Rescue Me

Chapter Ten: Healed

Things are changing
It seems strange and
I need to figure this out
You've got your life
I got mine
But you're all I cared about
Yesterday we were laughing
Today I'm left here asking
Where has all the time gone now
I'm left alone somehow
Growing up and getting older
I don't want to believe it's over

Don't say goodbye
Cause I don't wanna hear those words tonight
Cause maybe it's not the end for you and I
And although we knew
This time would come for me and you
Don't say anything tonight
If you're gonna say goodbye

Do you remember
In December
How we swore we'd never change
Even though you're leaving
That our feelings
Would always stay the same
I wish we could be laughing
Instead I'm standing here asking
Do we have to end this now
Can we make it last somehow
We both know what we've gotta say, not today
Cause I don't wanna leave this way

And if it's over
It hurts but I'm giving you my word
I hope that you're always
Happy like we were
Happy like we were

Yesterday we were laughing (if you're gonna say goodbye)
Today i'm left here asking(if you're gonna say goodbye)
And although we knew this time would come for me and you
Don't say anything tonight
If you're gonna say goodbye

-lyrics from "Say Goodbye" by Skillet

Hermione stood and stared around at everyone who was staring back at her. She began to shake and she wished she could hit Draco in the face.

"What are you talking about?" she tried to ask as calmly as she could.

Draco laughed again. "Here's the story, everyone. Little Miss Granger over here is in love with Ron. Ron doesn't love her back. He's in love with Parvati. Granger keeps trying to commit suicide over all of this -"

As Draco was reciting the story, Hermione couldn't help but start to cry in front everyone.

" -and little Ron doesn't even care. Then Granger comes to Slytherin and starts sleeping around. She finds me and I tell her whatever she wants to hear and throw her into the sack. Then she sits there," he laughed again, "and thinks that I actually care about her. She thinks she's actually worth something when everyone knows..." He turned and looked her dead in the eye. "She's not."

Everyone was silent as Hermione stood there, crying. She looked over and saw Ron, who was looking at her.

There's nothing left to live for.

She turned and ran out of the Entrance Hall, leaving everything she brought there and leaving everyone behind.

What she did not see, however, was how Ron really looked. He looked absolutely livid at Draco for telling everyone what Hermione's problems were. After Hermione ran away, Ron went straight over to Draco and got about an inch away from his face, fuming.

"Who the FUCK do you think you are?" he sneered through gritted teeth.

Draco didn't look phased. "Whoa there, Weasel, you might want to think about brushing your teeth every once in a while."

A couple of Slytherins around him laughed, but Ron didn't think it was so funny. He pulled his fist back and swung squarely at Draco's face, knocking him on the ground. As he was on the ground, Ron kicked him a couple of times and then made to leave. He was cut off by Parvati.

"She's just using you," she said. "She just wants your attention. If you go after her, then we're over."

Ron stared her straight in the eye as well. "Then I guess we're over."

He pushed her out of the way and went to find Hermione.

Hermione had run to the top of the Astronomy Tower and went out on a ledge. It was really high up and the wind was blowing strongly as she walked along the edge, looking down and crying.

Just fall. It won't hurt that bad...

She sat on the edge, looking down.

Just wait. Maybe someone will come...

And to her great surprise, someone did come.

"Don't do it," came Ron's voice from behind her. He was still a fair distance away, but he was moving closer.

"Don't come any closer!" she screamed. "I'll jump!"

Ron stopped dead in his tracks.

"Why are you doing this?"

"You know why. Draco laid out the whole story, plain and clear."

"I can't believe you degraded yourself to... To..."

"Well, I can't believe that you let that stupid bitch Parvati manipulate you the way she did! And I can't believe that you've known what's been going on and done nothing! And I can't believe that you would EVER call yourself my friend!"

Hermione's tears made it harder for her to speak. Ron looked down as if he was a puppy who was getting scolded by his master. Hermione kept crying.

"You're too late, Ron," she whimpered. "I've made my decision and you can't help me now."

"Are you sure you've made your choice?"

Hermione snorted. "No, I'm just sitting at the top of a castle at the end of a ledge, but I'm still debating on what I might do."

"Well, that's what I think."

"The more you talk, the more you show your stupidity."

"Well, I think that if you would've jumped, you would've done it already."

"Don't try that reverse psychology crap on me. I'm going to jump."

"Don't do it Hermione?"

Hermione stood up off the ledge, remaining close, to turn around and look Ron straight in the eye.

"WHY NOT?!" she shouted.

"BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED!" he shouted back. "YOU WANTED ME TO COME AND SAVE YOU AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING! I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU YOU FUCKING IDIOT!"

Hermione stared at him for a second. "You sound like Harry."

"Harry?" said Ron, completely confused. "Harry's not in love with you."

"He said he was."

"He was probably just trying to get you to stay."

"Oh, that helps this situation loads more."

"But is that what you really want? Do you really want Harry to be the one who's in love with you? Look, I know I've been a right git recently because of Parvati, but the truth is, I love you. I do. If I didn't love you then I wouldn't be up here now."

"What about all the times before? This has been going on for so long and you've done nothing."

"Parvati put me under a spell! Do you really think I would do all of those things to you?"

"That stupid bitch..."

"I know. I hate her. Everyone will after this. Look, just come down off the ledge."

Hermione made to move but slipped and fell over the side.

"NO!" Ron shouted. He sprinted to the side as Hermione fell to her death, pulled out his wand, and screamed, "WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!" at the top of his lungs. Hermione hung in the air for a minute, looking scared. Ron guided her into the nearest window and sprinted down to find her.

When he did, he held her in his embrace and swept her up into the biggest, sweetest kiss she had ever had in her entire life. They stood there kissing for at least twenty minutes.

He saved me...