15. Ronald

Something was wrong. Hermione could feel it. Draco was keeping her at arm's length… he'd been like that for a whole week… She couldn't help but feel vulnerable… She had just told him she loved him and then he got all-distant. She threw the rest of her cardigans into her suitcase and snapped it closed. At least she had the weekend to get away from everything and relax.

There was a soft knock on her door. Hermione sighed and made her way out to answer it.

"Look, Draco if you're here to… Astoria?"

She smiled smugly back at Hermionem holding a bottle of wine. "Granger. I brought wine. Draco mentioned something about how you liked it. Red wine, in particular."

"What are you doing here?"

"Visiting my husband, of course."

"Your… your what?"

"My husband. Pay attention, my god." She shoved past Hermione and went straight for cabinets, ransacking them for glasses. "Where do you keep the glasses."

"Top right." Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Aren't you and Draco divorced?"

"Oh, no. Not at all." Astoria flashed her a smile and pulled the cork out of the bottle. "We were taking a short break… but now we're back together. It's all rather exciting really." She handed Hermione a glass and she took it hesitantly. Astoria plopped down on the couch and patted the seat next to herself. "Join me?"

"Erm…" Hermione slowly sat down and pressed the glass to her lips. "Weird," she breathed before dumping the contents of the glass into the back of her throat.

"So anyway," Astoria continued. "I stopped by to give you this. I know how poor the Weasels are and since you are going to become one, I figured I should help out a bit. You know, do my part. So here you are." She dropped a bag of coins in her hand.

Hermione stared at it for a moment and then looked up at her. "What is this for?"

"Baby sitting Adrianna for all those hours, of course. I didn't know Draco was smart enough to hire help, but I was apparently wrong. You make a great nanny, I must say. Adrianna chatters on about you for hours."

"Oh," Hermione forced a half smile. "Well, these aren't necessary…" She tried to give the bag back.

"Nonsense!" Astoria shoved Hermione's hand back. "You take them. I don't need them… put them towards your wedding! At least this way you can have a… somewhat decent one."

Hermione shook her head. "I'm not getting married… we aren't together anymore."

"Oh? What a shame," Astoria noted and stood up, setting her glass on the coffee table. "Getting dumped is never fun… You'll get through though. You're a somewhat decent-ish looking woman."

Hermione stood up as well. "Uh, thanks?"

"Pleasure is all mine, really. Have a wonderful weekend. Ciao!" Astoria brushed past Hermione and out the portrait door.

She looked on the ground and noticed a folded piece of parchment on the ground and picked it up.

"Hermione?"

She shoved the paper into her trouser pocket. "Luna, hello!"

"Hi," Luna barely whispered. She was paled and looked like she hadn't slept in days.

Hermione's face fell. "Luna, what's wrong?"

"There's been another Death Eater attack…"

Hermione gasped. "And? Ron? Harry? What's happened?"

"My… my father's been killed."

Hermione suddenly felt very selfish. "Oh my god, Luna. Oh my god! Come here!" She rushed over to her and wrapped her arms around the little blonde.

"Why him?" Luna choked out. "He's the editor of a loony tabloid, for Merlin's sake! Why would he be the target of any attack?"

Hermione sighed. "I don't know." Luna began sobbing harder. "Shh… Luna, come on. Breathe."

"I just… I can't even…"

"I know."

"LUNA!" Neville burst through Hermione's open door.

Luna pulled away from Hermione and immediately wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, Neville!"

Neville petted her hair. "It's okay. I'm here now." He looked up at Hermione. "I'm sorry. I would have been here sooner but some damn Slytherins were messing with Mandrakes without earmuffs on and…"

"You're here now," Hermione declared. "That's all that matters."

"Do you mind if…"

"No, go. It's okay. I understand. I'll owl you, Luna."

Luna nodded. "Thanks."

"I'm really sorry."

"Me too…" she whispered and allowed Neville to walk her out of Hermione's dormitory.

She sighed and went into her room to grab her luggage. What if that would have been Ron or Harry? She shuddered at the mere thought of it. She couldn't imagine what Luna was going through. Poor girl. She let her suit case fall on its wheels with a dull thud and began pulling it behind her out of her dormitory. Her thoughts drifted to Astoria's visit… Draco Malfoy was a married man… and she had told him she loved him. She was such a fool. A swell of emotions took over her as she thought about how badly she had been played and about how awful she feels for Luna and how stupid she was for ever letting Ron go.

"Hermione." Someone grabbed her arm and pulled her aside, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She looked up in to his eyes. "Draco, what are you…"

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going home for the weekend."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wasn't under the impression that I had to."

He shook his head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm just not feeling it anymore, Malfoy," Hermione replied with a shrug, trying to stay aloof, when she was really all twisted and torn on the inside.

"Do you love me, Hermione?"

She saw Astoria in the distance, walking towards them. She looked back at Draco, dead in the eye. "No." And with that, she stormed off, a lump rising in her throat.

He sucked in a sharp breath, completely shocked at her response. What the fuck? Draco thought.

"Aw, Drake… what was that? Trouble in paradise?" Astoria wrapped her arms around his waist.

He pried her off and whipped around. "Leave me alone!"

"Why would I do that?" Astoria mused.

"You cheated on me!" Malfoy hissed, completely frustrated, running a hand through his hair.

"But you still want me."

"The only girl I want just left."

She rolled her eyes. "Granger?" He shot her a look. "Oh, come on. She's just a Mudblood."

He let out an exasperated sigh and stormed off towards his dormitory, Astoria on his heels. She was really starting to piss him off. Why would she want to make their marriage work when she was so keen to jump into another man's bed… rather, his bed just with another man? He swung open the portrait door and stopped a little from the entrance. He turned around and caught Astoria by the arm and pulled her up against him.

"What are you really doing here?"

"I'm trying to make us work."

"There is no us! Get that through your head woman!"

Astoria gazed at him. Not effected by his declaration. She brought up her hand and caressed his cheek. He closed his eyes and took in a breath. She smiled and pulled his lips to hers. They stood there, kissing for what seemed to be hours, ravishing each other's mouths. She pushed him down slowly onto the couch, not breaking their kiss. She sat on his lap, either leg on each side of his legs. He pulled her closer and breathed her in.

"See? You still love me."

He looked at her. Eyes pull of regret, confusion and anger. "I will always love you, Astoria."

She began kissing his neck at those words, unusually aroused at how he said them.

He pushed her away, but she kept trying to kiss him. "Astoria… Astoria! Stop!" He had her and arms length now. "It's true… I will always love you." She smiled. He shook his head. "But you cheated on me… you… Fuck, Astoria. You… you broke me."

She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off with a tantalizing kiss. He was willing himself to stop, but he couldn't… He had tasted her for the first time in so long that he couldn't just give that up… she was right there…the taste that he longed for. He flipped her off him and onto the couch, so he was pressing himself against her. So he was in charge. His kissed became more hungry and wanton.

"Draco…" Astoria gasped, clinging onto him.

He snapped back to reality and pushed himself off her. "What the hell are we doing?" He stood up and wiped his lips.

Astoria sat up and sighed. "We're making things work." She stood up and grabbed his collar. "You know… I've never stopped loving you, either."

And that was all it took… for him to make the biggest mistake of his life.

---

Hermione's knuckles collided with the wooden door and almost instantly, it swung open. "Hermione! What are you doing here?" Ginny ushered her in. "Wait, have you been crying? What happened?"

"I made a mis…mistake."

"Come, sit down."

"No, no… I don't deserve you, Gin. I betrayed you! And Ron!" Hermione whimpered as Ginny forced her to sit on the sofa with her.

"Hermione, everything is fine now. Ron and Harry are okay… You and I are fine! And Ron…"

"Has moved on."

Ginny sighed. "Yea." She groaned. "Merlin, Hermione. Please don't tell me that's why you're here."

She shook her head. "Luna's father was murdered."

"I know."

"And I told Draco Malfoy that I was in love with him."

"What?"

"And then I found out that he was still married to Astoria and apparently their happy!" Hermione sobbed.

Ginny patted Hermione's leg. "Oh, 'Mione… you should have known better than to trust him."

"I know."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

There was commotion in the foyer. "Hermione, you need to know that Ron is coming over for dinner tonight… with his new girlfriend."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Shit, Gin! I look like…"

"Shit?"

"I was going to say like I had been crying… but thanks."

Ginny rolled her eyes and flicked her wand at Hermione, cleaning her up. "There… now put on a brave face and come on, Hermione."

She nodded and followed Ginny into the kitchen.

"Ginny! What are you making? It smells delicious!"

Hermione entered shortly after Ginny. "Hermione? What are you doing here?" Harry asked, giving her a hug.

Ginny coughed and harry backed off. Hermione winced a little, knowing why she coughed. "Hey."

"Hi, Hermione," Ron replied, smiling. Like, genuinely smiling at her, his fingers laced in the girl's, she noted.

Hermione nodded and looked at Ginny expectantly. "Oh! Right… Hermione," Ginny began. "This is Penelope Clearwater…"

"Oh, right… you dated Percy right?" Hermione asked.

Ginny stomped on her foot as Harry tried to fight back a burst of laughter. "Anyway, you guys can take a seat in the dining room… I think I have everything set in the kitchen."

They all nodded as they pushed through the door to sit at the table.

"What brings you back here so soon, 'Mione?" Harry asked.

Hermione sighed. "I was just feeling nostalgic."

"Uh huh," Harry retorted.

"What? I miss you, can't I come back for that?" Hermione joked and Harry poked her in the side, rolling his eyes. She began to giggle.

Ron coughed and eyed them with a low, "Hm."

Hermione and Harry instantly dropped their hands to their sides and looked around awkwardly. "But really, Hermione. What's wrong?" harry asked after moments of awkward silence.

She sighed. "You guys were right about Malfoy, let's just say that."

Ron's face darkened. "What did he do to you, Hermione? Oh, Merlin, did he… he didn't did he? I told you he was bad news! DAMNIT HERMIONE!" Ron pounded his fist on the table. Everyone jumped.

Hermione gazed at him, mouth open from shock. "Ron… I… what are you talking about?"

"He didn't… well, you know." Ron raised his eyebrows in insinuation.

It clicked. "Ron! No! What the hell?" Penelope shifted in her eat uncomfortably. Hermione turned her attention to her. "How did you two meet, Penelope?"

"Percy…"

"Oh."

"Yea."

"Okay," Hermione said. "So, I kind of meant how did you two start dating?"

"Oh." Penelope's face reddened. "We're both Aurors and well, I don't know. I guess it just happened one night after work."

Ron smiled at her. "When we finally convinced you to come get drinks with us."

"You don't drink, Ron," Hermione stated.

He shrugged. "I've taken a liking to a glass every now and then."

"Oh?" Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Because you always said how the taste made you feel queasy…"

"Dinner!" Ginny burst through the door.

Ron was relieved.

---

"Thanks again for the mean, Ginny. See you tomorrow Harry… and nice, erm, talking with you, Hermione…" Penelope said her goodbyes and Ron ushered her out the door.

Ron turned to Hermione before he left. "It was good seeing you, 'Mione."

"Good seeing you too, Ron… You seem happy."

He nodded. "I actually really am."

"I'm glad."

"Thank you," he breathed and hugged her. "Be seeing you." And then he turned to leave. Hermione sighed inwardly and turned to see Ginny rolling her luggage into their spare bedroom.

"You don't have to let me spend the night!" Hermione called after her and followed her up the stairs.

Ginny grunted and dropped the luggage on the floor in the room. "Shut up, Hermione. You had every intention of staying."

Hermione smirked. "Yea, I did."

Ginny sighed and gave Hermione a deep hug. "I love you, Hermione."

She smiled and hugged her back. "I love you too, Gin."

"Okay, sleep well," Ginny breathed and pulled away, a tear in her eye.

Hermione caught her hand. "Hey, what's up?"

Ginny shook her head. "It's nothing."

"It's something."

"What's happened to you, Hermione?"

Hermione's eye widened. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… you… you're all heartbroken and lonely and you cheated on your fiancé… What's happened with you?" Ginny wiped away her tears. "This isn't you."

Hermione's eyes stung with tears as well. Leave it to Ginny to just throw it all out there. "I don't know," Hermione sniffed. "And it scares me."

Ginny nodded, knowing she wasn't going to get anymore out of her. "I'm always here, Hermione. I think I've already proven that to you."

"Oh, I know, Ginny. I do." Hermione hugged her again quickly. "You're an amazing person."

"Thanks," Ginny replied. "Sleep well, Hermione."

"You too, Gin."

Hermione began undressing after she left. When she was taking off her trousers, she heard a crinkling and pulled out the folded parchment from earlier. Curious, she unfolded it and her eyes widened at the contents. She sat down slowly, her breath coming in gasps. There is not a Margaree Baxter that works in Human Relations… there's not even a Human Relations Department! Hermione thought. What is Astoria up to?

Hermione didn't know… but the one thing she did know was that Draco wasn't playing her… he really did love her. Hermione groaned and threw herself back on the bed. She really had ruined things.

A/N: Oh jeez. This took me a while to think about how I wanted this chapter to go. I think it went alright… I think? Gahh. Just Read and Review and let me know!!! You know you want to!