Disclaimer: Not mine, yada yada yada...
Chapter 3
By the time school finished Hermione was sure she'd gone mad. What had she been thinking, becoming friends with Draco Malfoy? He was ... evil. He'd been her number one enemy since she came to Hogwarts.
But on the other hand, Ron had been one of her best friends, her fiercest protector AND her boyfriend in the five and a bit years she'd known him, and he'd betrayed her. He'd found some nice little Romanian chick to take over when Hermione wasn't there. Maybe it was time she did the unbelievable. Maybe she'd gain better friends through that.
Ron's exile continued throughout the day. Not a student went near him in Herbology; Ginny Weasley had told the Hufflepuffs. Not even Binns chose him to answer a question in History of Magic, McGonagall had obviously told the staff. He'd been ignored in double Transfiguration.
But Potions had been the worst. He'd been ignored by the Gryffindors and Snape, surprisingly, but the Slytherins had insulted him for all they were worth. Hermione had trouble suppressing a grin as she remembered the magical hour when the Slytherins had been on her side.
The end of Potions had been particularly good. After the lesson, a note had appeared in her empty cauldron. It had read simply:
Classrom 9pm. You know which!
It was strange that she should look forward to meeting Draco, but then, nothing had been ordinary since she got off the train. If only she'd caught it two weeks ago with the other prefects!
"Are you Ok, Hermione?" Harry asked. "You look odd. You're not about to forgive Ron, are you?"
"That's nice," Hermione replied in shock. "Why are you like that?"
"We've all done things we're not proud of, but that's worst, the worst thing you can do. Besides, it's your honour at stake. If you talk to him, everyone will think that you have no self respect and he's the best you can do."
Hermione snorted. "Yeah, right. No, I'm not going to forgive Ron anyway. How could he? That's all I want to know. And if he gave me that crap about him missing me too much, I'd -" she broke off, and pulled her wand out. "He'd better not."
"O....kay. What's for dinner, I'm starving."
Still, she'd love to know what actually happened, Hermione thought as she ate her steak. Not to forgive him or anything like that, but just to understand why he had been driven to... she didn't even know who.
And it was getting squishy, a whole house crammed at one half of the long table. She had Harry next to her and Ginny practically on his lap (though that wasn't that bad, she supposed) and the Creevey brothers squished on her left. The rest of the Gryffindors were crammed together, and some had avoided the Dining Hall for now so they wouldn't even see Ron.
But not all of them were on her side. A lot of the other students were only against Ron because they could be. It was excitement, and they wanted to share in it. They wanted to look cool, or like they cared, or whatever. Nice, she thought sarcastically.
Ron. Now what could she do about him? Aha. She took her wand out of her robes, and pointed it carefully at his carroty head.
"Loppearsus," she whispered. She choked on a mouthful of green beans as two long, droppy rabbit ears appeared on his head. It didn't take long for the rest of the Gryffindors to notice, and the gales of laughter attracted the other students. In a few minutes everyone was pointing and laughing. Hermione could even hear Dumbledore chuckling appreciatively.
*** *** ***
Draco looked up in surprise when he heard the mocking laughter of the Gryffindors. It didn't take long to figure out what they were laughing at. Not with Ron dancing around like an idiot, trying to rip the long, droppy ears off the side of his skull. He wasn't managing however, but it loked like he was in a lot of pain. Draco grinned. He could add something to that!
"Totalus rabbitus," he muttered, pointing his own wand. He knew Hermione had given Ron the ears, and now Ron howled with rage, pain and frustration as paws, feet, whiskers and a fluffy bobtail appeared. Draco scowled. That wasn't right. He was meant to turn into a full rabbit - oh, who cared. It was funnier this way. He loked up, and saw Hermione looking at him. He nodded slightly, and was rewarded with a smile. He grinned back. Funny he'd be happy around Hermione Granger, maybe he actually was starting to like her... no! He had to remain alof. This was all a game. And if he didn't get caught, so much the better.
After fifteen minutes, when most students were holding their sides, faces red and tear streaked, Dumbledore finally decided it was time to call a halt.
"Students," he shouted above the noise. "Please listen. I need a volunteer to take Mr Weasley to the Hospital Wing."
Dead silence. Draco grinned. Not a single student moved.
*** *** ***
Hermioone tried to squash her feelings of pity for the half red-head boy, half rabbit. He deserved everything he'd gotten. She knew who'd given him the rest of the "outfit". Practically the whole school would hate her for doing this, taking away their joke, the excitement that they could exploit.
She began to raise her hand.
"No!" Harry hissed. "Leave it. Look, McGonagall's getting up." They watched her whisper to Dumbledore, who shook his head slightly, then shrugged. She walked towards Ron, who was now trying as hard as he could to stare at his twitching nose, making him cross eyed. Hermione bit her tongue to keep from laughing. Jerk. She chuckled slightly as McGonagall led him away.
Eventually the students finished their dinner, and started for bed or their common rooms. Quite a few drifted past Hermione's table.
"Good stuff, Hermione!"
"Excellent, girl!"
"Boy, you showed him!"
Hermione wasn't listening.
She got up with a sigh and was just passing through the doors when - "Miss Granger."
She whipped around. "Sir - Professor Dumbledore."
"This way," he said, taking her arm. He led her into the little chamber off the Great Hall that Harry had entered when he was thrown into the Triwizard Tournament. Pity she wouldn't see it again, she thought. And everything had been so simple then.
"Would you like to explain?" Dumbledore asked her gently. For the first time, she didn't feel overpowered by a teacher. She set her chin defiantly.
"I hexed him."
"I can see that," Dumbledore said seriously. "But why? By rights, you should be punished. Not only are you a prefect, you're the smartest girl in this school. You know better than to use magic outside the classes."
"I know sir, but... well, it was a perfect opportunity."
"To pay him back?' Dumbledore asked, eyes twinkling. At her scared look, he touched her shoulder gently. "I know what's happened. Professor McGonagall told me. That wasn't the best thing he could have done."
"Best?" Hermione asked indignantly. "That's worse than the worst thing anyone could do! Just because he was lonely and didn't think it would matter if my feelings got hurt, he thought he could -" she broke off in shock, tears were gathering in her eyes. She didn't feel like a prefect, or the smartest student in the school now: she felt like a little girl who was lost and unable to cope with circumstances.
"I have to go," she choked, and ran out of the room. Dumbledore stared after her, frowning. Poor girl. Ronald Weasley had hurt her more than she would admit. That explained the exile, and the "rabbit" incedent, and the lack of volunteers who would take him to the Hospital Wing.
But who had cast the other spell? He knew it hadn't been Hermione, her wand had been pointing at the floor. Nor would it have been just any student, it had to be a close friend. But it hadn't been been Harry or Ginny Weasley, he'd watched them.
Well now, he had a mystery to solve. And by golly, he'd solve it.
Hermione ran out of the Great Hall, stopping at the base of the stairs to try and catch her breath. She already regretted what had happened with Dumbledore, and it didn't help that Harry was waiting for her. She was thankful, of course, but she really really wanted to be alone at the moment. Attempting to gather her scattered wits, she walked up to him.
"What did Dumbledore want?" Harry asked. Hermionje just shrugged and smiled, shooting a glance at the crowds around her in an "I'll tell you later" gesture. Harry nodded, and they started for the Gryffindor Common Room.
"What do you think would have happened if I caught the train with you and Ron two weeks earlier? I mean, do you think that we'd still be together, or wouldn't he have talked to me? And when did you find out that Ron - that he - well - cheated on me?" Hermione asked.
Harry regarded her seriously. "You know what, Hermione? I think it would have ended up the same. But you would have found out earlier. Because he wouldn't have been able to look you in the eye. Remember, once he came face to face with you, he couldn't say anything cocky? That's what it would have been like. And as for when Ron told us, he got a Howler from Mrs. Weasley the morning school started. He hid out for most of the day, until we finally pried it from him."
"How?" Hermione asked curiously.
"How else? Play to his ego. Once we'd convinced him we'd think it was funny - the Howler was unspecific, Mrs. Weasley was jut yelling about the way he treats people, and that he was never going to Romanioa again - with or without the family, he openeed right up. Then he thought it was funny. We were all disgusted. None of the guys are even looking at him now."
"You know," Hermione said reflectively as they neared the Common Room, "maybe I should talk to him. Most of the students aren't talking to him because of me, and what kind of example am I setting for the younger years?"
Harry frowned. "Well, I've known you for five and a bit years, Hermione. And I've never known you to make the wrong descision. If you think the best course of action is to talk to Ron, go for it. But think about it first. None of your friends want to see you hurt again." It was such a nice thing to say that Hermione nearly burst into tears. Instead, she managed a small smile.
"Thanks." She checked her wristwatch. Eight thirty. Maybe she'd just sit in the classroom and wait for Draco. "Hey, I think I'll get some work done. I'll be in the library."
"Ok," Harry said cheerfully, patting her shoulder. Hermione slapped him off, grinning. She hated it when people patted her, which was one of the main reasons Harry did it. She watched him walk off, then changed course. She knew the long way to the room, and she didn't want to be seen by any stray Gryffindors.
*** *** ***
Draco was bored. Pansy was till managing to prattle on and on and on, and she was only three weeks into the summre. She still had another five before she'd shut up.
"- and we had the best time, and my mother was talking to your father, and do you konw what they said?"
She obviously expected an answer. Well, Draco wasn't going to give her one. He knew what their parents wanted. Yuck.
"Actually, Pansy, I've got to do some work," he lied. She blinked and sat stone still. He could almost hear the cogs grinding in her head. Think... Pansy... think...
"But you haven't gotten any homework yet," she said accusingly.
"Oh, it's not schoolwork," he said quickly, standing up. He ducked out of the door, and started walking quickly for the room. He checked his watch. 9:10pm. He was late.
In his hurry he didn't notice Pansy slip quietly from her seat and follow him.
Chapter 3
By the time school finished Hermione was sure she'd gone mad. What had she been thinking, becoming friends with Draco Malfoy? He was ... evil. He'd been her number one enemy since she came to Hogwarts.
But on the other hand, Ron had been one of her best friends, her fiercest protector AND her boyfriend in the five and a bit years she'd known him, and he'd betrayed her. He'd found some nice little Romanian chick to take over when Hermione wasn't there. Maybe it was time she did the unbelievable. Maybe she'd gain better friends through that.
Ron's exile continued throughout the day. Not a student went near him in Herbology; Ginny Weasley had told the Hufflepuffs. Not even Binns chose him to answer a question in History of Magic, McGonagall had obviously told the staff. He'd been ignored in double Transfiguration.
But Potions had been the worst. He'd been ignored by the Gryffindors and Snape, surprisingly, but the Slytherins had insulted him for all they were worth. Hermione had trouble suppressing a grin as she remembered the magical hour when the Slytherins had been on her side.
The end of Potions had been particularly good. After the lesson, a note had appeared in her empty cauldron. It had read simply:
Classrom 9pm. You know which!
It was strange that she should look forward to meeting Draco, but then, nothing had been ordinary since she got off the train. If only she'd caught it two weeks ago with the other prefects!
"Are you Ok, Hermione?" Harry asked. "You look odd. You're not about to forgive Ron, are you?"
"That's nice," Hermione replied in shock. "Why are you like that?"
"We've all done things we're not proud of, but that's worst, the worst thing you can do. Besides, it's your honour at stake. If you talk to him, everyone will think that you have no self respect and he's the best you can do."
Hermione snorted. "Yeah, right. No, I'm not going to forgive Ron anyway. How could he? That's all I want to know. And if he gave me that crap about him missing me too much, I'd -" she broke off, and pulled her wand out. "He'd better not."
"O....kay. What's for dinner, I'm starving."
Still, she'd love to know what actually happened, Hermione thought as she ate her steak. Not to forgive him or anything like that, but just to understand why he had been driven to... she didn't even know who.
And it was getting squishy, a whole house crammed at one half of the long table. She had Harry next to her and Ginny practically on his lap (though that wasn't that bad, she supposed) and the Creevey brothers squished on her left. The rest of the Gryffindors were crammed together, and some had avoided the Dining Hall for now so they wouldn't even see Ron.
But not all of them were on her side. A lot of the other students were only against Ron because they could be. It was excitement, and they wanted to share in it. They wanted to look cool, or like they cared, or whatever. Nice, she thought sarcastically.
Ron. Now what could she do about him? Aha. She took her wand out of her robes, and pointed it carefully at his carroty head.
"Loppearsus," she whispered. She choked on a mouthful of green beans as two long, droppy rabbit ears appeared on his head. It didn't take long for the rest of the Gryffindors to notice, and the gales of laughter attracted the other students. In a few minutes everyone was pointing and laughing. Hermione could even hear Dumbledore chuckling appreciatively.
*** *** ***
Draco looked up in surprise when he heard the mocking laughter of the Gryffindors. It didn't take long to figure out what they were laughing at. Not with Ron dancing around like an idiot, trying to rip the long, droppy ears off the side of his skull. He wasn't managing however, but it loked like he was in a lot of pain. Draco grinned. He could add something to that!
"Totalus rabbitus," he muttered, pointing his own wand. He knew Hermione had given Ron the ears, and now Ron howled with rage, pain and frustration as paws, feet, whiskers and a fluffy bobtail appeared. Draco scowled. That wasn't right. He was meant to turn into a full rabbit - oh, who cared. It was funnier this way. He loked up, and saw Hermione looking at him. He nodded slightly, and was rewarded with a smile. He grinned back. Funny he'd be happy around Hermione Granger, maybe he actually was starting to like her... no! He had to remain alof. This was all a game. And if he didn't get caught, so much the better.
After fifteen minutes, when most students were holding their sides, faces red and tear streaked, Dumbledore finally decided it was time to call a halt.
"Students," he shouted above the noise. "Please listen. I need a volunteer to take Mr Weasley to the Hospital Wing."
Dead silence. Draco grinned. Not a single student moved.
*** *** ***
Hermioone tried to squash her feelings of pity for the half red-head boy, half rabbit. He deserved everything he'd gotten. She knew who'd given him the rest of the "outfit". Practically the whole school would hate her for doing this, taking away their joke, the excitement that they could exploit.
She began to raise her hand.
"No!" Harry hissed. "Leave it. Look, McGonagall's getting up." They watched her whisper to Dumbledore, who shook his head slightly, then shrugged. She walked towards Ron, who was now trying as hard as he could to stare at his twitching nose, making him cross eyed. Hermione bit her tongue to keep from laughing. Jerk. She chuckled slightly as McGonagall led him away.
Eventually the students finished their dinner, and started for bed or their common rooms. Quite a few drifted past Hermione's table.
"Good stuff, Hermione!"
"Excellent, girl!"
"Boy, you showed him!"
Hermione wasn't listening.
She got up with a sigh and was just passing through the doors when - "Miss Granger."
She whipped around. "Sir - Professor Dumbledore."
"This way," he said, taking her arm. He led her into the little chamber off the Great Hall that Harry had entered when he was thrown into the Triwizard Tournament. Pity she wouldn't see it again, she thought. And everything had been so simple then.
"Would you like to explain?" Dumbledore asked her gently. For the first time, she didn't feel overpowered by a teacher. She set her chin defiantly.
"I hexed him."
"I can see that," Dumbledore said seriously. "But why? By rights, you should be punished. Not only are you a prefect, you're the smartest girl in this school. You know better than to use magic outside the classes."
"I know sir, but... well, it was a perfect opportunity."
"To pay him back?' Dumbledore asked, eyes twinkling. At her scared look, he touched her shoulder gently. "I know what's happened. Professor McGonagall told me. That wasn't the best thing he could have done."
"Best?" Hermione asked indignantly. "That's worse than the worst thing anyone could do! Just because he was lonely and didn't think it would matter if my feelings got hurt, he thought he could -" she broke off in shock, tears were gathering in her eyes. She didn't feel like a prefect, or the smartest student in the school now: she felt like a little girl who was lost and unable to cope with circumstances.
"I have to go," she choked, and ran out of the room. Dumbledore stared after her, frowning. Poor girl. Ronald Weasley had hurt her more than she would admit. That explained the exile, and the "rabbit" incedent, and the lack of volunteers who would take him to the Hospital Wing.
But who had cast the other spell? He knew it hadn't been Hermione, her wand had been pointing at the floor. Nor would it have been just any student, it had to be a close friend. But it hadn't been been Harry or Ginny Weasley, he'd watched them.
Well now, he had a mystery to solve. And by golly, he'd solve it.
Hermione ran out of the Great Hall, stopping at the base of the stairs to try and catch her breath. She already regretted what had happened with Dumbledore, and it didn't help that Harry was waiting for her. She was thankful, of course, but she really really wanted to be alone at the moment. Attempting to gather her scattered wits, she walked up to him.
"What did Dumbledore want?" Harry asked. Hermionje just shrugged and smiled, shooting a glance at the crowds around her in an "I'll tell you later" gesture. Harry nodded, and they started for the Gryffindor Common Room.
"What do you think would have happened if I caught the train with you and Ron two weeks earlier? I mean, do you think that we'd still be together, or wouldn't he have talked to me? And when did you find out that Ron - that he - well - cheated on me?" Hermione asked.
Harry regarded her seriously. "You know what, Hermione? I think it would have ended up the same. But you would have found out earlier. Because he wouldn't have been able to look you in the eye. Remember, once he came face to face with you, he couldn't say anything cocky? That's what it would have been like. And as for when Ron told us, he got a Howler from Mrs. Weasley the morning school started. He hid out for most of the day, until we finally pried it from him."
"How?" Hermione asked curiously.
"How else? Play to his ego. Once we'd convinced him we'd think it was funny - the Howler was unspecific, Mrs. Weasley was jut yelling about the way he treats people, and that he was never going to Romanioa again - with or without the family, he openeed right up. Then he thought it was funny. We were all disgusted. None of the guys are even looking at him now."
"You know," Hermione said reflectively as they neared the Common Room, "maybe I should talk to him. Most of the students aren't talking to him because of me, and what kind of example am I setting for the younger years?"
Harry frowned. "Well, I've known you for five and a bit years, Hermione. And I've never known you to make the wrong descision. If you think the best course of action is to talk to Ron, go for it. But think about it first. None of your friends want to see you hurt again." It was such a nice thing to say that Hermione nearly burst into tears. Instead, she managed a small smile.
"Thanks." She checked her wristwatch. Eight thirty. Maybe she'd just sit in the classroom and wait for Draco. "Hey, I think I'll get some work done. I'll be in the library."
"Ok," Harry said cheerfully, patting her shoulder. Hermione slapped him off, grinning. She hated it when people patted her, which was one of the main reasons Harry did it. She watched him walk off, then changed course. She knew the long way to the room, and she didn't want to be seen by any stray Gryffindors.
*** *** ***
Draco was bored. Pansy was till managing to prattle on and on and on, and she was only three weeks into the summre. She still had another five before she'd shut up.
"- and we had the best time, and my mother was talking to your father, and do you konw what they said?"
She obviously expected an answer. Well, Draco wasn't going to give her one. He knew what their parents wanted. Yuck.
"Actually, Pansy, I've got to do some work," he lied. She blinked and sat stone still. He could almost hear the cogs grinding in her head. Think... Pansy... think...
"But you haven't gotten any homework yet," she said accusingly.
"Oh, it's not schoolwork," he said quickly, standing up. He ducked out of the door, and started walking quickly for the room. He checked his watch. 9:10pm. He was late.
In his hurry he didn't notice Pansy slip quietly from her seat and follow him.