[MWS] Seamus Finnigan - the Explosives Expert

The Many Woes of Ronald Weasley series

Part 4 | Seamus Finnigan - The Explosives Expert



One of the more noticable of wizards in my year is one Seamus Patrick Finnigan. You may have heard about his many spells which end with a bang. What no one knows is that after each explosion, he backtracks his moves and memorizes what he did so he can do it again. So, although Seamus may have many dynamic issues with spells and potion-making, in truth, he does learn from his mistakes. The problem with that, is he learns them all too well.

No one ever realizes that when Seamus makes a boom, he booms at the right time. (No pun intended) Whether it be when Snape is ragging on Harry for a potion or when McGonagall is killing us all with some drab speech on Transfiguremation. You see, Seamus wants attention. He wants people to notice him. So how does he do it? He gets in cahoots with the one person with the most attention - Harry Potter! That's why he risks getting steam from Snape when he interrupts Snape scolding Harry in potions. You see, they made a deal. Whenever Harry's getting in close to trouble with a teacher, Seamus will just make his spell or potion "go wrong". So, Harry escapes the heat and Seamus gets every eye in the room on him.

However, there's a problem with their little deal. Seamus realized that Harry will always have attention and myself, being Harry's best friend, naturally gets attention as well. Seamus is jealous. He's jealous I get attention, moreso than he does despite the little deal he has with Harry. So, what does he do? Well... I'll tell you. It all started one December day during Christmas break...



Like every year, the school was practically empty of students. Especially with the threat of Voldemort gone, more witches and wizards felt it safe again to go travelling about during the holidays. A few days before Christmas, I got up with the birds. Now, I don't usually get up that early, but for some reason, I felt the morning chill to my bone and had to wake up. When I did get up, I realized that the window between Harry's bed and my bed was open. Suspiciously, I turned to look at Harry and found that in the night the prat had stolen my blanket. I knew I shouldn't have slept that night. Harry was looking at me like I was crazy the other night too! Anyway... unable to get back to sleep, I decided to get dressed and head on down to an early breakfast.

About to head out the dorm door when who do I hear calling my name but Seamus!

"Wait up Ron, I'll go down with you!" Seamus insisted as he hopped into a pair of jeans. I watched curiously as he disappeared behind his bed with a loud thud. I nearly jumped out of my freckles when he popped up, grinning like a bloody leperchaun.

On our way down to the Great Hall, I asked Seamus, "Why are you up so early? You're usually in bed longer than I am."

Seamus shrugged as he stuck his hands into his jeans' pockets, "Heard you getting up, so I thought I'd join you for some breakfast. It'd be nice to get first picks of the food without the crowd of everyone else."

I nodded in silent agreement, eyeing him suspiciously.

When we reached the Great Hall, I wondered why I never got up earlier before. There was practically no one there. We took a seat across from each other on the Gryffindor table and began filling our plates.

"So, why'd you stay the holidays here?" Seamus asked,

"My parents went to North America to visit Bill," I explained,

"I thought he lives in Egypt," Seamus said before taking out his wand and Accio-ing himself a slice of toast.

"He does, but he told them he was spending the holidays with his girlfriend in North America. She was a cursebreaker he met in Egypt but she was transferred there," I said, "And, since Bill is the oldest, Mum's made it her first priority to make sure he's married before I leave Hogwarts." I got more eggs onto my plate before asking Seamus, "Why did you decide to stay here for the holidays? Don't you usually go to Ireland with your folks?"

"Usually, but I wanted to spend holidays with my friends. This being our last year and all," Seamus explained as he waved his wand for more toast.

I nodded in understanding while reaching for my goblet of pumpkin juice. Before it reached my lips, it exploded and I was soaked in pumpkin juice. Seamus jumped to his feet and I glared at him while slamming the debris of my goblet on the table,

He grinned sheepishly at me, "Sorry there mate, I was trying to get toast, but I guess it was the wrong spell." He picked up his own goblet and held it out to me. "Here, take mine," he offered with an encouraging smile.



I never did take his goblet. Who knows what he put in it. I bet that was his backup plan! Just in case he didn't manage to get me with the exploding pumpkin juice, he'd get me with whatever was in his pumpkin juice. I mean, isn't it suspicious that after I refuse his goblet, he doesn't take a drink from it? Not once, he doesn't take a drink from it! Of course, when I asked him later why he didn't drink any pumpkin juice he said he was 'too full to drink'. Too full? Or too fearful of what he put in his goblet!?

He knows how to control the explosions. It's not just that incident that made me suspicious about him, but I found out what he got on his O.W.L.S. in Fifth Year! He got an O in Charms! For all his casting-mishaps, he did as good as Hermione in Charms! It takes critical wand control to master Charms, Hermione told me that, so learning Seamus had such control, made me suspicious of why he always ended up blowing up whatever he was magicking. I can put two and two together and what I got was Seamus was faking it all! Then, observing his timing in classes when he made something explode, filled in the blanks!

Now, now, now.. I know what you're thinking, "Seamus isn't evil!" and "It's not his fault he has some wand problems!" But, it's not just his ability to make things explode that proves he's out to get me for my attention! Not only does he eat chocolate pudding, but he also goes to the library! He's not that good at Herbology.. BUT there is one thing - I mean, have you ever realized that Seamus is Irish!? That alone proves his evil! Why? Because what else is Irish? Leperchauns! And we all know how selfish Leperchauns are with their basket of gold! Therefore, since Leperchauns are evil and they're Irish and Seamus is Irish, it means that Seamus is evil as well! And who else is Irish!? Why, the most evillest of people ever, Draco Malfoy! I'm pretty sure he's got some Irish in him on his father's side. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Irish people are evil-- I love Irish people -- just Seamus.. and Draco. They're evil enough for the non-evil Irish people. So you see, he never accidentally blows things up, he has motives. I can prove it just by the proof that he's Irish.


(To be continued...?)

[MWS] Neville Longbottom - the So-Called Innocent Bystander

The Many Woes of Ronald Weasley series

Part 3 | Neville Longbottom - the So-Called Innocent Bystander



He never seemed like an important person to most people. He was, somewhat a plain guy. Okay, correction: a plain, clumsy guy. He did everything wrong usually and was unusually shy. He was the innocent looking one out of all my friends. I don't believe that for one bloody second! He's really the serpent beneath the innocent flower. See, I am smart! I threw in a para-quoted quote from The Beatles! Although Hermione keeps saying how its "paraphrasing" and how it's a quote by "William Shakespeare" .. Yeah, right! She's just trying to dumb me down again. What kind of outdated, uncommon name is William? Even though mum did name Bill that.

But back to him. Back to Neville Franklin Longbottom. He was always on the side-lines just being the doormat he is (I've told him several times to stop lying beside the Portrait Hole) UNTIL our Fifth Year! You see, everyone THOUGHT Neville was weak, but he isn't. Oh no, no, no! He's quite strong actually. He even got some bloody spot light in our Fifth Year. And I am NOT being jealous!

But what people don't understand is that Neville got into the spot light Fifth Year because of me. Yup, because of me! See, Miss Rowling told the story wrong! All wrong! She was influenced by Harry, that one. I'll tell you what really happened in the Department of Mysteries-



I was beating off Death Eater after Death Eater with spell after spell, hex after hex, jinx after jinx, shoe after shoe when I finally got all of them. I ran towards the door of the room I was in. The room was odd, it had several brains all around! I wanted to get out of there - fast! So I ran towards the door but it seemed to keep on getting farther and farther. Feeling desperate, I Accio-ed the door to me and it came! But before I could reach for the door handle, my hand was slapped away. Looking to the perpetrator, I found myself looking into the eyes of the one and only, Neville Franklin Longbottom.

"Neville? What are you doing mate!? I need to - WE need to get out of here! We need to help Harry!" I reminded in an annoyed tone,

"No Ron, I need to help Harry. You, on the other hand need to stay behind," He said in a voice unlike his usual voice.

"What do you mean Neville!?" I cried as I began to walk backwards as he began to advance on me. I pointed my wand at him, "What are you doing Neville!?"

He pointed his wand back at me and grinned menacingly at me, "It's time that you step down Ron. It's time you get yours."

"WHAT!?" I yelled, "If- if you AK me Neville they'll know! They know you're here with me!"

"I'll say Death Eaters did it!" Neville explained coolly,

"You're mad Neville! You've gone mad! Now- now let's just calm down for a moment before we - Expelliarmus!" I cried,

Neville dodged it quickly, "Accio wand!" Before I could do anything, my wand left my hand and landed in Neville's.

"Neville, c'mon.. We're friends mate! We're roommates, mate! Mate!? What are you doing mate!?" I shrieked as he advanced on me until I felt my back against the stone wall, "Mate, c'mon, you can't be serious mate!"

"I'll spare your life for now Ronald Bilius Weasley- but if you tell anyone, I WILL get you. You can be sure of that," Neville threatened before pocketing my wand and walking away.

Before he left, he turned around and smirked at me. He muttered an incantation and charmed the brains to attack me-



Neville's crazy! What did I tell you! He's CRAZY! Absolutely, downright insane that one is! Did you see how he said I'll get mine!? My what!? He was so cruel he didn't even say my what! And at the last minute, he smirked. SMIRKED! That alone proves how he's out to get me! He SMIRKED! Not a normal smirk. Oh no, no, no- this was the smirk. This was the "Draco Malfoy-Smirk". Oh yeah, I can recognize it for miles and miles! Except Neville's teeth aren't nearly as sparkly as Draco Malfoy's- don't even know how I bloody know that-

Anyway, that wasn't the only thing. Neville's horrible -- at least how he leads us on -- at practically everything- Everything BESIDES Herbology! Now- what kind of insane subject is that? Herbology- it has NOTHING to do with cooking! I haven't even once seen Professor Sprout break out any spices! No cinnamon or basil or (my personal favourite spice) Posh.

He practically shines in that class! And it has nothing to do with the fact that he always stands beside the only open window in the greenhouse. I mean, he spends his time with all those plants, flowers and weeds. THAT MUST BE IT! The weeds- I heard from Dean that some muggles burn weeds and inhale its smoke! I wonder what the point of it is, but perhaps that's why Neville's always in the greenhouses! Come to think of it, he WAS conveniently around when there was that greenhouse fire the other week!
Perhaps that's also what makes him so- different. So- shifty. So- deceiving, conniving and an evil genius! Yes, an evil genius! Only an evil genius could do what he does. And that's feed the Mandrakes every morning and evening. Yup. Evil.

Okay, okay- I know what you lot are thinking about now. "Neville's not evil" and "He's not out to get you"- But that's because you lot have been reading the TRUE story all wrong! No, that was the side of the story you got from HARRY'S (who - let us not forget - is still out to get me!) point of view. Now, he does like chocolate pudding occasionally, so that alone could pin him for being evil but he certainly doesn't live in the library, so I suppose that points him in the other direction- but Merlin, he's into Herbology! I mean, there are a lot of evil fauna out there! (Although Hermione says it's really flora.. Yeah right Mione.) He almost excels in Herbology more than Hermione! Who's ALSO evil!! And guess who else excels in Herbology that is the most evilest person in the Hogwarts!? Draco Malfoy. Yup. He's almost as good as Hermione as well! He just acts like he doesn't give a flying butterfly about Herbology, but in reality he's one of the top in the class! So you see, he's not so innocent. I can prove it just by the proof that he's good in Herbology.



(Part 4: Seamus Finnigan - the Explosives Expert)

[MWS] Hermione Granger - the Bookworm

The Many Woes of Ronald Weasley series

Part 2 | Hermione Granger - the Bookworm



Harry Potter isn't my only best friend. No, he just happens to be my only best friend with the same reproductive organs as myself (which is male if you were being a smart prat-). Hermione Granger is my other best friend. Hermione has always been titled the brains' of our infamous trio. I don't blame the title. She has the brains and all the hair to keep it in.

Now, I know all about those rumors saying that Hermione and myself are together. And they're all true! (Yeah baby, I bagged me a smart girl!) I treat her with respect, dignity, trust and love. I've never cheated on her (I swear, Lavender kissed me! And the time after that I swear I tripped and fell on her!), lied to her (okay that's a lie) or underappreciated her (not a lot actually-). And how does she repay me? The bloody woman repays me by- Well, I'll tell you. It all started one October night during our Seventh Year-



Hermione and myself were serving detention up in the Astronomy Tower. Yes, Merlin's gift to teachers received a detention. Of course, she blames it on me - but that's another story-
So we were out in the terrace of the tower cleaning telescopes for tomorrow night's class while Professor Sinistra was in her office grading papers (but we both knew she was really sleeping).

I was absentmindedly wiping a lens for the fiftieth time while Hermione was busy on the other side of the terrace cleaning several different telescopes simultaneously (you don't know the true meaning of multi-tasking until you've seen that woman work). I glanced over at her and she was already packing up her cleaning materials.

"You can't be done!" I gasped. She merely looked up at me for a moment before returning to what she had been doing. "Mione, you can't still be mad at me!"

"Oh, but I am!" Hermione replied as she stalked towards me. She poked me in the chest several times as she spoke, "I could be spending my time writing up study notes for Snape's test next month, but no, I'm here cleaning telescopes with you!"

"Well, you are done," I offered grinning as I pointed my wand at the telescope I had finished cleaning so it would move aside..

She glared at me then snatched my wand and smacked me in the face. Hard. Real hard. So hard, it felt like it had turned from a smack to a punch. Before I realized it, I had stumbled backwards over the telescope stand and was flipped over the edge of the turret-

I was hanging onto the edge for dear life and do you know what that blasted woman did? Well I'll tell you! She had the nerve to ask Ron, are you okay?'.. I mean, DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M OKAY? I'm hanging off the edge of a bloody tower for Merlin's sake. With so much brain, you'd think she'd have a shred of common sense.. Really now- But don't you see now what Hermione's been doing this entire time? She's be in on it with Harry since the beginning. She's been trying to get rid of me too!

You see, I'm smart, real smart actually! It's just that Hermione makes me out to be dumb! She's trying to dumb me down! How do I know? I see her slipping an orange liquid into my goblet every morning (but it strangely tastes like pumpkin juice-) See, she has her own motives to bring upon my downfall. She's scared I'm going to become smarter than her. So, she's making me dumbier than I am now!

When she realized her efforts in using liquids to de-smart me were failing, she tried to push me off the turret! And do you know what she did afterwards? Well then, I'll tell you-



I clung to the edge, hoping that the feeling my hands were slipping were merely in my imagination. I tried several times to pull myself up, but that proved useless.

"Ron, are you okay?" I looked up and saw Hermione looking over the edge of the turret with what looked like concern.

"Yes Hermione, I'm fine as a daisy. You wouldn't mind fetching me a cup of tea perhaps so I may enjoy this wonderful view of the landscape?" I drawled sarcastically before yelling, "BLOODY HELL I'M NOT OKAY! WOULD IT BE SO MUCH AS TO HELP ME BACK ONTO THE TOWER?"

She bit her lip, "I don't think I'd want to save someone who's yelling at me Ronald."

"Hermione, I'm slipping. Help me up and we'll continue this fight once I'm sure I'm not going to die any second," I suggested through clenched teeth. When that woman was provoked, she was difficult.

"Okay, okay," she said in a rushed tone, "Let me find Professor Sinistra."

"Mione wait!" But before I could say anything else, her head disappeared. I listened to her footsteps disappear, so I held on with every ounce of my strength.

After what seemed like ages, I heard footsteps and when I looked up I saw Hermione and Harry's faces.

"How's the weather down there Ron?" Harry questioned as he grinned.

"You cheeky prat help me up!" I yelled.

"I dunno, Ron-" He said as he cocked an eyebrow.

I glared up at him and purposely removed one of my hands from the edge. I hung there while only holding on with one hand. Somewhere in the back of my brain I was mentally smacking myself for doing so, but it was done and I didn't have the strength to get my other hand back up there.

"RON!" Hermione and Harry exclaimed when I had let go. Immediately they both latched onto my wrist and heaved me over the edge.

When I was back on my feet again, I casually dusted off my robes, "Would have been much easier to use the Levitation Charm."

I saw Hermione's cheeks tinge with pink in the moonlight as it dawned upon her what would've been easier in the situation. Harry doubled over with laughter,

"I never thought I'd see the day when Ron outwitted Hermione," Harry grinned as he clutched his stomach while trying to stifle his laughter.

He stopped laughing when Hermione shot him a dark look. She turned that deathly gaze on me, "Well since you seem to know how to do things, why the blood didn't you do it yourself?"

I cocked an eyebrow not completely believing what she was saying to me. I crossed my arms and stared at her, "Because, my beloved, you took my wand from me before you slapped me over the edge of the tower."

This little revelation caused her blush to brighten and spread to her face-



The woman actually went to find someone to help me up! She's the smartest person at Hogwarts and she doesn't even use common sense! Why? Because she was hoping that while she was running to find "help" I'd slip of my own accord and the blame of my death wouldn't be on her conscience! And who indeed did she get for help? Harry! My best friend and archenemy! They're both in cahoots to get me! Let's not forget how they deliberately stalled to help; contemplating to see if they even SHOULD help! Now, if that doesn't rouse suspicion that they're both trying to kill me, then I don't know what does!

Hermione's been hinting for sometime now that she'd like for us to be married. She doesn't need to hint, I know she wants us to be married and I want us to be married. However, after that nights' events I'd been wondering if I should. Being married to Hermione Granger, a person trying to see my demise, would mean I couldn't escape her! She could kill me anytime on our honeymoon and no one would figure it out until my body washed up on land!

Now you're all thinking Hermione's not evil' and what not, but surely you haven't overlooked the facts. Hermione's smart and during our time at Hogwarts she seemed to know quite a lot of knowledge on things going on at Hogwarts. She knew too much. I mean, sure she doesn't like chocolate pudding - she hates it - but isn't it just odd how she knew the solution to just about every problem? Besides that she practically lives in the library! Anyone who's in the library longer than they're in their own rooms is positively screaming evil! Madame Pince the librarian works in the library and we all know she's batty! Let's not forget Draco Malfoy! Yeah, he seems to be in the library quite a lot as well! Always stalking between the shelves, pretending his reading a book, acting like it's just a casually trip to the library for school work and what not. So you see, she's out to kill me. I can prove it just by the proof that she lives in the library.



(Part 3: Neville Longbottom - the So-Called Innocent Bystander)

[MWS] Harry Potter - the Hero in Training

The Many Woes of Ronald Weasley series

Part 1 | Harry Potter - the Hero in Training

I entered my seventh year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry with my best friends, Harry Potter with high hopes that this would be a great year. With the downfall and death of Voldemort behind us in our sixth year, I knew I would be right- at least I thought so.



I'd known Harry since our first year at Hogwarts and we've been best friends since then. He was a hero in most people's eyes and I don't blame them. But for once I'd love to live in the spot light for some time. Harry had been famous since before he even turned one - HOW THE BLOODY HELL DOES THAT HAPPEN?
I was blessed with some fame in our first year when I helped Harry get to the Philosopher's Stone (although Americans want to call it the Sorcerer's stone. Odd ones they are. Canadians are on our side-) Of course, all I did was play chess - nothing fancy.

Second year I got some recognition. I mean, I was with Harry every step of the way even into the Chamber of Secrets. Well, then there was that cave in and then I was stuck with the babbling buffoon we lovingly called Professor Lockhart (did you note my sarcasm in the last few words?)

Third year I got nothing. Why? Because I had to get bitten and stuck in the bloody Hospital Wing. I forgot to yell at Sirius for doing that. But, it's too late now.. Merlin bless him. Bless Lupin too, with his help I got to see a spider on roller skates.

Fourth year- well then- Harry just HAD to steal the spotlight there huh? Getting into the Triwizard Tournament and all.

Fifth year I got him. Oh yeah. I got Prefect. Of course, Harry got the spotlight back when he made the Wizarding community realize he wasn't lying. Of course there's the fact that while Harry was going around running away from Death Eaters I was getting attacked by brains. Merlin knows how the blood that happened.



Now you may be wondering why I went on this rampage on comparing Harry's attention and my own. You see, Harry was born a hero. He was a hero before he was even born. So ever since he arrived in Hogwarts, he's been in hero-training. He didn't realize it, but I did. It'd take a pretty stupid person to not realize all the special training he's gotten from teachers was hero-training. He even got training from Hermione in our Fourth Year-
Anyway, back to the point- I figured out why I never got an equal amount of spotlight as Harry: he's been stealing it from me!
He realized in our Fifth Year that I could rival him for his fame, so what does he do? Well.. I'll tell you. It all started one September day in our Seventh Year-



Hermione, Harry and myself (Ronald Weasley - if you hadn't realized that now.. you ignorant prat..) were enjoying our free Saturday by walking the grounds. The trees in the Forbidden Forest didn't look so forbidden as their leaves slowly turned to golden and fire shades. (Although I think some were on fire because I recall Hagrid throwing buckets of water on the Whomping Willow.)

There was a cool breeze whipping itself around us as we slowly circled the grounds. We finally finished our course as we came to the lake. We sat down by the edge and just peered at the pinking late - afternoon sky. The water reflected the clear blue sky about perfectly as a few leaves slowly fell to its surface and causing small ripples.

I noticed Hermione shiver slightly, so I took off my cloak and draped it over her shoulders. (And Hermione thinks I'm not sensitive. If that action doesn't scream sensitivity' then I don't know what does-)

"Thanks Ron," She smiled as she clutched it tighter around her.

"So Harry, when's our Quidditch season starting?" I turned to face Harry who had begun throwing random pebbles into the lake.

His once calm expression was broken by a grin, "As soon as possible mate! You'll be there right? We can't win without you!"

"Of course!" I replied as if I was stating the obvious.

"Brilliant!" He exclaimed and patted me in the back. Hard. Real hard. So hard it wasn't a pat anymore - it was a push.

Before I realized it, I was wrapped in a feeling of ice cubes. I felt the wind sting my face and I sucked in air as I opened my eyes. I was in the lake. Dam.n the lake for being so cold in Autumn.

"Ron! I'm so sorry!" Harry apologized through laughs as he tried to help me out.

"I'm not sure you are," I scowled as he and Hermione finally pulled me out of the lake. I was greeted with a strong gust of wind and I felt more cold - if possible - than I did when I was in the lake.



Don't you see what he did? He pushed me into the lake! Now, on any other day that would've been normal, but it wasn't any other day. It was THAT day! Right after I said I'd be on the team to help them win, he pushes me in. Why? Because he can't stand the thought that I could help him win a match. That's why! Now, you're probably thinking Now Ron, you're being paranoid' , but I'll ask you this - Does a paranoid person sit up in bed all night watching their best friend sleep just to make sure that best friend won't kill him in his sleep?

Okay, so maybe a paranoid person does that, but you never know what Harry's capable of! I mean, the prat killed the most evilest person in the world - Voldemort! (mind you, I never did flinch when his name was mentioned. Everyone just says that. Really they do.) Harry's gotten hero-training, dark arts training - he can kill off anyone he wants! Bloody hell, Harry even beat Hermione in Defense Against the Dark Arts in our third year! If he can beat Hermione, there's no hope for me!

So, now do you see? Do you see how Harry is out to get me? All this time I thought he was my friend, but, no. He's not my friend. He just acts like it just so he can get close enough to slit my throat when I'm sleeping. Or maybe he is my friend. I mean, he could've killed me anytime before I came to this conclusion, but he didn't. Yes, Harry is my friend.. he's just blinded by jealousy. Or am I blinded by paranoia? I get it mixed up sometimes.

Next time you think about Harry, say anything about Harry, read anything about Harry keep this in mind - he's not just the hero in training. No, he has more dark thoughts than just becoming a hero. I mean, the prat eats chocolate pudding! HOW EVIL IS THAT! Anyone who eats chocolate pudding MUST be evil! Look at Draco Malfoy - he loves chocolate pudding! So you see, he is evil. I can prove it just by the proof that he eats chocolate pudding.



(Part 1: Hermione Granger - the Bookworm)

[ES] The Confrontation

(Final part of the Enemy series)

Draco sat in his room in a big, leather chair by the fireplace. One would assume the manor was a very cold place considering the number of fireplaces in the manor -“ less than in the abandoned Malfoy Manor, but a considerable amount more than an average house. His bedroom was dark and although he stared into the fireplace, it was empty. The only thing granting some light upon the room were the moonbeams leaking through the ceiling-high, curtained windows. In one hand, he held a small glass of Fire Whiskey. In the other, he held an empty decanter which once housed the Fire Whiskey.

All his thoughts were centered around her. He hadn't seen her since he left Hogwarts five years prior. However, that didn't mean he stopped thinking about her. He thought about her everyday and every night he lived. He cursed himself a fool every night before going to bed because he allowed his thoughts to focus on her constantly. He knew he was being pathetic, he knew he was acting like a fool -“ he hated himself for it.

He threw the decanter towards the mantle of the fireplace and it smashed to thousands of shards. He downed the rest of his glass and threw that as well, following the same course as the decanter. He felt the liquid burn his throat and stomach, before settling and warming him. He leaned back in his chair and let the breeze in the room surround his naked torso and cool him. He paused.

He didn't move and didn't make a sound. The windows were all closed, he was sure. He had closed them all and drew the curtains before settling down with his flask of Fire Whiskey. The manor was fairly new as well, so the windows couldn't be loose on their joints. There was only one possibility left: someone was in the room with him. He still didn't move, hoping the other person hadn't realized that he realized that they were there.

Think I'm sleeping. Think that I've fallen asleep' he forced the thought upon the other being.

It was in that instant he wasn't all that sure when he first felt the breeze. If he was so content and comfortable to relax in his chair and allow himself to be embraced by the breeze, then it must have been there for some time. The question was: how long?

Subtly, he moved his right arm from the arm of the chair, to his side. Slowly, quietly, he slipped his wand out of his pants' pocket and gripped it just a slight tighter than normal. If it was a Death Eater, he'd be fine. If it was an Auror, that could provide some challenge for him. But he was at a disadvantage considering the intruder knew his whereabouts but he didn't know the whereabouts of the intruder.

What a time for me to forget Identifying Spells and Location Spells' he thought bitterly as began to rack his brain for spells he had learned thoroughly but never used.

He quickly went through all the Spells he could remember on the spot, Levitation Charm, Freezing Charm, Light Spell, Fire Spell, Locking Spelling, Opening-' he froze again as he returned to the previous spell, Locking Spell. So that's who it is.'

Draco being Draco, he never trusted fully upon the common Locking Spell known to all of Wizard Kind and who's opposite spell was just as common, if not even more common. So, in his Sixth Year, he developed another Spell. A more complex Locking Spell and its opposite accompaniment. It took him months to develop and perfect it for annunciation was key. He told no one else of these two spells. No one, except for one other person and just one other. Her.

Without realizing it, he gripped even harder on his wand. Why was she here? Did she know her brother had been here just hours ago? Or maybe she came back for him? Maybe her brother was wearing a blasted muggle wire and she heard his confession of working for Voldemort? Suddenly, his thoughts cleared and only one came to mind. He knew the Ministry was monitoring him, what if they found out her brother was there that night. Even worse, what if they knew he entered the manor, but never left?

"Stop pretending you're asleep." Her soft, feminine voice came in a solid command.

"Why don't you come and say that to my face, Weasley?" He questioned tartly as he stayed seated. By the volume of her voice, she was either loud, or very near.

His silent question was answered when she appeared in front of him in just a few seconds. He stared up at her and she stared down at him. He could see the moonlight reflecting off her face, the few freckles which sprinkled the top of her cheek bones and the bridge of her nose, her chocolate, almond-shaped eyes. Unconsciously, his eyes traveled up and down her body and he realized she was clenching her fists in an attempt to hide her slight shaking. But he saw it - the slight sway of her body and the way her knuckles turned a slight white from the strain. He knew, he had her.

Standing up, he came just a foot away from her and towered a good six inches above her. Now staring down at her, he felt he was in control of the situation and took advantage of it.

"Well, are you going to say it again?" He challenged.

She opened her mouth slightly and it remained like that for a few minutes. In those slow, crucial minutes, he thought of nothing more than pulling her to him and kissing that mouth. Snapping him back to reality, she spoke,

"Obviously there's no need to if you're standing there, obviously awake," she forced out, straining to achieve what she hoped was a stern voice. However, the slight smirk that broke his once apathetic face, told her that her voice was anything but stern.

Then, it was her turn to look at him. Slowly, her eyes raked his body, up and down, then twice more. Finally, her gaze came to rest upon his silvery eyes. She loved his eyes and although everyone described them as grey, she could tell all the different shades of his eyes and which emotion which shade represented. This shade of silver startled her and scared her. The emotion itself and her acknowledgement of which emotion it was, scared her even more. Passion. However, his smirk was gone, he just stared down at her. Hard and hypnotically as if daring her to attempt to look away or blink. His face was unreadable, but she could still tell what he was feeling.

Unconsciously, she reached out a hand to his cheek. He didn't pull back, didn't move, didn't say a word. She took it as a good sign. Gently, tenderly, lovingly she stroked his cheek with her thumb. It trailed down to his neck, to his chest, back to his neck and to his shoulder. Her eyes followed the trail her hand made and both stopped to his left arm. She moved her hand to look at the skin beneath it and the Dark Mark made its appearance.

Looking up to him, she was slightly startled to see him looking down at her already. He had been watching her intently the entire time. Her eyes looked up at him in askance and he looked down at her, begging her to let him be free of answering. Sighing in what appeared to be defeat, she retracted her hand.

"Why are you here, Weasley?" He asked quietly but sternly as he looked to the side, avoiding her eyes.

"So I'm back to being Weasley', huh?" She asked in barely a whisper. "Last time we spoke, I was still Gin'." -

-----

Her fist came into contact with the stone wall of the Quidditch Pitch in anger. She turned her head to look at him as he stood calmly, leaning back against the Pitch's surrounding wall.

"What the hell Drae? Why are you being so stubborn!?" She demanded, "I thought you left the Dark already!"

"I never said I did." He said evenly, not meeting her gaze.

"But you're with me!" She reminded him,

"Just because we got together, I never said it changed anything. I never said that being with you meant I left the Dark." Draco replied,

"Well you must've known you'd have to switch sides eventually! You must've known you'd have to do that to be with me! Damn it, Drae you KNOW where I stand! You KNOW what I believe in and what's important to me!" She yelled,

"And you know the same about me," he agreed, still in the calm voice.

She turned, so her back faced the wall, leaned against it and slid down until she was sitting. Face in her hands, she forced back the tears,

"What now?" She demanded,

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what now Drae? I leave you for Christmas holidays and when I come back, and I hear that you're the newest Death Eater," she spat out as she still held her face. "You must've known that getting named a Death Eater meant changes between us, even if you don't have a Dark Mark! Only a fool would think otherwise!"

"I suppose I'm a fool then."

She looked up at him in disbelief and, by her expression, he could tell she wanted an explanation.

"I suppose I thought this wouldn't change how things are between us. I wasn't aware that an insignificant title would make or break us. I wasn't aware our relationship was so superficial." He replied coolly,

"SUPERFICIAL!?" She shrieked as she jumped to her feet, standing directly in front of him, "How dare you say that! This has been anything BUT superficial! This has nothing to do with that stupid title! This has to do with the fact that you never told me you were still with the Dark!"

"You shouldn't have assumed otherwise Gin," Draco countered calmly,

"How was I supposed to know? It's not everyday the great Draco Malfoy, Slytherin's prince comes up to innocent Ginevra Weasley, Gryffindor's angel! I thought that you coming up to me last year meant you'd switched sides!" She defended,

"You still shouldn't have assumed things," Draco said,

"You should have told me Drae! You should have fucking told me that I was fucking the enemy!" She yelled as she began to pound her clenched fists into robe-clad, muscular chest.

"So that's what I am now?" He demanded suddenly and she ceased her attacking fists. She glared up at him as he glared down coldly at her, "You suddenly realize I'm with the Dark and I'm automatically the enemy? Are you that quick a judge, Gin? That just because these lines are drawn between us, I'm no longer an ally?"

"What else can you be, Drae? I'm for the Light and you're for the Dark! Obviously, we're enemies! But I'd fancy to know what you thought of me while we were together, since you knew who stood where," She stated,

"Were together?" His eyebrows narrowed at her obvious use of the past tense for their relationship, "When we are together, I think of you as Gin. Mine. Nothing more, nothing less. I didn't realize that I had to categorize you as either friend or enemy. So, as you just lovingly said you were fucking the enemy, I was making love to the one person who made me happy!"

His words hit her in a rush of sudden sadness and sudden happiness. She never knew how much she meant to him. Hearing him say those words were like heaven, but the tone in which he said them just brought her down to hell. The tears she had been fighting back, finally spilled and she began to attacking him weakly again, as she began to cry.

"Damn it Drae-" she sobbed and suddenly, he stilled her fists, pulled her to him, and crushed her against his chest as he kissed the crown of her head. She continued to cry words of damnation at him as he continued to whisper words of love to her.

-----

"Yes, and last time we spoke I wasn't the enemy. Oh, no - wait, you clearly stated I was the enemy the last time we spoke as well," Draco said bluntly.

That last comment was a slap in the face, but she knew she deserved it.

"Why are you here, Weasley?" He repeated again, refusing to make eye contact.

"She's here looking for that pathetic excuse of a brother!"

Draco's head snapped in the direction of the fireplace. Both their attention gathered to a single being who stepped out of the shadowed corner. He internally cursed himself for not sensing there being more than two people in the room.

"Zabini," Draco drawled as his old school mate and now fellow Death Eater, approached them.

She turned to face Blaise, and, as Draco realized, slightly pressed against Draco using him as a shield.

"I'm surprised you realized who I was Draco, you wouldn't have realized I was there unless I spoke," Blaise said in a mocking tone,

Draco, his face now schooled to show apathy, stared at him, "Why are you here? Better yet, how did you get here?"

"Surely you didn't think your silly wards would hold up against me?" Blaise laughed as if it were the most absurd idea in the world,

"They would have against you, even against a fully trained Auror," Draco commented which immediately stopped Blaise's laughter, "Meaning you told your brother the spell's counterpart." He glanced slightly at Ginny before turning back to Blaise.

"So Ron was here?" she gasped as she looked up at Draco in askance,

"Oh, he was here alright," Blaise suddenly smirked at her. She noted with distaste that his smirk was crooked and that it contorted his face into a goblin of an expression. "I was scouting the area for any mudblood lovers and came across the weasel. Followed him to Draco's manor. I thought he couldn't get through with all the wards, but he broke through them. Draco answered the door himself, actually. They talked and the weasel entered, but never left."

"He- he never left? How are you so sure!? How do I know you're not lying!?" she demanded,

"Weasley, he's not," Draco said quietly, but sternly.

She bit back a gasp as her eyes darted to Draco. He still refused to look at her and it broke her heart.

"You- you cannot be serious! He has to be -"

"First off, Zabini wouldn't have been able to break through my wards on his own. When Weasley came, he dismantled the wards and when I let him in, I forgot to replace the wards," Draco said stiffly, now cursing himself internally for making that mistake, "That's the only way Zabini could've gotten in. Second," He finally looked down at her, "Weasley was here. We talked. Zabini isn't lying."

"Where- sure he wasn't lying of Ron coming here, but Ron left. Right?" She questioned, her heart pounding rapidly within her rib cage. "Tell me he left! Where is Ron? Where-where is-" Her gaze darted between Draco and Blaise. She saw the ugly smirk on Blaise's face and her eyes finally rested on Draco's silent face, "What did you do?" The words were barely audible, but he heard. They both did.

"Yes, Draco, do tell what you did with the dirty weasel," Blaise snickered as his brows narrowed, knotting his face into an even more ugly expression,

"He's feeding the river fish now," Draco said in a solid voice as he directed the answer to her, blocking Blaise out of it.

Her hand immediately went to her mouth as she bit back a gasp.

Blaise let out a snicker, "You actually did it Draco! You did the weasel in!" His eyes narrowed at Ginny as he grinned viciously, "Never thought your precious Draco would do such a think, did you!?"

Ginny removed her hand from her mouth as she forced herself to stop shaking. She glanced at Draco before glaring darkly at Blaise, "No, he's exactly how I assumed he would be."

Blaise continued to grin and she desperately wanted to wipe the grin off his face; at least, hex it off. She lunged towards Blaise, wand in hand but was stopped. She looked down and saw that Draco had caught her at the waist with his arm and held her back from Blaise,

"What, you're going to team up on me?" She demanded as she looked up loathingly,

"Zabini would love to do that if that's what you wish. However," Draco explained in a flat tone, his face expressionless, "You're brother's already gone, do you really want to die while dueling with Zabini?"

"He can't beat -"

"He can. What is it you don't understand? Zabini's a fully fledged Death Eater. He will hex you three times to next Wednesday before you even pronounce the first syllable of whatever feeble spell you can think of," Draco warned then suddenly his eyes narrowed, "Or is that what you want? You want to die?"

"And what if I do!?" She spat back at him.

"Then allow me the pleasure!" Blaise smirked as he pointed his wand. "Avada Ke-"

Before Blaise was able to finish the incantation, Draco's wand was at his throat. In the span of just milliseconds, Draco had let go of Ginny and gotten to Blaise. Draco probed Blaise's jugular vein, "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now."

"Malfoy," Blaise's expression grew dark, "What the fuck do you think you're doing!? She's a muggle-lover! I said I'd kill her if she wanted to be dead and she said that!"

"I didn't mean-"

Draco interrupted Ginny's protest as he pressed the tip of his wand harder against Blaise's neck, "And I said give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now. I'm still waiting for it Zabini."

"You're bluffing. You'd never have the balls to -"

At that moment, Blaise was sent flying towards the wall. He hit it with such force he thought he felt his teeth rattle. He collapsed to the floor. As he managed to get strength to look up, he saw Draco approaching him like an animal stalking its prey. Draco grabbed his collar and hoisted him up and pushed him against the wall. He placed his left forearm against Blaise's neck, supporting him from collapsing again. With his right hand, he pointed the wand at Blaise's left temple,

"I could kill you right now with my wand, or kill you with my bare hands. Decide, because either way you're going to be dead pretty soon." Draco threatened as he glared at Blaise.

Ginny's scream broke the moment. Draco's head whipped in her direction and saw her backing up towards him while three Death Eaters advanced on her. Draco returned his attention to Blaise,

"What the fuck did you do, Zabini?" He demanded,

Blaise managed a twisted smile that contorted his facial features, "I knew the moment that Weaslette came around your manor that you'd turn coat. Even though you did kill her brother, I knew around her you couldn't be trusted. I bet if I stayed out of your meeting you'd be joining the Light by now."

Draco pressed considerably more pressure against Blaise's throat and immediately Blaise began to gasp for air. He pressed his wand slightly harder on Blaise's temple, "You son of a bitch. I'm going to kill you and then," His attention turned towards the other Death Eaters, "I'm gonna kill you bastards."

He then realized that Ginny's back was already pressed against his own back. He glanced slightly at her and felt her shaking.

"Don't even try Malfoy, there's four of us and only one of you," one of the Death Eaters hissed.

Draco glanced once more at Ginny and was slightly taken back when she didn't defend herself after being disregarded by the Death Eater.

"Avada Kedavra."

Suddenly, Blaise's body became limp and the only thing holding him up was Draco's arm. Finally pulling away from Blaise, Draco faced the other Death Eaters fully. Cringing slightly at the corpse lying at her feet, Ginny absent-mindedly clutched onto her wand even tighter and glowered at the Death Eaters.

"Now there's only three of you and two of us," Draco accented the fact that him and Ginny would fight them.

"So you've chosen to go against your allies, Malfoy," another Death Eater stated. At once, all three raised their wands at them, "So be it."

"Get out of here Weasley," Draco said as he stepped in front of her,

"Draco they could -"

"They don't have enough power to do that," He interrupted, never turning his gaze away from the Death Eaters.

"But-"

"Weasley, don't make me repeat myself!" Draco argued as he began strategizing what to do. There was only one thing to do. He pointed to the far right Death Eater, "Avada -"

"Crucio!" was chanted in unison by all three,

"KEDAVRA!" Draco screamed as his balance faltered and nearly toppled to his knees. His target immediately dropped to the floor with a loud thud - dead.

Too shocked to think properly, Ginny remained motionless for minutes on end. Finally, she cast the first spell that came to her mind, "Expelliarmus!" The spell only hit two of the Death Eaters. "Accio wands!" Clasping the Death Eaters' wands in her left hand, she pointed her own towards them.

"Don't be foolish Weasley, there's still three of us and one of you." The still-equipped Death Eater scowled,

Ginny glanced towards Draco, but he was on one knee struggling to stand up with no avail. "Well-" She paused trying to think of something - anything - to stall them, "I have three wands and you only have one! I'll kill you right now!"

"You think a pitiful witch like you can kill us?" One of the wand-less Death Eaters shrieked in what was assumed to be a laugh,

"Avada Kedavra!"

The Death Eater who was laughing dropped like a rock. Ginny turned to Draco to find him on his feet again and attempting to regain balance. Having three Death Eaters crucio' him at the same time was taking its toll on his body and he could barely feel what little strength was still in him.

"Draco are -"

"I'm fine," he growled as he pointed his wand at the final Death Eater. His arm shook violently as he glowered at the final intruder of his home, "Insult her again and you'll be joining those three."

The Death Eater stood still, wand pointing at Draco now, "You can barely stand, Malfoy."

"Didn't stop me from killing that one," Draco retorted with a gesture of his head towards the freshly dead Death Eater.

"Crucio!" the Death Eater cast towards Ginny with a flick of his wrist.

Draco knocked her aside, "AVADA KEDAVRA!" he screamed as he was hit dead on by the Cruciatus Curse. As the final Death Eater fell to the ground, Draco's legs gave way and he fell. Breaking his fall with his hands, his arms shook violently underneath his weight.

"Draco," Ginny said softly as she dropped to her knees beside him. He collapsed finally and struggled to roll onto his back. She reached out for his arm, "Draco- are -"

Pulling away from her reach, Draco closed his eyes as he tried to conserve his strength, "Get out of here."

"But -"

"Voldemort will know that I killed four of his Death Eaters. If you stay here, you'll get attacked," Draco said as his grip loosened on his wand without his accord. "So, just get out of here. Get lost."

"I don't care-" Ginny said in a low tone,

Draco finally opened his eyes, "Oh yes, because if you died, you'll be hailed as the warrior for the Light who died with honour after killing the enemy."

In an instant, Ginny's palm made contact with the left side of his jaw.

"How could you think that? After everything we've been through!" She demanded as tears sprinkled themselves amongst her eyelashes,

"It's been over five years since we've been through anything together, Weasley," Draco corrected as he didn't even bother to nurse his reddened jaw. "Get lost before more Death Eaters come."

"And what about you?" She questioned, "I'm supposed to leave you behind?"

"What other choice is there for me? Stay here and wait for Death Eaters, or go with you to the enemy and die there. I'll take my chances with the Death Eaters than having Potter Avada me into a fresh grave."

"You still think I'm the enemy, don't you?" She asked,

"You thought of me as one first, so don't you turn this on me Weasley!" He glared up at her,

"You stubborn git, you let it break us up!" She accused as her eyes narrowed through the stilled tears,

"Me!? Don't you dare play the victim Weasley! You're the one who left me at the Quidditch Pitch that day over five years ago!" He countered,

"Yeah, and you never once tried to come after me!" She defended,

"You expected me to come after you? You expected me to come after you after you left me!?" He said in disbelief, "You're unbelievable! If anything it should've been YOU to return to ME and apologize!"

"APOLOGIZE!? You conceited bastard!" She shrieked, "You deceived me all that time we've been together!"

"I never once deceived you! It's your fault that you assumed immediately that I had switched sides!" He countered angrily as he finally was able to sit up and look at her on eye level, "And then it's your fault that you let this come between us! You left me and don't you dare try to pin this on me Weasley because you'll get no pity from me. You hear me? You won't get a single shred of pity from me nor an apology if you expect me to apologize for something I didn't even do! You left me." He accented heavily on his final three words.

"I don't even know why we're still arguing about this. Obviously I didn't matter much to you if you didn't try to reason with me," she looked down at her lap as she clenched her fists tightly, "I know I was being stubborn. I know I was being idiotic, but I at least expected my boyfriend to at least try to settle things between us!"

"And what? You were too good to come and settle things yourself?" He questioned as he finally calmed down,

"I would've if I'd known that you would've wanted me to!" Her head shot up and she glared back at him,

"And what gave you the idea that I didn't want you to?" He inquired as he schooled his expression back to apathy.

"The fact that you didn't try to stop me that night from walking away!" She accused,

He stood up as fast as physically possible with his condition and raked his hand through his hair, "You're unbelievable! You're STILL trying to put the blame of ending our relationship on me! You're the one who thought I was the enemy!"

"YOU ARE THE ENEMY!" She countered as she jumped to her feet and glared up at him,

"Oh, I'm STILL the enemy? After I risked my neck a few moments ago trying to protect your ungrateful life!? After what just occurred here in MY house because Zabini saw YOU come here, I'm STILL the enemy!?" He recalled in disbelief, "There's no reasoning with you!" He walked about his room, fixing what furniture had been disrupted in the previous duel before plopping himself down back on his chair before the fireplace.

"Oh, so NOW you attempt to reason," She replied sardonically.

"What are you still doing here?" He finally asked as he looked over at her, "Death Eaters are probably being deployed as we speak. Do you really want to die THAT badly? I guess you did mean it when you said you wanted to die."

"And I assume that you don't want to stop me on obtaining that goal, hmm?" She inquired as she went over to him and stood in front of him.

"Well there's no way I could possibly reason with a stubborn, narrow-minded witch like you, so I might as well let you do as you please," he countered

"First you kill my brother, and now you'll let me die too?" She said in a low tone, "I guess you have moved on- Ferret."

"OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE IF I'M TELLING YOU TO GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE, WEASLEY!" He defended angrily as he clenched his hands which lay on the arms of his chair. He had planned to remain calm as she continued ranting at him, but mention of his most hated nickname of hers for him just sparked his anger.

"FINE! I'LL LEAVE FERRET!" She began to head towards the door,

"Gin."

She froze immediately when she heard him call her by her nickname for the first time in five years. Without turning back, she waited impatiently for him to continue, hoping his next few words would be the ones she had hoped to hear for five years. She was wrong.

"You're brother's still alive."

-----

In silence, Ginny and Draco made their way carefully down the hill behind his manor. The moon was the only light they had to guide them. Draco forced himself not to steal a glance of her in the moonlight, but Ginny was less controlled. Ever once in awhile, she absent-mindedly glanced sideways at his profile and she realized, with a slight blush, that he was still only dressed in his pajama pants.

Once on flat ground again, Ginny hurried her step. She paused when she realized she was ahead of Draco and didn't know where to go. Looking down so he wouldn't see the slight blush that was sure to appear of her embarrassing impatience, she waited for him to catch up. Slowly because he still hadn't regained all his strength, Draco brushed past her as if he hadn't known she was standing there waiting for him.

After ten minutes of walking straight, Draco paused. "There."

Ginny looked up finally and saw Draco staring straight ahead. Before them, just meters away was a river which cut through the land. Appearing from one side of the ring of trees which surrounded Draco's manor it disappeared into the opposite side of the trees. There, in plain view, sitting with his back to them, was Ron Weasley.

Realizing that she was frozen to the spot, Draco took the initiative to start walking towards Ron. As they got closer, they heard him talking,

"It's been hours, hasn't it Chep?" He said, "I wonder what Malfoy's thinking up there. How long does he expect me to stay here? He better come up with a plan or I'll strangle that -"

Draco cleared his throat.

"I didn't mean it Malfoy. Just talking to the river fish here since I ran out of bread. Hope you don't mind I named some of them," Sheepishly, Ron looked over his shoulder towards Draco.
He was stunned to see Ginny standing beside him. Running past Draco, she tackled Ron, arms around his neck in a strong embrace.
"Whoa! Careful Gin!" Ron commented as he got his balance and sat back up with Ginny still hugging onto him tightly,

"You stupid prat! Leading me on to think you were dead!" She cried into his shoulder, "I thought back in Draco's manor that he'd really killed you! Were you really going to let us think you were dead!?"

Ron managed to stand up and pull Ginny up with him as he finally wrapped his arms around her comfortingly, "C'mon, stop crying. Obviously I'm not dead."

"Yeah, but it was down right mean of you to make me believe that even for a moment!" She began to pound her fists profusely into his chest.

He chuckled slightly as he still hugged her, "I'm sorry, okay? Besides, it was only to ensure that you'd be safe from Voldemort, but I guess now we can apparate to Grimmauld Order Headquarters. But, if anything you should be scolding Malfoy, it was his idea."


--ENDING ONE--

She ceased her attack as she froze. Standing up straight, she looked over her shoulder at Draco. He stood there casually, hands in his pockets as he saw the exchange. Slowly, she walked up to him.

"I'm sorry..." She whispered as she couldn't bare to look up at him. "I should've trusted you more... I should've never thought of you as the enemy..."

"Yeah, well you did," Draco turned to leave, but instinctively, Ginny took a hold of his arm. He turned back to face her, "What?"

"Is it too late for me to come and settle things?" She asked in a quiet tone. She nervously smiled at him, "Truce?"

He smirked down at her as he pulled her to him, "Truce."

-----

IF YOU'RE HAPPY GO AWAY AND REPLY! NO MORE READING! BUT, if you prefer, READ THE SECOND ENDING! ^___^

-----

She ceased her attack as she froze. Standing up straight, she looked over her shoulder at Draco. However, when she turned to look at him, he was already halfway back to the hill up to his manor.

"Aren't you going to go after -"

"It's better this way," she interrupted as she turned back to face Ron.

He finally stepped back away from her and regarded her slightly, "Gin-"

"He's the enemy Ron," she stated firmly, "He's the enemy. He's still the enemy."

Before apparating, Ron crossed his arms as he looked at her questioningly, "Are trying to convince me, Gin? Or yourself?"

-----

Two Days Later-

-----

Ginny entered the Grimmauld Order Headquarters, quickly shutting the door behind her so to shut away the fierce wind outside. Taking off her scarf and light jacket, she hung them up and proceeded towards where the Order Members regularly met - The kitchen.

"Morning!" She greeted in a sing-song voice as she bustled in. She froze on the spot as she immediately noticed the somber atmosphere within the usually busy room.

All situated around the kitchen table, she approached carefully and looked at the five Order members who were already there. The fact that there were six members there - including herself - to being with, was enough to make her worry. There wasn't a meeting taking place, she was sure, so that meant only two or at the most, three members would be present. Instead, there was double the normal amount.

She looked around the table, "Harry- Ron- Lupin- Moody- Neville, what's going on?" Before she reached the table, they immediately moved about, blocking her from reaching the table,

"Okay guys- you lot are scaring me now, what's going on?" She asked apprehensively, "Is something wrong? Did something happen? Is it Voldemort?"

Anxiously, the five males before her looked amongst themselves before looking back at her with faces she knew they tried to mask as unreadable. They failed horribly.

"Something is wrong- what happened?" She questioned, her voice a bit shaky,

"Did you lot hear!?" A voice boomed as someone was running towards the kitchen, "I can't believe it happened to-" Hermione paused as the kitchen door swung shut behind her. Quick as mercury, she shuffled her arms behind her, "Oh- hi Ginny."

"What happened Hermione? And to who?" She demanded as she faced Hermione head on,

She looked past her at the males before looking back at Ginny. Opening and closing her mouth silently a number of times, she looked past her again, "She has to know!"

"No! She doesn't!" Ron argued,

"You can't protect her forever Ronald!" Hermione countered,

"For as long as I can, I will!" He replied,

"Over-protective, stubborn git," Hermione sighed as she threw her arms in the air in exasperation. It was a moment too late when Hermione realized that she had also thrown what she was so keen on hiding behind her back when she entered the kitchen.

Snatching the item in the air, Ginny looked down, "The Daily Prophet?"

"Accio Daily Prophet!"

Ginny attempted to grasp on longer to it, but the paper went flying out of her hands and into Ron's. She turned on Ron,

"PRAT! GIVE THAT BACK!" Ginny demanded,

"It's for your sake I don't," Ron assured,

"Ronald! She deserves to know!" Hermione shrieked,

"Hermione has a point," Harry confessed as he leaned back against the table, arms crossed.

"She'll find out eventually," Lupin added,

"Might as well tell her now, Weasley," Moody insisted gruffly as he turned away to get a cup of coffee.

"Besides- it's best she hears it from those closest to her, don't you think?" Neville suggested as he placed a hand on Ron's shoulder, "Perhaps you should."

Ron sighed in defeat, "You lot are right- Okay, Gin. Sit down."

Taking a seat in the chair the ex-professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts held out for her, Ginny's gaze darted back and forth between her brother and the others present in the kitchen. Ron looked intently at the others and they immediately knew what he wanted. Silently and -unbelievably quickly- they left the kitchen, but the remaining Weasley siblings knew that their companions stood just on the other side of the door, listening.

After casting a silencing spell, Ron faced Ginny, "He's dead."

Ginny's eyes went as wide as saucers, "WHAT!?"

"He was killed. Yesterday at his manor. Report says he fought off four Death Eaters before a fifth one came and Avada-ed him on the spot," Ron said in a low tone. Hesitantly, he unfolded the Prophet and pushed it on the table in front of her.

Her hand went to her mouth as she looked at the cover story. There in the picture which took up half the page was Draco's body lay sprawled on his bedroom floor whilst Aurors combed the area.

Ginny felt a pull at her heart and as she read the passage below the photograph, she felt the pulling increase and eventually, felt a great ache in her heart.

"He died an honourable death." Ron muttered what he thought would bring some comfort to her. He was wrong.

"What honour is there in death!?" She demanded as tears began to flow down her reddened cheeks.

"At least Voldemort's not after him now?" Ron offered as he knelt before his sister,

"Only because he got Draco killed!" Ginny countered as she buried her face in her hands. "Damnation, this is all because of me. Because of that night when he protected me from the Death Eaters."

Ron instinctively gathered Ginny in an embrace, "C'mon, don't say things like that."

"Why not if they're true?" She cried, "Damn it Ron, I should have gone after him. I should have gone back to him that night. You'd think after the first time I would've learned. You'd think after the first time I would've just gotten over my pride and gone back to him."

Ron pulled back and wiped away her tears as he looked at her, "There are always second chances."

"What are you talking about? How can there be if he's de-" She trailed off as she saw a small smile appear on Ron's face. Quickly, he glanced at the paper then back at her. She took the paper in her shaking hands and sniffed back the tears in attempt to preserve the Prophet from becoming tear-stained. She looked over the article once more and the photograph carefully, "Ron you scheming prat-" She looked up at him, "Where?"

"Feeding the river fish."

-----

"So- Chep was it? Wonder when the Aurors finally clear out of my manor so I can place wards up and live in peace. At least now Voldemort thinks I'm dead. Wow, I must be out of my mind to be talking to a bunch of fish-"

"No, but you're sure as hell a stubborn arse git!"

Looking over his shoulder, Draco found Ginny standing there, face still red and tear-stained. He slowly stood up and regarded her peculiarly,

"Weasley told you then? Thought I could trust -"

"I saw him in the cover photograph," Ginny interrupted as she threw it at his chest.

Catching it, Draco scanned the photo, "I forgot he was one of the Aurors assigned to comb the area after the attack."

"You two are a bunch of lying, insensitive jerks, you know?" Ginny accused, "In the span of three days you lot have made me believe that two of the people I love the most were dead!"

"Oh, so you love the enemy now?" Draco inquired sarcastically as he crossed his arms over his chest,

"Can we not get into this? Please?" She asked in a pleading tone. She approached him slowly, "Can we just put behind us what I did?"

"If you do one thing," Draco said as he towered over her, leaning close to her face; so close she could feel his breath on her. "Answer me this. Can you trust me?"

She looked at him and then looked down at the ground.

"Thought so." He pulled away and brushed past her, he stopped once they were back to back, "Goodbye."

"Wait!" She spun around to face his back, "Where are you going?"

"Away. There's nothing holding me back here, so I might as well do some traveling," his words stung her and she felt the tears coming to her,

"Where-?" She inquired in a whisper,

"When you learn to trust me; when you think of me as other than your enemy, then you'll know where to find me. Au revoir mon cheri," and he apparated without another word.

-----

Five days later-

-----

"Alouette- gentile alouette-" The man tugged the collar of his trench coat closer around his neck as he walked the streets of Paris down by the Seine river. The wind bustled about him, as did the people.

After a few more seconds of walking, he paused and looked down at the river, "Bonjour mes amis, les poisons!" He laughed bitterly at himself, "Now I really must be mad!"

"Un peu."

The man looked up, at the source of the voice to find a woman standing just two feet away.

"So you've found me," He turned to face her fully, "Gin."

"Well the last words you said to me were in French, and knowing your ego-spoiled side couldn't keep you from Paris, I came here... Then I remembered your odd fondness for pet river fish, so I came to the Seine," Gin explained before stepping closer to him,

"So does this mean you trust me now?" Draco asked as he looked down at her,

"Ye..." She looked away,

"Why'd you bother following me here if nothing's changed?" Draco demanded bitterly,

"Because I thought we could get by without this between us," She admitted in a defeated tone,

"Now, either I've had it wrong this entire time, Gin, or I'm going soft, but I thought that without trust one can't have love," Draco countered scornfully. With that, he turned on his heel to leave,

"Draco, wait," She called to him and, hesitantly, he stopped. She sprinted towards him, "Please, just give me another chance."

He turned around, "I've given you more than enough chances to make amends Gin. MORE than enough." He raked a hand through his wind-blown hair, "I'm through with you." He turned and began to leave once more,

"I love you!"

He paused and remained silent before looking over his shoulder. Forcing the words that broke his own heart, he retorted, "Then how unfortunate that we were, are and always will be enemies."

He turned back around, disappeared into the crowd of Parisians and disappeared from her life. Forever.

-----
Fin
-----

[ES] The Final Meeting of Enemies

(First part of the Enemy series)

He blinked at the person standing on the front porch. That person was the last person he ever expected to see, let alone see at his house. He leaned against the door frame and just looked at him in askance,

"This is a suicide visit," he muttered as he continued to stare at him in slight confusion.

"I know," he replied as he distractedly looked around his shoulder,

"As surprising as this may seem, I have certain wards placed around my home," he said to get his attention once more, "So it's not like you'd be in any immediate danger here. Speaking of danger. Why are you here?"

"I need to talk to you."

He rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Well that's a given, Weasley. I mean why are you here to talk to me? You're the last person I'd expect to dare bother me in the middle of the night. It's nearly midnight."

"I know it's late, but I had to talk to you. Can I come in? I don't exactly feel safe out here like this where anyone can see me here." Ron said as he glared at him, proving the seriousness of the situation.

He sighed exasperatedly, "Yes, I suppose. Although I'm not sure what gives you the inane idea that you'll be more safe within my home." He stepped back out of the door way so Ron could walk in and once he was in, he closed the door behind him, placing several security charms on the door. Turning back to him, he motioned for Ron to follow and he lead Ron into the sitting room.

Upon entering, he gestured towards a pair of couches in one end of the room surrounding the fireplace. Ron slowly made his way towards them as he headed in the other direction to grab some Fire Whiskey and glasses from a cabinet in the corner.

When he returned to Ron, he poured a glass for him, one for himself and set the bottle down on a near coffee table. Placing himself across from Ron on the other couch, he flicked his wand at the fireplace and a flame ignited. Soon their area was lit by orange flames while the rays of light barely penetrated the darkness of the rest of the room. He finally get a clear view of Ron. Ron took a sip then looked at him. Ron's brow was furrowed and he actually looked dead serious for once.

"Well out with it already." He broke the silence with a hiss,

"She's in danger." Ron said simply.

Shock split his mind, but he was sure he was able to hold his apathetic expression as always, "And how, pray tell, you came upon this revelation, Weasley?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Ron questioned, "It's her connection to me!"

Suddenly his thoughts center around her and if Ron was right. He couldn't be! In any other circumstances, Ron would be correct, but these aren't normal circumstances. No, these are far from normal. He's wrong and she's not in any danger.

"You're wrong," he finally voiced his thoughts,

"Are you mad?" Ron glared at him as if he's lost my mind or something of the sort, "He knows she's connected to me! She's in danger and I won't allow her to get caught in this!"

He rolled his eyes in exasperation once more, "Weasley, if she were connected to Potter, THEN we'd have an issue."

"Who do you think is connected to Harry more than me?" He demanded. "He'll try to get to Harry through me and try to get to me through her!" He made a good point. Damn it.

"You're full of a lot of hot air Weasley. How do you know he'd be so desperate to get to you that he'd go to the full extent to waste extra energy and magic to get her?" he inquired,

"Damn it, Malfoy! I came to you because I thought you of all people would understand and believe me!" Ron said as he slammed his now empty glass of Fire Whiskey down on the coffee table.

"I think you're in more danger than she is right now!" Draco threatened,

Ron narrowed his eyes as he stood up, "You wouldn't dare! You'll let a childish school rivalry to come before her safety!?"

"She's not in any danger! Merlin, Weasley! Get it through your thick head!" Draco yelled as he stood up as well, coming eye level with Ron. "Besides, what gives you this frivolous idea that I even give a damn about her?"

"Because you used to give a damn!" Ron countered,

"The key thing, Weasley, is that it's all said in past tense," Draco said in a dry tone, "The past is the past and best left there."

"So you'll let her get killed?" Ron questioned, "You'll let Voldemort kill her just to get to me?"

"How many bloody times do I have to tell you that she's not in any danger!?" Draco demanded, "And if she was in danger, the hell I'd let her die just for the sake of getting to you! I'd kill you directly if that was the goal! I'd never let her die just for the sake of your sorry arse!" Suddenly he shut his mouth, hoping Ron didn't catch the slip.

"You do give a damn." Ron said silently. He caught Draco alright. Damn him.

Draco walked away, scowling, towards a window. He downed the contents of his glass and leaned a shoulder against the window frame as he stared out into the slightly cloudy sky.

"I believe you."

Draco looked over his shoulder at Ron, giving him a quizzical expression, "You believe me?"

"That she's safe. I believe you." Ron explained,

"What changed your mind? The whiskey? Or did my constant yelling finally penetrate that thick skull and stubborn Weasley attitude of yours?" Draco sneered,

"Because you give a damn," Ron said quietly and simply, "If you didn't, you wouldn't care for her safety- But since you do, you do care about her safety and if you say she's safe. I'll believe you."

"How are you sure this isn't a feint?" Draco asked as he continued staring at Ron,

"The fact that you're not denying it," Ron shrugged, "You still won't deny it now that I've said that, will you?"

Draco sighed as he ran his hand through his silky hair. Finally, he shook his head negatively. "Just because I still care about her, Weasley, doesn't change anything. Just because I still care about her, doesn't mean I've suddenly joined the Light. You know that." Ron nodded.

"So, are you going to take me to the Ministry, since I've flat out admitted that?"

"No."

Draco stared at Ron in slight shock, "If you were so worried of her safety, why'd you come here? Why not tell this to Potter and get his help in protecting her?"

"Because I knew that you'd know if she was safe or not." Ron said it as if it were obvious, "How you know that, I don't know."

"I made a deal with the Dark Lord. Her safety in exchange for my loyalty. With my loyalty, he has my skills and power at his disposal," Draco answered without hesitation.

Ron nodded in understanding.

"So, are you going to take me to the Ministry, now? Now that I've admitted my direct allegiance and proof of loyalty to the Dark side?"

"No."

Draco looked at him in shock once more, "Why not? You come here, seeking information, I give it along with information of my own position in the war that is bound to happen, yet you still won't bring me to the Ministry?" Ron nodded in agreement, "Merlin, Weasley. I don't know who's more stupid. Me for admitting all this or you for not doing anything about it."

"If anything happens to you, that agreement of her safety is broken," Ron replied, "But how do you know that Voldemort will stay true to his word?"

"I don't."

"So all you have is blind hope that Voldemort, the Dark Lord, will stay true to this agreement of her safety?" Ron questioned. Draco nodded, "That's preposterous!"

"I know." Draco said in what seemed to be a slightly defeated tone.

"Isn't there anything else to assure her safety?" Ron asked as he approached Draco, annoyance and desperation in his voice, pleading in his expression. "Anything else to make sure he won't kill her to get to me?"

"There is."

"What is it?" Ron questioned, his desperation breaking through as he stood a foot away from Draco.

Draco looked back out the window, refusing to stare into the eyes of the person he had just forged a connection with, "I'll kill you."


(Part Two - The Confrontation)

[OS] Beautiful

I woke up that morning with my limbs feeling as sore as ever. Rolling out of bed, I slowly padded towards my apartment's bathroom. Bypassing the mirror, I shut the door with a back kick of my foot. Undressing as quickly as my aching muscles allowed, I hopped into the shower and allowed the hot water to ease my pain.
After showering, I wrapped a towel around my body and stood before the bathroom sink and mirror. With a few quick swipes with my hand, the mirror was divested of most of its steam. I calculated the damage. Slowly, I ran my fingers over each bicep and winced as I felt pain. More sensitive than usual. Sighing heavily, I left the bathroom to dress for the day.

As I stood within my walk-in closet, I forlornly looked at the tops I could not wear on this summer day, but it had to be so. I could not let the others see. Without dwelling on it for too long, I picked out a knee-length jean skirt, white cami and a zip-up, pink long-sleeved shirt. As I stood before the full-length mirror, I was satisfied with the covering. Yes, it was perfect for me to go out to lunch with my two best friends on one of their birthdays.

However, while I stood in the bathroom, brushing my hair, I realized something I had not earlier. Quickly clipping back my thick curls, I grabbed for the small make-up bag I kept in the medicine cabinet. Taking out the compact, I nearly dropped it into the sink as I heard the familiar sound of people apparating into the appartment. Quickly with shaking hands, I applied the powder around my left eye.

"Hermione?" Unison voices called.

Quicker. More. I looked at the result. Perfect.

"I'm here!" I call back and in mere seconds, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are standing in the doorway of my bathroom.

"Ready to go? I'm starving," Ron inquired with his infamous lop-sided grin.

"You know I'm never late," I reminded with a small smile as I slipped the compact back into the bag and replaced it in the cabinet.

"Make-up? 'Mione, you never wear make-up," Harry pointed out,

"Once in awhile I get a blemish. So hex me for not wanting the entire world to see it," I replied as I pushed past them into the hallway, "So, are we going out or not?"

Harry nodded, "I was thinking of a nice Muggle café I pass by everyday to work."

"Sounds good to me," I agree cheerfully, a smile I only half-fake plastered on my face.

---

"And one BTL.. I mean, BLT sandwich. Oh, and one of these cheeseburgers - they look tasty - and a glass of water," Ron finished this order with a smile.

"Is that all?" The muggle waitress inquired hesitantly,

"For now," Ron said.

"Okay... Your orders will be here in about fifteen minutes," she insisted then hurried off.

"Ron, you ordered out the entire café!" I gently laugh at him,

"Yes well, an Auror's got to eat," he defended when suddenly a fuzzball flew into the café and smashed into Ron's chest. Harry and I stiffled laughs as Ron held up his beloved owl and quickly admonished it for flying into a place full of Muggles. After it nipped his hand and appeared to be threatening to fly around him, Ron held it firmly and took the message from Pig.

"What does it say?" Harry asked as Ron absent-mindedly dropped Pig onto the table and it began to hop around.

"I'll be back in an hour, I swear!" Ron said as he stuffed the paper in his mouth and began to chew savagely,

"What on earth are you doing!? You won't miss lunch, we'll wait," I whispered at him,

"It's procedure that any message we get, we destroy. Usually I burn them but since we're here, well, this is the best way to do it," Ron explained after swallowing hard. "There's been a problem at the Ministry and Neville says he needs my help on a case. One hour, promise Harry!"

"It's fine, go," Harry insisted, "we'll keep your food hot for you."

He smiled with gratitude before speeding out of the café, Pig flying loyally behind him.

Harry turned to face me, "So, 'Mione, how've you been lately? Haven't seen you in over a week!"

"Seven days isn't that long Harry," I laughed lightly,

"I know, but I'm still not used to not seeing you and Ron every day," he admitted sheepishly, "even if it has been four years since Hogwarts."

I smile and cross my arms before dropping my arms immediately and hoped that I contained the flinch that wanted to escape. With the look on Harry's face, I didn't.

"Are you okay?" He inquired and I mumble an affirmative.

"Well, things at the store are running smoothly. It's the best job - surrounded by -" I involuntarily cringe after crossing my right leg over the left. I checked my legs, hadn't I? Grimly, I realize I had not because I had forgotten the misfortune of falling back against the bottom of the stairs at his house.

" 'Mione, what's wrong?" Harry asked,

"Nothing -"

"But you just -"

"I said nothing Harry. Please, just drop it!" I pleaded

He nodded reluctantly, "So how is Krum?"

I stared at him as I suddenly fell into a reverie...



"Where have you been?" He asks gruffly as I close the door behind me.

"At work. Where I always am on a weekday," I reply tartly. We had just lost a new shipment of books because they were sent to the wrong store; naturally, I was more than miffed.

"It's past six o'clock!" He argues as I push past him, dropping my bag on the hallway table.

"I had some extra paperwork to do," I said defensively, "I'm here now right? So let's go to dinner already."

"You were with them again, weren't you?" He demanded,

"I told you! I was at work! Merlin, you're always so paranoid," I mutter angrily as I start heading towards his kitchen, in need of a glass of cold water to ease my pounding head.

A flash of pain stops me in my tracks as I look back and see that he has a hand wrapped around my left arm.

"Maybe I wouldn't be so paranoid if you didn't spend every waking moment with them!" He defended, his grip gradually getting tighter.

"How can I spend every waking moment with them if after work I go out to dinner with you!?" I argue as I struggle to release my arm.

He pulls at me, getting hold of my other upper arm, glaring down at me, "Don't lie to me Hermione."

"When have I ever lied to you, Viktor? When?" I question, praying my voice doesn't crack.

Suddenly I feel my body flying and I smash into the foot of the stairs. Ignoring the sting, I sit up straight and look up at him,

"Damn it, don't you see what they're trying to do Hermione? They're trying to take you from me now that they realize how beautiful you are!" He exclaims as he towers over me,

"They're not trying to do that! They're just my friends!" I insisted defensively.

Pain.

"Stop protecting them!" He screamed, withdrawing his balled hand to his side, "I'm your boyfriend! I should have priority over them!"

Gingerly I touched my face with shaking fingers and felt the pain throbbing. Hot tears stung my eyes and I whip my head back to look at him, "Damn it Viktor! I love you, not them!"

As if realizing for the first time what he had done, he dropped to his knees before me and took my face in his hands, "I... I'm sorry, Hermione. I just love you so much." He kissed my forehead, "I'll help you apparate back to your apartment. We'll go out another night." He stood up straight and extended a hand to help me up.

I looked up at him and took it.



... " 'Mione?"

I shook my head to clear it, "Sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked you how Krum was, y'know. You're boyfriend," he reminded,

"I know who he is!" I snapped before sighing heavily, "Sorry. I'm just a bit on edge."

"You weren't on edge until I said Krum's name," Harry pointed out, "Is everything okay with him? Did you two have a fight?"

"Yes. No. I have to go," I said suddenly and I made to leave, but he grabed my wrist,

"Hermione, what's wrong?" He inquired, pleadingly.

My lips were trembling as I looked at his expression of pure concern. I attempted to yank my wrist free, only to have my arm slip out of my zip-up long-sleeves. Almost instantly, Harry dropped my wrist. I was frozen in place, my feet refused to move. He stood up and slowly, he gently ran his fingers over the purpled skin. He withdrew his fingers the instant a cringe crossed my face. Anxiously, I slipped my arm back into the sleeve and satt down, knowing that if I left, Harry would find me anyways.

Falling back into his seat, Harry just stared at me in silent awe, "You two did have a fight. Didn't you?"

Bitting down on my bottom lip, I nodded slightly, eyes fixated to the table,

" 'Mione, why'd you let him do this to you? You can easily fight off that jerk!" He asked after quickly placing a silence barrier around us.

"I love him Harry." I simply said.

"How? Why!? Hermione! Look what he did to you!" He exclaimed,

"It'll go away in a few days! He's just stressed from work and gets upset easily, that's all!" I defended as I looked up at his quizzical expression.

"He's done this before..." Harry realized and I nodded in silent response, eyes dropped back to the table. We remained in silence as the waitress returned with the food and left soon after.

I panicked when I heard Harry stand up, "Harry, no!"

"I'm not going to let him get away with this Hermione!" He argued. He turned to leave, but I grabbed his hand with both of mine, pulling him to stand beside me,

"Harry, please don't!" I begged,

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't!" He demanded, "Tell me why you stayed with him after the first time he hurt you!?"

"He called me beautiful," I replied quietly,

"What?"

"Hadn't you or Ron ever wondered why I agreed to be his date to the Yule Ball back in our fourth year?" I asked as he sat back down and I released his hand.

"Yes."

"Well, it was that. When he first approached me and asked, I asked him why he was bothering with me when there were plenty others. He said I was beautiful and I accepted," I explained,

Harry looked at me with bewilderment, "Hermione, you don't need that jerk to tell you you're -"

"He was the first person to ever say it Harry!" I interrupted, my voice gaining its strength once more, "He saw me beautiful, above all others and before I was all done up at the Yule Ball. He was the first to do that. The first."

"Hermione, Ron and I always thought you were beautiful," He insisted calmly,

"Did you? It took Ron to realize I was a girl four bloody years! And it's not like you ever said anything before then!" I stood up immediately, "I have to go. Happy birthday Harry." I threw a wrapped box on the table and it landed in one of the dishes Ron had ordered.

Before I left, Harry said in a low voice, "How long until he goes too far, Hermione?"

---

Later, I lay on the floor of my apartment, sore from head to toe. The door had slammed behind Viktor at least an hour ago. Struggling, I pushed myself from the ground and supported myself against the coffee table as I rested. A small pool of blood had formed where my face once lay on the wooden floor. As quick as I could - which wasn't quick at all - I wiped the blood from my jaw and the once pink sleeve was then stained with red.

I grasped for my wand, still laying where it had rolled to during the arguement. My fingers barely grasped it as I pulled it towards me and dropped it on the table. I breathed shallowly, my chest felt as if it collapsed every time I would breath normally. Arm on the table, my head slumped onto it as my other hand grabed the wand once more. It took me longer than normal to recall the appropriate incantation, and I apparated.

---

I knocked on the door before me, weakly at first. Then, as I supported myself against the door frame, I knocked as hard as possible. Light seeped into the darkness of the city street as the door slowly opened.

"Hermione!" Harry gasped as he held the door open for me.

I stumbled into 12 Grimmauld and turned back to look at Harry as he closed the door. I felt my legs finally lose all their strength. He moved to catch me and I lay in his arms as he fell to his knees.

"Ron! It's Hermione!" Harry yelled.

Ron came from the direction of the kitchen, a nearly empty bottle of firewhiskey in his hand, "Bloody hell..." He knelt down as well, "Harry said... and I would have... but you would've been mad..." He stopped trying to form sentences. Finally he asked, "What happened this time? A fight? Was he drunk?"

I shook my head negatively, "He just went too far."

---

Today, I sit in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld, drinking a cup of tea. Ron sits beside me, one hand flipping the page of the Daily Prophet, the other placed comfortingly on my upper arm.

"Are you ready?" Ron inquires,

"Of course. Besides, you and Harry will be there with me," I say with a strength and confidence I don't quite feel.

"He'll be punished, 'Mione. Susan Bones took the place of her aunt, and I know she'll convict him," Ron says as he looks up from the Prophet and gives me the first lop-sided grin since Harry's birthday, almost two weeks ago.

I place a hand over his and smile back, "Thank you."

Suddenly, he retracts his hand, "Did I hurt you? The bruising there.. I forget sometimes and -"

"It's fine," I insist, "My arms, for the most part, have healed. I'm just worried about the bruises and cuts on my face."

"You look fine, so there's no need to worry," Ron replies, "Besides, another few days and those bruises will be gone. And your cuts are healing nicely."

I roll my eyes at him as I take another sip from my tea. Harry enters and says a good morning as he immediately heads for the coffee pot laying on the table beside the tea pot.

"Harry, will you please tell Hermione she looks fine despite her injuries? She refuses to believe anything either of us says unless the other confirms it," Ron says exasperatedly, but smiles all the same.

Harry looks up from his cup of coffee and stares at me. He smiles warmly and I immediately remind myself how lucky I am to have both him and Ron in my life.

"You look beautiful."

[OS] Finding the One

She sat on the bay window of her room. Looking down at the street in front of her house, she waited patiently, watching for what she wanted to see. The street was abandoned, as usual at the hours after nine o'clock in the evening. The lamp posts provided some soft light to provide some sight to those wishing to venture in the dark nights. The sky above, which was usually studded with stars, was covered in thick, grey clouds this evening. Pulling her knees to her chest, she leaned back against the one side of the bay window as she watched the street for any signs of vehicles. Headlights appeared at the furthest point of the street she was able to see, but it drove by.

Sighing softly, she ran a careless hand through damp, thick, wavy locks of hair. The other hand, clasping tightly around a mug of hot chocolate, brought the mug to her lips and she took a small sip. Absent-mindedly playing with a lock of her short, dark-caramel tresses, her eyes went back to the end of the street. She finished her drink and set the mug carefully on the ground by her window. How long was it she had been waiting here? It was around ten, her internal clock informed her, and he had left at approximately seven o'clock in the evening. She certainly had not been sitting at her window awaiting his return since he left; had she?

"Susan? Really?"

The voice pulled her violently out of her reverie and she pressed her back against the window in slight shock. The voice didn't shock her, more of the sudden presence of it did. Regaining composure, she relaxed as she faced the man standing at the door of her bedroom.

"I didn't see you pull into the driveway," she explained her reaction as the concern on his face ceased.

"You probably had your eye on the street then," he said as he loosened his tie and walked over to her. He sat on the edge of her bed closest to her, which was about a meter away.

"Maybe- but I didn't even see you drive down the street," she pointed out as she looked down the street again and back at him,

"Well, you were looking down the street towards Lancaster Avenue. The place I went to was on the opposite down by Derby." He explained as he took off his tie and unbuttoned the top of his shirt, "If I ever have to go to another formal dinner like that, I'll hex someone!"

She rolled his eyes at him, "How was your date with Susan anyways?"

"Well, I predicted it wouldn't turn out good before the date anyway," He said as he leaned back on his elbows,

"And why is that? I believe I have good match making skills," she inquired,

"Well obviously you're not that good if you set me up on a date with someone who likes formalities and fancy restaurants like that. You know I hate dressing up," He reminded bitterly,

"Well besides the restaurant, was it really that horrible?" she asked,

"Yes. Susan Bones is as boring as she was back in Hogwarts four years ago! All she does is talk about the Ministry, Politics and some other boring stuff. I can't exactly how our conversation went down, I sort of phased out after she began talking about new Ministry policies she's trying to get approved with Madame Minister of Magic," he answered in dull tones,

"You mean she could have proposed and you agreed and you wouldn't know?" she let out a melodic laugh and he couldn't help but grin.

"I wasn't that unaware of what was going on," he defended, "But if we were engaged, I wouldn't be surprised. I mean, she was really boring! I could've joined a new generation of Death Eaters and I wouldn't know," he laughed. "Seriously," he gave her a serious look with narrowed eyebrows, "if you ever set me up with her again, I will hex you."

"Oh please Ronald Weasley, you haven't been able to hex me since we were in our First Year of Hogwarts," she said exasperatedly while rolling her eyes at him,

"It isn't that I haven't been able to, it's just that I haven't attempted," Ron replied coolly, "I wouldn't underestimate me, Miss Granger."

"Okay fine, but I'll find someone else for you to date," Hermione offered as she swung her legs onto the edge, knocking the mug over. She retracted her legs onto the bench again as the mug shattered into shards, "That always happens. Ron, can you just grab the broom from the closet?"

Rolling to the other side of the bed as to avoid stepping on the broken pieces of mug, he padded over to her closet and withdrew the broom. He walked over and began sweeping the broken porcelain. When he gathered a small pile of the pieces, he looked around to see if he missed anything. Sweeping his eyes quickly on the floor, he took out his wand and pointed to the shards. He levitated them and guided them into the trash can.

"Thanks," Hermione said as she smiled at him, "I may be one of the most learned witches in all of England, but I still haven't mastered the simple home spells as Ginny has."

"Well, she did have my mother as a mom, so no doubt she would have mastered them at a young age," Ron reminded as he abandoned the broom against the wall and reclined back on the bed, "Speaking of my dear sister, has she returned from Paris?"

Hermione shrugged, "She hasn't sent an owl since last week. Are you really okay with her being with him?"

"I'm not against it and if I were, I can't really do anything about it," Ron explained simply, "So, who do you have in mind this time, Mione?"

"Why not try Lavender again?" Hermione suggested, "I mean, you guys were together at one point in Hogwarts, couldn't you try dating her again?"

Ron shrugged, "Depends if she's changed since then."

"She has," Hermione insisted, "She works with me at the Ministry. She's more nicer than back then, we're together every day. Besides, she wasn't that bad in Hogwarts." Ron gave her a scrutinizing looking, "Why did you even break up with her? You never said it. To me or Harry."

Ron answered without hesitation quickly, "I told you, I have my reasons. I'm surprised you're even bringing her into this after what happened."

Hermione looked away, "Fine, I won't pry into your reasons. But trust me, you guys will hit it off without a hitch."

Ron ran a hand through his hair wearily, "I hope. Who knew searching for the one' would be so difficult?"

"You'll find her," Hermione insisted, "For all we know, she's Lavender."

Ron shrugged carelessly as he laid his head back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He really did want to stop this search for the one', but something in his gut didn't really think Lavender would turn out to be the girl he had been searching for.

***

Ron lay awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had always felt awkward sleeping in guest rooms of other people's houses, but he didn't feel that way here in Hermione's house. Then again, he was a frequent visitor to her home and he usually did sleep there anyway. It had become such a routine she just gave up and gave him a copy of her house key. Fingers folded behind his head, he tried to think clearly.

He had been searching for the one' since the end of the Great Magical War just two years prior. Perhaps the thing that propelled him to being searching for the love of his life in a serious manner was the words Harry had spoken to him just hours before the end of the War-

---

"Ron, do me a favor," Harry huffed as he leaned back against a broken, dungeon wall of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ron nodded, "Get yourself and Hermione out of here."

"Harry, I –"

"No, let me speak, I just got the signal from Kingsley, Dumbledore wants to head in now," Harry said, "Ron, get out of here. Hermione's still out in the stair well fighting the resistance of Death Eaters, finish them off and get out."

"Harry, I'm not going to let you go in there alone! We should be fighting there side by side, as best friends should," Ron argued,

"That's noble Ron and I appreciate what you want to do, but you and I both know I'm the only one who can defeat Voldemort. I don't want anymore deaths on my conscience," Harry explained, "Please Ron, just do this last thing for me."

"It won't be the last –"

"Ron. You and I both know the chances of me surviving a duel with Voldemort is slim to none, so please- this is already hard enough parting ways with you like this," Harry said as he forced back the tears,

Ron hugged Harry tightly, "Harry you're my best friend, there are so many things I want to say –"

Harry released Ron out of their embrace and held up a hand to silence him, "There's nothing you need to say. Our friendship has been much more than enough. But listen, if I don't get out of this alive," he shook his head when Ron attempted to talk, "if I don't, just promise me that you and Hermione stick together okay? The same we've been since nine years ago."

Ron nodded, "Of course."

"Now get out of here!" Harry pointed towards a dungeon door leading back the way they came.
Ron hesitated then turned to run. "Wait." Ron stopped and turned to face Harry, "Ron- listen, I never exactly got to be with the person I love before this point. So do me another favor and don't wait until the last minute to be with that one person you're meant to be with."

Ron shot him a quizzical expression, "That's a bit easier said than done!"

"I know. I know. I'm just saying I'm regretting not spending more time with her now. So, when this war's done, just think about it. I don't want you to have the same regrets I do."

Ron nodded, "I promise then Harry." With that, he turned back on his heel and ran out of the dungeons.

---

-Ron lay there and contemplated. He did stay true to his promise. When the war ended and the rebuilding of a broken world began, he had started his search for the one'.

Rolling onto his stomach, he faced the window on the wall which the bed was pushed against. He remained silent and tried to listen for any sounds in the house. Nothing. Absolute silence besides his own breathing. This disturbed him, so he threw off the covers of the bed, swung his legs over and left the room, wand already taken from his bedside table.

***

Ron went to the room across from his own and gently opened the door. He peeked in and there was still silence. He whispered lumos' and entered the room. Besides the furniture within, no one was there. Alarmed, he left the room and proceeded to Hermione's bed room. He knocked with anxiety, awaiting for some sounds telling him she had been awaken.

The door opened on its own and he entered. Hermione looked up from her bed as she replaced her wand on the bedside table. Her short locks were tied back away from her face, as she preferred at night, and he could clearly see her face as the moonlight poured through her bay window. She glared at him in annoyance and concern,

"Ron- it's," she paused to look at the muggle clock on her table which emitted the time in a red glow, "it's three in the morning. How can you even be up? After a second dinner you're usually knocked out!"

"I know, I know, but I couldn't sleep and I realized it was too quiet and- where's Neville?" Ron finally questioned,

Hermione rolled her eyes as she let her head fall back onto her pillow. "He's at the Burrow."

Ron let out a sigh of relief, "Why didn't you tell me? When I went to go see him, he wasn't there and I freaked out."

"You've been paranoid since the end of the war Ron," Hermione muttered loud enough for him to hear, "I know Auror training was good for you and all, but it made you a tad paranoid."

"Auror training was a year ago and I'm not even in that business anymore. And I am NOT paranoid!" Ron exclaimed, "So, why didn't you tell me why Neville wasn't here?"

"You never asked?" She offered as she buried her head back in her pillow, "Go back to sleep Ron."

"You mean I have to walk back down the hall?" Ron whined.

Hermione looked up at him, "You prat." She threw a pillow at him as she edged to one side of her bed, "Well, are you going to sleep by the door or sleep beside me?"

"The door's more tempting right now," He muttered as he padded towards her bed and laid down on the other side of the bed, tucking the pillow under his head. "Thanks Mione."

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered as she turned on her side so she was facing him, "You know, this could be a reason why some of the women you date only date you once."

"Why?" Ron inquired,

"Because you sleep in my bed often," Hermione pointed out,

"What should that matter? We're just friends. We're just sleeping together. It's not like we're sleeping together'," Ron defended, "You girls always have a dirty mind in these things."

"And you guys don't?" Hermione gasped,

"We do not," Ron answered as he closed his eyes, "Now will you stop talking? I need my beauty sleep."

Hermione smirked as she pushed him off the edge of the bed. "Good night Ron," she said innocently as he hit the floor with a thud and stood up to glare down at her.

He huffed, "Good night indeed."

***

Ron felt himself slipping out of his deep slumber the next morning. He felt the slightly warm rays of sun on his face and felt another warmth right beside him. Lazily, he opened his eyes and looked down to see his arms wrapped around Hermione as she snuggled to his side, head laying on the crook of his shoulder. The sun glittered on the natural gold strands in her hair and she looked, he had to admit, ethereal.

What if he tried dating Hermione again? It worked once before and, besides a little mishap and their fighting - their relationship was perfect. Maybe it could work again? Here he was, after all, in her bed, with her in his arms. It wasn't the first time, as Hermione mentioned the night before. Maybe she invited him to sleep in her room because she wants to start things up again? The thought lingered in his mind. However, as he relished in the idea of perhaps being with Hermione again, another thought came into his head. Less a thought and more so a memory of their conversation the night before-

---

"Why not try Lavender again?" Hermione suggested, "I mean, you guys were together at one point in Hogwarts, couldn't you try dating her again?"

-

Hermione looked away, "Fine, I won't pry into your reasons. But trust me, you guys will hit it off without a hitch."

Ron ran a hand through his hair wearily, "I hope. Who knew searching for the one' would be so difficult?"

"You'll find her," Hermione insisted, "For all we know, she's Lavender."

---

What if he was getting her signal crossed and what he mistook for affection was really just a deep friendship? After all, if she wanted to be with him again, wouldn't she have mentioned it by now? The one fact that convinced him he was being silly to even think of being with Hermione again was that she was always trying to help him find dates.

Sighing slightly, he closed his head as he let his chin rest on the top of her head. He breathed in the scent of her which was vanilla and strawberries. Why hadn't he been able to have success with any of the girls Hermione set him up with? They were all terrific people, great personalities and, although appearances weren't a big department for him, they were each beautiful in their own way. He opened his eyes again as he stared out the window, maybe the problem was found in himself. What was wrong with him that he had no success at all in any relationship? Not even his previous relationship with Hermione was perfect considering they fought often. What was it that drove him to cause his relationships to go ruin?

"You're upset about something."

Pulled out of his reverie, he looked down at Hermione who looked up at him, "Why do you say that?"

"Well, you've got this horrible look on your face," Hermione explained as she pulled out of his embrace and got out of bed, "And it's six in the morning and you're up. Do you have practice with the team today?"

"Later around noon," Ron explained before adding, "But I know the rest of the Chudley Cannons will be there way after noon."

"You're all amazing players in the games. Until it's practice, then you're lazy prats, the whole lot of you." Hermione chuckled as she opened the door to her room, heading to the bathroom.

She came out seconds later, "I just remembered, so I'll set things up with Lavender today if that's alright?" Ron shrugged submissively, "Well, when is it good to go out?"

"When would it be okay with her?" Ron asked,

"Ron, she's just a secretary at the Ministry, not a department head like myself. Besides, you're the one with the big job," Hermione reminded,

"Then tomorrow after the match is good for me," Ron said simply.

"Great," Hermione exclaimed as she headed back to the bathroom, "You two will hit it off. I'm sure of it!"

Ron sighed as he headed back to his room as he passed the closed door of the bathroom, "I wish I were as sure as you."

***

Hermione finished reading and signing a stack of contracts just as Lavender popped her head through the door.

"Did you call me?" Lavender grinned,

"Yes, yes. Come in," Hermione beckoned as she magicked the papers into a filing cabinet behind her desk.

Lavender sat down at a chair in front of Hermione's desk. A muggle cell phone on her desk rang and Hermione gave an apologetic look as she answered the call. As Hermione conversed as quickly as possible to the person on the other end of the phone, she stole glances at Lavender, looking her up and down.

Today, Lavender wore robes of deep purple which complemented nicely with her blonde hair and blue eyes. Hermione took a second to assess Lavender again, perhaps she was being too hard in judging? Her hair had a golden sheen to it and her eyes were a deeper blue than most others; certainly could not hold a feather to the blue in Ron's eyes, however.

Hermione looked down at her desk as she ended the conversation and put the phone away in her desk, "Sorry."

"It's okay," Lavender insisted, "So, why'd you call?"

"I know this is odd and out of the blue, but would you like to go on a date with Ron Weasley?" Hermione asked as if she had memorized and said this line over and over before. In truth, she had. She said that exact question to every girl she had set up for Ron and, she had learned after the first few girls, no one could resist. Lavender, if Hermione knew her as well as she thought, would also accept the date.

"He's in the market?" Lavender questioned as she examined Hermione's expression. Hermione nodded solemnly, "And he wants to go out with me?" Although Hermione knew Ron was hesitant, she did not hesitate to nod a positive answer to Lavender. "When would he want to go out?"

"Tomorrow after the match?" Hermione suggested,

Lavender chewed on her lip as she contemplated her answer. She looked at Hermione, but she had plastered on a blank expression she had learned to force on herself. Lavender, Hermione knew, would accept.

She's just putting a show,' Hermione thought as she stared at Lavender who continued on with her contemplation facade.

Lavender let out a sigh as if she was submitting to the date, "Very well. Is this all?"

Hermione nodded so Lavender stood up and left the office. Hermione smirked as she heard a little squeal of joy after Lavender had left the room. Although she appeared annoyed with the thought of dating Ron, Hermione knew quite well that Lavender was ecstatic.

***


Signing the last of the papers due for the next morning, Hermione placed a stack of papers in a filing cabinet. Closing it and placing a locking charm on it, she returned to the pile of books laying haphazardly around her desk. Shaking her head at the disorganization, she pulled back her leather chair to sit in it. Practically collapsing into the chair, she closed her eyes as she tried to regain some energy the day took away from her. After Lavender had left her office, she began to become swamped with piles of work from Madame Minister along with other cases around London dealing with her department in the Ministry.

"You look tired."

Her eyes shot open in alarm and after seeing who it was, relaxed and closed her eyes once more, "What are you doing here Ron? I thought you had practice."

"I did. From noon until seven. It's seven-thirty," Ron explained as he sat down in a chair before her desk, "Busy day?" Hermione could do nothing more than nod in confirmation, "I passed Lavender on my way into the Ministry, she seemed awfully friendly. I'm assuming you set things up?" Hermione nodded again, "Mione, you better be right in saying she changed. She seemed like the same, flirtatious Lavender back there."

"Don't worry Ron, she's changed," Hermione insisted, "She's not a ditsy, annoying air head like she was back in Hogwarts. She's got a good head on her shoulders."

"I'm just saying, appearances can be deceiving," Ron said casually as he picked up one of the books laying on her desk closest to him,

"Is that referring to the reason you broke up with her in Seventh Year?" Hermione inquired and Ron nodded as he began to read the page the book was opened to, "Are you going to tell me why, now?"

Ron abruptly closed the book and placed it back on the desk as a dismissive sign. "So," he continued as if the question had never been asked, "are you ready to leave? I'm starving."

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed exasperatedly,

"What?" He whined,

"If you wanted to go out for dinner, why didn't you ask Lavender?" Hermione demanded, "You know you're going to go out with her anyway and here you came looking for company to dinner!"

"Because I'm going to dinner with her tomorrow anyway," Ron said simply, "I came here to escort one of my best friends to dinner."

"Oh please, every time we go out for dinner it's always the Leaky Cauldron," Hermione rolled her eyes as she stood up to collect her books and place them on a shelf on the other side of her office.

"Is there a problem with the Leaky Cauldron?" Ron asked with an edge to his voice,

"No, I'm just saying that it'd be nice to eat dinner elsewhere," Hermione answered as she sent the books flying to the bookcase.

"Well good, because I wasn't going to take you to the Leaky Cauldron anyway," Ron revealed.

Hermione raised her head from her briefcase to give him a quizzical expression, "And where did you plan to take me?"

"The Burrow," Ron grinned from ear to ear, "Charlie's cooking."

"Charlie's the only one around to cook," Hermione reminded him.

Ron shrugged, "It's not my fault he took it upon himself to take on mum's burdens."

A silence fell on them as the awkward subject of Ron's parents entered their conversation. Hoping for another topic out of it, Hermione asked the only question seeming reasonable enough to ask,

"What's he cooking?" Hermione asked,

Ron shrugged, "It's always a surprise with Charlie. Now grab your stuff and lets go."

"So bossy," Hermione scoffed, "If you want to go there so badly, you can go there and I'll meet you there."

"How do I know you'll come?" Ron inquired as he scrutinized her,

"Neville's there," Hermione answered simply, "I was going to go to the Burrow after work anyway. So, it's only convenience that you're there as well. He's anxious to see you."

"How do you know?" Ron asked,

It was Hermione's turn to shrug, "He's been asking for you all week."

Ron's expression softened, "Really? I miss Neville. I'll have to apologize for not coming by and visiting then."

Hermione nodded, "Since you haven't seen him, I won't barge in on you guys. You should go ahead, I'll be there in ten minutes."

Ron nodded in agreement and left her to her thoughts.

***

"Good evening Hermione!" Charlie greeted happily as he turned away to his finished creation on the stove top.

"To you too, Charlie," Hermione smiled as she hugged him, "That smells good!"

"Why thank you," Charlie said as he picked up his wand and got three bowls out of a cupboard,

"Three? I guess Ginny's still in Paris then?" Charlie nodded, "Do you have any idea when she'll be back?"

"Well, the last owl I got was two days ago. She mentioned something about running away to the Americas to elope. Oh yes, she did mention she'll be returning shortly after the birth of her second child," Charlie smirked as Hermione rolled her eyes,

"You Weasley boys never grow up," Hermione stated as she took a seat at the kitchen table,

"We would if we wanted to," Charlie chuckled as he began to pour some stew into each bowl, "So, what brings you to our humble abode? Fetching Neville I'm assuming?"

Hermione nodded, "If you don't mind me stealing him back. What did he do yesterday after I left in the morning?"

Charlie shrugged as he tried to remember, "He stayed mostly with Fred and George at the shop in Diagon Alley."

Hermione shook her head in dismay, "Those two will have a bad influence on him if they're around him this much."

Charlie laughed, "Don't worry Herms. Fred and George have good heads on their shoulders. They won't let anything bad happen to Neville while he's with them."

Hermione smiled as she nodded. Charlie may have been laughing, but Hermione sense the seriousness behind his smiles. "Yes well, I couldn't do much if I wanted to get him to spend less time with them if I wanted. He has too much fun with them and I'd hate to take away the one thing that makes him laugh until he goes blue in the face." She thanked him when he handed her a bowl of stew and a spoon. She was about to taste it when she stopped and placed the spoon back down.

"It can't be so horrible that you already hate it?" Charlie raised an eyebrow,

"I just remembered we're eating without Ron. You know he hates it," Hermione smirked, "Where is he anyway?"

"Last time I checked, he was up in his bedroom talking to Neville," Charlie explained. Hermione sat silently as she avoided looking at Charlie, "Herms, if you want to go up there, you don't need to be shy about it. You've lived here since your Second Year. I'm not necessarily going to demand you ask when you can roam around the house!"

"Thanks Charlie," Hermione said sheepishly. She got up and kissed him with sisterly affection on the cheek, "I forget sometimes."
With that, she trotted out of the kitchen and headed to the familiar, squeaky stairs.

***

Hermione stopped outside the old door leading to Ron's bedroom. She pressed her ear against the door in hopes to catch what Ron was saying to Neville.

"I know you've been her tons, but I had to bring you to see my room. I've lived in this room for ages," she heard Ron say, "Harry's lived in this room almost as long as I have. But, as you know, he's gone."
There was a silence before she heard Ron's voice again, "Hermione, I know you're out there. You might as well come in already."

Grinning sheepishly, she entered and closed the door behind her. "How'd you know?"

"How else? I heard you come up the stairs," Ron smirked.

Hermione shook her head as she went to Ron's bed and sat next to Neville. She gently patted his head as she looked down at her son with affection, "He's getting so big now, don't you think?"

"He is. He's almost two right?" Ron inquired and Hermione nodded as she lifted little Neville under the arms and onto her lap. "He's very energetic," he commented as Neville attempted to squirm out of his mother's grasp,

"He is. Just like his father," Hermione smiled with a hint of something Ron was unsure of, "it's obvious he loves his father."

Ron smiled, "It is." For a few silent moments, he watched Hermione talk with her child. He smiled with affection as he watched the maternal instinct in Hermione came out while she was with her son. He was there the first moments of Neville's life and felt himself lucky to see her when she first held Neville in her arms. Now, as they sat on his bed, he felt himself lucky again. Here, with Hermione, it felt right. He wasn't sure why, but it did. He felt a pang of guilt reside in his heart and so, he stood up and walked to his window. He hoped if he didn't watch Hermione with Neville, the feeling would go away; the feeling and the guilt that came with it every time he was around the two of them.

***

Ron sat in the dim restaurant with Lavender sitting across from him in a skin-tight, maroon dress. As she pondered over the menu of what to order, Ron examined her in a fashion he did with the other girls Hermione had set him up with. Her hair fell to her mid back and was a dull blonde. Nothing spectacular there. Her eyes, the last time he looked at them a few moments prior, were a plain blue. He had seen that same shade of blue everywhere. She wasn't the most beautiful person he had ever seen. Frankly, she was plain. However, appearances weren't big to him, and he prided himself of that. It was her personality that worried him the most. Plain looking or not, Lavender's personality was the one thing that either drew people to her, or cast them away from her sight.

She looked up slightly and looked at him through slightly-lowered lashes, "Like what you see Ronald?"

"I was just waiting to see if you were done and ready to order," Ron replied casually as he placed his menu aside.

When she nodded and also set aside her menu, a waiter was there in record time, taking their orders. When the waiter had left, Ron was grasping at threads for conversation,

"So, what have you been up to since Hogwarts?" Ron inquired,

"I'm a secretary to Madame Minister herself," Lavender boasted, "Quite the position, I know? I get to be with the Minister every day. Not many people are so fortunate as I."

Ron rolled his eyes discreetly as he looked away, "Why are you bragging about this to me? She's my sister-in-law, Penelope did – after all – marry Percy. I see her every Sunday for lunch." He returned his gaze at her.

Lavender blushed a shade of red before calming down and continued as if she had not been embarrassed, "What about you Ron? What have you been doing since we left Hogwarts? Riding a broom stick professionally I assume?" She mocked,

Ron locked eyes with her. If she wanted to throw low blows at him, he'd take them and counter them back, "Actually, it's only the beginning of this year that I've begun playing for the Chudley Cannons." Lavender's jaw dropped slightly, "I'm sure you've heard of us? So far our season is 6-0. In first place actually."

"I guess I've been too busy to stop and watch such juvenile a sport," Lavender regained her composer, "And what about before that? It took you four years to get on the team? Not something one would brag about Ron."

"Actually, I would've gone there right after Hogwarts. But I decided to go for Auror trainings right after school. It takes a good three years to be finally qualified. Of course, it was difficult with the war during that time," Ron replied casually, "but besides being a fully qualified Auror and professional Quidditch player, my life's been pretty mundane."

Lavender was fuming underneath her make up and Ron could tell. He relished in the thought of it before scolding himself internally. He knew Lavender and himself could not be together again, and this conversation proved it. He shouldn't be enjoying the feeling of embarrassing Lavender.

"Ron, I've come to this conclusion that we have a lot of skeletons in our closets," Lavender said coolly, "but, I think we can still make it."

"Oh really?" Ron asked as he raised a curious eyebrow, intrigued to see where she was going with this. If she's really changed,' he thought, she'll prove it now.'

"Yes. There's just one thing I want," Lavender explained. Ron inclined his head, signaling her to continue, "Don't ever see Hermione Granger again."

Ron sat back in his chair, crossing his arms across his chest, "Really? And why would you want that?"

"It's simple Ron, we went through this when we first dated in Seventh Year," Lavender reminded, "I know how it is between the two of you. Ron, if she wanted to be with you, don't you think she'd already gotten together with you by now? Besides, you and I both know she's the mother to Neville Longbottom's child." She leaned back in her chair with a twisted smile and smug expression in her eyes.

Ron's jaw dropped as he stared at her in dead shock. "I thought you were delusional when you mentioned me never seeing one of my best friends ever again, but it shocks me to hear you say she's the mother of Neville Longbottom's child. That just confirms you belong in a mental institution," Ron laughed as he stood up from the table,

"Don't deny it Ron! Why else would she name her son Neville?" Lavender demanded,

"Because Hermione and the father of her son wanted to name their son after a person who, not only meant a great deal to the both of them, but saved both their lives during the war," Ron informed,

"How do I know you're not lying?" Lavender inquired,

"Well, first off, Hermione's never thought of Neville as more than a brotherly figure and, if you've forgotten, Neville died in the first year of the war after Seventh Year. Meaning he wasn't around to get Hermione pregnant. He took down six Death Eaters right before he was killed," Ron said in a dark tone, "It wouldn't be wise to forget the dead and their sacrifices Lavender." He turned to leave,

"Wait." Sighing, he turned back to face her, "That still doesn't deny the fact she has a child Ron. And the father of her son, what about him? Even if they're not together, if you two got together, you'd always be third in her heart! Her son and the father would always be placed before you."

Ron nodded as he said calmly, "I know Lavender. As they should be placed in her heart. I can't believe you act like a friend to Hermione and the second her back's turned you're already insulting her and bringing up accusations attempting to make me end my friendship with her. Don't you ever do that again Lavender," he looked darkly at her; threateningly even. "If you cause Hermione or her son any problems, I will make your life a living hell. Do I make myself clear?"

Lavender nodded as she swallowed the lump which had formed in her throat, "Very clear."

He turned to leave but paused before taking a step away from the table. He smirked as he looked at her over his shoulder, "It wasn't wise to say those things so freely in a public restaurant Lavender. The father of Hermione's child is in this restaurant."

Lavender grew a shade of brightest cherry, "Where!?"

Ron scoffed, "Why should I tell you? So you can go and slander his good name behind his back? Goodbye Lavender." Not allowing her another word, he strode out of the restaurant – leaving Lavender with her thoughts and her embarrassment.

***

Hermione looked up from her seat by her bay window when she heard a noise coming from down the hall. Uncertainly, she put down her mug of hot chocolate and grasped her wand in the other hand. Swiftly, she crossed the floor to the door and opened it with the most subtlety she could muster. She saw the door to Neville's room open. Taking a deep breath, she jumped in the doorway, wand pointed.

"Ron, if you keep entering the house without telling me, I'll kill you one of these days!" Hermione scolded as she dropped her arm to her side,

"Well why should I announce my arrival? I do have a key," Ron reminded as he walked away from Neville's gated bed. "Sorry I scared you, I just wanted to make sure Neville was here before I came to see you."

"It was one night I didn't tell you where he was," Hermione rolled her eyes as she retreated back to her room, Ron in toe.

He closed the door behind him and walked over to her bed, laying down as she sat back by the bay window.

"Why are you here so early?" Hermione inquired as she finished the last of her hot chocolate and placed it on the ground,

"We had a rough game today. I'm tired," Ron explained, "and since your house is closest, I thought I might as well sleep here."

"That's not what I meant," Hermione said, "what happened with Lavender?"

"Mione, I told you that appearances are deceiving," Ron said,

"What are you playing at?" Hermione asked hesitantly,

"Let's just say she hasn't changed a single bit since Hogwarts Mione," Ron answered simply as he closed his eyes,

"How do you know? Did she do anything?" Hermione inquired,

"Oh yeah," Ron answered, "She did a lot."

"Like-?" Hermione egged on,

"Hermione, just let it rest," Ron said,

"Ron!" She flung her feet over the edge, knocking the mug over and it broke to shard. She cursed and stepped down to get the broom close by. She jumped back onto the window seat with a loud yell.

Ron sat up straight and stared at her, "What happened?" Hermione was too busy with the pain in her feet to answer, but Ron soon realized what happened when he saw the broken pieces of porcelain on the ground. "Bloody hell, Mione."
Taking out his wand, he pointed to the shards. Summoning them to all float, he sent them flying into the bin. He knelt down before her. Cringing at the sight of several shards impaled into her feet, he went to grab one.

She grabbed his wrist, stopping him, "Ron, don't." He looked up at her in confusion and saw the tears pouring down her face. He nodded, realizing it would hurt even more if he took them out by hand. He stood up, put an arm behind her back and behind her knees and picked her up, "What are you-?"

He walked her over to the bathroom and sat her down on the closed toilet seat and elevated her feet on the rim of the tub. Kneeling down before her again, Ron took out his wand, "Mione, will you be okay?"

She nodded violently as she closed her eyes tightly. One by one, he summoned the shards out of her feet. A cry escaped each time a shard was set free from her skin. By the time all the shards – seven rather large shards and ten smaller pieces – were out of her feet, blood was dripping down the edges of the tub, both in and out, onto the small rug before the tub.

"It'll take forever to get those stains out of the rug," Hermione sighed as she wiped away her tears. She had watched Ron the entire time. She examined him as he worked on the shards and she realized there was something different about Ron. Something was there that she hadn't realized before.

Ron, who had been silent the entire time, took off his dress shirt and magicked it to rip apart.

Hermione gasped, "Ron! That's your dress shirt!"

"I know Mione," Ron said as he took one half and wrapped it around her left foot, tying it securely, "but you need something to cover these wounds so they can begin healing overnight. I'm not Madame Pomfrey, but I sure as heck know what to do in these situations."

"But- that's your good shirt," Hermione reminded him,

"Mione," he looked up at her as he finished securing the last of his shirt around her right foot, "I know already. Besides, they have Lavender stench on them."

He stood up and dusted off his dark pants. He reached down to help her up. She swung her legs off of the tub's edge and, grabbing his hands, she stood up. Pain immediately stung her feet and she clung onto his arms for support, "Ron, could you please?"

He picked her up once again like before and carried her back to her room.

***

Placing Hermione down gently on her bed, Ron sat down beside her, "They'll probably still hurt tomorrow."

"Thanks for the warning," she smirked up at him, her face visible as moonlight flooded into the secluded room. "So, what happened with Lavender?"

"Mione- this conversation is what caused you to your feet slashed like that," Ron said with a warning tone, hinting her to stop asking,

"No Ron, your stubbornness to answer me did," she defended, "You might as well tell me! I'll find out one way or another. Lavender will tell me."

"Lavender will tell you a whole bunch of lies," He corrected quickly. She shot him a quizzical expression, Mione, one of the reasons I broke it off with Lavender back in Seventh Year was because she talked about you behind your back."

Her jaw dropped slightly, "One of the reasons? What else is there besides one of my so-called friends from Hogwarts talking behind my back?" Ron shook his head, "Ron, tell me."

"No, this subject is obviously upsetting you. I won't say another word," Ron said sternly,

"Ronald Weasley. You will tell me. I deserve to kn-"

"She wanted me to stop being friends with you," he interrupted as he looked out the window, avoiding eye contact.

Hermione sat in shocked silence. "And she asked you that tonight, right? She asked if you two were going to be together you'd have to stop being friends with me?" He nodded, still not looking at her, "And you said yes. You came by tonight to say goodbye to Neville and me because you've decided to stop being friends with me."

He jerked his head at her, eyebrows narrowed, "Hermione you know me better than that! You think I'd give up our friendship over some other girl?"

"But you should if she's the one!" Hermione exclaimed,

"She's not!" Ron insisted aggressively, "Mione, she even brought Neville into the conversation trying to sway me towards her and away from you. You think I'd want to be with someone who would try to use my son as a way to separate me from the mother of my child - my best friend since First Year?"

"So you told her you're Neville's father?" Hermione inquired,

"She didn't deserve to know," Ron spat, "trust me, she is NOT the one."

"You've found the one though, haven't you? That's why you look so serene and- different? As if you've had an immense epiphany of some sort." Ron nodded, "So who is it?"

"It's someone who you spend every day with, so you know she's perfect in every way. The girl you've been trying to help me find, and all of this time she's been right here," Ron explained,

"Ron you've just described Lavender," Hermione said reluctantly, a certain tone to her voice.

"Do you want to see her?" Ron asked and, hesitantly, Hermione nodded. He left the room and soon returned with something in his hand. He sat back down and handed it to her.

"I'm curious to see who it is, after all, I was the one always helping you to find her. Is it Susan? Or Hannah? How about Ca-" Hermione's words caught in her throat when she turned it over to find herself looking in a mirror. She looked up at Ron who was looking out the window once more, "Ron this is-"

"Mione, I know what it is." Ron said sternly as he continued to avoid looking at her, "I realized how I felt yesterday morning and it was only confirmed tonight when I spent dinner defending you in front of Lavender. Hermione- I never stopped loving you."

"I know," she muttered as she looked down at the small mirror in her lap, catching rays of moon.

He jerked his head to look at her, "You know? How?"

"Because I never stopped loving you," she admitted, keeping her gaze down.

"You never- but then why have you been trying to get me to date other women this entire time if you knew we still loved each other?" Ron demanded,

"I was scared," She answered in a strong tone.

"Scared of what? Of me?" He asked,

"Yes!"

"Why? Why me?" He demanded,

"Because I don't want to get hurt again Ron!" Hermione exclaimed as tears brimmed her eyelids and lined her eyelashes, "I don't want to be with you if you're just going to cheat on me again. If I'm pregnant again, I don't want you leaving me again!"

He turned to face her, "I won't hurt you like I did. I didn't even know why I did what I did."

"With Lavender to boot!" Hermione reminded bitterly, "Ron, I don't want to be walking down Diagon Alley and then suddenly see you snogging in an back alley with Lavender!"

"It won't happen!" Ron insisted,

"How do I know Ron? You did it once and you could very well do it again."

"Because Neville's in our life now," Ron said softly,

"So you want to be with me so Neville doesn't have to grow up with separated parents?" Hermione spat as she threw her arms in the air exasperatedly,

"No!" Ron exclaimed as he collected her hands in his, "No, that's not it," he sat closer to her and forced her to look at him, "I want to be with you because I love you. I'll never hurt you again because I love you. I was an idiot and I didn't realize back then that the most wonderful love I had in my life was you."

"I want to believe you Ron, I do believe you. But a part of me still doesn't know if I can trust you again like that," Hermione cried as she looked into his blue eyes which screamed sincerity.

"I was there when you found out you were pregnant at the Healer's office. I was there when you told your parents and then when you told my parents at their graves. I was there when you gave birth to Neville. I've been here every day of your life," Ron reminded gently, "I'm not going to leave you now or ever. Mione, I want Neville to be a part of my life as he should be. I want to be a part of his life. I want to be a part of your life."

"You are a part of my life, Ron," Hermione insisted in a whisper,

"You know what I mean. Mione, I want to be with you again," Ron admitted,

"I don't kn-"

"When I woke up yesterday morning with you beside me and in my arms, it felt right! When we were in the Burrow and we were there together, you, me and Neville – it felt right.

"Hermione," he took her face in his hands, "I want to wake up everyday with you in my arms. I want to live each day by your side. I want to be with you while we watch Neville grow up. I want to be the one to give you a second child and be the one at your side when you give birth to that child. I want to be the one you come home to every night. I want you to be the one who kisses me before and after my matches. I want to not only be your best friend but your boyfriend; lover; husband; confidante; partner in crime; father of your child- I want to be everything you look for in a man."

She tried to look away in order to conceal the tears, but he moved her head so she was looking at him again and he held a stern yet gentle grip on her face. Tears trickled down her cheeks as he gazed into her chocolate eyes. He moved so he was now kneeling beside her, "Look at me. I am not lying to you. I am a man, on my knees and begging for forgiveness. Begging my sins be forgiven and forgotten. Begging that the one woman – the one I have only ever loved and do love and will ever love – will give me another chance."

Tenderly, she pushed back a lock of hair which had fell out of place across his forehead, "I'll give you another chance if you give me one."

"For what?" Ron inquired curiously,

"Pushing you away the past two years since after the war. For pushing you into the arms of other women," Hermione said softly, "For being a horrible friend in the fact I could not trust you fully even though you're right. You've been there for me every step of the way, even after we broke up."

He kissed her then and there, too deliriously happy to allow another word stall this moment he had been hoping for. It was in that brief moment that Ron found out that he knew she was the one for him all along just that it had taken a few years and some trivialities for him to come to that realization. It was passionate and sweet at the same time. It was infused with both lust, love and a tenderness she felt spread throughout her body. The sensation was both familiar, yet new as if they had never been together. It was like their first kiss, as if they had come full circle.

"Are we interrupting something?"

They pulled away quickly: Ron stumbling to his feet and Hermione pushing away the furious blush creeping on her cheeks.
Looking at the door they saw two people, one of them holding their son.

"When did you get back, Gin?" Ron inquired as he approached his sister who had interrupted their explosive kiss. He kissed her on the forehead, "And why in Merlin's name did you wake up Neville?"

"Oh please, he was practically calling out for his Auntie," Ginny said dramatically as she walked over to the bed, sat and greeted with Hermione.

"Is Ginny really telling the truth?" Ron turned to Ginny's fiancé of two years,

"You know you're sister mate, she loves her nephew," He grinned as he embraced Ron, "It's good to see you Ron."

"You too Harry. It seems like ages since you left," Ron offered a lop-sided grin,

"It was only three weeks," Ginny reminded as she handed a fidgeting little Neville to his mother, "It didn't even seem that long, right Harry?"

"Right m'dear, it seemed longer," Harry smirked as she gave him a scowl, "Just joking my love," he insisted as he walked over, giving Hermione a kiss on the cheek and ruffled the little crown of hair on Neville's head. "How is my other best friend?" Harry inquired as he sat at the bay window, "and her handsome son?"

"She is quite well and he is growing too fast for his mother's liking," Hermione beamed at him.

"I still think it was nice of you guys to name your son after Neville," Ginny admitted,

"Neville Longbottom was and still is a dear friend to both of us," Hermione explained as she let Neville crawl around the bed, "not to mention he saved both of our lives in the war before he died."

"We thought if we were going to name our son after someone, it should be someone of honor, loyalty and true bravery," Ron added, "I will personally tell him the history of his name."

Harry and Ginny nodded in agreement.

"You know," Hermione began as Ron walked over and stood against the wall beside Harry. "you shouldn't leave for too long Harry. Ron mopes around too much."

"He wasn't moping when we entered," Harry smirked,

"Cheeky prat," Ron muttered as he playfully punched Harry then headed over to the bed, "Don't listen to Mione either. I don't mope."

"No, you whine, cry, rant, have tantrums-" Ginny listed as she switched places with her brother and stood next to Harry. "Only joking," she added after he shot her a dark look, "So, what was going on when we entered?"

"Nothing," Ron said simply as Neville began to crawl towards his lap. He absent-mindedly faced his palm up on his knee so his son could playfully punch at it. "Nothing at all."

"I just helped Ron finally find the one," Hermione explained casually as she tore her eyes away from the heartbreakingly sweet scene of Ron and their son,

"Yeah, I kept my promise Harry," Ron glanced at them, "I was just thanking Hermione as you guys walked in."

"So you guys are getting back together?" Ginny squealed and they both nodded in a calm demeanor, but happiness and joy shone through. She gave them both a hug just before snatching Neville from Ron, "Congratulations you two!"

"You only congratulated us so you could take Neville," Ron accused as he rolled his eyes at his sister.

Harry glared at Ginny when she returned to his side, "How come you never thank me like that?"

Ron let out a hearty laugh, "Maybe she's not the one for you. Actually she is the one for you, mate and it hasn't hit her yet. She'll thank you when it hits. But I'm telling you mate, I've found the one and only for me."

With that, Ron pulled Hermione to him by the collar and pressed his lips against hers in a swift and passion-filled kiss. Pulling back, he looked at her deep brown eyes with his cerulean baby blues,

"I love you."