A/N: Heyho pple! Here's my ninth chapter. I am REALLY sorry about my chapter 8; I know it's very short. So, to make it up to you guys, this chapter will be VERY long! Hope you guys will love this chapter, cos I sure do. Hehe. Anyway, after you've read this, please be good pple and REVIEW! Thanks:)

p.s. in my story, there is a gathering room in every of the house dorms. This is where house parties are usually held, and where people can sit down, relax. It's sort of a lounge. Thks!

p.s. words like these are Ginny's thoughts. Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter's not mine. He's Ginny's. Well, at least in my story.

Chapter 9: Lady Vengeance

Breathless, Hermione rushed back to the Gryffindor dormitory. Heaving a huge sigh, she collapsed onto one of the large armchairs situated near the fireplace. Her last lesson for the day was just over. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath,and dreamt of dancing with Draco. Suddenly, she sat up, alarmed. The Masquerade ball was tomorrow! Everything was in place in the school, but her dress! She didn't have a dress! She gasped, and dashed to the girls' dormitory.

Just as she was on her way to the girls' dormitory, she heard familiar voices in the gathering room. She knew who the voices belonged to-Harry, Ginny, and Ron. She brightened up, and was about to enter the lunge when she heard Ron mention her name. They were speaking in raised voices, and in order to understand what was happening, Hermione hid behind the door, eavesdropping.

"Look, Harry, Ginny. All I'm trying to say is that Hermione's not being a good friend nowadays. She's also acting weird, you know. And she's been really rude nowadays," she heard Ron say. Hermione's heart tinged with pain. What was Ron doing?

"Why, Ron? Why do you say that?" Ginny asked.

"Ugh! Just yesterday, I asked her who her date was, out of curiosity. She refused to tell me, and even though I am her best friend, she just snapped at me, and walked off!"

Hermione felt as if knives had pierced her heart. Anger began to bubble up in her. Ron was putting words in her mouth! That pig! She was never rude to him, only when he was very demanding! But he wouldn't admit that, no! She clenched her fists.

"And, by the way, I asked her politely whether she would like to go to the dance with me. And guess what she said? She just snapped at me, saying that she was not interested! Can you believe the guts of her?"

Hermione gasped in horror. That was not true! She had not snapped at Ron! Ron was backstabbing her! Tears stung her eyes, as she thought of how she had trusted Ron. A small sob escaped from her, as the tears started flowing down.

"Ron! You're not so great as well! I bet you're just jealous of her! Stop putting her down, man! If she doesn't want to tell you anything, then so be it! As a friend, you should leave her alone and give her space, not talk about her behind her back, and betray her! Right Harry? "Ginny snapped.

"Well…" said Harry uncertainly.

"That's right, Harry. You would rather believe your girlfriend, of a day, rather than your best friend of 6 years!" Ron said sarcastically.

Hermione winced. Tears were still flowing down her cheeks, but she knew that she could rely on only Ginny for comfort.

"Well, Ron, what do you suggest we do?'' Harry asked, as Ginny stared at him in horror.

Ron smirked. "Stop hanging out with her! Let her be a loner! She deserves it, after all-"somebody slapped him hard on his cheeks. He grimaced in pain, and looked up. Hermione. Oh shit.

Hermione stared at him, then at Harry. "So these are what I call friends? "She screamed, sobbing bitterly. Her eyes were red and swollen from all that crying, but she just couldn't stop. After hearing Ron, she could not take it anymore, and had run into the gathering room, ad slapped Ron.

The three of them looked away.

"People who I trusted-trusted ever since I came here? Friends whom I constantly supported, through thick and thin?"

She glared coldly at Ron, still crying. "What did I do to you? Why do you hate me? Just because I declined your offer to go to the dance with you? Am I your slave, that I have to tell you everything, and that I have to obey your every command? Answer me!" She yelled.

Ron stared at the ground.

She then faced Harry. "You, Harry? You? I trusted you, I helped you when you were in trouble, I was there for you, and all you can do is be uncertain? I don't understand, Harry! Talk to me! What did I do to you?" she shrieked, her eyes flashing, as tears still trickled down her cheeks. She sobbed loudly.

"Hermione, listen to me," Ginny intervened.

Hermione stopped her." No, Ginny. Thanks for supporting me just now, but no. I've had enough of all of you, enough! I am ashamed to have friends like you! I thought we were inseparable? Well, with friends like you guys, I sure don't need any enemies!" she spat, and with that, ran out of the room, crying loudly.

There was silence everywhere, as all of them looked at the ground.

"Well, that went well," Ron said quietly.

Hermione rushed down to the Hall. The last thing she wanted to see was any other Gryffindor-be it a teacher, a student. She wanted to see Draco. She wanted him to heal her wounds, left by her 'so-called' friends. She wanted him to kiss her pain away, she wanted him to comfort her. She knew that he was in the hall, he was having his lunch. She quickly reached the hall, and saw him. There he was, talking and laughing with his friends. She started to cry again. She had been so hurt.

Draco was laughing at the joke Blaise Zambini had just said. Sure, it was dirty, but still! Suddenly, he turned, and what he saw shocked him. There stood Hermione. Her eyes were awfully red, and she was crying. Her hair was a mess, as she stood awkwardly, looking for him. His heart went out to her, and immediately, he got up." Sorry guys, I forgot something," he said, and quickly hurried to Hermione.

Hermione looked relieved to see him. "Draco," She whispered, and buried her face in his shoulder. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably as she sobbed bitterly. He hugged her, and stroked her hair softly. "There, there," he whispered, kissing her hair gently, smoothing hr hair.

"How could they do this to me?" she cried. "How?"

"C'mon, let's go to the garden," he said. "We can talk there."

Draco seethed in anger as he listened to Hermione pour out what had happened. He clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth. "Those bastards," he said furiously, banging the seat he was sitting on with Hermione. Hermione laid her head on his shoulder, still crying.

"Draco, I have no one else. Help me, please. I though they were really good people, and I loved the as friends. But I don't know, Draco. I just don't know," she said, her voice trembling, as tears flooded her eyes, and trickled down her cheeks once again.

He kissed her tears. "Hermione, they won't hurt you anymore, I will make sure of that," he said reassuringly, hugging her waist. "Now, you just focus on the ball tomorrow, and we'll have a splendid good time, alright?" he said. Hermione smiled weakly. "But Draco! We still can't let anyone see us tomorrow! How are you going to do that?" she asked worriedly.

Draco groaned." I was hoping we could-"

"No," Hermione said firmly. "No. I don't want anyone to know, about us. It would jeopardize everything we have. Please." She said pleadingly. Draco's heart twisted in pain, and he smiled, kissing her lips softly. "Don't you worry my little princess. Everything will be fine. Don't you worry."

As Hermione parted with Draco, she felt much better. Now, she loved him more than ever. He listened to her; he cared for her. She had always thought of him as cold, inconsiderate, and selfish. However, he was to the contrary. And she loved him for that.

She felt purely exhausted, and decided to take a short nap. She walked to the girls dormitory, and once again, stopped at the Gathering room. Now, it was packed with the students, but, as she stood at the very same spot she stood before, all the anger came back rushing at her. But what she felt most was pain. The pain of betrayal.

Hermione woke up with a start as she heard a loud commotion. She heard shrieks and gasps of horror, as well as cussing and swearing. Curious as to know what was going on, she rushed down to the Gryffindor dorm, and stood stunned at the sight.

There stood Ron, holding a handkerchief to his bloody nose. His right eye was black, and he was limping, he was groaning in pain, as blood trickled down from his mouth.

"Bloody hell, Ron! Who did this to you?" she heard one of the sixth years, Seamus Finnigan, ask.

Ron winced in pain, shrugging his shoulders. "I have no idea. One minute I'm walking to the toilet, the next minute I'm being punched by a boxing glove that appeared out of nowhere. It's pure evil I tell you, pure evil!" he whimpered, drawing sighs of sympathy from many.

Hermione grew silent. She knew only one person who could have done this; she had taught that person this exact spell. Draco. She smiled to herself, knowing why Draco had done it. Unaware that Ginny was watching her, Hermione continued to smile, and even let out a small giggle, which was drowned by the crowd fussing over Ron. Hermione though tof what Draco had said earlier.

You were right, my little prince. Everything will be fine.

Ginny stared at Hermione as Hermione walked upstairs. She had seen Hermione smiling and giggling, and she was worried for her. Had Hermione done this? What was going on? Ginny sighed.

Oh Hermione. What have you gotten yourself into?

That's all, you guys! Whew. This is by far the longest chapter ever! So, please make my efforts seem worthwhile! You guys know what to do! Click my favourite purple button, and send me a review! Thanks! I need to get at least 35 reviews before I can continue! Hope you like it so far!

Love ya!

p.s. the ball will take place in the next chapter! So, look out for it:)