"What are you talking about, Draco?" She asked, confused.
"Haven't you ever thought about the prophecy – the one Harry trusted so much that he died for? Or do you need me to repeat it for you?" Without pausing for an answer, he began to recite the prophecy word for word:
"Three enter the battle, their lives intertwined.
They stand together, heart, body and mind.
One loves another, who loves the third more.
Why oh why could there not have been four?
The end comes slowly for the one who must die
Giving them time to explain to you why.
Emeralds that twinkled now lose their shine
Oh how instead I wish they had been mine."
Silence followed his recitation for a few moments.
"Are you trying to tell me," demanded Hermione, "that Harry knew that I loved Ron before I knew it?"
"I'm not trying to tell you anything, Hermione. I'm flat out telling you." His eyes – hard as stones – brooked no argument.
Those eyes were what drained her fury, leaving her drained. She sagged into her seat. "How, Draco? How could he know what I didn't even know?"
"If it's any comfort, Hermione, he knew Ron's secret as well."
"And what was that secret?" She demanded.
Draco simply stared at here for a moment. "You mean you still haven't figured it out?" He laughed, not his normal laugh, but the laugh he had used in his childhood – the cruel one that still haunted her in her sleep occasionally. "The smartest witch in forever, one of the people who defeated Voldemort and you still haven't figured it out…"
"Draco, what are you talking about?" She demanded again, piqued at what he was saying about her. Calling me stupid… Just because he knows something I don't know…
Draco sighed. "Haven't you ever wondered why Ron chose the night of the Ball to become mad at you? Or why the only other time he was so mad at you was after the Yule Ball in fourth year?"
"Well… of course, but what does that have to do with…" she started.
"I'm telling you, Hermione, if you'd shut up and listen for a minute."
She sat there, being quiet only because it seemed that that was the way to get Draco to hurry up and explain what in the world he was talking about.
There was silence for a minute, before Draco spoke. "Do you remember why I said that I stayed with you during the Ball two years ago?" She simply nodded in response. He continued, "I said that I'd only seen that look directed on one person – or rather, because of one person."
"And then you said it was directed at us and that you could get back at him…" She stopped, frowning a little. "Who was 'him', anyway?"
He looked at her for a moment; then shook his head. " 'Mione, who have we been talking about?"
Her eyes widened. "You don't mean… Ron?"
"Who else? Merlin, Hermione, the boy's only had eyes for you since about the second year of school." He said angrily.
She stared at the man sitting across from her. "Are you telling me…?" She trailed off, as Draco simply nodded. "Ron is in love with me?" she whispered. Again, Draco nodded. She sat there for a few minutes, stunned. Is this really happening? But what about all those girls? "He can't be…" she said. Draco looked at her confused. "What about all those girls he's dated over the years? Why would he go out with them if he's in love with me?"
Draco sighed again. "Hermione, haven't you ever heard of baiting someone? He didn't want to lose your friendship if you didn't love him in return, so he kept bringing girl after girl after girl home, hoping to spur you into showing what exactly you feel for him. When you didn't show anything other than friendship, what was the boy to do?"
"Why are you telling me this, Draco?" she asked. "And when did you get so good at analyzing Ron's methods?"
"Hermione, I'm a guy. If there's one thing I understand, it's how guys try and win girls over." He said; then added in a lower tone, "Even if I don't seem to be doing a very good job of it myself…"
Well, that makes sense… Hermione mused to herself. Guys should know how other guys would act… However, there was one more thing she had to ask. "You're not kidding with me, are you Draco?" she pleaded. Please tell me you're not. Please, Draco.
"Why would I kid with you about something like this?" Was his answer. He stared at her for a few seconds, before asking, "Well, why are you still here?"
Suddenly, she had a plethora of energy. She practically flew to her room to change clothes; then hurried back out to give Draco a kiss on the cheek before apparating over to Ron's flat. She was so lost in her own world that she hadn't noticed the depressed tone Draco had gained somewhere in the conversation, or the haunted look that was on his face. No, all she could think about was Ron.
~*~*~*~
When she appeared in the apartment, she immediately called out for Ron. Oh my… what if he isn't home… what if he's entertaining another girl? She blushed at this thought. There was no response. "Ron?" She tried calling again.
She heard a thump come from Ron's room. "Hermione?"
"Yes, it's me… but if you're busy, I can come back later…" She called, feeling a little awkward.
"No, hang on a minute, I'll be right down. Make yourself at home."
Hermione stood there at the foot of the steps, waiting. Sure enough, a few minutes later, Ron came down the stairs. "Now, 'Mione, what is it –" He was stopped from saying anymore because Hermione's mouth was covering his own in a fierce kiss.
A/N: Well, now she's kissed both of them. (Yes, the plot thickens! grin) I'll try to have the next chapter out SOON. Honest.
Candygoddess: Wow. Your compliments blew me away. I'm not so sure that these chapters are completely right, but I've had them for forever, and I felt I needed to publish them. Let me know what you think. Can you tell I'm having problems deciding between Ron and Draco myself? grin
totally_2bular_girl: I'd have to agree, romance can be a bother. One of my best friends thinks he's just found The Girl for him – and she's wonderful, but... shrug of shoulders I can't help feeling like he's rushing it, pushing too fast. Nothing like your problem of having too many guys love you wink, but problematic all the same. Have you decided which of the lucky guys you are going to date? raised eyebrow
Dracalle Illuminatii: Do you still want to bat my head in with a paper clip? These last couple of chapters have been very difficult to write... I'm still not quite sure that they're right, but I know people like you are anxious to read something, so I decided to go ahead and post. Let me know what you think of it all.
Siognee: Are you going to kill me? Don't! Because I have more chapters. It's not so ct and dry as it might seem here. Let me know what you think, pretty please.
TO EVERYONE: I suppose I could have kept this chapter with the last one, but I wanted to separate Hermione finding out that Ron loves her from the rest of it. shrug Please don't kill me!
Reviews are what make a writer write and update faster! wink