Chapter Four

"Am I an idiot?" Hermione asked Ron after explaining her red cheek and the reasons for being late.

"What do you mean?"

"Am I an idiot for agreeing to work with Malfoy?"

"Well, I wouldn't have made that decision, but I can understand why you did. I mean, we need all the help we can get, especially if we can get inside information…I just don't trust him."

"That's where I get confused. Right now, I don't trust him, but when I was with him…"

"It's just that Slytherin slickness. Try not to let him get to you. So, tomorrow after dinner?"

Hermione nodded. "I'm a little nervous and kind of scared."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Thanks, but no. It's probably best you don't come. He made the meeting with me, not us."

"Okay, if you say so." Ron stood to leave.

Hermione grabbed his wrist. "No. Don't go: Harry will be back soon."

Ron gently loosened her grip. "I'm sorry, 'Mione, but I gotta. Dean and I are going to work together on our history reports. I promised." He looked at her with sympathy in his eyes. "I wish I could."

Hermione dropped her arm. "It's okay. I understand."

"Why don't you come to the library with me?"

"I'm hoping to learn something tonight."

"You probably won't be able to get anything out of him. We've been trying for almost a year now."

"I know, but I can't give up—I won't give up."

Ron sighed. "Okay, but don't get your hopes up."

"I won't."

Ron walked through the portrait hole to the hallway, and seconds later, Harry walked into the common room. "Hey, girl," he called as he hurried to the couch to sit next to Hermione.

She smiled weakly. "Anything new from the Slytherin world?"

"Let's not talk about that, okay? This is my last night in here, and I just want to savor it with you."

"I'm worried about you, Harry."

"Don't be…I'm fine."

Define 'fine.' "Okay." She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "When will we be able to talk about it?"

"I'll talk to Dumbledore about it all from now on."

"Oh…Okay."

Harry ran his fingers through her hair. "I love your curls."

"You didn't think so when you were with Pansy."

"Just because I was 'with her' doesn't mean I wasn't thinking about you."

"Oh, bullocks, Harry. You know as well as I do that you're different, that you've changed."

"People change, 'Mione; you know that."

"Yeah, but they usually change for the better."

"I have changed for the better. I've never felt stronger. I've never felt better."

"What do you mean you're better? How can you be better! Harry, do you even realize what you've been doing, what you're saying!"

"I know that I feel stronger! I know I can do whatever I want to do! I am the best goddamn wizard at Hogwarts, and who are you? Nobody."

Hermione clenched her teeth together and tried to control herself. "Well, maybe you should take your new self and live with your new friends and leave us alone," she said evenly.

Harry stood. "I will…I'll be happier there anyway." He stormed out the common room.

Hermione kept a stony face until she knew he was gone, and then she cried herself to sleep on the couch.