Secrets
Chapter Six: A New Hobby
(Disclaimer: I don't own any HP titles…)
(Disclaimer: The song in here belongs to James Taylor, not me!)
(A/N- Hey to make my 'job' a lot easier, I'm just going to make the rest of the story in Hermione's POV, okay? Maybe it'll be easier for you, too!
Caroline25- Well, It adds pizzazz to story!
Stefph- Thanks a bunch, I will
Katzie- Hey, it IS a HGDM FanFic, and I didn't MAKE you read it…
Tinka Shimmer Belle- I WUV U! You'll see!
Manda490- I totally agree, thanks!
Catgurlfurreel- lol, that's all I could think of!
Emily- Wow! Thanks! I'll keep writing then!
Bloomtoperish- Yay! dances around happily
Uasoccerbear- What kind of program did you type it up on?
Krista- Nope! EXPERIENCE all the way, baby! Nice try, though!
"Uh, Harry, why're you holding Ginny like that?" I asked, noticing how close they were. I watched their hands entwine together.
"Because we're dating now." Said Harry sternly.
"So you're breaking up with me?" I asked, shocked.
"Yeah…"
"For Ginny?"
"Yeah…" Harry looked at me with sympathetic eyes. "Hermione, I'm sorry-"
"Shut up." I snapped. "I don't want to hear it. Just this morning you told me you loved me! Where did that go?"
"I don't know why I said that, Hermione… I've been having mixed feelings lately…"
"BUT YOU JUST HAD TO LEAD ME ON LIKE THAT, DIDN'T YOU?" I yelled, temper rising.
"Hermione, clam down…" Ginny said, taking a cautious step toward me.
"NO! BOTH OF YOU GET OUT OF MY ROOM NOW!" I screamed at them, tears of hate and jealousy clouding my vision.
The new couple exited the room hurriedly, shutting the door behind them, plunging me once again into darkness. I jumped face- first into my bed, stuffing my head into a pillow and sobbing loudly. I felt a warm hand rub my back lightly as I sobbed.
"Hermione, it's okay…" Draco said, sitting me up on his lap and wrapping his arms around me. I felt a sudden gratitude toward Draco. He's stuck with me for about a month now, and he knows almost everything about me. Now, when the boyfriend I was cheating on breaks up with me, he still comforts me. I really do love him…
"Thanks, Draco…" I said, wiping tears off my cheeks.
"For what?"
"Everything."
"You're welcome. You're always welcome." Draco said, rubbing away a tear with his thumb.
"Class is about to start, we better hurry." I said, realizing we'd used up most of the morning.
"Yeah…" He said, helping me to my feet.
We walked out of the common room together, said goodbye and went to our first period classes. I went to Herbology, avoiding Harry's gaze. When we had to pair up to dissect a living lily with fangs, I immediately went over to Ron before Harry could even move.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ron asked, noticing how red and puffy my eyes were.
"Harry broke up with me…"
"Oh…"
"He showed up in my room this morning hugging Ginny and telling me that they're going out now and that we're over." I said, taking out a knife and slicing the lily down the middle.
"Oh, my gosh… Geez, I didn't know someone could stoop that low… And Ginny didn't even do anything?" Ron asked, pinning down the sides.
"No, just stood there holding hands with Harry…"
"Hey, whatever you needed to tell me yesterday… can you tell me now?"
"I'm not sure… give it time, Ron… we'll see…"
"'Kay."
The rest of Herbology went as usual until Ron got squirted in the eye with lily juice and had to be sent to the hospital wing for the rest of the day. I felt lonely having no one to hang out with, losing Harry and Ginny, and now temporarily, Ron.
XxX
A few days went by, and I picked up a new hobby; singing. Oh, God, how I loved to sing. I'd go up to the Astronomy Tower late at night when I couldn't sleep and sing my heart into the night, It's not really a new hobby, it's more like a re-newed hobby. When I sang, I could let out any emotions I wanted- love, hate, happiness, you name it. The last time I had sung was for the girl's chorus at a muggle school. I was an alto, which I was fine with, but had a soprano's range.
It's not that I was ashamed of my love for singing, it's just I was afraid people would think I was weirder than I already am. I never even imagined telling Draco. Besides, I like the thrill of keeping a secret…
One night I was up in my tower (I started calling it mine…) singing a song I remembered my mother teaching me;
"Goodnight to moonlight ladies
Rockabye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues
Are the colors I choose,
Won't you let me go down in my dreams?
And Rockabye sweet baby James."
I closed my eyes, hearing the accompany solo going before continuing,
There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway.
A song that they sing when they take to the sea,
A song that they sing in their home in the sky.
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep,
But singing works just fine for me,
And Rockabye sweet baby James."
I suddenly heard applause behind me, growing louder as the being behind me came closer. "Bravo, Hermione." I heard a familiar voice say. I spun around.
"Draco! What- uh, why-" I took a deep breath. "Hi."
He smirked. "Hello."
"How long have you been there?" I asked nervously, in fear of being judged.
"Long enough to know you've some talent." I blushed furiously.
"Uh… thanks…"
"Will you sing again for me?" Draco asked, looking me in the eyes.
"Of course…" I said, thinking of the perfect song to sing. "I wrote this one myself."
Draco smiled sweetly and nodded.
"Hold me in your arms,
Out of any danger or harm.
Kiss me without regret,
Promise me it'll get better yet.
Say you love me
Say it truthfully
Promise me you'll never lie
Or ever make me cry.
Support me through thick and thin,
Protect me with walls that won't give in.
I know it seems a lot to do,
But, Love, that's all I ask of you."
I ended softly, creeping down to pianissimo. (A/N- For those who are unfamiliar with musical terms, I'll have a sort of dictionary at the end!) My vibrato echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls.
"Hermione, why haven't you told me you could sing so well?" Draco asked, standing up and taking my hand in his.
"I don't know…" I lied. I looked up at Draco. The moonlight pouring through the window swept over our faces, giving us a blue tint, adding a slightly more romantic view to the situation.
"Well, do you come up here often?" Draco asked, taking me into his arms and holding me close. He brought his face up to mine so I could feel his breath.
"Only when I can't sleep…"
"Well, you haven't been able to sleep a lot lately, haven't you?"
"What?" I asked. Had he heard me before?
"On nights I can't sleep I go out and sit in the grass and think. It's sounds so stupid and dumb, but I do. I've an Invisibility Cloak of my own, you know."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
XxX
Potions was odd. I think Harry and Ginny are really 'into' each other, because at mealtimes, they can't keep their eyes off of each other. But in Potions, Harry couldn't keep his eyes off of me. It was horrible, having someone that I used to love and now hate stare at me for over two hours. I was sitting by Draco because there was nowhere else to sit. Ron was on my right at the table on my right in case I needed him. (I dunno why I would, though. He is better than Harry…)
Snape put on a short 3-D 'movie' where he dimmed the lights and made three-dimensional characters act for us. I wasn't paying attention, for I had picked the sleep potion up in some spare reading in my fourth year. I was discreetly crossing my legs around Draco's while trying to keep a straight face. Draco gave me a surprised glance before returning his attention to the 'movie.' I began rubbing his leg with mine, hiding my smile behind a book. I could mentally see Draco's face- surprised and blushing. I laughed inside, not realizing that it was heard outside, too.
"Granger, what, may I ask, is so amusing?" Snape asked in an amused tone.
I snapped my head up and my book closed. "N-Nothing, Professor! J-Just something funny in my, uh, b-book." I said, gesturing toward my book.
"Well, put your book up and pay attention!" Snape snapped, whacking his pointer on his desk with a lot thwap.
I set my book in my bag and set my focus on his lesson.
XxX
The dance was tonight. God was I scared! I went into my closet and pulled out my dress, laying it gently across my bed. I then went to my hair, letting it fall elegantly over my shoulders and back. I applied some natural-looking make-up and some jewelry and put my dress on. My dress, which I'd found at Hogsmeade, was a halter that dipped low in the back. It was white at the top, and at the bottom, which cut off at my ankles, it faded into black. I put on some perfume and headed into the Great Hall alone, seeing as Harry and I weren't going together anymore.
"Hermione!" Ron said as soon as I walked through the doors. "You look hot!" He blushed furiously. "I, uh, mean you look, uh, beautiful!"
I smiled and nodded. "Thanks Ron, you don't look too bad yourself!"
Ron smiled, and offered his elbow. I took it, beaming around as we walked toward the table the Harry and Ginny were sitting at.
"Wow, Hermione, nice dress!" Ginny said, holding Harry's hand. "Where'd you get it?"
"Dana's Dress' in Hogsmeade." I said simply, not looking anyone in the eyes except Ron.
"Oh."
I then saw Draco sweep into the room wearing a tuxedo that fit him perfectly. He seemed to be in deep conversation with Blaise, whose eyes flickered to me for a moment before darting back to Draco. I saw Draco then do the same thing, except his eyes met mine for a few moments longer. To my surprise, Draco beckoned me over to him. I muttered to Ron that I'd be right back and walked gracefully over to the pair.
"Yes?" I asked, smiling graciously.
"Hermione, I think we should tell people about… us." He said nervously.
"It's about time, and you're single now." Blaise said, piping in.
"Oh, hello Blaise, nice to see you, too." I said, a smirk on my face. I turned back to Draco. "But I agree, I do believe that it's time. You are aware of what people will say though, aren't you? All of the other Slytherins, except you, Blaise, will shun you. Are you willing to sacrifice that all for me?"
"Yes."
"Wow."
"First, let's go tell your friends- get the easiest part over with." Draco said, looking over at a making-out Ginny and Harry. "Eeew."
"Yeah."
"Well, we better get this crap over with."
"Good luck, Draco, you'll need it." Blaise said with a pat on the back.
Hand in hand, Draco and I walked over to the table that Ron and the new couple was sitting at.
"H-Hermione, why are you holding Malfoy's h-hand?" Ron asked nervously.
"Because we're dating now."
Pianissimo- Very soft
Soprano- Female singers with a higher range than an alto
Alto- Female singers with a lower range than a soprano
Vibrato- The waver in a singing voice
