A special thanks to .509 for reviewing. Chapter 4, last chapter. Enjoy!
Hermione left her place in the nursery and made her way down the steps, not noticing the sound of the floo. She numbly walked into the fireplace, grabbed a handful of floo powder and quietly said "Ministry of Magic".
Hermione contemplated his words later that day. She was putting together a proposal for the Werewolf Rights Committee to review. "Unless you join me" his words played over and over in her mind. Was she willing to end her life to begin a new one with him? How could she even know that she would remain a ghost like him? In typical Hermione Granger style, she weighed the pros and cons. Suddenly, her door opened and Harry walked in. "Mione, you ok? I've been knocking- I thought maybe something happened to you…" "I'm fine, Harry. Just caught up with…" deciding whether to Avada yourself "work, Harry. Just work." He looked at her for a moment and then sighed. Pulling up a chair, he sat down- elbows on his knees and folded hands on his chin. "Hermione, if you need to talk- I'm here. You can tell me anything. You know- without me overreacting or blowing up." Hermione laughed "you mean without giving me a Ron reaction?" Harry tensed "Yes, exactly." "No, Harry. I promise you I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about." An hour later, they said their goodbyes and Harry left, still wary.
"Miss Parker, I'm taking an early leave today. Could you please tell the Minister to owl me if he has anything urgent?" "Yes, ma'am" came Hermione's assistant's reply. Hermione took the elevator down to the Atrium and floo'd home. She'd made her decision. She hadn't died in the war. She wasn't fated to die. She had married Ron, made promises, and needed to continue building a life with him. Death would meet her when it was ready, but not a moment sooner. Fate, ahhh she thought what a tangled web you weave. "Draco?" she called out. She began touching all the metal knobs, handles, and accessories in an effort to bring him to her again. She must tell him and put this all behind her. Maybe buying this house was a way for us to say goodbye once and for all she thought. She made her way upstairs, undoing her hair and taking off her blazer and heels. "I need to speak with you, please" she pleaded with the empty house.
The floo activated. She ran downstairs hastily. Her work blouse catching on a railing splinter and tearing the fabric. "Sweethea- she froze. It was Ron. But he wasn't right. He was livid, wand drawn, and looked like he'd been crying. "Sweetheart who? Who were you calling, Hermione? I'm not supposed to be home for another two hours and you! You're not supposed to be home yet either. The game is up, I know what's going on- I forgot my folder and floo'd back this morning. You know what I heard? I think you know." Hermione didn't dare move. "Ronald, it isn't what you think- please let me expla…" "SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP!" he screamed "I can't join you- it wouldn't be fair to Ron" he mocked "At least you had the decency to not leave me for the son of a bitch! But shagging him behind my back?! The day after we buy a house together?! The day after you promise to have my children?!" the veins in his neck bulging and his breathing heaved. "No Ron! It isn't wh…" "Avada Kedavra" he screamed. A green light shot straight towards her chest. She stumbled backwards and looked at him in utter shock. He had tried to kill her. He had… "Oh gods" he cried, eyes wide with disbelief "oh gods, Mione- I'm so sorry" he sobbed, coming to her and taking her hands in his. "I'm so sorry, oh gods please forgive me baby…" his body shook with sobs. He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them hard. His hot lips burning her ice cold hands. Wait! What? She panicked. My ice cold… her thought trailing off and she looked up to see a sympathetic looking Draco reaching out to her.
It was a rainy day when Ron packed up and moved out. The courts had taken pity on him and sided with the wronged husband of an accused adulteress. It also helped that he was one third of the Golden Trio and that Harry Potter had taken his side, citing that he'd spoken earlier with Hermione about his suspicions only to have them confirmed by her callousness and distance. 'Temporary insanity' the courts had dubbed it. He looked back at the house one last time before making his way to the apparition point.
Cold lips kissed her cold neck as she watched Ron leave from the upstairs window. "He'll be fine, he deserves to be happy and loved" Draco whispered. Hermione turned and faced Draco. "I don't understand though. And it kills me to think he thought I was unfaithful. For that to be his last memory of me- a cheating, lying whore of a wife." "Shhh" he crooned "None of that matters now. We're here together at last. We can live out our dreams in the afterlife. Together." She sighed and kissed him. Walking away muttering to herself about 'huge misunderstanding'.
Draco turned towards the window and smirked at the spot where Weasel was. Once a Slytherin, always a Slytherin, he thought.
