Chapter 7 – Christmas

Hermione liked the Burrow. There's warmth and love everywhere, enough for the guests and the neighbours too. Unfortunately, after all that's happened, there's some sorrow too, and there's not much to do about it. The family had to be allowed to mourn in peace. She imagined that it was worse now when Christmas was at the door, all the memories of past holidays coming back, reminding them of what they had lost. Mrs. Weasley wasn't showing any signs to let it change the Christmas traditions, and she was just as welcoming as always. They all took their luggage upstairs, Hermione was given a bed in Ginny's room. She was looking forward to it, hopefully it meant that they would get some time together, just the two of them.

The weather had been grey and windy for some days, but the day before Christmas Eve dawned calm and blue with a clear sky. Hermione and Ginny was sitting at the breakfast table when the tired winter sun struggled up over the horizon. Mrs Weasley could be heard humming from the next room, Mr Weasley was already at work, and Harry and Ron were nowhere to be seen.

"We should go outside today." Hermione wrapped her hands around her cup of coffee. "It looks like it could be a wonderful day."

"Yeah, I totally agree. Let's hope the boys wake up soon." Ginny poked at her eggs, pushed them around the ceramic plate like she was trying to decide whether to eat them or not.

Inward, Hermione cursed, she had hoped for some hours alone with Ginny and away from Ron. It was getting harder and harder to avoid for them to spend time in private, and she didn't want to play the 'I have to study' card too often. This was supposed to be fun after all, and her studies were not good for Ron's mood. She must admit that a walk outside would be better though, there would be no physical contact except holding hands, and that was pretty harmless.

The girls stayed at the table after they had finished, waiting for their boyfriends to show up. After a good amount of time they finally entered the kitchen, and while the early risen refilled their cups with coffee and tea, the boys tuck into their breakfast.

"We were thinking about taking a walk after breakfast, what do you say? The weather is really nice." Ginny gestured towards the window with her cup, almost spilling tea over the table.

"Yeah, why not," more interested in the food than in his sister, Ron went for the sausages.

"Harry?"

"Sure," he agreed pleasantly, "We can use some fresh air."

Hermione watched him closely. She still wasn't sure about her feelings for him. Just as with Ron she knew that she loved him, but if it was more than between good friends, well, that she didn't know. She had this stupid idea that if she wasn't interested of Ron any more, maybe she had found someone else? And in that case, Harry was very likely.

When they were all done with breakfast they helped clear the table, and then went to get their coats. Outside it was cold but clear, the grass crunched under their feet as they turned their back to the nearby village and headed for the nearest hill. The sun was warm on their faces, and Hermione was quite satisfied with her situation for the moment. The other three started to talk about Quidditch, but she was content with trailing behind, enjoying the morning. She wondered what Draco was doing now. Was he also enjoying nice weather, or was he inside, socialising with his mother? Or maybe he was studying? She couldn't help smiling.

"Share with us, Hermione. You look happy, what are you thinking about?" Ginny had turned and looked at her, and now the others did too.

"Oh, it's just such a nice morning. I like taking a walk, I don't do it as much as I should." More lies.

"Of course you're not taking any walks, you can't do that with a book in your hand." Ron's voice was playful, but there was something sharp and careful underlying his words. Her smile froze.

"Well I can, but I have to find a spell that stops me from walking into things first." With a wink she laughed with the others, and sent a smile to Ron. She would not take his bait and start their quarrelling again. Honestly it had been easier than she thought, not only because they were away from school.

When she took the decision that she had to break up with Ron something had happened inside her, like something heavy had lifted off her. With that decision in mind it was easier to have patience with him, and she wasn't feeling irritated all the time any more. She still didn't know what to tell him though.

"It's so nice to be away from school! I really needed this." Ginny stretched her arms towards the sky, lifted her face to the sun and just stood like that, smiling.

"It sure is." The boys turned their faces to the sun too.

Hermione looked at them and suddenly she felt very left out. She missed school, she missed the studies, and above all she really missed studying with Draco. She hadn't known how much she appreciated their meetings, what it meant to have someone like-minded to spend time with. Well, she had to see it positively. She had a really nice holiday when she could calm down and relax, and when it was over she would have something good to come back to.

The walk turned out to be a long one, and when they came back the lunch was already on the table. They ate with good appetite, afterwards Ron challenged Harry on a game of chess, which he gladly accepted. Ginny and Hermione sat in the kitchen with Ginny's owl Susurri, a gift from her parents when she started her last year on Hogwarts.

"Isn't it fantastic when you think about it?" Ginny patted her owl on the back.

"What is fantastic?"

"That we're all here, all four of us. Somehow we got through the war and managed to hold on to each other. I was so afraid I was never going to see Harry again, and if he really would want me still if everything worked out." She smiled a contently, wide and happy. Hermione felt a chill run up her legs, pricks over her spine. This might be bad. "And here we are, together."

"Yeah..." This could get uncomfortable. She didn't want to share the news with Ron's sister before she told him.

"And you and Ron... I thought you would never get there. He can be a bit of an idiot sometimes, can't he?"

"He sure can."

Ginny laughed. "But you're here now, and that's what matters." The smile turned serious. "He's had a hard time this year."

"What do you mean?" Hermione tried hard not to go into defensive stance.

"With you. You've been busy a lot, and he's been very sad about it. He never says anything, but I can read him."

"He never says anything?" This was just too absurd. "Where have you been? He haven't done anything but told me how wrong I am."

Her friend gave her a thoughtful look. "I know, but what I mean is that he's not just bitching around, he has actually been really sad."

"Oh. Well... It's not as if I've done anything with the purpose to hurt him." She could hear how defensive she sounded.

"I know, I know. I just thought that you should be aware of it."

"But I am. I know how much I hurt him, but I have no choice. And no, don't tell me that I always have a choice. If I'm supposed to manage this mentor work and get good marks, then I don't have any other choice but to study as much as I do."

"Maybe not." Her face was actually not doubting, more sympathetic. "He knows that too, you know. He just don't like it."

Hermione ached to tell her friend of their situation, of her situation, and her decision. To get support and consolation. But it was of course impossible. She couldn't sit here, in Ron's home and talk to Ron's sister about how their relationship had broken apart. Definitely not when she hadn't even talked to Ron about it yet.

"You look perfectly heartbroken, let's talk about something else." Ginny reached out and pressed her hand.

"Is there a problem, dear?" Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen and looked concernedly at Hermione's dejected face.

"No, no problem." She tried to lighten up a bit. "We're just talking about studies."

"Just hold out another half a year and it will be over," she tutted, bustling over to the window. "It's awfully cold winter today, do you want some hot tea?" Without waiting for answer she started to take out cups and a pot.

The girls looked at each other, they both had seen the red in Mrs. Weasley's eyes.

"Yes please, Mum, that would be awesome."

"Go on into the other room and sit in front of the fire. I'll be right there with the tea."

Harry and Ron was sitting at the table, and the girls sat down in front of the fire. After some time Mrs. Weasley came in with a tray, filled with cups and a plate with biscuits. Hermione got a hot cup of tea, some home-made biscuits, and a rug over her feet. She realised that it was the first time since she got here that she really relaxed. Right now everything felt good.

Christmas day dawned, and one after another the inhabitants of the Burrow woke up. Hermione was happy to see that Ginny's perfume was a success, as was the exquisite bracelet she had helped Harry to choose for his girlfriend. She was happy that she had let go of the romantic path when it came to Ron, and instead chose a Christmas gift that more spoke of friendship. A Chudley Cannons scarf was safe, something that didn't feel like a betrayal of her feelings. Or more accurately, her lack of them.

Breakfast was a cheerful event. Mrs. Weasley showed some signs of crying, puffy eyes, red nose, but it didn't seem to affect her Christmas mood. Ron was sitting with his arm around Hermione, but right now not even that could get her out of the buoyant, light-hearted Christmas cheer pulling her up. There was a short sting in her heart when she thought about it, how nice it would have been to be in love with him and feel that tingling feeling when he was close. Now she felt nothing. The thoughts quickly got washed away by one of George's jokes, and she laughed with the others.

After breakfast Ginny insisted that she wanted to see Harry's Christmas gifts, and the four of them climbed the stairs to Ron's room. They sat on the beds and talked when there was a tapping on the window. Outside was a handsome owl, who Ginny went to let in. She opened the window and looked at the package it was carrying.

"Hermione, it's for you, do you want me to grab it?"

"Yes, please." She took the parcel from Ginny and looked at it. It was carefully wrapped in brown paper, and her name was neatly written in – her heart made a double beat – green ink.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Ginny looked really curious. "Who is it from?"

Slowly she started to open the paper. The parcel was almost half the size of a thin book, and about the same weight. When she opened it a bar of chocolate and a small white card fell out, and she hurried to pick up the card before anyone else saw it.

I found this and thought that it might suit you.

Merry Christmas

Draco

She mentally sighed of relief, this she could show the others. This was what a mentor could send to another. The only problem was that it was signed with his first name. Maybe she shouldn't show it after all. She picked up the chocolate and couldn't help smiling. Milk chocolate with coffee flavoured filling.

"What does it say?" Ron looked as curious as his sister. "Who sent it to you?"

"Oh, it's just..." She shot a glance at Harry. He did not look curious, and when she smiled at him he just showed a grim face. "...a Christmas gift." There were no getting away from this. "From Malfoy."

You could hear a pin drop. All three stared at Hermione, two in utter surprise and one with a troubled face. Slowly Ginny found her voice.

"Malfoy sent you a gift? Why?"

"Well, we're mentors together, he probably tries to be polite."

"Really?" The doubt was obvious on her face.

Ron's eyes narrowed. "He's sending you a Christmas gift since you're both mentors. Isn't that a bit presumptuous? I mean, why would you accept something like that? If there isn't something you're not telling us."

"I don't know what that should be. We've been spending some time together, that's all." It was not likely that she would be able to keep her friendship with Draco a secret any more, but she tried to fade it down as much as she could.

"Spending time together? I don't like the sound of that." He reached out a hand. "Let me see that card. If it isn't a secret, of course."

And there she was trapped. She had to show it now or she would look even more suspicious. With a sigh she gave it to him and watched him read it closely a couple of times.

"'Draco'. Do you feel like explaining why you're on a first name basis with a stinking Death Eater?" He started to look angry.

"Well... It just turned out like that." The excuse came out sounding just as lame as it was.

"Wait a minute." Ginny looked somewhere between worried and disgusted. "You're friendly with Malfoy? The detestable, slimy, Slytherin lowlife?"

Hermione thought about it for a couple of seconds. She could go on trying to dodge their questions, or she could just tell the truth. It wouldn't be fun, but she was tired of hiding.

"Yes, I have. And when you get to know him he's not that bad actually."

"Please tell me you're kidding." Ron stared at her, anger rising. "Are we talking about the same person? The one who's been nothing but mean and an insufferable bully throughout the years? The freaking filthy Death Eater?"

"Yes, but-"

"Are you out of your mind? This ends here." He waved with the card in the air.

"You have no right to say something like that. That's my decision, and I'm not going to break up my friendship with Draco just because it doesn't suit you." The well-known irritation surfaced.

"If you think you can run around fraternising with Death Eaters without anyone objecting, you're thoroughly wrong!"

"Stop calling him Death Eater!"

"But Hermione..." Ginny frowned. "...he is a Death Eater. You can't deny that. Whatever he might tell you or what you believe, that's a fact." There was a warning in her eyes. "You're a clever girl, you should know better than to spend time with someone like him."

"And talking about that." With a bitter face Ron slammed down the card on the bed. "When did you spend all this friendly time with him? Maybe when you told me you hadn't time to see me because you had to study? Did you go to see him then?"

"It hasn't been like that. We have been studying together, that's all." She tried to sound carefree.

"But studying with us obviously isn't good enough for you. You need something more exciting. So you sneaked off to see him instead."

"I haven't been sneaking anywhere! I've been taking care of my studies in the most effective way I could find, and that's really what's important here. That I happened to befriend Draco was a by-product of that."

"'Happened to'. So you at least admit that getting to know Malfoy was a mistake?" The anger in Ron's voice was soaked with bitterness.

"I didn't say that, stop twisting my words. Draco is my friend, live with it!"

"You're not really believing that, are you?" Ginny stared sceptically at her. "That you're going to drop the bomb about being friendly with that creep, and then just expecting us to 'live with it'?"

"Don't you understand who we're talking about here? If it was a common Slytherin I'd be upset, but this is sodding Draco Malfoy." He picked up the card again, glared at it, and threw it back on the bed as if it was something filthy. "What, are you going on a friendly visit to Malfoy Manor with him, and have a nice chat with his father too?"

"Lucius Malfoy is in Azkaban, don't be silly."

Disbelief spread over Ron's face. "But you're really ready to get back to the Manor? What's wrong with you?"

"Oh, stop it, I didn't say that either, I only pointed out that his father is in Azkaban, and that's a pretty important thing here. Why don't you think isn't Draco?" She was irritated, defensive and a bit scared of where this argument would lead.

"That's a big fat question, yes! Why isn't he?"

"He's not in prison because he doesn't deserve to be. Because the authorities didn't find him guilty. So neither should you." The last words came out very hard.

"That's such bullshit!" Ginny jumped up from the bed. "We all know what he did, he sure is guilty of being a callous, blameworthy bastard! And that's not to talk about the crimes he took part in."

"He's just trying to create a new life for himself, and it will never work as long as people are so prejudiced."

"Prejudiced? You think we have a problem with prejudice?" A shake of anger could be heard in Ron's voice. "Well, if you think that we've judged him beforehand, you're sure right. If you had any sane part of your mind you should too."

"This discussion is pointless. You're not interested in listening."

"Listening to you defending a Death Eater? No, I think not." A frown appeared on Ron's face. "Harry, why are you so silent? Don't you have anything to say? Maybe you can get her think better of it?"

With a sigh Harry looked at Hermione. "I believe this is extremely wrong, but I also believe that Hermione is old enough to make her own mistakes. I'm sure this is one, but I don't think I'll be able to talk her out of it. It's her decision after all."

"That's all?" Ron stared at him in disbelief. "Now wait a minute. Why aren't you surprised? You already knew!"

"Yes, I did. And I've already told her that he's up to no good and that he's going to hurt her, but she doesn't listen to me either."

"Am I the only one with problems accepting that she's consorting with the enemy?" Ginny were still standing between the beds with a hard face.

"No!" Her brother threw his arms in the air. "Not only does she condone his actions, she's actually defending him!"

"I do nothing of the kind! I'm not defending his former actions, I just... You're hopeless!" She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She heatedly wished that she never met Draco Malfoy. It took just a moment before she regretted the last part. She was very happy that she had met this new Draco, and no one should tell her differently. "Draco is a nice guy, and if you can't see it it's your loss." She snatched the card from the bed. "And please stop talking about me as if I'm not here."

"You're insane. There's no other explanation." Her boyfriend glared at her with a hostile face.

"I don't believe we're getting anywhere here." Ginny spoke with restrained anger. "We're thinking that you're wrong, you think your despicable actions are right. We've been friends too long and through too much for this to crumble our friendship, but do not for a second believe that I'm forgetting about this. I'm out of here." She pushed her way through the others and exited through the door. They could hear her stomp down the stairs until the footsteps disappeared.

The remaining Weasley pressed his lips together and stared at Hermione for a couple of seconds. "She's right you know. Your point of view is detestable, no one can tell me anything else. But I have to admit that you're still my girlfriend, and I guess that makes me withstand this idiocy of yours. But don't talk to me right now, because at the moment I don't want to see you." With this he stood out and disappeared after his sister.

The two remaining friends was sitting on opposite beds, just staring at each other. She looked dejected and he thoughtful. After some time he opened his mouth.

"Well, that went relatively well."

Hermione looked at him, and then she started to laugh. The so far forcefully withheld tears trickled down her cheeks until she pulled herself together.

"You're the one hating Draco the most, and still you're here."

"Yes, I know. Isn't it strange." With a tilt of his head he seemed to analyse this for a moment. "I guess I just believe that you're in a bad place right now, and you've always been standing next to me when I've been in most need of a friend." He looked down and then back up at her. "I firmly believe that you will end up hurt in one way or another, and then I will be here. It's as simple as that."

"That means a lot to me, you know. Especially now when the others are reacting so badly."

"They will come around, don't worry. Give them some time to get used to the idea, and then it will be back to normal. They like you too much to let this come between you. I promise."

"You weren't behaving this badly. You just more or less accepted it at once."

He smiled and shook his head. "It was different for me. I suspected it before I talked to you, I had my time to think it through in peace and quiet before confronting you."

"Yeah, maybe that would be a difference. I just wish they weren't so angry at me. It's so stupid all of it, it's just a new friend."

"You know that it's more than just a new friend. If you think back to the time when you hated him too, you can understand them." With a sigh he stood up and put a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you stay up here for a while, and I'll go down and do some damage control."

"Do you think I can stay in Ginny's room? I have all my stuff there."

"Yeah, sure. I don't believe they will come back up for some time." He went for the door, speaking over his shoulder. "It will turn out fine, don't worry. See you later."

Hermione sat thinking on the bed for a minute more before standing up and walking the stairs down to Ginny's room. Upon arriving there she took out some writing material and sat down to compose a thank you to Draco.

Draco,

Thank you very much for the chocolate, I'm sure I will love it. It was very

nice of you to buy it for me, now I feel stupid for not having anything for

you. Your gift did cause some commotion around here, the others didn't

like me saying that you sent it because you are my friend. I hope it will

blow over soon. All this free time is restful, but I still miss our study

sessions. See you back in school, and have a Merry Christmas!

Hermione

She stared at it for a moment, muttered a quick Incendio and the letter was gone. After writing and rewriting she decided on a short and terse one.

Thank you very much for your gift, it was very thoughtful of you. I believe

it will suit me perfectly.

Merry Christmas

Hermione

There's so much more she wanted to say, but she decided that it would have to wait until they were back in school.

When she was satisfied with the letter she laid down on the bed and thought about her situation. Would things ever be good with her friends again? Right now it felt a bit hopeless. With a sigh she took out the book about advanced Ancient Runes to distract herself, and soon she had forgotten all about the problems with her friends. She was still lying there when Ginny came back.

"Oh. Hi." Ginny's words were still a bit frosty, but she didn't seem to be upset any more.

"Hi."

They both fell silent for some time, Ginny looking for something in her drawers and Hermione flipping the pages in her book.

"I was wondering a thing." Hermione tried to sound as casual as possible. "Can I borrow your owl?"

With narrowed eyes Ginny looked at her. "Not if you're writing to Malfoy, you can't."

"I just need to say thank you. Here, you can read it if you like." She held out the letter.

"I'm not interested in what you're writing to him, that's not my concern. I just don't want to help you to have any contact with him. At all."

"Please, it's just this one. It's just a thank you."

"Go borrow Ron's owl." Her face was stubborn.

"You know as well as I do that he would behead me if I tried. Or at least he would start yelling. A lot. I'm not up for that, are you?"

She sighed. "No, I'm not." The look she gave her friend was estimative and tired. "Fine. Use that bloody owl. But just this time. And don't tell anyone about it."

"Thank you." A ray of hope entered her chest. Maybe everything wasn't lost after all.

When she tied the letter to the owl's leg she thought about Draco, and what he might be doing when it reached him. At least he wasn't angry at her. Suddenly she couldn't wait to get back to school.

o O o

Hermione was awake, and it was still too early. But today was the last day of her relationship with Ronald Weasley, and she couldn't sleep. They both started the new term with being free until lunch, and she had arranged for them to meet a good time before that. It was easy to suggest that the two of them should take a walk together, and Ron had been very positive. But it was still a good amount of time until then, and she kept spinning in her bed.

Finally she gave up and left bed. Dressing quietly she picked up her books and her bag, and made it off to the common room. She wished she could go to the office and spend some time in Draco's company, it was always calming, but it was far too early for that. She wondered if he was still sleeping. He probably was. With a sigh she sat down at one of the desks and pulled one of the books toward her.

After reading for some time she picked up parchment and quill to take some notes. Looking for the ink her fingers closed on something different – her Christmas gift from Draco still in her bag. Hesitantly she picked it up, but then she decided that if she ever needed chocolate it was right now. Carefully she opened it and put a piece in her mouth. It was heavenly. The only problem was that the coffee flavour made her long for coffee, intensely. In a split second she made her decision, hurried to put all her things in the bag and jumped up from the desk. It was still much time left until she should meet Ron.

She hurried down the corridors, and soon she reached the kitchen. Slightly flushed she asked if there possibly was a cup of coffee for her, and waited for the delighted elves to find some. This was so wrong, she knew that, but she really needed that coffee. It was only a cup of coffee, not like she asked them to cook a whole meal for her. Firmly she decided that this was an isolated incident, and as such, it didn't really count. When the elf came back she carried a tray with a whole pot on it, stating that Hermione looked like she could use more than one cup. She couldn't help smiling, the elf was probably right. She took the tray, and after some thinking she headed for the office instead. She wanted to be alone with her coffee and her chocolate, and not too far from now, the students would start coming down in the common room. In the office, the only one that might show up this time today was Draco, and she could live with that. He knew to be quiet if needed, and he wouldn't bat an eyelid over her coffee.

The office was blissfully quiet and empty. She sat down, poured herself some coffee and took out the chocolate. One of the books was unpacked, but not opened. What was she going to say to Ron? When the first cup of coffee was finished she had made some progress with the chocolate bar, but that was it. She still hadn't opened her book, and she was no closer to figure out how to break it to Ron.

'Oh, look how beautiful the snow is, and by the way, let's break up.' No, not really. 'I just want you to know, it's not you, it's me.' Too old. 'I'm sorry, I do love you but we are too different.' It did have possibilities. She sighed and put her head on her arms on the desk. Maybe it was better to just let it come naturally, maybe start with the loathed 'We have to talk', and then just take it from there. She sighed again and sat up, poured herself another coffee and opened her book. There would obviously not be any advancement on the Ron problem, so she could just as well take some time for her studies. She still had some time before she needed to get her outer garments and meet up with Ron.

Some time later she stood in the common room, books back in the dormitory and clothes on. Now all that was missing was Ron. She had brought a piece of the chocolate and was nibbling nervously on it. When Ron entered the room she hurried to finish it, no need to start it all with reminding him of Draco. After the argument at Christmas Day it had mostly been good. No one had mentioned Draco, and even if things had been a bit chilly in the beginning it had soon gone back to more or less normal. Ron came over to her, dressed for the winter too.

"Ready to go?" He looked happy and expectant.

"Yes, of course. I went up early."

"Why am I not surprised?" With a laughter he reached out for her hand. "You really meant this about taking more walks, didn't you?"

"I guess I did." This was uncomfortable. Did he have to be so happy to see her?

"It was a really good idea anyway. Next time we bring Harry and Ginny too."

"Mhm."

"So, where do you want to go?" With a smile he pressed her hand. "We can go past Hagrid?"

"No, I don't think so." She did not want to stop and talk to Hagrid right now. "I was thinking around the castle and then passing the Whomping Willow." No one else should be going there now.

"OK, then we take that way."

They left the castle and started to walk their decided course. Ron was talking animatedly, and didn't seem to notice that Hermione was much quieter than usual. When they reached the big tree she hesitantly tried to interrupt his talking.

"Ron, I was thinking..." What was she doing, was this really what she wanted?

"Oh yes, what?"

"About us. And the war and the time after that, and how it has affected us. Who I am, and who you are." If she hurried to say it, it was easier.

"Soo…?" He looked confused.

"I have changed. I'm not the same girl who came back to Hogwarts two and half a years ago. Neither am I the girl who camped out in the forest last year."

"I guess that makes sense." The confusion was still there.

"You know how I've always said that I had to create a new life for me. I just didn't realise that I had to change too, not just my life. But I have changed. And I believe you have too." If this just wasn't so hard.

Ron raised his eyebrows. "You think I've changed?"

"Yes, I believe we have grown, both you and me." She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath and then looked up at him again. "And sometimes people grow apart."

"What do you mean? I don't understand what you're talking about." There was a worried edge in his words.

"You are not the boy I fell in love with any more. And even if you don't want to see it, I am not the same girl you fell for. We've changed."

"So what? People change all the time."

"Yes, they do. But in our case it doesn't work out. I'm sorry." There. Now it was said.

"You think that we have to work on our relationship, is that it? You don't believe it works?"

"No, that's not it. I believe we're past the fixing stage. I don't think there is anything fixable left."

He stared at her with a blank face. "Hermione. Are you trying to break up with me?"

"Yes." However much she believed that she was doing the right thing she couldn't help the tears from gathering in her waterline.

"I see." Falling silent he turned around until he stood with his back to her. She stared at him, trying to find something to say and just coming up empty. Slowly he turned back again.

"Malfoy put you up to this."

"What?"

"You heard me. He's behind this in some way." The anger was tightly restrained.

"Of course he isn't, don't be stupid. This is about you and me."

"There's no reason why you should get such a stupid idea on your own. Someone talked you into saying this, and I bet that it's him." He ran a hand through his hair, clearly upset. "Well, it's no use, because I'm not allowing this."

"You can't just not allow it. I'm sorry, I really am, but this is how it is. And it's over."

"Is it about your studies? Is it?" The anger started to surface.

"No. Or well, maybe in some way. But it's not the reason, it's just a symptom." Why couldn't Ron just accept it so they could get it over with?

"You're angry at me because I'm angry at you because you never have time with me, and now you're trying to get back at me by saying that you want to break up. Do you expect me to have some way to solve this, just like that?"

"Don't you get it? I don't want to be your girlfriend any more."

It became quiet, and Ron looked like she had slapped him. After a some time she tried to break the silence.

"But I do want to be your friend. We have been friends for such long time, it would feel really bad to lose that friendship. You and me and Harry, you know. Friends forever, right? We would always..." She could hear herself rambling, and her voice died out when he gave her a look filled with hate.

"I don't care... I just..." There was a pause while he tried to calm his breathing. "Screw you." He turned around and started to walk back towards the castle at a brisk pace.

Hermione looked after him, and it felt like something inside her was broken. She knew that she had made the right decision, but it still hurt a lot. Slowly, she followed Ron's footprints back to the castle, but the closer she came to the Gryffindor Tower, the slower did she walked.

What would they say? What would Harry think about it? Ginny? It didn't look good for her, first consorting with Draco, and then breaking up with Ron. She hoped she would have friends left when this was over. Tears threatened her with their presence again, she pressed her lips together and went on towards her dormitory. If she only could sneak in, get her books and sneak out again she could flee to the mentors' office until next class.

She was lucky, neither Ron, Harry or Ginny was anywhere to be seen. With the bag on her shoulder and some books in her arms she hurried through the castle until she came to the office. She entered the empty room. Then she dropped the books and her bag where she stood, sat down with the back to the door and cried.