Disclaimer: All characters of this story do not belong to me. All credit goes to the queen herself, JK Rowling.

Warnings: This is a Dramione fanfic. With Romione as well. Please don't hate me if you support/hate one or the other. Hinny in here also! hehehehe me love me some Hinny ;)

CHAPTER TWELVE: Hermione's Predicament

Ron stood there, dumbfounded, as Harry and Ginny attempted to inch their way back up the steps. They didn't want any part in the pending firework show that was about to take off.

"Oh, hi 'Mione," Ron said guiltily. "Can we talk?"

Harry and Ginny crept their way up the stairs until they were out of sight, but still in hearing range for the conversation.

Harry gave Ginny a look.

"Why did you have to blurt out everything to Ron?" Harry asked, keeping his voice low so Ron and Hermione couldn't hear. "You promised you would keep it a secret!"

Ginny rolled her eyes and shrugged. "I felt like it was a good time to tell him."

Harry shook his head. "Obviously, it was not a good time to tell him if he's down their fighting with his wife the morning after their marriage!"

"They're not fighting," Ginny insisted. "And besides, we were going to end up telling him sooner or later. I thought it would be best sooner than later, because that conversation downstairs could have been a full-scale shouting match."

Harry looked down the spiral staircase of the Burrow at Ron and Hermione. Hermione was crying her eyes out – he had no idea why. There was no way that she had heard the entire conversation that the three of them – Harry, Ron and Ginny – had way upstairs by Ginny's room.

"What the bloody hell was he doing here then?" Ron demanded. "I look outside to see if there's fair weather for two-a-side quidditch and instead I see you hugging him!"

"Oh honestly Ronald!" Hermione huffed. "It was just a measly hug, a thank-you hug!"

"For what, putting a few drops of water on his finger? Spare me, 'Mione, I'm not an idiot!" Ron said. "Harry and I saved his arse multiple times during the war and we both didn't get any thank-you hugs!"

Ginny smirked at the comment.

"Shut up," Harry smiled at the cute gesture.

"It's more than that! He's struggling with stuff you wouldn't understand!" Hermione said helplessly. "It's about him and Astoria!"

"Oh what, she's left him and now he's come here, asking your hand in marriage now is he?"

"No, Ron! That's not it at all!" Hermione cried frantically. "If you would just let me explain…"

"Ron's being such a git," Ginny whispered to Harry.

"Well, he wouldn't be talking like that if you would have kept your mouth shut," Harry whispered back harshly. Ginny had no comment.

"Ron, where are you going?" They heard Hermione say, footsteps on the wooden floorboard in the background.

"I'm going outside to check on what Mum's doing," Ron responded, his voice much more muffled. Harry could tell that he was leaving the room. "Don't wait up for me, I'll see you at lunch."

Harry look at Ginny, who shrugged.

"I've seen them in worse arguments," Harry said quietly, still remembering that Hermione was just a few feet below them.

He ventured back to the days when the trio were in hiding, escaping from Voldemort. Hermione had expressed her feelings quite physically when Ron had returned weeks after deserting them.

"She's coming!" Ginny whispered rather loudly. "Hermione!"

She grabbed Harry's hand and led him up the steps, but it was too late.

Hermione had already noticed the pair as she was making her way up to the attic.

"Oh, Harry, Ginny," she said, wiping the last remnants of her tears. She smiled forgivingly. "Eavesdropping this early in the morning already I take it?"

Harry laughed. "We couldn't help it."

"Yeah. It's just that – " Hermione hesitated. "Everything that's going on right now, it's just so complicated."

Ginny looked at Hermione, concerned. "You're not regretting the marriage, right?"

"Oh heavens, no!" Hermione exclaimed. "Not at all! I love Ron! He and I fight all the time, we've known each other since we were eleven. It's almost a second nature."

"Then why are you crying?"

Hermione's stomach seemed to lurch, because she made an odd sudden movement. She looked out the window, staring at the cloudy sky. She saw Ron walking towards Molly out by the garden, and she wondered what he was thinking.

"Hermione?" Harry said reassuringly.

Hermione snapped back into reality and looked at Harry and Ginny. They had consoling looks on their faces, basically telling her that is was all right to tell them what she was thinking.

"It's just that," she began, hesistant to express what was on her mind. "Everything is so complicated right now."

Ginny placed a hand on her back. "It's okay. You can tell us."

"Well, Draco's going through a tough time right now," Hermione explained. "Astoria's having issues with her pregnancy, that's what he was talking to Molly about, and I offered my help to him and Astoria. It's just that I know Ron doesn't like Draco very much but I didn't think it would be much of a problem.. Apparently I was wrong and he dislikes the fact that we hugged.. I mean it was just a hug, nothing more than that.. My feelings for Draco are long gone and left in my sixth year.. it's just that I feel so sorry for him and Astoria that I can't help but offer my condolences."

Hermione ended in a hiccup. She sighed, showing her exasperation. She seemed to be exhausted.

"And now that Ron's so angry, I have no idea what to do," Hermione finished.

Harry looked at Ginny, unsure of what to say.

"Maybe you should sit down with Ron, maybe explain to him the situation. I'm sure he'll come around." Harry said.

"I think you should help Draco," Ginny countered. "Even if it will anger Ronald, and I have no doubt that it will, in the long run, you'll help Draco and Astoria, and Ron will eventually get over it. And besides, you two are married now, you're bonded for life."

Hermione smiled, taking no notice to Harry's suggestion. "Thanks, Ginny."

Ginny smiled as Harry huffed under his breath.

"Well, I best be going," Hermione finally said, breaking the awkward silence. "I'll see you two at lunch?"

Harry and Ginny nodded as Hermione made her way up the stairs to the attic.

Ginny turned to Harry, keeping her voice low. "Are we going to tell her?"

"I'm not telling her anything," Harry said sharply. "You, though, you better keep your mouth shut."

Ginny laughed. "I will, I promise."

"Last time you made a promise…" Harry began.

Ginny cut him off by giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"Harry," she said, looking into his bright green eyes. "I promise."

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