For all the times in the past seven years that Draco Malfoy had made a point of hurting her, Hermione was fairly certain she'd never envisioned the possibility of allowing him into her life in such a way that she'd actually care if he hurt her feelings.

As she sat in her room and stared out the window, all she could think about was how garbled her current emotional state was.

Trust had been a part of her she was always rather quick to bestow. Even when she was betrayed by her friends, she'd forgiven them. For those people who weren't especially close, she might've been more wary and vindictive but in the end, there was that part of her which always wanted to see the best in people.

Even if they didn't deserve it.

She wasn't a wholly naive person. At least she didn't think so.

Maybe she was emotionally immature when it came to feelings, but who bloody knows how to vocalize smartly at the age of eighteen, without suffering from deep-seeded insecurities?

Plus her ability to compartmentalize these days, was probably compromised due to said insecurities.

A remnant from her time at Hogwarts, but it wasn't just Malfoy who'd fed into her worst fears about herself.

As much as she loved Harry she wasn't blind to his faults, and the largest of those had always been his propensity for bludgeoning through every obstacle without consideration for planning, or for the inherent consequences. He'd gotten by mostly on blind luck, his own magical prowess, and her incessant need for over analyzing. Making bloody sure every option was considered.

Constant Vigilance.

However, it was true to say Harry hadn't always appreciated that about her.

There was third year and the Firebolt incident. Fifth year and the Department of Mysteries. Sixth year and Ron. In fact, there were so many times he'd taken Ron's side over hers. Not recently, true. But still.

And Ron?

How many times had he hurt her feelings with a completely thoughtless comment or taken her kindness for granted.

They definitely both had, especially when it came to their school work.

Then there was Lavender Brown.

Hermione had always suspected Ron knew she had feelings for him sixth year, and yet he'd thrown Lavender Brown in her face.

Repeatedly.

But how was it possible after all the ways in which Harry and Ron had hurt her, she'd forgiven them?

Had she been conditioned to be too forgiving?

Was that why she felt so betrayed by seeing Malfoy with Greengrass?

Standing up, Hermione walked through the French Doors which led to her balcony. She gripped the railing and stared up into the sky, noticing the stars just beginning to peak out from underneath the clouds.

The Golden Trio.

What no one tells you about being part of a trio, is there's usually one person who inevitably, is the odd man out more times than not. The one person who has to give that little bit extra to fit in, to be acknowledged, to belong.

With Harry and Ron, she'd felt that keenly more times than she wanted to admit.

Now there was her betrothal with Draco.

And she still felt the odd person out.

If she went through with this marriage and embraced the Ardante bonds with both Harry and Draco, would she eventually be left out again?

Was it truly possible to have an equal triad?

Shaking her head, Hermione just continued to stare out into the night.

Draco hadn't contacted her, and as much as she was disappointed with his lack of conveyance, deep down she knew his sense of self-preservation was likely keeping him from dealing with her frayed emotional state.

Part of her wanted to talk about this with Harry, but instinctively knew it probably wasn't a good idea. He'd likely go half-cocked, storming into Malfoy Manor, and hexing Draco.

And whilst she might normally applaud the idea, she knew it wouldn't solve anything.

Sighing in defeat, Hermione realized there was probably one person she might be able to speak to about this. But on the other hand, she wasn't sure it was a good idea, either.

Deciding to take a chance and not solely because she felt desperate, she made her way towards the floo room. A few moments later she found herself at Grimmauld Place. From there, she sent off her patronus and hunkered down in hopes her message would be received.

It only took only fifteen minutes before the green flames flashed and Ron stepped through.

They just stared at each other, for several awkward minutes.

Finally Hermione decided to break through the tension.

"Hi."

"Hey."

She awkwardly gestured to the seat next to her on the sofa, and Ron looked at it askance for a few seconds, before lumbering over and plopping down unceremoniously.

His cornflower blue eyes stared at her and for a brief moment, it caused Hermione to feel a sharp twinge of regret bubbling up in her throat.

Whatever else Ron was, he was her best friend, first and foremost. Before the raging hormones of teenage angst took hold in full, they had done everything together. It caused a pang of longing for simpler times. If they'd truly ever enjoyed such a thing back at Hogwarts.

"I was s'rprised to get your message."

"I can just imagine." Hermione offered softly, "Thank you for coming."

He just shrugged.

"Dunno what there's to talk about," Ron mused bitterly, "it's not as if you've made any effort to contact me recently."

Flopping her head back on the couch, she ran both hands down her face. This was the Ron she knew and he could be petty and mean-spirited, but he could also be loving and loyal.

"I know." She whispered defeated. "I'm sorry, for what it's worth."

He nodded slowly, but his expression didn't soften.

"You look a bit gutted. Did something happen with Harry?"

"Not exactly." Morgana, where did she begin with this?

Maybe it would be easier ripping the plaster off, then trying to muck around the issue.

"Did you ever feel the odd person out with me and Harry?"

Ron frowned. "Huh?"

"You know?" She hurriedly went on to explain, "Did you ever feel like maybe it was easier being friends with Harry than with me?"

Now Ron was staring at her as if she'd lost the plot.

"Are you taking the piss?"

That earned an exasperated sigh.

"No, Ron. I'm not taking the piss. It's a legitimate question, and one I would very much like an answer to."

His confusion deepened, and he ran his right hand through his hair. Then he whipped out his wand and muttered a finite.

"Really?!"

"Just needed to check." He grimaced at the glare being sent his way. "I haven't talked to you since the final battle, and now you're asking me these barmy questions, Mione. What else am I supposed to think?"

"Maybe this was a bad idea."

She bit her lip and turned her head, desperately trying to not to give into her wayward emotions.

Unfortunately a lone tear fell down her cheek, and she wiped at it in frustration.

When she glanced back at Ron, he at least had the decency to look sheepish and contrite.

"Ok," he began hesitantly, "you do know, Mione, that friendships with guys are a bit different, right? Harry and I could talk about stuff I couldn't talk about with you."

"Girls…"

"Nah…we'll, yeah…but that wasn't the only thing. You're brilliant, Mione. But you get scary when things don't go your way. It's not a bad thing," he was quick to reassure, "Godric knows we wouldn't have survived Hogwarts and the war without you. But you, me, and Harry are completely different people. Even though we're all Gryffindors, you have a lot of Ravenclaw and Slytherin traits. Me, I'm a mix between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, but Harry…"

"He's all Gryffindor."

"Nah, he's got some Slytherin in there too. And if you tell him I said it, I'm gonna deny it."

That earned a soft round of laughter from them both.

"But what does this have to do with feeling left out?"

"There were times when I wondered how three such different people could be such good friends. But then I figured it didn't matter, cause at the end of the day, we just worked. What I lacked, you and Harry had. And what you lacked, me and Harry could find common ground."

"Quidditch." Hermione coughed as an aside, and Ron nodded.

"Sure, but there was other stuff too." He paused and then asked, "Is this about Harry and Malfoy?

She nodded and swallowed uneasily.

Ron though, just smiled and took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Mione, Harry loves you. I think he always has. But being the loyal person he is, he knew I had feelings for ya, and didn't want to get in the way. I know you cared for me too…"

"I did, I do." She finished emphatically.

"But it's not the same though, is it?"

Staring into Ron's eyes, one's that she'd loved for years, it was hard to admit the truth. Even to herself.

"No. I thought Harry loved Ginny, and it wasn't until you left us that I began to wonder if there was something more there. But I think Harry thought I'd choose you and in the end, we just made a mess of it all."

Ron chuckled. "That sounds about right. Look, I can't imagine what you must be dealin' with. Especially with a git like Malfoy."

She sighed. "He really doesn't make it easy."

"Nope, can't imagine he would. Mione, Merlin knows I don't like the prat, and I think it's fair to say I probably won't ever, but I'll tell you what I told Harry not too long ago. That he needed to be honest with himself about what he truly wants, and maybe you do too. I don't know all there is to know about what's goin' on here, but I do know both you and Harry. And I know there's nothing in this world that Harry cares about more than you. He won't ever choose anyone over you. Mione, when it comes down to it, he chose you over me, in a way."

Hermione sat back stunned. Then she decided to share with Ron everything that had transpired since the end of the war. The reason for her betrothal to Malfoy, the Ardante, finding Malfoy with Astoria, the possibility of Astoria being cursed, her work with Master Flamel, trying to discover the panacea and how both Harry and Malfoy were helping her, as well as her own insecurities in being enough in a triad…

All of it.

Ron to his credit just listened, and when she was done, he shook his head and grinned.

"You never cease to amaze me with how much you keep bottled up that tiny body of yours."

"Nice, Ronald." She nudged him playfully, "At least your emotional range has surpassed a teaspoon."

He nudged her shoulder back with his own, and then placed an arm around said shoulder and pulled her in for a side hug.

And in their shared moment, Hermione let go and cried. She didn't know why she was doing it now, but she did know that despite Ron's shortcomings, when push came to shove, he was her best friend.

Conjuring a tissue, she continued to sniffle for several minutes. She was about to thank Ron when the floo went off again.

They both glanced up in shock at seeing Malfoy walking into the room. His head was down as he was siphoning the soot off, but when he glanced up, he halted in surprise.

Then his steely gaze narrowed.

"Am I interrupting?"

Ron, never one to back down, scoffed. "Piss off, ferret. And how in Godric's name do you even have access to Grimmauld?"

Draco sneered. "Potter graciously gave me access not too long ago."

"And you thought, what? You'd just stop on by? Was this decision made before or after Mione found you cavorting with Astoria Greengrass?"

Draco quickly gazed in Hermione's direction, but her attention was now diverted. Taking a good hard look at her, he realized somewhat guiltily, that she'd been crying.

And he felt his stomach dropping with shame.

However, Weasley had to go and ruin his moment of introspection.

"Nothin' to say for yourself?" Ron sneered spitefully, "I always knew you were a selfish git, Malfoy. You're still the same entitled wanker you always were. Using Mione's brain for your own gain! Well, maybe not just for you, right?"

"Shut it, Weasel!" Draco growled out in warning, his cheeks now burning with anger.

"Or you'll what?" Ron challenged back, just as spitefully, "Go tell your Death Eater Father about this?"

Hermione went to stand up, but she wasn't quite able to in time, as Draco roared back and decked Ron, who fell to the ground, his head just missing the side of the table.

Unfortunately, the shock wasn't quick to give way either, because Ron, faster than she thought capable, lunged for Draco and knocked him down…

And then the fighting began in earnest.

They were going at it like two muggles in a pub brawl, but before she could take out her wand to break up the fray, Hermione heard a familiar voice cry out, "What in the bloody hell is going on?!"