Disclaimer: I have to do this every single time? I don't own anything. Nothing.
Author's Note: Very short, but it's enough to last awhile.
-poostix
Chapter 7 – An Invitation to Be Rejected
There, Hermione stood back against the wall of the long corridor facing the empty courtyard. She looked out into the courtyard with a blank face, and closed her eyes to moisten them, for they were dry from crying.
"I would like to give you something…" a voice said. It was Ron, and in his hand was a plane ticket—supposedly back to New York.
"I couldn't…" Hermione replied.
"Sure you could Hermione… please, we really do care about you more than Harry does—and Hermione, give Harry a break—he's actually found someone who is after his personality and not his damn fame…"
"I know Ron, but—but—it feels like he is the missing piece, he's the one that fits between us—" she began.
"Hermione just give it up—"
"But I can't," she sighed.
"You should," he pressed. "He won't just drop Cho out of the blue like that. You very well know he doesn't do that to people—" with that he was cut off as Hermione budged in with a rage.
"Well he damn did that to me…! So it means I'm worthless? Is that it? Well guess what? It surely seems like it," she exclaimed, as she stared hard at him, anger flashing in her eyes.
"Hermione look, I'm sorry—"
"You very much should be! You told Malfoy! Of all people in this world… How insane has your brain been?" she asked loudly. He looked at her not harshly, but gently, as if she were a small child.
"Hermione, Draco is a different man now, he understands what it is like to be left alone." he explained.
"What?" Hermione said with a puzzled voice.
"His dad… his dad left him," Ron said slowly.
"Why—"
"He went bankrupt, so Draco had to find a job. His dad however, just disappeared. With that, Draco went into the Muggle business and found that his money was worth more in America than here…" he explained, still looking at her with those gentle eyes.
"So—" Once again, she was interrupted by Ron.
"He found me there doing Muggle research and well I wasn't doing very well either with my money, so we both shared the rent at his apartment and we are more than stable now… as well as having ample enough money to support another person." Ron finished. He looked at Hermione for a response but she just stared with a blank face. Ron knew she was thinking about Harry.
"Hermione—please join us… It will be like old times again. Draco has changed, maybe he might be the one to fill Harry's place." he insisted, almost pleading her through his eyes.
"He's the one that got me and Harry into a fight remember?" Hermione snapped, as she glared at him. He didn't answer. She took this opportunity to make her exit.
"You know what… I'm out of here—and if I get a chance, I'll meet up with you in New York, which is highly unlikely. I, very much appreciate your offer, Ron, but other than that, I have to say that this was a waste of time," she said, sighing. With that, Hermione took one look at Ron and stormed out towards the Great Hall.
When she entered the Great Hall, there were the long tables as they have always been, the centerpieces were exquisite and a ring of lighted candles with multicolored Irises surrounding them. Her eyes moved from table to table, looking for a familiar face and saw Draco sitting at an end, taking a sip of his coffee, muttering to himself. Hermione just looked away as her eyes jumped to Harry and Cho. They were talking and laughing. 'I suppose this is what Harry has been looking for: a soul mate… But I assume Cho and him were meant to be…' she thought, sadly. With that, she mustered up a small smile as Harry and her eyes met. But in return, Harry just gave Hermione a blank stare as if they were strangers, as Cho nestled her head upon his shoulders. Then Hermione realized she should go, for she was no use here.