A/N Another short fluffy chapter, I hope you enjoy it and aren't too shocked at what happens at the end of this chapter.
Hermione went into her bag and pulled out a white wand. "I thought yeh had a black one of them?" Asked the merchant.
"I did but the village elder stepped on it when he..."
"You don't need to tell me what happened in there if you don't want to," said the merchant gently. "But I'll always be here for you if you need me." He watched as she used her wand to remove the bullet from her leg and heal the wound that remained.
"I didn't betray anyone." She said crying. He couldn't tell if it was from the wound or from the thought of Leon, but he instantly crouched down beside her and held her.
"I believe you," he told her. "You don't have to explain yourself to me."
It had been over a day since Hermione had last seen Leon. She'd been secretly hoping to run into him, even after what he had done to her. She had told the merchant everything that had happened when she was alone with the village elder, and now she felt she had the confidence to tell Leon what had happened as well.
It was as though the Gods had read her thoughts, as Leon entered the room she and the merchant were occupying.
"Just get yerself out of here. I don't want yer causing the poor lass any more trouble. She's been through enough as it is." Said the merchant. "Where's the other girl anyway? Shot her too?"
"She got kidnapped," Leon sadly. "And I don't want to cause any trouble. I actually wanted to apologise."
Hermione stood up and asked the merchant if he minded her and Leon having a private word. "Go ahead love," he said kindly. "But stay somewhere I can see you. I don't trust him anymore."
When they were alone, Hermione found it difficult to keep the tears away. Leon looked calmer now, and there was no trace of anger in his eyes. There was only sadness. "I'm sorry," Leon told her.
"I understand. Sort of," Hermione responded. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but you were difficult to talk to."
"I know." He gave her a weak smile that she returned.
"I'm ready to tell you why he said I was willing. If you'll still hear me out." Leon nodded and Hermione began to speak. "The man I got the false eye from... He told me that you and Ashley were infected. Then he offered me... Something if I joined them willingly. Then he changed his offer. He said if I didn't agree then he... He'd rape me."
Hermione began to cry, and Leon moved to give her a hug. "I let him inject me with the plaga. I thought you'd never forgive me if I let him rape me. But then he did it anyway."
"You can stop now Mione," Leon told her soothingly.
"No, I'm fine." She wiped the tears from her face before continuing. "When he did it, all I thought about was our argument. I knew you'd never want me after that. So I kissed the merchant. I needed to feel like someone wanted me. Even if it was only for a moment. And he kissed me back not because he wanted to, but because he knew I needed it."
"He's been a better friend to you than I've been." Leon said sadly.
"Leon, I don't want you to be my friend," Hermione told him, and Leon looked down sadly. "I want you to be more than that."
Leon looked back up and stared into her eyes. "You promise?"
"Of course!" She said in disbelief that he even needed reassurance. Leon smiled before pulling her into a kiss that made Hermione go weak at the knees.
"Do you want to be my... Oh this sounds so pre-school. Fuck this." He got down onto one knee and held her hand in his own. "I know this is sudden, but I've never been more sure of anything in my life. Hermione, will you marry me?"
A/N I know they've barely known each other for long, but could you imagine Leon dating… He doesn't quite seem like the type.