I am a horrible horrible person for making you guys wait, thanks for being patient. I haven't abandoned the story and still here, things just got a bit busy for me. So now we have the next chapter, filled with lots of surprises and lots of stupidity. Enjoy!
Chapter 7
Long walks are perfect right before a nap, and that was the first thing I did after sending off the letter. Feeling refreshed and hoping to beat Ginny to the kitchen to prepare dinner, I head for the kitchen. As soon as I open my door I can hear arguing that my charm had blocked out, with the angry voices of Ron and Ginny meeting me.
"I can speak to my wife if I want to. She wrote me, clearly she wants to talk to me."
"You can't go up there now, she's sleeping. Besides she has a charm on her door, you wouldn't be able to get in unless she opened it." A clear lie, but Ron doesn't know that. It's probably better that he thinks so, I don't think I'd be happy if he interrupted my nap. To spare him the wrath of his sister, I decide to come downstairs on my own.
"It's alright Ginny, I did write to him before my nap. Didn't expect him to come right over though." Ron flushed, as if embarrassed because he really did rush straight over here.
"I wanted to talk about your letter, but I didn't trust trying to put it in a letter in case I didn't get my point across." He stares at Ginny, waiting for her to leave the room without verbally kicking her out. When she makes it clear she's not budging I take Ron up to the guest room where I'm staying.
"I understand that I've been a complete arse this whole time. I just want you to come home. I will do anything to make things up to you, make them back to how things were before. We can go back to that, I know we can. I just need you to give me a chance." Clearly he's been thinking of this speech for a while, even before my letter. Heartfelt speeches aren't really something he's good at.
"Thank you for saying that. Truth is I'm still not ready to come home. I need a break, and I'm getting a good one here with Harry and Ginny. I'll let you know when I am ready, but I'm not sure when that'll be."
"I'll give you space and I won't push if you come home. I know I don't deserve you, and I haven't done a good job showing you that I appreciate you ever giving me a chance in the first place."
"Ron, you're pushing now. You're pushing until I agree with you, that's not quite the same as giving me a break."
"But just let me finish!" His ears are turning red as the conversation isn't going the way he planned. "I wasn't trying anymore and I wasn't giving you the attention you deserved. Of course you would turn to Malfoy if he wanted to give you that attention."
"So you're still under the impression that I was leading him on? That this was some affair I was carrying on behind your back?" As my voice raised the color of his ears deepened.
"I didn't mean it like that, I don't blame you. But he had to give hints and you must have lead him on somehow…." As his voice trailed off a flash of white came through my window. As Malfoy's owl stood at the corner of the desk Ron straightened up.
"I see he's still talking to you. Clearly if you wanted him to stop you would've done so, since you blocked all of my letters before. I get the message. Bye Hermione." Without giving me a chance to speak or even see what the letter contained he walked out of the room.
The fact that you are allowing me to write to you says how amazing of a person you are and I truly do not deserve it. I will write to you, but will try to keep it at a minimum. I've written a letter to Ron as well apologizing. Don't know how much good it'll do but I figured it's a start. I will see you tomorrow since I've already bought a ticket to your book signing and I'd rather not waste the ticket.
-Draco Malfoy
A letter to Ron, no I don't think that would end well. He probably wouldn't believe anything in the letter and think he was bragging somehow. I see another fight coming on.
Ginny decided we should head to Lavender's a little early, have some time to relax and get people excited for tonight. After dropping James off to Mrs. Weasley we head straight there. The look on Mrs. Weasley's face was enough to show that Ron had been over recently, but thankfully she didn't say anything.
As soon as we walked through the door Lavender put us in a private room. Customers started to flock around me and Lavender's quick thinking saved us from a lot of questions. Once inside a waitress brought us our smoothies without us having to order.
"I think they have us figured out," I said as Ginny laughed. We talked, relaxed, and felt like teenage girls again. At least until Lavender came back.
"That was great, everyone is wanting to get in here and ask questions now! I made sure they all realize they have to wait until tonight. And about tonight, I'm really sorry about the divorce, but I don't think tonight is a good time to mention it if it comes up." I turn cold, Ginny staring at Lavender as if she grew another eye.
"What divorce?" Lavender turns pale.
"I ran into him yesterday and we talked. He invited me to the house but nothing happened. I just assumed from the way he was talking that you two were getting a divorce." There was silence in the room.
"I seriously think you'd better leave right now." Ginny glared at her until she left. "Did you have any idea he would start spreading that around?" I just shook my head.
"I told him I needed to stay with you guys for a bit longer and when I was ready to come back home I'd let him know. But I got a letter from Malfoy while he was there, and looks like he's assuming I moved on. He didn't even give me a chance to show him the letter, that would have explained plenty."
"What did the letter say?"
"Apologizing, he doesn't deserve my kindness for not completely hating him, he'll keep his distance. He also wrote a letter to Ron, not sure what it said but he said he apologized to him as well."
"But you made it very clear you want nothing to do with him? At least not in that way."
"I told him if he tried anything else inappropriate again I'd do a lot more than break his nose. Pretty sure I got the point across." At that Ginny could do nothing but laugh. A long, loud laugh that I had to join in with her.
The turnout for the event was great. I was hoping Ron would show up, but at least all of the other Weasley's did to show support. Just as I expected, Malfoy did show up, sitting as far away from everyone else as possible. Even my publisher showed up, giving me a quick hug before taking his seat.
The questions themselves were pretty boring and cliché. "Was it hard writing the book and having to relive everything?" Yes. "Was it easy getting the others to talk about their sides of the story?" No. "Are you planning on writing anything else? What about?" Yes and wait to see.
"Where's your husband? Is it true you moved out and you two are getting a divorce?" Silence filled the room.
"I'd prefer to keep all questions on the book. But to prevent unnecessary rumors, I'm staying with the Potters while some renovations are going on in our house. No, we're not getting a divorce." I say with what I hope came off as a lighthearted laugh. "Any more questions?" The rest of the Q&A I'm almost in a daze, not really sure what's going on in this room anymore.
The book signings were easy enough, it's not hard to pick up a quill and sign my name. Majority of the people here didn't pay much attention to the question, assuming it was from a reporter hoping to be the next Rita Skeeter. The Weasley's all looked pretty grim and Mrs. Weasley looked as if she was on the verge of tears. If only all of us could be more like James, it must be easy to be a toddler without a care in the world outside of what's for dinner.
True to his word, Malfoy said a short hello as he walked up to the table to get his book signed. After a nod of his head he walked out of the store without another word. Although I asked for a separation and not quite a friendship at this point, I wasn't expecting the awkwardness. I guess that's better than people walking out of here thinking I'm getting a divorce and having an affair with Malfoy.
Sam dealt with the business side of things while everyone went back to the burrow for dinner. Apparently Mrs. Weasley has been planning this all week and refused to change plans just because Ron now refused to be a part of things. The evening was filled with fun and laughter, everyone relaxed and happy to be together. As I was expecting, I was cornered before the end of the night. Except it wasn't by Mrs. Weasley, it was George.
"I'm pretty sure everyone here knows he's being an idiot and is on your side, even Mum. Although she wants you two to make up and be happy again."
"I was at least expecting him to show up tonight. Wasn't expecting him to start spreading rumors about we're getting a divorce. He said the same thing to Lavender last night apparently after he invited her to the house." Despite the situation I chuckled. "She swore nothing happened though, glad she cares enough about me feelings to assure me."
"Well, like I said, he's an idiot. He knows he's an idiot and he'll come around. Just give it some time."
