Manic Monday II


"I'm going to kill the little creep" Draco raved sweeping down the hallways toward the great hall.

"Only if don't get to him first" Hermione seethed practically having to run so she didn't trip and fall. Draco's grip on her hand tightened as the noise of the hall grew louder indicating that breakfast was well under way and he pulled her behind a statue where they couldn't be seen by any passers by but had a clear view of the doorway.

"What?" she questioned clearly confused – she was just as eager to tear Colin a new one as he was

"Storming in there like we are will do us no good." He said taking a deep breath and pushing his hair from his eyes taking in her flushed and dishevelled look.

"Your so hot when your all riled up" he commented lazily giving her a thorough once over and smirking

"Not now Draco, its those kinds of comments that got us in this trouble in the first place" she hissed peering around the statue to see a group of giggling Hufflepuff third years enter the hall quickly formulating a plan

"Ok, I will follow that group in, you go in after me and we will corner the little creep when he leaves" She said focusing on the doorway and slinking out into the hallway without waiting for his nod of agreement and making her way behind the overly perky students. She was so focused on getting to the Gryffindor table unseen that it took her a moment to register exactly what the girls were giggling about

"… And did you see the one of her on her knees? I wonder if she learnt that in a book" on of them commented making her companions break out into peals of laughter. Hermione flushed in mortification

"I thought it was kind of sweet when they were holding hands, like a real couple. I don't know what he sees in her though" the tall blonde one with a squeaky voice added in

"I wonder if he used the whip against her or the other way around – I mean who knows what kind of other kinky stuff they got up to in that room they use. What did Creevey call it again?" a little mousy haired one added in completely oblivious to how close she was to getting hexed by the very witch they were discussing

"The Room of Sin or something just as stupid" the blonde answered leading the group toward the Hufflepuff table and Hermione in clear view of every other student, all of whom were thankfully too busy stuffing their faces to notice her standing there. She began backing away slowly then broke into a full run only to hit what felt like a solid brick wall which tumbled with her.

Disoriented she pushed herself off the mass of solid muscle beneath her and swept her hair off her face only to look down and gasp. Draco scowled and shoved her roughly off him before getting to his feet and dusting himself off with all the pompous air he could muster.

"Watch where your going Mudblood" he sneered and began to move gracefully toward the Slytherin table. The entire hall was silent as the Hermione stood up, re-adjusted her shiny Head-girl badge, shook out her robes and strode toward the slack-jawed Gryffindor table seemingly oblivious to the attention she was getting.

As she sat down between Harry and Ron furious whispered began as those closest to the scene relayed what had just transpired down the table

"So ah Hermione …" Seamus said around a mouth full of scrambled eggs "you and Malfoy having a lovers tiff?" he gave a lopsided grin and a bit off food toppled out of his mouth and onto the open newspaper in front of him.

"I don't know what you are talking about" Hermione sniffed in disgust at the Irishman's table manners, trying to make out she knew nothing of this mornings printed accusations just like she and Draco had agreed

"Sure you do, it's all right here in the 'Creepy Chronicles'" Seamus continued oblivious to the death stares he was getting from the two wizards who flanked her and passing over a copy of the newspaper much as Dumbledore had done not an hour ago.

Hermione feigned a shocked gasp as she looked upon the incriminating parchment and the moving pictures of her and Draco – the damning evidence playing over and over again in all its passionate glory. Everyone within close proximity seemed to be waiting for her to say something

"This … this is preposterous" she spluttered, flinging the paper around dramatically. "How dare he? The little creep. These are lies, all lies!" she raised her voice and got the attention of even more people

"See, I told you all" Ron said standing up and glaring around him, anger making his skin tone match his hair "Hermione would never go for a ferret like Malfoy" he practically spat. Harry put his hand on her shoulder to show his support and gave her a brief smile, which she tried return un-successfully, her stomach churning

"I cannot believe this. My own house believing the worst of me … and my own housemate printing such … drivel!" she added throwing a glare in the cowering Creevey's direction. He clutched his camera to his chest protectively and tried to slink under the table but suddenly found himself surrounded by a small group of irate seventh years who believed their head girl

"But Hermione, as the saying goes … a picture says a thousand words" Dean put in at Seamus' side earning another glare from Ron

"This is true" Hermione stated taking a deep breath "But I am not nor have I ever been Draco Malfoy's lover. I deny these wild allegations" she bluffed. By now she had the attention of the entire hall and the staff present on the dais.

"So explain all the photos then, do you have an evil twin or something?" accused Dennis Creevey standing up on the bench to stare angrily down the table at her

"No … the photos can all be easily explained" Hermione said willing her voice not to shake. "Let us examine page one shall we?" she asked in a prim tone and there was a great shuffling of papers as people got out their copy of the Chronicle or moved to share with those who didn't have one. She felt like she was conducting one large class.

Standing up she moved to the head of the Gryffindor table and looked down at a photo of her and Draco hand in hand returning to Hogwarts after their steamy session in the change rooms.

"It may appear to all of you that we are indeed holding hands" she began in a clear voice, "This is just an unfortunate camera angle and if you look carefully we are just standing in close proximity and utilising the light of one wand rather then both of our wands" she didn't know when she had become such a consummate liar but for now it was the role she must play, plus these were the lies that Draco had come up with in the Headmasters office earlier and she was sticking to them

"Now if you will turn to the three photographs on page two" she said not allowing anyone to argue with the fact that she and Draco were indeed holding hands in the photograph and that is was very obvious even to a half blind person

"This first photo would appear to have us in a compromising position where it would seem once again that an unfortunate camera angle has led you all to believe that I am" she paused briefly feeling her face heat up in embarrassment "performing fellatio on Draco Malfoy. I was infact tying my shoe lace whilst on rounds and was discussing a strange noise we had both heard from the filth floor corridor" she sent a glare in the Hufflepuff's direction knowing that several of them had been caught that night by Filch. The students in question hung their heads and flushed in embarrassment at being singled out.

"The next two photos' I must say are just matters of coincidence. As you should all know, as Head Boy and Girl, Draco and are in a role of responsibility and during both of these circumstance where it is clearly shown we are coming and going from certain places together it has been when are working the heads of the student body. Because we take this role very seriously and are obligated to investigate any goings on that go against school rules and protocol." She took a deep breath and looked sternly across the sea of heads that happened to be hanging on every lie before continuing

"The room shown in the final photograph on page three was discovered by myself and the head boy and we have been working diligently to discover who the students responsible for the collection of contraband and various paraphernalia are. We want it known that the hallway on the sixth floor to the right has been out of bounds due the unstable condition of one of the south towers facing the lake and has been so all year. We would also like to remind you that any after curfew activity must take place within the common rooms and must be considered appropriate. What was found in this room was not appropriate" She pursed her lips and ignored the sniggers that followed this statement

"Finally Draco Malfoy and I as your head students have been asked to inform you all that all student publications that are not in the format of a newsletter and do not contain relevant information for the aid in the continuation of harmonious student life at Hogwarts has been suspended and newspapers such as 'The Creevey Chronicles" will no longer be in circulation due to their blatant gossip and manipulation of facts" and with that she turned on her heel and left the stunned hall fully aware that over a hundred people were gaping at her in shock.

She was just taking the turn to the moving staircases when a great rush of noise burst from the hall as students recovered from her tangent. She also heard the running of footsteps and hoped to god it wasn't Draco – that would just feed the rumour mill more. She was surprised when Harry and Ron caught up with her.

"Wow Hermione … that took guts" Harry said patting her on the back and giving her a smile that would charm the pants off any breathing female within a two hundred meter radius. Hermione smiled back but it was rather forced, she hated lying to her best friends but knew that they would never accept her relationship at least not this way, what with it being strewn across the headlines so to speak

"Don't worry Mione'. We'll take care of the little creep for you" Ron said punching a fist into his hand and looking like he really would do Colin some serious harm. She placed a hand on his sleeve as the staircase took them higher

"Leave it Ron … I will deal with him. And if I don't the Slytherins will – can't have their Prince shacking up with a muggle-born now can they" she laughed but something inside of her was slowly bleeding as the stark truth that her love affair with Draco was so wrong in the eyes of so many became more and more obvious to her. She hated to admit it but her relationship was now on very shaky ground in light of recent events.

Harry and Ron dropped her off in her dorm and went off to get their books promising to meet her before double potions, acting as her protectors against any who dared to make a case and call her on her lies.

She was sadly making her bed trying not to cry as she thought about all she may loose when Draco entered her room and came up behind her hugging her to his chest emulating her feelings telling her in his own way that he didn't want things to change any more than she did.

"Everything will be ok Mione', you'll see, they will forget all about it in a few weeks" he whispered into her hair "You did great today, I was so proud of you"

The softly spoken statement finally broke her and she sobbed as he turned her in his arms hugging her to him hard, running his hands soothingly up and down her back and kissing her hair. When she quieted a little he began to kiss the still falling tears from her cheeks whispering endearments the whole time before finally taking her mouth under his and kissing her with all the love he possessed.

The kiss was broken by a loud bang of wood against stone they both turned to see every single seventh year Gryffindor and Slytherin staring at their passionate embrace, Ron and Pansy both fainted in shock.


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