Draco Malfoy, your invitation has - oh wait, that's Potter's name on the front of the card in Hermione's hand. Watch out, Potter, that invitation comes with strings attached.
~xoxo, Gossip Witch
"Potter," Draco grumbled, ripping the piece of parchment up into a million and one little pieces. "I thought we had a deal."
Gathering the parchment pieces into his hands, Draco made his way across the Great Hall to the Gryffindor table where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were seated, studying for the upcoming Potions examination.
Hermione glanced up and saw Draco making his way across the room with an angry look upon his face. Her eyes went wide, and she glanced back down at the table to find the parchment that had landed on her textbook earlier. "Oh no," she sighed, unfolding it and skimming it quickly. "Harry."
Hermione looked toward Draco and then back at Harry, hanging her head. "Harry," she said, forcing him to look up from his book.
"Yes, Hermione?" Harry asked, furrowing his brow. "Can I help you?"
"Did you see this?" Hermione whispered, shoving the piece of parchment in front of him.
"It's a Gossip Witch blast," Harry replied, shaking his head. "I'm sure it's just another rumor about one of us that isn't true."
"Or it could be true, but be misconstrued by whoever picks it up and reads it when they don't know the whole story," Hermione insisted, picking up the piece of parchment and pressing it into his face.
Harry grabbed it and rolled his eyes, setting the parchment underneath his book. "I'll read it in a minute. I'd like to have a chance of passing this exam."
Hermione huffed, shaking her head as she stood up from the table. "So much for being the Chosen One destined to save us all. I'll be the one saving your arse yet again today," she grumbled, storming away from the table. She hoped to be able to intercept the angry Malfoy furiously walking towards her.
The Great Hall had seen enough arguments lately, and Hermione didn't need to be at the center of yet another one in the last several weeks. Hermione hurried around the end of the table and stopped just in front of Draco, plastering a smile on her face.
"Hey, love," she said, reaching out to place a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Draco glanced down at her hand and then back up at her face, pulling his shoulder and shaking his head. "Don't 'hey, love' me," he grumbled, narrowing his gaze. "Can you get out of my way? I need to talk to Potter."
Draco moved to step around Hermione, but she followed step with him and crossed her arms over her chest. "No," Hermione said, shaking her head. "You need to talk to me."
"I'd really rather not talk to you right now," Draco said, attempting to move past Hermione, only to bump into her shoulder as she stepped in front of him again. "Don't do this, Hermione."
"Don't do what?" she said, furrowing her brow. "Stop you from making an arse of yourself in the middle of the Great Hall? Save you from getting detention and potentially missing the biggest Quidditch match of the season this weekend?"
Draco rolled his eyes. She had a point. Snape would have his head if he started a fight or got involved in a fight in the Great Hall again this year. Not to mention, Coach Flint had already threatened to bench him if he got caught causing issues.
"Fine," Draco huffed, carding a hand through his hair. "I guess I'll just talk to Potter later."
"Good, which means you have time to talk to me now," Hermione said, reaching out to take his hand.
Draco pulled his hand away and shook his head. "No," Draco replied. "I'm going to go study in the common room. Don't need to listen to people talking behind my back about my girlfriend inviting another guy to the Hogsmeade festival this weekend."
He turned on his heels and stormed back to the Slytherin table. Draco gathered his belongings, refusing to meet the eyes of anyone who dared to look at him. He shook his head and pulled his bag up on his shoulder, making his way out of the room.
Hermione just watched as he stormed away from her, shaking her head as she threaded her fingers through her curls. She could feel people staring at her, but she didn't care. She knew she had messed up not telling Draco what was going on, but she also wasn't expecting Gossip Witch to blast her business all over campus.
"I should have known better," Hermione mumbled, shaking her head as she returned to her empty seat at the table.
Ron and Harry watched her in silence for a few moments. They glanced at one another out of the corners of their eyes. Neither one wanted to be the first to say anything, but they knew that one of them should.
Hermione gathered her books and shoved them into her bag. She pulled the Gossip Witch blast out from under Harry's book and faked a smile in Harry and Ron's directions. "My head hurts," she lied, "I'm going to go see Madam Pomfrey."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Ron asked.
Hermione shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. I'll see you both at dinner."
She walked away from the table, pretending that she couldn't hear the whispers around her. Hermione shook her head and pulled her sweater taut around her waist. Maybe if she pretended they didn't exist, then the comments would stop.
Hermione made her way out of the Great Hall, and instead of heading to the hospital wing, Hermione turned down the hall. Right now, she needed to be alone. The only place on campus where she knew she could indeed be alone was the Owlery.
"Maybe then I'll get some peace and quiet," Hermione mumbled, fighting back the tears she felt welling up in the corners of her eyes.
Usually the rumors Gossip Witch shared didn't bother Hermione, but there was something about this blast that wouldn't leave her alone.
~xoxo, Gossip Witch ~
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