Friends, Lovers, or Nothing
Chapter Four: Something's Missing
"Harry, my schedule is the same as yours…again," Ron mumbled as he bit down a buttered roll and handed back his best friend's class schedule.
"I wonder why that is. Every year our classes are the same. Not that it's not nice to have you in them of course, Ron," Harry agreed then turned to Hermione, "Let me see yours."
"We have everything together except Divination, as always," Hermione confirmed. "I decided to take Arithmancy." Harry felt the tension in the air. Neither Hermione nor Ron had as much as said a peep to each other since they took their usual seats at breakfast. One nibbled on the side of a blueberry bagel, the other sipped warm milk, but they avoided each other's eyes like it was posion. Ron didn't come and see me before lights out like he always does. What is going on?, Hermione nervously wondered. He doesn't look angry, more embarrassed. "I'm going to get ready for Double Potions."
"What for? Professor Snape will only make us study for the N.E.W.T.S." Harry practically begged, glancing from Hermione to Ron and back to Hermione, indicating to her that he does not want to deal with Ron by himself.
"Nevertheless." Hermione hoisted herself up from the table, smiled one last time at Harry, ignored Ron, and saunter out of the Great Hall.
"Draco, I'm so happy to be in the same classes as you again! Now we can spend every waking moment together! All day! Can't you just imagine it?" Pansy Parkinson rejoiced at the Slytherine table and pulled her boyfriend in for an unnecessarily long embrace.
"Oh, yes," Draco groaned, aggravatingly, obviously not as thrilled. "I can't wait." He caught the olive green eyes of Astoria Greengrass from across the long, wooden table and grinned attractively. Running her fingers through her smooth, dark hair, Astoria acknowledged it and tilted her angled face towards the door. Winking at her, Draco announced, "I'd better collect my books. See in you in class, darling."
Pansy blushed, reached up, and planted a wet kiss on Draco's lips. After he broke apart she cooed, "I'll miss you." Careless to what Pansy just remarked, Draco passed Astoria a glance officiating their meeting, stood up, and went through the Great Hall doors before Pansy could stop him for another frightening smooch.
"Hermione! Hermione, wait," Ron shouted, running down the hallway. Surprised, Hermione spun around to face him, her heart beginning to pound rapidly in her chest with apprehension.
"Yes?" she inquired patiently.
Ron stepped closer, forcing her to notice him completely, and asked "Is there something the matter…with us, I mean?"
"Why? Do you feel that way?" Hermione demanded leadingly.
"No-"
"Then what?" Hermione interrupted, anxiously.
"I don't know. Never mind, I was just wondering because you haven't said a word to me all morning," Ron claimed.
"Me? I was waiting for you to say something to me," Hermione declared. "Are you blaming me for what's going on with us?"
"That depends," Ron suggested. "Is there something going on with us?"
"Are you saying there is?" Hermione insisted, feeling her bitterness overtaking her emotions.
"Are you?" Ron asked while staring down at his aged, black dress shoes. He knew that she would be offended and refused to look at her face that would turn a slight shade of pink when upset. He knew that her eyebrows would collide into a deep frown, just like when she studied for a difficult exam. He understood that by not meeting her eyes, he was making the dreadful situation even worse. Why is this happening? Why can't we apologize to each other and get through this? What is the big deal?, Ron thought painfully predicting that each second of silent that came and went would only further the destruction.
"I don't know," Hermione finally retorted. "Excuse me, but I have to gather my supplies." Ron shifted to let her by and she did so in an astringent fashion. He followed her movements down the hall, up a flight of massive stairs leading to the third floor, and disappeared out of his sight. I let her go. How could I could I have let her go?
"Where are you taking me, Draco?" Astoria questioned eagerly.
"Be patient. You'll see, just up these stairs," Draco answered, pulling her hand, leading her up the stoned stairs to the third story. Striding down a vacant corridor, making a left turn, Draco found what he was looking for. "Here we are."
"Here?" Astoria repeated, unable to hide her disappointed. "The statue of the humpback witch?"
"Yes," he casually replied. They all say that. Every one of them, he reminded himself.
When he started dating the shy, mysterious Pansy Parkinson a few years back, the statue of the humpback witch was a flattering spot for them to have some much needed privacy. Over the years she gradually became more social. The socializing swallowed her whole and spit out a new Pansy all together. This latest Pansy quickly became insufferable by constantly desiring to process her boyfriend's every tiny movement and suffocating him with endless hugs and kisses. That caused the couple to visit the statue less frequently. In fact, the last time they came upon it was the middle of the past school year. Everyone is aware that Draco Malfoy never was and is not a one-woman man. He favors having choices and selecting from among many candidates for a pleasurable period of time. Many countless women have entertained him at this statue since then.
"Then, what do you want to do here?" Astoria asked pretending to be innocent, pouting her bottom lip just a touch.
"What do you think?" Draco rejoined amusingly. Astoria smiled, comprehending his words. Draco grabbed her by her thin waist and forced her up against the humpback witch's icy, solid marble. Astoria slammed into the statue with delight, dragged Draco by his shirt collar, and promoted him to seal the little space that was left between them. He gladly did so; gliding his large hands up along her arched spine, and locking his lips against her full, red ones. Astoria wasted no time locating the bottom of his dress shirt and allowed herself to explore the muscular skin underneath. Draco extended his tongue forcefully to the deepest origins of her mouth, causing her to release a satisfied moan.
RING!
Hermione exited the Gryffindor tower with her Potions textbook and supplies secured under her arm and wandered down the rocky staircase landing on the third level.
RING!
The warning bell exploded, echoing down each hall, informing the students that classes will begin in five minutes at exactly nine o'clock in the early morning. Hermione took bigger steps as to not be late on her first day of class especially with Professor Snape teaching. What is Ron going to say when I get to class? Is he going to rudely avoid me once again like he's been doing all mornin-
A girl with dark curls that Hermione recognized from the Slytherine Household raced right past her, almost knocking her right to the solid floor. What is her matter? Late for class, I presume. Then why is she buttoning her blouse? Uncontrollably, Hermione curiously crept down the corridor from which the girl appeared. What was before her as she turned the corner would have made her shriek in repulsion if she had not clasped her lands over her mouth first. "Wha-!"
"Hermione?" Draco Malfoy exclaim in horror when he glanced up from buttoning his white shirt. They both froze, staring at the other, unable to analyze any thought that formed in their minds.
More than a minute later, Hermione recovered first. Sliding a loose wave of honey hair behind her ears, turning her head as to not have him discover the pink blush that was crossing her face, she simply stated, "Your shirt is wrinkled."
With that, she spun on her heels and walked away, down to the Dungeons for Double Potions. Spotting her best friend and her boyfriend, Hermione habitually took up a seat next to them without proclaiming a single word. Harry and Ron glanced from Hermione to each other confused.
"Hermione? What's the matter?" Harry leaned in and whispered into her right ear.
"Nothing that concerns you," Hermione replied instinctively. Harry sat back in his stool and looked at Ron in defeat.
RING!
"Good morning class and welcome to Potions," Professor Snape announced, dressed in his usual intimidating black cape and white collar. Glaring from the Gryffindor side of the icy classroom to the Slytherine side, he continued "As it is the first day back from break, I will make it easier on you. Read the first five chapters of your textbook and provide me with detailed outlines of each of the five sections. You have been given an hour and a half starting now."
The room filled with noise of pupils assembling their supplies and flipping to the first chapter of Advanced Potion Making. When the area seemed to settle down, audible footsteps could be heard entering the damp room. "Mr. Malfoy, nice of you to join us," Professor Snape declared. "Five House Points deducted from the Slytherines due to your absence. Now sit down and get to work." Groans and whining were spread among the aggravated Slytherines. Giggles, snickers, and whispers were scattered amidst the pleased Gryffindors.
"Shut up!" Draco demanded as all the Slytherines immediately closed their mouths. Draco laid his textbook in the space between Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle and sat down on the empty stool.
"Draco, what happened?" Pansy's irritatingly girlish voice whispered from behind him. Draco's eyes darted across the room at the bookworm who discovered him, disregarding Pansy's question completely.
At the mere mention of his name Hermione's heart began to race a trillion miles per second, her face came ablaze with flames as if from the smoldering sun itself, her stomach detonated with sparkling fireworks, and sweat poured down her palms like a topical waterfall. What is happening? Why do I feel this way?
Someone's eyes burned into her skull like a lazar beam melting through her soft skin. Irresistibly, she glanced up from her wordless notebook to meet the eyes of that person. Draco Malfoy. When their eyes caught, they fastened on to each other's stare like a steal padlock, unable to be released. The profound connect reluctantly snapped when Pansy Parkinson poked Draco in the rib with her quill and permanent, black ink dripped all over his wrinkled, white dress shirt. Wrinkled, Draco thought. My shirt is wrinkled…
Dear readers,
Due to my lack of income, I still do not own any part of the magnificent J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. But someday, I might. Just kidding.
Anyways, I just went through a stage of writer's block that I have never experienced before in my life so sorry for the late update. Also I have done hours and hours of continuous research on Hogwart's academics, schedules, staff, characters, holidays, Quidditch, school grounds, Hogsmeade, and all that shit so everything is completely, 100 percent accurate as far as that is concerned. Five hours ago I just typed up a planned class schedule for Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Astoria, and Ginny. Yes, I'm an overachiever, get over it! Haha
Thanks for reading my first fanfic! I hope you jumped with joy and excitementduring your reading. If you didn't, and you scream at your computer screen in disbelief and outrage, tell me what is wrong with this story in your REVIEW and if there isn't anything wrong, REVIEW anyway! The more positive comments I receive, the less I go through writer's block (at least I hope so) and the more motivated I am to proceed in writing! Also, any suggestions would be helpful, because I want to know where you want the story to be headed and also I don't know how to deal with writer's block lol.
THANKS TO ALL THE FANS WHO HAVE ADDED ME ONTO THEIR FAVORITE AUTHORS AND ALERT LISTS! I OWE EVERYTHING TO YOU GUYS!
Until next time…
-G. M.