I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!
Prologue
"This isn't working, Ron!" Hermione said, exasperated.
Ron sighed, putting his head in his hands. He and his girlfriend of two years had been going head- to- head for weeks now. Maybe Hermione was right. Maybe they just lost what they once had. "So what do we do?" He asked. "Break up?" The idea sounded unfathomable.
Hermione quickly brushed away a tear. "Yes... I think so. I would rather we not lose our friendship altogether, Ron. After all we've been through, that would be the biggest tragedy of all."
Ron stared back at her pale face in the dim light of the living room. How could it have come to this? Maybe he should have seen this coming... the numerous fights they'd had while still at Hogwarts should have been a clue that they weren't good for each other. But another part of him was arguing feverishly against that very idea.
Hermione took a deep breath. "I'd better go. See you later, Ron."
With that, she walked out the door without a glance back.
...
A month had passed. Hermione hadn't seen Ron much during their four weeks apart. The idea of showing up at his little flat in Diagon Alley seemed like an appalling idea! Instead she retired to the Three Broomsticks, pouring over her paperwork for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She shoved it away, completely unable to concentrate. She grabbed her butterbeer and took a reassuring swig.
"Don't get drunk, Granger. You are a member of the Ministry after all."
Hermione swiveled around in her seat. A man of nineteen or twenty with sleek blond hair and a pointed face had appeared, a superior smirk etched on his face. Hermione rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Malfoy?" She snapped.
The smirk quickly faded from Draco Malfoy's face. He sat tentaitvely down in the chair opposite Hermione. "Look, I didn't mean to upset you. I've done a lot of thinking since Potter beat the Dark Lord. I don't want to be the person I was before all that. I've changed."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "And why should I believe you?"
"Let me prove it to you," Malfoy retorted. He took a card out from his pocket and handed it to Hermione. "Come by my place tomorrow evening at seven. Hmm?"
Hermione's better judgement was telling her no way. But then there was another part of her which wouldn't mind taking the risk in order to see the new and improved Draco Malfoy. She nodded. "Okay. I'll come."
Malfoy smiled. "Good. You won't regret it."
...
Hermione got back to her room above the Three Broomsticks two days later in a mess. How could she have let that happen? It totally went against everything she believed in! Hermione was in such a flustered state that she bumped right into Ron, who was waiting just outside her door.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Oh, um, yeah. Fine," she lied.
Ron clearly didn't believe her; Hermione was never the best liar. But he clearly had other things on his mind.
"Look... I don't know how to say this," he muttered.
"Just get on with it!" Hermione said impatiently.
Ron looked right into her eyes. "Hermione, I've been bloody miserable without you!" He blurted out. He paused. "What I mean to say is that I still love you, and I miss you."
Hermione stared blankly at him. There was too much going on! First last night, now this! But one thing was clear: she couldn't ignore the waves of happiness being thrown around inside her. She grinned widely. "I love you too!"
She jumped into his arms and kissed him, not unlike the first time they had kissed at Hogwarts two years ago.
But amidst the happiness, Hermione felt that something was off. Perhaps it was mere intuition, but she knew the events of last night would soon come back to haunt her.