"Hermione, I have to tell you something." Ron stopped staring though the rain-soaked window and turned to meet his date. His hands fiddled with a small black velvet box under the table. Hermione caught a quick glance at this and her heart was sent soaring above the stars. 'He is going to propose. I just knew it!' Her jittery thoughts repeated in her head as she nodded at Ron as a signal to continue.
"Herms, I love you with all my heart, you know that right?" She smiled at him gracefully, tears welling up in her eyes. He finally took the black box from his lap. "I am going to ask you something, but I don't want you to take this the-"
"Yes Ron! I will! I will marry you! Oh, I have been waiting so long to hear you ask me this." She got up from her chair and ran around the table to sit on his lap and began kissing him all over his face, gasping little I love you’s between the kisses. Suddenly Ron grabbed her hands.
"No, Hermione...err...Look this is hard for me to say but, I think we should-well you know how we have been fighting a lot lately and I..." Hermione's eyes were no longer tearing up with joy, but with rage and sorrow.
"Say it, you bloody coward" Ron let out a sharp sigh and looked at his girlfriend with helpless eyes. In a barely audible whisper he continued.
"I think we should take a break for a while, maybe even see other people but," He opened the box and inside it were two silver bands with the word 'Promise' scrolled around them. "These are promise rings and if this break turns out to be a not so good idea then we will know that we will always have each other to return to." She got up from his lap and walked zombie like back to her seat. Her ragged breaths almost echoed throughout the room.
"What's her name Ronald?" Her voice was raspy and coarse, filled with jealousy and pain. His response was a bundle of inarticulate mumbles consisting of protesting sneers. "WHAT IS THE WHORE’S BLOODY NAME? WHO IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO LEAVE ME FOR? I THINK I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW!"
"Look, Cali and I are only friends, we have only known each other-"
"Get out Ron, get out now."
"Hermione this is only a temporary thing! I will always love you more than Cal-" His sentence was cut short by a dinner plate that hurled across the room nearly hitting him square in the head.
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE YOU BASTARD!" She pointed towards the door and stared at him with the same look a bull would give a bullfighter. Timidly he made his way to the door, half way there he turned around and reached gingerly for Hermione's hand. Instantly she withdrew from his cold hands and gave him nothing but an icy stare in return. Once she heard the door shut she slid to the floor hugging herself and eventually cried herself to sleep on her dining room floor.
------- ~*~ -------
Sullenly she stirred her tea, her tears falling restlessly into her cup. She grimaced at the memory of the conversation she had only last night with the love of her life, or so she thought he was. It was 4:30(pm) and she was still in her clothes from last night. She desperately needed a shower and a hug. She hugged her knees close to her as she slowed her weeping down. She couldn’t give Ron that right, he wasn't worth crying over she thought. But her heart was in disagreement; her heart was torn into a million pieces over Ron's news. She had loved him so deeply and she always thought he returned her feelings. She decide that she had to get up and try to rejuvenate herself, starting with a long shower.
She strolled out of the bathroom and she almost felt ok, that was until she felt a breeze from the open window and pulled her purple robe closer to her. Ron had given her this robe, she remembered that he bought for her on her birthday. A single tear slid down her cheek. She walked to investigate the window that she insisted was closed when she had left the room. A squawk came from the kitchen counter and she rushed over there. She felt like a boulder hit her, there on the counter was Pig, Ron's owl. He screeched loudly at Hermione and shook his leg at her.
"I'm coming Pig, calm down." She took the letter from the owl and he zoomed out through the window. She held the letter as if it were some sort of bomb, afraid it contained some sort of poison that would cause her heart to sear even more. Tearing the envelope, she turned it upside down to release the letter and a loud clink hit the wood floor. After it circled her feet it danced it's way in front of the broken dinner plate. Leaving the ring she turned to the note.
------- ~*~ -------
My Dearest Hermione,
I am really sorry about last night, but I hope you understand the reason why I said those things. I love you, always have and always will, but a time-out will do us good you'll see. Give us a month or so off and then we can start a-new, fresh. Cali is just a friend and she knows that, and I hope you do to. Wear your ring as I am wearing mine.
Love Forever,
Ronald.
------- ~*~ -------
The letter she held was no longer dry; tears drenched his untidy scribble. Slowly she made her way over to the ring he sent her. Hermione picked it up and again she felt the pain of her heart being torn slowly apart. Dreamily the ring found itself onto her ring finger and she sobbed again. Sliding to the floor once more she carelessly picked at the broken plate, not hearing the continuos banging on the door. Seconds later Ginny burst in calling Hermione's name. Cautiously she looked around the corner to find her best friend weeping on the floor. She rushed over to embrace her friend rocking her back and forth in comfort.
"That asshole of a brother just waltzed into The Burrow with that slut on his arm and I knew right away he had done something stupid. Oh, honey it's all right. It's going to be ok." She passed her fingers though Hermione's damp curly hair letting her cry on her shoulder.
"We need to get you up and out of here. If that man-whore is going to play around on you, you should shove it in his face. Scougify!" Ginny chimed in, pointing her wand at the broken plate after 30 minutes of much needed crying from Hermione.
"I can't do that, it'll be like sinking to his level. I could use a drink though." Her voice turned into a chilling whisper."And Ginny, I think we should stop calling him names." Ginny pretended that she didn't hear her friends last comment.
"Yes we could all go out for a drink and if a guy happens to buy you a drink or five in the process, so be it." Hermione giggled at her friend and though one of her many used tissues at her.
"C'mon girl we are going out" Ginny apparated out of her kitchen and was back within moments equipped with several very revealing dresses. She walked into the bathroom as if it were her own house.
"Gin you can't expect me to wear this! It's completely..." Ginny jumped out of the doorway and held up a beautiful sparkly pink cocktail dress. It's thin straps crisscrossed on her back and the hem of it would barely hit the top of her knee. It was perfect. She grasped the delicate fabric and the next thing she knew the dress was on her hugging her body splendidly.
"I hope you know that Agatha and Sophie are coming." Ginny's tone was just too innocent for Hermione's liking.
"As in your two friends from work? The two that gave Percy of all people a lap dance at the Christmas party? Ginny you didn't!"
"Hey they are really good people. They just...aren't afraid of getting a little wild." Ginny giggled at her response. Her friends were really good friends, almost as good at it as being whores. "I just thought that they would help you, you know, get out there and get over him." Ginny spat her last word. Even though Ron was Ginny's brother, she couldn't emphasize enough on how much she wanted to disown that hypocrite. Hermione magicked her hair into wavy locks and just enough make-up to highlight her features, gave her dress a final look over and headed into the living room where Ginny, Sophie and Agatha were waiting. The two new girls looked at Hermione with tears hanging in their eyes.
"Oh honey we are so sorry."
"So, sorry. Don't worry things will work out."
"They always do!"
"Always!" Ginny held up her hands to silence the two others and gave Hermione a 'I am sorry' look. Hermione nodded and smiled at her.
"Ready to go?" Ginny asked as she reached over the couch for her purse.
"Where are we going exactly?" Hermione's voice had a hint of dread in it. The three others looked at each other as if debating on if they should tell her or not. Finally Sophie broke the silence.
"Well, we were thinking of going to the Black Flamed Candle, you know that club that has-"
"That club is in Knockturn Alley." The three gave innocent looks, and Hermione just rolled her eyes and giggled. Following her friends out her front door she noticed that there was a glint from her left hand. Ron's ring was sill there. She reached to take it off when Ginny called for her.
"Where are the other two?"
"They already apparated. C'mon lets get going!" Ginny grabbed her hand and apparated off to the club.
------- ~*~ -------
Hermione was on the dance floor, shaking her body to the music. She was hitting on her fifth drink and was on the verge on forgetting the reason she came here. The song ended and Hermione looked for her girlfriends. She spotted Sophie snogging the face off a guy near the back of the room, Agatha was seen getting really close to another man on the dance floor and Ginny was sitting on one of the couches twirling her hair and batting her eyelashes at a tall man with jet black hair. She laughed out loud to herself then looked sadly at her empty glass and decided it was time for another one. Clumsily she walked over to the bar and sat herself next to a tall white-blonde haired man. He too was pushing his limit of liquor and had a little black velvet box that sent Hermione’s heart into a small fit of pain.
"Another please if you don't mind!" She hiccuped loudly at the frantic bartender. The man next to her turned slowly in Hermione's direction, clearly annoyed at her loud voice. His mouth opened to yell at the obnoxious drunk when he realized that this drunk was someone he knew.
"Gr-Granger? Is that you?" Hermione turned and squinted at the man next to her. She hiccuped loudly once more and her face turned into the most surprised filled face she could muster.
"Draco Malfoy! What the bloody hell are you doing here?" She wrapped him up in a hug and patted his back warmly. Draco's mouth was left open in shock at Hermione who was clearly drunk out of her mind.
"Here Miss, I think you need this more than you need another drink" The bartender handed Hermione a small glass filled with a deep purple liquid. She twirled it around a bit then chugged it down with out even a question as to what she just digested. Suddenly Hermione fell into Draco's arms, she felt as if she had been slapped across the face with a wooden plank. Several moments later she looked up and found herself in his arms. Spitting out a disgusted gasp she leapt from his embrace and into her own seat. Then she saw the little black box that was sitting ominously next to Draco's half filled glass. A wave of sorrow, pain, and rage swept over Hermione. All the memories which she had tried so desperately to drown hit her full on.
"What the hell did you give me?! What was in this drink?!" She shook the empty shot glass at the very confused looking bartender.
"It eliminates some the alcohol in your body. You were looking pretty drunk so I thought you might-" Hermione let out an angry growl and started to tear up.
"Look buddy it's not your job to look after me! I am a grown woman and I know when enough is enough! Now, give me another damn drink." She wiped her tears away and sniffed. "And make strong" Draco sat there shocked at the enraged, tearing Hermione next to him. He silently lifted up his glass to his mouth and drank until he saw the bottom.
"Had a rough day too, Granger?" He drawled out a sigh and smirked at her in his trademark way. Once she had her drink in hand she twirled around to meet his face. Her cheeks were now filled with tears and her bottom lip was quivering.
"You have no idea Ferret." Then with out even realizing what she was really doing she spilled her story out to Draco and not once did her eyes leave the tiny black box on the counter. Surprisingly enough when she had finished she looked up into Draco's silver-blue eyes and what she found there made her heart skip. Those eyes no longer held a smirk, or even a trace of his usual snideness, but there was a caring, sympathetic glow emitting from them. He reached out and put his hand on top of hers. Hermione just sat there relishing in the moment until the fog in her mind cleared and she realized what he was doing; realized that the hand he was caressing had Ron's ring on it. Her hand flew from the bar and was now staring coldly through her flowing tears into Draco's eyes.
"What do you think you are doing? Wait, what do I think I am doing? I just spilled everything to you!" Her voice took a turn toward panic,"I told everything! No, I can't look weak. I don't want to be-" She slumped over onto the bar and began weeping to herself again. Draco bent over and replied a little louder than needed.
"I know what you're going through...Hermione." Hermione sat up stiffly and looked through watery eyes at man who had just called her by her first name and in utter shock she replied softly in disgust.
"Oh, really? The superior and mighty Malfoy thinks he knows what I, a lowly, worthless Mudblood am going through. And why in the hell is that?" Draco looked towards the little black box on the counter. He swept it up almost as if it pained him.
"Because, I have my own little black box." He was now baring his glossy eyes deeply into her own, sending chills up and down her spine. She felt a mix of regret and sorrow. She looked into his eyes as if the story would be there for her to read, but she found nothing but pain.
"It was Pansy, believe it or not. Now that I look back I realized that I never really loved her, hell I don't know what I was thinking when I tried to propose. There we were: her favorite restaurant decorated with her favorite flowers and me down on one knee. When she told me there was another man, it looked as if she had no regret in telling me this, no hint of pain. She just told me and walked away without a word." He looked down and opened the box and it let out a tiny creak. Inside it lay a magnificent silver band with a very large diamond set in the middle. A single tear fell onto his hand and Hermione reached out to hold it, comforting him like he had done her.
"I am sorry, Draco. Even you don't deserve something like that, nobody deserves anything like that." She leaned over and wrapped him up in a hug once more. Both of them crying to their hearts content. A few minutes passed when Draco pulled back, and his eyes found themselves swimming in her chocolate ones. He felt so grateful for her, and he didn't know why he felt this way but a surge of compassion hit him. Their faces lingered a mere reach away from each other. She felt his short breaths on her lips and without even giving it a second thought she lunged forwards crashing her lips on his. At first his body was stiff, not returning Hermione's actions but as soon as she grasped her fingers in his lengthy blonde hair he warmed up to the idea of this activity. She felt a spark light up inside her that she had never felt with Ron which only sent her deeper into the kiss.
Only a few seconds later Hermione felt a soft tap on her shoulder. Regretfully she pulled away from his lips and turned to meet a very amused Ginny. Hermione's cheeks turned pink and looked nervously away from Ginny's stare.
"Well, well, well Hermione. What do we have here?" She giggled and looked around Hermione shoulder to see who the man was that her best friend was so keen on hiding. "OH MERLIN! Hermione, I think you have had a teensy bit too much to drink." She guided her protesting friend away from the bar stool. She turned to meet a very worried looking Draco "And you! How dare you take advantage of her! You are a bloody jerk and believe me-" Ginny was suddenly jerked around to face her friend.
"Ginny! I am not drunk! Well I was, but the bartender ave me some weird potion that took most of it away and-"
"So wait, you knew what you were doing? Kissing this fool?" Hermione looked straight passed her friend who was gaping awkwardly at her and nodded smiling at Draco who was both tearing up again and smiling. Ginny looked back and forth between the two mumbling to herself trying to analyze the situation. Never taking their eyes off each other Draco walked over to a smiling Hermione and continued where they had left off not but moment ago.
------- ~*~ -------
A month had passed and Ron hadn't heard from Hermione since the night he had told her that he wanted to take this wretched break. Turns out Cali was married and a black eye and a broken jaw from her husband later Ron was alone in his flat, waiting for Hermione to come back to him. He sat at his kitchen table remembering all the sweet times he and Hermione had shared. His trip down Memory Lane was abruptly ceased when a large eagle owl came clawing at his window. Ron's stomach sank, he knew that owl, where had he seen it before? His heart gave a jolt as the answer popped into his head.
"Why the bloody hell would Malfoy owl me?" Ron spoke to an empty room. He opened the window and hastily took the letter from the bird and shooed it off his window ledge. Carelessly he opened the envelope and pulled out a letter with very familiar hand writing on it. "Hermione?"
------- ~*~ -------
Dear Ronald,
This letter was extremely tough for me to write. Today is the anniversary of the beginning of our break, and I can't tell you how good this break was to me, for us. I met someone. He makes me feel beautiful, and more loved than I have ever felt in my life, more than you have ever shown me. I realize now that we weren't meant to be together, and that when I did love you and believe me Ron I did love you, you never loved me back as much as I needed. So what I am asking for is for this break of ours to become permanent, I hope you understand.
Sincerely,
Hermione.
P.S.-- I hope you are happy with your choice, your mistake, because it's given me nothing more but joy. I hope you are as happy with Cali as I am with Draco.
------- ~*~ -------
Ron grasped onto the window sill for support. He felt extremely sick and dizzy. His eyes were welling up with tears and his heart felt as if it had been severed from his chest. He glanced over to the envelope and saw that there was something he left inside it. Snatching it forcefully off the sill he turned it upside down onto the floor. A loud clink hit the linoleum floor. He watched the object roll around in circles before it finally gave up and landed directly in front of his feet. There between his tatty sneakers was a silver with the word 'Promise' scrolled around it. He fell to his knees and grasped the ring in his fists clutching it to his shattered heart. Tears began to roll down his face as he realized that his beloved Hermione was never going to come back to him.
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