Pros & Cons

17. The Talk

***Mature Content***

Hermione was rambling to me as we walked back to the common room about how she was sorry she didn't help with Pansy or how she should've made sure I was alright. I constantly told her it was all fine and I didn't care, to which she would insist that it was absolutely not all right and she should've done better and she felt awful that I felt this was the only way out.

I appreciated the sentiment but I was tired, weak and just wanted sleep.

The common room was empty besides Ron and Harry who were sitting silently in front of the fire bouncing their knees and wringing their hands.

Hermione ushered me inside, wrapping the blanket tighter around me "I found her"

The boys' heads snapped in our direction and they shot from their seats towards me, knocking me back with the intensity of their embrace.

"Violet we're so sorry" Ron snivelled, he'd clearly been crying as I could feel him dampening my neck with his tears.

"We're so glad you're okay" Harry spoke from the other side of me.

"It's fine, I'm fine. Honestly"

They started rambling the same way Hermione had, expressing all her previous sentiments about how they should've tried harder or stuck up for me with Pansy. I responded the same way just saying that it wasn't their fault and how they shouldn't feel bad - honestly it felt like I was comforting them more than they were comforting me.

"I just want to go to bed now, if that's all right" I muttered trying to break free from the boy's grasp.

"Right of course, we'll see you in the morning yeah?" Ron lowered his gaze and gave me a shy smile.

"Yeah" I took Hermione's hand and we made our way up to our dormitory.

When we entered the room she led me to my bed and sat me down, walked over to the dresser and grabbed me a hoodie and sleep shorts. I changed into them and got into bed. After, I laid down I tossed and turned for a while whilst Hermione got ready for bed - she noticed my restlessness and walked over to my bedside.

"Hey, is there anything you need?" Her voice was soothing and quiet.

"No I'm alright 'Mione, just go to sleep"

She nodded and squeezed my hand before getting into her own bed and falling asleep. My mind wandered to the events of tonight, and although I couldn't stop thinking about everything that happened with Malfoy and our forthcoming talk, something I couldn't comprehend was what happened when we were arguing.

I always thought that Malfoy and I had something electric but not that intense, I mean he physically flew across the room and crashed into the wall. I worried for a while that he'd broken something.

I have no clue what I did nor how I did it but it freaked me out and I'm sure it unsettled him as well.

Somewhere between my thoughts I must have slipped into unconsciousness because I woke with a start and it was glaringly bright outside. When I sat up and looked across the room Hermione's bed was empty and her bag was gone. She must've gone to the library.

I checked the clock on my nightstand only to realise it was already eleven and I had missed breakfast and my morning classes, but there was a muffin beside the clock with the note:

Didn't want to wake you - I'll excuse you from morning classes, don't forget to EAT!!!

- Hermione