Disclaimer: As much as I want to own the characters, I don't. J.K Rowling does! *sigh*
Chapter Seven
The Great Hall buzzed with talk and laughter during dinner. As usual, Ron couldn't keep his hands away from the food.
"Sho Mione, whatdiddyadotoday?" Ron asked attempting to chew a piece of meat.
"Ask me that again AFTER you swallow that disgusting piece of meat." She replied forcing a smile.
She understood what Ron said, she was just buying time to think of what to say. She couldn't exactly say that she spent the best afternoon of her life with Draco. She looked towards the Slytherin table, Draco wasn't there. "Probably late" she thought.
"So Mione, I ask you again, what did you do today? We hardly saw you." Ron asked, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his robe.
"I was at the library, finishing my essay" she replied calmly. She hated lying to her friends.
"Figures" said Harry.
"What's that suppose to mean?" she asked.
"Nothing. I'm depressed. Ron beat me ten times today as Wizard Chess"
Ron smiled. Dumbledore stood up signaling an announcement coming their way.
"May I have your attention please?" Dumbledore asked. Silence immediately followed. Through the corner of her eye Hermione saw Draco take a seat and grabbing a piece of bread.
"Now that I have your attention, I have an announcement to make. There will be a Christmas ball which all levels will attend. The Prefects and Heads will have a meeting after dinner. Further details will follow. Now, you may start eating again!" he finished with a twinkle in his eye.
***
After dinner the Prefects and the Heads made their way towards Dumbledore's office. When they entered they all looked around and looked amazed at the sight before them. Everyone but Hermione, she had been to Dumbledore's office countless times in the past with Harry and Ron. Dumbledore entered and they all sat down.
"Now" Dumbledore said. "I wish to speak to you about the Christmas Ball that will be happening on the 15th of December before the students go for their break."
They all stopped looking around and looked at him.
"All six of you will be working together to organize this event" he continued. "I have also taken the liberty of picking out your tasks. Cho Chang and Justin Rosewood, as Heads of this school you both will be in charge of the food. Please talk to the house elves tomorrow to discuss the menu. Ms, Granger, Mr. Malfoy" he turned to them. "Gryffindor and Slytherin Prefects, I have given you the task of decorating the hall. Please order the decorations as soon as possible, the house elves will be at your service to help. And for the two of you" he paused and looked at the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Prefects. "You will be in charge of all the announcements and please, before I forget, Professor McGonagall wants too see you about the announcements later on." He finished. "Any questions?"
They all looked at each other.
"No Professor" Cho Chang finally said.
"Very well, you are free to go." Dumbledore told them and stood up, heading for his room.
***
Hermione woke up bright and early Friday morning, the 16th of November. She remembered that it was her birthday so she quickly got up. She looked at her clock and noticed that it was only five o'clock so she lay down on her bed and thought. A wave of sadness washed over her. Today marks her mother's death anniversary.
"Put it behind you" a voice came.
She looked around and saw no one. She quickly figured that her mind was playing tricks on her so she ignored it and went back to sleep. Hermione opened her eyes two hours and a quarter later. She hurriedly got dressed and headed for the Gryffindor common room.
"Morning Mione!" Harry greeted
"Morning!" She replied in a happy tone.
"Why are you so happy?" Ron asked completely forgetting Hermione's birthday.
"Oh nothing" she replied. "I wonder why they haven't greeted me yet?" she thought. "Maybe they will later" her mind replied.
At Arithmancy Hermione was forcing herself not to cry. Classes were almost ending for the day and no one greeted her except Ginny. She couldn't believe that her two best friends forgot. She couldn't believe Draco forgot. When classes were dismissed she quickly ran to her common room. She couldn't stop the urge. She grabbed her scissors and slit her wrist. This time she had gone too far. She had cut a major vein and blood just started to rush out in huge amounts. The last she remembered was that someone screamed her name. Darkness followed, she had passed out.
***
Draco was rushing around like mad. He had skipped divination to decorate a dungeon he had found below Hogwarts. He wanted to surprise Hermione so he transfigured various objects into decorations and set up a table with two chairs. He couldn't take Hermione out on her special day so he had to make do with what he had. When he was satisfied, he closed the dungeon door and headed to Hermione's common room.
He almost died of panic when he saw Hermione. He shouted her name to try to stop her but he was too late, she had cut herself already. He was too scared to be angry at the moment so he wrapped her wrist and carried her to the Hospital Wing.
Madame Pomfrey ushered Draco out the door after he brought Hermione to the Hospital Wing. He protested but Madame Pomfrey still had the last say. He walked to his common room in a dark mood. His heart was still beating like mad from the shock of seeing Hermione on the floor with the disgusting cut on her arm. He sat on the couch trying to let his feelings subside. He decided that he needed to see Hermione whether or not Pomfrey allowed him. He got up and walked towards the Hospital Wing he quietly hid behind the curtain of the next bed.
***
Meanwhile, Hermione had woken up when Madame Pomfrey was healing her cut. They had a little "chat" afterwards.
"Hermione? Why did you do this to yourself?" she asked clearly concerned.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked avoiding her eyes.
"You know what I'm talking about." Madame Pomfrey replied.
"I don't want to talk about it" she said silently, suddenly finding her blanket very interesting.
Madame Pomfrey sighed.
"I understand" she said. "Just don't let it happen again."
Hermione looked up and nodded as she watched Madame Pomfrey read her files.
"And Hermione dear" she added with a smile. "Happy Birthday" she greeted and walked off to her office. Hermione burst into tears again.
