A/n

Sorry. I no it has been ages.

Yes…I no I usually update a lot faster…but I have SUCH a massive work load. Sorry :p I've made It longer. I think…My laptop was destroyed so I lost EVERYTHING (another reason as to why I couldn't do anything faster).

R/R

Chapter 7

As Ron dragged her to the other side of the room she pulled free and pulled her way back through the crowd. Draco had just clapped Harry on the back and kissed Ginny on the cheek in congratulations on their baby news. Running forward she hugged her two friends tightly. 'I didn't get a chance to say congrats! I am so happy for the two of you. You guys are gonna have a massive family.'

Ron had trailed back behind her. 'Why am I not the God father?'

Ginny didn't even look at him. 'Because I have no relation to you. Draco replaced you a long time ago. May I have a word Weasley?'

Ron nodded and followed her to the side. She looked at him with cold brown eyes. 'Ron, how stupid do you think we all are? You broke Hermione's heart. One third of the golden trio, leaves on tour with the Cannons and turns into a total party boy. Think the tabloids ignore the flings you have? Blonde after stupid blonde. Hermione reads the papers. You think she would be so harsh now otherwise? You broke the heart of Harry's sister. My sister. That is something that neither of us can forgive you for. No matter what relation we had. Think. If Harry broke my heart, how would you treat him? Harry wanted to apparate over and break your nose. I wanted to help. Hermione stopped him though. Draco wanted to do the same thing after they started dating. Harry and I started warming up to him after that. Get. This. through. Your. Thick. Head. You. Are. Too. Late. What you did was unforgivable.'

She went back to where the others were chatting and took Harry's hand. Ron followed slowly. No wonder. She knew. They all knew. He needed a plan. He needed to stop being so demanding until he got her. He needed to act like the perfect man. So what if it was a lie. When he turned back to normal after she broke Malfoy's heart he would leave her. naturally he would have to run. Harry and Ginny would be after his head on a platter. But by then he could in force security. He wouldn't have to tell the security to protect him from Harry. Just anyone who wanted to hurt him. If they knew it was against Harry…they would help Harry take him down. But that didn't matter just now. Right now he needed to turn on the charm.

'Hermione, how about that dance?' he whispered softly in her ear and led her away to the other side of the room. As he twirled her around to the slow music he bent down to whisper in her ear. 'Hermione, I know that you read the Daily Prophet while I was away and you think I cheated on you. I truly am sorry. I never meant to hurt you. My team mates and I like to play games. When we had a night off, the team would pick a girl and it was your job to make her fall for you. it never was more than a kiss goodnight. I truly am sorry. If you heard that it was something more than it was a lie. Either that, or it was because the girl had something more in mind and the paparazzi would have taken their snaps before I could get her off me. I swear. I really am sorry. I'm just asking for one last chance. Please Hermione. What can I do to make it up to you? I promise. I really did never meant to hurt you. all those girls…I always pretended it was only you. I swear.'

'How do I know that I can trust you.' she replied looking straight back into his eyes.

Here it goes. Time to turn on the charm. Looking straight back into her eyes as they swayed to the music. He never blinked once. 'Because I love you.' he whispered. They were inches apart. Ron still hadn't blinked. He looked into her eyes as he bent his head down further.

He closed his eyes as their lips met. Hermione didn't react but she turned he head slightly away. 'I don't know if I can believe you.' she said.

Ron stared deep into the depths of her chocolate eyes. 'You know in your heart that I love you. I've always loved you, and I always will.' Ron knew that girls couldn't resist it when he acted this way. Hermione was the first one who had lasted this long. This time she didn't resist him. It wasn't a deep kiss. It wasn't even very long. But at that moment, things changed. The lives of three people changed. Now there truly was a competition. Now there was something that two men thought was worth fighting for. Now, there truly was a battle.

Up till then, Draco didn't even have to try. Everything was going his way. But now Ron had realised that he had to change his tactics. Now he was turning on the charm and now the war had truly begun. This time, Ron truly had a chance.

What neither Hermione, nor Ron had realized was Draco was standing on the other side of the room. He had seen everything. One hand was clenched into a fist. The other had been holding a glass of champagne. Now it was crushed in half and his hand was deeply cut. Harry and Ginny had left just before this happened. Ginny needed to rest. Draco was staring at Ron with hate in his eyes. Blood was dripping down his pale white hand and was pooling on the floor. Now he would have to try. He saw that now. Hermione was a sucker for romance and when Ron turned on the charm, she fell for it. If Weasley wanted to play, then fine. He would have the game of his life. Draco would win. What Weasley could do, he could do ten time better. Draco was just getting started. With a crack he dissaperated.

As Ron and Hermione pulled apart Hermione quickly made excuses as she hurried away looking extremely flustered. Hermione missed the smirk of triumph on Ron's face. Hermione felt awful. What had she done? Draco. She loved Draco. She had loved Ron. But not anymore. He had broken her heart far too many time to forgive. So why did her heart beat so quickly when he looked at her? And what about Draco? What was she going to do? Clenching her teeth Hermione walked through the throng of dancers, trying to get away from Ron. She needed to think. What was going to happen now? Hermione knew that this was a competition. Draco had suggested it himself. But now everything was just so complicated. She had worked so hard to forget Ron. But after a few days he had managed to sweep her off her feet again. Why did she feel like she was betraying Draco? Draco had to know what she had done. First thing tomorrow she would apparate to Malfoy Manor and explain everything to him. Then he could do whatever he liked. If he broke up with her it would break her heart into tiny little pieces but she knew she deserved it. It was the only way. With one last glance back at the crowd she appareted home to prepare for pain of tomorrow.