Friends,
So, I hope you all enjoyed that last chapter. I realize that because I was so excited to get their relationship moving, I left a few loose ends. So I hope this chapter sort of clears everything up. Things are about to get very complicated…. So please enjoy! Let me know what you think and what you want to see!
Love,
SweetSlytherinPrincess
Locomotive
Chapter VII
Hours turned into days. Days turned into weeks. With everything she had in her, Hermione avoided Mas if he were a leper. Her actions nearly moving her to tears every time a flash of their exchange danced across her memory. It didn't matter to her that the thought of the feel of his mouth sent butterflies to her stomach – she was horrified and disgusted by her actions.
As a result, Hermione had conveniently been too busy to make meetings. She snuck to and from her room at odd hours so that she wouldn't have to see him in the common room. Her whole life had turned into a frightening game of avoiding Draco Malfoy.
"Hermione, are you alright?" She jumped, looking up from her plate of food to find the youngest Weasley smiling down at her with a confused face. "You haven't eaten in the great hall for weeks. Busy are you? Busy cramming your face full of food in a corner?" Ginny laughed, shaking her head. Hermione swallowed, ashamed that she had been so obviously caught.
"I… well… I…." She stammered, a flush rising up her neck.
"Is it Ron? Has he gotten a big head again?"
"No… I…"
"Well?" Ginny crossed her arms now, kneeling down to sit by her against the wall. Hermione sighed. She had always been able to talk to Ginny. With Harry and Ron gone, Ginny was her best friend here, and she loved her dearly. But it was so hard to open up to her about Malfoy. Hell, she could barely believe it herself…. Telling it to Ginny would make it all too real. The mistake was bad enough being that she and Ron had been sort of dating…. But with Malfoy? It was blasphemy. Especially since deep down inside, she had enjoyed it. The few times she had shared a kiss with Ron had been pleasurable… but nothing like what she felt with Malfoy.
"I just haven't been right in the head lately." She mumbled, pushing peas around on her plate. Ginny laughed.
"Well it's always sort of been that way hasn't it?" She elbowed her gently in the ribs with a soft giggle. "C'mon Hermione spit it out. I don't like this."
Hermione sat there, frozen. Her mind going a mile a minute as it tried to find the words, find the reasons. But no matter what, she came up blank.
"Ginny… I love Ron – "she began
"Oh! Bloody hell Hermione that's what you're all knotted about?"
"No… no! I just…. Well… Listen. I love Ron, you know. He is practically my best friend. I would never want to hurt him. But…."
"But….?" Ginny urged.
"But I made a mistake." Ginny's brows rose at this, her face suddenly becoming serious. "It was after I have to go to the infirmary… so I rightly think I was out of my wits…."
"And?"
"And I…. I kissed someone…" She bowed her head, tears welling in her eyes. Ginny suddenly burst out laughing, leaning over and holding her belly as she giggled.
"Hermione! Who?" She spoke between laughs. "You've gotten all frazzled over a silly thing like that?"
"Ginny its not funny! What will Ron say? What am I going to do?"
"Was it a mistake?" Ginny asked, calming down.
"Yes."
"Was it a mistake to both of you?"
"Well…." She paused. "Yes. Yes it was."
"So you don't have any feelings for this mystery person?" Ginny learned towards her. "And you can't lie." Hermione stared at her, her honey eyes wide and her brows knitting together.
"Define feelings…" she whispered.
"Oh no…. you're in it bad then. If you couldn't answer straight away it doesn't matter what I define it as. Hermione…. It may have been a mistake but your heart has been affected." At this, Hermione sobbed openly, her whole idea what this year would be was spiraling out of control.
"Oh Gin! What am I going to do?" She leaned against her fiery-haired friend and cried. Ginny followed suit, patting her head.
"You can run away from it, and eat outside forever. Or you can face it. Either way…. You've got to tell Ron." Hermione shuddered, the thought of Ron's heartbreak causing her tears to fall faster.
"Who was it, anyway?" Ginny asked quietly, her interest peaked. Never before had she seen her friend so worked up over something like this. Hermione was almost always strong and fearless. And she certainly never had any heart-wrenching problems like kissing the wrong boy.
"I promise Ginny, you don't want to know. And even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me." Hermione said between breaths, her voice hoarse.
"Well, don't worry about it you can tell me when you're ready… okay? C'mon 'Mione don't cry. It will all be okay…." Ginny's words touched her heart, and she only could manage crying more. Her whole body crumbling against Ginny, her plate off food dangerously close to crashing on the floor. How could she have let this happen? She was in a whole too deep to get out but she hadn't remembered ever picking up a shovel. Ron would hate her, she was sure. And if anyone know who her secret lover was, it would be the end of her. The very person they all shared a similar passion of distaste for…. Was the very man she longed to have again. They might as well stitch a scarlet letter to her blouse at this point.
The doors opened suddenly, Hermione too filled with despair to notice, but Ginny reflexively shielded Hermione from embarrassment as she moved to cover her face. From the door emerged the Slytherin Prince, clad in his usual attire made up of fitted class and expense. He looked different though… his eyes seeming to be tired, his hair tousled as though he has been in deep, stressful thought. He paced forward, stopping suddenly at the sight of the only Weaslette. He scowled, staring at her. Scoffing at her feeble attempt to hide the frazzled mudblood behind her.
"What got you all worked up Granger?" He said coldly, his heart wrenching. It was the first time he had had a good look at her since their moment together in the infirmary.
"Piss off Malfoy." Ginny replied, standing her ground. Hermione suddenly halted her tears, frozen in fear.
"Did I address you, Weasley? No, I believe not. Speak when spoken to." He stepped closer, his face a picture of anger. "What is it hm? Your darling Weasel not handle the news too well perhaps? Surely it couldn't have been too much of a surprise, being that I am obviously of higher status." Each word that he spoke, he immediately regretted. Had he not only just professed to her that he was not the same? Yet here he was, keeping up his old antics.
Ginny's mouth dropped, and she stood suddenly.
"What? What did you just day? How do you know….?" She shook her head, her eyes wide and she faced the snake. Hermione slowly picked herself up off the ground also, reaching out and grasping Ginny's hand, hoping to pull her away before her entire life crumbled before her.
"I wasn't speaking to you, don't you Weasley's know anything about manners?" He faced her, towering over her as his voice bellowed. But Ginny had no fear, and she resisted the tug of Hermione's hand.
"Ginny… please… let's leave…" Hermione pleaded helplessly, her head still bowed.
"Oh, Granger. I apologize. I just assumed you had already told her?" He smirked now, realizing the power he had in his hands. With this satisfaction, he stepped back, letting his hand slip into his pockets.
"Pardon me ladies… but I'd better be going. Sorry to interrupt." He nearly laughed as he turned on his heel, making his way down the corridor towards his next class. Ginny cursed under her breath, waiting until he was out of sight before turning to Hermione.
"Did that just happen? Am I going crazy? Why did he say that Hermione? Why?" Ginny shook Hermione's shoulders until her eyes met hers.
"You don't understand…." Hermione shook her head and her lip quivered as Ginny stared back at her. With that, Hermione broke away from her grip, making a hurried escape towards the Head Commons. The sound of Hermione's shoes beating against the floor was the only sound as Ginny stared after her, wide eyes and confused.
"What a bloody mess…." She breathed, pushing both of her hands through her hair with an exasperated sigh.