Life is a Masquerade- Chapter 6- Glares, Stares, and Cares
Hermione woke early and pulled on her school robes. She loved Mondays usually but today was different. She just wanted to sleep in.
It was my late night last night. I usually don't stay up so long. she thought to herself.
This explanation brought the events of the previous night back into Hermione's mind. Blaise, with his romantic tactics, had won her over. And quite easily, too, in Hermione's mind. Ron had never been some romantic to her.
But, then again, we are talking about Ron. she thought. He's about romantic as a garden gnome.
But maybe that was just because Hermione and Ron weren't as meant-to-be as they had thought. Hermione decided to give Natalee her blessings, if she wanted them in the first place.
Her mind eased, Hermione made her way down through the common room and to the Great Hall for breakfast. She didn't notice the stares and glares she was getting from people, mostly girls who were jealous. She sat down in her usual seat and started on a piece of toast. She buttered it and spread some jam before realizing Blaise had come to sit with her. She looked at him.
"Are you allowed to do that?" she asked in disbelief.
"Do what?" he asked back innocently. He pulled up a plate and pilled it with bacon, eggs, and fried tomatoes.
Hermione just looked back at him. Never had students sat at other House tables. Never had there been relationships between rival Houses such as Slytherin and Gryffindor, either. Hermione smiled at Blaise.
"Oh, nothing. Just, won't you be, I don't know, kicked out of the 'We Hate Harry Potter' club if you're seen with me?" she asked teasingly.
"No, but I heard they formed the 'We Envy Hermione Granger Because She's Beautiful' club." he said.
Smooth thought Hermione. "So, what gave you the idea to sit with me?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"The fact that you're my girlfriend." Blaise said, pouring himself, and Hermione, more pumpkin juice.
"And what made you think we were together?" Hermione asked. She didn't really mind being his girlfriend, she just had never thought about it.
"The fact that, last night, we were pretty friendly, if you know what I mean." Blaise replied.
Hermione heard someone clear their throat from across the table and turned to see that Harry and Ron had arrived.
Great, Hermione thought. Perfect timing, just as always.
"Pretty friendly? You slime ball." Ron said to Blaise, actually looking mad with him.
"Ron, it's not like that at all. We didn't, you know. It was just a kiss. Well, two kisses, but nothing more." Hermione explained. She was touched that Ron was looking out for her. Natalee had really helped in the big scheme of things.
Ron turned to her. "Okay, but if he does anything, anything at all, that you don't like, you tell us. Harry and I will set him straight, won't we mate." He said, looking to Harry and acting like Blaise was not there at all.
"Right. But, he is pretty big, Ron." Harry said, giving Blaise a look, a bit wary in Hermione's opinion.
"Well, thanks, but I think I will be able to handle it. If I need any 'brut force', I'll give a call. Thanks for taking it well." she said, looking thankfully at her friends.
"So, what's up with you and Natalee?" Blaise said, obviously uncomfortable with the conversation that had just gone on.
"Oh, she's brilliant. I think this is better for us, Hermione. We should just be friends." Ron replied, smiling.
Hermione could tell that everybody was happy, everybody but Harry.
"What's wrong, mate?" Ron asked, also noticing Harry's forlorn look.
"What? Oh, nothing. I just don't think Lili is right for me. She seems a bit mental really. She seems more like your type, Ron." he said. The insult went right over Ron's head as he was pulling out a seat for Natalee. He had never done that for Hermione. She must be more his type then.
"Well, we have Ancient Runes. See you Harry, Ron, Natalee." Hermione said. She gathered her bag and headed out of the Great Hall, Blaise following.
As the two walked around together they started to notice people staring and glaring. Others took care to give them wide berth, as if they were contaminated. The Gryffindors were taking it grandly, saying it was time a Slytherin realized what a bunch of prats the other Slytherins were. Blaise agreed as he did think Malfoy and his gang were idiots, self-important berks, and, above all, morons who didn't appreciate how good half-blood witches and wizards were at magic. Hermione wanted to kiss him, and did when they parted for different classes. She was happy to be alone, though, able to collect her thoughts.
So Ron and I are okay, but Harry seems miserable. Ginny seems put down as well. Besides that I feel, well, I feel great.
She really did. She hadn't been so happy since Ron had first admitted he to her that he thought they should be together. But that was the past, and she felt better and more alive for some reason.
That night, Hermione went to bed a bit earlier than usual. She was warm in her little bed and stayed up a bit past late to try and finish a novel she had been reading. Her thoughts kept straying from the plot to Blaise, so she finally gave up and closed her book.
Is this what being in love feels like? I never felt this way with Ron, and I've known him half of my life! Oh well, if I am in love, at least I've found the right person this time.
She fell into a deep sleep, comforted as she never had been before in her life.