A/N: Nice suggestions reviewers! Some are on track and some are so very wrong! Ha ha! Imp not about to go down all those usual clichés – never fear! So introducing chappie seven! Oooooh! It's so exciting!
Chapter Seven: Uncharacteristically Yours
We can weave we can unravel
we keep on sleeping
Right though our travels
we can weave we can unravel
Take our confusion to a
Much higher level
While you are away
my heart comes undone
slowly unravels
in a ball of yarn
the devil collects it
with a grin
our love
in a ball of yarn
he'll never return it
Hermione snuck another sly glance at the boy walking beside her. It was Wednesday evening and she was doing her patrol of the corridors with Blaise.
There was an uneasiness that had fallen over the pair, as they walked in silence; however it was a feeling Hermione had grown to expect since the incident between them, over four weeks ago. They spoke only when necessary when working on their potion, which was taking shape nicely, and when patrolling. Not that Hermione minded much. She was both embarrassed and confused over the issue and the silence helped her to gather her thoughts without Blaise adding anything to the equation.
Hermione ducked into a disused classroom that McGonagall had asked them to double check for her, and found nothing a miss, except a couple of upturned chairs. She righted them swiftly and spun round to join Blaise again who she presumed was waiting outside as he normally did. She knew exactly how he would be standing; leaning against the wall, one leg bent at the knee, foot parallel to the stone work, hands thrust deep into his pockets.
"Whoa steady" Blaise clutched Hermione's shoulders firmly, as she turned and fell after nearly walking straight into him.
"Sorry" she apologized meekly, blushing faintly. She could see the taught muscles in his arm as he righted her and had no idea why her knees had suddenly seemed to turn to jelly.
"Okay?" Blaise asked her softly and she nodded, her stomach sinking as he dropped his grip on her and turned away, leaving the classroom.
She followed him acquiescently, until he stopped abruptly, and she walked into the back of him, making her fall backwards; apart from this time Blaise did not react quick enough and she hit the floor with a thud.
"Hermione? There's something I –"Blaise started then stopped in surprise when he turned round and took in the sight of her sprawled on the stone floor.
"Sorry" it was he who apologized this time, and he outstretched a hand to help her up.
Hermione shook her head stubbornly.
"It's fine, I don't need help" she was unwilling to depend on someone who confused her this much. It would only lead to more confusion she sighed.
Blaise frowned.
"Don't be ridiculous" he stated, leaning forward to grab her hand, whilst she protested.
"I can mange"
"c'mon" Blaise grabbed her hand pulling her to her feet in one swift motion, then jumped back warily as a jolt of electricity shot through their entwined finger tips.
The pair stared at each other for what seemed an age, before Blaise spoke.
"I …" he faltered then swallowed and turned away, stalking defiantly down the corridor, blasting open classroom doors with his wand, making light work of their patrol duties.
Hermione shivered and set about following Blaise's footsteps, a look of perplexity on marring her features.
A fine mist of rain had fallen over the grounds of Hogwarts as the students hurried their way to Hogsmede on Saturday morning.
Hermione huddled deeper into the gigantic yellow Weasley sweater, which had once belonged to Charlie and was now Ron's. She breathed in its comforting smell. Shampoo and lemon. Ron's scent. She had always found relief when wrapped up in one of Ron's or Harry's sweater or giant quidditch shirts. They just felt like home she thought endearingly; not caring how sentimental she was being.
"You warm enough?" Ron shouted above the noise of the trundling footsteps of their fellow alumni. Hermione nodded, and then slipped her arm through his, feeling him tighten his grip on hers and clutch her hand, inside the pocket of his jacket. Hermione glanced round to catch sight of Harry and Ginny, and grinned as she saw them a few steps behind, Harry's arm thrown protectively round his girlfriends' shoulders. She'd never seen him so happy Hermione brooded happily. Ginny as well although she always seemed to be a touch distant nowadays. Although Harry hadn't noticed.
Shaking off these feelings of preoccupation, Hermione turned back to catch Ron's eye. He smiled warmly and she returned it, feeling him squeeze her hand lightly, pulling her closer towards him, making her feel even more at home.
Draco Malfoy was sulking. He did not sulk often, finding nothing really to sulk about. But when he did decide to sulk he did it with great energy and effort.
He was rather glad it was raining as it added to his dark doom and gloom aura and that his special heavy black robe was clean as it made him feel especially ominous.
He walked shoulders hunched, feet dawdling; arms crossed and head down, a sullen expression on his pale face.
Ah yes, Draco Malfoy could have sulked for Britain.
"How is it dear friend of mine, that the girl you're crazy about is with the guy you hate?" Draco did not need to look up to distinguish his unwanted companion.
"Zabini, have I ever told you that you talk a load of bollocks?" he replied dryly.
Blaise appeared thoughtful for a minute.
"Several times I do believe Draco, several times"
"Good"
Blaise grinned innocently.
"So you don't admit you're crazy about her then?" he said in all seriousness.
Draco lifted his head to shoot his friend a piercing look.
"No I will merely confirm my hatred for potter" he replied causing Blaise to shake his head.
"Have I ever told you that you talk bollocks, Malfoy?" he asked in all innocence.
"Sod off"
"Trouble?" Blaise returned quickly to the side of Daphne, who'd been waiting patiently up ahead whilst he'd exchanged insults with Draco.
He grinned and shook his head.
"Nah, just Malfoy being Malfoy" he replied, taking her hand in his, entwining his fingers with her delicate ones.
He was lucky he guessed, as a group of raven claws passed them, shooting him envious looks and trying to catch Daphne's eye. Daphne was stunning; Dressed – a little inappropriately for the November weather Blaise thought briefly – in a pale blue shirt, white skirt and silver edged duffle coat, she looked every inch a Zabini's girlfriend. Her pale blonde hair was caught up in an intricate twist of curls at the nape of her neck and every now and then a few strands would escape, flying around her head. Each time this happened she would stop and twist them back up; something he should have found endearing but actually found it more then tedious.
As the rounded the corner into Hogsmede a flurry of yellow caught his eye. Cocking his head to his left he saw Hermione looking so vulnerable and innocent, it made his stomach plummet in concern. She seemed to be on her own, waiting for someone and for a peculiar reason he suddenly wished it were him.
However moments later, Ronald Weasley, one of her best friends, strode into sight, and wrapped an arm round her, pulling her into a warming hug, and he watched her visibly relax into him.
"Ugh!" Blaise grunted as he kicked a pebble hard at a nearby wall, which it hit with a resounding smack!
"You okay honey?" Daphne angelic voice made him spring back to reality and sanity and he turned to face her nodding.
Then suddenly, his lips were on her's, capturing the flavour of their sweet sugary Taste, pulling her closer to him and wrapping her within the folds of his jacket.
When he pulled away breathless and no more fulfilled then before the kiss, he caught Hermione's gaze and found the expression of …….was that…. Envy? In her eyes, more suffocating then anything he had experienced yet.
Grabbing Daphne's hand, he stalked into the village, feeling Hermione's eyes burning into his back as he retreated.
He was fighting and yet he was losing not only this battle, but this war.
"Okay guys, sorry to add a depressing air to the proceedings"
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were seated round a table in the corner of the very crowded three broomsticks.
"here you are guys!" madam Rosemerta interrupted Harry's train of thought for a second as she passed out bottles of butter beer and pumpkin pasties, which were met with ravenous glee.
After she'd bustled off, Harry continued.
"Ive been thinking more about what we were discussing at the start of term…. You know about my parents and stuff"
Ron and Hermione exchanged worried glances. They had hoped this was just a phase.
"Ginny did you want to go and –"Ron started meaningfully and Harry raised a hand to stop him.
"I want Ginny to be involved Ron" he reprimanded his friend, not unkindly, causing Ginny to smile and clutch Harry's hand a little tighter and Ron to look slightly abashed.
"Oh, okay mate, your call" he shrugged.
Harry rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled note book.
"ive been doing some research into how difficult It would be to get to Godric's hollow and we could take the train from Hogsmede station to gurney cove and then the knight bus to Godric's hollow"
Hermione broke Harry's constant stream of speech.
"Harry? Are you sure you want to do this? It could be very risky, you know with Voldemort and the death eater's around. And when will you have the time with classes etc?" she whispered in an anxious tone.
Harry frowned slightly.
"Hermione the death eaters haven't been seen for months and it's only about a couple of hour's journey away from Hogwarts. It's hardly dangerous!" he insisted, looking suddenly saddened.
"Listen guys I really want to – sorry need to do this. And I need your support" he pleaded, his green eyes filling unexpectedly and he hastily wiped them with a furious fist.
Hermione broke the silence that had descended over the quartet.
"Alright then. I always promised to support you on this and I will. But it will need careful planning if you wanted me to….?" She trailed off. Harry smiled warmly at her.
"That would be great thanks mione" he murmured.
"Yeah alright mate. I always up for a bit of death eater dodging" Ron chimed in, slapping Harry in a congenial manner on the shoulder.
"Ginny?" Harry turned to her. The redhead smiled up at her boyfriend challengingly.
"Goes without saying" she replied.
"No Daphne, I have to go home for the holidays" Blaise sighed exasperatedly for what seemed the millionth time at his girlfriends pestering. Since the Hogsmede weekend, things had changed at Hogwarts.
Professor Snape had for one been called away several times, forcing the deadline for the potions project into January. This had caused a sigh of relief for many, Blaise and Hermione not included as their potion lay finished and bottled in the back of Hermione's wardrobe.
The whereabouts of Snape's destination or the reasons for his departures had not been divulged and they were not meant to ask.
Also Blaise had become more involved with Daphne and although she made a rather exquisite piece of arm candy, he found her dull and bothersome. His parents had been however over the moon when they had heard the news and had invited Daphne for Christmas lunch at the Zabini citadel that year.
Daphne had been overjoyed at the invite and had accepted without question.
She had not accepted however the fact that Blaise was expected to spend all of his holiday at the family home. Especially when there were such important plans to carry out this year.
Blaise shuddered as he remembered the letter his father had sent him earlier in the year, informing him that the dark lord himself had requested his company at the ritual death eater summit that Christmas Eve. It really wasn't how Blaise had pictured the festive holiday.
Blaise turned to face Daphne after he'd finished throwing his clothes into his trunk, which was positioned at the foot of his bed.
She always looked rather marvellous when she was angry he mused. Her blonde hair was flying round her delicate shoulders as she bristled with tension; her eyes flashing.
"Don't be angry" Blaise murmured, "I have to do my family duty" he explained, wishing that he didn't have a girlfriend who was in need of such high maintenance.
He tilted her chin up with his thumb and slowly kissed her, trailing his lips down her neck and shoulder, feeling her relax completely. How easy it was to gain forgiveness when you were such a good kisser, he thought with glee as she pulled him towards the four poster.
"Okay is everyone ready?" Hermione had self elevated herself to chief in command as Harry and Ron sat slumped on one of the sofas in the Gryffindor common room. The Hogwarts express would be leaving for kings cross in an hour.
"Hermione, how exactly are we going to get on the train?" Harry sighed. Only students who were going home for the holiday's cold leave the castle.
Hermione grinned.
"I told McGonagall we were going home and I told the Weasley's that we were staying here, so there shouldn't be any problem at all" she explained.
"Devious I like it!" declared Ron, who was looking very much like he'd rather be going home in actuality.
Harry got to his feet, glancing round the common.
"Where's Ginny?" he asked curiously. Hermione shrugged. She had been wondering the same thing for a while.
"I suppose she'll meet us on the train" she said finally, slinging her bag over one shoulder.
"C'mon well miss it"
The two boys go to their feet and ducked out of the common room after her; Harry still wore his frantic worry lines on his tired face.
"She'll be there mate" Ron reassured him quietly and Harry nodded. He knew she would be; she loved him, of course she would be.
"So well discuss the trip to London when were back at school?" Ginny inquired of the boy standing beside her. She was leaning against the thick trunk of a willow tree in the Hogwarts grounds, its sweeping leaves and branches creating an ideal inlet of privacy.
Draco shrugged and then nodded.
"Yeah okay Weasley" he agreed, leaving her side and walking towards the sheet of branches, that shielded them from the world outside, and Ginny's stomach sunk.
It had been strange forming a partnership with Draco, but it had been quite familiar in the end. They still called each other by their last names and threw the odd insult, but it was different. The atmosphere between them had shifted and Ginny found that she preferred his company then not.
Ginny bent down to fasten her bag and then slung it over her shoulders, righting herself once again; and was surprised that Draco still stood where he had been five minutes ago.
"You okay?" concern echoed in her voice and Draco sighed.
"No" he answered, "no im not"
Ginny gave a small yelp of surprise as he uncertainly placed his lips on hers.
Hermione finished storing their bags on the parcel shelves above their heads in the last empty compartment of the Hogwarts express, and then rubbed a small clear patch on the misty window, peering out into the dark rainy afternoon.
A flash of red hair caught her eye and she sighed in relief.
Minutes later, Ginny burst through the compartment door, her red curls drenched and hanging limply down her back. Harry beamed at her, throwing his dry cloak over her shoulders and pouring her some of the hot chocolate from Hermione's hot flask.
"Thanks Harry. Sorry im late. Got held up talking about a project with a friend" It wasn't the whole truth she deliberated, but close enough to save the heartbreak that would no doubt ensue if she relayed the actual events of this afternoon.
Ginny gave a small yelp of surprise as he uncertainly placed his lips on hers.
For a second she found herself kissing him back, then stopped, shoving him from her, suddenly furious.
"What the hell was that!" she yelled, hands on hips and eyes flashing.
Draco smirked, "I believe it's called a kiss weaslette" he drawled, causing her blood to boil.
Draco shrugged. "I don't know Weasley, there's something about you, that I just cant put my finger on, and it – oh hell I don't have to explain myself to you!" he spat, shoving aside the branches of the willow and stalking out into the rain, which was falling heavily now; casting dark shadows over the grounds.
Ginny slumped back against the rough trunk of the tree, catching her thoughts, deep sobs racking her body.
How had she managed to mess up quite this badly? She'd finally gotten everything she'd wanted and now she was on the verge of screwing it up.
The trouble was that she couldn't quite shake the feeling that she was always second best in Harry's eyes and number one in Draco's. And she liked how that felt.
The train heaved a sigh as it pulled out of the small station of Hogsmede and Hermione pulled out her book, curling her legs up under her chin and resting the book on them.
Ron watched her fondly from the seat opposite. She looked so content when she was reading he had always thought, as though real life had taken a back seat and all that mattered was the words on the page.
He watched her push a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and felt his stomach flip.
"Why don't you just tell her mate?" Ron jumped at Harry's words. He shook his head.
"Tell her what?" he brushed off, and then pulled out a set of wizards chess from his bag.
"Want a game?"
Harry shrugged and slipped off the seat to join Ron on the floor where he was setting up the chess board.
"Yes! I win! You suck you suck! You suck you suck!"
Harry grabbed his jumper and slung it at Ron, whose incessant victory chants were getting more then a little annoying. Ron grinned as Harry's jumper whizzed past his head and smacked Hermione in the face.
"What -? "She jumped, falling off the seat, arms flailing wildly.
"Harry potter! What on earth do you think you're up to?" she started to launch into her disrespect – for – those – who – care – about – you speech (the long version), when the train shuddered to a halt.
Ron shot a glance at Harry, who dispatched a quizzical look in return.
"Why have we stopped?" Ginny who had been fast asleep on the seat nearest the door, rubbed her eyes and peered at the trio in puzzlement.
"This is our stop" Hermione faltered, peering intently out of the dark window. A battered sign reading "Gurney cove" swung in the wind, as the four teenagers clambered off the train and onto the deserted platform.
"Should we call the night bus?" Ron whispered, as he glanced around the platform, which boasted no ticket office or guards; just one lone bench and its sign.
Hermione shook her head.
"No, it's too late to go to Godric's hollow tonight. Well find someplace to stay for tonight and head off that way in the morning. That way we should be back for Christmas morning to grab our presents from your mum Ron and no one will know any different" she decided.
If one of the teachers realised there were presents arriving for them from their parents, they would know they weren't at the burrow for Christmas. She hated to think how much trouble they would be in.
Harry lit his wand and taking Ginny's hand, led them out of the station and down the muddy lane towards what they guessed was the town.
"There's gotta be somewhere with vacancies!" exclaimed Ron in frustration. He stopped, causing Hermione to walk into him.
"Owww! Ron don't just stop!" she moaned, rubbing her shoulder.
"Look lets try over there, it's the last place in this part of the town"
The girls and Ron followed Harry to the door of the well lit inn and he pushed open the oak door.
They entered the bar, which still hosted a few late night drinkers, and Harry approached the elderly bartender, whose ear hair grew out in clouds of grey, making him appear rather comical.
"Er… hi" Harry began and the wizened old tender, rested one beady eye on the young wizard.
"A room I take it?" he croaked wearily. Harry looked rather taken aback for second then nodded.
The man took two rusty keys off their hooks from behind the bar and slid them across the bar to Harry.
"Two twin rooms, numbers 122 and 121. First floor, on your right. Three galleons and eight sickles a night" he wheezed slowly.
Harry turned to Hermione who pulled out a handful of coins, which Harry counted out eight galleons.
"That should cover it"
He scooped up the keys and turned to the others.
"Ron, share with Ginny, ill bunk with mione" he determined and Ron nodded.
"Thought you were gonna attempt to bunk with my little sister for a minute Harry" he chuckled and Harry blushed. No way was he going to tell Ron that had been his original plan.
Hermione gazed unimpressed round the tiny bedroom. Twin room her arse!
Two rickety beds were shoved together taking up the majority of the floor space and there was a dusty chair and dressing table in one corner; a cracked mirror hung above the table on the rusty hook.
Hermione entered the bathroom to discover a leaky shower, a cracked basin and toilet, and hurriedly brushed her teeth and changed, joining Harry who was laid out on the bed covers.
She wrinkled her nose at him and he grinned.
"Should have seen the cupboard I lived in for ten years mione." He joked, "This place is like a palace compared to that!"
Hermione laughed and relaxed, crossing the room to the bed and clambering onto it next to Harry. She crossed her legs and tied her hair into an untidy knot at the nape of her neck.
"Mione" Harry spoke after a few minutes of silence. And she raised an eyebrow at him, urging him to continue.
"Do you think this is a good idea?"
Hermione bit her lip for a minute in thought.
"Yeah, I mean ive planned it carefully so I don't think well get in trouble"
"No, me wanting to see my parent's house and stuff?" Harry corrected her dully.
"Oh"
The pair fell into silence again for a minute, and then she spoke again.
"Yes I do. I think you'd regret it if you never paid your respects to your parents and you didn't see the house in which you were born. I think it's a brave and courageous idea and also one that although may be upsetting, will put you at rest" she said, choosing her words carefully.
"Especially since Sirius …." She added softly, and Harry nodded.
"I took this, the night he die-… he left" Harry said, pulling a key from his pocket.
"It's the key to my parent's house. I found it in his things and sort of kept it with me"
Harry looked up and caught her eye and neither of them said a word. There was no need to say anything.
Then Hermione climbed beneath the sheets of the bed and Harry followed suit.
"Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?"
"When are you and Ron going to get together?"
"What!"
"Oh c'mon, he likes you, do you like him?"
"I always have done you know that"
"But do you like him enough to do anything about it?"
Hermione didn't answer. She didn't have a clue. She'd always fancied Ron and they always assumed they'd get together, but now there was something making her hesitate and she didn't know what that was.
Blaise.
But he was with Daphne Greengrass, and it wasn't as if they were even close or friends for that matter. The couple of incidents that had happened couldn't be enough to put an end to something that might turn out to be so good with Ron.
As she lay there in the dark, Harry sleeping beside her, Hermione made up her mind, once and for all.
"Ginny?" Hermione whispered. Neither Ginny nor Ron had been asleep and Ginny was sat on the bed, whilst Ron took a shower.
Ginny smiled.
"Made up your mind have you mione?" she laughed.
Hermione blushed.
"Maybe" she muttered, "would you?"
"Go sleep with my boyfriend? Why that's an awful lot to ask mione!" Ginny mocked, narrowly missing Hermione's friendly swat, as she jumped off the bed; winking at the older girl as she darted down the corridor.
"Ginny whers – mione! What are you doing here? Where's Ginny? Did she ask you to switch cause if she did imp gonna – "
"Ron shut up" Hermione laughed, becoming suddenly aware of the fact that Ron was dressed only in his boxers and that his hair was wet, making him oh – so - appealing.
"No actually I asked to switch" she said softly and Ron frowned then cocked a grin at her.
"Does this mean…?" he asked, stepping towards her, placing his hands on her waist.
"Only if you promise to behave yourself Mr. Weasley!" she commanded, trying to keep a straight face and failing.
Ron smirked, in a disturbingly reminiscent Malfoy way.
"Im sorry I can't promise anything"