Chapter 5

"Mum- shhh mum calm down" Hermione said down the phone.

"But Hermione I'm so sorry! I'd cancel if I could! But I-"

"Mum! Please don't worry! I'll go to the Weasleys or something!"

"Are you sure?" Jean Grangers voice was wobbly.

"Yes! You need to go to Sally's, she can't be by herself – it's her first Christmas without her husband!"

"Oh I'm sorry darling"

"It's really fine mum" Hermione tried to console her mother "I'll go the Weasleys for a bit and be with you for all of Easter"

"I'm really sorry dear"

"Don't worry mum!" A sharp knock on the door made her look up "I'm sorry mum, I've got to go"

"Bye Hermione dear, have a nice Christmas"

"Bye mum, you too"

The call ended and Hermione returned the phone to her handbag, removing the spells she'd had to put up for it to take place.

Opening the door, she watched a paper aeroplane fly in and unfold itself on her desk – she never quite got used to this method of communication.

'Dear all,

I hope you have a very happy and relaxed Christmas and look forward to seeing you when term resumes – on the 9th January.

Minerva McGonagall'

Hermione pinned the note to her notice board with a smile, before scribbling a note to the Weasleys telling them that she'd be over the next morning if they had no problems with it. She chucked her last few things in her trunk and made her way to bed, saying goodnight to Crookshanks on her way past.

"""""

"Hermione!"

Within seconds of her apparating into the Weasleys kitchen the next morning, Hermione was engulfed in a rib crushing hug from both her two best friends.

"Ron! Harry!" she gasped "Let go! I can't-"

Realising that Hermione was having trouble breathing; the two boys released her and stood apologetically as she massaged her ribs.

"How are you Hermione dear?" Mrs Weasley asked fondly, bustling over to give her a (gentle) hug.

"I'm fine thanks Mrs Weasley, and thank you very much for having me at such short notice"

"It's nothing! You're always welcome here!"

"Thank you" Hermione bowed her head gratefully. Mrs Weasley smiled in response, before going to check on her pregnant daughter.

"I'll just go and…and put your bags upstairs for you" Ron said awkwardly, picking up her trunk off the floor.

"Thanks Ron" Hermione patted him on the head and he hit her hand away playfully.

"I'm not Crookshanks you know" he joked.

"You're just missing the pointed ears" she pointed out "now take my bags to my room slave!"

He disappeared up the stairs, shaking his head at her with a smile on his face.

"Remind me again why you're not together?" Harry asked.

"You know why Harry, we tried it and it didn't work"

"Minor issues" Harry replied "anyway, is it really true you're working at Hogwarts?"

"Yup" she nodded.

"And Malfoy is Potions Professor? I bet the two of you are getting on very well" he winked at her, and Hermione felt the blood rush to her face, How could Harry know what had happened?

"Um yes…I mean I barely see him, only at mealtimes, and we don't even…" she babbled.

"I mean because you hated each other throughout school and now you're working together" a look of confusion passed over Harry's face "Are you ok Hermione?"

"Yes yes! I just-" Hermione bit her lip, of course Harry doesn't know! How could he?!

"Is something going on with Malfoy?" Harry raised his eyebrows at her.

"No no no no no" She shook her head "definitely not, never, no"

"Are you sure? Because you're definitely acting like something is"

"I don't-" Hermione paused, she really needed to get what had happened off her chest, and who would be more trust worthy and forgiving than Harry?

"Ok if I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone?" she whispered.

"What's going on Hermione?"

"It's nothing really" Hermione said, trying to convince herself more than anything "but Malfoy kissed me"

"Malfoy kissed you?!" His voice went unusually high.

"Shhhh Harry" she hissed.

"But how?"

"We were arguing, first over a student and then it turned to the war, I wouldn't shut up about his father, so he shut me up by…by kissing me" she shrugged.

"Hermione Granger, I never would have expected this from you" Harry shook his head at her.

"It wasn't my fault! Anyway I've barely talked to him, before and after that"

"Barely talked to who?"

The two spun round and spotted Ron standing behind them.

"It's nothing" Hermione smiled at him "just…just a student"

Ron narrowed his eyes at her.

"I'm not stupid, its Malfoy isn't it? What happened?"

"He kissed Hermione" Harry said quickly, maybe he wasn't as trustworthy as she'd previously thought.

"Harry!"

"What? He was going to find out anyway!"

"Are you two besties now then?" Ron asked, despite the control in his voice, his fist was clenched at his side "or more than that?"

"What? No Ron! We were arguing and he wanted me to be quiet, that's all, there's nothing else going on" she shrugged.

"It's not nothing! This is Malfoy Hermione!"

"I know who he is!"

"Then how could you let this happen?"

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" Hermione shouted "I knew I shouldn't have said anything!"

"Well too bad!"

They were both shouting, eyes narrowed and blazing in anger. Harry stood looking between them.

"Now I know why you're not together" he said to himself, and they both turned to stare at him.

"Not the time? Right, I'll just be off to check on Ginny…" he walked quickly out of the kitchen.

"Look I'm sorry, I shouldn't have got so annoyed about it, it's just it's Malfoy" Ron said, relaxing his face.

"I'm sorry too; it was honestly just some stupid accident which trust me, will never be happening again" Hermione replied. Her mind however, was back at the incident, remembering the way he'd attacked her mouth, not quite forcing her, but giving her something to fight against. The way she'd fought back with everything she had, refusing to give in to him, refusing to let him win…

"Anyway, I should go and say hello to Ginny" she smiled fleetingly at him before rushing off into the next room to greet her friend.