Cinderella

Chapter Two

Two months. It had been two whole months since Draco had said a word to Hermione. Granted, he had taken to staring her down during classes and between them, but he never uttered a single word. Maybe he had finally learned to shut his trap. Or maybe he was still angry that Hermione had stood up to him, making him feel an inch tall in front of his friends.

Hermione left the confines of her dorm room, fancying a walk by herself down by the lake before meeting up with Harry and Ron in the library to study. She was skipping rocks across the water when she heard the shrill voice of her stepsister, Daphne, behind her.

"Well, well, well... If it isn't the little Mudblood. Your friends decide to drop you, have they? Good on them."

Hermione paused, rock still in hand, and turned around. "Oh, look. It's the little princess and her loyal servants. How cute. And by princess, I obviously meant Draco."

"You watch your mouth, you stupid little bint. I won't hesitate to shut you up quicker than you can call for your friends." Draco stepped closer, flexing his fingers threateningly.

"Oh, do sod off, Malfoy. No one cares. Besides, I don't think you have it in you to actually hit a girl."

"Oh, you're quite right. Drakey won't hit a girl. But Daph-y, here, wouldn't hesitate to beat the shit out of you." Astoria piped up, laughing and latching tightly onto Draco's arm.

"Daffy? Isn't that a duck? Funny... I can see the resemblence." Hermione giggled.

"I'll do one better. I'll telephone Mum. Tell her you and your little friends are being a bother and..." She faked a sob. "Tori and I just can't take it anymore."

"Really? And what else can she do besides cut me off even more? Call your mother, I don't care." Hermione's gaze drifted back towards Draco. "And you can leave me the hell alone. What did I ever do to you?"

Draco tried to throw off Astoria's grip, rolled his eyes when she clung on tighter, and then physically removed the girl's hands from him. He took a step towards Hermione. "Listen here, Mudblood. I am sick and tired of you and your famous little friend." He growled. "I can do whatever I damn well please."

In an instant, he was on the ground with Hermione's arm pressing at his throat. "I didn't do a damn thing to you, Malfoy, except exist. Now, sod. Off." She stood up and began to walk away, hearing Draco's grumbles of 'filthy bint', 'dirty Mudblood', and a few other choice insults as he stood up and dusted himself off.

Now, she was in the library, studying quietly to herself when someone pulled out the chair across from her and plopped down. "Fancy seeing you here, Granger."

Hermione glanced at the blonde boy sitting at her table. "Go away, Malfoy. I'm busy."

"What? I just wanted to talk." Draco smirked.

"You never want to talk to me. Go. Away."

"So," Draco looked at his hands, bored. "There's a dance coming up."

"Yes, and I hear you're taking Princess Tori. I don't know which one of you I feel sorrier for."

Draco scoffed. "Whatever. She's easy. And readily avaliable, at that. I assume you and Weaselbee will be going together, then? You know, since no one else will go with either of you."

"I don't see how that's any of your business, but no. Ronald and I are not going together, seeing as I'm not going at all." Hermione turned back to her schoolwork.

"Yes, Daphne and Astoria told me how their mother sent them the money for you to get a dress. Quite amusing, actually."

"Are you here to taunt me, Malfoy? Or to bring up the fact that their mother hates me, like I didn't already know that. Please, leave me be."

Draco stood up, grinning childishly. "See you, Granger." He winked before he walked off.

Harry and Ron met up with Hermione in the library about an hour later. "So, are you going dress shopping today?" Harry mused as he sat down.

"Why would I? I haven't any money. Mummy Dearest decided to split what was going to be for me between precious Daphne and Astoria so they could get fancier dresses because, and I quote, 'they're prettier than me and deserve nicer things. And I probably wouldn;t be able to get a date anyways'. Besides, I don't know if I even want to go."

"But you have to go!" Ron sputtered. "Everyone is going. It's going to be ridiculous. And the after parties, think of the possibilities! Besides, we could go together..." Hermione shot him a weird look. "As friends, of course. But Harry is going with Ginny and I don't want to go by myself. And, you know, you're a girl..."

"Nice of you to finally notice that, yes, I am a female, Ronald. But that still doesn't help that I don't have any money to get a dress."

"Oh, and don't forget. It's a masquerade, so you have to, you know, wear a mask."

"Oh, gee, Ronald, I had no idea that was how a masquerade worked." Hermione grinned. "But if I can't pay for a dress, I can't pay for a mask."

Harry began to pull out his wallet. "Don't worry about it. I'll give you some money to get you a dress. I can't go to the dance knowing that my best friend is sitting in her dormitory while we're out having fun. Besides, Ginny will want you there." He shoved 200 pounds into her hand.

"Harry, I couldn't possibly..." Hermione began to protest.

"Like I said, don't worry about it. I'm loaded, I can handle losing a bit of money." He winked, reminding her just how unseriously he took the money left to him by his parents.

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, unconvinced.

"Absolutely. Please, I insist."

Hermione nodded slowly. "Thank you, Harry... I appreciate it."

"No problem. Now, homework... Maths class is abso-bloody-lutely killing me."

"Nice segue, mate." Ron scoffed.

"So, in return for you giving me money, did you just expect me to willingly complete your homework?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Oh, absolutely not! Maybe just a bit of help, though." Harry's eyes twinkled and Hermione couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, give me your papers." She said, still chuckling under her breath.

"God, Hermione, you're a fucking lifesaver."

"So I've been told."

Unbeknownst to the trio, Draco Malfoy had not left the library completely. Instead opting to spy a bit on the brunette and her friends. As much as he couldn't stand Potter or the Weasel, he had to admit, they were pretty good friends.

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