Finally writing a story on my own account. Goodie. Hey, all. I've been co-writing stories with my friend who writes under the penname Mitchie via my account. But this one will actually be my own. We intend to finish our others during our less busy months ahead, and apologize so profusely for not having done so already.
Anyway, here's the summary and quote for this story:
When Ron declares that Hermione is completely undesirable, and Harry avoids supporting her for fear of losing both of them, she makes an executive decision.
"Malfoy? I need your assistance." "Oh? Never thought you were interested in that, Granger." He smirked. "Watch yourself, Ferret."
"Is there something wrong with this outfit, Ronald?" Hermione snapped, eyes blazing.
"Not if you want to look frumpier than you already are." He shrugged.
If looks could kill… Hermione thought wishfully, sending him the most fiery death glare she'd ever managed. "What exactly are you trying to say, then?"
"Just that, if you tried harder, maybe a guy would actually be interested someday. That's why you're mad, isn't it? Because I'm with Lavender?" He asked, completely oblivious to the fact that she could no longer give a care about what he did with Lavender.
"Oh, definitely." She snapped sarcastically. "I live for the day you'll finally dump her for me." She pointedly rolled her eyes.
"Ok, I don't appreciate the sarcasm. But still. You've got to be kidding me. That's what you choose to wear to school every day?" He asked, gesturing to her outfit.
"Honestly, Ronald! This is the school uniform! I'm not going to cheat my way around the rules like your scarlet woman of a girlfriend." She put her hands on her hips defiantly.
"Excuse me? Like you could ever be considered a scarlet woman!" Ron laughed derisively. "Come on, Hermione. You're not even considered attractive!"
Hermione stared at him for a moment before dropping her voice as she straightened up and began walking towards him slowly. "I hate you, Ronald Weasley. I'll show you."
"You don't. And you most certainly won't." He laughed. "Hermione, I may be a bit oblivious, but you're obviously jealous of what Lav and I have. If you wanted me, you should've said so long ago."
"Nobody ever said I was interested in you." She lied. It was true that, now, she didn't care for him. But she didn't care for anyone in that way. "I could make any guy admit to being attracted to me. And not by bribing or by making any deal."
"Admit? You act like somebody does. Or could. Hermione, look at you. You don't even care what you look like, do you?" Ron asked quietly, looking as though he actually pitied her. Him. Pity Her? Oh, people were cruel.
"I don't care what your opinion is, Ronald. I could get someone far better than you to care for me the way you pretend to love Lavender." She smirked smugly.
"Whatever you say. Though I doubt it."
That was it. Was she going to put up with this? Not even close. She turned on her heel with a huff and marched out of the common room, hair flying.
If anything had made her laugh recently, nothing had more than Ronald today. The idea that she liked him was hilarious. Not anymore. Not since he turned into the git he was now. Harry had followed him off the insanity bandwagon, and Hermione would have nothing to do with it. So they shunned her. Recently she spent more and more time in the library (surprise surprise..). So maybe she was jealous that even idiots like Ron could find someone to be so caring (no matter how insane that person was) and so loving.
It wasn't until she was nearly to the front door did she realize that she was heading outside. And crying. When had that happened, she wondered? She was never emotional like this. She sighed, walked out the large double doors and into the courtyard. Days like today, a beautiful September day made her almost wistful. Her birthday was in a week. Would anyone remember? Funny joke. She headed to her favourite courtyard and bench with an arching tree over it. Setting her bag down, she lay back on the bench and rested an arm over her face to shield her eyes from the sun glaring its way through the branches.
Minutes into her peaceful reprieve from the world, she heard an obnoxious giggle that could only belong to one Hogwarts student - Pug-face (That is,… Pansy) Parkinson.
"Merlin, Pansy. Quiet yourself. Can't you see the girl is trying to sleep?" Blaise was saying exasperatedly.
"Don't worry yourself, Zambini. It's just Granger."
Hermione could practically feel Parkinson rolling her eyes in her direction. There were whispers and she heard Pansy squeal and laugh before running off. Thanking her lucky stars that they hadn't bothered her, really, she sighed and attempted to relax again. Unfortunately, she felt someone standing nearby. Lifting her arm slowly, she noticed that none other than Draco Malfoy was standing a few feet away from her, leaning against the wall of the courtyard, resting his arms on the top of it. The sun was shining between two branches, onto his face. She could see he was troubled from his stance. It wasn't as usually assuming and arrogant.
As she stood there watching the breeze push his silver-blonde hair out of his eyes, she was surprised with a brilliant thought. Not that she was surprised that she had it. She was usually this smart. Just surprised that he had been the one to make her think of it. That he was the one involved in it. Standing, she made her way over to him cautiously.
After a moment, he looked up. He made no move to say anything, however, and turned back to looking at the lake over the wall.
"Malfoy, I need your assistance." She said as smoothly and calmly as she could.
He paused for a moment, raised an eyebrow and turned to her. "Oh? Never thought you were interested in that, Granger." He smirked.
"Watch yourself, Ferret." She warned, glaring at him. "I just need your help with a little plot I've come up with."
"So, the Gryffindor needs help from a Slytherin?" He teased almost playfully, leaning now on one arm against the wall so he could face her. She'd never been this close to him without him throwing a fit.
"If I say yes will you help me?" She asked, frustrated.
"Possibly. What is it you need?"
"I need to make Ronald angry. He insulted me repeatedly, and if someone like you had done so, I wouldn't care. But he and Harry used to be my best friends - the only people I could turn to. It's time for revenge, and I can't do it alone." She practically growled.
Malfoy watched her closely, before saying rather quietly, "I'll have to know what the problem is, really, Granger, if you want me to be able to help.."
She retold what Ron had said. She didn't even care that she was saying it exactly as it happened. She couldn't tell Ginny what happened like this, that was for sure. Ginny could hardly believe her brother would act that way. She may know he could be a git - but Ginny too believed that Ron and Hermione were meant to be friends. She said the exact insults, and didn't even bother to look calm and put together. At this point, if she had sunk low enough to ask Malfoy for help, it didn't matter that she was nearly crying in front of him. If he wanted to tease or hurt her, he'd have done it by now, right?
Finally, she finished and waited for him to reply.
"…Listen, Granger." He sighed. "I can help you. But you have to promise me something first."
She nodded cautiously, deciding it was best to keep her mouth closed.
"I need to you assure me that you won't go around hexing anybody - especially not me for what I'm about to say. Got that?" He asked very seriously. She looked into his grey-blue eyes and felt the honesty and goodwill coming from them, and was surprised. Moved by that, she agreed. "Now, here's what I suggest…