Chapter 7: The Whore of Babylon
Hermione puffed her cheeks in frustration. Just how hard was it to find something she liked? Apparently, very difficult. So far pretty much nothing she'd looked at had appealed to her. Well, actually that wasn't entirely true. There had been a few items, but she could hardly wear cutesy dresses like the one in her hands, now could she? Hermione folded the dress and put it back on the stack and went back searching.
Ugly. Ugly as well. No. No. Not that one either.
This continued for several minutes until she finally found two acceptable shirts and a pair of trousers. Although her mother had sent her a few things over past weeks, there was only so such an owl could carry. Whilst the school owls very dutifully did their job, carrying heavy packages long distance was not doable. And Hermione couldn't keep borrowing Harry's clothes forever, even when he repeatedly told her that he didn't mind. Ron's clothes were sadly out of question since he was way taller than her. He, on the other hand, was lucky enough to have almost the same size as Hermione as a girl (albeit the school skirts were bordering scandalous thanks to his long legs).
Continuing to explore the surprisingly large shop, Hermione discovered that she wasn't the only one having a frustrating shopping trip today. Only moments ago she'd spotted Draco Malfoy rifling through the shop, accompanied by Pansy Parkinson and Tracy Davis, who were both commenting on his choices with mostly disapproving remarks which very obviously started to irk the ex-Seeker.
"Ugh no, put that back immediately, Draco. That colour clashes horribly with your complexion. Makes you look pale as a sheet," Pansy objected and snatched the jumper out of her friend's hands.
"Yes, it's not a very good colour on you," Tracy immediately agreed, shaking her head at Draco. She tapped a finger against her chin and let her gaze wander over the range of clothes.
"Now this one would look great on you. That tone compliments your eyes," she then announced and held up a different jumper against Draco's torso. Draco swatted the garment away and gave both girls the stink eye.
"Well, maybe I like looking pale," he replied bitchily and snatched the jumper he'd chosen back from Pansy, adding it to his 'approved pile' of clothing. The girls shared a look and rolled their eyes when Draco's back was turned. Hermione had to muffle laughter when Draco picked up something else that was followed up by an 'Are you sure?' and 'A bit last season, but if you really like it.'
Hermione was glad she'd successfully managed to fend off all offers made by her former roommates to assist her today. No doubt, Lavender and Parvati would have driven her up the wall just like Tracy and Pansy were doing with Draco. Not only with their 'expert' fashion advice, but also with their very inappropriate personal questions. Like many others, Lavender and Parvati were far too curious about her new gender-swapped life. Asking someone about things like male masturbation or requesting details on how it was like to have sex as a guy - in case of occurrence (which wasn't going to happen as far as Hermione was concerned) - went a step too far.
Hermione's presence didn't go completely unnoticed by the Slytherins either. Fully expecting a few insults thrown her way, Hermione prepared a few veiled insults of her own - but much to her surprise, the snarky comments never came. Instead, Pansy just watched Hermione in a bored, but still evaluating manner. Although it irked her, Hermione decided that annoying stares were still better than annoying comments.
Unlike Pansy, Tracy had yet to give up. She continued offering fashion advices, only to have Draco giving her snappy replies and putting the things on his approved pile anyway.
"You actually buying that?" Hermione heard Pansy eventually asking.
"Yes, Parkinson, I am," Hermione answered calmly, smothering the urge to tell the Slytherin to mind her own business. Fashion advice from the self-proclaimed fashion queen was the last thing Hermione wanted. Nevertheless, she was about to get advice anyway.
"Well, at least you seem to have a somewhat better taste than Draco," Pansy said loudly enough for said person to hear and to give her the super stink eye. "Although not by much," she then added.
"Then let's agree to disagree when it comes to taste in fashion," Hermione countered and focused her attention back on the items displayed on the table in front of her. Before Pansy could say anything, an angry 'Fine! Choose all the ugly clothes you want!' was yelled and a blur that was Tracy Davis stormed off to the exit. The store owner gave the girl a disapproving look for the tantrum and 'ugly' comment.
"Pansy, let's leave," Tracy called impatiently when she noticed that her best friend hadn't immediately followed her.
"Coming." Pansy zipped up her jacket and started towards the door, but, of course, not without making one last comment.
"Granger, you might want to consider staying like this. Because this-," Pansy started to say as she gestured up and down Hermione's body, "is definitely an improvement."
That said, she stalked out of the store and along with her upset friend. Hermione crinkled her nose in distaste as she stared after Pansy for the backhanded compliment.
"What a cow."
"My word, Granger, my word," a voice to her right suddenly drawled. Looking sideways, Hermione found Draco Malfoy standing next to her. She eyed the articles of clothing he was holding with interest.
Parkinson's and Davis' critique wasn't actually that unfounded…
Seeing Hermione eying the items in his arms, an idea sprang to Draco's mind and before Hermione knew it, she suddenly found herself staggering back and balancing a huge stack of clothes.
What the?
"Might want to make yourself useful," Draco told her and flounced over to another corner of the shop. It took Hermione a few moments to process what just happened. Did that little princess actually think that she'd carry his stuff while he shopped?
Yeah, as if that was going to happen.
So with every intention to tell Malfoy to stuff it and dump the garments over his head, Hermione walked over to Draco. However, before Hermione could do what she intended, a store assistant appeared, asking if she could help them with anything. Draco, much to Hermione's surprise, declined politely.
"My, my, aren't you a gentleman carrying your girlfriend's things?" the assistant then suddenly addressed Hermione, smiling at her approvingly. Hermione immediately wanted deny any friendly and much less boyfriend-girlfriend-ish association with Draco Malfoy, but was beat to an answer.
"Yes, that's my little slave," her classmate told the shop assistant sweetly, nudging Hermione 'playfully' (a.k.a. painfully) in the ribs before throwing more things on the stack in Hermione's arms.
Hermione glared hard, but the action sadly went unnoticed; all the clothes were obstructing the view to her face. The Head girl didn't doubt that someone like Malfoy would enjoy making her his very own shopping minion. And as much as she disliked Malfoy, she just couldn't destroy the nice shop lady's illusions about them. So Hermione patiently stood there, listening to shop lady's non-stop chattering whilst waiting for Malfoy to finish his shopping spree.
"Come on, slave, I'd like to pay," he eventually called out, saying 'slave' as if an endearment that they both knew it wasn't.
Draco Malfoy was going to pay for this stunt.
"Malfoy, stop following me. Go away!" Hermione shooed the Slytherin who walked closely behind her on the main street of Hogsmeade. Ugh, why couldn't he just leave her in peace?
"I don't like you," she then added for good measure to emphasise that his company was unwanted.
"Oh please, as if I'd follow you. We just happen to have the same destination: The Three Broomsticks. And just so you know: I don't like you either."
Hermione huffed and walked faster, increasing the distance between them. Not that that lasted for long, though. The Three Broomsticks was packed with people and she had a hard time locating her friends. Standing at the entry and craning her neck, Hermione felt something hit her legs, making her legs buckle a bit. Malfoy had also entered the pub and couldn't care less about apologising for ramming his bags into her.
How typical.
Hermione shook her head and continued searching. As she looked around, Hermione suddenly got an idea - the perfect revenge. An evil grin spread across her face.
When Draco noticed Hermione looking at him, he couldn't help but snap at her. "What is it, Granger?"
The Slytherin watched as the Gryffindor's face suddenly grew serious. "I told you to stop following me," she said loudly, drawing the attention of a few customers nearby. Draco scoffed.
"Grange-," he started, but Hermione interrupted him before he could actually say anything.
"Seriously, you need to stop. I know you're desperate and scared, but I don't even know if that baby is really mine like you're claiming!"
Wait, what? What the fuck was Granger on about? Draco stood there dumbfounded, not understanding what was going on. He tried once more.
"Granger, what th-"
"As far as I'm concerned, you're just trying to trap me. The baby could be anyone's!" Hermione continued dramatically and a few bystanders tsked. "You cheated on me with several of my friends."
Draco turned beet-red after that comment whilst many bystanders shook their heads disapprovingly and started to whisper unflattering things about him. Draco glared at them and finally understood what Granger was doing. That bitch!
Hermione ran a hand tiredly through her hair for dramatic effect. "I still can't believe you did that to me," she said sadly, playing the sympathy card - and, oh boy, sympathy she did get whilst Draco only earned disgust.
"I loved you," she choked out. (Hermione willed all her power not to gag when she said this.) And before Draco could join Hermione's game and say something insulting about Hermione's 'manliness' - such as having a tiny penis which why he 'cheated'; he had to find someone else who could satisfy him - Hermione had already stormed off dramatically, leaving him standing there under the watchful eyes of the audience they had gathered during this little scene.
"Granger!" he yelled after the Gryffindor, but whipped around when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from going after Hermione.
"Leave the boy alone. I think you put him through enough," the nosy woman who had obviously watched them, said.
"He's lying," Draco tried to defend himself and shrugged off the woman's hand angrily. Judging by the expression on her face, the woman didn't believe him.
"Just let it go. Let him go," the woman advised Draco and went back to her table. Processing what had just happened in half disbelief, Draco clenched his hands to fists.
That Gryffindor bitch had just slut-shamed him publically! And all these people now believed he was the Whore of Babylon!
Draco fled out of the pub, feeling completely humiliated.
Granger was going down! Even if that was the last thing he ever did. Granger. Was. Going. Down.
A/N: O_O Hermione going around slut-shaming? How rude, right? Hahahaha!
