Disclaimer: As you all know by now, I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: WOW! So many reviews, they make me happy so I would like to thank Jojo, D/HR SHiPPER, ghzowy, MiLoV, Llywelyn Willoughby, zuvalupa, NeighborhoodSquirrel, Phoebe Tetumetar, crazee, and Miranda. hands out chocolate frogs to you all I'm thrilled to hear that you are all liking my story, and I hope you like this chapter as well!
Chapter 14: It's Official
Hermione refused to speak to Harry and Ron throughout the entire rest of the break, though they made several attempts to beg for her forgiveness. Once Draco recovered, she spent hours with him every day. They often studied in the library, while they brewed their potion. They also took to walking outside on the grounds through the snow. Hermione could not remember having ever been happier than she was when she was with Draco. Sometimes in the library, when they were tired of studying schoolwork, they would 'study' each other instead. Draco never attempted to push Hermione further than she was ready to go (though she never objected to taking Draco's shirt off, she never allowed him to do the same to her.)
When classes began again and all the students returned, they limited their public interaction, although they did smile at each other, and greet each other in classes. Some of the Slytherin's questioned Draco about his behavior, yet since Draco could easily curse them all into oblivion they never pressed the issue. Pansy seemed to refuse to see that Draco was paying Hermione more attention.
The weekend before the Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw quidditch match, most of the students wandered outside for some fresh air and a snowball fight. Draco and the other Slytherins bewitched a bunch of snowballs to fly around and crash into the Gryffindors, Draco trying extremely hard to aim for Harry and Ron, laughing when he succeeded in hitting them, and laughing even harder as they blindly tried to find who was responsible.
As he began bewitching another set of snowballs to chase them around, he noticed that Hermione was sitting off all alone by the lake. He finished the spell, and when he was sure no one was paying attention to him, he went over and sat next to her without speaking. He looked at her staring off into space, apparently unaware that she was no longer alone. He smiled and took the opportunity to startle her, "You know, if you sit still for too long, you're going to get pelted by snowballs."
Hermione jumped with surprise. She laughed when she calmed down. "Really?"
Draco, unnoticed to Hermione, began making a snowball with one of his hands, "Oh yeah," he replied nonchalantly, "so, it's a really good thing I came by, because otherwise you might have been covered with snow by now."
"Oh is that so," Hermione answered flirtatiously moving slightly closer to him.
"Yeah, then I wouldn't have the pleasure of getting you first!" Draco smashed the snowball on top of Hermione's head, covering her with snow.
Hermione screamed happily in shock and quickly stood up and backed away, "Oh you're going to pay for that one Malfoy!" She laughed, gathering up some snow herself. Draco stood, prepared to dodge Hermione's snowball, but Hermione never got a chance to throw it, for Harry and Ron had heard her scream, and taken it for fear. They rushed to her protection, positioning themselves threateningly between her and Draco.
The sight of an impending fight attracted the attention of several students, all of whom gathered around the Gryffindors and Slytherin with anticipation. "Ron, Harry what are you doing! Go away!" shouted Hermione desperately at the boys.
"No Hermione!" shouted Ron not taking his eyes off Draco, "We're not going to stand by and let him hurt you!"
"He wasn't hurting me! He just surprised me, that's all! So just leave him alone," she begged pleadingly.
Draco had taken out his wand upon the arrival of Harry and Ron. He was not going to let them get the better of him again. He stared at them with pure hatred, poised for an attack. Ron turned to Hermione, and upon seeing her desperate expression, he softened a but, "Fine, we won't attack him, but," he turned again toward Draco, their faces were inches away from each other and it was impossible to tell who hated the other more, "if you ever so much as cast one spell on her or hurt her in anyway, we will destroy you."
Draco lowered his wand, smirked at Ron and said in a voice that was quiet, yet definite and threatening at the same time, "Well, thank you for that kind warning Weasley, I'll be sure to remember that if I ever have the desire to curse my girlfriend." He stressed the last words so that they sunk deep below Ron's skin. There was a collective murmur among the group of onlookers, everyone whispered to their neighbors to confirm if they had heard correctly. Ron was not the only one deeply affected by Draco's words; while his face contorted in disgust, Hermione beamed and her heart soared when she heard them. Draco had just admitted in front of everyone that they were dating! Hermione was on a cloud, she could hardly believe it. Ron and Harry meanwhile again looked ready to pounce on Draco, yet were stopped by an approaching voice, "what is going on here!" barked professor Snape.
Draco was still looking at Ron with a look mixed between malevolence and pride at having succeeded in angering him, "nothing professor, Weasley and I were just clearing some things up." Draco turned and looked arrogantly at Snape.
Professor Snape looked at the scene, understanding full well that something more than simple talking had happened, yet since no one was hurt, even he could not find an excuse to punish any of the Gryffindors. "Very well, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger and Mr. Potter professor Dumbledore would like to have a word with each of you."
The three students looked slightly confused, "may I ask why professor?" questioned Draco
"I believe that is a question that will be answered when you speak to professor Dumbledore," answered professor Snape. He then stepped aside, motioning for them to leave ahead of him.
Draco led the way; Harry was second making sure he remained in between Draco and Hermione. Hermione went last, and Ron made a movement to follow her, but was stopped by professor Snape, "I don't recall asking you to join us Mr. Weasley, I'm sure Mr. Potter and Miss Granger can survive without you for the time being."
Draco turned and smirked at Ron, who stood looking completely outraged, goggling at professor Snape. Snape curled his lip at Ron, then turned and marched the three students up to the castle. The group traipsed to the stone gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office, "chocolate frog" mumbled Snape. The gargoyle sprang out of the way revealing a spiral staircase that led to the office. Draco stepped out of the way pretending to look confused. Harry pushed past him annoyed, then wanted to kick himself when he realized that the only reason Draco paused was so that he could stand with Hermione.
When they all reached the office doors, Snape knocked and entered, leaving the students standing outside clueless. Draco and Hermione were holding hands and Harry was staring at Draco with a look of hatred that he usually reserved for Snape, but out of respect for Hermione, he remained silent. From the looks of it, Draco was keeping silent for the same reason.
Snape emerged from the office very quickly, very well Mr. Malfoy, you first. You two will wait here until the headmaster calls you in. After you are finished, you are to return to the main castle. Draco nodded at professor Snape, and whispered to Hermione, "see you later," then disappeared through the doors into Dumbledore's office.
Once both Snape and Draco were gone, Harry glared at Hermione, and Hermione turned away from him with her nose held high up in the air. "Come on Hermione, you have to talk to us sometime!" Harry began harshly.
"I'll talk to you again when you accept and support my decision to go out with Draco," answered Hermione stubbornly.
Harry cringed when she said Draco the way the rest of the wizarding world cringed whenever he said Voldemort. "But Hermione, it's Malfoy I just do not see how he could possibly be anything other than a cowardly, arrogant, self-absorbed ferret."
"If he was all those things, then why would be have announced in front of everyone that I was his girlfriend?" challenged Hermione. When Harry seemed unable to come up with a response she continued in a more relaxed tone, "Look Harry, we're best friends, you know me probably better than anyone in this school, you know that I have just as much a reason to hate Draco as anyone, probably more than most. But he's changed," Hermione walked over to Harry and placed her hand on his arm comfortingly, "Harry, please trust me, I wouldn't be doing this if I thought he would hurt me."
Harry sighed, his eyes boring into hers, "Hermione, you know I, and Ron too, we trust you, it's just him we don't trust." Harry saw the disappointment and frustration in Hermione's face, "but . . . if it really means this much to you, then we'll leave Malfoy alone. I'm not saying we'll be nice to him or do anything less than hate him, but we won't attack him anymore, that is if I can get Ron to agree," Hermione leapt up and hugged Harry.
"Thank you Harry, it's just that this feels right to me, I know it's strange, but it feels right."
"Right, if you say so," Harry looked appraisingly at Hermione, and smiled at the happiness in her eyes, it had been far too long since he had seen her smile.
Then the door opened and Draco exited followed by professor Dumbledore, "Ah yes, Miss Granger, you next I believe."
As Draco passed Hermione on his way to the spiral staircase, he winked at her and flashed a slight smile. Hermione returned the smile and followed Dumbledore into his office. Draco thought about waiting for Hermione, but the idea of being in close proximity with Potter made him think twice. Instead he made his way to the Slytherin common room with the idea to get started on his homework for the next week so he could concentrate on the upcoming quidditch match; he had to win in order to stay in the running for the quidditch cup. He was determined to beat Gryffindor and win the cup this year, but first he had to beat Ravenclaw. However, when he entered the common room he was greeted by a scowling and raging Pansy Parkinson. "Draco Malfoy! What the hell was that about outside?"
Draco looked at her with confusion, "what?"
Pansy's eyes flashed, "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about! You called that mudblood your girlfriend! What the hell were you thinking!"
Draco had to use all his self restraint not to yell at Pansy for insulting Hermione, he needed Pansy to be on his good side in order for his plan to work. He screwed up his face in his usual smug arrogant look, and spoke with his usual cool and calm drawl, "Oh please, you didn't believe that lie did you? I just said that to piss of Weasley."
Pansy continued to glare at Draco, though her gaze softened slightly, "but why would you even think of saying something as revolting as that?"
Draco took a deep breath before speaking. He held his head up high as he spoke. "Well you see," he began, as he sauntered over to the couch by the fire, and lay regally across it, "since I've been forced to work with Granger on that advanced potions project for Snape, I've noticed that she's been becoming rather interested in me. And who could blame her?" Draco smirked at Pansy's stunned expression, "Now, by calling her my girlfriend, she thinks I like her, Weasley and Potter are pissed off, and raging at Granger, and when I let Granger in on the fact that I hate her, she'll be heartbroken and friendless, since Potty and the Weasel will still be mad at her. So you see, it all makes perfect sense when you see it in context." Draco flashed Pansy a self-satisfied smile, though inside it was killing him that every second was bringing him closer to when he would have to let Hermione go. He wished he could turn back time so he would never have to reach that moment.
Pansy shrieked with glee when Draco finished, "Oh Draco that's brilliant! I can't wait to see the destruction of the 'perfect trio'." Pansy sat on the couch next to Draco and lay herself across him. Draco was repulsed, but for the sake of the plan, he did not protest, "So when are you going to destroy Granger's illusions?"
"Oh I'll continue playing 'caring boyfriend at least until the match next weekend, then when the time is right, I'll let you know," answered Draco simply as if he couldn't care less when he broke up with Hermione.
"Excellent, I want to be there to see Granger's reaction," smiled Pansy evilly.
"Don't worry, whispered Draco moving himself closer to Pansy, "you will be."
Pansy slid her hands around Draco's waist, "Finally little miss perfect mudblood Granger is going to get what she deserves." Pansy looked excitedly into Draco's eyes.
He returned an expressionless gaze at her, pretending to be happy by the destruction he would soon cause, but inside hatred towards Pansy, and even more towards himself burned inside. Yet, there was no turning back, he had to hurt her to save her, there was no other choice. Pansy moved her lips up to his and kissed him, making excessive use of her tongue, Draco sighed not kissing her back, but not pushing away either, and closed his eyes to block out the world.
- - - - - - - - - -
Hermione returned to the common room after her meeting with Dumbledore. She sat in front of the fire with Ginny working on homework and patting Crookshanks absentmindedly. Ron watched them from the other side of the common room, but he was still unsure how to approach Hermione after the incident outside. When Harry entered the room, he gained the courage to approach the group. The girls looked up as the boys approached, "so" began Ron attempting to converse as if nothing was wrong, "what did Dumbledore want to talk to you guys about?"
"Oh, um" Harry suddenly seemed nervous and hesitant to answer Ron's question.
"Well," interrupted Hermione, "he spoke to me about my being a candidate for the Head Girl position next year, so I imagine he discussed the possibility of being Head Boy with Harry and Draco, right Harry?"
Harry nodded, not looking Ron in the eye.
Ron looked outraged, "What! That arrogant little ferret as Head Boy! Dumbledore must be going absolutely nutters if, ow! . . ." Ron stopped suddenly after Harry stomped on his foot. "What was that for," but one look at Hermione and he didn't need an answer, yet Harry pulled him aside and told him about the discussion they had before their meetings with Dumbledore.
"Harry, she can't possibly really like him can she?" Ron asked desperately.
"She does, and she's our friend Ron, so we should respect her decision."
"I know," whined Ron, "but she is supposed to like me! Not that miserable excuse for a human being, Doesn't she remember everything he's done to her in the past five years?"
"I honestly can't explain it Ron, but no matter how much we hate Malfoy, Hermione's our friend and she's the smartest person any of us knows. She's not going to let some idiot like Malfoy get the better of her."
Ron took a deep breath, "okay, okay, I won't criticize him in front of her anymore, but I still hate everything about him!"
"Me too, but this is Hermione's choice not ours."
Well, I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter, be sure to let me know what you think by sending a review!!