A/N: I took a while doing this because I had a lot of writer's block and procrastination going on. My apologies. Hope you like the chapter.
Recap :"Hermione, if your really with him," Ron said slowly, "You're not my friend anymore." Ron turned around and left. Harry glanced from Hermione and Ron.
"Go Harry," she said quietly, "I'll be fine…" Harry gave her a sympathetic look and took after Ron. Then she felt steady arms wrap around her gently.
"It'll be okay…"
Chapter 7 Doubts
"I can't believe he actually did it! They're actually going out!" Blaise said flabbergasted. Blaise and Pansy Parkinsin were in the Slytherin common room. Pansy was twirling her short hair, slouching in an arm chair, bored stiff. Blaise was pacing around, back and forth., "I mean, didn't I clearly state that I, Blaise, had declaration on her? Didn't I!" He looked at Pansy (twirling her hair).
"How would I know?" Pansy said dully and sitting up, "I'm not into your little petty bets. Why are you even talking to me about this at the middle of the night?" The grandfather clock showed 11: 36 p.m. Blaise had been talking to Pansy for nearly three hours.
"I only made the bet, because I thought he wouldn't do it," said Blaise nervously. He was still pacing around the room. Pansy yawned. The curtains were closed and the only source of light was the fire.
"Well, I can't believe Draco AND you like that floozy," Pansy irritated, "I'm way prettier than HER. Anyways, it's not like I still don't like my little Draco. I miss him." Blaise rolled his eyes.
"I guess the only way is to tell him to brake up with her," Blaise said, "I mean, I'll just tell him the bet's off and he'll let me have her, right?"
"Huh? Right," said Pansy slowly, "Are you done talking?"
"I'll do it soon," Blaise said ignoring Pansy, "I have to think this over carefully."
Next morning
After the disturbing confrontation in the cafeteria, it had been proclaimed that Hermione and Draco were officially dating. For Hermione, some Gryffindors stopped talking to her. Parvati and Lavender have been especially cruel to Hermione for "Disregarding Ron's obvious affections towards her." But everyone knew Lavender was just being spiteful, because Ron had put up a dispute over Draco dating Hermione. Slytherins thought Draco was just doing some evil plan, begging Draco to tell them, but he just smirked and didn't say a word. Slytherins also made distasteful remarks at Hermione like "Feeling purebloods now, huh?" or "Slytherin lover!" Hermione didn't care, because she had Draco, which made her happy. That morning, she sat at the end on the Gryffindor table instead of her usual spot with Ron and Harry. Draco came in and sat next to his gang of friends.
"Well, if it isn't our little player!" remarked one of them as Draco sat down.
"Shut up," Draco said dully. He looked at Blaise, who seemed very perplexed at the moment. "What's up with you? Worried?" He smirked.
"What? Nothing," Blaise said quickly, "Uh, gotta go." He got up and left quickly. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Hey, Malfoy?" said a long-nosed Slytherin, "Me and the guys were wondering when you were gonna dump the Mudblood. So?" Draco gave them a bored look.
"I'll dump her when I want to, okay?" Draco said dully. A few Slytherins gave him a doubting look.
"Yeah right," said the Slytherin again, "I think, dare I say it? You like that Mudblood girl. Your getting soft, Malfoy." The boy smirked, almost wanting to provoke Draco into a furious rage. A spread of disgust came over Draco's expression .
"Fall for a Mudblood? Don't make me laugh! You keep your petty little thoughts to yourself, 'cus you obviously don't know what your talking about," retorted Draco wrathfully, "I have no feelings of affection towards her at all. I have my reasons. So mind your own business." Draco stood up almost pushing the table itself. Ha! Me? Draco Malfoy, a pureblood. In love with a Mudblood? Not in a million years, thought Draco heatedly walking toward to doors, I'd never disgrace my family like that! I-I'm NOT in love with-
"Hi."
Draco, startled, looked up at Hermione. She gave him a bit of a smile. "Hey Hermione," replied Draco.
"Professor McGonagoll wanted me to tell you that she giving us detention at seven tonight," Hermione said a bit glumly, "I think she wants us to clean up the flood Peeves made in the halls on the 5th floor."
"Okay, I'll see you there," Draco said. He waved good-bye to Hermione and left. She was hoping of more of an affectionate good-bye, but then they had only kissed once.
When Potion class came, they had to present they're potion. Draco had volunteered to drink the potion since Hermione did most of the work. He laughed at everything. Snape mighthave lowered they're grade, because Draco kept saying how funny Snape's appearance looked, that the rest of class even laughed. Hermione laughed a bit, too, but immediately gave him they're antidote once he started to talk about her hair.
Neville and Blaise were next, but Neville tripped. The potion burst into flames when it made contact with the floor and Snape put out the flames, while also giving them a zero. Blaise was horrified, given that he was suppose to drink it, but rather fail than know what would had happen if he drank it.
Ron and Harry flipped and coin to see who had to drink they're shrinking potion. Ron lost and slowly drank the syrupy, blue potion. Nothing happened for a while, so Snape gave them a zero. Ron started back to his seat angrily, but his head began to expand and his feet, shrinking. One of his hands minimized and the other enlarged. By now, Ron looked very out of proportion. Slytherins ruptured with laughter and Snape savored the moment before sending him to Hospital wing. As Ron passed Hermione and Draco, his face was a light shade of red, not looking at Hermione. Draco couldn't help at least guffaw at the sight of Ron. Hermione gave him a warning glare and he returned it with a innocent look.
Before lunch, Hermione decided to talk to Harry. She slowly caught up with him in the hall.
"Um, hi Harry," said Hermione quietly. Harry turned his head to look at Hermione.
"Oh, hi," replied Harry. Hermione fidgeted with her hands.
"So, how Ron?" Hermione said rather too eagerly.
"He's still with Madam Pomfrey, but he's okay," Harry said, "Apparently, we added too much unnecessary ingredients. Like it would matter with us failing, anyways." Hermione let out a little grin.
"I think I'll go visit him," said Hermione, "Bye, Harry." She departed straight to the Hospital wing. She turned the corner, unexpectedly in front of Draco.
"Hey, what a pleasant surprise," smiled Draco, "But shouldn't you be at lunch? Wanna go together?"
"Oh, sorry, Draco," Hermione said quickly, "I'm going to see…someone." Hermione was afraid Draco might get jealous if she said she was going to see Ron, but he apparently found it quite clear who she wanted to see.
"Ron?" asked Draco, "It's okay, Hermione. You don't have to keep it from me." He walked around Hermione with a expressionless face. She felt a stab of discomfort. Well, fine! Geez, stupid Draco, thought Hermione irritably, Thinks he knows everything…. She was surprised how quickly she got to the Hospital wing, almost passing it. Madam Pomfrey unenthusiastically let Hermione in. She saw a red head standing out of the white covers on one of the beds. Hermionesat ina chair over to the side of his bed.
"Hi Ron," Hermione said silently. Ron's head seemed to be back to normal. He was sleeping with some loud snores now and then, his hands were still miss-matched. She lowered her head onto Ron's bed, still sitting on the chair.
"I wish we could be friends again, Ron," said Hermione. She knew he was asleep, but when could she ever talk to him like this again. To tell him how she felt. To tell him she missed being friends with him. "I miss you so much. Why can't you understand?" Hermione cupped her shaking hands over her face. She stood up without a sound and fixed her bag on her shoulder. As Hermione turned around, Ron felt like screaming right at that moment. But he stayed silent, letting Hermione think he was asleep.
Draco and Hermione did not talk all through the evening. Their detention was nearing and the last thing Hermione felt like doing was being with Draco. She slowly walked up the stairs to the fifth floor. Water lightly streamed down the stairs.
"Miss Granger, your finally here," Professor McGonagoll said in releif, she tiptoed her way to Hermione. Draco was behind her, looking out the window absentmindedly. "Now, no magic. Mops and buckets are in that closet over there. If you need me, I'll be in my office filing reports. I'll be back in an hour or so to check on your progress. Now get to work." She gestured Hermione toward Draco. He finally turned his head away from the window and looked dully at Hermione. She turned scarlet and instantaneously shot her eyes down to look at her feet. Draco drearily turned around and walked to find the mops and buckets. Hermione swiftly followed to his side. She took small glances at him now and then. Draco's eyes were narrow and his lips, instead of a soft pale smirk, was a firm straight line. Hermione couldn't handle the silence any longer when the got to the closet.
"So? Nice weather," she said idiotically. Draco acted as if no one have spoken and opened the closet door. Hermione eyebrows' furrowed in annoyance, "Cleaning this messwill take forever, huh?" He silently stood inside the closet, looking around. Hermione hit her boiling point. She would not stand to be ignored. She stood behind Draco firmly and before she knew what she was saying, she blurted out, "Just because I decided to see Ron in the Hospital wing and didn't go walk you to the cafeteria, doesn't mean you can just ignore me like a childish prat!" Draco froze on the spot and turned around with a menacing look in his eye. All the confidant anger in Hermione deflated.
"See here, Hermione! I don't care if you see theabominable snowman tanning in Brazil!" bellowed Draco, "So, leave me alone!" Hermione's face gave off a mixture shock and anger.
"You can't tell me-"
"Oh, just shut-"
"You don't understa-"
"Go and stuff-"
"You insolent-"
SLAM!
The door gave a loud crash against the frame, pushing Hermione inside with Draco.
"What has Peevesy found here?" came an annoying voice from outside, "Two love bird all cooped up in their nest?"
"Peeves! Let us out!" shrieked Hermione, pounding on the door. Peeves let out a high-pitched cackle.
"I must be on my way, little birdies!" said Peeves. His laugh became faint through the door.
A/N: I know this must really be cliché with the stuck-in-the-closet thing, but I was running out of ideas. Don't hurt me. I wanted to make it longer, but I felt bad for not submitting a chapter sooner. Please review!