Chapter 7

Beautiful Disaster

He took her heart and she took his name
He couldn't stand taking all the blame
He left her only with guilt and shame and then she cracked

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Hermione was once again eating breakfast alone. Ron went with Harry to Harry's first Quidditch practice this year where he was Capitan. They looked rather excited about it and Hermione didn't want to intrude. Instead she just sat in the hall with her nose in a book.

She was about to take a bite from her toast when she heard someone sit across from her. She lowered her book just under her eyes so she was able to see who was sitting there.

'"To Kill a Mocking Bird".' He read. 'Isn't that a muggle book?'

'Yes it is, Seamus. I like to read muggle books, after all I am muggle born.'

'My dad really likes that book, says that everytime he reads it he gets a surge of good advice. What ever that means. He always tells me, 'Don't judge anyone until you walk in there shoes.'' Hermione giggled at his impression of his dad.

'He sure knows the book then, Atticus Finch always says it to his son and his daughter.' Seamus leaned on the table towards Hermione and she put her book down and waited for what he was going to say.

'So, you're the leading lady?'

'What?' Hermione said offensively.

'I mean for the play… Juliet…you.' He corrected himself quickly.

'Right, sorry. I wasn't sure what you were implying. I guess you are Romeo; congratulations ' Hermione was about to pick her book up, as she had tried to end the conversation. Her and Seamus had never really talked in their six years at Hogwarts, sure he had talked to Harry and Ron while she was around but they never really had a conversation like this. Frankly, now, Hermione wasn't really interested.

'Yeah, I've been acting for a little while. Well as you know, I'm half and half.'

'No I didn't know' Hermione said passively.

'Since we'll be working together, I think we should learn a little more about each other. I mean, we are from the same house and everything.'

'I am aware of that.' She said in the same uninterested tone.

'So do you wanna chat?'

Hermione remained silent as he carried on talking and asking questions.

'So, what did you get on your OWLS? Nothing short from perfect' he laughed slightly.

'Is this your idea of a flattering conversation?' she snapped at him.

'Wha- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I wasn't making fun of you.' He said quietly and Hermione looked down at the table in embarrassment.

'Oh.' She replied.

'A mudblood and the closest thing to a mudblood are the leads in this stupid play?' Hermione looked behind Seamus to see who had said that. She didn't have to do much guessing. Pansy was clinging on to Draco like if she let go she'd fall into an imaginary hole. Seamus shifted around in his seat to face him.

'Aw did wittle Pansy go crying to big bad Draco because I got your part?' Hermione imitated a motherly and worried voice.

'Mudbloods don't deserve the leads.' Draco snapped.

'You don't deserve to live, Malfoy.' Seamus retorted.

'That's a Slytherin part! It's not fair.' Pansy shrieked.

'You couldn't handle it… it's a muggle play. A non-magical person, by the name of William Shakespeare, wrote it in the 1800's or so. I don't really see why you, a "pure blood",' Hermione said sarcastically, 'would want to play his finest creation'

'What? I-'

'Now you're just contradicting yourself.' Hermione added before standing up. 'I got the part… you couldn't even manage to get stage crew.' And with that, she walked off, grabbing two pieces of toast on her way.

'Hey, wanna walk to History of Magic together.' Seamus asked running up to Hermione.

'Isn't that where we're going?' Hermione said, clutching her books to her chest.

'Are you all right? Why are you so mean to everyone?' he asked sincerely.

'I am not mean to everyone.' She shot back at Seamus.

'You've been mean to me all morning.' He reminded her and Hermione bit her tongue, as not to say anything else.

'Well, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be. You just caught me at a bad time.'

'You were reading a very dull book.' He said as they entered the room together. Harry and Ron were sitting at the back desk as usual.

'We can talk tomorrow.' She said and walked towards Harry and Ron, setting her books down she tossed a piece of toast to each of them.

'Hermione, you're my savor! I'm so hungry.' Ron said as he greedily shoved food in his mouth.

'We ate early this morning, I don't know why he's starving.' Harry whispered to Hermione.

'It's Ron,' she replied.

'Ron…' Hermione whispered to him with ten minutes left of the lesson. 'D'you want to practice lines tonight?'

'What? We haven't even had a practice yet.' He whispered back, writing down what was left on the board.

'I know Ron, I was just wondering. To get a head start.'

'Ok. Wanna come Harry?' He asked Harry, who looked like he was disappointed.

'No, I can't. I have another Quidditch practice at 7 tonight.'

'Cool, I should go with you.' Ron sounded quite serious when he said this.

'Ron!' Hermione hissed angrily.

'I'm joking.' He said while putting his hands up in defense.

'7:30 Ron in the common room, I have to go to the library anyway to do some homework so; I'll meet you there. Don't be late…please? I really want to get a head start.'

'I'll be there' Ron told her. 'Finally, I thought I was going to die from boredom' Ron said when the class was over.

'Herbology… I hope we're not going to be making anti-poison again… I got dirt in my eyes.' Ron said miserably.

'You wont be saying that when you're the one in need of an anti poison.' Hermione said nonchalantly, walking into the hot greenhouse and sure enough there were plants in full bloom ready to cut, and packaged.

'Hi Hermione.' Said Seamus. 'Harry, Ron.' He waved at them and went over to meet Dean, who was already full off dirt because he placed the plant down wrong.

'What's up with you and Seamus?' Harry asked pryingly.

'Nothing… he just wants to talk to me because we are, and I quote, 'in the play together'. I told him we could talk tomorrow, he wants to get to know me better.' She finished, putting on gloves.

'It sounds to me, Hermione,' Parvati came up behind Hermione and place on hand on her shoulder. 'That Seamus may have a crush on you.' Her best friend, Lavender, gave a small pout. She had been Seamus' escort to the Yule Ball two years ago.

'Why would he have a crush on Hermione?' Ron asked and laughed. 'It's Hermione, she's practically one of the guys.' Harry kicked his leg.

'What?' Ron asked and looked at Hermione who had a face mixed anger and sadness. Parvati, however, looked at Ron with inquisitiveness as if she knew all his darkest secrets.

'Well, Hermione, stop by and have a chat anytime.' Lavender and Parvati left Hermione, Ron and Harry at their table and went to their own. Hermione looked particularly interested in her pot of soil beside the plant.

By the time Herbology ended, everyone had dirt all over him or her, even Hermione.

'Harry, you get to have you're first lesson with Snape.' Hermione said, and then added, 'Double potions.'

'Yea, I'm really looking forward to it.' Harry said, melodramatically.

When double potions was over, Snape confronted Hermione and Ron saying that they didn't do a good enough job on the boards and that there was dust all over his room after they had supposedly cleaned it.

'I spoke to Professor McGonagall about your lack of respect for your teachers and she is giving you double detention Monday afternoon.' Snape briskly tuned around and walked away and Hermione left for the library in a huff.

Hermione had started writing her Potions essay to have it done before her detention Monday. It was Friday and it was due Monday, the same day as her second detention.

Hermione took out her parchment, ink and quill and started scratching down words on her parchment.

'When adding red spiders eggs to the potion, one can raise the status of their antibodies. Depending on the different ingredients. For example, Limpwurt root and White Berries create an antibody to Bogmen's boils.

There are two ways one can take this potion, externally or internally. If taken internally, then one needs to take one hour before going anywhere near Bogmen. If taken externally, then one needs the potion to be thick and cream like, where it can be applied right after the boils to appear and for ten minuets after. If time limit exceeds ten minutes then one should consult…' Hermione stopped writing, trying to think of another word for consult. She was thinking so hard that she was saying different meanings for the words out loud.

'Consult… seek advice from… talk to… discuss with… check with…'

'Confer with, perhaps.' Shocked from her train of thought, Hermione looked up and met the eyes of Seamus.

'Are you following me?' she asked, annoyed.

'No, had the same idea.' He replied and then showed her his batch of parchment. 'Mind id I sit here.' Hermione shook her head at his question, and politely moved all her books, crumpled paper and ink over so that there was more room for a second person. She really did mind, but she felt that she owed him one for being so nice to her. Perhaps he was just naïve to see that she was annoyed with him.

'…Then one should…confer with a physician on the topic.' Hermione wrote another two pages for her potions paper. She wrote about the effects on the skin, scars that it leaves, side effects and other types of magical treatments.

She blew on her wet ink to make it dry faster then, taking out her wand, did a simple spell to make it dry quicker. All the while, Seamus was staring at her as she did her work. He had only written a page and his quill was moving back and fourth, hovering over his paper as if he didn't know what to write next. Hermione raised her eyes once more to see him staring fixedly at her.

'Yes?' she asked nervously.

'What's another word for…' he thought for a moment and then looked down at his paper before saying, 'creates?'

'What's your sentence?' She asked, feeling smart.

'…Using this potion will create…' he stopped and looked at Hermione, who was obviously thinking.

'Using this unique potions will generate antibodies in the blood to reduce swelling and prevent the boils. How's that?' she finished as Seamus' jaw dropped.

'Great… you're so good with words. I can see why you're such a dedicated worker.'

'And why is that?' Hermione asked patiently.

'Because you're so smart.'

'Flattery is one of your good points isn't it Seamus' she smiled, but as quickly as it appeared, it had disappeared.

'I have to go, I'm supposed to meet someone at 7:30…not that he will be there on time, but he might be this once. Talk to you later, Seamus and good luck on your essay.'

Hermione ran back to Gryffindor tower, not wanting to be late. She was however, late because the stairs had moved on her way up and she had to take a longer root back down to the tower.

'Siren's song' She panted and the Fat Lady complained about her taking a break once in a while because she was making her tired.

'Ron?' She asked as she entered the room. Lavender and Parvati looked up. They were working on their divination homework. In the corner there was a bunch of first years struggling with their transfiguration. There was a huge group of fifth years sitting in front of the fire trying to keep up with all their OWL preparation. Ginny was among them. She looked so happy. Hermione knew she was going to be a prefect just like Percy… but maybe not as bold.

Hermione walked over to Ginny and bent down beside the squashy armchair she was sitting in.

'Hi Ginny.'

'Hello Hermione, I'm so swamped and the first week of school just started. I can't wait for Hogsmade' she dreamed off.

'Ginny' Hermione snapped her fingers in front of Ginny's face and brought her back to reality.

'Do you know where your brother is?' This educed laughter among Ginny's group of friends to whom Hermione gave nasty looks for the accompaniment.

'No, why? The last time I saw him was at dinner.' Ginny said, looking over her paper once more.

'Oh.' Hermione said and was about to turn away when Ginny called to her.

'Are you busy Hermione?' Ginny asked. Hermione knew what she was going to ask so she shook her head no. 'Would you be able to help me with this Ancient Runes homework, it's getting difficult.'

For a little over an hour Hermione helped Ginny and her friends until they all moved over to their Herbology homework. By now the common room was getting thinner, but more people were talking. Lavender and Parvati were having a good conversation with each other, quite loudly that, if Hermione felt up to it, could hear everything thing that they were saying.

It was 9:03 pm. Hermione had been waiting for over an hour and a half, and still no sign of Ron. She was angry with him for not showing up, but more so at herself for believing he would show up. 10:17 when Hermione looked back up at the clock. She sighed and wondered when that happened. She had been so deep in her thoughts that she didn't realize the hour had gone by.

There were now very few students left in the common room. Just the odd few who felt like talking. Lavender and Parvati were still talking and laughing and Hermione commented to herself that they were having a better time then she was.

They both looked at her and giggled. They got up, almost in unison, and Hermione made a mental note of how creepy it was. Hermione was sitting on the middle cousion of the couch so Lavender took the seat to her right and Parvati the left.

'Did Seamus find you?' Parvati asked, stifling a laugh, Lavender laughed a little bit, but still looked a little upset at the mention of his name.

'What?' Hermione was taken aback by the sudden upbringing of his name.

'Seamus was looking for you, so we said you were in the Library. Were we right?' Hermione looked at them in disbelief.

'Yes. I was there and no he didn't find me. What did he want?' She lied about him not finding her, only because she wanted to know what he actually wanted.

'Didn't I tell you. He has a crush on you' Parvati said.

'Can things get any worse?' Hermione thought to herself. 'He doesn't have a crush on me' she said defiantly, 'he just wants to get to know me, for the play.'

'The play is just an excuse, he's been crushing on you for a year at least.' Lavender said sadly.

'You both are mad!' she shouted a little loudly that she got weird looks from the people surrounding them. 'And have you seen Ron?' she yelled angrily and felt like she was going to cry.

Both girls were shocked and Lavender stammered, 'no' while Parvati shook her head no. Hermione frowned.

'He was supposed to meet me here, we were going to practice our lines for the play.'

'I heard you got lead, good for you Hermione. I'm your mother…in the play' Parvati said. 'It's going to be fun.'

'Are you in the play Lavender?' Hermione asked briefly because her throat ached from not letting herself cry.

Lavender nodded and then said, 'yes, Lady Montague'

'I hate him sometimes.' Hermione once again brought Ron back into the conversation. 'He only cares about himself; he would never do anything I ask him to. Harry probably made him do the play. I know he made him apologize. I'm not stupid.' Hermione sighed, placing her head in her hands so if she cried no one would see. Hermione let out an exasperated cry and Parvati put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

'I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm just one of the guys.' Hermione cried sarcastically thought her hands to the two girls, whom she never thought would be comforting her, especially about a boy.

'He doesn't understand anything all he cares about is his stupid hand-me-downs like that matters at all to anyone important. Money, money, money…all he cares about is money.' Hermione sobbed louder. She was grateful that Ginny was no longer in the room when she was saying these things because she knew that Ginny did care about her hand-me-downs.

'Sorry.' Hermione apologized quietly then wiped her tears away. 'I'm going to bed. Congratulation on your parts though.' Hermione said politely.

Lavender and Parvati continued to have their conversation lazily as the rest of the Gryffindors started to make their way into the common room at midnight. Ron and Harry were laughing and talking about a rather exciting game of wizard chess.

Standing in front of the way to the boy's dormitory was Parvati. Her hands on her hips and looking very cross.

'You should be ashamed of yourself. Hermione waited four hours for you. And you had the nerve NOT to show up. You followed Harry around all night with you?' Parvati said, as if Hermione was now her new best friend. Ron had a really shocked face and quickly looked around the common room expecting to see Hermione.

'She's in bed.' Lavender said, when she saw him looking around the room.

'That's where we're headed. See you later Lavender and Parvati.' Ron said and he and Harry squeezed past the two.

'She's right you know. You don't care about anyone but yourself.' Lavender added before heading off to the girls' dormitory, closely followed by Parvati.

Without one word, Ron opened the door to their dormitory, got into his pajamas and headed to bed, closing the curtain around his four-poster.

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Ahhh Snape… I love Snape he's sooo awesome…He always protects Hermione, Harry and Ron…you know he's up to something, the git! I hope you liked this chapter…took me a little while to write…lol really tired had two benodryl (I can't spell very many types of medication lol)…had some sort of allergic reaction…possibly from the sun (I worked all day…) so bai and good-friggin-night

Anyway… please review. Thanks

Yours truly,

Sweet Roses.