Chapter Two: "It Makes Me Ill"

A/N: Wow, I wasn't expecting so many reviews. Thanks so much for them… they made my day. I love all of my readers! Sorry this chapter is a bit on the short side, I wanted to update before I leave on vacation. Although I'll be gone for a week, leave me lots of reviews and I might just be able to update twice while I'm gone.

So read, review, and enjoy. (:

Ron threw his trunk against the wall in frustration. The impact was loud and very audible. Ron saw a stream of red hair fly as Ginny ran into the room, looking panicked.

"Ron," she glared, "I thought you were old enough to handle living on your own here, but it's obvious you're not."

Ron sighed. He had invited Ginny over to view his new apartment, but he had been so frustrated after his date with Hermione that he was in no mood to entertain guests.

"Sorry, Ginny," Ron muttered, looking sincerely sorry. It wasn't her fault he was in such a bad mood. "She's just so difficult to manage!"

Ginny picked up his trunk and put it back against the wall. Then she walked over towards Ron and took a seat next to him on his bed. "Ron, are you and Hermione having some trouble again?"

Ron looked at her angrily. His nostrils were flaring. "I told him to stay out of it! I told him not to contact Hermione or me anymore. I told him to get out of our lives and stay that way. But his absence is destroying our relationship. And I thought getting rid of him would solve our problems."

Ginny looked at him, utterly confused. She had no idea what was going on. "What are you talking about, Ron?"

"I told Harry not to contact anyone. There. Happy?" Ron flung himself from the bed and stomped off towards the living room. Ginny followed closely, shocked. Her pulse was racing and her eyes were wide with disbelief.

"Harry doesn't contact us anymore because you told him not to?" Ginny asked in mistrust. She was having some trouble registering this. There was a look of shock plastered on her face. "I knew Harry wasn't cruel enough to just cut all of his friends off like that."

Ron looked at Ginny crossly. "I saw Harry and Hermione kiss the day that they left. He told her goodbye, and not me." Ron sat down on the sofa, fighting back tears. "My best mate kissed my to-be girlfriend goodbye, but didn't even tell me he was leaving. How do you think I felt, Ginny?"

"Horrible," Ginny whispered softly. She gave her brother a small hug. "I'm so sorry, Ron…"

Ron looked back at Ginny, determined to finish his story. "So about three years ago, when Hermione and I had just started dating, I ran into Harry at the Ministry. Apparently he'd just recovered from his battle. He was thrilled to see me, although he looked kind of weak, and asked me where Hermione was staying."

Anger flashed in Ron's eyes. Ginny put her arm on his shoulder, trying to coax him into telling her the full story. "Go on, Ron," she whispered softly.

Ron took a deep breath. "Anyhow, I told him that the two of us were dating. I told him that we were in love. I told him that one day Hermione and I were going to get married, and I told him to make sure he stayed out of our relationship."

Ginny looked pained. "Why would you cut Harry off from all of us, Ron? You know he would have left you guys alone. He cares, Ron."

Ron sighed, looking very guilty. "Hermione loves Harry more than she loves me. I know it. She has a picture of Harry and herself on her nightstand, and looks at it every day before she goes to bed. I thought making sure she didn't see Harry again would make her forget about him and love me even more. But I can tell all she wants is to see him again."

"Oh Ron," Ginny whispered, not sure how to comfort her brother, "I'm so sorry. If only you had told me…"

"I was ashamed," Ron muttered, hanging his head, "I was ashamed that I cut off my best mate for a girl who doesn't even love me."

"Hermione loves you, Ron. She does," Ginny told him sincerely. It was obvious that she was trying to make sure that the conversation didn't get out of hand. "She just misses Harry. He's her best friend as well, remember?"

Ron, keen to change the subject, turned abruptly to Ginny. "Anyhow, Gin, how are you holding up? You haven't seen anyone since you and Harry went out in seventh year."

Ginny shrugged. "I guess I'm a little hung up on Harry."

Ron smiled thoughtfully at her. "Wouldn't it be nice if you and Harry got back together? You'd be happy, and he'd stop going after my girlfriend."

Ginny sighed, forcing a small smile. She stood up abruptly. "I've got to go, okay Ron? Mum's planning on having a family get together in a few weeks. It'll probably be after the reunion, though. So I guess I'll see you at the reunion or the get together at the Burrow, alright?"

Ron nodded slowly, and watched Ginny walk towards the door. "Ginny?" he called after her.

Ginny turned around slowly. "Yeah, Ron?"

Ron smiled. "Thanks for everything. Thanks for coming to check out my place and for cheering me up. It was… nice to have someone to talk to."

She smirked, brushing her flaming red hair back. "Don't get used to it." With that, Ginny headed out of the apartment.

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Ron sighed, fiddling with his fork as Hermione stared blankly at her shoes, pretending to be interested in them. Ron purposely made a loud bang as he put down the fork, but Hermione didn't even flinch. Annoyed, Ron cleared his throat loudly. Hermione's eyes blinked and she looked up at Ron.

"Sorry, Ron. Did you say something?" Hermione asked, looking alarmingly distracted.

"I was wondering if you know what you're ordering yet," Ron responded, acting as though nothing was wrong. It was quite clear to him that something was completely, totally wrong. At the back of his mind, Ron knew that it wasn't working out. The two of them hardly said two words to each other throughout the evening. It was almost as if they were together because they had to, not by choice.

Hermione shrugged. "Anything's fine. I'll just have the pasta with grilled chicken I suppose."

Ron looked at her, concerned. It was time to figure out what was bothering Hermione. He knew that both of them had been avoiding the subject. "Are you feeling okay, Mione? You've been really down lately…"

Hermione looked as though she was about to break out in tears. She gave Ron a long, passionate kiss, before whispering, "I'm so sorry, Ron. I've been a terrible girlfriend. I promise I'll make it up to you. Just… don't give up on me, okay? I'm going through kind of a rough time, and I would hate to lose the one person that means so much to me."

"Aww, Hermione…" Ron looked relieved. This meant that Hermione wasn't interested in breaking up. Her job was probably just a little stressful. After all, Hermione was the type of girl to work way too hard. She just didn't know where to draw the line when it came to work.

Ron kissed Hermione. Hermione slowly intensified the kiss. Ron felt his heart get light. It was as if their relationship had a whole new beginning. "I love you, Mione," Ron whispered huskily, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Shh…" Hermione whispered, kissing him again. "I'm not very hungry. Let's go see your new apartment."

Ron grinned. Maybe things would work out after all. "Oh yeah, and you'll escort me to the Hogwarts Reunion, right?"

Hermione's smile fell a bit. "Absolutely. Anything for you."

A/N: Reviews are appreciated and acknowledged. I respond to every review I get. Thanks <3