After a long day of learning, Hermione settled back into the sofa, letting herself drift in and out of sleep. She was in the Heads common room but Draco wasn't here yet. She hadn't seen him all day, except for class but he never waited for her after class.

Hermione got up and went into her room, feeling exhausted. She lay on her bed, closing her eyes and cuddling the teddy that Draco had gifted her. She had named it Dramione, a mix of hers and Draco’s name. It seemed a little cheesy and Draco had laughed non stop when she had pitched him the idea this morning. She drifted off and was unaware when the door slowly creaked open and someone walked into their common room.

The boy stood staring at the four doors in front of him. He slowly, very slowly, opened Hermione’s door, spilling a line of light into the darkened room. He noticed Hermione laying on the bed, her eyes still closed.

He walked over to her, closing the door with a bang which made Hermione start. Hermione sat up, quickly grabbed her wand and shouted Lumos. Her heart beat faster and faster but she realised the boy had familiar red hair

Ron.

Ron stood staring at her, his face wasn't angry or annoyed but he was upset and Hermione could see that.

‘Ron.’ Hermione whispered, getting up of the bed and flicking the lights on, ‘What are you doing here?’

He stared at her for a while, memorising every small detail. Hermione grew a little wary and uncomfortable. The only light in the room illuminated out of her wand and she hesitated.

‘Ron, please, I'm sorry for everything. You're my best friend and I don't want to lose you.’ Hermione whispered, afraid to come any closer to him.

Hermione pressed her back against the wall next to the door as Ron walked forward so there wasn't much space for her to move. His eyes stayed fixed to hers and she could see the redness that outlined them.

‘Why?’ Ron asked in a deathly quiet voice that made Hermione shiver.

Why did she do this? Why Draco? Why Ron? All of these questions had been circulating in his mind ever since he found out about the two of them. He couldn’t wrap his mind around it.

‘I love Draco.’ Hermione said, her voice quietening too without realising it.

Ron’s jaw tightened and he trapped her against the wall, putting his hands on either side of her head. He moved forwards slightly.

‘I love you too. Just not like Draco.’ Hermione whispered, trying to keep herself from pushing him away.

‘Hermione, I know you love him. I saw it from the start. When he walked in our compartment on the train, I saw it in your eyes how hard you fell for him... And like a fool, I overlooked it, thinking you wouldn't leave me for him.’ Ron said, cupping her face with his hands, ‘but all is fair in love and war, right?’

Ron pressed his lips onto hers. Hermione, shocked, opened her eyes wider. Ron kissed her, grabbing her waist and licking her lips. Hermione felt disgust rise in her throat, this kiss was too desperate and forced. She hated it.

Hermione tried to pull back but Ron kissed her neck.

‘Hermione, just this once... Please?’ Ron said in between the kisses.

Hermione hesitated for a moment and pulled back.

‘Sorry, Ron, I can't.’ Hermione said, gently pushing him back.

‘Oh... You can't kiss me because you're with Draco but you didn't have a problem with kissing him when you were with me! You little slut!’ Ron shouted at her.

Before she could think of the consequences, Hermione slapped him on the face. She wouldn't stand for being called a slut. She was in love but that didn’t make her a slut.

‘Need I remind you of LAVENDER?! You didn't think about me when you were practically sticking you're tongue in her throat!’ Hermione shouted back.

They stared at each other, both red in the face and fuming.

‘Ron. I've said I'm sorry. I don't know what else you want me to do or say? I can't kiss you. I love Draco!’ Hermione said, glancing at Dramione Teddy laying on her bed.

‘I know... I'm sorry, I was just...’ Ron muttered, ‘upset. You're not a slut.’ 

‘Apology accepted and I'm sorry for cheating on you and slapping you.’ Hermione added the last three words, red in the face.

‘I just wish that we could...’ Ron sounded hopeless and slumped against her a little.

‘I know,’ Hermione whispered, pushing his chest lightly to make him stand up, ‘I know, Ron.’

Ron nodded and they stood there awkwardly. Hermione had her hands behind her back, playing with the ring on her finger.

‘Happy birthday,’ Ron whispered and walked out of the room.

Hermione slid to the floor when she heard the door being closed.

---

What am I doing here?

Draco was sat in the Slytherin common room. He had never noticed before how dark and depressing it was to sit in a only lit by small candles room. Even though the fireplace was on, he was cold...

Pansy came from upstairs, shrieking his name. She draped herself over his body, hanging onto his arm as everyone stared at her.

Draco wished he hadn't come... He didn't know why he was coming back to Pansy when he had Hermione.

Hermione... He pictured how her hair fell over her face, while she read, she would impatiently flick it away. How her eyes seemed to grow softer and would be full of love every time she saw him.

He should be with her not with Pansy.

‘Draco! I missed you!’ Pansy squealed, her pug face close to his own face as though she was about to kiss him.

Draco flinched away suddenly, having to stop himself from making a mistake that would ruin his and Hermione’s relationship before it even started. Pansy frowned at him when he moved away.

‘What's wrong?’ Pansy asked in a quiet voice. She tried to reach for him, ‘I’ll make it okay. Just tell me what’s wrong.’

‘You! You' re what's wrong! Stay away from me!’ Draco yelled, distancing himself from her.

‘Why did you come here?’ Pansy muttered.

‘I don't even know! Why I would...’ Draco trailed off, lost for words.

‘Is that mudblood not satisfying?’ Pansy whispered, although the room was quiet and everyone heard her, ‘everyone’s talking about it, you know.’

Draco’s fists clenched and everyone’s eyes were on Draco and Pansy. They held their breaths as they watched the scene unfold in front of them. Pansy turned red, embarrassed that Draco had flinched away from her like that.

‘Yeah, man, leave that slut. She's a mudblood. You're father will kill you,’ Blaise said, walking forwards so Draco was face to face with him.

‘What did you call her?’ Draco asked, turning to him threateningly.

Every word dripping with a full amount of menace and threat, making everyone feel the terror radiating off of Zabini.

‘A slut... Mudblood... But, c'mon... I-’ Blaise couldn’t finish the sentence as Draco had punched him in the gut, fury livid on his face.

Pansy stepped back although no one could take their eyes off of Blaise, lying on the floor, struggling to breath. A girl screamed briefly, jolting all the others around her.

‘Anyone else got something to say?’ Draco asked, turning to face the crowd.

They all went back to reading their books upside down, writing anything on their paper and talking about nothing in particular. Everyone knew of Draco’s anger and his status as an ex death eater.

Draco glared at Pansy, thinking he would never make that mistake again, and walked out of the dormitory. The door slammed shut with a definite and final bang.