Hermione looked at her reflection one last time before she left to meet
Draco. 'Okay, Hermione, you can do this,' she told her reflection. She made
sure her robes were perfect and opened the door to the portrait hole.
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Draco Malfoy waited by the lake patiently. He checked his watch and looked back up to the doors of Hogwarts. He hoped she hadn't gotten in any trouble with Filch. He looked at his watch again, and it read 10:00. 'Calm down, Draco, it's just Hermione,' he said to himself. His stomach was in knots and he didn't know why. He looked towards the doors of the Entrance Hall, and there she was. She looked directly at him, and smiled. His heart skipped a beat. 'What's wrong with me?'
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"Are you sure you want to go through with this, mate?" Harry asked Ron, "Even after all that's happened to her, and with her parents?"
Ron looked toward his friend. "Yes, Harry. I'm sure. Hermione deserves better than him, and I think we should at least try to do something about it."
Harry sighed and draped the invisibility cloak over himself and his friend, and they slowly made their way to the lake.
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Hermione opened the doors, and a rush of cold air hit her face. She began walking slowly toward the lake, staring at her feet. She looked up, and there he was. She smiled, and he smiled back. Her heart skipped a beat. 'What's wrong with me?'
It seemed like centuries had passed before she finally arrived beside him at the lake. They smiled, and sat down beside each other. An awkward silence passed, and then someone spoke up.
"I was afraid Filch had caught you or something," Draco said quietly.
"I'm Head Girl, it's my duty to be out after hours," she replied.
"It's my duty too. But it's not our duty to be out after hours to have secret rendezvous at the lake," he grinned at her.
She laughed quietly. "What was so important that we had to meet in secret, away from the castle?" she whispered.
"Why did you come to me? Why didn't you go to someone else? You could have gone to anyone, Potter, Weasley, the Weaslette.but you came to me. Why?" Draco asked.
"I.I don't know. I mean.it's just.look if you don't want to be friends." Hermione managed to choke out. She started to get up, but he grabbed onto her wrist, and she sat back down.
"Look, I-I didn't mean it like that, Hermione," Draco said sincerely, "it's just. We used to be enemies and all of the sudden we're friends. How can you forgive me after all I said and did to you?"
"I believe people can change," she replied, looking into his face, "my.father, he changed. But he changed for the worse. Ron.Ron changed in a different way.but you, Draco. You haven't changed at all, you are just a person I never bothered to get to know.until now. I don't care about the things you've said or done. I didn't know you then. And now I do. Does our past really matter?"
To her surprise, he pulled her into a warm hug. When they parted, their faces were inches apart.
He looked into her eyes. Silver met with honey, and they could see inside each other's souls. Hermione found she could hardly breathe. 'Remember to breathe,' she told herself, 'Remember to breathe.'
Their lips almost met, and Hermione quickly turned away. "I'm.I'm sorry, Draco. It's just."
Draco laughed softly. "It's okay.I guess I just got a little carried away..."
"We should get back to the castle.it's getting late."
She smiled at him apologetically. He smiled back and rose to help her to her feet. She began to walk toward the castle, and turned around when she noticed Draco was not following.
"Are you coming?" she asked.
"No, I think I'm gonna stay behind for a little while longer. I'll talk to you later," he smiled reassuringly.
"Are you sure?" she asked. Draco nodded. She smiled at him and walked back to the castle. He watched her leave. 'How can she do this to me?' he thought, 'she just rejected me, and I still want to be with her.'
"What kind of spell do you have on her Malfoy?" a voice asked coldly, "I don't understand how she could even talk to you after all you've done to her."
Draco spun around to meet Ron and Harry. 'It's not me who has the spell on her, its her who has the spell on me,' he thought. He quickly hid his smile with a smirk. He picked up a few rocks and skipped them across the lake.
"So Potty and Weasel have followed their friend again?" he said smoothly, "Why am I not surprised? Weasleys are known for their unnatural obsession with Muggle-borns," he paused for effect and continued, "but I have news for you both. She will be mine."
Draco looked toward them again, and could have sworn he saw laughter in the eyes of Harry. When he looked at Ron, he saw suppressed rage. He smirked again, and decided to push Ron a little further.
"I should just direct this at you, Weasel. You seem to be the only one who doesn't know how to keep a friend, or at least get a girlfriend. But I understand completely. You lost Hermione's-and don't give me that look, you know we're friends now, so I might as well just give up the charade-you've lost Hermione's friendship because of your own confession of your dreams of our Potions Master, and hinted homosexuality, am I right?"
"YOU BLOODY PRAT!! I SWEAR-"
"Temper, temper, Weasel. Now I think she would have forgiven you, had you not put the blame on her. Maybe if you tried blaming yourself, she'd forgive you," Draco said smoothly.
Ron lunged at Draco, and they began to fight. Ron swung his fist at Draco and he missed by a long shot. Draco used the opportunity to push Ron to the ground. He kicked him in the ribs and spat on him.
"What do you know of Hermione, ferret boy? You know nothing of the situation," Ron spat out angrily.
"Weasley, I was in your situation for 7 years. Now it seems the tables have turned," Draco smirked, "You are calling her the mudblood and I'm there to comfort her. But you can't deny that you are thoroughly jealous that Hermione was in my arms, and I had the honor of being that close to her, the honor you will never have."
Ron was red in the face with anger, and it took every ounce of his energy not to get up and swing at him again, because he knew every word his enemy spoke was the truth. He lowered his head in defeat.
"So the Weasel is speechless? I never thought I'd see the day," Draco smirked, "I should get going, Hermione is probably wondering what is taking me so long," he began to walk away, but turned back to the two muddled faces behind him, "and let's just hope Hermione doesn't have to find out about this."
And with that, Draco turned on his heel and left the two boys standing there. Harry turned to Ron, laughing lightly. He patted his friend on the shoulder.
"That bloody prat! He thinks he can take Hermione away from me! And he still gets the last words!" Ron said angrily.
Harry laughed lightly. "Well, mate, looks like your little plan backfired."
"I guess you're right, mate," Ron said, "and I can't believe Malfoy just gave me advice."
"D'you suppose Mione's getting to him?"
"S'pose so.I can't stand him.but I think I owe her an apology."
"You owe her a huge apology, mate."
Ron grimaced. "How can she stand Malfoy? That slimy git has tormented us for the past 7 years. She forgave him, and she can't forgive me?"
"Did you not hear what she said to Malfoy? They share the same pain, Ron. She has sympathy for him, as he does her, and it's a lot easier to forgive an enemy who shares your pain than to forgive a friend who has hurt you."
Ron looked confounded. Harry patted his friend on the back. "You truly are daft Ron," he laughed, as his friend playfully punched him. Harry picked up the cloak and threw it over himself and Ron, and they walked back to the castle in silence.
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Hermione woke up yet again smiling; it felt good to sleep in. She felt better than she had since the incident this summer. She made a mental note to write her mother to check up on things. It was beyond her how so many good things could happen to her after a fight with one of her best friends in the world. She got out of bed and took a hot shower, thinking of the days many possibilities. No classes today, no Slytherins, no Ron, no Snape.and then it hit her.
"Bloody hell." Hermione mumbled. "This is just peachy," she mumbled sarcastically. A detention with the Potions Master on a Saturday night...how fun. She turned off the water and wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of her shower room, and Draco was in the bathroom fixing his hair. He turned around and smirked at her. She rolled her eyes.
"I guess this makes us even, then?" Hermione said as she pushed him aside.
"Temper, temper, Granger," she heard him say as she closed to door to her dormitory.
"So it's back to last names, is it?" she shouted from behind her door.
Despite herself, she laughed. She quickly dressed into her school robes and began to work on her hair. She decided on half-up, half-down, and with a clip fastened it into place. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door. She found Draco sitting on the couch, smirking and obviously waiting for her. She decided to have some fun with this, and ignored him as she walked past. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his smirk fade and his face twist into utter confusion. She laughed inwardly, and the corners of her mouth twitched, threatening to smile. He noticed this immediately and grabbed her hand.
"Where do you think you're going, Miss Granger?" he asked silkily.
"Away from you, Mister Malfoy. Are you blind or did you just decide to not see my attempt to ignore you as I made to leave?" she answered.
He got on his knees, her hand still in his, and the other clutching his chest in mock hurt. "Your words hurt me. I fear I have lost your heart forever!"
Just as he said these words, the portrait hole opened revealing Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley. To both Hermione and Draco's amusement, they happened to walk in just as Draco kneeled down and clutched his heart. McGonagall looked flustered. Hermione and Draco looked at each other and laughed.
"May I inquire as to what was taking place here?" Professor McGonagall asked, appalled by their behavior.
Hermione looked at Draco, and they smirked at each other. "Well, if you must know, Professor.Draco and I have been secretly dating and had our first fight today. You just happened to walk in as he confessed his undying love for me," she tried to keep her laughter in.
The expression on their Transfigurations Professor was priceless. Her face was contorted into a mix of horror and surprise. Harry and Ron had paled considerably, and Draco was pleasantly surprised by Hermione's outrageous yet believable lie.
Hermione laughed and Draco rose from his kneeling position on the floor, laughing as well. This earned them three sighs of relief, and uneasy laughter from the other two Gryffindors.
"Merlin, you'd think Voldemort had returned or something!" Hermione laughed.
Everyone in the room looked at her in surprise-it was the first time she'd ever said his name out loud.
"BLOODY HELL, CAN ANYONE TAKE A JOKE?!" Hermione shouted.
Harry began to laugh, and turned to Hermione, "We just came to see why you two didn't come to breakfast this morning, we were worried that something happened. Our perfect student Miss Granger never fails to miss breakfast!"
"Thanks for your concern, Potter. But Her-" he eyed his teacher warily, "Granger and I are fine, we just woke up a bit later than usual," Draco answered for Hermione.
"Mr Malfoy, Ms Granger, I trust you will not miss lunch?" McGonagall asked them, raising a disbelieving eyebrow. It was more of a demand then a question.
"No, ma'am," they replied simultaneously.
"Good, then I will leave you four to yourselves," she replied, exiting the Heads' common room.
There was an awkward silence, and then.
"Mione, I'm really sorry. I'm sorry for blaming you. I'm really the one to blame for everything. I didn't mean to be such a prat.I completely understand if you don't forgive me." Ron apologized.
Hermione's eyes had lit up and she was smiling broadly. Both Ron and Harry did not believe Draco's suggestion would work.
"Well, I was waiting for you to come to your senses." she teased.
"But do you forgive me?" Ron asked, with a hopeful expression.
"Of course Ron!" Hermione smiled and hugged her friend.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Can we just leave now? I'm glad you and the Weasel made up and all, but I have loads of admirers waiting for me in the Great Hall."
Hermione playfully pushed him and he smiled, and he slid his hand around her waist. She looked at him and then shook her head. Harry and Ron noticed this and prepared themselves to explain. Draco smirked.
"Er.it's okay, Mione.we kind of followed you down to the lake last night.we heard and saw everything.we're really sorry," Ron started.
"WHAT?! You followed me?" Hermione shouted, "And how did you know about.I only told Harry." and then she rounded on Harry. "HARRY JAMES POTTER, HOW COULD YOU?!"
Harry blushed and stared at the ground sheepishly.
"So let me get this straight.Ron was probably hiding in the shadows when I went to confide in you everything that I meant to keep from Ron. And after I left to get ready, you and Ron got the invisibility cloak from your trunk upstairs, and went down to the lake to spy on me and Draco?"
Both boys nodded, so Hermione continued.
"And, by taking a closer look at both you and Draco," she glanced at Draco who lowered his head in shame, "you got into a row, about me, and Ron ended up starting a fight over the truth. Then all three of you decided not to tell me, and thought I wouldn't figure it out."
All three had their head hung in shame, and simultaneously looked up at her with pleading eyes.
Hermione sighed and then laughed lightly. "You three are impossible, not to mention daft."
They grinned, and Hermione waved goodbye to Draco and linked arms with her best friends. Together they walked down to lunch.
(A/N: *sigh* I really didn't like them making up, but I think it's a necessity.for future plot purposes.)
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Hermione finished her lunch rapidly, eager to get to her studies. She gathered her things and rose, but Harry stopped her.
"Mione, where are you going?" Harry asked.
"To the library of course, where else would I be going?" Hermione replied, turning around to leave.
"How do we know you're not going to meet Malfoy?" Ron asked quietly, but nonetheless, food came flying out of his mouth, and a large chunk of beef hit the lens of Harry's glasses. It began to slide down the round shape of them, much to the disgust of Harry, Hermione and everyone surrounding them at the Gryffindor table. There were many 'Ugh, Ron's and 'Positively disgusting' s. Harry wiped the chunk of beef off of his glass lens, much to his disgust.
"Ugh, Ron. You are positively vile!" Hermione said, and many of the surrounding girls nodded their heads in agreement.
Ron lowered his head in shame, and said "Sorry, Mione."
Another chunk flew from his mouth, and landed in Lavender's cup, which she was rising to her lips and it landing in her pumpkin juice. As she rose it to her mouth, people around her were too horrified to say anything, and others were suppressing their laughter. Hermione watched on agape, as well as Harry and Ron, as Lavender drank the pumpkin juice and the chunk of beef. The Gryffindor table erupted into laughter, and she immediately spit it out, shrieking in disgust. The chunk was flying into the air, and managed to land in the hair of a passerby. The laughing Gryffindors turned to see whom it had hit, and the entire Great Hall silenced. Professor Snape turned around, his face rapidly turning a deep shade of red in his rage. It was silent, and before Snape could accuse anyone of it.
"Merlin! The chunk covered in pumpkin juice mixed with the grease of his hair! It's formed a type of paste!" someone shouted.
The Great Hall once again burst into laughter. The staff table was attempting to suppress their laughter.
"Be quiet!" Snape yelled, and removed the beef in his hair with the tip of his wand.
The younger years were cowering and seemed utterly frightened, and immediately quieted. The older years, however, were still in fits of giggles and whispers.
"SILENCE!" he shouted again.
This time everyone became quiet. He immediately turned to the Golden Trio.
"Which one of you three did this?" he sneered.
The three looked at each other. After few minutes of complete silence, he asked again.
"You will answer when I speak to you!" he hissed. "Now, which of you three did this?"
"None of us did it, Professor Snape," Hermione replied calmly.
"You mean to tell me that none of you three did this?"
Hermione nodded.
"50 points from Gryffindor, and 2 weeks of detention for lying to your Professor, Miss Granger."
Hermione's mouth dropped open in protest, and Professor McGonagall rose from her seat and briskly walked down to the area. "That is hardly fair, Severus. You have no proof that these 3 had anything to do with." she suppressed a small smile, "the incident. I believe, that Gryffindor should be granted 50 points, to make up for their unfair loss of points, and I ask you to withdraw her detentions. You have already taken away her Saturday night with a detention, and both you and I know that she did not have anything to do with this, as it was just a mere accident," she finished calmly.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron looked at each other in surprise.
Snape gritted his teeth, and threw a venomous glare Hermione's way. He then shifted the glare to McGonagall. "Indeed, Minerva. Miss Granger, detention tonight at 8." And with that, their Potions Master left the Great Hall, robes billowing behind him.
The room again erupted into chatter about the scene, earning Hermione many sympathetic looks.
"Ugh! That slimy git. I can't believe him!" Harry said angrily.
Ron made sure to finish chewing his food. "I feel sorry for you Mione."
"I know, I feel sorry for me too.... Ugh, he's terrible!" Hermione replied, just as enraged, and staring after where Snape just exited, "he just wasted a good 10 minutes of my studying time!"
They rolled their eyes. "See you later, Mione."
Hermione exited the Great Hall, walking briskly to the library. 'UGH that slimy git has done it again. As if he hasn't ruined my day enough by giving me a detention, he tried to give me more and blames me for Ron's mistake!' She giggled at the thought, and she soon reached the library. Her giggles were turning into small laughs. She sat down at her table in the back and tried to suppress her laughter. She failed miserably and began to laugh uncontrollably, earning her a glare from Madam Pince. She hushed up quickly.
She looked around and noticed she was the only one in the library besides Madam Pince. 'No surprise there, it's not like I'm, expecting anyone to be in here on a Saturday, most just go to.' she began to daydream, and quickly caught herself. "Focus Hermione, Focus." she whispered quietly to herself.
She pulled out some parchment and a quill, and immediately went to work on her Potions assignment. 'Ugh.I hate the git.' she caught herself thinking about the incident at lunch again. 'Truth potions are made mainly of mandrake roots.and that beef mixed with pumpkin juice and grease that formed a paste.' Hermione giggled, and then quickly realized that she had written it down. She scratched it out, surprised at herself. She managed to finish her assignment without any more problems. She was able to finish her Care of Magical Creatures assignment, as well as Transfigurations, and Arithmancy. 'Only Charms left.' she thought to herself. She hurriedly finished her Charms homework. She checked the clock, and was surprised to find it nearly 8 o'clock already. She packed up her homework and cursed quietly. More than likely, she was going to be late for detention.
She ran out the door, ignoring the protests of Madam Pince. She raced down the hallway and quickly made her way to the dungeons. She raced around the corner and-SLAM-she crashed into someone, both landing on the floor. She heard the person being helped up, and she quickly began to pick up her things.
"Sorry, I didn't see you-" Hermione started, taking the hand that was offered to her.
She looked up to the face of Draco Malfoy.
"Nothing to worry about, mudblood," Draco began.
Hermione felt a pang at the once familiar nickname.
"I didn't notice it was you at first glance, but now that I know it was you, I'll just have to wash my hands and robes thoroughly," he finished, a smirk on his face.
Hermione could feel the tears forming behind her eyes, and before she could think about it, she slapped him across the face. She immediately walked away, and did not look back.
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Draco pretended to smirk in front of Crabbe and Goyle, but when they turned around, he looked toward Hermione, hoping she would look back. She kept walking, and suddenly he felt incredibly guilty for treating her that way. He'd have to make it up to her later.
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Hermione did not even bother to knock on the door of the Potions room, but instead opened it angrily and sat down. Snape looked incredibly surprised that she had not knocked lightly, especially after the day's events. He quickly turned his surprise into a scowl, and looked up to sneer at her, but noticed she had tears sliding down her cheeks. He smirked.
"Granger, the cauldrons need cleaning. I have set cleaning utensils on the table, so you are not allowed to clean them using magic, is that understood?," said Snape.
Hermione looked up at her Potions Professor, her face now showing no signs that she had been crying and showing no weakness.
"Yes, sir," she replied.
She placed her wand on his desk and gathered the cleaning utensils he had placed on the desk. She immediately got to work, and began scrubbing the cauldrons clean.
"I need to deliver these potions to Madam Pomfrey, I will return shortly," said Snape curtly.
"Whatever," Hermione mumbled.
"What was that, Miss Granger?"
"Yes, sir," she lied.
He walked out of the dungeons, leaving Hermione alone in the Potions classroom. She heard the door shut and knew that he had left.
"Greasy prat." she mumbled quietly, and laughed a little when she found that her voice echoed throughout the dungeon.
She looked at the clock, and it read 9:30. It seemed like she had been cleaning for ages. She finally finished her last cauldron. "Where is that slimy git?" she thought aloud. She covered her mouth, and remembered how it echoed. She hoped Snape had not heard her comment. The door opened, revealing a smirking Snape. 'Bloody hell.' she thought.
"Miss Granger, you may leave," he said smoothly.
Hermione sighed in relief, picking up her things. Her stomach was growling. She'd miss lunch, and decided she'd have to stop by the Gryffindor common room and ask Harry to help her sneak into the kitchens. She made her way out the door and began walking away from the Potions classroom.
"I almost forgot.10 points from Gryffindor for the comment and detention next week, same time," Snape sneered.
Hermione groaned. As she walked through the dungeons, she realized she'd have to see Draco. 'Could things get any worse?'
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A/N: I promise that I will try to slow things down a bit between Draco and Hermione. I changed a lot of stuff in this chapter that I had in there before. There's a lot of pointless stuff in there, so feel free to criticize :) And why was Ron forgiven? For plot purposes.
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Draco Malfoy waited by the lake patiently. He checked his watch and looked back up to the doors of Hogwarts. He hoped she hadn't gotten in any trouble with Filch. He looked at his watch again, and it read 10:00. 'Calm down, Draco, it's just Hermione,' he said to himself. His stomach was in knots and he didn't know why. He looked towards the doors of the Entrance Hall, and there she was. She looked directly at him, and smiled. His heart skipped a beat. 'What's wrong with me?'
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"Are you sure you want to go through with this, mate?" Harry asked Ron, "Even after all that's happened to her, and with her parents?"
Ron looked toward his friend. "Yes, Harry. I'm sure. Hermione deserves better than him, and I think we should at least try to do something about it."
Harry sighed and draped the invisibility cloak over himself and his friend, and they slowly made their way to the lake.
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Hermione opened the doors, and a rush of cold air hit her face. She began walking slowly toward the lake, staring at her feet. She looked up, and there he was. She smiled, and he smiled back. Her heart skipped a beat. 'What's wrong with me?'
It seemed like centuries had passed before she finally arrived beside him at the lake. They smiled, and sat down beside each other. An awkward silence passed, and then someone spoke up.
"I was afraid Filch had caught you or something," Draco said quietly.
"I'm Head Girl, it's my duty to be out after hours," she replied.
"It's my duty too. But it's not our duty to be out after hours to have secret rendezvous at the lake," he grinned at her.
She laughed quietly. "What was so important that we had to meet in secret, away from the castle?" she whispered.
"Why did you come to me? Why didn't you go to someone else? You could have gone to anyone, Potter, Weasley, the Weaslette.but you came to me. Why?" Draco asked.
"I.I don't know. I mean.it's just.look if you don't want to be friends." Hermione managed to choke out. She started to get up, but he grabbed onto her wrist, and she sat back down.
"Look, I-I didn't mean it like that, Hermione," Draco said sincerely, "it's just. We used to be enemies and all of the sudden we're friends. How can you forgive me after all I said and did to you?"
"I believe people can change," she replied, looking into his face, "my.father, he changed. But he changed for the worse. Ron.Ron changed in a different way.but you, Draco. You haven't changed at all, you are just a person I never bothered to get to know.until now. I don't care about the things you've said or done. I didn't know you then. And now I do. Does our past really matter?"
To her surprise, he pulled her into a warm hug. When they parted, their faces were inches apart.
He looked into her eyes. Silver met with honey, and they could see inside each other's souls. Hermione found she could hardly breathe. 'Remember to breathe,' she told herself, 'Remember to breathe.'
Their lips almost met, and Hermione quickly turned away. "I'm.I'm sorry, Draco. It's just."
Draco laughed softly. "It's okay.I guess I just got a little carried away..."
"We should get back to the castle.it's getting late."
She smiled at him apologetically. He smiled back and rose to help her to her feet. She began to walk toward the castle, and turned around when she noticed Draco was not following.
"Are you coming?" she asked.
"No, I think I'm gonna stay behind for a little while longer. I'll talk to you later," he smiled reassuringly.
"Are you sure?" she asked. Draco nodded. She smiled at him and walked back to the castle. He watched her leave. 'How can she do this to me?' he thought, 'she just rejected me, and I still want to be with her.'
"What kind of spell do you have on her Malfoy?" a voice asked coldly, "I don't understand how she could even talk to you after all you've done to her."
Draco spun around to meet Ron and Harry. 'It's not me who has the spell on her, its her who has the spell on me,' he thought. He quickly hid his smile with a smirk. He picked up a few rocks and skipped them across the lake.
"So Potty and Weasel have followed their friend again?" he said smoothly, "Why am I not surprised? Weasleys are known for their unnatural obsession with Muggle-borns," he paused for effect and continued, "but I have news for you both. She will be mine."
Draco looked toward them again, and could have sworn he saw laughter in the eyes of Harry. When he looked at Ron, he saw suppressed rage. He smirked again, and decided to push Ron a little further.
"I should just direct this at you, Weasel. You seem to be the only one who doesn't know how to keep a friend, or at least get a girlfriend. But I understand completely. You lost Hermione's-and don't give me that look, you know we're friends now, so I might as well just give up the charade-you've lost Hermione's friendship because of your own confession of your dreams of our Potions Master, and hinted homosexuality, am I right?"
"YOU BLOODY PRAT!! I SWEAR-"
"Temper, temper, Weasel. Now I think she would have forgiven you, had you not put the blame on her. Maybe if you tried blaming yourself, she'd forgive you," Draco said smoothly.
Ron lunged at Draco, and they began to fight. Ron swung his fist at Draco and he missed by a long shot. Draco used the opportunity to push Ron to the ground. He kicked him in the ribs and spat on him.
"What do you know of Hermione, ferret boy? You know nothing of the situation," Ron spat out angrily.
"Weasley, I was in your situation for 7 years. Now it seems the tables have turned," Draco smirked, "You are calling her the mudblood and I'm there to comfort her. But you can't deny that you are thoroughly jealous that Hermione was in my arms, and I had the honor of being that close to her, the honor you will never have."
Ron was red in the face with anger, and it took every ounce of his energy not to get up and swing at him again, because he knew every word his enemy spoke was the truth. He lowered his head in defeat.
"So the Weasel is speechless? I never thought I'd see the day," Draco smirked, "I should get going, Hermione is probably wondering what is taking me so long," he began to walk away, but turned back to the two muddled faces behind him, "and let's just hope Hermione doesn't have to find out about this."
And with that, Draco turned on his heel and left the two boys standing there. Harry turned to Ron, laughing lightly. He patted his friend on the shoulder.
"That bloody prat! He thinks he can take Hermione away from me! And he still gets the last words!" Ron said angrily.
Harry laughed lightly. "Well, mate, looks like your little plan backfired."
"I guess you're right, mate," Ron said, "and I can't believe Malfoy just gave me advice."
"D'you suppose Mione's getting to him?"
"S'pose so.I can't stand him.but I think I owe her an apology."
"You owe her a huge apology, mate."
Ron grimaced. "How can she stand Malfoy? That slimy git has tormented us for the past 7 years. She forgave him, and she can't forgive me?"
"Did you not hear what she said to Malfoy? They share the same pain, Ron. She has sympathy for him, as he does her, and it's a lot easier to forgive an enemy who shares your pain than to forgive a friend who has hurt you."
Ron looked confounded. Harry patted his friend on the back. "You truly are daft Ron," he laughed, as his friend playfully punched him. Harry picked up the cloak and threw it over himself and Ron, and they walked back to the castle in silence.
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Hermione woke up yet again smiling; it felt good to sleep in. She felt better than she had since the incident this summer. She made a mental note to write her mother to check up on things. It was beyond her how so many good things could happen to her after a fight with one of her best friends in the world. She got out of bed and took a hot shower, thinking of the days many possibilities. No classes today, no Slytherins, no Ron, no Snape.and then it hit her.
"Bloody hell." Hermione mumbled. "This is just peachy," she mumbled sarcastically. A detention with the Potions Master on a Saturday night...how fun. She turned off the water and wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of her shower room, and Draco was in the bathroom fixing his hair. He turned around and smirked at her. She rolled her eyes.
"I guess this makes us even, then?" Hermione said as she pushed him aside.
"Temper, temper, Granger," she heard him say as she closed to door to her dormitory.
"So it's back to last names, is it?" she shouted from behind her door.
Despite herself, she laughed. She quickly dressed into her school robes and began to work on her hair. She decided on half-up, half-down, and with a clip fastened it into place. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door. She found Draco sitting on the couch, smirking and obviously waiting for her. She decided to have some fun with this, and ignored him as she walked past. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his smirk fade and his face twist into utter confusion. She laughed inwardly, and the corners of her mouth twitched, threatening to smile. He noticed this immediately and grabbed her hand.
"Where do you think you're going, Miss Granger?" he asked silkily.
"Away from you, Mister Malfoy. Are you blind or did you just decide to not see my attempt to ignore you as I made to leave?" she answered.
He got on his knees, her hand still in his, and the other clutching his chest in mock hurt. "Your words hurt me. I fear I have lost your heart forever!"
Just as he said these words, the portrait hole opened revealing Professor McGonagall, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley. To both Hermione and Draco's amusement, they happened to walk in just as Draco kneeled down and clutched his heart. McGonagall looked flustered. Hermione and Draco looked at each other and laughed.
"May I inquire as to what was taking place here?" Professor McGonagall asked, appalled by their behavior.
Hermione looked at Draco, and they smirked at each other. "Well, if you must know, Professor.Draco and I have been secretly dating and had our first fight today. You just happened to walk in as he confessed his undying love for me," she tried to keep her laughter in.
The expression on their Transfigurations Professor was priceless. Her face was contorted into a mix of horror and surprise. Harry and Ron had paled considerably, and Draco was pleasantly surprised by Hermione's outrageous yet believable lie.
Hermione laughed and Draco rose from his kneeling position on the floor, laughing as well. This earned them three sighs of relief, and uneasy laughter from the other two Gryffindors.
"Merlin, you'd think Voldemort had returned or something!" Hermione laughed.
Everyone in the room looked at her in surprise-it was the first time she'd ever said his name out loud.
"BLOODY HELL, CAN ANYONE TAKE A JOKE?!" Hermione shouted.
Harry began to laugh, and turned to Hermione, "We just came to see why you two didn't come to breakfast this morning, we were worried that something happened. Our perfect student Miss Granger never fails to miss breakfast!"
"Thanks for your concern, Potter. But Her-" he eyed his teacher warily, "Granger and I are fine, we just woke up a bit later than usual," Draco answered for Hermione.
"Mr Malfoy, Ms Granger, I trust you will not miss lunch?" McGonagall asked them, raising a disbelieving eyebrow. It was more of a demand then a question.
"No, ma'am," they replied simultaneously.
"Good, then I will leave you four to yourselves," she replied, exiting the Heads' common room.
There was an awkward silence, and then.
"Mione, I'm really sorry. I'm sorry for blaming you. I'm really the one to blame for everything. I didn't mean to be such a prat.I completely understand if you don't forgive me." Ron apologized.
Hermione's eyes had lit up and she was smiling broadly. Both Ron and Harry did not believe Draco's suggestion would work.
"Well, I was waiting for you to come to your senses." she teased.
"But do you forgive me?" Ron asked, with a hopeful expression.
"Of course Ron!" Hermione smiled and hugged her friend.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Can we just leave now? I'm glad you and the Weasel made up and all, but I have loads of admirers waiting for me in the Great Hall."
Hermione playfully pushed him and he smiled, and he slid his hand around her waist. She looked at him and then shook her head. Harry and Ron noticed this and prepared themselves to explain. Draco smirked.
"Er.it's okay, Mione.we kind of followed you down to the lake last night.we heard and saw everything.we're really sorry," Ron started.
"WHAT?! You followed me?" Hermione shouted, "And how did you know about.I only told Harry." and then she rounded on Harry. "HARRY JAMES POTTER, HOW COULD YOU?!"
Harry blushed and stared at the ground sheepishly.
"So let me get this straight.Ron was probably hiding in the shadows when I went to confide in you everything that I meant to keep from Ron. And after I left to get ready, you and Ron got the invisibility cloak from your trunk upstairs, and went down to the lake to spy on me and Draco?"
Both boys nodded, so Hermione continued.
"And, by taking a closer look at both you and Draco," she glanced at Draco who lowered his head in shame, "you got into a row, about me, and Ron ended up starting a fight over the truth. Then all three of you decided not to tell me, and thought I wouldn't figure it out."
All three had their head hung in shame, and simultaneously looked up at her with pleading eyes.
Hermione sighed and then laughed lightly. "You three are impossible, not to mention daft."
They grinned, and Hermione waved goodbye to Draco and linked arms with her best friends. Together they walked down to lunch.
(A/N: *sigh* I really didn't like them making up, but I think it's a necessity.for future plot purposes.)
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Hermione finished her lunch rapidly, eager to get to her studies. She gathered her things and rose, but Harry stopped her.
"Mione, where are you going?" Harry asked.
"To the library of course, where else would I be going?" Hermione replied, turning around to leave.
"How do we know you're not going to meet Malfoy?" Ron asked quietly, but nonetheless, food came flying out of his mouth, and a large chunk of beef hit the lens of Harry's glasses. It began to slide down the round shape of them, much to the disgust of Harry, Hermione and everyone surrounding them at the Gryffindor table. There were many 'Ugh, Ron's and 'Positively disgusting' s. Harry wiped the chunk of beef off of his glass lens, much to his disgust.
"Ugh, Ron. You are positively vile!" Hermione said, and many of the surrounding girls nodded their heads in agreement.
Ron lowered his head in shame, and said "Sorry, Mione."
Another chunk flew from his mouth, and landed in Lavender's cup, which she was rising to her lips and it landing in her pumpkin juice. As she rose it to her mouth, people around her were too horrified to say anything, and others were suppressing their laughter. Hermione watched on agape, as well as Harry and Ron, as Lavender drank the pumpkin juice and the chunk of beef. The Gryffindor table erupted into laughter, and she immediately spit it out, shrieking in disgust. The chunk was flying into the air, and managed to land in the hair of a passerby. The laughing Gryffindors turned to see whom it had hit, and the entire Great Hall silenced. Professor Snape turned around, his face rapidly turning a deep shade of red in his rage. It was silent, and before Snape could accuse anyone of it.
"Merlin! The chunk covered in pumpkin juice mixed with the grease of his hair! It's formed a type of paste!" someone shouted.
The Great Hall once again burst into laughter. The staff table was attempting to suppress their laughter.
"Be quiet!" Snape yelled, and removed the beef in his hair with the tip of his wand.
The younger years were cowering and seemed utterly frightened, and immediately quieted. The older years, however, were still in fits of giggles and whispers.
"SILENCE!" he shouted again.
This time everyone became quiet. He immediately turned to the Golden Trio.
"Which one of you three did this?" he sneered.
The three looked at each other. After few minutes of complete silence, he asked again.
"You will answer when I speak to you!" he hissed. "Now, which of you three did this?"
"None of us did it, Professor Snape," Hermione replied calmly.
"You mean to tell me that none of you three did this?"
Hermione nodded.
"50 points from Gryffindor, and 2 weeks of detention for lying to your Professor, Miss Granger."
Hermione's mouth dropped open in protest, and Professor McGonagall rose from her seat and briskly walked down to the area. "That is hardly fair, Severus. You have no proof that these 3 had anything to do with." she suppressed a small smile, "the incident. I believe, that Gryffindor should be granted 50 points, to make up for their unfair loss of points, and I ask you to withdraw her detentions. You have already taken away her Saturday night with a detention, and both you and I know that she did not have anything to do with this, as it was just a mere accident," she finished calmly.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron looked at each other in surprise.
Snape gritted his teeth, and threw a venomous glare Hermione's way. He then shifted the glare to McGonagall. "Indeed, Minerva. Miss Granger, detention tonight at 8." And with that, their Potions Master left the Great Hall, robes billowing behind him.
The room again erupted into chatter about the scene, earning Hermione many sympathetic looks.
"Ugh! That slimy git. I can't believe him!" Harry said angrily.
Ron made sure to finish chewing his food. "I feel sorry for you Mione."
"I know, I feel sorry for me too.... Ugh, he's terrible!" Hermione replied, just as enraged, and staring after where Snape just exited, "he just wasted a good 10 minutes of my studying time!"
They rolled their eyes. "See you later, Mione."
Hermione exited the Great Hall, walking briskly to the library. 'UGH that slimy git has done it again. As if he hasn't ruined my day enough by giving me a detention, he tried to give me more and blames me for Ron's mistake!' She giggled at the thought, and she soon reached the library. Her giggles were turning into small laughs. She sat down at her table in the back and tried to suppress her laughter. She failed miserably and began to laugh uncontrollably, earning her a glare from Madam Pince. She hushed up quickly.
She looked around and noticed she was the only one in the library besides Madam Pince. 'No surprise there, it's not like I'm, expecting anyone to be in here on a Saturday, most just go to.' she began to daydream, and quickly caught herself. "Focus Hermione, Focus." she whispered quietly to herself.
She pulled out some parchment and a quill, and immediately went to work on her Potions assignment. 'Ugh.I hate the git.' she caught herself thinking about the incident at lunch again. 'Truth potions are made mainly of mandrake roots.and that beef mixed with pumpkin juice and grease that formed a paste.' Hermione giggled, and then quickly realized that she had written it down. She scratched it out, surprised at herself. She managed to finish her assignment without any more problems. She was able to finish her Care of Magical Creatures assignment, as well as Transfigurations, and Arithmancy. 'Only Charms left.' she thought to herself. She hurriedly finished her Charms homework. She checked the clock, and was surprised to find it nearly 8 o'clock already. She packed up her homework and cursed quietly. More than likely, she was going to be late for detention.
She ran out the door, ignoring the protests of Madam Pince. She raced down the hallway and quickly made her way to the dungeons. She raced around the corner and-SLAM-she crashed into someone, both landing on the floor. She heard the person being helped up, and she quickly began to pick up her things.
"Sorry, I didn't see you-" Hermione started, taking the hand that was offered to her.
She looked up to the face of Draco Malfoy.
"Nothing to worry about, mudblood," Draco began.
Hermione felt a pang at the once familiar nickname.
"I didn't notice it was you at first glance, but now that I know it was you, I'll just have to wash my hands and robes thoroughly," he finished, a smirk on his face.
Hermione could feel the tears forming behind her eyes, and before she could think about it, she slapped him across the face. She immediately walked away, and did not look back.
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Draco pretended to smirk in front of Crabbe and Goyle, but when they turned around, he looked toward Hermione, hoping she would look back. She kept walking, and suddenly he felt incredibly guilty for treating her that way. He'd have to make it up to her later.
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Hermione did not even bother to knock on the door of the Potions room, but instead opened it angrily and sat down. Snape looked incredibly surprised that she had not knocked lightly, especially after the day's events. He quickly turned his surprise into a scowl, and looked up to sneer at her, but noticed she had tears sliding down her cheeks. He smirked.
"Granger, the cauldrons need cleaning. I have set cleaning utensils on the table, so you are not allowed to clean them using magic, is that understood?," said Snape.
Hermione looked up at her Potions Professor, her face now showing no signs that she had been crying and showing no weakness.
"Yes, sir," she replied.
She placed her wand on his desk and gathered the cleaning utensils he had placed on the desk. She immediately got to work, and began scrubbing the cauldrons clean.
"I need to deliver these potions to Madam Pomfrey, I will return shortly," said Snape curtly.
"Whatever," Hermione mumbled.
"What was that, Miss Granger?"
"Yes, sir," she lied.
He walked out of the dungeons, leaving Hermione alone in the Potions classroom. She heard the door shut and knew that he had left.
"Greasy prat." she mumbled quietly, and laughed a little when she found that her voice echoed throughout the dungeon.
She looked at the clock, and it read 9:30. It seemed like she had been cleaning for ages. She finally finished her last cauldron. "Where is that slimy git?" she thought aloud. She covered her mouth, and remembered how it echoed. She hoped Snape had not heard her comment. The door opened, revealing a smirking Snape. 'Bloody hell.' she thought.
"Miss Granger, you may leave," he said smoothly.
Hermione sighed in relief, picking up her things. Her stomach was growling. She'd miss lunch, and decided she'd have to stop by the Gryffindor common room and ask Harry to help her sneak into the kitchens. She made her way out the door and began walking away from the Potions classroom.
"I almost forgot.10 points from Gryffindor for the comment and detention next week, same time," Snape sneered.
Hermione groaned. As she walked through the dungeons, she realized she'd have to see Draco. 'Could things get any worse?'
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A/N: I promise that I will try to slow things down a bit between Draco and Hermione. I changed a lot of stuff in this chapter that I had in there before. There's a lot of pointless stuff in there, so feel free to criticize :) And why was Ron forgiven? For plot purposes.