Chapter 29

"Best Deceptions"

_THE FUCKING TRUTH_

The funniest thing happened today, laughed Lee. I was at the park in Godric's Hollow along with the rest of the wizarding world hoping to get a glimpse of the golden boy himself, Harry Potter get married! What made it so hilarious is that I got the esteemed pleasure of announcing to everyone that Harry had already gotten married three weeks prior! Lee Laughed even harder, the reactions of some people were priceless, it was completely photo worthy, and that's why I took lots of pictures! You should have seen Rita Skeeter's face…

It's been three weeks since Harry's wedding and Hermione hasn't been coming around as much and she's hardly ever at the Sighler anymore…guilty conscience. Perhaps she knows I know she's lying. Ron sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands, something wasn't right. The way he was looking at her, it was as if… no I was just imagining things. It just seemed so real… but Hermione assured me nothing was going on. Ron stood and began to pace in front of his bed. He rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants and then through his hair. This couldn't really be happening could it? It's Draco Malfoy, he's cruel and vial. He always refers to her as a mudblood… come to think of it he hasn't called her a mudblood in a while… he's been calling her Hermione. Ron stopped pacing. He thought for a moment, they have been spending a lot of time together. He looked up at the clock. He changed into his Sighler shirt and walked down the hall towards the front door. He opened the door, and just as he was getting ready to disapparate he stopped. He kept walking down the stairs and out the front door. He walked zombie like down the street towards the Sighler, he figured the walk would help him clear his mind. She would never fall for someone like Malfoy, I know he's been acting half way descent these days but she would never date him. She wouldn't hide it, she has never been afraid to throw anything in my face… well unless she knew it would really kill me. Ron pulled open the back door to the Sighler. He got his apron and order book out of his locker and pushed open the kitchen doors and stopped in his tracks. Looking through the window of the open door, he saw Hermione sitting at the bar. I can't believe she's here. She was laughing and talking with Draco not unusual… well unusual for Malfoy, Ron let the door swing close as Draco tucked a piece of Hermione's hair behind her ear. He slowly walked over to them…

"Hi guys," he said expressionless

"Hi," Hermione cheeks turned red as she smiled nervously tucking her hair again where Draco had just placed it behind her ear, "What's up," she tried to ask casually.

"Not much…" he paused and looked down. "I'm only going to ask once… What's going on between you two?" He said sternly.

"I don't know wh…" Hermione started

"Don't lie to me! I know something's going on!" his voice was raising and people in the restaurant turned to look.

Draco was leaning on the bar and stood up straight, "Weasley keep your voice down," he said firmly in a whisper.

"Don't you fucking tell me what to do!" He glared a Draco

Draco's face suddenly filled with rage, "Look here Weasel, don't you ever…"

"Stop it!" Hermione hissed at both of them, she took a deep breath, "Ron let's talk outside." She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the exit, he continued to glare at Draco and people watched as they walked from the restaurant.

"I want to know what's going on!" he shouted once outside.

"What makes you think something's going on?" She asked coolly, trying to deter the on lookers

"I'm not stupid! He can't take his eyes off you and the way he touches you…"

"Touches me?"

"I saw him stroke your hair"

"He simply pushed it out of my face, even Harry does that"

"But Harry's your best mate and he's Draco Malfoy," he said pointing at Draco through the window.

Hermione glanced a Draco then looked back at Ron, "yes he is Draco Malfoy and he's a friend."

Ron lowered his arm and looked Hermione square in the eye, "you're not a very good liar…"

"I don't know…"

"You know what I'm talking about, you get this sparkle in your eye when you look at him," he lowered his head.

"I honestly don't know what you're talking about," she said softly

Ron looked up at her as if he was going to cry, "I suppose you wouldn't… you never saw your face when you were looking at me… I know that look… and now you're giving it to fucking Draco Malfoy," he sighed and ran his hands threw his hair, "fucking shit" he whispered to himself.

"Ron I…" she stepped forward to touch him and he moved from her reach.

He stared at her then turned to look through the window at Draco behind the bar, he felt all his fury building up inside of him. He wanted to scream he wanted to hex someone he wanted to kill someone!

He violently jerked open the door to the restaurant and stormed over to the bar, Draco had his back turn but as soon as he turned around Ron's fist slammed into Draco's face. He stumbled backwards and Ron jumped over the counter.

"RON! STOP!" Hermione screamed running around to the back of the bar.

Everyone in the restaurant was crowding around to see the fight, Ron was on top of Draco and he kept hitting him in the face. Hermione grabbed Ron from the back and with all her might tried pulling Ron off.

"RON STOP!"

"Move! Out of the way!" Tim was pushing through the crowd.

"WEASLEY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Tim wrapped his arms around Ron's waist and with one swift move pulled Ron off Draco, "THAT'S ENOUGH!" he said releasing Ron and blocking his way back to Draco.

"Oh my god!" Hermione bent down to help Draco up, "we have to get you to the hospital."

"I'm fine," he said leaning on the bar for support, one of his eyes was swollen shut, there was blood coming from his mouth and nose.

"YOU'RE FINE! COME OVER HERE SO I CAN FINISH KICKING YOUR ASS!" provoked Ron from behind Tim.

"I don't think so! Go in the back," he ordered, when Ron just scowled at Draco, Tim turned him around and pushed him threw the kitchen doors himself.

"I suppose this means you told him?" Asked Draco holding the bar towel to his nose.

"No I never got the chance to say anything," she looked at him sadly, "I'm so sorry this happened… we need to get you some ice."

She helped him into the back of the restaurant and Daphne one of the waitresses got him some ice.

"What exactly happened here," asked Tim furiously looking from Ron to Draco, no one said anything, "This is my place of business! You two idiots decide to turn it into a bloody boxing ring!"

"Some people just don't know how to control their tempers," sneered Draco

"Well maybe you shouldn't mess with things that aren't yours," snapped Ron.

"She's nobody's property," said Draco moving the ice from his lip to his eye

"This is over a girl?" Asked Tim sounding annoyed and glancing over at Hermione

"The one he stole!"

"She would have had to have been with you in order for me to have stolen her," smirked Draco.

"She's probably only using you to get revenge on the way you treated her all these years," chuckled Ron

Hermione finally spoke up and she was offended, "for your information Ronald I happen to care about him very much!"

Ron's face was vacant, "why? He only likes girls he can save or screw."

The sound of scratching pots and pans that usually filled the kitchen ceased as the cooks all stopped what they were doing and just stared shocked at Ron, Tim's jaw hit the floor, Mike, a waiter, who had just picked up an order dropped it…

As soon as Ron said it he wished he hadn't. She looked at him as if he was a leper, she was completely disgusted. It seemed as if he was staring at her for an eternity, but really it was only about a second before she was disappearing into darkness. All the lights were going out and everything turned to black.

"Hermione I'm so sorry!" Ron said sitting up and grabbing his head in agony.

"Ron you git!" Percy hissed grabbing Ron by his collar.

"What's going on?" He said prying Percy's hands off of him, "where am I?"

"You are in the hospital!" He said enraged

"How did I get to St. Mun…"

"Percy cut him off, "you're in London Bridge Hospital," he lowered his voice, "the muggle hospital and we have to get you out of here before the doctor comes back!"

He went over to the chair in the corner and threw Ron his clothes, as he changed from the hospital gown he asked, "How did I get here? The last thing I remember was Hermione staring at me with such disdain."

Percy glared at Ron, "we'll talk about that later… apparate to my place." Ron looked at him curiously but did as he was told. There was a loud crack and the man who was lying in the next bed behind the curtain started questioning about the sound. Percy shook his head in fury thinking about all the obilvating that would have to be done. He turned on his heal and unlocked the front door to the apartment building so he and Ron could go up.

"You still haven't told me what happened," pressed Ron as they waited for the lift to stop on Percy's floor. The doors to the lift opened and someone else got on the lift Percy smiled politely and continued to ignore Ron. "Percy!" Ron whispered, "Tell me!"

The lift stopped on his floor and as he led Ron out he said politely to the witch, "have a good night." They continued down the hall a few steps and Percy unlocked his door and stepped aside to let Ron go in first. Ron looked at him wondering what he was thinking and walked in first. Percy closed the door calmly. He took off his cloak to reveal his pajamas. After neatly hanging it up he whirled on Ron.

"WHAT THE BLOODLY HELL WERE YOU THINKING?" Shouted Percy

Ron took a step back he never saw Percy so mad, "I don't…"

"HOW COULD YOU START A FIGHT WITH MALFOY IN A MUGGLE PLACE? A FIGHT THAT YOU GOT KNOCKED OUT IN?"

"I got knocked out?" Asked Ron confused.

"You didn't know?" Percy arched an eyebrow, "Malfoy hit you and you've been out cold for three hours. How could you be so stupid? When you didn't come around Tim got you to the hospital!"

Ron sat down on the couch messaging his temples but immediately ceased when it only hurt, "Hermione was there why didn't she stop him?"

"I don't know when she came by to get me she was pretty upset, she told me Malfoy punched you and that you were in the muggle hospital. You risked the security of our world yet again. Do you know how many people are going to have to have their memories modified?"

Ron slouched back on the couch and breathed in deeply, "I wish you would let the flying car thing go and it's not as if you have to do the modifying."

With two quick strides Percy had Ron by the collar yet again, "I may not be modifying the memories myself but the safety of the people is extremely important and I will not have my immature little brother wrecking my future!" Sneered Percy slamming Ron back against the couch, he took slow steady deep breaths and sat in the armchair across from Ron. "Now, how did all this start," he said calmly.

Ron absentmindedly messaged his neck, "Hermione's dating Malfoy."

Percy's head shot up "come again."

Ron rolled his eyes "you heard me Hermione is dating that despicable Ferret."

"How long has this been going on?"

"I don't know exactly but she claims to care for him deeply," he slid down the couch so his head was resting on the seat part. He was starting to feel sick to his stomach.

Percy's eyes widen, then he smiled slightly, then he frowned, "so Malfoy hit you because he's dating Hermione."

"No!" Protested Ron sitting up again, "I beat him to a bloody pulp he just got one lucky shot!"

"One brilliant lucky shot," Percy pointed out, "if you don't remember getting knocked out then how do you know it was a lucky shot."

"I was distracted"

"What could possibly distract you from a fist coming straight at your face?" Asked Percy with a raised eyebrow

"Hermione," he mumbled

"So Hermione distracted you so her new boyfriend could punch you?"

"No she had this look on her face… she looked at me with such disgust, like she was repulsed by me."

"There is no way Hermione Granger could ever possibly loath you," Percy tried to reassure him.

"I may have given her a reason," he whispered to his shoes

Percy raised an eyebrow questioningly, "and what reason may that be?"

"I told her… I can't believe I said it, the moment it came out I wanted to take it back," he said quickly, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "when she said she cared for him… I told her Malfoy only likes girls he can save or screw."

Percy's eyes were the size of saucers and his eyebrows were touching his hairline, "tell me you're joking, please tell me you didn't say anything that cruel to her."

Ron wished he could and only shook his head to say that he couldn't deny it. "Ron..." Percy paused as if he was searching for the right words, "oh hell!" he threw up his hands giving up the search, "Ron you're a fucking bastard and that was way out of line."

Ron glared at him, "you're going to defend her dating Malfoy?"

"I may not like her choice of a significant other but it isn't my place to make that decision. And what you said is disgusting. You basically called her a whore because you inferred that the only way Malfoy would be interested is if she was an easy screw. And let's face it, its Hermione there is nothing easy about her," he chuckled, "I can assure you from Malfoy's reaction that this is not about sex. He defended her honor he may actually love her," Percy finished.

Ron thought about this for a moment, well that is true he went through an awful amount of trouble for someone he supposedly doesn't like. But he's Malfoy there has to be some ulterior motive. "Yeah, I don't think so. Something has to be going on."

Percy placed his head in his hands and shook it shamefully, my stupid brother.

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