Chapter 15: Impossible
I rolled over and yawned as I stretched. I blinked open my eyes and squinted as the sunlight filled the room. I slowly rose and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.
After getting dressed and freshening up, I headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry and Ron were sitting in their usual places.
"Hey Hermione!" The two greeted with huge smiles as I sat opposite them.
"Hello boys. Where's Ginny?" I casually asked.
"She's at the Healers. Something about a stomach pain." Ron mumbled with his mouth full of food, as usual.
"Oh. Hope she's okay." I murmured, pouring myself some pumpkin juice.
I was about to open the Daily Prophet when I caught a glimpse of blonde hair behind Harry. I saw Malfoy picking away at his meal with disinterest. He must have noticed me looking as he looked up at me and gave a small smile. I smiled back when Blaise suddenly appeared next to him, grumbling something in what appeared to be anger and disappointment. Malfoy simply scowled at him and rolled his eyes, muttering something back.
"Merlin!" I gasped as I felt something cold and sticky spill onto my lap. I groaned as I looked down at my wet, stained robes.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry!" I heard a deep voice stutter behind me.
I turned to find a Seventh Year whom I recognized as Chad Durklin from Slytherin. He had blue-green eyes and dirty blonde hair, unlike Malfoy's platinum-blonde locks. His eyes held a strange sparkle in them and he radiated this glow which made it hard to take my eyes off him.
"Are you okay? I didn't see you and I was goofing off with my friends and accidentally spilled all my juice on you. I'm so sorry. Here, let me fix it." He murmured, pulling out his wand.
With a quick flick, he mumbled a spell which dried the juice and removed the stain. As he waved his wand, I couldn't help but notice he was rather well-built. His chest and shoulders were broad and his arms were lean but muscular.
"T-Thanks." I stuttered, still stunned at his flawless look.
Sure, I had seen Chad around before, but never this up-close. This was the first time I had actually communicated with him.
"I'm sorry, again. Hermione…Granger, right?" he smiled, looking at me intently.
I could feel the blush rush to my cheeks as he scrutinized my face. I meekly nodded, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
Come on, girl. Get a grip of yourself. You're supposed to be strong and confident Hermione. Since when were you like this around boys?
"I'm Chad." He flashed a perfect white smile, sticking out his hand.
I smiled back and placed my hand in his, shaking it firmly. His grasp was warm and gentle, but strong.
"Nice to meet you, Chad. And don't worry about it. I'm fine." I mumbled, glancing down at my dry robes.
"I hope so. It's not every day I get to spill juice on a pretty young lady like you. The last thing I would want was for that to backfire and you slap me." He chuckled.
I blushed deeply as he smiled innocently at me, though I could see a hint of cheekiness in his eyes.
"If I didn't know better, I would think you're flirting with me." I haughtily replied, mustering up the courage to play along with his cheeky game.
"Well then, I guess it's true. You are the brightest witch of your age." He laughed, winking at me before walking off.
"What…was…that?" I heard Harry mumble in confusion to Ron. I cleared my throat and turned back, almost forgetting that they were there the whole time.
"Oooh. Our Hermione has a new admirer. And from the looks of it, it's a two-way admiration going on." Ron smiled mischievously at me, causing me to blush deeper.
"Shut up, Ron. There is no admiration. Now just keep your mouth closed and eat your food." I quickly retorted, fumbling with my copy of the Daily Prophet.
"You do know that doesn't make any sense right?" Harry commented with amusement etched on his face.
I simple seethed at him and rolled my eyes.
Stupid boys.
Once breakfast was over, I headed to the library, as per my usual routine. Ron and Harry decided to get in some extra Quidditch practice for an upcoming tournament.
I grabbed a book called 'The Tales of Jonathan Gales' and settles into a seat by the window. It was a fictional book about a wizard who spent in life in hiding after being framed for the murder of his family.
"Ah. Good choice."
I looked up to see Chad take a seat in front of me, empty-handed.
"Chad!" I greeted in a surprised tone.
What was he doing here? Sitting with me?
"One of my favorites. Read it four times." He smiled, motioning to the book in my hands.
"Oh. Good then. It's worth my time." I smirked, opening the book.
"Definitely. There's no question in that. The question is…am I as lucky as that book?" he grinned, resting his arms on the table and leaning forward a bit. I quirked an eyebrow.
"Another attempt at flirting? Guess the rumors are true." I murmured, keeping my eyes on the book.
"And what rumors may those be?" he questioned.
"That you're a player." I said nonchalantly.
Chad gave out a small laugh and its sound was so deep and smooth.
"You know they are called rumors because there is a possibility they are not true." He said in-a-matter-of-factly.
"Oh, so are you saying there is a possibility that they are true?" he retorted, smirking again.
Boy, Malfoy sure has rubbed off on me.
"Look, they are not. The girls in Slytherin have a knack for going around and spreading rumors. False rumors. You should take the time to know me first before jumping to judgments." He sincerely spoke, his eyes bearing into mine.
"Oh. Well, I'm sorry for saying that about you. You're right. I shouldn't have judged you." I sheepishly mumbled.
"It's alright. And I'm sorry for my failed attempts at flirting. Sometimes, I can just get a bit cheeky. Hence the stupid rumors. But please believe me when I say I have nothing but respect for you. So don't worry." He smiled.
Wow.
Those eyes…
That smile…
"You should really get started on that book. It's rather long."
I snapped out of my trance and cleared my throat, blushing deeply at how I was admiring his looks.
"Well, I am a pretty fast reader. The longest I have taken to finish a book had been three days, with classes and all." I smugly replied.
"My, my! I'm impressed. Well, then in that case, may I recommend Pride and Prejudice? It's one of my favorites. It's a Muggle book."
I gasped with a huge smile on my face.
"That's one of my favorites too!" I squealed in a hushed tone.
"You read Muggle books?" you asked amused.
"Well, I am a Muggle-born." I stated.
"Oh yes! I forgot! Me and my stupid memory!" he laughed.
"So you read Muggle books? Wow!" I exclaimed.
"Of course! I admire Muggles, though don't tell any Slytherin I said that. I especially adore their books. Jane Austen and Alfred Hitchcock are my favorite authors."
"Mine too!" I smiled.
We spent the next few hours discussing Muggle books and movies.
Chad really was a wonderfully interesting person. The only other person whom I shared so much in common was Malfoy.
Malfoy…
A small part of my brain felt guilty, though I didn't know why.
Malfoy was my friend, yes, but he was arrogant, cocky, short-tempered, snobbish and irritating.
On the other hand, Chad…
He was sweet, funny, charming, respectful, humble, intelligent.
He was the exact opposite.
And with Chad, there was a certain attraction much stronger than the mere friendly one I had to Malfoy.
Wow, who knew I would be in this state with two Slytherins.
It was hard to believe Chad was a Slytherin. If not for his robes, I would have considered him a complete Gryffindor.
"Well, here we are. The Heads Common Room." Chad announced as we stopped in front of the portrait.
He had offered to walk me back to the room and we chatted away about our hobbies and interests. He surprisingly shared much in common with me.
"Thanks for today, Chad. I really had fun." I smiled.
"Me too, Hermione. We should hang out more, agree?"
"Of course!"
"Well, then, goodnight!" he bowed dramatically, causing a laugh to escape my mouth, and smiled before heading off.
"What are you so happy about?" Malfoy chuckled as he sat opposite me in the Common Room with a book in his hands.
I was grinning away as I thought back to the wonderful day I spent with Chad.
"Nothing of importance." I murmured back.
"Oh come on. You look like you're high. Not the first time, I guess..." He smirked.
I scowled at him as he quirked an eyebrow at me.
"For your information, I have never gotten high in my life. And if you really want to know, busy-body, I just had a wonderful day." I replied with a straight face.
"I'm not dumb. Obviously, someone's on your mind. I know that look. So, may I know who was the cause behind this oh-so-wonderful day? Maybe it was Potty or the Weasel? Though I highly doubt there's anything wonderful about them." he snorted.
I seethed and glared at him.
"Chad Durklin."
The cheeky smile on Malfoy's face immediately disappeared.
"Chad? Slytherin Chad? That man-whore!" He shouted in…anger?
"Don't call him such a vile name!" I snapped.
Whoa, since when was I defensive over Chad the Slytherin?
"I'm only calling him what he is! He's slept around with almost every girl in Slytherin." He retorted.
"How can you be so sure? Those are just rumors. And, he's just a friend. I am not going to sleep with him. I am not a whore, Malfoy. And neither is he. He is a nice and respectable guy who's just been misunderstood." I hissed angrily.
" He's only playing you to get in your pants! And you seem to be falling right in his trap!" he shouted.
"How dare you! How dare you question my morals like that. I would never do something as low as that! There is nothing wrong in just being friends with him!"
"Being friends with that guy? There is no such thing. Every girl he's ever been with was just a conquest. And you're next on the list."
"You know, you sound like you're almost jealous of him!" I accused.
"Jealous? Of Chad? Are you mental? Why would I be jealous of that player bastard?" he yelled.
"Because maybe I have some interest in him and not you!" I shrieked.
"So I was right all along. You are a whore. Nothing but a Filthy Mudblood Whore!"
I froze.
My mouth was open but nothing came out.
I could feel the tears prick my eyes.
He simply stood there, a look of horror on his face.
Seconds passed.
Minutes.
It even felt like hours.
I just stood shocked and rooted to the ground, staring at him in disbelief and hurt.
So many looks washed over his face.
Horror.
Guilt.
Regret.
Despair.
Guilt.
Regret.
Guilt.
Regret.
Finally, he took a shaky step forward, his hand reaching out to me.
"Hermione…"
I shook my head as some tears spilled down my cheeks and bolted into my room, slamming the door behind me.
After everything we've been through.
After we opened up to each other.
After forming that special friendship.
After all of yesterday's events.
That was all I was in his eyes.
A Filthy Mudblood Whore.
That night, I berated myself for ever thinking that Draco and I could ever be friends.
No.
That could simply never happen.
It was just impossible.