Chapter 7
"He kissed you?"
"You kissed him back?"
Hermione's head was throbbing, and her friends' shrill voices were not helping at all. Harry's voice had been the first one to pierce through her head, seconded by Ginny's. Her friends had been listening to her re-tell the...incident...that happened well over an hour ago.
Hermione hung her head low, both out of shame and because of her throbbing head. Time passed very slowly. It seemed as if she had been in this train for days, when in fact, only an hour and a half has passed.
"Look, 'Mione...we don't blame you...we know you didn't mean to," Ginny said.
Hermione felt the seat beside her sink as her friend transferred from her seat across her and beside Harry to sit next to Hermione. A comforting hand rested itself on her shoulder, and Hermione lifted her head to give a sad smile at her friend who was clearly worried about her.
"That's just it, Gin...I kissed him back, doesn't that mean that I meant it?" Hermione said softly, fresh tears stinging her eyes. The thought that she betrayed Charlie was too much to bear. Charlie had been with her through rough times, and she just threw that all back at his face now.
"'Mione...you were bawling your eyes out when you got back. You even fainted! You even imagined Charlie was here, and you were crying so hard and apologizing again and again. I think that meant you didn't mean to. Malfoy probably just confused you," Harry said.
Hermione nodded meekly. Yes, Harry was right. She shouldn't let Malfoy mess her up. She loved Charlie. The fact that she cried so hard was proof of that. She had never cried about something as hard as she did awhile ago. Well, she did, once, but that was also about Charlie, so that just proved that she really did love him. And she even imagined that -
"Wait, what?" Harry had said...that I imagined Charlie was here?
Her two friends looked at her, startled. "What 'What', 'Mione?" Harry asked.
"Did you say that I imagined Charlie was here?" Actually, now that she thought about it...she did remember clinging on to someone as she cried, and she remembered big, warm, and gentle hands comforting her. She thought it was Charlie, but that's impossible – he's at the Burrow right now.
"Yes, I did say that. And you did. Nott came in a few minutes after you did, and he...well.. you were clinging to him, and I guess he didn't know what to do," Harry shrugged.
"Wait. Nott? Theodore Nott? Teddy?" Hermione asked, bewildered.
Harry rolled his eyes. "No, Hermione, Pea Nott," he drawled. "Of course Theodore Nott, who else is there?"
Ginny laughed. "Give 'Mione a break, Harry. She's been through a lot."
The couple playfully bickered, and Hermione shut them out as she contemplated on what Harry had said. Theodore Nott had come in, and she thought he was Charlie, so she clung onto him, crying and apologizing. Oh Merlin, this is getting worst by the minute! Hermione groaned.
"Harry," Hermione interrupted. "When did Teddy leave?"
Hermione saw Ginny and Harry exchange a look before Harry answered slowly. "A few minutes you passed out."
Something's not right here, Hermione thought, furrowing her brow s in contemplation.Teddy wouldn't leave her unconscious. Knowing Teddy, he'd get someone's help, or at least inform someone what happened. If not, he'd stay with her, at least. That's what he did the last time she cried so hard she fainted. He had stayed with her until she woke up. Plus, judging by the secret looks Harry and Ginny have been trading ever since she woke up, there was something they weren't telling her.
"Alright you two, I know you're hiding something from me, so spit it out," Hermione finally concluded. She crossed her legs and folded her arms in front of her chest, giving them her best "no nonsense" look.
The two exchanged another look before sighing exasperatedly. "'Mione, we know it's pointless to hide anything from you, but we really can't tell," Ginny said.
"And why not?" Hermione replied, raising a brow.
"Because we promised him not to," Harry countered.
Aha, Gotcha, Harry Potter, Hermione inwardly danced victoriously. "You said 'him'. 'Him' who?" Hermione eyed him suspiciously, while Ginny glared at him.
Harry slapped his forehead. "Someone," he mumbled.
Before Hermione could retort, the compartment door slid open. Ginny gave out a small shriek. Harry's hand plunged into his robes, gripping his wand. Hermione did the same.
"Move or make a sound, and I kill this girl," a man in a mask snarled. "Even if you manage to dispose of me, there are many more of my kind on this train, so I suggest you stay put and do what I say. No funny tricks." He stood by the door, holding his wand securely at a first year Gryffindor's throat. He wore all black robes, and a black mask covered his face. The voice was not familiar.
"Wands on the ground. Now," the man demanded, holding the wand on the girl's throat tighter. She gave a small whimper, tears of terror falling freely on her cheeks.
Hermione, Harry, and Ginny obeyed as they stared at him in bewilderment and confusion."You...You're a..." Hermione couldn't finish. The clothes, the mask – all of it were too familiar – a nightmare she didn't want to relieve. It was Deja vu all over again.
The man cackled. "Accio wands," he said, as the three wands on the floor flew to him. He kept the wands by his feet, away from reach, before continuing. "You must be that smart-ass Mudblood. Granger, was it?" Hermione twitched a bit – he knew her name! Her right arm started hurting suddenly, on the spot where...
"Why are you here? What do you want?" Harry demanded angrily.
The man responded by pulling his hostage's black hair back none too kindly and touched the tip of her throat with his wand. The girl whimpered again. "I advise you to stay put, be good, and shut up, Mr. Potter, while I still have patience within me. It's not wise to play hero right now, especially when your whole train is filled with many of us. We just came here to get what we want. Once we have it, we're leaving. As much as we want to have some fun and just kill you all, orders remain," the man shrugged. "However, we can leave all of you on the verge of death. Technically, you'll still be alive. Now, if you don't want to be in that situation, do as I say," the man snarled again.
Harry grit his teeth and did not say any more.
"Good. Now, I'm going to give you this girl in exchange with the Mudblood. Nobody move, and nobody gets hurt. As simple as that. So here," he said, releasing the girl in his arms but still trailing his wand on her back. He shoved her forward and grabbed Hermione's arm, taking her as his new hostage. He held her by the hair, wand on her throat. "So, Granger. You know what I am?" Hermione could swear the man was smirking under his mask.
The wand was pressing so tightly on Hermione's throat, and she was having a hard time breathing. She managed to choke up the words:
"D-Death.. Eater."
It hurt. It hurt like hell.
Here was Charlie, in a room with three other males who happened to see the beauty in Hermione, just like he did. Normally, he would have a smug look on his face – after all, he was the one Hermione was with. But no matter how much he loved her, he had to let her go. And it hurt. He couldn't be with her. And it hurt. He had to tell these boys in front of him, hoping someone can be there for her when Charlie breaks up with her. And it hurt. She was going to be broken, again, by a Weasley, again. And it hurt. This time, however, someone else will be there to comfort her, not him. And it hurt.
He faced the three around him, took a deep breath, and said the most difficult and painful seven words of his entire life - "I'm going to break up with Hermione."
And it hurt like hell.
The fact that any of these three in front of him would be holding his Hermione...making her laugh, smiling with her, spending the rest of their lives together, have children...it was too much. Just too much. He wanted it all so badly. But he knew he couldn't.
And it hurt like hell.
Charlie had cried over this enough. He did so for three days after making his decision. Tears didn't come out now, thankfully. But inside... Inside, his gut twisted, his heart stopped beating, his lungs were not moving – nothing. His body felt like a hollow shell, a void deep within. If he felt like this now, how would he feel when he finally spoke the dreaded words to Hermione?
It wasn't fair. He didn't want to think of it anymore. He decided ever since then that he would enjoy his life now. However, enjoying life wasn't possible without Hermione. But he had to let her go. It wouldn't be fair to her if he didn't. She'd be hurting and crying more in the end if he didn't.
Besides, he wasn't that fair with her in the first place. He had taken advantage of her when she was weak. He told her he loved her when she was feeling unloved, thus making her accept out of the need of comfort. That wasn't fair. But at the time, he didn't care, because he wanted her, and it was an advantageous risk he was willing to take.
He didn't want to be unfair to her again. So this time...this time, he was letting her go. To be fair to her. To take the possible pain away for her. And for himself.
Draco, meanwhile, couldn't believe his ears.
Charlie Weasley is breaking up with Granger!
Draco was trying so hard not to grin. Of course, Hermione would be devastated, and she might be angry with Draco, but all Draco had to do now was apologize, kiss up to her, be her knight-in-shining-armor as she cried, and she'd forgive him. She had to – she was a softie.
Then what? Draco still hadn't figured out his feelings regarding Hermione Granger. Was it just a lust thing, or what is something more?
The bigger question was, why would Charlie Weasley want to let go of Hermione Granger? It was a stupid thing to do! Just when Draco was turning nice and thinking the Weasleys were not all that bad save for their youngest who was really a pain in the arse, the second oldest Weasley does something idiotic that makes Draco think they really are all stupid. Really, why let go of a girl when you know perfectly well there are so many men after her? Unless he's really confident that she'd come back to him. But why let go in the first place? Just to rub it in the others' faces that she still chose him? But Charlie Weasley was not that kind of man. Well, Draco assumed the Weasleys weren't like that. He'd never admit it, but the Weasleys were a nice bunch, even if they were a bit strange sometimes. Scratch out the "a bit" and the "sometimes". If it wasn't because Charlie was rubbing it in their face, then what -
"But why?" Ron asked.
Charlie looked beside him, to ickle-Ronniekins, his little brother. Ron was staring at him, baffled and relieved. All the gut clenching, heart-stopping, lungs drying feelings came back again. Ron was family, and yet he couldn't tell him the real reason...
"Because I wasn't fair to her in the first place," Charlie answered simply. He tried to keep it as short and as simple as possible. He didn't want to risk accidentally giving the truth away.
Not fair to her? What did he mean by that? Draco wondered.
"What do you mean, exactly, sir?" Teddy asked.
Charlie looked at Teddy curiously. If only you weren't so smart. But then again, you're just like Hermione – someone who needs to know everything, he thought with a smile.
Suddenly, the air supply around Charlie seemed to diminish. Not now. Please, please not now. Not in front of them, Charlie panicked. He took a deep breath, and was relieved to feel his lungs expanding again, as the air flowed through them easily.
"When I confessed to Hermione how I felt about her, I did it when she was...emotionally unstable," Charlie explained, eying Ron. He hoped they wouldn't ask any more questions. He knew he owed them answers, but Charlie felt terrible that he was only telling them the half truth.
Might as well explain what I can tell them properly, so that one of them can take care of Hermione, Charlie thought."The feeling" came again - the gut clenching, heart stopping, lungs drying feeling. As much as Charlie hated to accept it, these boys in front of him would have to take care of Hermione for him. The only reason he was talking to them now and telling them all of this was because of that fact.
"I became her...pillar, per se. When she felt unwanted and falling, I made her feel wanted and caught her. I guess it's kind of unfair to not only you lot, but to her, as well. I kind of feel guilty, actually, because it seems like I took advantage of her weakness at the time to get what I had wanted. Maybe if I wasn't at the right place at the right time, I wouldn't be with her now," Charlie continued, knowing now that he had to explain this as carefully and as accurately as possible, even if it wasn't the whole truth. All the more I need to explain it well. It has to sound like the whole truth.
Draco couldn't believe it. Was the man a saint? He was letting go of her just because he had an advantage among the rest of them? He was letting go of her just because he was at the right place at the right time? This was ridiculous! But somehow, Draco understood what the man was feeling. If Draco was in his situation, it would seem that Granger was only with him now because he was the one who made her feel loved when she wasn't. And so? What's the big deal ? That would've been alright with Draco...or would it? Would it be alright if Granger was with him just because she felt wanted and loved? ...no, not really, it wasn't alright. Draco would want Granger to be with him because she loved him, not because he was at the right place at the right time.
Draco was starting to admire this man. But he'd rather die than admit it, of course.
Charlie waited for some reaction from any of the three, but when none came, he decided to continue. "And besides, I'm your Professor now. Hers as well. It would be very inappropriate to have a relationship with your student." And it was true. He certainly wouldn't be able to keep his job if Minerva found out he was dating one of the students. He already knew all of this in advanced – he's been planning this, after all. Regardless of what Draco Malfoy did today, Charlie was still going to break up with Hermione. He was actually supposed to do so a few weeks back, but he just couldn't do it. He convinced himself that none of the days that passed was the right time. But now...now was certainly the right time. Especially about what happened with Malfoy and Hermione awhile ago.
Oh, yes, he really wanted to beat the bloody prat up black and blue for what he did to Hermione, but he couldn't. Draco Malfoy, as much as he seemed like a stuck-up, spoiled brat, was someone who could take care of Hermione. Charlie had seen the distant and hazy looks Malfoy had been having ever since Charlie had stepped into the compartment. That could only mean Malfoy was seriously thinking of what had happened between and Hermione earlier. It meant Malfoy was serious about Hermione. As long as the man was serious enough, it was fine with Charlie.
Whatever happened between the two awhile ago was easy to guess.
"You've been planning to break up with her," Teddy said. It wasn't a question – it was a statement. Draco looked at his friend, awed at his skill of processing information. He was proud of his best mate – Teddy wasn't second best in Hogwarts for nothing. The first being Granger, or course.
"Yes," Charlie sighed, wishing once more that Theodore Nott didn't analyze anything Charlie said too much. "However painful it is for me to do so, I think it' for her own good. I...have other reasons, but I took the job knowing the consequences," Charlie said. If I stay here any longer, Nott will figure out that I'm not telling them the whole story. I better go – now, before things get uncontrollable.
Charlie stood and straightened his robes, getting ready to leave. "Just seeing her everyday is enough for me. If I didn't take the job, I wouldn't get to see her since she's in Hogwarts while I'm in Australia. Minerva actually made me pick If I wanted the Ancient Runes job or the Care of Magical Creatures one. I would've preferred the latter, but Hermione doesn't take that class," he grinned, winking.
Charlie meant that as a light joke to the others, but it was, actually, half true. Just seeing Hermione everyday being enough for Charlie was true. The Minerva letting him pick wasn't exactly true. Charlie sort of...asked for the job. They didn't need to know that, though.
Draco was bewildered. The man changed moods so quickly! First he was all serious and sentimental, and now he was joking and winking!
Charlie walked to the door, but stopped. "But," Charlie decided to add, "It doesn't mean I don't love her. I do, very much. And if any of you kids do something stupid," he paused, eying Draco, trying to tell him with his eyes that he did do something stupid. "I'm not going to hesitate in kicking your arses, Professor or not," he continued, grinning. Oh yes. Have a taste of my dragon taming skills.
"Oh yes, Mr. Malfoy," Charlie called, talking to Malfoy directly. "Seeing as she and I are technically not together anymore, I'm letting you off for kissing her. I have the feeling though, that you have made her quite...distressed." Yes. It had to be said. Charlie wanted to kick his arse so badly, but since he couldn't, he'd have to settle this another way – making the boy know that Charlie did, in fact, know what he did to Hermione, so he should be guilty.
Draco blinked at him. "Er..."
Charlie smirked. The Draco Malfoy confronted by a boyfriend, and all he says is 'Er...'! News worthy of the Daily Tribune front page!
Charlie grinned. "I'm guessing she kissed you back." It wasn't a question. Knowing Hermione, she probably did. She's a sucker for anything passionate, and Malfoy was all about passion. But, knowing Hermione, she didn't mean to kiss back. That's why she was so upset, Charlie thought.
Draco didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to think. It was all too fast.
"And I'm guessing she felt guilty about it because she felt like she cheated on me, so she stormed out on you and started crying. Then ," Charlie said, eyes turning to Teddy. "came to find her on your behalf, Mr. Malfoy, and secretly because he cared too, and she thought was me, and started clinging to him, crying and apologizing, thus ending up fainting in his arms," Charlie continued as the three stared back at him, dumbstruck.
Teddy, Draco, and Ron stared at Charlie dumbly.
His gaze flickered back to Draco. "Then I came in and found her in Mr. Nott's arms. He left her with me, and went to go look for you. I'm guessing you have worked things out, because you're not tearing at each other's throats right now, so you two must have talked already. went off somewhere while you, Mr. Malfoy, went to the Prefect's meeting. When it ended, my brother pounced on you. That's when I left Hermione's side and found myself hearing your...confession," he grinned.
More dumb stares.
"Then, Mr. Nott decided to go look for you, Mr. Malfoy. He must have been expecting you, since your meeting should have been done quite some time ago, but you never came. And that's how we're all here right now."
Blank looks.
Just as Charlie expected, no one said a word. They just stared at him, baffled that he figured all of that out without them having to explain anything. They were probably working out lies to tell him in their minds. Well, too bad. They underestimate me too much, he inwardly grinned. He was Head Boy before. He put together the pieces awhile ago, when he was..."inspecting" Draco Malfoy.
Charlie sighed. "I was Head Boy before, you know. It doesn't take much to figure things out. Hermione's pretty predictable, and this isn't new. It already happened once before, remember, Mr. Nott?"
Draco turned to look at Teddy as he nodded silently. What are they talking about? Draco thought, raising a brow.
When Charlie saw Teddy give a short nod, images of a few months back flashed to Charlie's mind. It was when Hermione and he had a huge row, Actually, it was all Charlie's fault. Ron was still being a jealous prat then (still is now), and when Charlie and Ginny had left to do an errand for his dad, Ron had sat beside Hermione and they had talked. When Charlie and Ginny came back from the errand, Ron and Hermione had been snogging.
Charlie was too angry then to really look a the situation. He had felt betrayed, and hurt. The doubts in his mind that Hermione only loved his comfort (because he had been there when she was hurt) and not really him, grew even more. He had been so angry he didn't say anything. Ron and Hermione had heard them come in, and broke apart. Ron, again, hadn't had the decency to look ashamed or guilty. Hermione's eyes had been wide, and Charlie had took it as a sign of guilt of being discovered.
"We're through," Charlie had said, leaving the room. He had sat at the edge of the lake near the Burrow, where he first told Hermione how he felt about her. His chest had hurt then, and his heart felt like it stopped beating. The whole world seemed to crash down on him.
He didn't talk to Hermione for three days, and it was actually quite easy to do so since she stayed locked up in the room Ginny and she shared. After the third day of not talking, the day Theodore Nott had visited to "help" her, Ginny had snapped. She had stormed down the stairs and screamed at Charlie who had been sitting in the dining room. "Are you mad? Did you not see that she was clearly not kissing Ron back? Did you not see how scared she looked? Did you even look at all? Or did you just focus on the fact that you saw them kissing? If you actually looked, Hermione didn't seem to be enjoying it at all. Hell, Charlie, she was trying to push him off!"
Charlie had just looked at her, refusing to believe anything, content in wallowing in self-pity. "I don't believe it."
"Of course you don't, because you don't want to! RONALD! Get your freckled arse down here this instant!" Ginny had shouted.
A few seconds later their brother had appeared, looking scared. "What did I do now?" he had whined.
Ginny had glared at their brother, hands on her hips, looking very much like their mum. "When you snogged Hermione, did she snog you back?"
Ron had hesitated a bit before he opened his mouth. Before he could say anything, though, Ginny had cut him off. "And don't you dare lie. You've caused enough trouble, Ronald. Believe me when I say I'll force Veritaserum down your throat after this to confirm everything," she had threatened.
Ron gulped and looked away as he mumbled, "No."
"Did she try to push you away?" Ginny had continued.
"Yes."
"Did you keep her from doing so?"
"Yes."
"She did hit you after that, right? I was there, but for the sake of our pig-headed brother, let him hear your answer," Ginny had glared at Charlie.
Ron had shuffled his feet, not looking at Charlie. "Yes, she slapped me."
Charlie hadn't bothered to hit Ron then (he did so later). He had rushed up the stairs and almost collided with Theodore Nott who was rushing down, Hermione in arms.
"She fainted! She kept crying and crying until she fainted," Nott had said, slightly panicking.
Charlie had been guilty then, and took her in his arms.
"Charlie...Charlie I'm sorry," she muttered in her sleep.
"Charlie, even in her sleep that's all she says. Just talk to her already. She's not eating, not sleeping – she already has a slight fever," Ginny had whispered, coming out of the dining room.
Charlie had cradled her then, until she woke up. He apologized again and again, and they had both cried like idiots, apologizing to each other. And then they held each other and fell asleep that way, warm and content in each others' arms.
Charlie smiled at his own flashback. That was a good night.
Since none of the three said anything, Charlie decided it was about time he left. Charlie smiled before laying a hand on the door.
"Alright, I think we're done here. Just a run-down of our lesson today: I'm breaking up with Hermione – she's free. I can't have a relationship with her right now, because one, I took advantage of her before, two, I'm a Professor now, and three, for my own personal reasons that neither of you need to know. Next, I know what happened between Mr. Malfoy and...Ms. Granger. I'm out of it, so it's up to you lads to handle it. However, do something stupid again that will hurt her, and you'll get a taste of what my dragons have been experiencing with me when I try to tame them," Charlie finished, grinning. "Alllllrighty then, see you in Hogwarts!" He smiled, before pulling the door open.
And everybody froze.
A/N: A review right now would earn you a very grateful bow! ;)
