Okay, you guys all know why Hermione's not talking…but some of you think that this is the last chapter? Hell no! I'm at least going to draw it out more! Like Hermione has to say her first words (that makes her sound like a baby, doesn't it?) and stuff!

Chapter 12

Potions class

I guess we're paired up again.

I guess so.

So we're cool, right? You're not mad at me anymore?

No, I don't think so.

That's good.

Yup.

Yeah.

So…

So…

What was those lessons all about?

Oh god, don't remind me!

What?

Blaise and Pansy were being…well, Blaise and Pansy, and decided that I needed a girl. So of course, they had to give me LESSONS on how to be charming, flirtatious, and perfect.

You forgot considerate.

That's not helping!

Ha ha.

Grrrrrrr…

Tee hee.

Well…you…you…you have messy hair!

What does THAT have to do with ME laughing about YOUR lessons?

I don't know…but I wanted to insult you for laughing!

Is that the best you can do? Even RON can do better than THAT, and that's saying something!

Well, it was the spur of the moment!

Tut, tut, Draco.

Well, according to the lessons, I'm not supposed to insult people! So there!

So you're following the lessons now?

No…I'm just saying, I'm out of practice!

Sure, fine, whatever you say.

What are you trying to say?

Nothing, nothing.

Positive?

Yup.

Good.

God, you're almost as paranoid as Ron and Ginny.

What?

I said-

I know what you said!

Then what's the what for?

You compared me to…to…to blood traitors!

Draco. If we're going to be friends, you can't insult my friends. That's the only rule.

Hmmph. I guess.

Good.

The period's over, so I guess we got to go.

Ok. Bye.

Bye.

Lunch

Hey you guys.

Hey Hermione.

What's up?

After lunch, meet me in the library, okay?

Hermione, are you feeling okay?

Do we have to go over this AGAIN?

No, it's just you're suggesting we skip a class.

Yeah, and?

I don't think you get it. YOU'RE suggesting we SKIP a CLASS.

So?

HERMIONE GRANGER, IN THE FLESH AND BLOOD, WANTS TO SKIP A CLASS?

Isn't that what I said?

But it's…it's unnatural!

Unthinkable!

And completely and utterly insane!

In other words-

It's so not you.

That's not what I was going to say!

Well, that's what I said! Get over it!

Hmph.

So Hermione, we ask you: DO YOU FEEL OKAY?

I'm perfectly fine, Harry.

That's good to know.

But still…WHY?

Because I want to tell you what I was telling/showing Malf-I mean, Draco.

YOU'RE ON FIRST NAME TERMS WITH HIM?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD?

I don't know, but she's clearly insane.

Exactly.

I am NOT insane.

Yes, you are. You're showing the signs of it.

Signs? What signs?

Signs, people, signs! She wants the signs!

I'm on it. Signs:

First name terms with Malfoy, who is your friends' ENEMY.

Suggesting skipping class.

Denying you're insane.

Well, those do sound like good reasons.

I know. They are.

HAVE YOU GONE MENTAL? I AM CLEARLY NOT INSANE!

Denial-third sign.

GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

4. Screaming in an un-ladylike fashion.

I SWEAR, I'M GONNA RIP OFF YOUR HEADS, AND STOMP ON THEM UNTIL THEY'RE DEFLATED, AND THEN I'M GONNA MUTILATE YOUR BODIES-

Violent threats.

OH MY GOD-ok, Hermione, calm. Breathe deeply. That's better.

Talking to yourself.

Just meet me in the library after lunch, okay?

Sure.

Fine.

Whatever you say-

Insane girl.

You guys are hopeless.

Insulting your friends.

Over at the Slytherin table

That cough you guys had must not have been contagious. I didn't get it at all!

Good for you Blaise. Coughidiotcough

Wait. Why aren't you running away screaming like you did the entire first half of the day?

It's not contagious, I told you.

Uh…actually, it is.

No, it's not. You're just trying to scare me.

Blaise, it's a twelve hour release bug.

No it's not…really?

Yeah. It's highly contagious, almost fatal disease.

It's called the…

The…the…

The Flimplewimpledimple Cough!

Yeah! The Flimplewimpydump Cough!

And why aren't you two dead?

Because we have it lightly. Since Draco and I both coughed in your face, you have it really badly.

REALLY?

Really really.

You guys are just pulling my leg.

Blaise. That's the first sign: denial.

Really?

Yup.

HELPPPPPPPPPP! I have Flimpywindexplushie Cough!

It's Flimplewimpydump Cough.

No, it's the Flimplewimpledimple Cough!

Well, whatever it is, I HAVE IT! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!

In the library…

(continued as a regular story)

"So why did you ask us to skip a class?" asked Harry, lounging in an armchair.

'Well, I wanted to tell you what I did with Draco,' the script above Hermione's head read. 'I told him why I wasn't speaking.'

"WHAT?" yelled Ron. "You told that filth before you told US?"

"Hermione!" said Ginny, glaring at her.

"Well, she's going to tell us now, so shut up!" said Harry, annoyed.

'Thanks Harry.'

"No problem."

'And I'm going to show you, not tell you.'

"How are you going to-" Ron started to say, but Ginny clamped a hand over his mouth, and gave him a death glare. "Right. Point taken," He said weakly.

A big picture appeared over her head, and again began to repeat the events of the summer. Ginny, Ron, and Harry were enraptured as they watched the story unfold. Once it was finished, Ginny got up and hugged Hermione fiercely.

"Oh my god," she whispered. "I can't believe it."

Hermione nodded, tears dripping down her cheeks. Ron stared at her, his mouth hanging wide open.

"Hermione," Harry said seriously. "Are you over him?"

'No…not really. I feel like…like…like…' the script trailed off.

"Like what?" Ginny asked, stepping away to get a better look.

'Like it was my fault,' read the script. Hermione had a sad look on her face.

"Never ever think that," said Ron, frowning. "It was his fault. NOT yours."

'Well, I still feel that way,' Hermione looked away.

"Well, on to the subject of Malfoy," said Harry seriously.

'Yeah? What about him?' Hermione looked at him suspiciously.

"Well, I don't think you should trust him," explained Harry. "I mean…he could be the next stalker."

Hermione snorted. 'Draco wouldn't do that!'

"But wouldn't Dylan have said the same thing?" said Ginny softly.

'Well…well…I don't know…' Hermione looked uncertain.

"He would have," said Ron. "And you know it."

Hermione stomped her foot. 'But he isn't! I…'

"You DON'T know for sure," said Harry gently. "I think…I think it would just be best if you steered clear of him for a while."

'You're just doing this because you hate him!' read the script, blinking furiously.

"No, we're doing it for your own good," said Ginny matter-of-factly.

'But…but…' Hermione pleaded with her eyes, looking around desperately for some excuse.

"But nothing, Hermione!" said Ron angrily. "Do you really want to get hurt again?"

Hermione burst out into tears.

"I didn't think so," He said a bit more softly, and hugged her.

"It's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright," Ginny said.

(continued in note format)

…

In the Head's common room later that night

Hey Hermione. What's up?

Oh, nothing really.

Cool. So where were you in class today?

Uh…I was meaning to talk to you about that…

What? What's wrong?

Draco, I can't stay friends with you.

What? Why? Did those friends of yours talk to you about it?

Yeah, but-

I KNEW it. I just knew it.

But I think so too.

But why?

You could be another Dylan.

What? I'd never…how could you say such a thing?

Dylan would've said that.

Shit, Hermione. Shit, shit, shit.

Look. I'm sorry. But I've gotta go, Draco.

But-

Goodbye, Draco.

…

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