[Bill tells Hermione what's going on.]

[barelybitten]

Bill had debated bringing the letter with him when he went to go see Hermione, but decided against it at the last minute. Burning it, like he told Hermione he had done, seemed like a good enough idea. So before he came, he had tossed the letter into the fire, watching as it shriveled in the flames. The words were burned into his mind, so it wasn

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[muggle_lioness]

Hermione looked up from her seat on the couch when she heard the knock. She knew it was Bill. He'd said he'd come by to talk to her over dinner, and had kept true to his word. Dobby had just let from placing their plates on the table and now Bill was there. She ran a hand through her curly hair and slowly walked to the door.

Opening it, her face stayed expressionless as she looked up at Bill. "Come on," she said quietly, turning around and walking back to the couch.

[barelybitten]

Bill watched as Esmond barked and moved into the room, sitting in 'his' spot on the edge of the couch. Letting out a sigh, he entered as well, closing the door behind him. This was going to be the hardest conversation with Hermione that he could remember having.

"I see dinner's here," he told her, pointing to the table. "Let's eat, then... Okay?"

[muggle_lioness]

"Okay," Hermione said, petting Esmond on the top of his head. He had claimed an end of the couch when he stayed with her. She'd kept him for a few days before sending him back to Bill. She'd grown quite fond of the little Crup, and had spent those nights lounging on the couch, reading by firelight and stroking his back.

She got up and walked straight past Bill, not looking at him, to the table.

[barelybitten]

Bill sighed, following Hermione to the table. "I'm sorry, all right? I didn't mean to just run off like that, but it was ... the owl was just surprisingly, that's all." He rested a hand on her back. "Will you please look at me? This is hard enough with you already upset with me."

She was going to be upset at him either way, but it would be somewhat easier if she wasn't already upset.

[muggle_lioness]

Hermione stiffened and jerked away from Bill's touch. "That's not an excuse. You shouldn't have left." She sat down in her chair and picked up her fork. "Now sit down and eat. Dobby said you've been barely touching your food lately."

[barelybitten]

Bill pulled his hand back, taking a few steps away from Hermione. This was going to not just upset her, but get her angry. He licked his lips once and nodded, taking a seat at the table. If anything, he was feeling as though he'd bring up whatever he swallowed.

Still, he picked up his fork and poked at his food. "I'm sorry, all right? I'd rather you not be mad at me right now..."

[muggle_lioness]

"I wouldn't be upset with you right now, if you'd have just told me what was on the bloody parchment," Hermione said, cutting her meat. She was silent for a moment, then softly added, "Are you ever going to tell me?"

[barelybitten]

"I had to figure out a way to tell you, that's all." Bill picked up a forkful of mashed potatoes, frowning at it. "If I told you right there in the snow ... Merlin, Hermione, I needed some time to think." He dropped his fork back onto his plate, pushing it away. He couldn't eat, his stomach wouldn't let him.

[muggle_lioness]

"Then tell me now. You should even need a way to tell me. Just. . . tell me," Hermione said, setting her fork down and practically begging him.

[barelybitten]

Bill watched Hermione for a long moment, still debating. She deserved to know, but she wasn't going to like it. She was going to hate him and hate the war and everything that happened. He sighed, leaning forward, he clasped his hands together. "I just ... this is a bit hard, especially since I've been here for a long time.

[muggle_lioness]

Hermione gave him a glare and placed both of her hands on the table. "Bill Weasley, stop dancing around subject and tell me what the bloody hell was on that parchment. I've had enough of this."

[barelybitten]

"Lucius wants me back," Bill told her, barely after she was finished talking. "His owl was to tell me that he knew where I was and if I did return in a week, he would come and fetch me himself." He leaned back, frowning. "I'm going back."

[muggle_lioness]

Hermione's eyes widened as Bill told her. "How could he have found out where we were?" she gasped, then comprehended the last thing Bill had said. "You're doing what!"

Without giving him time to answer, she slammed her fists down on the table, causing the plates to shake and her glass to tip over. Then she stood up, and mix of fear, anger, and hurt on her face, and ran to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

[barelybitten]

Bill's eyes widened and he jumped as Hermione punched the table. He knew she would be angry. He tilted the glass back up and cleaned up as much as he could before deciding to go after Hermione.

He paused outside of her bedroom door, looking at it for a long time before knocking. "Hermione? Can you come out please?"

[muggle_lioness]

Hermione sat in her window seat, her favorite part of her room, and cried, looking out at the snow. Waving her hand, she cracked the door open, but didn't turn around to look at Bill.