Quidditch. My eyes would linger over to Hermione. Her little group consisted of Luna and Lavender, their heads together, speaking softly to one another. The three sat on a sofa. Hermione had a piece of fruitcake Luna had brought to the party on a napkin. Lavender had a glass of egg nog in her hand, and Luna gnawed on a peppermint stick. Luna was going off on some topic about "Flizzing Whizcheese" or "Rizzling Crizfees" when I caught sight of Hermione's dark eyes wander toward me. I smiled, and so did she. It looked like she blushed, hard to see in the fiery, orange hue basked throughout Ginny and Neville's den.
The television was on and every-so-often a flicker of light would move across the room. On the tube played It's a Wonderful Life, watched by George and Angelina snuggled close together on another sofa as well as the Patil twins nearby.
The difference between Ginny and Neville's flat and ours came from the things, for instance, flying and twinkling over our heads. Angels and faerie-like ornamental pieces fluttered along the charmed ceiling, having been made to look like a wintery sky. A Santa Claus and full reindeer, with Rudolph, shot between pseudo-snowflakes falling and disappearing before hitting our heads. Stars shown against a deep blue sea mixed in with puffy clouds.
Ginny woke me out of a trance. She offered Oliver, Seamus, and I more egg nog from a pitcher. All three shook our heads. Ginny traipsed back into the kitchen with Katie and Cho at her heels. Seamus laughed at something Oliver said. Oliver lightly punched my shoulder and said aloud, "We should get you back out on the field. You know, the British Quidditch team is looking for a Seeker. Why don't you try out?"
"Nah," I shook my head and looked into my mug. A swirl of cinnamon rotated amongst the milky liquid. "I have other priorities now."
"I feel the same way," Seamus replied in agreement. He had a plate of food in his hand. He took his fork and scooped up some of Hermione's potato salad and placed it in his mouth. "Priorities change. It's a whole different ball game outside Hogwarts, I can attest to that."
"You guys are whipped," laughed Oliver, biting down on a thick, fudge brownie. "I'm telling you, you guys are-"
"Pardon us, boys," Hermione's voice startled me. Oliver looked as if he jumped clear out of his shoes. He choked on the bit of brownie in this mouth. Hermione snickered, having walked up to us with Lavender and Luna. Lavender was speaking silently to Seamus on her end on my left with Luna nearest to Oliver on my right. Hermione placed her hand on my stomach and kissed me quickly, "We're going into the kitchen, can I get you something? The fruitcake Luna made is rather delicious."
Luna smiled dreamily after Hermione's compliment; though, her eyes sort of wandered off from us, following an ornamental faerie. I shook my head and kissed her lips, "I'm good, thank you."
Hermione grinned, "I'll be right back." She patted my stomach before going off. As she passed Luna, Luna immediately commenced the conversation as if she'd never stopped. Lavender was a little slow following, but quickly caught up with the two other girls in the kitchen after kissing Seamus.
A rowdy knock crashed through the chatter of everyone. I hesitated a second to see Ginny flitter from the kitchen and down the hallway before speaking up again with Oliver and Seamus. The party had been going for a few hours now, so in the back of my mind I wondered who had been later-way later-than us. I chuckled at the re-telling of the story of my bludger-incident and how "Professor" Lockhart implemented a dutiful charm to "amend" my broken arm. I had my mouth on the lip of the mug, drinking forth the spicy egg nog when my eyes glanced up. I should have known he'd come. George was here, and it is Ginny's brother. I'd asked her if he were invited, and she told me she had, but he hadn't accepted or declined the invitation. I guess he accepted after all, standing in the hallway and gazing around at all of us.
I put my glass down. The room fell into dead silence as Ron, his Weasley-red hair combed for a change, wearing a black blazer and khaki get-up, sauntered slowly forward from behind Ginny. Ginny's eyes went to me, and then to Neville who came out from the kitchen with a slice of cake on a plate. He walked up to Ron who stood still and offered him the plate. People gradually chatted into the atmosphere, the noise becoming normal again. Ron took up the plate and Ginny lightly embraced Neville, slipping passed him.
When Ginny got squared with me, turning back toward the kitchen, she mouthed the words, "It's Christmas" and disappeared. I glanced back over at Ron. He laid his eyes on me as they resumed their wandering over the crowd. Seamus waved at him, and Oliver waved too. Cho and Katie came out from the kitchen and gave him hugs. George tilted his head back and played cute, saying all dramatically, "It's Wonniekins!"
Ron made a face at his brother. He looked over at me and I nodded in greeting. I saw him approach. He put the plate of cake down on a stand beside the sofa George and Angelina sprawled across on and continued at me. I stood there, looking at both Seamus and Oliver who seemed fine. Of course they were. Hermione and I hadn't told them everything. Frankly, I didn't want to be reminded of it. Seeing Ron, though, for the first time since brought all those nightmares back again.
He put his hand out to me. He had turned beet-red, his freckles aflame and his ears flush. I stared at his hand, not knowing what to do. From my peripheral, I watched for Hermione. Ginny had to have told her by now who walked into the party. My focus reevaluated Ron's out-stretched hand, and I finally shook it. It's Christmas after all.
Ron shook my hand firm, and then brought me into the embrace I had known. I went to pat his back but stopped midway. I heard him say near my ear, "I missed my brother." I shot a glance over at the entry of the kitchen to see Hermione standing in the middle between Lavender and Luna. Ron must have heard a noise, her footsteps, too. I felt him move, and then saw him step away from me. He had his head, his face, turned to her. Hermione just stared at us like a deer caught in headlights. My mind, body, and heart fought all at once. On one hand I wanted everything to stay as it were, peaceful, but on the other, my girl had been abused by this guy. I wanted to hit him again.
He shot away from me like a bullet. I couldn't react soon enough even if I wanted to. One moment he was here, in front of me, and the next he was in front of Hermione. I picked my feet up and began to move when I saw him embrace her, wrapping his arms around her arms. Hermione the statue; her eyes focused intently on me, her arms immobile. Ginny came up behind the three under the arch of the kitchen and nearly bumped into them, her hand on a Christmas-decorated cup. She gazed upon the scene, and then at me across the room. She closed her eyes, put the egg nog to her lips and chugged the full glass in its entirety.
***
The party was coming to an end. The night had turned to the early morning hours. The Patil twins had left. George and Angelina left, too. Cho, Dean, and Lee apparated back to their flats. Luna told us she had to go into work in the wee hours to make sure the Christmas edition came out on time. She also whispered into my ear that I'd been bitten by the, "Coopidalapamus"-an insect that infects people with love. I gave her a huge hug. Everyone had devoured her fruitcake. She promised to send Ginny and Neville more after she left work via Floo parcel.
I relaxed on the sofa George and Angelina had laid on. Sprawled on me lay Hermione in-between my legs. My left leg paralleled the back of the sofa cushion while my right foot sat on the floor. I had my back to the armrest, my hands enveloping Hermione's on her stomach. The black-and-white picture flickered on the television of what remained of It's a Wonderful Life. She had her head beside mine, our cheeks touching. I could smell of her vanilla scent, and the holiday spices she tasted throughout the night. The fire still crackled in the fireplace, giving off that gorgeous orange hue. Everything fit so right.
I glanced over from behind my glasses to see Seamus and Lavender curled up like us on the other sofa. Beyond them, a bar area between the den and the kitchen sat Ginny and Neville on stools talking with Katie. I couldn't hear them, but they were all smiling. Ron and Oliver had gone outside for fresh air. Unbelievably, the only thing Ron ever really did to us was hug us. He talked to me a few times, fleetingly, but that was it. No harm done. I made sure to come to Hermione and asked if she were okay several times. She said she was fine, but a little disturbed. Our emotions felt the same.
James Stewart's famous "Merry Christmas!" shouted from the talking box. I smiled, looked at Hermione who was glued to the television screen, and caressed her cheek. She smiled, the light of the fireplace dancing whites in her eyes.
"What time were we supposed to be over at your parent's tomorrow?" I asked softly, not to disturb the others watching the movie.
"Today," she interjected with a smirk.
"Oh, right," I kissed her cheek again. "Today."
"It's after one," Hermione turned to me and kissed my lips. I felt her fingers stroking my palms, her nails tickling me. She quietly said, "Merry Christmas."
I grinned and caught her around the middle. Her hands instantly went to rub my arms. "Merry Christmas to you, too," I replied just as quiet.
"Did you get everything you asked for this year?"
"And more," I laughed through my nose and pressed my lips into hers. She responded back harder, the tips of our noses meshing together.
A blast of shattered glass shook the den. My first instinct was to shield Hermione, having been stunned for the briefest second, my heart leaping. I rolled my body around quickly so I covered her and shot my head up from the sofa. Seamus had taken Lavender, too, and held her protectively. I heard the ramblings of Ginny and Neville from around me. Ginny cursed and started toward the busted window behind me.
Another object flew through another pane in the window, shattering it completely. A rock almost hit my head.
"What the bloody Hell is going on?" inquired Seamus, moving Lavender away from their sofa.
"Who the fuck broke my fucking windows!?!" shouted Ginny, getting closer to the scene.
"Come on out here you mother fucker!!!"
Ron.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley!" Ginny screamed across the yard from the newly "opened" panel in her home. She started up and ran through the den towards the hallway, mumbling as she went, "I'm going to rip him a fucking new one…so help me God…"
I looked at Hermione beneath me, "Stay inside."
"Where are you going? Harry!" Hermione tried to grab me to pull me back, but I shook her off and went after Ginny. Neville ran on behind her, and I followed him outside. Behind me came footsteps. I glanced to see Seamus, and I hoped Hermione had stayed indoors.
The air outside had gotten chillier. If one would stand still long enough, he'd probably catch a cold. I could see my rapid breathing coming from my body in wisps of white smoke. I heard another object shatter against the house, having made it to their porch where I could see Ron in the middle of the front lawn. Oliver was nearby and immediately shot us all a look.
"Ron!" Oliver urged, grappling at Ron's arm. Ron pushed him away and pointed at him threateningly. Oliver shouted back at us, "I've tried to stop him! He's drunk!"
"Ronald!!" Ginny's shrill scream probably woke the neighbors a mile away. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?! You've gone too fucking far this time! You're going to pay for smashing my fucking windows!"
Ginny was in an all out sprint, followed by Neville who was just a bit faster than her. He grabbed her around the waist when Ron pulled out his wand and held it aimed at his sister.
"Back off, whore…," Ron stumbled backward, but caught himself upright. "This isn't between you and me…"
"Ron," Neville put up his hand, his other arm blocking Ginny. "Put the wand down and cool off, man. Everything is okay. We'll just go inside and get you some coffee."
"Yeah, put the wand down, Ron," I uttered, slowing down my pace. I'd gotten beside Neville at this point.
"Why, look! If it isn't the famous Harry Potter to fucking save the day! Everyone loves the famous Harry Potter! No one would ever think to compare the famous Harry Potter to a fucking two-timing mate!"
"Ron…," He had the wand aimed at me now. I hadn't brought my wand. I never thought to need my wand. It was a Christmas Eve party for Christ's sake. The only things in my pockets were my keys and wallet. "Come on, man…everything's cool…"
"Everything is not COOL!" Ron screamed the last part, enraged. "I had HER! I loved HER!"
"Then why did you treat her so badly if you loved her?"
"NO!" Ron started to cry. "I was messed up, I'm screwed up. Stressed, a lot of shit is happening in my life right now! YOU!"
He thrust his wand at me, "YOU were the one I thought I could trust! You were my brother and you hurt me!"
"You hurt me Ron," I tried to calm myself, my eyes flicking from the tip of his wand and back at him. "You hurt me, and you hurt Hermione, and right now you're hurting everyone. So just drop the wand and we can talk about this…"
"You-you what?" Ron spit at me. With a wide birth between us, his spit landed in the grass and never got close. "You want to talk to me…? FUCK YOU!!"
"Ron, I'm going to fucking call momma and get a fucking straight jacket on you! You've gone crazy, you loon!"
"Shut the fuck up!" he swished his wand at Ginny between Neville and I. Neville stepped directly in front of her, and I heard Neville say something, but it came out inaudible to me.
Ron turned the wand back at me, "I've thought about this so many times. So many nights I dreamed of getting you back the best way possible…"
Ron's eyes were black, and for a brief moment he remained still and silent.
"You took…everything…away from me…" Ron slowly lifted the wand and put it to his head. The tip of the wand pierced his temple.
Ron's eyes closed and re-opened after hearing a crunch beneath my feet. I'd stepped forward, "Ron, come on…just put the wand down…"
"I'm doing you a favor, man."
"Why would you want to do that?" I didn't want to take another step in fear of pushing him into doing the unmentionable. "You hate me."
I could see tears running down his freckled-cheeks.
"If you do this, you won't hurt me. You'll hurt your mom, your dad, your friends…they all care and love you…I know you don't want to do that…" I raised and lowered my hands slowly. "Ron, put the wand down man."
Ron clinched his teeth together, his jaw setting, "I don't know what to do anymore."
"Everyone gets a second chance, Ron…" I pleaded. "If you put the wand down, you'll get that second chance…"
Ron tilted his head back and screamed a hair-raising scream into the night. He fought with the tears, immersed and wrought with psychological turmoil. He shouted the word, "Why?!", and I saw the wand drop out of his hand. Ron fell to, to his knees, and I saw a purple flash of light sail from behind me. Seamus chanted an expelliarmus spell the second Ron's wand hit the earth. The wand flew up into the air and landed a few feet away.
I watched, as if in slow motion, Neville fly in and tackle Ron to the ground. Ron's body thumped into the dirt. Neville bent Ron's arms back and kept him still. He looked back at the others, and at Ginny who began crying behind me. I think my life flashed before my eyes. I couldn't breathe, realizing as the scenario slapped my face what could have happened. I could have died. Ron could have easily killed me. Ron could have easily killed himself. People could have died.
Vanilla ruptured the stale air I heaved in. Hermione grasped me from behind. She had to have ran at me, her body smacking into my backside. I heard her sobbing, crying. I heard her saying my name repeatedly, her face in my back. I felt her hands, her fingertips pressing into me, gripping me, feeling me as if she were making sure I was actually there in the flesh.
A year ago this was my best friend. A year ago I would never have dreamed of something like this unfolding. Never would this happen. It would have been absurd, laughable, something of a joke. But here I stood, breathless, in a daze; looking on at Ron who convulsed in the dirt and the weapon that could have ultimately crushed what I had believed to be my perfect, untainted world.
{Inspirations for the Chapter: Fix You by Coldplay, especially during Ron's attempted suicide, and Paint the Silence by South}
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