Chapter Six
Hermione could hardly believe that her first month of training had already flown past. She bobbed down to tie her shoelaces and couldn't help but smile at what she had achieved so far. Her sessions with Dave, the personal trainer, were finally starting to show a difference after four weeks of hard work. She could now feel herself getting stronger, being able to run faster and further, and for the first time in her life she was able to do a chin up. The strategies and tactics she was learning from Chief were intricate and smart and she kept thinking to herself that if only she had this knowledge when she was seventeen, what a difference it would have made to the Wizarding War. He was also training them on how to withstand torture, both magical and muggle, which Hermione did have some experience with.
She shuddered briefly at the memory of Bellatrix Lestrange and stood up. She remembered Draco's face back then, pinched and withdrawn, his eyes hollow from misery. He was so different then, she pondered, thinking of his wide, contagious smile and bright eyes that she had seen every day. She remembered how he had purposely not recognised Harry and wondered if he had meant to do it. She had tried to keep her distance physically from him in the weeks past, in case that all she felt was a rebound attraction. It surprised her just how well they got along though, being very similar temperaments and having, what she realised, was an increasingly alike sense of humour.
She walked into her kitchen and grabbed her bag. It was another Taekwondo session this morning, and the pairs in the group were beginning to get more and more competitive as they learnt more ways to defend themselves. Sensei Tully proved to be a very competent teacher, to the astonishment of the group who pegged him as a bit of a layabout. He knew what he was talking about, and Hermione found it easy to understand his teaching methods.
As she hit the pavement of the footpath out the front of her apartment building, she looked around, knowing that Draco wouldn't be far. He had made it a habit of his to walk her into training every morning since he learnt that she preferred it over apparating.
"It's way too dangerous on your own," he had said when she first told him about her walk. She had laughed, waving her wand in his face as her weapon of choice should someone attack her. She quickly saw his point though, once he had distracted her sufficiently enough by asking if she knew the way to a bookstore and then suddenly spun to pin her against the nearby brick wall, causing her to drop her wand and become completely vulnerable.
She tittered to herself at the memory. He was at a complete advantage when he had overpowered her, since she was comfortable in his presence and not at all expecting it. She assumed that had she not known him, he wouldn't have gained control so easily. But in all honesty, she didn't mind having a companion to keep her company on the way in.
This morning, however, he was nowhere to be seen. After several minutes of hanging around, Hermione shrugged and decided to start walking. Perhaps he had slept in or got distracted.
She had only gone a few paces when she heard a high-pitched ringing coming from her bag. Opening it up, she realised it was her mobile and saw an unknown number coming through. She frowned, it couldn't have been Draco, he would never buy a mobile just to call her. She couldn't stop the niggling doubt however and decided to answer the call.
"Hello?" she said, bringing the phone up to her ear. "Hermione speaking."
"And it's about bloody time too, you stubborn, selfish berk!"
With a start, Hermione's heart jumped into her throat as she recognised the fiery female voice. "Gin...Ginny? Is everything ok?"
"No, it's not bloody ok." Ginny cried into the phone. "You run off to God knows where without so much as a by your leave; Harry's been trying to call you for bloody weeks with no luck whatsoever. We had no idea if you were even alive! We've been absolutely beside ourselves worried!"
Hermione paused, stopping in her path and looking for somewhere to sit to continue the conversation. She saw a small café a little ways ahead and ducked inside, falling into one of the small, steel chairs. "I told Harry not to expect to hear from me for a while."
"So you've just been ignoring his calls? You've forced me to buy one of these bloody muggle things just to try and see if you'll answer."
Hermione rubbed her eyes. "I told him I needed time, Ginny. I even thought that you wouldn't want to talk to me after I broke it off with Ron. He is your brother after all."
Ginny snorted. "Ron is a tosser, but I'll let Harry tell you. I knew you guys were on the rocks for a while, anyone could see it. Well, maybe not Harry, but he's not the most observant person, is he?"
Hermione heard a squawk of protest in the background and knew Harry was with Ginny.
"So you don't hate me then?" Hermione asked, hesitantly. "Because you know I will always consider you a sister."
"Oh 'Mione," Ginny sighed. "Of course I don't hate you. But you did worry the heck out of me. Where the hell are you?"
"I've been visiting Mum and Dad," Hermione said, deciding to tell Ginny half the truth. "When I said I needed a change of scenery, I wasn't lying."
"Jeez, you're not kidding. Look, I've got Harry here, will you talk to him?"
Hermione paused again, looking outside the café window to gather her thoughts. "Okay, put him on."
There was a shuffling as the phone was passed from one hand to another and a murmur of voices that couldn't be deciphered. Another moment passed, then Harry's voice came on the line. "Hullo Hermione."
"Hiya Harry," she replied softly. "I'm sorry I haven't answered your phone calls. I thought that if I spoke to you I'd have to come back to reality, and I've been having such a great time away from it."
He chuckled darkly. "Believe me, I wish I could leave you there. I have some news, and it may not be easy for you to hear."
The bell to the café rung as the door was pushed opened and Hermione jumped when she realised it Draco was entering. He looked a little windswept and handsome, his hair pulled into a loose ponytail again, a few strands dancing around his angular face, with his bag strap slung carelessly over his right shoulder. She put her finger to her lips when he saw her, pointing to the phone and mouthing the word "Harry". He arched an eyebrow and sat down in the chair opposite her.
"It's okay, Harry, tell me what you need to."
He took a deep breath. "Ron's getting married."
Hermione felt her jaw drop and after a moment, let the breath she didn't realise she was holding, out. "He...he's what?"
"He's getting married," Harry repeated. "He wants me to be best man, and I don't know how to tell him to get stuffed."
"Who..." Hermione's throat was tight and she saw Draco point to behind her then motion drinking from a cup. She nodded, gratefully. He disappeared and Hermione tried asking again, in a raspy voice. "Who is he getting married to, Harry?"
"Well, it's..." Harry's voice was pinched and she could tell he didn't want to give up this information. "There's no easy way to tell you this, but it's Millie. As in...Millicent Bulstrode."
Hermione felt her stomach drop. "Come...come again?"
"Millicent Bulstrode. You'll remember her? We went to school with her, she was in-"
"Slytherin." Hermione cut him off. Draco appeared back with the drinks and caught the last word, his face hurt and confused by the bitterness in Hermione's voice. "Yes, I think I recall the girl whose cat fur horribly disfigured me in second year, thanks Harry."
"There's more." Harry continued, the pain evident in his tone. "She's...it's a bit of a shotgun wedding because she's actually pregnant with his child."
"What?" Hermione's eyes widened. She could feel them begin to burn and rubbed them quickly, eager to not break down in tears in the middle of a shop. Draco looked at her concerned and she took a quick swig of her hot drink to avoid catching his gaze.
"Yeah...she...she's about four months in."
Hermione spat her drink out with a cry of disbelief. Draco would have laughed had he not been worried about what she was hearing. He instead grabbed a napkin and cleaned the spillage up.
"But, Harry, you can't be serious. I only broke up with him a month and a half ago." She couldn't help it; the threatened tears began to spill over her cheeks and she looked down at her feet through blurred eyes. "Please don't tell me it's true. I...please..."
Harry's voice cracked and she could tell he was also upset. "I swear I didn't know. He only told us once you left. He said he wanted to break up with you for over a year but felt guilty because he didn't want to leave you alone."
"That...utter...bastard," Hermione choked out. "He had the nerve to look so hurt when I left him."
"They've been going out for about 8 months, he said. We know Millie through work. She's very much changed since school, even her acne has all cleared up."
Hermione had heard enough and dropped the phone onto the table, her head falling into her hands. She started to sob, but tried to keep quiet, her shoulder heaving with the effort. She could feel her heart cracking. Even though she knew she didn't want to be with Ron, that she had made the right choice to leave, that she didn't love him anymore - the absolute sense of betrayal was overwhelming her. How dare he! She had given up ten years of her life for him and when she broke up with him, he wanted to know if she was the one who found someone else. What a complete joke.
She could hear Harry calling her name frantically through the receiver. Draco hesitantly picked it up and dropped his voice a few octaves lower than normal to answer. "Uh, hi, Harry is it?"
Hermione looked up through her tears, shocked that Draco would risk giving himself away. She could hear Harry's insistent questioning on the other end of the phone. Draco used a heavily Australian accented voice, but even then, she could still recognise his voice.
"This is...uh...Damo," he drawled. "I work with Hermione here. Oh yeah, well, I guess I'll let her explain that. I just wanted to let you know that I'm here with her, so you don't need to worry."
Hermione snorted, knowing what Harry's response to that would be. She waved to have the phone back and he held up a finger in response, tell her to wait a moment. She could see he was enjoying the tirade of insults he was getting from Harry about how he couldn't trust someone with his very best friend when he had no idea who he was.
"Look, I'll give the thing...I'll give you back to Hermione now. Nice to talk to you."
Draco pulled a face and put the mobile in her hand.
"Who the bloody hell is that?" Harry demanded as soon as she answered again.
"It's Damo," she replied casually. "I told Ginny I was visiting Mum and Dad. That's not exactly true. I've been training with the Ministry here for the past month."
"Well he sounds like an utter wanker," Harry muttered. "Almost reminds me of Malfoy."
Hermione choked back a laugh. "Well, I've got to run Harry. It may be 8.30 at night there, but it's actually morning here and I've got to get to work."
"Look," Harry said, trying to calm himself. "Please take care of yourself. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you and I couldn't be there to stop it. And don't be a stranger. I miss you."
"I miss you, too. But I'm a grown woman, please don't worry about me. Give my love to Ginny and I promise I won't avoid you the next time you call. Bye, Harry."
She hung up before he could retort and dropped the phone into her bag. There was a pregnant pause as Draco stared intently at her.
"He...he said you sound like an utter wanker...reminded him of Malfoy," she said, falling into helpless giggles for a few moments, before the tears returned and wiped her eyes furiously. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Bloody Potter," he sniggered. "You should have heard him going on about you. Anyone would think he was in love with you."
"No," she shook her head in the negative, causing more tears to fall. "Harry is and always has been a brother to me. He's just very over-protective...it's the hero complex he's got."
"So, may I ask what has caused you to be upset?"
He moved forward, looking as if he wanted to grip her hand that was resting on the table but at the last minute changed his mind.
"Let's get out of here," Hermione muttered. "I'll tell you on the way."
A few minutes later they were walking through Fitzroy Gardens and Hermione was trying to recount the news Harry had given her. When she reached the point about the pregnancy, she stopped, bringing her hand to her mouth.
"Ron had been cheating on me," she choked out. "He's been with Millicent Bulstrode, she's four months pregnant."
As the tears flowed again, Draco couldn't stop himself. He wrapped his arms around Hermione's small frame and held her to him tightly. He tried to ignore the tingle that her fruit scented hair gave him as it tickled his cheek.
"I just don't get it," Hermione burst out. "Why?!"
"Why what?" Draco asked patiently.
"Why...why wasn't I good enough?" she felt embarrassed to ask and her cheeks tinged pink. "I was there, I had loved him for ten years. He knew I wanted marriage and kids and then he goes off with Millicent Bulstrode of all people!"
She looked up at Draco through tear stained eyelashes and asked in a very small voice, "Why didn't he want me?"
Draco pulled her back into a tight embrace and whispered to her urgently. "You are worth fighting for. He is going to wake up one morning and realise that and it will be too late. He will regret losing you every day for the rest of his life and no one will ever be able to make him as happy as you would have. Please believe me when I tell you –"
He pulled her at arm's length and looked deeply into her honey-coloured eyes. "You have won, Hermione."
"It doesn't feel that way."
He shrugged, "And it might not feel that way for a long time. But just as he will wake up and realise what he lost – you will wake up and realise what you have gained from getting out of that relationship."
She nodded solemnly.
"Come on," he said gently, nudging her chin with his knuckle. "We have Taekwondo in twenty minutes. Will beating me into a pulp make you feel better?"
She genuinely laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I think it just might."
***
They faced each other on their section of the mat and bowed low, their palms clenched together at their solar plexus. Hermione moved into fighting stance, keeping an eye on any potential movements Draco may make so she could predict how to counteract them.
He lunged forward, aiming a kick to her head. She swung her arm up and blocked and spun around, planting her knee in his side before darting back a few paces.
"Hya!" she yelled, launching a punch to his stomach. Draco crossed his arms, catching her fist and turning her around so her back was tightly snug into his chest. She struggled to loosen his grip, but he held tight. After writhing for a few moments, she managed to free an arm and thrust an elbow straight into his ribcage. At once he let go with a grunt of stunned pain, letting her turn and take hold of his hand. In a single movement, she yanked his arm toward her, bent low and heaved him forward, throwing him over her shoulder.
He landed heavily on his back with a "Oof." She could see the smirk starting to form in the second before he jumped to his feet. Uh oh, she thought. She had wondered whether he was going easy on her or not.
He began to give her blow after blow, in quick succession. Too quick for her to do any thinking, only react. She counteracted each blow without being able to get any of her own in. He swung his leg low and knocked her feet out from underneath her. She fell backwards and he lunged, pinning her arms with his hands and trapping her legs with his.
She had hardly known what had happened until she looked up and realised just how close his head was to hers. She could see little dark flecks in his silver eyes and watched as one golden eyebrow raised dramatically.
"Just how is this," she panted, wriggling from under his hold. "Me beating you into a pulp? I thought you said that's how I was going to feel better!"
He barked a laugh. "I know you well enough to know that you would find it a hollow victory if I didn't at least challenge you."
"You're full of shit, Mal- sorry, Thorne." She caught herself and looked apologetically up at him. He winked to let her know it was okay. The room was filled with sparring partners and quite a bit of yelling was going on so no one was particularly paying attention to them.
"Do you yield, Bookworm?" He had a silky edge to his voice and Hermione tried thrashing herself free once more. "Because I could quite happily stay here all day with you moving like that underneath me."
Hermione froze. Her eyes slowly moved up and she could see something in his when they met. A fire, a burning...he was being serious.
"I yield," she said in a small voice.
The look disappeared from his face and he replaced it with a jovial disappointment. "Ahh, pity."
He stood up and offered her his hand. She took it, but instead of being helped to her feet, she yanked on his arm again, pulling him to the floor and then wrestled him until he was trapped beneath her. He gaped and looked around, unsure as to what just happened.
"Hang on a minute," he muttered.
"What was it you were telling me the other day?" Hermione said cheerfully. "It's what Moody used to tell us - constant vigilance."
He threw her a dirty look. "Yeah yeah, I yield."
She got off, waited for him to stand up and then bowed low. He returned the gesture, then straightened and shook his head. "You should've been in Slytherin."
Hermione pulled a disgusted face. "No and thank you."
He laughed and Hermione had to stop and smile herself. His laugh was musical, and very contagious. She loved trying to make him laugh for that reason, because she never saw him laugh genuinely at school. He snickered, sniggered, sneered and smirked, but never actually laughed. She knew that he didn't have much to laugh about in those days, but wondered whether her opinion of him back then would have been changed at all had she heard his real laugh. She doubted it, but it was an interesting thing to think about.
"Go again?" he asked, already moving into his fighting stance.
Hermione grinned. "All right, but I'm winning properly this time."