Weasley's Confession

Draco

"Merlins fucking balls Theo! In case you've forgotten, we are on acovertmission. If you don't stop blathering about what bloody color suits you best, I am going to permanently seal your mouth shut. Then how will you have insane conversations with your beloved omega?" Draco snapped; his patience having been depleted at hour number three of their mission to observe Potter's activities.

"I'm just saying Drake. Luna says that green really brings out the color of my eyes andyoushould consider incorporating more blues. The forces you draw to yourself with all of that black is depleting your aura's light energy."

"What the fuck did you just say to me?" Draco spun to face Theo; his left eye twitching as he pressed his wand to the center of his friend's chest.

"You should really listen to my Luna; she knows things Draco," Theo chided while swiping at Draco's wand like an annoying bug instead of the lethal weapon it was.

"On second thought, I think your services would be put to better use guarding the omegas. I can handle this mission myself. Why don't you run home and work on your color coordinated star charts with Luna?" Draco's tone dripped with sarcasm as he prodded at Theo's arm with his wand, urging him to leave before he actually lost the last marble representing his sanity.

"Oh darn. I was really enjoying watching Weasley shove endless amounts of food down his throat. If he hadn't already proven himself completely inept, I would have thought he'd applied an extension charm on that thing he calls a stomach." Theo grinned cheekily at Draco, his aim to get out of surveying the duo accomplished. "Don't have too much fun while I'm away." Theo disappeared in a flash, the strong silencing and notice me not charms preventing detection as he disapparated.

Draco heaved in a great breath, letting it build in his chest for a moment before expelling slowly through pierced lips. Theo may be amongst an elite group of people Draco allowed himself to care for but that didn't mean he didn't want to throttle the man at times.

"It's been eight years Harry. Do you really think we're going to find any sign of Hermione after all this time? Really should just let it go, mate." Draco snapped to attention at the mention of Granger.

Blaise's genius in magical tattoo creation was displayed yet again as Draco directed the tiny bowtruckle that had formally been painted across the inside of his wrist. The spindly green limbs inched closer until it sat beneath the chair Potter occupied as he and Weasley ate lunch outside the Three Broomsticks. Through his little friend, Draco could hear everything the duo was discussing, up to this point it had been shop-talk in regards to the Auror department and nothing useful at that.

Potter's eyes searched the space around him suspiciously before glaring at Weasley. "I don't want to hear it, Ron. I'm not forcing you to come along."

Weasley huffed before crossing his meaty arms over his broad chest. "You spend every free Saturday looking for her Harry. Am I supposed to just watch my best friend waste his life looking for someone who doesn't want to be found?"

Draco's fingers twisted around his wand, wishing it was Weasley's neck he was choking instead. It seemed Potter had the same thought as his eyes flashed with fury. "Doesn't want to be found? If you really believe she would just abandon us, then you never really knew Hermione. Besides, I thought abandoning people was your area of expertise?"

Draco couldn't see Weasley's face from his hiding spot, but he could see the way the man's shoulders visibly tensed before he slapped a hand against the heavy wooden table. "That isn't fair, and you know it. That was the Horcr—"

Potter's wand was out in a flash, cutting Weasley off with a silencing charm. "Shut up Ron. Just shut up. At this point it's the best thing you could do to help me and help the cause. If you don't want to actively help us then stay out of it." Potter's cheeks were a brilliant red as he shoved his hand roughly in his pocket before tossing a few galleons on the table, the gold coins clanging loudly as they rattled across the wood.

"Come on Harry. We've been through this. We never found a body and out of the three of us, Hermione would be the one to escape being captured. Do you really think someone would have been able to keep her locked up for eight years without even a sighting?" Draco rolled his eyes at Weasley's ridiculous ramblings while the red-head spoke to Potter as if he was explaining something to a child.

Taking advantage of Potter's silence, he continued, "No they couldn't. That means Hermione is alive and doesn't want to be found."

Either he really believes the words coming out of his own mouth or the talking baboon is in deep denial.

Draco found himself sick over both options. For the first time in his life, he found himself admiring Potter's conviction in his beliefs. The same man that had hounded him in his youth, who'd been relentless in his pursuit to prove his suspicions regarding Draco to be true, was applying that same tenacity to finding Granger. He could admit that he admired his former foe greatly for it.

Watching Weasley though, he found his disgust for the idiot had only grown with time. His logic regarding Granger was laughable at best and downright disturbing at worst.

Potter's green eyes no longer flashed with anger but with cold intensity, the last vestiges of warmth drained from his tall frame as he pinned Weasley in place. "Hermione Granger would never abandon us and she's not dead. I know it in my fucking soul. She is my sister. Don't you think I'd feel it if she was gone? Don't you think I'd know if something had been so wrong that she would choose to abandon us instead of keep fighting? You never knew Hermione like I did." Color leaked back into Potter's cheeks as he stood, looming over Weasley who still sat at their shared table.

Instead of taking a moment to listen to what Potter was saying, Weasley must have thought it was a better idea to double down. "I was right there with you guys. How can you say that you knew her better than me? You teased Hermione for being a swot just as much as I did. Third year ring any bells?"

"Neither one of us treated Hermione as she deserved. But you were worse, Ron, and we both know it. You refused to articulate the way you felt about her so you were cruel instead." Draco watched as Weasley's shoulders visibly sagged, Potter's words obviously having the desired effect.

"We can't take back the things we did and said but I swear on my magic that I willneverstop looking for her. Hermione never gave up on either of us, we owe it to her to do the same." Draco almost felt sorry for Potter as the man rubbed at his eyes, exhaustion hanging heavy across his features.

"Just tell me why, Ron. After all of this time you refuse to tell me the real reason why you want to stop. All I've gotten is half answers and platitudes."

Weasley shifted in his seat, the bulk of his frame resting against the back of the thin spindles of his chair. Moments passed and Draco started to doubt if the Weasel was going to respond but finally, he released a shaky breath.

"Do you know what I promised Hermione before the battle? After you and Luna left for Ravenclaw tower?" At the slow shake of Potter's head Weasley continued. "I told her that if there was any chance of us winning, Hermione had to survive. She was the reason we got as far as we did. I said we had to stay together no matter what." Weasley reached a hand into his coat pocket before withdrawing a cigarette, puffs of smoke filling the air as he drew in hit after hit of nicotine.

"I was going to sacrifice myself if it came down to it. Hermione was always better at dueling than me but that wasn't going to stop me from trying to keep her safe. It's all I felt I was good for." Potter remained silent as Weasley pulled in another long drag.

"After we destroyed the cup, we were on our way back to the Great Hall when we were attacked by a group of werewolves. Neville was nearby, one of the buggers was trying to carry him off and Hermione took off after it. By the time I was done fighting mine, she was gone. That was the last time I saw her."

Silence hung heavy between the pair as Weasley continued to pull at his cigarette, Potter's eyes shifting as he took in his friends' words.

"So, all this time. You what? Blamed yourself for her disappearance and decided it was best to leave the past in the past, make up some story about her leaving to make yourself feel better?" Potter finally spoke, his voice not unkind but full of disbelief.

"I promised Hermione, and I promised myself that I wouldn't let anything happen to her. I fucked up it up as usual and there is nothing, I can do to change that. But every time you bring Hermione up, talk about clues or going out to search, it's a constant reminder of my failure." Draco knew if he could see Weasley's face it would surely sport a tortured expression. He could hear it in the way his breath trembled as he spoke. "I see how exhausted you are Harry, and I know that it's fucked up that I don't want to continue but I'm tired. Tired of knowing every day that its my fault our friend is gone and if you'd known the whole truth you'd hate me."

Potter's expression grew from uncertainty to shock, to understanding as Weasley expelled his demons. "I don't hate you, Ron." He swallowed thickly before continuing. "You have to know it wasn't your fault. Whatever happened to Hermione. It wasn't your job to keep her safe and I don't blame you for her disappearance. I know that she would say the same."

Potter paused again; his jaw clenched as he seemed to decide how to continue. "But the choice to give up on her was wrong. If I could ever hate you, it would be for that."

Weasley's shoulders shook as he buried his head in his hands, pale fingers clenching at auburn strands while Potter watched in silence. A complexity of emotions assaulted Draco as he watched Weasley fall apart. As with an elusive snitch, he tried to grab the emotions as they flitted by. Sadness for Granger at what she'd experienced after the battle. Anger at Weasley for not upholding his promise to keep her safe. Shame at the happiness he felt that because of their life circumstances, Granger was safe with him. Admiration for Potter and his conviction to never give up.

A part of him couldn't help but imagine how things would have turned out if he'd presented sooner. Would he have discovered Granger's designation in sixth year and if so, would he have stood up to his family and their centuries of blood prejudice to claim the omega that was his perfect match?

Draco felt a wave of protectiveness toward the fierce witch the Gods had deigned to bless him with. He thought of the Battle of Hogwarts, pictured her fighting a rogue werewolf but instead of Weasley at her back it was him. A part of him knew thathenever would have lost her. Pleasure rumbled through his chest at the thought of keeping his omega, hoarding her like the rarest jewel.

Lost in his rumination, Draco nearly missed Potter and Weasley moving from the table, oblivious to any further part of their conversation before they disapparated. Fin, his tiny bowtruckle, hopped across the cobblestone path as he made his way toward Draco. His spindly limbs clinging to Draco's fingers before settling against his wrist, the pale green body melding with Draco's ivory skin until only a simple tattoo remained.

If Draco would anything useful from today, it was that Potter hadn't given up. The wizard was desperate to find his friend and Draco could use that to his advantage.