The wind is cold and biting as we stroll down the long road from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade. Third years are practically sprinting, excited to see the town for the first time. I am curled into Draco's side, soaking up his body heat and trying to stay warm. He has one arm around me, holding me close to his side. I still notice people watching us out of the corners of their eyes as we pass, but it doesn't bother me anymore. People can think what they want, but I have never been happier. For the first time, I am doing what I want simply because it makes me happy and not because it benefits anyone else, though Draco doesn't seem to be complaining.
When we get into town, we ignore most of the shops and head straight for the Three Broomsticks, eager to get out of the cold. It is crowded but we find a small table in the corner and I take a seat while Draco goes to get us a drink. I watch as people come and go, calling out to friends. I notice Ginny sitting a few tables away with her friend chatting animatedly. When Draco comes back, he pulls his chair over so he is sitting next to me instead of across from me. One of his arms drapes across the back of my chair, his fingers running through the tips of my hair absentmindedly. He talks about his week, the classes we don't share, and about his Head Boy duties. There is one boy in Slytherin, Pansy Parkinson's little brother, who keeps giving Draco trouble. I have to hide my laughter and bite my tongue. I want to tell him payback is hard, after all, until this year he was just as bad and gave everyone else a hard time. But I keep my mouth closed and just listen as he talks.
It isn't until he goes silent that I notice anything has changed. When I look up, the first thing I see is Nicola. She is sitting across the room and staring at us with a very pleased smile on her face. Then I hear a squeal and look over to see Ginny fling herself into the arms of someone. It takes me a moment to realize that it is Harry. He is holding Ginny off the ground, his face burried in her firey hair. My stomach drops to the ground when I see Harry. Because I know if Harry is here, he isn't here alone.
Sure enough, I look behind the reunited couple to see Ron, standing in the door. He is staring at me with his mouth wide open, his eyes flickering back and forth between me and Draco. I stand to walk over to him and explain so we aren't shouting across the room full of very interested spectators, but as soon as I stand, he spins on his heel and leaves. I shove through the gawking people to the door, not sure whether Draco is following or not.
"Ron!" I yell as soon as I am outside and see his retreating form rushing down the busy street.
I chase him and manage to catch him on the edge of town by the Shrieking Shack. When I am close enough, I reach out and grab his wrist, yanking him to a stop. He pulls his arm out of my grasp, but he doesn't start running again. He stays put with his back to me.
"Ron, look at me," I tell him. He does and his eyes are so full of hurt and sadness that I wish I hadn't made the suggestion.
"Why Hermione? Why would you do this to us? I love you," he says.
"I didn't mean for it to happen Ron. But you have to realize, no one from our year came back. Besides Ginny, Draco is the only person I really know here," I try to explain.
"Are you even listening to yourself Hermione! This is Malfoy we are talking about! He is a Death Eater! He tried to kill Dumbledore! He almost killed me! How could you?" shouts Ron, his face burning red.
"He is different," I say lamely, knowing it won't make any difference.
"Different? Are you insane? Is this why you didn't write me back until Sunday? You were too busy shacking up with Malfoy," snaps Ron, and this one comment enrages me. Now it's my turn to yell.
"Oh that is rich you hippocritt! I write you every day and you write me back once with a reply that is no more than a couple lame sentences. You are the one that has so many better things to do that you cant take 5 minutes out of your day to send an owl. And while you were so busy with your life, Draco was the one that was nice to me. He was the one that would talk to me. You left me alone at Hogwarts, and not the Hogwarts we knew. This whole world has changed and you don't even freaking care, do you?" I shout and he takes a step back in shock.
"I was busy with Auror training, what did you want me to do? Quit?" he asks.
"No Ron, I wanted you to act like you cared about me, that you cared that we were apart. But you couldn't even do that, could you," I snap, and it is only then that what he said earlier registers. "And what do you mean I wrote you on Sunday? I never wrote you back," I tell him.
"What are you talking about? You wrote me and asked me to meet you here," snaps Ron, shaking his head like I am crazy. "I was so stupid. I thought you wanted to see me because you missed me, but you just wanted me to see you with your new Death Eater boyfriend."
"I never wrote you any letter Ron. I didn't send it, it must have been someone else," I tell him, remembering the pleased look on Nicola's face. I have a feeling she may have been the mastermind behind this. Just then, Draco, Ginny and Harry find us and join our lovely little chat.
"What is going on Ron?" asks Harry, looking back and forth between the two of us and Malfoy.
"Funny you should ask Harry. Turns out Hermione is not the innocent little school girl we all thought she was. Turns out she has been shacking up with none other than our old chum Malfoy," says Ron and instantly Draco grabs my hand and pulls me behind him, putting himself right in Ron's face.
"Don't you dare blame her you selfish waste of skin! It wasn't until you started ignoring her that she turned to me. You have no one to blame but yourself," shouts Draco in Ron's face.
"Get out of my face you disgusting Death Eater," says Ron, trying to shove Malfoy back. To my surprise, it is Ginny that steps up, and not to defend her brother.
"Knock it off Ron, you are acting like a spoiled brat. Draco is right. Hermione was crushed when you decided to act like she didn't matter at all. Draco, has changed. He isn't bad anymore. He loves Hermione like you never did," shouts Ginny, pulling out her wand and pointing it straight at Ron's chest.
"Harry, help me out," says Ron, looking over at his best friend.
"I don't know Ron. It sounds like Malfoy has changed. I mean, if he hadn't, do you really think he would be standing here fighting for Hermione. And do you really think Ginny would let him mess with her?" asks Harry, looking confused, but not angry. Ron looks totally and utterly defeated. He stares around at everyone, looking for some support. When it doesn't come, his shoulders stoop and he looks at me with those shining blue eyes that I used to know so well.
"Hermione, you can't want this. You can't really believe that he has changed. He is only going to hurt you," says Ron.
"Shut up you ginger fool! You don't have any idea what you are talking about. I would never hurt her! I LOVE HER!" shouts Draco and the entire group goes still and silent, letting those three words sink in.
"Is that true?" I whisper, barely loud enough for him to hear. He turns, his shoulders stiff, and reaches out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Its true Hermione. I love you," he says again and there isn't a hint of hesitation in his voice or his face.
"Hermione," says Ron and there is something in his voice that just breaks my heart. "Hermione please, don't let him ruin what we have," pleased Ron, stepping forward and pushing past Draco to take my hand.
"Ron," I sigh, shaking my head. Draco is standing behind him, staring at me with eyes full of heart breaking sadness. All if the fight and anger has fled, leaving him looking small and defeated. I ache to run to him and take him in my arms, never letting him go. But then I look at Ron, so familiar, so sad and begging for my heart. How could I ever hurt him so badly.
"Please Hermione, come with me. We can forget all about this, we can be together like we were meant to be. Please Hermione," begs Ron. Reaching out to cup my cheek. "Please, choose me."
I look back and forth between the only two boys I have ever loved. Ron is staring at me, pleading for my choice in his favor. Draco is just watching me with despair in his eyes and a sad smile on his face. I can feel my heart breaking in half as I open my mouth to make my decision.
Ohhhhhh! Cliffy! But not for long because the next chapter should be finished by tomorrow :)
I also apologise for being an evil horrible person who takes forever to update but I love you guys and I really, REALLY hope you are enjoying this because my focus is slipping a little from this story :(
Reviews are like cookies that give me energy to write.
Zogio xx