Love

                                    

                                          



"Ah, dammit," a rough voice suddenly cursed from the side of the room. The group whipped towards the voice and found Ron slowly beginning to stand.
                          
"And the devil's awake," Pansy murmured as her fists clenched. 
                          
"I guess he is," Draco muttered in reply, his anger suddenly rushing back. Hermione didn't speak. She only seemed to hide behind Pansy. The constant abuse now combined with an attempted kidnapping made Hermione much more afraid than she would ever care to admit. Aberforth stepped between the groups and Ron. 
                          
"So you're already awake, I see." Aberforth's voice remained steady. He clearly had no fear or doubt in his mind. After all, Aberforth easily beat Ron one-on-one, and it was now basically four-on-one. 
                          
"Fuck. You all always ruin everything." Ron was unsteady on his feet, but this didn't stop him from standing and glaring towards the group. "I'm so annoyed. I had everything planned out, but you ruined it all." Ron was really talking to no one in particular. He was still gaining back his balance and he seemed to be looked all around the room. 
                          
"What? Did you really think that any one of us would just let you get her? You have to be absolutely batshit crazy, Weasel," Draco stated. He had more or less moved in front of both Pansy and Hermione subconsciously, even though Ron was unlikely to do much. 
                          
"And did you really think I was stupid enough to eat a snack that had obviously been slipped a Draught? I may be old, but I'm far from stupid, Weasley," Aberforth commented. He had no anger or frustration in his voice, which only made him scarier. Ron, however, was unfazed. 
                          
"And you-" Ron seemed to be addressing Hermione now. He didn't make any sign to show that he had even heard the previous statements. "You really think these people are your friends? Have these two helped you through a war? Hell, both of them hated you just last year, and now you're all buddy-buddy. You're probably even fucking one of them." Ron glared at Draco. 
                          
"Weasel. Stop it, or I swear to god I'll curse you into oblivion," Draco said through gritted teeth. Ron ignored him once again. 
                          
"Don't you get it, Hermione? Everyone hates you. They act like they like you to get closer to you, and once they get everything they need, they'll leave you behind." Even though, Hermione had just stopped her crying, she felt another tear slowly roll down the side of the face. 
                          
"You're lying," Hermione whispered, not audible enough for anyone around her to hear. 
                          
"I'm the only one that's been there for you, Hermione. Not them, not anyone else. Me, Hermione, me!" Hermione shook her head. 
                          
"You're lying, you're lying, you're lying," Hermione's voice rose with each repeat, but it wasn't enough to stop it. Pansy stepped in instead.
                          
"That's absolute bullshit and you know it!" she practically screamed. "You've never for a second loved or cherished her the way you should. All you've managed to do it hurt her more and more and more! You are absolute scum and you don't deserve her," Pansy stated as she reached down and grabbed Hermione's hand and squeezed. Hermione couldn't help but smile at Pansy's words.
                          
"I'm lying?" Ron shouted. "You're the ones that are lying! I'm the only one that has ever loved her!" 
                          
"That's not love." Draco had finally spoken again. His voice was deep, steady, and levels below the volume of both Pansy and Ron. Ron's eyes seemed to have flames coming out of them at this point. 
                          
"Love isn't telling someone they have no one else. Love isn't giving a person a set of rules to follow and beating them if they refuse. Love isn't forced. Love isn't what you have," Draco stated. His face was towards the ground, but he was staring up at Ron. Ron was taken aback for a second. Suddenly, he growled and sneered at Draco. 
                          
"You know nothing. You pathetic piece of-" Ron abruptly reached for his wand that was lying on a nearby table. Aberforth pulled out his wand as well, prepared to protect himself. 
                          
"Weasley. You know you are no match for me. Stand down," Aberforth demanded as he took a step towards him. However, with almost inhuman speed, Ron grabbed his wand and pointed it at Draco. 
                          
"No!" Aberforth shouted as he realized Ron was going for Draco instead of himself. Draco inwardly cursed. He still had no wand with him. He was defenseless. And he didn't want to move, because it would only leave Pansy and Hermione in the line of whatever spell Ron was going to cast. 
                          
Ron, realizing Aberforth had let his guard down in his desperate attempt to protect the students, pointed his wand quickly back towards the older man. 
                          
"Expelliarmus!" Ron shouted with a wave of his wand. Aberforth, caught in a sudden moment of panic, had no time to react and his wand was sent flying. 
                          
Damn, Aberforth thought. Maybe I underestimated this kid.  Ron wasted no time in quickly pointing his wand back at Draco. Pansy reached for her own wand, but was left empty as she realized she had probably lost it back in the chaos at school. Draco, not knowing what else to do, simply stepped fully in front of both Pansy and Hermione and braced himself for whatever Ron threw at him. Surely Ron didn't have the heart to produce anything too horrible, right? 
                          
Ron, with a crazed look in his eyes, began shouting words. "Avada-" 
                          
"Stupefy!" Ron suddenly flew backwards, his back hitting the wall with a sickening thud. He slipped down to the ground and stayed still, presumably unconscious. Pansy, Draco, and Aberforth all flung around to see Hermione, holding her wand confidently in her hand. 
                          
"What?" Hermione asked as she returned her wand to her side. She smiled slightly and tilted her head. "I may be afraid of him, but I'm still a pretty damn good witch."