The Child Chapter Four

The Risk

Hermione sat at the kitchen table reading the daily prophet while Viktor was at the counter making himself some tea. It was quiet, and though it was normally quiet in the house in the morning, Viktor hadn't even said good morning. This made Hermione nervous.

Did he some how find out what had happened the night before? Did he suspect something? Of course not. He had no idea Ron was there, or he would have said something. No, he thought what Harry had told everyone. That he wasn't well and didn't come. In other words, everyone thought Ron was in a ditch of a pub drunk. For all Hermione knew that was exactly what he had done after they separated, and this made her fearful of his health.

It had been a long time since she had felt that for anyone. With Viktor she never really thought of it. He was often followed by body guards where ever he went, and he was never one to get himself in dangerous situations. But with Ron it was different. Ron was hot-headed and unpredictable when drunk. The chances of him getting hurt were much higher then with Viktor.

But as she scanned the Daily Prophet for any sign the Ron was hurt, it lessened. There was nothing, just the usual. She put it down, and sighed.

"Vhat's wrong?" Viktor asked, sitting across from her.

Hermione looked at him and shook her head. "Nothing," she paused and then continued, "I have to go to Diagon Alley today to pick up some things. Is there anything you'd like?" She asked.

"Why don't we go together?" He asked.

Hermione fought a frown, and shook her head no. "No, it's okay. Stay home, have some time off. You've been busy all week with Quidditch and the engagement stuff. You deserve a break." She told him.

To her surprised he didn't question her decision. Just nodded, and stood up mumbling something about having to read some fan mail. Alone, Hermione breathed a loud sigh of relief.

She tidy things up around the kitchen, and headed upstairs to her bedroom to take a shower. She wasn't worried about the meeting with Ron, only what would happen. What would it lead to? She knew that she had to end things with Ron, but she just didn't have the heart to do it. She liked being with him, even if what they had created was complicated. But it had to end. It wasn't right

She came out of the shower, and wrapped the towel around her. She dried herself off, and put on her bra and under wear. Sitting on the stool in front of the mirror, she grabbed her wand and pointed it to her hair, drying it, and then pulled it up into a bun. She got up and walked over to her wardrobe.

Grabbing her favourite trousers, Hermione heard Viktor move upstairs, and head to their bedroom. He entered the room and smiled and went into the bathroom. She pulled them on, and buttoned them, and went back to her wardrobe and took out a blue sweater, and pulled it over her head. After one last look in the mirror she said a quick goodbye to Viktor (who was now in the shower), and went downstairs for her jacket and purse.

With one last look in the mirror in the main entrance, she Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.

Ron looked through the large bay window out across the busy street to where the Leaky Cauldron was. As much as he didn't like it, he was eager to see a bunch of bushy brown hair; he was eager to see Hermione again.

He had hoped that being with Hermione again would not make his feelings for her resurface. He had worked so hard to get rid of them, maybe not in the best way, but he could not deal with loosing her again to ihim/i.

He hated how she did this to him, how she held such control over him. He knew she didn't do it purposely, but it didn't help. Before it was her mistake that caused his misery, this time it was his own. He knew he should have been stronger both times they had been together. The first time not so much, he was intoxicated, but the second time it was all him. He was the one that instigated it, and he she couldn't resist.

Holding his head in his hands and he looked through his open fingers out the window and at the door of the Leaky Cauldron. He sucked in air out of surprise as there she stood, Hermione. She walked out to the street, looking both ways before quickly walking across the street and looked up at the coffee house.

Ron sat up straight, watching as she stepped into the coffee house, and looked around the busy place before spotting him. She gave him a small smile, and walked quickly over to them.

He didn't stand, causing her to feel a little awkward. She sat down slowly across from him, and pulled off her jacket letting it fall on the back of the seat. "Hi," she said finally breathing in sharply and giving him a half smile.

He couldn't smile back. "Hi," he replied, and reached up to his chin rubbing it, and leaning against it. "How are you?" He asked politely.

Hermione was surprised by his demeanor, but shrugged. "I'm fine, how are you?"

"Fine," he answered.

Silence; it was all that filled the space between them. Hermione found that they ha nothing to talk about, after being apart for so long, and after having left in the way that they did. She needed to know why she was meeting Ron here, what he wanted from this.

"Why did you ask me to come here?" Hermione finally asked.

Ron shrugged, leaning back off his arm. "I figured it was the right thing to do after sleeping with you twice." He said.

Hermione fought hard to not yell at him. How could he say such a thing? "Well if that's all, I'm leaving. It was nice knowing you Ron, I'll let you go back to your life." Hermione said, grabbing her jacket and purse standing up.

As she turned to leave, Ron reached out for her arm, taking hold of it, and gently turning her back to him.

"Stay," he said.

It would have been romantic or sweet if it weren't for his face. It held nothing for her, only the loneliness that had swept over him the last five years. She knew he didn't want to be alone, but she only wished he would show all his emotions, but she knew that that wasn't possible. She had caused too much pain to him for him to trust her like that.

"Fine, I will." Hermione said. She sat back down, putting her stuff back in its place. She looked Ron right in the eye, wanting some answers. "Where is this going?" She asked.

"Where ever you want it to." Ron said, mentally kicking himself. He was supposed to end it, not let her decide.

Hermione looked down at her hands. "We should end it." She admitted, though in her heart she didn't want to.

"I know," Ron said softly, surprising Hermione. She looked up at him and saw his hand lying flat against the table for her to take.

She reached out and took it squeezing tightly. "You know this is wrong."

He nodded. "It could ruin people's lives." He replied.

"That's a risk I'm going to take." Hermione told him. She knew it was wrong, she knew it was selfish, but she convinced herself that it was the right thing for her. She wasn't happy with where she was in life, and though she knew there were better ways to deal with it, she wasn't going to stop. She wanted this, and she was willing to pay any punishment she got. As long as she did it with him.

Two Hours Later

Hermione moved closer to Ron on the bed, tangling her legs with his, feeling the warmth of his body go through her own. It felt like an eternity when she was with Ron, something that she didn't really want to admit to herself or to him, but it was the truth. Absently, she ran her fingernail down a thin scar on his chest that he had received years ago during the final battle, as he softly played with her curly and messy hair.

"You should be going home, I'm sure Krum's looking for you." Ron murmured lightly. She knew he was saying it because he had to, not that he wanted to.

"I know," Hermione said softly, looking up in his blue eyes. "But I don't want to go." She said, sitting up, letting the blanket fall off of her.

He stared up at her, his face serene. He slowly ran his hand up her side, watching as the goose bumps covered her skin. He gave her a rare half smile, and she smiled back straddling his waist. She was tired, but she didn't know when the next would be when she could be with him. She went to kiss him, but his hand stopped her. He held her shoulder keeping her from moving and shook his head.

"Go home; we can see each other again." He told her.

Hermione moved off of him, and got out of the bed. He watched her from the bed as she picked up her clothes from around his small apartment. After putting her clothes back on she swept her hair up into a bun, and turned to look at him.

"Viktor is going away for the weekend. We can meet for dinner on Friday, and maybe you can come back to my house." Hermione suggested.

Ron raised his brow. "Are you sure that's a safe idea? What if he comes home early?" Ron asked, avoiding his name.

Hermione shook her head. "He won't. He's going to America and he won't Apparate or Floo there because it's so dangerous. He's taking a plane, so we won't have to worry about him." Hermione said. She felt guilty as she spoke, but she didn't like his apartment.

"Okay, meet me outside the coffee house on Friday at six o'clock and will go from there." He told her, cooking up a plan in his head.

She smiled at how he actually liked the idea of dinner. She figured he would just want to keep it casual, but she figured there was something else he wanted from her. What, she didn't know yet, but she picked up her jacket off the floor, and moved to the bed. She kissed Ron slowly, pulled away and stood up.

"See you on Friday," she said, turning and moving to the door. She unbolted the three locks, opened the door and stepped out slamming it closed behind her, never looking back.

"See you too," Ron mumbled to himself, and pulled his blankets over him, feeling tired and worn. Really he wanted Hermione to stay, but he knew if she stayed any longer the chances of her getting into trouble was a lot higher.

A/N: So, I do hope you all liked this chapter. It took me awhile to write and stay in the right mood to do so. Thanks for reading, and please review, as always!