Chapter Seven: Should We Even Dare To Tell?
Hermione arrived to breakfast late, with large circles under her eyes, though looking very pleased indeed.
"What's up with you?" Ron said grumpily.
"Honestly Ron, its as if you think the world has turned its back on you. I thought we agreed to be friends," Hermione said.
"Yea, well, we will have to see about that," Ron said giving her the evil eye. He didn't want to just be friends with Hermione, he loved her.
"Had he found out?" Hermione wondered to herself. Just then, Harry ran into the Great Hall out of breath. He looked around for Ginny, and found her sulking over her breakfast.
"Look, Ginny, I'm sorry, but I really don't want to worry you with what I wouldn't tell you before. I hope you know that I feel that I can tell you anything and you mean the world to me," Harry said lovingly as he kissed her on the forehead. Ginny looked into his jade green eyes and smiled, putting her head on his shoulder. Harry looked at her and thought how happy he was, forgetting everything about the dream, for the pain in his scar had dulled quite a bit. He was never this happy with Cho, and he wondered why he never thought of Ginny in this way before.
Meanwhile, Hermione and Ron were so busy giving each other looks that they didn't even notice Ginny and Harry. Finally, Ron got up and moved to sit with Lavender. "Strange," Hermione thought to herself. "He always thought of her as gossipy and annoying." Hermione's attention was soon distracted as Malfoy got up from eating and walked over to their table. Though ecstatic to see him, she motioned him away. If they were ever going to keep this a secret, he needed to stop forgetting to act harsh towards her.
Ginny gave Harry a kiss on the cheek and he blushed a deep shade of red as they were walking out of the Great Hall. Defense Against the Dark Arts was the first class of the day.
"Has everyone written their essay on vampires?" Lupin asked the class.
They all nodded and began to pass their papers forwards.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry whispered.
"Yes?" she said, looking confused.
"Well, last night when you were doing your essay, did you notice anything strange about the characteristics of the vampire?" he asked her in an urgent tone.
As she began to think about it, she realized that she had, and that strange thing was that Snape fit almost all of the criteria. He had greasy long black hair, a long hook nose, oily skin, and was harsh towards the people he disliked or let alone envied.
"Yes!" she said to Harry. He nodded and she knew that they were both thinking the same thing.
After class Hermione met up with Draco.
"Meet me tonight, in the Slytherin common room. Go there instead of dinner. No one will be there," Draco whispered.
"But were not allowed!" Hermione said, shocked and appalled.
"I know, but I never get to see you, and I wanted to go some place private. The passwords 'nundu'" He said. "Please?"
"Well alright then," Hermione said reluctantly. They quickly embraced before anyone could see, and Hermione went to her last class, wondering why he wanted to go someplace private. Hermione finished with all her classes and then went to dinner.
"Hey, guys what's up?" said Hermione kindly to Ron and Harry. For a brief moment it felt like old times, everything being okay, but then she felt the tension as Ron begin to talk, why did he always have to go and ruin it all.
"Nothing," Ron said with an attitude then looked over at Harry and Ginny who had been gazing at each other. Hermione getting the hint turned to see Harry and Ginny.
"Oh, I see," said Hermione understanding where Ron was coming from.
"Anyway, so Ron where were you at lunch today?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Oh, err, I was a, I was finishing my vampire essay for Lupin in the library." Said Ron looking a bit flushed.
"What's that about Ron being in the library?" asked Harry finally turning away from Ginny.
"I was in the library finishing my Vampire essay for Lupin," said Ron trying to convince Harry. Obviously trying to hide something.
"No you were--" Harry had began to revel Ron's whereabouts but then Ron kicked him hard under the table. Harry got the hint and continued.
"Oh, yeah you were in the library, now I remember." said Harry with a reveled face. Hermione began to get suspicious. Then she turned to the Slytherin table to get a quick glance of Draco, then she remember.
"Oh no! Draco!" Hermione said to herself under her breath.
"What was that? Draco?" asked Ron with a bit of curiosity. "Did she just say Draco?" Ron thought to himself.
"Oh, I've got so much homework to do, I better get going." Hermione said in a rush and then she was gone. She ran as fast as she could out of the Great Hall and on her way to the Slytherin common room.
"Nundu," said Hermione to the portrait that guarded the Slytherin common room. Hermione then walked into the common room and saw Malfoy sitting on the couch.
"Finally, I was begging to think you forgot," said Draco. As he sat up on the couch at the arrival if Hermione.
"Err, well I kind of did but then I remembered, so sorry," said Hermione hoping that Draco wasn't upset with her.
"Oh, that's fine as long as you're here now." said Draco as he motioned for Hermione to come sit next to her. Hermione then walked over to Draco and sat down next to him. Draco pulled a 1-2-3 and put his arm around Hermione. Hermione sort of jumped but then eased into the position. She liked the fact of having a guys arm around her, she felt protected, cared for, loved.
"Hermione, we have to talk," said Draco with a concerned face. As soon as Hermione heard this she got scared she didn't know what to think. Was Draco going to break up with her? Was this all some kind of cruel joke?
"Yeah?" said Hermione in a nervous voice, prepared for the worse.
"I think people should know about you and me, I don't want to hide it anymore, I can't hide my feelings for you," said Draco as he pulled Hermione closer, "I just want people to see how much I care for you, is there harm in that?" asked Draco.
"Draco I want people to know too, but I can't, Ron and Harry will never forgive me. They both will be furious with me." said Hermione. That was certainly the last thing she wanted, Harry and Ron upset with her. Or rather Harry mad at her and Ron even more mad at her, if that was even possible.
"Hermione if they were your true friends wouldn't they understand?" said Draco, sounding a bit convincing.
"I know, but with Ron and Harry it's different. They can't know, I'm sorry Draco." said Hermione in a sympathetic voice. She wanted to scream it out to the whole world, she wanted everyone to know about her and Draco, but Ron and Harry were preventing it.
"Please Hermione, for me? I can't take having to hide my feelings," said Draco, staring deeply into Hermione's eyes. How was she to avoid those deep blue eyes, it was impossible.
"Fine, but not till I tell them first. I better go now they're going to wonder where I am." Hermione said and then kissed Draco on the forehead. Then left. She slipped out of the Slytherin common turned the corner just as a bunch of Slytherins were walking down the hall. She walked up to the Gryffindor common room and saw Harry and Ron doing their homework in a dark corner.