~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 11: A Trusted Friend ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ron looked up to see Harry walking toward him and Viktor, hair disheveled, knuckles bleeding, eyes bloodshot.
"My God, Harry. What happened? You look like shit." He said to him, but Harry ignored him, walked straight up to Viktor and stood right in front of him.
Harry had a murderous look on his face, as they both stood there staring at each other not saying a word. Finally, Harry held out a piece of crumpled paper in his hand. Viktor's eyes widened as he looked at it.
"Harry, I can explain—" he began, but Harry's fist making contact with his face put an end to it.
"Harry?! What are you doing?" Ron yelled as Viktor toppled backwards over the sofa.
Harry ran to where he landed and kicked his wand out of his hand. They were going to settle this muggle-style.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Harry roared as he kicked him in the abdomen.
Viktor kicked out his leg, sweeping Harry off his feet. Harry landed on his back. Viktor pounced on him hitting him in the face. Ron jumped into the fray trying to pull him off Harry to stop the fight, but he shoved Ron away from him. Harry pushed Viktor off of him with his legs. Viktor staggered backwards falling to the ground. Harry picked him up and shoved him up against the wall dealing out more blows to his face and abdomen. Ron knew he couldn't handle two grown men who wanted to kill each other, so he grabbed some floo powder.
"Fred! George! Get over here, now!" he yelled into his fireplace.
Fred, George, Bill, Charlie and Remus all flooed into the living room to see Harry and Viktor in the process of destroying the place. Harry tackled Viktor causing them both to crash through the glass window onto the balcony. The men ran over to them, Bill and Charlie pulling Harry off Viktor who had suffered some more blows from Harry's fist.
"Harry stop! Take it easy!" Bill commanded, struggling to contain Harry.
"WHY?" Harry demanded to Krum. He wanted to wring his neck so bad. "WHY HER?"
"Vy not? Who voodn't?" he shot back as Fred and George held him back. He was bleeding from his nose and lip and a black eye was forming.
"I LOVED HER! YOU KNEW THAT!"
"You left her, Harry!" Krum stopped struggling. "I never meant to hurt you. It just happened."
"I trusted you! I told you to take care of her!"
"I did take care of her. I vas here ven you veren't. Don't hate me for that, you haff no one to blame but yourself."
Harry lunged again for Krum, but Bill and Charlie held him back.
Deep down Harry knew Krum was right, but it still hurt like hell. He slumped down on the ground, knees bent, elbows resting on them. He cradled his forehead in one hand.
"Fred, George, take Viktor home and get him cleaned up." Remus commanded, looking at a very worked over Krum.
"No." Harry said. "We still need to talk."
The group looked unsure, but Krum nodded.
"Yes, yes ve most certainly do."
"Are you sure?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, ve'll be fine." Krum answered.
Everyone stepped back inside before Lupin gave a flick of his wand to repair the broken window. Viktor sat down next to Harry, wiping a bit of blood on his sleeve.
"Are you still seeing her?" Harry choked out.
"No." Viktor simply answered.
"Are you still sleeping together?"
"No."
Harry closed his eyes and exhaled. "Do you love her?"
Viktor was silent for awhile. "Yes." He said quietly. "But she doesn't love me. Not the in vay that I vant her to."
Harry didn't know how to feel about that, so he just kept silent.
"Vy did you leave her Harry? You loved her. You still do."
"It was a stupid mistake. I know that now. But she was obviously in good hands." He said this last part with bitterness.
Krum sighed. "That is vy ve are no longer together. She vas never mine, I alvays felt like that." Viktor paused before continuing, "Ver you together vith her before you left?"
Harry knew what Viktor was talking about, but he didn't say anything back. It was too painful to think about.
"Don't hate us Harry. Let the past be the past. You and I both made mistakes. I did keep my vord. I did vatch over her for you. But you can't blame me for loving her."
"I know." Harry said softly. "Anyone would love her. It just hurts so much. I wish I never left."
"Vell, you did. But now you're back."
"Too much has happened between us."
"Give her some time. You two haff you're entire future together."
Harry looked surprised at Viktor.
"I am a firm believer in true love conquers all." Viktor explained.
Harry didn't say anything to that, he just looked away.
"Look, I know that our friendship is ruined, and I know that you don't trust me anymore, but I believe my apology is the first step to making things right."
"Well, it was brave of you to come here." Harry said as he picked himself off of the ground, purposely not helping Viktor to his feet.
"That is not the only reason I'm here." Krum paced the balcony glancing at the men inside. "Can you're friend be trusted."
"Do you really think you're the expert on that right now?" Harry answered briskly. "Yes, Ron can be trusted. What's this about?" Harry asked as Viktor walked to the door into the apartment.
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Hermione lay on her bed sobbing as Ginny stroked her hair. It had taken her a long time to get over Harry, maybe she never fully did. She had loved him with all her heart. She told him so that night, in every way that she could. She gave herself to him. And he had rejected her. Leaving her there with a note, he didn't even tell her goodbye in person. As if that day couldn't get any worse, she was called into Dumbledore's office to be informed that her parents had been killed at the hands of Voldemort. She was so lost and devastated. Ron refused to speak to her, Harry had abandoned her and now her parents were forever gone. She had sought comfort in the friendship of Ginny and Neville, confiding in Ginny about her last night with Harry.
It was Neville who had delivered the news to her, handing her a note that was intended for Harry. It was dated for the night he left, telling Harry to face Voldemort or her parents would be killed. Neville said he had found it by Harry's bed. Did Harry read this before he ran off? Ron tried to defend Harry's actions, but she wouldn't hear of it. The name Harry Potter was a curse to her now, an abomination.
She continued her life at Hogwarts the same as usual, although she immersed herself in studies, socializing only with Ginny and Neville. She became Head Girl in her final year, with Malfoy becoming Head Boy. Funnily enough, ever since the night Potter left, Malfoy had stopped picking on her. Well, he still did, but not as much as he used to. She supposed it was because there was no more fun in it now that Potter was gone. Sharing the Head Boy and Girl dorms with Malfoy had been interesting enough. It was an odd relationship that had blossomed from it. They competed with each other to get the highest marks in school (Hermione beat him in that category), she chastised him for breaking the many rules that he broke, he broke her nasty habit of wallowing in self pity and have fun once in awhile. But first and foremost was a mutual understanding that they hated one another and that nothing was really going to change that, a sort of acceptance of one another's faults, him being an incorrigible asshole, she being a mudblood know-it-all. As soon as they got over that fact, sharing the dorm got a lot easier.
Hermione and Draco were recruited into the Underground around the same time. She was shocked to discover him there, but a rare and deep conversation with him one night in the dorm explained it. Hermione never knew the pressure Draco's father placed on him. His father so much as told him that he would never live up to him on the night that Harry left. Draco had overheard his father in Hogsmeade that day, laying out the plot against Potter. He had learned that he was a long running joke amongst his father and his friends. So Draco had turned him in by telling Dumbledore what he was planning. Draco had joined the Underground as a big Fuck You to his father.
And so was her life up until then. She was working for a cause that she held dear to her, the defense of Muggleborn equality. She had good friends that were like her family and she had her work. But deep down something was missing. She tried to fill it with Viktor and other suitors, but was unsuccessful. She did enjoy their time together, but it just didn't feel right. She would sometimes wake up from vivid dreams of the past; longing for the man she once called her true love. She loved and hated those dreams, dreams that made her heart ache when she woke in the morning to the reality that was hers now. Harry had wounded her deeply, and whomever said that time heals all wounds was full of shit. They hurt just as much now as they did then. Seeing Harry in person, real and alive, had sent the pain to a whole new level. She really didn't know how much pain a person could take, she had to be near her breaking point. She didn't want to feel anything anymore, she wanted to be numb. To not care about anything.
Someone knocked on her door.
"It's me."
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ginny asked annoyed.
Malfoy let himself in.
"I want to speak to Granger. Alone."
"I don't think so Malfoy." She answered.
Hermione lifted her head off the bed. "It's okay, Ginny."
Ginny hesitated a little bit, then moved off the bed. "I'll be back in a little while ok?"
She walked out of the room, giving Malfoy a look of warning before leaving Hermione and Draco alone. Hermione got up out of the bed, she was still in her red dress. She didn't say anything for awhile, then she picked up a brush from her dresser and threw it at Malfoy.
"You bastard! How could you do this to me?!" She yelled at him continuing to pick things up and throw it at him.
Malfoy ducked the items and walked toward her.
"Why? Why did you do that?" she sobbed at him.
He grabbed her arm to keep her from throwing more stuff.
"You should be thanking me Granger. I was the only one who told you the truth. You wouldn't even know he was back if it wasn't for me." He shot back at her.
"Thanking you? Thanking you for humiliating me, for making a spectacle of myself?"
"You did that on your own. Look at you! Crying over him? I would think you had done enough of that already."
He took the hand mirror she held out of her hand and placed it back on the dresser. He sat her down on the bed and kneeled in front of her.
"I want you to pull yourself the fuck together. You are not going to cry another tear for that loser. Look at you. You're a mess and you look like shit. More than you normally do." He said as he brushed a lock of her hair back behind her ear, his hand lingering. Their eyes locked. She felt herself flush all over.
"Thanks Malfoy. You really know how to make someone feel better." She said sarcastically as she stood up. It took a lot of self control not to do something stupid, like throw him on her bed and shag his brains out.
"I'm not here to make you feel better. I'm here to tell you to knock this shit off." He stood up too, watching as she began to unzip her dress and disappear behind the screen to change.
He tried not to think about that too much. He was clinging desperately to what little restraint he had.
"Is Viktor still here?" she called out.
"No. He left a little while ago."
She came back out again wearing only a silk robe, the one Krum gave her a couple of years ago. She sauntered over to her dressing table and sat down, well aware that Malfoy was watching her every move.
"Figures that the bastard would leave before I give him a chance to explain himself." She said carelessly as she began to take off her jewelry.
Malfoy walked over next to the dresser leaned against the wall, watching as she let her hair out of its knot, letting it cascade over her shoulders, her exposed smooth legs crossed as she swung one leg lazily back and forth.
"What are you going to do now?" Malfoy asked.
"I'm tired and I just want to slip into bed. That's not an invitation." He was looking way too sexy standing in her room.
"Don't get your hopes up Granger. I meant, what are you going to do about Potter?" The sight of her in just a robe was beginning to muddle his thoughts.
The predatory look on his face broke her. She stood up and walked slowly over to him. "That is for me to figure out on my own." God he smelled good.
Draco's eyes began to darken with desire as he moved away from the wall to meet her. Their bodies stood mere inches apart. "You know. I would be an excellent revenge against Potter." He said huskily. He was losing his grip on his self control.
"I thought you weren't into snogging mudbloods." she whispered as his hands slid around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
"Believe me. Snogging wasn't what I was planning to do to you."
"Sorry, but revenge isn't really my thing." She said as she took his hands off of her.
"You should try it sometime." He said as he stepped away from her and towards the door.
"Maybe. But not tonight."
"I'll hold you to that." He grinned playfully. "Good night…Hermione." He then shut the door.
She slid into bed, finally able to relax and gather herself. She sighed. Today had been a very eventful day. Rescuing Viktor, nearly being kidnapped, rescued by the auror you had a crush on, only to find out he's your long lost…whatever, ending now with a near-snog with the Slytherin prince himself. God she hoped tomorrow would be less eventful. But Potter. What to do about Harry Potter?
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After reassuring everyone that they were not going to beat each other up some more, Harry, Ron and Viktor were finally left alone to talk. Ron had seen what was on the photo that Harry had shoved in Krum's face, but he had put it away so no one else would see it. He gave Krum a scathing look.
"So, you're sleeping with Hermione?" he asked rather shortly. "I knew this would happen. You were just waiting in the wings weren't you? Waiting until Harry was out of the picture, you smarmy bastard. No wonder Harry kicked the shit out of you. Now, it's my turn." Ron lunged for Viktor but Harry held him back.
"Ron, stop! He's not worth it. Do you hear me? He's not worth it." Harry said.
Harry had managed to calm Ron down a bit before turning to Krum who was looking a little nervous standing there with just the two of them.
"You stay away from her, Krum!" Ron threatened. "You so much as lay another finger on her, and I'll be sure to pick up where Harry left off!" Harry had to hold Ron back again.
"I didn't know you ver so concerned for your friend." Viktor sneered.
"Viktor you are in no position to make accusations right now!" Harry said with authority pointing a finger at Krum.
"I'm stating a fact. The fact is that you both left Hermione. Vhere ver you ven she needed you? Ron you ver here all this time and haff not spoken one vord to her. You ver her friends."
"Viktor, tell us what you want, then leave." Harry said shortly. He didn't like the fact that they were horrible to Hermione rubbed in his face.
"Right then. If you really are her friends, and you really care about her then you'll listen to me." He motioned for Ron and Harry to sit with him.
Harry and Ron looked at each other hesitantly, then sat down on the chairs in front of Krum.
"I haff reason to believe that Hermione's life may be in danger."
"Well, no shit. The Ministry and the Death Eaters would love to get their hands on her." Ron said.
"Not to mention the fact that she was nearly kidnapped today." Harry added.
"No, I believe the danger is within. I think that ve have a spy vithin our organization." Harry and Ron looked at each other as Viktor continued. "Another one of our leaders, Sabian Poliakoff vas also attacked today."
"Why do you think you have a spy? It was Death Eater's who kidnapped Hermione." Harry said.
"And it was Death Eaters who tried to get you the night you escaped." Said Ron.
"Yes, it was Death Eaters who ver sent after me, but I'm not sure I vas the real target. I think they ver after Hermione. I believe someone is feeding the Death Eaters information about us."
"If they're after Hermione, why did they attack Poliakoff?" Ron asked.
"Probably to throw us off track. Make us believe that they are after all three of you guys." Harry answered and Krum nodded.
"Why would they be after just Hermione?" Ron asked.
"I vas hoping you could tell me?" Krum looked directly at Harry.
Harry got up and paced around the room, deep in thought. "He can't know that I'm back. He just can't."
"Malfoy figured you out quickly." Ron thought aloud.
"Malfoy" Harry continued to pace. "Malfoy!" he stopped suddenly. "Malfoy was at the ministry the night we rescued Krum."
"And he was outside the hotel when Hermione was kidnapped!" Ron added to the thought process.
"And I believe he has ties to Death Eaters." Krum added as well. "Listen, I need you to help me protect Hermione, protect our group. Keep an eye out on Malfoy at vork. See vat he is up to. Ve'll meet up again soon." Krum stood up and walked toward the door; Harry and Ron followed. Krum turned around again, "I truly am sorry, Harry, for hurting you. But please, help us."
"For Hermione only." Harry said as he shut the door. He turned to look back at Ron.
"You still love her after all this time?" Ron asked.
Harry looked away, "You know who we should get to help with this."
"Do you think they'll do it?"
"I'll talk to Dumbledore tomorrow sometime. But it's been a long day and I'm going to turn in." Harry stretched, walked into his room and shut the door.
Ron walked into his own room and flopped onto the bed. Harry wasn't fooling him; he noticed that Harry avoided the question. He saw the photo of Krum and Hermione, and he saw that Harry would've killed Viktor. Harry was still in love with her, even after all these years. Hermione had broken both their hearts that night, but Harry's was shattered. Enough for him to leave, or so he thought that was why he left. Over the years, his own heartbreak mended replaced by hatred for her for causing Harry to leave. But now that Ron knew Harry left to protect those he cared about, he felt bad about not being a friend to Hermione. She had been through a lot from what he overheard from his sister. He had to find a way to make it up to her, and this would be a start. He wanted to mend the trio, he needed to repair his friendship with Hermione, and he needed to fix whatever went wrong between Harry and Hermione. Her reaction today at seeing him wasn't a pleasant one. Yes, that's what he would do. He would fix the trio and bring them back to what they once were.
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Coming up: Ron tries to make amends; Harry gets help from a group of old friends.
