Author's Note:
Hello to our loyal readers!
If you've all stuck it out this far, THANK YOU! We love each and every one of you a bushel and a peck. Thank you for sticking around. As many of you know, this is the chapter that we left off on all those years ago. Since it is now freshly updated, we can begin updating! You know what that means! Once a month, you will get a new chapter.
We are keeping the Author's Note at the end of this Chapter the same as before. Please, Please, Please read it!
As you all know by now, ALL CANON CHARACTERS AND PLACES DO NOT BELONG TO US. THEY ARE ALL CREATIONS OF JK ROWLING.
Now, let's dive into another chapter of A Dragon's Spark!
Love,
Lizzie & Cat
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If she had been smart, Hermione would have run the other way. Anywhere would have been better than just standing there watching him stalk towards her as though she was his prey. Looking for any opening that would not leave her looking rude, she finally resigned to standing her ground. She was frozen, she didn't have any other choice.
"Mione. Wanna dance?" Ron asked her.
"Sure, Ron."
As if the differences between Draco and Ron hadn't already been astonishing, dancing alone would have solidified everything for her. Attempting to be proper, she bowed her head. Not bothered by the niceties of polite society, Ron grabbed her hand and jerked her into him. When she tried to put some distance between them, his grasp on her grew firmer.
"We need to talk."
"I'd rather just dance if that's alright with you, Ronald." She said, attempting to put space between them. He was engaged, their cheeks should not have been this close.
She could see Lavender fuming on the edge of the dance floor as she danced with one of Ron's teammates. The fire in her eyes could easily have burned the building down.
"Mione. If something is wrong, I need you to tell me. Harry and I can get you out of here."
"I'm sorry, just what are you implying?" she leaned back to look at him.
"Has he done something to you? Threatened you? I can't think of any other reason for you to be with him tonight." He muttered.
"Ron. You know perfectly well that that is not the case."
"C'mon Hermione. Harry and I can help you. You just have to tell me." He insisted, pulling her back.
Hermione allowed her fury to give her strength as she pushed herself away from the red head. Her anger was radiating off of her. The only other time she had felt like this was that night.
"I will have you know, Ronald Weasley, that I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. I am also able to decide whom I wish to associate with. If you can't accept that, then I am sorry. You lost the right to say anything about my life the night you-."
"Hermione, you need to walk away." Draco said coming up behind her.
"She doesn't need you to fight her battles Malfoy!" Ron burst.
"Mione, let's go outside." Ginny offered.
"Why am I the only one who can see that there is something wrong with her?!" Ron bellowed, causing everyone in the ballroom to stare at the group.
"There is something wrong with me. It's you. You are what my problem is, you are the one who won't leave well enough alone, you are the one who is still trying to make decisions for me. Draco has done nothing to me but be there. You have no right to comment on my relationship with him."
"So that's what he has you thinking this is? A relationship? Let me tell you something Hermione, he'll get what he wants and then he will leave you. When he does, don't come crying to me about it! I tried to warn you." Ron spit.
"He's not you, Ron!" Hermione wailed.
"Harry, Hermione and I will be going home now. You and the Malfoys can come check on her when you are all done here. Take care of this. You don't want me to."
"Oh, bugger off Ginny. Quit protecting her. I'm your brother."
"Stop while you're ahead Ron." Harry stepped in.
"Why won't you let Ron say what he needs to say? You're always treating her like she walks on water, but you won't even stand up for your own brother against her!" Lavender hissed towards Ginny.
"I'll handle this Gin. Take care of her." Harry said.
Ron's glare never left Draco, who happily glared back. Even though it was taking everything in his power to not chase after the girls and insist that he be the one to take care of Hermione, he stood his ground.
"Ron. Outside. Now." Harry said grabbing Ron and pulling him to the other room.
"You don't run things anymore Harry. Make your decision. Family, or that bitch!" Ron hissed.
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While Hermione regained her bearings from the side along, Ginny was channeling her mother as she headed for the kitchen to heat water for tea. She may not have known exactly what was going on, but she knew enough to know that Ron had obviously done something to hurt Hermione. When she came back into the living room, Hermione was curled up on the couch, staring at the fire.
"Hermione. Talk to me. You don't have to say anything you don't want to, but at least talk. What did Ron do to you? Is this about why you guys broke up? I could never get a solid story out of either of you." the younger girl asked, walking back into the room and setting the tea down.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Hermione whispered.
"Hermione Granger. You started saying something before Draco intervened. Please tell me what happened."
Hermione broke down into sobs, her heart aching at the thought of the painful memory. Ginny sat beside her and held her, trying to calm the shudders. She'd never seen Hermione like this. She'd never seen her so, broken. Fighting back her own tears at the sounds of Hermione's sobs, Ginny tried again.
"Please talk to me."
"I-I can't. I can't talk about it Ginny."
"It looks as though you need to. Whatever is happening, whatever is causing you to react this way, is eating you up. Please."
"Take the memory. Please. I don't think I could get through explaining it."
Ginny only nodded, pulling her wand out of her bag. Silently she held her hand up and summoned an empty vial. Hermione closed her eyes summoning the memory forward as Ginny pulled the long silver thread from her temple and dropped it into a vial.
"You're sure you want me to see this?"
"Just please don't think any less of me. Promise me Gin. Promise me you won't hate me."
"Never. Will you be okay being alone for a few moments while I watch this?"
"I have my tea. I'll be here. I promise."
Ginny nodded and made her way up the stairs and into Harry's study. She opened the door and called for his pensive. Coming out of memories had proven to make her sick, even more so since she was pregnant, so she summoned a bin by the pensive and cast a silencing charm. Hermione didn't need to hear her vomiting if she could avoid it. Slowly, she poured the memory out, and lowered her head.
"Ron, I don't want this."
"Quit being a prude."
Ginny gasped as she heard a tear of fabric. She looked forward and focused as she saw what was going on. Seeing Hermione pinned to the wall as her brother-. She sobbed as she watched him pull her hair, obviously hurting her. When she heard Hermione crying, she felt as though she might be sick.
"No means no."
She watched as Malfoy ripped Ron away from Hermione. She watched Hermione fall to the ground and sob as though her heart was breaking. She watched Draco beat Ron into a pulp as he left him passed out on the floor. She watched him care for Hermione in a way that none of them had been able to. She felt herself shudder as she heard the crunch of Ron's nose from Hermione breaking it with her foot.
Being pulled out of a memory feel almost like being pulled out of your own dream. Except, this wasn't a dream. This was a nightmare. This was her worst nightmare. Ginny had never understood what caused Hermione to break up with Ron out of the blue. She had always just assumed that he had been cheating with Lavender and Hermione found out. Never in a million years would she have thought that her brother was capable of hurting his best friend, let alone his girlfriend, like that.
Ginny fell to her knees and lurched forward, grabbing the bin. She started to retch, and she didn't know if it was from the memory diving or what she saw. She vomited violently four times until sobs overtook her. When she had finally calmed down, she cleaned up and made her way back down stairs.
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Harry pushed Ron into one of the smaller rooms off of the ballroom as he cursed. Draco had stayed behind to make sure the crowd was not going to intervene or attempt to overhear anything that they shouldn't. If he were honest with himself, he couldn't be near Weasley. Not after the painful memories of what he did to Hermione resurfaced. He couldn't promise that he wouldn't rebreak his nose. The only thing that stopped him, was knowing that Hermione may not forgive him for doing something rash.
"What the bloody hell are you doing Harry? Can't you see that something is wrong with her? There's no way that Hermione Granger would all of a sudden be shacking up with our second worst enemy."
"Ron, the only thing I see wrong is how you're acting. Why couldn't you just leave her alone? Why couldn't you just let her have tonight. She was having a great time. Hadn't you noticed that she actually stayed after the speeches? She hasn't done that in years!"
"It's bloody Malfoy. It's obvious that he did something to her! Imperiused her or something. He's a Death Eater."
"Why do you care?! WE are engaged! Why can't you just get over her already?!"
The two men looked towards the door, where Lavender was standing. Her face was red and it was obvious that she was crying. Harry, who only wanted to get back to Ginny, rolled his eyes and walked away. Looking back over his shoulder, he addressed his friend one last time.
"Leave her alone mate. She's finally happy."
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Ginny had so many questions. How could he have done that? To Hermione! Why hadn't she told anyone? How long had she and Draco been friends? It was no wonder that Hermione had distanced herself from everyone. Ron might be her brother, and Harry's best mate, but after tonight she was done making excuses for him. No brother of hers would've done what he did.
After making her way back downstairs, she noticed that Hermione had summoned a book and was still curled in the same spot that she had left her. When Hermione looked up, she could tell that Ginny had been crying.
"Gin?"
"Mione. Why didn't you tell me?"
"He's your brother. I can't ask you to choose me over that."
"That man is not my brother. And then to have the nerve to accost you tonight, acting like he cares!"
"He doesn't remember Gin."
"How do you not remember that?!"
"You saw that Draco helped me?"
"And just how long have you and Malfoy been friends?"
"Honestly? Since that night. If he hadn't found us, I don't know what would have happened. But all of that's beside the point. Draco didn't want me to have to deal with Ron's apologies, so with my permission, he removed the memory."
"Hermione, memory tampering isn't exactly legal. What do you think would happen if it were suddenly restored?"
"I'm hoping it never does. That is the only time that Ron had ever gone that far. I like to think that he would try to apologize, and I just can't deal with all that. I don't need the pity; I just need him to leave me alone. I'd be happy if I never saw him again."
"Have you told Harry?"
"Has she told me what?"
The two women looked up and found Harry and Draco standing there. One looked livid, the other looked sad. Draco looked at Hermione and when she nodded, he knew that she told Ginny. Slowly, he patted Harry on the back.
"Potter, why don't you-."
"No! What is going on? What aren't you telling me Hermione? Why does everyone seem to know but me?" Harry seethed
"Harry. Please." Hermione started to cry again.
"Harry, you need to go up to your study. The memory is beside your pensieve. Watch it." Ginny said forcefully.
"But Gin."
"Harry, now. And take Malfoy with you. Malfoy, don't let him do anything stupid."
"I don't need a babysitter." Harry said glaring at his wife.
"Prove it. Do what I asked."
"Please Harry." Hermione whispered as tears fell again.
After the men disappeared upstairs, Ginny went back to asking Hermione questions. It wasn't long before they heard glass shattering, and a heart wrenching wail. At hearing Harry cry, Hermione once again found herself sobbing and praying that her best friend wouldn't think any less of her. Ginny hugged her close, shushing her and trying to calm her down.
"Let him let it out. I did the same, I just had the foresight to put silencing charms up."
"H-he prob-ably h-hates me!"
"He doesn't hate you Hermione. He just doesn't understand why you didn't tell him." Draco said from the door way.
"He's asking for you Ginny. I can handle this."
Ginny looked between the two and nodded, pulling away from Hermione and going to her husband.
Draco looked at the witch in front of him. He slowly made his way towards her, hoping she wouldn't push him away. When he sat beside her, and she leaned into him, he knew everything would be okay between them.
"He doesn't hate you, Love. He's sad. Weasley betrayed all of you. I know you didn't want him to remember, but maybe, in hindsight, keeping it from your best friends wasn't the smartest thing to do."
"Thank you."
"Anytime." He said, throwing his arm around her and pulling her closer as she cried.
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After what seemed like an eternity, Harry and Ginny came back downstairs. When Ginny motioned for Draco to follow her into the kitchen, he knew that it was so Harry and Hermione could finally talk. She needed her best friend. He knew that as much as he wanted to be, he wasn't quite there with her yet. When the two left the room, Harry sat down on the floor in front of Hermione.
"Mione." He whispered.
When he looked up at her, she could tell that the tears had started once again. When he looked up at her like that, all she could see was the sad eleven-year-old boy she had met all those years ago. She didn't want his pity. She didn't want to hurt him. That was why she never told him. Even though she was the one that had gone through it, she couldn't bear the thought of hurting her best friend.
"Harry it's okay."
"But it's not."
"But it will be."
"Is that why you quit talking to us?"
"Partially. But in complete honesty, my job was also a factor."
"You think we would have picked him."
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
"He's your brother-in-law. I couldn't ask you to pick me over family. Until tonight, I had managed to avoid him completely."
"He's not family. He hurt my family. You are more like a sister to me than anything. Hell, your parents helped me so much after we met. Why didn't you trust me?"
"It has nothing to do with trust Harry. I didn't feel like anyone else needed to know."
"But the fact that you let Malfoy take the memory from Ron and have been living with this on your own isn't any better!"
"Harry."
"You need to restore his memory Mione. You need to restore it, and press charges."
"Harry be quiet! Ginny is-"
"Ginny is the one who suggested it. He can't get away with this."
"Harry I can't. He didn't do anything that the law would deem illegal. He didn't ra-. He didn't rape me. He might have tried, but thanks to Draco, it never made it that far."
"Will you think about it? It's my job to take care of you. Ginny agrees and we both discussed that we are not going to let your decisions affect how we treat you. YOU are our family."
"Mine as well." Draco said from the doorway.
Hermione looked at Draco, and missed Harry and Ginny smiling sadly at one another. Harry stood up and made his way to his wife, as Draco walked over to Hermione.
"Wait. Narcissa. Where is Narcissa?"
"She stayed to dance. I image she will be getting in contact soon enough to check on you though." Draco responded tucking a loose curl behind her ear.
"You think I am your family?"
"You don't?"
"I didn't say that." She smiled.
"Good, because I don't think you will be getting rid of me anytime soon."
"Can you stay tonight? I'm tired, but I don't want to be alone."
"Yes, Dear." He whispered.
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"Why are you always so worried about her?! It's like all anyone can ever talk about is Hermione freaking Granger! I'm sick of it. Whenever she is in the picture, I don't exist. I am your fiancée and you can't even talk to me!" Lavender hissed at her fiancé.
"I just don't like that she's letting Malfoy take advantage of her. She's my friend, Lav. You've gotta understand. There's years of friendship there."
"Some friend. First you date, then out of nowhere she dumps you, then we get together and she completely blows you and your family off. And Ginny is so far up her ass that she had to make Hermione move in with them! I'm sick of you all letting her treat you the way she does. Then you turn around and treat her like a fuckin' saint. You can't convince me that she isn't trying to just make you jealous because you chose me!"
"Lav. She's like family."
"No, she isn't! I am your family, Ronald Weasley! You chose me! Quit fucking pushing me away!"
"Quit shouting."
"You still have feelings for her, don't you?"
"No! I love you. I adore you. She's like my sister. I'd be mental if it were Ginny in this position."
"You don't try to force your sister to have sex with you Ron."
At these words, Ron blanched.
"What the bloody hell are you going on about?"
"Come on Ron. We both know that Malfoy may have removed the memory. But who do you think brought it back? It sure as hell wasn't him, or her for that fact."
"What are you talking about Lavender?"
"You were always off. There was something missing. You complained of headaches. I remembered that if your memory is tampered with, you show certain symptoms. I helped you. Then we saw what happened. You begged me to remove it again, so I did. But I stayed by your side. I love you. She left you. I could, but I haven't. So please, tell me again who your family is. Who really cares about you? I did what I had to in order to protect you. What? Did you think it was all just a bad dream? No Ron. I am protecting you."
"Lavender. What have you done?"
"I fixed your memory. I respected your wishes, so I haven't restored it, but I had it ready in case it needed to be. So now it looks like Granger was asking for it and Malfoy went after you for no reason. I protected you. I protected your family. We both know that she'll never say anything, but he might. This is our insurance that you don't end up in Azkaban. I love you WonWon. I won't let anything or anyone ever hurt you."
"Lavender. Please tell me you're joking." He asked as a single tear slid down his cheek.
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My Dearest Miss Granger,
I hope you can accept my apologies for not accompanying my son back to check on you. You seemed rather distraught, and if I am being honest with you, I don't get out enough and was hoping to mingle some more. I apologize if I have offended you by doing this. If it is alright with you, I would like to set up a standing tea with you and Mrs. Potter. I did quite enjoy our time together, and hope that we will become rather fast friends. I hope you will accept my offer, and anxiously await your response.
Cordially,
Narcissa
Also: When my son decides to wake up, could you please tell him to contact me? I know he is with you, and I would rather not use two owls for the same location.
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Author's Note:
Whew! That was a rough and dramatic chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it, because we promise, it only gets better from here! Tell us what you all think in a Review or a PM! We love reading your thought! Until next time.
WE'VE DONE IT! ALL 8 PREEXISTING CHAPTERS HAVE BEEN EDITED! WE ARE SO GLAD TO BE BACK!
To the people who we let pre-read this chapter and to those who will, undoubtedly, PM us asking the same question. We talked out our story points before we began writing. We know that while the actual act of sexual abuse did not occur, we meant for it to be that way. WE are of the personal opinions that any act of violence with it be sexual or mental are cruel and will affect people differently. You have to understand that our Hermione, while very strong, never expected something like this to happen. What we have written is that she is suffering from MENTAL abuse. We are sort of comparing it to a form of PTSD. No, Ron did not rape her. But they had been friends for years, and she had trusted him immensely. For him to betray that, is taking a toll on our Heroine.
No, we do not think that our portrayal of everyone's reactions to the memory are uncalled for or unreasonable. With that being said, we can't wait for you all to read the next chapter.
All our Love,
Lizzie & Cat