A/N: oh my lovely readers, you are amazing :) I do try to update as quickly as I can, But I was hit with writer's block for this chapter. I just had no idea how to go about her conversation with Ron, so I did the only thing best, started from the end.
So I hoped it turned out okay. Also, because this story is in 2004, the dates will be off to our present calendar. Easter is on April 11th.
Chapter 8
Friday, April 2nd
It's been... one week.
Eight full days, counting today, since Draco left my room at the Leaky Cauldron. I know he feels guilty about what he had done... but it really wasn't his fault. I told him that I didn't hate him. I could never hate him. I mean, if that kiss had anything to say about it.
Heck, if I hadn't thought about my engagement to Ron. Or if Draco couldn't hear my thoughts, things would've... really escalated much like it always did in the dreams. Dreams that he shared with me.
That... made me so happy when Draco said that to me. I thought it been a joke, but Theo... Theo confirmed that our Aura's made it possible. Yet this separation from Draco is all the more... disheartening.
I run my hand along my neck. The part where Draco had kissed me. It took five days for his love bite to go away, so it's strange for me to look in my reflection and not see it now. I've gotten so used to it being there, it weakens my heart a little bit when I don't see it anymore. Our last connection to... present-day life. A life... we share with opposite people.
Speaking of...
I look down to the letter Ron sent me a few days ago, asking to have a chat, a one on one...It took me almost an entire day and a half to send him a reply. I didn't want to have a repeat of what happened on the day of my return... and Lord only know what he would actually want to discuss that he couldn't in a letter. But on the same level, I know I can't avoid him for too long. It's been eight days already anymore and then Harry and Ginny will start to put in their two cents.
I hear light tapping against the window. It's starting to rain. Perfect.
Getting everything ready, I leave my parents a note, saying I am out and will be back soon. They've already gone to work which is nice, it took days to convince them to go, and that I will be okay on my own. I mean, I am twenty-four after all!
I closed off the Floo, set the Wards and locked the house, before I set off to the Apparition Point.
Taking several breaths, I approach the door. It feels weird knocking on my door, but then again, this really isn't my door given that I don't actually live here. It's Ron's. This is Ron's home.
The door opens and Ron greets me with a smile.
A smile, which feels so empty to me. My body isn't effected. My heart remains still. Now I really regret this. I can smell him... and it's nothing pleasant. The scent coming from the house isn't anything pleasant either. Something sickly sweet, like syrup, which is my least favourite smell.
"You're here," he says awkwardly. "Come on in,"
He moves to the side and I hesitate a moment longer. The nerves have come back. This is happening... I am actually... going to talk with Ron...
"Mione?"
My skin crawls. Doesn't he know how much I hate that nickname?
"Right," I whisper, shaking off the unease and setting foot into the place.
My heart starts to move again, but my feet are lead. I really, REALLY regret this. But no... I have to do this.
We walk in silence to the main room where the fireplace is and I see the reason for why it's so sweet in here. Cookies. The ones Molly always makes when we were at Hogwarts, the ones with decorative icing and sprinkles. Ugh, I can feel my breakfast coming back up.
"Left overs from George's birthday yesterday. Did you want one?"
Shaking my head, I politely wave my hand, "But I would like some tea...Chai?"
Ron's lips twitched to a grin, "Your favourite, I know.. I'll be right back"
He leaves, and I decided to check above the mantel. Looking through the series of pictures. Harry and Ginny's wedding. Seamus and Lavender... Parvati and Dean, Neville's with Luna, and then Ron and I.
Even now, I can't shake off that dream I had of the wedding. Where Ron was the groom and not... Draco. How the idea of kissing Ron completely terrifies me. Heck, being here is just as terrifying...
There are pictures of his family... Hogwarts... Errol..
I stop at the folded letter right in the middle. Not that I'm nosy, I'm just... curious. Would this give me a hint about what I am in store for?
I pick it up and begin to read the words below.
Ickle Ronniekins,
First off, don't yell at me for not telling you. There is a good reason why I didn't say anything to you about it! And please, for all that is holy, do NOT ask her about it! This is a delicate situation, and you certainly don't want it to make it worse with your jealousy. This infatuation with Malfoy will end. Please, trust the Healer on this. Be PATIENT!
It's not like she snogged the bloke.
G
I stare at George's letter, not really wanting to believe the words. So... Ron had found out about what happened in Diagon Alley? But how? Thankfully George didn't say anything... although the idea of him knowing about it, isn't all that comforting.
In fact, the only person who even knew I talked to Draco been Lavender!
A chill runs down my spine.
Lavender.
Ugh! It's clear to me, she told... everyone who would listen about this. Swell, can't they just mind their own business for once? What good is all this doing? Do they want to create more problems between Ron and I?
And hell, is this the reason Ron brought me here?
God I hope not. I really, truly, hope not. With Ron's attitude, I know, nothing good will come out of it.
I set the letter down and my eyes fall on a picture of just... us. My head is resting on Ron's shoulder. He's holding my hand and actually kissing it, while his head rests atop my head. We're in France.
My body feels like it's littered with spiders. Tingles and shivers. Our body's are so close to each other...
Next came the graduation picture.
We're all waving and smiling. My eyes immediately look at the Slytherin students to see Draco. There are... only five. There's Draco, Theo, Pansy, Daphne and... Blaise.
I frown. According to Draco he died three years after this picture took place. And here he is, arm wrapped around Daphne's waist, beaming. Daphne... is just inspecting her nails, smirking. Draco's behaviour in the picture makes me smile though. Pansy is jabbering away at his ear but he is facing the other way... shaking his head. Theo, in front of him is beaming while waving his Wizarding License back and forth.
Four Hufflepuffs... four Ravenclaws...
I am hesitant to see what I am doing. Closing my eyes steeling my nerves. Opening them and I... am next to Ginny. So it's clear we graduated in the same year. Well that's a relief. Seamus is... doing bunny ears behind my head, grinning, Dean is making faces... Ron and Harry are just in front of us having a war with elbowing each other in the ribs. Neville is smiling... Parvati is... forlorn of the loss of her sister, Lavender beaming, waving her license in one hand, while rubbing Parvati in the shoulder.
There'd been a total of twenty-two students in their final year alive to graduate.
My ears pick up Ron's footfalls coming from the hallway and I resumed my spot on the couch just as Ron returned with my cup of tea.
"Sorry, we're out of your Chai, been meaning to go to the store to get more. But I know you like the Green Tea just as much..."
"Thank you, Ron." I take the cup, and then a few sips before Ron opened his mouth again.
"So... uh, how you been?" Ron says hiding his smile behind his own mug. He sounds shy and awkward. The tell-tale signs of when he's uncomfortable. Like he doesn't feel it is his place to ask me the question.
My eyes trail over to George's letter and fidgeted slightly.
"Okay, I guess."
Actually, I am just anxious for the question Ron's holding off.
Ron nods, and takes a sip from his tea, "Your folks alright too?"
I nod this time, "Yes..."
We fall into this silence for a few minutes. I can even hear the mantel clock ticking away. Like a ticking time-bomb for what's to come...
"You know, you're not really talkative so I figure it had something to do with what happened last week with... the rest of the family."
I close my eyes. Really, not this again...
"I uh, I really should have put my foot down about it..." Ron gulped, "I'm sorry, Hermione."
I drop my gaze from him. Watching my fingers rim around the mug's mouth.
"It's... okay." I close my eyes for a moment before lifting my head, "Really, you've already apologized for that so there's no need to... address it once more."
The silence surrounds us again. The strong beat of my heart is in time with the ticking clock.
"Right. So um... Easter is next sunday... and well, I was wondering... if um, what your plans were."
I blinked once at his random change in topic. Not that I am complaining, as it's not as draining.
Easter falls on the eleventh this year... nine days away.
"Haven't give it much thought actually." I take another sip of tea, "I would gather I would spend it with my parents..."
Ron presses his lips into a tight line, "So... so you're not coming back then?"
Coming... back? Is he... serious? It's been one week!
"Ron..."
He waves his hand at me, "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that... I miss you, Hermione. And it kind of slipped."
Kind of? Great, now I feel even more awkward than I did before, because... I can't say those words back to him. I... don't feel that way. I don't... miss him.
"Not to mention..." he continues, "You're already accepting the fact, that after this week you... you're not gonna be here. It's a bit disheartening, really."
I shake my head. Did he just say that? Really?
"I thought you understood," I whisper. Really, he did before. Why would that change? Could he have lied?
"Yeah... well... perhaps if... well..." Ron muttered.
"Look, if it's company you want, you can try our friends..." I didn't mean to sound irritable, it just happened that way. He's not sympathetic, and his hesitant, broken speech isn't helping matters at all!
"Well yeah, that's what I was originally gonna do, but... well, without you, it's just will be... awkward."
A rough sigh passes by my lips. This isn't how I wanted things to go at all! For him to make me feel... guilty.
"Look, I'm sorry Hermione. I get that you... want space and everything..."
"Do you?" I hissed, not wanting to deal with his mumbling anymore. A situation like this just proves that I shouldn't have come here. "Cause it sounds like you don't, if you're resenting me for me taking another week away"
"No..." Ron sighed, "I couldn't ever resent you, Hermione. Come on, why would you think that?"
"Why would you say something like that?! And no, I don't believe it's just... a slip of the tongue, either, Ron! You actually don't want me to get better?"
"Of course I want you to get better! Bloody hell, Hermione, you are my fiancée!"
The word... it's gutting to me, like I just drank a vat of nails. I take a deep breath, trying not to let my temper get the best of me, "No... you're just in a snit that I am gonna away for another week!"
"Well yeah, I sodding love you and it sucks that you're not here! I have to stare at the empty walls and... go to bed to an empty bed, eat alone... it's like... well, hell. Not that... well..." he swallowed, and bowed his head.
"Sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to yell at you, it's just... frustrating." Ron mumbled.
I push myself from my seat and turn away from him. Hearing those words is like a punch in the gut. Frustrating? He's frustrated? I am the one dealing with people treating me like I'm made of glass. Telling me about the man I believe is for me, is nothing but a... git.
"Things like this don't just... fix themselves, Ron. It takes time and patience..."
I glance back to George's letter. From Ron's stand-point, I guess he has a right to feel the way he does. He knows I've been around Draco...but really, he should've approached it a whole lot better. Theo even warned him about this!
I watch the clock hand click to nine-twenty-two.
"I think I should leave," I place down my half-full mug.
"What?" Ron croaked, "I... I don't want you to leave, Hermione!"
"Well I am not exactly feeling happy being here, either, Ron." I shake my head. "I'm going,"
"Hermione, no... wait please!"
I've had just about enough of this. Enough of him. I get my coat, but he stops me, by clutching my hand in a fierce grip.
"Wait, Hermione, I'm sorry I didn't mean-"
He stops mid-thought. What in the world had stopped him from-?
"Your ring." Ron mumbles, staring at my hand "You're not wearing your engagement ring!"
My eyes drop right to the hand lost in his grasp. I... must've forgotten to put it back on after my shower.
"I guess this just proves it then!" Ron whispers, finally dropping my hand. "You want him."
What the? Did he... really just say-?
"Don't look at me like that," Ron mutters, his face hardening, "I know you were with him! I mean, I hell, you're bloody obsessed with the sodding git! And here I thought it was all about space... well joke's on me, isn't it?"
I'm stunned into silence, and my heart stops mid-beat. I can feel the hot tears welling and stinging the corner of my eyes.
How dare he!
"How dare you!" I fist my hand and ram it right into his shoulder. "Just because I forgot to put-"
Ron makes a disgusting sound between a snort and a scoff, "Forget? Really? Why take it off in the first place?!"
"I always take it off when I go for a shower..."
"Right, just like how you want space, and yet you're off to Diagon Alley because you can't resist him?! He's a sodding prick! What you dreamt up in your head... was really, all in your head! He doesn't love you! He never will!"
SMACK
My breath is coming out in sharp pants, and my hand stings from hitting him. "Go to hell, Ronald Weasley!"
I grip the door and storm out, ignoring Ron's pleas for my return, and slamming the door roughly as humanly possible.
The Apparition Point feels too far away, my legs are protesting... my eyes cannot stop shedding the tears...
Blinded by my distress, I didn't see someone's already there... I didn't get the chance to Apparate because I was already pulled away. The wind is rushing against my ears and my stomach flips.
And then it's over. I... and someone else land awkwardly on the soft grass below us.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" Hissed the high-pitched voice of Pansy, "Get off me, you disgusting Mudblood!"
I feel the harsh shove from her, knocking me to my back. Pain... so much pain and... blood. I can hardly feel my arm... it's... it's... hanging?
Shit.
Splinched. I've Splinched.
"Ugh," she groans, brushing her coat, "My brand new coat is now ruined!"
I close my eyes, trying not to think of the pain, but it's just... just so unbearable.
"PANSY!"
My heart soars. It's him... Draco... he's... he's actually here. Wherever this place is... my Aura... it wants him.
"What in the world is the matter with you?!"
I don't know where he is... but I need him.
"Me?!" Pansy snapped, "It's her that's the problem! She nearly jumped me! She-" she broke off in a piercing scream, "What the hell is wrong with her arm?! Why is there so much blood? AH! It's all over me!"
"Shut up! She's SPLINCHED!"
My pulse... it's weakening... my head feels heavy, I feel sleepy...
"I need to take her inside..."
He takes a hold of my head and I'm lifted up. My heart... it's calmer now.
Draco...
"Inside?! Are you out of your head? We have plans today! Just drop her at the Hospital, let them deal with her,"
No... no... don't leave me, Draco... not again.
I can feel his fierce heart under my cheek.
"I'm more than capable of taking care of her myself, actually! So you can go"
Pansy shrieks again, but I... I am too far gone to know what exactly it was she said...
Draco... my Draco... he's going to help me.
I inhaled in scent one last time before my weakness takes over.
Tired... I feel so tired. Who knows how long I've slept for...
Sleeping?!
I open my eyes to see darkness out the window.
Darkness?! Oh no, this is bad.
I go to sit up but I am severely restricted by the stiffness in my arm.
No.. no I've been away so long, my parents will be very worried...
"Already taken care of,"
Draco!
I turn my head to face him. He's writing on some parchment. So it... wasn't an illusion. He... he did save me.
I run my fingers along the extremely soft bed sheets.
"But... how did you-"
"They sent you a message about dinner, a few hours ago." He says rolling up the parchment and attaching it to his owl.
"From that thing over there,"
My.. thing?
He points to the side table. I see my mobile phone. The message is clear on the screen from Mum.
Will you be home for dinner?
I look over back to him.
"The noise it kept making drove me insane... "
He sends the owl off and then joins me on the bed.
"Thank you," I whisper facing him. "For taking care of me,"
Draco sighs, raking his hand through his hair. "Listen, Hermione..."
"No, please... don't pull away from me again." I reach over to take a hold of his arm, "I... I can't deal with it anymore,"
"But you're engaged," he bit out. "You're not... mine anymore" he said that last word quietly.
I closed my eyes. Oh I don't want this to turn into another emotional conversation, but... I find that impossible when it comes to us.
"Actually, Ron and I... well..."
I can still hear Ron's words, cutting into my heart. Haunting my mind. How he yelled at me for wanting another week away from him... for taking off my ring... for-
I stop by the look Draco's giving me. He looks right to my hand and picks it up.
"You... left him?"
I can feel the tears returning, "He believes I've betrayed him. And... well... what he said, I didn't... I couldn't correct him. I didn't want to correct him."
My heart is pounding more strongly now. My skin feels alive.
"So... you're going to leave him?" He reached over and brushes the side of my face, before he cradled it in his grasp.
I take a deep breath, licking my lips.
"I'm not in love with him... anymore. So... yeah. I am. I will leave him"
Draco's lips twitch to a smile, and I feel dizzy once again but I know it has nothing to do with the loss of blood, and then he kisses me.
Perfect.
E/N: sickly sweetness is MY least favourite smells, one being maple syrup! I can't be in the same room when someone has it... so yes, that means I have pancakes plain :)
So that's why I made it Hermione's.