"Ronald, you can't just come here unannounced and wait for me, it's creepy." Hermione said tersely.

"If Harry did it, would it be creepy?" Ron shot back.

"Yes. Though Harry hasn't been a complete arse to me, so I guess my reaction would be better." Hermione answered honestly.

"I'm sorry 'Mione, I'm just having a tough time," Ron said sheepishly.

"We all have tough times Ronald, we don't all treat each other like trash." Hermione almost yelled. Draco took the silence as an opportunity to say something really quickly.

"I'll leave you two to it." He said, leaving for the kitchen, that wasn't that far away, but it still gave them a sense of privacy. Hermione nodded at him, clearly appreciating him reading the situation correctly.

"Go ahead then, talk!" Hermione ordered, folding her arms over her chest. Draco could still see and hear them from his spot in the kitchen. He was trying his best to not be nosy, but it was hard. He knew that Ron would never physically hurt Hermione, but that didn't mean he'd allow him to step towards her in any way.

"I just need to know what went wrong with us…" Ron stammered, and Draco held back a laugh. Surely he cannot be this daft Draco thought.

"You know what went wrong Ronald." Hermione said sternly.

"So you just don't love me, just like that?" Ron snapped his finger to demonstrate how quickly he felt it all happened.

"Just like that?" Hermione's voice was rising dramatically. "I was miserable for months Ron…" Hermione said, calling him by his nickname for the first time. It seemed seeing his face softened her a bit.

"But why?"

"Because you let me go and reverse the memory spell on my parents by myself…because you used me to make you feel better and then left me to the wolves when things were going on in my life…because you never respected my feelings or opinions unless they aligned with yours…because we just became incompatible and you didn't even NOTICE!" Hermione's eyes were filled with tears, but she didn't step toward Ron for comfort. Ron sat there bewildered, clearly not expecting this many reasons. "You used to be my best friend Ron…" Hermione sighed, sitting next to him on the couch, but far enough away that they weren't touching. "...but you were so wrapped up in your own grief and insecurities that you couldn't even tell I wasn't happy anymore. I not only voiced it, but I showed it and you couldn't be bothered, or at least that's how it felt. It broke my heart to have to end it with you, but I couldn't keep living to suit your needs. Then you force me into saying it's amicable when it's not, because you can't handle people knowing I broke it off. The best part is, I do it, I do it for you because I care about you so much even when you treat me poorly…but I'm way past that." Hermione's voice turned cold. "It's not healthy to care about you anymore Ron. You know what you said to me at the burrow? That it shows low self esteem to be with someone who hates me?"

"That wa-"

"It was true, which is why I couldn't be with you anymore. You can say you loved me, but that wasn't reflected in your actions then or now. If you loved me you wouldn't be screaming at me like a maniac all the time, you wouldn't have let me be miserable and not have noticed. You are the person that it would look bad to be with, because you are the one who didn't treat me with the respect I deserve…so that's what happened to us Ron, you." Hermione stood up and walked across the room and over to her fireplace. "If you have anything other than I'm sorry to say, you can show yourself out."

"'Mione I…" Ron started, but paused as he got up from his seat. "...so he makes you happy?" He asked, pointing to Draco.

"Yes Ronald."

"Fine then." Ron said stubbornly and within an instant was gone in the green flames.

Draco walked out of the kitchen and met Hermione who had only just let herself relax enough to be upset. Draco wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into him tightly, stroking her hair. He felt her tears soaking his shirt. Neither of them talked for a long time until Hermione pulled away, sniffling slightly.

"I'm s-"

"Yea no." Draco said gruffly, wiping a tear from her face. "You don't need to apologize for being upset about losing your best friend." He said, and she clung to him tighter. It was true that he wasn't a fan of Weaslebee, but he knew what their friendship meant to her. They have been friends since they were kids, and those feelings don't just disappear because you fight with them. He couldn't pretend to know how she was feeling, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be sympathetic towards her. "Let's go back to the castle." He said after she was calm.

"Yea we probably should, right?" Hermione answered loftily.

"Do you have a broom?" He asked, and he wished he could bottle the look she was giving him. You would think he asked a muggle that question.

"Can't we just apparate to the outside and walk through the barrier like you and Neville do?"

"Longbottom sharing my secrets huh?"

"Yea we just gossip about you all day long." Hermione shot back, rolling her eyes.

"When does Longbottom spend the whole day with you?" Draco asked, feigning jealousy.

"Wouldn't you like to know." Hermione countered, winking at him.

"Oh yea I would." He said seductively, as he wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her close, kissing her neck lightly. "Tell me, what are you doing behind my back?" He teased, kissing a line up her jaw.

"Hufflepuffs aren't really my type…" Hermione almost whispered, fighting the urge to lean into him.

"Oh yea?" He whispered, biting her ear and moving his hands down slowly. "Who is your type?"

"Gryffindors." She said with a laugh, and Draco lost his concentration and chuckled.

"Damn Granger, way to tear a man down." He joked, removing his hands from her. She spun around and flung herself onto him like she did in the trial room and kissed him passionately.

"I've found a new appreciation for Slytherins though." She said, kissing him again except this time he was prepared and was kissing her back more fiercely.

"Well if that's the case…" He started, taking one of his hands and pulling her hair back from her face. "...you should have a new love of adventure as well."

"I see what you did there…" She huffed, jumping back down to the floor. "Fine." She said quickly, and Draco almost jumped for joy and summoned his broom all the way from his flat.

They flew to Hogwarts the same way they did last time, only this time Hermione was much more comfortable. When they arrived they parted ways and went to their chambers, needing to change into their robes for dinner in the great hall. It was strange being back in the castle. The last few days have felt so long, like they've been living another life separate from reality. Hermione of course arrived at the great hall before Draco and took her seat, greeting her coworkers as she did. Draco arrived several minutes later, slauntering in as if he wasn't almost late. Most of the staff stopped him to acknowledge the trial, so it took him some time to join Hermione. He lowered himself into the seat next to her and placed his hand on her knee.

The dinner was served with a wave of McGonagall's hands and the students cheered. They ate the dinner as they chatted with the staff, and then after all the students left the hall the staff started to make their exits. Draco, Hermione and Neville all walked out together, the boys talking about all the bad behaviors from Nott that Draco missed the last two days. Hermione leaned against the wall, waiting for the boys to finish and they took the hint quite well. Neville went on his way, and Draco looked at Hermione as if waiting for instructions.

"Come with me." She ordered, taking his hand and pulling him along the corridors. She dragged him up to the seventh floor and stopped when they reached a tapestry showing Barnabus and Barmy trying to teach trolls how to dance the ballet. Draco looked at her with pure confusion all over his face, and then a sudden light in his eyes showed he figured it out. "Think hard about a room filled with spelling mannequins."

"Am I finally being inducted into the order?!" Draco feigned enthusiasm, Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Just concentrate." She ordered, and pulled him to pace in front of the wall three times with her. A large door appeared and Hermione led the way into the large room. After the door closed behind them it disappeared almost immediately.

"I mean this is nice alone time I guess." Draco said, slipping his arms around her waist and kissing her fully.

"Not why we are here." She said softly but kissed him again, her hands shooting up to run through his hair. They removed each other's robes, revealing their normal attire and were about to move further when Hermione pulled away. "The patronus." She said breathlessly.

"Right now?" Draco asked, clearly wanting to continue this.

"Yes." She demanded, and Draco stepped back from her and huffed in annoyance.

"Let's do this." Draco said, not knowing just how draining this could be.