Okay so guys I know it's been a while. I have just been super stressed and having some personal issues so writing has been hard. I suffer from Anxiety, Depression, OCD, and ADHD and we've been adjusting my meds so things have been a little difficult lately.
However something really amazing has happened! This story has been nominated for The Hogwarts Awards in the category of Work in Progress! It is one of three nominated and It would be really great if you guys like this story to go and vote. The website is .com. It would mean so much to me if you guys would vote. Thanks!
"What are you doing here, Ronald?" Hermione said backing away and reaching for her wand. She didn't trust Ron anymore and was weary of his presence.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry. I was a real dick. I should have treated you better and I regret leaving you." Ron said hanging his head. Hermione relaxed a little. He seemed sincer.
"Well, thank you. I appreciate your apology. Now will you excuse me. It is time for me to go to lunch." She said moving past him and forcing her way through the door.
"Really? At this time? Isn't it a little early?" He asked. Her lunch started at about 11 and she was expected back by 12:30. This wasn't too unusual. She kind of liked the early lunch.
"Yes. I'll be meeting with Harry. I need his help." She said still walking. Ron was trailing behind her trying not to bump into people as he followed her.
"What do you need help with?" He asked perplexed. The Hermione he knew didn't need much help with anything.
"That is none of your business, Ronald. Why are you still following me. You made your apology. It was accepted, so why are you still here?" She asked rounding on him. She was tired of all this. She was having difficulty finding a place to live and had asked Harry to help her. The market wasn't huge right now.
"I was hoping to join you. I haven't seen you guys in years. I've missed you. It would be nice to catch up." He said calmly, but a little ashamed. His behaviour over the last several years was difficult to forgive.
"I'll allow it but you also have to talk to him. And this does not mean that everything is back to the way it was." Hermione said stiffly, and continued to the Floo and to a cafe that she and Harry frequented.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Harry asked, angrily pointing at Ron. Harry had never really gotten over the fact that Ron had just left them and had turned to drinking instead of dealing with the war like they had.
"He came to apologize to me and asked to join us for lunch. I said it was up to you." Hermione responded in a flat tone. She was not exactly happy that Ron was here but didn't want to write him off completely. She still held hope for him, but she didn't intend to get hurt by him again. Not for a long time.
"I guess. But if you step one toe out of like, I'll go find your mother." Harry said in all seriousness. Ron paled a little and held up his hands in surrender.
"I'll behave. I just want to catch up." He said and sat down.
Over the next hour the three seemed to be doing well. Ron was informed about Harry's status as a father-to-be and how Ginny and Neville were doing with their kids. He found out about what had happened to Hermione and her home. He didn't ask where she had been staying and she didn't say. They talked about what had gone on in the last 6 years. It was pleasant but not the way it had been back at Hogwarts.
Hermione stood to go back to work and Harry did as well.
"Maybe I can come visit you sometime Hermione." Ron said. Hermione bristled at this.
"I don't think so." She said putting her jacket on. She didn't want to talk about this.
"Why not? I don't care if it's a mess. I could even help you clean up if you wanted me to." He said getting hopeful.
"There isn't a point. I sold the place. I can't live there. I'm too afraid. Anyway, I'm staying somewhere else." She said feeling uncomfortable.
"Where? With Harry?" He asked, looking a little worried.
"No. Actually I'm staying at Draco's." She said calmly. Turning toward the door.
"What!? Why are you staying with that prat? After all that he did to you!" Ron almost yelled, startling most of the customers in the cafe.
"Ronald! That is enough! I am more than capable of taking care of myself. I am a grown woman who can make her own choices. And you have no say in them. You haven't been apart of my life for six years! And for your information Draco has changed and become a good friend of mine. I would appreciate it if you would not be quite so condescending." Hermione replied before walking out of the cafe, into an alley, and apperating back to work.
"Well you really fucked that up, mate." Harry said as Ron stood stunned. Harry followed Hermione and Ron was left standing by himself.
After work Hermione returned to Draco's residence and went straight to her room, making it through the correct door this time. She was still fuming from the events of that day. How dare Ronald make her feel bad for staying with Draco. He had been more of a friend to her than Ron had in years. He treated her well and respected her.
She huffed and laid on the bed. She was exhausted from the last few day's events and accidentally fell asleep. She didn't even wake to the knock on her door.
Draco was concerned about Hermione. He had heard the Ron had stopped by the office and talked to Hermione and someone said that he followed her to lunch as well. Draco knew that she was definitely capable of taking care of herself but he felt protective of her. He wasn't sure why but he was. The witch was growing on him. So when he got home he made some dinner, just some simple soup that he enjoyed from time to time and took it up to Hermione in her room.
When she didn't answer the door he was concerned and he opened the door to see her laying on the bed fast asleep, still in her clothes from work and even her heels. Draco walked in and set the soup on the bedside table. Hermione's legs were hanging off the bed and it didn't look very comfortable. He moved her so that she layed totally on the bed. But in the process her skirt had bunched up quite a bit and was showing the creamy skin of her inner thigh. Draco couldn't help but look at the smooth skin that looked so silky. He almost reached out to touch it but Hermione moved and make a small moan in her sleep.
"Draco," She seemed to whisper in her sleep. Draco pulled his hand back afraid that he had woken her. He waited several seconds but she seemed to still be asleep. Was she dreaming about him? He studied her sleeping form. Her face was slightly flushed and her breathing was heavy but even. He had to back away to keep himself from stroking her inner thigh or her face. She was asleep and it wasn't appropriate. He was with Astoria. And all he could hope for was friendship from the woman that he had tortured as a girl.
Draco had harbored feelings for Hermione for years. After his third year, when she punched him, he had begun to respect her. His respect had only grown. Even though he never showed it. He was amazed by her ability to withstand his aunt when she Crucioed her for, what seemed to him like, hours. He had accepted that she was out of his reach and wouldn't ever be his.
Draco hung his head sadly and walked into his room. If he couldn't have the woman he wanted most he would settle for a woman who wanted him and hope that he would eventually learn to love her.
Hermione woke with a start when she heard the door to her room close. She looked up confused and saw the soup on the bedside table. It was still warm so it must have been brought into the room only minutes before. She sat up and tasted it. She smiled. It reminded her of her childhood. Whenever she was sick her mother would make her a soup very similar to this.
She stood and undressed and crawled back into her bed. She needed to get some sleep. Tomorrow she was going to look for her new home.
Another thing. I am thinking about doing a series of One-shots based on requests. If you would like to make a request please private message me. I can do whatever pairings you would like in whatever situation you want with whatever rating you want. Just let me know. Also please review this story and if you like it vote for it on the site above. Thank you guys so much.