Chapter 15: Forgetting the snake

Capitulo XV: Olvidar a la serpiente

After her chat with Luna, Hermione was sad and thoughtful, so son she asked Ben to return to Hogwarts because she was in no mood to continue chatting in the Three Broomsticks. She put on the scarf distractedly, picked up the flower which conveniently screamed to her that she was great and walked toward the exit with Ben. She was so deep in her thoughts that when she bumped with Pansy Parkinson, before getting out of the place, she didn't recognize her.

Hermione, are you alright? – asked Ben while they took the road that united Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.

-Eh… yes, yes – she assured him, making herself back to reality. Ben didn't say anything for a couple of minutes, even though he didn't stop looking nervously at her from the corner of his eye, but Hermione was to thoughtful to notice. She didn't see how Ben's hand approached hers, hesitant, she just felt the long and big fingers from the boy entwine with hers. She lifted her face and looked at him, and the expression in the Ravenclaw's face made her smile. He was so sweet…

-I want… well, I… - Ben looked at her completely blushed and Hermione felt his hand shaking between hers – you see… you… me… us… pff… - he sighed and open and closed his mouth a several times trying to continue with his speech.

-Relax Ben – she whispered half amused half worried. She knew that it was her that made him so nervous, and as much as she wanted to deny it, it was nice to provoke that in someone.

-Let's see… this is hard… - he scratched his forehead and squeezed Hermione's hand – I know… I'm gonna… well… - he interrupted himself, looked her seriously and without expecting it, he kissed her. It was a soft and sweet kiss, a very slow kiss, as if Ben wanted to taste her more than caress her. When they broke apart, he was neither blushed nor trembling, but his eyes shine more intensely and Hermione felt the boy's hand soaked in cold sweat.

-When I kiss you – he said with more composure than before – I'm so dazzled that I can't be nervous – Hermione blushed under the intense gaze of the Ravenclaw – I want to ask you something and I hope that your answer will be a yes.

Hermione breathed deeply, guessing what will come next.

-I will like to… if you want… - Ben inhale deeply and took both of her hands – do you want to be my girlfriend?

It was what she had imagined. Not that it wasn't expected after the way they had kissed the day before. She wanted to say yes but, she wasn't sure that it was fair for Ben. Even though she liked to be with him and that he kissed her, her heart belonged to someone else. To someone that only enjoyed stamping on it and breaking it…

-Ben… I must be honest with you – she decided looking uncomfortably at him – there is someone else…

-Do you have something with someone else? – interrupted Ben, with an incredible sad face that made Hermione to want to hug him.

-No – she assured – I've never had anything with that person and never would. I want to forget him but I haven't achieved it yet, so I don't think it is fair for you that I say yes if…

-I don't care – said Ben, squeezing her hands with a desperate look – I don't care that you still got feelings for him… the only thing that matters to me is that you could feel it for me. Give me a chance Hermione; let me help you to forget him.

The girl looked at him intensely for some long seconds. Then she slowly nodded and threw herself to the Ravenclaw's arms wishing that she had made the correct decision.

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Draco went down the stairs that went into the Common Room, he was really angry. He had spent the whole afternoon at Snape's office making the weekend homework. Snape hadn't gave him a special duty, he just told him to sit and try not waste the time he had lost in his "childish tantrum", as he had called it. Draco did not speak to him in the three hours he had been stuck in there, he just watch him indifferently and heard him coolly. After taking out quill and parchment, he had written with fury an essay for Transfiguration. The torturous hours had pass slowly, and even though he had tried to erase with all his might the image of Dewey and Granger kissing passionately, all was in vain.

But that wasn't the worse part, the worst were the questions. What else had happened between them? Were they spending Valentine's Day together? Were they kissing in the linens in Madame Pudifoot's Tea Shop? Just to think about it made his blood boil. And he had made dozens of holes in the parchment because of the fury with which he was writing, or rather scribbling nonsense.

Draco wasn't used to feeling that way. When he wanted something, he got it. When something was upsetting him, he finished it. When someone challenged him, he destroyed him. It was about being a Malfoy.

Draco! You're finally back! – Pansy was sitting in the armrest of a big green velvet armchair, in which many times, Draco had sat with her in his lap. Now she looked at him in a suggestive way, pointing the armchair so he will sit there.

The Slytherin barely threw her a look and took the opposite direction. He was not in the mood of dealing with Pansy. If she dare to complain again of him getting grounded on Valentine's Day, he will strangle her. Maybe that will help to relieve his anger.

Draco! Wait! – she whimpered following him – what's wrong with you?

He didn't slowed down his step for her to reach him, in fact, the most kind thing he could do for her, was precisely prevent her from reaching him. However, when he felt Pansy's skinny had grab his forearm he stopped and looked at her with lack of interest.

What do you want? – he barked coolly – say whatever you want and go away, but I warn you I'm not in the mood to hear your nonsense.

Why do you treat me like that? – she asked with her eyes full of tears. Draco couldn't help a face of disdain, since when she was so unbearable and annoying? – I return earlier from Hogsmeade just to see you because I knew you were going to be alone and you…

I didn't ask you to do it – he replied sharply.

But I did it anyway – Pansy's eyes were shiny because of her tears – besides, I has to spend the day with Millicent Bullstrode knowing that the filthy little mudblood had a date in…

Draco tensed immediately.

That mudblood with a date? – he asked adding all the disdain and indifference he was able to his words. Pansy looked at him for some instants and then, very slowly, smiled with complicity.

Yes. I saw her with the stupid of Benjamin Dewey, from Ravenclaw. Hesper Woods told me that they were at Madam Pudifoot's tea shop, it seemed they were very engrossed and I saw the going out from the Three Broomsticks. Holding hands… - she added with delight, watcking Draco. If she expected to find some reaction, some hint of a feeling in the Slytherin's face, she found nothing. He seemed like a stone, with the jaws tightened fierce fully and the body rigid. He didn't move.

Very touching – he spit with disgust being careful in not letting other feeling out that was not repugnance.

You know? I would've love that you took me to Madam Pudifoot's tea shop – said Pansy while she blinked seductively. When did he found her attractive? She was just a fool, silly and ridiculous girl. Compared with Granger she don't even… Draco forced himself to stop that thought. Compared with Granger? What-the-hell-was-he-doing-comparing-Granger-with-his-dates?

He made himself direct his thoughts into the Slytherin girl and he watched her fixedly for some seconds. She wasn't ugly, dark haired, black eyes, pale skin. In the past he had thought she was beautiful but now… he was tired of her. Yes. That was all.

It have been a long time since he last visited Emergande, Lorraine or Lavinia. Maybe he should do it, he thought with a malicious smirk.

- Draco – she whispered to get back his attention.

- What makes you think I would have taken you there? – he replied disdainfully. Pansy shrank, as if he had beat her physically, and with a hand she covered her trembling lips trying to contain the tears. Draco watch her with a bored expression, he knew what till come next. Now she will start crying, throw to his neck and will tell him how cruel he was being with her. She will tell him how much she loved him and many more bullshit, until he could not bare it anymore, and will kiss her to make her shut up. He decided to spear himself from the little scene. Roughly, he held her from the neck, brought her to him and kissed her violently; with too much strength that Pansy thought he would break her mouth.

And that was what he wanted. He wanted to break her mouth, sink his hands in her body, and rip her cloak. Torture her, bother her until she'll scream his name and dug her nails in his back. Maybe with that, just with that, he will be able to get Granger's lips out of his mind.

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When Hermione arrived to Gryfifndor Tower she felt strange. On one side she felt free from a charge but, she thought to have taken another one. She had given one more step in her determination to forget the Slytherin, even though she probably hadn't chosen the best way. She had always heard that a new worry takes your mind off the old one, but Malfoy was not a worry. He was a huge problem.

She sighed deeply and forced herself to think of Ben. Now they were a couple. Hermione that being with him will be easy and nice. They will study together, talk, kissed once in a while. He won't ask for answers, won't demand anything, they won't fight. She just had to let herself be loved, and that was a new and wonderful feeling. It was nice that for once in her life someone will care for her and not in the other way. She tried to ignore the stab of… guilt? That she felt.

She didn't have to feel guilty. She wasn't harming anybody. Ben knew there was someone else and he didn't care. But she didn't feel guilty for that. In some remote place of her heart, she felt she was betraying Malfoy. As if some way she was being… unfaithful.

- What a fool – she mumbled. In the Common Room, sitting in the armchairs near the fire were Ron, Harry and Ginny, the last one sitting on the brunette's lap. All greeted her and Hermione had the temptation to run to her room and reject the invitation of joining them, but she forced herself to go with her friends. She didn't plan letting Malfoy ruin his humor of being around people.

- Hermione, you are very late – said Ginny with shrewdness and an accomplice smile – I thought you had leaved Hogsmeade before we did. Ron next to him was getting redder.

- Well… I was distracted – she answered blushing while she sat next to Harry, who was watching her fixedly from the chimney as if she was very interesting.

- How was it with Dewey? – insisted Ginny smiling. Hermione saw when Harry craftily pinched the red haired, as to warn her to leave the questioning. The brunette knew that probably Ron will not like to know that she was with Ben, but sooner or later he would find out and Hermione preferred sooner.

- Well, I guess – she felt her cheeks burning below Ron's piercing and frowning gaze.

- So? – insisted the girl – are you dating?

-Ron! – exclaimed Harry nervously while he pointed with his finger something behind the red haired boy – look, there comes Lavender and…

- I don't care – cut the boy, with his eyes fixed on Hermione. She breathed deeply a couple of times fearful of her friend's reaction, but there was nothing she could do but tell the truth.

- Yes, we are together – she answered with he reyes fixed on her hands.

- Who? – asked Lavender, who had just arrived. She sat on Ron's knees without realizing how tense he was and observed Hermione with curiosity, and she would've swore, that with a little bit of malice too.

- The stupid of Dewey and Hermione – spitted Ron with resentment.

- Well, that's wonderful Hermione! – exclaimed the girl while she patted her in the hands – he is a very handsome boy, truly, and keeper, like Ron.

Lavender's last words feel the atmosphere with a tension that everyone could feel. Hermione wanted to leave as soon as she could, but she didn't thought of a way to escape.

- Yes – Ron's voice broke the silence, it sound rough and heavy, it sounded more like a bird's squawk.

- Oh, Won-Won, don't be like that – Lavender threw a silly laugh, Harry and Ginny exchanged alarmed looks – Dewey is not as handsome and as good keeper as you.

Hermione could feel how Ginny and Harry sighed in relief, but Ron started to mumble something under his voice, she was able to understand "stupid", "bludger" and "deaf", but Lavender interrupted his speech sinking her tongue very deep on his throat. For the first time, in a very long time, Hermione was happy that Lavender and Won-Won had a few-word-relationship, and murmuring an apology to Ginny and Harry, she left to her dormitory.

Once inside, she felt secure and relieved. At least Ron already knew and even though she suspected that he will be upset for a few days, he will forget it. After all he had no right to claim him nothing and with Dewey he couldn't use the excuse of "fraternizing with the enemy". She sat on her bed while she took off her boots and Crookshanks arrived immediately to lay in her lap. The girl scratched behind his ears with a distracted air, unable to stop thinking of her decision.

Now she was Ben's girlfriend.

As a shooting star, a maliciously satisfying thought crossed her mind. What will Malfoy think when he saw them together?

For some seconds she imagined with delight that he was dying with jealousy but soon she censured that. He won't be jealous, and even if he did, she must not care. After all she had made a decision: she will forget the snake.

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Hello!!

Here I come again with one more chapter! Well, Hermione and Ben are togheter… she is hopeful to be able to forget Malfoy… do you think she'll succeed? And Draco is VERY jealous XD as always Pansy is the winner. Hermione's friends already now and it seems Ron is not very happy at all… XD

I hope you'll like it!

Thanks for the reviews!

Kisses

Dry!

Hello people! Here is another chapter… a Little late… but here it is. I'm such a baaad person! But I don't have a life… so… I don't have time to translate… but I will continue doing my best. Hope you will enjoy it!! PLEASE REVIEW!! That makes me want to continue… Kisses! Lola =)