Chapter 20
(Hermione’s POV)
The sterile corridors of the Ministry felt colder than ever as we made our way to the designated meeting room. This wasn’t a quaint coffee shop rendezvous—it was a formal chamber, where the weight of authority pressed down on every word spoken. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I followed Draco and Theo.
Inside the room, a long table dominated the space. At one end sat Ron, his face a mask of controlled fury, while at the other end, Potter’s gaze oscillated between anger and reluctant disbelief. The tension in the room was palpable.
Draco stepped forward first, his tone cool and precise. “Ron, we need to talk,” he said, his voice echoing slightly off the Ministry’s marble walls.
Ron’s eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on me. “Talk? What could you possibly have to say that would change anything?” His voice dripped with disdain as he crossed his arms.
I swallowed hard, summoning every bit of courage. “I need to tell you everything, Ron. Everything that’s been happening.” My voice wavered at first, but I forced it to steady. “You made sure everyone believed I was the problem. I was isolated, forced to quit my job—cut off from everyone who cared. You turned even Potter against me.”
A murmur rippled around the table. Potter’s expression darkened with a dawning realization, though his tone remained hesitant. “Ron, is that true?” he asked quietly.
Ron’s face contorted with anger. “Don’t you dare talk to me about this. You know I did what I had to do. I’m your husband, Hermione. You’re meant to be with me.”
Theo couldn’t help himself, his voice cutting through the rising tension with sardonic levity. “Oh, come on, Weasley. You really think keeping someone locked up is romantic?”
Ron’s eyes flashed dangerously at Theo, and the air seemed to crackle with impending violence. “You’re both wrong,” he spat. “She’s been out there, living a lie, and now you try to tell me she’s abandoned me?”
I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. “No, Ron. I never left because I wanted to. I left because you forced me into silence. You made it so everyone—Potter, your family, even Ginny—believed I was the problem. I was never given a chance to speak the truth.”
A heavy silence fell as I continued. “Every time I tried to reach out, you had an excuse ready. You told them I was distant, ungrateful, that I was too much for you. And when I stopped showing up, you made it seem like I no longer cared. All the while, you pushed everyone away from me, so I had no one left.”
Ron’s face twisted with anger and disbelief. “You’re lying, Hermione. You always were the dramatic one.”
I took a shaky breath, my heart aching as the reality of everything crashed over me. “It’s not a lie, Ron. It’s what I’ve lived. And Potter—he trusted you, but he’s finally starting to see how you’ve manipulated everyone.”
Potter shifted uncomfortably, his voice low and conflicted. “I… I always thought you were just misunderstanding things, Hermione. I never wanted to believe you were in trouble.”
At that, Ron’s voice rose, trembling with fury. “You’re not leaving me, Hermione! You come home with me—right now!” I tried to pull away, but his hold was ironclad. Then, without warning, his other fist came down hard against my cheek.
The sound of the impact reverberated in my ears. Pain exploded, hot and blinding, and the world around me began to tilt. I tried to cry out, but my voice was swallowed by the shock. My vision tunneled, and everything turned dark as the room spun violently. I felt my body go limp as I collapsed, the meeting room fading into oblivion.
I don’t remember much after that—just a haze of sounds and the echo of furious voices. When I came to, I found myself slumped on the floor, with Draco and Theo hovering over me and Potter’s horrified gaze fixed on Ron, whose angry features were now marred by the realization of what he’d done.
The room exploded into chaos. Potter’s face reddened, and before I knew it, Draco and Theo were stepping between us, their voices raised in unison.
That was the final trigger. In a flash, physical chaos erupted. Ron shoved against Draco, and fists flew. I felt the shock of a hit, and everything spun out of control. My senses faded into a muffled roar as the panic overwhelmed me completely.
In the midst of the shoving and shouts, I closed my eyes and felt the floor rushing up to meet me. Then everything went dark.
When I came to, the room was silent except for the soft murmur of voices. I felt warmth on my arm and slowly opened my eyes. Draco and Theo stood over me, expressions etched with concern and anger, while Potter’s face bore a mixture of regret and determination.
I could still hear Ron’s furious demands echoing faintly as I lay there, heart pounding, body trembling. I realized in that moment that facing him here at the Ministry had forced the truth into the light—and it had begun to crumble his façade.
Draco’s voice was low and steady as he knelt beside me, “Hermione, you’re safe now. We won’t let him hurt you again.”
Theo’s tone softened, trying to ease the lingering panic, “You did well. I’m sorry it came to this.”
And as I stared at the concerned faces around me, a part of me knew that though my world was falling apart, I was finally reclaiming it—no longer a victim, but a survivor determined to rebuild everything on my own terms.