The Hogsmeade Fiasco
The next few days were really tough for Hermione. She kept herself locked up in her bedroom most of the time, rethinking everything that happened. She was miserable, but with all of that alone time in her room, Ace was the only thing that she could think of. Why had he "dumped" her? They were getting along so great; Hermione let him kiss her and let him touch her so what was she doing wrong? It couldn't possibly have been the sex issue, because he already said that he was fine with waiting. And what was with that breakup anyway? She couldn't even call it a breakup, because they weren't even dating in the first place! If he just wanted to be friends, then what the hell were they before that? He claims he doesn't want a girlfriend but they weren't even dating! And I miss him so much, Hermione constantly thought to herself.
She wanted to ask him to go to Hogsmeade with her, but obviously that was out of the question. However, Harry and Ron would not allow her skip out on it altogether.
"Come on, Hermione!" Ron urged. "You can't let that little shit head run your life! You can't miss out on fun just because of him!"
"Yeah!" Harry agreed. "And now you can hang out with me so I'm not stuck with Dean and Seamus the whole time!"
"Hey!" Dean and Seamus cried from a few seats down the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.
Harry ignored them, but smiled nonetheless to let them know he was joking. "Hermione, please come! We'll do whatever you want to get your mind off of that jerk!"
Hermione thought for a moment. "Fine." She finally said. "But there better be at least one moment where I'm not thinking of him otherwise I might just go crazy."
Ron looked at her oddly. He was wondering how women could become so crazily obsessed with a guy, especially a guy who was a major creep. By the look on Harry's face, Ron could tell that he was thinking the same thing.
The morning of the Hogsmeade trip finally arrived. Hermione emerged into the common room only to be welcomed by Malfoy sitting on the couch sipping his morning coffee.
"I have to go somewhere." She informed him, grabbing her purse and heading for the portrait hole.
"Wait!" Malfoy cried. Hermione turned to face him. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"To see Ace." She replied. This took Malfoy aback; he was used to hearing her say "That's none of your business."
"Oh come on, Hermione!" Malfoy cried, exasperated. "You know the man is a prick. Just let things be, okay? He rejected you, he doesn't like you, so you shouldn't waste your time on him-"
Hermione did not hear the rest of Malfoy's speech. She climbed through the portrait hole and descended down the stairs and towards Ace's room with her now-familiar route. She knocked and waited. And waited. And waited. Several moments later, Ace answered the door. He was wearing only his boxers and he appeared to have lipstick smudged all over his face. Hermione raised her eyebrow at him as he began to turn a very deep shade of red. She peered over his shoulder and saw Parvati Patil sitting on his couch, the buttons of her shirt hastily done up and her hair flying everywhere.
"Oh my god." Hermione whispered. She immediately turned and began walking quickly in the opposite direction.
"Hermione," Ace called. "Hermione! Hermione, wait!"
Hermione stopped abruptly. She turned and faced Ace, pleased to see that his face was flushed and he was obviously embarrassed about the situation.
"Not ready for a girlfriend, huh?" She shot at him.
"Parvati is not my girlfriend." Ace said. "We just… fool around a bit."
"And I was no fun to fool around with!" Hermione demanded.
"No, it's not that. It's just that you had limits. Parvati doesn't."
"You know, I came here wanting to talk things out with you, but at the moment I can't even look at you properly. I'm leaving. Have fun in Hogsmeade."
She turned on her heel and ran as fast as possible the minute she turned the corner and was out of sight.
"Um, Hermione-" Ron began. Harry sent him a piercing look that immediately made him shut up. So, the trio walked to Hogsmeade in silence.
"Why aren't you with Hannah?" Harry asked Ron, to cover up the awkward silence.
"We're going to meet in the Three Broomsticks." Ron explained. "Then she's going to take me to a little coffee shop… Madam Puddlefoot's or something like that."
Harry began to cough at the name, but pounded hard on his chest so rapidly that the coughing died away rather quickly.
"You all right, mate?" Ron asked him.
"Yeah, but I suggest you try to steer clear of that damn shop." Harry said, bitterly.
"Um, okay." Ron agreed, hesitantly.
Once they reached the village of Hogsmeade, Ron said goodbye and departed for the Three Broomsticks.
"So, what do you want to do?" Harry asked her.
"I think I'd fancy going to the Three Broomsticks as well, if you don't mind." Hermione said. It was the first time she spoken since muttering a quiet hello to Harry and Ron back at the castle.
"Brilliant." Harry smiled.
So, the two followed a feet behind Ron to the Three Broomsticks. Once they got inside, they immediately snatched a small table with Seamus, Dean and Neville on their left and Ron and Hannah on their right.
"We meet again!" Ron joked.
Hannah smiled politely at Harry and Hermione.
"I'll go grab us a couple of drinks, Harry." Hermione offered, anxious to get away from the hustle and bustle of the happy go lucky students around her.
When she reached the bar, she ordered two Butterbeers from the barman and sat by herself, waiting for her drinks. Over on the opposite side of the room from where Harry was sitting, Hermione spotted that familiar flicker of brown and golden hair. Ace's face was visible through the sea of students; he was sitting very close together with Parvati Patil, and Hermione saw his hand rubbing her and up down her thigh. He used to do that to me. Hermione thought, sadly.
"Why, if it isn't the little mudblood." A voice drawled.
Hermione sighed. "Hello, Malfoy."
"Granger." He nodded. He glanced over to where Hermione was gazing and saw Ace with Parvati. "Look awfully cozy, don't they?"
"Shut up." Hermione said.
"Told ya he just wanted sex." Malfoy said. "It's not your fault, of course. Everyone's a bit of a square at some point in their life."
"I am not a square!" Hermione cried.
"Sure, sure." Malfoy nodded, obviously not believing her.
"Fine then." Hermione said. "Fine. Who's the one guy you don't want to see me with?"
"I don't want to see you with anyone." Malfoy said. He immediately caught what he said; he sounded as though he wanted her for himself or something. "What I mean to say is that I enjoy you being unhappy." He covered up.
"Right, but if it had to be anyone, who would you not want me with?" Hermione demanded.
"Besides that Ace idiot?" Malfoy asked.
"Sure. Besides Ace."
"Okay then, that's obvious. Potter. Like I said, even you can do better than-"
But Hermione did not hear the rest of his speech. She marched away from him, but she was sure he still had his eyes on her. She felt them follow her all the way to where Harry, Ron and Hannah were sitting. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Ace watching her as well. She grabbed Harry's shirt with both of her hands and pulled him up towards her, leaning in for a long, hot, steamy kiss that was viewed by almost the entire audience in the Three Broomsticks, including Malfoy and Ace.
Once Hermione released Ron, she turned to look at Malfoy. His mouth was dropped open; if this were cartoon, it would have been hitting the floor. He looked disgusted, but also slightly impressed. Then, for a split second Hermione's glance moved over to Ace. He was also watching her (much to Parvati's dismay). However, this was an odd look. It was as though he resented her for kissing Harry. Serves him right. Hermione told herself. After all, he had moved on with Parvati, so why shouldn't she have the right to kiss any guy she wanted?
"Wow, Hermione." Harry said. "What… what was that?"
"Um, nothing-" Hermione began.
"Hermione!" Ron cried. "Hello! Major PDA!"
"PDA?" Hermione asked.
"Public Display of Affection. Big time." Hannah laughed.
"Er, Hermione… I'd… er… fancy a chat with you, if you don't mind." Harry stammered.
"Okay." Hermione agreed, reluctantly. What was this about now?
"Well, you see…" Harry began as the two left the Three Broomsticks and took a seat on the stone steps outside. "I sort of…er… fancy you." Harry spluttered. "And I wanted to know if you'd go out with me?"
"No!" Hermione cried. She realized how rude she must have sounded about a split second after she said it. "I mean… well… oh boy. How do I put this? Harry, you're a really great guy, and I love you and everything, but just as a brother. We couldn't date even if I wanted to." Hermione explained. "Which I don't." She added after spotting the glimmer of hope flickering across Harry's face.
"Then why'd you kiss me!" Harry demanded.
"It was… impulse." She answered.
"Impulse? Impulse because you must like me!" Harry insisted.
"Oh no, I can assure you I don't." Hermione said. "Not in that way, anyway."
"How can you just get a guy's hopes up like that and then shoot them down the next minute. Have you no heart?" Harry persisted.
"Harry, I'm trying to get over this difficult thing with Ace, okay? It was probably just some sort of rebound-type action, nothing else-"
"Fine." Harry said. "FINE!" he stood up and reentered the Three Broomsticks, pushing his way through the crowd until he took a seat with Ron, looking sulky.
Hermione sighed. Dammit! Why did I just do that? It was Malfoy, that's why. I knew it'd piss him off. That seems to just be my goal, doesn't it? Pissing off Mr Malfoy. Well, it's just lost me a friend. Thanks a lot, Malfoy-
"Pinny for your thought." A voice drawled.
Hermione turned and saw Malfoy standing behind her.
"A what for my thoughts?" she asked.
"A pinny. I don't know… it's like a muggle type of money. It's a cliché! You're a mudblood, I thought you'd know what it was-"
"I do!" Hermione said, laughing. "But it's penny, not pinny."
"Whatever." Malfoy said. "So, that was a great show in there." He jerked his thumb to indicate the Three Broomsticks.
"Yeah, didn't you just love it?" Hermione teased.
"I did, in a sickening, want-to-throw-up-all-over-the-person-sitting-next-to-me kind of way." Malfoy said.
"Ha! You know, you're pretty funny Draco-"
"What did you call me?" Malfoy asked.
Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth, horrified at what she had said. "I called you Malfoy!" she said, hoping he wouldn't have caught it.
"No you didn't, you called me Draco!" Malfoy said, superiorly.
"Okay, fine, I called you Draco. I'm so sorry." Hermione said sarcastically.
"It's okay, just don't let it happen again." Malfoy said. "And don't expect me to call you Hermione, because it's not going to happen."
"Fair enough." Hermione said. She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them, savoring the warmth.
"Wanna go somewhere?" Malfoy offered.
"Excuse me?"
"You know… somewhere. We're in Hogsmeade and we're sitting on the step of the Three Broomsticks. Not much fun. Shall we go to the candy shop? Or Zonko's?"
"You know what, I want to go to Zonko's." Hermione said. "I've never enjoyed it there, but I'm in the mood for a change of pace."
"Okay then, let's go." Malfoy said. He stood up and offered out his hand. Hermione took it and Malfoy lifted her up easily. She brushed the dirt off of her bottom and began walking towards Zonko's with Malfoy.
"Just don't walk too close." Malfoy warned. "People might think we're together or something."
"Oh, what a tragedy." Hermione teased. "The Great Draco Malfoy caught walking with a little mudblood on the streets of Hogsmeade. Major catastrophe, there. It's gonna be all over the Daily Proph--- Ouch!"
Hermione had stopped in mid-sentence, because a snowball had just collided with her face. "Malfoy!" She cried. Inquisitively, she looked around. It was not winter, so she did not understand what all of the snow was about. Then she realized that the snow was only around herself and Malfoy; apparently he had said a spell that caused snow to fall only around them. She bent over and scooped up a wad of snow, packing it into a ball as she eyed Malfoy doing the same thing. Once her snowball had formed nicely, she ducked behind a shop and cast a growth charm on it, causing it to swell to three times its normal size. Peaking around a corner, she realized Malfoy was nowhere in sight. Suddenly, a large snowball came zooming at her head; she instinctively ducked and immediately threw her gigantic snowball at Malfoy, who fell over right on his ass.
"One for Granger, zero for Malfoy." Hermione laughed, walking towards Zonko's and leaving Malfoy to sit in his own pile of snow, rubbing his ass with a pained expression on his face.