Chapter 6
Unwelcome
I pace up and down the hall. The Burrow has a cozy warmth about it yet my hands are cold and clammy. Just me and Hermione, all alone, for a week. This is my chance, there will be no other distractions, I can't mess up by asking her something about school. This is it. A grin spreads across my face. I can finally tell her how I feel. But first, everything must be perfect. If I can just get her alone for five minutes without Mum coming in and asking about my dirty laundry. Hmmm… I wrack my brain for a simple solution. Nothing comes to mind that doesn't involve murder or a lot of cash. Actually there is one… Hmmm…. Yeah! If I could get… But I'll need Fred and George's help. Oh this is perfect! She won't be able to resist me after this!
The day is dreary and grey. I pull my sweater tighter around me as I gaze out the window. I touch my lips softly and think of Draco. I smile to myself. He kissed me. Ron would never have been so bold. It's a shame Neville had to interupt us like that. Draco seemed so worried about someone seeing us together. I sigh. Maybe he's ashamed of me. He's never had any great love for halfbloods. That's an understatment.
"Hermione?" A kind voice stirs me from my thoughts. I turn to see the friendly face of Ron looking at me with a curious grin. Things have been better between us since we've gotten to the Burrow. I think it must be because of the relaxed atmosphere. He can't ask me for homework advice atleast.
"Hi Ron. Did you need something?" His smile widens and I raise my eyesbrows with intrigue.
"I just wanted to tell you that supper is ready."
"Oh. Ok. I'll be right there." I pull my hair back in a bushy ponytail. I skip lightly down the stairs with no idea as to what's in store for me. As I hit the last step I realize how quiet the house is. No jumble of pots and pans. No bickering over who gets what seat. No exploding snap or scraping chairs. The room is dim, with little to no light coming from the windows. Then there is a bright explosion and a hundred candles spontaneously light up around the room to reveal a beautifully laid out dinner for two. I gasp as I take in the whole room with delight. Then there is Ron. He's dressed in a beautiful red button up shirt and black fitted trousers. He pulls out a chair and motions for me to sit down. I am almost completely frozen in shock but take a seat at his request. Then Fred and George appear. They are fully decked out in waiter gear and I wonder what it is Ron could have possibly done to get them to do this.
"Would you like some grape juice Madame?" Fred asks in a horrendously fake, french accent. I smile and nod, still too surprized to speak. He pours the grape juice and then George comes around my other side and lays a napkin neatly on my lap.
"Ron… what is all this?" I ask smiling at him warmly. He shrugs, still grinning.
"I just wanted to do something special for you." His voice has a tone to it that Ive never heard before. It's affectionate and sexy. He pulls his chair up beside me and takes my hand. "Hermione…" he starts slowly. "For a long time… I… But I could never… I've been…" He looks into my eyes. "Hermione I…" I wait anxiously but he never gets to finish.
"Ron! Hermione! quick!" Ginny came bursting through the door her eyes wide with horror. I immediately jump up and rush out the door after a quickly retreating Ginny. The napkin falls silently to the floor. Ron follows grudgingly, his perfect evening ruined. Fred and George come to, all excited as to what Ginny has to show us. After about five minutes of running my fingers are frozen and I wish I had grabbed my coat before leaving so hastily. Then I see it. A broken form lying in the snow about ten feet away. Ginny is already kneeling beside it and I quickly reach her side. The snow around the figure is red and pink. I slowly turn the body over onto its back and fall back onto the snow in horror. It's Draco! His face is almost unrecognizable all purple, swollen and red. His lips are bluish except for the parts caked with dried blood.
"Oh god…" I whisper softly as I reach for his neck. Please let him be alive… There's a pulse, slow and uneven but he's alive!
"The poor bugger." Fred mutters under his breath. "I mean, I always thought he was a git but I'd never have wished this on him." Ron says nothing, staring at the still figure of Draco lying helpless on the ground. Helpless and still ruining his life. Poor Ron… I can't think about him now.
"Fred, George, help me get him up…" I begin pulling Draco onto his feet, Fred and George each take an arm and we slowly head back to the Burrow.
"What are you doing?" Ron asks suddenly. "You can't take him back to the Burrow! I won't have that stuck up snob in my house!" I turn on him quickly.
"What do you suggest Ron? That we just leave him here! Can't you act like a grownup for just two seconds! This is way beyond a highschool feud Ron. He's hurt, badly and you can't even get over yourself for one minute…" I can't even finish, the anger boiling inside of me. I ignore Ron's hurt expression and hurry back to Draco's side.
Once inside we take him up to where I'm staying and lay him on the bed. I send Ginny to get some more blankets and fill some hot water bottles. She's crying softly and a little out of sorts but is eager to help. Ron is nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Mr. and Mrs.Weasley?" I ask finally. Fred and George look at each other then at me.
"We sent them to a Christmas concert, as a favour to Ron. They won't be back 'till much later." Fred and George look almost ashamed. "We thought…" I shake my head slowly.
"It's fine. It's not your fault. Do you have any books on healing spells?" They both nod. "Bring them up here, quickly." They leave quietly, mumbling to each other. I'm left alone with Draco. I wet a piece of cloth and begin wiping the blood off his face. He coughs slightly then lays still again. His breathing is shallow and ragged, his usually slick blonde hair is dirty with blood and matted against his forehead. I brush it back gentley.
"Oh Draco…" I whisper softly as I lean down and kiss his hand. I stand up slowly and turn to get some more water. Ron is standing behind me. He says nothing but turns to leave.
"Ron!" I reach out and grasp his arm, he pulls away. "Please, let me explain." He shakes his head slowly, a depleted look etching it's way across his freckled face.
"There's nothing to say, Hermione. Anyone else… even Fred or George… I could've have excepted, eventually. There is noone, noone who you could've chosen to hurt me more." With that he marches back downstairs and I haven't got the nerve to stop him this time. Instead I sink down against the wall as the silent tears flow freely in this empty room.
