Bitter Sweet ( A Fremione Love Story)

Chapter 5

The next few days were weird, Hermione spent most of her time in her room or the Ron's. Ginny wasn't speaking to her but Hermione didn't know if that was because Theo had told her what had happened or that Hermione just wasn't staying in the same room long enough to find out. The bruise on her cheek had faded a little thanks to the ointments so she made sure to steer clear of Ms Weasley in fear of having to tell her what happened. "Bloody hell Mione will you just make up with the girls already you're doing my head in" Ron said in an annoyed tone that Hermione had become accustomed too over her years of friendship with him. "What did I tell you Ronald" she hit back and Ron sighed. "Fine, but only because I hate Care of Magical Creatures and you're so good" he muttered under his breath. Hermione had offered to do Ron's homework in any subject of his choice for a month as long as he let her use his room as a hide out. "I really don't know what you have to complain about Ron, you have the second biggest room in the house and yet you still moan" Hermione said, not taking her head out of her book this.time. Ron rolled his head and flung himself into the bed.

After a few hours of silence with the occasional bickering session they heard a commotion going on downstairs. Ron got up immedietly, so did Hermione. "Finally some action" he said enthusiastically heading for the door to which Hermione grabbed his arm. "No you can't Ron, we aren't allowed down during meetings you know that" she said, attempting to pull him back. Ron slumped against the wall crossing his arms. "But it's not fair I'm stuck up here with you almost everyday and I'm bored" he moaned. Hermione sighed "Thanks Ron" they both went over and sat on his bed. After a moment or two they both gave up on hearing any sort of sentences that made sense from downstairs, Dumbledore had put a muffling charm on it, a charm that Hermione had been unable to break. "What do you thinks going on do you think so somethings happened..." Hermione trailed off looking at her hands. "To Harry, I don't know. He could be dead already for all we know" said Ron so calmly that Hermione had the sudden urge to slap him. "Ron, don't say that" she said jumping back and looking at him. "What, it's true. They never tell us anything how are we supposed to know" he said defensively and Hermione realised he was right. She had never thought about it before but Harry could be dead. Her hands started to get sweaty and she felt her head begin to go all stuffy. Ron seemed to realise what he had done. "Mione...Hermione I didn't mean it, I'm sure he's fine" said Ron "Hey Mom said were cleaning out the drawing room this week, I know you've been dying to get in there..." but before he could finish trying to make her feel better the door burst open. Ron and Hermione both looked at the same time and what they saw shocked them. "Harry" screamed Hermione, rushing over to tackle him into a hug.

Hermione had thrown herself on to him in a hug that nearly knocked him flat, while Ron's tiny owl, Pigwidgeon, zoomed excitedly round and round their heads. "HARRY! Ron, he's here, Harry's here! We heard you arrive, we thought it was a meeting! Oh, how are you? Are you all right? Have you been furious with us? I bet you have, I know our letters were useless, but we couldn't tell you anything, Dumbledore made us swear we wouldn't, oh, we've got so much to tell you, and you've got things to tell us, the Dementors! When we heard...and that Ministry hearing...it's just outrageous, I've looked it all up, they can't expel you, they just can't, there's provision in the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery for the use of magic in life-threatening situations..." "Let him breathe, Hermione," Ron cut in, grinning as he closed the door behind Harry. Still beaming, Hermione let go of Harry. She was so happy to see him that she forgot all about Theo hating her and nobody besides Ron was speaking to her.

There was a strained silence and Hermione felt all the happiness at finally seeing her best friend alive and well after two months vanish in a matter of seconds. "He seemed to think it was best that you didn't know anything" she said rather breathlessly as she seen Harry's face take on a slight red tone. "Dumbledore, I mean." "Right," said Harry. "I think he thought you were safest with the Muggles" Ron began. "Yeah?" said Harry, raising his eyebrows and looking at both Ron and Hermione in a way that made Hermiones stomach drop. "Have either of you been attacked by Dementors this summer?" "Well, no, but that's why he's had people from the Order of the Phoenix tailing you all the time" as soon as the words left Ron's mouth Hermione knew he shouldn't have said them. Harry's face clenched for a second and then returned to normal but Hermione knew what was coming next. She gave Ron a withering look as she watched for Harry's reaction. "Didn't work that well, though, did it?' said Harry, clearly doing his utmost to keep his voice even but it wasn't working very well.  "Had to look after myself after all, didn't l?" "He was so angry," said Hermione, in an almost awestruck voice. "Dumbledore. We saw him. When he found out Mundungus had left before his shift had ended. He was scary." Hermione hoped that Harry knowing how much trouble Mundungus had caused maybe he would calm down, it didn't seem to work as well as she had hoped. "Well, I'm glad he left" Harry said coldly. "If he hadn't, I wouldn't have done magic and Dumbledore would probably have left me at Privet Drive all summer." "Aren't you aren't you worried about the Ministry of Magic hearing?' said Hermione quietly.