Chapter 14
The school was buzzing with gossip about the new administrative changes that year so far. It was very controversial to have had a Centaur listed as one of the new teachers, but the shocker came when they were informed that Professor Snape would be taking over the role of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. However, a great round of applause was given to Professor Slughorn, since some of the students had heard about him from their parents.
Hermione groaned to herself as she walked beside Harry and Ron towards their latest Defense Against the Dark Arts class. She had read through her text already and knew that this week they were going to cover Dementors; a topic that the trio had already mastered over a year ago. One thing Hermione despised was being bored, and this session was going to bore her. Maybe reading her ancient runes text during class might appease her problem a bit. Then again, this is Snape's class. She would be definitely be caught.
"Hermione, what's the matter?" Ron wondered as he walked into the DADA classroom with a yawn.
Both he and Harry had spent the evening before at Quidditch practice and decided to stay up all night thinking of new strategies and plays for their upcoming game against Slytherin. Neither one was in the mood for Snape this morning, but since Hermione informed them that the topic was going to be Dementors, they were relieved. Zoning out seemed to be in order for them that morning. Something that they both desperately needed to survive the rest of the day.
"I just wish the topic of the day was a bit more...up to speed for the three of us." Hermione answered honestly. "I mean, we already know all about Dementors."
"Oh hush, 'mione." Harry snapped. "Ron and I could use the break today!"
Hermione stared at Harry in shock and sadness. Ever since their trip to Diagon Alley, Harry had been acting very cold towards her. He hadn't fully forgiven her for being 3 hours late to their meeting point and making them search all over Diagon Alley for her. She hoped that he would forgive her soon because she missed her friend.
She turned her attention to the front of the classroom as Professor Snape sauntered in. He gave them a fowl scowl before pointing his wand to the blackboard. The title "Dementors" appeared, followed by lines of notes on the subject.
"You have 15 minutes." he drawled out before settling into his seat, watching them suspiciously with a permanent frown on his face.
Hermione opened her notebook and began copying the notes on the board. She glanced over at Harry, who was focusing on the task at hand. So far this year, Harry had paid more attention to his DADA classes, especially since Snape was teaching them in secret preparation for the upcoming war. Harry was beginning to truly believe that Snape was an ally, since he was their best DADA professor to date.
"Harry, are you really still mad?" Hermione whispered to him, over Ron.
"If you'd tell me where you went, then I wouldn't be mad." Harry returned.
"I told you, I needed to deal with some...female things!" Hermione insisted.
"Hermione Jean Granger, you have been my best friend for the past 5 years. I've seen you tell the truth and I've seen you lie. You are lying!" Harry hissed.
"I'm not!" she pleaded. "Harry, for goodness sake, what does it matter?"
"What does it matter?!" he snapped. "It matters because as best friends, we tell each other everything. Especially with how quickly things are forming right now! We need to be united! You hiding something from us will only make us question what your real motives are!"
"My real motives!?" Hermione shouted.
"Miss Granger!" Snape bellowed. "10 points from Gryffindor! And you will see me after class for details about your future detention. I will not tolerate outbursts!"
"Yes...sorry Professor." Hermione said somberly.
Snape scoffed and returned to staring at the rest of the class. Hermione's face was laced with a depressed look that Harry instantly regretted having caused. He knew she was lying, but something told him that the truth wasn't dangerous. In fact, he believed that it revolved around her 'Dark Angel'. It irked him that she felt like she couldn't confide in him about this mysterious person. His patience was running thin. With everything else he had to deal with, he didn't want to have to deal with worrying about her as well. He released a low sigh and continued to focus on his notes.
The rest of class was spent trying to produce patronuses. Those who were in the DA already knew how to form their own patronuses, but it was interesting to watch the others learn for the first time. By lunchtime, the class was dismissed with the exception of Hermione. Ron gave her a comforting look while Harry blatantly ignored her and walked out the room. Hermione took a deep breath and walked up to the front of the classroom, standing before Snape's desk.
"Sir?" Hermione prompted.
"What is it, Miss Granger?" Snape snapped.
"You...you told me to see you after class?" Hermione raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Oh! Right, yes." Snape sighed and leaned back against his chair.
Hermione's heart strings were pulled instantly upon seeing how exhausted her favorite professor really was. She wanted to almost walk around his desk and hug him. She wanted to make sure that he knew how many people cared for him...how many people respected him.
"Miss Granger, you will report to my office tonight, at 7pm for detention." Snape continued. "That is all."
Hermione sighed, grabbed her belongings and walked to the door quickly, stopping for a minute to look back at the tired and used man.
"Sir, I don't know if this will help you at all...but thank you for everything you're doing...for all of us…" she said gently.
She quickly shuffled out of the classroom and made her way to the Great Hall for lunch, before he could hex her for her gratitude. She glanced over to the Slytherin table, as was her custom upon entering the Great Hall. She saw that Draco was once again eating very little. She shook her head and moved down the aisle towards Harry and Ron. As she slipped into the empty seat next to Harry, he quickly got up and grabbed his books to leave.
"I'll see you at practice Ron." Harry said before walking out the hall without so much as a look towards Hermione.
"This is ridiculous." Hermione snapped as she slammed her books down before slipping into Harry's recently occupied seat.
"He'll get over it in time, 'mione." Ron reassured her. "But um, since it's just you and me...I wanted to ask you something."
"Sure." Hermione nodded. "Which class is it?"
"It's not school related." Ron cleared his throat and leaned forward a bit. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to...Hogsmeade this weekend with me."
"What about Harry?" Hermione frowned. "Is he really that angry that he's wanting to forgo his first Hogsmeade weekend because he can't stand my presence?"
"No no, Harry's going." Ron sighed softly as his ears turned red. "I meant just you and me."
Confusion graced Hermione's features before a sense of clarity entered her mind.
"OH!" she exclaimed. "Oh...um...I see."
"Yeah, we could maybe go to Madame Puddifoot's together, get some tea and those...tiny sandwiches that you're fond of, and then after we could go to Tomes and Scrolls, I know you love to browse there." Ron babbled on.
Hermione's heart slowly started breaking for him. Everyone around the Gryffindor table had suddenly gone quiet as Ron explained his hopeful plans to her. She looked over at the Slytherin table and noticed that a few of them were also paying attention to the redhead. Her eyes landed on Draco and the angered expression on his face caused her to return her attentions to Ron. She needed to reassure Draco that he really didn't have anything to worry about as soon as possible because he looked as if he was about to Avada Kedavra Ron.
"Ron!" Hermione snapped as Ron was discussing all the different things they could do together. He instantly stopped talking and smiled widely at her with a hopeful expression on his face. "Ron...I'm sorry. But, I don't see you...in that way...you're my best friend...the brother I never had and didn't know I wanted...but I don't have romantic feelings for you. I'm sorry."
With every word she spoke, Ron's face cracked and slowly formed a frown. Everyone around them held their breath in anticipation for Ron's response. He cleared his throat, never taking his eyes off of her.
"That's fine." he lied. "But um…'mione...I was only offering because it looks kind of bad that you haven't been with anyone…like...ever. I mean, you don't even talk about any boys that you like. So, are you into girls or something? It's ok if you are!"
Everyone around them burst out laughing as Hermione's face became instantly red with embarrassment.
"Or do you like a guy that you're embarrassed of?" Ron continued with an evil tone in his voice. "I mean, you don't have a crush on Longbottom, do you? Or worse...is it Crabbe? I mean, I know with your hair it's hard for you to focus on other parts of your body, but if you wanted your crush to like you, maybe you should put on some makeup or something. You know, to look better than...that."
Hermione's eyes quickly shifted to Neville, who stared at her in fear and worry as she quickly shook her head in denial.
"I can't believe that you're so cruel Ron." she whispered as she stood up quickly, grabbed her things and ran out the Great Hall, trying to ignore the laughter that followed her.
She knocked into Harry at the entrance but kept running, ignoring him yelling at her to wait. Harry's eyes turned away from Hermione's retreating back to glare in Ron's direction. He couldn't believe that Ron had put her in the spotlight like that. Hermione had let him down as gently as she could and he had to hurt her in retaliation to heal his bruised ego.
His head snapped to left as he noticed Draco Malfoy leaving the hall in a hurry. Something told him then to follow him. Draco had been acting more sketchy since the beginning of the new term and he was determined to find out why. He had noticed recently that Malfoy had been disappearing into the Room of Requirement, but he didn't want to alert his friends yet since everyone knew that he had a vendetta against Malfoy...or rather Senior Malfoy.
He kept to the shadows as he followed Malfoy closely. It seemed that Malfoy was focused solely on Hermione, because he was tracking her movements precisely. As Hermione rounded the corner to the potion classroom, Malfoy followed suit. Harry pulled his wand out, instinctively and got ready to defend Hermione in case Malfoy tried to attack her. However, the lull of hushed voices and Hermione's sobs caused him to stop and listen closely with a frown on his face.
"I'm going to fucking kill Weasley." Draco growled angrily as he pulled Hermione into his arms.
"No." she shook her head and looked up at him. "No, he only said those things because he's hurt. He's angry right now and he's embarrassed. So, the only way to counteract that was to embarrass me. He didn't mean any of it."
"Don't be ridiculous Hermione!" Draco grabbed her shoulders and made her look up at him. He began shaking as he released his grip and paced back and forth in front of her. The pained and hurt look in her eyes were driving him insane. "Fuck fuck fuck! I'm supposed to protect you from stuff like this, and I can't even do that! I hate this! I fucking hate that we can't be open. I hate working undercover! I just want to hold your hand and fucking kiss you in front of everyone! Voldemort be damned!"
Harry's eyes widened in both shock and confusion as he listened. Draco and Hermione were dating? Draco was working undercover? He was on their side? How was all this even possible?
"Draco...stop…" Hermione reached out and grasped his hand, pulling him towards her. She reached up and cupped his cheeks gently, tugging his head down so she could press her forehead to his as she stared into his eyes with her tear filled ones. "We all have our jobs in this war. Mine is to be there for Harry and help him as much as I can, as best as I can. Yours is to help us in the same way while playing both sides, just like Snape. We can't falter now. We're almost there."
"I know." Draco sighed and gently kissed her lips. "I know. I just wish things were simpler for us. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone before. To see Weasley treat you like that, in front of people who are supposed to be your friends...I've never felt such anger at a person before. It makes me question why we're even doing this!"
"Because at the end of the day, everyone in that Great Hall are innocent and worth fighting for. You told me that." Hermione smiled weakly at him. "If only they knew how much you've already helped them…"
"Don't do that…" Draco pulled away from her. "Don't make me out to be the good guy. I'm not the good guy."
"You're like Batman." Hermione smirked up at him. "Play the condescending asshole to everyone else, but at night, you've saving the world."
"Maybe." Draco grinned at her. "But Batman had cooler gadgets. I'm stuck with a wand."
Both Draco and Hermione began laughing softly as Draco pulled her against his chest, holding her tightly. Harry mind was officially blown. He was trying to wrap his head around everything he had just heard. Was Draco really Hermione's Dark Angel? Harry shook his head to himself and quietly slipped out of the shadows, walking towards the distracted couple slowly. He needed answers, and he wasn't going to leave until he got them.
A/N
Hello my loyal readers! Thank you for your comments and favorites! I apologize for the 3 week delay, but here is your newest chapter! I hope you all enjoy! Let me know! :)