 Chapter 9
And because I feel like it, another chapter...
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“Ron, for the last time, stop fretting!” I reprimanded shrilly, feeling like the hypocrite I was at the moment. Working on my arithmancy homework was not working, as my hands were shaking badly from everything that had happened.
Glaring at me, Ron shot back, “Don’t even tell me to calm down, Hermione.” His red hair was standing on end as he paced the common room. He let out what sounded almost like a strangled sob and looked at me painfully. “Why would he do that? He knows that we’d go with him. He can’t do it by himself.” He kicked the side of the fireplace.
I threw my quill down and rubbed the side of my head. “Don’t ask me, Ron,” I moaned, closing my eyes and sinking deeper into the armchair I was sitting on.
“Well, you should be used to it by now, me asking you everything. You’re supposed to know everything, right?” he said angrily, rubbing his toe where he’d hit the fireplace.
Opening my eyes, I sat up straighter. “Stop being irrational. Right now is not the time.”
“Don’t you use that mother voice with me!” Ron’s voice grew louder.
I huffed, “Then stop acting like a child!”
“You can stop acting like a git, then! Why don’t you just join Malfoy, because you’re sure acting like him.”
The silence was ringing in our ears. I opened my mouth, but closed it. I underwent the feeling of teetering the point of crying and shouting all at once.
“Sorry,” Ron muttered, staring pointedly at the floor.
“Me too,” I mumbled, sighing. “Let’s take a stroll along the grounds. I can’t concentrate on homework now, anyways. It’ll do us both some good.” My brainpower seemed to have left me that morning.
Ron silently agreed and we left the confines of the common room, which was getting too stuffy anyways. “I’m really sorry about just now,” Ron repeated, placing a hand hesitantly on my waist.
“It wasn’t entirely your fault,” I responded, leaning into him. “We’re both on the edge now that Harry’s gone. But we have to get ourselves together; he wouldn’t want us to be like this, would he?”
Nodding, Ron steered me out the doors and into the fresh outdoors. The sun seemed unsure of its placement in the sky, peeking out of the clouds now and then. We automatically traipsed to the tree by the river, under which we spent many memorable afternoons studying for exams.
“Let’s just forget about all of it, okay?” Ron pleaded, sliding his arm around my shoulders right now. “Just for a bit.”
I didn’t have the strength to deny him his wish. Willingly closing my eyes, I rested my weary head on his shoulder. I could feel his fingers running through my hair gently as he kissed me on the forehead. I opened my eyes a crack and smiled, kissing his cheek, and settling back into my former position. All was well as I watched the motionless lake, but something was brought to my attention within my peripheral vision.
“Just a second,” I informed Ron, who nodded and yawned.
Rising quickly from my grassy position and dusting the blades of grass from my clothing, I walked briskly towards a concealed wall where I’d seen Malfoy dash.
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