Chapter 4 – Honey
Hermione, Harry and Ron sat at the Gryffindor table for breakfast. Ron played with his food; hardly putting any of it in his mouth. He was thinking about the detention session he had last night. Spending three hours in the dungeon, cleaning and rearranging everything without using magic with Shiina was definitely something new.
Especially when she told him her feelings.
Ron wanted to ask Hermione but he couldn't. How can you talk to someone about someone else when she doesn't want to hear the person's name? As soon as Ron mentioned the name 'Hayama', Hermione looked at her food and pretended she didn't hear him.
Ron heaved a sigh and gave a look as if he was carrying a heavy burden on his back. Hermione made her way to Ancient Runes class and Harry and Ron made their way to Double Divinations class after breakfast.
"What is it, Ron? You seemed... troubled," Harry asked.
"Last night's detention..."
"What about it?"
"Hayama... She spoke to me. I mean, not making fun of me. She really TALKED to me, Harry."
Harry flashed Ron a confused look.
"She told me all about her and Hermione..." Ron told Harry everything Shiina had told him the night before. When Ron finished, Harry gave a short laugh.
"I think you might've been dreaming, Ron. Or Hayama might just be pulling your leg. Don't trust her so easily, Ron."
"But I saw her crying when she was going up to Slytherin Tower."
"Crocodile tears, Ron. Come on, let's go before we're late again."
It was Halloween.
Harry, Ron and Hermione volunteered to help decorate the Great Hall for the feast and ball. Harry had asked Ginny to go to the dance with him and she agreed. He smiled at himself every time he remembered Ginny going all red when he had asked her.
A few Slytherin girls were helping the teachers as well. Fortunately for them, Shiina and Malfoy were nowhere to be seen. It was either they were working too close to the Slytherin girls or if the girls were talking too loud, Harry, Ron and Hermione heard every word.
"Did you hear? Draco is taking Shiina to the ball tonight!" said the first girl.
"No way! I wanted to ask him to go with me..."
"But they really look nice together don't they? I really pity Shiina though..."
"Why's that?"
"She had to be related to a repulsive Mudblood cousin like Granger."
Harry looked over at Hermione. She was looking away, pretending not to listen. Harry knew she heard every word but chose not to say anything. He saw Ron opening his mouth but Hermione gripped his robes and tugged on it. Ron looked at her and sees her shaking her head.
"Guys, it's okay, really," she said. "Come on, we're almost finished anyways. Let's just continue and then we can go back to the tower."
Harry had forgotten his robes. He left it at the Great Hall entrance when they were decorating the place. He ran back down to the hall and picked it up. On the way back, he ran into Shiina.
"Oh, it's you," said Shiina. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go and get ready for the ball."
"I do mind. I need to talk to you, Hayama," Harry answered darkly.
"Is this REALLY important?"
"Yes it is."
"You have 1 minute. Go."
"It's about last night."
"What about last night?"
"When you and Ron talked. Was it all true?"
Shiina let out a small chuckle and began laughing menacingly. "Weasley BELIEVED it?! Oh my God, how gullible can you GET? Seriously, Potter. You REALLY should reconsider being friends with that daft of a Weasley."
Harry clenched his fists and stared angrily at Shiina. She flipped her hair back and stopped smiling. She stared into Harry's eyes, making Harry feel like something was burning holes within him.
"Listen here, Potter. Don't meddle with things that are out of your hands. What's going on between Hermione and myself are going to STAY between the two of us. I would appreciate it if you and Weasley keep your noses out of what is not your business. NOW, if you'd excuse me."
Shiina stormed away from Harry. Harry turned around and looked at Shiina who was already on her way up the stairs. Malfoy greeted her at the top of the stairs. She smiled at him.
Sincerely.
Ron ended up taking Hermione to the ball. Hermione had looked even better than she did during the Yule Ball. She had her hair straightened, her face made up and she was sporting a sky blue turquoise dress with sparkling studs on it. Even Ron had to admit she was looking stunning that night.
Harry and Ginny walked up to them. Hermione had loaned Ginny her red and gold party gown for the occasion. It was partially bare back and it looked just as good on Ginny as it did on Hermione. In her right hand was a masquerade mask. Harry wore a black dress robe over his black suit with a black masquerade mask to complete the outfit.
Harry pulled Ron away from the girls to talk to him. "Ron, I think Hayama was really playing with you."
"What do you mean, Harry?"
"I talked to her earlier... She was having fun listening to my 'story'. But then again, I'm not too sure that I should believe that story either."
All eyes suddenly turned to the Great Hall entrance. Harry and Ron saw two dark figures entering the Hall. The Hall was set to a dark, Halloween-ish theme so they couldn't see much. When the two figures came into the light, they saw who they were.
Draco Malfoy and Shiina Hayama.
Both of them were wearing something black and gothic, suiting the night's theme. Malfoy had his arm around Shiina's waist as they walked in. They started dancing.
Ron took Hermione's hand and asked her to dance. She agreed as she needed to get her mind off of things. Harry asked Ginny to dance (of which, she started going red. Thankfully, the Hall was too dark for Harry to notice she was blushing).
Harry noticed Malfoy and Shiina were dancing really close to each other. One point he even saw her licking Malfoy's ear and Malfoy groping her behind.
When the music ended, Harry and Ginny went off the dance floor to sit down at their table. They hadn't seen Ron and Hermione on the dance floor but saw Ron at their table. Harry asked where Hermione was. Ron didn't know and said she just ran out of the Hall.
Harry, Ron and Ginny became very worried.
Hermione ran off and locked herself in the Astronomy Tower. She locked the door and leaned against it. She slid down and covered her face with her hands. Tears started welling up in her eyes. She looked around the Astronomy Tower.
Here was where she and Malfoy were accidentally locked in two years ago.
Here was where she and Malfoy started to really talk to each other.
Here was where she and Malfoy kissed for the first time.
The thought had made her wept even more. Why did she choose this place, of all the places, to hide herself from everyone? She needed someplace to cry. And the Tower was the perfect place. She stared out into the starry October sky.
"Why did she have to come here in the first place?" Hermione shouted, hitting her fist against the wall.
She knew no one could hear her shouting. The Tower was way up and no one can really know what was happening in it.
Hermione was sad. Was Malfoy really playing with her or was he really going to leave her for Shiina? Hermione admitted that Shiina might be a better suitor for Malfoy. She was a pure blood. Hermione was half Muggle.
But could Shiina really love Malfoy the way Hermione does? Hermione heard people saying 'opposites attract'. Maybe it was true.
Maybe the fact that both Hermione and Malfoy were different is the reason they needed each other.
A knock was heard on the door. Hermione wiped her tears away and stood up. "Who is it?" she called, faking a calm voice.
"It's me. Open up." The voice on the other side of the door was deep and familiar.
He came! He came to cheer me! Hermione thought.
She unlocked the door and turned the knob. She expected a tall, fair, platinum blonde with blue-grey eyes to stand in front of her.
Instead she saw a tall, fair, Asian with a menacing look looking down on her.
"Hello, Hermione," Shiina greeted in Malfoy's voice.