Chapter Six - Hermione's Story
Draco sat there for the next hour or so, stunned and trying to figure out what had happened and if he should go after her, or give her time.
Eventually Draco stood up and knew he had to find her, he needed her.
Draco apparated to her parents place, knowing how close they had got, and hoping that this was where she had run to for comfort. Her mother answered the door,
"Hello Draco dear" she said
"Um hi" said Draco realising he had no idea what to say "Um is Hermione here?"
He sounded like a pathetic teenage boy.
"Sorry no, she's out for the day, she said something about visiting a friend, I just presumed it was you." Mrs Granger replied
"Ok can you just tell her I called and to owl me?"
"Of course I can"
Draco turned to walk away, when he heard Mrs Granger call his name, "Draco", she was heading up the path towards him, "don't give up" she said looking at him with understanding in her eyes.
Before he could ask her any questions she had turned on her heal and walked back into the house closing the door. It was only once Draco had apparated home that he realised Mrs Granger knew something. Hermione must have been there.
Ok Hermione you can have some time but I'm not giving up he thought.
Mrs Granger had waited until she heard that telltale pop from outside, signaling that Draco had gone.
She walked into her daughter's bedroom and sat down on the bed next to her.
"Are you ready to tell me yet?" she asked softly looking at her daughter's puffy eyes
Hermione said quietly, still sniffing, "He told me he loved me, he said I was beautiful and.."
Hermione was crying again
"Oh sweetie, come here" her mum said pulling her into a hug "why is that a bad thing?"
Hermione didn't say anything at first, she just continued to cry on her mum's shoulder. Eventually she mumbled, "He said" sob "he didn't know" sob "why he hadn't noticed me sooner".
All of a sudden her mum understood why her daughter was so upset and it was time to put it to an end. It was time Hermione faced up to her self doubts and realised just how special she was and let someone love her for her.
"Hermione" her mum said moving to be looking directly at her daughter, holding her shoulders so that she couldn't move, knowing Hermione was likely to want to run once she started talking.
"It is time to put this to an end. You are an amazing person and you deserve happiness. So Draco didn't notice you sooner, from what you have said its a miracle you are even friends now, you were so different at school".
Hermione looked at her mum and gave a slight nod.
"But you need to get over this idea that you are not good enough for someone to love, you should have got over it years ago. You're a bright girl, its time to use that brain."
Hermione's eyes had dropped to her lap.
"Hermione, look at me"
Hermione raised her head.
"Do you love him?"
Hermione nodded
"Then sweetie you need to tell him that, and you need to tell him everything. You also need to go and face that boy that broke your heart and put it all behind you".
"I can't"
"Yes you can, you're stronger than you think, and he was wrong, you know that, you just need to tell him that."
Hermione started to cry again, and her mum hugged her until her sobs subsided.
It took Hermione a few days but eventually she felt ready to do what she needed to. She missed Draco more than she ever thought possible. She missed their conversations, their silences, his smile, his eyes, she missed everything.
Sitting at the kitchen table Hermione wrote a quick note
Dear Draco,
I'm sorry for everything, and I promise I will explain, there is just something I need to do first.
I'm going away for a few days, but as soon as I get back I promise I'll be in touch.
I don't want to loose our friendship, so please don't hate me for taking this time. I need to do this before I talk to you. I hope when I explain you will understand.
Hermione
She then attached it to her owl and sent him on his way to Draco.
Hermione then grabbed her bag, apparated to the Australian Ministry of Magic in Canberra and headed to the International Floo Network.
"Destination" asked the harsh looking witch behind the desk.
"Romania" replied Hermione.
"Floo 3" came the response.
Hermione headed to her designated floo, and joined the queue. When it reached her turn, she confirmed her destination with the wizard in charge of the floo. He then handed her some floo powder, and wished her a pleasant trip.
"Romania" Hermione said as she threw her powder in the fire.
She landed in the Romanian Ministry of Magic Offices, confirmed who she was to the official and was then on her way.
Once outside the building Hermione apparated to her destination. The house was exactly as she remembered it.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione knocked on the door.
The door opened to reveal a dark haired wizard, who did a double take when he saw her standing there
"Hermione" he said before pulling her into a hug "long time, no see".
"Hi Igor" she replied, and together they entered the house.
"Charlie, Charlie" Igor shouted "You'll never guess who's here"
Charlie Weasley appeared from the top of the stairs, "Hermione" he shouted as he ran down the stairs to hug her.
Hermione smiled, "Hi Charlie"
The three then spent the next hour catching up over coffee, before Igor realised he had to head to work.
When it was just the two of them, Hermione realised it was now or never.
"Charlie, I came because I need to talk to you"
Charlie looked at Hermione, "This sounds serious" he smiled.
"It is"
Charlie looked a little concerned, "You're not in trouble are you?"
"No" she smiled, "but I do have some things that I need to say and that I should have said years ago".
Charlie's look went from concern to confusion.
Hermione took a deep breath and said "I was in love with you."
Charlie's jaw dropped.
"It started as a school girl crush, you were the cool older brother I suppose, but during the time we spent together after the war, it grew into something more. I knew, in my heart, that you would never look at me like that but part of me hoped."
Hermione looked at Charlie, and saw that he was still shell-shocked and trying to take everything in.
"We became closer, and you told me how important I was to you, I was almost the perfect woman. I know now that it was just a throw away comment, but at the time, it gave me hope."
"Hermione, I.."
"Please let me finish" Charlie nodded.
"Remember that Christmas we got drunk here before we headed back to the Burrow?"
Charlie nodded again.
"We kissed under the mistletoe, and that kiss meant everything to me. The only other man I had kissed was Victor. The next morning I heard you and Igor talking and you said I was the type of girl that men would only have as a friend. I was too smart, and too bossy and not pretty enough to have a relationship with. You'd kissed me out of pity".
Tears were falling down Hermione's face by now, and Charlie's face was also full of sorrow and regret.
"We headed back to the Burrow that day" Hermione continued, "and I asked Ron and Harry if I was the type of girl that men would only want as a friend and reluctantly they both said yes, but they didn't want it to hurt my feelings. Fred, Lee and Oliver all said the same. It was then I realised that even though I was smart, it didn't matter, I would forever be just a friend, and that meant that I was meant to be alone. It didn't help that during the period just after the war that everyone was finding someone. I was always the odd one out, so I left to find my parents, to find myself."
"Hermione I, I don't know what to say. Those comments, you were never meant to hear them and I don't even know what I meant by them." Charlie responded.
"I understand that now, and I understand that they were wrong. I've met someone and he loves me for me, and I ran away because I didn't think I was good enough, or worthy enough, but I am."
Charlie nodded
"I just needed to tell you this, for me, which I know is selfish, but I needed to do this to be stronger."
"I understand, and Hermione I am so sorry I caused you so much pain and self doubt. You are an amazing witch and you deserve to be happy. Please forgive me for the pain I caused you".
Hermione smiled, "thanks Charlie, and I forgive you".
They stood there together in an awkward silence, before Hermione moved towards Charlie and gave him a hug. They stood holding each other for several minutes, letting all of the pain, anger, hurt and shock evaporate.
They then spent a few more hours talking about everything and healing their friendship. It was only when Igor arrived home to find Charlie who was late for work that Hermione realised the time.
"I have to go, I've got a floo booked home" she said.
"Where is home?" Charlie asked, "Mum mentioned that you haven't been around much."
"I'm still figuring out where home is" she said with a smile "but I think I have a better idea now".
They said their goodbyes and Hermione started her journey home, knowing in her heart home was with Draco, if he was still prepared to have her.
AN: I hope this helps you to forgive Hermione for leaving Draco the way she did :)