Hermione Granger Weasley: The Lioness Within Me

Chapter 7

I awoke to the sound of curtains being ripped back. I blinked, as a red faced molly bustled around the burrow's living room muttering wildly. She only noticed me after throwing around a few pillows, one of which landed squarely upon my face.

"Oh! Sorry, Dear," Mrs. Weasley wheezed as she scooted around the crowded coffee table to pat my cheek.

"You look a right mess, Hermione, and you couldn't even make it up the stairs last night?" I glanced away bashfully while she examined my face.

"I'll be fine Mrs. Weasley, I just need some water and-"

"Breakfast." She said bruskly as Ron and Harry appeared on the stairs rubbing the sleep from their eyes, "All of you, breakfast!"

With a wave of her wand, the fridge and half of the kitchen cabinets flew open to allow the pots, pans, utensils, and ingredients to fly out and start preparing themselves on the counters. Mrs Weasley fussed over Ron and Harry for a few minutes trying to comb through the nests that had formed atop 'Arry's and Ron's 'ead. I set the table for the three of us, Mrs. Weasley had refused a plate for herself, muttering something about needing to fold laundry.

Ron and Harry took their seats across from me as bangers and mash flew from the counter onto our readily available plates. I glanced quickly first into Ron's eyes and then Harry's and back down at my plate. The air was thick with tension as we ate in silence for what felt like an eternity.

Once I could no longer avoid speaking from stuffing food in my mouth I looked at Harry, "so where's Ginny?"

There was a pregnant pause before Harry finally cleared his throat and said," oh she is uh sleeping in, she was pretty battered last night."

"Yeah I'm feeling pretty battered."

Ron kept eying the two of us as we made polite conversation. He eventually spoke, "Where did you guys disappear to last night, I was by the bar for a bloody half an hour."

Harry gave me a meaningful look as he said, "I was with Ginny, Ron and you dont really want to know."

"Ew yeah, keep that to yourself. But I thought Ginny was with you Hermione."

"Oh.....er , I dont know, I was probably on the dance floor." Ron didnt look quite convinced but he dropped the subject and started talking about the latest quidditch match between the Holy Head Harpies and the Tornado's. Seeing this as my opportunity to escape I cleared the table and strolled into the garden.

I spotted Mr. Weasly in the garage fiddling with some wires. "Need some help?" as she approached.

"Oh no dear that's alright, I'm just fiddling with this radio," I looked at what was clearly an xbox 360 remote in his hands, and chuckled. "I don't think this is what you think it is, i reached out to take it but instead my fingers landed atop of his. He cupped his other hand over mine and looked at me deeply with his tired eyes. "I really appreciate what you have done for Ron and this family, Hermione. You make him so happy, and the rest of us too. "Thanks Mr. Weasle- "

"Call me Arthur, dear."

"Arthur, Ron and I broke up." He withdrew his hand quickly as if he felt an electrical spark.

I'm sorry, I didn't know that, Hermione. If it makes you feel better things aren't really great with me and Molly at the moment."

"Is that why she's acting so strange?"

"I wouldn't know, she hasn't spoken to me in days"

I decided not to press the subject but instead fixed my gaze upon his. "This won't last forever arthur, we are going to be okay." I suddenly noticed how close our faces were, he pushed a curl behind my ear, "Hermione.." He was cut off by the shrill voice of Molly carried across the garden.

I saw the outline of mrs. Weasley and Ginny behind the drawn curtains. "What on Earth are you doing with these? Where did you get these from? Are you high right now?" I didn't linger to hear Ginny's response. As soon as I saw Ron and Harry hurring out the front door with their traveling cloaks and shoes on, I knew it was my cue to leave. 

XOXO i hope you've been enjoying these chapters so far! I've been putting my blood sweat and tears in them! Love you guys XD