Chapter 22: Confrontations
A/N: AH! Sorry this chappy took SO INCREDIBLY long, but I had no idea whatsoever about what I should write. Writers Block extreme.
Thanks everyone for the very positive reviews! I'm glad you're all liking this story :)
As for how long this will be, I'm not anywhere near done. I just revealed a MAJOR hint regarding the main plot in that last chapter…so with some thinking I'm sure you can figure something out.
Anyway, on with the chapter!
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"Alright, Irish boy—," Pansy began, but changed her tone to a sweet one, "I mean, Seamus…"
"What do you want?" Seamus repeated.
"No need to be so rude…I have a proposition. I'm sure you're very, very upset about the fact that your dear mud—erm, Hermione…was taken from you."
"Don't say that name," Seamus growled, a furious glint in his eyes.
Pansy ignored his bad temper. "My poor Draco was stolen from me, too, by that stupid mudblood. I'm sure we both want back what's ours, no?" Pansy drawled.
After a long pause Seamus turned to face her, a curious and somewhat hard expression on his face. "I'm listening."
-
Hermione scurried into the Herbology just as the class began.
" 'Morning," Hermione whispered to Harry and Ron, who seemed weary. "How are your classes so far?"
"Loads of homework, that's for sure," Ron muttered. "And a NEWT lecture or three."
"Alright class, settle down. It's time to begin," Professor Sprout said to the class. "You will find in front of you the German Plant Dweller, a small little creature which you will often find in particular sorts of shrubs and the like…"
Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione noticed a certain blond Slytherin gazing at her. She turned to look at him, and the two exchanged a subtle smile.
Not wanting to draw too much attention, she turned her attention back to the current lecture.
-
"Well, that was quite interesting, wasn't it? Not too bad for the first day," Hermione said pleasantly as the three made their way to lunch.
"No, not at all," Ron said sarcastically. "I especially loved when that bloody beast tried to bite of my finger. Yes, very interesting, even lovely if you ask me."
Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend, and they continued into the Hall. Harry however, she noticed, was quiet.
"Harry, is there anything wrong?" Hermione whispered across the table as Ron stuffed his face.
Harry was quiet for a moment and then sighed. "Hermione, I need to talk to you later."
Hermione's stomach lurched. "What about?"
"Let's…let's not discuss anything now. Later," Harry said sternly.
Hermione raised an eyebrow but said no more. The rest of their lunch was silent except for the occasional clatter of silverware or clearing of someone's throat.
"I'd better get going," Hermione said, breaking the silence. "We've got a free period and I've got to do a bit of research with D—er, Malfoy on something."
"I don't see how you haven't lost it yet, working with that git so often," Ron said through a mouthful of steak and kidney pie.
"Dumbledore's orders are Dumbledore's orders. I don't question," Hermione said rather superiorly.
Without another word, she headed out of the Hall.
-
After a long day of classes spent avoiding her friends, Hermione decided to pay Ginny a visit. She made her way down several dimly lit corridors, stopping to look at the gloomy day outside once or twice.
She was nearing the common room when a fit of screaming erupted from behind the portrait.
Quite flustered, the Fat Lady decided that now was the time to go visit her sister for tea- away from whatever tantrum was going on inside.
'Sounds like Ron…' Hermione thought to herself as the Fat Lady scurried out of the portrait.
"AND YOU COULDN'T FIND A SPARE SECOND TO TELL ME? BLIMEY, MY LITTLE SISTER, MY BEST FRIEND-" Ron was bellowing at a petrified Ginny and Harry.
"Ron," Hermione called patiently from the common room enterance.
"-I MEAN, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT MY SISTER AND HAVING A BOYFRIEND! YOU COULD'VE TOLD ME, IT WOULD'VE BEEN EASIER-" he continued.
"Ron!" Hermione called a bit louder, moving towards Ginny and Harry.
"-BUT NO, YOU GO ABOUT BEHIND MY BACK, DOING MERLIN KNOWS WHAT-"
"RONALD WEASLEY! SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP!" Hermione shouted, and everyone in the common room went silent.
Ron wheeled around only to find Hermione standing there with her signature death glare. He shot her a surprised look and reluctantly sat down quietly.
Hermione sighed and took a seat opposite him by the warmth of the fire.
Ron surveyed the looks upon his friend's faces and his eyes settled on Harry's. "Look, I'm sorry mate. All I'm saying is I would've liked to have known-"
"Ron," Hermione cut in, "they only wanted to avoid the exact reaction they got. We all know how you get with the idea of Gin and a boyfriend."
There was a moment of awkward silence between the group, until Hermione finally spoke up.
"Well, seeing as that matter's been cleared up, I've got to talk to Ginny," Hermione said, then added, " privately."
Ginny quickly stood up and headed for the girls staircase, followed by Hermione.
"That was…strange," Ginny said quietly once they were in the safety of the dormitory.
"Yes but, what other reaction would we have expected? You know Ron…" Hermione said.
"Unfortunately," Ginny sighed. "Now, there was something on your mind you wanted to talk about?"
Hermione looked around to make sure no one was within earshot, and began. "I think Harry suspects something having to do with…well, you know, him and I," she said as discreetly as possible.
Ginny instantly caught on. "Don't fret about it too much, 'Mione. Even if he does find out before we decide to tell him, you know that Harry won't react the way Ron did with me. He may feel similarly, but his reaction will be lower key. Hopefully, anyway."
Hermione sighed, and then smiled. "On a happier note, Valentine's Day isn't too far away!"
"Oh, I know!" squealed Ginny. "And we've actually got someone to spend it with this year!"
Two girls in the dormitory turned their heads with questioning looks on their faces.
"Oh," Ginny said quickly attempting to cover up what she had said, "I mean, at least I've got someone this year. Don't worry 'Mione, you'll get your chance."
Once the curious eavesdroppers turned away, the two girls returned to their silent smiles and giggles.
"Well, I'd better get going," Hermione said, glancing down at her watch. "I've got to pick up some books from the library before heading to my room. See you!" Hermione called as she quickly left the room.
-
Draco came upon the portrait of the Fat Lady with the pink dress and stopped.
'This must be the one,' Draco thought to himself.
He muttered the password but received a strange look from the portrait.
"And what, may I ask, is a Slytherin doing trying to gain entrance to the Gryffindor common room?" the portrait asked superiorly.
"If you must know, I am Head Boy and may gain entrance to whichever common room I like, for whatever reasons, if my own," Draco snapped back. " Now, I believe the password I gave was correct?"
The portrait gave a small 'hmph' and swung open, allowing a very smug Draco to enter.
He looked around the common room and noted that it was quite similar to Slytherin's, but gold and crimson. Just then, he spotted Ron and Harry seated near Ginny.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ron spat as he noticed the new arrival.
"Just a quick word with the youngest Weasel, not that it's any of your business," Draco drawled.
"What do you want with her?" Harry asked defensively.
"Back down, Potter, I'm not going to molest your girlfriend," Draco smiled, seeing the surprised look on Harry's face at the fact that Draco knew such information. "I just need to pass on a message for Granger."
Ron was about to speak but Ginny held up a hand to silence him. She quickly followed Draco out the portrait.
"Alright," Ginny said, "the only reason I'm not jumping to any weird conclusions is because my best friend has no problem with you. But really, what do you need?"
Draco sighed. "You're a girl, she's a girl, and you probably know her better than anyone else, right?"
Ginny nodded slowly. "Yes…why?"
"I need to plan the perfect Valentine's evening, and I could use some help from a girl's point of view."
Ginny grinned. "Count me in."
-
Draco strolled down the halls leading toward his dormitory. He wanted to give Hermione a nice Valentine's evening, and Ginny could give him a tip or two. She had suggested one of Hermione's favorite restaurants in Hogsmeade…
Draco was quickly interrupted from his thoughts by Pansy, who was now standing in front of him rather seductively.
"Why, hello Draco," she drawled in a sweet tone. "It's been oh too long..."
"Leave me alone, Parkinson," Draco continued on his path, as if she weren't even there.
"Ignore me all you want Draco, but I know something about you that is very helpful to me…"
Draco stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned to face the girl.
"Oh really? And what could that be?" Draco approached.
"To state things simply," Pansy paused and lowered her voice, "I know about you and that stupid Mudblood."
Draco's heart momentarily stopped. Had he heard correctly?
"What do you mean? Granger? I'd much prefer to date a flobberworm!" Draco lied, thankful for his acting skills.
"Aha!" Pansy hissed, "How do you know what I was talking about? You admit to dating her!"
'Fuck,' Draco cursed to himself. 'She's obviously gotten smarter.'
"Really, Pansy, I would've thought you would have more things to do than to go making up silly stories," Draco said as if nothing were wrong.
"Fine," Pansy said coolly, "Deny it. But if I were you, I would watch your stupid little girlfriend's back. You never know what may happen when certain people know certain things…especially when they've had things taken from them."
With that, she slinked away down the hall, and turned a corner out of sight.
Draco stood still for a few moments, took a deep breath, and ran as fast as he could all the way back to his common room.
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A/N: Once again, I am TERRIBLY SORRY I didn't get this up earlier! I had major writers block/no time to write. Hopefully this will be the longest I take with a chapter, and like I said before, this fic will be finished. One of my main New Year's Resolutions, hehe :)
As for reviews, I've got like, 62 reviews to thank right now, so I will only personally thank long ones/ones that have something I'd like to say to.
AquiliusAmor: Yay! I was looking for a positive response from that because it really made a few friends and my betas laugh a lot, too.
J.N.Cahil: Quite alright! A review is still a review :) Oh and, thank you for a comment about my betas, they like to feel appreciated.loaded-x-pistol: Wow, good to hear! Glad you like it so much, and the style and stuff. Thank you, keep reading!
Andrea: HEY! Haha, yeah, 300th I think? Whoo, thanks! UPDATE YOUR FIC NOW, hehe :)
Jax: Thank you, O Kind Beta Master. (:P)
sugar n spice 522: Yep yep! Anytime is fic time if it means getting a chapter up. Even 12:09 AM hehe. Thank you for reading and reviewing so often, one of my faithfuls!
Sammeh: Thanks for all the reviews!
Inuyashaluva245: Haha, you think she's a bitch NOW? Wait till you read later chapters, my dear. Oh, alright then…you might want to have a word about ownership over Draco first though. I secretly believe that they secretly make passionate love after every scene. HAHA I'm weird.
dracosgirl2515: Yeah, nice to picture, no? I LOVE YOUR STORY. And your fast updating.
-must learn fast updating skills from you, O Great Author-
schoolqueen: Lmao, yes, it was Camille (one of my beta's)'s idea. She's obsessed with anime and InuYasha, so she gave me the idea.
MJ432: Yay, another faithful reviewer! Lmao, glad you find some bits funny! Good that there are some humorous parts because later on things get tough. And, as you've seen, there's enough angst for everyone to have third helpings…
WickedWeirdo: Hmm, that's strange. What you can try doing is in the address bar at the top, change the chapter number to match the one you want to read and hit enter (make sure you keep the slash after the chapter number though, or it won't work!). If you're still having problems, e-mail me when you'd like to read the next chapter, and I'll send them to you.
xXxRiP2PaCxXx: Ah, I must've disappointed you with this long gap of no-updates. Haha, don't worry about it, you hate Pansy all you like.
Drakiesangle: You guessed correctly :)
Thanks also to: Sylvia Helm, devilz angel69, sophieL, Ash, AsNoelaniStood, rockxonxlupin, natty123, person, Samantha Cameron, regina-terrae, AngelSerpent91
Alright guys, now, at 11:37 PM I update. My betas are going to stick me because I'm updating without their approval on anything. So their might be some changes tomorrow, but okay!