Title: Outcast

Summary: Love is like riding a broomstick. Some people are addicted to it and others just can't seem to get the hang of it.

Disclaimer: I own the plot, which makes me very happy.

A/N: Some reviewers just don't deserve an update. Fortunately for them a lot of my other readers do, which is why I'm updating. My wrists still hurt like hell, plus I've been really busy with school (exams) so things will take longer than usual. Also, recently I've seemed to develop some sort of a lovelife :P. In summation, things are very busy right now, but I do hope that you'll still read this story.

Hermione walked into the Great Hall, taking long purposeful strides. It took pretty much all her self-control not to spin around and run, but she knew she had to do this. She had to make them see. Make them understand. The first gasps had already reached her eyes long before she dared to look up. When she finally did everybody was staring at her. Everybody, including the professors and the headmaster. She took a deep breath and grabbed her wand firmly. Mumbling a spell under her breath a platform appeared in the middle of the Great Hall. She bit her lip before slowly ascending the stage.

"I'm Hermione Granger, but I guess most of you know me as the Gryffindor Slut, the Mudblood Whore or simply the girl that screwed The Golden Boy – though not literally."

She took another deep breath and glanced in the direction of Ron, who was watching her calmly. Next to him Harry was squirming uncomfortably in his chair, trying to lock eyes with Ginny who looked like she wanted to kill something. Or someone. Preferably Hermione. She couldn't blame her. Seeing her on that stage, wearing the same outfit she had worn that dreadful evening...

Looking down she realised once more that she did look like a whore. Or, at least, she looked nothing like the Hermione she had been up until that evening. Though the red top accented her skin and brought out the red streaks in her hair there was nothing classy about her clothing. The black jeans she had been wearing were way too low and way too tight. As she was bringing herself down, thinking those things about herself, she didn't realise that she actually looked rather hot and sexy, and that most Hogwarts boys were wondering how she had hidden that wonderful body underneath those robes for so long, and a better question yet: why?

"I know pretty much everybody in this school hates me. This is the reason why."

She conjured up a small orb which was filled with smoke. People were whispering to each other until the smoke cleared and an all too familiar scene played out in front of them.

"Watch out Harry, my queen is about to attack your knight"


Ron was watching the pieces moving as Hermione walked into the Great Hall. He heard the clicking of her high heels as she walked over to them, a faint shadow finally covering the Chess Board as he looked up.

"Hello Her..."

He fell silent as he saw the change in her appearance. His mouth nearly fell open but he managed to shut it just in time. Hermione faintly smiled at him before turning to Harry and doing something he had never expected her to do – she kissed him.

The orb disappeared and she took a little time to organise the reactions she was getting. Some girls were whispering to each other, envy in their eyes, which was something she hadn't expected at all. Some boys seemed to have the same reaction, though they hid it better than most girls did. Almost the entire Gryffindor table was outraged however, and she saw a tear sliding down Ginny's cheek before she hid her face in her hands.

"That's not all"

She continued, a little hoarse.

"There's also a reason why I did this...though most of you don't know the real reason. Most people thought I kissed Harry because I was in love with him and I wanted him to be mine. I was in love, but not with Harry."

Another orb appeared as she closed her eyes, so she wouldn't have to see the small smiles of pity people would give her. The frowns. The harsh laughs from the Slytherins. She wanted to drown out every sound, every feeling. As she heard his voice speak in her memories she knew other people would hear him speak too. She knew people would see her romanticized take on him and she knew they would think she was crazy. If not for loving Ron Weasley, then for the way she had shown it.

"Ron! Can't you eat properly just once?"

A hint of a smile was obvious in her voice and Ron just grinned at her before stuffing his mouth again.

xxxxx

"Aaah!"

Ron cradling her in his arms. Whispering sweet nothings in her ear she couldn't even remember because she was solely focusing on his arms wrapped around her in that comforting manner.

xxxxx

Kissing sounds. Ron, pressing Lavender into a wall. Moaning. More kissing.

She bit her lip once more, before opening her eyes and looking at the people she had once considered her friends.

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