A.N: Wow, was this a long chapter! But did I ever have a blast writing it. Sorry it's been so long, but school's almost over, so finals and yeah. But here you go. I hope you appreciate all my hard work. Comment with your favorite line or something, so I know what my readers are enjoying. Much love to you faithful people!
The next morning, Harry woke up to find Ron's bed empty. He dressed quickly and hurried down to the common room, wondering why his friend had gone so completely out of character and gotten up early. When he reached the common room, he found Ron pacing the floor in front of the stairway to the girl's dorms. Feeling that this could mean nothing good, he was about to step out and call attention to himself when, sure enough, Hermione came down the staircase, carrying a large bookbag. At last, he understood. Hermione was a well-known early riser. He stepped back in the shadow of the stairs and watched.
Ron looked up and saw Hermione at the exact moment she saw him. Both stopped in their tracks.
"Good morning, Hermione," said Ron cautiously. Hermione watched him for a moment, then continued on down the stairs. She dropped her bag on a table and pulled out a large Ancient Runes book, which she promptly buried her nose in. Ron faltered, then took a seat across from her. Without acknowledging his presence, she swiveled on her seat to put as much of her back to him as possible without falling off her chair.
Ron sighed, then said, "Look, Hermione. I know you can hear me, and I just want you to know that I'm sorry for whatever you think I did."
Harry winced. This was going to go badly.
"I know that I'm supposed to let you do whatever you want because I'm your boyfriend...or at least I hope I am," he added quietly, "but I just don't think you should be defending that idiot Malfoy. I'm jealous, ok? I know he likes you, and I don't want him to steal you away. Because you belong to me, you know. Not him. If I have anything to say about it, never him."
Hermione slammed her book down on the table. "I belong to you, Ron Weasley? I belong to you? For your information, I am a person who can think for herself. I can make decisions for myself, especially about who my friends are. And lately I've been wondering about some of my friends. I accept that you're sorry for making me angry with you," she said coldly, "but until you can treat me like a person and be nice to Malfoy, you can consider us through." With that, she stood up and headed for the door.
Ron stood up too, and grabbed her arm. "Hermione, wait. Please!" She shook him off angrily. "Hermione. Just listen to me! I messed up, ok? But maybe some people aren't meant to be friends. Malfoy's been a jerk from the first day we met, remember? And I know what you want matters, but what I want matters, too, you know!"
She whirled around and yelled, "Ron, you're supposed to be a good person! You're a Gryffindor, he's a Slytherin! But what you did was cruel, Ron, and mean. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment, not even him. All he wants is to be your friend, but no! You have to duel with him, and make him look like a fool in front of the entire school." She jabbed a finger in his chest. "You were the jerk this time, not him! He doesn't deserve this! So leave him alone, alright? And leave me alone, too!"
The two stood face to face, glaring at each other. Hermione's face was turning white, Ron's ears were glowing red. After several minutes, Ron threw up his hands and turned away.
"Fine," he said, his back to Hermione. "Fine. I can't make you change your mind, just like you can't make me change my mind about Malfoy. So I guess, this is it. I won't bother you anymore," he said quietly. "You can go do whatever you want, with whoever you want. Just..." Apparently unable to find words, Ron simply walked out of the common room. Hermione watching him go, seemed to deflate. She reached out a hand and, for a moment, Harry thought she was going to call him back, but her hand dropped limply to her side. A single tear trickled down her cheek.
Harry stepped out of the stairway. "Hermione...?" he said quietly. She turned and flung herself on his neck, sobbing in earnest now. He patted her on the back and made soothing noises as she cried herself out. Finally, he said, "Look, Hermione. I don't mean to be insensitive, but people are going to be coming down here any minute. So why don't you go back upstairs and get cleaned up, and I'll meet you at breakfast. Ok?"
Hermione nodded and mutely walked back up to her dormitory. Harry sighed as he watched her go, knowing he had a long day ahead of him.
Hermione never came down to breakfast. Ron sat at the end of the Gryffindor table nearest to the door, glowering at his eggs. Harry had filled Ginny in on what he had seen, and both were very carefully avoiding mentioning Hermione's name at all. Harry was about to suggest that they all go up and get their books when Amycus swept over to their table and clapped Ron on the back.
"Mr. Weasley!" he exclaimed. "Excellent job yesterday. Just a bit more focus and you'd have had him. Keep up the good work."
Ron smiled feebly up at him. Amycus patted him once more on the shoulder, then walked up towards the staff table. Ron sank even lower on the bench. Harry and Ginny exchanged looks. Ron was clearly feeling very guilty about the events of the past day, but both knew that his pride would not allow him to say anything. They knew they would have to tread carefully, or they would push the two further apart.
Harry opened his mouth to say something consoling, but Ron cut him off. "Listen, Harry. I know. I know you heard everything, and you can't possibly kick me any harder than I'm kicking myself, alright? Please just let me deal with this. I'll fix it." With that, he abandoned his breakfast and hurried towards the door.
Hermione came through the door just as he reached it, her eyes red from crying. Harry started to get up, ready to interfere, but Ron merely stepped aside and let her pass, giving her plenty of space. She walked past with her head down. Both avoided the other's eyes. Hermione came and sat down by Harry and Ginny.
"Good morning, everyone," she said, falsely cheerful. "How is your morning going?" Harry looked at her sharply. Ginny went over and put an arm around her shoulders. "Is everything alright, Hermione?" she asked quietly. Hermione smiled brightly at her, but both Ginny and Harry could tell that it was forced. "Fine?" she said, almost hysterically. "Why wouldn't I be fine? I just broke up with my boyfriend and we can't even look at each other any more. Oh yes, everything's wonderful!" Her voice had gotten progressively higher and louder, ending in almost a shriek.
"Hermione?" came a voice from behind them. Hermione turned around quickly. Draco Malfoy stood quietly near the door. Hermione blushed beet red. Harry knew she was wondering how long he had been standing there. "May I have a word?"
Hermione looked back at her friends pleadingly, as if begging for a way out, but they could only shrug and watch helplessly as Draco took her arm and gently but firmly towed her out of the Great Hall. Harry and Ginny waited a few moments, then followed as quietly as they could.
Draco and Hermione turned into an unused classroom and shut the door. Ginny grinned and pulled out two of Fred and George's Extendable Ears. Harry kissed her quickly on the cheek, then they both inserted one end of the long, flesh-colored strings into their ears. The other ends wriggled their way under the door and they could suddenly hear all that was said.
"...heard about your recent...disagreement...with Weasley," Malfoy was saying. When Hermione responded her voice was bitter. "I imagine most everyone did." They could almost hear the smile in Malfoy's voice as he said, "Perhaps. But I just wanted to say that I'm deeply sorry about it and I really regret any role I might have had. I wouldn't want to do anything that would make you unhappy, believe me."
There was a pause, then Hermione said quietly, "This is really the last thing I need right now, but thank you for the apology. It's really not your fault, though. You didn't make Ron act like a total idiot. You were just his tool."
Malfoy's voice was suddenly hard. "You are exactly right, Hermione. I was just a tool, and I am never going to let it happen again. Especially not with him."
Hermione sighed. "Why can't the two of you just get along? What is it that makes you be so mean to each other? You're both purebloods, you're the same age, we've done so much together-"
"We both have feelings for you," said Malfoy softly. Silence. At last Hermione, crying, said, "I can't. Not yet. Maybe not ever, but please...it's all just happened so fast, and I hardly know what to do anymore." A note of pleading entered into her voice as she added, "Please, Draco. Try to understand. I just need some time. That's all."
Malfoy took a deep breath. "Whatever you need, Hermione. Just ask." Harry and Ginny heard footsteps and sprang away from the door just in time. Malfoy opened the door and walked down the hall towards the dungeons, where the Slytherin common room was located. They waited a few moments, then slowly peered around the edge of the doorframe. Hermione sat on the floor in the middle of the room, looking utterly lost. Tears were running slowly down her cheeks. Harry took Ginny's hand and they left Hermione to her sadness.
Feels alert! I hope so, anyway. Let me know what you think, please and thank you!
