Hermione was still crying when she reached Gryffindor Tower and mumbled out the password. The slightly swaying Fat Lady tried to ask questions but Hermione just pushed her portrait open and slipped past. Inside the Common Room was silent, an eerie sight on Christmas. A few bits of tinsel still hung here and there but the other decorations looked sad and forced. Hermione just sat down on the sofa and cried. Almost instantly she felt warm arms wrap around her and pull her against a firm chest. For a minute she wondered if it was Draco but when she looked down and saw that the pants ended a few inches above the boy's ankles she cried harder. "Shh, shhh… It's ok." He kissed the top of her head and rocked her gently, for once not seeming awkward. Hermione just bawled into his chest and he pulled her round until she was on his lap and continued to stroke her hair until she fell asleep.
The next morning Hermione woke up to feel a warm body next to her. She blinked and saw red… literally. She slowly reached out a hand and touched Ron's flaming head just to make sure it was him. His head rolled against her hand and he woke up slowly. "Hullo," he said huskily, still half asleep.
"Hi." Hermione managed, although her own voice was very quiet.
"I'm sorry." They chorused, looked at each other, and laughed, separating their entangled limbs. "No, really Ron, I am."
"Was it him… from the beginning?" Hermione nodded. "And he made you happy?" Ron's voice broke on the word happy. Hermione nodded again. "And he made you cry?" She nodded again, feeling the tears prick in the back of her eyes. He pulled her back against him, hugging her tightly, rocking her comfortingly but muttering, "Why? Why a Malfoy? What the hell were you doing, Hermione? Why did it have to be him? Why did you have to leave me? Why?" Hermione found herself crying again, but even in the early morning light, Ron didn't shy away. He held her close to him as though he'd never let her go.
The Gryffindors didn't see Draco for several days. It was awkward but in some ways, better. Ron never left Hermione's side and everyone seemed very anxious to put the ball behind them. Well, shove would be a better word. The only person who seemed to bear a grudge was Lavender, who was ticked that Ron had ignored her all night and chose to blame Hermione. But there were worse things, concluded Hermione, from the shelter of Ron's arm. Like possibly breaking up with Draco, that would be the worst thing.
McGonagall had finally announced that they would begin their practical learning of human transfiguration and it was enough for the bookworm to loose herself in. Turning animals into things was one thing, but after studying the laws on human transfiguration for the past four months even Hermione was nervous.
"What must you always say before beginning your spell? Ah, Miss Granger."
"You must ask, "Do I have your consent for this one transfiguration into a…" Hermione spread her hands to show that anything could be put in the blank. "It's Code Fifteen Eleven, Restriction B, under the Wizarding Anti-Enslavement Laws."
"Very good, Miss Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor for such a precise answer. And you may perform the first transfiguration. Any volunteers? Ah, Mr. Malfoy. Step right up."
Hermione's face blanched at the very thought of transfiguring Draco. The first rule was not to let emotions touch her spells, but could she separate her emotions from Draco? And could McGonagall really be expecting her to? The girl shot a helpless glance at her teacher, who did not meet her eyes.
Draco stepped up to the front of the classroom, his face calm. Hermione could see the flicker of a bruise on his cheek and a cut on his lip. He had tried to cover them but not done very well. It struck Hermione that maybe he'd run out of strength to cover these if there had been others before. Her heart broke for him. But Draco's lip didn't quiver and he walked on confidently. As he passed Hermione's chair he whispered, "I had to." She exhaled sharply and pushed herself up from the chair, using her palms on the table for leverage. For some reason her legs were too weak to support her. She heard Ron shifting in his chair, ready to either pounce on Draco or catch Hermione.
"Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall tapped her wand impatiently. Draco looked at Hermione with a slight smile. He knew that she had been ignoring him and was now deliberately—and dangerously—putting himself in her path.
"I was just reviewing the spell in my head, Professor. Which animal will I be transforming… transforming Mr. Malfoy into?"
McGonagall ignored Hermione's slight falter and thought for only a second before pronouncing, "A snake, I believe, would be most appropriate. Its always easiest to transfigure a person into the animal that they are kin to. As a Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy's affinity should be with snakes. Is that not true, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Yes, ma'am." For the first time Malfoy looked nervous and Hermione understood why. If, using the affinity spell, he did not become a snake it would be all too clear, and publicly so, that he was no longer a Slytherin.
Hermione made eyecontact and he smiled slightly ruefully. She was amazed at his resolve. If he was caught, Voldemort could become suspicious. But under McGonagall's glare and with no suitable excuse, she had no choice. She had to perform the spell. Quietly she asked fro his permission and he gave it. "Affinio Animango Avanto!" She cried. He became…
As she feared. When she opened her eyes it was not a snake. A handsome strong lion paced the dais in front of the classroom where Draco had stood. Professor McGonagall looked surprised but didn't hush the bubbles of talk that had broken out all over the room. Hermione could see their mouths move but couldn't hear the words. The world seemed to have become muted as McGonagall waved her wand and brought Draco back to his normal state.
"What the hell are you playing at, Granger?" Draco exclaimed in his most disgusted derisive tone. The world burst into sound and colour as Hermione recoiled from his shout. "Just because I danced with you doesn't mean you can try and convince my I'm not a Slytherin." He searched his pockets and yanked out a little piece of whittled wood. Draco threw it on the ground by Hermione's feet. "Your little charm to make me a Gryffindor? It didn't work! I'm a Malfoy, not some filthy little M—" Professor McGonagall cut him off with a firm hand on his shoulder.
"That's quite enough, Mr. Malfoy." She waved her wand, "Accio wood" and the little toy flew into her hand. She examined it. Hermione looked too and saw a miniature Gryffindor lines. There were runes on it too, fairly crude ones, but ones for affinity, masking and deceit. They were dead on the wood, obviously having been used up in a spell.
"Miss Granger, does this belong to you?" McGonagall looked at her favorite student from over her glasses. Beside the teacher, Draco glared at the girl as though he despised her. That look of loathing on his face just broke Hermione's heart. She burst into tears, something that she never did in public, and ran from the classroom. Behind her, she heard chairs being shoved away from tables and falling over, shouts and a few shoves, and Professor McGonagall yelling over it all.
When the doors to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom creaked open, Hermione jumped. Ron poked his head in and saw her. "I kinda thought you'd be here," he offered.
"Mmm." She forced a smile and waved her arm in one sweeping gesture. "I always said that this was the place where no one else came. Until I told you two."
He smiled and sat beside her on the stone floor. For a few seconds he just shifted his weight awkwardly. Then he looked at her and put a hand to her face, pulling the finger away wet with her tears. She bit her lip to stop another sob.
He slowly put his arm around her again, and she leaned into him, sobbing into his shirt, just glad to have him there. When her tears had slowed slightly, Ron started to speak. "You love him. You love a Slytherin."
"I thought he'd changed." Hermione cried and curled up into him, hiding her face.
"Oh you stupid soppy girl." He sounded positively disgusted with her, but the insult confirmed that they were friends again. Hermione only sobbed harder. "Barking mad. I thought you were smarter than that, 'Mione. Didn't you learn anything from having me and Harry as your friends."
"Harry and I." Hermione corrected, halfheartedly. He laughed and pulled her closer.
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There we are. Ron, Ron and more Ron. Now doesn't he surprise you with his maturity? Sorry, I love Ron, I had to have him have a good moment here. Thanks for all the reviews! Keep 'em coming please!