A/N: Managed to steal some time to post this. Enjoy and thanks!

CHAPTER 14: The Old News

"Can you believe it, Harry?"

"What?"

"Hermione is with Malfoy!"

"Oh really? Good for her. She finally found someone who truly loves her." Ron felt a pang in his chest.

"You knew?! Why didn't you tell me?! She's in love with a fucking Death Eater! Are you not concerned of that?"

"The answer is right here." he gestured pointing to Ron. "I knew you would be like this so I resorted to not telling you anything and letting Hermione do it herself. And yeah, Malfoy WAS a Death Eater. True. But, he didn't do it out of his choice. If he's truly wrong, he wouldn't be anywhere other than Azkaban, don't you think?"

"Yeah but he's been torturing us since our first year. Why would she fraternize with the enemy?"

"Clearly she's more mature than you, and she saw something in Malfoy that no one else see. She put the past behind, why couldn't we do the same, Ron?"

"I can't believe it. I thought she loved me."

"She did, Ron. She loved you very much. But don't forget, you're the one that dumped her. Now that she's moved on, I don't think she'll ever look back. If you must know, she's been with Malfoy for more than half the year already, and I never saw her cry in that period."

"Yeah. Whatever. I'll kill that git if he ever hurt her."

"As long as I remember, you're the one that hurt Hermione during your relationship with her. And I haven't seen Hermione in a bad mood since she's with him. I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm just voicing what I've been thinking and seeing."

"I'm going to get a drink. Are you coming?"

"No thanks, I have a new case I need to work on."

Ron came back home drunk that night. Molly Weasley stuck it in her mind that she was going to give him a good lecture tomorrow. She noticed that Hermione barely visited The Burrow anymore so she resorted to asking her youngest about their relationship. Ginny told her that she wasn't in the right place to tell her anything so Molly asked Ginny to invite Hermione for a dinner, which Ron wasn't present due to his work.

She remembered Hermione was a bit miserable although she tried her best to control it but to her surprise, Hermione changed a lot. She was sporting a very short and very blonde hair. She was also looked very feminine and in a daring way but she shrugged it off. The dinner started just fine with just her, Arthur, Ginny and Hermione.

"If may I ask dear, why you haven't visited us in a long time?" she looked at Hermione. Hermione stopped trying to cut into her steak and looked guilty.

"I see no reason to visit you guys that often anymore since Ron and I – we broke up." She struggled to believe the fact that they were not together anymore.

"Oh my god! What has he done to you?" she asked not believing her son doing.

"I don't know. He just – he dump me after our day out. Believe me, Molly; I've been wondering what my fault was too. I guess he just fell out of love with me." She said trying to hide the fact that she was on the verge of tears.

"Never mind dear. Please know that you are still welcome here. I'll give him a good one when he arrives home later."

"Its fine, Molly. You don't have to do anything. I just started seeing someone new. I'll tell you guys about it later when I'm sure of it."

"Of course, dear." They continued their dinner when suddenly Ginny broke the silence.

"I've something to tell you mum, dad."

"What is it? Don't tell me you're pregnant." Arthur jumped into conclusion.

"No dad! I'm seeing someone too. And I'd like you two to meet him. But, I'm not sure if he's someone you would approve of."

"Who is it, dear?" Molly asked.

"Zabini. Blaise Zabini." She closed her eyes waiting for the wrath of Arthur and Molly Weasley but nothing came.

"When are you going to bring him here?" Molly asked, resuming cutting her steak.

"What? You're not mad?" Hermione smiled at her reaction.

"What would we? We're pretty sure you can make the best decision for yourself. As long as you love him, and he loves you, we just have to accept anyone." Arthur said. Hermione doesn't know how they did it, but their mind seems like syncing to each other. She guessed years of marriage did this to them.

"Thank you, mum, dad." Ginny looked radiant at her parents' approval.

Blaise was such a sweetheart, but she's yet to know who Hermione's boyfriend was. She was pretty sure that what made her youngest son so miserable tonight. But what could she say? It was his fault Hermione was out of his grasp.

Next morning Ron woke up with a loud groan. He stumbled down the stairs and went to his mum for a pepper up potion to cure his hangover.

"What made you came home drunk?"

"Hermione." he answered simply.

"What did she do?"

"Apparently she's dating Draco Malfoy." He said expecting his mother to get mad. But she didn't. Why would she? It's Hermione's choice whomever she wanted to date. Ron would be positively livid if he knew who his sister was dating. "Why are you not mad?"

"Why would I be? It's her choice. And it's your fault she went away. You broke her heart without any apparent reason. And now you're getting angry at her choice of spouse? You didn't have the right and you know that. Just let her go and find someone decent enough for you to marry. " She returned to what she was doing before Ron disturbed her and continued,

"Hermione was decent enough to mother your children, beautiful, bright and witty, brightest witch of her age but what did you do? You tossed her like a broken doll you don't want anymore. I'm telling you now, don't ever go around and destroy her relationship with Malfoy."

"Fine whatever. But don't expect me to welcome her with that git into this house."

"It's my house and I'd even invite Voldemort if I wanted to. If you didn't want her here, I suggest you go find yourself another house." She was fuming with anger.

It seemed that he was the only one angry with Hermione choice of boyfriend. She was not in her right mind if she chose the Death Eater to be her husband. To spend her life with a murderer. Ron thought that Draco probably slipped her love potion but he knew she wasn't under the potion influence. She seemed in her right mind not daydreaming or something. And she managed to get angry at Ron even if Malfoy was beside her, not ogling as soon as she saw him. He needed time to think about all of this. After all, it was his fault letting her go.