Beware of the Slash

Chapter 7-Is That Emptiness Being Refilled?

"Ron...you look terrible," Hermione whimpered as she stared down at Ron's battered figure. Harry had just left minutes ago, and Hermione had just walked in. She still wasn't talking to Harry, but she was talking to Ron, and ever since Snape had accio-ed he and Draco to him and then called for Madam Pomfrey Hermione had begun to see Ron in a different light.

Draco was way across the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey currently tending to him. Nobody had been to visit him all day and the day before, but then again, only Harry and Hermione had visited him.

"Does anybody else know about this?" Ron asked her as she reached for the glass of water on his bedside and handed it to him.

"There were three other Slytherins there, Ron. What do you think?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione," Ron said. She had been busy mumbling to herself and staring across dirtily at Draco for a few seconds. She jerked her head toward him. He really did look terrible. She knew his broken ribs had been healed as had his dislocated shoulder, but he still had cuts, bruises, and bumps all over him. Hermione was still a bit confused by what had triggered Ron to punch Draco in the first place, but she hadn't asked.

"Yes, Ron?"

"Why are you still angry at Harry?" Ron asked, his pale eyes glowing with pain and determination. She knew he hurting because he had told her she had force fed him Skele-Gro. "I mean, it's not really bad...him being gay."

Hermione knew she was lucky Draco had been sleeping, because would have commented a while ago on the two being together without Harry.

"It's not," Hermione admitted, "but he led me on. That's what I'm angry about. He could have at least been decent enough to realize this before he admitted to being my girlfriend and announced it to the school."

"Well, yea, but...it's been over a week now...he didn't tell me until the day before yesterday. I should be angry too, right?"

"No...I mean, you're his ultimate best friend...he was probably planning something so he wouldn't drop the bomb so suddenly," Hermione said.

She had felt a sense of bliss when she thought of the day she had decidedly gotten over Harry...only yesterday. There was also a sense of emptiness in her mind. She had nothing to brood over or to obsess over. She hadn't felt this emotion since first year, before she fell hard for Harry. It was somewhat satisfying though; she didn't have to watch herself like a hawk when around him. Like when she ran into him before she got to the Hospital Wing. They hadn't spoken, though.

"Like he did for you?" Ron asked.

"Sort of," Hermione said shortly. Ron had brought her out of her reverie. She suspected him of trying to mend their friendship which had broken off into Ron and Hermione, Ron and Harry instead of Ron, Harry, and Hermione by asking these questions. She decided to ask. "Are you willing our friendship back to what it was...a week and a half ago?"

Ron shrugged. "Maybe. I mean...me and Harry have had arguments...but it was never you and Harry... Hermione, you used to adore him, with a capital A." Ron laughed. Hermione didn't.

"I used to," she pointed out in a whisper. There was an odd silence, in which Hermione could feel Ron inspecting her. She looked at him and caught his eye. Unexpectedly, she realized what a jerk she had been to him. "I'm sorry." She spoke as if Ron had read her thoughts.

Ron raised an eyebrow. "For?"

"For everything. I've been a prat. Why didn't you tell me I was being so daft?" she said, eyeing Ron, who had just turned away. "Ron?"

"Hermione, I think your visiting time is up," he said pointedly. Clearly there was something more to Hermione's realization that he wasn't saying.

"It's not," she said unknowingly. "Why don't you just tell me I've been such a jerk?"

"I can't," Ron said simply. He was trying determinedly to not catch her eye.

"Well why not?"

"Because it's not your fault. You were influenced by a crush. That's all. I think lots of people are influenced by crushes..." Ron's voice trailed. She whispered an apology again but Ron waved it off.

"A lot of people are influenced by crushes..."

The line played through her head over and over again. What was he getting at? Surely Ron didn't have a real crush. That's so unlike him, Hermione thought. He'll think girls are cute, but he won't crush on them... She knew Ron was uncomfortable with sticking on that topic and so laid an uneasy silence between the two.

"I hate Malfoy," Ron finally said.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "And you finally didn't let his bullshit get a hold of you. Ron, we all hate Malfoy."

"He's never said anything about Ginny before, though," Ron said. "I mean, suicidal? Hermione, that's a serious accusation...if...no, he's not telling the truth."

Hermione suddenly filled with wrath. That's right. Malfoy had voiced Ginny was suicidal, and Ron was right, that was a serious accusation.

"He's mad," Hermione said angrily. "He doesn't know what he's saying, Ron."

"I know...it's Malfoy talking cock-and-bull again. But...I mean, do you think...I haven't seen Ginny around a whole lot lately, and what's worse...we haven't spoken either..."

Hermione's eyes lit in horror. "You don't honestly believe him..."

"I didn't say that," Ron snapped. "I just...where would that come from?"

"From a Malfoy," Hermione said surely. Ron opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the annoying voice across the Hospital Wing.

"Talking about the youngest in the Weasel clan?" Draco asked, sitting up in his bed and taking a swig of water.

"Speak of the devil," Hermione said, kissing Ron on the forehead and saying good-bye. She did not want to be around for Draco's mindless and ill thought out taunts.

As she stepped out of the Hospital Wing she looked back at Ron, who was staring at his sheets. Oddly she didn't feel empty anymore.

*

Hermione walked into the common room minutes after departing the Hospital Wing and was shocked to find none but Ginny Weasley sitting by the fire, face buried in a book.

Malfoy's completely mad, Hermione thought, she looks perfectly fine.

Ginny didn't look up from her book even as Hermione took a seat across from her. Hermione cleared her throat. She shot up.

"Oh hello," she said sweetly, "Didn't see you walk in." She continued reading.

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that..."

"You sound like McGonagall." Ginny shut her book with a snap and looked at Hermione. "Go on, then."

"Did you hear about Ron?" Hermione began.

"Yes, I haven't been to visit him yet..."

Hermione was perplexed. "Why?"

Ginny shrugged, picking something on her robe.

"Well...do you know why he got into that fight with Malfoy though?" Hermione asked, almost reaching her point. Ginny shook her head. "It was because he said something about you, Ginny." Ginny's eyes were lit.

"Malfoy said something about me?" she asked incredulously.

Hermione nodded. "Something about being...er...suicidal..."

"Me? Just because I'm more interested in a book than talking to him doesn't mean I'm suicidal. The boy is seriously off his rocker. Father's beatings must have gotten to him as a boy," Ginny said. She glanced at her watch and stood up quickly. "I have to go."

"Wait," Hermione said, standing and grabbing her wrist. "Ginny, even for Malfoy that's a sober accusation-"

"Are you saying you believe him?!"

"We haven't spoken or seen you in days, Ginny!"

"You're taking Malfoy's word over mine?" Ginny asked, anger flaring in her face.

Hermione shook her head uneasily. "But...can you look me in the eye and tell me the truth...so I can believe you more?"

"This is ridiculous," she said, but she noted the seriousness in Hermione's face and looked her in the eye. "Hermione Granger, I am not about to jump off some building or slash my wrists...I haven't got reason."

Hermione let go of her. She was lying.