Draco took his time explaining everything as he had to Hermione, leaving out the little story of seeing her that day with Crabbe and Goyle and the little story of Hades and Persephone. Every so often he would glance at her and she would tighten her grip on his and smile.
After he was done Ginny had gotten a tissue and was crying. Harry looked shocked and George looked sympathetic.
Ron and Fred on the other hand still looked a bit suspicious of Draco.
"This all seems to, how do I say this?" asked Fred
"Fake?" replied Ron
Hermione got up and Ron stood up as well. "Who do you think you are? That was totally out of line Ron. Do you know how hard it is for Draco? And you don't care at all do you? Not one bit."
"No Hermione I DON'T care. Because I know he's lying and making all this up so that you will give him sympathy. Hermione, you need to look behind and see what is behind Malfoy that you can't see."
Hermione was furious by now and Harry had stood up to defend Hermione.
"Ron, that was not nice. Haven't you listened to a word Draco has said?"
"Yes, yes I have but I never thought that even you Harry would believe such crap coming from his evil lying mouth." Shot Ron
"Yeah Harry, I mean, I expected better of you, and a more reasonable story at that." Said Fred looking from Harry to Draco.
"Fred, I thought that story was pretty believable." Said George finally.
"WHAT? Not you too!" said Fred in shock
Ginny was still silent. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't believe that her brothers we so blind as to not see what Draco was going through. Her own brothers, she was so disappointed.
Finally Draco stood up and said, "Look, Ron I'm not trying to make you believe, I'm just doing this because Hermione wants this fight between you guys to be over with. Don't believe me for me, believe me for Hermione."
Fed and Ron were both stunned. The selfish, self-centred Draco Malfoy was doing something for someone else and not for himself?
"Whatever Draco-" shot Ron but he was interrupted
"Look Ron, even though I think the story is crap, I believe Hermione, and well, she believes Draco so I'll believe Draco too." Said Fred
Hermione smiled at him. So the twins really DID have brains after all. She made a mental note to make it up to them in the future.
Ron sat down and looked away. No one said anything for a long while. Hermione was about to leave with Draco when Ron finally spoke again.
"How could you Hermione?"
"How could I what Ron? You keep asking me that but I don't get it."
"How could you fall in love with him?"
Hermione turned bright red "I WHAT?"
"You heard me Hermione" said Ron finally turning over to face her.
"I'm- but I'm- I'm-" was all she was able to mutter
But it was Draco who came to the rescue "She doesn't Ron. She doesn't love me."
Hermione turned to him. She was grateful for him to have saved her but she was also afraid. Did he really think that she wasn't even interested in him, just a little? Hermione didn't say anything.
"I believed the story but I was angry because I know Hermione and you are in love." Said Ron. "What do you see in him that you don't see in me?"
Hermione suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
When it was clear that Hermione wasn't going to reply Ron continued.
"I've liked you for so long Hermione. Why didn't you understand that? And at one point, I thought u liked me too."
Hermione was in a bit of shock. She suddenly got really cold and Draco felt it.
"Hermione, are you okay? Harry, do you have a sweater or something? She's really cold."
Draco had still been holding on to Hermione's hand. And still, even after what Ron said she didn't let go of his hand.
Harry quickly found a sweater for Hermione and draped it over her shoulders.
Hermione was still looking at Ron with disbelief.
"Ron, I did like you. In our fourth year remember? But at that time, I liked Viktor as well. By the time Viktor and I were over, I didn't have feelings for you anymore. Ron, we're friends, we always were and we always will be. Can you understand that?"
Ron looked away. He was obviously about to cry but he didn't want them to see it.
"Hermione, what do you see in Malfoy?"
Draco was about to answer but Hermione stopped him.
"That's exactly what I see in him. Ron, you have been the same person you have always been. Always a good friend, but Draco showed me something no one else has. He showed me how someone can change. He showed me that I could trust him."
"Oh and you can't trust me?" shot Ron
"I trust you, but not the same way I trust Draco. Its still trust but it's a different kind of trust."
"Then I'm sorry Hermione. I don't understand and I refuse to understand."

"Ron, your only seventeen. You're going to grow up and meet tonnes of new people. Ron the difference is that you don't need me."
"What do you mean I don't need you? I need you!"
"No you don't. And even if you do, it's not a need that will last forever. It's a need that is only for the present, when you realize that you don't need me any more then what are you going to do?"
"Why does HE need you then?"
"Ron, use your brain for once. Draco needs me to help him through his situation right now."
"Well, he told us and now we know so he wont need you anymore."
"Ron, your wrong." Said Draco "I need Hermione more than anything in the world.
"No you don't. I need Hermione like I need air."
No one said anything to this, not even Hermione.
It was a long while until anyone say anything.
"Yes Ron, I know you need Hermione like air." Ron was shocked. Was he trying to help Ron? But he was too fast in thinking this "But Ron, I need Hermione like the darkness needs its light."