Chapter 8 – Curses and Apologies

Hermione was completely dazed. She was dancing with a full grown Grawp in the Great Hall and wasn't scared at all. Then in a flash, she was cooking something on a hot stove. She peered into the saucepan and saw bits and pieces of the house elf Dobby. In the next flash, Hermione was walking on a path.

Dark evergreen trees were bunched up around her, making her feel like she was surrounded by enemies. There was no light whatsoever because the trees were blocking the sun. Hermione could smell something pungent in the air and could taste the moistness of the reviving air. She was in the Forbidden Forest…

Hermione kept on walking ahead with no fear, but only anxiety. Why was she in the Forbidden Forest?

Something was coming into view, but her surroundings were fading away slowly until everything went blank.

Hermione opened her eyes. Her body was resting on the fluffy red couch and she saw that she was still in the Common Room. It was still empty, except for someone that was scurrying in. She closed her eyes instantly.

Footsteps advanced toward her, and a familiar voice spoke, "She's sleeping."

It was Ginny. Hermione wanted to wipe her face so she wouldn't see that she had been crying, but she also didn't want to talk to Ginny, so she kept her eyes closed.

"Look at her face. She's a mess." said a male voice. It was Dean.

"Go upstairs, I'll talk to her for a bit and then we can go back." said Ginny.

"Good luck." said Dean, and after the soft sound of a kiss, Hermione heard Dean walk away.

"Hermz. Hermione." Ginny prodded her lightly, and then after a few seconds more intensely, and she decided she couldn't pretend to be asleep any longer.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. Ginny was sweaty in the face, but also had a concerned look as she observed her friend.

"Are you alright?" said Ginny.

Do I look alright? Hermione sniffed and wiped her face to get the mascara off.

"I'm fine." Hermione lied, getting up from the couch.

"No you're not."

"Yes I am."

"This is about Ron, isn't it?" said Ginny, in a matter of fact tone.

Hermione didn't answer.

"He got drunk, Hermoine. Dean told me that he brought some beer from Hogsmeade, or actually, someone else brought it for him and I think Ron had too much and he went crazy."

"Sure he did." said Hermione sarcastically. Getting drunk didn't explain why he'd been dancing with another girl… kissing another girl… surely the girl would've been offended? Unless they'd known each other before.

"I'm serious. Harry took him up to the dormitory about a half an hour ago. He was totally out of it. We saw him all over some girl and she really didn't seem to mind…I was surprised…anyways, don't be made at him. He didn't know what he was doing."

Hermione gave a dry laugh. He knew exactly what he was doing, and from what Hermione had seen in the Great Hall, Ron had been smiling cheerfully.

"Whatever. I don't care. He didn't even want to ask me in the first place."

"Yes he did!" said Ginny in a defending voice, "he was just shy."

"No he didn't. I was the one who went to him remember?"

"It's a good thing you did because at least now Ron knows you like him."

"Liked him." Hermione corrected her, "past tense."

"Oh come on, Hermione. It's his mistake, I get it. He shouldn't have drank that firewhisky, but give him a break. He's really confused right now and he's just a guy. Any guy would want to drink."

"Forget it!" Screamed Hermione, "he can snog that whore all his life. See if I care!" And with that, she stormed out of the Common Room and the last thing she heard from Ginny was, "Just sleep on it! I'll talk to you in the morning!"

Like she was actually going to change her mind. She settled herself on her bed and laid down with her eyes open. She stared up, not really looking at the wooden bed above her.

How could he? How could he kiss another girl when he hadn't even kissed her at the dance? How could he be stupid to drink so much that he got intoxicated?

She tried to forget about it and go to sleep but she couldn't. It kept floating back into her mind like a tidal wave. The image of Ron and the girl kept flashing in her head…

…

"Hermione." said Harry softly, trying to talk to her. It was morning and they were at breakfast in the normal Great Hall. Hermione was munching on a muffin as she read Numeral Theology, trying very hardly to ignore Harry's voice.

"What's wrong with her?" said Neville to Harry in a low voice, but Hermione could still him.

"Nothing." Replied Harry, helping himself to a strip of bacon.

Hermione looked around the Hall. There was still no sight of Ron.

"He's still in bed." said Harry, as an answer to her observations. She was trying to eat as fast as she could so she could get out of there quickly so she wouldn't have to face Ron.

"He's totally wiped out. Just forget about last night, Hermione."

Something racked back in Hermione's brain. Last night…

"Speaking of last night, was anyone else dressed as a dementor?"

"I don't know…probably not…why?" asked Harry curiously.

"Because someone tried to dance with me…first I thought it was you, but I saw you somewhere else…he followed me all around the Great Hall…"

Harry's eyes narrowed, "That's strange. Did you ask him who he was or see his face?"

"I asked him, but he said 'your worst nightmare'. What a fool. But there was something familiar about his voice…I'm sure I've heard it before…"

"Was it Malfoy?"

"Malfoy? No…he was standing with Crabbe and Goyle…" Hermione was deep in her thoughts…He had been tall…and now that she thought back to last night, his body had been powerful and firm, nothing like a normal Hogwarts student…

"I don't know then. Just be careful." said Harry.

"No…I don't think he was trying to hurt me…it was almost as if he was trying to seduce me…"

"Well, whatever he was doing, just be careful, and try not to ignore Ron when he tries to talk to you."

"Ha." shot Hermione. She got up from the table, gathered her things, and left the Hall.

…

Hermione was now in Defense Against the Dark Arts sitting next to Harry and Ron was positioned on the other side of Harry. Ron had tried to talk to her, but she had ignored him.

"Well, it's nothing," said Harry after Hermione separated herself from Ron, "you fight so much that I'm used to it. This is just another one of those fights."

But Hermione knew it wasn't. Class began a short time after.

Tonks stood up from her desk and spoke, "Today will be a short dueling lesson, and I'm sure a lot of you will like it. Please pair up with another person and take your place in the classroom." She flicked her wand and all of the desks in the room disappeared.

Fearing a conflict with Harry and Ron, she immediately asked Neville if she could be his partner and he agreed.

"Today we will be practicing the Darkness Curse which blinds a person for a short period of time so they are unable to attack their opponent afterwards." said Tonks.

Hermione saw Neville's face drop. There was no way he was going to curse Hermione and make her go blind.

She raised her hand.

"Yes, Hermione?" said Tonks, looking at her.

"How long will the spell last?"

"About a couple of minutes so don't worry. You won't be blind forever.

But Neville's face was still full of worry.

"Now, when you say the spell, you have to move your wand in a circular motion like this," she said, twirling her wand into a full circle, "make sure it makes a full circle, and then clearly say Caeco!"

"So for now, put away your wands and repeat after me. Caeco!"

"Caeco!" Everyone said loudly.

"Good. Now take out your wands and attempt to curse your partner when I say go."

Neville gulped nervously and raised his wand, and so did Hermione.

"Three…two…one…GO!"

The whole class twirled their wands and then shrieks rang out in the classroom, making it sound like it was haunted. Wands flew in all directions, and two people's cloaks were on fire. Hermione's wand produced a feeble blue strand of light that struck Neville, while Neville's wand fell to the ground.

Half a minute later, Tonks blew a whistle.

"I can't see anything!" Neville said horrifyingly.

Instead of helping Neville, Tonks exclaimed, "Wonderful Hermione! Ten points to Gryffindor!"

…

The atmosphere was darkening heavily as Hermione walked through the corridors of Hogwarts. She was glad it was almost dinnertime because she was starving as the result of not eating breakfast and lunch properly.

A few minutes she was sitting at the Gryffindor table next to Ginny, eating chicken with full energy.

"So," started Ginny, "did you talk to Ron yet?"

Hermione dropped her food and her stomach gave a lurch. Couldn't she even eat in peace?

"No."

"But he tried to talk to you, am I right?"

"Yes, but I-" She cut off her sentence shortly. Ron was standing next to the table in front of them with his arms crossed. Apparently he had been listening to their whole conversation.

Hermione made to get up from the table, but Ginny stopped her.

"Hermione, I think we should talk." said Ron in an apologetic voice.

"I'll be back later." said Ginny and flew away at the speed of light before Hermione got to protest.

Ron sat down where Ginny had been sitting and gazed at her.

"I'm sorry." He said flat out.

"Oh really? What for?" said Hermione in a cold voice.

"For last night. I feel really bad. I shouldn't have drunk that firewhisky. I went out of control. I promise it won't happen again."

"That's what you're sorry for?" she said unbelievingly.

"Well…that and the other thing. Harry told me what happened, but to tell you the truth…I don't remember any of it. The last thing I remembered before waking up this morning was that I was standing with Dean and a couple of other guys."

It was unbelievable. Ron had been so drunk that he didn't even remember his first real kiss. His first kiss had been wasted with a stranger. He didn't remember what he did that caused Hermione so much pain.

"I don't believe you!" she fumed, "you did all that, and you can't remember anything? That's rich. Why didn't you just stay with me instead of getting drunk!"

"Look, I'm really sorry, but-"

"I don't even know why I asked you to the dance in the first place! I liked you and I thought you liked me! But you were too busy kissing some other girl! Just leave me alone!"

People were staring at them, but she didn't care. She launched herself off the table and sprinted towards the doors.

…

She was back in her dormitory and was brushing her original bushy hair. After dinner, she had sat in the Common Room doing her homework. Ron came in but he didn't try to talk to her again. Hermione could feel her face growing hot as people glanced at her at times; obviously wanting to know what was going on. After that, Hermione couldn't concentrate anymore on her homework so she went to the dormitory.

Hermione wasn't really sleepy since she had slept quite a bit the previous night. She grabbed a book that was on her desk beside her and began reading it. It was about Animagi that explained what kinds of classes you would have to take in order to become an Animagi.

A few minutes later, Parvati came in looking extremely happy, but she wiped her smile off her face as soon as she saw Hermione.

"Hey. Are you alright?" said Parvati concernedly.

"Yeah. Just fine." She lied, pretending to read her book.

"Are you and Ron fighting? I heard you screaming at dinner."

Hermione didn't answer. Parvati was one of the nosiest people she had ever known, always in other people's business and gossiping about everything. Maybe that could be used as an advantage…

"Do you know who this certain girl is? She's tall and has white blond hair and she's really skinny-"

"You mean the girl that Ron was dancing with?

"Yeah." said Hermione in an embarrassing tone.

"I think her name is Serenity ByWater. She's a sixth year and in Slytherin, I believe."

"Oh." said Hermione, appearing crestfallen. She didn't know why she asked for this bit of information and suddenly wished she hadn't.

She changed the subject, "so who'd you go with to the dance?"

"Me? I went with Terry Boot, you know, in Ravenclaw. We had fun and we danced the whole night and…" Parvati trailed on and on, but for some reason, Hermione couldn't take in any of it.