Ron watched from a distance as he saw Hermione kissing and laughing and singing for Malfoy. He could feel the jealousy along with anger bubbling inside him. Jealousy coz she chose Draco Malfoy, their enemy and bully for six years over him. Anger coz this surely affected his reputation, atleast that's what he thought, that if Hermione goes out with a former Death Eater instead of the war Hero, his reputation is definitely affected. He wanted to go and break their romantic session there and then only but he thought of something better, he wanted to do something that will surely make Hermione loose her good girl reputation along with her so called lover. His newly found ego and jealousy over took even the slightest of good left in him. But he was too proud to see the change, he wanted to get what he wanted and if he couldn't have it then probably no one can. He walked back to castle with an evil grin plastered on his face.
"I guess its really going to rain" Hermione said "we better get inside" she added. In all honesty, she loved rain, but Draco's continuous request to sing again was making her blush and she wasn't confident enough to sing again, so she was just trying to let go off matter.
"we go in and I won't be able to be with you" Draco said with a glum pout.
"oh c'mon on Draco, you can still see me and I might be able to pursue Harry to switch patrol duties a bit. By making me pair up with you and Ronald with whoever does duty with you" she said.
"Promise me I'll meet you alone tonight…" he said with a naughty glint in his eyes.
"I will try." she said not wanting to give him false hopes in case they couldn't re-adjust the duties.
"hopefully scarhead agrees" Draco sighed.
"don't call him that." Hermione said sternly.
"yeah yeah, I know he's your friend and all, but you should know, old habits die hard" he said getting up and giving her his hand to help her up.
"thanks" she said taking his hand and getting up and then picking up her bag and guitar.
"do you play anything? Like any instrument?" she asked him as they walked back towards the school where they knew they had to part so that no one finds about them, atleast not yet.
"yeah" he said "piano" he told her. He didn't tell about guitar since he wanted to let her know about it at right time and right place.
"Piano?" she exclaimed "that's nice"
"yeah, but I bet I can't play or sing better than you" he said.
"you sing?" she said her eyes wide. Draco had to turn around as he realized she was fixed on a spot and was looking at him with a surprised look plastered on her face and her mouth open wide enough to allow a few bees invade in her if she didn't close it soon.
"yes I sing, but as I said not as good as you" he said moving towards her and gently closing her mouth "not even anywhere close to that" he whispered. His breath making her shiver, not with cold or some sort of fear, but because of the mere reason that he was this close to her even when she had accepted that for the fact that they had no future just a few months back.
She didn't say anything as he started their journey back. Once they reached closer to the main door, the distance between them increased. Before parting their way Hermione gave a final look towards him and was happy to find him looking back. She mouthed bye with a smile and went towards Gryffindor tower while he made his journey towards Dungeons.
~*~*~* At Gryffindor Tower*~*~*~
Hermione walked back to Gryffindor tower with a smile on her face and her heart feeling like it might explode any moment due all the happiness. She loved how Draco made her feel so special. She loved the way he got possessive over her. She just loved spending time with him and getting to know him better and finding out how they assumed some things about him which were exactly opposite to reality.
"had a great time licking that Ferret's face, eh?" Ron said as he stared in the fire with evil expressions.
"Ron…" she said, she was too shocked to speak anything. She didn't expect him to talk or even comment her way but what amazed her more was his face, the expressions that meant pure evil.
"I asked something?" he said looking at her, his lips curled in a cold smile.
"were…you…" she stuttered not knowing what to say. While he was attempting to make a conversation, his expressions said otherwise.
Before she could frame a response and say something that won't lead to a row ending in tears she was pinned on wall, with his hand gripping her wrist tightly above her head and his face so close that she could actually feel his breath on hers.
"Ron..let me g-" she said struggling to get her wrist out of his grip, but the attempt resulted in making him grip her tighter.
"Ron you are hurting me…please" she said, pain evident in her voice and eyes.
"what about how you hurt me Granger?" he snarled getting his face closer.
She turned her face away "let me go" she said somewhat angrily this time.
"why did you choose that ferret over me?" he asked clearly ignoring her requests.
"you've changed Ron and I..I love Draco…what I had for you was love I agree but it was something brotherly…nothing like intimacy one…" she said facing him and hoping he'll understand but she realized the mistake as soon as she did it as he immediately crashed his lips on hers.
She tried to fight her way and did her best to not to open her lips for him to allow deeper access. She somehow managed to get her wrist out of his grip while he concentrated on entering her mouth. She pushed him away by force hard enough to land him on floor.
"what the hell" he said, angry by her actions.
"you've really changed Ronald" she said, tears brimming her eyes. She left the common room quickly before he could do anything more, but instead of going towards her dorm, she went out.
~*~*~* Meanwhile with Draco*~*~*~
Draco walked down to dungeons smiling to himself, though it soon turned into a frown on seeing the last person he would like to see at the moment, Pansy Parkinson, kissing which looked more like licking Goyle's face.
On seeing Draco, she walked towards him, swaying her hips in what she assumed to be seducing way. She acted as though he has not seen her licking Goyles's face a few seconds back.
"what are you upto Pansy?" he said as she started trailing her fingers on his face , trying to seduce him, atleast that's what she thought coz on contrary it was making Draco sick, it was more like a torture to him than pleasure.
"still upset with me due to that mudblood?" she asked with a horrible pout.
"Don't. You. Dare. Call. Her. That" he said angrily shoving her hand off his face.
"what do you see in her?" she shouted at him "I have and can give you more than she could…"
"just shut it Pansy, you're nothing but a slut and all you can give me is some sort of a sexual disease" he said and left for his dorm.
He entered in, slamming the door and kicking his chair hard. How dare she say that, that bitch. He thought.
"is he really smart?" Blaise asked looking up from the book he has been reading.
"who?"
"her admirer?" he asked making quotes in air.
"oh no…no…there is no chance of him"
"then why are you so heated up as if you'll kill someone this instance?"
"Pansy"
"got it" Blasie said. He had a clue about what it might be with Pansy so he didn't ask knowing that it may make Draco more angry and angry part of Draco was something Blaise really didn't liked to face.
Draco sighed heavily and laid on the bed.
"how was it? With Granger?" Blaise asked "and I really wanna know how she accepted a git like yourself?"
"first it was great" Draco said "and second even I don't know how she forgave me for all the years of complete torture and accepted me…but maybe that's how she is…she overlooks the pasts and believes in second chances"
"since when are you two going out exactly?"
"we are not going out. I mean its nothing official yet and as you know it's a secret for now…we just confessed our feelings and well one thing is leading to another."he told him. " So if you wanna since when we have been like this then the answer is since I began smiling instead of smirking" he added referring to the morning of day before yesterday.
"so I haven't missed on much" Blaise said with a teasing smile "and when are you planning to make it out and official?"
Blaise has asked the one question that has been bothering him as well. Draco wasn't sure when and how to make it official coz for making it open was really simple with the rate with which the gossip flies in Hogwarts.
"haven't given a thought yet. I mean sometimes I feel what if I make the move too early coz she said she needed time to get to know each other and understand."
"seems fair, since you've been enemies for more than half a decade" Blaise said thoughtfully.
"you don't mind it right? Me going out with her?"
"why will I mind it. You finally got the girl you loved. I am happy for you."
"thanks mate"
"keep the formalities to yourself" he winked getting back to his book while Draco slowly drifted off to sleep.
~*~*~*Back to Hermione*~*~*~
Hermione walked out of the Gryffindor common room trying to think of some appropriate place to go. Tears were flowing freely from her eyes as she walked from one corridor to another, not caring as students stared her.
She didn't look up from the floor till she banged into someone, someone tall. She looked up and there was their new headmistress eyeing her carefully.
"whats wrong Ms. Granger ?" she asked seeing her one of the favourite student in tears.
"n-nothing ma'am" she said clearly.
"I don't think its nothing Miss Granger but if you don't want to share that's a different thing."
"yes ma'am" she said looking down at floor.
"by the way its good that I found you here, I was just looking forward to see one of the prefects. Would you mind doing me a favour? In case you feel alright."
"sure, I am perfectly fine" Hermione said a bit more confidently this time.
"good, can you call for all the prefects and Head Boy and Head Girl and meet me in my office in at most half an hour?"
"yes ofcourse ma'am."
"good the password is Scribblifors"
"we'll be there professor" Hermione said and walked towards Head's dorm since only Head Boy and Head Girl knew the passwords to all the common room other than their own house's.
She said the password to the portrait guarding the Head's dorms and common room and entered in, though on entering she thought that she should have knocked first as Harry and Ginny were having a really heated make out session on the couch, and you can tell it was really heated coz Harry was shirtless and Ginny's clothes were greatly out of order and it looked like if she won't tell them about her presence in a few seconds, Ginny too will be having a similar attire as Harry, that is nothing.
She coughed to tell them that she was there and almost laughed on seeing their faces as they thought it might be some teacher.
"phew, you scared us" harry said grabbing his shirt.
"really? Do I look that intimidating?" Hermione said.
"no we thought it was Headmistress, coz usually she does like that" Ginny said fixing her clothes.
"well I am highly sorry to disturb you guys but McGonagall wants all the prefects and you both in her office in less than thirty minutes. So if you don't mind continuing whatever you were upto later, can you help me call the other prefects?" she said trying to hide the laughter that was dying to escape her mouth on seeing Harry blush.
"yeah, I'll go and call Neville and Ron" Ginny said.
"I'll call Michael and Luna" Harry offered.
"I'll find Hannah and Ernie" she said.
"if you're going down only then you can find Slytherin prefects too" Harry said grinning as it was his turn of teasing now.
Ginny to gave a similar smile before quickly leaving to find Neville and Ron so that Hermione couldn't tag her for Slytherin job or switch places with her.
"I really have to leave, you never know where Luna can be." Harry said.
"yeah as if you don't have Marauder's Map" Hermione reminded.
"thanks for reminding, I'll just check and tell you where Draco is."
"and Daphne too please" she said faking to be irritated but the thought of seeing Draco was enough o make her feel happy.
Harry pulled out the map and muttered I solemnly swear that I am upto no good pointing his wand on the empty piece of parchment. As he unfolded the now completely filled paper with names and places written on it, Hermione stood beside him to have a good look herself.
"thankfully Ginny won't have to go everywhere to search Neville and Ron" he said seeing that both of them were in Gryffindor common room only and that was where Ginny was heading.
"there is Michael, in the library" Hermione said pointing at the dots in the library.
"and Ernie is in Greenhouse 4 with Professor Sprout." Harry said.
"and there is Luna heading towards the forest" they both said the same time.
"It might be her time to feed the threstrals" Harry chuckled.
"so we are left with Hannah and Slytehrins" Hermione said trying to locate Hannah.
"Hannah is also in the library now" he said as he saw new additions in the library.
"great so you can tell her too…" Hermione said.
"and you should know the password to Slytherin dorm" Harry said in the teasing tone.
Hermione looked down to where Dungeons were and saw Daphne there but Draco wasn't in common room.
"he's probably in his room" Harry said pointing at Draco's dots on the map.
"whats the password?" she asked trying not to discuss this any further.
"Murtlap Essence" Harry said with the grin still plastered on his face.
"and yeah the password to Headmistress' office is Scribblifors" she informed "though it will be better if we wait for everyone to assemble and go together"
"yeah we'll wait since Luna will be in the forbidden forests…I might get late" Harry said.
"I am going out anyways to call Ernie so I'll get Luna too" she said and both of them left the common room "so you all better wait for us"
"oh, we will" he said and they parted their ways.
Hermione walked down towards the Green House first. She was glad that Ernie was still there coz it would have been difficult to locate him since it was a day off and he was already out. She informed him and they both together left to find Luna.
"any idea whats it about?" he asked as they made their way down.
"no, she just told me to call all everyone. It can't be anything bad since she looked calm" Hermione replied.
"yeah hope so" he said and they covered rest of their journey quietly till they found Luna feeding threstrals, just like Harry predicted. L:una was one of those people who was unpredictably predictable. If you know her you can guess what she is upto if not then you're up for surprises (and shocks in some cases).
"hey Luna" Hermione said looking at her blonde friend who tossed a piece of fresh meat towards a threstral.
"hey Hermione, Ernie" she said in her deamy voice.
After the war it was very much clear that almost everyone from Harry's year can see the threstrals clearly and Ernie wasn't really comfortable with the creatures so his hey came out in a timid voice.
"McGonagall wants all the prefects in her office for some sort of meeting" Hermione informed to which Luna nodded and looked back towards the fascinating creatures in front of her "umm now" Hermione added thinking Luna didn't catch on that and she was right coz it was after she mentioned that they had to go now did Luna turn to face them.
"okay, I'll visit them some other day" she said turning to walk with them.
Sometimes , rather most of the times, Hermione felt that Hagrid and Luna can be great friends due to their unconditional love for such creatures which most of the other witches and wizards highly misunderstand. She chuckled at her thought.
"I guess Wrackspurts are messing with your brain" Luna said in her usual dreamy way on seeing Hermione chuckle for no good reason.
This made Ernie laugh but he suppressed it as Hermioen shot him a look that said DON'T.
they walked quietly till they were in the school again.
"you guys carry on, I'll just go and call Slytherin Prefects" Hermione said "others wil be waiting in front of the office probably"
Luna and Ernie nodded and they parted their way.
Hermione walked fast towards the Dungeons, her speed decesing slightly as the Portrait came into view. At this moment she hoped she could find some Slytherin student out so that she could send the message without actually going in. But her fate was certainly not with her at the moment as not a single student was out and she didn't have time to wait for someone to come out or go in.
She walked towards the portrait and clearly said the password. It was the first time she was coming to Slytherin Common room and despite of being a bit dark and dull she loved the beauty of the room, the beauty of its own.
She expected to hear gasps and comments on entering but on seeing the common room almost deserted she sighed with relief and started looking around to find Daphne. On locating her she walked towards her . Daphne was sitting on the couch with her sister and they were reading the latest issue of WITCH WEEKLY .
"umm Daphne" she said.
"yeah?" she said looking at her. Daphne was a proud Slytherin buts till wasn't the one to believe so much in blood prejudice. If given a chance she would have chosen Ravenclaw over Slytherin.
"Headmistress has called all the prefects for a meeting right now" she said with a smile.
"yeah sure. I'll just go and change" she said and to Hermione's amazement she even flashed a smile her way.
"umm can you tell Malfoy?" Hermione asked.
"his room is last one on that side and girls can go in boys dorm if required so please can you call him, I really need to change and there is no one around" Daphne said sweetly.
Hermione nodded looking around and seeing that she had no other option since there was no one else in the room other than Pansy coz Astoria too left with her sister.
"a mudblood in Slytheirn common room, whats next?" Pansy taunted loudly as Hermione passed her to go towards Draco's dorm as Daphne directed.
"don't you say that word again Parkinson or I'll surely land you in detention" Hermione said angrily before walking up the staircase that lead to boys' dorms.
"how dare a mudblood like yourself threaten me?" Pansy said equally angry and taking out her wand before Hermione could turn back and see.
As Hermione nearly missed a hex, she too took out her wand while ducking another one.
"expelliarmus" Hermione said aiming perfectly. Pansy's wand flew out of her hand, landing at some distance, which gave Hermione enough time to reach Draco's dorm.
She knocked hastily. "its open" Blaise yelled from the other side.
She entered stuck her head in to see if its okay to go in. On seeing that he was decently dressed and Draco was fast asleep, she entered in.
"woah woah woah, I know you two are going out but that doesn't means you can sneak in the dorm like that openly. I supposed it was to be kept a secret." Blaise said getting up and keeping his book aside.
Hermione rolled her eyes on his comment "well I came here to call prefects for the meeting. Since no one was there in the common room other than Daphne and Pansy, and Daphne had to change before she left for the same and the later was trying to kill me, I had no other option than come myself and call him."
"oh right. Go ahead call him" resuming his reading and acting as if nothing was happening around.
"oh please. Can't you do that?" she huffed. It was already enough for her to come here in his dorm to get her cheeks hot red and she could hardly picture herself waking him up without looking like a fully grown tomato.
"you were asked to call him, not me" Blaise said simply, not looking from his book, though it was clear from his smirk that his eyes and ears were focused on her only.
She walked forwards pulling off the covers from his face and almost wishing that she didn't have to wake him up coz he looked so peaceful and gorgeous while he slept with a little smile on his face. He frowned slightly on the fact that there was sudden light that disturbed his sleep.
He opened his eyes slightly saying "shove off dude" thinking that it was Blaise who was trying to wake him up. But as soon his eyes focused on the person standing next to his bed, he jumped up.
"what are you doing here?" he asked both happy and surprised.
Blaise couldn't control his laughter as he saw Draco's shocked face and Hermione standing there, finding the correct words to come out of her mouth.
"I..McGonagall…there is a meeting in her office and we have to go now" she said "so I came to call you since there was no other option"
"oh, okay…" he said getting off the bed and taking his coat from the chair.
"normal shirt without coat suits you better sometimes" she said and turned red instantly on realizing what she just said and who else was in room. Blaise made his presence being felt by chuckling.
She bit her lips as Draco left his coat and brushed his hair with a smile and his eyes set on Hermione through the mirror.
"I'll wait outside" she said walking towards the door.
"you sure Pansy won't be there to welcome you back with hexes?" Blaise asked.
"Pansy..hexes…whats going on?" Draco asked stopping whatever he was doing and directly looking at Hermione.
"on my way up here she kinda tried to hex me on m back, but this time I am prepared" she said with a smile.
"no wait we'll leave together " Draco said getting protective, another side of him which was completely oblivious to everyone till now.
"no I'll be fine" her said reassuringly and went for the door.
As soon as she opened the door, a hex flew her way, but being prepared for that she ducked it and closed the door so that Draco couldn't see. She undoubtedly liked the protective side of Draco but for now she wanted to take Pansy on her own coz it was her identity that she questioned.
"you better be prepared for the detention Parkinson" Hermione said, now dueling Pansy and clearly winning at it.
"no you be prepared for meeting what you deserve, death" she said angrily and silently used the disarming charm.
Hermione's wand left her hand as she wasn't expecting the disarming charm in the middle of a the duel and that too silently. She felt defenseless but still tried her best to reach for her wand. But before she could reach it there were two spells at a time.
While Pansy yelled "crucio", Draco yelled "protego" blocking the curse from reaching Hermione. In this given time, Hermione picked up her wand and disarmed Pansy.
"you alright?" Draco asked once Pansy's wand was in his hand and Hermione was back on her feet.
"yeah, we better hurry up. We should not be late for the first meeting right?" Hermione said.
Draco nodded and walked toward Pansy giving her wand back.
"you better not do this or any such thing again or else your 2 months' detention will be extended without a second thought" he muttered angrily.
Hermione walked out of the portrait hole and found Daphne waiting for them.
"I was beginning to think that you already left" she said.
"got caught up" Hermione said.
"with Pansy" Draco added in a cold tone.
"Oh I get it" Daphne said understanding what might have happened knowing Pansy's nature and hatred for Hermione.
The three walked quietly towards the Goyle that lead to Headmistress' room and Hermione was glad to see everyone waiting for them.
Ron was standing on one corner, his expressions cold and dark while others laughed and talked happily. Harry had his arms wrapped around Ginny with her back resting close to his chest and Neville and Luna's fingers were interwined. At that moment Hermione wished to hold Draco's hand just like the other two couples but for now she wasn't even sure if they were even a couple themselves. And then again even if they were, it was a secret. Sparks travelled through her body as Draco intentionally brushed his hand on hers while walking casually.
"thanks for waiting guys" she said smiling at her friends.
"lets go" Hannah said.
She said the password and Harry and Ginny separated from their embrace with great difficulty.
"get a room you two" she chuckled climbing on the stairs.
Once outside the door, Harry knocked and they all walked in when McGonagall's voice allowed them to come in.
On entering, the first thing Hermione noticed were the new painting in the room, that is of Severus Snape. She has not been in this room since the term began so some other addition were also visible to her clearly like there were less astronomical instruments seeing that McGonagall was not that much interested in the subject like the former Headmaster, during whose period she has been to the room, Dumbledore was. She was amazed to see Snape smiling, that too in hers and Draco's direction.
"it's good that you all are here." McGonagall began on seeing that everyone was present "I have a small announcement to make"
Hermione shifted her attention from Snape's portrait to McGonagall on hearing her talk about the reason for summoning them so urgently.
Once all eyes were set on her, McGonagall continued "Hogwarts is hosting the Tri-wizard Tournament again this year"
Everybody gasped at the news. On receiving no comment or question McGonagall continued "seeing that war is finally over, the ministry has decided to host the Tri-Wizard Tournament again. And as Hogwarts has been restored to its original glory after being so badly affected by the war, it has been chosen to host the tournament this year. So the guests will be arriving by tomorrow noon and I want you all to prepare accordingly without letting a word out to anyone."
"will the guest be staying in their own places like they did last time?" Daphne asked.
"we have spare rooms in the western side of the castle, so I would prefer them to stay in with us rather than out in the separate way" McGonagall said.
"that will help to let us incorporate more with them, which is the basic idea of the tournament" Hermione said
"exactly Ms. Granger. So I want Heads to see through the prefect duties on the arrangement and you can contact me whenever you want, given its an appropriate time and not two in the morning. And since you are being informed on such a short notice, you all can stay out past the curfew hours and discuss everything in whatever place suits you all and execute the plans during the curfew hours only as we don't want any other student to know before they arrive."
The all nodded.
"I've told the house elves in the kitchen to serve you juice or coffee when you need it." McGonagall said.
"are there any specifications on how the rooms should be ma'am?" Hannah asked.
"I am sure Mr. and Ms. Weasley here can tell about the lifestyle of students of Beauxbaton a bit since one of their brother is married to the former champion from that school" she said looking at Ginny and Ron and they nodded.
"and Ms. Granger can help with Durmstrang, since she went out with Viktor Krum on the Ball and they have known a bit about each other." She looked at Hermione this time and she too nodded.
"Yule Ball will be there this time?" Draco asked.
"yes, and that's another thing to plan. The professors will obviously help but I want the basic arrangements to come from you people since you all are the finest brains in the school."
They all nodded with a smile on being appreciated which was a rare thing when McGonagall is the Headmistress.
"now you all may leave and can look after the preparations after the dinner during the curfew hours" she said.
As they were beginning to leave McGonagall spoke again "and Ms. Granger can you prepare a room according to Mr. Krum's style since he is one of the judges this year and will be staying at Hogwarts for most of the time" she said.
"yeah sure ma'am" Hermione said with a smile. She and Krum had been great friends ever since they went to the Yule Ball together and she was both excited and happy to see him again coz meeting during Bill and Fleur's wedding was really brief.
Draco who was already worried about asking Hermione to ball was now more conscious about the issue as he didn't want her to go with Krum again and since he'll be around, he might asked her to be his date. And at this moment he made sure to himself to make their relationship official and open before they announce the Yule Ball so that this time he can go with the love of his life.
"it should be fun" Daphne said as they left.
Harry looked slightly sad since they were the given the news and it was obvious why. His memories with the tournament were not exactly the happy one, or atleast were worse than others. They might have looked over the past but it was during this tournament only that he realized the reality, the bitter reality of life, especially his life. He for the first time witnessed the death of innocent and saw Voldemort rise back from death.
Hermione noticed him walking slowly so that no one would see him glum. He didn't wish them to feel awful like he was feeling at the moment, specially when everyone else was so excited with the news. She walked slowly so that she could catch up with him.
"Are you okay?" she asked for formality's sake.
He shook his head, being honest to his best friend. She held his hand and squeezed it reassuringly "it will be fine" she said smiling lightly. He looked in her eyes questioningly but her eyes held the reassurance she showed so he too smiled back, feeling loads better.
Once they reached the Great Hall, where dinner was being served, they all parted to their respective house tables and enjoyed the magical feast presented in front of them. Their excitement showed in their eyes and it was clearly visible that they were trying hard not to discuss about it right away. They all knew that it was going to a be a long night tonight and even longer day tomorrow.
A/N: Please do review on how do you like this :)
Also ignore the typing/grammatical errors as I just wrote and uploaded it coz I was too exhausted till I finished typing this chapter, I'll do the editing and correction soon.
Rate this chapter out of 10 :)
thanks ~DG