Dramione- Back at Hogwarts (Hermione's 7th Year)

Chapter 34- Ron's Return at the Burrow

When Ron arrived at the Burrow together with Bill, Fleur, and baby Victoire, it was already five in the afternoon.

Ron is as nervous as Hermione, knowing how much he had hurt her and how he treated her. He knows that he still loves her (mostly as a best friend, even if he does not want to admit it yet), but their relationship was already dented- he does not want their friendship to suffer too.

Ron quickly scanned their living room after popping from the fireplace. He did not see his friends there, only his mother was waiting for them.

He quickly hugged his mother, knowing he had hurt her too. "Good afternoon, mum," he whispered to Molly.

"Good afternoon too, dear. Had a good time at Bill's?" She asked, she had definitely missed her youngest son. She hoped that somehow he had time to ponder on his previous actions and realized that his whole family and his friends are there if he needs to open up his heart and move on from Fred's loss.

"Yes, mum. Shell Cottage was lovely, swimming on the beach was relaxing," he replied, smiling at his mother. "Where is Harry and Hermione?" He asked.

"They're outside, preparing the table for our dinner at the garden," Molly told him, noticing his nervousness when he asked for his friends.

"Thanks, mum. I'll go outside and see them now," Ron replied, going out of the house.
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Harry, Hermione, and Ginny were still setting the table when Ron greeted them.

"Hi guys!" Ron called out, moving closer to his best friends and sister.

Hermione almost dropped the plates she was holding when she heard his voice.

Harry replied instantly, "Hey, mate!"

When Ron reached them, Hermione tried smiling at him, but her eyes showed a tinge of fear. Ron surprised her by giving her a light hug, "I'm sorry. Let's talk," he whispered to her.

Hermione looked at him, she couldn't help the tears coming out silently. She nodded to him, and took his extended hand. "We'll be back in a few," she told Harry and Ginny nervously, while Ron nodded and gave them a small smile.

Harry saw Ginny's mixed emotions about Ron and Hermione leaving to talk. "Don't worry about them, Gin. They will be fine, I am sure they will still be at least friends after this," Harry assured his girlfriend.

"I'm not sure about that, Harry. Hermione might be too honest with him during their talk, she might add fuel to his angst even if it has died down," Ginny replied nervously.

"What do you mean, Ginny?" Harry asked curiously.

"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," she replied simply.

"Hmmm.. I guess Ron will not like knowing she stayed with them, but it was because of Narcissa's invitation, not Draco's," he told her.

"No, Harry. I don't think Hermione realizes that I know more than what she's not telling us or me. I will tell you what I suspect but, don't be hard on her alright?" Ginny said, taking his hand.

"What is it? Hermione's always been honest with us," he replied, squeezing her hand to assure her.

"She has but, I think she omitted some things during her stay with the Malfoys. I'm a girl too, I know the look of someone who has been swept off her feet-" she started to explain, but Harry interrupted her.

"What that has to do with the Ferret then?" He asked immediately.

"Listen first, okay? This is just based from my observations, so let's give Hermione the benefit of a doubt or the time until she's ready to spill the beans," Ginny told him, she hopes that she's wrong about Hermione keeping secrets from them, but she knows in her heart that her best friend is in love.

"Okay, Gin," he replied, his head pounding suddenly, his ears not liking what Ginny is saying. He wanted to pretend that he had not seen Hermione's demeanor this past few days (when they were not talking about Ron's return), she seems to be daydreaming most of the time, with a smile on her face and a twinkle on her eyes.

"I think Hermione likes Draco, and Draco likes her back, that is why she stayed with them," she began. "And Luna owled me last night, asking me how I have been. Then she told me that she thought she saw Hermione with Draco a few days ago at Diagon Alley, walking hand in hand on the street when she was inside a shop. She found it odd, so she asked me if they were dating and how Ron was coping with it," Ginny finished, not daring to look at her boyfriend who was still holding her hand.

"Maybe it was not her, you know Luna and her imagination, right?" Harry asked her, not willing to believe it.

"But I think it's possible, you know?" She replied. "Not that I want it to be," she added, when she saw Harry's grimace.

Harry sighed, "I really hope that it was just Luna's imagination. But, I know Hermione since we were eleven, and I have only seen her eyes spark like that a few times- with Viktor and Ron. I really hope that it's not with Draco this time," he said seriously.

Ginny just nodded, but she knows that Draco was the only possible person it could be.
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"I'm so sorry, Hermione," Ron started, still holding her hand, looking in her eyes. "About everything, especially for lashing at you at the café," he added.

"I'm sorry too, Ron. If I had been a better friend, then I would have known what you were really feeling inside," Hermione replied, hugging him tightly.

"It's all my fault, Hermione. I should have been more open about my feelings about Fred, and the war, to you, to Harry, and to my family. I realize that now, that all of you were just there and willing to listen to my anguish and pain. But I have chosen to ignore it, and to bottle all my feelings about it. I'm really sorry too for not being a proper boyfriend," Ron told her, still holding her at arms length and looking at her eyes.

Hermione took a deep breath, knowing she had cheated on him. But she knows she could not tell him about Draco. "I accept your apologies, Ron. You just chose what you think was right for you to heal. We are all here for you, we will all get through this, just try to open your heart and learn to forgive. Forgive everyone, especially yourself. What was done, is done, and we can't change it. Let it go, all the negativities we have, and start anew," she replied, hoping Ron would not get mad again.

"You're right, Hermione," Ron replied.