THE PINK UMBRELLA

A/N: Here's the next chapter... :)

Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

CHAPTER THREE: THE LIE

Hermione's POV:

One week have passed after the incident in the lake when Pansy Parkinson was found floating, unconscious and full of cuts and bruises. It was definitely a shock to all of us in Hogwarts. The students dreaded coming to the lake and ever since, no one dared come and visit it anymore.

They were all scared and terrified. Some blamed the incident on the Giant Squid, some to the mermaids. But Dumbledore clarified it to all of us, that it was a Death Eater who did that and there was no reason to hate the poor overlarge tentacly creature and the half-human, half-fish living thing residing on the depths of the lake.

But, as he confirmed it, more students got even more terrified. For the whole week, the incident with Pansy was the headline of The Daily Prophet. Parents who were scared for their children's safety, immediately rushed to Hogwarts to withdrew them. But luckily, not every parent doubted the school's protection program. Other knew and believed that with Dumbledore in the school, their kids would never be more safe.

It was then confirmed that a Death Eater never broke inside Hogwarts because when the teachers checked the charms they casted to protect the castle, nothing was broken. Pansy, as Dumbledore concluded, was attacked outside Hogwarts. Most probably in Hogsmeade. But the reason why she was in Hogsmeade on a school day was still unconfirmed since only Pansy herself would be able to answer that.

One week and I'm honestly still as shock as I was that very day. Of course, I accused Pansy of being a Death Eater and then the torture happened. She was tortured protecting Draco...

Was she, really?

I shook my head free of the thoughts. Why was I still doubting Pansy? She had been tortured and all and yet, I was still not believing her.

Everyone from her house; even from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, prayed for her survival.

They were all sad by what happened, even the persons she used to bully a lot, worried for Pansy.

But no one, I daresay, was more worried than her boyfriend, Draco. He stayed in the Hospital wing that night, even when Madam Pomfrey ushered him to go back to his dormitory. The following day, Madam Pomfrey told Dumbledore and the teachers that she couldn't heal her...she had tried her best, but come on, Madam Pomfrey was good and all but still, Pansy suffered from an Unforgivable Dark Curse. Draco pleaded Dumbledore and all other teachers to allow him to go with Pansy to St. Mungo's. But of course, Dumbledore had to say no. But he was persistent, he tried everything to be able to go, but as Dumbledore was the greatest wizard ever known, he knew what he was planning and burst his bubbles right then. Dumbledore locked Draco in his Common Room as they moved Pansy out of Hogwarts. Draco yelled and screamed and threw hexes all over the room just to let himself out, but nothing happened. The other Slyhterins stayed outside their common room as Draco was trying to break out. They were scared as they heard loud crashes and bangs in the room and everyone from the other Houses gathered to see what was the commotion all about. I heard Draco scream things like:

"Dumbledore, I have to see Pansy!"

"Come on you git, open up or this room will vanish from the Hogwarts map!"

"Pansy!"

"Professor Snape! Let me out!"

"Morons outside this room let me out or I'll kill all of you!"

"When I get out here, you all watch out!"

"LET ME OUT OF HERE, DUMBLEDORE, YOU BLOODY OLD MAN! I NEED TO BLOODY GO WITH MY BLOODY GIRLFRIEND TO MAKE SURE SHE'S BLOODY ALRIGHT! WHY DID YOU BLOODY LOCK ME UP HERE, YOU BUFFOON?! YOU KNOW WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE, I'LL PULL ALL YOUR BLOODY BEARD AT ONCE AND CHOKE YOU TILL YOUR BLOODY EYES POP OUT OF THEIR BLOODY SOCKETS! AND THIS IS NOT A BLOODY THREAT! THIS, I ASSURE YOU, IS A BLOODY PROMISE!"

Two hours after locking him up, Dumbledore finally released him. The Slytherin Common Room was a total disaster. Everything was broken. All of us who saw that, could not believe how destroyed the room was within just two hours and was done only by a single wizard.

As Draco promised, he truly attacked Dumbledore and tried to choke him but before his eyes pop out of their sockets, Dumbledore knocked him out using a sleeping charm. Dumbledore immediately reconstructed the common room and within just a minute, it went back to its original form.

The following morning then, Draco Malfoy woke up into a different person. Well, not exactly different, just worse than how he usually displayed himself. He bullied every person who tried to talk to him and comfort him. He didn't talk to anybody. He didn't eat his food, he didn't even go to the Great Hall. He didn't pay attention to classes, he merely just slept. He didn't do homework and seem to didn't mind getting detentions from all the teachers. He kept himself away. It was like, he didn't belong to the world with any of us. It seemed harder to talk to him now. It seemed impossible to get close with him now.

I think, he just needed time to calm down. I sighed and hoped that that was really what he needed. Or maybe he needed someone to comfort him.

Hermione Granger what were you thinking? Didn't you know he hexed the people who tried to talk to him?

Well, maybe he needed someone who wouldn't stop trying because he hexed him.

But, one hex was enough for a wise man to understand he was not wanted.

But wait, just because you weren't WANTED didn't mean you weren't NEEDED...right? And Malfoy wouldn't scare me away with just a hex.

Right. He wouldn't be able to drive me away. I could see how depressed he was and I, Hermione Jean Granger, would cheer him up.

'Easier said than done, though. But nevertheless, I'll do it.'

"Hermione, come on! I'm starving!"

I heard Ron yell from the common room. Right, I forgot I was supposed to dress myself and eat breakfast with Ron and Harry in the Great Hall and get ready for our first Hogsmeade weekend.

"I'm coming!" I immediately put on my boots and hurried down the circular staircase from the girl's dormitory.

As I reached the last step of the staircase, I heard Parvati and Lavender talking, cross-legged on the floor...and apparently they were talking about Draco Malfoy.

"Yeah, I heard it from a Slytherin girl..." Parvati said.

"Oh my god...really? Is that how depressed he is?" Lavender gasped.

"Well, yeah. What do you think? If you found your boyfriend fresh from being tortured and was sent to 's but Dumbledore refuses you to go with him, wouldn't you be depressed?" Parvati reasoned.

Lavender nodded, "I can't bear seeing my won-won with all that bruises and deep cuts."

"You and Ron?" Parvati asked, suddenly intrigued.

"Well...not yet. But soon." Lavender blushed.

Parvati nodded. Lavender went back to their topic. "So, what happened to Malfoy after punching the mirror to powder?"

My eyes went round when I heard Lavender's question. He what?

"Excuse me? What do you say Malfoy did?" I asked Lavender, revolted.

Parvati and Lavender looked up at me and smiled.

"Hi, Hermione!" they said in unison.

They were greeting me but I just don't have time to be polite to greet them back.

"What do you say Draco did?" I demanded.

"Oh, well, he just punched the mirror in the boy's lavatory to pieces." Parvati answered, coolly.

"What?!" I basically shouted at Parvati's face. I didn't mean, I was just shocked and worried at the same time. "Why?" I asked incredulously.

Parvati shrugged, "Because he's depressed?"

"Because he's very in love with Pansy Parkinson, that's why." Lavender chimed in.

"Oh my god," I whispered in horror.

"Well it seems like shouting there in the lavatory every morning is not very soothing enough for him...maybe he thought he needed to smash something." Parvati guessed.

"Yeah, to hurt himself enough to go to St. Mungo's!" Lavender added.

"He's sent to St. Mungo's?!" I yelled again in bewilderment and more shock.

Parvati and Lavender flinched a little. Then Parvati shook her head and answered, "No, he's not. But he seemed hurt so much he needed to stay at the Hospital wing until tomorrow. At least if Madam Pomfrey's convinced he's fine."

Lavender sighed, "I didn't know Malfoy has that side in him. I thought, he's just a prat and arrogant, rich bastard. I guess I'm not seeing him well enough."

"Yeah..." I said. "We all can't see who Draco truly is. We know, like what Lavender said, that he's a prat and arrogant bastard. But what if, that's just one part of him? The part he thinks he need to show, and hides the all to himself. I know he's more than that annoying blonde Slytherin bully we know him as."

Parvati and Lavender nodded.

"Hey, Hermione, are you going with Ron in Hogsmeade today?" Lavender asked me.

I nodded. "Well, yeah...supposed to be."

"Supposed to be? You mean you're going with someone else?" Parvati asked.

I shook my head. "I don't think I'll be going at all."

"Why?" they asked in unison.

I shrugged.

They looked at each other then back to me.

"So, Draco's in the Hospital wing, you said?" I asked Parvati.

She nodded slowly, "Yeah...I've heard."

I smiled at them, "Okay. Thanks. Enjoy Hogsmeade Parvati, Lavender!" I ran towards the hole and stopped and called out Lavender again. "Hey, Lavender!"

She turned her head to look at me, "Yeah?"

I grinned, "I like you and Ron together. Bye!" and I ran out after seeing Lavender blush from head to toe.

I caught up with Ron and Harry in the Great Hall eating breakfast. I ran towards them and sat across the two.

"Hey, what took you so long?" Harry asked me.

I shrugged, "Had a little chat with some Gryffindors." I picked up 3 chicken legs and started eating them.

"Have you heard what happened to Malfoy?" Ron asked suddenly.

I nodded slowly. "I have..."

Ron snorted, "Good for him."

I flashed him an angry look. "That's unfair."

Harry agreed with Ron though, by saying, "Well, it's kind of better this way. If he's busy getting upset and worried with his girlfriend, he wouldn't have time pestering us. Crabbe and Goyle wouldn't even bother try to get us, guess they can't do it without Malfoy. Peace and order in Hogwarts at last."

"I can't believe you guys." I stated looking at them in disgust.

"What? Aren't you happy with it? All Malfoy did to us went back to him. He marred us before, now he's the one hurt." Ron reasoned.

"He didn't hurt us that much, did he? He bothers us, yes, but it never affects us too much. Too much to knock a mirror to pieces." I defended Malfoy. Of course, truly they weren't being fair with him. It was not easy being in his situation. Have someone you love, almost died just to keep you safe and then not getting a chance to see them when you were exploding with so much worries.

Ron shrugged, "Whatever, Hermione. I'm still thinking it's Malfoy's karma blowing him up."

He went back to eating and so did Harry. I forced myself to finish my chicken and didn't touch any dessert after. I was not mad with them for saying bad things to Malfoy,they have reasons, I just really couldn't get them for being so unfair with him.

After breakfast, students rushed to the front door of the castle to get ready for Hogsmeade. Filch, the caretaker, checked every student if they were in the list.

"Potter, Harry." Filch looked at Harry and then let him out.

"Weasley, Ronald." Filch checked on Ron and sneered before letting him out.

"Last one...Granger, Hermione." He looked at me and let me out.

"I hate that man. He sneers at me all the time!" Ron complained. Harry and Ron started walking but I just stood where I was. I am not going to Hogsmeade. And I have to tell them.

Harry noticed I wasn't following them. They both stopped to their tracks and looked at me questioningly. "You forgot something?" Ron asked.

I shook my head. "Then what?" Harry demanded.

"I...I-I can't go to Hogsmeade."

"Why?" they said in unison.

I could see their foreheads creasing. I did not want to lie...but I had to. Sorry Harry, Ron.

"I-I...my head...it hurts." I touched my head acting that it was hurting.

They hurried to me and I was sure they were worried.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Ron asked.

"What happened?" Harry asked after Ron.

"Where does it hurt?" Ron asked after Harry.

"When did it start hurting?" Harry asked after Ron.

And they were bombing me with so many worried questions. I was feeling very guilty I was making them worry this much.

"Guys, guys...relax...My head hurts. It just started this morning. And it's hurting me more now. So, I'm sorry I really can't go with you to Hogsmeade. Maybe next time though. Just enjoy without me. Don't worry. Madam Pomfrey will know what to do with my headache. By the time you come back, I might be okay already." I said.

"But-"

"Harry, I said don't worry anymore. I'm stronger than you think. And it's just a headache." I assured Harry.

They nodded, a little convinced. "What if I and Harry just stay here? To check with you and stuff..."

"No! No, no, no, no. Go. Enjoy for me. Bring me butterbeers and honeydukes sweets. Please?" I pleaded them. They had to go. They just simply had to enjoy...even without me.

Ron sighed. Harry nodded. I smiled. Okay, that settled it.

"Thanks. Go now! Tell me what happened to you when you come back, okay?"

They both nodded slowly and forced to smile. They patted my head and told me to take care and to rest.

"Don't worry, I will." I assured them again.

They slowly walked away. I waved at them as they paced farther from me. I made sure they were nowhere of sight when I rushed back into the castle straight to the Hospital wing.

A/N: So that's chapter three. What do you think? Let me know okay? Tell me how much you hated it or loved it, or how much it bored you out, or if you thought this was a piece of crap. Okay, well, maybe don't do that... Just leave a comment please, REVIEW!