Chapter 9: The Fight has Only Just Begun

Chapter 9: The Fight has Only Just Begun

A/N: I'm sorry I take so long but this story has been giving me a fight! Bare with me please!

3rd PersonPOV:

The rest of the week was hell for Hermione. She had three homework assignments due on the following Monday and Professor Snape had a partner project there was only one problem…her partner.

"Harry! Why the hell would Professor Snape do this?! He knows the boundaries!" Hermione hollered to Harry as they sat in the common room.

"I don't know Hermione" Harry said for what seemed like the millionth time.

"Why does he hate me so much?! I'm never late for any of his lessons! I'm quiet during his ramblings! I listen and take notes! I treat him with respect for fucking sake! Yet he still disobeys Dumbledore directly by paring me with Ronald!" Hermione ranted as she paced in front of Harry.

"I'm not sure Hermione. Why don't we go ask if you can get switched with me so you can be partnered with Malfoy? I would say that you could be my partner but I'm pretty sure Draco would kill him if he had the chance" Harry said adding a bit of needed humor at the end. Hermione wasn't so sure the idea of Ron dead was such a bad prospect.

"Actually-"

"No Hermione! Ron won't be killed! Especially by Malfoy!" Harry chided. Even though Harry agreed to remain friends with Ron didn't mean he forgave him one bit. What he tried in the common room the last day Fred and George was there nearly got him pulled bit from bit by all the Gryffindor boys. Only by the skin of his nose did he only make it out with a punch from Neville.

"We could try that…" she trailed off trying to think of a way that it will end without detention for both of them.

"Well let's go! He'll holler at us if we go any later" Harry hurried them both out of the room and through the castle until they reached the potions classroom.

"Harry it's just gonna get us in trouble" Hermione whispered quietly. It was too late.

HERMIONEPOV:

"Professor?" Harry asked as he walked into the room. I warned him.

"What is it Potter?!" Snape snarled from behind his desk.

"Well I was just wondering if I could discuss Hermione's partner with you" He paused searching for a yes or no.

"Is Miss Granger present?" Snape asked looking to the door in which I was on the other side of.

"Yes sir, Hermione" He called to me. I walked in with a sheepish smile.

"Now what was it about this partner?" He asked his scowl deepening.

"Well sir-" I started.

"Sir you put Hermione with Ron" Harry explained.

"Your point Mr. Potter?" Snape snarled his black eyes turning to him. Harry seemed unaffected or if he was he didn't show it.

"You're not supposed to. Dumbledore's orders to not allow Ron alone with Hermione or put them together!" Harry cried, obviously frustrated.

"Do not raise your voice to me you insolent fool! 20 points from Gryffindor! Now my final decision is that if Miss Granger has a problem with this she may talk to me herself not you. Now leave Potter!" Snape barked sending Harry from his room muttering under his breath.

"Please sir, I don't mean to cause any trouble but I'm not comfortable with my partner at all" I tried to explain that I was honestly worried for my safety without coming out and saying it.

"Well what is it that's wrong?" He asked, his voice softer and his eyes less harsh.

"I actually fear for my well-being sir" I answered looking away.

"How serious about this are you? Are you just upset and don't feel like dealing with him?"

"No honestly sir, I really am…scared to be alone with him or even near him for that matter" I answered completely truthful.

"Well then, you'll be Malfoy's partner and Potter with be with Weasley. Alright Miss Granger?" He suggested.

"Thank you sir. I really appreciate this and don't worry I won't tell anyone that you're a wonderfully nice person. Wouldn't want your reputation to be ruined now would we?" I smiled.

"Of course not. Goodbye Miss Granger and oh…if Weasley bothers you tell me and it'll be taken care of" He smiled back and dismissed me from his classroom.

"See you tomorrow" I whispered as I closed the door. I never knew Snap was so nice! Hell I never knew he had a beating heart!

SNAPEPOV:

I'm never usually this nice to students or anyone really but whether or not I like it, Hermione is my best student and very intelligent and polite. And it was quite brave of her to step up and tell me that she was uncomfortable and feared being alone with Weasley. I'm quite proud of that girl and even if I don't live to see it, she will do great things.

HARRYPOV:

Stupid git! How dare he make me leave when I need to be there for my sister?! Oh whatever! Arse. I'll just wait in the entrance hall for her. Hopefully she'll be able to switch partners I really don't want her to be with him. I honestly don't trust him around her, I've seen him when he's determined for something and I know he'll do whatever it takes to make it right in his head. I jumped as I heard footsteps behind me.

"Oh thank Merlin it's you!" I sighed as I rushed forward and hugged Hermione. I don't really like being away from her as long as before our trio's relations got strained.

"I was only gone for a few minutes Harry." She chuckled.

"I know but still…" I trailed off, clearly uncomfortable for both of us.

"We still have enough time to catch the last 10 minutes of supper" She suggested and we both started walking to the great hall in a comfortable silence.

HERMIONEPOV:

I feel kind of bad for Harry. Ever since our "Golden" trio broke apart things have been worse on him. He's still himself he's just…different. He was more distant but hid very well, the only reason I knew was because I knew him so well. As we walked into the great hall it was suddenly silent.

"Hermione!" Ginny cried as she launched herself towards me.

"What?" I asked completely confused as I caught her.

"It's Draco" Was all she said and I was scared. I looked to the younger girl and a nod was shared before Ginny led us both out of the dining hall and into the hospital wing where a still Draco laid, unmoving. First look I honestly thought he was dead.

"Draco" I whimpered as I dared to move closer to my friend-almost brother.

"Miss Granger?" Madame Pomfrey asked as she walked in from her office.

"Yes ma'am" I answered never taking my eyes from him. "Do you know what happened?" I asked.

"Yes, he was simply hit was a freezing spell, the effects should be gone by tomorrow" She explained as she led them closer to his bedside.

"Do you know who cast the spell?" Harry asked the one thing I was sure I didn't want to know.

"The first year from Hufflepuff who brought him in said that he saw a head of red hair turning down the hall…um he described it as the exact same color of Ginny's hair" Madame Pomfrey explained indicating to Ginny.
"There's only one person in this school who's hair is the same color…stay here…" I trailed off, pure rage filling my every movement. Before I could stop myself I took of sprinting down the halls tearing into the dining hall, ignoring the protests coming from Harry as he called after me. I was thankful that he listened to my order of staying put though.

"RONALD BILIUS WEASELY!!" I cried as I slowed in front of the ass in question.

"What?" He asked promptly spraying food all over everything. I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of the hall and into the small broom closet 40 feet away. Before I could even get a word out I turned and his lips crashed against my forcefully. I hit my hands on his chest as hard as I could. He barely flinched. I took my hands up to his face and clawed at it until he smacked them away and pinned them by my sides. Fuck. As he moved down the side of my neck I realized the last chance I had against him.

"Ron. Ron please?! Don't do this!" I cried, trying to regain control of myself and steer away from the emotional wreck that I was becoming.

"I have to make you love me again" He grunted, kissing me harder.

"This isn't helping" I cried the tears starting to slide from my eyes.

"Ron please don't! this isn't helping anyone!" I cried harder. I struggled harder as I felt his hand slip under my robes and slide it off, his hands tugging at my shirt.

"Ron please, you aren't going to accomplish anything by this!" I pleaded pulling one of my arms free as he stopped in his movements and looked into my eyes for the first time.

"I'm so sorry" He grunted and backed away. I didn't care about him now and I took my chance to get as far away from him as I could.

I ran out of the closet and down the empty hall until I ran into something, rather someone hard. I fell back until they caught me and pulled me closer. I looked at the shining Gryffindor lion prominently displayed on their chest.

"Hermione?" their voice had a thick Irish accent that I soon realized was Seamus.

"Seamus" I cried, burying myself deeper into his chest. I know that he would never do anything to hurt me, even unintentionally.

"I'll take you to the hospital wing" was all he said before he picked me up and carried me smoothly up the flights of stairs and into the hospital wing where Madame Pomfrey was desperately rushing around until she stopped when she saw us enter.

"HERMIONE!" I heard Harry's deep voice growl. I felt my heartbeat in my head as Madame Pomfrey dragged me towards the nearest bed.

"Harry please let Madame Pomfrey do her job" Ginny pleaded. I heard his grumble before a silent yes.

"What happened dear?" the old hospital nurse asked as she gave me a potion to swallow; I pushed it away.

"Nothing I'm fine" I lied quickly.

"Clearly not…"

"Seriously all I need is a little rest and I'll be fine" I answered, looking down trying to cover my tear tracks.

"Well I recommend you stay but I can't force you"

"Great, well Madame have a wonderful night" I smiled the best I could and quickly but painfully walked away to the awaiting Harry's arms. He picked me up and carried me back into the crowded Gryffindor Common room.

"Let's get you upstairs, that way we can be alone" He looked down at me worriedly as the tears cascaded down my face.

As Harry sat me down on his bed the tears came faster and faster as I realized that Ron would be in the same room as me. I wasn't worried because I knew that Harry would do anything and everything to protect me but it still felt bad. Knowing that the guy that I was sacred if was just a few feet away.

"Here we go Hermione" Harry whispered as he handed me his old Quidditch jersey from last year with the name: POTTER written on the back and a pair of flannel pajama pants with a small drawstring on them. He turned around and went through his trunk looking for something as I changed into the PJ's painfully. My every move hurt. He jumped at my gasp.

"I'm done" I replied in an empty voice.

"Hermione, baby girl, what's wrong? I know something happened, can you please tell me what?" He asked in a soothing voice as he came over and pulled me onto the bed so that I was lying back on his chest.

"I was yelling at Ron for what he did and I didn't wanna make a scene and…" with that I explained everything that had happened ever since I ran out of the hospital wing.

"My poor 'Mione. I should have followed you" Harry of course, was blaming himself.

"None of this is your fault in anyway" I consoled him as more tears ran down my face.

"Shhh, I've got you" he soothed and I felt my cares drifting farther away.