Near Imperfection- Chapter One: The Facade Must Hold By: Jade Maxwell
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way, shape, or form. Making no
money off of it either! Warning: Cho/Hermione fem slash and hints at
Hermione/Ginny (possibly Pansy/Hermione as well), hints at Draco/Harry
slash, angst, ooc, and sap basically. Notes: I was doing a search for
Cho/Hermione/Cho fem slash and found no stories so this will be my second
one. I was listening to Linkin Park CD while I wrote this if it explains
the mood. Summary: Hermione in her seventh year is being drowned with her
new workload, as well as being a Perfect. What does she do when she finds
out her best friend, Harry, is seeing another man and that man is Draco
Malfoy: archrival and son of a Death Eater? And she can't tell anyone for
his sake and Draco's sake. The pressure is on and then a most unexpected
person helps her through it...or does she add more pressure? More Notes:
"Talking" : Thinking : Writing
Perfect is not as it seems...
Hermione closed her diary and sighed. Her dark brown eyes shifted to the beautiful and well-developed figure of Ginny next to her and smiled gently. Reaching a hand out to brush a lock of bright red hair away from the freckled face. Ginny opened her equally bright teal eyes and smiled up at Hermione. Sitting up, with no modesty to the fact that she had no shirt on, and pulling Hermione into a deep and heartfelt kiss. Yet, Hermione could only lean into the kiss automatically, giving Ginny what she wanted and needed: attention. : Besides, Hermione, the sun isn't up yet and Ginny won't leave till moments before the sun rises. Enjoy her and then you can start your day! : Hermione closed her eyes and fell into the sensations of pure physical need. Unlike what people thought, she did enjoy sensations as much if not more than the normal bookworm girl did. When it was all over Ginny kissed her once more and then dressed with super speed and left quietly. Making sure not to wake the other girls.
Ginny had been gone for no more than fifteen minutes and Hermione was up and in the shower room. Feeling dirty for using Ginny like she did. : But you can't help it can you Hermione? You just need someone to release your pressure and you find no pleasure in boys... : She tilted her head under the Prefects bathroom shower with a sigh. The stinging water washing away all traces of tears. : And she was so very willing wasn't she. Buzzed from drinking too much of Seamus' Muggle whiskey that one night. Crawling into your room while all the rest of the Seventh year Gryffindors had fun in the common room. Just couldn't help yourself could you. With her tousled button up shirt unbuttoned to reveal succulent cleavage. That light flush to her cheeks and she just had to reach up and kiss you. : Hermione trembled, remembering the way her body and nerves had come straight to attention. Just like they were now and she was only thinking of that night. With a shake of her head she turned the hot water up till it hurt. : Must not think of that, must feel horrible for fucking Ron's sister while she was almost drunk. Must feel worse for letting it continue for so long. Secret affairs always wound the perfect. :
"Perfect is not as it seems though..." She said aloud to herself and flicked the water off. She grabbed the nearest towel and rubbed her body dry, then wrapped it around her hair and dressed quickly. Thankful that the Perfects bathroom was never packed to the brim with girls. A look at the nearest clock as she traversed to the Common room revealed it to be breakfast time and she quickened her pace. The Fat Lady painting swung open before she could leave, exposing no one to be there. Then she felt the indescribable feeling of almost water run over her skin and she grabbed at the air. Grabbing Harry's invisibility cloak and showing an exhausted Harry Potter. "Seems like someone has some explaining to do this evening." She said and dropped the cloak before walking through the portrait hole, throwing her wet towel in his face and shaking her hair into place. Then, with a simple spell, she brushed her hair.
The stairs had moved again in the night making it difficult for the auburn hair young woman to make her way to the Great Hall. Her facade fell into place like a heavy and almost unbearable weight as she walked calmly through the large doors. Her Black robes swirled around her feet and she looked up to see light rain falling from the magical illusion that was the ceiling. : Great, rain, just what was needed! : Ron's bright blue eyes met hers and he smiled giddily. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked over to sit next to Ginny, across from Ron. His smiled faded some at that.
"G'mornin' Herm! How was your night?" He asked enthusiastically. Hermione raised her eyebrow and smiled gently.
"Full of exciting studying on what muggles are calling aliens and UFO's." His face fell in confusion and she smiled even brighter. "Yours?" Ginny giggled and shook her head.
"Erm...good." He replied before turning to the exciting conversation about Quidditch coming from Neville and Seamus. Hermione shook her head as well and turned to the young girl next to her.
"Nice cover Hermione." Ginny whispered with a small laugh. "So, what are aliens and UFO's?" Now it was Hermione's turn to laugh. And she tried her hardest to explain what an alien was and what a UFO was to the muggles. Finally, when she ran out of ways to explain the unexplainable she turned to her breakfast of lightly buttered toast, bacon, eggs and pumpkin juice. Not noticing Harry plop himself next to Ron and dig into his breakfast until she was finished eating.
"G'mornin, Harry!" Ron exclaimed when he noticed him. Then he blanched at the look on Harry's face. "Bloody hell Harry, you look wretched! Up late last night?" Ron asked concerned.
Harry sighed, but said nothing and took a long drink of his pumpkin juice. Ron shrugged and went back to the once Quidditch conversation turned Potions homework. Almost no one had it finished. Hermione shook her head and looked back over at Harry. His shaggy black hair was almost controlled today; green eyes were darkened from obvious lack of sleep. He shook his head at her unasked question and left the table. Not a single thing touched on his plate. : You'll have to talk to the git this evening about his late night adventure, but right now you need to get your stuff and get to Potions! : She told herself and followed him out of the Great Hall.
"Turn in your assignments class!" Professor Snape told his class and everyone, excluding Hermione and Draco, rushed into their bags to gather their papers. Using a simple spell, Snape charmed all the papers to float over to his desk in a neat pile. "Now, today we're going to be making a complex Potion for healing poisoned blood. I want each and everyone of you to copy down the ingredients on the board!" He crossed his arms and glared around the classroom. The scratch of quills on parchment filled the room. Once the class seemed finished Snape continued. "Tomorrow you are going to be making a poison that slowly fills the bloodstream and you will have to have this potion to cure it." Neville gulped nervously and then raised his hand. "Mister Longbottom?"
"Um...um...um..." He said and then gulped again. Lavender's hand shot up from behind him. Snape glared at Neville and then nodded his greasy black- haired head at Lavender.
"Do we get to have partners?"
"Yes," Her hand shot up again and he ignored it. "I will be choosing your partner, so lower your hand." She did so reluctantly and he smirked. "The partners will be Slytherin-Gryffindor pairs." Both houses groaned in disappointment. Then he started to pair everyone off. Ron with Goyle, Seamus with Crabbe, Neville with Blaise, Lavender with Millicent, Hermione with Pansy, Harry with Draco, and so on and so forth 'til everyone was partnered and sitting with said partner. "Get to work!" And everyone scrambled to get the ingredients.
When Hermione and Pansy sat back down at Pansy's desk, Pansy asked a most unexpected question. "You seeing anyone Granger?"
"No, Parkinson, I'm not. Why do you care?" She tilted her head to the sighed with her eyebrow raised. Unconsciously looking seductive. Pansy visibly gulped and turned to carefully shredding a Gryphon feather into her cauldron. "Well, Pansy?" She asked using her first name.
Pansy looked back at her, causing a strand of blond hair to stick to her lips. She brushed it back and said, "Just wondering if you were free after classes today." She quirked her lips up into a serious smile before turning back to what she was doing.
Hermione blinked and looked down at her cauldron which held the more dangerous part of the potion in it to be mixed with the antidote when Pansy was finished with it. "Free in what way? Most evenings are spent studying." Hermione raised her right eyebrow inquisitively. "What would you have planned?"
The Slytherin's eyes brightened and she smiled. "Oh, just wanted to meet up with you some time." Her dark green eyes shimmered with a mischievous gleam.
Suddenly, a sparkly cloud of smoke arose from Neville and Blaise's mixed concoction. Snapping most of the classes attention to their table now covered in a thin film of glistening dust. Snape growled and stomped up next to their desk, glaring for all he was worth. "Mixed too soon have we? Five points from both houses for not reading the directions correctly!" Neville gulped nervously, shrinking back from the angry Professor. "And you both have detention this evening so you can make a proper potion!" They both nodded and he went back to his desk. Ron leaned forward and patted Neville's shoulder reassuringly.
Exactly ten minutes passed and Hermione poured her foul smelling half into the silver and honey smelling half of the Potion. Pansy stirred it and the potion turned exactly the same color of blood. No smell emitted from it now, foul or otherwise, and Hermione smiled happily. A cloud of black and putrid smoke arose from Ron and Goyle's supposed Potion. Snape yelled at them for putting the mixture's together too late and gave them the same punishment as Neville and Blaise. When nothing else turned to smoke, Snape made his way to each individual Potion. Crabbe and Seamus got the same punishment as well for having messed up the ingredients and turning their potion into a watery yellow substance. Everyone else got his or her potions correct.
"You're potions are supposed to look like blood and have the consistency of blood." Hermione smiled and crossed her arms smugly. Noticing out of the corner of her eye that Pansy was watching her expectantly. "Now, those of you who got it right pour your potion into a large vial and label it with your names. Like I said earlier, you'll need them for tomorrow."
Hermione raised her arm for the first time since class started. With a sigh and roll of his dark eyes Snape nodded at her. "Who gets the honors of being poisoned?" She asked with a raise of her eyebrow.
With a malevolent glare Snape snapped, "Both of you. First is whoever made the dangerous mix and then you switch." He scanned the class and then snapped again. "Well, pour your potions before the bell rings for your next class.
"You never answered my question, Granger." A soft whisper reached her ear.
"Yes, I'm free. Meet me at the Astronomy Tower at 9:00. Not a minute later, Parkinson, or the deal is off!" She whispered back, feeling her heart jump into her throat. Surprised that she wasn't feeling guilty for saying she would meet the pretty Slytherin next to her. : Why should you? You were only using Ginny for satisfaction; it was not a relationship! No matter what Ginny may or may not think! : Hermione smirked at Pansy sexily making Pansy blush. : Since when was I ever able to do that?! : Before someone noticed what she was doing, she started to clean up his or her table. : Wonderful way to begin your day Hermione! Potions for your first class and a date in the Astronomy Tower with a Slytherin! You're on a role Granger! : She told herself as the blonde Slytherin carefully poured and labeled their vial. Hermione watched her carefully. She was pretty, with dark green eyes and golden blonde hair. Not quite petite facial features, but nowhere near over large features. From her position she couldn't see what she looked like under her robes, but she was sure she was slender with small proportions. The bell rang suddenly and she gathered her stuff together. Her well placed facade in place as she listened to her housemates complain about their partners.
"Time to worry and complain later, now is your life so try and live..."
Perfect is not as it seems...
Hermione closed her diary and sighed. Her dark brown eyes shifted to the beautiful and well-developed figure of Ginny next to her and smiled gently. Reaching a hand out to brush a lock of bright red hair away from the freckled face. Ginny opened her equally bright teal eyes and smiled up at Hermione. Sitting up, with no modesty to the fact that she had no shirt on, and pulling Hermione into a deep and heartfelt kiss. Yet, Hermione could only lean into the kiss automatically, giving Ginny what she wanted and needed: attention. : Besides, Hermione, the sun isn't up yet and Ginny won't leave till moments before the sun rises. Enjoy her and then you can start your day! : Hermione closed her eyes and fell into the sensations of pure physical need. Unlike what people thought, she did enjoy sensations as much if not more than the normal bookworm girl did. When it was all over Ginny kissed her once more and then dressed with super speed and left quietly. Making sure not to wake the other girls.
Ginny had been gone for no more than fifteen minutes and Hermione was up and in the shower room. Feeling dirty for using Ginny like she did. : But you can't help it can you Hermione? You just need someone to release your pressure and you find no pleasure in boys... : She tilted her head under the Prefects bathroom shower with a sigh. The stinging water washing away all traces of tears. : And she was so very willing wasn't she. Buzzed from drinking too much of Seamus' Muggle whiskey that one night. Crawling into your room while all the rest of the Seventh year Gryffindors had fun in the common room. Just couldn't help yourself could you. With her tousled button up shirt unbuttoned to reveal succulent cleavage. That light flush to her cheeks and she just had to reach up and kiss you. : Hermione trembled, remembering the way her body and nerves had come straight to attention. Just like they were now and she was only thinking of that night. With a shake of her head she turned the hot water up till it hurt. : Must not think of that, must feel horrible for fucking Ron's sister while she was almost drunk. Must feel worse for letting it continue for so long. Secret affairs always wound the perfect. :
"Perfect is not as it seems though..." She said aloud to herself and flicked the water off. She grabbed the nearest towel and rubbed her body dry, then wrapped it around her hair and dressed quickly. Thankful that the Perfects bathroom was never packed to the brim with girls. A look at the nearest clock as she traversed to the Common room revealed it to be breakfast time and she quickened her pace. The Fat Lady painting swung open before she could leave, exposing no one to be there. Then she felt the indescribable feeling of almost water run over her skin and she grabbed at the air. Grabbing Harry's invisibility cloak and showing an exhausted Harry Potter. "Seems like someone has some explaining to do this evening." She said and dropped the cloak before walking through the portrait hole, throwing her wet towel in his face and shaking her hair into place. Then, with a simple spell, she brushed her hair.
The stairs had moved again in the night making it difficult for the auburn hair young woman to make her way to the Great Hall. Her facade fell into place like a heavy and almost unbearable weight as she walked calmly through the large doors. Her Black robes swirled around her feet and she looked up to see light rain falling from the magical illusion that was the ceiling. : Great, rain, just what was needed! : Ron's bright blue eyes met hers and he smiled giddily. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked over to sit next to Ginny, across from Ron. His smiled faded some at that.
"G'mornin' Herm! How was your night?" He asked enthusiastically. Hermione raised her eyebrow and smiled gently.
"Full of exciting studying on what muggles are calling aliens and UFO's." His face fell in confusion and she smiled even brighter. "Yours?" Ginny giggled and shook her head.
"Erm...good." He replied before turning to the exciting conversation about Quidditch coming from Neville and Seamus. Hermione shook her head as well and turned to the young girl next to her.
"Nice cover Hermione." Ginny whispered with a small laugh. "So, what are aliens and UFO's?" Now it was Hermione's turn to laugh. And she tried her hardest to explain what an alien was and what a UFO was to the muggles. Finally, when she ran out of ways to explain the unexplainable she turned to her breakfast of lightly buttered toast, bacon, eggs and pumpkin juice. Not noticing Harry plop himself next to Ron and dig into his breakfast until she was finished eating.
"G'mornin, Harry!" Ron exclaimed when he noticed him. Then he blanched at the look on Harry's face. "Bloody hell Harry, you look wretched! Up late last night?" Ron asked concerned.
Harry sighed, but said nothing and took a long drink of his pumpkin juice. Ron shrugged and went back to the once Quidditch conversation turned Potions homework. Almost no one had it finished. Hermione shook her head and looked back over at Harry. His shaggy black hair was almost controlled today; green eyes were darkened from obvious lack of sleep. He shook his head at her unasked question and left the table. Not a single thing touched on his plate. : You'll have to talk to the git this evening about his late night adventure, but right now you need to get your stuff and get to Potions! : She told herself and followed him out of the Great Hall.
"Turn in your assignments class!" Professor Snape told his class and everyone, excluding Hermione and Draco, rushed into their bags to gather their papers. Using a simple spell, Snape charmed all the papers to float over to his desk in a neat pile. "Now, today we're going to be making a complex Potion for healing poisoned blood. I want each and everyone of you to copy down the ingredients on the board!" He crossed his arms and glared around the classroom. The scratch of quills on parchment filled the room. Once the class seemed finished Snape continued. "Tomorrow you are going to be making a poison that slowly fills the bloodstream and you will have to have this potion to cure it." Neville gulped nervously and then raised his hand. "Mister Longbottom?"
"Um...um...um..." He said and then gulped again. Lavender's hand shot up from behind him. Snape glared at Neville and then nodded his greasy black- haired head at Lavender.
"Do we get to have partners?"
"Yes," Her hand shot up again and he ignored it. "I will be choosing your partner, so lower your hand." She did so reluctantly and he smirked. "The partners will be Slytherin-Gryffindor pairs." Both houses groaned in disappointment. Then he started to pair everyone off. Ron with Goyle, Seamus with Crabbe, Neville with Blaise, Lavender with Millicent, Hermione with Pansy, Harry with Draco, and so on and so forth 'til everyone was partnered and sitting with said partner. "Get to work!" And everyone scrambled to get the ingredients.
When Hermione and Pansy sat back down at Pansy's desk, Pansy asked a most unexpected question. "You seeing anyone Granger?"
"No, Parkinson, I'm not. Why do you care?" She tilted her head to the sighed with her eyebrow raised. Unconsciously looking seductive. Pansy visibly gulped and turned to carefully shredding a Gryphon feather into her cauldron. "Well, Pansy?" She asked using her first name.
Pansy looked back at her, causing a strand of blond hair to stick to her lips. She brushed it back and said, "Just wondering if you were free after classes today." She quirked her lips up into a serious smile before turning back to what she was doing.
Hermione blinked and looked down at her cauldron which held the more dangerous part of the potion in it to be mixed with the antidote when Pansy was finished with it. "Free in what way? Most evenings are spent studying." Hermione raised her right eyebrow inquisitively. "What would you have planned?"
The Slytherin's eyes brightened and she smiled. "Oh, just wanted to meet up with you some time." Her dark green eyes shimmered with a mischievous gleam.
Suddenly, a sparkly cloud of smoke arose from Neville and Blaise's mixed concoction. Snapping most of the classes attention to their table now covered in a thin film of glistening dust. Snape growled and stomped up next to their desk, glaring for all he was worth. "Mixed too soon have we? Five points from both houses for not reading the directions correctly!" Neville gulped nervously, shrinking back from the angry Professor. "And you both have detention this evening so you can make a proper potion!" They both nodded and he went back to his desk. Ron leaned forward and patted Neville's shoulder reassuringly.
Exactly ten minutes passed and Hermione poured her foul smelling half into the silver and honey smelling half of the Potion. Pansy stirred it and the potion turned exactly the same color of blood. No smell emitted from it now, foul or otherwise, and Hermione smiled happily. A cloud of black and putrid smoke arose from Ron and Goyle's supposed Potion. Snape yelled at them for putting the mixture's together too late and gave them the same punishment as Neville and Blaise. When nothing else turned to smoke, Snape made his way to each individual Potion. Crabbe and Seamus got the same punishment as well for having messed up the ingredients and turning their potion into a watery yellow substance. Everyone else got his or her potions correct.
"You're potions are supposed to look like blood and have the consistency of blood." Hermione smiled and crossed her arms smugly. Noticing out of the corner of her eye that Pansy was watching her expectantly. "Now, those of you who got it right pour your potion into a large vial and label it with your names. Like I said earlier, you'll need them for tomorrow."
Hermione raised her arm for the first time since class started. With a sigh and roll of his dark eyes Snape nodded at her. "Who gets the honors of being poisoned?" She asked with a raise of her eyebrow.
With a malevolent glare Snape snapped, "Both of you. First is whoever made the dangerous mix and then you switch." He scanned the class and then snapped again. "Well, pour your potions before the bell rings for your next class.
"You never answered my question, Granger." A soft whisper reached her ear.
"Yes, I'm free. Meet me at the Astronomy Tower at 9:00. Not a minute later, Parkinson, or the deal is off!" She whispered back, feeling her heart jump into her throat. Surprised that she wasn't feeling guilty for saying she would meet the pretty Slytherin next to her. : Why should you? You were only using Ginny for satisfaction; it was not a relationship! No matter what Ginny may or may not think! : Hermione smirked at Pansy sexily making Pansy blush. : Since when was I ever able to do that?! : Before someone noticed what she was doing, she started to clean up his or her table. : Wonderful way to begin your day Hermione! Potions for your first class and a date in the Astronomy Tower with a Slytherin! You're on a role Granger! : She told herself as the blonde Slytherin carefully poured and labeled their vial. Hermione watched her carefully. She was pretty, with dark green eyes and golden blonde hair. Not quite petite facial features, but nowhere near over large features. From her position she couldn't see what she looked like under her robes, but she was sure she was slender with small proportions. The bell rang suddenly and she gathered her stuff together. Her well placed facade in place as she listened to her housemates complain about their partners.
"Time to worry and complain later, now is your life so try and live..."
