Chapter
12
Courage
and Confession
Hermione's
eyes were constantly puffy and bloodshot, and she refused to talk to anyone
about
it. She hardly
touched her food, and though she still achieved her usual high marks in
class, her
enthusiasm
was gone. One day, after transfigurations, Ron finally recided what to
do. The most
beautiful
girl in the world, Hermione Granger, was in pain, suffering because of
some unknown
thing, most
likely caused by that vile Draco Malfoy. He, Ron Weasley, would be the
one to
save her from
her misery.
*
The cold green
potion slid down Ron's throat. As it strangely warmed him, Ron grinned
broadly,
and looked
down at the vile with the tiny lable, courage syrup. He threw the empty
glass tube on
the floor
and went down to the dungeons.
*
"Tell me what you did to her!" Ron shouted, clenching his fists.
"I didn't do anything!" Draco yelled back, his face flushed with anger.
Suddenly, Ron's
fist swung out. With a sickening crack, it hit Draco's jaw. Not thinking
twice,
Draco hit
Ron hard in the stomach.
*
Upstairs, a
short girl with bright red hair stooped in the common room and picked up
the empty
vile. With
a small gasp, it dawned on her what had happened, and she sped off after
her brother.
*
"Ron!" Ginny
screamed. "Stop it! Stop it!" With some effort, the younger Weasley managed
to
step between
Draco and Ron.
"Ginny stay
out of this." Ron growled, trying to step around her. But Ginny stood her
ground,
hands on hips.
"Ron! You're
only making this worse!" She yelled. "Now please, for Hermione's sake,
go!"
She pointed
at the door. Thourougly annoyed, Ron left Ginny and Draco, fuming over
what
had happened.
As he made his way up to the main area of the school, Ron suddenly got
an
idea. He grinned
wildly, and raced towards a distant office.
*
"Malfoy," Ginny said, her tone still demanding. "What did you do?"
"What do you
mean Weasley?" Draco asked, his voice hostile. Though his eyes were
narrowed with
suspicion, they had somewhat softened.
"You know what
I mean," Ginny sighed, "Hermione's upset! I've heard her crying at night.
Hermione doesn't
know that I've heard. Look," Ginny continued, "She thinks you've cheated
on her or
something, and that you don't like her any more. Well, do you?"
Draco sneered.
"What, don't tell me you're working for the Daily Prophet for a little extra money."
"Malfoy! For once, for Hermione's sake, please...just answer my question."
"So you're asking, do I like her or hate her?"
"Like her, love her, same thing." Ginny replied, ignoring his attitude completely.
"Well, you
should know the answer to that question." He turned his face away from
her
so she wouldn't
see the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "I still love her. She
means
everything
to me." His voice sounded choked and emotional, and a tear slid down his
pale cheek.
"Oh." Ginny
replied, startled by such a change. Then she gave him a reassuring nod,
then
turned and
ran off. Draco put a hand against the wall of the dungeon to steady himself.
Resting his
hot forehead against the cool stone, he closed his eyes, and cried silently.
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