a/n: howdy guys! I know, and I'm guilty for posting this uber late. Truly sorry! I really am. If you know what I'm going through right now, you'd understand. But, anyway… I'm a bit well, disappointed with my last chappie.. was it that bad? I think I only got 5 reviews? Buhu.. :( anyway, please please leave a review cause well, reviews do help in expediting chapters. You don't know it but, it really does inspire the author.. :)

Thanks to my lovely reviewers! You guys make me sane:) This chapter's for you!

Forbidden love

Dragon eyes 5000

Dramioneshipper

Draco-severus-mmm

And

Julie-wah! Didn't know that. Im not from france so, hehe… a little blooper but it's a fanfic so I guess I can invent right:) thanks for informing me though.. :) glad you like my story..

I haven't had my beta, michelle proofread this because I wanted to post this asap so, forgive me for the errors..

I'd like to say hi to dani and kristal:) I miss you guys..

Chapter 14: Can Explanations Turn Back Heads?

Yesterday was a prosaic day for Hermione despite the return of her fiancé. She convinced herself that she should give her full attention to him but her mind always drifts away. It flies to thoughts of her and someone else, someone else who had always made her heart beat in a different manner. Ron tried to be lovey-dovey on her but she utterly refused to respond in the same way for her disappointment still overpowered her. She realized that Draco's statement did make sense, total sense in fact. Ron was to be her husband yet he was nowhere near her in times when she needed his presence the most. It was Draco who abuts her bedside while she lay in the hospital.

"Darling! D'you want tea or anything to drink?" Ron asked ceasing the silent ambience

Hermione remained silent, dazing vacuously, as her eyes focused outside.

"Hermione!" he cried Why isn't she responding?

Jolting her head impetuously, "Huh?" she said, coming out of her dreariness

"Are you all right?"

"Of course I am" it was a lie

"You haven't been yourself lately, you know"

"Well, you were gone for too long, you probably don't know me anymore" it was an irrational response but, it was a reflection of how she felt towards him.

"Don't be silly 'Mione! I know you! I've known you since first year! How can I possibly forget you and your.. your whole self?"

No response

"Look, something's horridly wrong here. You aren't talking to me. And.. and yesterday, I at least expected that you'd welcome me in an endearing manner but, no, you left me sitting by the couch, heedless, invisible, ignored like I'm not even there" he paused and approached her "I don't know why your acting like this but please Hermione, please tell me why I feel rejected and disregarded". Ron had some speculations but he snubbed them for it was very formidable.

She sighed, not knowing what to say. "I.. I just.. Well.. Let's just say someone talked sense into me"

"Huh? Who?"

"Can you let me finish Ron? Please"

"Sorry" he apologized, feeling anxious

"Well, I am starting to feel that I am of no importance to you…"

"Oh, but you are!" he interrupted

"Ron, let me finish" curtly polite. "I just realized that, yes we're getting married but…"

"Are you adjourning the wedding?" he interrupted again, hands trembling.

She gave him an unsatisfied look, "Ron!"

"Sorry", he bit his lips

"But I don't really feel secure, d'you know what I mean?" This is uncomfortable, admitting yet not admitting what I truly feel.

"Secure?"

"C'mon Ron! It's been days since I've been confined and no word from you!"

"What! Honestly Hermione! Honestly! Your cell phone was always off! I even tried calling the house but no one seems to answer! No one answered the phone till Malfoy did, three days ago. And that's when I found out you're in the hospital. That's when Malfoy explained what happened to you. I tried rushing back to get to you but I couldn't get a ticket till yesterday. You are important to me Hermione. Very important"

"But…"

"I really wanted to return as soon as I can, but circumstances prevented me. I didn't even want to go there, remember? I wanted to be with you and help you with the wedding preparations." He paused and knelt down, holding her hand, "I'm really sorry you're here now. This is my entire fault."

This is very much familiar. Hermione thought. Those were somehow the same words Draco uttered, "I was so worried, Hermione. It was my fault, all my fault," he said. "I really thought I'd lost you there. I'm really sorry." Suddenly, it all came back to her, "I can't help myself Hermione, You don't know how bad I felt, how awfully bad I felt. How so damn terrible I felt as I saw you, just lying there with a 50 percent chance of survival, unaware of what I have deep inside of me. How cursed I felt as you lay there, engaged to someone else, who's in the middle of no where, while here I am. Here I fuckin' am, waiting for you to wake up and hoping you could still find out how I truly feel" He paused, staring deeply onto her teary eyes. "Hoping you'll know how much I truly love you," he added. Those words made her heart melt. Shit! I'm acting like a whore! I'm getting married! And Ron's.. Ron's She couldn't find the right words. Why couldn't she get Draco off of her mind?

"Hermione, believe me…"

"But.. You.. I.."

Hold on, didn't she say, "someone talked sense into me?" Ron thought. "But you believe in someone else?" he said, assuming his worst fears

So, he knows.. He knows about me and Draco.. "Ron, let me.." she sat down to further explain her side but was interrupted AGAIN

"I told you not to listen to anything! I told you not to believe in anyone!"

Oh, so that's what he meant. Her heart and soul gave a sigh of relief. "But I believe in you Ron.. I believe in you now" she concluded, wanting to end their petty argument for it might lead into a deeper disagreement she might regret later on.

Suddenly, there was a knock that both of them heard, forcing them to put a halt to their growing intense little revelation. Ron approached the white painted entrance hall and opened the door, to his surprise, it was an unexpected visitor.

Draco hadn't returned to the hospital since Ron arrived yesterday. He felt that he would be a nuisance to the seemingly wonderful and perfect couple. Although, he did want the two to go separate ways. Thoughts of him and Hermione, Hogwarts and post Hogwarts, kept pestering him the whole time. Getting her beautiful face out of his mind seemed impossible. Hold on, why am I acting like this again? Why cantI freakin get over the fact that i should move in? I'm so pathetic. But I love her. Thoughts of her and Ron talking, kissing, cuddling encompassed his mind I shouldn't love her. I shouldn't love her. I shouldn't! She's getting engaged and I can't do anything about that. Nothing. Even holding off the phone calls didn't do anything. Even confessing my love. Nothing. Nothing. I shouldn't love her. Thoughts of her came back but, he forced to push them away. Starting now, I want to forget I ever loved her. I'll go crazy if I don't.

a/n: so, how was it? Don't forget to leave a little review. :) It'll be appreciated a lot. Aren't you curious who the surprise visitor is? Will Draco really stop pursuing Hermione? Find out in the next chapter.. :)

Much,

Tom's Princess