Author's Note: I would love reviews! I am trying to take into account where the readers want the story to go so please make suggestions! You can also check my original pieces on u/967214/p-m-e-black. My tumblr is .com. Feel free to message me. Thanks.
Chapter 7-
Draco clutched Hermione's wrist tightly as the two spun untethered. Hermione's feet gracefully hit the ground while Draco stumbled and fell on his rear end. He looked up at her irritably as he quickly attempted to stand so as maintain his dignity. Hermione lightly giggled at his inelegant landing.
"Don't you dare laugh at me Granger!" He snarled and attempted to fix his rumpled suit. Hermione looked around and quickly grabbed Draco by the arm and pushed him behind a tree.
"What...where are we?" He whispered, taking her cue to keep his voice low.
"We're at the Burrow. Keep quiet." Hermione whispered back and put her a finger to her lips.
"Why are we here?" Draco nudged her in the shoulder with his own. He looked at her carefully in the eyes.
"I want you to understand the reason why I have fought so hard. You need to understand…" Hermione began to say as she turned her attention back toward the Weasely homestead.
"I understand plenty!" Draco was becoming testy and Hermione was afraid that he would get loud.
"Just be quiet." She demanded, her eyebrows furrowing as she pressed closer to the tree.
The door to the home swung open and a head of shocking red came out. It was Molly Weasley. She was dressed all in black, her face tear stained as she wrung a handkerchief. Hermione immediately could feel the hot tears brimming in her eyes as she watched the older woman make her way toward the side of the house. As Hermione's eyes glided toward the back yard area, she noticed a pile of fresh earth. She glanced back at Draco who had a questioning look on his face.
"It's for Fred." Hermione whispered back her voice slightly choking as an errant tear finally fell past the rim of her eye onto her flushed cheek. Draco's gray eyes followed the tear as it glided down her face. Hermione quickly wiped at it with her sleeve, his stare unnerving her. Hermione called her attention back to the Weasley home as another red head made their way out. It was Ginny this time. She too was clad in black, her long locks pulled half back. She must have been out there to find her mother. Draco and Hermione watched as Ginny found Molly by what was assumed to be Fred's gravesite. Ginny placed her arm around her mother and rested her head on her shoulder. She must have been trying to comfort her.
Hermione could feel another large teardrop flow down her face. She turned her head trying to avoid looking at the two red haired woman. A lump began to form in her throat. She had missed Fred's funeral and she felt incredibly guilty. She was so bent on finding Draco that she had forgotten that her friend's needed her.
"You...you stay here. Keep hidden." Hermione muttered as she made to move from her hiding spot next to Draco.
"Where are you going?" He seemed almost panicked, his eyes growing wild.
"Relax. I missed the funeral, I need to come and show my support." She answered as she turned to look at Draco. Absent mindedly she placed her hand on his shoulder as if to comfort him. He shot his eyes down to her hand and looked at her in confusion. She quickly removed her hand as if burnt and could feel her face go flush.
"I won't be long…"
"Yea right, if Potter is there I should just go back out in the woods for the snatchers to find me. It would take less time." He scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"I promise I will get back to you as soon as possible." She answered and tried catching his eyes. He ignored her and looked down at his shoes.
"Go." He mumbled and turned his face from her. Hermione nodded and made her way out from behind the tree. She had only taken a few steps when a familiar face came out into the sunlight. It was Ron. Hermione could feel her heart sink into her stomach. Why was she feeling like that? This was Ron, her best friend...her boyfriend.
He looked awful. His clothing seemed too big for his withered frame. His hair seemed disheveled and not in his normal lovable goofy way. His face seemed hardened from loss. Hermione was almost afraid to approach him.
"Hermione?" He must have seen her. He blinked a few times apparently to make sure she wasn't just some apparition.
"Hermione!" He yelled and then ran toward her at full speed. She didn't even have the opportunity to speak before he was crushing her small body against him. The redhead was practically sobbing as he held her. Hermione instinctively wrapped her arms around her friend. He was her friend but any other feelings had seemed to float away. She shook her head slightly at the thought. She didn't feel the butterflies she had felt before, she didn't feel the giddyness. What was wrong with her? Maybe it was because of the circumstances.
"I'm so glad you're here. Where have you been? We've been so worried about you!" His eyes were wide as he pulled her back at arms length, studying her face.
"I...I was looking for my mom and dad." She couldn't believe she had just lied to him so blatantly. Ron eyed her but apparently believed what she said.
"Are you alright?" She asked, seeing the noticeable black smudges under his eyes.
"Better now that you're here." He grinned, his freckles pushing up closer to his eyes as he smiled. Hermione felt slightly uneasy as the redhead placed a hand on her lower back and leaned in for a kiss. Hermione could feel herself starting to push back from him and then turned her head quickly as he planted his lips sloppily on her cheek.
Draco watched the interaction between the two a few yards away. He didn't know why but he immediately wanted to stomp over there and rip Ron's hand off Hermione's back. How dare he just attempt to kiss her like that?! What was wrong with him?!
Draco suddenly felt something hot flood his chest. He clenched and unclenched his fists and began grinding his teeth. Why was he feeling like that? They were a couple, it was none of his business. Suddenly he felt ashamed and cast his eyes to the ground. Images from her moonlit bath flooded behind his eyelids. He sucked in a shaky breath and tried to push the thoughts away.
"Is everything okay?" Ron questioned as he furrowed his brow questioningly at Hermione.
"Oh, um, yea. I'm fine." Ron continued to stare her down and removed his hand from her back, pain of rejection flashing across his face.
"I'm just tired and worn." She half smiled. She didn't want to hurt Ron for the world.
"Did you find them?" He asked, his expression changing from pain to concern.
"Um...no." She answered.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't here for Fred's…"
"Never mind that. You're here now. That's all that matters. I'm sorry you haven't located your mum and dad. Don't you worry, we'll put our heads together and we will find them." He grinned.
"By the way, Harry is here…" No sooner did the redhead mention his name did the Boy Who Lived come from inside the house. He looked as bad if not worse than Ron. He must have aged overnight. He sported the same dark smudges under his eyes as Ron except that his seemed permanent. With certain angles she could distinctly see a few white hairs peppered into his dark mane.
"Hermione?" Harry's soft voice exclaimed. Hermione smiled and waited as Harry enveloped her into a strong hug.
"Are you okay? Where did you go?" He asked, holding both of her hands in his as Ron stood next to his bespeckled friend.
"She was looking for her mum and dad." Ron answered for her. That was something that always slightly annoyed Hermione. She was quite capable of answering a question, she didn't need Ron to do it for her.
"Did you…"
"No." Hermione replied.
"Well, I'm sorry you didn't find them. I'm glad you were looking for them and not doing something dangerous like looking for Malfoy." Did Harry know something she didn't? She could feel her heart jump into her throat and her eyes slightly widen.
"Wh...why would I go looking for that...that prat?" Hermione laughed a little too loudly. She could feel her heart beginning to flutter fiercely against her ribcage. Harry was smart. He would be able to pick up on her lie if she weren't more careful. The dark haired teenager looked at her and smiled.
"You're much too sensible for that Hermione. One of us had to be." He grinned and hugged her again. Hermione sucked in a nervous breath and accepted the hug as she glanced over toward Draco's hiding place.
"Why don't you come in, you'll be a welcome distraction for mum." Ron smiled and the three made their way into the Weasley home.
Draco watched as the three friends made their way inside the Weasley home. There was no way that it was just going to be a short amount of time Hermione would be inside. If only he had kept her wand. Then he would have been able to leave and to not deal with having to sit around and wait for the infuriating little muggleborn. Now that he thought about it, why was he waiting for her? She was so obnoxious and annoying. She always thought she knew better than him. It was almost like she was proud to come from non-magical parents. And the insufferable company she kept, that was even more revolting. She might have been tolerable alone but with the four eyed "chosen" one and the impoverished freckle face adhered to her like two other heads, well that, that made her detestable. He could just get up and walk away but for some reason his feet were glued to the spot. A part of him didn't want to leave her. Damn her!
Hermione would glance out the window every once in awhile toward Draco's hiding spot. She knew she had told him she wouldn't be long but Ron and his family didn't seem to want to allow her out of their site. Harry always seemed to be looking at her sideways as if he knew something was up.
"Are you alright dear?" Molly asked as she placed a small tea cake in front of Hermione. Molly sat down to her and placed her hand gently on Hermione's shoulder like her own mother would have done.
"Oh...yes. I'm fine." Hermione smiled as she picked up her fork.
"You really worried us dear. We thought that maybe the deatheaters had come and found you. Please owl us next time." The older woman said and brushed a stray curl off of Hermione's forehead.
"I'm sorry for worrying you Molly. It was never my intention. I wanted to find D...mum and dad on my own." Hermione hoped the woman hadn't caught her almost slip.
"We understand dear. Ron practically wore a rut in my floor pacing. He missed you so much." Her mothering eyes bore into Hermione's. Hermione could feel her stomach do a flip flop. Her relationship with Ron didn't just affect the two of them. It affected the whole Weasley family. Molly looked at her like another daughter. It was almost as if their relationship was pre-destined. Hermione swallowed the large lump that had formed in her throat as she suddenly felt incredibly uncomfortable.
"Hey Hermione, could I talk to you in the other room." It was Harry's clear and unwavering voice that was calling her from across the table.
"Oh...sure." Hermione mumbled and practically knocked her chair over to leave the unrelenting stares of the rest of the Weasley family. She followed her dark haired friend into the living room.
"Yes Harry, what did you want." Hermione smiled, thanking him silently for saving her from and more inquisitions.
"What's going on with you, you're acting strange?" He asked, the glare on his glasses shielding his knowing eyes.
"I...I don't know what you are talking about." Hermione tried looking away from him.
"Hermione…" Harry pressed.
"Okay...okay. I...I think I'm going to end it with Ron." Hermione sputtered. She placed her hand over her eyes. She sighed and removed her hand to look at her friend. Harry placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Is everything alright? Why do you want to end it?" Harry asked. His question wasn't accusatory but still made her feel awkward.
"I...I just don't feel the same about him. It could have been the war, it could have been a school-girl crush, I don't know. It's just not the same as it was. I don't want to hurt him." Hermione could feel her heart drop in her stomach again. Harry studied her. He suddenly pulled her into a hug.
"Just let him down easy. It'll be okay." Harry rubbed her back reassuringly and then released her.
"I appreciate it Harry. You have no idea how much your support means to me." Hermione took a sigh of relief as she grinned at her bespeckled friend.
"Appreciate what?" Ron asked as he walked into the room, a tea cake in his hand, crumbs sliding down his shirt.
"I...um." Hermione bit her lip. Harry side glanced at her and took it as his cue to leave. Ron's eyes followed Harry out of the room.
"Am I missing something?" Ron asked as he placed the tea cake half hazard on a nearby table. Hermione just stared at the tea cake.
"Ronald, we need to talk."
"Ronald? You only call me that if something is wrong? What did I do?" Ron immediately dropped down in the seat closest to him with an audible plop.
Hermione sat down on the settee across from him. She looked down at her hands as she opened her mouth to speak. For some reason nothing was coming out. Ron looked at her carefully, his eyes wide as he waited for her to begin.
"I don't think this...this is going to work." She stammered and continued to peer down at her hands. She felt like his heart was invisibly sitting in her outstretched hands, his love leaking out in between her fingers.
"What?" She could hear the panic rising in his voice.
"We aren't working." She could feel the tears starting to well in her amber eyes. She knit her eyebrows together hoping to keep them at bay.
"What are you talking about?! We love each other!" Ron was now on his feet, his body swaying as he clutched his hands into fists at his sides.
"I do love you Ron. I love you very much." She replied, a fat tear rolling down her cheek.
"You...you're just upset you couldn't find your parents...that's all." Without warning Ron dropped to his knees in front of her and grabbed her hands.
"Ron, that's not it." Hermione pulled her hands out of his grasp and stared into the redhead's eyes.
"You...you don't know what you're talking about. We...we're meant to be together." He seemed agitated and almost aggressive.
"Ron, you are my best friend but I just...I don't want to hurt you." The tears that Hermione had fought so hard to keep back were now flooding down her reddened face. Ron finally fell silently. He jumped up from his kneeling position. With a look that Hermione had never seen before on Ron's face he opened his mouth to speak.
"Hermione, you have no idea how in love with you I am. You...you have just pulled my heart right out of my chest and threw it on the ground into the dirt. I hope you can live with yourself." He said seriously and then ran up the stairs toward his room.