Hermoine's eyes were constantly puffy and bloodshot, and she refused to
talk to anyone about it. She hardly touched her food, and though she still
achieved her usual high marks in class, her enthusiasm was gone. One day,
after transfigurations, Ron finally recided what to do. The most beautiful
girl in the world, Hermione Granger, was in pain, suffering because of some
unknown thing, most likely caused by that vile Draco Malfoy. He, Ron
Weasley, would be the one to save her from her misery.
*
The cold green potion slid down Ron's throat. As it strangely warmed him, Ron grinned broadly, and looked down at the vile with the tiny lable, courage syrup. He threw the empty glass tube on the floor and went down to the dungeons.
*
"Tell me what you did to her!" Ron shouted, clenching his fists.
"I didn't do anything!" Draco yelled back, his face flushed with anger.
Suddenly, Ron's fist swung out. With a sickening crack, it hit Draco's jaw. Not thinking twice, Draco hit Ron hard in the stomach.
*
Upstairs, a short girl with bright red hair stooped in the common room and picked up the empty vile. With a small gasp, it dawned on her what had happened, and she sped off after her brother.
*
"Ron!" Ginny screamed. "Stop it! Stop it!" With some effort, the younger Weasley managed to step between Draco and Ron.
"Ginny stay out of this." Ron growled, trying to step around her. But Ginny stood her ground, hands on hips.
"Ron! You're only making this worse!" She yelled. "Now please, for Hermione's sake, go!" She pointed at the door. Thourougly annoyed, Ron left Ginny and Draco, fuming over what had happened. As he made his way up to the main area of the school, Ron suddenly got an idea. He grinned wildly, and raced towards a distant office.
*
"Malfoy," Ginny said, her tone still demanding. "What did you do?"
"What do you mean Weasley?" Draco asked, his voice hostile. Though his eyes were narrowed with suspicion, they had somewhat softened.
"You know what I mean," Ginny sighed, "Hermione's upset! I've heard her crying at night. Hermione doesn't know that I've heard. Look," Ginny continued, "She thinks you've cheated on her or something, and that you don't like her any more. Well, do you?"
Draco sneered.
"What, don't tell me you're working for the Daily Prophet for a little extra money."
"Malfoy! For once, for Hermione's sake, please...just answer my question."
"So you're asking, do I like her or hate her?"
"Like her, love her, same thing." Ginny replied, ignoring his attitude completely.
"Well, you should know the answer to that question." He turned his face away from her so she wouldn't see the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "I still love her. She means everything to me." His voice sounded choked and emotional, and a tear slid down his pale cheek.
"Oh." Ginny replied, startled by such a change. Then she gave him a reassuring nod, then turned and ran off. Draco put a hand against the wall of the dungeon to steady himself. Resting his hot forehead against the cool stone, he closed his eyes, and cried silently.
*
The cold green potion slid down Ron's throat. As it strangely warmed him, Ron grinned broadly, and looked down at the vile with the tiny lable, courage syrup. He threw the empty glass tube on the floor and went down to the dungeons.
*
"Tell me what you did to her!" Ron shouted, clenching his fists.
"I didn't do anything!" Draco yelled back, his face flushed with anger.
Suddenly, Ron's fist swung out. With a sickening crack, it hit Draco's jaw. Not thinking twice, Draco hit Ron hard in the stomach.
*
Upstairs, a short girl with bright red hair stooped in the common room and picked up the empty vile. With a small gasp, it dawned on her what had happened, and she sped off after her brother.
*
"Ron!" Ginny screamed. "Stop it! Stop it!" With some effort, the younger Weasley managed to step between Draco and Ron.
"Ginny stay out of this." Ron growled, trying to step around her. But Ginny stood her ground, hands on hips.
"Ron! You're only making this worse!" She yelled. "Now please, for Hermione's sake, go!" She pointed at the door. Thourougly annoyed, Ron left Ginny and Draco, fuming over what had happened. As he made his way up to the main area of the school, Ron suddenly got an idea. He grinned wildly, and raced towards a distant office.
*
"Malfoy," Ginny said, her tone still demanding. "What did you do?"
"What do you mean Weasley?" Draco asked, his voice hostile. Though his eyes were narrowed with suspicion, they had somewhat softened.
"You know what I mean," Ginny sighed, "Hermione's upset! I've heard her crying at night. Hermione doesn't know that I've heard. Look," Ginny continued, "She thinks you've cheated on her or something, and that you don't like her any more. Well, do you?"
Draco sneered.
"What, don't tell me you're working for the Daily Prophet for a little extra money."
"Malfoy! For once, for Hermione's sake, please...just answer my question."
"So you're asking, do I like her or hate her?"
"Like her, love her, same thing." Ginny replied, ignoring his attitude completely.
"Well, you should know the answer to that question." He turned his face away from her so she wouldn't see the tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "I still love her. She means everything to me." His voice sounded choked and emotional, and a tear slid down his pale cheek.
"Oh." Ginny replied, startled by such a change. Then she gave him a reassuring nod, then turned and ran off. Draco put a hand against the wall of the dungeon to steady himself. Resting his hot forehead against the cool stone, he closed his eyes, and cried silently.