Disclaimer: ...

A/n: Grrr... this is such a hellish week! I think I would die this week. SERIOUSLY. Lots and lots of problems just flew in on me! DAMN! Grr... I'm sorry guys... I'm really sorry if this is really late... I just dealt with very critical problems and I don't think it would end right at the moment... But still, yes, I'll try my VERY best to update as quickly as I could... Forgive me if I would make typos now and then... I don't have much time to recheck it anymore...:c sob sob

By: Aningme

Chapter 33

Dilemma

Ron Weasley stared at the rising sun in his office, his face so gloomy and tired. Last night wasn't as great as he had imagined. Guilt was eating him alive.

He didn't know whether he had to let Hermione go in her trip to search for that bastard. In that case, she wouldn't know he's here. He's in town.

But then, what the hell is he doing here? He had thought of that for millions of times. He couldn't read his head when they spoke last night. He was so angry; he didn't have the chance to figure out what were his intentions.

Perhaps he was really looking for Hermione too.

Ah, sod him.

Slumping himself back to his chair, he dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling.

He didn't know what to do.

Remembering her face, she really wanted to look for him. She loves him, he could tell it.

But then, he couldn't trust Malfoy. He just couldn't.

"Sir,"

Jerking from his chair, Ron glared at his monotonic assistant on his speaker. He drew in a large gulp of air before he answered.

"What?"

"Sir, a Draco Malfoy is waiting on line one. He wishes to speak to you."

Ron paused for a while. What the hell does he want now?

"Sir?"

"Thank you." Ron dismissed and pressed a button.

There was a long silence.

"Weasley." Draco spoke.

"Malfoy."

Draco paused for a while. "We've spoken really briefly before." He started. "If it's possible, we could continue our discussion today."

"What discussion?" Ron asked.

"Don't pretend that you don't recall, Weasley." Draco hissed, his patience draining out.

Ron was the calm one this time. "What do you want?"

"I just want answers." He said. "I don't give any damn with your company."

"Neither am I with yours." Ron snapped. "You think you'll buy me with your friendly talk last night? I may be stupid. But I'm not that stupid."

"That's great. I thought your mental ability would just get lower with in the years." Draco answered. Ron fumed.

"Is that all you're going to say? Insult me?" Ron muttered. "Well then, I think you're wasting both our time."

"No." Draco interjected. "I have questions."

"I don't need to answer them. I'm not obliged to—"

"Cut the crap and just answer me." Draco insisted. "Where is Hermione?"

Ron paused. He never heard Malfoy call her by her first name. He never calls her by her given name. "Why should I tell you?"

Draco kept quiet for a while. He needed to calm his nerves. "She moved."

"You went to her place?"

"Where is she?"

"Why the hell should I tell you?" Ron repeated. "You did nothing in our lives but ruin them."

"This is not about you and your stupid life, Weasley. It's about her and me."

Ron shot up from his chair, his temper blowing his head off. "There is no her and you, Malfoy." He pointed out. "It's just a stupid bargain."

Draco didn't answer.

"So just give it up and let her be. She's happy without you."

No, Draco thought. That's a lie. "You won't tell me?" He uttered; his voice icy cold and controlled. "That'd be fine. I made a mistake before. A mistake I shouldn't have made. I left her just like that, thinking it's impossible for it to work out. But I was wrong. I'll find her. I'll find her, Weasley. Remember that."

He hung up.

Ron plucked his phone from his table and smashed it on the wall. (Talk about tempers.)

Waking up early for work, Hermione Granger grabbed her keys of her own black sedan and drove down to her new hospital building. She was craving for coffee already and some of those chocolates in her mini fridge in her office. She needed the boost. Walking past the clean white corridors, the head nurse greeted her. No matter how early she comes to work, Mrs. Goldberg always arrives first.

"Pleasant morning, Doc." She said, a pale smile plastered on her face.

Hermione smiled at her, Mrs. Dubley's face crossing her mind. "Good morning, Mrs. Goldberg."

Walking up to her new office, she threw herself on the comfy sofa and looked around. It was a much bigger room than her previous office two years ago. It was a new renovated office, her doors and walls painted in cream white, her sofas plush cream with soft black pillows, and her floors carpeted in full vanilla. There was also a picture of the human anatomy on the far wall across her table, and a small kitchen on the other corner. It was a much more comfy room. But she missed her old one: cramped, but neat in a simple way; her old sofa, ragged and pale, still comfy for her senses. She sighed at that and raked her hand across her hair. She missed her old desk, the one she always sleeps on, waits on for his calls. Her old black phone, the one that always rings in the afternoon, the one that makes her capable of hearing his melodious voice every single day.

Damn it.

She took a pillow and buried her face in it. She wasn't just thinking about him. She shook her head. NO.

Sighing, she brought her legs up and rested her head on the arm of the chair, staring at the ceiling.

She remembered her talk with Ron last night. It pained her just thinking about it.

Look around you…

He doesn't care.

She wanted it to be a lie. An obnoxious, fat lie. But then, she couldn't really tell.

Ron's just worried about her.

"May I come in?"

Hermione jerked up, hearing a voice on her door. She stared at her door and stood up, straightening up her white suit.

She opened the door. Ron.

"Ron." She said, merely staring at him.

He smiled. But there were shadows under his eyes. "May I come in?"

"Sure." Hermione nodded, stepping aside for him. She watched him take a good look around and sit on the sofa.

He smiled at her again. "I see that your office is well done already." He commented.

She smiled back and went to the kitchen, taking out two cups of coffee. "Yes, it is." She muttered.

Ron watched her. "I suppose you know why I am here." He suddenly said, as she handed him his cup.

She just sat beside him. "Perhaps you're right." She answered, taking a quick sip of coffee.

"About what?"

"About Malfoy."

Ron sighed and took a sip too. "You've been thinking?"

"Yeah." She blew on the steam. "It has been two years. Two long years."

Ron just kept quiet and drank.

"Maybe I should just forget him. Maybe I shouldn't have gone with that stupid bargain. Maybe, just maybe…" She swallowed her words back, feeling her voice quiver. Her eyes were stinging again. "Ah, sod it." She said, shoving the cup on the coffee table and pressing her palms on her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ron. I just couldn't…"

"I understand." He said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, enough with the crying."

Hermione smiled, and wiped her eyes dry. "Sorry. I just couldn't help it." She sniffed and settled herself. "It was really stupid to make that bargain."

"At least we knew everything about Harry now…"

Hermione kept silent. He was right. "Well, it's a good way to see it. Harry would be in peace now." She said. Her lips quivered at that.

Ron sighed. "You should find him."

Hermione turned to him, confused. "What?"

"Find Malfoy." Ron repeated, his face straight, his eyes blank.

She didn't get him. "You want me to find him?" She restated. It was too sudden. "I thought…"

"I was wrong." He said. He looked away, not wanting to stare in her eyes and lie.

He dug in into his jacket pocket in one of his marvelous suits, and took out an envelope.

She stared at it and turned to him. "What's this?"

He smiled. He managed to smile. "A plane ticket to Canada. Tomorrow."

She stared at him, her eyes welling in tears again. "You really…" She slowly held the envelope and opened it. "You really want me… to do this?"

Ron sighed. "Yeah." He said. "Call me when you get there and someone will escort you to a hotel I reserved for you. I am giving you three weeks of stay there."

Hermione's face lightened up and was streaked with tears.

"If you need more time there, I could extend your reservation and send you in some money."

She couldn't help it but hug Ron. "Thank you."

Ron's face drained as he felt her sobbing. He wrapped his arms around her too and slid his hands up and down her back, soothing her.

He wanted to kill himself for doing this.

A/n: Yes, short. I'll try to lengthen it more next time.

Anyways, the messages...

chaste-aeon - I noticed in your recent review that you were in not that really much good mood. I hope you are in a good mood now these days. Because life ought to be happy and joyful. Hell, what am I saying?

I'm not even in a good mood now too. Damn. I just want to get over these things going on right now. This is infact what I can call a crisis in my life. Well, crises, that is. Anyways, I hope to see you again next time... I hope you a happy life... TC.

P.S. Ron doesn't have a thingfor Hermione. I would never make a fic about them. I'm straight Hermione-Draco too. But of course, if you guys would want, I'd try some other options...

lost-soul-gal - I'm sorry for my stupid question! I really didn't know what sch was. Stupid of me... Anyways, ignore the mood, and thanks for the review... I'm sorry if this was way way late than expected... I just hope I would be able to update this earlier next time... TC. Until next time.

hplucky - Yeah, I was supposed to update quicker, but as you can see, I updated later. I am truly SORRY for that. I really am. Maybe after I'm done with this little itsy bitsy problem I would update everyday. (Well, that would sound impossible... Since there's school... darn..)

Anyways, until next update then... TC.

SpiritWell - Yeah, protective bastards. Hate them too. Lots of experiences with them. I actually grew a trauma for them. Anyways, until next update! (Hopefully this weekend...) See you soon. TC...

Queen of Duct Tape - It's really sweet of you to worry about this. I'm sorry for worrying you. Don't worry, I won't abort this story. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT. I just had to deal with some stuff, and yeah, they're still not over. Maybe if I finish these damn, none sense problems, I would update two chapters again... Hopefully.

Anyways, about your theories, I really liked them. I will always love your reviews no matter what. And I thank you soo much for them. Super. Though, I won't tell you if they are correct or not. Saying it would spoil it. Anyway, Until next update then. Hope to see you guys soon. TC.

curlyqntx - I'm really sorry if this was late. I should've updated earlier but...

Anyways, yeah, Ron is really hatable right now with all the cursed things he's been doing. But please, don't hate him too much. He's a human being too, you know...

Okay, ignore the weirdness coming out of my mouth. Until next update then. TC..

mysteriouscharm - it's good to hear that you don't hate Ron. We must pity him too sometimes... Anyways, until next update! TC.

The Gryffindor Drummer - Yeah, I know, I suck. I am late again. Anyways, I'll try to submit earlier again... Just got to deal with somethings first... Until then. TC!

BrOken.PrOmisez- Hey! Welcome aboard! Thanks for reviewing. Yeah, the mood sucks, but please ignore it. Lol. sigh Okay, yeah, Ron is in a state of confusion right now. He is actually blinded that what he is doing is stupid. Yeah, that happens in real life. Anyways, was that vague? Sorry. Have to settle myself for a while.

Until next update then. Hope to see you again. TC!

Aurum Potestas Est - Sigh. Yeah, it was stupid of Ron. But please forgive him. Lots of people hate him already because of me. I'm sorry Ron.

Anyways, I'm sorry if this was really late... I had encountered with a crisis right now. No, Crises I mean. That happens in real life anyway. I just hope it leaves me sooner than later. I hate feeling gloomy and tired. I don't want to think of it anymore.

Okay, Until next Update then. Hope to see you guys soon. TC

angelfire 2004 - Thanks for that comment. And I think you are a new reviewing reader, right? If so, Welcome aboard! Hope to see you until the end of this story. Until then. TC.

Vegas Chick - Lol. I really pity Ron now. And it's my fault you guys hate him. Please give him a chance. I don't want to be eaten by guilt at night. lol. Anyways I am sorry for posting this late. Will try to update earlier. Until then. TC.

MysteryALASKA - Welcome back! It's good to hear you having a great time there. Life should be HAPPY.

Anyways, will update soon. And thanks for the review!And yeah, Ron doesn't get it at all.

Until then. TC.

Miss Ditzy - It's really cool to hear your theories about this. I love it. But, I won't say if it is right, it would spoil it. lol. Anyways, it's alright if you weren't able to review sooner. That happens you know. Something just comes up and it will eat you alive! and you won't be able to do the things you have to do...

Yeah, crappy mood. Sorry.

Anyways, just ignore. Until then. TC.

guitargurl08 - thanks guitargurl. I love your reviews too. lol. Thanks a lot. See you on next update. Until then. TC.

Samantha - I believe you are new here too... Welcome aboard! And I am sorry if this turned out late. Will try my best to update soon. Until then. TC.

blaisezabiniismine - lol. yeah. My Sassy Girl. Love that movie too. lol. Anyways, I know you are a new reviewing reader. I am sure. Welcome Abord! Oh crap. I mean Aboard. lol. Gosh. I think my eyes are playing tricks on me already. Please forgive me. Can't see the right keys to press...

Anyways, until next update. Hope to see you there. Until then. TC.

catgurfurreel - THANK YOU.

Hay... Naiinis na talaga ako... yokoh na... wahh... :'c