Muggle Camp

Chapter Four - Happily Every After

'Woah! This is a major chick flick!' Ron turned to see Dean looking horrified with a disgusted look on his face.

'I agree mate. Switch it off,' commented Harry. There was an outcry of protest from a few of the girls on the coach including Neville.

'What! No way! This is excellent! What do you call it again? Tev-eli-sion?' asked Neville for what must have been the fiftieth time.

'No Neville,' Ron groaned. Even he had picked up the name of it by now, 'it's called television, or TV for short.' Ron looked past Harry and Hermione to give Neville a scathing look, who was sitting opposite still looking amazed at the TV. Seamus and Dean who were sitting next to Neville were still looking disgusted.

'But Neville, it's a film about dancing. Dancing and well...girly things. Eugh!' Dean looked even more disgusted if it were possible - the main characters had just proclaimed their undying love to each other.

'You're so soppy Neville! I mean look at you! I can see those tears waiting to spill out...' Ron sniggered appreciatively. Seamus was right; Neville was on the verge of tears.

Ron had liked the film and didn't want it to be switched off - although he wouldn't admit that in a thousand nay, a million years. He was sure that the other guys liked it; they were just trying to distract themselves from crying too. He had been distracted by the moving pictures on the screen for a while, but then it all came back to him. How could she? How could she just go and change everything that was so fantastic about her; her bushy hair and intelligent appearance. The things that made her so different from all the other girls he knew. She didn't care about her appearance the way other girls did. She was just so...Hermione.

'I'm going the loo.'

Ron stood up and pushed his way past Harry and Hermione, avoiding her eyes. He strode up the aisle of the coach absentmindedly, still thinking. Next minute his leg connected with another and he went flying into the door of the loo amid gales of Slytherin laughter.

'Enjoy your trip Weasley?' Malfoy was looking at him with an innocent smile on his face that made Ron want to murder him. 'Better watch those lanky legs Weasel King.' Ignore him. 'You know these pants that my father bought for me? I hope you haven't put a hole in them. I doubt you would be able to replace them. I mean they're probably worth more than your whole family put together.'

Ron jumped up fists clenched. Not today. He was not in the mood.

'I suppose Granger might be able to fix them, now that she's finally figured out that they exist. You know, she might think she looks better when she dresses like a tart, but she still smells, looks, feels and,' Malfoy put out his tongue and licked the air, 'tastes like a filthy mudblood to me.'

Ron had had enough. He pulled back his fist and was about to plant it into Malfoy's pale pointed malicious face when...

'Weasley, is there a problem here?' McGonagall was standing behind him looking very stern.

'He tripped me over Professor!' said Ron feeling furious.

'I'm so sorry Professor, it was a total accident! Here,' Malfoy stood up and held out his hand for Ron to take, 'let us shake hands on it.'

Ron gripped his hand; how could he not with McGonagall standing there?

'Well, watch where you put your legs in future Mr Malfoy,' she said before she turned to go back down the front of the coach. Ron went to wrench his hand out of Malfoy's grip but Malfoy gripped it tighter and pulled him closer so that his ear was mere inches away from Malfoy's mouth.

'Your girlfriend better watch her back Weasley,' Malfoy was whispering so quietly that Ron could barely hear. 'Granger is mine. Do you hear me? You stay away from her, understand? I plan to taste and feel mudblood Weasley, and Granger is top of my list. She'll be so worn out when I've finished with her, there'll be none left even for you...'

Ron pulled his head back and butted Malfoy with all his might.

A clash of heads...

Screaming...

Then black.

*

'I'm going to the loo.'

Hermione averted her eyes as Ron squeezed past her. How he could be such an insufferable person at times, she did not know!

'Honestly!' she said as soon as she was sure Ron was out of earshot. 'I can't believe him, I just can't! Scarlet woman indeed!' She was furious; she couldn't believe he had called her that.

'Yeh well...he's just upset,' Harry piped up next to her. They were suddenly interrupted by gales of laughter coming from the back end of the coach.

'Oh take his side then go on! He wasn't upset, he was just jealous.'

She suddenly had a brainwave.

'Don't tell him Harry! I mean it don't tell him!'

'Don't tell him what?' said Harry looking confused.

'Don't tell him it's an experiment. I mean it Harry! If you do, I'll never talk to you again!'

'Oh no! What terrible punishment! I don't know what I'd do with myself if you never spoke to me again. I might actually make it through the day as a sane person,' he said with a rapturous look on his face. Hermione laughed in spite of herself.

'Don't be sarcastic. Anyway, I just can't understand him sometimes. How can you get so angry over something so little?'

'I dunno. He said it was to do with wanting his Hermione back or something.'

'His...what?' She felt her heart stop.

'I don't know. I was talking to him and he said that you weren't Hermione and that he wanted 'my Hermione' back or something I dunno,' he said with a shake of his head.

The Slytherins were laughing again. Hermione felt her heart swell. How could she have been so blind?

'I wonder what's going on back there,' said Harry, getting up and peering over the top of the seat. Hermione peered around the side of hers to see Ron standing in front of Malfoy's seat looking livid with his fists clenched.

Oh no.

'Harry no!' Harry had just got up to go and help Ron but Hermione pushed him back down.

'Why not!' said Harry angrily

'That's why!' she said pointing at Professor McGonagall who had just got up and was walking down the back of the coach. Hermione watched as Ron pulled his fist back but quickly retracted it as he heard Professor McGonagall.

'What's she saying? I can't hear,' said Harry in a worried voice. They saw Malfoy stand up and hold out his hand to Ron.

'He's not shaking hands with Ron?' said Hermione.

'He is!' said Harry in disbelief.

They watched as Professor McGonagall turned around to walk back to the front of the coach. Ron had gone to wrench his hand away but Malfoy had pulled him closer.

'I knew there was something fishy going on with that handshake!' she said turning towards Professor McGonagall. 'Professor, look at Malfoy!'

She spun around in time to see him hissing in Ron's ear. She was about to walk back down to the end of the coach when Hermione saw Ron pull his head back and butt Malfoy with all his might. She jumped up and screamed running down the back of the coach, pushing aside anyone who was unfortunate enough to get in her way including Professor McGonagall.

She had seen blood - lots of it.

What had he said to make him do such a stupid thing? It must have been something truly awful. She took in the sight that lay before her; Malfoy was lying sprawled across his chair with a glazed look in his eye. Blood was gushing from a massive cut on his forehead. He wasn't moving. She pushed Pansy Parkinson aside to reveal Ron lying flat on his back, arms and legs spread-eagled with blood running down his face like grotesque tears. His eyes were closed and he was unconscious. She dropped to her knees at the side of him and shook his shoulders roughly.

'Ron! RON! Are you alright Ron? Oh Ron, please wake up! Ron!' she said, tears pouring down her face.

'Miss Granger! When you have quite finished making a scene!'

Professor McGonagall was obviously trying to gain some control on the situation.

'Everyone back to their seats, including you Miss Parkinson! And you Miss Granger!'

Hermione ignored her. Ron's eyes where twitching. She leant down and whispered in his ear.

'Ron, please wake up! I didn't mean to be angry with you...

*

So this was what it felt like to be dead. No it couldn't be. He was in way too much pain. He tried to open his eyes but decided he didn't want to. His head swam and his eyes filled with tears.

'Ron, please wake up! I didn't mean to be angry with you...' It was Hermione's voice. It was just the voice he wanted to hear at the moment.

'I really didn't mean to say you weren't gorgeous. In fact I think you're the most beautiful person in my world.'

It was so distant. Maybe it was a dream.

'I know I'll never tell you in real life, but I love you Ron Weasley.'

Now he knew he was dreaming. He didn't want to wake up; it was such a fantastic dream.

'Mr Weasley, are you awake?'

Then he remembered. Malfoy. McGonagall. The coach. Strictly Ballroom.

Oh no.

He snapped his eyes open. Hermione was kneeling over him looking terrified. McGonagall was towering over him looking furious and worried at the same time. He was beside himself; it had been such a fantastic dream. He let out a moan of pain which caused Hermione to jump.

'Ron! Are you alright?' she squealed

'For the last time Miss Granger, resume your seat or you will lose your prefect badge!'

Ron watched as a blurry Hermione got up reluctantly and followed Harry to her seat.

'Mr Weasley, are you awake?'

'Did they live happily ever after?' he mumbled stupidly. The pain was awful.

'Mr Weasley, how dare you!' She looked relieved.

'I...was...provoked!' Ron managed to spit out through a mouth full of blood.

'I do not doubt that Mr Weasley, but fighting will not be tolerated! You are on probation. If I see any and I mean any fighting from you again whatsoever, you will lose your prefect badge. Do you understand?'

'Yes Professor Mablonable,' he managed again. He saw her take out her wand and mumble some words lazily. He felt the pain recede from his head. His vision became clear. He was lying on the floor of the coach and many angry faces were looking down upon him.

'That goes for you as well Mr Malfoy. Do you understand?' Ron got up, embarrassed and walked down the front of the coach brushing himself off. He pushed past Hermione and Harry and slumped down in his seat unable to look them in the eye.

'Are you okay Ron?' Hermione asked. He looked up at her, she was teary eyed. Her makeup had smudged making her look as if she had just got out of bed. Her hair was bushy again. She looked so beautiful.

'Fine,' Ron mumbled. He forced himself to look away.

'Then what was that all about?' said Harry incredulously.

Ron hesitated. Should he tell them what Malfoy had said - what he had threatened to do?

'He was saying stuff about Hermione. About her being a...a...' he scrunched up his face in disgust, 'a filthy mudblood and stuff.'

'Oh Ron! How could you?' Hermione no longer looked teary eyed, she looked angry. 'You know what Ron, you are an idiot. You couldn't just ignore it could you? No, you had to nearly kill him instead. Honestly I just don't believe you sometimes! I sometimes wonder why I even consider myself acquainted with you!'

Why could he never ever do anything right in her eyes? He groaned miserably, leant his head against the side of the coach, and fell asleep.