Chapter 17

"You ever worry that Draco and Hermione are too close?" Adrian wondered.

The pair were seated in the stands, waiting for the Chudley Cannons to play the Holyhead Harpies. It had been a week since the failed dinner at Malfoy Manor, and Marcus hadn't seen Draco since. When he had asked his girlfriend about their friend's sudden disappearance, she would clam up and change the subject.

"I'm not sure they are anymore," Marcus replied. "I don't know what happened, but I'm pretty sure it's something I'd want to punch his teeth in for. Any idea where he is?"

Adrian chuckled. "Well, it depends on if you're really going to beat him up," he said as the teams took to the air. Marcus growled beside him. "He's at the shop. There's a flat above it that I told him he could stay in. Do me a favor and talk to Hermione before you go over there."

Dark eyes rolled, but Marcus agreed. The quaffle went up and the action began. Marcus didn't care about the match. All he could think about was what might have occurred between his girlfriend and his friend. What could have caused Draco to leave without a word? He'd come downstairs, said he was going out for a little air, and never returned.

It was only a few minutes into the game when Marcus stood and told his friend he needed to leave. Adrian tried to convince him to stay, but Marcus wouldn't hear it. He returned to an empty house. After pouring a large glass of firewhiskey, he sat on the couch and waited for Hermione to return home. He didn't want a fight, but they needed to clear the air.

It was hours before the front door opened. Ladened down with bags, Hermione dropped them and huffed. "If Pansy makes me go shopping one more time, I'm moving to Siberia so she can't find me," she declared. Marcus merely nodded to acknowledge he had heard her. Sitting down beside him, she let her head fall back against the cushions and closed her eyes. "I can't wait for this wedding to be over. Of course, then she'll get pregnant and I'll get roped into baby shopping. It's never going to end."

"Well, you could just do whatever you did with Draco to end it," he muttered, his words slurring from too much alcohol.

Sitting up, Hermione's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"I'm not so stupid that I haven't noticed that Draco isn't around and you're not talking to him," he replied, standing to refill his glass.

Hermione followed him to the kitchen and took the glass away from him. "I don't think you're stupid, but I do think you're drunk," she stated. "I'm not getting into an argument with you when you're drunk."

"Well, you haven't told me what happened when I've been sober, so I figured I'd try something different," he remarked, following her upstairs to their bedroom. "What happened that was so bad you can't tell me? I thought we didn't keep secrets, Hermione. What the hell happened with Draco?"

Sighing, she sat at the foot of the bed, staring at the basket of laundry that needed to be folded. "He kissed me," she told him. "I told him he couldn't stay here after that, so he left."

"He kissed you or you kissed him?" Marcus asked, straining to rein in his anger.

"He kissed me. I didn't kiss him back," she responded. "I love you. He was upset and hurting, and it just happened. We haven't spoken since, and I'm sorry I kept it from you. You need to know that I would never do anything to hurt you."

Shaking his head, Marcus left the room for the bathroom across the hall. Hermione stood in the doorway as he splashed cold water on his face. "I'm not mad that he kissed you," he said, his voice even. "I'm upset that you lied."

She took a tentative step toward him, but Marcus backed away. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

Marcus sniffled. "Sorry isn't good enough," he said, pushing his way past her. He returned to the bedroom and began to pack a bag. She pleaded with him not to leave, but he wouldn't hear it. "I can't be here right now. You got to keep this secret for a week. I need a little space to figure this out."

"And we can't figure it out together?" she asked, desperate to keep him from leaving. "Walking out now means we don't resolve this. I didn't tell you because I was scared of how you'd react. I was worried that if you knew, we'd be over."

"So, you figured you'd keep it from me to keep from breaking up?" he confirmed. "You don't see the flaw in that plan? I gave up everything to be with you, and you lied to me. I don't want to be with someone who treats cheating like it doesn't matter."

Head bowed, Hermione stepped aside so she no longer blocked the doorway. As he passed her, she grabbed his arm. "I really am sorry, and I really do love you," she said, looking up with tears in her eyes.

Signing, he dipped his head to kiss her gently. "Give me some time," he said. "I just...need some time."

Hermione nodded and watched him leave. Entering the room, she sat down on his side of the bed and put her head on his pillow. It smelled like him - his cedarwood scented shampoo and aftershave. Her tears dampened the pillowcase, and she squeezed her eyes shut to keep more from falling. Try as she might, she couldn't will herself to sleep. She wanted to sleep, to forget the day, to not deal with however much time Marcus needed.

It was long after the sun had set when she heard the front door open. She ran from the room and descended the stairs, hoping to find Marcus had come home. "Sorry," Pansy said when they saw each other. "Ade told me what happened, and I thought you might need a friend."

Hermione collapsed into her friend's arms, crying on her shoulder. Pansy navigated them to the sofa to sit. "I brought wine and brownies," she said when Hermione pulled away. "I know you don't usually drink, but I thought you might need one right now."

Sniffling, Hermione laughed. "I could use it," she agreed. "So, how much did Adrian tell you?"

Pansy opened a bottle of Chardonnay and handed it to her. "Everything," she confessed. "Marc's staying at the house, so I overheard what happened. I thought you could use a friend right now."

"So you don't hate me?" Hermione asked, drinking straight from the bottle.

"Would I be here if I did?" Pansy countered. Hermione shrugged and put the wine down. "I'm not taking sides. Half of me understands why you kept it from him, but I also get why he's upset. A lot of pureblood kids grow up with parents who cheat. Marc had two. It's a really sensitive subject for him."

Hermione opened the brownies and took one. "Did the Flints do anything positive?" she wondered. "Cheating, beatings, verbal abuse - was there ever just anything good that happened to him?"

"You," Pansy replied. "You were the good thing that happened to him. He knows that, and he'll come around. Have you talked to Draco at all since that night?"

Hermione shook her head. "I was too angry with him for what he did," she said. "And then I felt guilty about what happened. I couldn't face him, and now with Marcus leaving, I don't want to talk to Draco."

Picking up the wine bottle, Pansy focused on the label. "You're still going to come to the wedding, right?" she asked. "Please don't let Marcus and Draco prevent you from coming. I need my friend."

Smiling, Hermione nodded. "I'll be there."