A Thousand Words

Chapter 26: One Love, One Lifetime

When Hermione arrived back at the Burrow, dinner had just started. Harry was still at Headquarters, but the rest of the Weasleys greeted Hermione cheerfully when she stepped into the house.

'How was your day?' Mrs Weasley asked kindly as Hermione sat down across from Ron. She spooned a heap of peas onto Hermione's plate for her before passing the bowl to Fred.

'Thanks,' said Hermione, smiling gratefully at Mrs Weasley. 'It was...good.'

She was highly aware that her cheeks were flushed, both from the cold and from thinking about Shadow, so she hastily speared a pork chop on the end of her fork and began eating it diligently.

'I thought Robards gave you a break to work on the Malkin case,' Ron said, looking up at Hermione and frowning. 'What did you do today?'

'I ran out of ink, so I went to Diagon Alley to buy some,' Hermione lied. She grimaced. When had the lies started coming out so easily?

'Oh...' said Ron uncertainly.

'You should've stopped by,' said George eagerly through a mouthful of potatoes. 'We had a busy day, and some help would have been nice. Fred fired Verity because she was -'

'- stealing merchandise, that's right,' Fred finished, nodding smartly. 'We've warned her time and time, but she just -'

'- refused to listen,' said George sadly. He sighed dramatically. 'Shame, too, as she's been with us from the start. Alicia and Angelina can't help out either; they're off on vacation in France.'

'Said they wanted to enjoy the last week of their break before they go back to training,' Fred explained.

'What team do they play for again?' Mrs Weasley asked somewhat critically. Though she constantly insisted that she was quite fond of both Alicia and Angelina, Hermione knew that she was disappointed that they did not have more respectable, sensible careers.

'Holyhead Harpies,' said Fred and George in unison.

'Like two peas in a pod,' Ginny quipped from the end of the table, rolling her eyes. She smiled at Hermione. 'But really, how was your day? I was going to ask you to come shopping with me, but it looks like you've already gone.'

'Sorry,' Hermione apologised. Now everyone was looking at her. She squirmed uncomfortably. 'Diagon Alley was busy, so I didn't get much done. I have another meeting with Malfoy tomorrow.'

'It's good to know you're treating that poor boy so kindly,' said Mrs Weasley approvingly. 'He's gone through so much, and Harry tells me that he hasn't got very many friends at the Ministry.'

'I can see why,' Ron grumbled. 'I don't trust him. He says he's a better person now, but that sounds like a load of rubbish to me. By the looks of it, everyone else thinks so too.'

'He's not that bad,' said Hermione reproachfully. She smiled inwardly. Draco really wasn't bad at all. In fact, she was starting to warm up to him. 'He lives alone, though.'

'How would you know that?' said Ron snidely.

Hermione stared him straight in the eye. 'I've been to his flat.'

'Did you really?' said Ginny, leaning forward interestedly. 'What's it like?'

'Malfoy?!' exclaimed Fred and George, looking delighted. 'The same twit Moody turned into a ferret?'

'What'd you go to his house for?' Ron demanded indignantly. 'Another meeting?'

'Well, we get some peace and quiet there,' said Hermione, addressing Ron's question and ignoring the rest. She was finding it incredibly hard to be patient with him, but for the sake of preventing another scene at the dinner table she forced herself to keep her temper in check. 'So yes, it was for another meeting. I'm going back tomorrow.'

'Why don't you invite him over here?' Mrs Weasley suggested.

Hermione looked down awkwardly. She didn't want to tell Mrs Weasley that Draco still hated the Weasleys. Luckily, she was spared the trouble of answering by Ron.

'I'd never let that scum into this house,' he said obstinately. 'The only reason why I'm letting Hermione work with him at all is because the Ministry needs to find the murderer.'

'Shut it, Ron,' said Ginny. She glared at him pointedly. 'Besides, didn't you have something you wanted to say?'

'Later,' Ron snapped.

Meanwhile, Hermione was thinking back to the walk she'd had with Shadow, unaware that her elbow was in her mashed potatoes. It had been so romantic, standing in the snow and talking about themselves - nothing like any of the dates she'd had with Ron. Was that what their meeting had been, then? A date?

'Hermione, can I have a word?'

Hermione blinked, surprised. Dinner had ended, and Ron was standing up and looking at her nervously.

'Sure,' she said, pushing her chair back and standing up too.

She followed Ron out of the dining room. 'Have fun, lovebirds,' Fred and George chorused in sing-song voices as she passed behind their seats.

'Hermione,' said Ron once they were out of earshot and standing alone on the staircase, 'I...I'm sorry.' He was staring fixedly at his feet. 'I shouldn't have been so protective and jealous. I just love you a lot, and I don't want anyone else to take you away from me. I do trust you, I really do.'

Hermione felt a little piece of her heart shatter. Of course. She had heard right after all.

'Oh, Ron,' she said, torn between guilt, relief, and exasperation. How could she tell him that she was planning to meet again with Shadow after the miniature speech he had just made?

'Do you forgive me?' he asked anxiously. He looked like a sad puppy. Ginny must have really given him a piece of her mind this morning, Hermione realised.

The words fell out of Hermione's mouth before she had time to think about them. 'Of course I do,' she said, hugging Ron tightly. 'I'm sorry I haven't been paying enough attention to you.'

'You are?' said Ron, looking relieved.

'Yes,' said Hermione earnestly, pulling back and smiling at him. How could she have let the thought of breaking up with him cross her mind? 'Once this case is over, I promise everything will be back to normal.'

'What about Shadow?' said Ron, his eyes darkening. 'What are you going to do about him?'

Hermione hesitated. She knew what she had to do. The next time they met, she would take off her Invisibility Cloak and show him who she was. He would have to do the same, and once they realised each other's identities, they could start a normal friendship.

'I'll deal with it,' said Hermione. 'Just forget about him. Forget about Malfoy. Why would I ever leave you for someone else?'

'I - well, I'm probably not as smart - and maybe not so brave, or anything of the sort - I just thought -'

'Don't be ridiculous!' Hermione interrupted. 'Ron, I don't care about any of that. You're one of the best friends I've ever had; you're not going to lose me that easily.'

'Hermione,' said Ron, as if suddenly remembering something. 'The other day...I had something for you. For Christmas.' He reached into his pocket and pulled out the familiar little box Hermione had seen him waving around. 'I've been thinking about this for a long time...'

'Thinking about what?' Hermione inquired apprehensively. She eyed the box in Ron's hand. 'What is it?'

Ron cleared his throat nervously. 'I, uh, want to ask you something.' He took one of Hermione's hands in his and gazed at her solemnly. 'We do fight a lot, but we've still survived ten years together, and that's because I love you a lot, Hermione.'

Oh my God, Hermione thought faintly, the truth suddenly striking her. Her eyes darted from Ron's sombre expression to the box he held in his free hand. He's going to -

'Hermione, will you marry me?'

Hermione's hand flew to her mouth. Feeling very weak in the knees, she whispered feebly, 'Ron...'

'I know it's sudden,' he said quickly, flipping the lid of the box open and revealing a plain gold engagement ring, 'but there's, er, no better time than the present to...y'know...'

'Of course I will, Ron!' Hermione squealed, cutting him off mid-sentence. She threw her arms around him again and kissed him, positive that she had never been happier in her entire life.

'RONNIEKINS IS GETTING MARRIED!'

Hermione whipped around, startled by the sudden yell from downstairs. Fred was standing in the doorway to the kitchen with a gleeful expression on his face.

'Fred -' Ron started to say, scarlet-faced.

But the rest of the Weasleys had already come running out to see what the fuss was about. Mrs Weasley was the first to break the stunned silence.

'Oh, Ron!' she wailed, running up the stairs to sweep both Ron and Hermione into her arms. 'You two - always knew - so proud -!'

'About time, mate!' Fred roared, ascending the stairs and slapping Ron good-naturedly on the back.

'We thought you'd never come around,' George exclaimed, joining Fred on the staircase. He punched Ron's shoulder, beaming. 'You're not as spineless as we thought you were!'

'Thanks a lot,' Ron muttered, wincing and rubbing his shoulder. Still, there was a definite grin on his face.

'I told you he'd come around!' Ginny squealed to Hermione over her mother's joyful sobs about inviting Hermione's parents over to plan a spring wedding as soon as possible. 'I never thought this would happen, though.'

'You're okay with it, aren't you?' Hermione asked anxiously, unable to keep a grin off of her own face. 'I mean, you don't -'

'Stop being a worrywart, Hermione!' Ginny exclaimed, swatting at Hermione's arm. 'Marrying you will be the best thing that's ever happened to that prat!'

'Everyone, out of here!' Mrs Weasley suddenly announced, pushing everyone away from Ron and Hermione. 'Let them have their privacy, for Merlin's sake!'

She hurried down the stairs, still sniffling and swiping at her tear-stained cheeks, and the other three Weasleys reluctantly followed suit.

'Well,' Hermione giggled once everyone was out of earshot, 'at least your mum is okay with it.'

'She's been pressuring me to propose for months now. 'Course she's happy.' Ron smiled at Hermione. 'I'm glad we got everything sorted out.'

'Me too,' Hermione agreed. She sighed contentedly.

'Oh, hold on,' said Ron. He reached down and picked up the box containing the engagement ring, which had fallen to the ground in all the commotion. Opening it, he took the ring out and caught Hermione's hand.

'Promise me we'll be together forever, Hermione,' he said seriously, placing the band at the tip of Hermione's ring finger.

'I promise,' Hermione said softly.

Ron slid the ring onto her finger. It glowed pale blue for a moment, then tightened slightly so that it fit around Hermione's finger perfectly.

'It's beautiful,' she whispered.

'Sorry it's so plain,' Ron muttered. 'It's all I could afford...'

Hermione shook her head and took Ron's hand in both of hers. 'I couldn't have asked for a better one.'

---

Three hours later - she and Ron had taken a walk outside after the incident on the stairs - Hermione finally closed her bedroom door behind her. Still in a state of disbelief, she crossed the room, sat down at her desk, and turned to gaze at her reflection in the mirror blissfully.

'What were the odds?' she sighed to herself.

'And they say you're one of the brightest witches around,' clucked the voice of the mirror disapprovingly. 'That boy's been in love with you for eternity and a day, dear.'

'I never thought he'd ask, though,' Hermione explained. She played with the handle of her wand distractedly. 'As much as I love him, Ron can be a bit slow sometimes.'

'Tell me about it,' the mirror drawled. 'Anyway, you've got a letter.'

'Have I?' said Hermione, snapping out of her reverie and looking around. She spotted the folded piece of parchment lying on her sheets.

Standing up, Hermione made her way over to her bed and, after picking up the letter, sat down. On the front of it, the word 'Starlight' was written in shining silver ink.

Hermione's heart sunk. Of course; she had told Shadow to write to her soon, and he had complied.

For a moment, she was seized with the urge to tear the letter into pieces and throw it out the window. How could Shadow do this to her now, when everything between Ron and her was finally perfect?

Still, her practised fingers had unfolded the letter against her own resolve. Unwillingly, yet unable to stop herself, Hermione turned her eyes downwards and read the words.

Dear Starlight,

I'm sure you didn't expect a letter so soon, but when I returned home, I brooded quite a bit over your comment about telling each other our names. I've decided that you're probably right and that I do think it's time for us to leave behind the rules of the challenge. If you agree, please meet me this upcoming Saturday at our usual spot in Sherwood Park.

Yours,

Shadow

Hermione sat back, letting the letter fall out of her hands and onto her lap. She breathed a sigh of relief. Finally it would be over. She was sure that Shadow was someone she knew, and once Ron saw that, everything would go back to the way it was a month ago. Ron would forgive her; she would forgive him; and they would marry and live happily ever after.

Nevertheless, Hermione felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. It would be over. She knew very well in her heart that nothing would ever be the same again, for she'd poured her soul into the words she'd exchanged with him, and he knew her as she was now - better than Ginny, better than Harry, better than Ron. She couldn't take all of that back.

Tears welled up her eyes as she remembered what he had said to her earlier. 'She'll never take your place...' And oh, the way he had touched her as if he were afraid she would shatter under his fingers. She brought a hand up to her cheek, where the shadow of his touch still lingered, and exhaled shakily.

The tears fell.

The scene replayed itself vividly in her mind. Time had stopped when they came into contact; still, she had forced herself to walk away, because staying had never really been an option. She saw his fingers curl around empty air, and felt her heart break.

'I'm thankful for you...'

A shudder ran down her spine. She couldn't take any of it back.