Fourteen

~insert the usual disclaimer stating I don't own and make no money, etc...~

Ron sat in the corner of the pub and stared blankly into the glass of port that had been placed in front of him nearly twenty minutes before. Thought after thought of Hermione flitted through his mind, along with different emotions. She'd lied to him, tricked him with Veritaserum! He could see her point; however, he couldn't stop thinking about her deception. Sure, what he'd told her had been the truth, but there was so much more he'd wanted to say. I can fucking love her and be happy even if she wouldn't give me a family! It was true. Yes, he wanted his own children.

But damn it, he'd wanted her, too. Had let his own wants sour everything. She'd only been trying to make things right for him, hadn't she? It had taken both Harry and Ginny to make him see that. Why couldn't he shake the disappointment? She'd always been so honest. This caused him to snort. Not always. But only dishonest for the right reasons. Again he thought of the things Harry and Ginny had said. Could he swallow his pride and go to her? Beg her to be with him? Ought to make her arse take Veritaserum! he thought, feeling his anger rise again.

Samantha came to mind. She'd been something of a surprise. He liked her a lot, knew it could be so much more, but it kept coming back to Hermione. Samantha was everything he wanted in a woman, and she wanted many things he wanted, things Hermione paid no attention to. How many times had she made it known that his love for Quidditch seemed pointless when there were so much more important things in the world to be getting on with? And again... back to the family thing. What woman didn't want to prove her love in the ultimate way by giving her husband a family? This made his mood darken once again. It would serve her right if he let her go. She'd see her mistake, wouldn't she?

He tossed back most of the glass in front of him suddenly... and promptly choked a little.

A derisive snort drew his gaze to the left as he wiped at his mouth and tried to catch his breath.

"I say," Lucius Malfoy drawled, "that's an expensive drink. Leave it to a Weasley to not understand that this port is to be savored, slowly imbibed, never guzzled." Lucius sneered. "Lucky for Miss Granger she's landed a man who can appreciate fine things, eh? One who will indeed savor her... slowly, appreciatively?"

Ron sprang up from his seat. "What the bloody hell are you on about, Malfoy?"

"Oh dear," Lucius said, voice full of mock concern. "Did you not know?" He raised a gloved hand to his mouth. "Apologies, Weasley."

There was no mistaking the gloating in his voice. "I asked what you're on about? What are you talking about Hermione for? What man?"

Ron remembered Hermione being indignant on Draco's behalf about being forced into taking the matchmaking survey, and he'd heard about Parkinson dropping Malfoy like a glass of dirty pumpkin juice when someone else offered for her...smart girl after all come to that. He narrowed his eyes. Had Hermione taken the bloody test and been paired with Malfoy?

"I've said too much already. Good day," Lucius said, eyes full of amusement as he turned away.

Resisting the urge to grab Malfoy's long ponytail and pull him back to make him answer his questions, he Disapparated straight to Hermione's flat, not caring if any Muggles were about. She'd have answers!

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Lucius heard the loud crack of Disapparation and grinned. Ah, Weasley baiting. Such fun. How he missed running into Arthur as of late. He hoped to be nearby when the idiotic boy accosted Severus, for surely he would. Lucius pulled out his silver timepiece, noting the hour.

"Narcissa," he said with a sigh, "late as usual."

"Fashionably, darling," she said from behind him. "Shall we?"

"Indeed," he said, holding out his arm so that she could slip hers around it. "You'll never guess who I saw sitting here."

"You're right. I'll never guess."

"Try."

She swatted his shoulder with her free hand. "Stop this. Tell me."

Lucius smirked. "Weasley."

Narcissa wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Which one? There are several."

How Narcissa loathed the Weasleys, especially now that the matriarch had killed her sister. "The one from Draco's year that was involved with the Granger girl."

Narcissa looked around quickly. "Where? I don't see him."

"Gone. Something must have upset him." Lucius made a tsking noise with his mouth. "How rude! Just up and Disapparated."

"What did you do?" she asked, eyes alight.

"I may have let slip that he mishandled his port." He snorted. "Imagine. He stared at the glass for a long time and finally just knocked it back. Or tried to rather. Half of it spilled down his robes and the rest went down the wrong way from the look of it."

"Is that all?"

"Ah, yes, there was something about my being glad Miss Granger has moved on to someone else who at least knows how to savor something fine."

"You didn't!"

"I did!"

"What did he say? Did he not know?"

Lucius led her towards the door. "He wasn't happy. I'd say he'll be on his way over to see her." He frowned slightly. "I suppose there's nothing to know, as even Severus isn't sure yet."

"Yes, that is true, but she'd be insane not to accept Severus in my opinion."

"But why make him have dinner tonight? Why not just say yes already and get on with the planning?"

"Perhaps, as a woman, she wants some pretense of romance while accepting a proposal." Narcissa paused in the midst of their walk. "Lucius, maybe you should tell Severus about Weasley. This may not end favorably. Not if the dolt goes there and causes trouble."

"Severus can handle a Weasley, I think. Has been doing so for years."

"But this has to do with the girl. To hear Severus tell it, that oaf still has her heart, though she won't commit to it. What if this ends up hurting Severus? As much as I dislike, er, wish Severus had chosen someone of better breeding, I do think he deserves to have a companion, especially one of his choosing."

"He didn't choose her! Not really," Lucius said in annoyance. "She was forced on him, same as our son's life is being dictated by bloody officials who think they know how to make things right. Bastards!"

"He was forced to do this, but you saw the way he spoke last night. He seemed to have... hope." Narcissa smiled fondly. "He couldn't wait to tell us what had transpired. Severus did much for us... for Draco. Don't forget that. And don't let one of them ruin this for him."

Nodding, Lucius said, "I shall send an owl while we await dinner. Come."

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Ron Apparated behind his house, striding forward quickly, and stumbled in the darkness when his foot caught on a large tree root. He'd had a few more drinks after leaving Hermione's flat, unable to cope with what he'd heard. Just as he rounded the corner of his house, he jumped back into the cloak of darkness. Samantha was standing about ten feet away with Ginny.

"He told me to be here at eight," she said, voice worried. "I don't know where he could be. He's not at the shop. I checked there. Do you think he's all right?"

"I'm sure he's fine. Oh, you know, I think he went to the Burrow and likely got caught up in helping Mum," Ginny said, reaching out to touch the girl's arm reassuringly. Ron could tell she didn't believe a word of what she'd just said though.

He'd have to thank her later. Damn it! Forgot about her coming over. Instead of facing her, he remained hidden as Samantha prattled on about their previous evening and how he'd been distant. Ron closed his eyes and thought of what had transpired at Hermione's flat.

BANG! BANG!

How could she do it? Malfoy. They hated him. Hated everything he stood for. He'd stop this. She didn't deserve to be with someone like that! The bastard would hurt her, was just going to use her good name for better standing! "I'll not have it," he said and headed back to the pub he'd been at only minutes before.

Bringing his hands up to his face, Ron sighed. He'd failed. Hadn't seen Hermione at all. Oh, he'd seen the Malfoys, but neither Hermione nor Draco had been with them. He'd gone to Malfoy Manor, but he couldn't get onto the grounds. He'd been to other places, posh places Malfoy might take her. Nothing. She was nowhere to be found. At the last place, he'd ordered a drink that cost as much as some poor sod's pay for an entire day. What would Hermione want with that sort of life? She loathed it. Loved places like the Burrow, like the Leaky Cauldron, like The Three Broomsticks. Regular places. Regular people. Regular blokes. He frowned then. She'd always had money, wealthy parents and all. What if she wanted that life again and thought he couldn't give it to her? What if that was what was really behind her pushing him out of her life?

"And bloody making it look like it's for my own good!" he said... loudly. However, even as he said it, he thought of the pamphlets in his pocket that had given him more than enough information on endometriosis. She wouldn't do that.

"Did you hear that?" he heard Samantha ask Ginny.

"Um, what do you mean? Oh, the Muggles next door are always up and about."

"Sounded like Ron." There was a rustling of grass.

"Bugger," he whispered to himself, wishing he had Harry's Invisibility Cloak. If he Disapparated now, she'd definitely hear him. Ron decided to play the part and hurried around the corner, nearly running into Ginny. "Oi," he called out in mock surprise.

"Ron!" Samantha said. "I thought that was you. Where... where've you been?"

"Just back from Mum's. Had to help her sort out my dad." He looked at Ginny knowingly and gave a slight nod.

Ginny narrowed her eyes but played along. "Right. Dad. I suspected. I didn't want to mention that part," she said to Samantha.

"What's wrong with him? All right?"

"Er... yeah, I, uh, well..." He scratched the back of his neck, grasping for something to say.

"You've had drinks."

"Yeah. Yeah, I did." He waited for her anger.

"Well," she said with a smile, "I hope having drinks with him helped to sort things out." Samantha looked at Ginny while she took Ron's hand. "Sometimes a couple of pints and someone lending an ear helps a great deal."

Ginny said, "You should have sent an owl, Ron. She's been worried for the past hour and a half."

"Sorry," he said, unable to think of anything better. However, it worked.

Samantha gave him a hug. "It's all right. Family is important. I understand."

Ron agreed completely. It's exactly what he needed to speak with Hermione about. "I, uh, don't feel all that great. Do you think we could talk later?"

"Oh..." Disappointment was evident in her voice. "Of course. Absolutely."

"Too much I expect." He rubbed his stomach as if ill.

"Shall I come round or...?"

"I'll Floo you, eh?" he asked hopefully.

"All right." She rose up on tiptoe to place a kiss on his cheek. "I hope you feel better, Ronald."

He hated the way she said his full name. Only Hermione or his mum ever called him that. Why did she think she had the right? Why was he feeling this way suddenly? "Thanks," he muttered and made to walk forward, but she pulled him into a hug before she stepped back to Disapparate away.

Once gone, he slowly turned to face Ginny, who had her arms across her chest and her foot tapping impatiently. "Explain."

He blurted all he'd been told and how he couldn't let Hermione marry a Malfoy and how he didn't bloody care about the Veritaserum rubbish as long as she'd come back to him. How he intended to find Draco Malfoy if it took all night.

And then he Disapparated before she could say another word.

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There was a place he hadn't checked earlier. The Greengrass Pub in Diagon Alley was always a place that the wealthy sort could be found. Many times when his family had passed there when he'd been growing up, he'd swore to be one of the patrons someday. He never thought this reason would take him there.

Luck was on his side. Just outside the pub was none other than Draco Malfoy... and his date. He could see Malfoy well enough, but Hermione was standing in the shadow of the lamppost. As he walked up, he heard Malfoy's sickening drawl.

"Maybe we can make this match work if we try and stay honest with each other, but I can't promise anything more right now. It's going to take some getting used to."

"Damn right it will," Ron blurted, stalking forward.

A surprised Malfoy spun around, wand out. "Stop right there, Weasley!"

"Get your slimy hands off my girl!" Ron pulled back his fist, ready to punch Draco, but stopped short. "Where's Hermione?"

The girl Draco had been talking to was not Hermione. She looked like Daphne Greengrass, only a younger version.

"What do I care where she is? What do you mean your girl?"

"But I thought..."

Draco warned Ron with his wand, moving it in front of him. "Stay back. I let you get away with hitting me at Hogwarts that night with all the fighting at the castle... It won't happen again, Weasley."

Ron waved away Draco's attempt to be threatening. "Your father told me that Hermione had a new bloke. I thought..."

"You thought I'd accept Granger? Are you mad?" Draco began laughing. Even the girl, Astoria, he was sure it was, had a smile on her lips. Draco nodded to his companion. "Meet my match, Weasley. A step above Granger, I'd say."

Indignant on Hermione's behalf, Ron said, "You'd be lucky to have her!"

"Perhaps luck is on Severus Snape's side instead."

"Snape? What about that wanker?"

"Yes, Snape. You heard right, Weasley. I expect they are finalizing their plans now." Draco flashed a feral grin. "Father says he's decided to accept Granger, what with the bad matches the Ministry's been trying to give him." Draco curled his lip. "You lose again, Weasel."

Ron hit Draco as hard as he could and was promptly hexed by Astoria.

SW's Notes: Sorry for any errors here. I haven't had the time to get with my beta. I've been so busy with graduate school and only just had the chance to read it over, which prompted me to change something of course. You know how that goes. I shall make the changes I may have missed once we get it edited. Thankfully, I have a couple of weeks before summer school and am certain I can speak with her and get on a better schedule. Peace.