The Eternal Triangle

Chapter 9 - Revelations

Harry, Ron and Hermione finally broke away from each other and she noticed that Ron's and Harry's eyes were damp with emotion as well. Pulling Ron to her, she kissed his cheek then did the same to Harry.

"I love you both," she told them fervently, her eyes shining with happiness.

Remus cleared his throat and the three of them whipped around, startled. They had forgotten that he and Moody were in the room. Remus smiled at them. "I'm glad you're - together - again," he said quietly. "Welcome home, Hermione."

"Thank you, Remus." Looking from Ron to Harry, she said, "I am home."

Harry got up off his knees and dragged the toppled chair next to Hermione and sat down. Remus looked at him seriously and asked, "Alright Harry?"

Harry met his eyes and replied, "Yes Remus, everything's alright. You have nothing to worry about."

"Sure?" pressed Remus.

"I'm sure. Don't worry. I'm not going to turn into another dark lord, I promise," he assured them gravely, looking at Moody as he said it.

"Make sure you don't, sonny!" Moody barked harshly.

Looking at Hermione, Remus asked, "That's one of the things you needed to tell us right?"

"Yes," she replied. She turned to Harry and asked, "That's why you felt the magic from the Dark Wards, isn't it? Because you're full of dark magic yourself." Harry nodded in agreement.

"Are you going to tell the Order about Harry?" Hermione asked Remus.

"I think I'll take a leaf out of your Madam's book. We'll keep this strictly on a need to know basis," he replied with a slight smile. "And there's nothing to worry about anymore, is there?" he asked, quirking his eyebrow at Harry. Harry nodded again.

"What are the other things you needed to tell us?" Remus asked Hermione.

Before she could reply, Moody interrupted, "Who's been tracking your son?"

Her heart clenched in panic and her stomach dropped. Oh dear god, this is it! She looked at Ron and Harry almost wildly. I can't do this - I can't! Oh somebody, help...

Seeing the panic stricken look on her face, Ron turned to her and asked worriedly, "Hermione, what is it?" Harry looked at her as well.

"Do you know who it is Hermione?" Remus asked, looking at her with a frown.

Closing her eyes, she nodded miserably.

"Who?" Harry asked in a hard voice.

She took Ron's and Harry's hands in hers and gripped hard. Swiveling her head between them, she pleaded urgently, "Promise me you won't hate me. Promise me!"

"Why?" Ron asked, voice hard with suspicion.

"Promise me!" she repeated, her eyes silently begging him.

"No," he declared harshly. Shaking her hand off his, he stood agitatedly, giving her a hard look.

Turning to Harry, she opened her mouth but before she could say anything, he said roughly, "No." And pulled his hand away from her as well, crossing them over his chest, his face grim.

"Hermione..." Remus prompted.

Looking at the uncompromising expressions on both Harry's and Ron's faces, she clenched her fists on the table and said heatedly, "Fine. Fine. I'll tell you who it was." She took a deep breath. "Lucius Malfoy." Hermione closed her eyes wretchedly, waiting for the explosion she was sure was coming from either Ron or Harry.

When silence greeted her announcement, she cautiously opened her eyes and looked around. Only puzzled, uncomprehending expressions met her gaze.

"Why should Lucius Malfoy be tracking your son?" asked Moody with a frown.

"Because he's Ronnie's grandfather."

"No - no Hermione. You're not saying - no Hermione!" Ron said aghast, shaking his head in horror and with a sickened look in his eyes.

"Yes, Ron," she quivered out. "Lucius Malfoy is Ronnie's grandfather because - because Draco Malfoy is his father," she finished in a rush.

"I'm sorry Ron, I'm sorry," she pleaded miserably, turning urgently to him. She got up and went to him, hands outstretched in supplication. "Please Ron, please. I'm so sorry, please forgive me. I love you Ron, I lov--"

"Don't say that word to me!" he cut her off harshly. "You have no idea what it means!" Glaring hatefully at her, he strode to the door and flung it open so violently, it nearly came off its hinges.

She chased after him and grabbed his arm, still pleading. "Ron please, let me explain."

He flung her hand off and turned his wrath on her. "Explain Hermione?" he gritted out. "What's there to explain? You and Malfoy!" he almost spat the name out.

"When Bill said you've changed, he wasn't wrong. I don't know who you are anymore." Shaking his head in disgust, he looked at her like she was the vilest, most loathsome thing he ever saw, turned and strode away.

~+~+~

Hermione was in the room she was using while at number 12 Grimmauld Place, haphazardly packing her small suitcase. After her confrontation with Ron, she hadn't bothered returning to the meeting and rushed up to her room instead. She'd paced about, her emotions scattered, alternating from sadness, to anger, to despair, to misery, irritation then back to anger. She had now worked herself into a fury thinking about Ron's reaction.

Bloody irrational, blind, stupid git! Can't see anything past his long nose and jealous rage. I've changed indeed. Of course I've changed, it's been seven bloody years! If you weren't such a thick idiot, you would still know me. I may've changed but I'm still ME! Took you four bloody years to recognize I'm a girl, so why should I be surprised? GIT! PRAT! IDIOT!

Her internal rant went on as she packed. She had planned on going back tomorrow morning but decided to just leave tonight or she might not be able to stop herself from going to Ron and beating some sense into him. PRAT!

Why is it always SO HARD for us to get it right? EVERY TIME it looked like things are finally coming together, something has to come along to ruin it. What did I ever do to deserve this? All I wanted was to be happy - with Ron. Is that so much to ask?

She looked around wildly, trying to see whether there was anything left to pack when there was a knock on her door.

"What?!" she yelled irritatedly.

"Hermione, its Harry. Can I come in?"

She debated for a moment whether to let him in. With a frustrated groan she stalked to the door, yanked it open and stood in the doorway, glaring at him.

"Uh-" he stuttered, taking a step back from her furious glare. "Er - what are you doing?"

"Packing," she replied flatly.

"Uh-right. You're leaving tomorrow."

"I'm leaving tonight."

"Why?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"So I don't kill that thick, idiotic red-headed best friend of yours!" she hissed angrily.

"Oh," he said comprehendingly, smirking slightly.

"What do you want anyway?" she asked, walking back into the room.

Harry followed her in and closed the door.

"Why'd you do it Hermione?"

"Do what?" she asked irritatedly.

"Malfoy."

She froze for a moment, before turning to face him. "I fell for his charm and good looks, of course," she replied sarcastically.

"Hermione, I'm serious," he said in a hard voice.

"And you think I'm not?" she asked angrily. "Ron as good as called me a - a - slut! Is that what you're doing as well?"

"No," he said firmly. "I'm asking you why."

"Because he put a lust charm on me!" she yelled, glaring at him.

Harry's fists clenched by his side and he stated flatly, "I'm going to kill him."

"What good will that do?" she retorted.

"The world will finally be rid of Malfoys for one."

She looked pensively at Harry and said quietly, "My son is a Malfoy."

He gave her a startled look.

She heaved a sigh and just gestured tiredly at him. Walking to the bed, she sank down dispiritedly on it. "What am I going to do Harry? I've made such a mess!"

Harry pulled a chair and sat in front of her.

Looking down at her hands clenched on her knees, she said miserably, "Why is it so hard to get it through his thick skull that it's him that I love? It's always him and it's always going to be him. Why is it so easy for him to believe that it's the Victors or the Malfoys I'd rather be with?"

"Or Potter?" Harry added.

She looked up at him and gasped when she realized what she'd said. "Harry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it that way. I do love you Harry, I do. Please don't think I lied. I'd never do that to you, you're my best friend and always will be. I'd do anything for you, you know that! You and Ron are my life and I love you both so much. I want the both of you to be happy. I'd never choose one over the other if it's going to make either one of you unhappy. Please believ--"

She stopped because Harry had leaned forward and placed his fingers over her mouth.

"Hermione, stop. Breath," he said, smiling slightly.

"Oh," she said with a trembling breath and smiled tremulously.

"I know," Harry stated seriously.

"Know what?"

"I know its Ron that you love - and not me."

"I do love you Harry, I do," she said earnestly, willing him to believe.

"You love me as a friend but its Ron you're in love with. Right?" he asked.

"No, that's not true!" she said wildly.

"Hermione..." he said in exasperation. "The time for concealment and half truths is over. That's why we've lost seven years when we could've been together. Because you didn't tell me and Ron what the hell was going on," he said, glaring at her. "I can't believe you didn't tell us when Malfoy did that to you. We're your best friends!"

"Harry, I couldn't," she said, shaking her head miserably. "The both of you would've gone crazy and - and killed him or done something equally bad. As it is, Ron barely trusts him, even now. The two of you would've never been able to work with him if I'd told you. And that would've been really stupid, because he's an Order member and his role as spy was vital.

"You and Ron wouldn't have seen it that way. I know the two of you, alright? With you two, it's always action first and think later," she said, shaking her head in exasperation.

"We're that bad, huh?" he asked wryly.

"Yes. But I wouldn't want you any other way," she replied, smiling.

Harry smiled back at her. "Hermione - remember when Ron was in a coma, at the hospital?"

She nodded her head, wondering where he was going with this.

"It was the day before you brewed the potion. I was coming to see you and Ron. Just outside the door, I heard you saying something to him. Do you remember?"

She frowned, trying to recall. "I think... I said that - that he couldn't leave me. Was that it?"

He exhaled a breath and quoted her, "'Even if I have to go to the lowest levels of hell to fetch you, I will bring you back. You are not leaving me'." Looking at her pensively, he continued, "That jolted me back to reality. I've always known its Ron you love. Hell, everybody knew that!" he laughed bitterly. "But just for that few short weeks, I let myself believe you love me. And I thank you Hermione."

"Th-thank me?"

"Yes, I thank you for being such a good friend, you willingly sacrificed your love for Ron to be there for me - when I needed you most. I couldn't have gotten through that without you," he said and she knew he was referring to Dumbledore's death.

"Thank you," he repeated fervently, taking both her hands and gripping them hard.

"Now it's time for me to do something for my two best friends. Because, without you two, I'm nothing," he said gravely.

"What're you going to do?" she asked curiously.

"Leave that to me," he assured her smiling. "The golden trio is back together - for good this time," he promised and got up to walk out her room. Just before he closed the door, he turned and said, "Keep in touch Hermione, don't you dare disappear again!" he said, pretending to glare at her. "Have a safe trip - and - tell Ronnie, Harry Potter sends his regards."

~+~+~

After walking away from Hermione, Ron had left Headquarters and had just walked aimlessly for hours. He'd kicked at everything in his path - papers, tin cans, boxes, bits of rubbish, stones and once, even a cat - just to vent his frustration.

I can't believe you, Hermione! Malfoy! As if Harry wasn't bad enough, you had to go and shag that ferret as well. Love! You have no idea what it means to love Hermione, not the way I love you. Seven bloody years you left me, without a word, without a reason. I was in hell Hermione, you can't begin to bloody imagine the hell I went through. Not knowing where you were, not knowing whether you were alright. But I love you so much, I would've just opened my arms to welcome you back and say a prayer of thanksgiving 'cause you're safe and back with me, where you belong. But nooo - that wasn't enough for you was it? Your torture for me has only just begun, hasn't it? Why Hermione? WHY?! What did I ever do to you? All I did was to love you. I've loved you since forever and I'm never going to stop. Because I - bloody - well - can't! No matter what you do to me. You can rip my beating heart out with your bare hands and I will still love you, sad prat that I am.

Ron walked long after the street lamps had come on and would have gone on walking if the weather had not turned so cold, he began to shiver in his light jumper. He retraced his steps back to Headquarters and entered quietly. The whole house was dark and silent as he walked up the stairs to his room.

He paused on the landing where the room Hermione was using was on. He stopped after taking only one step towards the door and abruptly turned and hurried up the stairs to his own room. He wasn't ready to face her.

When he opened his door, he was surprised to find Harry sitting in there, reading. Harry looked up and pushed at his glasses with his knuckle.

"Hello, Ron. Where've you been?"

"Walking. Why?" he replied suspiciously.

"No reason," Harry answered calmly. He put his book down and said, "I think we need to talk."

"What about?" Ron asked brusquely. "It's late and I'm tired. Can't it wait?" Turning his back on Harry, he began undressing.

Harry just looked at Ron for long seconds. "Hermione's gone," he said quietly.

Ron stilled for a moment, then continued as if he hadn't heard. Tying his dressing gown with a snap, he turned to face Harry. "Is that supposed to mean something to me?"

"It should," Harry replied, starting to get irritated with Ron.

"She's a grown woman, she can do whatever she wants," Ron said disinterestedly.

"So, you're just going to let her walk away? Again?" Harry taunted Ron softly.

"It's her decision," Ron said, shrugging.

"You're an idiot," Harry snapped, shaking his head in disgust.

Ron went rigid for a moment, then his fists clenched and he lashed out bitterly at Harry. "Yes, I am an idiot. An idiot for trusting her and you; my so-called best friends. Did you both enjoy making a fool of me?"

Ron was breathing hard by now and he had just started. All his envy and jealousy for Harry and his self-doubt regarding Hermione was coming out, and it was coming out now.

"Ever since we've met Harry, everything was about you. The great Harry Potter, can't even take a leak without someone noticing your scar, the Boy-Who-Lived, saviour of the wizarding world, the one who'll defeat the Dark Lord. Dumbledore's golden boy who could do no wrong, youngest quidditch player in a century, Triwizard champion, talented wizard. Rich Harry Potter," he almost spat out the last.

"And Hermione..." he choked out. "Most brilliant witch produced by Hogwarts, the Order's star researcher. Cool, calm, dependable. Oh yes, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger made such a great pair!

"Then there's me, poor, clueless, bumbling Ron Weasley. Potter's sidekick, hanging on to his coattails. The comic element to the Trio.

"You have everything Harry, yet you still had to take the one thing that meant the world to me - Hermione. But she was never mine, was she? Because it was you she wanted all along. Why would she want me when she could have you, the great Harry Potter!

"I wish you both well. The two of you deserve each other - along with the ferret's bastard!" Ron ground out, his eyes blazing with hatred.

And Harry's fist connected with Ron's jaw.

Ron stumbled backward and crashed to the floor. Scrambling up, he advanced to Harry with a murderous expression, but stopped when the tip of Harry's wand touched his chest.

"Don't think I wouldn't Ron," Harry said in a dangerous voice.

"Go ahead Harry. Use the killing curse, why don't you? That way, you and Hermione'd be rid of me forever," he said harshly.

They stared fiercely at each other, bodies rigid and the tension sizzling between them. Until finally Harry lowered his wand and his shoulders slumped. Looking bleakly at Ron, he ground out, "I - cannot - believe - you."

Ron just looked stiffly at him.

"After all these years Ron, you're still jealous?" Harry asked incredulously. "My god, you just don't get it, do you?" He walked away from Ron, pulling at his hair in frustration.

"What don't I get Potter?" Ron bit out.

"You think I have everything? You think being famous and being Voldemort's target is great? And having money?" Harry shook his head sadly.

"You want to know what's really great Ron? Having parents - and brothers and sisters and aunts, uncles, cousins. A family who loves and accepts you, no matter what you do. Having a home you can always go back to and know that you'll find only joy, happiness and laughter there. To know you have people you can depend on, no matter what happens. And to know that you have a future, that a death threat is not constantly hanging over you.

"That is what is great. That is having everything. I'd gladly give away my last knut if I could have that," Harry finished heavily.

"And Hermione," Harry continued with a bitter laugh. "I never took her - because she was never mine to take. She'd already been taken since our first year - by you. And you were the only one who couldn't see it.

"She's right, you are a thick prat," Harry said, shaking his head and Ron stiffened even more. "But she's no better. The whole school - hell the whole bloody world - knew the two of you fancied each other. Except you two idiots. I had to do what I did in sixth year so that you both stopped driving us mad."

Ron was shaking his head in disbelief. "She - she shagged you," he finally said in a choked whisper.

Harry laughed hollowly. "Yes, she did. But not because she was in love with me. She did it because she knew I wanted it, needed it." Ron didn't reply. "But why should that matter?" Harry continued. "I thought you said that if I'd told you, you would've backed off and let me have her?"

When Ron still didn't answer, Harry laughed contemptuously. "I - I would've - if - if you'd told me before - before -" Ron stammered.

"Don't kid yourself Ron," Harry cut him off roughly. "There was as much likelihood of you letting her go as me stop loving her." And Ron's ears turned red.

Looking at Ron expressionlessly, Harry continued, "She did it for the same reason you let the white queen bash you on the giant chessboard; and why you pushed me aside to let Padfoot bite you instead of me by the whomping willow."

Ron looked puzzled.

Exhaling impatiently, Harry elaborated. "Why'd you do what you did?"

"Because - we had to get you through the chessboard - and - I couldn't let Padfoot bite you," Ron answered in a shaky voice.

"Why?"

Ron looked down and mumbled, "I would rather get hurt myself - than let you."

"And I was drowning in my grief over Dumbledore's death," Harry stated flatly.

Ron looked up in shocked comprehension.

"She loves you Ron. Only you, always," Harry said dully. "I'd willingly sell my soul to Voldemort to have Hermione love me the way she loves you - but that's never going to happen.

"You've lost so much time with her already. Don't let your wounded pride and jealousy lose you more. We're living in a war - and you don't know what tomorrow'll bring.

"And Ronnie?" Harry continued quietly. "He may be the ferret's bastard but he's also Hermione's son. Not only will I be able to accept him, but I'll love him because he's my best friend's son."

Harry walked towards the door and opened it. "What about Malfoy?" Ron asked roughly before he stepped out.

Harry answered without turning, "He lust charmed her." Just before he pulled the door shut, he heard the sound of Ron's fist thudding into the wall.

~+~+~

"Oh wow! He's beautiful, Ron," said the childish voice as he looked at the hippogriff. "D'you think he'll let me pet him?"

"Let's try shall we?" Ron said easily. "Just bow to him and if he bows back, then you approach. If not, you better back off fast."

Ron watched as the blond boy bowed to Buckbeak and smiled when the hippogriff bowed back.

"Okay Ronnie, you can approach him. Just don't make any sudden movements."

"I won't," Ronnie said solemnly.

Hermione and her son had arrived in Headquarters yesterday. Harry and Ron had gone to New York a week after Hermione left to ask her and her son to come back for good. She'd cried when they came because she was certain their friendship would be over after she told them about Malfoy.

They had stayed over at Hermione's for three days and talked over everything. In those three days, the seven years separation melted away and the Trio renewed their friendship with a vengeance and strengthened the bond that had always existed between them. With the dark days coming, they realized they couldn't afford anymore half truths, concealment and mis-understanding and the three of them had the most revealing heart-to-heart talks in all their years of friendship. The talks were oftentimes painful and tense but all three of them desperately wanted to mend their friendship, and the tears shed was a cleansing river washing the bitterness away. And a deeper understanding and awareness about each other was forged.

In that three days too, Ron and Harry got to know Ronnie and he was a delight. Their first sight of him had been a shock. It was like seeing a miniature Draco. His white-blond hair, thin aristocratic nose and pale, pointed face was all Draco's. There could be no doubt whose son he was. And when he was startled or uncomfortable, he even had Draco's arrogant manner.

The only thing in his appearance that was Hermione's was his eyes. There were brown, bright and curious, with none of the coldness of Draco's. His character and behavior too, was pure Hermione. He was proper, polite, warm, full of curiosity and an avid reader.

Hermione was at first reluctant to come back, because of her commitment at the hospital and Ronnie's schooling. After talking it over, they managed to persuade her. She would wrap up her affairs in New York and also her compulsory service with the hospital, which had only another month to go and Ronnie transfer to a school in London. Ronnie may have to miss a few months of school while they got settled in England.

It was now two months after Ron and Harry came back from New York and Ronnie and Hermione would be staying at Headquarters until they could find a house and arrange Ronnie's schooling.

Hermione was in a meeting with Remus and Ron had volunteered to entertain Ronnie while she was busy and Harry was away on Order business. They had come up to Sirius's mother's room to see Beaky. By now, the little boy was petting the hippogriff and crooning softly to it.

"Ron?"

"Yes, Ronnie?"

Ronnie giggled.

"What?" Ron asked.

"You and me," Ronnie replied.

"What about us?"

"Ron, Ronnie, Ron, Ronnie," Ronnie sing-songed. "That's funny!"

"Whatever," Ron replied. "And that's what you wanted to ask?"

"No, I actually wanted to ask whether we can take Buckbeak out and fly on him?"

"Hmm, let me find out. If we can, I'll let you know," Ron said.

Ronnie rushed over to Ron and hugged him. "Thank you, Ron. You're the best."

"No problem, Ronnie." And Ronnie giggled again.

"Whaaat?" Ron asked, pretending to be annoyed.

"Can't I call you something else?"

"So we don't sound funny," declared Ron.

"Yeah!" Ronnie agreed enthusiastically.

"What d'you want to call me?"

"I dunno," Ronnie replied, craning his neck to look up at Ron.

~+~+~

Ron and Ronnie came down the stairs and met Hermione, who was just coming out from the Library.

"Mummy, mummy, guess what?" Ronnie said excitedly, rushing up to his mother and grabbing her round the waist, nearly knocking her down in his enthusiasm. "Ron's gonna ask if we can take Beaky out for a fly and he says I can call him dad! Can I mummy please, can I?" he asked, looking imploringly up at Hermione.

Hermione laughed, looking at Ronnie's excited face and bent down to give his flushed cheek a kiss. "Can you what, darling? Fly on Beaky or call Ron dad? Wait a minute - dad?!" she exclaimed, Ronnie's question just registering with her as her mind had been on the just concluded meeting with Remus and Draco, and her eyes flew to Ron's.

Ron smirked back at her. Suddenly he stiffened when he saw who was standing beside Hermione, with a shocked expression on his face as he stared at Ronnie.

"Granger..." Draco Malfoy choked out. "What - who - ? Is that my son?!" he finally exclaimed.

Hermione whirled to face him and pushed Ronnie behind her at the same time. "No!"

"No what?" he asked menacingly, trying to look behind her at Ronnie.

"No, he's not your son - he's nothing to do with you!" she cried wildly, walking backward away from Draco with Ronnie still behind her.

Draco took a step forward and impatiently pushed her aside, quickly grabbing Ronnie's arm and dragged him forward. He froze when he felt a wand digging into his throat and looked up to meet Ron's dangerous blue eyes. "Let go of him, Malfoy."

Hermione leaped towards Ronnie, and pulled him away from Draco. Clasping him to her in a one handed hug, she raised her own wand at Draco and glared. "Touch my son again and I will kill you!"

"Ron, Hermione," Remus' calm voice broke the violent tableau and they all whipped around to look at him. He was standing in the doorway to the Library, looking gravely at all of them. "It'd be best if you could all discuss this calmly and rationally." Looking at Hermione, he said, "I don't think you want your son to witness this," nodding towards the wands directed at Draco.

Hermione blanched and slowly lowered her wand. Turning to look at Ronnie, she was stricken to see the shocked, frightened look on his face. With a choked breath, she bent, burying her head against his shining hair and hugged him tight. "It's alright darling. Everything's alright, I promise."

Ronnie burrowed into her and whimpered, "M-mummy, what's going on?"

"Hush darling, hush. Nothing's going on, everything's fine," she soothed him.

"Who's that man?" he whispered to her but it was loud enough to be heard.

"That's right, Granger," Draco sneered before she could answer. "Tell your son who I am."

Hermione straightened up and glared at him but her voice was calm as she answered, "I don't have to tell him anything - and neither do you."

"Like hell I don't!" Draco said furiously.

"Watch your language!" Hermione yelled at him, putting her hands over Ronnie's ears.

"And he only hears proper words in the company he keeps?" Draco replied derisively, looking contemptuously at Ron.

"Shut it, Malfoy," Ron bit out, his wand still pointed at Draco.

"Ron, lower your wand. Draco, Hermione, calm down," Remus voice said impatiently, looking hard at all of them.

Ron stubbornly kept his wand pointed at Draco, whose jaw was clenched and his hands fisted at his side.

"Ron!" Remus snapped, his eyes boring hard into Ron's.

With a furious look at Draco and Remus, he reluctantly lowered his wand, his body tense and rigid.

Remus exhaled a breath. "Why don't you go into the Library and discuss this? Like rational adults?" Remus said calmly but his voice still had a bite to it. "I'll take care of Ronnie." Extending his hand to Ronnie, he said, "Let's go and see what we can find to do while your mummy and Ron talks to this man, alright?"

"Not Ron - dad," Ronnie informed Remus seriously and Draco turned apoplectic with rage.

"You are not calling him that!" Draco said furiously to Ronnie, his grey eyes snapping.

Ronnie returned Draco's look defiantly, then stuck out his tongue and Ron actually guffawed with laughter.

"Why you little-" Draco started, advancing towards Ronnie.

Hermione pushed her son behind her again and raised her wand. "Don't," she warned him, her eyes gimlet hard.

His grey eyes blazing, Draco bit out coldly, "This is how you raise my son? And the company he keeps?" He flicked his eyes to Ron, who was smirking at Draco's rage.

Remus gave an impatient snort and stepped between Hermione and Draco. He took Ronnie's hand and tugged him away from Hermione. "Come Ronnie."

Remus stopped at the head of the stairs and turned to face the three of them. Raising his eyebrow, he gestured to the open library door and said, "Well?"

With a last furious look at Ron and Hermione, Draco stalked into the library. Ron made to follow but Hermione stopped him at the door. "Ron, why don't you keep Ronnie company?" she said quietly. "Let me handle this."

"No!" Ron said angrily. "I don't trust him."

"Big surprise," she murmured, rolling her eyes and Ron rounded furiously on her.

"You being alone with him was what started all this," he said heatedly. "It's not happening again!"

"Could you be reasonable for once?" she demanded, eyes snapping with irritation. "With you around, it's not going to be a calm, rational discussion-"

"Meaning I'm incapable of being rational?" he interrupted coldly.

"Where's he's concerned - yes!" she hissed in exasperation. "Ron, just go, please?"

Ron looked mutinously at her.

"If the two of you are quite finished?" Draco said coldly from the library. He was leaning nonchalantly against the table with his arms crossed over his chest, looking arrogantly at them. "I haven't got all day - unlike some people."

Ron glared at him then turned his glare on Hermione. "Ron, please," Hermione pleaded in an urgent whisper before he could say anything.

"Hermione-" he began hoarsely. But she interrupted him again. "I'll be alright, I will," she insisted, tugging his arm to lead him away.

Ron turned and looked hard at Draco. "Just give me a reason, Malfoy," he warned harshly. Looking at Hermione with concern, he silently questioned her with his eyes. When she nodded reassuringly, he squeezed her hand and walked away.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and walked into the library, shutting the door behind her.

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