Chapter 8
Chapter 8 of 9
HermioneWeasley1972Thanks to Robbie for the beta.
Ron turned and looked at her. He hadn't especially wanted to have this job, but since he was a capable Auror and not many people knew about the falling out of their friendship, he hadn't had a choice. He tried not to show the concern that he had for her. Despite the fact that she had married that greasy git Severus, he didn't want to see anything like this happen to her.
Putting up a ward that would alert him if anyone tried to enter the room, he reluctantly walked over to her bed. The paleness of her face shocked him.
"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.
"I'm fine," Hermione replied curtly, not forgetting how her friends had been treating her. She attempted to sit up, grimacing as she did. "Well, maybe not completely fine."
Ron noticed her struggle and gently helped her to sit up. "If you are up for it, I would like to ask you some questions about the attack." He was careful to keep his voice businesslike and not to let any emotion into it.
Hermione's face contorted in pain, and she looked toward the button that would call the Healer. Realizing what she was going to ask for, Ron added, "It would be better if your mind is clear without being mucked up by pain medicine."
Sighing, Hermione looked at him. "Okay, ask your questions."
"What do you remember of the attack?" Ron asked, taking out a parchment and a Quick Quotes Quill.
Hermione's forehead furrowed in thought, and she sighed again. "I don't remember that much. I remember going home after seeing Nicoletta off, and then I heard a noise in the house. I was almost to the door when I was attacked."
Ron watched as the Quick Quotes Quill wrote down what she had said. "So you did not see your attacker?"
"No. But the Healers said that both the baby and I are doing fine," Hermione replied, a bit of coldness in her voice.
"You're pregnant? Again?" Ron asked, feeling surprised.
"Yes, I'm pregnant again," Hermione replied, frowning at him. "And Severus and I are very happy about it."
Ron tried hard not to roll his eyes. "Well, I think I have all the information that I need. If you think of anything else, please contact the Auror office. My shift here is almost over, and then someone else will be standing guard." Ron started walking toward the door and mumbled something about, "Another kid of the greasy-haired git…" not knowing that Hermione had heard him.
A gasp came from behind him. "Why can't you be happy for us? Do you hear me belittling your marriage or the fact that you are on your fourth child? You know, our children are friends. They are even in the same House together."
Ron heard Hermione's voice rising in octaves and finally dissolve into tears. Turning around, he went back to her side. "Hermione…"
"No, just leave me alone. You are never going to change. Never!"
Just then two Healers entered the room, and one of them escorted him out. "You are here to guard her, not to upset her. I am sorry, but you need to leave."
As Ron left the room, he looked back to see Hermione's tear-streaked face buried in her hands.
Later that evening, Ron was wrapping up his paperwork in his office when his door banged open, and a figure in a billowing black robe entered his office. Ron didn't have time to draw his wand before the figure picked him up by the collar and pushed him against the wall.
"How dare you upset my wife!" Severus demanded, holding his wand up against Ron's throat.
"Wha-" Ron started, but the hold on his robes by Severus left him little room to breathe, let alone speak.
"If I only had the guts I had years ago, I'd kill you right here, right now. But I will tell you this, Ronald Weasley. If you ever come near my wife or my child again, you will wish you had never been born. I may be a greasy-haired git," Severus said, his black eyes glittering with malice, "but look at what you have done to your friendship. You are a fool, Ron Weasley. A damned fool."
Ron felt the grip on his robes loosen and dropped to the ground, feeling his ankle turn under him. He watched as the figure left his office and struggled to his feet. His fists clenched at his sides, but he didn't know whom he was angrier at, Snape or himself.
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Latest 25 Reviews for A Lesson in Friendship
156 Reviews | 5.22/10 Average
Are you going to write anymore? It's a great story!
Response from HermioneWeasley1972 (Author of A Lesson in Friendship)
Thank you. Yes, I just got busy with RL. :) Thanks for the review.
Response from Grace52373 (Reviewer)
Thank you for responding! i was afraid this was abandoned, and that would be a real shame, since it is such a great story! Looking forward to the next chapters! Grace
Please, PLEASE don't leave me hanging! Ron's in trouble... And Lav isn't being very nice.
Ron's lucky he didn't lose his job. Lavender is no better. What's her problem? Why is she so resentful of Hermione?
Great update, Ron got off easily in my book, I would have put him in Azkaban, if not for anything else than being a prat.
So, who is the one who listened with great interest to Ron and Kingsleys conversation? A friend of Hermione or Ron, or neither?
Another thing; Lavender, does she find it acceptable that Ron is still so hung-up about Hermione? Her jelousy towards Hermione after so many years, and with Hermione so obviously not wanting Ron, makes me think that Lavender is bottered by Rons remaining feelings for Hermione. Indifference should have been preferred compared to continued hang-ups over an ex-girlfriend, so maybe Lavender feels seccond best and blame Hermione for Ron's feelings?
I look forward to read more.
Good for Kingsley. I was afraid that Ron would escape with just a slap on the wrist. I wonder who the ears belong to?
Oooohh! Who's the third set of ears??!!
I'm glad you gave us another Ron scene - very curious about him. I'm glad he's upset, but he should be glad he wasn't fire - the bonehead!
Nice touch there with Kinglsey's rerort "And I thought you and Hermione were friends." !!!
Awesome. Looking forward to reading more.
"Did that goody goody bookworm report you?" Lavender asked, making a face at him.
Nice to see that Lavender's matured every bit as much as her charming husband. *Insert eyeroll*
And the fact that Ron never once expressed remorse over his appalling behavior towards the pregnant victim of a brutal attack--who happens to be a kind-hearted former friend-- is proof that he desperately needs and deserves the suspension that he's so furious about.
Of course, Ron's more upset about the fallout for himself rather than what he did to earn it. Knowing Ron, he'll probably blame Hermione, even though she wasn't the one who reported him.
I'm curious, though, about who was eavesdropping on Ron's ill-fated meeting with the Minister. My first thought was Rita Skeeter, but...?
Great story BTW, I look forward to seeing how things further unfold.
Another great part! I just have one critique, NOT LONG ENOUGH! I want to read more! Anyway, however way you write it, long or short, I still can't wait to read more!
I think you should add another category for this story under "Potions Under Duress." I know that lots of Hermione/Severus fans would enjoy reading this story.
Hurray - an update! I am so glad - I really liked this story. I am glad Hermione is fine. I am also glad that Severus told Ron off. Great job - I look forward to an update.
Response from HermioneWeasley1972 (Author of A Lesson in Friendship)
Thank you. I have good news for you. An update is pending in the queue and I fixed it. As soon as an admin releases it, it will be up. :)
At least he's a little angry at himself.
It's so good to see this story continued - thank you! And what a promising chapter...
You are such a tease. Now you've re-opened a can of flobber worms, so you can't quit now. It was good to see the update.
Nice job!
I am trilled to see an update to this story, I love it! So, Ron had to be a git still, I guess he will never grow up. Severus were rigth to warn him and for standing up for his wife, that is what a decent man should do.
Ron, Harry and the rest of those who turned their back on Hermione for daring to marry the man she loves should all be ashamed of them self, not to mention preferably put in their place!
The culprit (Lucius?) should be publicly humiliated and punished, preferably by Severus and Hermione, but as long as it is painful I guess I can live with it no matter who gets the honor:-))
And you should feel guilty Ron!! As should Harry!!
Lol. I was so excited when I saw an update! Woo-hoo! 
Just loved how Snape was all sweet and threatened Dunderhead!Ron.
I'm very curious how Ron's guilt will influence his next actions.
I'm also very curious about how the children's friendships develop and what they will think when they find out about their parents' estrangement.
So glad Hermione's baby is okay!!!
Look forward to reading more!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! I have been looking forward to a new chapter for awhile now! I can't believe Ron, but then again, he has always had the maturity of a teaspoon! Ha! Ha! It was great to see Snape stand up for his family! Ron deserved that and more! I can't wait to see the next chapter!
Grace
Ron was out of line, he deserved what he got and more.
Nice to see how much Ron has matured over the years.
I guess it's fine for he and Lavender to keep building their own personal Quidditch team, but how dare Hermione have a second child with her husband, the man that she loves? So naturally Ron thinks it's a fine idea to antagonize his former friend, a pregnant woman who's just been brutally attacked and barely avoided a miscarriage?
What an ASS!!!
Harry's son James showed much more class and maturity when he stuck up for Nicoletta when that creep Brian tried to start something about a Snape in Gryffindor.
Sounds like James could teach Uncle Won-Won a lesson or two!
So glad to see this story back on the boards. I was really enjoying it. I look forward to your next chapter. Thanks, JoAnne
I hope no one considers Ron Hermione's friend anymore. Jeez. What a loser.
ron the eternal git. wonderful update. thanks and smoochies
I was over at Granger Enchanted when I came across this fic - it stopped at chapter 4 over there - and i just needed to read more. A good search was able to bring me here where you've got 7 chapters. It's very good. I've read several "broken trio friendship" fics, and this is defiantely one of the better ones. I love little Nicoletta and look forward to seeing what happens when Hermione and Ron confront each other at the hospital.
I'm hoping for heaps of guilt from Ron and Harry for being such jerks. I dunno if this fic is abandoned but i really hope it isn't.
Look forward to reading more and catching the bad guy!
Ron doesn't see what he did wrong? And if the healers turned him in, eh. He and Lav are going to blame Hermione anyway.
Ron! How awkward!Ooh, I like this story so far. I hope for another update soon!I'm glad that Hermione and the baby were safe, I was really worried that she would lose the baby. I hope that she can go live with Severus at Hogwarts (although I have a feeling he won't let her stay at home by herself).