Bodyguard

Chapter 8 - The Confession

A//N This chapter has mature themes.

Ron found Hermione and Theo in a compromising position. What is Hermione going to do?

"What's going on here?!" Ron says looking between Theo and me.

"Ron?" I spring up from the couch and find Theo doing the same.

"Why is it so damn cold in this place?"

"The heater is broken, sir."

"Then why aren't you fixing it?"

"The closest heating company is fifty miles out, and they can't get anyone over here until tomorrow." Ron rolls his eyes and tosses his briefcase on the kitchen table. He only acknowledges I'm there by nodding in my direction. Theo and I glance at each other, and it's obvious neither one of us knows what Ron is doing here.

"Do you have any updates on who's threatening her?" Ron shakes his head.

"The police are useless."

"So... I'm still in danger?"

"Well, maybe not as much as before, now that you've been successfully declared dead." Thoughts run through my head on whether to ask him why he did it. I decide to go for it.

"Yes, let's talk about that, shall we? Why was I declared dead?"

"Because nobody goes looking for dead people, Hermione. Isn't it obvious?"

"So it was your idea?"

"Of course not. The cops wanted to fake your death. It took a few days, but they found a junkie with no ID and no friends or family and then used her to stage your death." He says with satisfied smile. "They slid your ring on her finger, planted her in our street and lit the body on fire." I shiver and step back, bumping into Theo. I'd almost forgotten he was there until his arms grip my shoulders to steady me.

"But that's..."

"Don't look so taken aback. Clearly it worked, didn't it? I haven't received a single threat in five days." I can't help but feel hopeful at his words.

"Does this mean I get to come home?" I say sounding hopeful. Ron's eyes harden.

"Not until after the election at the Ministry."

"What? Why so long? Are you seriously going to let people think that I'm dead for two more weeks?"

"Yes."

"Can't you at least tell Ginny and my parents that I'm okay?"

"And why on Earth would I do that?"

"Are you being serious right now? They think I'm dead. They're probably devastated. They--"

"Enough! Don't pull that shit with me, Hermione. Your parents want nothing to do with you, or have you forgotten that? They hate you, and you hate them. They don't care whether you live or die."

"How dare you!" I say angry at his outburst but also hurt.

"You know it's true. I'm the only one here who cares about you. I even came here because I was worried about you. Because I wanted to explain why I did what I did. I was so scared that you'd run off and blow your cover that I risked someone following me here. I had my men search the grounds to make sure that didn't happen, of course."

I scoff at him.

"Theo's been surveying the area this entire time and he hasn't found anything suspicious."

"I learned long ago that if you want to get something done right, you do it yourself. One can never be too thorough. Anyway, I want you to move again in two days."