HERMIONE

Sitting through Lunas wedding I'm sure I can feel people's eyes on us. People judging me, us. I thought I had prepared myself for this. I knew it was going to happen. I knew people would know about Draco and Padma and the baby by now. I knew some people wouldn't agree with my decision to stay with Draco. I know the people closest to me understand. Except Ron. Ron didn't understand at all.

As I sit at our table drinking a glass of wine I think back to when he pulled me aside earlier.

"Why have you gone back to him?" He was almost shouting at me.

"Because I love him." It was a simple answer and the truth.

"Oh come on Hermione." He was running his hands through his hair. "He's having a baby with another woman. How could you forget that?"

Here we go. I thought this wasn't going to be easy. "I'm not going to forget it Ron. That's going to be impossible in a few months when the baby is actually here. I've forgiven him though."

"Why?" He looked like he was getting more and more frustrated which just hiked up my anger.

"How long can I really go on punishing him and me for a mistake he made when we weren't even really together?" I don't expect him to answer and he doesn't. "Why should I sacrifice my own happiness?"

"You're happy? Really with him just going around and sleeping with anyone?" his anger is growing and it scares me a little. I tighten my grip on my wand hidden inside my bag. "I could make you happy you know?"

"Sorry?" This I wasn't expecting. I know we had that kiss and maybe I had a small moment where I thought that we would be easier, but I knew almost instantly we would never work.

"I can make you happy." He steps closer to me. "We could really give things a proper go. We've been through so much together. You don't just forget what we've been through, what we went through together. You can't just throw that out the window."

He steps closer again and I'm in such shock am not sure what to do. I'm looking at him open mouthed in shock. He puts his hand on my arm and it brings me back.

"We wouldn't work Ron and I think you know that deep down too." I take a deep breath. "We have been through a lot together but it wasn't enough when we tried last time and I don't think it would be enough now."

"You can't say that if you won't even try." His grip on my arm tightens and I feel his fingers dig into my skin. "Just say that you'll forget Malfoy and try with me. What's the harm in trying?"

"Ron you're hurting me." This doesn't stop him and he just grabs my other arm too.

"Just tell me why?" He shakes me hard and I gasp from the pain. "We could be good together again. I thought if I just waited a while you would get him out of your system and come back to me. /I thought this would be my chance but still you go back to him."

"Ron we weren't good in the first place. Can't you remember?" I wince as his grip doesn't ease. "I love Draco I don't know how many times I can say that. I don't know how I can make you see that while what he did hurt I don't have a right to punish him. This all happened while we weren't even together."

Just then I hear Draco call me and I feel relief flood through me but Ron either doesn't care or he didn't hear because he still doesn't let me go.

"Hermione? Are you in here?" I see him come in to the room behind Ron. "What's going on?"

He walks up behind Rn and pulls him away from me. I can still feel where his fingertips dug into my skin. Ron seems even angrier. I don't know where it's all come from.

"Get your hands off her." Draco spins and faces Ron.

"Don't touch me. I don't know what she sees in you. You're just the snake you've always been and you always will be." He turns to face me then. "Just remember we won't all be here to catch the pieces when you realise Hermione." I watch him storm out the room then completely in shock.

Draco turns to me then and takes my face in his hands I'm vaguely aware he's trying to talk to me but it's not processing properly. I'm trying to work out what has just happened. What made Ron so angry? What made him turn so aggressive? I never thought I would see that part of him.

"Hermione! Please talk to me. Are you ok?" Finally Draco's voice penetrates. I look at him properly and he looks really worried. I blink and nod. "What happened?"

"He wanted to know why I'd gone back to you. He said he wanted me to go back to him." I see Draco stiffen. "He thinks he can make me happier."

"Maybe he could." Draco's answer shocks me. I stare at him waiting for him to explain what he's just said to me. "I've not exactly made our relationship easy. I seem to be fucking up at every opportunity."

I see it's hurting him to say this. I take my hand and stroke his cheek. "You do make me happy Draco. You made one mistake. I've forgiven you and now were going to move forward."

"I really don't deserve you." He kisses me then and I dive into it taking what he gives me.

This wine really doesn't seem strong enough now. I'm staring into my empty glass mulling it all over. I can't believe Ron feels this way. Draco must have read my mind because he puts a glass of fire whiskey in front of me.

"Thankyou." I smile up at him and he shrugs.

"I thought you looked like you could do with it." He takes the seat next to me. "I know it must be hard hearing that from him."

"I just didn't know he felt that way." I take a gulp of my fire whiskey and savour the burn as it travel down my throat. "I should have seen it."

"How? As far as I can tell no one knew he felt this way." Draco puts his arm around me and brings me close. "Dance with me?"

I look up at him and nod and he leads me to the dance floor.

DRACO

As I dance with Hermione in my arms I think back to what I heard with Ron. Maybe he is right maybe I should take a step back. The problem is I don't think I'm that strong, I'm too selfish. I just want Hermione all to myself. I have to be confident in her decision to stay with me through all this.

How I wish I could have kept it in my pants. At the time I was pretty sure we were over for good. I look down at her now and I wonder how I didn't fight harder for her back then. This amazing woman who was still with me. I pull her tighter to me needing to feel her against me.

We danced like this for a while in each others arms even when the music changed to a faster tempo. We were interrupted by raised voices behind us. When we turned to see who it was we found Harry and Ron arguing. Hermione being who she is made her way over to them.

"What's wrong?" She asked as we reached them.

Harry ran his hands through his hair obviously upset. "Ron's been drinking."

"What?" Hermione turned to Ron.

Looking at him it was obvious now. He could hardly stand straight, his face flushed.

"So what if I fucking have?" He slurred. "No one gives a shit anyway."

"Ron come on let me take you to The Burrow." Harry said reaching out to Ron but he jerked away losing his balance in the process and almost falling over.

"Leave me alone." He turned to Hermione then. "I don't know why I ever loved you. You're just a whore."

Hermione stiffened beside me. I had to reign in my anger then so much I couldn't hit him. Well I could but I won't, it would only upset Hermione more. Or so I thought. As I'm trying to reign in my anger Hermione steps forward and slaps Ron.

"Never speak to me like that again." She straightens herself and turned away from him grabbing my hand and walking away.

I can't believe what just happened I'm utterly speechless. We reach our table and Hermione grabs her fire whiskey and finishes it in one go. I'm so busy thinking about what just happened that I only just notice the shake in her hands.

I make her sit down and take her face in my hands making her look at me. "Speak to me."

"It's my fault. He drank again because of me." Of course she would think this. I catch a tear that escapes with my thumb.

"It's not your fault Hermione." I kiss her gently before she can argue with me. "Ron has his own demons and you can't blame yourself for them or for how he handles them."

"If only…"

"If only what?" I interrupt. "If only you loved him back? If only you'd chosen not to be with me? If only you'd chose common sense and left me?"

"Draco stop." Her hands are on my arms gripping tight. "I don't wish any of that. I just wish I had a solution for him. I don't want to be with Ron and I don't wish I did. I have you."

"I come with so much shit I wouldn't blame you for wanting something different, something more." I can't look her in the eyes. This is always going to be something that will get between us. Ron and Padma with the baby.

"I have everything I want with you Draco. Obviously it would have been better if you weren't have a child with someone else or that Ron seems determined to so… Difficult." She laughs harshly. "But these are the cards we've been dealt and we need to work with them."

I kiss her. We both need to work past what is in each others lives right now and think about us. I will not lose her again.