AN: Sorry for the delay in updating but life has kind of been really really busy.
Characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Thirteen - It gets worse before it gets better
The days that followed life didn't get any better for Hermione. Upon leaving the Head's Common Room Ron had stormed his way through the castle back to the Gryffindor Common Room and Lavender Brown.
By the next morning the whole school knew that Draco and Hermione were dating and that Hermione and Ron had had a falling out, to do with her attitudes to his family. Needless to say the gossip had gone into overdrive.
Hermione's the reason Draco changed sides, they've been together for years.
Draco's the reason Hermione doesn't like Weasley's anymore.
Malfoy's not going to get any of his inheritance now he's with a muggleborn.
Hermione promised to marry Ron, that's why he's upset.
Malfoy and Weasley go into a fight over Hermione.
Malfoy's only with Hermione to try and convince everyone he's really changed.
Dumbledore asked them to get together as an example of how everyone should get along.
As much as they both tried to ignore the rumours and gossip it was everywhere. It also wasn't helped by the fact that Ron wouldn't speak to Hermione, Harry or Ginny. He felt they had betrayed him by siding with Hermione. They had all tried to point out that there was no taking sides, but he wouldn't listen.
Lavender Brown was now permanently attached to Ron's side, allowing her to hear most of the fights, arguments and discussions first hand, and in turn keep the gossip going.
By the end of the week Hermione was exhausted. It had been a horrible hard week. She was heading to the library to meet with Harry, Ginny, Neville and Luna when she came across Ron and Lavender heading in the same direction. Hermione put her head down, desperate to avoid another confrontation, and tried to go unnoticed as she passed them and headed into the library, but Ron noticed her.
"Well look who's here? Let me guess you don't want to be seen with a Weasley?" he sneered.
Hermione stopped and looked at him, "actually I was just trying to avoid another argument. I don't hate you or your family Ron, I love you all, I just need you to understand that it's a little hard for me at the moment" she said quietly.
"Love us, ha" he responded "well I'll let you explain that to mum. I've written to her and told her what's going on and how you don't want to be around us. Really shows you love us" he concluded before pulling Lavender into the library.
Hermione stood frozen to the spot. He'd written to Molly, and with his version of events she would hate her. She was going to loose the closest thing to a family she had. Hermione slid down the wall and pulled her knees to her chest. She just wanted this to stop. She'd written to Molly telling her that she was ok and apologised for leaving at Christmas, promising to explain soon. Now Ron had done her explaining for her and she was sure that this would make things worse. Tears began to fall down her cheeks.
Harry had seen Ron and Lavender enter the library, with Lavender practically giddy with excitement. She'd dragged Ron over to the Patil twins and the girls were now sitting with their heads together, occasionally glancing over at Harry's table. He had a bad feeling, and stood up and walked out of the library to find Hermione.
He found her sooner than he thought, and knelt down next to her. He could see the tears.
"Hermione"
"Hermione"
He was still trying to get her attention when Ginny and the others arrived. Ginny bent down and gently shook her friends shoulder, "Hermione" she said softly. Hermione looked up at Ginny, "she's going to hate me" she whispered before sobbing into Ginny's shoulder. Ginny glanced at Harry confused, just what had Ron said to her.
"Neville, Luna do you think you could find Draco and bring him to the Head's Dormitory" Harry asked. They nodded and headed off to find him.
Harry looked at Ginny and between them they stood Hermione up and led her back to the Head's Dormitory. As they got there Draco arrived with Neville, Luna and Blaise. Draco took one look at Hermione and knew something had happened.
Draco whispered the password and the portrait opened and the group entered. Hermione climbed the stairs to her room, without acknowledging anyone. Draco nodded towards the sofa's and the rest of the group went to sit down.
"Dobby" Draco shouted and the house elf appeared with a pop, "Dobby can you please get everyone whatever they want to eat or drink and can I have a hot chocolate and cookie for Hermione" he asked
Dobby nodded, "yes sir, Dobby is here to help".
Dobby then headed over to the group on the sofa's and Draco headed up to Hermione's room. He found her curled up in a ball on her bed, quietly sobbing.
"Mione" he whispered as he curled himself around her, "talk to me Mione".
Hermione moved to curl herself into Draco and quietly muttered "she'll hate me, she'll hate me". Draco just rubbed circles on her back to try and calm her down.
Downstairs the rest of the group were trying to figure out what Ron could have said or done. Eventually Draco returned, looking furious.
"Mate" Blaise said "you need to calm down and not do anything stupid, that's not what she needs" he finished, nodding towards the stairs.
Draco took a deep breath and sat in the vacant chair. "It appears that Weasel has written to his mother and told her everything, or at least his version of what is going on, and Hermione is now convinced that Mrs Weasely will hate her" he told them.
"HE DID WHAT" Ginny shouted, "JUST WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON HIM"
"Gin, Ginny calm down" Harry said grabbing hold of her and pulling her back down into her seat, knowing she would cause Ron a lot more damage than Draco, "we can fix this".
Everyone turned to look at him, "Ginny you need to calm down and write to your mum and explain everything. Tell her Hermione as been missing her family and that Ron has taken this the wrong way. Your mum will understand".
Ginny looked at Harry put nodded, "Mum would only shout at me if I hexed him anyway" she grumbled.
"Neville I need you and Luna to go to the library and get the books Hermione wanted. I don't think she will be up to going out again. Can you keep an eye on Ron for me too, just make sure he doesn't try to get near here".
Neville and Luna nodded.
"Blaise, can I trust you to stay here to make sure no one disturbs Hermione and that she's okay?"
Blaise nodded, "I have that potions essay to finish and I can do that here".
Draco was now looking confused, and Harry turned to him, "Draco you and I have somewhere to go. This has gone far enough and its time to do something about it".
"Look after her" Draco said to Blaise as he got up to go with Harry. Blaise just smiled and shook his head at his friend, it was good to see the caring side of Draco he always knew was there.
Neville and Luna headed to the library, while Ginny headed to the Owelry to find Hedwig. Draco followed Harry who led him to Dumbledore's office. Draco looked at Harry slightly confused, "Hermione is not going to be happy until she talks to Mrs Weasley and realises that she doesn't hate her, plus Mrs Weasley is the only one who will get Ron to behave and to get her here we need Dumbledore's assistance" he explained.
"Jelly Tots" Draco said, having been given the password to the Headmaster's office as part of being Head Boy.
Together Harry and Draco entered the office, and Dumbledore looked up smiling at the pair as they entered.
"Professor" Harry began "we need your help or rather Hermione needs your help".
Dumbledore nodded, "please sit" he said, and the boys sat down. "Now does this have to do with the disagreement between Ms Granger and Mr Weasely?" he asked.
Harry nodded, "yes sir, you see Hermione has been struggling with the loss of her parents and the end of the war, and well..."
"something she said was taken the wrong way by Weasel" Draco concluded.
"I see" said Dumbledore, "but I wasn't aware Ms Granger's parents were dead, I thought she had moved them somewhere safe".
Harry and Draco looked at each other, both knowing they had to be totally honest to help Hermione.
"Hermione decided the best way to keep her parents safe was to modify their memories so that they had no memory of her, or the fact they ever had a child. She also planted the idea in their mind that they wanted to emigrate to Australia, which they did" Harry explained.
"A brave decision to make" Dumbledore said, "Is it one she is now regretting?"
"Not exactly" Draco responded "you see following the war she went to Australia to find them and they had a new family. They had fostered 2 children and had a happy family life, so she made the decision to leave them and not reverse the charm. She has been grieving for her family even though they are not technically dead" he concluded.
Dumbledore nodded, "so how can I help?"
"Well..." Harry began "Hermione had a hard time being around the Weasely's as they reminded her of her family and what she was missing. Ron hasn't exactly taken this well".
Draco snorted, but Harry continued "Ron wrote to his mum and well I don't know exactly what he said, but I can imagine. Hermione is now convinced that Mrs Weasley hates her and that she's lost another family".
"I see and you would like me to allow Hermione to leave to see Mrs Weasley".
"Actually Professor I was hoping you could bring Mrs Weasely here" Harry said.
Dumbledore nodded, "leave it with me, and I'll let you know when its arranged, in the mean time look after Ms Granger".
Draco and Harry nodded before standing to leave the Headmaster's office.
Once outside the office Draco turned to Harry and asked "do you think this will work?"
"Mrs Weasley could never hate Hermione and will understand, Hermione just needs to hear it from her" he said "plus this way hopefully she will insist on seeing Ron and pulling him into line too".
It was now Draco's turn to nod, before the pair headed back to the Head's Dormitory to make sure Hermione was ok.
AN: Hope you like your Christmas present and I hope it won't be as long for the next chapter :)