Hermione had to talk to her friends. She knew she had to. She had blown up at them, and it wasn't fair to them. That evening, she decided to go to dinner. Harry was the first one to see the curly-haired witch heading towards the Gryffindor table, and he grinned. The siblings followed his gaze, eyes landing on her. Hermione could tell that they had mixed reactions, even from several feet away, but she continued to the table. Sitting down next to Ron, she sighed before opening her mouth. "I'm sorry. About everything."
"I'm sorry, too," her best friend says instantly, her features instantly softening. "I shouldn't have been mad at you, I just got worried when you didn't show up after a while…"
Hermione nods understandingly. "I was just stressed from school; it's been busy and I've only really seen you guys," she looks between Ron and Harry, "when we went to the library to study. And Ginny, we haven't had a lot of time to really talk. I'm going to figure out a better schedule because I really miss you all."
"We have to make an effort, too," Harry cuts in. "The three of us have quidditch practice constantly, and you're the Head Girl. It's hard to clear space; I get it. All of us do. We were just upset because we finally got an opportunity where all four of us were free, but you went with Malfoy of all people, and didn't tell us."
Hermione agrees with their logic, knowing she should have kept better track of time at the store. "I was really drunk; I don't have any excuse." Hermione pauses, turning to look at Ron alone. "And I know I haven't been a great…" she hesitates, not knowing exactly what to refer to herself as. "I haven't been a great girlfriend and I'm sorry."
He shakes his head, dismissing her apology while confirming the fact that they were, in fact, officially dating. "I'm a horrible boyfriend. I miss you, 'Mione. Are you doing anything on Friday night?"
Hermione shakes her head. "Malfoy is patrolling, so I'm free for a night."
"I'll meet you outside your dorm and take you on a real date," he promises. She breaks into a wide grin, blushing at the thought.
"Sounds great," she agrees, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. Ron's ears turn red, spreading across his freckled face to match the color of her own.
"Are we alright?" Harry asks Hermione.
"Of course. I've missed you all."
Ginny beams. "We've missed you too." She rises, running the few feet to the end of the table, and over to Hermione's side. They hug, the breath being practically knocked out of Hermione because of Ginny's tight grip. "We're going to talk later," she whispers, pulling back and flashing her concerned-mom expression, probably pertaining to what Dra - Malfoy had revealed last Saturday.
"Can't wait."
Ginny was waiting for Hermione outside of Charms, her last class, on Friday afternoon. Instantly, Hermione felt a hand wrap around her wrist, and she was being pulled off into the crowd.
"Hello to you, too, Ginny," Hermione laughs, running to keep up with her. They passed multiple students, and Hermione muttered apologies to kids that Ginny had bumped into.
Ginny didn't say anything until the two of them were well in front of the crowd. "We're going to your dorm so I can help you get ready for your date."
"It's in two hours," Hermione reminds her. "We have time."
"We don't. Now hurry up!" Ginny yells over her shoulder, releasing Hermione as they jog up the stairs. Hermione keeps a careful hand on the wooden railing as they jerk around, moving to the left. After climbing multiple sets, Ginny is still ten feet ahead of her. Hermione fights the urge to pause and catch her breath, but her redheaded friend shows no signs of being tired.
Finally, they reach the portrait of the old wizard. He raises his eyebrow at their earliness. "Felix...Felicis," Hermione pants. It swings open, the two of them stepping inside.
"Hey, hold the portrait!" someone says behind them. Hermione turns to see Malfoy rushing over to them. Hermione sticks her hand out, pushing the portrait open until he's only a foot away. "Thanks," he shoots her a lopsided grin, one that sends knots into Hermione's stomach.
They'd hardly talked since their kiss on Wednesday morning. That was mostly because Hermione wasn't sure what to say. It had all happened so suddenly. She didn't want to lead on the handsome Head Boy, but she couldn't explain to him how she felt; she didn't know, herself.
The smile was practically wiped off his face when he spotted Ginny standing behind her. "Hi…" he trails off.
Ginny raises an eyebrow. "Hi."
"Right, so… I'm patrolling tonight, right?" he asks, turning back to Hermione.
"Yeah, I'd appreciate it."
"Of course. Have fun, then." He nods at the two girls, retreating to his room and closing the door behind him.
Ginny clears her throat. "That wasn't awkward."
Hermione shrugs, trying to act normal about the situation. "Let's just work on making me presentable." She leads Ginny into her room across from Malfoy's, closing the door behind her.
Ginny lectures her on the important of telling her best friend when something is wrong, what it is, etc. She all but forced Hermione to take her robes off, so Ginny could check her wrists; and of course she found the mudblood scars. After another long lecture, while she dug through Hermione's clothes in search of something Hermione could wear on her date, she laid out her chosen clothes.
Starting with her best pair of black underwear, the front made almost entirely of maroon lace with a matching bra, she put that on and looked in the mirror. "If I weren't dating Harry, I'd go gay for you. Or at least bisexual," Ginny says from behind her, voicing her approval. Hermione rolls her eyes, laughing.
Over that, Hermione tugs on a slim black dress that just barely covers her thighs. A long, short rectangle is cut out of the back, exposing some of her pale skin. The tight fabric clings to her in a –hopefully- flattering way. Ginny simply nods at her before sitting her down on her bed, pulling some makeup out of her bag and setting it on the desk next to them.
Applying eyeliner (Ginny was a lot better at doing wings than Hermione would ever be) and blending dark maroon eyeshadow with some black and adding a layer of thick mascara, Ginny stands back and admires her work. Brushing through Hermione's thick hair, she pulls most of it back into a neat bun. Braiding the strands in the front that were left out, she ties them in with the rest of Hermione's hair.
"I actually made you even more attractive than usual. Someone is getting some tonight," she jokes. "Just a few more things…"
Ginny completes the outfit with a few long, skinny strands of gold used as a looping necklace, and thin, long black gloves that cover up her forearms. "Earrings?" Ginny asks herself, debating.
"I don't really have any," Hermione reminds her.
"I'll go get some. Plus a pair of shoes, because all you have are converse and boots."
"That's all I need," Hermione retorts, but Ginny is already halfway out the door.
"I'll be back in a few minutes! Don't do anything to mess up your makeup!"
Hermione sighs, glancing at herself in the mirror. The girl looking back was hardly recognizable. This one looked like she could have some self-confidence. Emerging from her room, Hermione walks over to the bookshelf to pick out something to read while Ginny is off looking for things. In the middle of her search, she hears Malfoy's door click open, and his heavy footsteps get louder as he enters the living room.
"Nice dress," he comments. She turns around to look at him. "Woah—nice face!" Coughing, he corrects himself, "I mean, um… you look really nice, Granger."
She chuckles. "Thanks. You don't look half bad yourself."
He glances down at himself, shrugging. "It's what I wear every day."
"You still look good in it," she insists, surprising both him and herself with her boldness.
"Where are you off to on your free night?" Malfoy asks, trying to draw attention away from the deep red blush forming on his face.
Hermione hesitates. "Um, I have a date…with Ronald."
"Oh," Draco clears his throat, scratching his neck. "Yeah, of course."
"Draco," Hermione practically whispers. He doesn't answer, and a part of her wonders if he didn't hear her. It was evident that he had. "I'm sorry about what happened…that morning."
"Don't worry about it, Granger. We were both tired. It didn't mean anything."
With that, he brushes past her, walking through the portrait hole and almost crashing into Ginny. They have yet another short, awkward encounter before Ginny steps into the common room. "Alright, I got these earrings and some high heels for you to borrow. I have to go; Ron is going to be here any minute. You have to give me all the details tomorrow!" Ginny sets the earrings and shoes on the side table, hugging Hermione carefully. "Have fun!"
Ginny leaves before Hermione can get a word out. She carefully puts in the long gold earrings, with the same gold strands hanging down from it, that her necklace is made of. Just as she puts on the delicate black high heels, there's a knock on the wall outside of the common room. Hermione glances at herself in the mirror before heading over to the portrait and opening it. Her boyfriend stands outside, waiting, with maroon and golden colored roses in his hands. When Ron sees her, he freezes. "Wow, you… you look beautiful, 'Mione."
"Thank you," she blushes. Ron holds out the flowers to her, and she takes them, setting them on the table near the portrait. Ron helps her step down into the corridor, and the portrait swings closed behind them. "Where are we going?"
"The room of requirement," he says, not elaborating. He holds his arm out to Hermione, who places her hand on it to keep her balance as they walk down a couple corridors. Soon, they reach the pillars, with fake vines carved into it. Ron paces in front of the door until it slides open, revealing a dim room with blood red walls and oak floorboards. A table with a thick white tablecloth laying over it is in the middle of the room. The only other thing in the large room that isn't a decoration, is the spiraling staircase in the corner of the room that leads elsewhere.
"It's beautiful," Hermione grins as he leads her over to one of the chairs. She sits down in one, and he takes his seat in the one across the table from her.
"I'm glad you like it."
With a wave of his wand, multiple plates of food appear on the table and the two of them dish up pasta, bread, and fill up their tall glasses with red wine. It only takes a half an hour for them to finish; granted, Ron ate most of it. They make casual conversation as the night rolls on, until there's nothing left to talk about.
"'Mione… I don't know how to say this," Ron begins, glancing nervously at her from across the table.
"Say what?"
"I…we've known each other for a while. Do you trust me?"
Hermione nods slowly. "Of course…"
"Then…" he pauses, gathering himself before quickly slurring out, "we should have sex."
"What?!" Hermione coughs, nearly choking on her wine. "Ronald…"
"You said it yourself! You trust me! What more is there to wait for?"
A part of her –the smarter part- answers his question. Love. But she couldn't possibly tell Ron that she didn't really love him. Not in the way he loved her. It would be even worse than just rejecting him. So, she said the only thing her slightly drunk mind could think up.
"You're right. Let's…let's have sex."