-Chapter Twelve-
The Green Room
Hermione awoke next morning, feeling refreshed, and she stretched in front of the now repaired window, where the sun was peering out from behind the dark sea of trees in the Forbidden Forest. The last Wednesday before the Yule Ball, Hermione was wondering if it were a good idea to take Draco as her date, as it might be conspicuous.
'What do you think?' she asked, pacing around the room. 'I mean, I want to, but is it such a good idea?' Draco sat up from his bed.
'What are we even talking about?' he inquired. 'If it's about ballet lessons, I say it's a terrible idea, and that you should have never thought of it.'
'I'm talking about the Yule Ball!' Hermione said irritably. 'Honestly, don't you even care who you plan to take?' Draco scrunched up his forehead.
'It's not such a big deal,' he said after a moment, 'I don't see why you're worrying yourself. It's a dance! And, for your information,' he added, 'I plan to take you.' Hermione unfolded her arms and stopped pacing for a moment, then started up again.
'Don't you get it? How would it look if Harry and Ron saw you dancing with me at the Yule Ball?' Hermione replied hotly.
'I don't care what they think; I've pretended long enough that I don't like you when I obviously do,' Draco said coolly. 'Oh, and by the way-you're late for Transfiguration.' Hermione's eyes widened, and she pulled on her hair so hard, it looked as though it'd come right out. She took out her wand and transfigured her pajamas into her school robes, and dashed out the door without even saying good-bye to Draco.
Hermione skidded so quickly in front of the door to Transfiguration class, that she almost fell to the floor, but quickly regained her balance and ran through the door-everyone else was already there. She felt herslef flush pink, and Professor McGonagall looked up at her through her spectacles.
'Well done, Miss Granger,' she said, 'you have managed to lose points from all of your fellow Gryffindors. 10 points will be taken for your awful consideration of time.' Hermione sat down next to Harry, who looked at her with a how-could-you-possible-be-late? look. Apparently, everyone was supposed to be transfiguring a button into a pinyatta.
After class, Hermione hurried into Gryffindor common room, knowing Harry and Ron were there. Sure enough, they were sitting in chairs, almost half-expecting to see her any moment.
'Hermione, you don't look well,' Harry said worriedly. 'Are you all right?' Hermione's breaths came in quick, shallow gasps rather than slow and deep. 'You're having trouble breathiing...let me help you...' He supported her onto the couch. Ron came and sat down next to her.
'Hermione, you're sick, aren't you?' Ron asked hesitantly. 'You could have just told us, and we would have gone up to Madam Pomfrey or-'
'Yes, Ron, I'm sick,' Hermione interrupted hastily. 'Very sick with a curse. It's not one that someone can exactly put on you; it just sort of happens. I'm not sure if you've heard of it? It's called the Rellemaro curse.' Ron looked perplexed.
'No, I haven't,' he said, and looked to Harry. 'Have you?' Harry shook his head, and turned to Hermione.
'What does it do?' Harry asked. 'Is it something serious? Should we get Dumbledore?' His questions came as quickly as rain would beat down on a cool spring day.
'It causes shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue,' Hermione replied quietly. 'It's not something serious, and no; you shouldn't get Dumbledore.' She took a deep breath. 'What you can do, however, is tell the Professors that I won't be in for the rest of the day. I'm going back to my dormitory to rest up for the day.' Harry nodded in agreement, and helped Hermione into her room, where she slept away the rest of the afternoon.
*
'Hmm, I wonder where Hermione is?' Draco thought. 'Not in the Head common room...maybe Potter or Weasley will know.' He headed East, down some dark dungeon passageways, when he came across a room he had never seen before.
Intriguing him, Draco hesitantly opened the door-nothing was inside. He decided that maybe there was an invisible entrance, or something like that. He looked around everywhere, but still there were no doors, no signs of portraits; absolutely nothing, which left him dumbfounded. But then...a mirror. Yes, a mirror-a circular mirror. Draco went over to it, and looked at his reflection.
'Gee, am I really that sexy-looking?' he smirked. 'Anyway, this mirror isn't just here by chance; it must have some magical incline to it...but what?' He reached out and touched it, and his hand went right through. 'AAGH!' He quickly pulled back. 'What the..?!' And then, all of a sudden...music. Piano music. No, not just any music-beautiful, heart-felt music. Draco, being that he had a reputation for being fearless, walked through the mirror, and into a green room.
A piano lay at one end of it, with a girl playing in front of it, but he couldn't see who it was, for she had a dark cloak hanging around her, which covered her face. The music stopped, and she whirled around.
'What are you doing here?' The voice sounded utterly appalled at Draco's presence. But, the voice was very familiar...Hermione Granger.
'Hermione, what are you doing here?' Draco asked soothingly, 'and what is this place?' She removed her hood, and, as though very dizzy, staggered over to where he stood. 'You're having trouble walking...' he added.
'It's nothing, just a curse. It'll be gone within a few days,' Hermione replied weakly. 'And this is my piano room. I come here when I need...time alone. To think. To clear my mind. Sort of like my therapy.' Draco stared around the room.
'Why is everything green?' he inquired. Hermione merely shrugged, and went over to a bookshelf full of famous musicians' songs.
'Have a request?' she asked. 'I know many songs. Tragic ones, happy ones, you name it.' Draco folded his arms across his chest.
'You've been holding back on me about this room, you know,' he said. 'Why didn't you tell me before? I have you know that I play the piano, too.'
'I don't know, really,' Hermione said. 'I guess I didn't want anyone else to know about it, at the time...and then it slipped my mind, when I finally decided to tell you...' She looked very faint, and leant up against the wall.
'You should really go rest, you know, Herm,' Draco said concernedly. He placed an arm around her. 'Why don't I take you back up to your common room to be with your friends? Harry and Ron are probably wondering where you are.' Hermione nodded vaguely, and the went up the stone steps, and into Gryffindor common room.
No one was there at the moment, so Draco merely rested her down on the couch in the common room. 'Where is everyone?' he inquired finally. 'Shouldn't they be here?' Hermione checked the large clock on the wall.
'Dinner hasn't quite finished yet,' she replied simply, 'so no one will be back for about twenty minutes or so.'
*
Harry and Ron were at the end of the Gryffindor table, discussing the events of last night in excited tones.
'Can you believe how important that gem is?' Ron said sardonically. 'I can't believe no one told us about it!'
'Yeah, I know,' Harry said, grabbing another bun and a bowl of mashed potatoes. 'Hey, d'you reckon Herm's OK?' he added. Ron shrugged.
'We could always go back there early to see,' he replied. So they finished up dinner, and insisted to Seamus and Dean that they should go back early. They reached the Fat Lady, hardly even noticing that they were there already.
'Well? Password!' she said placidly. 'Haven't got all day! Oh, and by the way, a blonde-haired boy just went in with your little brown-haired friend, Hermione.' Harry and Ron exchanged quizzical looks, before giving the Fat Lady the password, and rushing into the common room.
'What the?!!' was all either of them said. Draco and Hermione were kissing softly, but suddenly opened their eyes wide with shock at Harry and Ron's shouts.
'Just what do you think you are doing?!' Harry yelled dangerously. Before he knew what he was doing, he was grabbing Draco from off the couch, and slammed him against the wall.
'Stop it!' Hermione shrieked. 'You'll hurt him!'
'Good!' Harry bellowed. Hermione jumped from the couch, and grabbed Harry by the shoulders, trying to release Draco from his grip. She finally had to blast him out of the way; Harry toppled backwards, and Draco fell to the floor in pain, nursing his neck and arm.
'What did you do that for?!' Hermione yelled furiously. 'He didn't do anything wrong!'
'And just what does that mean?!' Harry shouted. 'He was forcing you to kiss him!' Hermione's eyes welled up with tears, and she grabbed Draco from off the floor, and laid him on the couch.
'Thanks to you, he'll probably have broken his spine!' she said shrilly. She raised her hand, and slapped Harry across the face, much harder than she had intended to.
Ron was gaping, open-mouthed, in a corner, apparently too shocked to move. He finally rolled his eyes back into their sockets and fainted with a loud THUD!
'Hang on, I'll go get you an ice pack...' Hermione whispered sympathetically to Draco. 'And you,' she shot a glare at Harry, 'you had bloody well better apologize! Honestly, you think he was forcing me? I did it of my own free will!' Harry put his fingers in his ears, and took them out again, thinking he had heard wrong.
'You mean you two...Draco and you...what!?' he spluttered. 'You two can't possibly be in love!'
'Ohhh, but we are,' Draco said coolly. 'Don't look so surprised about it. There's a very fine line between love and hate.' Harry just stood there, appalled, and Draco rolled his eyes. 'Honestly, hadn't you wondered why I was being so nice to Hermione? Put two and two together, and you'd have found out that we've been in love all this time.'
'Hermione...is he lying, or is this true?' Harry asked quizzically, looking at thw two of them. Hermione looked up at the emerald green eyes.
'It's true,' she said quietly. 'I didn't know how you would react, so I waited to tell you.' Harry looked up at the ceiling, then down to the ground.
'What does he have that I don't?' he finally asked. She hung her head low, and pursed her lips.
'Lots of things, Harry,' Hermione said. 'He's there when I need him, whenever I need him. With you, you're always so busy fighting evil that you wouldn't have time for me, you know? Besides, Draco has changed, Harry. He's not the stupid S.O.B. that he used to be-no offence,' she added to Draco.
'None taken,' he remarked. 'Well...I'm guessing I should leave.' Draco got up, though rather stiffly, and walked out of the room slowly, Hermione following him, with a hand around his back.
Once they were in the Head common room, Hermione made an ice pack appear with a spell, and she placed it near Draco's neck and shoulder region.
'Does it still hurt?' she asked a few minutes later.
'Yes,' he said, 'but I'm fine, thanks.' He closed his eyes, and a silent tear trickled down his cheek, and Hermione brushed it away.
'Don't cry,' she said soothingly, placing a comforting hand on his forehead. 'The pain will go away soon. He really slammed you hard, didn't he?' Draco merely nodded.
'I can't believe I'm crying over something like this,' he moaned. 'This is embarrassing.' Hermione giggled quietly.
'Even the bravest people cry,' she said. 'If the pain gets any worse, I'll get Madam Pomfrey.' He shook his head, and put a hand through his hair.
'It's usually the guy who takes care of the girl, you know,' Draco said with a slight smile. 'You shouldn't have to take care of me. Just imagine what Crabbe and Goyle would think if they heard Hermione Granger took care of a Malfoy...'
'They don't have to know,' Hermione said calmly. 'You know, now that Harry and Ron know about us, we can go to the Yule Ball together.' He smiled lightly.
'I think I'll go read a bit,' Draco said slowly, 'exams are coming up fast.' He slowly sat up, and headed into the halls. Hermione supposed he must have been going to the library.
'Library! That reminds me...I wonder what Harry and Ron found out?' she said. 'No, I won't ask them...not after our fight today...but I have to go into Gryffindor common room to fetch my Arithmancy book, anyway.' So she solemnly walked into the common room, and hoped Harry and Ron weren't there-but they were, both of them chatting vigorously.
'Oh, well if it isn't the Malfoy-Lover,' Harry said dully. 'We were just talking about you.'
'Oh, were you? Well, I'm just here to get my book, and then I'll be off to let you talk about me behind my back, thanks,' Hermione said incredulously, heading up the stairs to the dormitory. She came back down, and Ron looked very uncomfortable.
'Harry, don't you think you're being a tad mellow-dramatic?' he said hesitantly. 'You two should make up...I mean, personally, I don't think it's such a big deal that Malfoy and Hermione are in love.'
'Thank you for your support, Ron,' Hermione said thoughtfully. 'I'll be leaving you now, Harry, Ron. Try to have a good evening without me. Though, I'm sure that won't be too hard, will it, Harry?'
She walked out, with a disgruntled look on her face. Exams were starting next Tuesday and Wednesday, so Hermione had to get cramming. After all, imagine the horror if she only got 99.9% on a paper!
'What subject shall I study for first...?' she muttered to herself. Hermione sprawled out all of her books, some quills, and a leaf of parchment out on the birch-wood coffee table. 'I suppose I should study on Arithmancy...let's see...' The topic that she had to do an essay on, was in the advanced class (no one expected less, of course). The topic was: Hob-Goblins and House-Elves; Similarities, and How They Were Dealt With in the Past. Hermione had never done any studies on Hob-Goblins before. 'I think I'll go to the library to get some books on those particular creatures...oh, but of course, I could always ask Hagrid! No...it's snowing too heavily out. I'm in knee-deep out there!' This, actually, wasn't saying much, since Hermione was rather short, being 5'2", compared to Harry and Ron's 6'3", and Draco's 6'5". Next to Ginny Weasley, she was the shortest girl in school.
It was rather quiet in the halls, when Hermione decided to head to the library. Strange, she had thought, because it was only 7 o'clock, and there were usually loads of students and a few Professors wandering the corridors busily.
She stepped in the library; Pansy Parkinson was latched on to Draco's arm, like a mosquito biting someone, and he was, without a doubt, trying to deattach her.
'Get off me, you slimy prat!' he kept saying. 'You know I have a girlfriend, and I love her very much, so get your grimy hands off me, Parkinson!' Hermione's heart melted; he had said that he had a girlfriend, and loved her very much. That meant a lot to her. She wandered over to the table, and sat down.
'Couldn't help but notice you were having some trouble with a bug, Draco,' Hermione grinned. 'Shall we call the Pesk-Control Unit?'
'Sounds like a dandy idea to me,' he grumbled. 'Parkinson, bug off, will you? Or shall I put a hex on you? I'm sure Madam Pomfrey wouldn't mind re-attaching your limbs. She has lots of spare time.'
'Oh, come on, Dracie-poo, I know you don't mean that the slightest,' Pansy replied. 'And get that stupid Mudblood out of my face! Her germs are spreading onto me!' Hermione closed her eyes, and looked the other way, unable to stare at Pansy for any longer period of time.
'You call her Mudblood one more time, and you'll be receiving a kiss from the Dementors, got it?!' Draco roared angrily. Pansy frightenedly let go of his arm, and walked-rather, galloped-away in an orderly fashion.
'She is such a fool,' Hermione said briskly, 'she'll never give up.' Draco merely 'hmf'd' about Pansy, rolled his eyes, and opened his book again. 'Say, do you know much about Hob-Goblins?'
'I know a little. Why?' he asked, flipping through the pages of his book.
'Well, I need to finish an essay for Arithmancy on them, and frankly, I don't know much about them...' Hermione said. 'So that's why I asked you.' He closed the book, folded his arms, and looked across at her.
'What is it you need to know?' Draco asked. 'I'm not expert on Hob-Goblins, but I'll give you as much information as possible.'
'I need to know similarities between the Hob-Goblin and the House-Elf. So basicallly, just a little background information on how they act,' Hermione replied. She yawned, and ran a few fingers through her hair. 'I'm so tired...and it's still early. Oh, how's your back, by the way?'
'Don't worry about me, I'm fine,' he assured her. 'You look exhausted. Why don't you pack it in early, and you can study tomorrow?'
'I'll have to agree with that idea,' she remarked. 'Be sure to wake me up before seven o'clock in the morning, though. I need some major study time, or else I'll get a low percent!'
'Oh yes, hell would crust over if Hermione Granger got ninety-nine percent,' he said sarcastically. 'Just stop being so hard on yourself. It's no wonder you're tired; you push yourself up to goals your mind can't always reach.'
'Nonsense,' Hermione said firmly. 'My mind can definitely achieve my high self-expectations.'
'Well, just get up to the dormitory. I won't be back for a few hours, mind. I still have a bit of reading to do,' Draco replied softly. 'Want me to walk you back?'
'I'm fine by myself,' Hermione insisted, 'but thank you for your consideration. I'll see you in the morning. 'Night.'
'Yeah, good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the Chizpurfles bite!' he teased. 'No, actually, I'm serious; they like to chew at wands and what have you.'
'Oh, shut up,' she giggled. 'Buh-bye. Don't stay up too late, now.' She picked up her books, and walked slowly back to the Head dormitory.
The Green Room
Hermione awoke next morning, feeling refreshed, and she stretched in front of the now repaired window, where the sun was peering out from behind the dark sea of trees in the Forbidden Forest. The last Wednesday before the Yule Ball, Hermione was wondering if it were a good idea to take Draco as her date, as it might be conspicuous.
'What do you think?' she asked, pacing around the room. 'I mean, I want to, but is it such a good idea?' Draco sat up from his bed.
'What are we even talking about?' he inquired. 'If it's about ballet lessons, I say it's a terrible idea, and that you should have never thought of it.'
'I'm talking about the Yule Ball!' Hermione said irritably. 'Honestly, don't you even care who you plan to take?' Draco scrunched up his forehead.
'It's not such a big deal,' he said after a moment, 'I don't see why you're worrying yourself. It's a dance! And, for your information,' he added, 'I plan to take you.' Hermione unfolded her arms and stopped pacing for a moment, then started up again.
'Don't you get it? How would it look if Harry and Ron saw you dancing with me at the Yule Ball?' Hermione replied hotly.
'I don't care what they think; I've pretended long enough that I don't like you when I obviously do,' Draco said coolly. 'Oh, and by the way-you're late for Transfiguration.' Hermione's eyes widened, and she pulled on her hair so hard, it looked as though it'd come right out. She took out her wand and transfigured her pajamas into her school robes, and dashed out the door without even saying good-bye to Draco.
Hermione skidded so quickly in front of the door to Transfiguration class, that she almost fell to the floor, but quickly regained her balance and ran through the door-everyone else was already there. She felt herslef flush pink, and Professor McGonagall looked up at her through her spectacles.
'Well done, Miss Granger,' she said, 'you have managed to lose points from all of your fellow Gryffindors. 10 points will be taken for your awful consideration of time.' Hermione sat down next to Harry, who looked at her with a how-could-you-possible-be-late? look. Apparently, everyone was supposed to be transfiguring a button into a pinyatta.
After class, Hermione hurried into Gryffindor common room, knowing Harry and Ron were there. Sure enough, they were sitting in chairs, almost half-expecting to see her any moment.
'Hermione, you don't look well,' Harry said worriedly. 'Are you all right?' Hermione's breaths came in quick, shallow gasps rather than slow and deep. 'You're having trouble breathiing...let me help you...' He supported her onto the couch. Ron came and sat down next to her.
'Hermione, you're sick, aren't you?' Ron asked hesitantly. 'You could have just told us, and we would have gone up to Madam Pomfrey or-'
'Yes, Ron, I'm sick,' Hermione interrupted hastily. 'Very sick with a curse. It's not one that someone can exactly put on you; it just sort of happens. I'm not sure if you've heard of it? It's called the Rellemaro curse.' Ron looked perplexed.
'No, I haven't,' he said, and looked to Harry. 'Have you?' Harry shook his head, and turned to Hermione.
'What does it do?' Harry asked. 'Is it something serious? Should we get Dumbledore?' His questions came as quickly as rain would beat down on a cool spring day.
'It causes shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue,' Hermione replied quietly. 'It's not something serious, and no; you shouldn't get Dumbledore.' She took a deep breath. 'What you can do, however, is tell the Professors that I won't be in for the rest of the day. I'm going back to my dormitory to rest up for the day.' Harry nodded in agreement, and helped Hermione into her room, where she slept away the rest of the afternoon.
*
'Hmm, I wonder where Hermione is?' Draco thought. 'Not in the Head common room...maybe Potter or Weasley will know.' He headed East, down some dark dungeon passageways, when he came across a room he had never seen before.
Intriguing him, Draco hesitantly opened the door-nothing was inside. He decided that maybe there was an invisible entrance, or something like that. He looked around everywhere, but still there were no doors, no signs of portraits; absolutely nothing, which left him dumbfounded. But then...a mirror. Yes, a mirror-a circular mirror. Draco went over to it, and looked at his reflection.
'Gee, am I really that sexy-looking?' he smirked. 'Anyway, this mirror isn't just here by chance; it must have some magical incline to it...but what?' He reached out and touched it, and his hand went right through. 'AAGH!' He quickly pulled back. 'What the..?!' And then, all of a sudden...music. Piano music. No, not just any music-beautiful, heart-felt music. Draco, being that he had a reputation for being fearless, walked through the mirror, and into a green room.
A piano lay at one end of it, with a girl playing in front of it, but he couldn't see who it was, for she had a dark cloak hanging around her, which covered her face. The music stopped, and she whirled around.
'What are you doing here?' The voice sounded utterly appalled at Draco's presence. But, the voice was very familiar...Hermione Granger.
'Hermione, what are you doing here?' Draco asked soothingly, 'and what is this place?' She removed her hood, and, as though very dizzy, staggered over to where he stood. 'You're having trouble walking...' he added.
'It's nothing, just a curse. It'll be gone within a few days,' Hermione replied weakly. 'And this is my piano room. I come here when I need...time alone. To think. To clear my mind. Sort of like my therapy.' Draco stared around the room.
'Why is everything green?' he inquired. Hermione merely shrugged, and went over to a bookshelf full of famous musicians' songs.
'Have a request?' she asked. 'I know many songs. Tragic ones, happy ones, you name it.' Draco folded his arms across his chest.
'You've been holding back on me about this room, you know,' he said. 'Why didn't you tell me before? I have you know that I play the piano, too.'
'I don't know, really,' Hermione said. 'I guess I didn't want anyone else to know about it, at the time...and then it slipped my mind, when I finally decided to tell you...' She looked very faint, and leant up against the wall.
'You should really go rest, you know, Herm,' Draco said concernedly. He placed an arm around her. 'Why don't I take you back up to your common room to be with your friends? Harry and Ron are probably wondering where you are.' Hermione nodded vaguely, and the went up the stone steps, and into Gryffindor common room.
No one was there at the moment, so Draco merely rested her down on the couch in the common room. 'Where is everyone?' he inquired finally. 'Shouldn't they be here?' Hermione checked the large clock on the wall.
'Dinner hasn't quite finished yet,' she replied simply, 'so no one will be back for about twenty minutes or so.'
*
Harry and Ron were at the end of the Gryffindor table, discussing the events of last night in excited tones.
'Can you believe how important that gem is?' Ron said sardonically. 'I can't believe no one told us about it!'
'Yeah, I know,' Harry said, grabbing another bun and a bowl of mashed potatoes. 'Hey, d'you reckon Herm's OK?' he added. Ron shrugged.
'We could always go back there early to see,' he replied. So they finished up dinner, and insisted to Seamus and Dean that they should go back early. They reached the Fat Lady, hardly even noticing that they were there already.
'Well? Password!' she said placidly. 'Haven't got all day! Oh, and by the way, a blonde-haired boy just went in with your little brown-haired friend, Hermione.' Harry and Ron exchanged quizzical looks, before giving the Fat Lady the password, and rushing into the common room.
'What the?!!' was all either of them said. Draco and Hermione were kissing softly, but suddenly opened their eyes wide with shock at Harry and Ron's shouts.
'Just what do you think you are doing?!' Harry yelled dangerously. Before he knew what he was doing, he was grabbing Draco from off the couch, and slammed him against the wall.
'Stop it!' Hermione shrieked. 'You'll hurt him!'
'Good!' Harry bellowed. Hermione jumped from the couch, and grabbed Harry by the shoulders, trying to release Draco from his grip. She finally had to blast him out of the way; Harry toppled backwards, and Draco fell to the floor in pain, nursing his neck and arm.
'What did you do that for?!' Hermione yelled furiously. 'He didn't do anything wrong!'
'And just what does that mean?!' Harry shouted. 'He was forcing you to kiss him!' Hermione's eyes welled up with tears, and she grabbed Draco from off the floor, and laid him on the couch.
'Thanks to you, he'll probably have broken his spine!' she said shrilly. She raised her hand, and slapped Harry across the face, much harder than she had intended to.
Ron was gaping, open-mouthed, in a corner, apparently too shocked to move. He finally rolled his eyes back into their sockets and fainted with a loud THUD!
'Hang on, I'll go get you an ice pack...' Hermione whispered sympathetically to Draco. 'And you,' she shot a glare at Harry, 'you had bloody well better apologize! Honestly, you think he was forcing me? I did it of my own free will!' Harry put his fingers in his ears, and took them out again, thinking he had heard wrong.
'You mean you two...Draco and you...what!?' he spluttered. 'You two can't possibly be in love!'
'Ohhh, but we are,' Draco said coolly. 'Don't look so surprised about it. There's a very fine line between love and hate.' Harry just stood there, appalled, and Draco rolled his eyes. 'Honestly, hadn't you wondered why I was being so nice to Hermione? Put two and two together, and you'd have found out that we've been in love all this time.'
'Hermione...is he lying, or is this true?' Harry asked quizzically, looking at thw two of them. Hermione looked up at the emerald green eyes.
'It's true,' she said quietly. 'I didn't know how you would react, so I waited to tell you.' Harry looked up at the ceiling, then down to the ground.
'What does he have that I don't?' he finally asked. She hung her head low, and pursed her lips.
'Lots of things, Harry,' Hermione said. 'He's there when I need him, whenever I need him. With you, you're always so busy fighting evil that you wouldn't have time for me, you know? Besides, Draco has changed, Harry. He's not the stupid S.O.B. that he used to be-no offence,' she added to Draco.
'None taken,' he remarked. 'Well...I'm guessing I should leave.' Draco got up, though rather stiffly, and walked out of the room slowly, Hermione following him, with a hand around his back.
Once they were in the Head common room, Hermione made an ice pack appear with a spell, and she placed it near Draco's neck and shoulder region.
'Does it still hurt?' she asked a few minutes later.
'Yes,' he said, 'but I'm fine, thanks.' He closed his eyes, and a silent tear trickled down his cheek, and Hermione brushed it away.
'Don't cry,' she said soothingly, placing a comforting hand on his forehead. 'The pain will go away soon. He really slammed you hard, didn't he?' Draco merely nodded.
'I can't believe I'm crying over something like this,' he moaned. 'This is embarrassing.' Hermione giggled quietly.
'Even the bravest people cry,' she said. 'If the pain gets any worse, I'll get Madam Pomfrey.' He shook his head, and put a hand through his hair.
'It's usually the guy who takes care of the girl, you know,' Draco said with a slight smile. 'You shouldn't have to take care of me. Just imagine what Crabbe and Goyle would think if they heard Hermione Granger took care of a Malfoy...'
'They don't have to know,' Hermione said calmly. 'You know, now that Harry and Ron know about us, we can go to the Yule Ball together.' He smiled lightly.
'I think I'll go read a bit,' Draco said slowly, 'exams are coming up fast.' He slowly sat up, and headed into the halls. Hermione supposed he must have been going to the library.
'Library! That reminds me...I wonder what Harry and Ron found out?' she said. 'No, I won't ask them...not after our fight today...but I have to go into Gryffindor common room to fetch my Arithmancy book, anyway.' So she solemnly walked into the common room, and hoped Harry and Ron weren't there-but they were, both of them chatting vigorously.
'Oh, well if it isn't the Malfoy-Lover,' Harry said dully. 'We were just talking about you.'
'Oh, were you? Well, I'm just here to get my book, and then I'll be off to let you talk about me behind my back, thanks,' Hermione said incredulously, heading up the stairs to the dormitory. She came back down, and Ron looked very uncomfortable.
'Harry, don't you think you're being a tad mellow-dramatic?' he said hesitantly. 'You two should make up...I mean, personally, I don't think it's such a big deal that Malfoy and Hermione are in love.'
'Thank you for your support, Ron,' Hermione said thoughtfully. 'I'll be leaving you now, Harry, Ron. Try to have a good evening without me. Though, I'm sure that won't be too hard, will it, Harry?'
She walked out, with a disgruntled look on her face. Exams were starting next Tuesday and Wednesday, so Hermione had to get cramming. After all, imagine the horror if she only got 99.9% on a paper!
'What subject shall I study for first...?' she muttered to herself. Hermione sprawled out all of her books, some quills, and a leaf of parchment out on the birch-wood coffee table. 'I suppose I should study on Arithmancy...let's see...' The topic that she had to do an essay on, was in the advanced class (no one expected less, of course). The topic was: Hob-Goblins and House-Elves; Similarities, and How They Were Dealt With in the Past. Hermione had never done any studies on Hob-Goblins before. 'I think I'll go to the library to get some books on those particular creatures...oh, but of course, I could always ask Hagrid! No...it's snowing too heavily out. I'm in knee-deep out there!' This, actually, wasn't saying much, since Hermione was rather short, being 5'2", compared to Harry and Ron's 6'3", and Draco's 6'5". Next to Ginny Weasley, she was the shortest girl in school.
It was rather quiet in the halls, when Hermione decided to head to the library. Strange, she had thought, because it was only 7 o'clock, and there were usually loads of students and a few Professors wandering the corridors busily.
She stepped in the library; Pansy Parkinson was latched on to Draco's arm, like a mosquito biting someone, and he was, without a doubt, trying to deattach her.
'Get off me, you slimy prat!' he kept saying. 'You know I have a girlfriend, and I love her very much, so get your grimy hands off me, Parkinson!' Hermione's heart melted; he had said that he had a girlfriend, and loved her very much. That meant a lot to her. She wandered over to the table, and sat down.
'Couldn't help but notice you were having some trouble with a bug, Draco,' Hermione grinned. 'Shall we call the Pesk-Control Unit?'
'Sounds like a dandy idea to me,' he grumbled. 'Parkinson, bug off, will you? Or shall I put a hex on you? I'm sure Madam Pomfrey wouldn't mind re-attaching your limbs. She has lots of spare time.'
'Oh, come on, Dracie-poo, I know you don't mean that the slightest,' Pansy replied. 'And get that stupid Mudblood out of my face! Her germs are spreading onto me!' Hermione closed her eyes, and looked the other way, unable to stare at Pansy for any longer period of time.
'You call her Mudblood one more time, and you'll be receiving a kiss from the Dementors, got it?!' Draco roared angrily. Pansy frightenedly let go of his arm, and walked-rather, galloped-away in an orderly fashion.
'She is such a fool,' Hermione said briskly, 'she'll never give up.' Draco merely 'hmf'd' about Pansy, rolled his eyes, and opened his book again. 'Say, do you know much about Hob-Goblins?'
'I know a little. Why?' he asked, flipping through the pages of his book.
'Well, I need to finish an essay for Arithmancy on them, and frankly, I don't know much about them...' Hermione said. 'So that's why I asked you.' He closed the book, folded his arms, and looked across at her.
'What is it you need to know?' Draco asked. 'I'm not expert on Hob-Goblins, but I'll give you as much information as possible.'
'I need to know similarities between the Hob-Goblin and the House-Elf. So basicallly, just a little background information on how they act,' Hermione replied. She yawned, and ran a few fingers through her hair. 'I'm so tired...and it's still early. Oh, how's your back, by the way?'
'Don't worry about me, I'm fine,' he assured her. 'You look exhausted. Why don't you pack it in early, and you can study tomorrow?'
'I'll have to agree with that idea,' she remarked. 'Be sure to wake me up before seven o'clock in the morning, though. I need some major study time, or else I'll get a low percent!'
'Oh yes, hell would crust over if Hermione Granger got ninety-nine percent,' he said sarcastically. 'Just stop being so hard on yourself. It's no wonder you're tired; you push yourself up to goals your mind can't always reach.'
'Nonsense,' Hermione said firmly. 'My mind can definitely achieve my high self-expectations.'
'Well, just get up to the dormitory. I won't be back for a few hours, mind. I still have a bit of reading to do,' Draco replied softly. 'Want me to walk you back?'
'I'm fine by myself,' Hermione insisted, 'but thank you for your consideration. I'll see you in the morning. 'Night.'
'Yeah, good night. Sleep tight. Don't let the Chizpurfles bite!' he teased. 'No, actually, I'm serious; they like to chew at wands and what have you.'
'Oh, shut up,' she giggled. 'Buh-bye. Don't stay up too late, now.' She picked up her books, and walked slowly back to the Head dormitory.