A/N: Hello everyone, I'm so sorry for the delay between updates! It's been a crazy few months with an unexpected cross-country move. My apologies, I sincerely hope my updates will be much more regular from this point on! I'm so happy to see all of the comments and follows on this story, and I'm excited to see how things develop with Hermione!
Flinging open the door to a seldom-used classroom in the dungeon, I froze, seeing Draco Malfoy looking out the window across the room. The door slamming into the wall made him whip his head around, his eyes growing wide with the shock of seeing me standing there.
"I – I'm sorry," I stammered, blindly feeling for the doorknob, not taking my eyes off Malfoy, "I didn't realize anyone was in here." My hand had just contacted the rough metal of the doorknob when I saw him visibly relax.
"Why aren't you at the feast?" he asked, his face showing no emotion.
"As if you don't already know." I sneered, hotly. He shuffled his feet uncomfortably and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Pansy's been talking about it all summer," he said quietly, looking at the floor.
"Then why aren't you at the feast? Surely you'd want to celebrate ruining my reputation with your friends."
"What is there to celebrate?" he asked, "I know most of the rumors were started by Pansy." I was floored. Draco Malfoy wasn't celebrating the misery of a Gryffindor?
"Since when does the source of a rumor stop you from enjoying the misfortune of others?" I snapped, my fingers gripping the doorknob in anger. Malfoy shrugged one shoulder.
"It was entertaining at first, but that was months ago. Hearing Pansy blather on about it got really tiresome."
Something flickered through his eyes… for a moment I thought it may have been shame, or guilt. But this was Draco Malfoy – the boy doesn't know the word shame. My anger flared.
"I'm glad my personal life can be a source of entertainment for you and your vile friends!" I turned on my heel, slamming the door behind me.
I made my way up the many flights of stairs to the astronomy tower. Thankfully, the night was still warm, and the sky was clear. Using my wand I moved a nearby bench closer to the edge and transformed it into a comfortable love seat. Once seated, I pulled my knees to my chest and let the tears I had been holding back flow. As hard as I tried to stop it, my mind kept drifting to Viktor. I was reliving all the sweet words he whispered in between passionate kisses, our nights spent in each other's arms, and the moment I decided to take our relationship to the next level.
The pain was fresh, completely disregarding the mourning I had done for our "relationship" a few weeks earlier. I had genuinely believed he cared about me, my feelings, and our relationship. I pressed the palms of my hands into my eyes, willing myself to forget his face, and trying to stop the flow of memories that continued to push themselves into the front of my mind.
Wiping the tears from my face, I looked up into the sky. I whispered my pleas to the gods, to give me the strength I needed to piece together my heart.
"Miss Granger," I heard a soft voice say, and felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I looked up with my puffy eyes to meet the sympathetic gaze of Professor McGonagall. "Curfew was several hours ago, your absence from Gryffindor tower has Mr. Potter in a bit of a frenzy," she said with a smile, "I caught him, not long ago, making his way up here to find you."
At least I still have Harry I thought. I sighed and looked at the floor, unsure of how to respond. Professor McGonagall removed her hand from my shoulder and pulled her wand out.
"I must say, this is a fine bit of transfiguration you have done here. But, if you don't mind…" she swished her wand, and the love seat grew longer, allowing her to take a seat at the opposite end. "Ten points to Gryffindor for your transfiguration." She smoothed out her robes, settling into the sofa and looking out at the stars.
After a comfortable few moments, she broke the silence, "earlier this summer, Firenze approached me. He said the stars told him a lioness would be lost; that she would face an obstacle with the potential to lead her down a dangerous path." I was shocked by her revelation.
"Me?" I asked in a whisper.
"There was no name, only the message. But, I do think it may apply to you. Are you not facing many obstacles?" She asked, a knowing look on her face.
"I'm sure I'm not the only one who is."
"Of course not, but what you are facing has the potential to be life-altering, if you allow it. Friends will show their true colors, gossip may attract those with unseemly motives. You have the opportunity to be taken from the path you're currently on." She explained.
"I don't think that will happen, Professor. Given time, everyone will forget about this."
"Yes, they may. But, will you?" She asked, gently.
"I suppose not." I admitted, quietly, letting my feet drop to the floor with a sigh.
"You are strong, and you have the support of many, myself included."
"Thank you, Professor, it always helps to know I have people in my corner." I smiled at her.
"Now that we've settled that, would you care to explain why you are hiding up here? It's very unlike you to hide from your problems."
"I guess the shock of it all. I didn't know any of this gossip was going around until I was on the train."
"No one told you?!" McGonagall was furious. I shook my head.
"Ginny said there were articles in the Prophet, but I stopped reading that rag all the way through after what that dreadful Skeeter woman put Harry through!"
"Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley?" she questioned.
"They never said anything in their letters. Ron doesn't write much to begin with."
"Nonetheless, you should have been told! IT is shameful that you were unaware of what was going on!" She scoffed, rising to her feet, "come, it is past curfew and I will escort you back to the common room. I will be writing to Molly first thing in the morning!"
Creeping up the stairs into my room, I was relieved to see that everyone's curtains were closed. I quickly strode over to my bed, changing into a sleep shirt and crawling under the covers. A few flicks of my wand closed, locked, and silenced my curtains. I placed my wand on the shelf above my head and settled in for my first night back at Hogwarts. The moment my head hit the pillow I looked at the canopy above me, I felt the breath leave my lungs in shock as I met the eyes of Viktor Krum.
Someone had spell-o-taped a large photo of Viktor to the canopy of my bed. Photo-Viktor smiled down at me, looking very pleased with himself. In a rage I grabbed my wand and sent a blast of red light at the picture, sending the ashes falling around me like snow. In my rage I'd put a bit too much force behind the spell, and there was a charred hole in my canopy cover where the picture had been. Another few flicks repaired the canopy and cleaned up the remnants of the picture.
I punched my pillow a few times, before I snuggled further into my bed, closing my eyes with a deep sigh as I braced myself for the nightmares that would surely come.
