The next day all the student's gathered into the great hall for breakfast. Hermione was walking next to Harry chewing on her lower lip. Harry noticed her nervousness and put his arm around her trying to comfort her.
"Hey Potter why don't you and your mudblood get a room?" Pansy sneered at them from the Slytherin table. Harry glared at her and pulled Hermione closer as they went to the Gryffindor table. They sat down at the end nearest the heads table waiting for food and information.
"Good morning students. I hope you all slept well and are ready for a new day to start your project. In front of you will appear a form on who you and your partner will be studying and writing your report on. Afterwards you will have a free period this morning and continue your class schedule. Good luck." Dumbledore announced and sat down to eat the breakfast that appeared in front of everyone.
Hermione looked ill. She kept glancing over at Malfoy who had a permanent scowl on his face.
"Harry this has got to be the worst idea Dumbledore has ever come up with." She said while putting jam on a piece of toast. Harry glanced over to see Pansy trying to freeze them over with her glare. He gave Hermione a weak grin and nodded in agreement.
Over at the Slytherin table Draco was nudging Pansy who wouldn't quit glaring at how cozy Granger was being with Harry.
"Pansy stop glaring and eat. You really want a Mudblood's seconds?" Draco asked
"Yeah right. Granger's too stuck up to give anything up." Pansy said moving her stare to food.
"I don't know. Most guys aren't so lovey and touchy unless they're getting some." Draco smirked trying to get a rise out of Pansy. Pansy slowly turned her head to look at Draco. The look on her face could probably kill if it were possible. Draco swallowed and gave her a weak grin, putting his hands in the air in surrender. Pansy gave him one last glare before continuing to eat.
After Breakfast white envelopes appeared in front of everyone. Hermione slowly opened hers and peaked in. One word was written on it. Merlin. She had to research the biggest "pureblood" there ever was. Just freaking great. She glanced over to Malfoy and saw him smirking at her like he won the house cup. From the looks of it he was going to take some serious joy out of showing her how "unworthy" she is to be a witch.
"Who did you get Harry?" She asked trying to ignore Malfoy.
"Uhm, Niniane? What's a Niniane?" Harry asked looking confused.
"All I know is she was a fairy woman. And I think she was bad." Hermione replied getting up from the table to head the library to do research. She glanced over to see Malfoy and Parkinson heading there way. She nudged Harry and watched him immediately go rigid when he spotted them as well. Hermione put her arm through Harry's for reassurance even though he looked unsure himself.
"Hello Granger and Potter, looks like we'll be working closely this year." Malfoy sneered. Pansy was looked ready to tear Hermione apart. Hermione wrinkled her brow in confusion at Pansy's look. She looked up at Harry as if asking if he knew why. He shrugged.
"Right so how about we head to the library to get started." Hermione said trying to act as friendly as possible. Draco sneered and turned on the spot walking away quite fast with Pansy following. Hermione felt Harry take a deep breathe so she did as well and followed to two grouchy Slytherins. Once in the library Harry and Hermione joined their partners in separate parts of the library.
Hermione was sitting across from Draco with a pile of books she had to get to start the research. So far she had read three books against his barely one and they hadn't said one word to each other. All the books Hermione had read wasn't helping them at all. They all just said Merlin was the greatest and most powerful wizard ever and then went on to talk about things he had accomplished. Nothing on his life before he became a great wizard. Hermione huffed and slammed the book close making Malfoy look up and raise one eyebrow at her.
"That's a bit childish don't you think Granger?" He drawled at her. Hermione was just about to give him a piece of her mind when they heard a crash somewhere near Harry and Pansy. They both jumped and ran over.
"And I don't ever want to her you call Hermione a mudblood again or I will have no problem being held back! You slimely little bitch!" Harry screamed at a scared looking Pansy. The crash had been the chair Harry had previously been occupying.
"Don't talk to her like that Potter!" Draco yelled pulling his wand out. Harry pulled his out as well and they started staring each other down. Draco was just about to send a curse Harry's way when a shrill voice broke the match.
"What on earth are you doing in my library?" Madam Pince whispered harshly. Harry and Draco put there wands away immediately. "You two Headmaster's office and you other two are going to be joining them as witnesses." Madam Pince said pointing to the four students. The students solemnly walked to Dumbledore's office. Harry once again put his arm around Hermione as he usually did. Pansy continually glared at the back of Hermione's head with Draco next to her glaring at Potter. They made it to the gargoyle and said the password "honeybuns".
"What the hell is a honey bun?" Pansy asked completely confused.
"A honey bun is a muggle snack." Hermione huffed making Pansy roll her eyes as they went up the spiral staircase. They came to the door before Dumbledore's office and Harry knocked twice.
"Enter." Dumbledore said from the other side. The four students walked in and stood in front of Dumbledore's desk. Dumbledore looked up and clasped his hands in front of him up top his mahogany desk and looked at them over his half moon shaped glasses.
"Now why are you four here?" He asked. Harry stepped up and said "That would be because of Parkinson and myself. She called Hermione some choice names and I defended her. I had jumped out my chair and yelled at her. The noise caused Hermione and Malfoy to come over and Malfoy drew his wand on me so I drew mine." Dumbledore nodded at the explanation and looked at the other three.
"Is this true Ms. Parkinson?" Dumbledore asked looking over at the two glaring Slytherins.
"More or less." She grumbled. Dumbledore nodded again.
"Why did you call Ms. Granger some choice names? And I would prefer not to know what words you used." Pansy didn't answer just stared at the ground.
"I see. Well Mr. Potter you have one day of detention for pulling your wand out even though it was self defense and Ms. Parkinson you will have a month's worth of detention every weekend. Mr. Malfoy you will have a week of detention for pulling your wand out first, Ms. Granger you are free to go about your day." He said dismissing the students.
They walked out and immediately and went their separate ways. Hermione tried to keep up with Harry as he headed for the ROR. He seemed upset.
"Harry slow down! My legs are shorter than yours!" She yelled as she tried to keep up with his pace. He finally stopped in front of the room and paced back and forth three times before the door became visible and they walked in. The room provided a comfortable sitting area with a plush light brown love seat in front of a roaring fire. The walls were a dark brown as was the carpet. There was a coffee table in front of the love seat that had 2 butterbeers ready for them.
"So what did she say that was so bad" Hermione questioned once they sat down. Harry stared into the flames with his butterbeer in his hand. Hermione patiently waited for him to answer. Finally he looked up at Hermione who was one of the first friends he ever had and the only one to ever stay true to him. She was always there. He took a deep breathe a quick swig of his drink before he began.
"She said you were a filthy little bitch of a mudblood who didn't deserve someone like me and that I should drop you like the piece of shit you are for the more nobler bloods." He said looking very angry. Hermione scooted over and put her head on his shoulder as they leaned on the love seat butterbeers forgotten.
"I don't mind Harry. That stuff doesn't bother me anymore. They're just jealous that I got my powers from muggles and am smarter than them." Hermione said trying to calm Harry down.
"Yeah I guess your right. Still makes me angry though. You're worth more than they'll ever be."
"You say that now then you meet a hot pureblood stud and be like Hermione who?" She laughed making him laugh.
"Never. You two will just have to share my oh so valuable time." He said grinning finally. They relaxed for a little bit longer both thinking of what tomorrow would bring. Both seemed to only picture total disaster.