Snow Storm - D.M , H.G

9. Ron's second chance

Ron had been meaning to check on Hermione, he really had. After what she'd been through the previous Saturday, he had to let go of his anger from his last visit. So when Harry said that he really wanted him to be there this weekend, because he had something to tell them, Ron didn't need much convincing. He'd heard from everyone at the academy what Malfoy had done to that snatcher. He'd broken almost every rib the man had, cursed him with an unforgivable (they now knew thanks to Hermione's memory of the event), and finally smashed his head in in a grotesque display of brute force. He'd seen the photo evidence from the crime scene. He'd never seen anything like it, and it angered him still that he'd been pardoned as a hero. He'd saved Hermione from that monster, Ron realized that, but Malfoy himself was still dangerous, and Ron was even less of a fan of Hermione living with him now than ever before.

So he and Harry arrived at Hogwarts, Ginny meeting them in the entrance hall, and the three made their way to the Head's dorm. Ron knocked three times on the door and then took a step back, waiting bravely for the door to open, wanting to look intimidating, just in case it was Malfoy who had the nerve to answer.

A week had passed since the attack, and things had been tense between Draco and herself. While the sex hadn't changed, there was definitely a change in him, and she still felt horrible for that. She had been sitting on the couch reading, wondering when he would emerge from his room when she heard the knock on the door. She placed her book on the table, getting up to answer it. When she opened it and saw Ron standing there, she was a bit surprised. He looked a bit puffed up, like maybe he expected Malfoy to answer the door, and she had to work not to roll her eyes. Behind him were Ginny and Harry, and she forced a smile at the lot of them. "Hey guys, come on in." She offered, taking a step back so they could all enter.

She glanced at Draco's door, now hoping he decided to wait a while before coming out. Maybe he was still sleeping? She wasn't sure how he would do with the company at the moment, and she wasn't ready to find out.

Ron entered the common room, followed by Harry and Ginny. He took a sweeping look around the room as he stepped further into it, taking in his surroundings, as he was trained to do as an Auror. He took his training very seriously. Finally satisfied that there would be no surprises around any corners, he took a seat in one of the cushy armchairs.

Ginny had followed suit, making herself comfortable on the couch as she had so many times before. She was almost as comfortable here now as she was in Gryffindor tower, almost.

"So, Hermione, how're you doing?" She avoided asking her that question every day, not wanting to wear her out from it, but today, with them all together, it finally seemed like the right time to ask. She'd had a week to process everything that'd happened to her.

Harry took a seat in the other armchair, letting the girls have the couch. Hermione sat next to Ginny, and the inevitable question came right out. How was she doing? Well, not great, but she was doing better than Malfoy. She couldn't really show them her concern for him without raising suspicion, and she wasn't quite sure how to answer for herself. So, there was a moment of silence, which she was sure was as awkward for them as it was for her, before she answered.

"It's been tough, but it could be a lot worse, I suppose," she finally said, hoping that would be a good enough answer. Harry nodded his head, remembering how horrible that day had been. But having seen the memory she'd shared, he knew what she meant. Ginny and Ron surely did too, because Ron had also seen it, and he'd told Ginny about the attack as well.

Ron nodded his understanding. "Even I have to admit I'm grateful Malfoy stopped it when he did," Ron confessed, undoubtedly to the shock of those around him. He'd seen the event from an angle even Hermione hadn't seen, and it nearly made him vomit.