When Hermione woke up the next morning she felt so much better then she had in such a long time. It is amazing what a good night's sleep can do, but it probably wasn't just that, the fact that Neville and her were getting so close may have contributed to her good mood.
Grabbing her towel and school robes she walked into the shower to wake herself up, everyone in her dorm was fast asleep and they would run out of hot water by the first two girls so Hermione always got up early to shower first.
Fully dressed and her hair braided Hermione's stomach grumbled. Remembering she had not eaten much for dinner at all she thought she should eat some good food for breakfast hoping to actually concentrate on her first day back of the New Year.
Grabbing her overly stuffed book bag she made her way down to the common room, to find Neville smiling as she walked down the staircase.
"Neville! You're not usually up this early!" She even sounded better this morning.
"Well I went out jogging and all. By the time I'd had a shower I realised how hungry I was so I was just about to head down when I saw you!" Hermione could tell he was a morning person, and she knew that exercise before breakfast generally woke a person up.
"Hey Nev, do you reckon I could come on some of those jogs with you? I really need to get my fitness up and all." If it was possible the smile on Neville's face got even bigger.
"Yeah that'd be fine, actually better then fine, it will be awesome!" Hermione had to laugh at his antics. As he had said awesome he pretended to be a rock and roll legend playing his electric air guitar.
"Well, let us go milady our breakfast feast awaits!"
The trip down to breakfast was completely uneventful, something Hermione was definitely not going to complain about. Breakfast however was its own daytime drama.
As the pair had made the way to the Gryffindor table Ginny, Ron and Harry had bumped into them.
"Oh sorry, all mighty one who is above us! Forgive us for not seeing you!" It was Ginny who said this with such malice Hermione did not know what to do, neither did Neville it seemed.
"Ginny what are you doing? Don't be so rude!" What? Harry said that? Hermione was definitely confused.
"But Harry!" Wow since when was she so whiny and since when did she wear such short skirt and since bloody when did she have her boobs hanging out? Ginny ran her finger up and down Harry's chest, "She's so mean and well ugly!"
Harry just looked at her before walking off and said, "What is wrong with you Ginny, seriously?"
Hermione really wanting some breakfast just stepped around Ginny and Ron who were too shocked to move, to eat some fruit salad. It was good salad too until someone came along and ruined it.
"Look you bitch, I don't know what you did to Harry last night, but you need to fucking stop it before I hurt you. I don't care who you bloody think you are, I will crush you." And with that she spat into Hermione's fruit salad and stormed off.
Completely shaken Hermione stood up and ran away as fast as she could to who knows where so no one would see her tears. No one would believe her if she said that sweet innocent Ginny Weasley was threatening her, no one.
The tears the Hermione thought were coming didn't, she just sat there like a stone, not a single tear leaking out. Maybe she was strong maybe she could handle this, she was once called the smartest witch of her age. What was she thinking she could handle this just fine and no one could hurt her! She knew her only true friend now was Neville and he would help her out.
Speak of the devil, as soon as she had thought of Neville he had appeared in the empty classroom. "Hey."
"Hey, to you too." Neville looked very worried and concerned for her.
"I'm not sad."
"I can tell."
"Are you surprised by the way I reacted?"
"Not really, I was hoping to get some of your spark back, at first I actually thought you were chasing her to give her a piece of your mind but I guess not."
"Well, I thought I was shaking from fear and I was so scared of letting anyone see my cry so I ran off. But you know what?"
"What Hermione?"
"The tears didn't come, at all! I feel so much happier with you around Neville; I actually got more than a couple hours sleep last night. I mean it's only been a day and I'm getting better!"
"You always had it in you Hermione; you just needed that little push to let you see it."
"Thanks Nev, you are the best."
It sounded so corny to the both of them that they burst out laughing. Neville then pulled Hermione into a great big bear hug. Wow he smells good! What? Hermione don't think that this is Neville he is basically your best friend you can't go thinking that. Why not I just think he smells good? Well, let it stay that way.
Hermione groaned.
"What is it?"
"I am arguing with my brain..." Neville just cracked a grin.
"I do it all the time, all the time."
The two continued to sit in companionable silence. Only to be interrupted by the five minute warning bell.
"Best be off, what do you have Mione?"
"Advanced Transfiguration, and don't call me that."
"Oh, I have Advanced Herbology and why not? It's cute!"
"Oh cool, you really love Herbology don't you? Exactly!"
Hermione never got to hear Neville's reply though as they had just walked out the door and bumped into Malfoy. Well their her good mood goes down the drain.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here? You two enjoying a quickie before class? Wouldn't that be a little distracting?" The whole time he spoke he had been glaring at Hermione, like she had ruined his morning or something.
"Of course Malfoy you would know all about that now, wouldn't you? And what's got your boxers in a twist that girl on the train yesterday wouldn't go the whole way?"Hermione had spoke up this time, her old confidence creeping back.
"Pfft, it was all your fault Granger she keeps wanting to have a threesome with you, so unless you decide to come join us, well let's just say life won't be so great for you!" Not deterred by this at all, Hermione simply replied as she grabbed Neville's hand and walked off.
"My life can't get any worse Malfoy, no matter how hard you try!"
