Chapter Seventeen: Revenge was Supposed to be Sweet
Harry sat in his usual seat in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He and Hermione had
walked in together, parting ways to sit where they had been assigned. He saw that Pansy
Parkinson was already there, and had a somewhat impish look on her face. She was staring
in the direction of Malfoy and Hermione's table. Something was up.
He looked around. He hadn't seen Ron that morning, which was odd. Usually, they
would go have breakfast together, or meet in the common room, but the past months had
been like a balancing act, between Ron and Hermione, Quidditch practice for the upcoming
match, and his classes. He sighed. It was just getting to be too much.
Draco watched as Hermione took her seat next to him in Defense Against the Dark
Arts. It had been almost two months since she and Weasley had stopped talking. She
looked around. He wasn't there yet.
The blond Slytherin noticed how she looked over her shoulder, and kept her eyes on
the door.
"Hermione, are you alright?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
She sighed and simply nodded 'yes.'
He took her face in his hands, and forced her to look him in the eyes. "Are you
sure?"
"I'm fine," she lied, unconvincing, and yet persistent enough to let him know he
shouldn't press the subject.
"I'm here for you, alright?"
She nodded again.
Just then, the door opened, but instead of the Professor making her usual entrance,
it was two students, walking together. But it wasn't just any two students. It was Weasley
and Bullstrode.
The redhead had his arm around her, and led her to their seats. Millicent looked at
Draco and Hermione, shooting daggers at them, before turning her attention to Weasley.
He pulled a chair out for her, and she giggled. And what a fake giggle that was.
Then she pulled him close and kissed him, right there. He pulled back and looked at
her, and then kissed her back. Bullstrode put her arms around him, running her hands
through his red hair, as he seemed to struggle to get her on his lap.
Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at Hermione. She too appeared perplexed by
what was unfolding before their eyes. He turned his eyes back to the table, which was now
captivating the attention of almost all in the class. Potter looked bewildered, shaking his
head, refusing to acknowledge what was occurring. But still, he looked as though he knew
something more than the rest, as he kept his eyes on the girl sitting next to Draco the
whole time.
Harry had watched from across the room as Ron and Millicent Bullstrode had come
in. He had seen Hermione and Malfoy, both looking very surprised. Hermione looked a bit
hurt at first (after all, Ron was being a hypocrite, wasn't he?) but then was suppressing
laughter. Wait, she was laughing? How could she find this funny? Then a smirk spread
across her face. Oh no, she wouldn't... Would she? She might...
Hermione stifled a cough. It was hard to keep from laughing. Fits of silent giggles
had overcome her, until; she could no longer hold it in. At first, the sight of Ron with
Millicent Bullstrode had infuriated her. How dare he criticize her relationship with Draco,
and then decide to go out with Millicent? But there was something fake about it.
Something that told her they were just trying to get to her and Draco. Yes, that had to be
it.
And then they kissed. The look on Ron's face had been priceless. First it was
confusion, then denial, then grudging acceptance, and then, as he pulled away... He had
actually enjoyed it? No, it couldn't be. It was just too funny. And then he had gone back
for more. Oh no, this deserved a witty rejoinder, without a doubt.
They heard her cough, and stopped. Millicent spoke first. "Problem, Granger?
Jealous?"
Hermione almost fell off her chair because of the wave of laughter that chose to
envelop her at that very moment. When she was able to regain her composure, she looked
at Draco. A smirk spread across her face, and he returned it, encouragingly.
"Oh no, sorry Millicent, I'm perfectly happy with Draco, I'm sure he's a much better
kisser than you are. Besides, I know that I'm quite irresistible, but sorry, I'm straight, in
case you never noticed."
At this, it was Draco's turn to laugh. His laughter filled the room, much like a
beautiful song. 'It was truly amazing,' thought Hermione. And then, everyone laughed. In
fact, Ron and Millicent were the only ones not laughing. But Hermione did not miss the
brief smile that seemed to spread across the redhead's face before Millicent Bullstrode
turned to glare at him.
But it did not end yet, for at that moment, Draco chose to speak. "Weasley, see, it's
all about the technique. If you're going to have public displays of affection, and are trying
to get attention, at least make a scene. You have to... Oh, look, I'll show you." With that,
he stood up, just as the door opened again.
Professor Malfoy had just come in, it would have to wait. Hermione blushed as she
realized what they were almost caught doing... and by whom. That would have been
embarrassing... No, it would have been horrifying, mortifying. She turned to look at Draco.
The same thoughts seemed to have crossed his mind. But they both didn't know what the
events later in the week were to bring.
Draco watched as his mother made her usual spectacular entrance. How could she
have such immaculate timing? It was certainly uncanny. He had never seen anything like
it. Narcissa Malfoy always seemed to come walking through the door at exactly the
moment that you were either thinking of or actually doing something you weren't supposed
to be. And they had been about to. Public displays of affection were very much frowned
upon at Hogwarts, specifically during class time, and had she come in a few seconds later
(or earlier, that would certainly have been funny...) they would have certainly received at
least a week's worth of detentions, not to mention points taken from their Houses. He let
out his breath as she began going over the assignment for the day... What he didn't know
was just how much Narcissa knew...