A/N: I'm so sorry guys! I know it's been months since I updated but I've been so stressed out with school and all that and right now I'm still in the middle of midterms. I'll try try try to update as soon as I can!
CHAPTER ELEVEN - I want out
Ron was standing tall with a confident smile played upon his lip, in fact, it probably would be border line cockiness. He glanced around the room smiling at faces that doesn't recognize him.
"What is he doing here?" Draco hissed at Astoria. Hermione growled at the fact that Draco was even talking to Astoria.
"Maybe you should ask why Astoria is here as well." Pansy piped up throwing Astoria a dirty look.
"My my, I do feel jealousy in the room." Astoria said airily, "He's here as my date of course."
"I thought you don't date poor blood traitors." Pansy said, narrowing her eyes. Hermione saw Ron's mouth switched, but he didn't say anything. The anger management class must have worked miracles.
"Oh he's being modest." Astoria patted Ron's arm, "He didn't tell anyone that he was promoted just today and he received a great sum of money as well from his uncle Joe."
"I didn't know he had an uncle Joe." Harry said quietly, behind Hermione.
"Neither did I." she replied back, not taking her eyes off Ron.
"Oh you know me, I don't like attention." Ron said, with sickly sweet voice. That caused Hermione to snort. Ron turned to Hermione and smiled, "Oh Hermione, it's so great to see you again!"
"I wish I can say the same." Hermione replied nonchalantly.
"Oh look! The entrees coming out!" Narcissa called out loudly, clearly trying to direct everyone's attention to the trays of food coming out - evidently, it worked. Soon everyone was chowing down.
"Oh how I missed you Hermione." Ron said from behind. She whirled around and narrowed her eyes, Astoria didn't seem to be with him.
"Where's your date?" she demanded.
"A bit jealous?" Ron said cockily, "Don't worry, between you and I, you're a lot prettier than her." he placed his hands on her shoulders. Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing!
"Ron, it's been ten years! Get over it!" Hermione shrugged his hands off.
"Look, I need to talk to you, can we go somewhere more private?" Ron sighed. Hermione glared at him for a second and then sighed herself. She believed that everyone deserved a second chance, but Ron doesn't. But maybe hearing him out wouldn't be so bad even though whatever he said won't affect her decision. They went to an empty corridor.
"What do you want Ron?" Hermione crossed her arms, "Whatever we had was ten years ago. Did you forget what you did to me?"
"I know the things I've done in the past was horrible." Ron hung his head, "I went to therapy and took all these classes for you so we can start all over. So I can treat you the way you should be treated."
"I've heard that line before." Hermione said bitterly, recalling their wedding vows, "And it's not fair for me that you wanted me to wait ten years for you."
"I know, I know…" Ron looked at her pleadingly, "I'm just asking for a second chance…" Hermione was waiting for him to explode, but it didn't come. Classes can't really make someone change that well can you?
"I'm sorry…" Hermione softly said and started to walk away. Ron grabbed her arms and pulled her back. He then crushed his lips upon hers. Hermione screamed and pushed him away, "What the fuck Ron?" she tried to slap him but Ron grabbed her arms.
"I like it when your feisty." Ron growled and tried to kiss her away, but later decided to pull her against his chest forcefully.
"Oh look, this hallway seemed to be taken." Astoria's voice sounded a bit gleeful. Hermione kicked Ron and pulled away. Draco stood there, frozen with shock.
"It's not what you think." Hermione explained, "Ron here, tried to kiss me and-"
"I don't even want to hear it!" Draco snapped causing Astoria to smile widely behind his back. She then gave Ron a wink, which made Hermione realize that they both had planned this.
"You guys planned this!" Hermione pointed her fingers at Astoria.
"Please, don't blaming people for your own fall out." Astoria sneered, "It's clear that you need more than one guy to keep you satisfied." Draco turned around and walked away.
"Draco!" Hermione called out, but he kept on walking. Ron sent her a triumph look before setting out towards the front door. Hermione gripped her wand tightly before turning towards her own room. She cursed herself for even putting herself in that situation. She shouldn't have let Ron talked to her, what was she thinking? She knew how Draco didn't like Ron and yet she let him talk to her privately. She sat at her vanity table and stared at the reflection that was looking back at her. Her eyes was red and weary.
"Hermione?" Pansy called from the doorway. As soon as Hermione heard Pansy's voice, she sobbed.
"She did it." Hermione choked, "She got Draco to get mad at me, and we both know Draco! Whenever he's mad, he does rash things without thinking. What if-?"
"Oh sweetie, you know Draco wouldn't do that to you, especially after ten years of marriage." Pansy went to hug Hermione.
"Are you okay Hermione?" Harry and Cherise came from he doorway.
"No, I'm not!" Hermione cried, "Why can't Astoria just go away? How bad does she want Draco? I'm sure there's other rich men out there that are good looking."
"You know her, always wanting something she can't have." Pansy said bitterly.
"Blaise is talking to Malfoy." Harry said. Hermione was a tiny bit relieved that Draco was with Blaise and not Astoria.
"Where's Astoria?" Hermione asked.
"Well, when Blaise said he was going to be with Malfoy, Astoria threw a hissy fit." Harry explained. Hermione rolled her eyes and heard Pansy whispered 'bitch' under her breath, "Blaise wouldn't let up so she left, without Ron." Speaking of Ron…
"Hermione?" Ron's voice came from the doorway. The nerves he had! Hermione clenched her wand tightly and stood up.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione cried out pointing her wand at Ron. Ron's body snapped together as he fell on the floor, "Don't you fucking talk to me again! If you dare to come near me, I'll hex your balls off and make you fucking eat it!" she screamed. Cherise had to hold Hermione back.
"It's best if you go." Harry said through gritted teeth.
"I need to-" Ron began but was cut off.
"Just go! I never 'ave to face such violent!" Cherise cried out, not able to handle Hermione's trashing, "I'm afraid I cannot hold much longer!" Pansy just sat there enjoying the scene unfold before her. Ron cast her one last pleading look before he ran out the door.
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"Look mate, she didn't do anything wrong." Blaise tried to reason with Draco who was out in the front yard.
"You didn't see her Blaise." Draco growled, "She was all in his arms."
"This was a plan between Astoria and Ron." Blaise told him, "Tiffany overheard them talking by the table earlier this evening."
"Who's Tiffany?"
"The brunette girl I was with earlier." Blaise told him, "Look, you can use veritaserum on me, I am not lying to you." Draco looked at him for a second before sighing.
"I know she won't do anything." Draco looked away, "It's just…seeing her so close to someone who hurt her so much makes me furious…why she even let him talk to her is beyond me."
"Well…I know it's not my place but let me ask you something." Blaise looked at Draco, "Why do you talk to Astoria?"
"Excuse me?" Draco turned around and faced him.
"Although you weren't ever married to Astoria, it doesn't make her any different from Ron." Blaise pointed out, "Can't you see what she's trying to do? Are you telling me that you're that blind that you can't see that she's trying to rip you two apart?"
"Well…" Draco began but Blaise raised his hands.
"Draco, you're almost thirty, grow up." Blaise lectured, "Maybe back in the day you love to see two girls fight over you, but you're not seventeen anymore. You're married to Hermione for ten years and have two beautiful children together. Are you willing to throw that all away for some whore? You know all Astoria want is your money and looks. Hermione on the other hand, you know she didn't marry you for your money. To be honest, when you came out of Azkaban you looked like shit, and she didn't even care. After all those years of taunting at Hogwarts, she was still willing to look past that and give you a second chance."
"You're right…" Draco sighed. Then they both heard yelling from an open window on the second level.
"Petrificus Totalus!" They heard Hermione screamed. Draco assumed it was directed at Ron, or so he hoped, "Don't you fucking talk to me again! If you dare to come near me, I'll hex your balls off and make you fucking eat it!"
"And did I mention you have a feisty wife?" Blaise joked, "That's always a plus." At that, Draco had to smile. Yes, yes he knew he married a feisty woman. They heard Cherise yelling at Ron to leave because she couldn't handle Hermione. Minutes later, they saw Ron stomping out of the house with a limp. Wonder what happened there?
"You're right." Draco straightened up, "I'm not going to talk to Astoria anymore and I'll make sure my mom doesn't add her on the guest list anymore."
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"You are so stupid!" Astoria screeched. Ron stood there shameful, "Can't you even do something right? The instructions I gave you were so simple!"
"Hey, it kind of work didn't it?" Ron asked meekly, "I mean, we got Draco to be mad at Hermione."
"No we didn't!" Astoria rounded on him, "I know Draco when he's mad, and he's not mad! He's just frustrated! And it probably wasn't what you did either. He's probably just frustrated that she was talking to you."
"I couldn't do it." Ron finally said. Astoria balled her fists tightly, "I couldn't wreck what Hermione wants. I really love her and want her to be happy. If being with Draco makes her happy, than I'll be happy knowing she's happy."
"Give me a break!" Astoria rolled her eyes, "Of course she's happy with him! She's married to him for ten years and have two brats. If you make her give you a chance, she could be happier with you! All the memories she has of you is when you were an abusive rat face"
"I can't do it." Ron said more firmly.
"You could have said this from the beginning!" Astoria growled, "You made me look bad! All you had to do was put an imperius curse on her when you guys were alone in the hallway! You had plenty of time to do that."
"She's clearly happy with who she's with." Ron turned around to walk away from her.
"Are you telling me that those stupid classes you took in America works?" Astoria asked disbelievingly, "Bullshit!"
"Believe what you want." Ron said over his shoulder, "I want out."
"There is no out." Astoria smiled sweetly, "You've agreed to help me and you will until the deal is done." She lifted her wand.
"What-" Ron began but was cut of by the spell that left Astoria's mouth.
"Imperio"
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A/N: It's a short chapter guys! Please review =) and again, sorry for the super long update =( Thanks to all those who had reviewed!