Romione fluff ❤❤❤

Ministry Troubles

Ron's POV

I paced the hallway in a tension-packed silence as I waited for McGonagall to get her stupid meeting done. Harry, Ginny, Luna, and Neville stood to the side talking to each other in faint whispers or sometimes not saying anything at all. My head boiled in anger, sadness, worry, guilt, and fear. Definitely fear. Hermione had just been taken by two of the most dangerous Death Eaters still alive and nothing was happening. It would've been better if the castle had been stormed and they stole something. Or if they'd left something behind. Or I don't know. But they only came, took her, and left. No people died. Few people harmed by the explosion, barely made any sense until they revealed they had come only for her.

Why her? Why now? How now? Where were they? What were they doing to her?

Was she okay?

I didn't know, no idea, not even the slightest clue, got me, hopefully giving her tea.

Doubtful.

McGonagall was locked in the principal's office in a meeting with all the professors, the Minister of Magic, and the head of the Auror office. That should've brought some comfort to me, knowing important people were discussing the matter, but I knew better than to hope they were discussing Hermione and not the fact that two Death Eaters had just escaped Azkaban. It wouldn't be the first time, since Sirius had done it, and Voldemort had used the dementors to help his followers escape. However, the dementors were back in check and none of the death eaters were animagi. Someone on the outside had to be helping them.

The time went on and the office door remained shut for what seemed like an eternity. The sun had set a while ago and I'd started to shiver visibly. I blamed it on the cold weather, but it was really the fear of losing Hermione that shook me to my core. I heard muffled steps getting louder, meaning someone was coming. I looked back at the hallway and saw a tall slim figure materialize out of the darkness, a white-blond head of hair shining in the moonlit room.

"Malfoy," I said with distaste in my mouth. I was still not used to not hating him anymore. But seeing him only brought memories of Hermione smiling at me when we came back from making amends and my bitterness turned to longing really quick. Malfoy grimaced at my tone so slightly I almost didn't notice. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, gathering myself. "What are you doing here?" I asked this time with curiosity instead of hate. He looked at me uncertainly, his eyes bouncing from me to my friends watching cautiously.

"I wanted to know if they found anything on- Hermione." He said, barely hesitating on her name. Heat rose to my neck and anger started building in my head for no apparent reason. I didn't know they were on a first-name basis yet.

"No. They haven't left that office in 4 hours and 57 minutes." I said between clenched teeth. I would know since I'd counted every minute we were wasting in searching for Hermione. "Why?" I asked accusingly.

Draco looked at me bemused "Why what?"

"Why do you want to know? Why do you care?" I asked a little too harshly.

"She saved my life. She helped me stay alive and I want to help. Had it not been for her I'd either be dead or it would be me instead of her. I want to help" He said in a whisper, wincing as if admitting this almost caused him pain. My anger tripled but I kept it at bay. She was gone because of him. Because she was saving him, and no one was saving her.

"Well, you haven't been very useful to Hermione in recent events Malfoy, so I doubt you are going to be of any help." I spat at him venomously. He took a step back from me and looked shocked. He then turned around facing away from me.

"Mate," Harry said with a pointed look telling me silently to calm down. Ginny clung to his arm and shook her head at me telling me to stop and leave it alone. But I wouldn't leave this alone. Not until I had Hermione back in my arms. Before Draco could leave, he turned halfway and whispered under his breath. "I will do it right this time. She told me I could." And then he disappeared back the way he came.