Pansy's scowl didn't take away from her menacing beauty. Hermione had always been slightly jealous of the other girl; and right now she remembered why. Her face was flawless; angular, and sharp, and her eyes were a deep brown. The woman had filled out since school, and Hermione felt slightly insignificant next to her. Pansy was tall, and slender; although not nearly as toned as Hermione. If it came down to a physical fight; Hermione was positive that she would win.
Just as she was about to speak, Hermione noticed that Pansy was wearing what looked like a waitressing outfit; and carrying a bag of take-out. Why on Earth would Pansy be coming here after work... Unless...
"Good Godric! You live with Ron now?" Hermione's eyes widened and she felt slightly awed. Ron had managed to capture the Ice Queens heart? When had they met again? Where did they meet? How did they start seeing each other?
" I don't live here..." Pansy's sneer was now gone, replaced with a faint blush. She took a deep breath, crossing her arms as if trying to look imposing. "What are you doing here Granger? And where is Ron?"
"He's in the shower. And I was here to talk to Ron, although he doesn't seem to want to listen..." Hermione paused her eyes widening. "The report said he wasn't seeing anyone."
"Report? You're spying on him? God, you really are pathetic, aren't you?" She had regained her composer, and was now glaring at the brown haired witch.
"This changes everything... Maybe, if they realized you two are together, then I don't have to be here!" Hermione was almost giddy with her train of thought; not having to endure staying in this godforsaken house. The more she thought about it, the better her idea seemed to her.
"What are you going on about, Granger? Have you finally become delusional, or are you just trying to seem like Trelawney? Because you are certainly succeeding." Pansy moodily stared at Hermione; her eyes cloaked with loathing.
With a small frown of disapproval, Hermione stood straighter out of indignation. She had hated that ridiculous, lie-spouting fool. "I am not anything like Trelawney, thank you very much. And I'm not going senile."
"Well, what in the fuck are you doing here?" Pansy had obviously become fed-up with Hermione, and her posture was anything but happy.
With a sigh, Hermione explained the situation, and led Pansy to the kitchen to show her the notes. Much to her surprise when she stepped into the kitchen she noticed Draco was back. And not only that; but he was talking to Ron, and in the middle of preparing some kind of pasta.
"So, you really did break up a pack of former Death Eaters trying to take down the Ministry?" Draco enquired, looking up at Ron sceptically.
Shrugging lightly, Ron looked better, but still tired and hung-over. "Well, Harry did most of the work, and it wasn't Former Death Eaters... It was a bunch of kids who were trying to figure out a way to find the Dealthy Hallows in order to bring Voldemort back to this world. Or so that was what they were saying."
At the name of his former master, Draco visibly flinched, but nodded lightly; his eyes dark with repressed emotions. Hermione felt the urge to walk up to him, and hold him, but she stopped herself.
"Draco?" Pansy's voice came out in almost a gasp; shock causing her eyes to widen. At that moment Hermione hated her. Everything about Pansy screamed 'Perfect' and Hermione loathed when it was focused on Draco.
Turning around, Draco caught Hermione's eyes with a small smile, before looking at Pansy. His light eyebrows knitted together in confusion, and he ran a hand through his hair. "Parkins- Pansy? What are you doing here?"
"W-What are you doing here is the better question, Draco." Her voice had grown soft, with a slight underlying tone of anger. With a glance at Ron, who was now glowering at Draco, Pansy moved over towards him, tucking her hand in his, causing Draco's eyes to widen.
"I'm obviously cooking dinner." Was all Draco said, turning back to the stove to stir the pasta, and add a smidge of spice to his sauce. Hermione stood there, feeling entirely out of place among Ron and Pansy.
"So..." Hermione cleared her throat gently, and moved to the table, picking up the documents to pass to Pansy, "This is why we're here." As Pansy read the papers, Hermione glanced over at Draco; noticing how tense he looked.
"Why does it say that he's single, when he's not?" Pansy murmured, frowning as she looked up from her paper. Hermione was still completely flabbergasted that the two of them were together. Her shock was apparently evident when Ron looked up at her, amusement on his weary features.
"You think it's strange that Pansy and I are together, don't you, 'Mione?" His face was lit up with a strange mirth as she nodded lightly; blushing. Draco looked over to see her response. Just as she nodded, Ron continued. "Well, you know what I think is extremely odd? The fact that you and Pureblood are together, considering how much he loathes your kind."
Hermione's lips parted in shock that Ron had said that to her; insulted. As her cheeks flushed with anger, she crossed her arms. "I... We... We are not together. And I can't believe that you just insinuated than I was less of a witch due to my birth. Ron Weasley, you really aren't the man I thought you were." Her eyes filled with tears, and she turned, briskly walking out of the room, and going to the patio, where she sat on the cold steps.
She had sacrificed everything to come protect this man, who had cheated on her and made her more depressed than ever. It's not like she was expecting any gratitude, but he had never insinuated she was less of a person due to her blood status. What in the world caused him to do it today? The cold night air slowly caressed her skin, causing her to shiver lightly. for a moment she wished she could go back to how it was back in school, without a worry... Well, except for schoolwork. But, even that was a good distraction.
With a small sigh, she wrapped her arms around herself; jumping slightly when a few moments later someone sat beside her. With a weary glance, she made out Ron's profile, and she turned her attention to her sock feet, wondering distractedly if she should had put on shoes. Biting her lip, she tried to calm down, although all she wanted to do was leave, and not have to put up with Ron's excuses again.
" 'Mione, I didn't mean it like that. You're the smartest witch I know. I would never hurt you-"
"You always hurt me, Ron." Hermione interjected, her anger and impatience getting the best of her. "I'd do anything for you, and I think you know that... I had no intentions of ever coming back to this house, Ron, but when I found out that you were in danger I had to. The one thing worse than the memories here, is not having one of my best friends. I worry about you, Ron. All the time. Even though we aren't dating, doesn't mean that I don't constantly think of you. I grew up with you, Ron. All those years at Hogwarts, you were my family when my parents weren't with me." Her voice catches, and she tries to hold back the tears. "I tried so hard to help you, Ron. I loved you. I would had done anything to help you overcome your drinking. You were both my best friend, and my first love. I was destroyed when I caught you in bed with that floozy. The only thing that kept me from moving home to my family was Draco. He helped me, and then he left me. I was so close to complete devastation. You have no idea what it was like for me to lose so many people, Ron. No idea."
By this time, tears were streaming down Hermione's face, and her shoulders shook with the effort not to sob. As her breathing hitched with each breath, she looked up at Ron's reddening face. His shoulders were tense with indignation.
"I have no idea? Hermione, I lost my older brother. I think I have more of an idea of loss than you do."
With a very sad smile, she turned to her former lover, her eyes red. "I know that you loved Fred, Ron. I did too. I grew up with your family. I honestly thought that one day they would be my family as well. When Fred was killed, a part of me died too, I understand it... But at the same time I lost you. No matter how hard I tried, you wouldn't focus on anything besides the fact that he passed away. Fred was like my mentor, Ron. Every single time that I was up alone studying in school, Fred would come back from doing some sort of prank... George, Fred and I spent so many nights just talking with each other in the Common Room." Smiling softly, she paused. "I even helped them with ideas for their inventions. Potions, charms, incantations, you name it... I did the research. You never seemed to remember that you weren't the only one that was effected by the war, Ron. As much as I tried to convince myself that you actually cared for me, I haven't seen any sort of kindness from you since the war. I tried to love you, Ron, but you wouldn't let me. I hope that you're better with Pansy, because no girl deserves to be treated the way you treated me. I tried to convey how I felt about you to Draco, and how much our friendship means to me, and I realized something. I don't like you. You aren't the Ron that I grew up with, and you're undeniably not the Ron that I care for. How am I supposed to try to care for you, when you don't care for yourself? Drinking every day... I abhor it. Don't you think that your family, including Harry and I have had enough to deal with since the war? Distressing about you, and your habits should not be one of our top priorities, Ron. I think you should try and get your life sorted out, and I think that Pansy will help you, if you let her. You have to want to change yourself... It's not just going to happen. And until you have cleaned up, I don't think I can stand being around you. It's much too painful."
Slowly Hermione stood up, looking at the red head with a great deal of misery. His face was white, and he looked up at her with utter remorse on his features, his freckles contrasting deeply with his pale disposition. "I... I never thought about... Hermione... I..." He swallowed lightly, and tears were filling his eyes. "I promise I'll try. Im so sorry."
With a small nod, Hermione walked into the house, turning only to mutter softly. "I believe in you Ron... I know you can do it."
As she entered the kitchen, Draco looked up and frowned at her swollen, tearstained eyes. Standing slowly, he crossed the room in a few strides, lightly wrapping him arms around her. "What do you want to do, Hermione?" he whispered, holding her close.
With a feeble smile, she bit down on her quivering lip, and sniffed. "I want to go home."
Draco contemplated this for a moment, before deciding that by now her house was probably safe enough to go to. With a soft nod, he turned to look at Pansy, and muttered. "Well, I'll talk to you later, Pansy... Take care of that bloke of yours." Closing his eyes, he pressed his forehead against Hermione's hair, apparating to her house with a swift "POP".