Bodyguard

Chapter 7 - The lake

After Hermione receives scandalous news, Theo figures out a way to help her relax...

"Does that say I've been declared dead?!" I say looking at a shocked Theodore.

"There must be some kind of mistake." Theo says meeting my gaze.

"Theo, it's a body bag." I say with furrowed eyebrows whilst pointing to the TV.

"It was early this morning that the remains of a young woman were found beside an abandoned building over on Lake Street. Two joggers noticed the body and immediately called emergency services. Though it is said to have been burned beyond recognition, the woman was reportedly wearing a wedding ring on her left hand. Just one hour ago, Auror Ronald Weasley identified the body as that of his now late wife, Hermione Weasley. Weasley's wife only went missing a few weeks prior to..."

"Turn it off." I say feeling slightly shaken from the news. "Please, just turn it off."

Theo snatches the remote from the coffee table and quickly turns the TV off.

"Hey, look at me." Theo says with a frown.

"I can't." I say as I start to pace the room.

"Just breathe." He says trying to calm me.

"Theo, I--"

Theo gently takes my hands in his and rubs soothing circles on my palms with his thumbs. I try my best to match his breathing with my own, but my heart is hammering in my chest.

"There has to be some sort of explanation for this." Theo says trying to think of an explanation.

"Why would Ron do this, Theo? Saying I was kidnapped is one thing, but dead?!"

"I don't know what is going on, but I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Maybe there was another threat we're just not aware of?"

"Another threat?"

"It's possible that he felt like he had no other choice." Theo says with a shrug.

"No other choice but to kill me off?" I wonder if Theo could be right but then I decide against it. "No way. Ron would've told us if he had to take such drastic measures."

"Well, I hope we hear an explanation soon... because I don't like this at all."

"You and me both. This whole situation is too weird. I mean, an actual body was found. Could be the case of a mistaken identity... except the woman was wearing my own damn wedding ring."

"That reminds me. Isn't your ring here? I saw you wearing it the other day." His eyes fall on my bare fingers.

"I have two. Ron lost them before the wedding, so he ordered another set. Then he found them a few weeks later... he must have used one of those." I say with a frown.

"That's possible."

"Anyway, I don't see how this whole charade is supposed to protect me. Is it possible he... killed someone?"

"I don't know. I... I don't know what your husband is capable of, Hermione." He says looking apologetic.

"To be honest... I don't know, either." We both look down. The terrifying implications of what Ron's done, finally sink in, and I clench my fingers. "Everyone thinks I'm dead. My neighbors, my friends, my family."

Theo notices the change in my demeanor, and his eyes focus on my face.

"Hermione..."

"I can't ever come back from this, you realize that, right? All my finances, my belongings, even my home... They aren't mine anymore, they belong to Ron."