The Good Side Of Evil
Standard Disclaimer
A/N I know it's short, but hey, short is better than nothing right?
The Common Room Door
"Hermione?"
Ron, Harry and Hermione all looked up from the game of wizard chess.
"Yes Neville?"
"Umm, there's someone at the door for you."
The trio exchanged looks of bewilderment. Hermione slowly got up off her seat on the common room floor and looked at Neville.
"Who, exactly, is waiting for me?" She asked, quite puzzled.
Neville muttered something quite incoherent.
"She asked you a question, Longbottom." Ron piped up.
"He told me not to say."
"Honestly Longbottom. If you don't stop ---" Ron stood up suddenly, only to be pushed back onto the couch by Hermione.
"Knock if off Ron." Turning to Neville, she asked "Did he say why you couldn't say?"
Neville shook his head.
"Thanks for telling me Neville." Hermione started to walk toward the common room door.
"Hermione! Are you out of your mind? What if its an axe murderer waiting out there to kill you?"
Hermione stopped, and said with a sigh "Neville, is the person waiting outside the door for me an axe murderer?"
"No. At least, I don't think so."
"Well thats reasuring." Ron snapped.
"I'll be fine Ron. Don't be such a worry wart." and with that she quickly ran out the door.
Ron just stared as the door slammed behind her. "Will someone please tell me what is wrong with that girl."
"Maybe she just resents the fact that you're acting like she can't take care of herself." Harry sugested.
"Was not."
"Or maybe she knew it was Malfoy in the hall and didn't want you getting all jealous." Neville meekly added.
"Who?!" Ron turned to Neville, his eyes wide. "That slimey no good evil son of a ---"
"Ron!" Harry grabbed Ron around the sholders to keep him from punching a very scared Neville.
"I'm sure she didn't know it was him." Harry tried in vain to calm Ron. "And besides, she can take care of herself. He probably just had a question about potions."
Ron elbowed his way free.
"I'm gonna go and check on her. Make sure that creep isn't doing anything to --- If he --- I'll --- the stupid--- " He fummed as he stormed through the door into the hall.
Harry and Neville exchanged looks of exasperation as they followed.
Hermione let the door slam behind her. How could Ron be such a jerk. Could he honestly think that there was anyone in the castle who could hurt her? It was probably just some Ravenclaw who didn't want anyone to know he needed help in some class. Or a professor who---
"Hi Hermione."
"Hi." Hermione was startled to see Draco step out from behind a suit of armor, but she kept her composure. "Neville said you wanted to see me?"
"Umm, yeah. I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. I've done a lot of thinking, and it's really unfair of me to exspect you to do all the work on the potions term project. Please don't tell anyone this, but I find cheating absolutely apalling, and really don't think I could put my name on a paper I didn't help write. I really am sorry for the way I acted. It was inmature, and --"
"Its fine, really." Hermione couldn't help but smile at the way he was shuffling around, as if admitting he had a conscience was a hard thing to say.
"Umm, here's a list of ideas for the project that I came up with." He said, handing her a small roll of parchment. "Could we go to the library for a bit and discuss what we want to do?"
"Sure. That sounds great."
As they walked down the hall together Draco slowly put his hand on the small of Hermione's back. He then glanced behind him and winked as Ron stood speachless outside the common room door.