Chapter Nine: Awkward Silences

A/N: Thanks to iluvsmallville1, bluehazegrl, GryffindorPrincessofDragons, ShadowHexx771, and SlytherinPrincess5489 for reviewing! Now..Chapter Nine!

Hermione's POV

My mouth was awfully sore from trying to talk. But of course, I couldn't. Not while the wand was in Ron's possession. I had tried to get it, but it would have been too obvious. I gave up, knowing that my attempt to steal it would only end up in either me or Draco getting hurt. And I couldn't have let that happen. So, I stood there in resignation, waiting for something bad to happen.

Guess I didn't have to worry. Some strange old man took it, and poof! He was gone. Bloody, inconsiderate old man. The least he could've done was make a portkey for us! It's not like the three of us enjoyed being here..this place just causes stress and chaos! And even more stress, now. Because both Ron and Draco are on the island. Wonderful. Well, at least since the man left, the Silencing Charm was lifted. And Draco wasn't hit with what I'm sure was the Cruciatius Curse from Ron..I'm appalled that Ron would have done that! But when he is enraged, he'll do anything.

"Draco, what happened here? I mean, where did that man come from?" Ron was temporarily knocked out, so it might as well be as good a time as any to talk to Draco in peace.

"I'm happy to say that the man you saw wasn't a figment of your imagination. At least I'm hallucinating the same thing, anyway." Well, that was a relief. I wasn't crazy. Yet. But still, that man was someone else.

"But he wasn't the same guy I saw," I say, confused.

"Nope. But he knew the guy you knew. He buried that old man that drowned. That's why he wasn't there when we returned to that place." Ah. I guess it's better that the dead man was buried. I think I would have chucked up whatever was in my stomach..which only would have been stomach acid, I suppose. Argh..that reminded me that I'm hungry!

"I see..but how did they know each other?"

"It's a love triangle, apparently. Nice to know that now, isn't it?" I have a sinking feeling in my stomach now. Bloody hell. A love triangle. And that's why Ron is here. I guess it's a relief to know that Draco didn't like anyone else..until I came along. But it is NOT a relief to know that I alone am the one who has the power to get us out of here. If the curse was right. If I were to fall in love with one of them...but would we all go back? Or would it just be me and the person I decided to love? That is, if that person I chose loved me back, too..But I loved them both, really. So why can't we all just go back now! But I know we can't. Not until I choose one over the other..damn. And sheesh, I've been swearing an awful lot in the time that we've been here. At least I'm thinking most of it, but still.

"A love triangle?" Is all I manage to say. Sure, maybe I just thought through it all, but it's still a bit too much for me to completely absorb.

"Yes, Hermione, a love triangle. Except it's not quite like the one you shared with Potter and Krum..this one is a bit more serious." Why did he have to even mention that love triangle? It wasn't even one! I have never had feelings for Harry, but I did have some interest in Krum..although, no longer. That incident was a living hell. Everyone thought I was a slut, seducing two famous wizards to fall for me..only I didn't. But maybe I'm not so far off from being a slut now; I have Draco and Ron now. Only, Ron wasn't too pleased with me about Draco. And Draco wasn't too pleased with me about Ron. I guess I deserve it. Curse my miserable, blasted feelings!

"So you're saying that that man was somewhat of an interest to that girl, while the other man was the one the girl hated."

"Exactly what I'm saying." My worst fears are now confirmed. But how could I choose? That old man said that girl couldn't choose either. Honestly, she jumped off of a cliff! I would, too, but it all would not end up so well if Draco and Ron were to remain here. I think they would both tear the other up to shreds.

"And now I either have to choose or die, basically."

"You forgot another option- stay here forever."

"You also forgot another option..you and Ron could fall in love!" It could happen, right? Anything is possible..even though my heart would probably break because they would no longer care about me..and I would think it rather awkward, but well, it could work. And then that would eliminate the burden that's on me! Yes. It had to work.

"..." He gives me a look.

"Well, you could," I say, sheepishly. "It could also get us out of here. Then we wouldn't have to be here for all of eternity!"

"You know my answer to that idea or yours.." He pauses, and then blows up. "Why the hell would I fall in love with bloody Weasley! He just tried to subject me to pain, Hermione. You think he would want to get romantically involved with me? And do you really think I would fall for another man, let alone that awful, red-headed git!"

"He isn't awful.." I say, defensively. "I like him. Just as long as we aren't arguing, or as long as he's not being the ass that he can be."

"That's about one hundred percent of the time he's like that, you know."

"You're no better, either! Most of the time you strut around as if you own the place! And then you go around calling me a Mudblood-"

"Hermione," he says, gently, "I really don't want to argue with you. I could spare a few arguments for anyone else, but not you." I was touched. Somewhat.

"Well..fine," I say, calming down.

He gave me one of his genuine smiles. Draco could be a very sweet person. I loved those moments when he showed that side of him! But what was it that held me back from him? Fine, I know that. Ron. But Ron..he was great, but he was mostly well..an ass. I get the nerves to ask him on a date, and then I find him snogging with some other girl. That's the appreciation I get from him. But he was such a good person when he wasn't like that..both of them were great, deep down..I guess I can't let go of Ron because..he's my first crush, love, whatever. It's just hard to let go, even though I want to. It would be so much easier if I could get over him, though. Then I wouldn't be so afraid of continuing what I had with Draco. Or, if I got over Draco, I could continue to feel the same with Ron. I know he feels the same way..I think. I've only liked Draco for a little while. Ron I've liked for ages.

I. Hate. Thinking! If I start to think too much about it, I'll be too confused as to who I like more, or who I don't. Of what's good about someone and what isn't. I just end up thinking the same way I always have about them, anyway. Grr..what could I do to make me like one of them more than the other! Suddenly I feel very alone. There was no one I could talk to about this! If only Ginny were here..any girl, for Merlin's sake!

"What're you thinking?" Draco asks.

"Erm, nothing important."

"Ah, so you're thinking about how attractive I am, aren't you?" I almost forgot about that. Draco is rather arrogant.

"No," I say, rolling my eyes, "I'm trying to decide on something."

He stiffens. "Decide on what? Me or that git?" He says that with an edge in his voice.

"That's part of it," I say, trying to say it lightly, "But I can't decide. But now I have an idea.."

"Another? This had better not have anything to do with both Ron and I falling for each other-"

"It isn't. Actually, I was thinking that to choose, I should go on a date with both of you, one at a time. And after that, I promise that I'll choose one of you, whether I like it or not..and whether either of you like it or not." Could I be willing enough to do that? But I have to. I can handle it. I'm not going to be selfish and think that I can have both of them. Because I can't.

"Well.." He hesitates. "Okay. I'll agree with that.." His sentence remains unfinished. Well, it sounds unfinished to me.

"What?" I ask.

He glances down at his feet, but then looks up at me, straight in the eye. "I'm afraid of losing you." Gulp. Did he have to make this harder?

I look away. "I'm sorry," is all I can say.

Awkward silence. I hate it, but neither of us know what else to say. I'm just too overwhelmed with it all, but I've made my decision. Let's hope I can just live with it.

For the first time, I'm glad Ron is here when he starts to awaken. It breaks the silence that was cast down upon us.

I'm the first to react. "Ron! Are you okay?"

He groans, but remains lying on the ground. "Yeah..What happened? Are we in the common room?"

Draco and I exchange looks. He must've been knocked out..and good. But how much does he remember?

"No..we're on the island, remember?" I say this, cautiously.

He blinks up at me. "Island?"

"Don't you remember?" I'm afraid to say anything. If he really doesn't remember..then we could just leave it that way. Couldn't we?
Ron gives me a questioning look.

"Oh damn it, Weasley," Draco snaps, "We're on the island because of a curse. You locked us in a room together and some statue sent us here, along with you. And now Hermione has to fall in love with one of us so we can get the bloody hell out of here. You weren't so happy about it, so you blew up on me and was damn near close to performing the Cruciatius Curse on me. How's that to sum things up?" I wince. So much for my plan.

Another awkward silence. Swell.

Ron turned white. "I performed an Unforgivable Curse? But I would never..not even on someone as useless as you! It's..unforgivable!

"Can't you get it through that thick skull of your's? You did!" Draco says, angrily.

"No he didn't!" I exclaim. "Er, well..he did, but..it was right when that man took the wand away! So no harm done..right?"

Draco looks at me, incredulously. "No harm done? He could have killed me! Do you think I was trying to kill him? And besides, I was defenseless! That git was the only one with a wand. He could have killed us all!"

Ron shakes his head, still in disbelief. "I performed an Unforgivable Curse..I could go to Azkaban-"

It's my turn to snap back on him. "No you wouldn't. We're here! The Ministry is probably millions of miles away...they won't be able to track our magic down. If they would've, they would have come and taken us away by now."

Ron looks at me, fearful. "But still..they could track my magic-"

"Even if they did," I sigh, "That old man would have it. He took your wand."

"Old man?"

"There were three other people here before us, previously. Also because of the curse. But they're gone now."

"I see.." Ron says.

"And now, we're all here..still. Under a curse. And that curse states that we have to fall in love to get out of here. Well, "we" meaning that I have to fall in love with one of you. Maybe you won't understand, considering you don't remember..but I do like Draco now, too. I know he's been our enemy for years, but he can also be a good guy. As I have found out while being here. We didn't find you until later. Or actually, you found me."

Silence. Not awkward this time, but..expectant. It's hard to explain. It's almost as if the silence was waiting with bated breath as to what someone would do or say next. Strange, I know..but that's what it felt like.

Eventually, Ron says, slowly, "So you're saying that Draco and I are here now, and you have to choose one of us?"

"Yes," I say, softly. Poor Ronald. He forgot everything that has happened here. I guess that is somewhat of a good thing. At least he shouldn't flip out on Draco again.

He nods. "I'm up to it," He says, finally. "'Mione, I just wanted to let you know that I know throughout the years I have been stubborn, and mostly a jerk. I know we argue a lot, but I..I dunno. Most of things I say during our arguments I don't mean. And I know that when I had been seeing Lavendar, you were hurt. I couldn't bear it, but i wanted you jealous. You had been with plenty of other people- Krum, McLaggen..It all got to me. So I guess I just acted stupid. I hope you're over that now. I just want to say that I really care about you..and..I love you." Oh Merlin. Did they both have to make this harder for me?

Meanwhile, Draco says nothing, but only stands there. Right now I'm also just standing there, not knowing what to do or say. Ron is still laying on the ground and looking up at me, waiting for me to say something. But I don't know what to do.

Finally, I say, lamely, "Er, thank you." That's it? That's all I said? What an idiot I am!

Quickly, I say, "But first, I still need to go on a date with the both of you."

They both only nod, then just look at me. I inwardly groan. Now I've a date with both of them. The future holds many more awkward silences. Hooray.

A/N: I had meant the dates to be in this chapter, but I guess I got carried away..so chapter ten will be about the dates! And it won't all be Draco's POV- part of it will be Ron's. I'm unsure if chapter ten will be the last chapter or not. There may be a chapter eleven..but I don't know yet. Depends on how much I write. Anyway, please review! Constructive criticism, praise, flames, anything! Just review!