13. Weeping Willow (Part Two)

"Hermione?"

She looked over Malfoy's shoulder instantly to see Ron standing there with the worst expression in his eyes. Disappointment.

"Oh dear god…" Hermione breathed and pushed Malfoy off of her. Ron shook his head and began jogging back to the house. "Ron! Wait!" She ran after him.

"Yes, Hermione… I am in love with you." Malfoy sighed and turned to watch her run after the one guy that was always going to be in his way. "Fuck you, Granger."

That was exactly how Malfoy had played it out in his mind… her getting all noble and trying to spare the Weasel's feelings… running after him and making amends. He groaned at the thought of her and him together… wrestling around in the sheets… playing house together with a whole lot of kids… except, he didn't want kids. How could Malfoy forget? That was Hermione's biggest problem with him… and that was the one thing he had the upper hand in. But, she couldn't have kids anyway… or at least that's what she was claiming… because, she did, he remembered, come to him for contraception potion… so what was all that about. He made a mental note to ask her about it later.

He shook himself of his thoughts and focused back on the present. Hermione's leg was still wrapped around his body. She was still slinging onto him in a needy fashion… he was still hard as hell against her… and she wasn't running after the Weasel. This is new, Malfoy thought. All he had heard was the Weasel say her name… but she wasn't moving. His stomach did a back flip.

She was still tense against him, despite her lack of disentangling herself. "Oh, for Merlin's sake."

"Do you want to go after him?" Malfoy asked hoarsely.

Hermione shook her head. "No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure you're sure?"

"Damnit, Malfoy… I'm sure I don't want to go after him."

"Okay then," he breathed and pressed his lips up against hers once more.

She pulled away, this time disentangling herself. "We can't do this… not right now."

"Then when?"

"I don't know."

"Okay…"

She unwrapped her leg from around his body and sidestepped out from being pressed up against the tree. She smoothed out her robes and let her fingers act as a comb for her hair. "Erm… I'll meet you inside."

"We can go in together… I'm not scared of him."

Hermione laughed. "I know that but…" She eyed his groin. "You need to take care of that."

Malfoy looked down and his apparent erection. "Oh." He looked back up at her. Smirking. "You sure you don't want to take care of it?...OW!"

"You're a pervert!"

"It was just a suggestion!"

She rolled her eyes. "I'll see you inside."

---

"Hermione! What did you say to Ron?" Ginny asked immediately as she got back inside.

She frowned and bit her lower lip. "It isn't so much what I said as what I did."

Ginny furrowed her eyebrows. "Meaning?"

"Hmph," Hermione grunted. Ginny angrily pinched Hermione in the shoulder. "Ow! Merlin! Okay, okay…" She grabbed the red head by the arm and led her away from the masses. "I kissed Draco Malfoy."

"What happened to 'there's nothing going on'?"

"I didn't think there was… there still may not be. I don't know anymore."

"Did my brother see you?"

Hermione fell silent.

"He did, didn't he?"

"Yes."

"You have to go talk to him… you owe him that much."

"I know… but… wait, I owe him? Since when?"

Ginny suddenly got very serious. "I think I can forgive you two for what you did to Ron and I, because I know where your heads were at… but Ron won't ever be able to. That's how you owe him."

Hermione gasped. "He… Harry told you?"

"Yes," Ginny breathed, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't want to hate you, Hermione. I'm trying to keep a level head about this whole thing… but in the process of snogging my fiancé, you also cheated on my brother… I'm just… I think I'm giving you a lot of leeway right now."

Hermione took the nearly sobbing girl in her arms. "I know you are. I am so sorry that happened… It really shouldn't have."

"No, it really shouldn't have… and I'm not over it. But I love Harry and I love you so I am willing to see if I can still function with you both after knowing what I know."

Hermione nodded. "I will do whatever it takes."

Ginny sighed. "Right now, all I want is for you to go and talk to Ron."

She couldn't resist Ginny's request... she had to talk to Ron.

---

"Come in."

"Hey, Ron…"

"What?"

"I wanted to talk."

"Did Ginny send you?"

"Yes."

"Go away."

"No."

"Yes."

"No…"

"Did you ever even love me?"

"Wha… what? Of course I did."

"Then how could you do that to me. With him?"

Hermione glowered in his direction. "I didn't do anything to you… we aren't together."

"And you just have to rub that in my face… at my house?"

"I didn't rub it in your face."

"Mind as well have."

"Come off it, Ron. I didn't ask you to follow us out there."

"I know."

"Are we done?"

"We've been done…"

She rolled her eyes and threw her hands up in the air. "You are being immature!"

"You are being loose!"

"You had a different girl every week according to Ginny when we broke up the first time… am I not allowed one rebound liaison?"

"Is it just a rebound?"

I don't think so, Hermione thought. "Yes, of course."

"You're lying! You were lying then and you're lying now! You have feeling for that git!"

"That git saved your goddamn life, asshole!"

"Yea, well maybe he did, but he's ruining it right now! Has he no integrity?"

"Integrity? He has more than I do! When I kissed Harry, he was the one that reprimanded me about it… Oh god." Hermione clasped her hands over her mouth realizing the devastating words that had just spilled out of her mouth. Ron turned pale.

"Excuse me," Ron wheezed out. "You… you what?"

Hermione took in a sharp breath. "Nothing…"

"No, please… do tell."

"Ron, you have to know that it was just twice…"

"TWICE?!"

"…we were vulnerable and… I only said something because you were talking about how perfect I was and I…"

"Well, obviously I was wrong in my assumption… you aren't just loose… you're a loose whore, Hermione Granger," he spat venomously as she shoves past her and out of his room rejoining the party downstairs.

---

"You fucking bastard," Ron hissed in Harry's ear once he got downstairs.

Harry wheeled around, shock on his face. "Ron? Mate? What's wrong?"

"I need a word," Ron replied angrily through gritted teeth.

"Sure," Harry replied as they walked into the abandoned kitchen. "What's up? What's wrong?"

"You fucking kissed her."

"Who?" Ron's look got even eviler. "Oh, Hermione? No, Ron… you have it all wrong. It was just the one time…" He got another look. "Okay, two… but trust me! It meant nothing! There is absolutely nothing going on between us."

Ron shook his head. "Why would you do that to me?"

Harry sighed. "I don't know… I had just lost Ginny and I… I wasn't thinking."

"I loved her," Ron breathed. "You knew how I felt about her and you kissed her anyway."

"Ron… please I'm sorry!"

"Harry… you are dead to me… and I mean it."

"Ron, please don't do that."

Ron clenched his jaw and swung his fist forward, connecting with the right side of his face, sending Harry toppling to the floor. He felt utterly betrayed.

---

Malfoy was getting ready to walk back inside when Hermione stormed out, red eyed and sobbing.

He frowned. "Hermione, what's wrong?" Realization hit him. "What did the Weasel say to you?"

Hermione shook her head. "No! It's what I did to him! He knows!"

He sighed. "Oh dear Merlin. Come here," Malfoy cooed and took her in this arms. "It will be okay."

"I… I just want to get out of here. Can we do that?"

He nodded and without speaking another word, he apparated them back to Hermione's parent's house. Silence ensued the both of them for the rest of the evening. They dare not speak of the events that transpired between them either. Hermione was too fragile emotionally to deal with anything else. He just held her until she fell asleep, and then he too drifted off.

---

They returned to Hogwarts the next day. Hermione didn't want to be around anyone really. She was still walking around in a daze. She didn't know what to say or how to act around anyone. She had hurt the one person that had only ever been good to her… all because she didn't know what she wanted. And she still didn't know. Her actions became more mechanical and cold. She wasn't putting any real thought or feelings into anything. She was completely evasive, she only spoke when lecturing students or giving out detentions. She barely even spoke to herself in her mind. She was just an empty shell, not bothering to even try and attempt to live life. Harry had tried to contact her, telling her what had happened and to basically bitch her out for spilling the beans. She ceased to care after the third letter. Ron, in the end, had just as much of a right as Ginny to know. Apparently Ron found out that Ginny knew and now he was mad at her too… She tried to muster up the feelings to car about that too, because Ginny had only ever been good to her… but she couldn't care about that either.

---

Ronald,

I am so sorry for the way things happened over Christmas break. I feel just awful about it… I don't want things to end like this… I love you…

"Hmph," Hermione grunted and crumpled yet another piece parchment. She pulled out another sheet.

Ron-

It's been a while… nearly two months. I know I don't deserve it… but I was rather hoping you and I could work something out… that maybe you could forgive me. I do love you and don't want to lose you as a friend. Ever. What I did was wrong and impulsive and stupid… but it wasn't me… it was a very very very vulnerable version of me. You know that's not who I am. Please forgive me.

Love,

Hermione

That'll have to do, Hermione thought as she sealed the letter and gave it to a barn owl.

---

Hermione,

All is forgiven.

Your Friend,

Ron

---

Hermione scanned the letter at least twenty times. "All is forgiven," Hermione echoed the letters that were scribbled on the paper. She was almost elated with happiness. More emotion than she had felt in a long time. She bit her lower lip with a smile and knew who she wanted to share this moment with.

"Draco! Draco, slow down! Hey! Stop!" Hermione grabbed his arm and turned him around. "Did you not hear me?"

"I did."

"Okay? What's wrong?"

He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to tell you that everything is okay now… with Ron."

"What a delight. Is that all?"

"What is your problem? Did I do something?"

"My problem? What's your problem, Granger?" Malfoy growled. "It's been two months since you even spoke to me last. You just walk around like you're a fucking dead person right after you kiss me and then when you finally talk to me all you can call tell me is that everything is fine between you and Weasel? Very classy, Granger. Even for a Mudblood."

"Don't call me that!" Hermione gasped. "I… I didn't know you cared so much."

"Oh, bollocks, Granger. You knew exactly how much I cared."

She bit her lower lip. Not speaking.

" You're such a bint, you know that? You are a fucking Mudblood, bint."

"Stop calling me that!"

"You deserve it!"

"You are utterly impossible!" Hermione finally shouted.

"I'd rather be impossible than an insufferable…

"…don't you finish that sentence!"

"…KNOW-IT-ALL!"

"You are such a jerk!"

"Oooh, that one hurt, Granger."

Hermione shot daggers at Malfoy through her glare. "Why are you being like this?!"

"Because I can be."

"Real mature," Hermione murmured. "What happened to you? What happened to the Malfoy that was actually pleasant?"

Malfoy scoffed, "You believed that bit, did you?"

Hermione's mouth sat agape for a few moments before she snapped it shut. "I hate you."

"My sentiments exactly," he drawled, folding his arms over his chest, letting a sneer spread across his face.

Hermione let out an exasperated sigh and stormed off.

I am such a liar, Malfoy thought before he sighed and ran after her. "Hermione!" He picked up pace. Damn she's fast! He thought. "HERMIONE! STOP!"

He finally caught up to her grabbed her, pulling her back to him and turning her to face him. She collided with his chest and she let him hold her, crying helplessly. She began pounding on her chest, frustrated. So fucking frustrated at him. How dare he treat her like that? How could he mean what he said if he treats her like shit?

"I fucking hate you!" Hermione sobbed and she thrashed at his chest.

He grabbed her wrists and tried to calm her. "Stop that… OW! Stop!"

Hermione kept struggling under his strength to no avail. "I hate you," she mumbled still sobbing.

He looked down at her, eyes all wet and glistening. He bent down and kissed her, softly and gently… almost hesitantly. She seems to soften against him, but he noticed that she wasn't fully letting go. He pulled away.

"Do you really hate me?"

Hermione's stare turned into a fierce glare. "I should."

He nodded. "By all means, yes you should." His voice dropped. "But do you really?"

Hermione sighed, her eyes warming up. "No."

"So if not hate then what?"

"The question is… how do you feel about me?"

Malfoy chuckled lightly. "I love you, Hermione Granger." He sighed. "But you knew that one."

Hermione's breath caught in her throat. Never would she have thought that that is what he would say to her. She blinked several times, not able to find her voice. His grip lessened on her wrist and eventually he just let go, taking a few steps back.

"I thought for sure… that maybe you… I'm sorry…"

Hermione frowned. "Where are you going?" she finally spoke, eyeing Malfoy as he started to back away.

He stopped for a moment. "Somewhere were the tension isn't so thick."

She took several steps forward, backing him against a wall. Their favorite places to be. She cupped his face in her hands and smiled lightly at him. "Your eyes are a lot bluer up close. I noticed that."

"Erm…"

He was cut off by her pressing her lips against his, dipping her tongue in-between his parted lips. She moaned as she leaned fully into him. Relishing in the feel of it all. The contours of his body complimented hers completely. She pulled away with a whimpered protest from Malfoy.

"I don't get it," he whispered heavily, wiping his lips. "You can't keep messing with my head. Either you love me…"

"I love you."

"…or you don't. It's not that hard. I mean… wait, what?"

"I said that I love you."

"You… you do?"

Hermione laughed. "Don't tell me that the overly confident Malfoy is losing his arrogance."

Malfoy smirked and pulled her back up against him, kissing her neck. "Not a chance."

"Thought so," Hermione replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We should probably move out of the hall though.

Malfoy detached himself from her neck and nodded. "You're probably right…" He looked down the hall. "I actually have class in fifteen minutes. Meet up after dinner?"

Hermione shook her head yes. "Sound's okay with me." She checked the time. "I have class too. I gotta run." She scampered off.

"I love you." Malfoy sighed as she ran off. He was completely elated by what had just happened. Nothing could bring him down.

"Please don't tell me you fell for her?"

He shut his eyes and groaned. No! Not her! Not now! Malfoy thought. "Astoria."

A/N: Read and Review!! =D I dunno what else to say about it!