AN – I own nothing!

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Chapter 39

"Your Majesty," Severus started as he cut another slice of his steak, "With Hermione being pregnant, we must inform Madam Pomfrey of everything. She is our healer at Hogwarts."

"I must agree with you," King Richard said as he smiled at his granddaughter.

"Then I shall have a meeting with her and tell her myself," Albus said.

"You do understand Hermione that since you are pregnant, there are more security precautions that we need to take?" King Richard asked.

Hermione sighed as she placed her fork down. "I do grandpa." She was so not in the mood to talk about security the war, and whatever else more. All she wanted to do was enjoy lunch with her friends and family. When was it never a subject for her grandfather to talk about?

"For starters, I would not like the Weasley boy to be alone with you at any time," Severus said clearly. "If he is to lay a finger on you again and harm you, I swear, I am going to kill him myself.

"Severus!" she glared at him. Most of all, she didn't want to talk about Ron.

Minerva gapsed, "What are you talking about?"

Severus turned to Remus and Tonks. He got hold on one of Hermione's hands and held it. He could feel her be mad and sad herself.

"Umm… during Harry's birthday party, Ron had let's say, manhandled Hermione," Tonks informed everyone at the table. "He even threw her on the floor."

"What?!" Harry and Sirius asked in shock, along with a few other people.

"He was jealous, you could clearly see it Harry," Remus said. "We didn't want to tell you since it was your birthday, and ruin the occasion for you."

Sirius remained silent. That explained why Hermione decided to not sit next to Ron in the party after she had a talk with him in his room.

"That Weasel!" Draco outraged.

"What is his problem anyway?" Lucius asked.

"He didn't take the breakup too well," Harry replied. "He still thinks he and Hermione belong together."

"And treats you like you're his possession," Severus added as he looked at his wife.

"You could press charges against him," Narcissa stated. "He cannot treat you that way, you are the heir to the throne after all."

Hermione shook her head. "Then he'll find out. If I was just a regular person, being shoved to the floor by someone I know, could be explained as a quarrel between friends."

"Some friend!" Draco said.

"So he can't know okay? He's just going to explode and snap. If he knows, he might even slip." Hermione was starting to get irritated and annoyed just talking about Ron. She grabbed her napkin from her lap, and tossed it on her chair as she stood. "Just forget about it!"

"Hermione?" Severus called after her as she walked back in the castle.

"Leave her be Severus," Albus said. "She's just mad and needs time alone."

"I want to kill him now!" Severus growled.

"You're not the only one," Lucius said. How dare Ronald Weasley treat his goddaughter that way!

"Now, now," King Richard said calmly. "There is no need to do anything rash. Let's just hope that over time, this Ron boy comes to his senses, and that he will no longer do such brutal actions towards Hermione."

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Hermione stared blankly at the fireplace as she lay down on her stomach on the bed. Her right fingers fidgeted with the charm around her neck as she was deep in thought. Why in the world did she have so many problems to deal with? First it was dealing with the war, and of all things, Ron also had become a problem.

Besides Draco and Harry, Ron was supposed to be her best friend as well. Yes, they were best friends during the first few years at Hogwarts. After the breakup of their very brief relationship, Hermione started to question if Ron was truly a best friend. He started to disrespect her, and hurt her not just emotionally, but physically as well. If Ron did respect their friendship and value it, then he would have respected her decision towards ending their relationship.

Hermione hoped that breaking it off with Ron didn't ruin the friendship that they had, but it did. Maybe Ron didn't value what they had. It was he that ruined their friendship. With his behavior becoming more irrational, maybe Ron wasn't the friend that she once thought that he was.

"Hermione?" Draco's voice called her, breaking out of her thoughts.

Hermione looked at the door, and saw Draco and Harry who just walked into her bedroom. "Hey guys," she sighed.

"I'm sorry about Ron, Hermione," Harry said as he sat on the bed next to Hermione. Draco sat nearby as well. "If I had known, I would have gotten mad at him." Harry was feeling guilty. Maybe if he talked to Ron at some point and defended Hermione, he wouldn't have harmed her. He however decided to remain neutral at the time. He didn't like to pick sides too much. Now of course, he was on Hermione's side.

"It's not your fault Harry," she answered back. "Ron can be really immature."

"If you'd ask me to hex him or kill him, I'd do it without even thinking," Draco said as he shook his head.

Hermione smiled. She knew Draco would do anything for her. "Thanks Draco, but no."

"What do you plan to do to him? You can't forget what he did to you and ignore him," he said.

"He's right you know," Harry agreed.

"I'll just have to keep on standing on my decision and say that I am not interested in going out with him or be his girlfriend. I am so happily married, and you know that."

"But he doesn't," Harry said. "I don't think that he'll stop going after you. He's obsessed with you. He always talks about you. It can either be he's complains about you, or saying how he's so in love with you. I swear, sometimes I just want to put plugs in my ears."

"Then Severus is right, you can't be with him alone at anytime," Draco said.

Hermione shrugged.

"Don't worry Hermione," Harry said as he placed a hand on her arm, "we'll be here for you."

Draco gave her a smile and nodded.

"I know guys, thanks," she said softly. "I thought you guys were going to play quidditch outside?" she asked, remembering that they were talking about it during lunch.

"Yes, we will," Harry said. "Your grandfather gave me something though." He reached into his pockets and pulled out a bunch of tickets. "Tickets for the Quidditch World Cup match. The Weaseleys', Sirius, Remus, Tonks and even Severus are all going to go. We have great box seats."

"Severus?"

"Yes. He said he was going to show Weasley that you are clearly taken. He's coming to the match to be with you."

"Wait… How?" Hermione asked in confusion. "He and I can't let the public know that we are together. It will raise suspicions if I was a princess or not, even with the Dark Lord."

"He's going to wear a glamour charm," Draco replied. "You and he can act all lovey- dovey in front of everyone. No one will suspect who he is. It was his idea. He even named himself Brandon Hughes."

"Oh my God," Hermione giggled. "Brandon Hughes. I couldn't have thought of something better to be with him in public here in the wizarding world."

"I can't wait to see how Ron will react," Harry grinned.

"Too bad I can't be there to see it up close," Draco said. Him and his parents were also going to the match, but obviously sitting far from them. He really wanted to see how the dumb redhead would react. Nonetheless, he would eventually find out soon after.

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AN – 'Brandon' meets everyone, next. Ron-bashing around the corner again. Brandon and Hughes are the last names of two characters that Alan Rickman played. Review!