Chapter 4 – Tough Decisions
Hermione woke up the next morning at a pleasant time, waking up with the sun streaming in through the windows, and the bright light of an early snow. Shifting in the large bed she pulled the covers closer to her, and she tried to drown out the sounds of the castle. She could hear the people in the common room laughing and talking, as well as Ron and Harry throwing things at her door since they couldn't come up.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled up the stairs, and she frowned not wanting to face one of her best friends.
"Ugh." Groaning she rolled onto her side, and focused on the door, wondering what the day would bring. She knew it was Christmas Eve, and a big day for some people, but to her, it was just another day, just a day to relax and work on her homework.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Jerking to her feet she turned and looked towards the window, and saw a tall brown old. He was elegant, regal, and floated next to the window wish such magnificence that she almost wanted to just stare at him. "Why hello there." She Hermione nodded to him, before opening the cool glass window and letting him fly in.
Shaking her head, she unattached the note, and the owl flew out quickly. With that she stuck her head out the window, feeling the cool and bitter wind sting her cheeks lightly, feeling the winter on her skin. After closing the window she sat down on her bed again, staring at the note, she had a pretty good idea who it was from. She just dreaded what it was going to say.
Undoing the folds she began to get ready to read it, but a sharp knock on the door caused her to jump up. Startled she threw the note under her pillow, and stared at the door. "Yes?" Hermione stood, waiting to see who would come in.
"Hey Hermione!" Ginny walked in, smiling at her as if she just owned the world today.
"Hi Ginny." Trying to calm her breath she let herself breathe out quickly before Ginny could see the pink flush in her cheeks.
"So guess what!" Ginny bounced up and down and landed on the bed next to Hermione.
"What?" Laughing she smiled, she loved the energy of her friend.
"Harry wants to meet with me tonight; I think he has something special for me. He told me he has something really important to tell me, and that he couldn't wait anymore." Ginny smiled, her cheeks were flushed, and she sighed contently.
Hermione felt her guilt wash over her, she knew Harry would not be giving Ginny anything special to remember her night by. "That will be nice." She nudged her friend before beginning to dig out her clothing for the day.
"You alright?" Ginny studied the way Hermione was digging through her clothes, wondering what she wasn't saying.
"No. Yes, I am fine actually. Just wondering about tonight." Hermione covered her tracks carefully; she couldn't let anyone know about last night.
"So what were you up to last night?" Ginny smiled, hoping to pry out details about whatever Hermione and Ron were up to last night. Maybe they were actually together now.
"I just studied in the library, ended up dosing off and came to my room. Nothing eventful at all." Hermione let out her sentence keeping her face calm and her expression boring. She knew Ginny desperately wanted her and Ron to get together, but she knew that she never wanted that to happen.
"Well that sounds like no fun." Ginny teased Hermione, gently shoving her backwards after Hermione had gotten dressed, wanting Ron to hurry up and ask her out already.
"Well we should head to breakfast; they might not keep it out much longer." Hermione stood quickly, eager to get out of the inquisitive mood that Ginny was in.
"Yeah, I suppose. You think the boys are going to be waiting for us?" Ginny winked, knowing very well that Harry would be waiting to walk with her, just like every day.
"I will meet you down there; I just need to do one quick thing." Hermione nodded, smiling at Ginny and wishing her friend would head down the stairs quickly.
Once Ginny swung her red hair out the door, Hermione pulled out the note. Unfolding it all the way she braced herself to read the rude words she figured would follow. Instead she saw the words were written in a small script, eager to read them she jumped back onto her bed.
I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you. Meet me tonight at six in front of the Great Hall.
With the small script, and the promise of tonight Hermione felt a smile on her face. With her smile she walked out of the room, slipping the note in her pocket and eagerly awaiting the night.
"Bout time!" Harry shouted to Hermione as she walked down the stairs, he stood in the middle of the room, a grin on his face and Ginny standing next to him. Ron was off to the side, with an awestruck expression on his face.
"Sorry! I had something to do quickly." Hermione giggled at Ginny rolling her eyes, and Harry was watching her reaction. Ron however was looking annoyed, almost as if he knew something about last night. He wouldn't though. There was no way anyone had saw her with Draco.
"Well hurry up before I starve to death." Ron scowled, and Hermione knew something was up as she caught up to her group of friends.
"Hey Luna!" Ginny yelled as they walked out of the common room and started down the hall.
The blonde haired Ravenclaw turned around at the sound of her name and smiled as she waved a delicate hand at them. Hermione turned to see Harry turn a light pink, as he smiled lightly at Luna. That boy had it bad. Ron had turned to see Luna too, but this time he stared at Luna with an odd look. Almost as if he was lusting for her. That would be an issue Hermione decided as she looked at him.
Ron winked at Luna, and Luna stared at him. Hermione frowned, wondering what was going on. Ron threw a casual arm over Hermione as they walked into the great hall, and Hermione resisted the urge to throw his arm away from her.
"So are you two together now?" Luna asked Ron, but studied Hermione carefully. Hermione wished she could send Luna a message saying 'no'. She knew that Ron would say something stupid.
"She wishes, but I prefer to keep looking." Ron winked at Luna and tightened his arm around Hermione as they walked closer together into the hall.
Many people were already sitting at their house table, eating breakfast and chattering about whatever their plans for the day were. A couple handfuls of students were in each house, many students from Hufflepuff were home though, and Hermione almost envied them. They were able to be home without the drama of school for the next week and a half.
"Alright Ron get off!" Hermione shoved his arm away, finally having enough of his rude act.
"Geesh Hermione, take a chill pill or something." Ron gave a mean laugh as he sat down at the table. Staring at Ron she could feel the familiar uneasiness that would be normal with Draco.
"What is your problem Ron?" By now Hermione was standing up, abandoning all thoughts of breakfast as she stared at her best friend in disbelief.
"I thought you liked the standoffish behavior Hermione? Or I thought you liked the guys that made you feel like you were worthless? Should I call you a mudblood? Would you like me if I did that?" Ron stood to his feet, his face a crimson red that matched his fiery hair.
"What the bloody hell is your problem Ron!" Hermione felt tears clouding her eyes; he knew. He knew she was in love with Draco and she knew that he would never look at her the same again. Spinning on her heels Hermione fled the hall.
As she ran out she could feel all eyes on her, she could tell that people were whispering, and they wouldn't stop until they had rumors flying around. She ran straight to the library. She made up her mind in that moment, she wouldn't love Draco. She refused to love him. She wouldn't meet him tonight; she wouldn't give in to the feelings that tugged at her heart. Sinking down into her favorite chair Hermione let her tears out.
No one would ever be able to help her. She was too far gone, she knew she would never be able to love someone the way she loved Draco. She was just going to have to deal with that. Maybe she should go help him…just to help him. After all if they weren't in love then it shouldn't be a problem. No. She couldn't. She refused.
Sinking down farther into the chair she buried herself, hoping that no one would find her. She could stay here the whole Christmas Eve, and then she wouldn't have to face the rumors, the friends, and the prying eyes. Sighing she let her mind wander and she found herself daydreaming, and entering a world that she didn't know.
