Hermione had just said cheese when she felt Molly grab her arm gently. She smiled at her. However Molly had a somewhat worried look.
"Can I have a word with you in the kitchen Hermione dear?" Molly said Hermione gave Molly a strange look.
"Of course, is something wrong?" Hermione asked she nodded to Bill who saw her disappearing with his mother, part of her wished he would follow but he hung back.
"Nothing's wrong dear." Molly said as they stepped into the kitchen. "I need to discuss Bill with you."
"What about him?" Hermione said. Though she felt a slight knot growing in the pit of her stomach.
"I've always considered you like a daughter to me, and I always thought you'd end up with Ron, and dear that was a wonderful match." Molly assured her. "I just don't want Bill getting hurt because he reminds you a little of Ron." Molly explained
"It's not that." Hermione said "It's different."
"Hermione dear, I just..."
"Don't worry Molly, I won't get too close to Bill, because you're right he's not Ron." Hermione said "Ron was amazing and I miss him every single day, He was the first person I ever really loved and you're right Bill isn't Ron and he never will be, I could never love Bill the same way." Hermione clarified. Though she'd meant it different then it had sounded. She'd only meant that Ron was the first and that she'd never have a first love again.
"So that's how it is Hermione?" Bill asked Hermione gasped. He had been standing in the doorway the look on his face was completely hurt he looked as though he was struggling not cry. "You'd never give me a chance because You could never love anyone they way you loved Ron."
"Bill I think you misunderstood..." Hermione tried but Bill was gone. "Wait!"
"Hermione let him go." Molly said but Hermione had already gone after him chasing full force. She watched as Bill touched the Portkey. She managed to touch it barely in time to follow him.
"Why'd you do that?" Bill asked a look of venom as she stared at him. "Now everyone's going to wonder why the maid of honor skipped out on the reception without so much as a goodbye!"
"I don't care what they say I didn't want you get the wrong idea." Hermione said
"Oh got the right idea, there's nothing between us and there never will be." Bill said he was very hurt Hermione could tell, however he was trying his best to mask it with anger.
"Will you listen to me?" Hermione asked "Your mother is concerned."
"Let her be you're the one who said you didn't care what people thought when I moved in here."
"Bill you don't get it, you missed my point."
"Do you or do you not still have feelings for Ron?" Bill asked "You don't just love him Hermione you're still completely in love with him, even if he's dead."
"I will always Love Ron, but he's dead, I know that." Hermione said
"Who are you trying to kid Hermione?" Bill asked "There's pictures of him all over this place, it's like a shrine, you still love Ron and you aren't ready to let him go, maybe you never will be." Bill explained
"I am too ready to let him go!" Hermione said "I want Lucius Malfoy to rot in hell for what happened to Ron, but I've excepted his death, what do I have to do prove that to you?" Bill acted as if he wasn't listening.
"Is what mom said true, are you only acting the way you do around me because I remind you Ron?" Bill asked at this Hermione too looked as if she was going to spit venom.
"Don't flatter yourself Bill your nothing like Ron, he was loving and amazing he could make me laugh louder then anyone. You are just a digusting idiot!"
"Thanks for the compliment." Bill said storming up the stairs Hermione heard the door slam gently she stomped around for a minute. Before she turned and nearly screamed.
"Don't do that to me Harry." Hermione said Harry was easily the best in his year at apparating and he tended to make almost no noise when he did it. He stood in the doorway looking mischievous he must have seen Hermione and Bill leaving. Hermione caught herself wondering exactly how much he'd heard.
"You stormed off so quickly I didn't get to say goodbye." Harry said
"Sorry Bill's being a stubborn jerk!" Hermione explained a little too loudy Harry let out a faint laugh.
"You two are too cute." Harry said Hermione looked as he'd grown a second head.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked
"You used to fight with Ron all the time, and I just think it's endearing kind of like the old Hermione is back." Hermione looked at him she pondered for a moment.
"You're right." She smile "I haven't felt this good about a fight in quiet a while." Hermione admitted.
"Is Molly right?" Harry asked "Does he remind you of Ron?"
"In some ways. Some of his gestures and body language is same, but that's all really." Hermione admitted "I don't really want to discuss it anymore Harry."
"Fine I'm not the one you need to talk to anyway." Harry said in his all knowing way which reminded Hermione of Dumbledore.
"I'm a big girl now Harry you don't need to protect me." Hermione reassured "Now you just got married and if you don't get back Ginny's going to wonder if you skipped out on her."
"You're probably right." Harry said but before he apparated he looked back at Hermione. "I love you Hermione." He said in a brotherly tone Hermione smiled
"Yeah I love you too." She explained "Have a great honeymoon." She made him promise. He then disappeared she walked upstairs trying her best avoid making much noise as she walked past Bill's door. She could practically hear the anger as she walked past she slipped into her Pajamas looking at the clock it was barely 6:30 but she'd slept so little the previous days that she had great need for some rest. She turned and gave a faint moan. Crookshanks was curled up on her pillow he gave her guilty look as she forced him to move over. As she drifted off to sleep she was still thinking about her fight with Bill. Hoping someday he'd understand exactly what she had meant.
4 hours later Hermione was stepping down a darkened corridor her bare feet freezing against cold stone. She was looking for something yet she had no control over where her body was taking her it was as if she was destined to go on a specific path and she couldn't leave it. She saw a room ahead and as she stepped threw the door, Bill was lying on the floor, his long hair back in ponytail however he was crying in pain. In the distance she heard the familiar voice of Lucius Malfoy he was torturing Bill. Hermione tried to scream but she couldn't she was stuck in place in pure horror.
"Please don't kill him!" She finally managed to beg Lucius. "I'll do anything, you took Ron away from me please don't take Bill!" Lucius got an evil smile
"Shut up you filthy little mudblood." Lucius said in searing voice Hermione tried to stop it but as she heard the most awful curse a person could utter. She lost all function.
Avada Kedavra." Lucius cried his wand pointed toward Bill.
"NO BILL!" Hermione screamed.
"Hermione wake up!" Bill was shaking her his face filled with despair she opened her eyes fitfully clinging tightly to Bill. "It's ok I'm here now."
"He killed you." Hermione explained "Just like he killed Ron!"
"It was just a nightmare baby." Bill said pulling Hermione's sweat soaked body toward him.
"It seemed so real." She explained never loosening her grip on him. Bill didn't seem to mind.
"Sometimes they do, but I'm alive 'Mione I'm here and I breathing." Bill reassured "You can feel it." He was right cradled against him she could feel every breath he took.
"Thank you." Hermione managed still clinging to him. "I used to have them all the time right after..."
"Ron..." Bill finished Hermione hoped he wouldn't make an issue and was very thankful when he didn't.
"Yeah, anyway, I haven't had a nightmare for ages I thought I had finally stopped having them." She explained she sat up a little. She looked at the clock it was only 10. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you." She explained to Bill.
"Don't worry about it Hermione." Bill said sitting up with her. "I'll just head back to my room."
"No!" Hermione said abruptly. "I want you stay."
"What?" Bill looped back locking eyes with her.
"I don't want to be alone, I'm still upset." Hermione explained "Would you mind staying with me just until I fall back to sleep?" She asked her eyes large pools Bill smiled
"Not at all." He said sitting back down next to her. He pulled her back against him gently thinking how wonderful it felt to hold her in his arms.
"I could fall in love with you Hermione Granger." He said after a little while he'd expected a response but as he looked down Hermione was fast asleep. He knew he should probably leave but instead he just laid there watching a sleeping Hermione, and he knew in that moment his life would never be the same again.