Chapter Two
A Far More Interesting Lunch
Hermione just sat through her morning classes in a stupor wondering what she had done. She was positive she had ruined any chance she had with Harry. For the first time in her life she had answered a question wrong, and what made it even worse was that Neville had gotten the answer right. Professor Sprout was just telling them their homework assignment when the bell rang signaling lunch. Oh great Hermione thought. Now I get to go eat lunch in front of the whole school. She was half way up to the castle when she remembered that she could always just go down to the kitchens to get some food there. As everyone else made their way to the Great Hall, Hermione turned and went down a staircase and followed the stone passageway to the picture of the fruit bowl. She reached out and tickled the pear. She turned the handle that had magically appeared and walked in. The house-elves immediately came running up to her asking her what she wanted.
"I just didn't feel like eating lunch upstairs. Is it ok if I eat down here?"
They all nodded and went to get her a table. They brought her some beef stew and bread and a large glass of pumpkin juice that refilled itself whenever she drank any. She had just started eating her soup when the door opened again. Hermione turned to see who it was.
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Draco was walking out of Transfiguration when he decided he was going to have to skip lunch because there was no way he was eating in front of everyone after what happened at breakfast. His classes were difficult enough with everyone asking him what had happened, and he did not want to have to go through it again at lunch. As he was walking through the stone corridors on the way to the Slytherin common room, he remembered he could just eat in the kitchen. The house elves loved it when people visited so he decided to stop there. He opened the door and walked in to find Hermione's big brown eyes staring into his.
Oh great he thought. He was going to turn around and leave but the house elves practically grabbed him and pulled him into the kitchen. One of them ran to grab another chair and a few others got another bowl and a glass as well as another pot of the stew. He figured there was no point in leaving now, he would only look rude to the elves, and they wouldn't be so nice the next time he needed to escape from everyone else, so he sat down at the table with Hermione.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ooooh great it just had to be him Hermione thought. She really needed to talk to him so she decided she had to say something.
"Hello, Draco"
Draco mumbled something that sounded along the likes of hi, and then went back to stuffing his face.
"We need to talk."
"What do you want Granger."
"I only said yes to you because of a bet."
"Yeah well I only asked you because of a bet...which I told you when I asked you."
"So do we really have to go together than?"
"For someone so smart Granger, you really are stupid you know that. Well duh, we have to still go to the dance together. If we don't show up together, my friends will definitely still shave my head, and your friends will do whatever it is they threatened to do to you. What did they threaten you with anyways?"
"They would tape my diary all over Hogwarts."
"What's so bad about that? Unless you only wrote about how much you secretly love me...you know you really do like me...everyone knows you do." He said with one of his trademark smirks.
"Really...because I pretty much think you're an evil bastard who should go to hell."
"Well I think you...you...I think you're absolutely beautiful."
"WHAT??" Hermione shouted.
"You are...I never noticed it before."
"You're beginning to scare me Malfoy. Why the hell are you acting like this? You've been calling me a mudblood for 4 years. Now suddenly you waltz in here and call me beautiful? No. I don't think so. I'm leaving...and I would rather have my diary taped all over the walls of Hogwarts than go to the ball with you, and personally, I think you deserve to have your head shaved. I'm leaving. Thanks for the food it was great!"
She was storming to the door when she ran into something very solid.
"Get out of my way Draco." She said trying to push him out of the way. He looked down at her, and just kissed her. She would have pulled away if it weren't for the tingling sensation going through her body. They stood there and kissed for a minute. They pulled away and smiled at each other. They were holding each other praying that they would never have to leave each other's arms when Dumbledore's voice suddenly came over the intercom.
"Everyone please report to their house common rooms. Will Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, and Kelsey Bontecou please report to the gargoyle statue on the second floor."
Hermione and Draco looked at each other with interest. This was really weird. Why would Dumbledore be calling them to that statue? They figured it had to be important so they took each other's hand, left the kitchen, and hurried to the second floor statue.
Dumbledore and Kelsey were already there when they arrived. As soon as they walked up he said "Ice Mice", which must have been his password, because the gargoyle immediately started turning and a staircase appeared. Dumbledore stepped on it, and the others followed his lead. The staircase took them to his office. As soon as they arrived, Dumbledore motioned for them to take a seat, as he took his behind the large oak desk. He had an odd look in his eye.
"I am afraid I have some bad news. Your friend, Ben Miller, has died."
Kelsey seemed to be in a state of shock with tears running down her cheeks. Hermione was comforting Kelsey, while Draco was letting it soak in.
"How did this happen?" Asked Draco.
"We believe it was through the Avada Kedavra curse. He was found on the lawn near the quidditch field clutching his wand"
