Chapter 13: The Great Hall
Draco plunked his bag down after his classes were over that day and sighed. The sigh drew Hermione away from her homework. Seeing the look on his face she set it aside. "What's up?"
He looked at her and shook his head. "Nothing I'm not used to. People have either been shooting death glares at me all day or staring at me like I've grown another head."
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she scoffed. "Because they either don't believe I would date a horrible Slytherin or they think you can do far better than a filthy Muggleborn."
"Or they just don't believe it period," Draco replied, still irritated at the majority of the student body.
"Well then, we'll have to make them believe it," Hermione said decisively. "Are you going to dinner?"
He shrugged. "I haven't decided yet."
"Let's both go down then. I still need to talk to most of my professors about switching to independent study."
"But what if the smells make you sick?"
She grinned impishly. "Then I'll make sure and aim at one of the people glaring at us."
He laughed. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
"Draco?"
"Yes?"
"Never get on my bad side."
This elicited another chuckle in response. "You, madam, are incorrigible."
"And you, sir, love me anyway," she said with her eyes twinkling.
"Yes, it's another of the great mysteries of the world."
"Yep, right up there with why hummingbirds can fly backwards."
He gave her an odd look. "Um, right."
By the time they got down to the Great Hall dinner had already started and they could hear the dull roar of conversations through the giant doors. Hermione wrapped her arm around Draco's waist and he put an arm around her shoulders. When they walked through the doors it turned suddenly quiet.
They made their way over to the Gryffindor table appearing for all the world as if this were nothing out of the ordinary. Right before they sat down, however, Hermione hooked her arm around Draco's neck and pulled him down into a long, long kiss. She could tell Draco was more than a little surprised by this but he definitely wasn't complaining!
She could almost hear all the jaws hit the floor and had to force herself not to giggle. Finally she pulled away to the sound of wolf whistles and thunderous applause. Then she gave Draco a huge grin and sat down as if nothing had happened. "Hi, Harry. Could you pass the potatoes please?"
Harry grinned at the girl he'd always thought of as a sister and handed her the bowl of potatoes, playing along with her. "Hi, Hermione. Having a good day so far?"
"Oh, you know, more of the same." She gave him a cheeky grin then got a look at Ron's face and let out a giggle. It was a decided shade of green and he looked as though he might be sick. She waved a hand in front of his face to get his attention. "Ron! Hey, Ron! Don't throw up on the food, okay?"
He gave her a pointed look, still looking a little green. "Hermione, please don't do that again."
"No, please do," Draco countered, causing everyone within hearing distance to laugh.
She smiled and winked at him. "Don't worry, I plan on it. Ron just has a decided phobia of public displays of affection."
"I do not!" Ron protested.
"No, actually you do, Ron," Ginny put in, getting a mischievous glint in her eye. "Always have, in fact. Like that one time when you were eight and Mum was trying to give you a goodbye kiss your face got all beet red and—yeah, like that! Good job!"
Ginny winked at Hermione as Draco and all the Gryffindors roared with laughter. Finally they settled down and started eating again and the rest of the Hall resumed their conversations.
After dinner was over Hermione approached the head table to talk with her professors. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling like mad and she grinned at him. "Hello, Professor."
"Good evening, Ms. Granger. That was quite the display you put on there."
"Thank you, sir, I sure try." She said, still grinning.
"So it would seem." He smiled slightly at the Head Girl. "And I've spoken with Poppy and with all of your professors. The ones above the second floor are more than willing to allow you to study independently for the remainder of the year. You just need to speak with them individually to set up deadlines and such."
"Thank you, Professor."
"Not to worry, Ms. Granger." He smiled again. "So how is the little guy doing?"
She put a hand on her stomach. "I think he very well might be trying out for gymnastics at the moment so if that's any indication then he's doing fine."
"Glad to hear it." Dumbledore said, turning to go. "Good evening, Ms. Granger."
"Good evening, sir." She turned to find Draco waiting a little ways away.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
She took his hand. "Yep. Let's go."
a/n: and there's ch. 13 for all you adoring fans! yay! and all the peasants rejoice wee hoo! does a happy dance anyway, yes. Julie's done now. enjoy!
