Hellooo! I'm sorry for the wait, but I've been running around with project deadlines to meet and piles of homework to finish.
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Chapter 7
"Sounds good to me, 'Mione." Harry Potter, said, nodding at Hermione. She was seated in the Gryffindor common room with Harry, Ron and Ginny, and had just finished explaining her consensus with Draco Malfoy to them.
"Long story short, you two are going to get along just fine!" Ginny exclaimed happily.
Hermione grimaced. "Who would want to 'get along just fine' with a Malfoy?"
"You're right, you should definitely take it a bit further," Ginny winked.
"Okay, okay, that's enough," Ron broke through the groans that had erupted from Hermione and Harry, and Ginny's giggles.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it might not be so bad!" Ginny said, after her giggles subsided.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: shut up." Hermione countered.
"Fine, fine. Have it your way." Ginny said, raising her arms in mock surrender. "I've got an essay to write…so I'll see you guys later?" And Ginny departed, leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione alone.
"We should probably go eat, now." Ron said. The initiation session of Umbridge's new program had just finished, and, as usual, Ron Weasley was hungry.
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"So how'd it go with Granger?"
Blaise Zabini's smooth voice interrupted Draco Malfoy's thoughts, as he jogged to catch up with Draco, who was stalking towards the Great Hall to eat. He had been replaying his conversation with Hermione in his head, trying to find another weak link he could torment her with.
"Not as bad as you'd think." Draco replied.
"That's new."
"I know, right?"
They walked in silence for a bit, as other students parted to let them through into the Great Hall.
"By the way, who is your partner?" Draco asked.
"Susan Bones. The Hufflepuff girl."
"Oh. Bones…haven't I heard that name before somewhere?"
"Probably have. She's Amelia Bones' niece…you know, Madam Bones. At the Ministry."
"Oh, right. I thought you didn't care much for the Ministry?"
"I don't. She told me." Blaise seated himself at the Slytherin table, and looked at Draco, who took a seat beside him. "We had an 'About Me' conversation."
"What, like your hobbies and stuff?" Draco scoffed.
"Her idea. Worked pretty well, though. Maybe you should have something like that," Blaise said, reaching for some rolls. "Though there's probably very little that we don't already know about Hermione Granger."
"Yeah…I don't think she's got much of a life beyond books."
"Speak of the devil and she doth appear." Blaise said. "Accompanied by her bodyguards Pottyface and Weasel."
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked past the Slytherin table at that exact moment. Much to Hermione's discomfort, she had overheard Blaise's remarks, and to add to it, so had Ron.
"Speak of the devil and she doth appear? You were speaking about Hermione?"
He demanded.
"Relax, Weasley. Since when is talking about Granger a crime?" Draco asked, biting into a roll.
"Since when you got partnered with her and threatened her!"
"Threatened her?" Blaise interrupted.
"Geez, Blaise, hold on a sec. Weasley, it doesn't matter at all whether I threatened her- that really shouldn't be much of a shock to you. I've been doing that to mudbloods my entire life."
"DON'T CALL HER THAT!" Ron bellowed.
"Sod off, Malfoy. Ron, there's no need for this right now." Hermione intervened, taking Ron and Harry's arms and trying to pull them along with her.
"Listen to the mudblood," Draco deliberately taunted, "Unlike the two of you, she has a morsel of sense."
"She has more than just a morsel! She's the smartest kid in school and you darn well know it!" Harry said, joining the fray. Unluckily for Hermione, this meant that she had resistance from both the boys she was trying to pull away.
"She would be the smartest if she wasn't friends with dimwits like you."
"They're not dimwits, Malfoy. And we really need to go now!" Hermione exclaimed, desperate to get away.
"Who's talking to you, mudblood?" Draco asked insolently.
"Okay that's it!" Harry said, and launched himself at Draco.
Suddenly a voice cleared itself behind them, and Harry was thrown backwards.
"What's going on here, children?" A sugar-sweet voice asked, coming from a little lady holding her wand out.
"Oh, Professor Umbridge, they just came over here and started abusing me!" Draco said, his entire demeanour changing, going from aggressive bad boy to innocent victimised boy.
"Ahem, Mister Malfoy, I heard a bit of your last comment- and even though I can imagine the scenario you have just described and, given the circumstances, completely agree with what you said to Miss Granger must remind you that using foul language in school is prohibited. However, I do trust your judgement not to use such terrible language henceforth. Am I right?"
"Absolutely, Professor."
"Mister Potter, you however, are on the brink of another detention. I sincerely hope you do not want one? Well then, you shall return to the Gryffindor table and proceed with your meal."
And with a twirl, Professor Umbridge departed, leaving Harry and Ron fuming, Draco and Blaise amused, and Hermione disgusted.
"Let's go, guys." She said.
"This is not over, Malfoy." Harry threatened, as they were dragged away by Hermione.
"No, Potter. I believe it's just begun." Draco muttered, as they resumed their meal.
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