Hello lovely readers! I hope you've been enjoying my story. I'd love to hear some reviews and thoughts of where you'd like the story to go. :) Thanks so much for reading! Enjoy! :D -Lily's Fireflies
Feeling as if she was being watched, Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She wasn't sure where the feeling was coming from. Hermione cautiously looked around the room but didn't seem to see anyone looking. Just as she was about to shake it off and dismiss it, Hermione locked eyes with a blond haired boy. It was Draco.
Draco stared at her with such intent that Hermione ended up breaking the gaze. The fact that Draco was there should've made Hermione's goal of confronting him easier, but for some reason she suddenly wasn't ready. Deliberately avoiding his gaze, Hermione stood up to leave. Before she could make it to the door, Draco caught up to Hermione.
"Hey Hermione… how are you?" asked Draco.
Hermione was stunned by this question. She thought of telling Draco, 'How am I? How am I? You're asking me now? Just how do you think I am? If you really must know, I've cried myself to sleep every night for the past three months thanks to you!'
Instead, she simply responded with, "I'm fine. How are you?"
Draco smiled half-heartedly and replied, "I'm okay. Just came out for a Butterbeer. We should catch up sometime."
"Sure. I really have to go though. Got a lot of work. So I'll see you around," said Hermione and with that she was gone.
Ginny and Harry looked at Hermione expectantly. They wanted to hear how her conversation with Draco went. Despite their patience, Hermione never spoke. After thirty minutes of silence passed, Ron entered the door and pecked Hermione's cheek. She smiled softly back at Ron and took a hold of his hand.
"Oh, Ronald, I love you."
"What brought that up?" asked Ron.
Taken aback, Hermione retorted, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing… I'm glad you're not hanging around Malfoy anymore. Never trusted him to begin with. He's nothing but a dirty, smelly, pompous-"
"-Ronald! That's enough! Just because I haven't been seeing Draco doesn't mean you have the right to insult him."
"Jeez Hermione… you'd think you fancied that rat," scoffed Ron.
Hermione brushed off Ron's comment and went back to kissing his hand, ignoring the stares from Harry and Ginny. Eventually Ron convinced Hermione to come back to his house. The pair said good-bye to Harry and Ginny and quickly apparated away. When there was no sign left of Ron and Hermione, Ginny picked up James and said to Harry, "After I put James down I'd like to talk to you about those two."
Harry sighed knowingly. Listening to Ginny singing softly to James made Harry realize just how lucky he was. After living a life of constant confusion and fear he was finally happy. Although he wouldn't dare to go as far as saying his friends weren't happy, they were definitely struggling more than he ever thought they would. When Harry came back to reality he noticed James must be asleep because Ginny's singing had stopped. Harry looked up and saw his beautiful wife waiting for him. The two went up to their bedroom.
Ginny put down her long, beautiful hair and let it fall gracefully against her back. Her dress fell to her ankles as she slowly unzipped the back. She then proceeded to slip n her silkiest lingerie, and turn to the bed where Harry laid waiting. Harry felt himself harden with desire. He wanted to devour Ginny's body. He was just about to pounce on her when she finally spoke.
"Harry, do you think Hermione is actually happy?" Ginny asked.
Feeling rejected, Harry responded, "I don't know what you're getting on about with Hermione, but I know I'd be happy if you just kissed me."
Once again Ginny rejected Harry's advances and said, "Calm down, you horn-dog. I'm being serious. I don't think Hermione is as happy as she is trying to let on. Her smile is just a show."
"Eh, I don't know Ginny. I'm sure it's not as bad as you're thinking. I know she was had a rough time, but Ron has gotten help so he's getting better. She has always loved Ron. It'll all work out. She's not the kind to let people like Draco get to her and break her," said Harry.
"Are you really that dense, Harry? Hermione may be strong in many situations but I feel like you almost forget she's still a human being. She is still a girl with feelings. You have to remember… Hermione and Draco were friends. Whether or not you fully accept it, they did have a bond."
"Ginny, do you think she's not happy with Ron?"
Ginny shook her head, "No… I don't think she is. I know she loves Ron, but she needs Draco in her life."
"Maybe you're right. I don't know. Ron is my best mate though… If I have to pick between him or Malfoy-"
"-No Harry, it's not your place. Hermione is the only one who can make that decision. I just want her to be happy."
Ginny and Harry locked eyes as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a comforting kiss. Pulling away briefly, Ginny smiled at Harry and then burrowed herself back into his arms. At least they could go to sleep knowing that they had each other.
The sun was shining brightly into the bedroom, waking Hermione. Ron's arm was wrapped around her holding her close to him. There was a slight comfort in his touch, but her mind kept straying. Draco visited Hermione repeatedly throughout the night in her dreams and she was frenzied with guilt. She knew it was wrong to be thinking of another man while in bed with the one she was supposed to love, but Hermione could not stop thinking about Draco. Although she did not believe she had a romantic interest in Draco, Hermione had a deep, emotional friendship with him. If there was anything she was certain about, it was that she missed Draco with all of her heart and she needed to mend their friendship before she could truly be happy again.
Ron was beginning to stir and Hermione knew she'd have to leave soon. Turning to whisper closely into his ear, she noticed a smile on Ron's face. It was the first time she had seen him smile so innocently in a while. It was hard for her to understand why they could never seem to be completely happy at the same time. Eventually Hermione just smiled back and said, "Ronald, love, I have to get going. I have some meetings. I'll be back later. I promise."
Ron mumbled in agreement, lifted his arm to let her go, then fell right back to his slumber. As Hermione opened the front door she noticed a small owl holding a piece of parchment waiting for his tip. She took the parchment and gave the owl a Galleon before it flew off. The note read:
Meet me tonight at my place. We can talk there.
Hermione's heart leaped up into her throat and she could barely breathe over the thought of talking with Draco again. Today, time would not pass by fast enough.