SURPRISES | Draco Malfoy

80

"Everything all right?" Hermione asked as Harry walked back to the tent. I was sitting with her.

"Fine. Actually, more than fine." Harry replied.

He stepped aside and we saw Ron. Hermione stared at him, silently. Then she stood up and stopped right in front of Ron.

"Hey." Ron smiled.

Hermione began to punch him.

"Wow. Hey! Ouch!" Ron said.

"You. Complete. Arse. Ronald. Weasley! You crawl back here after all these weeks and say, 'Hey?'" Hermione said with each punch. She turned to Harry. "Where's my wand? Harry, where's my wand!"

"Um. I don't know?" Harry said.

"Harry Potter, you give me my wand!" Hermione shouted. Harry stumbled back.

"How come he's got your wand?" Ron asked.

"Never mind why he's got my wand!" She said. Then she stopped. "What is that?"

We looked at the blackened locket dangling in Ron's hand.

"You destroyed it?" I asked.

Ron nodded.

"And exactly how is it you have the Sword of Gryffindor?" Hermione asked.

"It's a long story." Harry replied.

Hermione walked back. "Don't think this changes anything." She said.

"No, of course not. I only destroyed a bloody freaking Horcrux! Why would that change anything! Do you know what it was like for me to hear those words coming from you! To see you doing those things!" Ron said.

"See me doing what things?" Hermione asked.

Ron stopped. He doesn't reply.

"What happened out there?" Hermione asked.

"It's a long story." Harry replied.

"Look, I wanted to come back the minute I'd left. I just, didn't know how to find you." Ron said.

"Exactly how did you find us?" I asked.

"With this." Ron said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the deluminator. "It doesn't just turn off lights. I don't know exactly how it works, but Christmas morning I was sleeping in this little pub. I'd given some Snatchers the slip the night before, me being a blood-traitor and all, anyway, I was sleeping when I heard it."

"It?" I asked.

"A voice." Ron replied. He turned to Hermione. "Your voice, Hermione. Coming out of this."

"And what may I ask did I say?" Hermione asked.

"My name. Just my name. Like a whisper." Ron said. Hermione blushed. I let out a soft giggle. "So I took this and I clicked it and this tiny ball of light appeared. And I knew."

"Knew what?" Harry asked.

"Just knew. On account of Hermione's voice. And sure enough, it floated toward me, the ball of light, right to my chest and then, went straight through, right here." Ron said on pointed to his heart. "I could feel it inside me. It was warm, like the first sip of a good cup of tea. And I knew it would take me where I needed to go."

"So I Disapparated and came out on this hillside. It was dark. I didn't have any idea where I was. I just had to hope one of you would show yourselves in the end. And you did." Ron explained.

. . .

Later that night, I was sitting outside. The others were inside in the tent.

A tear rolled down my cheek, as I continued to stare forwards and drown in my thoughts.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Hermione asked when she said down next to me. She placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I miss him." I said. I started sobbing into her shoulder.

She softly rubbed my back. "I know. I know you do."

A few minutes later, when I had finally calmed down a bit, I sat up straight. "Sometimes I just wish he would be here with us, you know? Like he'd just be here and I could see him every day."

"I know. It must hurt." She replied.

"It does. It hurts so bad. I mean, I've known him since I was only four. I've seen him grow up. I've seen him change. What happened last year, it changed everything." I said.

"I understand." She said.

"He couldn't tell me, because he thought they would've killed me. And he didn't want that to happen, because he said he can't live without me. And I can't live without him. And right now, it feels like I'm barely alive. Yes, I'm alive. But it's like I'm not breathing. Like I get no fresh air. And he is my air." I said.

Hermione nodded.

"Connecting through a piece of paper isn't enough. It's something, yeah. It's like a little bit of fresh air every time. But, it fades. The air gets bad. And then it's unhealthy." I said.

"You really love him." Hermione said.

I nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."

[a/n] mione 🤍