Chapter 9 – The Secret's Out

Hermione finished her breakfast and looked over to Ginny, "I'm going to head to class now, I'll see you later Ginny."

"Bye Hermione."

Hermione grabbed her stuff and got up. Harry looked up and saw her leaving and turned to Ron, "I'll see you in class."

"Where you going?"

"I-uh forgot my potion's book in the common room and I need it."

Ron studied Harry for a moment and cocked his eyebrow, "Alright, see you then."

Harry grabbed his stuff and rushed to meet up with Hermione.

Draco looked over at the Gryffindor table and saw Hermione leaving, then saw Harry soon follow. Why is that bloody scar-head following her? He thought. Draco got up and followed Harry out of the Hall into the corridor.

*******

"Hey, Hermione!"

Hermione turned around and saw Harry, "Harry? Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, everything's fine. I just wanted to talk," he said with a smile.

"Talk about what?" asked Hermione, with an eyebrow raised.

"Well, anything. New classes, this morning's breakfast, Malfoy."

Hermione stopped walking when she heard him say Draco's name.

"Why would you want to talk about Malfoy?"

"Well, I just want to make sure everything going ok with him since you two get to spend time alone."

"Everything's fine."

"Uh-huh, so nothing new between you guys?"

"Nope."

"Not even, oh, I don't know, a relationship?"

Hermione looked at him and wide-eyed.

"What would make you say that?"

"Come on Hermione, I'm your best friend. Plus, I'm dating Ginny," said Harry, smiling.

"Ugh, she told you?! I told her not to say anything!"

"No, she didn't tell me a thing, you just did."

"What?! Oh, you're such a git. How could you do that?" she said, slapping him on the arm. She frowned slightly. "You're not mad, are you?"

"No, just a little confused. Why Malfoy anyway? Why not Ron?"

"You know I love Ron, but more as a brother than anything else. I wouldn't want to date him if the feelings weren't mutual."

"Good point. So, of all people, why Malfoy?"

"I really don't know. Something's just different about him, and he hasn't been treating me like before. He's really caring."

"Well I'm glad you're happy, but I just want you to be careful, ok?"

"Thanks Harry," she said, giving him a hug. "Come on let's get to class before we're late."

Harry and Hermione headed for the dungeons for potions with Snape. They weren't looking forward to it at all. When they got to the door, Hermione stopped Harry before they went in.

"Harry, promise me you won't say anything to Ron yet? I want to tell him myself."

"Of course, I won't say a thing."

"Thanks," Hermione said, giving him another hug.

"Oi!"

Hermione looked and saw Draco coming down to class.

"What is it, Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"I was talking to Hermione."

Harry looked at Draco carefully, and looked back at Hermione. "Hermione I'll see you inside. Just remember, be careful."

With that said, Harry went into Snape's class and sat down at his desk. Ron looked over at him, "So did you get your book?"

"Wh-what?"

"Your potion's book you said you forgot, did you grab it?"

"Oh, yeah, I got it."

"Uh-huh, so what did you and Hermione talk about?"

"I didn't see Hermione."

"Ok, so her getting up and leaving had nothing to do with your all of a sudden rant about your book?"

"Uhm no, of course not."

"Harry, what do you know?"

"I don't know anything, Ron. I'd tell you if I did."

"Would you?"

"Most likely, unless I promised not to say anything," Harry said, looking cautiously at Ron.

Ron looked at Harry with an evil glare. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. My best friend won't tell me a bloody thing about Hermione, and I know he knows something. If he didn't why would he even say that he promised not to say anything? He thought.

"Right," Ron said looking down to his potions book.

********

Draco looked at Hermione when Harry went into the classroom.

"Draco, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Hermione something terrible happened."

"Oh my goodness, what, what is it?!"

"Breath for a second, it's terrible but not 'someone-just-dropped-dead-on-the-side-of-the-street' terrible."

Hermione looked into his eyes and could tell it wasn't as horrible as she thought. She took a deep breath, "Ok, what happened?"

"I met up with Blaise after breakfast, and him being my best mate, I told about us. We were in an empty classroom and knew that no one could hear us. Then we heard a noise outside, like someone fell over. We both bolted to the door and looked into the hallway, and saw someone running down the hall."

"Who was it?"

"The last person either one of us would want to know that we're dating. Pansy Parkinson."

Hermione let out a loud gasp, "Are you sure it was her?"

"Positive, I ran into her before I met up with Blaise and told her off. She looked upset and must've followed me."

"That's just perfect."

"Who have you told, Hermione?"

"Ginny, and Harry figured it out, then tricked me into confessing."

"So Weasley doesn't know?"

"No, he doesn't."

"Well you might want to tell him soon, before he finds out from someone else."

"Alright, I'll tell him after potions."

Draco looked at Hermione with a smile on his face, "Don't worry, sweetie, it'll be ok," he said, giving her a kiss, "Now let's get to class."

Hermione looked at him and smiled, "Ok."

Hermione walked into class, when Snape turned around and spotted her, "You're late Miss Granger. 30 points from Gry--"

"Sorry Professor, she was with me," Draco interrupted, coming into class after her.

"With you, Mr. Malfoy?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Yes, sir."

"Well Miss Granger, seems that Mr. Malfoy has chosen to stop me from taking points from you. None the less," He said, turning to the rest of the class, "you will be having partners for your next potions assignment." Snape looked at his list in his hands and began calling off the names, when he got to Hermione and she hoped she didn't get Malfoy. She needed to talk to Ron.

"Mr. Potter, you're with Mr. Malfoy, and Ms. Granger with Mr. Weasley."

Hermione let out a sigh of relief, she slid over to Ron as Harry got up and moved next to Draco. Hermione looked at Ron and tried to smile, "Ron? Can I talk to you?"

"About what?"

"Anything, I miss talking to you."

"Well how about what you and Harry talked about before class?"

"Oh, uhm, ok, well we didn't talk about much."

"Did you talk about Malfoy?"

"Yes," Hermione said lowering her gaze from his face to the floor.

"Are you dating him?" Ron asked, sternly.

"I, well, uhm..."

"Hermione, tell me the truth."

"Yes," she finally said. She looked back up at Ron to see his reaction. She was surprised at what she saw. Ron just looked at her wide-eyed and couldn't say a word.

******

Harry walked over to Draco and looked at him, all Draco could do was smirk.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Nothing, let's start the potion."

The potion Snape had them working on was a Wit-Sharpening Potion. Harry looked at the board for their ingredients.

"Potter."

"What?"

"Get what we need," Draco said. When Harry didn't budge, Draco raised his voice a bit. "Now," he said. Finally Harry walked over to the cupboard and pulled out a scarab beetle, a ginger root, and a vile armadillo bile. Harry walked back to the table and stared at Draco, "I think it strange," he said.

"What's strange?"

"You and Hermione taking a liking to each other when you have been enemies since first year."

"How did you know about that?" Draco asked, pretending to be shocked.

"Come on Malfoy. You're really asking me that question?" Harry said, cocking his eyebrow, "I'm her best friend, she told me. Well, actually I figured it out."

"Does Weasley know yet?"

"No," Harry said, as he looked to the back of the room, "but I think he does know. Look."

Draco looked to where Harry was pointing and saw Ron's shocked reaction and Hermione's upset expression. 'I can't believe she told him during class. Is she crazy?! She said she wouldn't tell him until after class! This is going to be fun later.' He thought. Draco quickly looked around the room for Pansy, but didn't see her. 'Where is that bloody girl?' Draco shook from his thoughts and looked back at Harry. "Pansy knows," he muttered, as he looked at his feet.

"What?"

"Pansy, erm Pansy Parkinson, she knows."

"How the hell did she find out?"

"She followed me and Blaise, we left the great hall so I could talk to him earlier. I told him everything that had happened between us in the common room. She ended up being outside the door and heard everything."

"Bloody Hell!" Harry shouted.

"Mr. Potter!"

"Yes, Professor?"

"15 points from Gryffindor for that outburst!"

"Sorry sir, cut myself." Harry turned back to Malfoy, "what are we going to do?"

"I don't know, but we need to think of something. If my father hears about this, who know what will happen to any of us. Especially Hermione."

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