* Sorry this is sort of a short chapter and is a bit of filler but it is a step in the right direction. Thanks for the fantastic reviews. I love you people
I hope I didn't insult anybody with the Passover comment. It is a pain-all eggs and matzoh. Anyway . . .
JLarisaH-I'm on a diet, so no candy for me, but reviews have zero calories! :)
HG4eva-Thanks for the vote of confidence. I will get them there
Jasmineprnc-aaawwww, right back at ya!
SaTiNk06 -thanks for the comment . . . about Ginny and Harry, I'm not sure I can bring myself to write juicy scenes for them. Something about them doesn't sit right with me. In my heart, I believe Harry belongs with Draco ;D But he's so hot, I can write him with anyone!
stripes31, Happy Face21, love-them-all10, padfootsgrl79, Keke Koorime, TwistedOwl, & Taylor-thanks for the love!
So here, sexual frustration and jealousy start to get the better of them all. You all know what it's like when your friends get a new boyfriend/girlfriend. The students at Hogwarts are not immune to it. This is just a little insight into their insecurities :)
For a time, things at Hogwarts ran smoothly. At least they appeared to be. Ron and Pansy became almost inseparable. They asked to borrow Hermione's room more often than she was comfortable with, but she always allowed them to stay. Occasionally, Pansy and Ron would linger in their common room. It pleased Hermione that Draco and Ron had apparently put aside their differences for the most part. Harry and Ginny seemed to be just as close as ever. Though, Harry and Ron appeared to be drifting apart. As did Blaise and Draco. The more time Draco spent with the Gryffindors, the more Blaise felt like an outsider. Pansy, on the other hand, was enjoying the company of the Gryffindor girls immensely. She'd never really been close to many of the girls at Hogwarts, not even the Slytherin ones. Hermione and Ginny welcomed her into their circle of gossip, fashion and other girlish pastimes that Pansy never much indulged in. Hermione and Draco kept students in line and kept track of house points, and all the other things Head Boy and Girl should do. But Hermione noticed the subtle changes in the dynamics of her friends and acquaintances. And the changes weren't all good.
"Ron, must you spend every meal staring across the room?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, like you don't?" he retorted. "You only half pay attention to what we're saying, you're so busy watching Draco."
"The both of you while away meal times ogling the Slytherin table," Harry observed.
Hermione turned to Harry, annoyed. "Well, not all of us can spend every waking moment with our significant others."
"Quit complaining. At least you get to spend every sleeping moment with him," Harry bit back.
"Oi, what's your problem?" Ron asked in Hermione's defense.
"What's yours? I'm not sure who you spend more time gazing at-Pansy or Malfoy," Harry murmured under his breath.
Ron blinked. "What the fuck did you say? I didn't quite catch that. You're acting like you're jealous of Malfoy."
"Please," Harry rolled his eyes.
"It sounds more like you're jealous of Draco," Hermione made the distinction.
"This is ridiculous," Harry mumbled and got up to leave.
Ginny put her hand on his arm to stop him. "Harry, don't go. Can't you be a little more understanding?"
"Me?" Harry wanted to say that he's been nothing but understanding. He wanted to say that ever since Hermione fell for Malfoy, everything has revolved around them. He'd been supportive and made a huge effort to get along. He'd even offered up his home, for Merlin's sake. But he missed the way things used to be, terribly. He missed the closeness of just the four of them. He decided not to say any of that, and instead said exactly the wrong thing. "Whatever. Why don't you all go over and sit in Slytherin, if you think they're so fucking fabulous. Bloody traitors. The lot of you." Harry left the Great Hall in a huff.
The three remaining friends sat dumbfounded. It wasn't like Harry to act so impetuously, or childishly.
"What's gotten into him?" Hermione asked Ginny. "I thought we were all getting on fine."
Ginny hesitated. "I think Ron's jealousy comment may have hit a bit too close to home."
"That's ridiculous," Ron said. "What's to be jealous of? It's not like Harry ever had a thing for Hermione." Ron stuffed a bun in his mouth.
"He's not jealous because of Hermione, it's because of you."
"Come again?" Ron stopped chewing.
"You have been spending a lot of time with Draco lately," Hermione pointed out.
"Because of Pansy," Ron insisted.
"You've spent time with him alone, as well,"
"Didn't the two of you go to Hogsmeade together last weekend?" Ginny chimed in.
"You're making it sound like a date or something." Ron put down the bacon slice he was about to eat. "You girls are always trying to ruin my appetite."
"I'm not trying to insinuate anything Ron. I'm only saying you used to do things like that with Harry, and now the two of you hardly ever get together without the group."
"Yeah, well, he's always with you, Gin. You're like, attached at the hip. Scratch that. That is not an image I want in my head." Ron pushed his whole plate away from him. "That did it."
"You and Pansy are always together as well," Ginny commented. Ginny's demeanor turned serious. "Ron, can I ask you something?"
"You know you're going to ask no matter what I say . . ."
"Are you just enjoying each other's company? Or is it quite serious between you two?"
Ron shifted his gaze between Ginny and Hermione, each with an expectant expression on her face . He wasn't quite sure which answer they most wanted to hear. He suspected the bit about enjoying the company. But Hermione was privy to his and Pansy's intimate moments and probably knew just how he felt.
"I'm in love with her, Gin."
"I suspected as much," Ginny replied calmly.
"And you're okay with that? I mean, I think she's going to accept Mum's offer this summer. You'll have to be around us all the time."
Ignoring Ron's question, she had one of her own. "And does she feel the same way?"
"She hasn't said the words . . . "
"But you can tell she has strong feelings for him," Hermione began to plead Pansy's case. "If she didn't, she wouldn't have kept seeing him after the contract was dissolved."
Ginny laughed. "Hermione, you don't need to convince me. I wasn't asking because I disapprove. You really should look into becoming a lawyer," Ginny suggested.
"Actually," Hermione began. "I've been accepted into the training program at the Ministry," she said quietly.
"Before your N.E.W.T.s? Crikey!" Ron called out.
"Sshh. I haven't told anyone yet."
"Why not? I'd be damned proud of that," Ron said. "I'll be lucky to get accepted somewhere even if I score Outstandings on my N.E.W.T.s."
"Don't be silly, Ron," Hermione chided. "You've got a bright future ahead of you. After all you've done for the wizarding community-the muggle community for that matter-you can do whatever you like."
"She's right, Ron, don't sell yourself short," Ginny smiled. "I'm awfully proud of my big brother."
Ron smiled, embarrassed. He found the attention and praise to be discomfiting. He still saw himself as the awkward boy with the broken wand, screwing up everything and having to rely on his friend's wits to muddle through.
Except when it came to Pansy. He looked across the tables in time to see her toss her head back and laugh at something. Draco was laughing as well. Ron idly wondered when he'd started referring to him as Draco.
The laughter caught Hermione and Ginny's attention and all three now directed their attention toward the Slytherins. Draco turned around and grinned when Pansy nodded at the Gryfs.
"You know what?" Hermione stood up straight. "Harry's right. We should sit with them."
"What? We can't sit in Slytherin. Are you mad? It's never been done." Ron furrowed his brow.
"There's a first time for everything," Hermione said, determined. "When was the last time a pure-blood Slytherin dated a mudblood Gryffindor?"
Ginny and Ron both gasped at Hermione's epithet. She waved them off and continued.
"My point is, it's time for change. And it's up to us to make it happen."
The tables began to clear themselves of food as the students exited the Great Hall.
"I think I'd better find Harry," Ron said. "We need to clear some things up."
"Good luck Ron," Hermione called. She quickened her pace to catch up to Draco, who immediately put his arm around her and kissed her forehead.
"I've been thinking," she told him.
"Uh oh, that's never a good thing," he smiled.
"I would like to sit down to meals with you. At least occasionally."
"We go to Three Broomsticks occasionally," he reminded her.
"No. I mean here."
He chuckled, "What, are you going to switch houses and join Slytherin for meals?"
"Maybe not switch houses. But why shouldn't we all get to sit with who we want to, instead of where we're told?"
Draco stopped walking. "Are you serious? You want to mix the houses?"
"I suppose that's what I'm proposing." She winced slightly at her word choice. Draco's proposal still seemed to be a taboo subject. They hadn't discussed it at all, even though it was now two months past the whole marriage contract fiasco. She continued quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed her diction. "I mean, obviously, anyone who wants to stay in their house, can. But for those of us that have friends in other houses, there would be a choice."
Draco thought about it. He did abhor having to watch Hermione and her friends from across the room, hearing them laugh, wondering what they were laughing about. He supposed it was the same for her.
"And," she persisted, "It would promote the unity at Hogwarts that McGonagall is always trying to encourage."
Draco kissed Hermione's cheek. "You're brilliant. Why don't we go present your idea to McGonagall?" He took her hand and headed for the Headmistress's chambers.
"Now?" Hermione asked.
"With any luck, we could be eating lunch together," he grinned.
hhhhhhhhhhdddddddddd
Ron found Harry in the Gryffindor common room with several books laid out in front of him and a blank parchment.
"Oi, whatch doing?" Ron tried to sound casual.
"Playing Quidditch," Harry answered sarcastically. "What does it look like I'm doing?"
Ron awkwardly sat on the couch. Obviously, Harry was still sore about the conversation at breakfast.
"You wanna go to Hagrid's or something? We haven't been to see him in a while," Ron suggested.
"Can't you see that I'm working on a paper?" Harry said, annoyed.
"Need some help?"
"From you? Not bloody likely."
Ron stood. The gloves were coming off. "All right, then. That was uncalled for."
Harry pushed his chair out and stood as well. "If you've come to say something, just say it already and go." He pursed his lips and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'm sorry."
"What?" Harry was taken aback. He was expecting some sort of tirade about what a baby Harry was being.
"You heard me. I'm not sayin' it again," Ron smirked.
"Yeah, but for what?" Harry asked. "I, um, said some things earlier . . . I should probably be the one apologizing."
"Probably," Ron laughed. "Maybe to Hermione." Ron sighed. "I haven't been a very good friend lately. Look, Harry, this whole thing with Pansy has me spinning. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm doing whatever I can to make her happy."
"Ron, you can let her dictate your life."
"She's not. I mean, she's not asking me to do anything for her. I just want to." Ron bit his lip. "Part of that is hanging out with Hermione and Dra-Malfoy."
Harry rolled his eyes. "You don't have to call him Malfoy for me. I'm not jealous. Hell, I've been calling him Draco for a while. And he's not a bad sort anymore. I can see what Hermione sees in him. He's very good with her. It's just . . . we used to be the Golden Trio. We did everything together. And now you two . . . you don't need me any more."
"Is that what you think? Harry, you're my best friend. Always have been. Always will be, mate. Long after Pansy realizes she can do much better than me and leaves for some smart, rich bloke," Ron laughed.
"Why do you do that? Why do put yourself down like that?"
"In my life, I've found that if I don't build my hopes too high, I'm not as disappointed when things don't work out for me," Ron chuckled.
Harry frowned. He wasn't sure if Ron was joking or not, but he didn't like anybody putting down his best friend-not even his best friend. "Ron . . . "
"Just kidding. Well, mostly, anyway. But seriously, I wouldn't be as far as I am without you. And Mione. I'm not about to let some girl come between us. Even if she is the girl of my dreams."
"I'm sorry I was such a prat at breakfast," Harry said. "I'm getting anxious about taking the N.E.W.T.s and leaving Hogwarts, I guess. It's only a little more than a month away." Harry paused. "The girl of your dreams? Really?"
"Yeah. Well, she's the only girl I've ever met that doesn't boss me around," he laughed.
"That is a dream," Harry joined in. "Don't you dare tell Ginny I said that."
The boys had a good laugh. Something they hadn't done in a while together. They made a pact to have 'guy time' every so often in order to avoid tiffs such as the one that morning. Harry supposed it wouldn't hurt to include Draco once in a while.
hhhhhhhhhhdddddddddd
The entire Great Hall was silent as Hermione stood at the podium usually reserved for the Headmaster, or Headmistress as was the case this year.
Hermione had just finished delivering her address to the student body. The blank stares she received in return were not at all what she had expected. She turned to Draco, who simply shrugged. Then, she looked to McGonagall, sitting off to the side, for guidance.
Quietly, McGonagall told her, "This is your show, Miss Granger. I'm at a loss."
Hermione returned her gaze to the audience.
"Um, so, anyone who wishes, may sit at a different table. Um, to, uh, encourage friendships with . . . other houses." She could practically hear the crickets chirping.
No one made a move. No one got up and sat at another table. No one wanted to be the first to leave their own house to go sit with another. Hermione thought there would be some resistance, but she honestly hadn't thought no one would make a move.
Eventually, there were whispers and looking around. Mostly looking up at the house flags that now were dispersed throughout the Hall, rather than lined up over tables. But still no movement. Hermione turned to Draco once more.
"Should I say something else? I don't know what else to say." She'd already explained about her idea of bringing the houses together. That there would still be separate houses, in competition, with their own Quidditch teams, and all that. But when the students gather together, they should mingle and get to know their fellow students from other houses.
It appeared to be a colossal failure. McGonagall raised her hands, about to change the decoration back to its original state, when a lone student stood. Hermione sighed in relief, and smiled at her champion.
All eyes were on Ron as he walked from his usual spot over to the Slytherin table and stood next to Pansy.
Luna stood next from her place at the Ravenclaw tables and went to sit by Neville in Gryffindor. Ernie McMillan, Lavender and Pavarti all left their seats to go elsewhere. Three more students tentatively got up, looked around, then went to sit with other friends.
Smiling at the progress, albeit small, Hermione was further rewarded as Ron began to clap his hands in approval of Hermione's brainchild. Draco joined in, followed by Ginny, Harry, Luna and eventually, the entire student body.
McGonagall approached the podium. "I must say, I wasn't at all certain how this would go over. But I'm pleased to see a beginning. Well done, Miss Granger for a splendid suggestion. Twenty points to Gryffindor, wherever they all may be," she smiled.
Hermione and Draco stepped down only to realize they now had a dilemma-where to sit.
For the time being, they chose to sit with Harry and Ginny, seeing as no other Slytherins had moved. Over the following weeks, more and more students would intermingle and unite including some Slytherins. A new Hogwarts tradition had begun. It was a small victory, but Hermione was beginning to feel that she could accomplish anything if she set her mind to it. Perhaps as a lawyer in the Ministry, she really would be able to change the plight of house elves.
She felt there wasn't anything she couldn't set right.
*Sorry it was so boring an uneventful. Hopefully, the next chapter will make up for it :)