Saying Her Name
Draco Malfoy
When Granger showed up the same day she'd left, I knew something was wrong. And then, when I got a good look at her face and saw her tears and make-up… I was positive something was really wrong.
I was suspicious when she asked about the Rechworth. That hotel is ridiculously expensive—for a Weasley, that is. I've stayed there loads of times… they've got pure gold toilets for crying out loud!
She came back hysterically crying, and almost unable to walk. She looked so hurt that she didn't even need to explain herself. Weasley had cheated on her. She was in such a state of hysteria that nothing I said could calm her down. I was tempted to use magic, but I knew she'd only get angry with me and I'd regret it later.
So I did what I had been waiting for the right moment to do. I said her name. It was such an easy thing to do. "Hermione." I'd never actually said that word before. I'd thought it. I'd written it. But actually said it out loud to her? Never in my life.
It took little effort, but it stopped her dead in her tracks. She stopped wailing. She stopped stifling her crying. She stopped coughing and choking.
And she looked at me. She was confused… and I didn't blame her. She wiped her eyes. "I'm so embarrassed." She muttered to the ground.
"It's okay." I offered weakly. This was one of the top five most awkward situations I've ever been in. Here I was, in my foyer with the girl I hated in school who was now an extremely attractive nanny who just happened to live in my house. Her fiancé had just been cheating on her… and she was hysterically crying. Now she was embarrassed. I was almost as overwhelmed as she was!
"Come on," I said, walking toward the stairs. "I'll walk you to your room." She followed closely behind me as I lead her up the stairs. "Do you want me to go beat him up for you?" I asked, half jokingly. If she said yes, I might consider actually doing it.
"No." She said softly. "I just don't want anything to do with him ever again." I looked down at her hands. The ring was gone.
"Did you flush it?" I asked.
"What?"
"The ring." I said. "Did you flush it?"
"Malfoy…" I was almost disappointed she didn't call me Draco. "I honestly have no idea what you're asking me!" She sounded angry, exasperated, and tired. But she wasn't wailing any more, thank god.
"You've never heard of flushing rings?" I asked curiously.
She shook her head, all while glaring at me.
"Well." I began. "Usually, when a spouse catches their significant other cheating on them, they flush their ring."
"I have never heard of that." She said, opening her door.
"Well, get some rest. You can have a few days off." I told her.
"Thanks." She smiled. It was the first time since she got back that she looked almost happy.
"Oh, and Granger," I said, smirking. "Wash your face."
She glared at me and slammed the door in my face. I guess things haven't changed that much.
Author's Note: Sorry it was so short! The next few are WAY longer. Anyway, as for the overall development of this fic, I've pretty much written the finale the way I want it. But thatDOESN'T mean that this is ANYWHERE near completion! I still have a lotto write, but I'm just lettingyou know that I know how I want to end this. I hate writers who don't even think about that part of the story... and when they get tired, they just end it to satisfy readers and avoid a guilty conscience.As always, thanks for all the reviews!