BOLD = Draco
Italics = Hermione's Thoughts
I've been having some trouble with formatting and spacing so I hope the horizontal lines are okay. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
The next morning, I decided I was acting absurd. Hermione Granger doesn't cry over boys. Especially exceptionally dense ones like Ronald Weasley.
But as I looked in the mirror to get ready, the tears wouldn't stop. He was right. I'm not even remotely pretty. My hair can't be fixed and I'm just utterly plain.
I collapsed back to bed to cry a bit more before early morning rounds.
"Granger? Granger, please shut up, I can hear your wailing from my room. You've been in there for an hour. If I wanted to hear this all day I would move into the girl's lavatory and share a stall with Myrtle."
"Granger. Let's go. We have rounds now. Come on I can't be late again or McGonagall will have my head."
I momentarily stopped crying as I realized how selfish I was being. The only reason Malfoy was on probation was because of the horrid nightmares he had been experiencing all throughout the night. Once they stopped he usually tried to sleep in or nap randomly throughout the day to catch up on some hours. Occasionally this would cause him to miss duties. Last thing I wanted was the poor guy to miss out on more sleep because I was too busy crying over Ron. But I know the second I go out there he'll be able to tell that something's wrong.
"I'll even go get you strawberry ice cream. I know it's your favorite."
"But it's morning?"
"AH HA! Our sullen princess has spoken. Now I have heard a thing or two about ice cream being deemed unacceptable breakfast. But I'm afraid that it is all rumors my dear Granger. ICE CREAM IS AN ALL DAY FOOD."
"Alright. You've got me there. You know strawberry ice cream is my weakness."
I slumped out of my room with red-rimmed eyes, disheveled clothes, and a half way attempted hair do. I tried not to meet his eyes, but I knew the rest of my appearance was going to give me away any second.
"Oi, what's a matter with you? I don't think I've ever seen you this upset since I insulted that bloody bird in third year."
"First of all, it was a hippogriff named Buckbeak and you totally deserved that punch. Second, It's nothing really, just something Ron said."
"Well, we both know Weaselbee's not the sharpest quill in the set. What did the idiot say this time?"
"He… well he… um… he said that he could do better than me. Which I mean I guess is understandable. He can't do better intelligence-wise, but that's never really been important to him. I'm no Lavender Brown and I know that. I just didn't expect one of my best friends to say something like that."
"Granger don't believe his shite. Listen to me, first year you were a goddamn mess. Bushy hair, buck teeth, and just a bit frumpy in general. But that's not why people valued you. You're the brightest girl of her age for Godric's sakes. It's not even just that, you're a loyal friend, a confident woman, and a dedicated hard worker. Do you know how much I hated you when I was a kid?"
I threw him a pointed glare. Yes, his hatred was just a tad apparent back then.
"Okay, well I guess you do, but not for that reason. I was always so jealous of you, I knew I could never have your confidence to stand up to my parents and no matter how hard I worked, you always beat me in wit. And if that doesn't satisfy you, I don't know if you've noticed but you've also drastically changed in looks since first year. Your hair has calmed down, the buckteeth are completely gone and you wear clothes that actually show that you're a woman. Don't let Weasley of all people bring you down."
"Thank you. I… I.. You're right. I'm better than that. I'm better than him. I'm going to do it. I'm going to break up with him."
"Was that even a question? Dump his arse, before I hex it. And please do it soon, I have an exam this week and I don't know how much more crying I can tolerate."
