Chapter 28 - Conversations of a Different Nature

It was almost two days and far too long a time before Hermione finally heard from Draco. Though everything in her panicked and worried and threatened to have her send out a patronus more than once, she resisted the urge to do so. The only scenario that she was willing to consider was that Draco was still at Malfoy Manor and thus preoccupied with enduring everything that was happening around him—around him and not to him, Hermione insisted to herself over and over again. As for the other possible scenarios, that at best Draco had lost track of things and forgotten to send her a patronus, to the worst scenario that Draco was unable to send her a patronus because he had either been tortured or worse, Hermione struggled not to let herself take those seriously. If she did, then she'd lose aspects of herself such as her objectivity and possible sanity, and right now she couldn't fail Harry or Ron in keeping things together.

Finally though, just after breakfast one morning when Hermione had to take her turn at guard duty after a fitful night of disturbed sleep, it came. Never had Hermione been happier in her life to see Draco's peacock strutting towards her, smaller than before and almost...tiny enough to escape notice.

Hermione stepped further away from the tent, surprised when the peacock turned to follow her. She hadn't known that patronuses had this ability when messages were sent, but maybe it had something to do with the nature of the message and how Draco intended it for her personally.

Sitting down on a rock and ignoring the cold, Hermione settled herself to listen.

"First of all, I wanted to send this out earlier." The first sound of Draco's voice, in what was yet again one of his almost-apologies, sent a happy pulse throughout Hermione. She held her breath, anxious to hear more of his news.

"It's been...hard being here, but I know that a lot more has happened to you since we last met—from what I've heard. I...how are you?"

The message ended there, but the worry in Draco's voice echoed Hermione's own. Quickly, she took out her wand and summoned her patronus, pulling up thoughts of when she had last seen Draco to help her along in being happy enough for the otter to take form.

"I'm alright, Draco, truly. Now that I'm finally hearing from you, it gives me less to worry about."

"I did mention that I wanted to send this out earlier," came the reply, in which Draco sounded sulky—a good sign since anything was better than him sounding half-dead, as Hermione had expected. "I'll be going back to Hogwarts after New Year's though, so after that will be a better time to reach me." A pause. "I wish I could say that I've been productive until now, but I haven't. On whatever plans I might have made to search the house for Hufflepuff's Cup, I've had to forget it. I don't think it's here, Hermione."

Hermione actually hadn't thought of asking him about searching for the cup just yet, as she was far more interested in how he was holding up. Regardless, she did feel that it was bad and discouraging news, and she would have to tell Harry, but...right now, she had to know that Draco was alright first.

"Draco, how are you?" she pressed.

It was a good five minutes before his patronus finally came back, and Draco's voice sounded absolutely exhausted in his reply. "As well as can be expected. Not a scratch on me, I suppose, but these last couple of days are something that I'd prefer never to repeat. And speaking of which, just what have you been up to? As usual, what you and Harry have been doing affects what's going on around here, and I can only guess at what that is."

Oh, right. Well, her report was definitely better news that Draco's, that was for sure.

"For starters, Ron's back," she said. "Somehow or other, he and Harry have gotten ahold of Gryffindor's Sword—just found it in a pond in the middle of the forest, of all places! I still don't know what happened that the sword should be here, but Harry thinks it has to do with proving his worth. You see, he almost drowned in having to swim through that icy water to get to the sword, and he thinks it appeared to him like it did in the Chamber of Secrets in second year, when he pulled it out of the Sorting Hat. So far, I've had to agree with his theory, as that's the only explanation we have at this point. I think I mentioned that Dumbledore attempted to will it to us and that didn't work? Well, like many magical objects, it makes sense that the sword should have judgement of its own.

"After that, Ron used the sword to destroy the locket, so that's one horcrux down. Since then, things have eased up around here at camp, but I know things are much worse in the rest of the world. We...er...we had an unfortunate visit the other day." Here she stopped, to let Draco get a word in edgewise.

"Yeah, I know that," Draco sniffed. "I think the whole Wizarding World knows what happened, actually, and you can only guess at how the Dark Lord feels about it." He sighed. "Still, it's good that you finally got rid of the locket and now have the sword in your possession. That's good news. And...it's good that Weasley's back now, I guess."

That last part was definitely grudgingly given, but seeing as Hermione was also still lukewarm to Ron's return, she couldn't help but grin at how Draco sounded. To think that he might actually be offended on her behalf made it all the sweeter.

"Well, he did save Harry's life when Harry almost drowned in that pond, so he has to get some credit," she said. Funny how to Ron's face she couldn't be grateful, and yet when it came to defending her friend to others, it came naturally. It seemed like she still had some loyalty towards him after all.

"Weasley did that? Well, well, it seems he has some backbone after all." Though Draco sounded far from convinced.

Now Hermione was grinning like an idiot, and it was hard to keep the amusement out of her voice. "Overall, it's...good that he came back. A second wand is going to be a big help to us."

Another long pause before Draco finally replied to that one. "Yes, there I have to agree. As a matter of fact, I was considering sending out a wand for Harry just in case it might be of help to you anyway. Rather than have a spell blow up on you though, maybe it's better to keep Weasley around, for his wand if nothing else."

"Did you think we were going to send him away?" Hermione couldn't help asking. Because, mad as she was at Ron, she had never once considered that. Now, having calmed down, she realized that it wasn't just because they needed the extra wand, but because...Ron Weasley was one of her best friends, and...well, nothing could change that, no matter how harsh either of them had been to each other. After this, though it was much sooner than she'd intended, perhaps Hermione could finally forgive him, all things considered.

"Of course not!" Draco replied, rather quickly this time. "No, you'd obviously be better off having another ally watching your backs and everything, but..." And here there was a long pause, with Draco's next words surprising Hermione considerably. "After what you told me about how it was last time when he left, I don't want him hurting you again."

Hermione couldn't help but smile, feeling touched. And furthermore, Draco's considerations were exactly the same as her own, though of course she knew Ron much better and thus could put some of her reservations aside. Especially with how he was acting now since he had come back, more the gentleman than ever and visibly putting forth an effort to be agreeable and take her feelings into consideration...this time she felt no reason to worry. Hopefully that wouldn't prove to be bad judgement on her part...

"I don't think he'll do anything like that again, Draco," she found herself replying, yet another defense in Ron's favour. "He mentioned how he wanted to return to us as soon as he left, but had a run of bad luck with a group of snatchers. After that, it was impossible for him to find us again, but he told us he's been trying. I don't think being alone helped him any more than it did us, so now he's here to stay." This time, wishful thinking or not, if she gave him another chance Hermione was certain that Ron wouldn't abandon them. And to think, of all times that this revelation should come to her, it was whilst talking to Draco Malfoy!

"That's all very well then," Draco replied, sounding gruff. "Anyway, to move on, it's good that you destroyed the locket. I figured as much when during a meeting the Dark Lord suddenly looked like he was in pain, like he sensed that something was wrong. Since horcruxes contain parts of his soul and all, that was a logical conclusion to come to. I can't say whether that'll help much in the long run though, as he's being far more careful now about where he's hiding them."

Hermione sighed. "Yes, we've considered that. Unfortunately, I wasn't there when Ron destroyed it, but I don't know that I would have advised against it even if I had known what would happen. We just couldn't stand to have it around anymore, Draco! And, now that you mention it, what is happening, exactly? More snatchers and death eaters out searching for Harry, I suppose? We saw at Mr. Lovegood's house that a substantial reward is also being offered."

"For starters, yes, but the word is that he's also rallied giants in on the search, and might even go as far as to arrest students from Hogwarts. Already he's got a watch on most of your old friends, though the Weasleys have all but vanished, it seems."

And good for them, Hermione thought, glad for Ron's sake and for her own that the beloved family was, presumably, safe. It was anyone's guess how much the Order of the Phoenix was helping them accomplish this. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Luna, who already had been taken in by death eaters. Merlin knew who might be next, and it was maddening to Hermione not to be able to do anything about it!

Calming herself down, she tried to focus on the rest of Draco's message, in which he communicated to her the conversation that he'd overheard between Bellatrix and Voldemort. This pricked Hermione's interest, but at the same time was highly discouraging. After all, if the cup wasn't at Malfoy Manor, then Draco couldn't search for it; and worse yet, they had no other leads to go on!

"At the very least we've confirmed that Bellatrix definitely has one of the horcruxes in her possession though," she replied. "That's more than we knew before, anyway. I'll have something to tell Harry, and hopefully we can form some kind of plan based on that."

"I'll see if I can find out anything else in the meantime," Draco said. "If anything happens to you, then you do the same."

"Alright, but it's hard to know when to send you a patronus," Hermione sighed. "For us, you could argue that it's safe at any time, but for when you can receive one..."

"I see what you mean. How about if we set up a time when I can make sure to be alone? That way, at least you won't be wondering."

Hermione brightened. "Draco, that's...that's brilliant!"

"Hmm, you sound surprised. Did I ever strike you as being dumb, Granger?"

Well, yes, actually, he had, but—

"Wait, don't answer that. If I have to hear anything from you, I'd rather it be complimentary."

"I'll remember that in our future conversations, Draco," Hermione laughed. "For the record though, I do think that now you have some brains."

"Charming, aren't you, Granger?"

"No more nor less than you, Malfoy."

A heavy sigh followed from Draco. "Well, there's no more to say on my end, so I'll leave off here. I'll contact you again once I'm back at Hogwarts."

"Nothing more to say? Are you sure, Draco?" Hermione teased.

"Anything you'd like to hear?" And darn it if his voice wasn't equally as teasing and just a little big smug!

Yes, Hermione thought, feeling a blush creeping up on her cheeks. "Not unless I'm going to like whatever it is. I could use some good news now."

Draco chuckled. "Oh, I can think of a few things you'd like, but I'll save them for next time I see you in person. I'd say we'll make it soon, but..."

"Now's not the time for long term plans, I know," Hermione finished for him. "In that case, leave off with this: take care, Draco, and...we'll be moving to Whitby Abbey as our next camping ground after New Year's. Just so you know."

"Where we met before, you mean?" Draco confirmed.

"Yes. It's abandoned this time of year and so I suggested it. Harry and Ron agreed."

"I'll see you there then. Take care, Hermione."

After having said their goodbyes, Hermione resumed guard duty until about after lunchtime. Then it was Harry's duty for the afternoon, for which he opted to use Ron's wand. It didn't respond to him as well as his own wand would have, but it was definitely preferable to using Hermione's wand, which was completely unyielding to his will; Ron's wand, in comparison, was an absolute dream.

This left Ron and Hermione in the tent alone, with only Hermione's wand between them—a wand that, though she could use it to hex Ron, she decided not to. Her anger from before had dissipated; and, after her conversation with Draco that morning, Hermione's spirits were considerably lightened enough to forgive Ron even though he wasn't apologizing right at that moment. In everything from his initial apology to his manner for the past several days, practically walking on eggshells around her, he had more than communicated his regret over what had happened. Now, it was time to let bygones be bygones and just be friends again.

"Ron?" she prompted, finally breaking the silence between them.

"Yeah?" His head shot up and he looked immediately eager, which...Hermione hoped meant that they wouldn't have to talk much about what had happened and just move on. As long as Ron could keep himself in check and be what they needed him to be, then it would be all the easier to try and regain their friendship to what it had been before.

"I was wondering if you've heard anything about your family?" Hermione asked. It was as good a place to start as any.

Ron, it seemed, had changed in some ways, as he had the good grace not to scowl at her concern this time as he had before, when he had been touchy about such questions. Also, Hermione noticed that he hadn't bothered with that radio of his since coming back either, which was yet another good sign. "No, actually, but I've decided to consider that no news is good news. It did me no good to worry before, and...after what I saw with how Lovegood is yesterday, how mental he's going worrying over Luna, I can't let myself get that way again. And I'm...I'm sorry for how I was before."

Looking sheepish, Ron placed his hands on the table, folding them together very close to Hermione's own. She didn't recoil back from him, but all of a sudden his look become far more intense—and apologetic. He looked...as whiny as his jack russell terrier patronus, and while in the past Hermione would have found this cute, now she was starting to feel uncomfortable.

"Hermione, I know what I did was wrong, seriously, and I really did want to come back right away. I was rotten to you and to Harry and said some things that I didn't mean." He sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "Back there at the pond, when I destroyed the locket, it showed me what it knew I would hate the most. It threw in my face everything I hate about myself, and me realize that the worst thing I could be was useless to Harry...and you."

"Ron—"

"If I can't excuse myself, Hermione, I don't expect you to," Ron pressed on. "What I'm trying to say now is that I know how things stand and how a lot of the stuff I said before was based only on what was in my own mind. Taking it all out on you when you were under enough pressure already makes me a real prick, I know. But I want that to be over with, Hermione, and for us to move on."

"Ron, that's all that Harry and I want too," Hermione said. Usually, she didn't speak in Harry's place, but somehow it felt necessary to inject him into the discussion now. The way Ron was looking at her was shifting gradually into something...something that she didn't want to see right now and wasn't ready to respond to. She was too smart not to realize what that look meant, what Ron was feeling, but now wasn't the time for him to act on it. Or, more accurately, Hermione didn't want him to act on it. Not now that she cared for another in that way—Ron would only get hurt if he pressed further.

Trying to change the topic and switch direction was hard with Ron's one-track mind though, and right now Hermione didn't want to antagonize him. Granted, she would do so anyway by giving him an answer that he didn't want, so now it was really choosing the lesser of two evils—and setting Ron straight, though something unavoidable in the long run, was something best averted for the present.

"Hermione—"

"The important thing is that you're back though," she cut in, unable to meet his gaze. "And, all things considered, I think you deserve another chance."

"Another chance?" Ron echoed. "Wait, didn't I already prove myself by saving Harry's life?"

Hermione conceded that much. "Yes, Ron, but...what I meant is...things are only going to get more difficult from here on out. When you destroyed the locket, You-Know-Who definitely felt it. Now, he's sure to be more guarded and more determined in capturing Harry. We all need to be in top form, though I know that we're anything but. Times are going to be harder now than ever, and we really can't have a repeat of...of what already happened."

Ron pursed his mouth into a grim line, but nodded. "That's what I want to avoid at all costs too, Mione. But it will be different this time, I promise you. Before it...it was that ruddy horcrux affecting my mind as much as anything, you know it was! I would never have treated Harry and especially you that way if I had been thinking clearly."

Hermione wished she could be as sure of that as Ron was, but that was just the point of keeping him at a distance now: to see if he could really keep his word and not stir up trouble along those lines again. To give him the benefit of the doubt though, she simply nodded at his words and argued no further.

"I'm glad to hear that, Ron."

"Good. I'm glad that you're glad."

Followed by one of the redhead's usual awkward smiles, Hermione finally returned his warm look, only to be surprised when all of a sudden, Ron reached out and took one of her hands in his.

"Hermione, I...there's something else I've been wanting to tell you. A-about what I've been thinking of while I was away. Or, more specifically, what I've been thinking about us."

Unsurprisingly, subtlety did not work well at all for Ron Weasley. Just as Hermione trying to divert away from this conversation hadn't worked out, so it seemed that Ron had no idea of how to read the mood and pick the right time to say what it was he wanted to say. Hermione thought she'd prepared herself for what he was going to say, but it turned out that Ron was still as unpredictable as ever with the words that came out of his mouth. To say that this hit her harder than a stunning spell would be an understatement.

"The truth is, Hermione, that I like you. I've liked you for a long time and just didn't realize how much until all of this started. There's just...a lot that's kept us apart—most of it probably because of me, I guess. First it was thinking that I wasn't good enough for you, and then it was thinking that there was something going on between you and Harry."

"Ron, I—"

"I know now of course that that second one isn't true," Ron cut in quickly, giving her hand a squeeze when Hermione would otherwise have pulled away. "And I think that's what I feel worst about, dragging you both into things and only making everything more difficult than it had to be. But I've realized the truth since I've been away, and that's what I'm basing my thoughts and words on now. My mind is clear, Hermione, and that's why I can talk to you like this.

"So, if you can accept my apology and everything I've said to you, I want you to consider me in that way, seriously—because I'm hell of serious about you, Mione."

If Hermione had paled, maybe the dim light in the tent didn't show it. And if her heart rate went up and Ron noticed, it definitely wasn't out of excitement, but dread at how she could respond without hurting Ron or, worse, angering him and making him regret coming back. And he definitely did expect a response from her, with no thought as to waiting. Still though, better to try stalling than deny him to his face with no preamble...

"Ron, now...now really isn't the time to be thinking about that," Hermione said, swallowing a lump in her throat and trying again to pull her hand out of his, this time successfully. "We're in a war and running for our lives day by day; we have to hunt horcruxes with essentially no leads at this point; there are so many other things to worry about, especially since everything, as I've just said, has gotten much harder than before. We could be dead tomorrow for all we know, Ron, so—"

"That's just my point!" Ron said, sounding rather proud and confident, astounding Hermione with regards to how he based his logic. "If things really do get worse and we end up losing our lives tomorrow, I don't want to leave behind any regrets." Boldly, he reached out and caressed Hermione's other hand that was still on the table. "And my biggest regret would be if I never told you how I felt and never—"

"Hermione! Ron! I think I just felt someone penetrate our outer wards!"

The sudden bursting in of Harry was like the answer to Hermione's prayer at that point, even though his news brought on more panic than comfort. Nevertheless, ignoring Harry's confused stare at how he had caught his friends hand-holding, Hermione was quick to jump into action. Immediately taking out her wand to pack in the fastest feat she had attempted yet, a mere two minutes later Hermione had taken both of her friends and disapparated them all away from potential danger.

That is to say, danger from others. For, within the trio, whether to be delayed for a day or even an hour, something had been set in motion that was sure to risk a greater rift than ever before.

And the worst part was that this time, Hermione had absolutely nothing left with which to fix it.

A/N: I'm punishing myself as much as you readers, trust me. Writing this scene between Ron and Hermione felt like running a marathon, having to watch each and every step so that I make it to the desired finish line. Whew! To be honest, I thought it would be much easier to write than it was, but it turns out that I want a lot of things from Hermione and Ron's relationship that is hard to accomplish. For one thing, we all still technically need Ron to be around and help with destroying the horcruxes and all, so I can't have Hermione reject him outright because that would affect things negatively. On the other hand though, I don't see her as being able to even fake giving him any encouragement, so lying to him wasn't an option either. Ron won't back off and Hermione won't even pretend with him. Add to all this that Ron's knowing about Draco would tip him over the edge, and you've got my main reason for not just having Hermione tell him things outright. Usually, I don't like plot lines in which one character has to lie to their best friend/love interest for any reason, but...darn it if it's not necessary!

Ahem, Ron will at some point get the memo, of course, but let's just say that I'll be holding off on that until at least AFTER they go to Gringotts. So, yeah, for those of you that were hoping that the Draco reveal towards Ron would come sooner, sorry to disappoint.

Other than that though, just so readers know what to expect, next chapter will be the post-New Year's chapter taking place at Whitby Abbey. It's essentially my "Get out of jail" card to use in delaying another Ron-Hermione conversation for another chapter. After that though, I'll maybe include just one more fluff chapter possibly, after which we'll be moving into March and the long-awaited Squirmish at Malfoy Manor. I'll admit that this puts it at earlier than I first planned, but in thinking things over I realized that there's only so much I can hold off on the main action of the story, you know?

ALSO, final note, just so readers know, in order to get out the best content possible at a time when I'm, to be honest, lacking any inspiration to write, next week there will be no new chapter. I just need time to get my creative juices flowing again, and that takes time and rest. Especially now since there's a ton of uncertainties in the world from September onwards, I need to take things more slowly and thus need some downtime. I hope readers understand and won't be too put off by this. .

In the meantime, please do review, follow, and favourite as always! I look forward to reading all your feedback!