In Too Deep (Blairon)

The Whole Truth

"Harry, what happened?" I asked. Both Ron and Harry were back at the hospital waiting for Draco and I to be discharged later today. Both looking like they hadn't gotten any sleep. Ron was staring out of my hospital room window solemnly. As if he'd lost something, and Harry lay half asleep on Draco's shoulder. Both were sitting at the end of my bed. "It's a lot to explain," Harry said, stiffening a yawn. He glanced at Ron with sadness in his eyes, then to me with the same look.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry," Ron whispered. It had been the first thing he said since he and Harry got here. Draco looked at him curiously whereas Harry's eyes widened. I frowned. "Sorry about what?" I asked and he sighed, unable to look me in the eyes. "All this is my fault. All of it." He said softly, running a hand through his bed head. Ron heaved a large breath, nervousness evident in the way he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He closed his eyes.

"I kissed him, Hermione. On the island. I kissed him. Then Harry found out, then Theo showed up now all three of them are gone all because of me. The accident was my fault. Pansy being taken was my fault. Blaise loosing his memory... It's all my fault."

My eyes widened and my mouth fell open. Ron was crying. I'd only ever seen him cry once. But here he was. Stood in front of the window, tears running like waterfalls down his pale, freckly cheeks. He completely ignored them, which was so unlike him. I hadn't noticed how much this was hurting him. I knew he had a soft spot for the mers after dragging an injured Blaise from the beach and doing the same with an unconscious Theo a couple weeks later but I didn't think he cared so deeply.
Guilt surged through me and I could suddenly hear my heart beating in my ears
Ron had nothing to feel sorry for. If anything, I was the one who should apologize.

"Ron, come here," I whispered and fear flooded into his ocean eyes when he looked at me for the first time today. He'd been crying a while. His eyes were red, his cheeks were pink and tear stained. The dark circles under his eyes were more prominent today and his hair was a mess. I sat him down next to me and sat up with a little effort, trying to ignore the slight pain in my side. What I was about to say broke my heart to say it, but for Ron's sake I couldn't keep this from him any longer.

It'd break him if he thought he was the only one who had something to feel sorry for...

"I kissed her too,"

It took Ron a minute to compute what I was saying but when he did, his eyes widened and his mouth parted in a silent gasp. I nodded, my eyes stinging.

"After Pansy and Blaise left us on Mage Island, Pansy came to see me the very next day... and she did every night until the very last. The night before we left for the airport, I went to the beach to see her. I didn't want to leave her, Ron. And she couldn't leave Blaise. But she did for me..."

Ron, Harry and Draco all listened intently as I continued my story. I didn't want to look at them. The mental shame I was feeling had already begun tearing me apart piece by piece for days now.

"Pansy swam here and I hid her from you all on the North Beach. Where Draco was found. The day you found Theo, I went to see her and that's when it happened."

My voice cracked and I stared at my bedsheets, unable to look anywhere else. To my surprise, Ron held my hand.
"Pansy showed me the reefs. It was beautiful. But we were too late. So caught up in each other we didn't know what was going on. We got caught in a fishing net. She risked her life trying to claw me out. The people in white coats that Draco said Blaise was asking him about? Finch Labs I think. They dragged Pansy onto a boat and drove off-"

I finally looked up at Ron and our teary eyes met. He wasn't mad. But he wasn't happy either. We had both technically cheated on each other. But for some reason, the only emotion passing between the two of us was empathy.

"It's no one's fault," Draco said, rubbing Harry's palm with his thumb. I rose an eyebrow. "If anything, it's my fault!" He said sarcastically and Harry sat up and frowned. The three of us stared at the blonde, confused. "I shouldn't have made us go to the God foesaken island in the first place!" He shouted and Harry, Ron and I shared looks before all four of us laughed. When we all calmed down a bit, Harry sat up too and cleared his throat. "You know what? I think we need a break from Goldenville." He said triumphantly and Ron snorted. "We live here, mate. There's no taking breaks from your home," he said, but Harry merely tutted, shaking his head.

"Not when this isn't your only home, there isn't," he said, a small smirk playing at his lips. Draco seemed to get the message and his eyes lit up.

"Who's up for a road trip?"