~*Love and Rumors*~ Part 3
A/N~ Well, here's part three. Thanks for all the reviews! Keep them coming. BTW, Izzy, are you clairvoyant perhaps? Once again, Thanks to Lizzy Rouseau for listening, inspiring, and editing. You are the BEST!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, save Bria, Cassie, and Lizzy. All others are the property of J.K. Rowling, and whoever has the publishing rights to her mystifying books.
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Ron caught up with Hermione outside the door to the empty Transfiguration classroom. Glancing at his watch, he noticed they were half an hour early for the lesson. Professor McGonagall wasn't even there yet. Hermione collapsed into a chair, staring blankly at the wall. She didn't want to believe what had just happened.
Ron shifted uncomfortably before sitting in the seat next to her, and asking, "Are you going to cry?"
She glared at him before answering, "No. I'm beyond crying. I'm so upset and confused and everything else, I don't know what to do. "
Hermione stopped, took a breath, turned away, then resumed her speech, "I was so happy for all of five minutes. Now I've been mortified, teased, betrayed, and gotten us both into trouble in a little more than 24 hours." Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she allowed them to trickle silently down her face.
"It'll be okay," Ron said soothingly. She looked at him. The pain in her brandy-brown eyes, and the helpless look on her face melted his heart.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," he thought.
"Will it?" she questioned softly. She was now trembling with the exertion of trying not to cry. Ron didn't answer her immediately. He wanted to kiss away her tears, but that howler was still on his mind. He instead pulled her into a quick and awkward hug.
"I love you," he whispered as he pulled away. Hermione smiled through her tears and replied, "I know." Professor McGonagall walked into the room along with Harry, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, and Neville. McGonagall frowned, Harry glared, and Lavender excitedly whispered something to Parvati and Seamus. When the rest of the class arrived, Professor McGonagall explained the topic of their essay due at the end of class.
At the end of her explanation, she added, "Miss Granger, Mister Weasley, You'll serve your detentions tonight. Weasley in here, Hermione in the hospital wing. Both at 8:00." Hermione blushed, and hid her face behind her heavy Transfiguration textbook. Ron was fine with the whispers, except for the nasty shade of red his ears had turned. Everyone agreed the assignment was a killer, and each welcomed dismissal.
They were halfway to Potions when Hermione remembered she'd left her Curling Concoction essay on her bedside table.
"I'll be back," she said simply to Ron, and she set off at a run for Gryffindor tower. She grabbed the essay and started immediately back for Potions, never pausing to catch her breath. She chanced a look at her watch before she entered the class, and realized she was fifteen minutes late. She walked quietly into Snape's dungeon, but was quickly spotted by the leering professor.
"So, Miss Granger, you've finally decided to grace us with your presence. 15 points from Gryffindor for your tardiness. You may take your seat. I believe your boyfriend has saved you one," Snape said loathingly. Hermione took her seat next to Ron.
"Now, where have you been? Obviously you weren't 'messing around' in your common room for once." Snape's eyes were shining more than his oily hair. The Slytherins didn't bother to conceal their snickers over this.
"I-I left this in my room," Hermione said timidly, holding out the essay. Snape snatched it from her hands.
"Oh, yes, and as you two may find it hard to keep your hands to yourselves, Weasley switch seats with Potter." Ron stood up and moved to the seat Harry had occupied between Neville and Parvati. Harry sat stonily down next to Hermione.
Snape spoke only once more, "Now, back to your Slimming Solutions!"
Harry didn't speak to Hermione the rest of class except to ask, "How do you know it was Ginny who told everyone?"
"SHHHHH! Snape's coming. Besides, she's the only one who saw us. I really don't care to discuss it momentarily, and I don't see why..."
Harry never knew what she didn't see. Snape dismissed the class, "Don't forget about that essay due Monday. And Granger, Weasley, do try sleeping tonight instead of hanging around in your common room alone in the middle of the night."
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Ginny walked a step behind the rest of her Care of Magical Creatures class back up to the Great Hall for lunch. No sooner had she entered the Entrance Hall than her already horrid day got even worse. She heard a loud rip, the shattering of glass, and saw the contents of her bag fly all over. She was bent over picking the books and papers up when she noticed someone was helping her. She stood up, gathered all of her things together, and turned around to thank the person.
To her surprise, it was Harry. She smiled slightly for the first time all day as he handed her a stack of papers.
When she turned around to leave, Harry called nervously, "Ginny wait. I've got to, um, uh, ask you, um, something."
Ginny whirled around to face him. "What is it?", she asked, stepping back toward him.
"Well," he began. Before losing his nerve, he continued, "Will you go out with me?"
Ginny's half smile broke into a wide grin, and a twinkle suddenly came to her eyes. She nearly dropped her books again as she threw her arms around his neck while saying, "Yes!" Harry returned the hug with a sigh of relief. When they let go of each other, they went in to lunch. Neither noticed that Draco Malfoy had witnessed their moment.
Ginny and Harry took the only seats available; the two located next to Ron and Hermione. The couples didn't talk to each other unless it was necessary. The meal was nearly over when Draco Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, meandered over to where the foursome was sitting.
"So mudblood, what were you two doing in the common room? Nothing too terribly naughty, I'm sure," Malfoy said loudly enough that the rest of the table could hear. But Hermione didn't answer his question. Before anyone could so much as giggle, she was on her feet.
SMACK! She slapped him hard across the face with her pent up anger, causing him to stagger backward. Everyone gaped as she calmly sat back down, and asked Seamus to pass the butter. Malfoy, however, didn't leave. Instead, he turned to Ginny and Harry.
"So, Potter, finally lowered yourself from all decent wizard standards? First associating with a mudblood, and now going out with the closest thing. I saw you two in the hall," he sneered. Looking at Ginny, he added, "Getting caught in, eh, compromising positions must run in your pitiful family." In an instant, Harry was up. He punched Malfoy in the nose while tackling him to the ground. He punched aimlessly until Draco was nearly out cold.
"Harry, No!", Ginny cried into the silence the fight had created.
"He insulted you, me, and my two best friends. No one gets away with THAT!", Harry breathed, winding up to take another punch.
"POTTER!", cried tiny Professor Flitwick shrilly. Harry jumped back and stood up.
"Oh no!" he moaned, realizing what he'd just done.
"Detention. Come with me to speak with Professor McGonagall," Flitwick screeched sternly. He didn't return until after the rest of the group had left for afternoon classes.
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A/N~ I'll get the next part up soon, I promise! However, I just started back to school today, and my life is just a trifle hectic at the moment. Thanks!
