Wow, thank you so much for all the support. Although we know that you shouldn't stop writing because of what some people think, it gets a bit much when the only review you receive for a chapter is informing you that the reader is going to stop reading. It makes it difficult to bother finishing the story. Still, as long as we continue getting support, we will carry on posting it.

Thanks again

And guess what? We've had brilliant news – Becky just got accepted in university so congrats to her

Chapter 10


Back at school, things quickly fell back into a routine. Hermione worked hard, as per usual, did extra credit, as per usual and divided her time between seeing her friends and seeing her boyfriend. Twice a week, they went down to Severus's quarters, sometimes to chat, sometimes for sex. The situation worked perfectly for her, and she soon found herself being a bit freer with her time, enjoying herself as well as working.

"Hey, Hermione," Ron ran up to her in the Great Hall, excitement all over his face. "Guess what?"

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Nott asked me out," Ron half-squealed.

"Didn't you guys start going out after the party?" Hermione was confused.

"No," Ron sighed. "We started dating but now we're officially going out."

"Okay, cool," Hermione smiled at him and hugged him. "Congratulations, buddy."

"Thanks," he beamed. "Hey, you know, everyone's going out with someone else in our group apart from Millie."

"Yeah, that's true," Hermione mused. "Hold on a minute, I have an idea."

As Hermione told Ron her idea, he smiled more and more and then clapped his hands in joy.

"Should we start now?" Ron asked.

Hermione grinned and went to go sit by Millie.

"Hey, Millie, Seamus Finnigan keeps looking at you," Hermione said casually, knowing that Ron was saying the reverse to Seamus now.

Millie looked over to him just as Seamus looked up and their eyes looked for a brief moment. Millie blushed and Seamus smiled, a twinkle in his eye.

"You should go talk to him," Hermione suggested.

"No way!" Millie cried.

Hermione wasn't taking no for an answer as she grabbed hold of Millie's arm and dragged her over to the Gryffindor table, sitting her down opposite Seamus.

"Seamus, this is Millie and she thinks you're cute," Hermione said, before she and Ron left them to chat.

As they watched from a distance, Seamus engaged Millie in conversation, obviously flirty by their body language, and Millie laughed, her cheeks still tinged red with embarrassment. Seamus picked up on this and touched her cheek, causing her to unintentionally lean into his hand. After a couple of minutes, Millie left him and hurried over to Hermione and Ron.

"We're going to go on a date," Millie said, her face red. "He's asked me out."

"That's brilliant, Millie," Hermione was glad her plan had worked just to see the look on Millie's face.

"Thanks,"

At that moment in time the rest of her beloved group came in, all eight of them, and they sat down on the Gryffindor table, the couples sat together, Hermione between Draco and Luna. They had just begun eating when music started to play. Hermione recognised the music and her stomach dropped.

"Oh, dear, Severus isn't going to like this," she said to Draco as Lavender stood up, scantily clad.

"Why?" Draco asked.

"Just listen."

"It's so good being bad

There's no way I'm turning back

Now the pain is for pleasure,

Coz nothing can measure."

"Masochism," Draco said.

"The song's called S&M," Hermione said.

"Ahh, she's fucked," Draco watched as Lavender danced around. "She can't sing."

"Look at Severus."

Both of them looked at him, noting that his expression was one of fury and his posture was stiff. As the song continued, Severus became more and more angry.

Finally, the song finished and there was a smattering of applause for her. Lavender bowed politely and then left the Hall in order to get ready for her afternoon lessons. Hermione followed her.

"Lavender," Hermione called when they were out of the Great Hall.

"Oh, hi, Hermione," Lavender smiled.

"Look, please listen to me, pull a sicky or something and don't come to Potions," Hermione pleaded.

"Why?" Lavender looked suspicious.

"Lavender, I can't explain, okay?" Lavender looked at Hermione before nodding her consent.

However, Hermione saw Lavender slip into the room, smirking at her as she took her place next to her boyfriend, Terence Higgs. At the same time, Severus entered the classroom and his eyes swept the room as they always did, narrowing visibly when they landed on Lavender.

"Draught of the Living Death," He barked. "Now!"

He waved his wand and the directions scrawled themselves onto the blackboard. In a rush, everyone pulled out their apparatus and quickly started. Hermione could practically do the potion with her eyes shut, and she managed to keep one eye on Severus as she added ingredients, watching in horror as he added boomslang skin to Lavender's potion which caused it to fizz.

"Miss Brown, you have ruined your potion," Severus sneered as he vanished it. "10 points from Gryffindor. Spend the rest of the lesson writing out the theory of this potion and stay behind after class."

Lavender looked dismayed as she carefully packed away her cauldron and pulled out some parchment and a quill. At the end of the lesson, Hermione had placed her perfect potion on the tray on Severus's desk and had talked Harry into lending her the invisibility cloak – she threw it over her when no one was looking. After everyone filed out, Lavender dutifully went up to Severus's desk.

"Sir?"

"What did you do wrong?" He asked, his voice barely containing his anger.

"I don't know, sir," Lavender said, agonised. "I added everything right."

"No, it has nothing to do with your potion," Severus growled as he walked up to her. "It was that song."

"The one at lunchtime?" Lavender was puzzled.

"Yes," Severus said angrily. "You sing that song yet I bet you've never been a sub or a dom."

"What? It's just a song!"

"Maybe it is to you but a lifestyle like that should not be exploited unless you follow the lifestyle yourself. Do you want to follow the lifestyle?"

"I don't know," Lavender stuttered.

"Well, would you be willing to give over complete control to a person?"

"I DON'T KNOW!"

"Lift your skirt up and bend over my desk," Severus ordered.

"What?" Lavender looked stunned.

"I'm going to show you a little snapshot of S&M," Severus said. "You can't sing that song without the consequences so bend over!"

Much to Hermione's surprise, Lavender obeyed him, raising her skirt as she bent over to reveal a black thong.

"So, you like to be punished, hey?" Severus's voice was seductive, reminding Hermione of how he had spoken to her like that. She felt a stirring in her lower stomach. As she watched, Severus brought his hand down hard on Lavender's ass, creating a loud smack which mingled with her cry.

"Be silent!" H ordered.

For the next few slaps she was silent, even though her ass was becoming more and more red. When he smacked her ass once more he slid his hand downwards and touched her soaking sex.

"You like that then?" Severus growled in her ear.

As she nodded furiously, Hermione was acutely aware of her growing problem, feeling her knickers moisten.

Severus slipped a finger up Lavender and she spread her legs wantonly as he began to finger fuck her. He pushed her underwear down and pressed his erection up against her, causing her to ground up against him. As she watched, Severus took the finger coated in juices out of her and circled her anus with it.

Lavender moaned at the sensation, earning another slap to her ass for disobeying. Hermione moved around for a better voice as Severus's long finger disappeared into Lavender's ass. As soon as it was in he began to move it, reaching underneath her to play with her.

"Let me know when you're close," He ordered, and stepped up his ministrations. Lavender began to writhe and shortly cried out that she was close.

Instantly, Severus stopped, pulling his finger out of her ass and stepped away as he cleaned up.

"Why did you stop?" Lavender asked, looking over her shoulder.

"If you want completion then come see me about being my trainee submissive," Severus said coolly.

"What?" Lavender pulled up her thong and glared angrily at him.

"You are mistaken if you think I'd even agree to that!"

And with that she stormed out, slamming the door shut which Severus locked.

"She'll come back, won't she?" Hermione said as she revealed herself.

"Yes, she will," Severus wasn't surprised at seeing her. "I know ones like that. They act all confident and assertive but they crave being ordered around. So what can I help you with?"

"I stayed behind to see what you would do to her and found myself with a problem," Herminoe said, her tone seductive as she stood in front of Severus. "Care to deal with it?"

"Without Draco?" Severus was surprised.

"You two play together without me, I want to play with just you," Hermione said.

Severus closed the distance between them and kissed her furiously, cupping her ass as he sat her on the desk.

"Hurry, I want you," Hermione urged.

Severus dropped his trousers and boxers and pushed aside her underwear, entering her swiftly. It was hard, fast and vicious. He took her hard, holding her hips tight enough to leave bruises as she scratched him hard enough to draw blood. It was animalistic, both desperate for release. Finally it came, Hermione screaming her release as he followed quickly afterward. Afterwards he collapsed onto her, exhausted by the effort.

"That was the first time we've had sex," Hermione said, out of breath.

"I know," Severus replied. "I guess we really wanted it."

"Definitely," Hermione breathed, dropping a kiss on the top of his head. "Erm, Severus, I'm late to my lesson."

"Shit!"

He slowly drew himself out of her, regretting doing so instantly because it meant that he was no longer encased in her. She righted herself quickly, fixing her hair as she picked up her bag and left without a backwards glance.

Severus dropped onto his seat with a sigh. He ran his hand through his hair and then punched his desk violently.

What is it about her? She's eating me up, taking away all logical thought…it was only supposed to be fun…I want her so badly but I want her lying next to me in bed at night….


Over the next few weeks Hermione found herself back on the end of Severus's silence. Where he had once kissed her, caressed her, held her and had given her intense pleasure, he now barely acknowledged her. Every so often she would smile at him in class and he would ignore her, and she would have to fight down the tears that threatened to spill. Even Draco had no idea what was wrong, although he had been kind enough to try and talk to him about it.

"I don't know what's wrong, baby," Draco held her on the sofa one night. "He's acting so weird around you but perfectly normal with me. Did something happen between you?"

"We did kinda have sex," Hermione admitted.

"Okay, well it's probably not that because he has no issue with no-strings attached sex," Draco mused.

"You're okay with that?" Hermione sat up and stared at him.

"Yeah, of course," Draco laughed. "If I can fuck him then you can!"

"Oh," Hermione sunk back down into his embrace. "Why is he acting so weirdly?"

"I'm not sure," Draco said. "At all, hun, maybe you ought to talk to him?"

"I guess," Hermione sighed.

Hermione stood up from the sofa and stretched, before heading off to her room, her head lowered and her entire body language seemed to scream depressed at Draco. He was staring at the door which she had quietly closed behind her when he came up with a way to cheer her up.


The very next evening Hermione arrived back in the headquarters and dropped her bag in shock. The room had been rearranged and sitting in a circle in the middle of the room were her friends. They all beamed up at her, and she was secretly delighted to see just how close they all still were. Pansy was practically sat on Blaise's lap and, although Luna and Neville had a respectable distance between them, their hands were woven together tightly.

"Hi, guys?" Hermione said puzzled.

"Hey, hun, I invited everyone up for a bit because I have an idea," Draco patted the space next to him and she took it, looking around at all the happy faces.

"Should I be worried?" Hermione asked, to general laughter.

"Not at all," Draco took her hand before addressing the whole group. "Right, I have a wager. I vote that we do a competition; girls vs boys. Singing contest."

"Are you being serious?" Harry leapt to his feet. "I can't bloody sing!"

"So?" Draco said calmly. "You can dance or play an instrument or something."

"What are the terms of the wager?" Luna spoke up.

"That, I'm not sure on," Draco said. "I thought we could figure it out ourselves."

"The winning group gets to pick what the losing group wear one day of the week," Ginny suggested.

The group groaned at the normality of the suggestion.

"Ginevra, we want something good," Blaise sighed.

"Don't call me Ginevra!" Ginny snapped, her eyes fiery.

"How about, if the boys lose, we go to Malfoy Manor for the Easter holidays and if the girls lose we go to Parkinson Hall?" Teddy suggested. "The losers have to host a party and then clean up afterwards."

"I think that would be agreeable," Pansy said slowly. "I owe Parkinson Hall completely so it's fine by me. Draco?"

"I'm sure my mother will be in France at that time anyway," Draco nodded his head.

"Perfect," Pansy grinned a little evilly.

"Hold on a minute though," Neville cleared his throat. "The girls have to agree to not wear anything revealing so that they won't win on their looks alone."

"That is a point," Teddy said. "The girls in this room are the hottest in the school, save for Lavender, Parvati, Padma and Daphne. If they wear slutty clothes then they're going to get the vote."

"Okay, we won't wear anything slutty," Ginny agreed seemingly passively.

"One week today we're going to do this," Draco said. "One week to get it perfect everyone. Good luck to all!"

Before Draco had even finished speaking the girls had rushed into Hermione's room, slammed the door shut and silenced it so that the boys wouldn't be able to hear them speaking. The boys shrugged their shoulders and went into Draco's room to begin planning.

"Ginny, you agreed way too easily there, what have you got up your sleeve?" Hermione turned on her instantly.

"I agreed for us to not wear slutty clothes, so skinny jeans, biker heels and some sort of top for each of us would suffice," Ginny said, picking at her nails. "We can still look sexy, trust me on that."

"What about a song?" Luna asked.

"I have the absolute perfect song for us," Millie spoke up. "Kinda about girl power and getting over someone who's upset you. It's called Fighter by Christina Aguilera?"

"Actually, that is the perfect song," Hermione said thoughtfully. "We need to divide the song up into subsections and figure out who's singing what."

"I think you should sing most of it," Ginny said to Hermione.

"I disagree," Luna said. "No offence, Hermione, but this song is a lot about anger and your voice is very sexy but is more the seductive side of sexy so this wouldn't work for you. You know how Christina Aguilera often does her little 'oohoohooh' bits? Well, you should do that because you have a powerful voice."

"I'm with you on that, Luna," Hermione looked at the others. "I think Pansy and Ginny should take the main bits to be honest. Luna, you should sing the softer bit, the third verse and Millie you can take the other bits. Is that okay with everyone?"

"Yeah, brilliant," Millie beamed. "I don't like performing in front of people so the less I sing by myself the better!"

"Does everyone know the song?" Hermione asked. Millie shook her head. "Pansy, you need to teach Millie it so that she can sing it too."

On the other side of the living room, in the other bedroom, the boys were calmly discussing what song to sing. Their planning was less structured and less focussed than the girls, which was highlighted when Harry stared out the window and commented that it was perfect flying weather. Ron quickly smacked him on the back on the head for that and returned the focus on the important subject at hand.

"So what song?" Blaise sighed.

"I have an idea for one," Draco looked up. "It's an emo song but it's quite cheery – well, at least the tune is, and, Blaise, your talent can be shown off."

"Really?" Blaise suddenly seemed more interested. "What song?"

"Ohio is for Lovers – Hawthorne Heights," Draco said slowly.

"Awesome!" Neville cheered. "I love that song."

"You know it?" Blaise was stunned.

"Of course," Neville beamed. "My second cousin is the roadie for the band."

"Wow, that's amazing," Draco looked at Neville in a new light.

"I've never heard of it," Harry said, and Ron shook his head in agreement at that.

"Well, we'll get together tomorrow and play it," Draco suggested. "Who's going to be the singer?"

"You," Blaise said instantly. "Come on, Draco, you're a brilliant singer."

"Lead guitar?"

"Teddy."

"Bass?"

"Ron."

"Drums?"

"Harry."

"Oh, great, what can I do then?"

"Neville, you're the other guitar player," Draco said.

"But I can't play," Neville said, his brow furrowed.

"That's what the memorisation charm is for," He grinned.

"Oh, I guess," Neville smiled once more. "You know what? We're going to kick ass."


One week later he wasn't quite so sure. They were up in less than two minutes and he couldn't stop himself from sweating and his heart from thudding rapidly and loudly. It was his first time performing, and although he didn't have too much to do, it didn't stop him from worrying. He smiled though as he thought of Blaise, their secret weapon. The girls wouldn't know what hit them.

"Okay, boys and girls," Dumbledore stood up and the Great Hall quietened. "I know that we don't normally have performances at dinner time, but this one is special. It is a competition between two groups and after both have performed you get to choose which was better. Our first group is up now."

The boys stood up at the front of the Hall and claimed their spaces, the instruments being levitated out and positioned carefully. Draco purposefully ignored the girls who were sat right in front of him as he took his space.

"Okay, ladies and gentlemen," Draco said, his voice magically amplified so everyone could hear him. "We are going to be singing a song called Ohio is for Lovers by a band called Hawthorne Heights. Thank you."

The band began to play and Draco took a deep breath before singing:

Hey there,
I know it's hard to feel like I don't care at all.
Where you are and how you feel.
With these lights off as these wheels
keep rolling on and on.

Nott echoed his words, 'and on and on and on.'

Slow things down or speed them up.
Not enough or way too much. (and on and on and on...)
How are you when I'm gone?

Suddenly the beat picked up a little more and, as Draco had said, the tune was cheerful even if the words he was singing weren't.

And I can't make it on my own!

Blaise joined in, his talent as a screamer shocked the school, especially the girls.

Because my heart is in Ohio.
So cut my wrists and black my eyes.

Blaise screamed the words again – "Cut my wrists and black my eyes."

So I can fall asleep tonight, or die.
Because you kill me.
You know you do, you kill me well.
You like it too, and I can tell.
You never stop until my final breath is gone.

Hermione was mouthing the words along with Draco, the song he had chosen just so happened to be one of her favourite songs. In fact, she was one of the first to get up and dance, cheering on the boys as Draco sang the next part.

Spare me just three last words.
"I love you" is all she heard.
I'll wait for you, but I can't wait forever

She knew that the next part was screamo, and she listened intently to see if Blaise truly did have talent or not.

Spare me just three last words.
"I love you" is all she heard.
I'll wait for you, but I can't wait forever.

To her immense surprise he did have the talent for it, and it was effortless to him. Pansy was looking up at him with shock and adoration in her eyes.

And I can't make it on my own.
(And I can't make it on my own.)
Because my heart is in Ohio.
So cut my wrists and black my eyes.
(Cut my wrists and black my eyes)
So I can fall asleep tonight, or die.
Because you kill me.
You know you do, you kill me well.
You like it too, and I can tell.
You never stop until my final breath is gone.

Blaise carried off the next part with no problem whatsoever, whilst Draco's smooth voice sang the words perfectly. Hermione closed her eyes to listen, and began to think that the girls were in trouble with their song.

(YOU...KILL...ME...WELL)
You know you do, you kill me well.
You like it too, and I can tell.
You never stop until my final breath is gone.

(YOU...KILL...ME...WELL)
So cut my wrists and black my eyes.
My final breath is gone
So I can fall asleep tonight

And I can't make it on my own.
(And I can't make it on my own.)
Because my heart is in Ohio.
So cut my wrists and black my eyes.
(Cut my wrists and black my eyes)
So I can fall asleep tonight, or die.
Because you kill me.
You know you do, you kill me well.
You like it too, and I can tell.
You never stop until my final breath is gone.

(YOU...KILL...ME...WELL)
You know you do, you kill me well.
You like it too, and I can tell.
You never stop until my final breath is gone.

Hermione cheered, clapping her hands loudly as the song finished, a beam on her face as she looked at her friends. Luna kissed Neville and they practically had to drag Pansy off Blaise, who then sat down looking distinctly ruffled.

"Okay, now for the second group," Dumbledore announced them.

They took their places once the instruments from the boys' performance had gone and Hermione saw Draco looking at her oddly. She expected it was the outfit – she had taken a leaf out of Christina Aguilera's book and had ordered the girls to wear long black cloaks which covered them completely.

Pansy began, speaking the words softly.

After all you put me through, you think I'd despise you

But in the end, I wanna thank you, coz you made me that much stronger.

All the girls threw off their cloaks at that moment to reveal tight black skinny jeans, heeled biker boots and either shirts which were tied to show off their midriff or a plain white strappy top which just enhanced their assets. They had kept their word…

Ginny took centre stage, singing the words a little harshly to empathise the meaning of them. She strutted around whilst the other four girls danced slowly in the background.

When I thought I knew you

Thinking that you were true

I guess I couldn't trust cause your bluff time is up coz I've had enough

You were, there by my side, always down for the ride

But your joy ride just came down in flames

Coz your greed sold me out of shame, mmhmm

After all of the stealing and cheating

You probably think that I hold resentment for you

But, uh uh, oh no, you're wrong

Couse if it wasn't for all that you tried to do

I wouldn't know just how capable I am to pull through

So I wanna say thank you

The girls had walked forward so that they were side-by-side in a line by this point and they all sang together, their practice making their voices mingle together perfectly – they sang as one.

Cause it makes me that much stronger

Makes me work a little bit harder

Makes me that much wiser

So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster

Made my skin a little bit thicker

Makes me that much smarter

So thanks for making me a fighter

Oh, ooh

It was Pansy's time to sing now, and she poured out of the anger that she had inside her from the suffering she had had to deal with throughout her life. She glanced at Blaise before she sang, and he nodded gently to her and smiled.

Never saw it coming

All of your backstabbing

Just so you could cash in on a good thing before I realised your game

I heard you're going around playing the victim now

But don't even begin feeling I'm the one to blame coz you dug your own grave, uh huh

After all the fights and the lies

Yes you wanted to harm me but that won't work anymore

Uh, no more, oh no, it's over

Coz if it wasn't for all of your torture I wouldn't know how to be this way now and never back down

So I wanna say thank you

They all sang the chorus again.

Cause it makes me that much stronger

Makes me work a little bit harder

Makes me that much wiser

So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster

Made my skin a little bit thicker

Makes me that much smarter

So thanks for making me a fighter

Oh, ooh

Luna stepped up at that point, her soft voice the perfect contrast the previous harshness of the song.

How could this man I thought I knew

Turn out to be unjust so cruel

Could only see the good in you

Pretend not to know the truth

Millie joined her, her voice a little rougher than the gentle tone of Luna's.

You tried to hide your lies, disguise yourself

Through living in denial but in the end you'll see

You won't stop me!

Hermione took control then, the climax of the song resting on her shoulders.

I am a fighter and I

Ain't gonna stop

There is no turning back

I've had enough

You thought I would forget

But I remembered

Coz I remembered

I remembered

You thought I would forget

I remembered

Coz I remembered

I remembered

They joined in with her for the finale, singing the chorus once more, louder and with more conviction than before, simply standing there, trusting their voices to lead them to victory.

Cause it makes me that much stronger

Makes me work a little bit harder

Makes me that much wiser

So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster

Made my skin a little bit thicker

Makes me that much smarter

So thanks for making me a fighter

Oh, ooh

The music finished and Hermione breathed a little freer, out of breath from the singing. She turned to the girls who all looked a little exhausted but happy and they had a massive group hug before Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat.

"Well, you may cast your votes now on the pieces of paper before you," Dumbledore said. "Put a cross on for group 1 and a circle for group 2."

As the students marked down their answers the parchment flew from their places and landed on two respective piles which kept a tally as all the votes came in.

"Wow, we have a draw," Dumbledore was surprised. "Well, I guess we have a sing off then! Each group please nominate one person to come and sing a song. Whoever wins this wins the competition."

Hermione found herself being herded up towards Dumbledore and she had enough time to throw an evil glare back at the girls. She was stood opposite Draco, who had obviously be chosen against his will as well.

"Mr Malfoy, you will go first," Dumbledore sat back down.

Draco thought for a moment before waving his wand, causing music to start up. Hermione recognised it instantly and a hint of a smile crossed her face – she had always thought that the music to this song was the perfect make-out music. Points of Authority indeed.

You love the way I look at you
While taking pleasure in the awful things you put me through
You take away if I give in
My life
My pride is broken

You like to think you're never wrong
(You live what you've learned)
You have to act like you're someone
(You live what you've learned)
You want someone to hurt like you
(You live what you've learned)
You want to share what you've been through
(You live what you've learned)

You love the things I say I'll do
The way I'll hurt myself again just to get back at you
You take away when I give in / my life
My pride is broken

You like to think you're never wrong
(You live what you've learned)
You want to act like you're someone
(You live what you've learned)
You want someone to hurt like you
(You live what you've learned)
You want to share what you've been through
(You live what you've learned)

Forfeit the game / Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame / Puts your name to shame
Cover up your face / You can't run the race
The pace is too fast / You just won't last

You like to think you're never wrong
(You live what you've learned)
You want to act like you're someone
(You live what you've learned)
You want someone to hurt like you
(You live what you've learned)
You want to share what you've been through
(You live what you've learned)

Although he did cut the song a little short, he managed to do so with style so that anyone who didn't know the song well wouldn't have realised. Hermione had been transfixed through his song, listening to his voice trail over her skin, causing goosebumps to erupt as she thought of his voice whispering other things to her.

"Thank you very much, Mr Malfoy," Dumbledore said. "Miss Granger?"

Hermione knew what song she wanted to sing – it had been a song she was planning on singing at some point anyway. It was very suitable for her to sing, especially given the circumstances. She waved her wand and heard the music start up. The Great Hall fell silent and watched her as she began to sing a truly beautiful yet horrendous song.

White lips, pale face, breathing in snowflakes.

Burnt lungs, sour taste.

Light's gone, day's end, struggling to pay rent

Long nights, strange men,

And they say,

She's in the Class A Team

Stuck in her daydream

Been this way since 18

But lately her face seems slowly sinking, wasting

Crumbling like pastries

And they scream

The worst things in life come free to us

Coz we're just under the upperhand

And go mad for a couple of grams

And she don't want to go outside

And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland

Or sells love to another man

It's too cold outside

For angels to fly

Angels to fly

Ripped gloves, raincoat, dry house, wet clothes

Loose change, bank notes, weary-eyed, dry throat

Call girl, no phone

And they say,

She's in the Class A Team

Stuck in her daydream

Been this way since 18

But lately her face seems slowly sinking, wasting

Crumbling like pastries

And they scream

The worst things in life come free to us

Coz we're just under the upperhand

And go mad for a couple of grams

And she don't want to go outside

And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland

Or sells love to another man

It's too cold outside

For angels to fly

An angel will die, covered in white

Closed eye, and hoping for a better life

This time, we'll fade out tonight

Straight down the line

And they say,

She's in the Class A Team

Stuck in her daydream

Been this way since 18

But lately her face seems slowly sinking, wasting

Crumbling like pastries

And they scream

The worst things in life come free to us

Coz we're just under the upperhand

And go mad for a couple of grams

And she don't want to go outside

And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland

Or sells love to another man

It's too cold outside

For angels to fly

Angels to fly

To fly, to fly,

Angels to fly,

To fly, to fly,

For angels to die.

Her voice, which had remained steady and soft throughout the entire song broke on the last words and a single tear slid from under her closed eyelids. Draco was by her side, holding her softly, whispering gentle, soothing words in her ear as she fought the urge to cry.

"Right, well," It appeared even Dumbledore had been a little affected by Hermione's lament, for his eyes seemed a little red. "It's time for you to vote again."

It came as little surprise when Hermione's pile built up dramatically compared to his. He took a glance around the Hall and saw many people either crying or fighting back tears.

"Group 2 win," Dumbledore announced. "Congratulations, Hermione."

Draco led her away from the Great Hall, Dumbledore allowing them to leave by the Staff entrance to avoid too much of a scene. All Draco did was take her back up to her room, where she finally broke down crying, hugging her pillow tightly as she cried silently, tears quickly soaking up the bed. He went into the kitchen to make her a hot chocolate but by the time he came back she was asleep, curled in a little ball as if scared of being hurt. He shifted her over and climbed in beside her, resting his arm by her in case she needed him.

It was only after her face smoothed out and the tears stopped falling that Draco allowed himself to relax enough to succumb to sleep.