Healing
Hermione Granger
Obviously, I didn't get over Ron easily. It took a while… more like weeks. I was totally heartbroken when Ron cheated on me… my entire world was torn apart before my eyes.
I slept for two whole days. When I woke up, I thought Malfoy had drugged me, but there was a note next to my bed saying that Harry was coming to visit me and that Stella and Luna were being taken care of.
On the third day after the "incident," Harry and Malfoy came into my room. They weren't looking like friends, but they pretended to tolerate each other in front of me. "Hello, Hermione." Harry spoke first.
I smiled. I was tired… and broken.
"I'm glad to see you're awake." Malfoy said next.
This was totally awkward. I didn't know whether to kick both of them out, cry, or give everyone hugs. I chose the second.
I burst into tears right in front of my only friend and my boss. They just sort of blinked at me and looked embarrassed. My body heaved up and down with sobs and I wrapped my comforter tightly around myself.
Harry came and sat on the edge of my bed. Malfoy sort of backed away like I had a disease. "Can I speak to Hermione alone?" Harry asked Malfoy through clinched teeth.
Malfoy nodded and left the room, throwing me one final glance before he closed the door.
Harry hugged me and let me know it was okay to cry. "What Ron did to you has no justification." He said softly. "He is no longer someone I want to associate with." He reassured me that Ron would get what he deserved eventually. Then he said he needed to get to work, but he'd visit me often and write me later. I didn't say or do much except nod and silently cry, but I was happy Harry at least came to see me.
After he left, I snuggled back down into my warm bed. I had never slept in a more comfortable bed… and I always thought it to be ironic that the bed I grew to love was inside my school-days bully and enemy.
Not more than ten minutes after Harry walked out that door, there was a soft knock. "Granger?" It was Malfoy.
"Come in." I offered weakly.
He opened the door and took a seat at the chair a few feet from my bed. "I just wanted to say," he began. "I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry about all of this."
I was taken aback. He had never showed sympathy towards me… ever. In school, I was a "filthy mudblood" and I didn't deserve his pity. I was so shocked at that one comment… but his entire speech surprised me more.
He sighed. "Granger, I know I've never really been too nice to you."
I almost snorted. "That's the understatement of the year."
He glared lightly at me, as if he was angry but holding back because of the Ron incident. "Maybe this is a bad idea." He said softly as he rose from the chair.
"No, wait. I'm sorry. Keep going." I pleaded. I wanted to know what he had to say.
"In school, I was terribly jealous of you." He blurted out quickly. "You were smarter than me in school, and you had true friends. I mean, look—one of them is still in your life and the other one came close to marrying you!"
I blinked. I had no idea he felt that way. It explained a lot about him and how he treated me as a teenager.
"But that's all in the past." He continued. "I wanted to let you know that I understand what you're going through and I'll try to be patient with you over the next few months. When I caught Fleur with that other man, it took me a while to get over it. But I did get over it, and you will too... eventually."
For some odd reason, I wanted him to stay in the room. I wanted to listen to him talk, and I wanted him to comfort me.
But mostly, I thought I was going insane from the breakup. Those things could be traumatic, you know.
"Do you want anything?" He asked, rising from his chair.
I thought about it. "Get me a strong, alcoholic drink." I decided. That was just what I needed at that moment.