My muse left me for awhile. She didn't have anything for this story. But she's back, and I hope I still have some readers out there! ^_^; But this chapter SHALL BE GREAT! I hope. . .
Anyway, one note. For reaching hit number fifty, I DID draw a picture. It's posted on my deviantart account. Once I get a better program I'll CG it. But I did it ALL freehand, NO reference, So I'm extremely pleased with the way the picture came out. And just so you know it's from a chapter that isn't out yet. ^_^! Enjoy!
Draco remained sitting on the floor outside the Gryffindor dormitory when Harry and Ron ran up to him. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Ron demanded. He stood and faced the taller teen.
"I'm waiting for Hermione. What does it look like?"
"You shouldn't be here," Harry said somewhat angrily. Just then Amilie ran into the portrait.
"Ginny said she's upset and won't come out. She doesn't want to talk to anyone."
Ron snorted and walked up to the portrait, whispering the password so there was no way Draco could hear. He ran in with Harry and called for Ginny.
"GINNY!" They could hear her feet thundering down the steps.
"What? Hermione's sleeping now. Be quiet."
"Is she alright?" Harry asked softly. Ginny shrugged, coming down and sitting with them on the couches.
"She's more embarrassed I think. She's really angry, too. Hates Pansy more than ever now. Is Draco still waiting outside?"
"Yes." Ron glared at the fire. Ginny sighed and nodded, standing up. She moved over to the portrait whole and then turned back to look at the boys. Ron looked so angry sitting in the light of the fire, but Ginny didn't know who at. She opened the portrait and left, shutting it behind her. Draco turned to face her, a worried expression on his usually stoic face.
"Is she alright?"
"She's sleeping. She should be fine in the morning, though I don't know if she'll want to go eat or anything."
"Please try to get her to go down tomorrow morning. No one would laugh at her! They're upset with Pansy."
"She's really embarrassed that all the attention had been focused on her. You know she's shy."
"Yeah. Look, if you talk to her again tonight, tell her I'm sorry about all this, and if she doesn't want to talk to me, I'll understand completely."
"I'm sure she'll talk to you again. She really likes you." Draco blushed. "Go get some sleep. You look like you've been through a tornado."
"Yeah, thanks. And thanks for keeping me informed. I appreciate it." Ginny nodded and watched as he walked wearily down the corridor.
"Never though I'd say this about Malfoy, but I feel bad for him," Ginny said. Amilie nodded and skipped after him through the portraits to her "home."
As Draco was leaving Amilie popped back into hers and smiled. "Cheer up Draco. Everything will work out. I can feel it."
"How is that? Ginny said she'll get over it, but how can you get over something like that?"
"She's strong. She will. Now go get some sleep." She yawned and waved to him.
"Bye." He walked down the staircase and headed towards the Slytherin rooms, suddenly exhausted. As he got to his room and threw himself onto his bed for a moment, thinking about everything that had happened. He grew angrier at every passing moment, and vowed he would make Pansy pay for what she had done.
After a few minutes he finally stood again, pulling off his clothes and robes and crawled into his warm bed, drifting into a deep sleep.
Pansy sat in Dumbledore's office again, with Snape staring coldly at her. Dumbledore had his head in his hands.
"Ms. Parkinson. Such horrible behavior is simply not tolerated. I've sent a letter to you mother to inform her of the situation."
"She's not going to care. I did it to a Mudblood."
"Watch your language!" Snape yelled.
"And why are you suddenly coming to HER defense?"
"I am not coming to her defense. What you did was past an overlooking. If I were Headmaster you would be expelled." Pansy froze a moment.
"But- you're my Head of House!"
"You did wrong. I will not let something of that magnitude go unpunished."
"But-"
"Ms. Parkinson, that really is quite enough. Now, we must find something else for you to do. Something you will, perhaps learn from." Dumbledore looked at Snape, who nodded.
"I think it would be most beneficial for our Ms. Parkinson to continue cleaning those tables, and help clean the dungeons. My classroom is a mess."
"But that's gross!"
"And what you did to Hermione is "gross." Now, you can do what we say, or be sent packing. What will it be?"
Pansy seriously weighed her options. If she was forced out of Hogwart's she wouldn't find an evil husband, because they would think her too stupid. If she had to leave, she would be forced to learn household duties that the house-elves did not perform. She sighed and hung her head. "I guess I'm cleaning the dungeons." Dumbledore and Snape nodded.
"This was your last warning. The next time you pull such an outrageous stunt I will have to send you home." Pansy hung her head, already trying to find some way to get around it.
Hermione woke up the next morning still tired, and tried to roll over onto her stomach to sleep more. She was glad it was only Sunday, and she wouldn't have to move from her bed if she didn't feel like it. But Ginny had other plans.
"Come on Hermione! Let's get up and go to breakfast!"
"No."
"Come on."
"I said no. Let me sleep."
"You can't sleep all day!"
"Yes, I can." Ginny put her hands on her hips and frowned.
"Hermione, snap out of it. No one is laughing about last night. Actually, I think everyone wants to kill Pansy."
"I don't care."
"Hermione Granger! Get your butt out of bed! Your lover boy is probably waiting for you down there! Do you really want to keep him waiting?"
"Let him wait."
"Hermione, you don't really mean that. Now let's go or I'll have to drag you down there in your pajamas."
"You really are persistent aren't you?"
"Of course."
"And you won't leave me alone till I go with you?"
"Precisely." Hermione grumbled to herself and rolled out of the warm bed and walked to the window. She frowned. "I can't believe it looks like that out there still."
"Yeah. I think it's gotten worse. Owls still aren't allowed out. It's weird. Feels kinda like we're stranded here." Hermione nodded and grabbed some clothes, going to the showers with Ginny following behind her. The red-haired girl waited outside for Hermione, and followed her down to the Great Hall.
Hermione froze outside the large doors but Ginny pushed her in. There weren't that many people yet, and Draco wasn't in his seat. Only a few people looked up as they entered, and then bowed their heads to eat and chat with friends again.
The girls sat down with Harry and Ron who both smiled weakly and kept talking about Quidditch, which had been postponed until further notice. Hermione grabbed a plate of food and took some bacon and hotcakes, but didn't feel like eating much.
After a few minutes Draco finally wandered in, looking exhausted. His hair stuck up everywhere like he hadn't combed it yet, and his eyes were half shut. He glanced quickly at the Gryffindor table and smiled when he saw Hermione, walking over and sitting next to her for a minute.
"Morning." He said softly in her ear. She gave a half smile and looked at him. "I'm so sorry about last night Hermione. Please don't hate me."
"I don't hate you Draco." He smiled a little, still unsure. Ron turned away, his knuckles going white around his fork, eyes narrowed as he stared at Harry, who just kept eating.
Draco leaned into Hermione briefly and gave her a lingering kiss on the cheek before he stood and went to his spot at the Slytherin table. Ron turned and glared after him, then turned to Hermione, frowning.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, Ron. I'm better now. I'm just upset about it."
"Well, you know, if you uh, ever wanna talk about anything, 'Mione, we're here." He turned a bright shade of red and she couldn't help but smile. She nodded.
"I know. You guys are the best friend a girl could have." She smiled and felt a little hungry now, and started eating the food laid out in front of her.
There we go! Sorry about the delay again. I'll try to do another chapter tonight or tomorrow. Not sure, but I do have papers for school to do, and other fics as well. So, enjoy. And GO SEE THE PICTURE! ^_^ It's called Draco and Hermione. LOL! LATER!! ^_~