CH. 11 – Let Her Go
A/N: The much delayed CH. 11. I took some liberties with the spells in this chapter, but that's the beauty of fiction, you have artistic license! As always, read, enjoy, and review.
It was two days until Christmas, snow blanketed the Burrow as far as the eye can see, usually this would be a joyous time of year with the whole family participating in magical snowball fights, practicing Quidditch despite the cold temperatures, and laughing and joking around whilst enjoying some of Molly's great home cooking. And for the most part, that's just what happened, except for one member of the Weasley clan. Ron Weasley.
Ever since his outburst at school and the stunt he tried to pull once he got home; the reception he received from the rest of the family has been pretty icy. Even Percy was more standoff-ish towards him than usual. Harry outright refused to talk to him when it came to Hermione, which Ron tried to bring up as much as possible or even share a room, as a result, Harry was sharing with the twins. Ginny also refused to listen to his reasons why Hermione should be at the Burrow and with him, she gave him a severe dressing down saying that all of his attempts were unnecessary because Hermione didn't like him in that way, and that if he really loved her he should see how happy she is with Malfoy. The rest of the family shared the same sentiments.
So, here it was two days before Christmas and a depressed Ron was sitting in his room staring out over the field where his family and best friend were engaging in a snowball fight. Continuing to stare, he sighed for the umpteenth time, then he heard the unmistakable rapping of claws on glass. A grey Ural owl was tapping on his window on the opposing wall he didn't recognize the owl but let it in anyway. He untied the letter attached to its leg and it flew away immediately, obviously instructed not to wait for a reply.
Ron looked at the letter, all it said was 'Ron' in neat script, there was no indication of whom it was from, he opened it, and read, "Meet me at the Leaky Cauldron, tonight at 7. I'll be waiting." There was no salutation or end signature. He wondered who sent him the letter.
He walked downstairs holding the letter, just as Harry and Ginny were coming in. They saw his perplexed look and decided to ask if he was all right.
"Ron, you OK, mate?" Harry asked. Ron lifted his head toward the voice.
"Huh? Yeah I'm fine."
"You sure, you seem a bit dazed?" Ginny cut in.
"Well I just got this letter asking to meet, but I don't from who and I'm wondering whether I should go."
"Let me see it," Ginny said extending a hand, Ron handed her the letter. Harry stood beside her as they both examined the note. Almost immediately the two had a feeling they knew who was from, but they didn't want to tell him.
"I think you should go," Ginny said finally.
"Yeah, I think you should too," Harry agreed.
"Really, do you two know who it's from?" Ron asked hopefully.
The two shared a look, but quickly shook their heads. "No, but I think it has to be important if they are owling you," Ginny said.
"They?" Ron questioned.
"Could be, just go and see," Ginny played it off.
"Do you think it could be Hermione?" He asked enthused over the prospect that Hermione had come to her senses.
Harry and Ginny didn't answer, rather they just told him again to go.
"Thanks guys, I think I will," Ron beamed as he ran back upstairs.
Once Ron was gone, Ginny turned to Harry, "Do you think he'll really go and do you think he'll really like what he might hear?"
"I hope so," Harry cleaned his glasses, "I think we both know that Malfoy sent that letter, and what he wants to tell Ron is something Ron doesn't want to hear."
Ginny nodded, "Yeah. Let her go."
(***)
At exactly 7, Ron floo'd to the Leaky Cauldron. He brushed himself off and looked around, there was no-one, except for Tom. He walked up to the barman.
"Hi Tom, I'm meeting someone here."
"Right, right, they're right over there," Tom pointed to a secluded booth. "I have to stock the bar for tomorrow so I'll leave you alone, when you're done just floo away, the shop will lock itself," Tom finished and walked in the opposite direction toward the door, while Ron headed for the booth.
He sat down before caught sight of the booth's other occupant.
"Malfoy," he growled as he saw the hint of unmistakable blond hidden underneath a wool cap.
The blonde looked up, and smiled, a uncharacteristic sight, "Weasley," he greeted.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron demanded.
"At the Manor, she and her family are spending Christmas with mine, seeing as we are to be married. Hermione thought it'd be a good chance for the parents to finally meet."
"Then," the realization dawning on him, "You sent me the letter," Ron accused.
"Why so hostile?" the Slytherin drawled evenly.
"I'm outta here." Ron stood to leave.
"Sit down, Weasley," Draco ordered.
"You can't tell me what to do," Ron sneered.
"I really wished we could talk civilly."
"I have nothing to say to the likes of you."
Draco was reaching the end, "I'll ask politely once more, sit down."
"Sod off."
As he began to walk away Ron sudden felt himself being lifted and floating backwards, back toward the booth.
"Look Weasley, I don't want to use magic on you, but if it's the only way to get you to listen, so be it. I'm here to tell you to let Hermione go," Draco said, wand still pointed at Ron.
"Will you listen to me?" Draco asked.
"Fine," Ron relented, as Draco lowered his wand.
"All right look Weasley, I know you have some feelings toward Hermione—romantic ones—that I wish you would forget considering she is with me, however I also know that you and her were friends since First Year, so you'll always have that bond with her that I'll never have. I've come to terms with the fact that I cannot forbid you from seeing her and vice-versa, but while I can't do anything except voice my displeasure over it, I'm here to let you know that Hermione is mine, I love her far more than I care to admit, but the fact I'm admitting it to you of all people should demonstrate how strongly I feel about our relationship. One day she'll be my wife, one day she'll also be the mother of my children. I just want you to know that you need to make peace with whatever lingering feelings you have before that day comes, it'll save you a lot of heartache. I want you to understand, Weasley, that Hermione is happy with me, and I'll do anything and everything within my power to make sure she's happy for the rest of her days. She and I will go public soon, and whatever amount of scorn; hatred; back talk; and/or judgments we will face because of who we are, I'm here to tell you I'm ready and willing to deal with it and protect her as much as I can, however, knowing Hermione, publicly she'll not indicate that anything's wrong, but I know that she'll need all the support she can get and that includes from you. So, I want you to support her as a friend and only as a friend. It is time you let her go." Draco finished his speech while Ron sat and digested it.
Ron wasn't going to admit it, but the blonde's reasoning was just, he did need to let Hermione go, but he didn't want to relinquish any of his feelings for her on the off chance she'll end up with him.
"Why should I?" Ron asked.
"Because Weasley, you are only going to hurt yourself in the end if you cling to whatever supposed feelings Hermione may have for you. She loves you, yes, but in a platonic sense."
"What make you think that the spell she put the two of you isn't some sort of lover's Imperious curse?"
Draco sighed, he wondered if the redhead opposite him was being deliberately obtuse or if, he truly didn't get the message. "The spell Hermione performed on us, has not connection to dark magic, in fact it is a registered Ministry-approved spell. The reason it is not often used is because of the perceived "dead end" result of the spell: marriage. Hermione knew full well of its "consequences" and still she performed it because it displays trust and a call to commitment for a pair. Any other questions or do I finally have your word that you will keep out of my relationship with Hermione?"
"Are you asking me to do an Unbreakable Vow?"
"That won't necessary, if you simply keep to your word. As long as you don't falsify what happened tonight and support Hermione when she needs it as a friend no Unbreakable will be necessary."
"What do mean 'don't falsify what happened tonight'?"
Draco smirked, "Oh please Weasley, you don't honestly think I'd be foolish enough to think you won't twist the events of this meeting to make you come out smell like roses, do you? I know you. Besides I wouldn't be living up to my House's creed if I hadn't thought of all possible outcomes."
Ron was shocked, the blond Slytherin across from him knew of his potential plan. He was going recount the story in his favor, in the hopes of winning back his family and possible drive Hermione to him.
"How do I know you won't do the same?"
Draco smirked again, "Because Weasley, immediately following this meeting I will show Hermione my memories of this meeting in my father's pensieve. She'll know exactly what happened."
Ron was struck with an idea; he'll use a Memory Charm on Malfoy and then simply recount events to his family and Hermione in his favor.
"What'll it be Weasley, will you agree or will you need an Unbreakable?"
"I'll agree."
Draco smiled, "Good man," and extended his hand across the table.
Ron shook it.
"Very well we are agreed then. Well, Weasley I'd best be getting back to Hermione, it's getting late," Draco stood.
"Right," Ron nodded from his seat but covertly unsheathing his wand, "Give my regards to Hermione."
"Will do." Draco said as he turned and walked toward the floo.
"Oh and Malfoy one last thing," Ron called.
Draco turned his head back only to hear the word, "Oblivate!" and a beam of white light headed toward him.
Ron was sitting in the both looking smug, soon Malfoy will be out of the picture and his family and Hermione will be his. Unfortunately, the smug look turned to horror when the beam he shot was deflected away toward the door and vanished.
"Oh Weasel," Draco smirked as he walked back toward Ron, the use of 'Weasel' rather than his last name didn't go unnoticed by Ron, the entire time Malfoy had used his proper name, but now… "Did you honestly think I didn't foresee that? Merlin, Hermione foresaw that. She was the one who told me to apply the charm deflector. I told her that you could be reasoned with, but in her words, 'better safe than sorry'. And now you're going to be sorry." Draco glared at the redhead who had turned even paler since he was now trapped between a menacing looking blond and the back of the booth. An almost literal interpretation of 'stuck between a rock and a hard place'.
"W-what are you going to do?" Ron tried to not be intimidated, but cursed himself for stuttering.
"Do? Why an Unbreakable Vow of my own creation, of course," Draco raised one hand armed with his wand, training it on Ron and smirked. Ron gulped, he knew what the Slytherin was capable of, while taking Ron's hand with the other.
Draco began, "This Unbreakable is just like the original, except should you break it, instead of us both dying, you'll die and I will merely be rendered unconscious for 48 hours. The reason I developed this, is to ensure that you don't take the coward's way out and kill us both so that neither can have Hermione. I'm quite proud of myself on this one actually, I started figuring out how to modify the Unbreakable for just such an occasion, the minute Hermione agreed to be my girlfriend, way back when. Salazer Slytherin, himself would be so proud." He ended his speech with a smirk.
Ron gulped.
"Do you Ronald Weasley promise to forget your romantic feelings and desires toward Hermione Granger?"
Ron gulped a third time, "I do."
"Do you promise to never interfere with my relationship with Hermione ever again."
"I do."
"Do you promise to never reveal what happened tonight?"
"I do."
"Do you promise to adhere to the stipulations set forth, less risk the consequence of death?"
"I do."
With that Draco perform the final steps of his modified Unbreakable Vow and walked away, calling over his shoulder, "It could could have been simple, I gave you a chance, but you stupidly didn't take it. Well Weasel, now you suffer."
Draco entered the floo and disappeared in a flash of green flames. While Ron sat, thinking back on the events of the last few minutes and Malfoy's words. It could have been simple, it could have been a handshake and then go your own way, but he didn't take it. Now not only does he have to contend with Hermione's Forever Love spell protecting them, but also Malfoy's Unbreakable Vow, and the worst part is he cannot tell a soul. Malfoy was right, he did think of all possible outcomes. Ron was doomed.