Chapter Twenty-one. It takes two to accord
I could feel the tension in the air. The six of us were trapped in a situation none of us wanted ever to find ourselves in. Harry and Ginny looked uncomfortable as they never wanted to be stranded in the middle. And they had been trying stay out of it. Now they had no choice but to stay and watch everything go down, simply because to their dismay, Malfoy called them out. Lavender was staring at the wooden railings as if the carving patterns suddenly peaked her interested. Ron was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and appeared to be more annoyed than angary. And Malfoy, well, I wasn't too sure how he felt. Either he resented the current situation as much as I did, or he was entertained to see how it unfolded.
"Alright, I guess everyone is staying," l sighed and decided to look right into Ron's eyes, even though he was trying his best to avoid any eye contact, "I don't get it, Ron, why do you have to be so hostile toward me? Ever since the beginning of the school year, you've been nothing but mean to me, and to Malfoy."
"Look at you," The red-haired boy sneered, "You can't be seriously asking this question."
"I am," I frowned, finding his attitude agitating, "I find myself having trouble understanding your behaviours. Let me ask you this once for all: what's your problem with me?"
"Haven't we had this conversation before?" He walked up to me with a faint maliciousness in his eyes, "Do you really want me to repeat it again?"
"If you are trying to blame it all on me again, then spare it," I didn't flinch, "I want to know what the real problem is. Don't you think it's time to face yourself and stop running away from it? Keep avoiding me it's not going to get anything solved."
"What are you trying to say?" He got even closer. I remained still, "Hermione, I've told you before and I will tell you again: You drove me away. It's painfully obvious you started seeing Malfoy because you wanted to make me jealous. Despite the plan failed, you still choose to associate yourself with him. How pathetic."
"Oh please," I heard Malfoy let out a dismissive laugh and the sound of the chair he was sitting on shrieked as he got up and came to stand behind me.
"You got to be kidding me," I couldn't believe what I heard, "Is this what you keep on telling yourself?"
"You know I'm right," He rose his eyebrow as if he just dusted salt on my non-existent wound.
"I know we haven't spoken for a while," I said slowly and acted as polite as I possibly could, there was no point to start a heated argument, "But how can you be so blinded and not see it through? It's ridiculous, you are being ridiculous, Ron."
"I'd just call it delusion," Malfoy said coldly and placed his hand on my shoulder, "I fail to see a point of continuing this conversation, it's not going anywhere."
"You want a way out because the truth hurts, isn't it?" Ron curled his lips.
"Weasley," Malfoy pulled me back a little as he stepped up closer to Ron, "I'm not sure if anyone has told you this yet, but you are out of your mind. This is the epitome of insanity."
"Just why would you think that?" I threw my hand, half-furious, half-amused, "Where did that idea even come from? Why would I try anything to make you jealous? What sense does that make? Even if this is an act, why on earth would I continue on with it for so long?"
"Because you want to get back with me, simple like that," Ron shrugged as if he was spitting out the truth.
"Are all you of hearing what I'm hearing?" I scanned around the room, looking at others unbelievably, "Isn't this the most absurd thing you've ever heard?"
To my surprise, everyone except Malfoy had a brooding look on their faces. Malfoy, on the other hand, was impatiently tapped his foot and completely done and over with the situation and couldn't be more ready to leave. I should have known speaking to Ron would go south rather quickly from the beginning, yet I went against the best of my judgements.
Why did I even bother to talk to him?
Part of me wanted to make peace with him before we went on our separate ways so I would never have to carry that slightest guilt of cutting all ties with an old friend and those who chose him over me, but the other part of me stopped caring completely when I realized I was alone on my side.
All I had is Malfoy, who miraculously chose, promised and vowed to stick by my side.
"Hermione," Ginny said quietly but firmly, there was something in her eyes I couldn't read, though I could tell she saved whatever she was about to say next as the last resort, "I know, no, we know you and Malfoy signed a contract."
"I'm sorry, what?" I was caught off guard but kept my composure and put on a puzzled look.
Ron scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Please," Ginny walked up to me and placed her hand on my shoulder as if I needed reassurance," Don't you think it's time for you to come clean?"
"Can I just say I have nothing to come clean about?" I shook her hand off and stepped away from her to stand closer to Malfoy. In my peripheral vision, I saw him completely checked out, the piled snow outside seemed more interesting to him than listening to this dreadful conversation.
"I must say, even with all the nonsensical ridiculousness I've seen from your bunch, this is undoubtably, the most absurd one," Malfoy said indifferently in a flat tone, "Hermione, I think it's the time we leave."
"Are you scared, Malfoy?" Ron said mockingly, "And all you can do is to run away? A coward is always going to be a coward."
I looked over my shoulder, worried how Malfoy would react. Overtime, something in Malfoy changed, the rough edges in him smoothened. Perhaps there was no roughness in him at the first place and it was nothing but a teenage haste, and it gradually faded into maturity. The boy I once resented would have an insulting comeback that would only accelerate the confrontation, but the man I loved said:
"That statement says more about you than me, Weasley."
"Aren't you philosophical? Stop avoiding the issue," Said the freckled, red-haired boy, clearly intimidated. He then turned to me, "Stop avoiding the issue. Now you know we know, so how are you going to explain yourself?"
"There's nothing to say about it," I crossed my arms and squinted my eyes, "Ginny, how come you are so sure about Malfoy and I signed a contract?"
Ginny turned red. After clearing her throat, with her fingers twirling her hair, she said:
"Well, remember that day you asked me to remind you about your journal? You had this excruciating headache and Malfoy was looking for you. It just didn't feel right to be a coincidence. I mean, you never keep a journal, ever. So…"
"So, you went through my journal after I left for Malfoy," I finished her sentence for her. I paused and stared at her with disdain before I continued in a dry, sarcastic voice, "Because that's what a friend does, am I right?"
"Hermione, you need to know I only did that for your good," Ginny was desperately trying to make herself look better, "I was worried about you. Who knew what you are doing with Malfoy? I didn't want him to manipulate and hurt you. I knew how broken you were after you and my brother split. You don't need any more heart breaks. And even if you get one, it should never be from Malfoy."
"I did a bad thing but it's actually a good thing because I was concerned about you," Malfoy mimicked Ginny's tone, "How cliché."
"I thought you are a friend, Ginny," I find my hands shaking uncontrollably. I was upset, I was angry, but I couldn't say this was unexpected. I should've known she'd choose her own brother over me. She had always been and always would be, "I thought you understand me. But how wrong and how pathetic I was. Our conversation here is done. Malfoy and I will be packing our things and leaving right away. Thank you for letting us stay over for Christmas."
As I was walking towards the door with Malfoy trailing behind me, Harry, who hadn't spoken a word since this whole confrontation started, stood between the door and me.
"Excuse me?" I said with a frown, not sure what he was up to.
"I never wanted to this to go this far," He pushed his glasses up and said slowly, "Neither did I ever wanted to intervene your relationship in anyway."
"But?" I prompted him to make him spill out what he had on his mind faster so that Malfoy and I could leave.
"I think it's about time to set things straight," He continued, "I know this looks like all of us are against you, but like Ginny said, we only want the best for you."
"Because Harry Potter and his sheep are always on the good and righteous side," Malfoy said contemptuously, "Why is this conversation still dragging on?"
"I'm not speaking to you, Malfoy, I suggest you stay quiet," Harry stared at Malfoy broodingly before glanced back at me again, "I'm going to be frank, Hermione. I want you to look at me in the eye and tell me that you are with Malfoy because you want to be with him and not because you want to get back to Ron and make him jealous."
I took a deep breath and glanced around the room again. I simply couldn't comprehend how these people, who I used to call friends, who I loved, cared and trusted, could be so fixated on an illusion they created about Malfoy and I's relationship, while refusing to hear what I had to say.
Sometimes people would stubbornly believe what they want to believe rather than the truth.
The mind is a curious and dangerous thing.
"Listen, this is the last time I will say this," I squinted and stared into Harry's eyes, "I understand how the contract thing sounded ridiculous and it was. But that ridiculousness brought me close to someone I never thought would love and care for me more than anyone else ever did. The little silly bet turned out to be a true blessing that I needed the most after all that drama happened. I am with Malfoy because I love him and I don't care what you think, say, or judge. It has nothing to do with Ron, so someone needs to get out of that insane delusion of his. Now, if you excuse us, we are leaving."
I reached to Malfoy's hand and held it tightly. I nodded at Harry, and without waiting for anyone to say anything, I walked pass him and pushed open the door.
The cold yet fresh winter wind blew into my face, and I felt a great sense of relief that I had never felt before.
"I'm proud of you," Malfoy wrapped his arm around my waist and pecked me on the cheek.
"Me too," I smiled, "Me too."
A new year was around the corner and it was just about the best time for a brand-new beginning.