Rescue Love, Part 1: Fights For All

“Wow, Ronald, like I’m supposed to believe that,” Hermione said angrily, turning away from Ron as he ran his hand through his red hair.1

“Look, I don’t like Lavender anymore.” She felt Ron’s hand on her waist. “I only want you, Hermione.”2

“Don’t try that on me, Ron,” she pulled away from him. “You were watching her at breakfast.”3

“I was watching Ginny and Harry, who happened to be sitting next to her!” he said angrily. “Why do you always go crazy about these things?”4

“Because…my God, never mind!” she turned on her heel, her black robe and wavy caramel hair swishing behind her as she stomped towards the portrait of the fat lady. The common room was quiet, knowing that if they said anything they’d be pulled into the argument. Fights between this couple were a common sight in the Gryffindor common room, and for the most part, everyone had learned that the best strategy was to stay silent.5

“Where are you going?” Ron called after her as the portrait door swung open.6

“Wherever I want!” she yelled back, and the portrait swung shut.7

“Don’t yell!” the Fat Lady said, frowning at Hermione before returning to try to remove a wine stain from her pink dress. Hermione ignored the portrait and continued down the hall. She wiped her eyes quickly as soon as she was sure she was alone.8

“Hermione? What’s wrong?”9

Hermione turned quickly to see Harry striding towards her, hand in hand with Ginny. Ginny took one look at her friend’s tear-stained face and let go of Harry’s hand, going to Hermione without Harry.10

“Was it Ron?” she asked, and Hermione shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. Ginny looked into Hermione’s brown eyes for a second, and then growled, “It was Ron. Do you want me to go hex him for you?”11

Hermione laughed as Harry shook his head. “What do you think he did this time?” he asked.12

“Harry, really, it’s nothing,” she said, crossing her arms defensively over her chest as if that would protect her heart.13

Harry raised his dark eyebrows so they disappeared under his messy black hair. “The Hermione I know doesn’t get upset over nothing.”14

“I don’t care anyway, she can have him if she wants him,” Hermione muttered to herself. “I’ll see you later.” She continued down the hall, and didn’t notice for a few minutes that Ginny was following next to her.15

“He’s a loser, really,” Ginny said, making Hermione jump. Ginny noticed and chuckled, “sorry, I thought you knew I was here.”16

Hermione sighed, “Sorry, Ginny, I really just want to be left alone right now.”17

Ginny laughed loudly, “When you want to be left alone- that’s when you need to be with others the most.” She paused. “I think Professor Dumbledore told me that, but I’m not really sure. But it’s true.” They walked in silence for a bit, each within their own thoughts.18

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“Ron?” Harry came through the portrait hole, into the common room. The entire room looked up, and though Harry was used to this reaction when he entered a room, it didn’t happen nearly as much in the Gryffindor common room. He looked around at the silent faces. “They were fighting again, weren’t they,” he said, more as a statement than a question.20

The Gryffindors nodded and Harry sighed. “Where is he?”21

“Upstairs,” said a first-year that seemed short enough to be a midget.22

“Thanks,” Harry said, walking past the silent room and feeling the talk bubble up behind him as he climbed the stairs to their room. He was partially glad that the main topic of discussion was no longer him, but also worried about what Ron and Hermione’s time in the spotlight could do to them.23

Harry pushed open the door slightly, bracing himself for a hex, or at least a few cuss words. Instead, an unsettling silence greeted him. He pushed the door open a few more inches and stuck his head in. “Ron?”24

He stepped inside and looked around. Ron’s items were strewn about the floor, like a tornado had gone through the room. “Ron?”25

“I’ve really done it this time, haven’t I?”26

Harry jumped; although he had been looking for his friend, he had assumed the room was empty after calling his name twice. He found the source of Ron’s voice quickly; Ron’s bed, where the curtains were drawn.27

“You alright?” Harry asked, pulling the curtains back. Ron stared up and heaved a heavy sigh.28

“Do I look alright?”29

Harry chuckled and sat down next to his friend’s bed. “What did you do?” he asked, leaning his head against the nightstand and resting one arm on his knee.30

“I was looking at you and Ginny at breakfast, and Lavender was there too,” Ron said dully. “She winked at me, sorta…” He sighed again, then grabbed his pillow and dropped it on his face. “AnIjusloo’ercuzidnge’it.” He said, is words slurred by the pillow.31

“Sorry?” Harry said, staring at Ron- or rather, Ron’s pillow.32

Ron took the pillow off his face and looked at Harry. “I stared at her, ‘cause, y’know, I thought she didn’t like me anymore.”33

“Well, obviously that’s not the case,” Harry said. “Then what?”34

“She mouthed something to me and I said ‘what?’ like an idiot, then Hermione was saying something at the same time, so she noticed I wasn’t listening to her,” Ron let his head fall back down onto his bed. “So then she saw that I was looking at Lavender, and I didn’t know, and I was trying to understand what Lavender was saying.”35

“Ah…” Harry said, seeing where the story was going.36

“Then Lavender must have said something that pissed Hermione off, because she made that sound she does whenever she can’t believe I did something.” Ron stopped and tried to imitate the huff noise Hermione did when she was exasperated with her boyfriend. “Well, you’ve heard it enough, you know how it sounds… But I didn’t really think about it. Then Lavender…” Ron made a face. “…she blew a kiss at me, then Hermione stood up and stomped out of there. I grabbed some toast and followed her, and she ignored me all the way up to the common room, and that’s when we started fighting.”37

Harry nodded, to pass the time of silence. Ron sighed a few times, with long pauses between each sigh. Then he turned his freckled face towards Harry again, “So, what do you think?”38

“I think you’re pretty stupid,” Harry said. “Lavender was probably just trying to get on Hermione’s nerves.”39

Ron buried his head in the pillow and yelled angrily. “I’m so stupid!”40

“Yeah, well, what are you going to do about that?” Harry asked. “Yelling isn’t going to help much.”41

“You used to do it plenty,” Ron said, dropping the pillow beside him.42

“That was when I was stupid,” Harry said, and Ron chuckled.43

“I was hoping you’d have advice,” Ron sighed. “None?”44

“Look, if you really like Hermione, you have to work through your problems on your own, or with her,” Harry told him. “What if you two off and get married some day? I’m not gonna always be there to explain to Hermione that you didn’t mean to mess up her dress, or tell you that Hermione was only trying to help.”45

“I know,” Ron said. “But I can always count on advice, can’t I?”46

Harry sighed, “Look, Ron, if you can’t work out things on your own, it’s probably not supposed to work anyway.”47

Ron frowned at Harry. “What are you saying?”48

“I’m not saying you should break up,” Harry rolled his eyes. “I’m saying figure it out yourself for once. If you fail miserably, then I’ll help you.” He got up off the floor and stretched. Ron stared at him.49

“Some help you are,” Ron scowled.50

“Hey, that’s my advice,” Harry shrugged. “Try doing it by yourself, so Hermione can know it’s you who’s saying sorry, not you acting like a puppet I’m controlling.”51

“Fine, whatever,” Ron rolled over and put his pillow on top of him. Harry waited for something else, but Ron stayed quiet.52

“Ron, you okay?” he asked. Ron responded with a snore, and Harry smiled, turning and exiting the room. They would be alright.53

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“Do you feel like we’re being watched?” Ginny asked Hermione, interrupting her rant about boys and stupidity and how often they can be found together.55

“I do,” Hermione said, looking around, seeing students dotted here and there about the grounds, among the falling leaves.56

“Malfoy,” Ginny hissed in Hermione’s ear, tipping her red-head ever so slightly to indicate where she would have pointed if pointing were appropriate for the situation.57

Hermione looked in the direction Ginny head-tipped in. Sure enough, there was Malfoy, his green and silver Slytherin scarf standing out among the red and gold leaves. He smirked at Hermione, as if he knew something she didn’t know.58

“I don’t like his face,” Hermione whispered to Ginny.59

“No one does, it’s uglier than-” Ginny started.60

“No, I mean he looks like he’s up to something,” Hermione said.61

“I personally think his face is just frozen like that,” Ginny said.62

“We should hurry to Hagrid’s- just in case,” Hermione said. Ginny looked like she would have liked to hex a few Slytherins, but she nodded, and the pair hurried down the path toward Hagrid’s hut.63

“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Malfoy called.64

Hermione felt Ginny reach toward her wand, and she did the same. “Keep walking,” she hissed.65

“Please, can’t I just-”66

“No, Ginny!” Hermione said, knowing that whatever hex Ginny had in mind, it was out of the question.67

“C’mon, mudblood, don’t you have time for some fun?” a Slytherin asked, walking hand in hand with Pansy Parkinson who shrieked giddily at the slur.68

“Just keep walking,” Hermione hissed, partly to herself, partly to Ginny.69

“You can’t hide,” said Malfoy, his voice suddenly much closer. “That excuse for a wizard Hagrid can’t keep you in there forever.70

Hermione increased her speed to a near gallop as they raced toward the hut. She jumped up the steps and hammered on the door, turning to see at least a dozen Slytherins standing a good distance away, except Malfoy who appeared slightly winded by the run. He stood only three yards away from the girls, and although now rosy cheeked, he still kept his superior composure.71

“You can’t stay in there forever,” he repeated, his green eyes flashing. His eyes traveled up Hermione’s body and she wrapped her cloak closer around her. As Hagrid’s giant steps came towards the door Malfoy started backing away.72

“And when you come out, we’ll be here,” he said maliciously, returning to his fellows as the door opened. Hermione and Ginny ducked inside before Hagrid could say anything and Hermione shivered as Ginny pulled the door shut and locked it.73

“What’s this ‘bout?” Hagrid asked, looking at their pale faces. “What’s ‘appenin’ now?”74

“First Ron happened,” Ginny said, collapsing into one of the chairs and petting fang as he drooled on her robes. Hagrid gave a gruff “Hmm” in response. “Then Malfoy happened,” Ginny finished.75

“Oh!” Hagrid stopped making tea, and looked back at the two girls. “Are you alright?”76

“Yes, for now,” Hermione said, looking out the window as she sat down next to Ginny. Hagrid glanced out the window as he put on the tea kettle.77

“’e’s not waitin’ out there… is ‘e?” Hagrid asked.78

“That’s what it sounded like he’d be doing,” Hermione said. Hagrid made a move to grab his umbrella. “Hagrid!” she said and he looked stunned. Hermione sighed, “I want to fight back too, but that’s what they want. I think we should just wait them out.”79

Hagrid mumbled to himself and looked around his hut, still mumbling. Hermione watched the window, feeling like if she turned away one of Malfoy’s cronies would be there watching.80

“So, what did Ron do, then?” Hagrid asked, setting a plate of rock cakes in front of Hermione and Ginny.81

“He was just being his usual self,” Ginny rolled her eyes.82

“That bad, huh?” Hagrid joked, then seeing Hermione’s face, cleared his throat. “Sorry…”83

Hermione chuckled, “No, it’s alright.”84

A few minutes later, there was tea all around and the conversation turned to more pleasant things, like the possibility that on weekends students might be able to wear muggle clothes. “I think it’s a really good idea,” Hermione said. “It will really give people who have lived in the magical culture their entire life to get a better look at what muggles are like.”85

“I think it’ll be funny if a teacher tries to fit in and tries to dress like a muggle,” Ginny laughed. “It’s really not that hard, but for some reason-”86

“Look at the time!” Hagrid jumped up and the hut shook. “You two need to get going!” Hermione turned to see that the window was dark with night.87

“Thanks for the tea, Hagrid,” Ginny said hurriedly, jumping up and following Hermione out the door.88

“Bye, Hagrid!” Hermione said, shutting the door behind her. She looked around the dark grounds, feeling the chilly autumn breeze curve around her and whisper through her. She shivered and started forward.89

“If we’re caught out this late we’re sure to get detention,” Hermione whispered half to herself. Ginny caught her arm suddenly.90

“I wouldn’t be worried about detention,” Ginny hissed into Hermione’s ear, looking around. “Remember? Malfoy will be out here.”91

“Maybe he gave up,” Hermione said after they walked for a few more minutes.92

“Maybe he did,” said a voice that made goose bumps rise on Hermione’s arm. “But we didn’t.”93

Both Hermione and Ginny pulled out their wands in a synchronized motion. Ginny blasted a bush and Hermione grabbed her arm. “Stop that! Wait until we can see them!”94

There came a cold laugh behind the girls, making them spin around to see no one again. “You’ll be waiting a long time then.” The laugh curled up and doubled, then tripled, echoing around them.95

“Cowards! Come out and fight us!” Ginny cried.96

“Is that what you want?” the voice asked, giggling maliciously. “Well, then…fine.”97

Cold hands grabbed the girls and covered their mouths. They struggled, but after their wands were taken from them they knew they had lost. A long wand pointed at Hermione’s face, and a bright white blinded her. The world faded to black, and she fell unconscious.98