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"Are you alright?" Draco asked; concern evident in his voice.

"I'm fine" She replied with a small tentative smile.

He rolled his eyes at her. "Tell me the truth"

Hermione chastised herself for being such a terrible liar. She decided to tell him the truth. He had probably already guessed. It was the reason they were sitting here, on a comfortable white couch, halfway between dusk and dawn. "I'm just worried about telling Ron about us."

His eyes turned to face the window, deep in thought. I gave him a moment. He was paralysed by the glowing stars shining through the un-curtained windows. Thoughts passed behind his eyes like shadows. He nodded to himself before meeting my gaze.

"Perhaps, I should speak with him alone first" he suggested.

She shook her head. She knew it had to be her. It was the right thing to do. And it had to be done face to face too. There was no escaping this. She would just have to face up to the consequences of her actions.

She had willingly given into lust that first night with Draco all those years ago.

She had done so again on numerous occasions in the months following.

She had had a choice between walking away and starting a real relationship with him.

She had made the decision to leave him, she had made the decision to speak with him earlier that night and she had decided to run after him to the lake where it all began.

It was her choice.

It had all been her choice.

Nobody had forced her.

It was time to accept the consequences and hope for forgiveness.

Even if she wasn't sure she deserved it.

She knew that Harry had already told him about Draco but she had to try to explain. To tell him her side of the story. To let him know that it was never her intention to hurt him.

She picked imaginary lint from the sleeve of her cardigan. It was agony waiting like this. What if he didn't want to hear what she had to say? What it she had hurt him too much to ever be forgiven?

She knew that she had Draco now. Now and forever. She knew that he was her anam chara. She knew that nothing could ever take him away from her again.

But she also knew that Ron had been the one who was there for her for the past few years. He had been the one to pick her up when she fell. She had depended on him for everything. Especially for the first few months after she had left Draco. He never asked any questions. He understood that it wasn't something she was ready to talk about. He just helped her through the pain. Always giving, never taking. She had depended on him as both a protector and a friend. And the thought that he may no longer want her in his life was too painful to consider.

Maybe it was selfish to keep holding on to him. Perhaps she was holding him back from being happy. From moving on. But she needed him. He was her friend and she hoped he always would be.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Limna, the House-elf. "Master Weasley is on his way" she informed the waiting guests. Hermione nodded faintly. Limna then bowed and scurried out the door.

Draco took her hand and kissed it lightly. "It's going to be alright" A smile appeared on Hermione's face; albeit a small one. She heard footsteps. Coming closer and closer. Getting a little louder with every step. She took a deep breath; preparing herself for whatever Ron's reaction was.

Ron appeared by the doorway. "Malfoy" he uttered quietly. "Hermione"

"Weasley" Draco returned the unenthusiastic greeting.

"Hi, Ron" Hermione said with a shaky voice. Ron nodded before taking a seat on the plush armchair opposite the couch. His eyes skipped around the room; left, right. Anything to escape her eyes. A crimson flush spread up from under his collar.

"Ron…" she whispered; pleading with him to look into her eyes. To see how sorry she was that they had ended up like this. To see that she wished him happiness and joy. To see that she needed his forgiveness, and his blessing.

After a few moments he plucked up the courage to look her in the eyes. He smiled. Just a faint, soft smile. But one that meant the world to Hermione. She knew that there was a colossal struggle going on behind it. She appreciated the immense effort he was going to.

To accept Malfoy.

To maintain some semblance of their friendship in spite of everything.

To act like none of this bothered him in the slightest.

No words were necessary.

With Ron's little act of kindness, of generosity even, she knew she was forgiven. She knew that he wasn't going to hold this against her. She knew that he wouldn't make her out to be a traitor for doing this to him.

But she also knew how hard it must be for him to see her here with Malfoy and she knew that she would make it up to him. Someday. Somehow. She would be the best friend he could ask for. When he was ready to have her as a friend again. If he was ever ready to have her as a friend again.

She understood that it would take a while for him to be able to be around her again. She didn't know if things could ever be the same as what they were before.

But she was willing to try.

And hopefully he would be too.

Someday.

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