Sleeping with the Enemy?
Hermione Granger & Draco Malfoy: Cupid's Latest Match-Up
Just four months ago all of the wizarding world were trying to figure out just how Cupid had managed to get Elena Higginsbee of the Weird Sisters and the prominent, well-to-do Ministry official Alan Rocksworth "rocking out" together in the most romantic of spots. But who would've ever thought that the winged bringer of love could get two of the most well-known people –and total polar opposites –into the sack?
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has just held its first graduation since June of 1997 –and even then it had been a less than festive affair considering that the illustrious and historic school had just lost its Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. While this year's graduation was what had drawn dozens of guests, including several photographers and reporters, that's not what eager writers, such as myself, rushed back to their respective headquarters to write about. It was the fact that none other than war heroine, Hermione Granger, and Deatheater, Draco Malfoy, were a little more than chummy at the ceremony.
"They're dating." One graduate said with a shake of her head. "I still can't believe it, but they're actually DATING."
"They've been all coupled up for a while now." Said another student. "Gives me the chills just thinking about it."
That's right folks. Harry Potter's best friend and Voldemort's Follower are DATING. And if we hadn't had confirmation from the quoted students above or talks with several others, the way Gryffindor's Princess cheered the Slytherin on when he was sashed would help with that. Not to mention the darling little hug he gave her at the end of the ceremony, or the enamored expressions they constantly gave each other. And while (shockingly!) the blond wizard's friends seemed to be just fine with a muggleborn in their midst, Miss Granger's group seemed to be completely opposed to such a union.
And aren't they right in a way?
Draco Malfoy had single-handedly led to Hogwarts' destruction when he subjected the school to a raid by Deatheaters when he was just sixteen years old! The raid had led to the death of Albus Dumbledore and subsequently the complete takeover of the school by Deatheaters for the 1997-1998 academic year as well as the Battle of Hogwarts. Although there was substantial evidence against Mr. Malfoy to send him to Azkaban (as had happened to his father, Lucius Malfoy), he had been pardoned for his heinous actions –ironically with the help of Harry Potter –back in August of 1998.
Regardless of this, no one can (or ever will) forget Draco Malfoy's pivotal role in the Second Wizarding War. And yet, Hermione Granger can? The same witch who had once been tortured by the Deatheater's aunt in his own home? It begs the question of what reallyis going on here because, well, let's face it, it doesn't make sense!
"I'd bet my entire Gringott's vault that [Draco Malfoy] cursed her somehow." A fifth year student commented. "I mean, honestly, what could she possibly see in him?"
Well, past aside, the Slytherin Prince is a sight for sore eyes, but are his devilishly good looks enough to supersede the shaky history between himself and his pure lover?
It appears so.
Written by Parvati Patil
"Pure lover?" Hermione repeated with disgust. "Pure lover? Does she not realize how contradictory that is? It ridiculous!"
"Honestly, Hermione, that's what you're focusing on?" Ginny asked as she folded the Daily Prophet in half. The photo of the brunette and Draco hugging and holding each other on top of the stage at Hogwarts was still visible. "The article basically trashed Malfoy."
Hermione cocked a brow. "You care about his feelings?"
"I care about your feelings." Ginny corrected. "And unfortunately they're quite tied to that blond git." She frowned, deciding to throw out the paper instead of keeping it. "I honestly don't know how she became a writer. Her writing is awful!"
"It's a gossip column, Gin." Hermione shrugged. "It doesn't have to be written well. It just has to capture people's attention."
"Oh, that'll certainly get everyone's attention."
Hermione grimaced. "I hope not Malfoy's. He wrote me and said that his mother somehow wrangled a bunch of guests in record time. She's hosting a little get-together to celebrate his graduation. I would hate for this to ruin it."
"I hope you take those words to heart then." Ginny said as she stood. "Because in case you've forgotten, there's a party in the backyard for the both of us and we're missing it."
Hermione sighed, knowing that it was true. Despite the "little" spat back in the Great Hall, no one was going to spare either young woman the right to celebrate their educational accomplishment. The Weasleys had thrown them a party and both of them had been enjoying it until an edition of the Daily Prophet had come swooping in about two hours after the festivities had begun. They had come inside to see what damaging words had been printed.
"Dear Merlin, what on earth is George showing my mother?" Hermione asked urgently as she spotted the pair of them in the backyard.
Ginny laughed. "Oh, come on, Hermione. George wouldn't… Actually, on second thought, let me go break the two of them up."
Ginny ran off ahead of Hermione to put a stop to whatever destructive object was in her brother's hands. The brunette smiled when she was sure that damage had been averted and she merely stood near the back door, watching the festivities and loving just how happy everyone was.
Everyone except Ron, that is.
He seemed to be the only one unable to rein in his emotions and he seemed completely torn. Perhaps he sensed that her eyes were on him because he suddenly looked in her direction. Hermione stiffened.
Oh no, what should I do? Should I walk away? Should I pretend I didn't see him? Should I-?
"Hermione," Ron addressed.
She gulped.
"Ron,"
Ron stood before her, shuffling his feet. Hermione looked everywhere she could that wasn't his face.
"Do you want to-?" Both of them began, stopped, and then laughed awkwardly.
"We should talk, Hermione."
Hermione was surprised at his initiative, nodded almost robotically, and followed him into the house. They sat in the living room, sure that no one would bother them, but a Silencing Charm was put up anyway.
"Harry told me what you two talked about that day." Ron said, diving right in. "He said that it convinced him that you weren't completely crazy."
Hermione nodded. "He told me that himself in a letter. But…what about you, Ron? I know how everyone else feels –strangers even –but I don't know how you feel. Are you…? Are you still mad at me?"
"I was never mad."
The scoff from the witch was nearly ear-shattering. Ron chuckled.
"Alright, so I was bloody furious. But you have to understand why, don't you? You chose Malfoy over me!"
"I didn't choose him over you!" Hermione said exasperatedly. "I'm sorry that I have to say this, but I would've had to have chosen you in the first place."
Ron's face fell. Hermione took a deep breath as she began to play with her fingers.
"You had to have known that." She continued, not quite raking up the courage to look at him.
Ron chewed the inside of his jaw. "…I did. I do. But I can't help the way I feel."
"Neither can I,"
"About me or Malfoy?"
Hermione ruefully smiled. "Both… Can I ask you something, though? Be honest with me now. What were you more upset over? The fact that I wasn't rethinking us? Or that I was seeing Malfoy?"
"Truthfully?" Ron sighed as he anxiously rubbed his hands over his thighs. "That you weren't rethinking us. The fact that you had moved on –and with Malfoy no less –well, that hit a sore spot with me. You remember what you said when we broke up, don't you? What the arrangement was?"
Hermione slowly nodded, quite ashamed of herself that they had never had this talk earlier. "I told you that I needed time. Space and time to think about us."
"You had plenty of time, Hermione. Maybe not space considering we're still friends and we have the same friends, but you had time."
"I'm so sorry, Ron." Hermione apologized. "We should've talked. We should've clarified things. I should've clarified things… We had fallen into such a good rhythm that it just didn't occur to me that you were left hanging in the air about us."
"Well, I'm certainly not hanging in the air anymore." He grimly joked. Hermione tried to turn the corners of her mouth upward but they seemed to have lost all functionality. "And you shouldn't take all the blame for that. I never came right out and asked."
"Why didn't you?"
"Too afraid to know the answer."
"Understandable,"
"But Hermione," Ron suddenly addressed. "Malfoy? Malfoy, of all people? What are you thinking-?"
"Stop." Hermione interrupted. "I've had enough people asking me that question, and I really don't need it from you too. You hate Malfoy, I get it. I'm not asking you to be friends with him either. It's just…as my friend could you at the very least respect my decision and know that I've thought this through?"
"Do you realize what you're asking me to do? You want me to sit here and approve of a relationship-"
"I'm not asking for your approval on anything." She said with perhaps a bit too much force. She cleared her throat and continued more calmly. "I just don't want you to abandon me. I want you to be there like you always have been. I want you to be my best friend."
Ron took a deep breath. "I'll always be there for you, Hermione. No matter what. And considering that this is what you've chosen… Me, Harry, all of us really, we have no choice but to be there. We have to be there when –if," Ron said quickly at her expression, "things fall apart."
Hermione didn't know whether to feel happy or sad. She was glad to know that Ron wouldn't forego their friendship (nor the rest of her friends), but the fact that they basically thought that she and Draco would eventually fail, it was disconcerting. She could only imagine what things on the blond's end were looking like at the moment.
Author's note: Okay, so I think I had a bit too much fun writing that Daily Prophet article haha. I tried to channel my inner gossip columnist so I hope I didn't disappoint. And then there's Ron. At least he and Hermione are on good terms again with a mutual understanding.
For the next chapter we get Draco's reaction :).
Thanks so much for all the support guys! It's September now, which means school's in session. Not for me exactly since I just finished my online program (yes!), but I did sign up for Spanish classes (sucker for education like Hermione). But for all of you still in school good luck on the academic year! Be good and study like Hermione!
-WP :)