Chapter 20:
They sat on opposite sides of the living room, the redhead refusing to look at her future sister-in-law.
Hermione broke the silence, "Ginny, I'm so sorry..."
"The minute my brother told me you went to see your grandmother-who by the way I know to be dead!- I knew something was wrong and you weren't telling him. How could you do this, Hermione?!"
"Did you tell him?"
"Of course, I told him! We went to your house and your parents told us you were staying with a friend in some cottage! Ron got worried and is still at your house, as we speak! He's furious that you lied to him, so I came here without him knowing."
The stress of everything was bubbling inside of her and suddenly, she burst.
"BECAUSE IT'S ALL TOO MUCH! DO YOU THINK I WANT TO BE MARRIED AT 20? DO YOU THINK I WANT TO START A FAMILY SO SOON? I COULDN'T SAY NO TO YOUR BROTHER, BUT WHEN YOUR MOTHER STARTED ARRANGING EVERYTHING, IT ALL BECAME TOO MUCH! SO YEAH, I GOT AWAY! I HAD TO, BECAUSE THE ONLY PERSON WHO EVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD ME WAS DRACO!"
Ginny opened her mouth to yell back, but then shut it, and responded quietly.
"Did you say...Draco? As in Draco Malfoy?"
Damn it, why did I have to mention him?, Hermione thought.
"Yes, Ginny. It's Draco, He's the person I was dating over the summer."
"I don't understand, you said you loved my brother! So what you slept with him just because you broke up with Malfoy?"
"No, it's not like that! We were really drunk and I just wasn't thinking!"
"Let me ask you something. Do you love him? Malfoy?"
"Yes, but I love Ron too."
"Don't give me that crap, Hermione! You can't love them both, and right now my brother is really upset, so you better make up your mind."
"I know, I just needed time to think..."
"The time to think is over! You're done! I'm not going to force you to love Ron but don't let him live a lie."
"You're right."
"Exactly, he's waiting at your house," and then the redhead apparated back to the Burrow.
Little did Hermione know, Draco was standing just outside, and he had heard the whole thing. He opened the door cautiously and there Hermione was, holding back tears.
"Hermione?" he said.
She jumped in surprise and answered back, "Did you hear any of that?"
"Yes."
"Do you hate me?"
He placed the bags on the counter and sighed,
"No, I could never. As much as I want to, I can't."
She walked hesitantly towards him, and he continued,
"So, you slept with him, and you slept with me, now who's heart are you going to break?"
"Draco,"
"I've waited for you, I've sent you letters, and I even built this place back up so I could get you back, and this is what it comes to?!"
"Draco,"
"Hermione, I love you! And you love me! But this thing can't work if you're in love with him too!"
"Draco!"
"What?!"
"I haven't made my decision yet. It's all been too much."
"What, because it's what his family wants? Hermione, if they were really your friends they wouldn't force you to marry the git! Stop doing what other people want and think about yourself for a change!"
"I need to go, I need to clear my head,"
"STOP THINKING AND JUST DO! DO WHAT YOUR BLOODY HEART TELLS YOU!"
She ran into his room and searched for her clothes. All dressed and about to storm out, Draco called out to her,
"Hermione! Here," he said throwing her a package of letters, "my mother kept them, I believe they belong to you."
She caught the package and apparated away.