For a moment, Hermione thought Ron was going to strangle her and Draco simultaneously. However, Draco simply removed Hermione and himself out of Ron's flight path before Ron could collide with them, allowing the redhead to crash into the snow.
As Ron recovered, Draco drew out his wand with a quickness Hermione had never seen before and cried, "Stupefy!"
Ron fell back onto the snow, and George and Angelina ran from their positions by the door to heave him to his feet. Ginny and Harry suddenly appeared at the door.
"Oh, no." said Ginny, as Harry ran to help George and Angelina bring in the dazed Ron. "What did he do this time?"
"He tried to attack us." Draco replied, miffed. He was in the process of making sure Hermione was alright, and although she repeatedly assured him that she had only been barely startled, he was convinced that she might have twisted her ankle or strained her neck from his sudden push.
Ginny shook her head as Ron was carried inside. "Well, you'd better come in. Meet everyone first and then I'll tell you what's going on."
Draco and Hermione were ushered in by Ginny, and soon greeted by the rest of the Weasley family as well as old friends. Ron had been discreetly carried upstairs to his bedroom by Harry, George, Angelina, and Hermione was glad for that, as it might've been somewhat awkward if Draco was introduced as having been the one that Stupefied Ron when he arrived.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were the first to come greet Draco and Hermione. Although Draco got along well with Mr. Weasley from the very beginning due to their now mutual interest in Muggle devices, he was detachedly polite with Mrs. Weasley. Hermione didn't blame him, for even though Bellatrix Lestrange was a truly horrible woman, and Draco admitted it too, she was still his aunt, and Draco would never be able to feel comfortable with the woman who murdered her. In fact, Hermione was proud that Draco was even able to talk to her civilly, a feat that Narcissa would never have been able to accomplish.
Next were Bill and Fleur. Hermione was surprised that Fleur was not yet pregnant, but guessed that the couple had decided to wait until the pain of the war was farther behind and their children could live more remotely from the past horrors. They spoke with Draco amiably, Fleur especially. Hermione could understand how they had more to talk about, as they had similar personalities, something she would never admit out loud, for she still wasn't the fondest of Fleur. She was glad to be able to talk to Bill about Gringotts, and he excitedly told her all the newest developments and security measures that they had had to take since her, Harry, and Ron's famous break-in.
At this point, Charlie came up and introduced himself to Draco. He had brought as his date a pretty girl who turned out to be a journalist for Witch Weekly, and who begged Hermione for a picture of her outfit and a quick few words about hwhere she had gotten it. While Draco and Charlie talked dragons, Hermione and the bubbly girl talked fashion. She chattered rather quickly, and after she had been whisked away by Charlie, Hermione hadn't even found out her name, much to her amusement. Draco had come back to her, and voiced his opinion that Charlie might actually be gay, earning himself a short lecture on "not judging on first impressions."
Dinner was served precisely eight o' clock, and Hermione found herself seated across from Draco, with Percy on her left, and George on her right. The latter had whispered that Ron had been given a sleeping potion to keep him from attacking anyone else for the rest of the night, but had announced to everyone else that the youngest Weasley son was feeling ill and would refrain from rejoining the party as to not infect everyone else with a possible disease and ruin the festivities.
Percy was pleased to see Draco and Hermione, shaking the blonde's hand pompously and giving Hermione a brief hug. He introduced the lovely lady sitting across from him and on Draco's right as Audrey Something-or-Other, his girlfriend and coworker. Hermione couldn't really hear Percy's words, as the room was so very loud from all the people in it. She realized that the Burrow's dining room had been magically expanded somehow, so that it snugly accommodated all the guests. She couldn't even see all the way down the long table, only briefly catching faces such as those of Hannah Abbott's and Rolf Scamander's. Where's Zacharias? she thought.
Dinner was delicious, with all of Molly's finest cooking, and afterwards, the table was cleared and stowed away, and people started grouping and conversing again.
Hermione was happy to see Luna and Rolf mingling with all the red-haired Weasleys, holding hands and looking completely at ease. She and Draco greeted them briefly, before a certain someone tapped her on the shoulder and said, "It's been a while, Hermione."
Hermione spun around, and gave a squeal when she saw Neville. She shrieked his name, although not so loud as to draw attention, and tackled him in a warm hug. "How are you, Neville? Herbology hasn't been the same without you. Harry had me so worried about you!"
Neville chuckled and released Hermione. "I'm fine, now. I guess it was just being so far away from home. And, of course, that." Hermione understood immediately that he was referring to Ron and Jane's situation.
"Well, I'm proud that you finished Auror training anyways, and now you're safely home! I was wonder- Oh! Hello, Hannah!"
Hannah Abbott had made her way over and slid her arm into Neville's, smiling brightly. "Hello, Hermione! Hello, Draco! It's so nice to see you!"
At this, Neville's head snapped towards Draco, who had been silent throughout the conversation and had escaped Neville's notice in the beginning. An awkward silence ensued, with both boys staring each other down, until Draco held up his hand uncertainly and said calmly, "Pleasure to see you, Longbottom."
Neville only hesitated for moment before swiftly grasping Draco's hand with his free arm. "Pleasure's all mine, Malfoy."
"Oh, it's wonderful when you boys are nice to each other." Hermione gushed, feeling tears start to form. Hannah nodded, and started asking Hermione about her dress and praising her for her fashion choices that had come to be so lauded in Witch Weekly and the Daily Prophet. Draco and Neville studied their shoes.
A moment later, Ginny and Harry quietly slipped by. They waited until Hannah and Hermione were done speaking, and then Ginny quickly said, "Come upstairs to my room. We can talk there."
Hermione and Draco followed Ginny and Harry upstairs. Draco looked mildly uncomfortable, realizing they were going to Ginny's bedroom, but trudged upstairs nevertheless. Harry held the door open for them and Ginny went in and sat down on the floor, motioning for Draco and Hermione to follow suit. Then Harry firmly shut the door and cast the Muffliato spell on it, joining the group in a sort of circle.
"So, what's up with Weaselby?" Draco asked, pulling Hermione closer to him. Harry rolled his eyes and replied, "Jane Dawlish left him."
"What for?" Hermione gasped.
"The Auror Dawlish committed suicide just this afternoon." Harry replied bleakly, and here Ginny took his hand, comforting him. "They only let us Aurors know first. But I'm sure the Daily Prophet will report it tomorrow."
"That still doesn't explain why he tried to attack us." Draco drawled.
"Well, in Jane's farewell letter," Ginny said cautiously, "It seems like she only used Ron to create a scandal and become famous. She'd wanted to divorce Dawlish for a while, but he refused to grant it to her. Now she's free and also a sensation, ready to marry a new, young, and rich husband."
"Poor Ron." whispered Hermione, while Draco snorted.
"Ginny, how did you get your hands on that letter?" Harry asked, dumbfounded. "I thought he burned it after reading it storming off to his room!"
"Magic." Ginny stuck her tongue out playfully.
"Is Ron still going to be an Auror?" asked Hermione tentatively.
Harry shook his head. "When the Auror department contacted me with Dawlish's death, they asked me to find Ron a temporary job that can keep him out of the spotlight until all this blows over. Kingsley's furious; the scandal itself was bad enough, but now with Dawlish's suicide, people are definitely going to criticize the Minister's leadership and skills."
"What if Ron can't find a job?" asked Hermione, worried that nobody would want to take him after his disgrace. Draco rolled his eyes.
Harry smiled. "It's no problem. George already said he'll let Ron work for him for a couple of years until he can become an Auror again. But I hope Ron doesn't take up his offer, because I know for a fact that George is still annoyed that he shamed the family name."
"It may be his only path." Ginny said flatly, obviously still irritated with her brother.
The four sat in silence, wondering how in the world Ron had made these poor choices.
It was Hermione who finally broke the silence. "So… Neville and Hannah are looking very cute together."
Ginny nodded. "I think he's going to finally ask her out tonight. She told me they've already been on a couple of dates since he got back, but that she's really happy with him."
"So she's alright now?" Hermione thought of when Hannah had been pulled out from Herbology class to be told that her mother had been killed of Death Eaters. She hadn't seen her since then.
"Yes, it seems so." Ginny said sadly, knowing what Hermione was thinking. However, she changed the subject, not wanting Hermione to start thinking of her own mother. "Haven't you two given a thought as to why Zacharias isn't here?" she asked.
"Nope." Draco said truthfully but bluntly. Harry laughed.
"I have!" Hermione cried. "As soon as we sat down to eat dinner, I noticed. Where is he?"
"He's sick." said Harry triumphantly, earning himself a smack on the arm from Ginny. "I do hope that he gets better soon." he added, cowering from Ginny's glare.
"He caught the Vanishing Sickness, too." the flaming redhead informed Draco and Hermione. "But he should be better soon, according to Dad. He had to go to St. Mungo's the other day and saw him. Should be returning home tomorrow."
"Poor Zach." Hermione sighed. "He missed a beautiful meal! He must feel miserable."
"Who cares?" Harry asked, earning himself another smack. Draco sniggered.
"Shut up, Malfoy." said Harry irritably, rubbing his arm.
Before Draco could retort, George and Angelina Apparated into the room.
"Oi!" said Ginny angrily. "There's a door there for a reason. Use it!"
"It's an emergency," Angelina said smoothly as George locked the door with his wand.
"What's going on?" Draco asked, drawing Hermione closer and pulling out his own wand.
"Is it Ron?" Hermione asked, frightened. She drew her own wand as well.
Goerge nodded grimly, and Harry and Ginny got to their feet, arming themselves.
Loud footsteps could be heard stomping downstairs. Everyone in Ginny's room tensed as the footsteps stopped right outside the door. "Alohamora." they heard a ragged voice whisper. The door creaked open… and there stood Ron, his wand raised and pointed directly at Draco and Hermione.
"Ron, stand back." Harry said calmly, trying to push Ginny behind him, to no avail.
Ron swiveled his wand towards his best friend for a moment, and Hermione vaguely wondered if he was going to curse Harry Potter.
Ron blinked, and then to everyone's surprise, dropped his wand and held his hands up. Ginny scampered to retrieve it, while hissing at George for his pathetic sleeping potion.
After Ginny had returned to her position by Harry, Draco asked coldly, "What do you want?"
Ron's round blue eyes watered a little as he replied, "I just came to talk."