RP: Molasses

[pb_ron]

Characters: Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger.
Date: 3rd of August, 2000
Location(s): Grimmauld Place.
Summary: Ron receives a visitor.
Status/Warning: None.
Completion: Complete.

Comments

[pb_ron]

Ron was in the midst of looking quite pleased with himself; and of course he hadn't expected it, but when Hermione didn't lighten up even a little, he glanced at her with perhaps a little more of what could be called regret. He'd gotten used to her attempts at being nice, and cheerful; even though most had crumbled almost immediately at having to spend more than ten minutes near him, it had become a common thing for Ron, and he had been getting rather used to it. It was odd having a truly unhappy Hermione around; in his memory he would've been teasing her, attempting to make her smile, but that just wasn't possible in the way it had been once. Ron knew that if he tried it would come out all wrong -- he also knew that it might have nothing to do with him if it did, but he didn't trust Hermione's mood swings to fall in his favor anymore.

He didn't really trust himself to know better, either. There was a difference between recognising something and embracing it; Ron had a history of having no idea what to do about Hermione, and it was certainly for a reason.

"What was that?" Ron asked finally, at her mumbling. For one reason or another it irked him in particular. "Couldn't quite hear you."

[pb_hermione]

"I said it's none of your business." Again, she was being snappish and hasty, not looking forward to coming home and explaining to Draco that she'd lost his family's pin. Well you shouldn't have gone there in the first place, he'd say. And then she'd say something equally cruel and he'd look down on her and she'd get angry and cry.

She pawed at angry hair, her fingers tangling in the curls, all hope of manageability lost.

"Bugger...well thank you for your help, Ron. I'll be getting out of your way, now." She moved back through the living room to pick up her rucksack, slinging it over her shoulder in a resigned huff.

[pb_ron]

"None of my business?" Ron repeated, as if this were a surprise.

He knew very well that there wasn't really any part of her life now that was -- and he'd been fine being bitter over this a moment ago -- but somehow hearing it aloud was much different. Painful, even, in the way that these things still had at their worst.

Perhaps they'd been better off not speaking or trying at all.

Ron followed her part of the way out, frowning, but stopped in the doorway of the living room. "You're welcome. Come back anytime when you realise you've lost something."

He meant her mind.

[pb_hermione]

She stomped out, hands buzzing, humming, itching. On the step just outside of Grimmauld, Hermione turned around, opening her mouth to say something horrible and bitter and scathing in Ron's direction, but then she saw his expression. It was the typical "Ron" look, sort of. Confusion and frustration because of something she'd said. In fact, a look she'd grown used to over the years. But still. Still. She shut her mouth again, grimly muttering, "Fine," before storming from the house entirely.