DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: Thanks for your wonderful reviews. Keep them coming!
I will try to update everyday, with at least 1,500 words. My work schedule is very tight nowadays and my students make me crazy!
I teach Japanese primary, JHS and HS, by the way. :) Forgive me if I have offended anyone here, especially when I lost my temper.
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CHAPTER 11
"Brilliant, Hermione!" said Harry in awe when they arrived at the Room of Requirement with Elnath, Ron and Neville.
"It was Elnath who showed it to me," she lied smoothly and smiled when Draco's face flashed in her mind.
Harry turned to her young friend timidly. "Thank you. I know you hate me and I thought Ron was right about not letting you join our group-"
"Ronald Weasley?!" she exclaimed angrily.
Ron's cheeks matched his hair and he looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry! I just kniw that he hates us," he gestured for Elnath.
Elnath crossed his arms on his chest and raised an eyebrow while looking at her two best friends. Hermione wanted to laugh because he acted and moved so much like Draco.
"Let me tell you, Potter and Weasley that I don't really hate you. I just don't like your attitude and how you treat Hermione. You're lucky she's forgiving and she cares a great deal, especially for you, Harry Potter. If you're only treating her right everyday, like how Neville treats her, whether she did your homework or not, then we'd be friends," he said sternly.
Hermione turned to Neville and he looked shocked. "Me?" he mouthed to her.
"You never made me cry, Neville," she told him gently. "Even when I was nagging like a mother goose." She laughed and Neville smiled timidly.
"'Mione, I'm sorry," said Harry quietly.
"Yeah, 'Mione. I'm sorry, too," said Ron.
She shrugged and placed a hand on Elnath's shoulder. "Let's go and check the room." The three Gryffindors followed her and Elnath. The Room provided them with books about defence and dark arts. It also had a large space in the middle for dueling and Death Eater dummies.
"When are we going to hold our first lesson?" asked Neville.
"Wednesday, next week," replied Harry. "We will inform everyone who attended the Hog's Head meeting."
"And what about me?" asked Elnath with raised eyebrows.
Harry looked at the younger boy reluctantly. "Of course, you're included in our meetings even if you weren't in Hog's Head Inn."
"Thanks," he replied grimly.
"I still don't understand how Hermione became friends with this brat," whispered Ron to Harry. "If only his hair was blonde, I would think he's Malfoy's younger brother."
Hermione suddenly felt nervous, but didn't show it. "Don't be ridiculous, Ron. If he's Malfoy's brother, he wouldn't be friends with a Mudblood like me," she said casually.
"Hermione!" exclaimed Harry.
"Oh. That doesn't affect me anymore. Even Malfoy can say it straight to my face," she retorted.
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"Harry. Ron. You go ahead. I'll go back to the Room of Requirement to help Elnath with his homework," she smoothly lied when they reached the seventh floor stairs after their D.A. meeting.
Ron grimaced. "You're always with him. You're not spending your time with us anymore. Now he needs your help."
"Ron, he's a first year!" she snapped back angrily. "And to be honest, I'd rather help him than edit your essay. At least he's someone younger but brilliant and he listens to me. Unlike you. You leave me with your essay and play Quidditch!"
"But when I'm free, you're not," he reasoned.
"Ron," Harry called calmly. "You promised that you'll make it up to Hermione," he reminded.
Hermione frowned. "Did he? Really?" she asked sarcastically. "When? It didn't seem that way 'cause all he did the past few weeks was to snap at and insult Elnath."
Harry sighed and turned to Ron. "Go ahead. I'll just have to speak with Hermione."
Ron glared at Harry but stomped away angrily, making Hermione more irritated.
"'Mione, look. I know Ron's being an idiot, but please try to understand what I'm about to tell you," said Harry calmly.
"All right," she replied after rolling her eyes in impatience.
"He likes you. A lot," Harry began. "And he's jealous of the attention you're giving Elnath. We know that Elnath is your friend and it is obvious that he looks up to you like an older sister. But... Ron's being Ron. He's not used to you being with other people. He wants you on our side, literally. He believes that you will eventually realize that you have feelings for him, too."
Her eyes widened like saucers and she snorted after. "What. An. Idiot. Was he really expecting me to fall for him, when in fact, he was so mad just because I agreed to ban the twins' products? He didn't even listen to my explanation. You said he really likes me? Are you sure? How come he forgot my birthday? When you like someone, you will pay attention even to the tiniest details about that person. Like how you noticed Cho's hair, her favourite Quidditch team and appreciate her when she suggested to name our group Dumbledore's Army. If you really like someone, you will still treat her properly, even if you weren't sure of her feelings for you. So, Harry, don't tell me like a child that Ron cares a great deal for me. 'Cause I don't see it. I don't feel it."
"'Mione, can you just give him a chance? Can you try to spend more time with him than Elnath?" Harry pleaded.
She raised her eyebrows. "No," she said firmly. With that, she turned away and left Harry in the corridors.
She ran to the half-opened oak door with tears in her eyes. She didn't bother to wipe her tears. She quickly entered and before she could close the door properly, someone hugged her from behind. By the smell and touch of the person, she knew it was Draco.
He peppered her exposed nape with kisses and ran his hands to her waist. "What took you so long?" he asked in a husky voice.
She held his one hand and turned around. Worry was evident on his face when he saw her tears. "Why are you crying?"
She wiped her tears away and forced a smile. "Nothing."
He grimaced. "Yeah, I believe you." He looked at her sternly. "Tell me, Honey."
She shook her head and pressed her lips. "I won't," she replied truthfully.
He raised an eyebrow. "Elnath will tell me anyway."
She gave him a pleading look. "Just forget it."
"No. Tell me," he insisted. "If I didn't hear Potter's voice by the stairs, I wouldn't insist, but I know for a fact that he's a prat."
Hermione sighed and went to the sofa. Draco followed and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist. She learned on his chest. "It's about Ron," she admitted.
"What did he do?" he asked, sounding annoyed.
"He's just being a prat," she said casually.
"There's more to that, I know. But I can sense that he doesn't like you hanging around Elnath 'cause he's jealous," he said matter-of-factly.
She sighed. "You're right." Then she pulled away gently to face him. "But let's not talk about it."
He smirked and pinched her nose. "Right. Let's talk about us. Last week, I was busy practicing for Quidditch. We only met at the tree house for two hours. I've missed you, you know."
She smiled and her heart leapt when he touched her. "I've missed you, too. But not that much 'cause you've pulled me into the alcove for three days in a row."
"And snogged you senseless," he quipped with a playful smile on his lips.
"And now, let's talk about something else. We finally came up with a name-"
"Dumbledore's Army," he quipped. "Elnath told me and it was Cho Chang who suggested it, right?"
She rolled her eyes. "Must you really know everything?"
"Well, when you're in love with someone, you would know everything about her, what she does, where she is, what she's up to..."
"That's not a lover. That's a stalker. When you love someone, you let her tell you what she did, where she went and what she was up to," she reasoned but not rudely. She still felt happy to know that Draco wanted to be updated when it came to her.
"All right. I'm sorry," he said with a sigh. "I'm just... possessive, I guess."
She cupped his cheeks and kissed him on the lips. "Thanks. And it's fine. Now, can I tell you what we've been doing in D.A.?"
He nodded. "Yes."
And so she started telling him about their first meeting; when Cho suggested that they should name their group Dumbledore's Army because anyway, that's what the Ministry thinks- that Dumbledore is forming an army. Harry was impressed and quickly agreed, much to Ginny's disappointment, Hermione observed.
Harry taught them the Disarming Charm and to her surprise, Neville was one of the fast learners. The others were Hermione, Elnath and Cho. Ron was impatient and so was Ginny.
"'Cause they weren't able to impress the people they fancy," commented Draco.
"Harry really likes Cho, you know. And she likes him, too. I hope she'll be more understanding and patient if ever they would finally go out. Harry can be a short-tempered prat and I noticed that Cho was weepy," she told her boyfriend.
"I think they'll be good together. If Potter goes after Weaslette, they might just end up fighting 'cause she's not the type who would shut her mouth once she gets angry. Plus, she sees Potter as The Boy Who Lived and he doesn't like that. On the other hand, Chang first admired Potter for his Quidditch skills," explained Draco.
Hermione stared at him amazingly. "Wow. How did you get that smart?" she teased.
He smirked. "Well, I'm the second brightest in our year and the only compatible to the brightest witch of her age."
She did something she doesn't usually do. She giggled and snuggled even close to her secret boyfriend. "I won't argue," she said against his chest contentedly."
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"What are they singing?" Hermione shouted to Elnath as they were on the Gryffindor stands. She had to yell because many people from Slytherin, some from Hufflepuff were chanting.
"Weasley is our king!" he chanted to her but not in a loud voice. It's Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff but to her dismay, the Slytherins were still bullying Ron, the Keeper, by singing altogether.
"He can't save a single thing, that's why we all sing, Weasley is our King!" chanted the Slytherins and the others.
"What's their problem?" she angrily asked and gestured towards the Slytherin stand. "They're not playing but why are they insulting Ron?"
"Hermione," called Harry loudly. "Malfoy started it! I saw him giving away the badges at breakfast."
"Shite," she heard Elnath whispered. She turned and gave him a questioning look.
"He was mad 'cause Weasley wants you and was expecting that you'd fall for him!" he explained urgently. "He just wanted to teach him a lesson."
She glared and cast Silencing Charm. "Well, you tell this to your secret friend: I'm going to teach him a lesson, too. I'm not going to see him for a while! Tell him, he's crushing another person's confidence. And tell him that I'm not the type of girl who tolerates her arrogant secret boyfriend!"
Elnath looked afraid and he paled. He didn't say anything. He was looking at Hermione like he was seeing her for the first time.
