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Author: Katieay Story: Taken Away Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: WIP Reviews: 20 Words: 6,017
Ron Weasley paced the floor of The Burrow’s kitchen, running his hands through his hair for what felt like the hundredth time. Hermione was due any minute and Ron hadn’t ever felt so nervous. He’d had a lot of time to think about their situation over the last week and he’d come to some rather shocking conclusions. Something squirmed inside him at the thought of Hermione. Jealousy was definitely a major factor in their friendship, and not something he’d been able to bring himself to seriously contemplate. His ridiculous reaction to Krum was still a sore point for him. He had to tell her. Ron didn’t see that he had any other choice. If she didn’t want him then she didn’t want him, and it looked like he was going to lose his friend regardless. All this rationalising didn’t make the thought of losing his friend–or the fact that the thought of her made is stomach squeeze–any easier. He thought about talking to Ginny, and then her “Fred and George” side snuck its way into his consciousness and he thought better of it. He had three days to tell her. Two days, if he counted that her parents were going to be at The Burrow on the third day. He looked at his watch, wondering where she was. Before he could even finish the thought, the flames in the kitchen fireplace rose up and a small, sooty figure with bushy brown hair slid out onto the floor, coughing and spluttering. The something settled inside him as he looked at her. Ron felt a warm, secure layer settle around his heart at the sight of his trusted friend. The sensation of everything shifting around inside him scared him silly, however, and all he could do was stare dumbly at the lump of person on the kitchen floor. In his distraction, Ron failed to hear the indignant squawk that Ginny let out, before her mother covered her mouth and physically dragged her out of the kitchen. Coming to his senses, Ron pulled Hermione up off the floor and embraced her, having absolutely no idea what had possessed him to. He was about to pull away in horror before she finally responded, wrapping her arms around his neck and moving closer to him. He put his hand on her hair and stroked it, up and down, while Hermione sobbed on his shoulder. Ron forgot that his mother and sister had been in the room with him when Hermione had arrived, and right then he couldn’t have cared less. It felt like they stood in front of the fireplace forever, before Hermione pulled away and gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’m sorry Ron,” she said, wiping the tears off her face. Ron put his hands on her face, searching it and soaking in the sight of her, telling himself over and over that he wasn’t ready for any of this. He wanted to kiss her. He really wanted to, but neither of them were ready. So instead, he wiped the tears off her face himself with the pads of his thumbs, taking a secret kind of delight when she gasped. “It’s ok, Hermione,” he said gently, not quite sure that the soft, caring voice had actually come from him. Their eyes locked for a moment before Hermione pulled away, muttering a small thank you. Ron allowed himself a smile, before bending to pick up her trunk. “You’re sleeping in Ginny’s room, of course. I asked Mum if you could have Percy’s room, you know, since he’s not here. She kinda went mental at me.” “Well, honestly Ron, don’t you think that was a bit tactless? They’ve hardly reconciled, now have they?” “If they had Hermione, I wouldn’t have asked if you could have his room.” Ron all but felt her roll her eyes behind his back as they made their way up to the first floor landing. He grinned. After the last three weeks full of letters, and because of the kinds of letters they were, it was especially good to see her again. “Anyway,” he said abruptly. “Ginny’s waiting for you, so I’ll leave you to it.” “No!” Hermione gripped his arm. “Please stay while I unpack. I have a lot to say to both of you. You know, just in case…” She let the sentence trail off and Ron noted that she had a look of panic in her eyes. He realised then he hadn’t actually grasped the concept of his life at Hogwarts without Hermione in it. Choking back the lump that rose in his throat, Ron nodded and opened the door to Ginny’s bedroom. “Hermione!” Ginny all but squealed in excitement. “Sorry I wasn’t there to meet you in the kitchen, Mum shooed me out as soon as the fireplace flared. She said something about me having to get my room ready.” Ginny said all this very fast as the two girls embraced, and glared at Ron over Hermione’s shoulder. Ron had to hide his smirk. Obviously, Mrs Weasley had wanted to give Ron and Hermione some time alone. “Yes, well,” Hermione said briskly. Her no-nonsense tone was so familiar that it worked as a balm to Ron’s frazzled nerves. She touched Ginny’s arm and told her that Mrs Weasley must have known that Hermione wasn’t in the best state, and that she was glad only Ron had been there to see her breakdown. Ron took a seat on Ginny’s bed, watching Hermione unpack and feeling lighter than he had for quite some time. It still made him uncomfortable, recognising his previously confusing feelings for Hermione, so he did his best to push them aside - very aware of the fact that Ginny was watching him like a hawk. “Is Harry going to be here?” Ron jumped as Hermione broke him out of his reverie. He covered it up by shifting on the bed, making it look as if he was trying to get comfortable. “The last I heard, he was owling Dumbledore almost every day. That was a few days ago now though, and he hadn’t heard back. He’s in a right state about it, actually.” “I hope he can make it!” Hermione said sincerely. “I’ll be even more devastated if I don’t get to see him before they take me away. If they take me away,” she added hastily. Ron knew the jealousy that rose up inside him was pointless and unfounded, but he couldn’t help it. He kept his silence as Hermione told them about all the discussions she had had with her parents over the last few weeks and tried not to picture giving Harry a few more scars. “I’d like to spend time with all of you, privately, before my parents arrive,” Hermione said. Ron watched as her cheeks brightened, and couldn’t help but wonder about it. If the pounding of his heart was anything to go by, it was going to be an interesting two days. ~*~ “I’m going. You tell Dumbledore-“ Harry had to be very careful not to spit out his mentor’s name in anger. He wondered briefly if some of his wounds would ever heal. “You tell Dumbledore,” he started again, a lot calmer now. “That I’m not sitting here like some pawn in a game of chess while Hermione gets pulled out of Hogwarts.” His voice was steady and sure as he stared Remus down. His old Defence professor and friend was at Privet Drive to check and make sure Harry was okay. Harry was far from being okay. His surprise visit to Mrs Figg’s house had proven a complete waste of time and energy. He’d flooed headquarters as soon as his small talk-filled conversation with the old Squib was over, but had only been able to speak to Dung, who was out of commission after dealing with some unsavoury trolls. Harry had then flooed Hogwarts, even though he knew that his Headmaster was probably not based at the school over the summer. Harry had no idea if he had to say a specific place in Hogwarts, such as the Headmaster’s office, and so he had called a general “Hogwarts” into the fire place. He had spoken to Snape, of all people, who had kindly informed Harry that the Headmaster was not “at your beck and call, Potter” and if there was a real emergency “no doubt the Headmaster would learn about it long before you.” All in all it had been an unpleasant experience, with Harry having to bite his tongue throughout the entire conversation and then stomp back to face the wrath of Uncle Vernon. He had ignored his uncle pointedly and made his way upstairs. He had immediately composed an owl to Dumbledore, asking permission to visit The Burrow on the day the Grangers were due to have their meeting with Mrs Weasley. He was refused, based on concerns for his safety. Harry had insisted that he was doing the right thing by even asking Dumbledore–who was not his legal guardian (a fact pointed out by Ron)–for permission at all. He had continued to insist until two days ago, when Dumbledore’s letters had stopped. So here he was now with Remus, trying to be an adult and gain respect when all he really wanted to do was throw a temper tantrum. Nothing was going to keep him away from The Burrow, not even the threat of Voldemort. “Harry-“ Remus began softly, only to be interrupted. “Look, Remus, imagine if S-“ his voice broke but he swallowed the lump in his throat and carried on. “-Sirius or my Dad had been threatened with being dragged out of Hogwarts, kicking and screaming. You would have done anything, gone up against anyone, to have your chance at stopping it from happening. That’s what it’s like for me right now. I wouldn’t be here to say no to if it weren’t for Hermione. So I’m going, and Voldemort can bugger off for a day.” Remus sighed and Harry felt the first sparkle of hope for an age. He was relenting, Harry knew he was. He just had to make that one final push, and he’d be on the Knight Bus the very next day. “She loves me, Remus.” Harry watched Remus’ head snap up so fast that he could have sworn he heard his neck crack. There was a shocked look on Remus’ face and Harry was starting to squirm, wondering if someone loving him was so unbelievable, when Remus finally spoke. “But… but… Ron! It’s so… well, obvious!” Apparently, Remus had lost the ability to form coherent sentences and Harry let the heat rise to his face at his friends obviously mistaken conclusion. “Not like… well, like that! No. Merlin, no. She loves me like a brother, Remus. She told me in her last letter. So I’m going to The Burrow, to either say goodbye to her until we all finish school, or to see her put back where she belongs.” Harry couldn’t help raising his chin stubbornly, or looking at Remus defiantly. He meant every word. Remus let out another sigh, a relieved one this time. To Harry’s joy the older man nodded his head before looking sternly at Harry. “You are not going on your own. Tonks and I will come with you, you understand? You are to wait until we get here, and then I’ll be the one to flag down the Knight Bus. These are essential to your safety Harry, and I refuse to back down on them.” Harry grinned. He didn’t care how he got to The Burrow, it was the fact that he was going! He knew that Remus could explain things to Dumbledore, and that his Headmaster would understand. “Me? Books, and cleverness?” Hermione’s eleven-year-old voice suddenly ran through Harry’s head as clearly as if the bossy know-it-all Hermione had once been was whispering in his ear. “There are more important things– friendship and bravery.” Harry hoped that was still true now, because he didn’t think that defying every adult in your life was the clever thing to do. Deliberately going against all their wishes was either very brave or extremely stupid. Now that he had gotten his way the impact of him going out in the open without going straight to the safety Hogwarts was dawning on him. As if reading his mind, Remus spoke up. “It’s all right Harry, Dumbledore put extra protection around The Burrow the week after the incident at the Ministry. Ron and Ginny were spotted by all those Death Eaters, and Weasleys are all too easy to identify. You’ll be safe there.” More importantly, Harry thought as he gave Remus a tired smile and they said good night, the Weasleys would be safe while he was visiting them. Harry got changed into his pajamas and fell silently back onto his bed. This time tomorrow, he would be sleeping at Ron’s house. He would have spent the whole day with his friends, eaten one of Mrs Weasley’s amazing lunches, probably two servings. He would have flown in the orchard behind The Burrow. He probably would have helped degnome the garden. He would be wrapped in hugs and going home, to the only family Harry had ever really known. Harry wondered what he would be going home to, exactly. He wondered if Percy had come back, with his tail between his legs and for a minute, Harry enjoyed the image. And then he remembered Mrs Weasley’s sobbing at Christmas the year before and just hoped that Percy had come to his senses. He wondered if the chance of Hermione being pulled out of Hogwarts had finally made Ron seen the light. He wondered if the twins would still be living at home. A hundred different thoughts ran through his head and chiselled away at the wall he’d wrapped around his heart. He couldn’t prevent the wide grin from creeping across his face as he fell easily into an almost undisturbed sleep.
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