Disclaimer:- I neither earn nor own anything from this story except my plot. Harry Potter and his world are the intellectual property of JK Rowling and her associates.

oOo

A/N:- Thank you to LadyWinterlight, for her beta work on this chapter, and to everyone for their reviews and alerts, I hope you enjoy this next chapter, and my apologies for the length of time between chapters. Life is a bit challenging at the moment and it is effecting all of my stories.

oOo

Chapter Nine – The Weddings Start

Nobody had the heart to tell Hermione what Ron said about her that Sunday lunch as she'd left. They didn't know that she'd heard, and was taking a very Slytherin approach to the information. However, Ron's outburst finally seemed to make Molly realise that Ron was completely in the wrong, and she stopped advocating them as a match. This made it slightly awkward for Hermione, but she stayed after Ginny and Harry talked her into it.

"But I have somewhere else to stay, Andie has asked me to stay with them," she told them.

"That's great 'Mione," Harry said. "But we'll all be really busy soon and this is our last summer together like this."

"Yes," Ginny added. "It would be nice to spend it together, and Ron's disappeared again."

They knew that they were being selfish wanting to keep Hermione with them until they had to let her go, but they really did want her to stay.

Hermione studied them hard while she thought about it, and finally she sighed. "Okay, but any trouble from Ronald and I'm going," she warned.

Harry and Ginny grinned at her. "Agreed," they stated in union.

Ron didn't come back, and in fact none of them had seen since the day of the ill-fated lunch. However, today was the day of George and Angelina's wedding, and while she was looking forward to it, Hermione was very nervous, because Ron was invited too and she really did not want to see him. She was still fuming over what he'd said, but she was still awaiting her chance for retribution, and she knew that it would come sooner or later.

Now, while Harry and Ginny's wedding in September promised to be every bit a media circus, George and Angelina were having a very small hand-fasting ceremony in the backyard at The Burrow. It was scary how quickly time had gone by since they'd first discussed weddings at that Sunday lunch, and Hermione had declared her emancipation from Ron , and the latter had stormed out once one of his deceptions had been revealed.

In fact, it had been a month since that day, and the scene coming to life in the yard of the Burrow right now was a testament to the true organiser that Molly Weasley was, she really had missed her calling in life because she was natural caterer.

It had taken her a little while, but before she'd launched herself headlong into organising today, Molly had also apologised to Hermione once she'd recovered from Ron's outburst. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't think. I just wanted everyone to be happy."

Hermione assumed that Arthur had spoken to her to calm her down, but she accepted Molly's words graciously, and didn't broach the subject of moving to Andie's yet. She'd owled Andie the next day and told her that she had indeed finished with Ron, but that her friends had convinced her she would stay at The Burrow, and she would happily do that, but also that George's wedding—the next time she expected to see Ron—might be the day that things changed. So that was today, and Hermione was very nervous.

Hermione and Ginny were currently ensconced in the window of their bedroom watching the proceedings in the yard as the final touches were added. The guests were due to start arriving at two, and both Hermione and Ginny were hiding from Molly because everything was ready, but that hadn't stopped Molly from trying to find more jobs for everyone.

Hermione was dreading seeing Ron after their fight last time, and her stomach was in knots. Over the last month—even though she'd agreed to stay—she had also found that she really wanted to have a place that was not quite so busy. She loved The Burrow, but things had been a little intense here while Molly planned a wedding, and Hermione tried to prepare for her apprenticeship. That was not even mentioning how awkward she felt, now she was not a prospective daughter-in-law.

"I'm really not looking forward to seeing Ron today. I wonder if he is planning to attend?" Hermione questioned softly, leaning her elbows on the sill as she cradled her cheeks in her hands. She was feeling despondent, she was still missing Draco terribly, and everything stabbed at her once again as her thoughts turned to the man she loved.

Ginny snorted. "Mum would kill him if he failed to show." The redheaded witch now realised that Harry and her had been very selfish in wanting to keep Hermione here with them, and on more than one occasion Ginny had seen how awkward Hermione had felt.

"I was hoping that he'd calm down and apologise for his out-burst," Hermione added, unaware of her friend's thoughts as she heard Ginny snort again. "Yes, I know it's a long shot, but still. We are all supposed to be adults now."

"Sweetie, it's not only a long-shot it'd be like the Canons winning the league," Ginny advised.

Hermione was still angry, very angry. "He can't go through life with a child's attitude on things," she added, but then stopped talking as she realised that she was truly free of him, so it really wasn't any of her concern. She shrugged. "I'm just pleased it all seems to be over with him."

Ginny sniffed. "Well, you've never been love's dream, and if you'll remember I did try to warn you when you got back together with him, but I'm glad that Mum seems to be with the program now though. That was starting to worry me."

Hermione nodded. "Yes you did, but…" she couldn't say that no one else wanted her, because she knew that wasn't true, so she changed the vein of her thoughts. "Molly said to me that she just wanted everyone to be happy. Poor Molly, she had no idea that Ron and I were not going to work out."

Ginny's hand scooted forwards and covered Hermione's. "Look, I wouldn't say that too quickly, Mum's hard to stop once she's got a head of steam up. She's occupied with George and Angelina, and then it will be Harry and me," and she gave an excited little squeal, but then she turned serious eyes to Hermione. "But I'll bet you anything that she hasn't discounted you and Ron entirely yet."

Hermione's brow creased in frustration. "But it's obvious that neither of us are interested."

Ginny sighed. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Hey, we better get down there," she added, seeing the first guests starting to trickle into the yard.

xox

Ron had not told Lavender about George and Angelina's wedding, and he'd encouraged her to have her baby shower this afternoon to take her mind off him not being there. Over the past month he'd had to eat his words about not needing his family, everything was so hard without them, and he was missing The Burrow terribly. He reached the crest of the hill and his head came up as he stopped to take in the scene of home, and emotion overwhelmed him. "Merlin I've missed this place," he muttered, and suddenly he didn't want to go back to Devon. He knew that he loved Lavender, but he really did need his family too. Mind you, he was not planning to apologise for what he'd said the last time he was here, and he hoped that they would have forgotten about it. After all they'd invited him to the wedding, hadn't they?

Then he saw Hermione talking to Percy and Charlie, and she looked gorgeous. It was like he was only seeing her for the first time. How could he have thought that she was boring and plain? She felt like home to him, but what he had not considered was that she wasn't actually home to him anymore, it was only that she represented his old life to him. He started down the hill, and as soon as he was beside her, and without thinking he leant forward and kissed her cheek.

She gasped and turned, her hand on her cheek. "Ron," she said, her eyes opening wider. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she cried.

"Yes," Percy put in. "You have some nerve doing that after last time."

"What's it to you. Mister Perfect Percy?" Ron asked nastily, and then something seemed to dawn on his expression. "What is she screwing you now?" he asked.

"I beg your pardon?" Hermione gasped. "How dare you!" She reeled back and slapped him.

Harry and Ginny heard his accusation too, and they arrived either side of Hermione.

Ginny flew into her brother. "You really are a piece of work. How dare you be so crude and disgusting!"

Ron ignored her and tried to suck up to Harry. "How's it going, mate? Do you believe it, Hermione and Perfect Percy? How could she, ay?"

"Ron," Harry replied. "What are you trying to do? Most of us are still waiting for an apology from last time, and you come in and cause more trouble before you've been here five minutes."

Ron scoffed. "Yeah, I've got a gift, so sue me."

"S-Sue you? Harry spluttered. "Who even says that? What's got into you again?" and he watched him for a time and then sighed. "So you've reverted back into the creep you were at the beginning of last year. Grow up," and he turned to Ginny and Hermione, who were also glaring at Ron. "Ladies, may I escort you to your seats. He offered them both an arm, and took them to their seats to watch George and Angelina getting married.

xox

The wedding went off perfectly, but Ron glowered at Hermione all night, and it was near the close of the evening when he approached her again. He was drunk, and he obviously had a chip on his shoulder.

"What are you still doing here anyway? I'm done with you, there's no more homework that needs doing now," he told her, flopping down next to her.

She jumped up and looked at him. "What did you say?"

He sneered and then laughed. "I was only using you to get my homework done. If you didn't hear me the first time then you're not as bright as you think, 'Mione."

Hermione swallowed. This was it, this was her confrontation with Ron. "Oh, I heard you perfectly the first time, I just wasn't expecting you to come back and repeat yourself. I've been ignoring you."

"Were you? Well, there you go," and he lurched up and hissed at her. "You know what you need?" and then went on before she could answer. "You need a bloody good…"

"Don't you dare say that I need seeing to, or I will hex you into next week," Hermione stated, reeling back from him when she smelt the alcohol on his breath.

He sneered at her. "I've got someone better than you, and if you're not with me," and he leaned menacingly into her personal space as he grabbed at her arm, "then you should get away from my family."

His aggression had her glancing around in a bit of a panic. "You're drunk," she said, reefing her arm out of his painful grip.

There weren't many people left outside now, and Hermione decided that the kitchen might be a better place to be, so she walked that way. She found Fleur sitting with Molly, who was holding a sleeping Victoiré, and Andromeda in a similar position with Teddy, and they were talking quietly.

"Hermione," Molly offered. "Would you like some elderberry wine?"

Hermione hurried over to them, rubbing her arm where Ron had grabbed her, and Andie noticed that she looked very spooked. "You okay?" she asked.

Hermione glanced back out into the yard, but she nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Fleur added, in her distinctive accent, also noticing that Hermione looked down-right frightened.

Hermione swallowed, but affirmed again that she was fine, although she said, "But sometimes it would be nice to not have to defend myself constantly," as she sat down with the three women as Fleur poured her a small glass of wine.

"'Ere, drink, it will 'elp," she said.

"What's brought that on?" Andie asked.

"Yes," Molly added. "You look positively spooked," concern creasing her brow.

"I'm just sick of certain people constantly making out that I'm the one at fault."

"Ron again?" Andie asked, and they heard Molly gasp.

"'E 'as some nerve after ze 'ard time 'e gave you last time 'e saw you," Fleur said.

It was good to hear someone other than her friends agree with her view on things, but before she'd had a chance to comment, Bill arrived to collect Fleur and Victoiré.

"Ah, there you are," he said, smiling. "Thanks, Mum," he added, bending down to scoop up his little daughter from Molly.

"A pleasure," Molly replied. She got up to say her good nights to the family, and when she sat down again she turned to Hermione.

However, what she said had Hermione all but choking on her wine, as her conversations with both Ginny and Andie roared back into her head, and she realised that she'd seriously underestimated Molly Weasley's single mindedness to get what she wanted.

"You know Ron really does care for you, he's just going through a rough patch," Molly told her.

"What?" Hermione gasped, her eyes opening wide. "You must be kidding," she finally muttered. No, she can't be suggesting that we could still be together, could she? I really did think she was over this, oh god, no, her affronted brain screamed at her. "I did hear him that Sunday lunch, you know… A-And he's just reiterated that same things to me… No! No, I could never… ever even entertain thoughts of him as a friend now… Besides…" but Molly cut in before she'd had a chance to tell them that Ron had just told her he'd found someone else.

"But you had something very special," Molly continued.

Hermione snorted softly. "I'm pretty sure that we didn't…" and she gathered her courage around her. "And I've actually found out recently that what we—Ron and I—had was nothing near true love," she stated, her voice wavering as she knew what she was admitting.

Andie also seemed to realise what she was acknowledging, and she cut in before Molly could answer. "Yes," she said with a casual little laugh. "We often find that the young man we thought was it when we were a teenager turns out to be nothing like the person who actually takes our heart," she said, a strange light glinting in her eye.

Arthur arrived while Andie was speaking, and he quickly got the gist of what they were talking about. "Molly," he put in, coming to stand behind Molly and placing his hands on her shoulders. "We're still in the middle of a wedding, and we've got Harry and Ginny's wedding to come. Isn't that enough?"

Molly glanced around at her husband and nodded sadly. "I just thought…" but she didn't finish her thought as her voice trailed off. "Perhaps it is too soon."

Hermione smiled, appreciating this small concession. "Now might be a good time for me to tell you that Andie has asked me to move in to her place, and I think that it might be wise for me to do so now. Ron seems to have a lot of issues that you as his family are better equipped to handle than I am," and she took a deep breath as she thought, and I don't think I could accept him even that way anymore, then continued out loud. "Besides, he's just told me that he has someone else, and that if I'm not with him that I should move out… and well, he's probably right." She knew that she'd just dumped Ron in it, and she was very pleased with herself.

"No, Hermione," Molly gasped. "Who? You are always welcome here," she stated passionately, all her thoughts coming out together.

Hermione ignored her questions, and said instead, "Thank you, Molly, Arthur, I've enjoyed my time here with you, but it is time to move on, and it's more convenient for me to be somewhere quieter. Then next term if Hogwarts can't offer me accommodation, Andie is willing to have me, and I'm happy to help; I'll be helping like I was last year."

This seemed to be a blow to Molly. "But you'll still visit, and you'll still come for family occasions?" she asked.

"Of course I will, if I am able," and she got up as she said it. "I'm just going to get the remainder of my things."

"Then Floo over," Andie said, as she got up with Teddy, and gently squeezed Hermione's forearm. "I'll get Ted into his bed and make us some tea," she told Hermione. "Good night to you both," she said politely to Molly and Arthur. "Thank you for a pleasant evening," and she turned to the Floo. "Arthur, could you... please?" and she indicated the Floo powder.

"Certainly," Arthur said, and then stated clearly to the fireplace. "The home of Andromeda Tonks."

He watched Andie and Teddy disappearing into the Floo as he heard the scrape of Molly's chair. He turned and saw Molly hugging Hermione. "You're right. We need to find out what's going on with Ron, but please don't discount what you had with him. He'll return to his old self, he's just a bit lost."

"We've never really been a good match," Hermione tried, attempting to be diplomatic, when in reality she was very much over Molly trying to force them together when they were both so reluctant. "And he was down-right nasty to me tonight. I think I need to be concentrating on my studies now anyway."

"Of course you do," Arthur put in. "You're our brilliant girl, you learn as much as you can, and it doesn't matter who you end up marrying, Hermione, you'll always be a welcome part of this family."

Hermione found tears gathering at Arthur's heart-felt words. "Thank you," she said, turning and hugging him too. "I'll just go and get my stuff," she stated, wiping at her eyes. Everything was starting to come down on top of her.

xox

When Hermione walked out of Andie's Floo she saw her friend waiting, and she swallowed as she walked forward.

Andie raised an eyebrow. "So?" she asked. She couldn't help thinking that there was more to this than Hermione had said. When she'd come into the kitchen at The Burrow, she'd been shaking and pale. "What didn't you tell Molly?"

"Umm, Ron was a bit rough with me," Hermione confessed. "He was very drunk," she added. "Not that that's an excuse, but he grabbed me and told me that all I needed was a good seeing to, and that he'd only got back together with me so I'd help him with his homework… even though I already knew that bit."

"Bastard," Andie snarled. Then she saw that tears had started over Hermione's cheeks, and her hand came forward and patted hers. Then an idea came to her, and she knew that Cissy would still be up. "Wait here. I'll be back in a minute."

Andromeda walked to the Floo. "Cissy?" she said quietly.

"Yes?" came the reply.

"Is Draco free? I think Hermione might appreciate a good friend to talk to."

"Leave it with me," Narcissa said, and the connection was broken. Moments later Draco Malfoy strode through the Floo, and Andie just indicated Hermione sitting at the table.

Draco approached her, and leant forward. "Hello," he whispered close to her ear.

Hermione's head shot up. "Draco," she cried, and she surged up into his arms as he straightened.

Andie turned and left them together.

"What is it, love?" he murmured, reaching down and lifting her to carry her to the lounge. He sensed that the lounge was the right place at the moment; something had frightened her, he could see it in her eyes, and as much as he longed to settle her in her bed in his arms he instinctively knew not to. If Weasley is responsible for this he will pay dearly for it, he thought. "Talk to me," he said, sitting and settling her in his lap.

She reached up to lace her arms up around his neck, and her cardigan—which had just been draped over her shoulders—fell away from her upper arm, and Draco saw a dark hand-shaped bruise blooming there. "Who did this?" he demanded.

"Ron was drunk," she said, pulling back and covering the bruise again.

"Did he hurt you?" Draco asked, his voice already shaking with anger.

"Only my arm… but he scared me. He's completely out of control."

"Well, you're finished with him, you're not going to have anything more to do with him," he asserted passionately, and pulled her tightly against him.

It felt so good being in Draco's arms, and she snuggled closer. "Draco, I'm sorry I left you the other day, but it hurt me seeing her and being treated like that."

"I know," he said, kissing her head. "She's such bitch and an idiot," and he drew breath. "Mother and her lawyers are stilling fighting them on their new idiocy, and we're confident that gives us the time we need to discover why her father is being so panicky now that we haven't just fallen into line."

"That's wonderful," Hermione murmured, smiling at this piece of hope.

Draco stoked her face, and dipped his lips to hers. He kissed her softly. "I do not ever intend to have anything to do with the bitch again. I wish I knew why they're fighting to have the wedding moved forward, I mean, how hard is it to wait for the allotted time, like the original agreement states?"

Hermione thought about it for a time. "So you haven't discovered the reason why he wants you two married so quickly yet?" Hermione said, snuggling into the comfort Draco was offering, but then she gasped. She just attended a rushed wedding. "She's not pregnant, is she?"

"Well, if she is, it isn't mine. I haven't touched her?" Draco said, sneering. However, his expression suddenly turned sly. "Oh, you are a brilliant witch."

Hermione grinned at him. "You're the second person to tell me that tonight."

"Well it's true," and he leant down and kissed her lips, but then he pulled back. "Who else said it?"

Hermione laughed. "Arthur Weasley told me that I should learn as much as I could, and that I was their brilliant witch," she said smiling.

"He's right," and his hands came up to cradle her face. He kissed her again, and it soon turned heated.

"Draco?" she panted, breaking the kiss. "We shouldn't."

He rested his forehead on hers, and swallowed. "Hermione, I know I should inform Mother of what you've just suggested, but I don't want to leave you."

"If it's true it will still be true in the morning, but if your mother is as industrious as I believe her to be then she might have a whole defence case in place by morning, and we will be one step closer to being together," but her lip slipped between her teeth, as she really didn't want him to leave.

His eyes watched her for some moments before he kissed her again, slowly and deeply. "You're correct, of course," he stated, breaking their kiss. "So I will go and speak with Mother about your idea, but will you go out with me tomorrow?"

Hermione expression faltered as she thought about it. "I'm not sure that's wise yet."

"I plan on never leaving you again if you'll have me," he said.

"If I'll have you?" she said, her voice gaining an air of humour. "You are all I want," she stated seriously, her hand coming up to caress his cheek as they sat there watching each other.

He smiled. "Then it is settled. You are mine."

"Willingly… Completely," Hermione told him, her lips seeking his out.

"Then we must go out and celebrate," Draco replied.

"It will need to be a quiet celebration until you're free," Hermione stated.

"You can take me into Muggle London, maybe Sabatini's."

Her face brightened. "Maybe there, maybe somewhere else," she replied, trying to sound casual.

He smiled. "You choose," he said giving her another heated kiss.

"Okay," she said, pulling him back down for another kiss as he started to pull away. "Thank you for coming over," she added, her lip slipping between her teeth, knowing that she was about to lose him again, even if it was only for a time.

He gladly gave her more kisses. "I will come back tomorrow, at breakfast time."

"All right," Hermione said, forcing herself to slip off his lap, and pulling him up by the hand she was still holding. She knew that if he didn't go soon that she wouldn't be able to let him go, and she needed to stay sane in all of this. They really couldn't have any hope for the future if he was still entailed to Astoria.

He stood and leant forward, kissing her again, seeming to understand her unspoken actions. Then he pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. They stood together in a tight embrace for what seemed like a lifetime, but finally he pulled away and walked straight to the Floo. He couldn't look back, and he noticed the she just allowed him to brush by her, standing stock still.

"Bye," she whispered, not turning around.

"Bye," he replied. "I will be back tomorrow," he promised, and strode through the Floo away from her.