Hello lovelies! After a long week, I have written the rest of the third chapter. I'm worried I may need to put a trigger warning for both parts of Chapter 3. Let me know what you think. *trigger warning: alludes to rape culture*
It was in the morning when I made up my mind…
"Are you sure this looks okay?" Ron asked coming out of the bathroom after changing shirts for the sixth time. He turned around to face the closet mirror while butting up the black dress shirt.
"For the last time, Ron," said Harry. "You look fine."
"Yeah, but will she think it looks fine. I don't want Hermione to think I'm trying too hard."
"Trying too hard? Ron, anything above not combing your hair for a week straight is going to look like you're trying too hard."
Ron ran his hands through is freshly combed hair. "Great, Harry. Thanks for pointing that out, mate."
"Stop. I was kidding," Harry said grabbing Ron's arm to stop him from completely destroying what was a clean cut look not five seconds before. "You look fine," Harry confirmed again dropping the arm.
Adjusting his collar, Ron looked in the mirror again. His hair was now mussed, but it gave a more laid back effect to his ensemble of a black dress shirt and crisp dark-wash jeans. Normally, Ron didn't work so hard at looking good for the club, but tonight was different. He wanted to make sure Hermione noticed he was trying.
"Are you ready, mate?" Harry asked clapping rob on the back.
"Sure, sure. Let's go."
The boys Apparated from the apartment to the club as they had many time before. Landing in the club entrance, Ron looked around to see if Hermione happened to be waiting in the room. Not seeing her, he followed Harry through the throngs of entering and exiting people to the main club room.
Ron leaned over to Harry to be heard over the bumping music. "Hermione doesn't know, right?"
"For the thousandth time, Ron, she doesn't know."
Leaning back away from Harry, he saw her. She was at a table with Ginny and she was drinking some kind of pink beverage out of a martini dress. To him she looked beautiful. She was classic in a black dress with her hair pulled back. She had an amazing affect on him. He couldn't believe she could look that great. As if he had forgotten in the time they had been a part. She was stunning and he was grasping for the words to let her know it.
At first he didn't know how to react. They were quickly approach the girls' table and he wasn't quite sure how the situation should go. Should he hug her? Shake her hand? He ended up giving an awkward wave that made Harry cringe. Apparently, waving was not the right move.
Then the lies began. He didn't want to lie to her, but he didn't want her to know the date was a set up. She'd never forgive him if she knew he'd went behind her back and then lied about it. Even if it was for a good reason, she'd only see the deceiving actions and not the loving intent.
He didn't have long to talk to Hermione though because soon Harry and Ginny returned to their table and his sister decided Hermione needed to dance. Ron took a swig of his beer and looked at Harry for help. Assuming Harry would catch his drift and stop the departure, Ron remind quiet. However, Harry did not get the hint. Instead, only a few moments later Harry went to join Ginny in the crowded dance arena leaving Ron alone with his thoughts.
He drank down his beer and then grabbed another. Hermione was across the room from him dancing her heart out. She was moving her hips and tracing her hands up her body to accentuate her curves. How could he have let her go? He felt so much attraction to her he could barely stop himself from walking up to her and moving his hands with hers along her body.
Suddenly, he wasn't the only one thinking about dancing with Hermione. A flash of blond hair blocked Ron's view of her. She was dancing with someone else. The never of her, he thought. He down the second beer filling with rage at the blond guy. Who did that guy think he was dancing with Ron's ex-girlfriend like that?
Ron left his empty bottle on the table and began to walk toward her. He needed to cut in on their dance. He needed to be the one swaying with her. Then the couple turned around.
Draco Malfoy was caressing Hermione's hips. Her eyes were closed in ecstasy as she felt the music. She turned around to face her dance partner, and slipped her arms around his neck. Ron was in shock. She was drunk. She had to be. There is no other way she would lean on Draco Malfoy like that.
The rage in him shifted. He was no longer angry at Hermione for dancing with another guy. Instead he was pissed that Malfoy was taking advantage of her. There was no way Hermione would believe him if he alone pulled her off Malfoy. He had to get her help.
Ron scanned the dance floor and ran up to Harry once he spotted him. "He's got her! Harry, Malfoy's got her!"
"Calm down, Ron. Malfoy has who? What are you talking about?"
"Hermione. Malfoy is hitting on Hermione. She's drunk. There's no way she'd be doing this if she was in her right mind."
Harry walked off in the direction Ron had come from to rescue Hermione from making a crucial mistake. Ginny coming out her shock at the news gave Ron a glare and then stalked after Harry. Ron waited a minute thinking the other two could handle Hermione. He really shouldn't interfere. What if Hermione really did want to go home with Malfoy?
Changing his mind, Ron quickly followed the pursuit. Who was he kidding, he couldn't let the girl of his dreams go home with another bloke. Even if he wasn't currently with her, there was no way he could stand aside for someone else, especially when that person was Draco Malfoy.
The trio found Hermione just in time. She was leaning into Draco when Ron decided to step in. He grabbed her gently, but firmly around the waist and pulled her small frame away from Malfoy. Silky curves pushed against his grasp, but there was too much chaos to even appreciate finally holding her.
Ron was glad to hear Ginny lie about who had seen Hermione with Draco. She must have known what kind of trouble it would cause for Hermione to know Ron had really split the two apart. Jealous rage coursed through his veins as he thought of them together. Exactly what Hermione would accuse him of had he been the one to interrupt. Fighting back his feelings was one of his greater weaknesses, and he couldn't make her understand the jealousy that shows was only apart of his affection for her. He supposed his other weakness was demonstrating that pure affection.
Once Harry had stunned Malfoy and Ron was relieved of any sort of attack mode, he lifted Hermione up on his shoulder to carry her out of the room. She wasn't very happy about it, but they all knew if he didn't physically take her out of the club she would demand to stay. Ginny reached up and pulled down on Hermione's dress to prevent her from flashing anyone. She gently patted her one of legs that was in mid-air and began to lead the way out.
"Ronald Weasley, you put me down this instant!" Hermione cried banging her fists against his back. After a few years of Quidditch and many more in the enforcement field, Ron had gained enough muscle and strength to not particularly be bothered by her feable threats. He walked her out of the room and into the Apparition area. Setting her carefully down in a chair, Ron turned to Harry and Ginny to see what was next.
Hermione crossed her arms in distaste. She was clearly not happy about leaving, but at least she had stopped punching him in protest. "Who's taking her home?" Ron asked.
Harry put his arm around Ginny and she leaned into him. "You can, right Ron?" Harry said glaring at Ron.
"I'm not sure it's a good idea."
"It will be fine. Just take her home, make sure she doesn't vomit, and then leave."
Ron was still unsure. "Maybe you should go with her, Gin."
"I don't think Ginny is in the best state for Apparition either." Ginny leaned further into Harry. It was true that she had been matching Hermione drink for drink. Ron didn't even know how much they had before he arrived. Actually, it would make more sense for Ron to take care of his own sister, but he could tell by the way the other two were acting that Harry would have to be Ginny's knight in shining armour; meanwhile, Ron would take home Hermione and watch out for vomit duty.
"Have it your way-" Ron started.
"Thanks, mate!" Harry said. He grabbed Ginny's hand and they evaporated into thin air before Ron could even finish his sentence.
Ron turned back around to break the news to Hermione, but found that she had fallen asleep in the chair. Curled up like a cat, Hermione lay with her head on an armrest and her arms clutched around her handbag.
He had no choice, but to scoop her up out of the chair. Then he Apparated landing back in his own apartment. It was too risky to try to her back home. He wasn't even sure where she was living now. For all he knew he could think of her old bedroom and wind up in some stranger's flat, or worse- splinched. Walking with her in his arms he was careful to avoid corners and door frames.
Almost home free, Ron reached his bedroom and set her down gingerly on the bed. As she hit the mattress she stirred. "I'm cold." she said curling back up into a ball.
He went to his dresser to dig for something that would cover more than her small dress. What had look extremely elegant and alluring a few hours ago now seemed insufficient and out of place. He handed her a large t-shirt to pull-on. She took it from him and put it on over the dress. The large shirt swallowed her, but it covered much more skin than her own outfit.
Ron began to walk out of the room so Hermione could rest when came a tired voice. "Don't go." She said. He turned around and she had out an arm reaching for him.
He walked back over to the bed and sat down. She scooted closer toward the wall inviting him to lay down. This wasn't how he had planned for their night to go. He had seen himself charming her and only figuratively sweeping her off her feet. Yet, he was so tired he laid down next to her still fully clothed.
As he laid down she grabbed both sides of his face and began to kiss him. He was so shocked instinct took over and he kissed back. For a second everything felt right. Ron had been waiting for that moment for such a long time. He missed the feel of her lips on his and the scent of her skin. No other girl had measured up to that feeling. No other girl had filled him with such wholeness in the past few years.
He stopped. Removing himself from her grasp, Ron's mind caught up with his body and he had to do the right thing. "Not tonight." he said still holding the backs of her hands.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Because you're drunk and it wouldn't be right." She started to cry. It was the last response he wanted, but he solidly knew he was doing the right thing.
He shushed her and started to stroke the back of her neck through her hair. There was nothing else to say. He silently comforted her while she cried her drunken tears. He would see tomorrow how she felt, and in the morning he would make up his mind about whether or not he could win her back and this time keep her by his side.