Chapter 6: Hermione's Break Down
Disclaimer: All I own are the new characters.
After 2 long hours of classes, dinner finally came. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Benji, Neville and Ginny met up at their usual spot at the Gryffindor table. Of course, the millisecond Ron and Neville sat down, they didn't even give the food the chance to reach the plate. They stuffed their faces with potatoes, chicken drumsticks, ketchup, Yorkshire pudding, turkey breasts, and much more. Ginny and Hermione looked at them as though they couldn't be more disgusted. Harry and Benji looked absolutely amused at the hideous looks on the girls' faces. The other four sat down and filled their plates until they were satisfied with what they had. Once everyone was filled up, scattered conversation began.
"So, you had a good day, I hope?" Benji questioned Hermione.
"I had a lovely day, as a matter of fact. I've always loved the first day of school," she answered happily. They kept talking about what happened in their day.
"Did you get much homework, Ginny?" asked Neville to his new girlfriend.
"Yes, actually. I suppose you all were correct. Fifth year is the hardest. I've never gotten homework on the first day of classes before. I got the most in Divination from that old goon of a teacher. How about you?" she asked back.
"Well, since I didn't get into that advanced Potions thing, I didn't get any homework. If you'd like, I'll help you with yours," he offered generously.
"That's very kind of you to ask. Um...I suppose you can help me," she said nervously (after all, he isn't the smartest wizard at Hogwarts).
"Oh, isn't this sweet? The geek and little Weasley together, how touching," said an annoying voice. Hermione closed her eyes and said to herself, "Oh, no."
"Leave them alone, Malfoy," Harry said defensively.
"Ginny, what the bloody hell is he talking about?" said Ron very confusedly.
"What? You didn't know? Surely you'd know, since you're her big brother," snapped Malfoy.
"SHUT UP!" screamed Ginny. She didn't want Ron to find out that she and Neville are dating.
"Whoa! The widdle baby Weasley girl is getting feisty. Wooks wike it's time for a nap," Malfoy said in a mocking baby voice.
"Get away from her, now," said Ron in a tense voice.
"I'll get away when I feel so, Weasley. Oh, by the way, little Ginny's—," Malfoy started.
"NO! Leave us all alone, Malfoy. Just leave," Hermione said, jumping in.
"How's it going with your odd relationship, Granger? Oh, that's right. It's not odd at all, is it? Both of you are Mudbloods!" he laughed.
"HEY! I don't care if you call me that horrid name, but you best leave Hermione alone!" screamed Benji.
"Benji, I can take care of this. Listen, you. I've taken in six years of your torment. You've ridiculed me, humiliated me, laughed at me, created rumors about me and called me awful names. I don't deserve it, and neither do any of the rest of us. You're making fun of me, but there's nothing to be ashamed of. I may have parents who are Muggles, but your father is a Death Eater! So you should have no reason whatsoever to make fun of my family," Hermione scolded. Malfoy looked absolutely humiliated and baffled.
His surprised face was no different than all the others. It wasn't just her friends that were staring at her, but it was the whole of the dinner hall. Draco walked away and Hermione turned around towards her friends. They were awestruck, as well as the rest of the hall. Everybody knew how much Malfoy had made fun of her the past five or six years, but she had never done much to get back at him. The only time she ever actually did something to him was in third year when she punched him for trying to kill Buckbeak. Hermione blushed and then sat down. Everyone was still staring at her.
"Hey! The scene's over! Leave her alone and finish eating!" demanded Benji. The room filled with chatter once more, and Ron opened his mouth to speak.
"Nice job, Hermione! It's about time you stood up for yourself," he said with a huge smile.
"Thanks. Um, I'm not really hungry anymore. Benji, could you come out here with me for a second? Please?" Hermione asked pleadingly.
"Uh...sure. Absolutely. I'm finished eating, anyway," he lied, and gave her a weak smile.
"We'll meet you guys back at the common room," Hermione said. Ron and Harry nodded as Hermione and Benji started walking out of the Great Hall. They reached the great oak doors and walked outside of them, closing the doors behind them. As soon as the doors shut, Hermione collapsed onto the floor and started crying. Her back was against the wall while her knees and folded arms shielded her face. Benji looked astonished and rushed to her.
"What's wrong, Hermione? Are you okay?" he asked. When she looked up with tears still in her eyes, she saw how sorrowful he looked.
"I-it's just th-that...he's a-always p-pestered me about my parents, and almost every time I blow it off. And then I e-end up blubbering like this somewhere. Now that I've shouted a-at him, d-do you think he'll leave me alone?" she cried.
"Hopefully. And if he doesn't, I'll make sure he leaves you alone. And if I'm not there, your two best friends will help you. But don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll be there beside you. No matter what," he said, and smiled gently.
She opened her mouth to say something, but she decided that there was nothing to say to that. She just smiled very faintly. A tear rolled down her reddish face, still flushed from when she yelled at Malfoy. Benji wiped away the tear with his forefinger and wiped it on his shirt. She smiled again, but it wasn't as faint. He helped her up, and they started walking toward the common room. Hermione looked out one of the windows and saw that it was pitch black outside. She glanced at a huge clock and saw that it was already 9:30.
"Pixie Pie," Benji said, and the fat lady opened the door as they walked through.
The room was completely isolated, because everybody was still at dinner. The room was nicely lit and the fire was roaring. The couple took two very comfortable-looking armchairs and moved them side-by-side. Each sat down and took a deep breath. Minutes passed silently as they stared into the blazing fire. After about ten quiet minutes, a mob of people ran into the common room, ruining the tranquility. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Neville were a part of the massive mob of people, and took four armchairs nearby Hermione and Benji. They all talked for about 1½ hours, until they were the only ones left in the room. Everyone said good-night, and went to bed. Another week passed with more brutal classes and annoying teachers. The homework piled onto all of them, except for Hermione, of course. They all met up in the common room once more on a Friday night. They talked for a while until Ginny started to nod off.
"Well, I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted!" exclaimed Ginny.
"I think I've already passed out! Night, Gin," Ron said, as they both walked up their separate corridors to bed. After a few minutes, Harry and Neville left for bed as well.
"It's a little weird being here alone this late, isn't it?" asked Benji.
"A bit. The fire's still blazing, though, astonishingly," Hermione pointed out.
"Yeah. You look a little cold. Do you want to sit by the fire?" he asked.
"It is a little chilly," she said. They sat on the fluffy rug in front of the beautiful fire. Minutes passed.
"Benji?" Hermione said.
"Yeah?" he responded, still mesmerized by the fire.
"I wanted to thank you for dealing with me last week when I broke down," she said.
"No problem. You needed someone, and I thought that you needed a little support. I would never want to see you hurting like that. I'm just glad I was the one that could help you," he said.
"Thanks," she said. Another ten minutes passed as they stared into the fire.
"Oh, Hermione! I almost forgot. I...um...wrote this for you this last night when you all went to bed. I thought you might want to read it," he said as he took a piece of parchment out of his back pocket. She opened it, finding a poem titled "From the Heart":
My love for you is so strong, that not even death scares my soul
I would give my soul to keep you alive
My love for you is stronger than diamond
Whenever I see you, you're like an angel from the great beyond
The thought of losing you is like dying one thousand times
Over and over I think of you; no matter what problems will arise, I'm always there by you
"Oh...my...this is...wow. I-I don't know what to say. This is the most thoughtful and beautiful thing anybody's ever given me," she said.
"The thing is, I didn't just write it. I meant it. I wrote this for you. I just want you to know that," he said. She looked it over and then looked at him.
"Thank you. I know you mean this," she said.
He moved closer to her and looked her straight in the eyes. It looked as though he was searching for something and it was enclosed in her eyes. Like they were the windows to the place he truly belonged. He smiled with one corner of his mouth and raised his eyebrows. His eyes were still relaxed as he edged closer to her. He moved his head towards hers, and she did the same. Slowly, they reached each other until their lips touched. A sensation of satisfaction rushed throughout Hermione's body as she kissed him. Both of their eyes were closed, and his hand gently brushed away a piece of Hermione's hair. Hermione didn't know what to do with her hands. Whether to keep them on the floor or to put them on his head. She lifted one hand only to find that his hand had reached hers. He closed his fingers around her hand and she put her other hand on the back of his head. She played with the long hairs on the back of his head, her other hand still attached to his. They moved closer and let go of their hands. They moved their heads away from each other and opened their eyes. She licked her lips and he gave his mischievous smile once more. She smiled and turned away. He turned her head with one finger to face him.
"Thank you," he whispered gently. She only smiled.
"It's late. We should go to bed," she said, still smiling.
"Good idea. Good night," he said.
"Good night," she responded. They wrapped their arms around each other and hugged. Hermione lifted her head off his shoulder and gently kissed him on the cheek. They let go and walked up the dark corridors to bed...each still smiling.
A/N: Well, after about two weeks, these two have kissed. Wasn't that a beautiful poem? I thought so, too. That was a real poem. No, I didn't write it, but it was for me. Anyway, enjoy the rest of the story and review, please!