Chapter 22- I Don't Want You There

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Wow it has been so long since I updated and I am very sorry. I do have a reason though. I have exams…ahhh stress. Can you all forgive me?! After this chapter I don't expect I will be updating again for another three weeks or so but then I will be on holidays and I should be able to find more time to write! Any way I quite like this chapter although nothing really happens and there is a lot of dialogue.

Disclaimer: I have a lot of trouble with character development when someone else created them so do you think I could create my own?! No, I don't think so, therefore it makes sense that this isn't mine.

If you want to be notified by email when I update please let me know!

'-'=thoughts

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***

Hermione found him seated on the bottom step of the stairs that led up to the entrance hall. She slowed as she approached him, catching her breath and suddenly at a loss for things to say to him. He looked up at her and for a brief moment a spark of understanding was passed between them then he looked down and sighed.

"So you know then." Draco stated

"Yes." Hermione replied gravely settling herself down next to him on the narrow staircase, their shoulders touching. There was an awkward pause whilst they tried to get their thoughts in order.

"Listen, Hermione, I'm…I'm…" Draco turned to face her in appeal his eyes filled with turmoil.

"You're what?" Hermione asked startled by the level of emotion she saw in his face.

"Mbsorry." He mumbled dropping his head.

"What?" Hermione leaned in closer to catch what he was saying.

"I'm sorry, okay?" his head shot up again.

Hermione regarded him in astonishment. "What for?"

"Everything, everything's my fault."

Hermione snorted with laughter but stopped when she realised he was serious.

"Oh yes Draco, everything is your fault." She said sarcastically, "pull yourself together, this thing is bigger then just the two of us. This dates back for centuries as this dratted dress signifies." She lifted a fold of the heavy material in disgust and let it fall back into place. "Come on, stop feeling sorry for yourself and we can work things out."

Draco didn't answer and silence reigned once more. Hermione thought through ways of trying to get him to talk and suddenly something jumped into her mind.

"Your Hermione?" she asked quietly.

"What?" Draco snapped looking the other way.

"When we were in the hospital wing you said which one is MY Hermione!"

"So?" Draco was beginning to feel uncomfortable.

"So what was all that about?" Hermione felt a smirk tugging the corner of her lips.

Draco jumped to his feet.

"This conversation is over." He ordered, storming off.

***

Ron marched up and down the corridor unsure what to do and churned up with grief at the thought of his lost friendship. A footfall behind him made him whirl around.

Draco too stopped and they eyed each other warily. Ron broke the silence.

"Where is she?" he asked softly, almost pleadingly. Without thinking Draco pointed back the way he had come, towards the stairs.

"Thankyou." Ron murmured as he rushed past him and Draco was surprised to hear sincerity radiating from underneath the Gryffindor's relief.

"Ah… you're welcome." He said shakily but Ron didn't hear him.

***

Hermione heard hurrying footsteps and lifting her head from her hands she looked up and saw Ron come hurtling down the stairs towards her. Misinterpreting his haste to see her as anger she shook her head.

"Look Ron I'm really not in the mood for one of your lect-"

She was cut off as Ron swept her up in a huge hug, his arms wrapped tightly around her.

"Ron, what…? Why are you crying?" she could feel his chest heaving in an attempt not to let his sobs escape but silent tears were coursing down his cheeks. He would not answer her and for several long minutes they stood locked together Ron letting out all the pent up anguish he had felt since hearing she was 'dead'. Eventually his tears dried up but he did not let her go and it was only when Hermione spoke quietly that he released her.

"Is it Harry? Ron you have to tell me. Is Harry okay?"

"He's fine." Ron said and Hermione was surprised to detect a hint of bitterness in his tone.

Ron stood back a few paces and faced her somewhat sheepishly.

"Sorry about that…I…Hermione what are you wearing?!"

Hermione sighed and rubbed her hands over her face.

"Long story." She muttered. When she finally took her hands away Ron looked her fully in the eyes for the first time in their exchange and he was physically knocked back a step by the change in her. He couldn't exactly pinpoint it but perhaps it was the more determined jut of her chin, her eyes that seemed to be filled with some inner torment or the full lips which seemed ready to burst forth a thousand truths, perhaps it was each one of these things that added to a new overall maturity that seemed to radiate from her. She had always been smarter then her years but this seemed different. He lifted his hand and cupped her chin, preventing her from looking away from his searching look.

"What has happened?" he asked in disbelief of the change that had come over his sweet little Hermione.

Unable to lie to him Hermione attempted to delay the inevitable until she had the facts sorted out herself.

"I'll tell you and Harry later, I …I just…I just can't now."

Ron seemed to accept this and released her face.

"What do you want to do?" his gruff voice was surprisingly gentle.

"I…" she faltered, "just hold me." Hermione fell into his arms once more and buried her face in his broad chest.

***

Draco pulled back from the top step. With an angry growl he turned and grabbed Pansy by the elbow steering her away and into an empty classroom.

"See! See what I have to work with?! How am I supposed to break that up?" he demanded pacing up and down.

Pansy rubbed her elbow and gave him a baleful look "I thought you didn't care any more. I thought you had chucked the whole thing in."

"Whatever gave you that idea?" he snapped glaring out the door as Ron and Hermione walked past out in the corridor. Hermione was hardly visible as Ron still had her securely encased in one arm. Pansy rolled her eyes and Draco noticed for the first time that they were watery and red-rimmed. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, not unkindly.

"Robert was killed. I thought you would know by now." She said quietly, tears escaping from underneath her lids.

"Oh really?" Draco asked disinterestedly then realising his mistake he patted her awkwardly on the head. Pansy thought angrily that this action reminded her of how a person would treat a dog and jerked away.

"You know what! Forget it, it obviously doesn't matter as much as your precious little Gryffindor. Don't even bothering turning up to the funeral, I don't want you there." she stormed out of the room slamming the door closed behind her.

Draco ran his fingers through his hair distractedly. 'I must be losing my touch' he grimaced.

***

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Ah good, Draco isn't as spineless as he was beginning to seem! Well I hope you all liked and please review because you know it makes me so happy! I am on 24 favourites lists…can you believe it? I certainly can't…although probably most of the credit belongs to Arwen the co-author of another story I am writing. I have two other stories on the go at the moment so please read them too. They are "For the Love of You …and You" which is a joint story and "Won't You Come to the Ball With Me?" anyway enough self advertising, my thankyous are:

Aki: Yeah me too, maybe that's why I really need to study for my exams! Still loving it? Good that is my evil plan! I was pretty upset when Harry and Ron's friendship ended, even though I wrote it! you didn't expect it? neither did I, and hey don't worry about people interrupting your reviews…that's cool and yes I guess I am biased! I think evil is going a bit far, and I think I have to agree with your friend this time, sorry but I don't think she is a review hogger! Blimey you guys are friends…right? I think you should go and get some doughnuts they are good for calming things down, pity you got shot before you had a chance to get any! Thankyou for reviewing.

Kuri: I surprised you? Yay go me! You were telling them to calm down? Who is it who tranquilises Aki nearly every review? But I guess if you do it calmly it is okay. On the contrary the author finds it amusing to read their senseless bickering but thanks for sticking up for me anyway! I'm really glad that you love each chapter but really a lot of them are very boring and just plain awful so you must be very tolerant…except of Aki and Sera. It made a little bit of sense but to be honest if one of your reviews was completely sane…well then I would begin to worry! You guys rock. Thankyou for reviewing.

Sera: hello nice to meet you. It's pretty cool that you can see into the future and still be surprised by my fic. I think that shows how ridiculously all over the place it is! Do they really never let you review? Well that is a bit mean, I'm glad you rebelled. Even though it ended up with you being put to sleep, not like at the vets though! Thankyou for adding your bit in the review.

Yume: hi again! You had to remind Kuri about her tranquiliser gun didn't you? And to egg her on and have Sera shot too? tut, tut. Never mind it was cool to have you pop into the review, it is always interesting to see who will appear next!  Even more hyper, well good luck I hope they didn't attack! That was so sweet of you to say I write excellent chapters and honestly I wish I could devote more time to writing but as it is I hope it doesn't suck too badly! Thankyou again for the review…all of you!

Nene Kenobi: I'm glad you didn't find it as confusing last chapter, I'm sure this one will lose you again! Great chapter, excellent job? Well I can just feel my head beginning to swell! Thankyou so much and I'm really sorry you had to wait for so long for another chapter.

Vixen: you understand? Well that's better then me! No need to thank me, if I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't do it. Thankyou so much for reviewing and sympathising with me on the whole writing under pressure thing!

Slytherin Angel: Geez just make me feel bad. Your heart felt plee fell on deaf ears and I'm so sorry it took so long. Thankyou for reviewing.

Stephanie: I know, sniff, sniff. Well Ron knew because they were such good friends, I was trying to get the fact that they were so close that the slightest change was obvious to him…but not Harry because Harry has been….busy recently! I'm so sorry you had to be very patient until I finally got this up, thankyou for reviewing.

Purple People Eater: Weird in a good way. Well I think that just about sums my last few chapters up…although I think they are weird in a very strange way! Ah the book. Well I guess you will just have to wait and see…it will probably be revealed sometime…this year! Joke, joke, sorry. Well I can't believe you thought I would totally kill Hermione. That would completely blow my entire story out of the water wouldn't it?! that doesn't mean she is entirely safe…after all who knows what will happen in the end? Yep, at the moment they are un-friends. Very sad and quite painful to write but it had to happen. Sugar is good and is a very essential tool for a writer! Thankyou so much for reviewing and for saying the chapter was awesome snort yeah rightsnort

Courtney: wow, spit your soup out funny? I think that is the coolest compliment I have ever received…I hope it wasn't a waste of perfectly good soup! In my story, no, Hermione hardly ever stands up for herself which is weak I know but that it why I love fan fiction you can do what you like with the characters! Yep, weird pretty much sums up my story! Strange also seems to fit, I'm glad you think it is cool and that you love it. fantastic to know really! Thankyou for reviewing three times!

LoveYourStory: I surely can expect an email…if you are reading this then you probably already have it but never mind! Oh yes write a story and tell me when you put it up, I'll read it. give it a go, it is heaps of fun. Another weird in a good way. I seem to be getting that a lot these days, cool! Ah yes out of character Hermione is always fun to watch wreak havoc on the Harry Potter world. Thankyou for reviewing and I am so sorry it took so long!

Baby angel: thankyou for saying my story is wicked! No need to apologise after all I am on your favourites list and you have reviewed now so that is all that matters! I'm sorry you had to wait so long, thankyou for reviewing and for putting me on your favourites list!

Alina: Goodiest is a very cool word, thankyou for introducing me to it! yeah well I like to drag the whole getting together thing out because I think that is the most fun! Since you were dying for this next chapter I guess you will have to read it from your grave because I took so long…I can't apologise enough! I'm so happy that you love it, thankyou so much for telling me in your review.

Magisch Machen: ah a person after my own heart. Homework is silly. Why am I sweet? Thankyou for saying it anyway. You are too! Thankyou for reviewing : )

Christine: I don't know about so good. But thankyou anyway. I will continue and thankyou for reviewing.

Kring: yes ma'am I will surely continue and I will add you to my email update list. I am so happy that you love my story and thankyou so much for telling me that you do!

Elenora: It is sad that Harry and Ron aren't friends, seriously I have no control over this story, it goes it's own way! Oh that is so sweet! Hoping that the next chapter doesn't come out because it will be closer to the end! It is okay, this story still has quite a long way to go and at the rate I update it will be years! Honestly I understand your reasoning but that doesn't stop me being nearly crazy with wanting the next book to come out! Maybe she'll write more, even though I don't think anything will be better then Harry Potter. I didn't update by Thursday and I am so sorry but I have now so that is good. Thankyou so much for reviewing and for calling me an awesome writer, so much praise will start going to my head, I swear! Thankyou and thankyou again.

Snow White: Ah still confused? Sorry about that! This chapter doesn't really clear much up. Still good though so I guess it doesn't matter that you and I have no idea what is going on! Thankyou for reviewing.

Well that's it for the next few weeks, see you then and I'm really, really sorry. At least this time I have an excuse after all exams are a big deal…so why don't I study? One of life's unanswered questions!

Enjoy yourselves

Jess/Star123

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