Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Hope to get these in before I'm occupied
with all my schoolwork (Ugh! How does Hermione cope with it, anyway?). Yup,
the plot thickens! Anyone would like to guess who Hermione eventually
chooses (Though it's main characters are Hermione and Draco)? Hehe... Do
let me know when you drop your reviews in! Thanks, and Happy New Year!
Chapter 18
Hermione couldn't think. All she remembered was pushing past Draco, who had tried to catch hold of her, running up the stairs, and sealed her door with a powerful sealing spell. She didn't want to see anyone. She didn't think she could face them. She covered her ears with her pillow, and ignored Draco and Parvati, who were pounding on her door, asking her if she was okay, and could she PLEASE open up the damn door?
"Hermione, don't do anything stupid!" Yelled Parvati. "We're not mad! We just want an explanation!"
Hermione shut her eyes, trying to shut out the sound too. The second last thing she wanted to do now was to explain anything to anyone. How could she, when she couldn't even explain it to herself in the first place?
Finally, half an hour later, Draco yelled, and said he'd be back with lunch, and left with Parvati, talking in low voices.
Just when she thought she could have some peace to straighten out her thoughts, Hedwig flew in, and landed gracefully on Hermione's bedspread. Two letters were tied to her leg.
"Thanks, Hedwig," said Hermione, untying the letters.
She could tell by the handwriting that they were from Harry and Ginny. Hermione opened the one from Harry first. She was not surprised to see the handwriting was rather untidy, as though Harry was rushing to write and send it.
"Hermione, What happened? Ron burst into the common room like a hurricane, and was nearly tearing his hair out. All he could say was 'Draco', 'Hermione', and 'together' What. The. Hell? Answer ASAP. No, reply NOW! Please! Harry"
Hermione felt a surge of annoyance. What was wrong with Harry? What right did he have, demanding answers out of her like she owed it to him? Hoping for a better letter from Ginny, she opened it. It was not much different to Harry's, though the tone was not as harsh.
"Hermione, All Ron could say since he came in twenty minutes ago was 'Hermione' and 'Draco' and 'together'. What happened? I'm dead worried. Are you okay? Answer ASAP! Ginny"
Hermione dropped Ginny's letter like it had suddenly turned to hot coals. She was in trouble so deep, it was deeper than the deepest ocean. She sat as though in a trance, trying to figure out what to do. Finally, she decided to start by explaining to Draco. Harry and Ginny could wait for all she cared.
Unsealing her door, she slowly made her way down the staircase. When she was in the common room, she steadfastly ignored the prefects who were staring at her, demanding an explanation with their steely glares, fastened on her back.
When she reached Draco's room, she knocked softly thrice, and only had to wait a second, before the door was thrown open. Hermione could see that Draco had prepared to tell anyone to go away, but when he saw her, his expression softened considerably, considering the fact he was a Malfoy, and pulled her in. Parvati, who was holding a piece of parchment, immediately excused herself, and said she'd post the letter immediately, and then she was gone.
"Draco," said Hermione, when the door had been locked and sealed. "I need to set things straight."
Draco sighed. "I knew you'd get to this, but I guess I do have some explaining too. You first," he said, and sat himself on the bed, gesturing to Hermione to sit next to him, which she did.
"Well, we obviously didn't mean for Ron to burst in when we were... You know, but I was also wondering - I mean, even if Ron hadn't walked in at that time, how were we going to keep our, er - feelings for each other? Someone would have found out eventually, anyway." Hermione looked enquiringly at him.
"I was thinking along the same lines as you, Hermione. And I have no idea. I've even been asking myself if I'm serious or am I just having fun, like I always do."
Hermione stiffened, and felt a prickle of insecurity ran up and down her spine. "Like you always do?"
Draco lowered his eyes. "I don't want to go into that," he said. Then, in a colder tone, he said, "Why don't we just forget about each other. This is stupid, anyway. What are we doing? A Gryffindor, and a Slytherin? What's my... Father going to say?"
"Your father?" Hermione's back was so stiff, Draco thought he could iron clothes on it, not that he knew how to, anyway. "I thought you didn't care what your father thought!"
"I never said that," said Draco, his tone going colder still.
"You never meant anything you said, did you, ferret boy?" Said Hermione, using an old nickname she'd used back in her fifth year. She stood up. "Was everything you said a lie?"
Draco looked away, and narrowed his eyes. "Maybe it was."
Hermione fiercely grabbed a side of his face, so that he was facing her. "Ron was right," she said slowly and clearly, her tears welling up rapidly in her eyes. "Never. Trust. A Malfoy."
Then, Hermione turned and ran. She never stopped until she reached the Gryffindor common room, where Ron was still fuming, with Harry and Ginny at his sides.
When Hermione ran in, both Harry and Ginny looked up.
Hermione fell at Ron's knees. "R-Ron," she choked, desperately trying to control her emotions. "I'm sorry. Please - Please forgive me. You were r- right. Never trust a Malfoy. I'll never forget! Oh - Ron!" Hermione threw her arms around Ron, before he could react.
Ron, though he still felt betrayed, and angry, he put his arms around Hermione, and sat her on his left, next to Ginny. Despite himself, he found it in his heart to forgive Hermione. It probably wasn't her fault, in the first place, Draco, being the flirty ferret he was. Hermione was probably just another game of his.
Harry and Ginny quietly excused themselves, and went out of the common room. They walked slowly to a tower, which overlooked the lake, where they looked out. Ginny loved the view from that tower. The delicate azure of the sky and mellow gold of the late afternoon was reflected in the shimmering surface of the water. Ginny thought it was a wonderful scene for a canvas painting. She did not say this aloud, though, wondering who would break the silence. Should she do it, or wait for Harry?
Harry broke the silence.
"I can't believe it," he said softly, his hand clutching the wooden sill, as though for support. "Why would Malfoy go for Hermione? I mean - it's not that she's not attractive, but Malfoy calls her a mudblood! He tortures her beyond anything! And yet -."
"Harry," said Ginny, rubbing her hand up and down Harry's right arm gently, like her mother did when she was upset, angry or tensed up. "Hermione's grown up. If you're a girl, and you've fallen for someone, you wouldn't care whether or not the one you love is perfect or not. All that matters is what you feel for him."
"But -," Harry tried to argue.
"Trust me," said Ginny, looking into Harry's green eyes. "I know."
Harry smiled down at Ginny, who was a little shorter than him. "You do," he said. It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
Ginny nodded, and leant onto Harry, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat. "Do you want to go back now?" She asked softly, closing her eyes.
"No," he answered, putting his arms around her. "Let Ron and Hermione talk it out. They seriously need to consider their feelings for each other."
Ginny's eyes flew open. "Their feelings for each other?" She repeated. "You really think that they both have a thing for the other?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I mean, it's so obvious! Remember the time when Ron was openly jealous of Hermione going with Krum to the Yule Ball? And the time Hermione was furious that Fleur kissed Ron? It's so easy to see! I'm surprised they haven't noticed it yet!"
Ginny's eyes fluttered shut again. Harry's voice reverberating in his chest soothed her. "But I wouldn't guarantee that Hermione will end up with Ron. She'll go where her heart leads her. Not to where her mind leads her to."
Harry's hug around Ginny tightened, much to his own surprise. "Where does your heart lead you to?" He asked softly.
"Where else?" Said Ginny. She snuggled up to Harry. "You, of course," she whispered.
Harry smiled, bent down, and planted a kiss on Ginny's lips. But that one kiss wouldn't be enough. So they stood there for some time, and kissed, not really caring if a teacher, or prefect would walk in and catch them. To them, they had each other, and that was all that mattered.
Chapter 18
Hermione couldn't think. All she remembered was pushing past Draco, who had tried to catch hold of her, running up the stairs, and sealed her door with a powerful sealing spell. She didn't want to see anyone. She didn't think she could face them. She covered her ears with her pillow, and ignored Draco and Parvati, who were pounding on her door, asking her if she was okay, and could she PLEASE open up the damn door?
"Hermione, don't do anything stupid!" Yelled Parvati. "We're not mad! We just want an explanation!"
Hermione shut her eyes, trying to shut out the sound too. The second last thing she wanted to do now was to explain anything to anyone. How could she, when she couldn't even explain it to herself in the first place?
Finally, half an hour later, Draco yelled, and said he'd be back with lunch, and left with Parvati, talking in low voices.
Just when she thought she could have some peace to straighten out her thoughts, Hedwig flew in, and landed gracefully on Hermione's bedspread. Two letters were tied to her leg.
"Thanks, Hedwig," said Hermione, untying the letters.
She could tell by the handwriting that they were from Harry and Ginny. Hermione opened the one from Harry first. She was not surprised to see the handwriting was rather untidy, as though Harry was rushing to write and send it.
"Hermione, What happened? Ron burst into the common room like a hurricane, and was nearly tearing his hair out. All he could say was 'Draco', 'Hermione', and 'together' What. The. Hell? Answer ASAP. No, reply NOW! Please! Harry"
Hermione felt a surge of annoyance. What was wrong with Harry? What right did he have, demanding answers out of her like she owed it to him? Hoping for a better letter from Ginny, she opened it. It was not much different to Harry's, though the tone was not as harsh.
"Hermione, All Ron could say since he came in twenty minutes ago was 'Hermione' and 'Draco' and 'together'. What happened? I'm dead worried. Are you okay? Answer ASAP! Ginny"
Hermione dropped Ginny's letter like it had suddenly turned to hot coals. She was in trouble so deep, it was deeper than the deepest ocean. She sat as though in a trance, trying to figure out what to do. Finally, she decided to start by explaining to Draco. Harry and Ginny could wait for all she cared.
Unsealing her door, she slowly made her way down the staircase. When she was in the common room, she steadfastly ignored the prefects who were staring at her, demanding an explanation with their steely glares, fastened on her back.
When she reached Draco's room, she knocked softly thrice, and only had to wait a second, before the door was thrown open. Hermione could see that Draco had prepared to tell anyone to go away, but when he saw her, his expression softened considerably, considering the fact he was a Malfoy, and pulled her in. Parvati, who was holding a piece of parchment, immediately excused herself, and said she'd post the letter immediately, and then she was gone.
"Draco," said Hermione, when the door had been locked and sealed. "I need to set things straight."
Draco sighed. "I knew you'd get to this, but I guess I do have some explaining too. You first," he said, and sat himself on the bed, gesturing to Hermione to sit next to him, which she did.
"Well, we obviously didn't mean for Ron to burst in when we were... You know, but I was also wondering - I mean, even if Ron hadn't walked in at that time, how were we going to keep our, er - feelings for each other? Someone would have found out eventually, anyway." Hermione looked enquiringly at him.
"I was thinking along the same lines as you, Hermione. And I have no idea. I've even been asking myself if I'm serious or am I just having fun, like I always do."
Hermione stiffened, and felt a prickle of insecurity ran up and down her spine. "Like you always do?"
Draco lowered his eyes. "I don't want to go into that," he said. Then, in a colder tone, he said, "Why don't we just forget about each other. This is stupid, anyway. What are we doing? A Gryffindor, and a Slytherin? What's my... Father going to say?"
"Your father?" Hermione's back was so stiff, Draco thought he could iron clothes on it, not that he knew how to, anyway. "I thought you didn't care what your father thought!"
"I never said that," said Draco, his tone going colder still.
"You never meant anything you said, did you, ferret boy?" Said Hermione, using an old nickname she'd used back in her fifth year. She stood up. "Was everything you said a lie?"
Draco looked away, and narrowed his eyes. "Maybe it was."
Hermione fiercely grabbed a side of his face, so that he was facing her. "Ron was right," she said slowly and clearly, her tears welling up rapidly in her eyes. "Never. Trust. A Malfoy."
Then, Hermione turned and ran. She never stopped until she reached the Gryffindor common room, where Ron was still fuming, with Harry and Ginny at his sides.
When Hermione ran in, both Harry and Ginny looked up.
Hermione fell at Ron's knees. "R-Ron," she choked, desperately trying to control her emotions. "I'm sorry. Please - Please forgive me. You were r- right. Never trust a Malfoy. I'll never forget! Oh - Ron!" Hermione threw her arms around Ron, before he could react.
Ron, though he still felt betrayed, and angry, he put his arms around Hermione, and sat her on his left, next to Ginny. Despite himself, he found it in his heart to forgive Hermione. It probably wasn't her fault, in the first place, Draco, being the flirty ferret he was. Hermione was probably just another game of his.
Harry and Ginny quietly excused themselves, and went out of the common room. They walked slowly to a tower, which overlooked the lake, where they looked out. Ginny loved the view from that tower. The delicate azure of the sky and mellow gold of the late afternoon was reflected in the shimmering surface of the water. Ginny thought it was a wonderful scene for a canvas painting. She did not say this aloud, though, wondering who would break the silence. Should she do it, or wait for Harry?
Harry broke the silence.
"I can't believe it," he said softly, his hand clutching the wooden sill, as though for support. "Why would Malfoy go for Hermione? I mean - it's not that she's not attractive, but Malfoy calls her a mudblood! He tortures her beyond anything! And yet -."
"Harry," said Ginny, rubbing her hand up and down Harry's right arm gently, like her mother did when she was upset, angry or tensed up. "Hermione's grown up. If you're a girl, and you've fallen for someone, you wouldn't care whether or not the one you love is perfect or not. All that matters is what you feel for him."
"But -," Harry tried to argue.
"Trust me," said Ginny, looking into Harry's green eyes. "I know."
Harry smiled down at Ginny, who was a little shorter than him. "You do," he said. It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
Ginny nodded, and leant onto Harry, listening to his strong and steady heartbeat. "Do you want to go back now?" She asked softly, closing her eyes.
"No," he answered, putting his arms around her. "Let Ron and Hermione talk it out. They seriously need to consider their feelings for each other."
Ginny's eyes flew open. "Their feelings for each other?" She repeated. "You really think that they both have a thing for the other?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I mean, it's so obvious! Remember the time when Ron was openly jealous of Hermione going with Krum to the Yule Ball? And the time Hermione was furious that Fleur kissed Ron? It's so easy to see! I'm surprised they haven't noticed it yet!"
Ginny's eyes fluttered shut again. Harry's voice reverberating in his chest soothed her. "But I wouldn't guarantee that Hermione will end up with Ron. She'll go where her heart leads her. Not to where her mind leads her to."
Harry's hug around Ginny tightened, much to his own surprise. "Where does your heart lead you to?" He asked softly.
"Where else?" Said Ginny. She snuggled up to Harry. "You, of course," she whispered.
Harry smiled, bent down, and planted a kiss on Ginny's lips. But that one kiss wouldn't be enough. So they stood there for some time, and kissed, not really caring if a teacher, or prefect would walk in and catch them. To them, they had each other, and that was all that mattered.