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Faith without Honor
Ch. 4
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"What did I tell you about avoiding me?" Ginny's voice made Hermione jump, looking over the back of a chair, and furrow her brow.
Hermione scowled at Ginny, "I'm not avoiding you. You just didn't seek me out."
When Ginny snorted and took her book away, Hermione knew there would be no way she could get out of telling her everything. What even was there to tell the ginger though? That she thought she liked the boy who made her life hell for the last five years, all because he had changed? Hermione figured that could be a start.
That did not make her any less nervous. The very idea of telling someone about her probably crush made Hermione feel alive, if not slightly nauseous.
"Come on, Mione," Ginny goaded her, "Let's go upstairs and talk where the boys won't listen in."
Hermione allowed the younger girl to lead her away from the comforting fire, and discarded book. Her cheeks felt hot, and she knew that she was pretty much out of it. Ron would probably think she had gone mad if he had seen the look on her face, for once not overthinking everything around them.
The first thing Hermione noticed when Ginny shut the door to their shared room was that it was chilly. Her eyes trained on the open window. Sadly, she didn't have much time to mull over the situation before Ginny pulled her down on the bed.
"Talk."
"Do we really have to do this now?" Hermione whined. "Can it not wait until later?"
Ginny crossed her arms, glaring at Hermione. "That's considered avoiding me."
There was a look in Ginny's eyes that told her there was no way she could put this off any longer. Not if she wanted to stay un-hexed, that is. Anyone in their right mind knew that Ginevra Molly Weasley didn't bluff when it came to hexing. Hermione sighed, and moved to close the window, frowning at the soft falling snow outside.
"Okay, okay. Keep your britches on." Hermione muttered as she settled back beside Ginny. "Draco. Well, let me tell you how it started. I was revising some of my essays from last year, and working on a few other things, and he came up to me. Of course we argued a bit, like usual, and Godric's bloody beard, Gin. He didn't call me a Mudblood even once. I… I even asked why he was even associating with one, and you know what he said?"
"What did he say?"
Hermione smiled. "He told me not to call myself that."
"You have to be kidding?" Ginny gasped, then closed her eyes and started laughing, clutching her sides at the same time.
Hermione smacked her arm with a pillow. "Shush, and let me talk. I think he's worried about his dad finding out about him being friendly with me. You should have seen the look in his eyes when he said something about it. He looked so lost!
"He was so sad, I swear. I think he's getting over the bigotry. Anyways, he said that we could be civil after that, but it's just the beginning. Really, we have just been studying and revising our work. He's so stressed about something, and he won't tell me why. Anyways, it started to get harder to sneak away after rounds, and we started talking a lot more around November, and well, earlier this month…" Hermione trailed off here, meeting Ginny's eyes. "Promise me you won't get mad?"
"Yes, yes, I promise." Ginny was leaning forward now, red hair falling whimsically around her shoulders.
Hermione bit her bottom lip, "Well, you see. You know the coins I made for the D.A.? I made a set for Draco and me."
Ginny took Hermione's shoulders, cheeks slightly flushed and eyes wide. Her mouth was slightly agape, and Hermione sat waiting for the inevitable scolding she would receive from the younger. Perhaps Ginny would just hex her or anything. But it never came and that was almost worse for Hermione.
She could feel the tears beginning to well up in her eyes, but made herself take a deep breath to push them back. Relief flooded her when Ginny smiled, though, her white teeth flashing bright in the midmorning light.
"You were always the quiet one," Ginny mused, "And what's that muggle saying? Oh, right, it's the quiet ones you have to look out for. I can't say I expected it, but I'm not really all that surprised. Honestly I thought you were snogging some Ravenclaw, or something."
Hermione wrinkled her nose up at that. "Are you saying someone like Marcus Turner? That's ghastly! He really shouldn't even be in Ravenclaw! He never turns in his work, and he never studies for classes! I really dislike that house, you know. They never do any of the assigned work, and all they do is study useless things."
"And that's why you weren't a Ravenclaw, 'Mione." Ginny pulled a pillow up to her chest, and smiled warmly. "Anyways, back to Malfoy. What is it you actually see in him, again?"
"Gin!" Hermione fell on her back, utterly exasperated. She really didn't enjoy girl chats, and she heard enough of it with Lavender Brown and the Patil twins being her dorm mates. Suddenly the two girls fell into giggles, unable to say much through the laughter.
Knock. Knock.
"Hermione, Gin, Mum says to come down for lunch." The door flung open, and Ron walked in, leaning slightly against the door.
""H-how long have you been standing there?" Hermione squeaked out, cheeks suddenly blazing.
"Just got here. Why?" Shit. Ron had caught interest in what she had not under any circumstances wanted him to know. His eyes narrowed in on Hermione, and the hair on her neck stuck straight out.
"Just girl talk, Ron. Really, don't be a prat." Ginny passed Ron, and shot Hermione a smirk. Merlin, she loved that girl.
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"I daren't stay long. I just had to see you." Hermione all but whispered as she passed through the door of the Room of Requirement. Her hair was more frazzled, and wild than usual, eyes bright as she worried her lip.
Draco stood up from the couch he inhabited, and locked eyes with her. "Hermione."
He had never felt his heart squeeze as hard in his entire life at it did at that moment. Suddenly he wondered what hugging her would feel like. He had to actually stop himself from doing just that, and put a look on indifference on. He just hoped that she couldn't read his emotions through his eyes.
"Draco." Hermione smiled at the floor, and moved towards the couch and fireplace. She sat on the cushion, and pushed off her boots with a happy sigh. She wasn't wearing her robes, but he really hadn't expected her to be wearing them. Instead, she wore soft pants, and a sweater that clung just in the right places. He was appreciative.
He sat back down, crossing his legs. "What's the rush for, Granger?"
"Oh bugger off." She shook her head. "I have prefect duties in less than an hour, and I still have to change into my robes. We just got back to the castle."
"How's Weasel's father?" He asked, no concern what so ever in his voice.
Hermione just rolled her eyes at him, and shifted to get more comfortable. "He is fine, thank Merlin. Did you have a decent weekend?"
"Blaise was rather annoying all weekend, pestering me constantly." Draco said thoughtfully. "And you canceled revisions on homework. I did not enjoy that."
"Of course not." She mumbled. "Draco? Are you good friends with Blaise?"
"One could say. I've known him since we were small. I honestly can't remember if we ever didn't know each other."
Hermione looked up to him finally. Her eyes were always breathtaking, with the perfect amount of golden flakes littering her irises. "That's sweet. I never had any friends like that growing up. I don't have any friends back home, actually. When I found out I was a witch mum and dad thought it best to stay distant with muggle children."
"Is that so?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes. My parents felt like I would be ostracized otherwise. You see, my whole life strange things happened around me. Pens and books would suddenly go flying when I got upset. And once at school the pudding of a kid who bullied me exploded at lunch."
"That's perfectly normal. It happens to adults every so often too. Strong emotions make magic more powerful you see."
"Anyways, even in primary school I didn't have many friends. I actually hated Hogwarts for the first few years because of you."
"I'm sorry?" He asked, uncertain what to say.
"Oh. No. Draco I didn't mean for you to apologize. Look at me going off my rocker. I guess I should be going soon. Sorry for pulling you away from your friends today." Hermione stood up and turned quickly, and somehow Draco knew she was close to crying.
"Do you ever think we should just stop doing this?" Draco whispered, but he knew she heard because she stopped, and her whole body tensed up.
Hermione turned back around, and as Draco had thought, unshed tears pushed against her eyes. "No. I never have. Not until you said it. Draco… Do you want to stop?"
He wanted to just flat out tell her how much this helped him, but of course that wouldn't be exactly right either. "I… Hermione. What do you think?"
By the time she answered, Draco was sure she had decided that she didn't want to see him anymore. "I think it would be easier if you would tell the truth for once in your life."
The silence between them felt killer. Draco wished he could murder just the silence without having to answer her. He really didn't want to get all sappy and mopey with her. "No. I like studying with you."
"I… I told Ginny that we're friends."
Draco bit his lip. "The Weaslette knows? That's not a big deal as long as I don't get hexed."
"She won't I promise."
She swallowed hard, and stepped towards him, hesitance behind her eyes. Draco leaned forward, unsure of his intentions, but she seemed to be wanting the same as him. It felt like time had slowed then, as Hermione and Draco locked each other gazes and thought as one, about kissing and holding each other. Hermione moved to close the distance, and Draco moved to respond, but just before their lips met, both pulled back, cheeks stained red.
Hermione was looking over his shoulder, and he could see how bewildered she was. "I'll see you later Draco. I have to go change."
Then, Hermione rushed out of the room without waiting for him to respond. Draco just stood in the middle of the room, stunned with his thoughts.
He stepped back and fell onto the couch. "Blood Hell!"
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"Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King.
Weasley was born in a bin
He always lets the Quaffle in
Weasley will make sure we win
Weasley is our King.
Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He always lets the Quaffle in
Weasley is our King."
The Slytherin house cheered loudly as Ron missed a goal shot by the Slytherin chaser. The current score was 30-20 Slytherin. Even from far away in her seat, Hermione could see Ron's face burning, whether from anger or embarrassment, she couldn't tell. It was much too loud for her tastes, and it didn't help that her house was grumbling angrily around her as the Slytherins chorused the song on loop.
Hermione really wasn't that big of a fan, but she came to support Harry, Ron and Ginny. Well, she guessed that now she supported Malfoy too. What a change since the last Quidditch game. Life had changed a lot since the last school year. It couldn't be a bad thing, either.
A roar erupted from the Slytherin house again, along with a loader chorus of the song, a few Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students joining in. She shook her head, and glared at the green covered stand. This would be another long game. That just gave her more time to read, Hermione mused.
She pulled out a book, and stuck her face into it. If she was going to be here for support, she could at least entertain herself at the same time. Besides, it wasn't like anyone would notice her from way up there.
The game ended in a sweep of yelling and happy cheers from the Gryffindor stands. Hermione passed by all the celebrators and moved to the Quidditch locker rooms, waiting for her friends to come out. When she got there, Harry and the Weasley twins were speaking with Draco. Hermione slowed just so she could hear what was said.
Draco pointed his nose in the air. "We wanted to write another couple of verses. But we couldn't find rhymes for fat and ugly — we wanted to sing about his mother, see…we couldn't fit in useless loser either — for his father, you know… But you like the Weasleys, don't you, Potter?
"Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles, even the Weasley's hovel smells okay… Or perhaps, you can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter, and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it —"
That was it. Draco was attacked by Harry, punching and flinging himself with absolute anger. Draco yelped when Harry got in a particular good punch. The fight was stopped soon by a swirl of pink, and before Hermione could even process everything Harry and the Twins were kicked off the team, with a lifetime ban from Quidditch. Hermione couldn't get a word in to Harry before they were pulled to the castle for detention.
Hermione met Draco's guilty gaze. "Prat. Disgusting, wanker! Git!"
Hermione's face flushed but Draco just looked at her sadly. His voice was quiet "Sorry Hermione. I didn't mean for them to get banned. Umbridge told me to start a fight…"
She scrunched her face and shook her head. "That doesn't excuse it, Draco."
"I know." He nodded. Hermione could see another apology on his lips, and she knew how hard it was for him to do so.
Hermione put her hand up. "Don't. I dislike what you did but I think you did a good job playing today."
She was still upset with the blond, but her comment seemed to lighten his mood and Draco walked away from her and over to a group of Slytherin players. Her stomach flipped at the sudden brightness in his cool grey eyes. She tried her best to look angry as she turned away and walked off. All Hermione could do was shake her head at her own behavior as she went off to find Ginny and Ron, no doubt in the common room already partying. It almost make Hermione want to cringe. Almost.
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"Are you taking his side against me?" Ginny's red hair floated around her menacingly.
Hermione opened her mouth, gaping. "Of course not! Ginny don't be like that. All I said was that he didn't mean to get them kicked off!"
"Why would I bloody care? It could lose us the cup!" Ginny put her hands on her hips, which Hermione took as a sign that she would be too stubborn to convince otherwise.
Hermione huffed, "The cup is more important to you then your friend's happiness? Or what about the bloody war that will come eventually? How on earth is a stupid cup more important than your friends?"
"That's not fair, Hermione. You know it isn't too!" Ginny swept her hair back. "Of course I care about my friends. I just don't care about greasy wankers that will eventually turn against you and go running to Mummy and Daddy when they tell him to."
"Agree to disagree then. I think it was wrong but he didn't mean for that outcome." Hermione sighed, 'Gin. I hate fighting with you, and I don't know what to do. He didn't mean it. Please just drop it? I don't want to be torn between friends. I don't think I could chose if you made me."
"I don't see how that matters at all. Hermione. I won't hex his bollocks off, I promise." Ginny pulled her into a hug. "I can't promise about Ron, though. That song was rather mean. Even Luna said so!"
"I know. I just need you to support me. I just have to know that you won't go out of your way to hurt him. I know you can't see it, but I promise you he isn't as much as a prat!"
Ginny glanced around, and then nodded defectively. "Fine, but only because you're my friend and I love you."
"I love you too, Gin." Hermione shook her head again and sighed. "I have prefect duties in ten minutes. I'm on duty near the astronomy tower so I won't be back until a while after curfew. Tell Ron to go to his station if you see him goofing around."
"Will do." Ginny gave her a fake salute. "Just remember to watch your back. I don't care what you say, I don't trust that Slytherin lot."
Hermione laughed. "You're such a dork sometimes!"
"Am not!"
Hermione dodged a sloppily aimed hex as she slipped out of the doorway, Ginny's bell-like laughter following her.
Well, Hope you all liked. Please R&R and Stay Golden!