Chapter 4 ~ A reason ~

The wave of shame and despair surged though her. Hermione first reaction was to shout at them and tell it's all a huge unfair rascally bluff, but she just stood silent. Too weak to stir yet too strong to cry.

Th next second dead hush was demolished all at once - noise, whisper, giggles surrouned her. Unable to bear the weight of looks, stares and questioning gazes Hermione closed her eyes. Her first thought was what Harry would think. What Ron would think. And would they stay her friends and not turn their back on her. And would she ever dare to look in their eyes the way she did before...

Feeling intolerable tension she almost jumped as someone laid warm hand on her shoulder. It wasn't like tapping to make her come into senses but it was a hand of support - light squeeze and then smooth stroking motion. That someone, who was right behind her, learned forwad a bit so its chest was almost touching her shoulder.

*There is noone so tall in our class* - then realization came to her as a shock, -*Snape!*

"There is nothing," - those words were wafted in her hair in such low voice she could think it wasn't for real, - "absolutely nothing to be afraid of, Miss Granger."

And after that sudden display of comfor she was gently pushed toward her chair. Without meeting anyones look, in the state of total prostration Hermione took her seat. As through the mist she heard how the same voice made whole class fall silent instantly.

"If there will be any more discussions of Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger's relationships I'll take 20 points from infractor," - there were still some murmur left so Professor Snape paused for a second to say next sentence in calm and almost honey voice, - "including Slytherins."

Needless to say it was the most quiet lesson Hogwart's school ever had.

Hermione didn't have oppotunity to say a word to Harry, so she just tried to guess what he was thinking. It was almost impossible, as he was behaving like always, but Hermione could see affectation in the way he was sitting quetly, not looking at her, in the way he was writing what Snape was saying and his quill was trembling a bit, his usual emerald eyes were now black, reflecting only a absent and vacant gaze on Snape. His skin held a unusual pallor, unlike his normal, healthy glow it held on normal days. Normal days that didn't consist of "Seeing Draco and Hermione kiss in public".

She sighed. She didn't know what to say to Harry when the class ended. How to explain what was going on without giving up the "alibi" part of story. But she knew for sure what she going tell to Malfoy, rather, do to him.

The object of her hatred was sitting with his back straight. It was hard for Hermione to see his face. Not that she wanted - even when he was turning his sunny head to see her she stared down.

*I bet he's so proud he could made me a figure of his fun. Oh, I hate him. And I despise him. He's the lowest degenerate the Earth produced. And why, why, why, why did he have to kiss me? I wonder if he knew the class already had come in or if he was trying to impress Proffesor Snape. Proffesor. He was so close. He's never stood so close to me. And he smelled so nice - I'd never thought he uses toilet water.*

A tiny smile appeared on Hermione's lips. And at that particular moment, when she was so deep in her thoughts, she casually met Draco's eyes. It was intent, yet inscrutable stare. Hermione, without any reason, blushed and unable to bear that torment of looking into his silvery eyes, stooped her head, letting her curly hair to hide her from view. Especially Draco Malfoy's.

That's why she didn't see the warm smile that formed on his lips, those lips that had kissed her less than a half hour ago, but it had dissapeared too quickly for anyone to notice.

~*~*~*~*~

"Harry!", - Hermione was trying to stop her friend, who seemed to be in great hurry, because Hermione managed to catch his sleeve only outside Snape's cabinet. "Harry, we need to talk!", - her tone was so desperate and miserable, that Harry finally turned to face her - and Hermione didn't like what she saw in his eyes - disappointment and sorrow.

"Why?", - it wasn't a real question, it was a thought said out loud, thought, that left for Herm no chance to explain.

"Harry...", - she couldn't tell anything to dispel his judgement. He wasn't ready to believe in anything she had to say. Hermione was afraid he wouldn't be able to believe her. Ever.

By the squirm on Harry face that appeared as he looked past her, Hermione knew for sure what was gonna happen next and she was right.

"Hermy, darling," - light kiss placed on her cheek, - "Now when everyone knows our little secret", - another kiss, this time of her hair, - "Maybe you don't mind", - tender stroke of her hip, -"If we'll declare our love," - drew her closer in his arms, - "In front of your friends."

Hermione would never forgive herself for what she saw in Harry's eyes when - endless emptiness, as if he had lost the reason to feel, trust, love, think, care, hate.

As if Harry Potter, The Boy That Lived has lost a reason to live.