Shiver

"Hermione's leaving." The words reverberated in his mind over and over, bouncing against the dark recesses of his soul. He felt like he'd suddenly been stung by a very large bee, startled from the train of thought he'd previously been following. His mouth fell open, but there was no other expression on his face that gave any clues to how he was feeling about the news, if it had even registered in his head. There was no outward sign of the inward turmoil that the words had triggered, a long-suppressed web of emotions he'd almost forgotten were there. In the months and years that had passed, he'd gotten so used to it being there, so used to ignoring it, he'd not noticed this aching of heart he now felt, which was so much larger and more painful than the last time he'd paid any attention to it. "Ron?" Harry looked hard at his best friend, who just stood there in a trance, staring straight ahead at nothing.

Leaving? Why was she leaving? Ron's mind began to race at a jittery, frightened speed. Why hadn't she told him? What had he done? When had he forgotten that he felt this strongly for her? How in the world had he forgotten something like that? How could anyone forget their heart? Was that even possible? the seventeen-year-old asked himself. The intensity of affection he was feeling right then was overwhelming, but still not showing itself outwardly. He finally drew a breath and looked over to see Harry and Ginny still standing there. His younger sister had her head buried in his best friend's chest, sobbing. Slowly, the reality of things set in to Ron and a wildly stunned expression swept over his face.

"Wha . . . why . . . where's she going?" he finally managed to sputter out in a panicked tone. Harry hugged Ginny a little tighter as she began to cry harder, running his hand through her hair soothingly.

"She decided to take the internship at that wizardry school in New York. She just left for the train about ten minutes ago," Harry replied. Ron closed his eyes tightly, his mouth almost becoming a snarl as he shook his head and spoke again.

"WHAT?" came the exclaimed response. Ron's ears started turning pink, and he began to pace. "Why is she leaving?" Ginny turned to look at her older brother incredulously through her tears.

"She . . . she said . . . she-she . . . needed a change . . . of scenery . . . for a while. N-new . . . p-people," Ginny mumbled. Watching her brother pace frantically, knowing he was the reason that her best girlfriend left, she suddenly grew angry and lunged at him, pummeling his chest with her fists. "You arselick! What did you say to her?! YOU MADE HER LEAVE!!!" Ron looked at his sister in amazement over her sudden outburst, moving to block her fists.

"Ginny, Ginny!" Harry grabbed his girlfriend by the waist, pulling her away from Ron. She kicked and struggled a bit, trying to pry Harry's hands off her body.

"It's his fault! She wasn't going to go . . . what did you say to her, Ron?! What did you do to upset her this time?! You and that bullying, ice-hearted, Slytherin fanny-flange of a girlfriend of yours!" Ginny shouted before collapsing into tears again in Harry's arms.

Bullying? Magda? Those two words didn't sound quite right together. Ron looked at his baby sister in confusion, pinching the bridge of his nose as he started to pace again. He tried to think, tried to stay calm, but he was finding it hard. Memories of Hermione kept muddling his mind. Everything from when she was petrified to how amazing she'd looked at the Ball during their fourth year to the last time he'd spoken to her, yesterday afternoon.

He'd asked her for help with his arithmancy homework. The look she'd given him and the way she'd spoken in response . . . he honestly thought she could've killed him with her bare hands if he'd given her the chance . . .

"‘Mione . . . I know you're busy . . . but I could really use your help with my arithmancy homework. I've read the chapters in the book covering the lesson over and over . . . and I'm still not getting it," he said, sitting down beside her in the practically empty library. She looked up at him from her studies with an expression of disgust and pure hatred.

"No!" she practically growled. "I won't help you. I'm tired of trying to help you! I do have homework of my own, you know! And a life! I'm not just here for you to use whenever you need me! I do have feelings!" She looked away from him again, huffing in frustration. He looked at the back of her head in bewilderment. He'd seen her angry. A lot. And he was used to being the cause of her anger and feeling the force of it. But he'd never seen her behave like this before. He opened his mouth and sputtered a bit before replying.

"But I really, really need help with this. Please?" he begged, looking at her pleadingly. She stood up, gathering her books together. She turned to face him, tears rolling down her cheeks. Her eyes glittered with a resentment he could tell she'd been holding inside for a long time.

"Then ask Magda! You like her better anyway!" Hermione blasted him, hugging her books tightly to her chest. "Besides . . . why would you want help from a filthy Muggle-born like me, Mr. Pure-blood prefect! I'm not half as clever as you, am I? But then, you're the one flunking half of your courses because you're too wrapped up in your wretched girlfriend to study! You're too wrapped up in her to even notice what's right under your nose!" With that she ran out of the library, leaving him scratching the top of his head in puzzlement . . .

Ron's heart was pounding after that memory, and he ran a hand through his thick red hair. Emotions surged through his veins, fear sweeping over him. What would he do without her? He still didn't totally understand why Hermione had been so angry with him, but he knew one thing - he'd succeeded in driving away the only girl he'd ever really loved. Loved . . . it sounded strange to him at first, though he knew it was true. He loved Hermione. He always had. She was it for him. With this revelation, the wheels began to turn in his head.

"She's taking the Hogwarts' Express back to Kings Crossing, and then heading to the airport in London from there, right?" Ron questioned the couple. Ginny nodded feebly before burying her head in Harry's chest again. Harry eyed his red-haired friend suspiciously as Ron moved toward the staircase that led up to Gryffindor Tower. Ron smiled a little, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"I love her. I've got to stop her before I lose her forever," he said softly, then turned and bounded up the stairs three at a time. Harry's eyes widened as he moved to stop Ron. Ron had misunderstood.

"But she's only leaving . . . ," he began. He sighed defeatedly, for Ron was already long gone. "For a month," he murmured as Ginny began to giggle. She looked up at him, and he wiped the falsely shed tears from her cheeks with a grin. "Nice acting job, sweetie." He gave her a thumbs up. She giggled again, and grabbing hold of his tie, pulled him to her, kissing him gently.

"You weren't so bad yourself, Mr. Potter," she murmured in a coy tone, drawing back for a moment. "And you thought it wouldn't work!" She tweaked his nose teasingly as he grinned wider. Harry chuckled and pulled her closer to him again and kissed her more. As the kisses grew more passionate, a creak was heard from behind Harry's back. Ginny's eyes flew open, and she pushed Harry away gently as a tall, raven-haired beauty came gliding down the stairs. Harry looked at Ginny questioningly, not able to see Ron's girlfriend standing behind him. Ginny wiped her mouth, frightened, and mumbled under her breath, "Oh, Merlin . . ." Harry spun around to see what Ginny was gawking at, and his own eyes widened as Ginny slid her fingers through his, squeezing his right hand in panic. Harry took a deep breath and spoke.

"Magda . . . hi . . . ," he breathed, plastering a fake smile on his face. Ginny smiled, trying her best to look brave as Magda gave them a sarcastic, twisted smile in return . . .