Chapter Six: Trust Issues
"Hermione?" Ron got up from the sofa that he had been sitting on, waiting for Hermione.
Hermione winced as he got close to her. "Ronald don't come closer." She warned him.
"Hermione where have you been?" He asked her, stepping back as he took note of the wand in her hand.
"Tell me where you were all of last night and I shall tell you where I was." She replied, hoping that his curiosity was strong enough for him to confess where he was.
Ron looked away. "I don't know." He muttered.
"What do you mean you don't know?" She replied dangerously.
"I don't know what happened, where I was, what I was doing there, nothing. I don't know. I can't remember the last few days." He answered helplessly.
"Liar. You know what you did... To me." She said softly, feeling tear well up in her eyes.
"Did to you?" He asked in confusion. "What did I do? I didn't do anything to you. I love you."
Hermione narrowed her eyes and raised her wand arm slightly. "Yes, you did, you bloody fool. You..." She looked away. "Forced me to have..." Her voice faded and she closed her eyes as she remembered the dreadful experience. She could still feel the pain when he punched her, and the searing pain in her throat. She could still feel the helplessness she felt that night, and her stupidity as she failed to defend herself. But she had thrown her wand aside when she entered the flat, and who could even think logically as their spouse, the person they love, raped them?
"I didn't. Merlin. Oh no. No, no, no, no." Ron said panicking, he walked over to her to try to embrace her, but she raised her wand higher.
"Bloody hell. What have I done? I'm sorry Hermione. Honestly I am. I love you." Ron said wildly.
"You don't remember? How can you not fucking remember Ronald? Do you know how awful it has b-been for me? How w-weak and useless I f-fucking feel? How I must lie to people when t-they ask me h-how I am? Because I'm n-not ok, Ronald. You b-betrayed my t-trust." Hermione her voice betraying the sudden anger that surged through her body, and her eyes revealing the pain and hurt as tears fell down her cheeks. She took several deep breaths but found that difficult to do.
"You d-don't know what its l-like to have to go through fucking p-paperwork dealing with m-m-marital..." She took a deep uneven breath. "And knowing that I tell my clients to tell s-someone, but I c-can't do that myself. You can't p-possibly know how much it hurts n-now knowing what they go through and the d-difficulty telling someone because of the f-fear that the o-one they love will go to A-Azkaban." She continued.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I wasn't in the right mind. I was drinking Firewhiskey like crazy, drowning my feelings because I knew that our relationship wasn't going as well as we thought it would be when we first got married. You aren't going to tell anyone are you?" He replied holding his hands slightly in front of his almost as though he could block any spell Hermione might cast at him, with his hands.
"Isn't it great that you remember why you were fucking out of it but not anything else? Well guess what Ronald, I can't be here right now. I can't be near you." She cried, her wand arm trembling.
"Hermione I love you." He said taking advantage of the fact that she was vulnerable. He stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her, and placed his lips over her, trying to convey how much he loved and needed her.
Hermione went limp for a few seconds, before pulling back and placing a loud slap on his cheek. She stepped away from Ron and raised her wand, ready to protect herself this time.
Ron looked at her in surprise. He rubbed his cheek, an angry red mark in the shape of Hermione's hand was clear on his cheek. He didn't attempt to get closer to her. He knew how dangerous his wife can be, he did not want to be on the receiving end of a well placed spell.
"Don't come near m-me." She warned trembling and feeling ready to pass out. She stepped back slowly and apparated, taking note of the helpless look on Ron's face. She had no idea where she had apparated to, all she knew was that she was glad she was away from Ron. She stumbled and nearly fell, but a pair of strong arms supported her. She looked up at her saviour before passing out.
She awoke to the feeling of someone watching her intently. She stirred and realized she was in a bed. She panicked and checked to make sure all of her clothes were on her body. To her relief, she was fully clothed. She then looked around the room, not recognizing where she was.
"Good afternoon, sunshine." A familiar voice said. She looked to her right, and noticed that Draco Malfoy was sitting on the bed that she was on. "How are you feeling?"
She then remembered seeing his face as she blacked out not too long ago. "Where am I?" She asked looking at Draco.
"You ma'am, are in my room, at the one and only newly renovated Malfoy Manor." He said grandly, while placing a warm towel on her forehead. He got up and grabbed a small bottle from his dresser.
"What am I doing here?" She asked him feeling confused.
"I'd actually like to know that myself." He said chuckling. "You apparated to my garden where I was taking a stroll, and stumbled forward. I ran towards you and caught you just in time, so I brought you to my room because my bed is more comfortable than the sofa." He said smirking slightly as he realized the innuendos in his statement. He sat down next to her.
All of her memories flew back to the front of her head, as she remembered her confrontation with Ron. She tried to hold back her tears, but that didn't work. She threw her arms around Draco and proceeded to cry on his shoulder. He rubbed her back soothingly while he embraced her with his other room.
Hermione startled herself by just throwing herself on her former enemy. Why was she so ready to throw herself upon a man, fully knowing that she would be unable to trust a man after what the man she love did to her? Why was she ready to go somewhere else for comfort? Why did she want to tell him everything and have him comfort her?
"He can make you happy." Narcissa's voice rang in her head. "He can make you happy."
"I'm sorry." She said, blushing. She removed herself from him and wiped her tears away.
"Its okay. I know that whatever has you feeling the way you do is probably not for the faint of heart. You have been through so much and came out strong. Whatever it is that is bothering you, you will overcome. You don't have to tell me what it is if you don't want to, but I am here for you." He replied surprising Hermione. She could not believe that this was the same asshole from her years at Hogwarts. "He's changed." She thought to herself.
"Thank you. I don't know if I can tell anyone yet... But I do need a friend." She replied feeling tears falling once more.
"I am here for you honestly." He replied. He gave her a hug, which she welcomed.
"What time is it Draco? I do hope I'm not disturbing you." She asked sheepishly.
"It is twelve o'clock PM." He replied.
Hermione threw the sheets off of her and attempted to jump off the bed, but Draco held her back.
"Oh no, Draco let me go, I have to get to work." She said hastily, but he shook his head and tutted.
"I can't do that. I will let you go, but you will rest. I called in for the both of us. Shacklebolt said you can have the day off, after I explained the state you were in, while I am to make sure you are ok, seeing as how you are in my house. He told me to tell you that he hopes you feel better soon, and that Harry seems to have a lead on the case that you were working on." He told her carefully putting her back down.
She allowed herself to be tucked back in. "Thank you Draco. I don't know why I apparated to your house, but I'm glad I did." She said softly.
"Are you planning on going back to your flat soon? Or do you wish to say in the guest room?" He asked her hoping that she stays.
She hesitated. "I can't go back yet. You don't mind if I stay, do you?" She asked shyly.
He shook his head. "I enjoy company." He said kindly. "Are you hungry?"
She then realized that she was indeed starving. She nodded sheepishly. He smirked and walked away. She took the opportunity to go to the bathroom and wash her face. She got up and walked to the door. She looked in he hallway and was astonished. The hallway was elegant, but vast. There was no way she would be able to find the bathroom.
She heard a shuffling and realized that there was a house elf watching her. "Master send Stella to Miss. Miss up? Why Miss up?" The house elf who identified herself as Stella asked. The house elf seemed to be well cared for, properly dressed, and in excellent health.
"I need to find the bathroom." Hermione told Stella.
"Stella show you where Bathroom is. Follow Stella." The house elf said to Hermione taking her hand. Hermione allowed herself to be led to the bathroom. Once there, Hermione marvelled at the beauty of the bathroom. She had never seen such a gorgeous bathroom. She was dying to get in the opulent tub. She tore her eyes from the tub and gazed at her reflection in the huge mirror over the sink.
She was distraught to see that her eyes were tearstained, red and swollen. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were pale. Her hair was a disheveled mess reminiscent to a bird's nest.
How was Draco able to look at her without sneering or wincing? Clearly he has changed a lot more than she had realized. He gave her a place sleep and to escape from her problems. But what can he do for her when she has to face her problems, or what about when he has his own problems to face. "Help him to cope." She said out loud as she was reminded of what Narcissa had said to her. "I will help him cope, just as he is currently helping her blindly.
"Why can't I speak to someone? Why am I afraid?" She asked herself.
"Afraid of what?" A voice asked from the doorway. Hermione jumped, and saw that it was Draco leaning at the bathroom doorway. She had forgotten to close the door.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" She said shrilly.
Draco laughed. "Well Breakfast- er Brunch, I suppose is served. If you'll follow me, I will direct you through this maze I call my home." He stated bowing. Hermione couldn't help but giggle. She followed him and they made their way through the manor to the dining room.
Hermione gasped. The dining room was not at all as she remembered. On the contrary, it was now unrecognizable, and inviting. On the table, there were two plates with food served high on the plate.
"Draco did you cook?" She asked uncertainly.
"Why does that surprise you?" He asked her mockingly with a hurt tone in his voice.
Hermione sadly was reminded of Ron. He never cooked for her, or anyone. She was always the one doing the work. What a nice change it was to not have to do anything. "Thank you Draco, you are too kind. I'm sorry to be a burden."
"You aren't a burden. I'm glad you are here." He told her truthfully. I'm glad you are getting around to trust me. I don't know what happened to you, but you're loser husband was involved, no doubt about it. he thought to himself.
They both sat in silence, enjoying each other's company and the food. -Cadi
I hope I didn't disappoint anyone with this chapter. Please tell me what you think.