If You Were Mine

Forbidden

She dragged herself out of the living room away from reminders of him, she noticed a letter on the placemat by the front door. It was from Ginny.

Hermione I've missed you, you haven't written and your making me worry! Come by for a visit, day or night you are always welcome! P.S Ron seems to be doing much better. G.

Visiting Ginny sounded like the best idea in that moment, it would distract Hermione from thinking about Draco all night. Without a second thought she Apparated to the Burrow.

She knocked on the front door and waited. George answered.

'Shit... I owe Ginny five Sickles,' he said shaking his head at Hermione.

'Lovely to see you too George,'

'Ginny bet that you would visit once you got her letter... I thought I'd scared you away for good!' he explained. Hermione giggled and George stood aside inviting her in.

'Ginny's in her room, but you best say hi to mum and dad first,' he said nodding for her to follow him.

She popped her head around the living room door to say hi. Arthur, Molly and Ron were sat playing a board game. Ron looked so much better and far more like himself. His eyes were less puffy and he had clearly taken a shower and had a shave. He gave her a tiny flicker of a smile and Hermione's heart crumbled into a thousand pieces. Suddenly what she had done with Draco felt like a massive betrayal to Ron. She swallowed her guilt and it choked her.

'Hermione sweetheart!' Molly gave her a hug, 'Ginny said you would be coming to stay, we have missed you,'

'Do you want to join us... we can start over!' Arthur said.

'You're only saying that because your losing!' George sniggered and Arthur looked grumpy. Hermione let out another small giggle and Rons smile grew a little more.

'Another time maybe,'

'I'll make your favourite breakfast in the morning, blueberry pancakes!' Molly yelled after her. Hermione's smiled, they were just the sweetest most kind family.

It was good to see that Ron was doing better. He hadn't spoken to her, but he hadn't scowled so that was a marked improvement. She hoped in time her and Ron could reconcile, but only as friends. The tiny flame she once had for Ron had been extinguished. In its place was a smouldering amber trying to flicker to life for Draco, no matter how much she tried to smother it; it wouldn't die. She knew if she let it grow, it would threaten to burn away her existence. If they were spells, Ron would be Incendio; a controlled contained flame. Draco was something else, he was more like Fiendfyre and he was going to destroy her if she let him.

Hermione let herself into Ginny's room. She was sat cross legged on her bed, her head stuck in a book. She slammed the cover shut when Hermione walked in.

'Sorry, I should have knocked!' Hermione said, forgetting her manners.

"Hermione!' Ginny screamed. She jumped off the bed and gave her a big hug. Then she pulled her by the hands to sit next to her on the bed. Hermione kicked her shoes off and they got comfortable.

'George owes me five sickles!' she said, laughing.

'Apparently so!'

'I knew you wouldn't let that silly tiff with Ron scare you off for good,' she said smugly.

'Ron's not going to keep me from being your friend,' Hermione said. Ginny smiled.

'He's much better, did you see him?'

'I did... he didn't snap at me, that's progress,' she said with a sad smile. 'Anyway, I don't want to talk about Ron! I came to see you. Tell me everything that's been happening with you?'