Chapter 34

Hermione grabbed Ron by the elbow and tried to lead him to the kitchen, back out of the hallway. He refused to budge, however, and asked again, "Why didn't you tell me something was going on? What is going on?"

Hermione sighed. "Ron…look, Draco doesn't deserve to go to jail. Isn't that enough of a reason to help?"

Ron's mouth fell open. "Doesn't deserve…what?! He was a death eater! He held you prisoner…"

"…after saving my life!"

"He…well…Harry seemed to think he was up to something, that you shouldn't be helping him. What is it that's making you help him?"

Oh, crap. Was she really going to have to say it? With Ron all riled up like this? After all the stress his family's been through in the past couple of days?

"Look, he's not forcing me to help him…I want to help him…"

Ron looked incredulous. "He hasn't threatened you or hurt you or anything? You're just helping because…" He sighed, "Because you're a really good person who would help someone in need even if they are a little prat…"

The tone of his voice softened Hermione's heart. He really did care about her; it's the reason he rushed over when he thought she was in trouble. He thought of her as such a good person all the time…And she was going to have to break his heart. She felt like such a….well, a bitch.

Her voice held pain when she said, "Ron…"

And that's when the bathroom door opened. Draco Malfoy strode quickly and angrily into the hallway, wearing his rumpled, dirty muggle clothing again.

"What in the hell is going on now?" He asked.

Great. Hermione felt guilty, Ron was upset, and Draco was pissed. This was not a good mixture.

"What? What are you doing here?" Ron asked, his voice starting to rise a bit near the end.

"Huh? I'm supposed to be here, you twit!" Draco yelled. He caught a look from Hermione and deflated. "Oh…er…not helping, am I?"

Hermione stared at him meaningfully and shook her head.

"Why the hell are you supposed to…are you staying here? Wait…did you just come out of the bathroom?" He pointed at Draco. He turned and pointed at Hermione. "Didn't you, too?" The anger left his voice and was replaced by utter confusion.

Hermione felt herself blushing and covered her face with her hands. No, freaking out would not help with this situation.

"Ron, look…" She started as calmly as she could. "Harry figured it all out on his own- we weren't keeping anything secret from you deliberately."

"Secret? What? The trial…or something else?" His voice got real quiet.

Hermione couldn't stand the sound of his voice, or the fact that he was staring at the floor, thinking. He was trying really hard not to come to the conclusion Harry had come to weeks ago.

"Yeah…something else…" She answered, looking down at the floor.

Ron stared at her. "What? Tell me Hermione- I'll just end up coming to the wrong conclusions like usual if you don't tell me…"

She took a deep breath. "Ron…Draco's been staying with me before the trial…and he's probably going to stay after, too…I want him here. But I want…no, I need you to be my friend still. I need you, and Harry, and Ginny, and everyone…"

Ron blinked. He pointed at Draco. "You…what the hell did you do?" His voice was venomous.

Draco sighed. "See how it's always somehow my fault?" He seemed bored with the fact by this point.

Ron pulled out his wand. Hermione stepped carefully between the two boys. The hallway was tight enough that one body could pretty much block their line of sight.

"Move! He's imperioused you or something, right? Or maybe he's just playing some kind of mind game with you!"

"That's not it, Ron."

"Then what is it?….Wait….He slept with you, didn't he? Making himself real comfortable until the trial, huh? Taking advantage of her! You bastard…"

Though her back was to him, Hermione was sure Draco had produced his own wand. "See? Always my fault."

"Draco didn't do anything wrong! How many times do I have to explain that to people?! I'm the one you should be angry at! I'm the one who's hurting you! I'm the one you should be pointing that damn wand at! Don't transfer your anger to Draco, just because it's convenient to think he's to blame! I want to be with him, and I didn't tell you and that was wrong! I've kept secrets form you and Harry since Canada…"

"Since Canada…" Ron asked, his voice lower, his wand…not so much.

"Yes, Ron! Draco saved me and we're together. No trick, no spell, no blackmail- we just like each other, ok?" Her voice cracked and tears spilt as she continued. "We've been friends for seven years….me, you, and Harry. I love you two, you know. Just not in the way you want me too…"

The expressions on Ron's face went from shock, to sadness, and then to anger.

"How could you, Hermione! How could you be with… how could you kiss…uck! He's Draco Malfoy, dammit!"

"You'd be angry no matter who it was, Ron…"

"Yes, but at least I can be justified in being angry since it's him! Hermione, don't you remember all the nasty things he's done?! He was a death eater; if he was ordered too, he might have tortured you! Or killed you! In school he used to belittle you! All of us! Why would you want to sleep with…that?!"

Why did it always have to come down to the fact that they were sleeping together? What did Harry and Ron want? Should she just inform them that Draco was quite good in bed, thank you very much? No, that probably wouldn't go over well.

"Look, I'm still your friend, still Hermione. I just chose to be with Draco. We're a couple. That's it. Just like any other couple!"

"Who just happen to be on opposing sides on everything! Good and evil and all that, or don't you remember what went down three days ago!?"

Draco piped up, "Sorry, have to cut in. We agree on plenty of things, actually. Such as, for instance, I'm sure we're both thinking somewhat along the same lines about your little tantrum now."

Hermione might have laughed if she currently didn't have such a mix of anger and hurt inside. Tears were still coming down, and she couldn't make them stop. She didn't want Ron yelling at her like this!

She had kept a secret from him, and that was wrong, so what else did she expect? Maybe that they could still be friends? But if Harry couldn't even understand, what were the chances Ron would? She knew perfectly well how Ron felt about her, afterall…

Whatever was about to happen, which was likely to involve wands flying, was interrupted by two loud "pop's" from the kitchen.

Ron swirled around as if expecting an ambush as Harry and Ginny ran into view.

"Geez, there you are!" Harry said, then spied Hermione and Draco in the background. The looks on everyone's faces elicited a little "oh…" out of him.