Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters, places, and themes belong to JKR. All original characters, especially James, belong to me
A/N: Your reviews are making me blush! I never thought my little nonsense ramblings would be so well received! Well, I started school today. (It sucked.) So, I might not have another update for a while, but I'm making this chapter long for you. Plus, there's just a lot that needs to go in this part. I had a request for an email telling when I update, if anyone else would like that; let me know in a review, or email me. I'm happy to do it. Well…on to the story!
Ch. 18
Confrontations
Hermione was half way through a pint of Cherry Garcia, and the best chick flick of all time-You've Got Mail- when she heard a ferocious pounding on her door. She jumped, startled by the sudden intrusion on her otherwise calm evening.
She opened her door; unsure of what would be there, and was flabbergasted when an obviously drunk off his arse Ron almost fell on top of her.
His voice was slurred but he tried valiantly to get his point across. "Her-Hermione, I am here to…" Unfortunately, he seemed to have forgotten what his point was. Alcohol tends to do that to you.
Hermione was irritated beyond belief, but she knew that she couldn't just throw him out. In the state he was in he would splinch himself into a million pieces if he tried to apparate. And she knew better than anyone how completely inept Ron was in the muggle world.
Honestly, Draco is doing better than he ever did. And he's only been here for a couple of days. Ron even took muggle studies for Merlin's sake. Now where had that come from? Bad subconscious. We're not thinking about him. Either of them actually. So don't make me hurt you!
Heaving a deep sigh, Hermione resigned herself to the fact that her evening was now completely ruined. She had no sober-up potion on hand, so Ron would just have to wait it out until the morning.
And, she ruefully acknowledged, we do have some things to talk about. For starters, she still had half of his stuff cluttering up her closet. And she knew for a fact that he still had some of her favorite CDs. Funnily enough, Ron had figured out CD players quickly enough. He just hadn't wanted to learn anything else.
She dropped him onto her bed, silently cringing at the thought of him being there. She and Ron had never lived together. Merlin knew he had tried to broach the subject often enough, but she had always put him off. Each time was a different reason, but she knew that the real reason was that it just wouldn't have worked out.
She was a clean freak; Ron was the world's biggest slob. She liked to go out once or twice a week and have maybe one or two drinks. Ron felt like getting completely plastered every night. Everyone knew that Ron's flat was the biggest party place in Hogsmeade. Which was saying something, considering the twins lived in Hogsmeade too.
But…that didn't change the fact that they had spent four years together, and that they had been best friends before that. Hermione missed their friendship desperately; she had for about two years now. Their relationship had made it so that it seemed like simple friendship was impossible. But she wanted that friendship back; she just wasn't sure if it was still possible. She had to try though; she owed Ron and herself that much.
Hermione headed back out to her living room, still deep in thought. Then she heard the telephone ring. It startled her again, and she jumped. Must everyone talk to me today? She picked up the phone, barking out a very harassed "Hello?"
A voice came over the receiver; thankfully this was a friendly one. "Hermione, it's Harry. No need to bite my head off. I haven't done anything. Have I?"
Hermione laughed. "Of course you haven't Harry. It's just," she lowered her voice a little, "Ron just showed up and he's drunk. He practically collapsed on me before he had a chance to say anything. I carried to my bed and he's sleeping it off there now."
Harry made a commiserating sound, and told her that he would be right over.
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks so much Harry. I know I need to talk to him, but I would really prefer he be sober for that particular conversation."
"I know what you mean. I'll be there in a minute, I'll apparate into your living room, if that's ok?"
Hermione laughed. "So you want to ask now? You always do it anyways. Go ahead. See you in a minute."
Hermione looked at the living room around her and noticed that the video was still playing, and her ice cream was melting by the second. She bustled around, putting the ice cream in the freezer, the spoon in the dishwasher, and stopping the tape where it was. I will finish watching that later. She was just folding the blanket she had been using when Harry popped into the living room.
He came over, took the blanket from her, placed it on the back of the couch, and wrapped her in a very big brotherly sort of hug. Hermione was very pleased by this turn of events. Harry gave the best hugs ever. It really is amazing how well he plays the big brother role, considering he never really had that kind of family; but he just slips into it naturally. Lucky for me.
Harry released her and they stood together. "So, do you want me to take my future brother-in-law home with me? Ginny will take care of him. She loves playing mum, and she'll give him one hell of a lecture."
Hermione massaged her temples, wishing she had something to take away her headache. "Yeah, that would be great Harry. But only if you're absolutely sure that you and Gin won't mind."
Harry just shook his head, patted her on the shoulder and headed towards the room. He paused to tell her that he would be right back because they "had some things to talk about."
Hermione sat in her living room, waiting for Harry, and wondering what they needed to talk about. Maybe it's something about the wedding…or moving? Or telling Molly that they're moving? No, he wouldn't talk to me about that. Molly can't be too happy with me right now. I turned her precious Ronniekins down. What is it?
She didn't have to wait long to find out. Just as she asked herself that question, Harry apparated back into her flat.
He sat on the couch next to her. He was facing away from her when he finally spoke. "Hermione, I'm only going to ask this once. How long have you and Malfoy had something going on?"
Hermione gulped. Of all the questions, she really hadn't expected this. There's only one answer: deny everything!
So, she turned towards Harry, opened her mouth, and choked. She just couldn't do it. She couldn't lie to Harry. This wasn't something simple that could be glossed over and lied about. This needed to be said.
"Since Friday." Her voice cracked on the last word, sounding weak and small.
The two sat in uncomfortable silence for a while. It felt like hours, but was probably only minutes.
It was Harry who broke the standoff, still sounding accusatory and untrusting. "You didn't cheat on Ron?"
Hermione was shocked, even more so than before. She would never have cheated on Ron; she just wasn't that type of person. And she was absolutely furious that Harry would even suggest that to her, and she told him as much.
Harry simply shrugged, refusing to yell. "You lied to me about other things. You and Draco just got coffee. Yeah right. I wasn't born yesterday Hermione."
She protested, loudly. "We started out as just getting coffee. I swear to you Harry. That was the plan. It just, spiraled. We came here to have coffee, and then one thing led to another and…" she paused when she saw the incredulous look on Harry's face. "Look, you may not believe me but that's how it happened. When Ron walked out on me at the club I was distraught, I wasn't in a good state of mind. When I suggested that we go out, I was thinking off the top of my head. You know how bad I am at that." She let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a sob. She was trying desperately here, but this really was just too much.
Harry was fighting some inner demons of his own. He and Ron had been like brothers, and now they almost actually were. A part of him instinctively rebelled against Hermione being with anyone other than Ron. Another part, one that was much bigger and stronger and pummeled the other part to death, said that Hermione had a right to do as she chose, and that as her friend he should respect that.
However, a third part, which was very loud and intrusive right now, believed very strongly that Malfoy was BAD! That he was, and still is, an evil, slimy, greasy, little git. After all, how much could he have changed since school? And Harry was willing to bet anything that Malfoy had just been trying to get laid.
He said as much to Hermione and was very, very shocked when she said, "Well, maybe that's all I wanted too."
Hermione had to try very hard to control her laughter. She knew this was a serious moment, she knew that it would be very bad to laugh. VERY BAD!
Whoops. Too late.
Hermione exploded into laughter. Harry's face really was just too much. It was like he thought she was the Virgin Mary. Nope, he's about six years, and three guys too late. Hermione was by no means a slut, but she had needs too. Besides… everybody else was doing it. Sadly enough, that was the line that had gotten her. She had been a very naïve and trusting teenager.
Hermione had suddenly sobered, and Harry was very worried about her. Hermione had some very deep-seated issues with privacy. If she felt that he had pushed too far, he knew by experience that she would clam up. Realizing that this could happen, he changed his tactics.
"Hermione, what's going on with him now?" This question, which was said quietly and in a non-interrogative manner, opened Hermione up without causing fear or apprehension.
She told him the happenings of the last few days, leaving out nothing, and finally ending up half sobbing and half laughing on Harry's shoulder.
Harry was very quiet. She was more than a little worried about his response, and she asked him if he was alright. Harry shushed her abruptly, saying only, "I want the image of Draco Malfoy with a mouthful of dirty dishrag in my memory forever."
They both shared a warm, friendly laugh at that image.
Harry got serious again. "Well, I don't know what to tell you Hermione. It sounds very confusing, and I'm not quite sure what to make of all of it. Just, be careful. He sounds changed, but you never know."
Hermione nodded, and said, "Of course I'll be careful, I'm always careful. Look, I need to get back to my movie, so unless you want to watch about an hour of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks fluffy goodness, you need to go."
Harry laughed, and stood up saying, "Guess I'd better get going then. I'll see you later, take care."
Hermione waved goodbye, and Harry disapparated, leaving Hermione alone with Tom and Cherry Garcia.
