To Scrub a Dirty Toilet

"You know something, Ron? I just want to say thank-you," Hermione stated, breaking the silence that had fallen upon them as they walked towards the common room.

"You're not mad?"

"No, Ron. Why would I be mad? I only have to serve detention every day for the rest of my life because of you! Why would I be mad?" Hermione kicked a wall as she stomped down the hallway, causing Ron's eyes to widen.

"Hermione, come on, it wasn't entirely my fault. I mean maybe if you had told me what to do in the potions lab, it wouldn't have exploded." At this comment Hermione stopped dead in her tracks and turned on Ron, a livid expression painting her face.

"I am not your baby sitter! I assumed you would be intelligent enough to do things without me holding your hand! I might have been better suited to have Crabbe as my lab partner! You moron!" Ron's face turned scarlet and his eyes became glassy.

"I'm sorry Herm-"

"Do me a favor and do NOT talk to me! I can't believe you! Sometimes it seems you're the only person in your family without any brains," Hermione bellowed at him. She then realized what she had just said, as the look on Ron's face sank into her chest. His lips were pressed tightly together and it seemed he was on the verge of crying, his face blotted and scarlet. He simply nodded before walking stiffly away.

"What have I done...?" Hermione thought to herself.

~*<>*~

When Hermione stepped into the Gryffindor common room she immediately looked around for Ron. He was nowhere to be seen but she saw Harry by the fire and decided to confide in him. He was lying on the ground reading a book. When she sat down next to him he looked up briefly before returning to his book.

"Bet you're proud of yourself," he said not looking up.

"So I take it you heard what happened?

"You could say that...you could also say that I heard you went off on one of your best friends because your ego was hurt." She scrunched up her face and looked down at him. What gave him the right to judge her when it was Ron who started this in the first place?

"It's not my fault that-," But Harry cut her off too quickly.

"Don't even try that on me. All he did was mess up a lab. You know how sensitive he is about potions. From where I'm sitting it looks like you're the one who said things to him simply because you knew they would hurt him the most, and you're placing the blame on him? How can you compare being told you're a moron by your best friend to an accident that led to a weeks worth of detention for the both of you? I thought you knew better, Hermione, but it looks like you're the moron now." He spoke these words calmly, never once raising his head to look at her. "I'm going to bed. Talk to me when you've put your priorities in order."

~*<>*~

All that day, Ron had not once glanced at Hermione though she had stared at him repeatedly. He seemed to have forgotten she existed and had taken to wearing the coldest expression she had ever seen him bear. The time had come where they would be serving detention in Snape's classroom. She was very nervous, not because of Snape, but because of Ron. She was terrified what he might say to her or that he might say nothing at all. They each sat down in desks four or five seats away from each other.

"Alright," Snape said after emerging from his office. "Unfortunately I have business to attend to so you will be serving your detention with Filch tonight." Filch, as if on cue, walked through the doorway and smirked at the pair.

"You'll be cleaning the toilets tonight until they shine." She glanced over at Ron to see his reaction but he merely stared at Filch, never once looking anywhere in her direction.

As they entered the Girls bathroom in which Moaning Myrtle dwelled, they noticed that it seemed to have been purposely trashed in order to cause more work for them. Buckets full of water and scrub brushes lay in the sink.

"I'll be back later to see how you've done. If I don't see the results I'd like then you'll be serving another weeks worth of detention. By the way, if you even dare to use your wands I will personally see to it that you are expelled!" Filch walked out of the room, a new air of domination following him.

The two had been scrubbing for about ten minutes now, and their clothes were already filthy. Hermione, once again, looked over at Ron, who had still not uttered a word. She through the brush into the sink and walked over to where he was scrubbing.

"Ron?" Hermione's voice was timid and gentle. He simply stopped scrubbing, not turning around to face her.

"Ron!" Hermione couldn't stand his silence so she clutched his shoulder and turned him around violently. He turned without resistance in her hands but still refused to meet her eyes. "Why don't you look at me?" she yelled, placing her palms on his jawbones and lifting head towards hers. She had come to less than six inches from his face.

"Oh Ron, I'm so sorry! Please, please, forgive me. I didn't mean what I said I just hate to fail because when I do I feel like I'm nothing but I realized that I am only nothing when I don't have you. Oh, why can't you just talk to me?"

"Well I would have but you told me not to. Bloody hell, Hermione, make up your mind! I know you didn't mean what you said, you were just angry. Besides it was my fault in the first place."

"Oh, Ron...you're such a jerk," Hermione said as she fell into him. She nestled her head beneath his chin and clutched at him. He wrapped his arms around her and slowly breathed in her hair.

"Awwww, now isn't that sweet?" Myrtle hovered above them, her hands clasped together as if she was gazing at a newborn baby. "Now it's time for you two to kiss," she hissed in her high-pitched voice. Ron and Hermione both turned red, instantly pulling away from each other. "Yeah you're right. Not the best place to snog, being that you're sitting right next to a toilet and all."

The pair sighed and went back to cleaning. However, they soon gave up and used their wands, concluding that Filch would never know. Hermione and Ron stood beside each other examining their handiwork. "So, Ron, I just have one more question. Why did Harry make it sound as if I had traumatized you or something?"

"Oh, he just thought you needed to be put you in your place. I'm thinking it worked."

"Oh, I see." Hermione glanced over at him, still nervous. This time, however, when Hermione looked over at Ron, he looked back.

The End