Chapter 4
Hermione's first instinct was to get up and race to tell. She wanted to tell him everything that had happened, and how much she missed him. But her mind screamed out, Stay with Ginny. So, she did.
"I think you should go home and get some rest." Hermione suggested.
Ginny shook her head. "I-I don't want to be alone."
"I'll take you," Hermione offered kindly.
"I'm not letting you miss your rehearsal dinner because I turned into a basket case."
"That rules Draco out as well. Let's go get Maria." Hermione helped Ginny up and put her arm around her as they walked out of the bathroom.
The before quiet and civilized hall now seemed load and angry. There was a large argument going on at the main table, and others were all listening intently to it. However, as soon as Hermione and Ginny entered, Draco hurried tot hem.
"I'm going to go get Maria to take her home," Hermione said softly to Draco as he reached them. "Can you stay with Ginny while I get her?"
Draco just nodded putting his arm around Ginny and she immediately turned into his chest clutch him as though her life depended it. Hermione without another word hurried off.
Maria was a Hispanic student who met Ginny during an exchange program and the two became friends. Hermione reached her before quickly explaining the situation. Maria practically ran to Ginny before taking her from Draco and lead her out the back door as to not run into Harry.
Hermione wordlessly started toward the door to the lobby hearing pieces of the argument on her way.
"I can't believe you are all just willing to let him sit out there all alone."
"He's not alone, Mum," George said simply. "Ron's out there."
"Ron is not out there," Percy said simply. "He sees logic. He's probably just in the loo."
Molly stood up aggravated. "I'm going to see Harry, and I don't care what the rest of you think." She brushed past Hermione has she hurried to the door. But, when she tried to push open the door, it wouldn't budge. She tried yanking on it with all her might, then pushing as hard as she could again.
George came over to her quickly. "Mum. Sit down. They obviously don't need to see you right now," he comforted, enveloping her in a hug. "He'll come see you when he's ready."
"But what if he doesn't?" Molly wailed, clearly being completely supported by her son now. "What if he leaves and never comes back?"
"Then he didn't deserve to see you," George said, sounding a bit cold. "Come on. Sit." George led his mother back to her seat.
Hermione, however, wasn't as emotionally strained as Molly was and easily worked out a solution. She strode up to the door, being careful not to attract any attention from the Weasley table, and muttered, "Alohamora." The door opened and she slipped through to the other side.
There she saw a recognizable sight, one that filled her with a strange happiness of familiarity. Harry was laughing at something Ron said. For a moment, they looked sixteen again, sending Hermione back to a place that she hadn't been for a while.
She ran forward and threw her arms around her old best friend. Harry, who hadn't seen her there, was slightly taken aback. Soon, he recovered and cautiously returned the hug.
"You're back," Hermione whispered. She remembered what she had felt when she realized he wasn't coming back anytime soon. She had locked herself up in her room at her parents house. It had taken her four months before she finally had applied to one of the internships she had been looking at. Of course, that had been before she gotten together with Draco.
"Yeah," Ron said, interrupting Hermione's thoughts. "He's back. And we were having a conversation." Ron sounded more annoyed then genuinely angry.
"I was laughing at his wife," Harry explained.
Hermione giggled, pulling apart from Harry. "I laughed too, when he first told me."
"Luna can be very sweet," Ron said, defensively.
"But never sane," Hermione interjected.
"Because the person Hermione is marrying is faultless," Ron said, his voice still good natured. Hermione punched him in the arm. Harry looked as though he wanted to say something, but didn't.
"Where have you been?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
"It's not important," Harry said, sounding a bit grumpy.
"Like hell it's not," Hermione commented sounding snippy.
"I've been away from magic." Harry spoke shortly showing that he would say nothing more on the topic.
"What can you do without magic?" Ron asked.
"I'm a police man," Harry answered, still not sounding cheerful.
"That must be great. Any cases you've been doing lately?" Hermione said quickly, trying to figure out what Harry had been doing these past few years.
"What are you asking me these questions for? I should be asking you questions. Like how you ended up marrying Draco Malfoy?" Harry probed. And the reason why Harry had been acting so crabby came to Hermione's mind.
"He's not the person you think he is," she said quickly.
"Really, mate," Ron said. "You just have to talk to him-"
"I did," Harry interrupted. "And he seemed the same to me."
Hermione crossed her arms and gave Harry a stern look. "You don't believe us when we say he's changed? Well, maybe you'd believe us if we told you that Ginny was the one who changed him."
Harry stood dumbstruck. "Ginny?"
"She needed a shoulder to cry on after you left," Hermione continued, sounding very firm. "Draco was the only one around who wasn't dealing with the same pain. She made him nicer while he made her stronger. I was skeptical when I first heard about it to, but look at me now," she finished.
Harry stared at her, his mouth slightly open. After a moment he spoke. "Did they ever... you know?"
Hermione opened her mouth but Ron wouldn't let her speak. "Don't tell me!" he shouted. "I don't want to know!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Do you need a place to stay tonight, Harry?" Her anger had cooled down, and she know just wanted to spend time with her friend.
"I can get a hotel room," Harry said, sounding a bit intimidated.
"No. You can stay with me," Hermione offered.
"That's great. She's getting married in less then a week and is still inviting guys to spend the night at her house," Ron said, sounding amazed.
"Weren't you just yelling at me?" Harry asked, sounding afraid that she might start up again at any minute.
"Are you complaining?" Hermione raised an eyebrow and looked at him threateningly.
"Nope. Not at all."
"Good. I'll take you-"
But Hermione was cut off when the door opened. And blonde man in a tuxedo came out into the lobby. "Oh," Draco said when he saw Harry. "He's still here."
Hermione momentarily wondered if Harry could have picked a worse time to show up for a reunion. "Ron, can you take Harry to my house?" she said quickly. "There's food in the refrigerator," she said quickly before hurrying over to her fiancé and leading him back into the party room.
"You know I hate that guy, right?" Draco muttered as they went back to the table where the Weasley's were.
"And he hates you. But you'll both get over it eventually," she said, smiling brightly and waving at Lavender Brown. I hope, she added quietly to herself.
