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A/N: Here's chapter 4. I updated much faster than I thought I would. Anyways enjoy!! And remember to review. I love to hear your opinions!!
The Bitter End
Chapter 4: Rude Awakening
Previously...
"Ron I said...I said that I have to share dormitories with Malfoy," Hermione said with much difficulty. Ron looked at her and let go of her hand. The tips of his ears we're pink. Hermione knew what was coming next. She could feel it from a mile away. Ron's anger bomb just exploded.
"WHAT?!?" Ron yelled. "DID I JUST HEAR THAT YOU'RE SHARING YOUR DORMITORIES WITH...WITH HIM?!?"
"Yes, you did Ron," Hermione was starting to panic. "There's no need to yell."
"NO NEED TO YELL?!? HERMIONE, DRACO BLOODY MALFOY IS GOING TO BE SLEEPING WITH YOU!!" Ron continued to yell now standing with the whole common room silent.
"He will not be sleeping with me, so don't say that," Hermione said as low as a whisper.
"YES HE WILL!" Ron yelled. "HARRY, I HOPE YOU'RE AGAINST THIS!"
"I am Ron, but like Hermione said, there's no need to yell," Harry muttered. "Just calm down."
"Yes Ron, you're overreacting," Hermione said feeling her anger rise.
"I CAN'T HELP IT!" Ron bellowed. "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF YOUR GIRLFRIEND JUST TOLD YOU SHE WAS SOON GOING TO BE SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY!?!"
"RONALD WEASLEY!!" now Hermione was yelling. "DON'T YOU DARE PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH! I NEVER SAID SUCH A THING! DAMNIT RON, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO DENSE? I JUST FOUND OUT! HOW THICK CAN YOU GET!?!"
"I DON'T KNOW 'MIONE!! HOW BLOODY THICK AM I?!? Ron yelled. "WHERE'S YOUR DORMITORY? WHERE THE HELL IS THE STUPID FERRET?!?"
Hermione couldn't take it anymore. Her anger reached her peak. The next thing she knew there was a loud smacking sound. She just smacked Ron hard, just like they way she smacked Malfoy in her third year.
"Ron, how dare you...how dare you yell at me like that. I didn't do anything and you're attacking me like I'm some animal," Hermione said in a cold voice. Then she gave Ron a deadly look. If looks could kill, she would've killed Voldemort on the spot. Harry was silent watching them. Ron seemed to cool down.
"'Mione I'm sorry. You know how much I hate him," Ron said with his hand on his cheek.
"Ronald, you're always sorry. Stop apologizing. I knew you would've over reacted," said Hermione.
"It's just that we're upset," said Ron.
"I'm upset too but you don't see me yelling like a maniac," Hermione said cooly.
"Well, you don't look so upset to me," Ron growled.
"I may not show it but I am," said Hermione.
"If he ever touches you, I swear I'll rip him up in pieces," Ron snarled.
"Like I'd even let him close to me," Hermione snapped. "Look, I'm tired and I'm going to bed." Hermione yawned and started walking towards the portrait to leave. That was until she felt a hand grab her arm fiercely and turn her around.
"Are you going somewhere?" Ron snapped.
"Well yes Ron, I do have a dormitory you know," Hermione retorted. Ron squeezed her arm tighter.
"Well you won't be going back anytime soon," Ron growled and Harry had enough. "Ron just let her go, and we'll forgive and forget tomorrow."
"Ouch Ron, you're hurting me! Grow up would you," Hermione said trying to break from his grip. He squeezed even tighter.
"Harry stay out of this. And 'Mione, I have grown up, for your information, and I think you shouldn't leave." Hermione was now wincing in pain. The more she struggled the more pain she received.
"Ron, for your information, I too have grown and I can take care of myself thank you," Hermione scoffed. Then he pushed her and she almost fell but Harry caught her. "Damn Ron. Calm down for goodness sakes."
"FINE!! YOU WANT TO GO?!? LEAVE!! GET OUT!!" Ron yelled and pointed at the portrait to get out.
"Ro-" Harry stared but got cut off by Hermione.
"Harry don't bother, he wants me out I'll get out," Hermione said coldly starting to fell her eyes water. "It's not my fault he has an attitude problem." She then started to cry rubbing her arm leaving the common room.
"'Mione don't cry," Harry said walking up to her. "Everything is going to be ok."
"No it won't," Hermione replied. "It never will." Then she said the unexpected. "Ron, it's over," she said looking at Ron then walked out of the common room.
"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked Harry.
"Me? Nothing. What's wrong with you? She loves you Ron, she always had and always will. Don't tell me you're like this because of Malfoy," said Harry.
"Why are you even talking? You don't even have a girlfriend," Ron scowled.
"I may not have a girlfriend, but you did and you just lost her. I've had enough of this, Hermione was right, just grow up already." Harry snapped and left the common room.
Meanwhile...
Hermione was crying with such anger she never had. She couldn't believe how Ron reacted, so childish, so immature. But it was over. She ended the relationship that was never meant to be. Her arm throbbed with pain. "Why did he have to get so damn aggressive," she thought furiously. "Maybe he did change over the summer." Then she began to think what a horrible way to start her final year. A breakup with her boyfriend, and having to share a dormitory with Malfoy. "This is only my first day back," she frowned. "I can only imagine what's going to happen later."
"'Blindworm'," she said finally reaching the portrait to the common room. When she walked in she spotted Malfoy sitting reading a book on the sofa. As she walked up to him she felt her heart skip a beat. He looked so peaceful and relaxed. She wished that he could see her pain and anger to kiss all her problems away. To be in his arms that protected whoever was in them. "Unfortunately, that won't happen anytime soon," she thought to herself. What she didn't notice is that she had been staring at him for a good five minutes.
"What Mudblood," Malfoy finally snapped looking up at her. His eyes caught with hers. She finally saw those gray stormy eyes that she's been dying to look in. They widened slowly as he continued to look at her.
"What do you want?" he said coolly.
"To tell you not to talk, or look at me, and to just to leave me the hell alone for today," she said. He looked surprised at her answer but she didn't care. She then turned and went to the bathroom feeling those stormy eyes watching her every move. Once inside she slammed the door shut with all her might. When she looked at herself in the mirror she gasped. She looked like hell. Now she knew why Malfoy reacted the way he did. Her eyes were red and puffy from all her crying. Her hair looked more of a mess. She then raised the sleeve of her robes to look at her injury. Once her robe was rolled up her eyes began to fill with tears again. Not out of sorrow, but anger. Her left arm had an ugly bruise with a black/bluish color and the shape of a handprint. As she continued to look she saw that Ron's grip was so tight he left some of her skin peeled with dried drops of blood. "Why did he do this," Hermione said banging the sink counter. "What did I ever do to him?"
"Granger?" came a muffled voice. "Granger, you okay?"
She rinsed her face with water and cleaned the dried blood of her skin then walked to the door and opened. One opened she was face-to-face with Malfoy, meeting those gray eyes once more.
"I'm fine," she said sniffing.
"You sure don't look it," he replied sounding a little concerned.
"Why is he so interested about how I feel and look?" she thought. They were still standing in front of each other. Hermione's eyes roamed his face. He was perfect; this was the man she really wanted. Then her eyes found his pink lips. They looked so soft, so good. She was resisting the temptation to kiss them. But her thoughts of him left her mind when he spoke.
"Did Weasley do this," he asked looking as though he too was observing her. Once she heard Weasley she felt her anger build up again.
"Why should it matter to you," she snapped and then pushed him out of her way. "It's over," she said angrily. "I did what I was supposed to do." He looked at her trying to figure out what she was trying to comprehend.
"Wh-," he started but Hermione cut him off.
"I thought I told you not to talk to me and to leave me alone," she said walking up the spiral staircase. "Tomorrow's a new day, I'll think about telling you how I really feel. Till then, Goodnight Malfoy," she said walking into her room and slamming the door shut.
Malfoy watched as Hermione walked up the staircase and heard her say 'Tomorrow's a new day, I'll think about telling you how I really feel. Till then, Goodnight Malfoy.' He began to wonder what kind of things she wanted to talk about and honestly he wouldn't give a damn about how she felt and what was on her mind. But since they're sharing dormitories...why not. She then slammed her room door. "Night Granger," he mumbled then walked into his own room.
Once Hermione walked in her room she just realized that this was her first time seeing her room. Her room had Gryffindor colors, a queen sized four- poster bed, a bureau, a big closet, a desk with a chair, and her favorite thing of all in her room...a bookcase with all her favorite books. "It's perfect," she said to herself then put locking charms on her door. She then changed into her nightgown and climbed into her soft bed. All of the day incidents roamed back into her head. But she really began to think about her crush on Malfoy. Was it just a crush? Was she falling for him? Did she want to forgive him and befriend him? Or was this a crush that came and left? Would she hate herself for breaking up with Ron for her feelings about Malfoy? Would Malfoy ever like her? Would he ever love her? Hermione continued to think finally drifting off to sleep. Like she said, 'Tomorrow's a new day.'
Draco's PoV:
Draco Lucius Malfoy was finally starting his seventh year at Hogwarts. He despised the place. He hated it. He hated the headmaster Albus Dumbledore. He hated Harry Bloody Potter and his best friends, the Muggle lover, Ron Weasley and the Mudblood, Hermione Granger, also known as the 'Golden Trio'. He and Granger were always neck and neck with grades. But obviously she was the teacher's pet. This year that was going to change, he made sure of that. When he was credited as Head Boy, he was pleased with himself. But then here came Granger messing everything up again. He noticed something about her when he first saw her in the prefect's meeting. Her hair was longer and wavier, she had a tanned look on her skin, she was much more curvaceous, and definitely more attractive. "I did not just think that she's attractive," he thought feeling disgusted with himself. His world came crashing down when he was told that he had to share dormitories with her. This was going to be a living hell. He knew that whether he liked it or not, they had to get along...something he didn't want to do. But today he saw a different side to her. Not the snotty I'm perfect Granger. He saw a different Granger...the real Granger. He saw how angry she could get. If it were anger towards him or Weasley, he wouldn't know or care. But she looked so hurt and he felt pity for her. He now knew her life wasn't so perfect as he thought it was. Maybe she was a nice person to know. But did she feel the same towards him? Did she hate him for all the things he did to her? Or would she want to be friends with him? "Friendship," he thought. "Nothing more than that...for now."
Hermione woke up with a start. She got her things set for classes and then walked to the bathroom. No sign of Malfoy. "He must be an early bird," she thought. She then took a quick shower, changed into her robes and left for the Great Hall. Once inside Hermione spotted Harry sitting by himself at the Gryffindor table. She walked over to him and sat next to him.
"Good Morning," she said.
"Morning," he replied. "You okay about what happened yesterday?"
"Please don't remind me," said Hermione.
"Ron and I are not talking to each other either," said Harry.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Because of the way he treated you. I mean everyone could see how happy you were about him and he was as blind as a bat," Harry answered. "So when I tried pointing this out to him he got pissed off at me and now he's not talking to me."
"I'm sorry," Hermione frowned.
"It's okay. It's not your fault, so don't even start blaming yourself," Harry reasoned and gave a little smile.
Hermione felt a little better. At least Harry still was her friend. Then the Great Hall doors opened and Ron walked in with Seamus at his side. When he looked at Harry and Hermione his smile faded and he sat at the other end of the table. Hermione just growled and shook her head. That was until she saw Malfoy walk in. He actually looked happy. "What's he so happy about?" she thought.
"So..." Harry started to say when he saw Malfoy. "How was your first night with him?" he said nodding in Malfoy's direction.
"It was...okay," said Hermione putting two eggs into her plate.
"He didn't do anything to you right?" Harry sounded concerned.
"Nope," Hermione sighed.
"Good," he said.
"Yeah, I guess," she said.
"Look, if he does anything tell me ok," said Harry.
"Don't worry, I will," Hermione said and Harry nodded.
"What classes do we have," Harry asked.
"Um, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, lunch, and then double Potions," Hermione replied.
"Ugh, why do we always got to have double Potions," said Harry and Hermione smiled. The day turned out to be ok. Ron still wasn't talking to them but Hermione didn't care. The day went by so fast. It was already time for double Potions. Hermione's least favorite class. When she walked in Ron was sitting with Dean and he ignored her. She then saw Harry with an empty seat next to him.
"This seat taken?" she asked.
"Not at all," he answered.
Then all the talking stopped when Professor Snape came in. "Good Afternoon class," his cold voice drawled out. "Today we are making a Potion at N.E.W.T. level. You are going to be assigned to a partner for one week. That is the estimated time of brewing the potion takes. You then would test them out and it should last for a day." He said taking out a list with the assigned names.
"Potter, Weasley. Longbottom, Thomas. Parkinson, Zabini," he continued to say a list of names. Then finally he reached Hermione. "Granger, Malfoy."
"No," Hermione croaked. "This cannot be happening."
A/N: And that's the end of chapter 4. I hope you all liked it. I tried my best on it. Chapter 5 should be up soon. I hate having to make you wait long. Now I must thank my reviewers... nychick8990, I like your suggestion I'll keep it in mind, hermione122103, WolfishGrin34, and all the rest of people who review, thanks so much! You guys are great!