Chapter 3 Gryffindor Loyalty and Courage

Last Chapter: "But you haven't destroyed me. I'm still a Gryffindor and I won't let you!!" With that parting statement, Hermione turned around and walked away from they boy she had given her heart to.

Tears had pooled in her eyes almost blinding her, but Hermione refused to let them fall. Don't let me cry in front of him, she thought. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, but she couldn't focus on anyone, lest she lose her battle against the tears. Behind her she heard Ginny scream, "You arsehole!"

Suddenly she felt an arm go about her shoulder, and Harry voice asked, "Do you want to go?" At her quick headshake, he gently said, "Then let's dance, Mione." On her other side, she felt Ginny snake an arm around her waist, give a quick squeeze and move fluidly past her towards the Gryffindor table. Harry lead her onto the dance floor, where a slow song was still playing. He pulled her into his arms and let her rest her forehead against his chest, hiding her face. A few of the tears, that she'd been holding back splashed onto his dress robes.

"You know you can tell me anything, Mione," he said quietly. "I'm always on your side, but I need to know what's going on."

"I'm sorry, Harry. It's all so messed up." she whispered into his chest. "I'll tell you everything, but not right now. I just don't want him to see me cry tonight. I won't give any of them the satisfaction."

"Oh, there's no chance for that," he replied with an odd note in his voice. "It's safe to look up now."

Hermione surreptitiously wiped her eyes on the back of her hand before raising her head cautiously. What she saw made her eyes widen and the ache in her heart subside just a little bit. Harry had maneuvered the two of them to a spot on the dance floor furthest away from where Draco and his cronies were. Ginny must have put out a distress call, because surrounding Harry and her were almost all of the Gryffindor fifth through seventh years. Looking at a number of odd pairings, Hermione deduced that they must have just rushed onto the floor to form a protective barrier around her, grabbing whomever was nearest as a dance partner. They effectively shielded Hermione from the malicious eyes of the Slytherins. Sprinkled in amongst the sea of Gryffindor faces were a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, such as Luna, Padma, and Terry Boot, who had particular friendships with those in the gold and red house.

Hermione had never loved her fellow Gryffindors more than at this moment. She saw many of her housemates looking at her with sympathy and worry. She didn't see any sign of the condemnation that she had feared would be her lot, when her house found out about her affair with Draco. They still had plenty of questions for her, but were ready to show unwavering solidarity in the face of Slytherin maliciousness. She should have trusted her friends more. She glanced around and saw Fred dancing with his girlfriend, Angelina, not too far away. For once he was missing the smile that usually graced his face. When he saw Hermione looking at him, his lips quirked into a small grin and he mouthed, "We'll kick his ferrety arse." The usually peaceful Angelina, nodded her agreement with narrowed eyes. When Hermione couldn't find Ron or Ginny anywhere, she asked Harry about them in a worried voice.

"You didn't see, but when Ron got wind of what was being said, he was about to explode. Luckily, Ginny saw and she and George got him out of the Hall. They'll let him back when he's in control," Harry explained. Hermione nodded knowing Ron's temper would have made things even much more unbearable.

When the song ended, Hermione expected Harry to lead her back to one of the tables. Instead, Neville came up to her and asked her to dance with him. He was a bit clumsy moving to the beat of the fast song, so she was forced to pay attention to his movements if she didn't want her feet squashed. He seemed a bit over-enthused, but it kept her mind from dwelling on Draco. She studiously kept her back turned away from that end of the room. After Neville's dance, a slew of Gryffindor boys each requested that she be his partner in turn. Though she knew the smile that she forced onto her face must have looked strained and that she definitely wasn't good company, they all went to great pains to lift her spirits and try to get her to laugh.

Hermione noticed Parvati on the edge of the dance floor whispering to her boyfriend, Terry. When the next song started, he walked over to Hermione and led her onto the floor. She looked over at Parvati questioningly, but she just smiled sweetly and nodded. Terry was friendly, if a little awkward, and seemed relieved when he could return to Parvati. Hermione understood then that this was another way that her housemates were showing their support. At least she wouldn't be a wallflower tonight. Though she still hadn't looked at him, she could almost feel Draco's eyes on her. Oh God, let me last a little longer, just a little longer.

Her thoughts kept returning to the silver eyed boy across the room. He had been so sweet last night, she thought, Ten Galleons is what it meant, what I'm worth to him. It was so hard, but she tried not show how devastated she felt. As the evening progressed, Hermione acted the part of the belle of the ball. She smiled. She danced. She even managed a laugh or two. She didn't dare look, but she hoped he was watching her with all the other boys. Like he even cares, she mocked herself in her mind. She tried to pretend that his side of the room didn't exist but though she couldn't see him, she felt him. For their part, none of the Slytherins could approach her to get in a jibe. Though the wall of Gryffindors had disbanded, she noticed that there were always at least four other pairs of friends hovering near her on the dance floor at any given time.

As a new slow song started, Hermione turned at a soft touch on her arm to see that Ron had finally returned. He still looked angry but surprisingly it wasn't directed at her, if the gentleness of his touch was any indication. He took her in his arms and awkwardly began to sway with her as dancing had never been his forte. They danced in silence, until she gained the courage to ask him, "Are you really angry at me?" She had been particularly worried about how he would react to her association with Draco. Wait, she thought hysterically, there is no more Draco and me.

"No...yes...I don't know, Mione," he sighed in frustration. " But Malfoy? God damn it! Why the hell would you have anything to do with him! I know things haven't been right between us since what happened last summer, but did you have to get tangled up with him?"

At his words, Hermione's eyes started to well up with tears once again as she shook her head. Uncharacteristically, Ron actually noticed her rising distress and backed down. He gave her a squeeze saying, "Sorry, don't cry, sorry! I promised Harry that I wouldn't ask you any questions tonight. Actually, he told me not to be a git to you if I came out here." This caused her to smile a little bit. The redhead continued, "I can hold my temper tonight, but we're going to have a serious talk tomorrow."

"Who are you and what have you done with Ron?" Hermione joked weakly, amazed at the change in him.

"Oh, the hot tempered bloke you all know and love is still in here, but I'm wouldn't kick you when you're down. In spite of everything I'll always be your friend, Mione. I've missed you." Hermione was glad to hear that as she had also missed him and their friendship.

However, being Ron, he did have to ruin the moment by muttering darkly, "Though I wouldn't mind hexing that slimy ferret git right now." As he felt the witch in his arms stiffen with tension, he sighed again, "Don't worry, I also swore to Harry that I wouldn't do anything tonight. Besides, Ginny threatened to kick my arse, if I made you any more upset. She may be younger than me, but she can be right scary!"

Hermione gave him first genuine smile of the night and Ron guide her back to Harry and Ginny. After a bit, she decided that she had proven her point to Draco and the Slytherins. She had stayed long enough to show them her Gryffindor courage. They couldn't make for run away. He couldn't break her. She was so tired of holding all her emotions in check, and just wanted the solace of her bed. When she told her friends that she was done, they agreed to leave too. A small contingent of other students from their house decided to leave at the same time. Hermione suspected that their protective instincts were all fired up. Normally, she was the strong witch who usually took care of everyone else. Tonight, however, they had seen her take some heavy emotional hits from one of their hated enemies. Their loyalty to her had given her the strength to get through the rest of the evening.

Pausing before leaving the Great Hall with her friends, she looked, for the first time since the beginning of the dance, at the Slytherin end of the room. She easily picked out Draco's platinum colored head on the dance floor. He had his arms around Pansy Parkinson while she snuggled up against him with her cheek resting against his shoulder. Hermione's insides clenched as she brought her gaze up to his face. He was staring straight at her, his silver eyes cold and hard. He glanced at Ron's arm around her shoulder and some emotion she didn't understand crossed his face. He glared with hatred at the redhead, then turned that same look on her before reaching with one hand to deliberately cup the Slytherin girl's cheek. The last thing Hermione saw before Ron pulled her through the doorway was Draco's lips leaning in towards Pansy's eager ones. She would never let him know it, but that action did what his words couldn't: it destroyed her.