Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter Seven

00000

I pretty much avoided Draco as much as I could for the next few weeks. It was hard, what with Ginevra bursting into tears nearly three classes a day. Luckily, though, only one of those was a class that I had with Draco. I hurriedly left the classroom, followed by him a few seconds later.

"I can handle it," I said abruptly.

He looked slightly offended, but turned around quickly and re-entered the classroom without saying a word.

00000

By now it was April and the weather was starting to get warmer. Students spent more time outdoors, basking in the sun and sitting under trees. I decided it would be a good idea for Ginevra to spend some time outdoors, so I took her outside and found Harry, Ginny, and Ron sitting lazily under a tree.

"Hi," I said, sitting down next to Ginny.

"Hey, Hermione," Ginny said, putting down the quill and parchment she had been holding. "Hi, Ginevra," she then said, in a different voice. She picked up the baby out of the baby carrier.

I laughed. People were so odd around babies.

Ginny sniffed. "Someone needs to change their diaper," she said, disgusted. "Where are the diapers, Hermione?"

"Here," I said, handing her the bag I had filled with baby diapers and food and such.

"Help me change her diaper, Harry," Ginny said. "Boys need to know how to do this stuff."

He put down the textbook he had on his lap and sat next to Ginny in the sun as she spread out the blanket to change Ginevra on.

"What are you doing?" I asked Ron, scooting over to sit next to him.

"Transfiguration homework," he grumbled unhappily.

"Need help?" I asked.

He nodded fervently.

"Lets see... "What is an Animagus?" Ron, you know this!" I said.

"I know, I just can't concentrate," he said sadly.

"Why not?" I asked, putting the piece of parchment on the grass next to us.

He shrugged.

"Oh, come on. You know perfectly well why not," I replied.

"I guess I just... Sort of... Miss us..." he said quietly.

I was surprised. He missed us? And here I was thinking that he was going to hate me forever when he really missed us!

I smiled. "Really?" I said.

He nodded and looked at me. "Really," he replied.

He slowly leaned into kiss me. It felt good, like things were normal again. But then I came rushing back to reality as our lips parted, and I remembered that they weren't normal, and that they never would be normal ever again. I looked at Ron. He was staring at the ground, his cheeks tinted pink.

"That was nice," I said.

He licked his lips and opened his mouth, as if to say something. But he didn't. Instead, he got up, took his things, and walked up to the castle.

00000

When Ginny and Harry finally finished changing Ginevra's diaper, I brought her back into the castle. She was asleep by the time I reached the Gryffindor common room so I brought her up to my dormitory and left her there. I really needed some time to myself, some time to think, so I just left her there hoping that she wouldn't wake up and start bawling her eyes out while I was gone.

I walked slowly through the castle, thinking. Just a little bit less than a month ago, I had turned down a kiss from Draco, whom I had feelings for. Then Ron kissed me today, and left, as if it made him uncomfortable or something. This was all so puzzling to me. Who did I really have feelings for? Why did Ron just leave? Was Dr-

"Sorry."

I was walking and staring at the ground, so I bumped head first into someone. I looked up. It was none other than Draco himself.

"Hermione," he said, looking slightly surprised.

"Draco," I responded monotonously.

"I think we need to talk," he said.

I nodded.

"Did I do something? Because if you're still upset about that kiss, I'm really sorry-" he began.

"No, it's not that," I said. I shrugged and leaned against the wall. "I've just been... confused lately. I mean, I have feelings for you, but then I turn down your kiss for some reason. And then today Ron kissed me and then just left as if he really didn't mean to do that or something. My life's just so... insane right now."

"I'm sorry," Draco said.

"For what?" I asked.

"I don't know, for the attempted kiss, I guess," he responded.

"Don't apologize," I told him. "I don't know why I didn't even accept it. I'm just so confused." Suddenly I felt as though I just wanted to cry. I felt like I just wanted to rest my head on Draco's shoulder and let every tear in my body out right at that moment. I tried to hold it back, but the waterworks just started coming and wouldn't stop.

"W-why are you crying?" Draco asked worriedly.

"Oh, Draco," I said, my voice barely a whisper. I laid my head on his shoulder and hugged him.

At first he kind of just stood there as though he didn't know what to do. Then he started awkwardly rubbing my back, until he finally started speaking.

"It's okay, Hermione," he said. "You're at an extremely stressful and hectic time right now, no one can blame you for the way you're acting. No one's going to get mad or anything. Don't try and do anything for anyone else, follow your heart and do whatever feels right."

Was I actually hearing these words come out of Draco Malfoy's mouth? If Ron could see and hear the way he was acting right now then maybe he wouldn't be as mad at me about who I slept with. I could barely believe it, but he was being so sweet right now, and I was happy for this moment that he was Ginevra's father rather than someone else unsupportive and mean.

I suddenly remembered something I had been wondering for a while. I pulled out of the hug to ask Draco.

"Draco," I said, "why do you hate your family so much?"

He didn't respond at first. He looked at the floor and made a weird noise with his breath.

"My parents are just unsupportive assholes who take pride and joy in making my life a living hell and putting insane amounts of pressure on me," he finally explained, still staring at the floor. He sounded as though he might start crying.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you that," I said.

"No, it's fine. I've said so much about it but never explained," he told me, looking up. His eyes were shining.

I hugged him again. I could even feel my shoulder getting a little bit wet. But when we separated a few minutes later, his eyes were dry.

"I needed to talk about it, anyway," Draco said, as if he were continuing what he was saying before.

I smiled and kissed him, without even thinking. It just seemed like the right moment. We were both sad, and were comforting each other, and every time I thought about when he tried to kiss me outside of the Transfiguration classroom, I regretted pulling away. Now was my chance to make it up to him. I had forgotten how nice it felt to kiss him. I wanted to be with him again. I wanted to run into the nearest classroom, pulling him in with me, and rip off all his clothes. But I couldn't. I still loved Ron. I loved Draco, too; I loved them both. I was torn.

00000

A/N: It's kind of sappy and weird, but I didn't want you all thinking I was just going to go ahead and make the couple be Ron/Hermione since she actually kissed him. Then again, maybe it will be R/H in the end. You'll just have to wait and see...

Please review!