A/N: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry it took this long to get an update out. I definitely shouldn't have let it get this out of hand.
I hope you enjoy this chapter, and you can forgive me for the unbelievably long wait.
Thanks to everyone who's reading this thing and reviewed. It means a lot.
Also, have started a small business venture. It's an online boutique with original jewelry and tote bags manufactured by moi. Please check it out, the link is in my profile!
Hogwarts' Hero
Chapter Eleven
"Good morning sunshine, it's time to get up!"
Draco buried his head in his pillow and cried, "Sod off, Blaise. You're not my bloody mum."
"Someone's acting a little bit hungover," Blaise teased.
"I'm not hungover, Blaise. It's a weekday for Merlin's sake," Draco protested. "Now leave me alone or suffer the Malfoy wrath!"
Blaise, who was obviously not intimidated by Draco's muffled threats of doom, merely laughed.
"Did that Ravenclaw keep you up past your bedtime?"
"No, she bloody well did not," Draco screamed, looking up to glare at Blaise. "Have you no respect for a man's need for sleep?"
"Oh, I do. But frankly, if you don't show up for classes, I'll be the one sent to fetch you, so indulge my laziness and get up," Blaise replied as he sat down on the edge of Draco's bed.
"I'll make you pay for this, Blaise," Malfoy promised as he got up and began searching for his school robe. "Watch out, because as soon as you're not looking, BAM! Then you'll be sorry,"
"Forgive me, if I don't find you particularly frightening this early in the morning, and with that hair," Blaise laughed, indicating Draco's ruffled locks.
Draco raised his hand to his head gingerly, and replied defensively, "My hair looks attractively tousled in the morning."
He threw on his robe, and muttered, "Alright, Come on."
"Wait, you're going to wear that?" Blaise asked as got up and walked towards Draco in the doorway.
"And what is wrong with this, Blaise?" Draco demanded exasperatedly.
"Oh, nothing. It's only what you wore last night, apparently, covered in mud and not your school uniform. I'm sure no one will notice."
Sarcasm was definitely Blaise's forte.
"Great, let's go," Draco muttered.
"Draco, you don't seem to understand. I can't be seen with you this way, it will diminish my reputation," Blaise argued dramatically as he trailed after Draco through the common room and out into the Hogwarts' dungeons.
"Then bugger off."
"But, I can't do that muffin. People will get word of our lover's spat, and realize nothing is sacred anymore. They'll go into a frenzy!"
Blaise rested his hand on Draco's shoulder as he said this and Draco quickly sprang away. He yelled furiously indicating the opposite wall of the corridor, "You stand on that side of the hallway AT ALL TIMES!"
"Draco, there's no need to be so testy. Come on, Pansy is expecting me at breakfast."
Blaise continued walking down the passageway as Draco lingered where he stood.
When had he decided to surround himself with crazy people?
Draco shook his head resignedly, and suddenly became aware of a bulge in his robes. No, not that bulge, it was the howler from his father he'd stuffed in his pocket the night before.
'I should really open that thing soon,' Draco thought
Noticing that Blaise was now a good distance ahead of him, Draco hurried to catch up. As he rounded the corner to the Great Hall, he noticed a certain bushy-haired know it all approaching from the opposite direction.
He tried to catch her eye as they neared the big oak doors, but Hermione kept her eyes lowered and seemed determined to look anywhere but at him.
'Oh gods,' Malfoy moaned inwardly. 'This is about last night.'
Malfoy marched decisively towards Hermione. He'd be damned if his pride allowed any girl to regret giving in to the Malfoy charm.
"What are you―"
"Not now, Zabini!" Malfoy barked over his shoulder as he grabbed Hermione by the elbow and dragged her down the corridor.
"Let me go!" Hermione exclaimed as she struggled against his hold on her.
"We've got to talk, Granger."
Hermione sighed. She knew she should have come down earlier with Harry and Ron, but she'd wanted to avoid seeing Malfoy for as long as possible. Funny how these thing work out.
Malfoy rounded another corner, still firmly grasping her arm, looking for a secluded area for their talk.
"The corridor's deserted, Malfoy. You can let go of my arm."
Malfoy quickly released her, and stepped away from her awkwardly.
"About last night, Granger. It―"
"It was a mistake," Hermione finished quickly. "I completely agree with you. We shouldn't have let our confusion over the situation get this far."
Malfoy's eyes narrowed.
"Well, I wouldn't put it like that," Malfoy spat.
"Then how would you put it?" Hermione challenged. "Did you really want to kiss me last night?"
"Well, no, I mean―"
"Exactly," Hermione interjected. "We let, well, I don't know what we let get to us. But this can't continue. We have to stop whatever this," she motioned between Malfoy and herself, "is."
"Fine," Malfoy muttered through clenched teeth. "I completely agree."
"I'm glad you feel that way," Hermione said, relieved and slightly hurt.
"So we'll just end it then?" Malfoy asked coldly.
"There's nothing to end," Hermione stated.
"Fine!" Malfoy exclaimed. "See if I care."
"What, exactly, is your problem?" Hermione demanded.
"I don't have a problem!" Malfoy exclaimed. "I'm as happy as a bloody hufflepuff!"
"So am I!" Hermione returned furiously.
"Well that's bloody fantastic," Malfoy said as he brushed past Hermione, heading back towards the great hall. This was not how he'd seen this conversation going.
Unfortunately, as he was preoccupied with his own thoughts, he didn't notice the blazing red letter fall from his pocket as he stormed away.
Hermione noticed the fallen article, and picked it up. She examined the front and saw 'Draco' written in clear bold letters.
Hermione wasn't stupid. She knew it was a howler, and that Malfoy would probably want it back.
"Malfoy you―"
She stopped herself. Why the hell did she feel like doing Malfoy any favours? And maybe, just maybe, this had something to do with Diagon Alley.
Hermione stuffed the offending item in her robes, and followed Malfoy to the Great Hall. He had no idea what he'd lost.
Hermione smirked. She finally held the upper hand over that prat.
When she entered the hall, she went straight to her boys at the Gryffindor table.
"Hey guys," she said as she sat down. She quickly served herself a small portion of eggs and a slice of toast.
"Hey 'ermione," they both said with their mouths full.
"You should finish chewing before speaking. Trelawney would be completely satisfied if you were to choke on your breakfast," Hermione chastised.
Harry and Ron shared a look.
"Hi Ron," Luna Lovegood greeted as she approached the table.
Ron blushed.
"Oh, erm, hi Luna."
The blonde haired girl wore what appeared to be garlic earrings and the gag x-ray specs you coukd buy in muggle joke shops.
"What's with the glasses, Luna?" Ginny asked from beside Ron, as she approached.
"There's been reports of Brigeye Gnarflats in the area. According to my father, they hide inside your clothing. I'm using these x-ray glasses to make sure they haven't got any students," she explained logically.
Then she added, "You haven't got any on you, Ron."
Everyone smiled as Ron's blush deepened.
"Err, thanks."
Luna nodded and proceeded to the Ravenclaw table.
"I cannot believe I'm going to spend the entire Celebration listening to her go on about Gnarflats and Guzzwhizzlers," Ron moaned. "Why did I say yes, Harry? Remind me please."
"The cheesecake," Harry supplied promptly. "She was holding the cheesecake hostage. You did what any sane man would do."
"Oh yeah! The cheesecake was totally worth it," Ron agreed.
"Honestly! Luna's not that bad," Ginny said.
"She's kind of weird though, isn't she?" Lavender chimed in.
"Oh, and you're not?" Ginny argued. "Who here gets up at five in the morning so that she has enough time to put on all her makeup?"
"That's not weird! It's perfectly normal," Lavender responded while blushing.
"So, is this what you really look like Lavender?" Harry asked, peering at her face.
"I expect if we saw what she looked like without all that junk, we'd be properly scared," Ron announced.
A plate of bacon hit him in the side of the face.
"Hey!"
"I only do it because the boys expect it of me," Lavender explained. "Don't you spend time on your appearance for Malfoy?"
Hermione realized this question was directed at her when the whole table went quiet and looked at her pointedly.
"Oh, um, no, I guess not, but, uh, I expect that doesn't matter much anymore," she answered.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Ginny asked.
"Oh, umm, well, I suppose you could say Malfoy and I have split up."
"Split up!" Ron exclaimed. "When the hell were you going out!"
"Oh, uh, well, yesterday and uh, maybe the day before that," Hermione explained quickly.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Harry demanded angrily.
"I thought you'd be mad," Hermione said defensively.
"We're not mad!" Harry and Ron yelled simultaneously.
Everyone at the table began to laugh.
Harry and Ron both realized the irony of what they'd said and blushed.
"Well, I suppose it's fine as you've kicked him to the curb," Harry conceded.
"Yeah, was he properly crushed when you gave him the boot?" Ron asked wistfully, getting pleasure from any kind of emotional pain Malfoy could possibly be in.
"Well, I guess―"
"Why did you break up with him, Hermione?" Parvati asked from beside Harry.
"Well, he . . ."
Damn, they hadn't discussed this. Well, as Malfoy hadn't been to keen to talk about it, Hermione supposed she could say what she wanted. Hermione smiled mischievously.
"Well, Mal―"
She stopped herself.
"Draco had expressed to me that he was experiencing some doubts in regards to his sexuality," Hermione said.
Lavender gasped and Parvati spit out the pumpkin juice she'd been drinking, spraying it all over Dean Thomas.
"Gross!" Seamus Finnegan exclaimed from beside him.
"Keep it in your mouth!" Dean cried, wiping the sludge from his face with his sleeve.
"Sorry," Parvati laughed.
Hermione continued, "I thought it proper that we end the relationship so that he could have time to think about these things. And I believe," Hermione pointed over to the Slytherin table where Blaise Zabini was stroking Draco's arm, "he's made his decision."
"No!" Ginny shouted.
"It's always the gorgeous ones," Parvati said ominously.
"That would explain why he's so obsessed with Harry," Lavender stated.
Harry paled.
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Malfoy stormed into the great hall and stomped angrily towards the Slytherin table.
Damn that Granger!
He sat down crossly between Blaise and Pansy, and ignored their questioning looks.
Besides, it's not like he was upset or anything. The charade was over. He could get back to his life and completely ignore Hermione's existence. So then why couldn't he stop looking at her?
He saw Hermione sit down with her friends and she proceeded to talk with them amiably. Why wasn't she upset? Why didn't she feel like she'd lost something? And why the hell was he letting this get to him?
Pansy, who noticed where Draco had been focusing his glare, asked, "What happened?"
"Huh?" Malfoy asked, bringing his attention back to his friend at the table.
"Why are you glaring at your bushy-haired love muffin?" Blaise repeated.
"I'm not glaring, and she's not my love muffin," Draco ground out bitterly.
"Why not?" Pansy inquired, concern evident in her voice.
" Noth―"
Draco stopped.
"We split up," he announced solemnly.
The inner Draco smiled happily.
"Are you ok?" Pansy crooned.
"Don't worry, we're here for you," Blaise comforted, patting Draco on the shoulder affectionately.
Malfoy swatted away Blaise's attentions, and continued, "She's just not the person I thought she was."
Draco sighed dramatically.
"She seemed so sweet and innocent but as we got closer, her possessive side became quite evident in our relationship."
"You were together for two days!" Theodore Nott, who'd been listening to the conversation, exclaimed.
Malfoy ignored him.
"She had to spend every second with me, and if I wanted any time to myself she'd fly into a rage. She even attacked that Ravenclaw I was talking to yesterday, and I was only giving her some charms pointers."
"Like hell you were," Pansy commented skeptically.
"I was, honestly!" Malfoy said with a cheshire-like grin. "Anyway, I couldn't stand it anymore, so I broke things off. Besides, the spark was gone. I was only in it for the challenge."
"I'm sure Hermione wouldn't be happy about you saying that," Pansy warned.
"Like I care," Malfoy returned.
Unfortunately, as Malfoy looked back over at the Gryffindor table, where Hermione and her mates were laughing at Harry, who'd gone ghostly white, he realized sadly that he kind of did care.
Uh oh. This wasn't good.
0000000000000000
"It can't be true!"
"Well, that does explain why he's always so chummy with Blaise Zabini . . ."
"She took a lock of his hair to brew a love potion, can you believe it?"
"Harry's properly scared now. He's never been crushed on by a boy."
"I heard she tried to steal Colin's camera so she could get some shots of him in the prefects' bathroom."
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The envelope in her robes bothered Hermione all morning. She couldn't stop thinking about what it might contain. She really hoped it could be considered blackmail material. She bloody well knew that prick deserved it.
Professor Flamberton, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor, droned on however, unaware of his pupil's lack of concentration.
Harry and Ron were sitting in front of her, drawing funny cartoons of the teacher, whose sideburns seemed to be devouring his head.
Hermione was supremely relieved when he released them for lunch. She'd have a whole hour to listen to the howler and analyze it. Maybe she'd finally get a glimpse of what went on inside Malfoy's head. She also hoped she might be able to understand him a little more.
Mostly, she just wanted to see his reaction when she threw the information in his face.
Malfoy was going to learn the hard way that Gryffindors could be conniving and underhanded as well.
"Where are you going, Hermione?" Harry asked, when he noticed her walking in the opposite direction of the Great Hall.
"Oh! I just have to ask, um . . . Professor Vector some things about arithmancy. I'll catch up with you in a bit."
"Aren't you hungry?" Ron asked, amazed that someone could put off eating for homework.
"I had loads at breakfast," Hermione lied.
"Bollocks!" Ron called. "You had a bit of toast and a little, bitty portion of eggs. You should really eat more, Hermione. Especially after what happened yesterday."
Hermione was really touched by his show of concern. She guessed her visit to the hospital wing the day before affected him a little more than he let on.
"I will. I just really need to ask this one question and then I'll come eat."
Ron was about to protest, but Hermione cut him off, "Two helpings of everything, I promise."
She smiled at him, and she could see his resolve breaking.
"Well, all right. But if you don't eat it all, Harry here will restrain you while I force it down."
Harry smiled and agreed, "You bet I will."
Hermione grinned warmly. On impulse, Hermione leant forward and pulled her two best friends into a cozy embrace.
"Thanks," she whispered.
As she let go of them Harry had a wide smile and Ron had a rosy tint to his cheeks.
"I've got to go," Hermione explained hastily. "I'll see you both in the Great Hall."
With that, Hermione turned and began walking purposefully to the seventh floor.
Upon reaching her destination, Hermione looked at the entrance to the Room of Requirement and concentrated.
'I need a place where I can listen to a howler and not be overheard . . . I need a place where I can listen to a howler and not be overheard . . .'
She passed by the entrance three times.
Magically, of course, a door appeared and Hermione quickly disappeared inside.
The room had transformed into a library of sorts, with a fire blazing in a fireplace and a comfy armchair placed near it.
She could only assume that the walls were soundproof.
Hermione sat down lazily in the chair, placed her bag on the floor beside her, and withdrew the cause of her frustrations from her pocket.
She turned the howler in her hands. This was the answer to all her questions, she could feel it.
Giddily, Hermione broke the wax seal and opened the letter.
A/N: I know, I know! It wasn't worth the wait. A whole lot of nothing in this chappie. However the conclusion to this lovely fic is up next, and I promise to have an update out this week. Cross my heart.
As always, readers are appreciated and reviewers are worshipped!
