Winter went and spring came. By now, the school clamed own a bit, though people were still angry and still felt betrayed and no whispered were following Draco and Hermione everywhere. The fights had lessened to about once a week instead of every other day it had seemed.
Draco was still worried about death-eaters attacking any minute. Hermione was worried too. Not about the death-eaters, but about Draco. He meant everything to her. To lose her would be dreadful. So, she too rarely let him leave her sight.
Even though they thought they were safe, more or less, they didn't know one of their very classmates was a jealous type of girl. She was used to be the center of attention. She was used to be all over Draco whenever he was in her sight.
Pansy Parkison glared at Hermione every day. She absolutely hated the girl for even speaking with Draco. She wanted to throw every curse at the witch, rudely speaking of course, but she didn't. She knew Draco would hate her if she tried anything, so she could only watch from afar, muttering rude things about Hermione to herself.
Jealousy. Even though Pansy denied it, she was jealous. She was jealous of Hermione. That jealousy formed more hate for the mudblood that stole Draco from her. She followed them just about everywhere she could; her face was always a scowl or flushed with anger.
"Blaise, we need to do something about that filthy little mudblood," Pansy said one night in the Slytherin Common Room. She was sitting on the couch with her arms on the back and her legs crossed. She almost resembled a queen sitting on her throne. Blaise sat across from her, doing an essay.
"No," he said flatly. "Draco's happy with her. Leave them alone." He didn't look at her, but kept writing. Like he was going to get caught up in her silly plans and lose his friend. No, he was going to let her do it by herself and then get hurt on her own. The black-haired boy was a lot smarter than that.
"You won't do it for me?" asked Pansy, mocked shock. She propped her elbows on her knees and rested her chin on her hands. This caused her breasts to practically fall out of her way to low cut shirt.
"No," said Blaise, getting really annoyed. "Definitely not with you." He put down his quill and looked at Pansy, coldness filled his dark eyes. "Not for you, not for anyone. Can't you see he's happy for the first time in his life? They love each other. Besides, even if you do try something, they'll get through it. I know they will."
"Has Blaise Zabini gone soft?" asked Pansy sarcastically. Her hand went to her mouth in mock surprise. She started to giggle softly to herself. Blaise rolled his eyes.
"Maybe you should too," said Blaise. He got up and picked his stuff up. Without a look back at Pansy, he went to the seventh year boys' dormitory and slammed the door.
Pansy stared at him. Have all the Slytherins gone insane! Ok, only two of them, but still. Blaise started to date a sixth year Gryffindor a couple weeks ago. It's the Gryffindor's fault that they've gone soft. There's not other explanation. Pansy scowled. She will have revenge on them. She'll have revenge on Hermione Granger and Alex Copperstone.
Alex sat on one of the couches in the Head Boy and Girl's common room with Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Draco. Blaise would be there, but he had detention for the night. She laughed at a joke Ron had told. She moved from American in the beginning of January and didn't know anyone at all. She was quietly sorted into Gryffindor. After about a week there, she ran into Blaise Zabini—literally ran into him. Then came Ginny Weasley, then the rest of the gang. After all that, the seven of them became close…more or less.
"Oh, Blaise told me to tell you two," Alex looked at Draco and Hermione, "that Pansy Parkison isn't too happy about me and Blaise and you two. She wants you back Draco. So watch it."
"We have seven people with us though. Even she's not stupid enough to go against us," said Draco. "Plus, we have the smartest with ever on our side."
"I don't think she even cares," said Alex. "That, or, she's too blinded by revenge to even think about what she's doing."
"Probably," everyone muttered at the same time.
"Stupid girl," muttered Draco. "Just because we dated in our fourth year, she thinks we're going to get married." He rolled his eyes. "Believe it or not, but she's the smartest witch in Slytherin."
"But Hermione's the smartest with in school. She's no match for Hermione," said Ron. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
They were right, Pansy wanted Draco back as they learned a week after Alex's warning. She stood in the middle of the crowded Charms Corridor. Slytherins were forcefully clearing the hall of everyone except Draco, Hermione, Blaise, and Alex. She even managed to get Ron and Harry out of the way.
After everyone was cleared, Pansy walked closer to Hermione. Hermione stood her ground, even if Pansy was a good half-foot taller. Pansy glared at each of them. "Slytherins coupling with Gryffindors, disgusting." She spat.
"What? What's wrong with us being together!" growled Alex. "I don't see anything wrong with it whatsoever!"
"Of course you wouldn't know. You don't even belong here!" snapped Pansy. "Slytherins don't date Gryffindors. It's like an unwritten law!"
"Says who?" growled Draco. That was stupid. Pansy's just stupid. Who does she think she is!
"It's not like we had a choice in which house to belong to! I would love to belong in another house than stay in a house who's all for Voldemort!"
The whole corridor became quiet. Intent on listening to the argument between the group. Everyone gathered around in a huge circle. The younger years fought to the front just to see. Everyone's ears where on Pansy to hear her comeback to what Draco said.
Pansy's face was flushed with anger and her green eyes blazed with fire as she glared at them. She opened her mouth to reply, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She looked up to see Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and Flich.
"Miss Parkinson, what is the meaning of this?" quietly hissed Snape. That made Pansy hang her head in defeat. "What are you doing to those students? Two of which are in your house. You better hope you weren't threatening them."
"Okay, you, off to class!" barked Flich. He walked away to usher the other student back to their classes. The hall was filled with moans and groans as the students sulked back to class.
"I-I'm sorry, Professor," said Pansy. "It won't happen again."
"It better not, but five points from Slytherin will be taken as a warning," said Snape. Pansy nodded and the teachers walked away. Pansy looked at Draco and Blaise and glared at them, then walked to her class.
"She is a real pain, isn't she?" asked Draco as he shook his head. Everyone nodded in agreement and headed to class together.
His touches, kisses, embraces, everything…it was all wonderful to her, but they were forbidden too. She knew this. He knew this too. They knew that it was forbidden. They knew and didn't care. They loved each other and that was all that mattered, even if it was a forbidden act. Why was something so blissful be so forbidden? Of course, they didn't see it as forbidden, but others did. But why? Why was what they shared so forbidden? Not a loud? She was still a witch, even if both her parents were muggles. That shouldn't matter right?
But it did. It matter to the Dark Lord and his followers, including everyone in his family, except him.
Hermione rolled over and started at her star-lit ceiling, her mind racing with questions about herself, Draco, and their love. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes to rid the thoughts from her mind. Opening her eyes, she glanced at the cloak. It read 6:30. She looked out the window. The sun had just rose not too long ago. The sky was still a pinkish color.
She got dressed and went into the common room and sat on one of the couches, staring at the floor. Her mind was still racing. She was so deep in thought, she didn't even realize Draco had come out of his room and sat down next to her. She didn't realize until he grabbed her around the waist. She gasped and relaxed as he set her on his lap and rested his head on her back.
They stayed silent a couple minutes. The only noises were the birds and the occasional castle sounds. Hermione was the one to break the silence. "A-Are we doing the right thing?" her voice was cracking with unheard tears. "We're just going to create a bigger uproar in this war." There was silence.
"I'm not sure," answered Draco after a few moments. "I know what we're doing is forbidden and I know this is going to bring another conflict. But…I also know that I love you Hermione."
"And I love you too," smiled Hermione.
A/N: Heres theseventh chapter. Not really all that proud of this chapter…but it works in with the next chapter…kinda…not really. Ok, honestly, this chapter was just I chapter wrote because I had a huge writer's block. But then after I wrote this chapter I came up with an idea. Then I realized it about the same thing that happened to Hatori and Kana in Fruits Basket...kinda...not really…so I'm not sure if I'm going to use it…but I really like it…I might use it…but not sure yet…
updated:07/09/05: ahhhh! okie, from "His touches...to the end is a new thing. I just added that. I bet you are all wondering as to why...hmm...let's see. well, after i posted chapter 7 a while ago, i started chapter 8...that is what i had so far. then i realized that i didn't want that in chapter 8, and decided to put it in chapter 7. which made me delete the chapter and fix it...i had to fix a lot and yeah...so here it is, the new and improved chapter 7