CHAPTER 4:
Hermione left the Gryffindor common room, not knowing how to feel. Ginny said she should feel stoked at the fact that I guy had asked her so romantically, but something was eating away at the back of her mind and she couldn't quite put a finger on it. Looking at her watch and realising if she didn't hurry she'd be late for class; she broke off into a run towards her common room to collect her books. As she turned the corner she ran smack bang into Malfoy. She almost fell, but at the last second Malfoy reached out a hand and caught her.
'Thank you' she said breathlessly, and began rushing around crazily trying to gather her books.
'I wasn't going to ask… but what are you doing?' asked Malfoy lounging on the sofa trying to contain his laughter.
'Getting to class just like you should be doing, or are you too good for classes now?' said Hermione agitatedly. This time Malfoy couldn't contain his laughter. Hermione spun around to face him.
'What are you laughing at?' she asked.
'It's Thursday…' he replied.
'Malfoy…' she interrupted, 'if there's something you're not telling me then so help you when I find out what it is. Out with it!' she said placing her hands on her hips and tapping her foot loudly.
'Ok, ok' he said still laughing, 'little miss know it all, we have a spare now, Head's privilege.'
A shocked 'Oh' was all that she could manage as she dropped her books onto the floor and sank into the sofa opposite Malfoy. Malfoy who hadn't seen the head girl in such a state before asked,
'Are you ok…? You look a tad frazzled'.
Hermione looked up at him with her large hazel eyes and asked him,
'What would you care?'
He shrugged as if to say I don't and went upstairs to his room. Just before the end of her spare Hermione heard a soft knock at the door, she looked up from her books towards the door and heard the knock again this time a little louder then before. She got up, smoothed her robe and answered the door.
'Harry, what are you doing here?' asked Hermione.
'I needed to talk to you' he replied entering the heads common room.
'Ok but aren't you meant to be in class now?'
'No I have a spare now too, and it's taken me ages to work up the courage to talk to you about this' said Harry. Hermione stared at him blankly.
'You know whatever it is I'll always be there for you right. And since when does brave Mr Harry potter become shy with me?' said Hermione raising a brow at him.
'Since now' he muttered not loud enough for Hermione to hear and ran a hand through his already messy black hair. 'Look do you mind if we sit down?' Harry asked and Hermione shook her head and Harry slowly moved them over to the sofa. He took both of her hands in his when they were seated and smiled weakly at her.
'Hermione…' he began, 'we've been best friends for the last seven years, seven wonderful years. In this time I've admired your strength, courage, inelegance and your beauty. You've been my rock through everything that happened in this time and you've helped me face many demons both physical and mental. You've seen me at t and worst as I have seen you at yours' Harry paused for a second to catch his breath and Hermione noticed how sweaty his hands had become.
'Harry… where are you going with this?' Hermione was quietened by Harry placing a finger to her lips.
'Hermione we've shared such a rich history together and I want to share an even richer future with you. I don't exactly know what all of this means but I do know I'd love to spend the ball in your company… will you go to the ball with me?
'Harry I…' began Hermione but she was interrupted by a loud banging from the door.
'Hermione! Open up, I know you're in there!' shouted Ron. Harry groaned loudly laying his head back on the sofa in dismay. Ron continued to know heavily at the door.
'Hermione!' called Ron.
'Hermione will you get that for god's sake!' yelled Malfoy yelled from upstairs.
Hermione ran quickly to the door and opened it. Before Ron had been asked in he stood in the doorway and began talking.
'Hermione I think you know by now how I feel about you. I'm not leaving you till last this time. You're going to the ball with me.'
By this time Malfoy had come downstairs to see what all the commotion was about.
'Look Ronald you don't tell someone that they're going to the ball with you, you ask them and Harry that was really sweet of you. Both of you I'm sorry you're my best friends and yes I do love you both… but I'm already going with somebody else.
Harry jumped to his feet and Ron turned bright red his face full of anger.
'Right well I'm sorry to have bothered you Hermione I'll be going now I think. If you change your mind you know where you can find me' said Harry as he left the room saddened.
Ron was still standing in the doorway face as read as a beetroot. 'Who is it?' he demanded.
'I don't know Ronald' said Hermione.
'What do you mean you don't know?' he asked anger rising.
'Ronald, he's a mystery even to me'.
Hermione turned away from and tried to block out his angry yells.
'Look at me!' Ron yelled advancing on her.
She turned in time to see Ron approaching her hand raised. He was only a metre away and beginning to bring his hand down, but Hermione couldn't move, her legs seemed to be frozen on the spot she was standing. Out of nowhere, Malfoy grabbed Ron's arm and said aggressively,
'I wouldn't do that if I were you!'
Ron's eyes fell on Malfoy's other hand which was holding a wand at Ron's face. Ron pulled his arm from Malfoy's grip and stormed out the door. When he had finally left, Hermione slumped onto the sofa and began crying and shaking uncontrollably. Malfoy didn't know quite what to do, so he grabbed a box of tissues and handed them to her.
'Thank you' she said to him after she had calmed down enough to speak. He took this as his due to leave and rose from his chair.
'Why did you do it?' she asked her eyes all puffy, red and tearstained almost masking the puzzled expression on her face.
'Nobody has the right to hit a woman. I've seen my mother have it done to her many a time by father. I wasn't able to stop the abuse then… but I'm older and wiser now.
'I'm so sorry' said Hermione shakily.
'I don't want your pity' he replied roughly and began to leave.
'Thank you… for everything' she said quietly and when he turned to acknowledge her she noticed that his usually stormy grey eyes were now a stormy blue colour.
finally i actually tried to update this last night but for some reason it wouldn't let me oh well here it is hope u like it... please R&R