(A/N: I do not own any of the characters, even if I wished I did.)
Chapter III
Days have passed the way she'd foreseen it. Being the head became twice as difficult, having to share responsibilities with someone who isn't half as willing as she was.
It was that cold December morn, when a loud thud awakened her from her deepest slumber.
"What is going--?"
"Granger, there are students in the field, dueling! We have to hurry up before anyone gets hurt!"
She had scurried down her bed the moment she sensed urgency in his tone. By the time he had finished his statement, she was ready to go out to the cold.
While they cascaded the stairs, they passed by a couple of paintings, which told them to speed up, a bit.
"Malfoy, did you tell--"
"No," he cut her off. "I failed to." He shook his head, almost wanting to deny to himself what he had just done.
The fast gust of air welcomed her with austerity. It made her shiver, and the pain went directly to her head, making it worse. In spite of this, she decided to set her needs aside for a while.
"This was unexpected." She breathed, looking at the third years and below, judging by their knowledge of spells.
"Expelliarmus!" She said, almost simultaneously with Malfoy.
They all diverted their attentions to the Heads who have just arrived, placing their wands down.
"Uh-oh." One of the students mouthed.
"What went--?"
Hermione was cut off. "What happened here?"
Hermione turned to find out that it was Mcgonagall, heading towards them, walking alongside Snape.
"Professor," Hermione started, but Mcgonagall raised her right hand up, signaling her to hold her words. It was with the students with whom she wished to talk with. It was Snape though who remained to converse with them.
"Why did you not bother to call anyone?" It was his first question. Yes, It was the first, and it stirred us both, Hermione thought.
"Professor," said Malfoy, attempting to explain. "You see, I noticed these students, actually the red lights first, through the window, while I was eating my breakfast."
He paused to take a breath, but Snape said quickly, "Where were you then, Ms. Granger?"
"I was…" She said, half ashamed of what she was about to say, "Still sleeping, professor."
"Well," was all that he managed to say.
"Professor we--"
"Indeed failed to do what could have been for the benefit of the many." Snape said coldly, cutting Malfoy off. His eyes, cold and firm, lingered on both of them.
"Professor," Hermione said, almost coming off as a whisper. "We are sorry. It was just because we were caught in a very surprising situation--"
"Which you thought you kids could handle." He said mockingly.
"We thought we held responsibility over things like this!" Draco replied, raising his voice a bit.
"Well," Snape said, his eyes looking furious. "The death of these students is not something that you can handle!"
"No one died and--"
"Draco!" Hermione hissed, "He's in the right, and apparently, we're the ones in the wrong. Would it hurt for you to just admit this certain mistake?" Her eyes were welling with tears and overflowing with emotions.
From his peripheral view, he thought he saw Snape scoff, showing that mocking smirk.
"Apparently," he shot, "you are forgiven, considering the fact that no one got hurt."
"Severus," Mcgonagall called. "Accompany them to my office first."
"Yes, Minerva," he said icily, his usual tone and he walked over to the other students.
McGonagall turned to the Heads, "Today, I shall let this pass. The next time this happens, I will not let it slip like this."
"Professor," Malfoy called when she had turned her back. "I'm sorry. Granger had nothing to do with much of this."
"I believe that an apology is enough for this day, that which you have addressed to Severus." Her tone was bitter. "I'm very disappointed about this. Meet me later in my office, at half past two." And she turned without any other words.
"Malfoy--" Hermione said, trying to start a conversation.
"Granger," he shot. The ascetic tone of his voice troubled her. "You just sold me to Snape earlier." He did not even bother to look at her before he started walking, leaving her a few steps behind.
"No, Malfoy, it's not like that." She tried to catch up with his pacing.
"Well, I have, once again, seen things differently, huh?"
"Malfoy," Her voice and the way she says his name was cordial, but this was not enough to lessen his current rile. "I said that so he would stop banging the situation into our faces, as if it wasn't yet enough that we've seen both of their disappointed expressions. He kept on rubbing our faults--"
"Granger, you don't understand how happy you have made him when you approved of his ideas." He raised his eyebrow and shook his head, looking away and striding faster.
"Well," she said, "I would understand if you would stop walking and face me—ouch." Then she fell on her knees, and her hand resting on them for support.
He hurried to her side, "What happened?"
"If you'd just face me, like this." She breathed heavily.
"I'm dropping the conversation off." He helped her get up. "Let's get in."
She let her find her balance by laying his hands off her for a few moments, but her world reeled and nothing seemed to stay in its place. So she stammered, but Draco aided as her support.
"I'm sorry, Draco." She managed to say, "I didn't know that you…" Her voice trailed off.
"Well now you know." He shot, in his tone, a hint of disgust.
"Hermione?" Harry called saying it loudly, so he would be audible in the field. He was standing beside Ron, by the opened doors.
They ran to her, unable to stand the sight that only Malfoy was out there. "Malfoy, what happened here?" Harry asked, his probing eyes met his while Ron took Hermione from Draco's grip.
"She felt faint out there. I guess it's because she hasn't eaten yet." He raised a brow and walked a few steps before adding, "Feed your mudblood."
Harry was supposed to come from behind him and give him a punch, to let him taste a bit of a Muggle scene in Hogwarts, but Hermione restrained him by the arm. "Let him be. I offended him more than twice today." Her eyes were speaking and wore a soft expression. They started to walk, faster than the usual, eager to just get Hermione to the Wing.
"You look almost sorry for that prat." Ron commented.
"I feel more than sorry for him." She looked down, thinking over what just took place earlier that morning.
"Hermione, you … what?" Ron and Harry looked at her with a quizzical look, drinking in what they just heard her say.
She gave a chuckle and hit Ron playfully. "Not that way, silly!"
"I thought so," Ron laughed, putting an arm around her, and they proceeded to the warm and inviting hall.
"Hermione, I think it's better if I just grab you something to eat, while you and Ron just head to the Wing." Harry suggested.
She nodded, not wanting to differ.
"Alright then, I'll see you there." And he disappeared in the crowd, while they walked the hallway leading to the Wing.
