"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked.
"I'm talking about you and Malfoy." Ginny responded.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Hermione quickly put her books in her bag.
Ginny stuck her hand out and covered them.
"Hermione, you can't deny it. I saw you two at the lake and you know it."
"Ginny! I'm done with these crazy accusations; I get them from Harry all the time and don't need them from you!" Hermione wrenched her books out from under Ginny's hand and stormed out of the portrait hole. Leaving an angry, confused, and slightly hurt, Ginny behind.
One Week Earlier…
Hermione tried to steady herself. She got out of bed and tried to gain her balance. She felt a lurching in her stomach and made it to the window just in time to see last night's dinner come up the way it had come down. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She merely combed her magically straightened hair, pulled on her uniform, and left the dorm.
"Wow Hermione, you look great!" That was the first thing Hermione heard as she sat down at the Gryffendor table.
Ever since Hermione had changed her uniform (as seventh years were allowed to do), she had received many comments about how she looked. Her new uniform was merely tight black Capri pants, that went to about the top of her knees and cuffed at the bottom, a small, white, short-sleeved blouse, and a Gryffendor sweater vest.
"Thanks Seamus." She sighed before digging in to breakfast.
Hermione made her way down to the lake, looking forward to a relaxing free period. She set her bag down on a rock, and took of her heels. She slowly waded through the water, loving how cold and refreshing the water felt after a stressful morning.
Ron had cheated on her. That was the only thought that ran through her mind.
So Ron has it. The disease that runs solely through…interaction…has flooded his body. Hermione chuckled as she thought of how stupid she must have been. Sure, she and Ron had broken up a few weeks earlier, but it still hurt her.
She just wanted the explanation. Why would he do something like that? Why? What was the point? Of course she hadn't put out with him, so he must've gotten it from someone else. He had been sick for a month now, and they finally noticed what he had…and how he had gotten it. So far, there was no treatment. This shocked most students, seeing as how many of them now had it once the 'activity' had become popular. Madam Pomfrey knew how to heal any ailment, so why was she all of a sudden out of ideas? Out of cures?
"So I'm guessing you've heard about your friend huh?" A voice came out from behind her.
She turned slowly, knowing whose voice it was.
"Yes, actually I have." Hermione said with a cold, hard look on her face.
"Hah, who knew the blood traitor was also a traitor as a boyfriend?" Draco Malfoy chuckled as he walked down the slope.
Hermione realized he must have been sitting in the bushes. She wanted to say something clever and threatening, but she just was at a loss of words.
"I can't believe it. I just can't believe it." That was all she could make out.
"Yeah something like that? I mean, who would even want to be with him?" Draco was still chuckling to himself.
This was expected, as Draco thought anyone of the male species wasn't very attractive if he hadn't gotten at least 10 loaders (as so guys called non-virgins) and gotten at least 3 girls to put out for their first time.
Draco was beyond that. Hermione knew it. He just wasn't the kind of guy that would wait for a girl. If she was there, so was he. Whether she was ready or not. That was just the kind of guy he was. He wanted action, and he was going to stop at nothing to get it.
"Are you on free?" Hermione asked, unable to think of anything else to say.
"Nah I just skipped." Draco answered.
Hermione looked at him, shocked at first, but then accepted it.
"Kidding, my Gran would freak if she found out." Draco chuckled.
"You're living with your Grandmother?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, a dead dad and a mom in Azkaban doesn't do wonders for you, I'll tell you that." He sighed.
"I'm sorry Draco." Hermione just couldn't stop the words from coming out. No matter how bad of a person Draco was, Hermione just didn't have the heart to treat anyone badly.
"I don't care…they deserved it." Draco kicked a patch of dirt.
"Still…" Hermione sighed.
"Look…that was my past. I know I was a jerk, but I really think I can turn my life around. Surprising I know. I just truly feel bad for all the damage I cost." Draco had a sincere look on his face.
Hermione shrugged. Could he be telling the truth? Did he really want to change? She just cleared the thought from her mind. There was no way she was going to believe Draco Malfoy.
Then again, he did have a boyish charm to him he lost when he went to the dark side. Maybe, just maybe…
"So, what are you going to do for the rest of the period? Hang out with me? I know you want to." Draco smirked.
The thought sailed right out of her head. This comment totally blew it out of her head.
"Actually, I was hoping for a peaceful free period…and that defiantly won't happen with you." Hermione turned back to face the lake.
"How am I not peaceful?" He asked sarcastically.
"Just look at you!" Hermione said, still facing the water.
"That's hard with you facing the other direction." Draco chuckled.
"Ha-ha, very funny." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"What? Look you're the one who walked down here, not me. Obviously you wanted to talk to me or you wouldn't have come." Draco told her.
"I had no idea you were down here, and believe me if I had known, I wouldn't have come!" Hermione spat, turning as quickly as she could.
"I knew that would get you to turn around." Draco laughed.
Hermione resisted the urge to slap him.
"Look, what do you want from me? Can you please just leave me alone?" Hermione turned her back on him once again.
"Fine, but I wanted you to know that my brother died." His voice sounded serious.
"I had no idea you had a brother." Hermione turned slowly.
"I didn't either. That's why I'm down here. I'm thinking." Draco sighed.
"How do you not know you have a brother?" Hermione asked him.
"My dad was a bloody cheater. I found out a few weeks ago that he actually had a kid, my little brother. I found out and he was going to come visit me. Then this morning I got a letter that said he was murdered." Draco actually looked sad.
"How old was your brother?" Hermione asked.
"He just turned ten. Apparently his mom was in debt with some dark wizards and when they went to collect the money she didn't have it. So they just killed him, right there, in front of her, then they killed her. She wrote my father to try and help her with the debt before they came and the bastard didn't help at all." Draco picked up a rock and chucked it at the lake.
There was true anger in his voice, not that fake anger some people had, like Ron. He truly felt bad.
"Draco I'm so sorry." Hermione wanted to help him.
"I just wish there was something I could've done." Draco picked up another rock.
She walked over and put her hand on his arm. This new vulnerability softened Hermione's feelings for him. He really cared.
"I could've brought him here earlier. Then he wouldn't have been there." Draco through the rock into the water.
Hermione surprisingly felt bad. She didn't want to, but it just happened.
He looked down at her. She never noticed how blue his eyes were. She always thought they were grey. They also had a small spark in them she'd never seen before. She reached her arms around his neck and hugged him. They were both surprised by her action, but held each other anyway. They broke apart and looked at each other. Before she knew it he was leaning down. His eyes were much closer to hers. His face inches away…
