TW: there is a mention of miscarriage in this chapter (not Hermione) when Harry is talking to Ron, if you wish to skip over it I've marked the beginning and end of the conversation with a * it's about 170 words.
A/N: I've officially finished writing Sanctum! Wooo! I'm aiming to post chapter 23 next Sunday and then the final chapter on December 23rd! Alpha love as always to TriDogMom!
Sitting behind her desk in her office a few days later, Hermione looked down at the parchment she had been trying to write her report on. All the notes she had made yesterday were now viciously slashed through, nothing she wrote was coming out right.
It was incredibly frustrating.
In front of her were various reports, scattered in a semi organised way. All she had to do was organise the facts into coherent sentences to document the changes her magic had undergone whilst living in the cave.
Of course, thinking about the cave made her think about Draco. And thinking about Draco made her agitated. Everything had seemed so simple in France. With a growl of frustration, Hermione threw her quill down and began pacing her office.
She knew her feelings hadn't changed, when Draco had placed his ring upon her finger she had felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. Her home truly was in his arms so why was it so scary to admit that now? Hermione cringed as she recalled Draco trying to discuss their living arrangements and her tactless avoidance of the subject.
Standing suddenly, Hermione walked to one side of her office, looked out the window and then turned to walk back towards her desk.
It was like there was some big stopper on her emotions. Everytime they swelled to the surface, Hermione stamped them back down. She was being irrational and she knew it.
Turning again, she made her way back to the window, lingering for a moment before spinning back again.
Draco had admitted he loved her. There was no pressure for her to say it back and she wanted to, she really wanted to, but the words didn't come. Had her relationship with Ron damaged her so much she was now afraid of the commitment? Anytime she got close to telling Draco how she felt she was overcome with fear.
The fear of losing him. The fear of being rejected by him. The fear of jumping in too deep, too quickly. Fear. Fear. Fear.
Hermione could feel her chest getting tighter, almost like it used to after her nightmares.
Draco wanted to marry her. Draco wanted to live with her, forever. Draco wanted to call her his girlfriend. Hermione wanted to stop thinking about it.
Swinging from one emotion to the other was exhausting. She needed a distraction.
Perhaps, if she could just factually document the increase to her magical core prior to her accident, she could go to lunch with Harry, happy. That would be enough, Harry would be arriving soon to pick her up and then she could distract herself with him.
Settling herself back behind her desk, Hermione straightened her back and concentrated her mind, quill in hand, she began to write. From observing the records Healer Norton had sent over, Hermione could see the gradual rise in the power stored in her magical core, something she already knew from her regular check ups.
However, what was interesting was that these rises corresponded with Hermione swimming in the cave pool. Her own private records hadn't been shared, at the time Hermione hadn't really seen the need but now she wondered if her exposure to the water had been the reason for her power increase.
Pulling forward a different sheaf of parchment, her eyes trying to avoid lingering on the house brochure Draco had sent her, Hermione shuffled through them. Looking specifically for a report written by another Unspeakable who camped at a similar ancient site. Finding it, Hermione skimmed the notes again before shoving it uncermionsily back in the stack. It was useless. There was no documented power increase.
However, what if someone closer to her had experienced a power increase? Someone like Draco or Harry? They had both been in the water with her at some point… scouring through the now unorganised stacks Hermione searched for their records. She had Harry's records here— didn't she? She was sure of it.
Finding Draco's first, Hermione pulled the parchment forward and settled it next to hers. Annoyingly, Draco's records weren't as comprehensive as hers. His visits hadn't been documented as no one knew he was visiting so frequently.
However, Hermione could see that in comparison to his first visit back in January, his power had increased. His most recent record being after her accident. Needing to compare Draco's results to Harry's, Hermione continued digging through the paperwork, finally settling on the piece titled Harry James Potter. Scanning the document quickly, Hermione found no power increase in Harry.
Which begged the question, why were she and Draco the only ones affected?
Could it be something to do with Lofn? Draco had been the first one to visit the cave with her and on that first visit she had shared the details of her separation from Ron. Not that she was one to believe in ancient beings but unable to think of any other reason why they were affected, Hermione decided to give it some more thought.
She obviously had a bond with Draco, one that was only getting stronger. Could their bond of friendship have sparked an ancient magic? Narcissa said Lofn was the goddess of forbidden love, had Draco been in love with her all that time ago? It couldn't be that… Draco would have said something sooner wouldn't he?
As Hermione pondered the question, she recalled Draco's statement when she had been looking at her divorce papers, "I'm not sorry for a damn thing. I'm glad we slept together. If we hadn't, you would be back with Ron, I would still be whining to Blaise about my crush on you…"
Draco had a crush on her when they slept together— which made sense— Draco wasn't the type of person to just sleep around. Then, neither was she… what if she had also been crushing on Draco? Would that be enough of a bond to incite an ancient magic? Had they, maybe, received a blessing from the goddess without asking for one?
Hearing a knock upon her door, Hermione got up from her seat and gently stretched out the tension in her lower back before opening it, finding herself face to face with a bespectacled Harry.
"Happy birthday!" Hermione shouted, pulling the birthday boy into her office and throwing her arms around his neck.
"Thanks," Harry said grinning as he returned Hermione's hug, "you hungry?"
"Always," Hermione laughed, turning away so she could grab a light jacket and her bag before walking out of the office arm in arm with Harry.
Linking his arm through hers, Harry cast a quick notice me not charm as they walked through the Ministry. He was hounded almost everyday by the press but they always seemed particularly invasive on his birthday and this allowed them to walk through the Ministry and out onto the street uninterrupted.
"Are you having a good day?" Hermione asked, smiling as they strolled down the busy London street, "what did Ginny get you?"
"I'm having the best day," Harry replied, grinning madly as he threw up a wandless non-verbal Muffliato charm around the pair of them. He was simply bursting with excitement and couldn't stand to hold the words in any longer. "Ginny's pregnant."
"What!" Hermione shrieked, stopping mid step and turning to face her best friend. "Harry James Potter," she continued, thwacking him good naturedly on the chest, "why did you not tell me this straight away? This is brilliant news!"
Laughing Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione and turned her back in the direction they were travelling. "I didn't want to do it in the Ministry where people would see you accosting me," he joked easily. After all those months and months of trying, he and Ginny were finally going to have a child.
"Tell me everything," Hermione enthused, squeezing Harry round the middle as they walked easily together. "How far along is she? Have you had your scan yet? Do you know what you want?"
"Blimey, Hermione," Harry laughed again, "do I get an outstanding for answering all these questions correctly?"
"I'm sorry," Hermione grinned, turning to look up at Harry, "I'm just so happy for you two."
"I know," Harry agreed easily, opening the door for Hermione and leading her to their table. "Ginny is about eight weeks along so we haven't had scans yet and I don't know what I want. I just want a healthy baby and a happy wife."
Settling herself into the chair, Hermione looked at Harry's bemused face. He was going to be a dad! "How did Ginny tell you"?
Harry smiled at the memory, it was one he would cherish forever. "She woke me up with breakfast in bed, we ate, then she told me she had my present and did the charm… it took me a few minutes to get what she was saying."
"Sounds perfect," Hermione said, her hand straying to her own bump and rubbing small circles across the taut surface.
"How about you?" Harry asked, browsing through the menu even though he'd most likely have his usual. "How are you and Draco? How are the babies? I honestly can't think when I last saw you this happy."
Rubbing her hand across the swell of her stomach, Hermione smiled at Harry, if only he knew. "I am happy," Hermione answered gently, her anxieties dancing on the tip of her tongue, "the babies are growing, Draco is wonderful…"
Sensing there was something troubling Hermione, Harry cast a discreet Muffliato around their table before asking, "what are you thinking? Right now?"
Hermione went to open her mouth before snapping it shut again, it was Harry's birthday, she didn't want to dump her problems onto him.
"I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know," Harry cajoled.
Drawing in a deep breath Hermione looked at Harry's face before answering him slowly, "that things are moving so fast I can't keep up with them. I'm in a new relationship and barely any time has passed since Ron and I separated, we're going to go from whatever Draco and I are to mum and dad very quickly…"
"And that's scaring you?"
"More than I care to admit."
"You know," Harry said with a small smile, "someone once told me fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself."
Inadvertently, Hermione laughed, smiling back at Harry as he repeated her own words back at her.
"You are," Harry continued, reaching out to take Hermione's free hand, "one of the strongest women I know. Why are you letting this block you?"
Hermione considered Harry's words for a moment, why was she letting it block her? Being with Draco in France had been blissfully perfect, but something had changed coming home. Maybe it was because she hadn't truly gone home? Draco was extremely reluctant to let her go to the cave and she had chosen not to return to her marital home, fearing the memories left behind.
Everything she had before her accident was no longer hers. The marital home which had once been full of happy memories was just a shell, being sold so the funds could be equally split between herself and Ron. The cave, which she found sanctuary in during such a difficult period wouldn't be her home for much longer and she didn't even have her magic.
"Draco wants me to move in with him." Hermione mumbled.
"Don't you already live with him?" Harry asked, confused.
"True," Hermione sighed, sipping on her drink before answering Harry. "Draco wants to buy a bigger house straight away, but not just a three or four bed. No, he wants to buy something with guest bedrooms and a flipping ballroom. We don't need something that big and I want to contribute towards it, which he won't even discuss."
"You know he's got the money Hermione."
"It's not about the money Harry," Hermione said with a grumble, "I need something that is mine. If Draco buys a house and I live there, I'm like a kept woman! And, he gets this look in his eye when he's talking about the extra rooms like he expects to fill them with more kids. I wasn't even planning on kids yet and I'd just like to settle into being a family before the thought of more even crosses my mind."
"Hermione, I think he's been in love with you for longer than you realise. Why is it so bad he's future proofing?"
"I just want to get through these next few months and let our relationship develop naturally," Hermione sighed, "it's all moved so fast. We should be casually dating, not planning for the arrival of children in a few months."
"I've said it before and I'll say it again," Harry began, taking Hermione's hand, "our lives have never been simple. Do you trust Draco?"
"Of course I do," Hermione scoffed.
"Then trust his motive," Harry said with a smile, "you've got to remember that his idea of reality isn't going to match yours. You've seen the size of the manor, you know what he's used to, he probably thinks he's chosen houses that are more than reasonable. Even though to us they seem oversized."
"How'd you get to be so smart?"
"I learnt from the best," Harry answered with a warm smile and a squeeze of the hand.
Sitting in the garden of Grimmauld Place, Draco looked at all the people bought together that Saturday to celebrate Harry's birthday. In the past few hours he had seen all of the Weasleys, their spouses and their children; the majority of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Aunt Andromeda with Teddy as well as Longbottom and Lovegood. Draco had lost count of how many congratulations they had received and was still slightly bemused by the amount of kindness they had received.
Draco knew Hermione was adored by the Wealseys as well as all her friends and that kindness had passed to him when Hermione first started bringing Draco along to these gatherings all those years ago. But, given their situation Draco hadn't expected that kindness to linger.
Looking to Hermione, Draco felt his heart swell. They sat together on Harry's swing chair towards the back of the garden, Hermione's legs were up over his lap as her back rested against the arm of the chair, supported by copious amounts of cushions to make it more comfortable. As the afternoon had turned to evening, Hermione had gotten cold and asked to wear his jumper. Draco had happily obliged and charmed it so it fit over her over growing stomach.
"I can tell you're looking at me," Hermione whispered, her eyes shut and a small smile on her face as Draco continued rubbing his hand up and down her leg.
"You're hard to resist in my house colours," Draco whispered back, his hand creeping up and under the hem of the jumper to rest on her warm skin. His thumb rubbed small circles as his fingers crept out to touch as much skin as possible, hoping that he'd feel some of the movement Hermione had been experiencing this past week.
"That feels good," Hermione sighed as Draco continued caressing her sides, not caring for a moment that anyone might see.
"Are they moving?" Draco asked, moving himself closer to Hermione so he could nuzzle his nose against hers.
"Not really," Hermione answered softly, "I think they're sleeping."
Doing his best to ignore the disappointment that flooded his veins, he knew it was still too early for him to feel the movement but he hoped they would react in some way to his touch. Much like how Hermione always seemed to softly sigh and relax into his embrace.
"Should we head home soon?" Draco asked, knowing that usually once Hermione got sleepy, there was no waking her back up.
"Can we stay for a bit longer?" Hermione asked, cracking one eye open to look up at Draco, "it's nice to be here with everyone."
"Of course," Draco agreed easily, placing a kiss against Hermione's forehead as she closed her eyes once more.
Pressing his foot to the floor, Draco began slowly rocking the swing back and forth, enjoying the fresh summer evening. It had been a surprisingly easy way to spend the majority of the day, the rest of the party goers were gathered in loose groups forming a slight circle around the fire pit as it crackled merrily, exchanging small talk and sharing drinks. There was a beautiful simplicity to the evening and Draco felt his chest fill with an optimism he hadn't had for a while. For once, Draco felt like he was close to achieving a dream which had only come to the forefront of his mind recently.
Hermione was carrying his children and ready to pack up her life and move onto the next phase of it with him, him. It was easy to get lost in the day dream of their future; the two solid forms he could feel beneath his palm would grow, start to walk, start to talk and he and Hermione would nurture them together. Then, maybe one day, they'd have another child, a planned one, and they would both get to embrace the changes, be excited as they reached each milestone.
That would be certainly preferable to every milestone they currently experienced being overshadowed by something outside of their control. So far, Draco couldn't recall both of them being truly happy about any major pregnancy event. Even that glorious moment of finding out he was the expectant father was tainted by the memory of why Hermione had been in the hospital in the first place.
Hopefully, they would be able to enjoy the rest of the pregnancy in relative peace because Draco was sure these last few months would be the last peace he would get for the next few years.
Opening her eyes a little while later, Hermione smiled at Draco as she tried to sit herself upright, gratefully taking Draco's offered hand so he could pull her most of the way up. Swinging her legs to the ground, Hermione rose a little unsteadily from the seat before placing a kiss on Draco's cheek with a murmur of "bathroom," before she turned and walked away.
Making her way past Neville and Luna, Hermione smiled to herself, being here with all her friends made her realise how truly lucky she was. After everything they had endured during their childhood here they were, mostly whole and moving on with their lives.
Turning into the courtyard which led to the rear of Grimmauld Place, Hermione's mind was full of happy thoughts until the squeak of a door and a mumble of "bloody hell," turned her attention to the man now blocking her path.
"Ron," Hermione breathed, stunned into a silence as she looked into his all too familiar blue eyes. What exactly was the protocol for seeing your ex-husband face to face for the first time after he nearly killed you? She hadn't directly spoken with him since his request of divorce, in this very house, all communication since that point had always been done through the solicitor.
"Hermione," Ron replied, his voice strained as he took in her appearance. She almost could have still been the same girl he fell in love with— almost. It was like looking into the future he'd hoped for with Hermione but the picture had become distorted. Her trademark curls had been cut, the smile usually reserved for him had vanished and her clothing choice represented her betrayal.
Instead of being decked in their house colours she was in green, with the bastard's name and house crest emblazoned across her breast. Ron felt frozen. A dozen different scenarios played out in his mind to get him out and away from this situation but he was stuck, fixated on the alien-like roundness of her stomach.
It could have all so easily been him, it should have been him. As his thoughts began to spiral, Ron groaned internally, Hermione was still staring at him, he'd hoped by turning up late he could avoid seeing her. Ron had no doubt the ferret was out in the garden, socialising with his friends.
All he wanted to do was wish Harry and happy birthday and be gone. The week had been rough, but he'd wanted to do right by his friend and now that was going to go to shit.
"Ron, I," Hermione began, starting to move forward and reach out to him. She could tell he was struggling and despite everything she felt she needed to comfort him and try to explain. There was a glimmer of nostalgia as she looked at him, reminding her of the boy she'd first met on the train. It was then she realised she'd never got the opportunity to explain that they'd fallen out of love with each other, she'd never been able to give her side without some form of argument erupting.
"Don't, Hermione," Ron said, jerking away, he couldn't bear for her to touch him. Not when her hands had been all over Malfoy and his hands all over her.
"I'm sorry," Hermione uttered, looking up to the stars as she tried to control her raging hormones. She could feel tears pooling in her eyes as the strangeness of the situation washed over her, nothing had prepared her for seeing him so suddenly and it bought back all of the confusion she'd worked so hard to let go of.
"Sorry?" Ron questioned, looking directly at her and ignoring the laughter coming from the garden.
"Yes, I'm sorry Ron," Hermione continued, oblivious to the sound of approaching footsteps, "things should have never gotten this messy."
"All you had to do was agree to have a baby with me," Ron stated, unsure why the words had even crossed his lips. He was tired of arguing with her, he was tired of all of it.
"All I had to do?" Hermione replied, her head snapping forward as she turned her attention back to him. Suddenly seeing the man Ron had turned into instead of the boy she grew up with. Were they really going to have the same conversation, again? "You wanted me to give up my career, my life to give you a child Ron."
"You don't seem to mind doing it for him," Ron said petulantly, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked down at her. Knowing he was pushing her buttons but unable to stop himself, everything Hermione said had a way of getting under his skin.
"You think I planned to be having Draco's children instead of yours?" Hermione asked, disbelief making her voice pitch a note too high. Perhaps she'd been wrong to try and engage with Ron, she should have just turned back to the garden as soon as she'd seen him, Draco would have taken her home...
"I don't think you planned it," Ron replied, his temper starting to rise to the surface, "but I also don't think you care that it's happened."
"You know I wanted to wait!" Hermione cried, her foot stomping in frustration. It was always the same bloody argument. They weren't even together anymore and here he was pushing her, prodding her. "I didn't want Draco's children anymore than I wanted yours! I wanted to wait, but things happened. Things beyond my cont—"
"You don't want our children?"
Gasping, Hermione wrenched her gaze from Ron and turned towards Draco's voice. He had heard her declaration. Draco had heard and was just standing there… staring at her… waiting for something.
"Draco, that's not what I meant…" Hermione began, willing Draco to understand. She could feel her hands starting to shake as she stood between her past and her future.
"Pretty hard to hear that any other way, Granger," Draco retorted, cringing internally as Hermione recoiled from his use of her last name.
Watching in a slow kind of horror as Draco whipped his wand from his sleeve, Hermione thought he's going to leave. Draco can't leave. "Draco!" Hermione all but shouted, stumbling forward desperately to try and stop him vanishing into thin air, "wait, ple—"
"All I've done is wait for you," Draco replied numbly, unsure of how to handle the riot of emotions that were currently coursing through his body, "and I'm not sure I can do it anymore."
"No, Draco, don't go. Please." Hermione begged, tears falling in earnest as Draco gripped his wand tightly, his face a storm of emotions before he vanished into thin air with a telling 'pop'.
"No," Hermione mumbled, stumbling forward as her hand groped the empty air where Draco had just stood, "no, no, no." This couldn't be happening. Draco can't have just left, Draco didn't leave. What was it with this house and people leaving her?
Numb with shock, Hermione turned and looked around the courtyard, searching for something— anything— to anchor her to the here and now. Where she would have once found comfort in Ron's face she saw none, he was watching her in an almost detached way and the age old feeling of helplessness rose up within her and flooded her system.
Draco's gone, I have to find him. I need to find him… need to make him see. Where would he go? Blaise is too far… Daphne has Theo… his cottage? Maybe? I need to get to his cottage...
Struggling to draw in a deep breath, Hermione stumbled backwards, her hand coming up to claw at her throat as her back hit the brick wall of the courtyard. I don't have my magic… I can't go to him… I'm stuck.
Feeling her legs start to shake and her ears start to ring, Hermione tried in vain to control her breathing. From the corner of her eye, she thought she saw Ron start to step toward her before his eyes flicked to the left of them where footsteps could be heard approaching.
Harry, having heard the pop of apparition and noticing that Hermione and Draco were yet to return to the garden, had decided to see what was taking them so long. Seeing Hermione clutching at her neck and bump as Ron stood mere feet away from her made a strange sensation settle in Harry's chest, moving toward Hermione he pulled her hand from her neck and held it tightly, "you ok?"
"Harry," Hermione breathed, struggling to contain her panic, "I… Draco. He heard us arguing, I said… shit... He heard. I've got to find him Harry."
"Everything ok here?" Ginny asked, joining the trio in the courtyard.
"Ginny," Harry said, "can you take Hermione inside? She needs to calm down."
"I need to explain to Draco—"
"Hermione, please. Just, go inside. Stressing about whatever this is, isn't good for the babies and I will find Draco in a minute."
As soon as Ginny and Hermione went into the house, he turned to Ron.
"What happened? I was expecting you to turn up hours ago" Harry asked, his tone weary as he found himself once again stuck between Ron and Hermione.
Ron gripped the back of his neck, trying to ease the tension creeping in. All he wanted to do was drop in and wish Harry a happy birthday before going home and trying to deal with the events of the week.
"I didn't mean to start anything," Ron said slowly, trying to sort out his thoughts, "I floo'd over hoping to just drop in but we bumped into each other. She started trying to explain and I just can't— there's too much going on."
*Noticing Ron's sad demeanor Harry asked, "what's going on, Ron?"
Heaving a sigh, Ron moved his hand to rub it across his face before looking back at Harry, "Lavender had her three month scan earlier in the week… she miscarried. It's quite common apparently but Lavender is beside herself, she blames Hermione and the stress of the trial."
"Mate, I'm sorry."
"Yea, me too. I just can't… you know… deal with all of this. I've still got the emotional range of a teaspoon, nothing I do or say comes out right. I didn't mean to pick a fight, just seeing her, like that, bought it all back."
Silence settled between the two friends, Harry unsure what he could say and Ron not sure how to go forward. "Look, I'm just going to head back, I said I wouldn't be long. Just, happy birthday yea?"
"Thanks, I appreciate you making the effort, you didn't have to given… I really am sorry Ron."
"Yeah, me too," Ron mumbled, before disapparating with a pop.
*Drawing in a deep breath, Harry moved towards the living room where he could hear Ginny and Hermione quietly conversing.
"Harry!" Hermione shouted, jumping up as soon as she saw him, "I need to find Draco, can you take me to his? Please?"
Shutting the door behind him, Harry leaned back on it before looking between Hermione and Ginny. "No," he stated simply, watching as Hermione's jaw dropped open.
"Why on earth not?" Hermione asked flabbergasted, Harry never said no to her.
"After all the shit you two have been through for Draco to just leave, you must have really hurt him," Harry began, taking his glasses from his face and cleaning the lenses with his t-shirt. "If I help you track him down, you're not going to have any time to reflect on it. You need to see this from his side Hermione, I can imagine exactly what you and Ron were arguing about and given how Draco feels about you…"
"Harry's got a point, Hermione," Ginny said softly, pulling on Hermione's hand so she dropped into the seat beside her. "That man has been head over heels in love with you for a very long time, have you even told him how you feel?"
"No," Hermione mumbled, her bottom lip trembling. She felt completely and utterly helpless.
"Look," Harry said, making Hermione turn her attention back to him, "I will go and find Draco but I'm telling him you're staying here so you can spend the night thinking about him and come up with a decent apology for tomorrow. If he chooses to come here then fine, but I'm not taking you to him."
"Ok," Hermione whispered, feeling admonished by Harry's stern words. He was right though, all she had been doing was taking from Draco and he deserved so much better than that.
With that, Harry disappeared leaving Hermione and Ginny alone.
"I'm sorry Gin," Hermione whispered, wiping beneath her eyes with the sleeve of Draco's jumper.
"For what?" Ginny asked, perplexed.
"I feel like I've ruined Harry's party," Hermione mumbled, chastising herself for getting so worked up with Ron, "and I haven't even congratulated you yet."
Laughing a little, Ginny wrapped her arms around as much of Hermione as she could and pulled her in tightly, "don't be so silly, no one else has probably even noticed and thank you. Are you ready to be Aunt Hermione?"
Allowing Ginny's warmth to seep into her bones, Hermione giggled her way through a sniff, "I'm not even sure who I am anymore."
"Nonsense," Ginny spoke firmly, squeezing Hermione tighter to her, "you're Hermione Granger. You stand up for what you believe in, you're fiercely loyal to those you love and best of all? You're a human who is allowed to make mistakes, you don't have to spend the rest of your life trying to atone for them."
As Hermione sat quietly, absorbing Ginny's words, Ginny rose from the chair mentioning something about making tea. When she returned, Ginny plonked herself on the seat opposite Hermione and levitated her tea over to her.
"Want to tell me what's up with you and Draco?" Ginny asked quietly, knowing Harry had returned from seeing Draco and was now out in the garden with their friends. "I could tell something had shifted before all this," Ginny added, waving her hand in the air, clearly unsure how exactly to define the last few months.
"It's just… I," Hermione began, speaking to Ginny with her hands wrapped around the warm mug of tea, "it's… the night we slept together was so… intense and I was so confused after I sent Draco home. I think I felt something for him then and it scared the shit out of me."
"And…" Ginny prodded gently, sensing she was about to get Hermione to finally open up.
"Those feelings have grown," Hermione whispered, unable to take her eyes off the steaming tea. "I… I think I'm in love with him and now he's gone, I've… I've messed everything up."
Ginny stood hastily and moved to embrace Hermione as her tears fell. "Hey now," Ginny murmured, rubbing her hand up and down Hermione's back to soothe her crying, "he'll come back, Harry said he just needs some space."
"I pushed him away," Hermione cried, now she had let her feelings overwhelm her, she couldn't stop the flood that followed, "I let my fear control me… I should have told him how I feel, showed him how much I appreciated everything he's done for me…"
"Calm down," Ginny instructed, pulling Hermione's chin up so she could stare her straight in the eye, "you're talking like he's never going to come back. He's not Ron. Draco will listen to you, you just need to be honest with him."
"Honest," Hermione repeated, feeling some of her courage return, "I think I can do that."
A/N: I know some of you may not like how this chapter ended but stick with me! I promise this is HEA— we just needed to shake Hermione up!