Giving Into Temptation

Chapter Nine: Regrets and Sleepless Nights

When Draco arrived back at Hermione's house, he couldn't help but notice how off-putting she seemed to be.

"Is something wrong, Hermione?"

"What?" Hermione looked up at him, startled. "No...no...nothing's wrong. Why do you ask?"

"Because you look like someone's just told you Crookshanks died."

At the stricken look on Hermione's face, Draco reached out to stroke her arm.

"I wasn't being serious, Hermione. I'm sure ol' Crookshanks will live for another hundred years or so."

Hermione smiled, but for some reason she couldn't keep it in place, and her lips turned down into a frown.

"Hermione, there's something you're not telling me."

"I'm fine, Draco! Just leave me alone!"

Draco quirked an eyebrow at her and her cheeks colored.

"Whenever a girl says they're 'fine' that means they're not. So what is it that's got you wound so tight?"

"I don't know...I've just been thinking."

"Thinking? About us?"

"Yes."

"And...?"

"And...I don't know!"

"You think you've made the wrong decision, don't you?"

"No!" She'd said it too quickly, and Draco knew she was lying.

"I'm going to go out for a while. I'll be back later."

Draco Disapparated and Hermione sighed in dismay as she flopped onto the sofa. That did not go well. Oh...what in the world am I doing? How can I honestly try and love Draco Malfoy? She pinched the bridge of her nose in an attempt to stave off a headache, but it was not use. Her head throbbed...her eyes shone with tears...and she turned to face the back of the sofa, falling into a fitful sleep.

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Meanwhile, at Harry and Ginny's flat, Ron tossed and turned in the guest bedroom. His last conversation with Hermione wouldn't leave his mind, and he awakened with a gasp.

"Damn it all," he grumbled, running shaking fingers through his sweat-drenched, red hair. "Fucking Malfoy! He ruined everything!"

Ron threw aside the sheets that were tangled around him and padded into the kitchen. To his astonishment, Harry already sat at the kitchen table, two shot glasses and a bottle of Firewhiskey in front of him.

"What's all this?"

"I heard you in your room. I knew you'd be awake soon so I got out my bottle of 'liquid courage'."

Ron sat down across from Harry and took the shot glass handed to him. He downed it quickly and nodded at Harry to pour him another.

"I miss her, Harry. I don't know why, after what she's done, but I guess I can't help it."

"You love her, Ron. You've loved her since our third year at Hogwarts. That's seven years, Ron. You don't just forget about that in a day."

"Hermione did," Ron replied bitterly, swigging another shot.

Harry glanced at him sadly and shook his head. "You have no idea what made 'Mione do what she did. Even after Gin and I told you to hear her out, all you did was go over there and make things worse."

"Make things worse? Make things worse?! My ex-fiancée is now dating my enemy. I'd say that's already as bad as it can get!"

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