I struggled with this chapter a bit, and I'm sorry. Hope you like it…I promise that I have plans.
~Thanks JK.
As she rushed around getting ready for the day, Hermione's cheeks flamed as she dwelled on the interaction she had just had with Draco. What had she been thinking, storming out of the bathroom in only a towel? The truth was, she hadn't been thinking at all—he knew how to get under her skin more than anyone else. She felt terribly embarrassed, usually being a much more conservative person. To have exposed herself the way she had was not something she normally would have ever done, and to do so in the presence of Draco Malfoy made the situation a million times worse. A part of Hermione had to admit however that there had been something thrilling about the situation. The way he hadn't been able to help himself as he let his eyes wander up and down her body, or the way that they had widened as it dawned on him that he liked what he saw. It satisfied Hermione to know that she had caught Draco Malfoy off guard, and over her body no less. Her stomach tightened in knots as she remembered the lust that flashed momentarily in his eyes. Maybe there was a chance at chemistry between them. Though she still despised his attitude; despised him in general; the encounter they had just had reminded Hermione of her unwavering loyalty and belief in Hogwarts and its elders, forcing her to ponder whether maybe, just maybe, the Sorting Hat knew what it had been talking about.
xxxxx
She continued to mull things over as she munched on her toast in the Great Hall, until she was interrupted by a voice that she would have known anywhere, a voice that she hadn't heard in a few days.
"Hey," Ron Weasley said tentatively.
"Hello," she responded coolly.
"Listen 'Mione, I'm so sorry. I should never have said what I said. But you have to understand, I was really hurt when you seemed so unaffected by not getting paired with me—I mean, you were my girlfriend for Merlin's sake!"
Hermione paused and really thought about his words.
"I understand that Ron, and I'm really sorry. But please, if we can't be together can we please at least be friends? ….I don't want to lose you completely….I love you, even if it's not in the way you want."
"That's actually why I'm here 'Mione," Ron replied seriously. Then his face broke into a smile and he added, "I really missed you!"
Hermione grinned ecstatically. Reaching over, she enveloped Ron in a huge hug, and just like that, it seemed as though everything was forgiven.
"Come on!" She jumped up and grabbed a stack of toast. "We have a free first period, shall we take a walk around the lake?"
"Hermione Granger, using a free period to go for a walk!?" Ron asked, half serious, half mocking.
Grabbing his hand, Hermione held his gaze and said, "Some things are more important than even school."
As Draco observed the spectacle unfolding at the Gryffindor table, he didn't know how he felt about it. Though he still hated Granger, he was a traditionalist, and now that he was engaged, he did believe in exclusivity, even if it was to the Gryffindor bookworm. The fact that his fiancée seemed to be heading down a path that involved her cheating on him, with a Weasley, none the less, made his blood boil.
"Well well well, it appears as though you and I are both getting screwed over by our Gryffindor counterparts," an overly syrupy voice crooned in his ear.
"Hello, Astoria." Draco said curtly.
"Have you ever heard the saying 'fight fire with fire'?" Astoria nearly cooed.
Knowing where she was going with this, Draco said, "Absolutely not happening Astoria!"
"Come on Drakeypoo, don't you remember the fun we used to have?" Astoria leaned forward in such a way as to reveal her generous cleavage.
Trying to avoid gazing in that general vicinity, Draco couldn't help letting his mind race. If Granger was going to go have fun with the Weasel, then why shouldn't he, Draco have some fun too? He had to admit that Astoria's offer was a tempting one. As annoying as she was, she was also inarguably attractive. And did the rules really apply given the circumstances of their engagement? Maybe he could withhold from abiding with the traditional rules until he was actually married. Maybe this would in fact teach the bloody bookworm a lesson while also letting him have some fun.
Placing a hand on Astoria's thigh (a fair ways up the thigh at that) Draco said, "Alright, looks like you're the luckiest lady at Hogwarts today."
xxxxx
It had been so nice to spend some time with Ron. Hermione didn't know what had made him come around so quickly, his sulkiness usually lasted far longer than this, but she wasn't complaining. They had strolled around the lake, just chatting and goofing around lightheartedly, just like the old days, until Hermione finally said that they really should get back to their pod and grab their books, also like the old days. As liberal as she was being, actually spending a free period the way she was, her leniency would absolutely not extend to being late for class.
When they reached their pod, they separated and went to their respective rooms. Hermione was laughing at a joke that Ron had just told her, and so it took her a moment to process what she was seeing. When she finally did, she let out a tremendous gasp at the sight of Draco and Astoria Greengrass intertwined on Draco's bed in a passionate embrace. Her eyes took in the trail of clothes from the threshold to the bed….the only articles of clothing that did not appear to have been discarded were their undergarments. Although, Hermione thought bitterly as she looked at them, it seems that it would only have been a matter of time until those had been removed as well.
"Excuse me Granger, but we're a little busy right now." Malfoy sneered as he became aware of her presence in the room.
Hermione's temper flared even more at being made to feel like an intruder in her own room when he was there cheating on her.
"Excuse you! You're the one cheating here!"
"Don't be a hypocrite you filthy little Gryffindor!" (Astoria privately seethed with anger at his use of 'Gryffindor' instead of 'mudblood.' She really did have her work cut out for her.)
"What on earth are you talking about?!" Hermione cried shrilly.
"You and Weasley, me and Astoria. It only seems fair doesn't it?" Draco asked, hating himself for the sincerity that lay behind his words.
"Ron and I only went for a walk!"
"Didn't look that way in the Great Hall." Draco said, not quite masking the sulkiness in his voice.
Hermione suddenly looked taken aback. "Were-were you jealous?" She asked incredulously. Astoria sat up straighter as she awaited Draco's answer in earnest.
"Of course not!" Draco sneered. "Why would I be jealous if Weasley wants to taint himself with your germs. He can have you for all I care, because I certainly don't want you." He injected as much acidity into his words as he could. But as he saw the hurt flash across Hermione's face, he wished that he weren't such a good actor.
"I hate you Draco Malfoy! I didn't do anything and here you are sleeping around. I don't care how much you hate me, the fact is that you have to marry me and it would be nice if you could remember all of the commitments that that entails. You may despise my blood status and my house but you are going to have to marry me, so the sooner that you grow up and get over yourself the better." Hermione sounded devastatingly broken.
Once again, Draco was overcome with guilt, and he wasn't alone. As Ron listened to Hermione's words from where he hid on the other side of the door and heard the pain behind them, he felt terrible. He had just intentionally hurt her, whether or not his reasons had been loyal. The only person not upset by the events that had just transpired was the sultry blonde who sashayed smugly out of the room, pleased by the damage she had just done. Draco would be hers in no time.
Draco and Hermione were left staring at each other, Hermione with tear-stained cheeks, Draco racked by guilt. Surprisingly, it was Hermione who broke the silence.
"Why? Why did you do it?" She whispered.
"Because I wanted to get back at you," Draco blurted out.
"For what!?" Hermione cried in desperation.
"For cheating on me!"
"But I didn't!" Hermione repeated.
"Well I thought that you had, and that was unacceptable. As much as I hate you, I was raised to take marriage seriously, and I expect you to do the same."
Suddenly, Hermione's face broke into a smile. "Why Malfoy, I do believe that we agree on something."
Draco couldn't help returning her smile after he had processed what she was referring to. After a moment however, he added, "I still hate you Granger!"
Hermione only shook her head at his words however, because she could have sworn that he had meant the remark humorously.
