A new beginning
(Hermione’s POV)
The room was quiet. It had been hours since Draco had arrived, hours since I had finally allowed myself to stop running. But the fear still lingered in my chest like an unwelcome guest, always there, tugging at my thoughts, reminding me of everything I had lost.
I stared at the walls of Theo’s flat, my mind racing. How had I gotten here? How had everything I had ever known come to this point?
When Ron’s fists had come down on me, something inside me had broken—finally, irrevocably. I couldn’t go back. I couldn’t return to that hell.
But the reality of leaving was far more complicated than I had anticipated.
I glanced at Theo and Draco, who were talking quietly in the other room, the low hum of their voices barely audible over the faint crackle of the fireplace. My body had stiffened from the moment they had stepped into the flat, as if I were still waiting for something to happen, for Ron to burst through the door and drag me back to where I didn’t want to be.
But it was different now. I was safe—at least for the moment.
Draco’s words from earlier still echoed in my mind. You’ll never have to face him again. Not alone. Not ever.
I wanted to believe him, but there was a part of me, buried deep within, that couldn’t quite let go of the terror.
He had warned me—both of them had—that it would be a long road. That Ron wouldn’t just give up.
I had always been the one to fight, to try and make things right, but this time… I wasn’t sure I could do it on my own.
And then, the soft sound of footsteps broke me from my thoughts.
I looked up to see Draco standing in the doorway, his sharp features softened with concern. His gray eyes met mine, and I could see the way he was trying not to show how much it all weighed on him.
“How are you holding up?” he asked quietly, stepping into the room but keeping a safe distance. His voice was gentle, but there was an edge to it—something protective.
I exhaled slowly, running my fingers through my hair. “I’m okay,” I replied, though the words felt like a lie. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever been okay.”
Draco didn’t say anything at first. He just nodded, his eyes flicking down to my hands where they rested on my lap, before he took a step closer.
“You don’t have to pretend with me, Hermione,” he said, his tone low. “You’ve been through too much. It’s okay to not be okay.”
I bit my lip, glancing down at the bruises on my arms, the faint marks on my neck. The pain had dulled over time, but it was still there, a constant reminder of what Ron had done.
“I don’t know how to move forward,” I whispered, my voice small. “I don’t even know where to start.”
Draco was silent for a moment, as though considering his next words carefully. Finally, he spoke again, his voice steady and firm.
“The first step is being here. With us. Not alone. We’re not going anywhere, Hermione. You’re safe now. But you have to let us help you.”
I met his eyes then, feeling a flicker of something—something warm, something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Trust. I had trusted people before, but not like this—not since everything had shattered with Ron.
“And then what?” I asked, my voice barely audible.
Draco’s lips curled into a faint, reassuring smile. “And then we fight back. We make sure he knows you’re not his to control anymore.”
My heart skipped a beat. For the first time in what felt like forever, I believed him.
I had been so afraid of losing everything. But somehow, with Draco and Theo, I felt like maybe I could have something, maybe even something good.
But there was still so much I had to face. And Ron… Ron was the biggest challenge of all.
“He’ll come for me, Draco,” I said softly, my voice tinged with the fear that still clung to me. “He won’t just let me go. He’ll hurt anyone who tries to help me. And I don’t want to put you two in danger.”
Draco’s gaze softened, but there was no hesitation in his words. “Ron’s a coward, Hermione. And he won’t get away with what he’s done. Not with you, not with anyone. He’ll have to face the consequences. But you don’t have to face him alone.”
I took a deep breath, letting his words sink in. For the first time in a long time, I felt something stir within me—a tiny, fragile seed of hope.
Theo stepped into the room then, his presence calm but filled with the same protectiveness Draco was showing. “We’ve got a plan. But for now, you need to rest. You’ve been through too much, and you need to heal, Hermione. Let us handle the rest.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat, as they both looked at me like I was something worth saving.
I wasn’t sure how long it would take to rebuild, how long it would take to let go of the fear and the scars. But maybe, just maybe, with them by my side, I could start over.