Yep, I'm back again. This chapter ended up being a little short, but it was either that or wait another day! Enjoy!

The Moonlight Glares

Liza Lew

Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters.

Chapter 13

Hermione whipped around to see an unconscious Ron lying on the floor and Harry glaring at her with his eyes narrowed, teeth clenched and fists clenched. Hermione glance at Harry, then down at Ron, then back at Harry again and finally settled on Ron and tread very carefully over to the body, and dragged him into the room. After getting Ron up on the bed, Hermione turned around to see Harry and Ginny still staring at her through a stony silence. Hermione took a deep breath.

"I hope my hearing needs correction, Hermione," said Harry.

"What did you hear?" asked Hermione in a worried, high-pitched voice.

"That," said Harry through clenched teeth, "You're Malfoy's girlfriend."

Hermione shut her eyes for a moment, trying to get rid of everything. "Well," she started, "Your hearing is perfect then."

Harry's eyes went wide and a murderous look crossed his face. Ginny, coming out of a stupor, crossed in front of him.

"Harry!" she said frantically, "There's an explanation! I know there is!" she peered over her shoulder, "Hermione! Tell him!"

"It's not of my free will," Hermione said quickly, "It's not out of choice. Harry, say something, you're scaring me!"

"Harry! You heard her! She's only dating Malfoy because of the stupid pureblood society rules! She got tricked into it by her family and Malfoy!" Ginny said, waving her hands in front of his face.

Harry looked at each of the girls.

"Harry, it's true. Everything Ginny's saying is true. We were talking about it before you and Ron started eavesdropping!" Hermione was trying desperately to find her wand now.

A glint of an unidentified feeling crossed Harry's eyes. He took Ginny's hands and lowered them, looked at the floor and sighed before looking Hermione in the eye.

"You're sure? That you don't like Malfoy, that you're not going to end up marrying him?"

Hermione shuddered for a moment, "Not in hell."

Harry turned to the door and began walking as fast as was humanly possible out of it. Hermione ran to catch up.

"Harry! What are you doing?"

Harry halted and turned his head around to face her. "Finding Malfoy."

"No!" Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him around, "You can't! There's nothing you can do! You will just start a duel with him! I've tried everything imaginable to get out of it, there's no way out. I'll just wait until the season's done, then never see him again!"

Harry looked at Ron through the door, "Well, at least that will save him from killing himself," he looked up at Hermione again, "You know he has loved you since second year."

"Harry, you've both always been like brothers to me, of course I know that," Hermione replied, finally feeling it was safe enough to let Harry's arm go.

"No," Harry looked at Hermione again, "Ron has had a crush on you since second year. Remember Krum? How he'd thought you kissed him?"

Hermione gave another shudder. And, no, it wasn't for Krum. It was from the thought of her kiss earlier today. A piece of information she wasn't about to share with Harry and Ron. If . . . wait, did Harry say Ron loved her? She looked at the red-head on the bed. But why? And what did she feel for him? She. . . she couldn't do anything about it regardless, could she? She'd have to keep being friends with him, because she already had a boyfriend. One that hadn't been her choice. She sighed and began to describe the details of how she had gotten into the predicament to Harry and Ginny. Let's just say it was a very long conversation.

Dinner was a very stiff event as Elizabeth had put all of the teenagers together at one end of the table. Hermione was next to Draco and Harry, who was sitting next to Ginny, who was next to Ron. Ron kept throwing devil glares at Malfoy, who seemed to be ignoring him. Harry was tense, and Ginny nervous. Hermione kept a nervous smile on the whole time but in reality was very worried. Malfoy seemed to be doing nothing to make it easier, as he was being his usual prat-self, probably as a result of her pulling away from the kiss earlier.

Elizabeth, however, was too perky to noticed and chatted happily with the uncomfortable guests, asking about everything from muggles to school. About halfway through the meal, Elizabeth started talking about the Season Opener this weekend.

"Oh you know the Season Opener is always so fantastical, I am so glad Hermione's friends will be with her for her first. You know the Parkinsons are hosting it this year, and all the new couples," she glanced at Draco, "Will be announced, it's so magnificent!"

"Oh?" said Hermione nonchalantly, "I thought couples had until three weeks in to be announced?"

"Oh, they do dear, but most of the most promising ones will be announced tomorrow night," Elizabeth said, and then turned to Ginny, "My dear, are you coming out this year? I did think I heard Molly was considering it."

Ron's eyes bulged and her turned to his sister, "You were thinking of entering pureblood society, Gin?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Ron, we are pureblood, and I do need to have a place in wizarding society eventually. Didn't you know? Mum was at my age."

Elizabeth gave a small laugh, "Yes, Molly was quite the girl. She was a bit my senior, but always friendly. Ginerva, you plan on coming out then?"

Ginny turned back to Mrs. Lane, "At this point I don't see why not. I have studied it all."

Draco started choking on his water, and Hermione could tell he was going to burst out laughing. She slapped him on the back. Hard. And he stopped. Hermione turned back to Ginny.

"I think that's wonderful, Ginny," Hermione said. It was then that she noticed Harry looked very, well, concerned about something. As soon as he saw Hermione looking he went back to his food. Hermione decided she would deal with it later. She had an idea of what it was about.

"Ginny, when were you planning on throwing your coming out party?" Hermione asked.

"Well, we were looking to see in about two weeks' time," Ginny said.

Elizabeth gasped for a second, putting a hand to her mouth, "Why that was when Hermione was planning on having hers! I must have completely forgotten to book the date on the calendar!" Elizabeth thought for a moment visibly, then her face brightened, "I know! You girls can have a joint party! It can be here, it will be magnificent!"

Anna and Hermione looked at each other and grinned. Elizabeth was off on another one of her long talks about society, fashion, decorations and parties. Ginny cocked an eyebrow at Hermione, who simply shrugged.

By the time the moon was shining overhead, Hermione was up in the loft above the topmost part of the library, curled up in an armchair and looking out the window at the sky. She had been given a lot to process over the last couple days. It had been while Elizabeth was talking to Ginny that she realized she still had a choice to make- whether she was going to go back to living with her parents in muggle London, or stay here with Elizabeth and Anna in the pureblood society she'd just begun to explore.

She knew as it was it would be difficult for her to decide, not including the difficulty she would have trying to excuse herself from society if she chose to leave. Exiting pureblood society was about as easy as getting rid of Lord Voldemort- easy for no one except perhaps Harry. Actually, she wasn't sure if even Harry could escape pureblood society in the middle of a season. . .

Her thoughts were interrupted, however, when Harry actually came up the ladder behind her. He glanced up to see her and mumbled, "Oh, sorry,"

"No, Harry," said Hermione as he began to climb back down, "You can come up. I was just thinking."

Harry climbed back up and came over to the window, looking out of it for a minute. "Is it weird?" he asked.

"Hmm?" said Hermione, looking up at him. "Is what weird?"

"Pureblood society," said Harry, "Is it different?"

"Well of course it's different," said Hermione, "It's a bunch of rules and regulations, though, really."

Harry sighed, "Ginny's going to enter it."

Realization finally crossed Hermione's face. "You're scared."

Harry turned to face her, "I really like her. But I can't follow her there. And then she'll probably start dating one of those snotty rich pureblood."

Hermione looked at Harry for a minute, "She's not that stupid, Harry."

Harry looked pointedly at Hermione, and she cringed. "Just ignore my situation. It also had to do with my mother and sister intervening, which Ginny won't have." She paused, "You could date Ginny yourself."

"Me? In pureblood society?" said Harry, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, your dad was. You do have a small fortune in Gringotts, and, I'm pretty sure you could handle learning the manners and rules. Malfoy has."

Harry did crack half a smile at this.

"Harry," said Hermione, looking straight at her best friend, "You're going to have to go to one of the parties this weekend anyway. At least consider it. You wouldn't be leaving Ginny up for bait."

With that, she got up and went back down the ladder, leaving Harry to contemplate.

Oh, I can't wait! They're in the thick of the pureblood society not long after this! (this is the part where the author gets freaking excitied because she's read too much Jane Austen)

Anyways, thanks you to the bazillion reviewers! And, thanks to Spete for making the 200th review! I can't believe this story has gotten that many reviews! I definently would not have gotten this far without the reviews!

And, thanks to my wonderful beta, Flo! Seriously, without her I would always have major writer's block and even more grammatical errors! (Probably so many it would make your eyes bleed)

And, last, but not least, props to all those who answered the question correctly! you know who you are! And, this time's question:

Where did Harry go the first time he wore the invisibility cloak?