In The Arms of the Monster

Chapter Thirteen Oh, and By the Way

Hermione's Point of View
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"Draco," I say as he walks through the door carrying me. "What?" "Put me down." "Fine." He says and drops me on the couch. I laugh as I roll off the couch. "Are you okay?" "Yeah." I say standing up. I sit down and Draco stands in front of me. He pushes me into the couch and smiles. "You're gonna eat your words." I smirk at him, "Not a chance. I don't love you, I just really, really like you." He grins, "But Hermione, what if I love you?" "Whatever." I roll my eyes and turn to walk into the kitchen but Draco pins me to the couch. "You're so immature." I say struggling to stand. "But yet you still like me." He moves to kiss me but I shove my lips down into my chest. He grins wickedly, "Do you really think that will stop me from kissing you?" I glare up at him and he smirks, "You know you wouldn't mind. You know you wouldn't." I continue to glare. Just then a knock came at the door. Draco turned, "Don't move." I nodded and stood after him, he rolled his eyes and I followed him. The door opened and then slammed shut. "How did he find us?" "I don't know." I stepped around him and opened the door, "Ronald what're you doing here?" "I came here to talk you about not believing that idiot." "Ronald, it's honestly not you're choice." "But you were my choice, and my choice was to break up with you but that was a stupid choice." "It was my freaking choice Ronald!" I shrieked, cracking. Draco looked at me with concern before I continued, "I've told you that so many times. It was my choice to leave you. I broke up with YOU! NOT the other way around. You just wish it had been. Than I'd come crawling back, I used to. But not anymore. I am happy! Happy! I haven't been happy in a long time and I am now. Okay? It's none of your damn concern who I'm with. Maybe you'd be happier if it was George that I was with, than we still end up family well sorry!" My voice cracked and I leaned on Draco for support. Ron wasn't done though he had something to say. "You realize he's using you! He's going to hurt you! He doesn't care a damn thing for you!" I couldn't stop him, "I care about you!" I couldn't answer him with more than a whisper, "You don't know a damn thing. You don't know anything. You don't know how much it hurt every time I found out you were with another girl. Every damn time. I forgave you. I deserve so much better than you." I was about to close the door when he said, "And you also deserve a whole hell of a lot better than him." I didn't move to close the door, or answer. Draco said, "She just said you cheated and you freaking have the nerve to tell her she deserves better than me. Don't you think she knows that. Don't you think I know that. It's her choice. Maybe she thinks I deserve better than her. But I know one thing for a fact. She deserves someone that cares about her, whether that be me or Blaise Zabini or Neville Longbottom. She needs someone who cares not someone who doesn't care but acts like they do. I don't ever want to see your face here ever again." He was deadly quiet and in the silence that followed felt the tension before the door slammed and I heard the pop of apparation. Draco held me as I cried. It must've been hours. We'd talked to Ron at ten and by now it had to be close to midnight. He held me and carried me to the couch, "You're not going back there tonight." He murmured into my hair. I nodded into his chest, "I'm sorry. It's just." "I understand Hermione. It's fine. If he ever hurts you or talks to you again. I swear I will hurt him." "I don't need protection." I pulled his lips to mine and he sighed. When he pulled back he looked at the clock on the wall. He kissed my forehead lightly, "I love you." I cried again. Until I heard a the clock chime, twelve times. "I'm going to bed. Oh, and by the way, I love you too." He smiled knowing it was a new day, "You win Granger. You can wear one of my shirts if you'd like, I'll come in to bed in a few minutes." I smiled at him, "Okay." I walked away. I heard him a few minutes later as I laid facing the wall away from the door. He opened the door and I felt light spill in. He sighed softly and climbed into bed. I smiled as his arm wrapped around me. I felt safe in his arms despite how little time I'd spent in them.