I don't own a thing. I tried to make the plot original, but apparently it's
been used like, 6 billion times. Please don't sue me!!
Ch. 11 Neville
Hermione and Draco stared at Neville in horror, still holding on to one another. For the longest sixty seconds of Hermione's life, there was nothing but awkward silence, and tension so thick in the air it'd take more than just a knife to cut through it.
"Neville.I can explain," Hermione managed.
"There's nothing to explain! You and Draco Malfoy were making out with each other in the alley way. Is this where you are always disappearing off too Hermione? Into his arms?" Neville said in a voice with such disgust that it sent pangs of guilt into both Draco and Hermione.
Draco piped up, trying to cover. "Longbottom, you old fool, I simply pulled Hermione aside to taunt her about her upcoming N.E.W.T. exams, stress her out, make her go batty." The cruelty in his voice had returned; part from anxiety of being caught, part from fear; part from simply just not liking Neville."
"No, Draco, it's okay." Hermione said, surprising him. "Yes Neville, the truth is, I have been seeing him," pointing to Draco, "I'm dating a Slytherin! Ah, that feels good to get out. Now, Neville, I really would hate to have to threaten you, but you will NOT tell a soul what you saw. And the reason I know you won't say anything is because you know what I'm capable of, in the event that I would have to resort to such forces. And if you DO tell, which I know you won't, I just hope you remember where my strengths are, because I will use every single last curse I can with out permanently damaging you." By this point, she was standing nose to nose with Neville, glaring into his eyes. He knew she meant business, but still remained strong in his composure.
"You deserve to be exposed, you hypocrite. You go around for six years, badmouthing Malfoy and his goonies, and all of the sudden your wrapped around him like aluminum to a can. Harry and Ron and the rest of them deserve to know what a fraud you are. How do I know you two haven't been together ever since we stepped foot in Hogwarts?"
"Um, does Viktor Krum ring a bell to you? How about when I cursed Draco last year for stealing my study notes? Or when I dated Harry? Do you think I would have ever cheated on Harry?"
Neville stood for a second, biting his lip. Hermione was right; she never would have cheated on Harry. They had only dated a few months anyways. "Okay, so maybe you are telling the truth. But that's not going to stop me from telling anyone!"
"Do you want me to erase your memory completely, Longbottom? I have no qualms about it. We'll simply break your wand and say it was a backfire when you tried to do a different spell. Now you listen and you listen well. I have a fist that can punch through 1 inch thick plywood, I'm a helluva lot stronger than you and I will pummel you if I have to. Now if you tell ANYONE what you saw, and I mean anyone, you'll be sorry," Draco threatened.
This time Neville backed down. He looked around him to make sure no one was coming around. "I'm warning you both, right here and right now. I may not be the greatest wizard, I may not be able to do magic, and I may not know loads of spells and information, but I do know this. The longer you keep this secret up, the more trouble you will get into if you don't tell anyone. Hermione, Harry and Ron think the world of you, so what happens if one day they stumble upon you and Draco in another compromising situation? They'll never forgive you! Ever! You betrayed them, you betrayed Gryffindor by lowering yourself to date this scumbag.
"And Malfoy, your father wouldn't be too terribly happy to discover his precious son dating someone whom he considers lower than what is reputable. You'll get hell from him, from your minions, from Snape, from your house. I hope you both know what you're getting into." And with these chilling words, he backed away and stalked off.
Hermione had never seen Neville angry, let alone call her names and insult her judgment. He was always considered the weak one, the near squib. Hermione was still distraught; she knew sooner or later other people were going to find out about the two of them. Draco himself was nearly impressed with Neville's performance; nonetheless, he still hated him.
"Let's go," he muttered. They walked out slightly, making sure no one was coming, and quickly parted ways. Hermione went to catch up with Harry and Ron, tears stinging her eyes. She was still holding on to Draco's chocolate, although she was no longer interested in giving them to him. She wanted to go back to her room and cry. She suddenly wished she were home, in her bed with her stuffed animal Rufus, an old bear she had received when she was a baby. She wished her mom was with her right now, so that she could comfort her and give her loving advice. Her mom would never judge her for the guys she dated.
"Hey Hermione, there you are!" yelled Ron. Hermione quickly snapped out of her reverie and blinked back the tears that were threatening to roll down her cheeks. She ran up and met with her friends- Neville not included in the group, claiming he was ill and needed to leave- and they went off to finish their day trip to Hogsmeade.
They traveled back to the candy store, the quill store, the joke store, again to The Three Broomsticks for more hot cocoa, the post to send off some Christmas cards, all laughing, joking, and smiling. Hermione had even forgotten about her encounter with Neville for a while. It was good to be hanging out with her friends again; she really had not noticed how much she missed Ron and Harry until she remembered how much fun they all used to have.
Finally it was time to return to the castle, and suddenly Hermione had remembered that Draco was probably skulking around the castle somewhere. She needed to talk to him, badly.
"Harry, do you mind if I meet you in your common room later? I seriously need a nap. I was up half the night last night reviewing for the N.E.W.T.s," she explained.
"It's Christmas and you're already beginning to study. Good Merlin Hermione you just don't give it a rest do ya?" teased Ron.
"I'll have you know that the N.E.W.T.s cover seven years worth of information! I think that this break is as perfectly as good a time as any to study. Better now then never!" she sang.
Ron and Harry smiled. "Hermione, are you ever just going to cut lose or are you always going to be studying?" they laughed as they left. Inwardly, Hermione thought:
"More than you know boys"
Ch. 11 Neville
Hermione and Draco stared at Neville in horror, still holding on to one another. For the longest sixty seconds of Hermione's life, there was nothing but awkward silence, and tension so thick in the air it'd take more than just a knife to cut through it.
"Neville.I can explain," Hermione managed.
"There's nothing to explain! You and Draco Malfoy were making out with each other in the alley way. Is this where you are always disappearing off too Hermione? Into his arms?" Neville said in a voice with such disgust that it sent pangs of guilt into both Draco and Hermione.
Draco piped up, trying to cover. "Longbottom, you old fool, I simply pulled Hermione aside to taunt her about her upcoming N.E.W.T. exams, stress her out, make her go batty." The cruelty in his voice had returned; part from anxiety of being caught, part from fear; part from simply just not liking Neville."
"No, Draco, it's okay." Hermione said, surprising him. "Yes Neville, the truth is, I have been seeing him," pointing to Draco, "I'm dating a Slytherin! Ah, that feels good to get out. Now, Neville, I really would hate to have to threaten you, but you will NOT tell a soul what you saw. And the reason I know you won't say anything is because you know what I'm capable of, in the event that I would have to resort to such forces. And if you DO tell, which I know you won't, I just hope you remember where my strengths are, because I will use every single last curse I can with out permanently damaging you." By this point, she was standing nose to nose with Neville, glaring into his eyes. He knew she meant business, but still remained strong in his composure.
"You deserve to be exposed, you hypocrite. You go around for six years, badmouthing Malfoy and his goonies, and all of the sudden your wrapped around him like aluminum to a can. Harry and Ron and the rest of them deserve to know what a fraud you are. How do I know you two haven't been together ever since we stepped foot in Hogwarts?"
"Um, does Viktor Krum ring a bell to you? How about when I cursed Draco last year for stealing my study notes? Or when I dated Harry? Do you think I would have ever cheated on Harry?"
Neville stood for a second, biting his lip. Hermione was right; she never would have cheated on Harry. They had only dated a few months anyways. "Okay, so maybe you are telling the truth. But that's not going to stop me from telling anyone!"
"Do you want me to erase your memory completely, Longbottom? I have no qualms about it. We'll simply break your wand and say it was a backfire when you tried to do a different spell. Now you listen and you listen well. I have a fist that can punch through 1 inch thick plywood, I'm a helluva lot stronger than you and I will pummel you if I have to. Now if you tell ANYONE what you saw, and I mean anyone, you'll be sorry," Draco threatened.
This time Neville backed down. He looked around him to make sure no one was coming around. "I'm warning you both, right here and right now. I may not be the greatest wizard, I may not be able to do magic, and I may not know loads of spells and information, but I do know this. The longer you keep this secret up, the more trouble you will get into if you don't tell anyone. Hermione, Harry and Ron think the world of you, so what happens if one day they stumble upon you and Draco in another compromising situation? They'll never forgive you! Ever! You betrayed them, you betrayed Gryffindor by lowering yourself to date this scumbag.
"And Malfoy, your father wouldn't be too terribly happy to discover his precious son dating someone whom he considers lower than what is reputable. You'll get hell from him, from your minions, from Snape, from your house. I hope you both know what you're getting into." And with these chilling words, he backed away and stalked off.
Hermione had never seen Neville angry, let alone call her names and insult her judgment. He was always considered the weak one, the near squib. Hermione was still distraught; she knew sooner or later other people were going to find out about the two of them. Draco himself was nearly impressed with Neville's performance; nonetheless, he still hated him.
"Let's go," he muttered. They walked out slightly, making sure no one was coming, and quickly parted ways. Hermione went to catch up with Harry and Ron, tears stinging her eyes. She was still holding on to Draco's chocolate, although she was no longer interested in giving them to him. She wanted to go back to her room and cry. She suddenly wished she were home, in her bed with her stuffed animal Rufus, an old bear she had received when she was a baby. She wished her mom was with her right now, so that she could comfort her and give her loving advice. Her mom would never judge her for the guys she dated.
"Hey Hermione, there you are!" yelled Ron. Hermione quickly snapped out of her reverie and blinked back the tears that were threatening to roll down her cheeks. She ran up and met with her friends- Neville not included in the group, claiming he was ill and needed to leave- and they went off to finish their day trip to Hogsmeade.
They traveled back to the candy store, the quill store, the joke store, again to The Three Broomsticks for more hot cocoa, the post to send off some Christmas cards, all laughing, joking, and smiling. Hermione had even forgotten about her encounter with Neville for a while. It was good to be hanging out with her friends again; she really had not noticed how much she missed Ron and Harry until she remembered how much fun they all used to have.
Finally it was time to return to the castle, and suddenly Hermione had remembered that Draco was probably skulking around the castle somewhere. She needed to talk to him, badly.
"Harry, do you mind if I meet you in your common room later? I seriously need a nap. I was up half the night last night reviewing for the N.E.W.T.s," she explained.
"It's Christmas and you're already beginning to study. Good Merlin Hermione you just don't give it a rest do ya?" teased Ron.
"I'll have you know that the N.E.W.T.s cover seven years worth of information! I think that this break is as perfectly as good a time as any to study. Better now then never!" she sang.
Ron and Harry smiled. "Hermione, are you ever just going to cut lose or are you always going to be studying?" they laughed as they left. Inwardly, Hermione thought:
"More than you know boys"