Ron Weasley stood in Hermione's living room, an odd expression on his face.

Paralysed with shock, Hermione was very aware of the fact that she didn't have her wand and knew that, if it came to a physical confrontation, she would stand no chance against the burly redhead.

They stood in tense silence for several moments before Ron took a step towards her - she immediately backed away, causing him to frown.

"Ron," she began, finally finding her voice. "What the hell are you doing h-"

"I needed to see you," he interrupted, taking another step forward. "I'm sorry for the way we left things the other day. The situation got out of hand – I admit, it was partially my fault too-"

"Partially?" Hermione repeated, anger now creeping to her eyes.

"Yes," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I know I acted a little rashly, but, if we're being honest, you provoked me, and, don't forget, you attacked me. I forgive you, don't get me wrong, but you've got to me halfway!"

He paused, waiting for Hermione to respond, completely oblivious to the lividity in her eyes. When she said nothing, he continued on.

"Anyway… I'm single again - well shot of Pansy… Needy, very needy… So, I was thinking maybe you and I could give it another go? We've had our first really big fight, we've both done and said some things, but now we can move on! You know how that muggle saying goes, 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger', eh?"

Ron gave her a hopeful smile, which only served to enrage Hermione even more.

"Ron… Get. Out."

Frowning, Ron took another few steps towards her, causing her to step back until she was pressed up against the wall.

"Come on, Hermione, be reasonable. Look, just listen to me-"

Fury getting the best of her, Hermione pushed against his chest and exploded.

"NO, Ronald Weasley, for ONCE you are going to listen to me. First, you cheat on me, then, you make a scene WITH the bloody slag at your sister and best friend's engagement party, and now, you come, uninvited, to my flat at 7 in the bloody morning expecting me to come crawling back to you just because you've made a pathetic, half-hearted excuse for an apology? Get your head out of your arse, Ron, and read my lips, because I'm only going to say this once: I. Do. Not. Want. You."

Breathing heavily, she glared up at him with nothing but anger and distrust in her eyes - like a switch, Ron's expression instantly darkened. Sensing that things were going to get out of hand yet again, Hermione made towards her wand, but Ron grabbed her arm roughly, keeping her in place.

"Now, listen here, you little-"

"Ron-!"

"What the hell is going on?"

At the sound of the voice, Ron spun his head round and was met with Draco's threatening glower. The blonde wizard stood in the doorway of Hermione's bedroom, chest heaving, shirtless, and visibly outraged.

"How dare you put your hands on her," Draco snarled, his hand tightening around his wand. "You shouldn't even be allowed to LOOK at her after what you did!"

"What the fuck are you doing here, Malfoy?" Ron sneered, his grip on Hermione's arm constricting, causing her eyes to water.

"Really? Use your bloody head, Weasley!" Draco retorted, rolling his eyes, before he noticed the silent tears of pain rolling down Hermione's face. "And get the fuck off of her!"

Ron turned a confused face to Hermione, and, upon noticing that she was wearing nothing but Draco's button down, forced her away from him as if he had been burned, completely oblivious to the pain he had caused her.

"Wha- You and…. You-You're actually fucking him?! You have got to be joking. How long has this been going on!?"

Draco ran to catch Hermione before she fell to the ground, and, eyes blazing, he turned to face the redhead again.

"Get. Out."

"Oh, sod off, Malfoy. This isn't your flat, you have no right-"

"I have every right, especially when you put your filthy hands on my girlfriend!"

"GIRLFRIEND?! Wha-"

"STOP!"

There was silence.

"Ron," Hermione sighed, the edge her voice once held now replaced with exhaustion. "Please… just go."

Ron was about to snap back an angry retort, but the quietness of her voice made him pause. He finally noticed, for the first time, the purplish bruises that were blossoming on her arm. His expression hardened as he looked back up at Hermione's eyes - eyes that were filled with nothing but hostility.

"You will talk to me eventually," he breathed at her, in a voice unlike his own, before he turned to Draco. "This isn't over."

Giving the couple one last menacing look, Ron shoved his hands in his pockets and made his way back towards the fireplace where he disappeared in a mass of green flames.

It was Friday, and Hermione could not be more thankful that the week was finally over.

Ron's incident earlier that Tuesday had sparked both a fury and an unexpected development in Draco and Hermione's relationship - as she pushed a stack of parchment and her copy of The Burden of Isis to one side of her desk, she thought back to the aftermath of the storm:

"Honestly, Draco, I'm fine."

Hermione was rushing around the flat getting dressed, thoroughly annoyed and now late for work.

"I just can't believe the nerve of that idiot," Draco said, anger still pulsing through his veins. He cast a cleaning charm on his clothes from the night before and pulled his shirt on in frustration. "I can't believe he hurt you, I mean, what if I hadn't been here? What would have happened, Hermione? If only I'd been paying more attention, I would have heard him come i-"

At that, Hermione stopped buttoning up her blouse and stomped across the room to hold Draco's face in her hands.

"None of what just happened was your fault - okay?"

She didn't break her hold on him until he nodded, albeit reluctantly.

"I mean, was it the best possible moment for Ron to find out about us? Probably not. But if anything, it's my own fault for not changing my wards. Such a stupid mistake."

"You realise you will have to tell Harry and Ginny about this," Draco said, belting his trousers.

"I know," Hermione sighed, pulling her hair into a twist. "I just… I can't help but think there's something deeper going on. Ron has always been an idiot, but he's never really been that violent or hostile before."

Draco shrugged on his jacket and looked at her.

"People change, Hermione, and more often than not, it isn't for the best. Being alone with him and risking your safety because of who you remember him to be simply isn't worth it," he walked towards her, a worried look in his eyes. "I know I must sound paranoid, but clearly he's already done things you never expected - who's to say it won't happen again, next time in a worse way? I can't tell you how many times I've seen it happen at work; cases brought in far too late because the crime was an unexpected act committed by someone close to the victim… Just promise me you won't do it alone - bring Harry, or Ginny, or fucking Neville, I don't care - but don't put yourself in an isolated, potentially dangerous situation for his sake. I'd go with you myself, but I'm fairly sure working for the Ministry's law enforcement forbids me from strangling people."

Hermione gave him a small smile and lightly cupped his cheek. As the sunlight hit his porcelain skin through the open window, she couldn't help but think how beautiful he was…

"Although I think you're overreacting, I promise," she whispered, before giving him a light kiss. "Besides," she continued, sitting down on the bed to put on her heels. "Now that I'm someone's girlfriend, I probably should be taking better care of myself," she finished, raising an eyebrow at him.

A light blush tinged his cheeks as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"I suppose I never officially asked, did I."

Hermione laughed and pulled a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Oh, don't be silly, I'm just joking - we're not 15 anymore, Draco, relationships don't have to work that way."

Draco smiled and walked towards her, taking a seat next to her on the bed.

"Still," he started, taking her hand in his. "It's something I've wanted to ask since Hogwarts, and you deserve the way it should've been done 8 years ago."

Hermione raised her eyebrows at him.

"Who knew Draco Malfoy was such a sap," she giggled.

"Oh, shut up," he smiled before continuing.

"Hermione Granger," he asked, his eyes never leaving hers. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

A small laugh escaped her lips and she felt her cheeks go red.

"Of course I will, you silly man."

A loud knock on the door jolted Hermione from her memory and she smiled as she saw Ginny's head poke through the frame.

"Ginny! It's so great to see you," she said, crossing the room for a hug. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Just thought I'd pop by to see if you wanted to get a drink after work," the redhead smiled.

"MERLIN, yes," Hermione almost shouted. "This week has been chaotic to say the very least."

Laughing, Ginny took a seat. "I see you must've told Blaise about what happened - nearly ran over your colleagues to stop me coming in when he first saw the hair."

Hermione winced, remembering how badly Blaise had reacted when he'd seen the bruises and heard the news - Hermione had to body bind him to stop him from going on a rampage.

"Yeah… I'm sorry, Gin."

"It's a curse we all must now bear," Ginny shrugged. "It's not your fault Ron is slowly dragging the Weasley reputation thicker and thicker through the mud."

"Have you seen him at all?" Hermione asked, moving behind her desk to collect her things.

"Not really," Ginny replied. "He stopped by Godric's Hollow to see Harry, but honestly I have no interest in speaking to him, the git. Harry has been furious too… he's only been able to hold it together because he wants to stay informed, you know, just in case Ron does something else stupid. 'Spose Sunday we'll have to get over it, considering Charlie will be here-"

"Oh, shit, Charlie!" Hermione exclaimed, palming her forehead. "I completely forgot that he was coming! Is there anything I can bring? Anything I can do?"

"No, no, no," Ginny said, waving her worries away. "Although I would advise re-thinking your decision not to bring Draco."

Hermione paused. "What do you mean?"

"Look," Ginny started, blatantly. "I've known you for over 10 years, and I know that two of the things you are absolute pants at when it comes to your personal life are confrontation and handling negative criticism. Considering what happened earlier this week, I have no doubt in my mind that you're thinking of telling Draco that he shouldn't come, yes?"

Hermione's silence was answer enough.

"I'm just saying, it's probably worth reconsidering. From what you've told me, Ron is waiting to have the chance to talk to you without Draco around, and by the sounds of things, it's not going to be a discussion that either of you will benefit from. I think, the more he sees you and Draco happy, together, as a couple, for real, the more he'll finally get it into his thick head that you're past it all," Ginny said, a matter-of-factness to her tone. "Besides, the rest of us like Draco, and considering how much you two have been spending time together, I'm sure you would appreciate having him there as well," she finished, a devilish grin on her face.

Hermione, although a bit flushed at Ginny's last comment, agreed.

"I suppose you're right, but the point of this dinner is to see Charlie - I don't want to cause any unnecessary drama, which is almost sure to happen if Draco, Ron and I are in the same room."

Ginny nodded, conceding to her point. "Maybe… Listen, ultimately, it's up to you, I just think that there's no use struggling to keep someone in the dark who will never be ready to see the light. Life's too short, 'Mi."

Hermione sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose - how was it that she always ended up at the centre of drama?

"I know, Gin," she muttered, walking towards the fireplace to grab a handful of floo powder. "Anyway, let's forget about this for the time being - how about that drink?"

"Oh gods, yes."

And in a roar of green flames, they were gone.

Drinks with Ginny had been a lovely, and very much needed, affair. Hermione apparated home from the Leaky Cauldron, noticeably more cheerful, when she saw a handsome blonde in her living room, carefully setting the table.

"Well isn't this a nice surprise," she laughed, shrugging her coat off to hang on the rack.

Draco looked up and gave her a dashing smile.

"Damn," he said, moving away from the table to walk towards her. "I thought I'd have more time to finish."

Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a deep, lingering kiss. "I missed you this week."

"I've missed you too," he whispered, his arctic grey eyes boring into hers as he held her waist firmly in his hands.

Hermione's cheeks tinged pink as he pulled her body flush against his and kissed her again, his tongue gently brushing against hers in a moment of pure bliss.

"Come," he said, as they separated, leading her to the table. "Eat first, play later," he grinned, giving her a wink before he walked towards the kitchen.

As they made their way through a delicious dinner, they talked about everything that had happened since that hellish Tuesday morning - Hermione's work, exhibition ideas, Draco's newest cases, Blaise's fury… It amazed her how comfortably they were able to talk about things - it made her feel like she'd known him forever. Finally, when they got to dessert, she broached the subject of the Weasley dinner.

"So the Weasleys are going to be holding a Sunday dinner at the Burrow to welcome Charlie back-"

"Okay…" Draco said, hesitation in his tone.

"-and Ginny thinks it would be a good idea if you came with me."

Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Really?"

"Yes," Hermione replied. "And I agree with her."

Draco furrowed his brow as he leant forward, placing his elbows on the table.

"Hermione… Are you sure about this? I mean, if this past week has been any indication, it's that King Prat Weasley and I don't function well under the same roof-"

"I know," Hermione started, folding her napkin. "But Ginny said that there was no use keeping someone in the dark who would never be ready to see the light, and, quite frankly, I agree. I mean, everyone else there likes you, and I know that I want you were there with me," she finished, giving him a small smile. "Besides, Fred and George are bringing Angelina and Katie, Percy will be there with Audrey, Bill, Fleur and Victoire will all be there as well, I wouldn't be surprised if others from the Order were invited - you'll blend right in!"

Draco chuckled.

"I just don't want to hide our relationship away simply to avoid confrontation - the more Ron sees how happy I am with you, the sooner he will get over himself. And besides, you're Harry's best man at the wedding, no one can expect you to stay away forever."

Draco sat for a moment, mulling the idea over, before he lifted his eyes to meet Hermione's gaze.

"Alright, I'll go," he said, smiling at the joyful look on her face. "But if anything happens, I reserve the right to protect you in any way possible - even if that means transfiguring Weasley into a cockroach."

"Not that you'll need to, but deal," Hermione grinned.

As they finished up their meal and moved over the couch, she couldn't help but think that perhaps this week would end better than she thought.