Disclaimer: Now, would I be writing this fan fic if I were J.K. Rowling? No, so obviously I am not her and therefore I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: A big thank you to all my reviewers!
SCInfinity – Wow, that's quite a compliment, thank you very much. And no I don't have a beta, I just reread and edit each chapter many, many times before I post it so I can catch as many errors as possible before presenting it to everyone. And yes, something BIG is going to happen . . . .
my1-and-only – Thank you, I'm glad to hear the emotions were conveyed well.
shadow-n-the-dark – Yeah, I know it's hard seeing Draco treat Hermione like he is, but I think you may like something that happens in this chapter because of his mean actions ;)
roundrockrules – Glad to hear I'm succeeding in building up the suspense, that's exactly what I hoped to do. Hope this chapter keeps it building!
anon. - thank you for your review, I hope you continue to like it!!
ydole3343 – I know what you mean, and I know it's horrible everything I've had Draco do, but if he was all nice and everything he just wouldn't be Draco.
zuvalupa – thank you! I'm soooo happy to hear that I've been conveying what they're going through well.
Kacie – lol I hope I updated fast enough for you! Thanks for the review!
Kara Black – I'm sorry it made you sad; I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Seek – no offence taken, I hope you feel that it speeds up and gets more interesting from now on.
MiLoV - hands you a tissue I'm sorry it was so sad, but like I've said before, he wouldn't be Draco if he wasn't mean, and it wouldn't be an interesting story if there weren't tough parts along the way.
Thank you all again for your reviews, and I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!
Just a reminder of how last chapter ended . . . .
"Hermione," cried Ron in an exasperated voice, and stopping himself in mid punch, "let us beat him down, think about what he's done to you!"
"I know what he's done to me!" shouted Hermione so loud that several passing students stopped to view the scene. When she continued she tried to keep her voice down and prevent the tears from flowing. She looked pitifully at Draco, and he could tell that she still wanted him back. After a moment she turned back to Harry and Ron and continued, "but remember last time, you two are going to get into big trouble if you fight again, and trust me, the stupid ferret isn't worth that." With that she turned, and began speed walking down the hall.
"Consider yourself lucky Hermione has a conscience," muttered Harry, "otherwise you wouldn't be breathing right now."
Chapter 18: Hogsmeade Again
A look of intense anger crossed Draco's face as he swept in the opposite direction, he would have been happier if she had allowed the fight. Harry and Ron both considered ignoring Hermione's request and pummeling Draco into the ground, but Hermione had already turned and walked away. When they saw her lift her hand to her cheek and wipe away a tear, they couldn't bring themselves to do it, so instead they followed her.
Draco was furious with Hermione, he had used every tactic he could think of to get her to hate him, and she was still protecting him like some lovesick puppy. As he entered the common room he slammed his fist into the wall to release some tension. The sound caused a group of Slytherins by the bulletin board to look over and see what had happened. At the sight of Draco's enraged face most turned away.
Pansy however, ran straight to him and wrapped her arms around him. He began to attempt to pry himself loose when he heard what she was saying, "There's a Hogsmeade trip next weekend Draco, isn't that great, we can go out and spend the whole day together!"
"Pansy that's . . ." he began in a disgusted tone, finally releasing himself from her grasp. But then a thought crossed his mind, it absolutely revolted him, but he was desperate. "That's great, I can't wait!" He lied, holding her hands and allowing her to move up against him.
"And we'll definitely have to make sure that that stupid mudblood sees us together, I would love to see her cry in front of everyone again!" cheered Pansy happily.
A faraway look passed over Draco's eyes, unnoticed by Pansy who had buried her face against his robes "Yes," Pansy looked up at Draco, who put on his most cunning looking smirk and turned his eyes to her, "we must make sure she sees us."
- - - - - - - - - -
Back in the Gryffindor common room, Ginny was unsurprised to see Hermione crying again. Ron spoke as he walked in, "Hermione, why didn't you let us beat him up? He deserves it."
Hermione sniffled in response, curling up and hiding her face and her tears. "What happened?" asked Ginny.
"I don't know," answered Harry, "we went to meet Hermione at her Arithmancy class and she was crying hysterically, then when we tried to beat up Draco for whatever he had done she stopped us after one punch."
"Hermione, what did he do?" asked Ginny concernedly.
Hermione shook her head, she felt so embarrassed and dirty because of it. Ron took a deep breath, "Hermione, we're your friends, we're worried about you, what did he do?"
"I feel so disgusting," began Hermione, "the class went fine until the very end, and I thought he was just going to ignore me from now on, but just when I finally felt relaxed, he touched my leg. I slapped his hand away, but he kept doing it, until I got so uncomfortable that I fell of my chair in front of everyone. Then he pretended to be totally surprised."
"Why didn't you tell professor Vector?" asked Harry.
"And why didn't you let us murder him!" Ron cried.
Hermione was breathing in short spurts, "I, I, I don't know!" she answered lamely.
"Hermione," interjected Ginny soothingly, "why don't you go up to your dormitory and clean up, I'll come up in a minute. Hermione nodded and slowly left. "Guys, lay off Hermione," pleaded Ginny once Hermione was gone.
"Why!" shouted Ron, "she's acting totally stupid, all because of Malfoy, the stupid git!"
"Isn't it obvious!" cried Ginny in an exasperated voice, "Ron, he may have never really cared for her, but she obviously really cared for him, and obviously she still does."
"How could she after all he's done!"
"Feelings don't get erased that easily Ron! Just give her time."
- - - - - - - - - -
Over the next week, Harry, Ron and Ginny did their best to be supportive and patient with Hermione. And she did seem to be recovering, as long as Draco wasn't around, she seemed her usual self. Ron had even resumed flirting with her, and he was happy to find that she was much more receptive and pleased by the attention than she used to be. However, the moment Draco made his presence known; she would become silent, and distant, and no matter what Ron or anyone did, she would not snap out of it, and she would remain in a bad mood long after Draco was gone.
The day of the Hogsmeade trip, Hermione was actually in a good mood. She was ready for some much needed relaxation time with her three best friends. At first the day was going fine, they had a blast buying sweets at Honeydukes, Harry and Ron purchased plenty of joke supplies at Zonko's, and by one o'clock they were all ready for some lunch at Three Broomsticks. Shortly after they sat down, Draco and Pansy walked in and sat down at a table that was just within Hermione's range of vision. Harry Ron and Ginny looked at her warily, afraid she was going to start crying again, but Hermione took a deep breath when she saw Draco, determined not to let him ruin her good time.
However, a little while later, as she was taking a drink of butterbeer, her eyes subconsciously ventured over to Draco's table and what she saw made her spit the drink out all over the table.
"Ahh! Hermione!" cried Ginny, as she backed away from the table. But Hermione wasn't listening; she was glaring ferociously at something. Her friends followed her gaze to where Draco and Pansy were kissing furiously. They had apparently forgotten about their meal, because it lay untouched on their plates.
"Hermione," said Harry worriedly, looking at the evil glare in Hermione's eyes.
"I have to go," choked Hermione. There were no tears in her eyes, but her throat seemed to be blocked, and she felt as if the little bit of her heart that had remained had just been crushed within her. She got up and left, walking in a daze, crashing into people and objects as she fled the room.
Her friends found her sitting on a bench outside of the pub, "I'm really sorry Hermione," said Ron as he sat down and put his arm around her shoulders.
"I always knew that Pansy was after Draco, and I've seen her all over him, and trying to kiss him, but I've never seen him kiss her back, well, not in public at least," muttered Hermione dejectedly, the memory of the night she caught them returning freshly to her mind. In truth, what she had seen had reaffirmed her fear that the reason he cheated on her was because she wouldn't go as far as he wanted, obviously that wasn't a problem with Pansy. She sighed, any hopes she had of getting back together with Draco were permanently dashed.
They sat there for a long while, no one speaking, they didn't really know what to say, and the fact that Hermione wasn't crying really scared them. A part of her seemed to have died right in front of them. When it was time to return to the school, they all got up and silently began to walk back.
Draco saw the four Gryffindors walking ahead of him and Pansy. He knew Hermione had seen, and he wanted to make sure his plan had finally succeeded. He led Pansy in front of the Gryffindors, then stopped and looked directly at Hermione. "What's the matter with you Granger, you look like Hell," he chuckled and smirked.
"I think she's just jealous that you're with a girl who knows how to please a guy much better than she ever could," interrupted Pansy, smirking cruelly.
Hermione looked ready to kill Pansy, which caused Draco to smile more; he leaned in closer to Hermione, causing Harry and Ron to brace themselves, ready to pounce on him if he did anything. "I wouldn't mind teaching you a few more things Granger, you definitely need the improvement," he taunted pompously as he licked his lips seductively and drew his mouth into his famous smirk.
Hermione went white and stared at him open mouthed, not believing what he had just said, Harry and Ron were too stunned to move. Hermione turned; everyone thought she was crying again. But then in one swift motion, she spun back around and punched Draco with all her might, "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" she shouted, not caring that the people had stopped to look at the scene.
"Draco!" cried Pansy as he stumbled in the wake of Hermione's blow, "are you alright?"
Draco didn't speak, once he regained his usual Malfoy composure, he sneered and stormed off ahead of the Gryffindors with Pansy trotting along behind him.
"That was wicked Hermione!" breathed Ron in a stunned voice.
"I hate him, I wish I never met him!" screamed Hermione.
Draco was still storming ahead covering his eye, which hurt like mad from Hermione's punch, but he still heard what she said. The statement killed him and overjoyed him all in the same instant. He knew that now he had no chance of ever getting Hermione back, but that had been exactly what he wanted, she was safe now. He took a reassuring breath, happy that he no longer had to worry about her.
I hope you all enjoyed Hermione punching Draco, that was my favorite scene in the PoA movie, and I couldn't resist putting a scene like that in my story!
Anyway, send me a review and let me know what you thought of this chapter!