26. Taking Sides

Ron was determined to win Hermione over. She was far too good for Draco; far too sweet and kind and perfect. He wanted to do everything he possibly could to show her that Draco was nothing compared to him. He was prepared to do everything he could.

As he stormed back to his office on the other side of the Ministry, he thought about how all of this came to be. At first, he was happy for Hermione, well, as happy as he could be at the thought of her dating Draco. But, after watching them together for the last few months, something clicked for him. He loved her, and he wanted her. And it took all this time for him to realise that. As he threw himself back into his office chair he conjured another rose to float effortlessly towards Hermione's office; it killed him to know that she thought the last one was from Draco but he smiled to himself, knowing that she would be his very soon.

****

Harry sat at his kitchen table quietly, waiting for Ginny to get home from her Quidditch practice. He had not spoken a word to anybody since Ron had stormed out of his office that afternoon, still in shock. It felt as if Ron had given Harry a ultimatum; him or Hermione. Harry's head throbbed terribly and he placed his head in his hands as he heard Ginny come home.

"Hi sweetheart." She sung happily, bending down to kiss him on the cheek and ruffle his hair.

Harry moved his hand slightly and gave her a small, half-hearted smile in reply. Sensing something was wrong she pulled up the chair next to him.

"Harry, what's wrong?" She asked, her words dripping with care and worry. He sat up slowly to look at her, her face frowning in concern, and gave her a more meaningful smile. "You're stupid brother, that's what."

She laughed, knowing exactly which one of her brothers he was talking about, before replying "Okay, what did that toerag do now?"

"Ron wants me to stop helping Draco plan Hermione's surprise." Harry smirked, watching Ginny's reactions carefully. Oh, this was going to be good.

"What?"

"And he wants me to sabotage them instead."

"What?!"

"Because he's in love with Hermione."

"WHAT?!" Ginny had jumped out of her chair, throwing her hands wildly in the air as she cussed out her older brother. Harry sat back, glad that Ginny was reacting to Ron's requests the same way he did. She slammed her hands down on the table, her face now flushed red with anger.

"That slimy little toe. How dare he want to ruin this for Hermione!" She now looked straight into Harry's eyes, her wild with rage. "Harry, please. I know he's your best friend, but Hermione is as well, and she is happy! I understand he loves her but please don't help Ron. Please."

Harry studied his beautiful wife for a moment and smiled, holding out his arms inviting her to sit in his lap. Stroking her hair, as she buried her head into the crook of his neck, he said softly, "I care about Ron so much, Ginny, I do." He felt her tense up slightly, scared of what he could possibly say next. "But, if he loves Hermione, he has to fight for her himself. Fairly. Just like Malfoy did."

****

Hermione was sitting silently at her desk very late in the evening. Every single lamp in the corridor and the Atrium was out except for hers. She couldn't go home, the silence and loneliness reminded her too much of Draco. And she missed him with every fibre in her body.

She looked up from her paperwork and stared at the beautiful, single rose that had floated and landed gracefully on her desk earlier in the evening. She smiled and her eyes welled up, appreciating this small gesture from Draco from the other side of the world. She just wished that the roses came with notes, she desperately needed to hear from him.

But, even thinking of Draco, which usually calmed her mind, wasn't enough to get rid of the sick feeling churning in her stomach. Ron's weird behaviour earlier in the day had unsettled her, or maybe it was Mrs. Weasley's sandwich? Either way, something was not quite right. As she sighed again, she conjured a new piece of parchment and set to work writing a small letter to Draco, she couldn't wait till he was home to soothe her.