Chapter Nine—Fool in the Dungeon!

"So he just…stopped?" asked Ron uncertainly. Hermione nodded, uncomfortable of this very awkward conversation. Deciding she needed someone to confide her feelings and thoughts to, she told Harry and Ron about what happened in the Slytherin common room yesterday, leaving out a few details. She told them that they were kissing when Draco just stopped, in the middle of it, with no apparent reason; he didn't want to talk, he didn't want her to stay. It was very unlike of in-a-relationship-with-Hermione Draco. The trio was on their way from the Great Hall to Potions, with their Jobberknolls flying about—in a few days' time, the Jobberknoll feathers would be collected, and the birds and the owners would part ways.

"What is he was just tired?" Harry quipped, not wanting to say anything to affect Hermione's mood. They asked her what was wrong when she appeared a bit sad this morning, so they had to help her out with this—they were the reason she started talking, after all. Hermione shrugged. "Maybe. But he could've said so."

"Are you sure that kissing was all you did…?" muttered Ron. Hermione shot him an incredulous look, but before an answer (more like a retort) escaped her lips, they already arrived at the Potions classroom. Despite the change of teachers, Potions was still being held in the dungeons—students presumed that Snape just liked the dungeons, his House common room being there and all. The hour passed by quickly; Professor Slughorn gave them notes on how to perfectly brew Veritaserum, the truth potion. They would do this after they collected the Jobberknoll feathers, of course, which Professor Slughorn said would be on Wednesday, the day after tomorrow. Then he discussed on how to get the top quality Jobberknoll feathers.

All throughout the class Hermione took down notes fast, a notebook and two rolls of parchment spread in front of her.

All throughout the class Draco kept staring back at Hermione trying to catch her eye.

And all throughout the class Hermione kept her head down, telling herself she was just taking notes, and not avoiding Draco's stare—it would be silly to be upset and sulk about him stopping what happened last night. He was being a gentleman. Yes, that was it.

The bell rang for the end of Potions, and Harry and Ron hurried out of the dungeon, but Hermione stayed behind. The three had a free period now, and the boys said they needed help understanding Professor Slughorn's lecture—in other words, they needed to copy her notes. "I'll meet you at the common room, okay?" Hermione said, her eyes trailing Draco, whose back was turned , walking towards the opposite direction. She turned to Ron and Harry, who had a questioning look on their faces. "I just need to run my notes over with Professor Slughorn, to make sure I didn't make a mistake in anything." Ron and Harry nodded, and exited the dungeons.

Once they were out of sight, Hermione quickly followed Draco; she knew he had a free period at this time, too. To her surprise, Draco did not head off to the Slytherin common room, but in a deserted corridor still located in the dungeons. With him was Blaise Zabini, his two goons Crabbe and Goyle, and (what was she doing here?) Pansy Parkinson. She muttered a Disillusionment Charm (thank Merlin for the advance reading that she did) and muttered Silencio, tapping her wand against her throat and feet. Now she was as good as wearing the Invisibility Cloak around deaf people. She leaned against a wall ten feet away from the five Slytherins—just the right amount of distance for eavesdropping.

"…but you seem cold to each other today, Draco," Pansy crooned, making a grasp for Draco's arm. Before she could cling to it, Draco moved farther away from her, and Pansy scowled.

Blaise nodded. "Yeah, if you've broken up, you lose the bet, and you owe each of us thirty Galleons." Crabbe and Goyle guffawed, joyed by the mention of money. Draco threw them a dirty look, and they kept quiet.

Oh my gosh. A bet. That's all we've ever been. A silly dare. For thirty Galleons?

"Zabini, you've got it all wrong. Guess what happened yesterday in the common room?"

"Did you shag her brains out, Malfoy?" Blaise sneered.

Draco shrugged. "You could say that." Crabbe and Goyle chuckled again, and Pansy shook her head in awe. "Didn't think you could do it, Draco. Fool the Golden Girl of Gryffindor. But you did."

Tears sprang in Hermione's eyes. They've made fun of me. That's all I am to them. A tramp. Something to be played with! Draco just tricked me! He played with me, and used me for this stupid game!

How could I be so stupid? Hermione thought. Tears rolling down her cheeks, soaking her uniform's collar and some of her notes, she ran away, sobbing.

Draco looked disbelievingly at Pansy. "You don't have faith in me, Pansy? After all we've been through?" he said dramatically.

"By been through, I assume you mean sex," Blaise supplied. The two goons chortled again. Draco punched them in the gut. "Will you stop your pointless laughing! It's seriously pissing me off!" he said.

"Watch your mouth, Malfoy,"Crabbe said in his deep, somewhat idiotic-sound voice.

Draco merely sneered. "You watch it Crabbe. Remember, I have connections. I could get your father—heck, your whole family—killed with just one touch." With that, he turned his back to where Hermione was, facing Crabbe. Crabbe gulped and frowned and stepped side wards to the corner.

"Easy there, Draco," murmured Pansy. Draco nodded.

"Well, looks like you owe all of me. And haven't I proved something?"

"Yes, Draco, you've proved that you are irresistible." Blaise rolled his eyes.

Draco's eyes looked over to the exact spot where Hermione stood moments ago.

"That anybody could fall in love with me—even a Mudblood like Hermione Granger."