When Hermione Fights

Crossroads

Chapter beta: Dani

Chapter translator: Aivy

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"I'll go with you, Hermione. Please take me with you!" he pleaded fervently, causing his family to look at him in utter shock.

"How dare you, Ronald Bilius Weasley? You certainly will not! You're not going with... her!" Molly screamed, waving her hands frantically in my direction.

"Ron, listen to your mum. You don't want to be with us," I agreed with her amidst the loud commotion.

"No, Hermione. Harry's my best friend. I've learned from my mistakes in fourth year. I belong at his side," he professed earnestly. Not even glancing at his shrieking mother, he looked at me seriously. "Please don't make me beg. Don't separate me from him... and from you," he asked now and approached me slowly. Professor Dumbledore seemed to be watching this with a raised eyebrow, I noticed. Remus also observed all this with obvious curiosity.

"Ronald, I still control your whereabouts! This is much too dangerous," an angry Molly objected, her big bosom quivering.

"Mum, I'm as good as grown up! Your way of keeping us all in line has led where? You have seven children and only the two youngest stay with you because they can't escape!"

Ouch... he'd put his finger right on the spot where it hurt without mercy. Molly turned white as a sheet and slumped down like someone had cut her strings. I saw from the corner of my eye how the Twins exchanged a high-five and grinned mischievously and proudly at Ron for hitting the mark so masterfully.

Well, Charlie and Bill were true adults, but Charlie's continued work abroad did resemble an escape, especially considering how rarely he visited his parents and then only briefly. And Bill, yes, Bill was too much like his father to really abandon his mother, but still he often ran away as soon as Molly approached. His years in Egypt spoke for themselves. Only since he had met Fleur and she had taken a job with Gringotts here in London, he was drawn back to England.

Now Arthur spoke up.

"What, Ron, do you think you're doing, talking to your mother like that?" he boomed angrily.

"Dad, sorry, but you know I'm right. Please let me go - if Hermione lets me..." he asked his father unflinchingly. Arthur just looked at him silently. "Mum, if you don't want me to leave as soon as I'm of age, let me go! Don't go on making the same mistake over and over again. Trust ME," Ron now turned to Molly and she gasped anxiously for breath like a fish out of water, apparently unable to find her words. His father nodded at the calmly voiced statement of his son and thereby gave his reluctant consent.

"Ron... if I take you with me, there are some things you might not like. Besides, I won't tolerate your quick-tempered, self-righteous attitude. You're choleric! Think it over really well," I said. He cut my appeal short by carefully taking my hand into his and holding it. I heard many outraged voices rising in the background and a soft growl from the dark corner. Of course, Severus did not like what was going on. Too glorious!

"Hermione, that's what I figured; I'm not that stupid! What if I promise to control myself? Please! Don't you think Harry would be happy?" he asked and I knew he was right. Just this morning Harry had meant how fun it would be if Ron was there. I hadn't thought so, but I knew Harry liked Ron very much. So I shrugged my shoulders. He hadn't responded to my insult, something that would have caused a scene in the old days. I gave him credit for that.

"Five minutes. If you haven't finished packing by then I'll be gone," I heard myself say out of an impulse. A second later, the door slammed shut and Ron sped away so fast you might miss it if you blinked. Meanwhile, I heard Molly getting up, her breathing laboured.