Ginny stopped by early that next morning to go with Hermione to the Ministry so they could file their paperwork for their divorces before heading to the Burrow. She didn't want to admit it to Ginny, but Hermione was very nervous to see the Weasleys. She knew she shouldn't have been and that everything was going to be alright, but there was certainly a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that kept bothering her.
"'Mione, I can tell you're nervous," Ginny said finally, looking over at her friend. "What are you overthinking?"
"Oh, the usual," Hermione answered as they walked to the front entrance. "Just that your parents will hate me for leaving Ron."
Ginny shook her head and sighed. "I suppose that won't go away until you actually talk to them about it?"
"Probably not."
They stepped outside and Ginny immediately disapparated the two of them, landing in the field surrounding the Burrow. Hermione looked up at the large, precariously built house and couldn't help but smile. They had rebuilt it after the fire and the new house still had all of the charm from before that Hermione loved.
"Come on!"
Ginny was already waiting for her at the front door and Hermione quickly caught up, her stomach a bundle of nerves. It was mostly just because she wasn't quite sure what to expect and her mind was coming up with every possible situation that could happen, but as they entered the Burrow she took a deep breath and tried to push all of those thoughts away.
"Mum, we're here!" Ginny called out as she took off her sweater.
There was an excited sound and then they watched as Molly eagerly made her way out of the kitchen to where they were and she immediately embraced Hermione tightly.
"Oh, it's so good to see you again!" She exclaimed, pulling back and giving Hermione a warm smile. "You've been gone for far too long! And your hair!"
She reached up and touched Hermione's short hair with the largest smile on her face. "I like this! It's a very cute look for you!"
"Thank you!" Hermione smiled in return. "And I'm so sorry that I haven't visited recently! Work had been very stressful lately and I just haven't found the time!"
"It's perfectly fine, dear; no need to apologize!" Molly patted her arm reassuringly and then gave Ginny a hug before leading the girls into the kitchen. "It's just us girls today; Arthur's out helping George with a new display at the shop."
"I was wondering why it was so quiet," Ginny said as she sat down at the table.
"Yes, it's been somewhat nice; I've actually been able to get some housework done!"
The three of them laughed at that and Hermione sat down opposite of Ginny, looking around the kitchen. She was always amazed by how warm the house felt after everything. Molly had even started putting up pictures, but when she saw the one of her and Ron on their wedding day, she cringed and looked away.
"So," Molly started slowly as she looked back at Hermione. "Harry told me that you and Ron have separated."
Hermione nodded with a sigh. "After what he did, I just can't stay with him."
"And what did he do?" Molly asked curiously. "Harry said it was serious but he decided that it would be best if you were the one to explain and I haven't heard at all from Ron."
"Well..." Hermione faltered and looked over at Ginny for support. Ginny simply nodded and squeezed her hand reassuringly, and Hermione looked back up. "Harry and I caught Ron with my assistant in his office on Monday."
Molly stiffened at this and her lips pursed in anger. "Was he...?"
Hermione only nodded and she noticed that the spoon in Molly's hand was being gripped tighter. "I swear, when I see that son of mine..."
Then she took a few deep breaths and released her grip on the spoon, stirring the pot and saying, "I'm so sorry, Hermione. I cannot believe he would ever think to do that! Did he at least give you a reason?"
"He did, actually," Hermione nodded. "He was assuming that I was cheating with one of my clients and decided to retaliate that way."
"Why would he assume that?" Molly asked, turning around to look at her.
This somewhat caught Hermione off guard but she went on to explain, "I had a day where I nearly fainted and one of my clients was there when it happened. When I checked on him after the full moon recently, he in turn asked if I was alright and asked if I was eating. Ron read the notes and assumed that I was seeing this person, which I absolutely was not."
"That boy has always had anger issues," Molly sighed. "Unfortunately they inherited it from my side of the family. I had really hoped that with time he would grow past all of that. Ginny, dear, can you get plates?"
"Sure, mum."
Soon the three of them were all chatting together around the table about random subjects, noticeably avoiding the subjects of Ginny and Hermione's divorces.
"Ginny, when is your next game?" Molly asked then. "I feel really bad that we've had to miss the last one."
"It's actually next Saturday, the thirty-first," Ginny said with a smile. "We'll be playing against the Americans."
"Oh that should be interesting," Hermione said.
"Yeah, Gwenog isn't looking forward to it," Ginny said grimly. "She seems to think they're all cheaters."
"Doesn't she think that about everyone?" Hermione grinned.
"Of course she does!"
The three of them laughed again and then fell into silence, the only sounds being the clinking of silverware on plates. After a few minutes, Molly then looked up at Hermione sadly.
"I suppose there's no chance that you would want to stay with Ron?" She asked quietly.
Hermione shook her head. "I'm sorry, Molly. I still love him, but he hurt me badly and I can't stay with him after that."
"Honestly, mum, Ron wasn't right for her," Ginny interjected. "He was too jealous all the time. He kind of suffocated her."
Hermione avoided their eyes, looking down at her plate. She didn't really want to admit to that aspect of the relationship but now that it was out in the open, she couldn't deny it.
"And what about you and Harry?" Molly asked then, looking over at Ginny. "You two were so good for each other."
Ginny shook her head. "We grew apart as a couple. We're better off as friends."
Molly sighed and looked between the two girls before stopping on Hermione. "I just hope you will still come visit. You are practically one of our daughters still."
Hermione smiled at that. "I promise I still will."
"Good," Molly smiled in return. "I would just hate it if everything changed too much."
"Hermione's still a part of the family, she always has been," Ginny said confidently. "I'm not letting her go anywhere."
Hermione laughed and shook her head at that, smiling. She was extremely happy that Molly was supportive of her decision, even though her mother-in-law was slightly unhappy at the situation. But she honestly hoped as well that things wouldn't change too much.
There was a package waiting on her doorstep for her when she apparated back into her front yard. She paused and stared at it for a few moments before slowly approaching it. There was a card wrapped around it and while she knew it most likely wasn't from Ron, the thought was still in the back of her mind as she opened the card.
Hermione,
I realized that I hadn't given you a housewarming gift yet, and I'm very sorry about that. This is a bottle of wine that I thoroughly enjoy, and I have a feeling that you might as well. I hope you are enjoying your new home!
Draco
She smiled at the note and happily grabbed the package before heading inside. Setting it on the counter, she immediately unwrapped it and looked down at the bottle. The label was a matte black paper with metallic red vines elegantly swirling around, but there was no indication as to what kind of wine it was.
Summoning a piece of paper, she quickly wrote a note back to him.
Draco,
Thank you so much for that, you didn't need to get me anything considering you helped me get the house itself! I really appreciate it though, I'm going to be happy to open this later. I am very much enjoying the new home, thank you again for helping me in searching for it. Have a good rest of your weekend!
Hermione
Draco looked down at the note and smiled. He was happy that she was happy, and a content feeling settled over him as he went on about his day. He found himself wondering what she was doing throughout the day, and it somewhat confused him. Draco had never really done this with any other girl. Though of course, he hadn't really kept any girlfriends longer than three weeks at the most.
He kept going back to the idea that Hermione was already knowing what to expect with his condition, and it was comforting. He wouldn't have to make excuses about his behavior or why he would suddenly break it off.
He froze in his spot after that thought occurred to him, and he panicked. After sending off a quick note to Blaise about meeting him at his manor he paced around in his living room while he waited for Blaise to show up.
About ten minutes later, a very disgruntled Blaise popped into his living room, scowling at the blond. "This better be important."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me I interrupted anything."
"I was going to have Ginny over for dinner," Blaise answered as he moved to one of the chairs. "But I had to push it back so she's currently waiting on my couch."
"This shouldn't take long," Draco said, rolling his eyes.
"So what's going on?" Blaise asked, setting his chin in his hand.
Draco began pacing back and forth again, clasping his hands behind his back as he thought. "I'm not sure what's going on, but Hermione's been on my mind a lot lately."
Blaise raised an eyebrow. "In what kind of way?"
"I mean, like...." Draco sighed and paused his pacing, running a hand through his hair. "Like earlier, I was wondering what she was up to."
A grin suddenly split Blaise's face. "You like her, don't you?"
Draco didn't answer for a few moments but then tilted his head, still looking down at the floor. "I think I do, actually."
"You say it like it's a bad thing," Blaise said observantly.
"Well, she is still technically married."
"Ginny said they went and filed their divorce paperwork this morning."
Draco's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really?"
Blaise's grin only widened as he nodded. "Frankly, I think it's hilariously ironic that the werewolf is falling in love with the woman overseeing his case."
Draco scowled at him. "I'm not 'falling in love' with her. I simply have more feelings for her than I have before."
"Alright, alright," Blaise said waving him off. "You still like her. Are you going to do something about it?"
"I don't know," Draco said nervously. "I mean, yeah she knows what I am but that doesn't make the situation any less dangerous."
"She knows to avoid you during the full moon," Blaise said reassuringly. "I think that makes the situation a little safer."
Draco tilted his head back and forth, resuming his pacing. After a few moments, Blaise curiously asked, "Would you even attack her though after having the potion? I thought werewolves retain a human mind after drinking the potion."
"We do," Draco nodded. "I've never tested it, but I don't think I want to risk it. Not with her, at least."
Blaise grinned again. "You really do like her, then."
"I don't even know how it happened!" Draco said exasperatedly, gesturing towards the floor. "I haven't even seen her that much!"
"No, but maybe it's because the times you did see her, she was vulnerable and your werewolf side became protective," Blaise said thoughtfully. "And then your werewolf side got attached and now your human side is following suit."
Draco thought this over, realizing that it made perfect sense. His werewolf side nearly had a mind of its own, which he normally was able to control.
"Why her though?" Draco asked then. "It's not like I haven't seen women in similar situations before."
"Hermione's different though, you actually know her," Blaise said. "You said it yourself: you've seen her at her worst moment and you said you never wanted to see her like that again."
It was as if a lightbulb went off in his mind. That night came back to him again, as it had multiple times before. His aunt torturing Hermione and her screams filling the manor. He was still trying to control his werewolf side at the time and it must have affected him a lot more than he previously thought.
"So, you think that because I saw her being tortured, I'm trying to protect her now from anything else happening?" Draco asked, though it was somewhat more of a statement.
Blaise gestured towards him. "It makes sense. Aren't dogs very protective of their humans when they see them being abused?"
Draco scowled at him and Blaise held up a hand defensively. "Dogs and wolves are related, it only makes sense that you would share traits. My point still stands though."
"She's not my human," Draco said gruffly.
"She could be," Blaise grinned.
Draco scowled again, shaking his head. "No."
Shrugging, Blaise leaned back in his chair while still grinning. "You've already admitted to liking her. Why not make a move?"
"You think I should?" Draco asked then.
"Where's the normally confident bachelor that I'm used to seeing?" Blaise asked sarcastically. "You've never had an issue with women before!"
"Don't make me bite you," Draco warned.
Blaise laughed at that. "Come on, what's stopping you from asking her on a date? You've already asked her to lunch once and she went."
"True." Draco thought about it for a few moments and then nodded. "Alright, I suppose it couldn't hurt. I'll ask her on Monday."
"Cool; can I get back to my dinner now?" Blaise asked in a fake impatient tone.
Draco rolled his eyes and waved his friend off. "Yeah, I'll see you Monday."
Blaise grinned and disapparated away, landing in his house. Ginny was still waiting on the couch patiently, drinking a glass of wine.
"Sorry about that, love," He said, walking over to give her a kiss on the forehead. "Draco was having a small crisis."
"Sounds like him," Ginny laughed. "He's always been dramatic. What was the crisis this time?"
"See, part of me wants to tell you, and the other part wants to wait until Hermione tells you," Blaise grinned as he returned to the kitchen.
Ginny's eyes went wide. "Blaise Zabini, you better tell me! Does he like her?!"
Blaise shrugged and looked back at her over his shoulder with a smirk. She squealed and bounced up and down excitedly, making him laugh.
"You can't tell Hermione though," He said. "Draco's asking her to dinner on Monday."
"That is so cute!" Ginny squealed again. "I'm so excited!"
"I'm more excited about this dinner though," Blaise said with a grin on his face.
"Oh, obviously," She replied with a matching grin.
A/N: Sorry for the delay again! Chapters will start to pick up again soon, and I will be updating Between Us tomorrow! Enjoy everyone! <3