[Author's Note: A Bit of change in the point of view ;) ]
Why can't you say you're sorry?
For treating me so naughty
Just want an apology -
Is that against your personal theology?
What'd I do to deserve this?
How'd I get on your bad list?
- Drama Queen, Family Force Five
"I wonder who Hermione got for her partner for that project, don't you, Parvati?" Lavender says really loudly (and annoyingly) on the other side of the Gryffindor table. Parvati just looks at her like she's sprouted three heads. As does Seamus who's sitting across from her. She just randomly said that after all, they were eating peacefully before her awkward question and voice interrupted.
"I mean, you've got Susan Bones, Seamus has Justin Finch-Fletchley, and I've got Dean. Who could she possibly have? Isn't it bitingat you to know?"
She's staring at me as she says this…but I don't know why. I don't really care, I figure she's been partnered with Neville or something.
I thought that after all this time Lavender would be over me, especially since she got so cross after she saw Hermione and I upstairs in my dorm 'alone'; and that was 2 years ago. Maybe Hermione was right in thinking she still wanted me, but if that's true, it's probably only because I helped out the victorious Harry Potter defeat You Know Who. Girls. They're all about money and status, they are.
Speaking of Hermione, where the hell is she?
I know, I know, I'm supposed to 'wait' for her approval, like all gentlemen do. But I really would like to explain to her why I've been acting so stodgy lately. She just doesn't understand how long I've cared about her romantically for, for 4 years now. I messed up big with Lav, I know, but stupid Ginny got to me about not having a girlfriend, and I took the first chance I got since 'Mione didn't show any interest in me. I wasn't truly aware of how much I cared for her (or she cared for me) until Harry knocked some fucking sense into me after I managed to smash open that locket.
I shudder thinking of that ruddy locket, and turn to Harry.
"Harry, do you know where Hermione's gone to?" I whisper.
Harry finishes gulping down some Pumpkin Juice, and wipes his hand over his mouth as he turns to look at me. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I'd like to know where she is, obviously." I roll my eyes.
"Well, why do you need to know?"
Ugh, he can be such a tosser sometimes.. He's my friend too, doesn't he get how I'm feeling? That maybe I might want to talk to her and apologize properly? I'm worried about her safety too. Who knows how many Deans could be lurking waiting for the right moment to flirt with her.
"Can't a person wonder where his friend is without interrogation from the Potter Police?" I snap. He raises his eyebrows and swivels away from me, contemplating his answer while ladling his fork into his mashed potatoes.
Finally he looks at me and says, "She's in the library, Ron."
Of course. She`s just visiting her second home, well that's okay.
At least she's not off with some guy or something. I don't understand what in Merlin's baggy pants has happened to her this year. She is studious like she`s always been (if she wasn't she wouldn't be Hermione), but all of a sudden she's kissing blokes she barely knows. And she's making an effort to look nice when she couldn't give a squiggly Nargle's ass before this year.
I mean, what the bloody hell was thinking when she decided to wear those pants to Hogsmeade, and a shirt that showed more skin than I think I've ever even seen on her? Plus she does her hair everyday now and something to her face, which I pointed out to Harry, but he said he hadn't noticed, the liar. I used to not take any notice of her physically, but blimey she's gorgeous. Even when she has the signature bushy hair, and she's just woken up.
It's not fair. Other boys shouldn't be allowed to view such beauty; she should just be mine.
I mean, we were supposed to finally be together! After all this time, after everything was over and won, we could stop acting like we didn't have feelings for each other. But she said I wasn't mature enough, and that we were 'going too fast', what the fuck does that mean exactly?
She wants to talk to me about Creature Rights and Ministry Policy, but I just have other interests; and I would've put more efforts into discussing emotion and justice if she gave a damn about my hobbies, like Quidditch and chess….and, and being a good friend. Yeah.
Besides, it's not like I don't know her at all, she's acting as if I've never been her friend. What else could there be to explore with her other than, uh, intimate things?
Oh, sod it. I grab my 13th chicken wing hungrily off the almost-empty serving plate and chuck in into my mouth.
"Wait. Dean, wasn't Cho supposed to be your partner?" This comes from Seamus.
Merlin, enough about that stupid project! That's all everybody's been talking about these days. If only I had joined that class, then at least I could patrol Dean's behaviour towards Hermione, while watching out for her of course.
"Yeah, she was, actually. McGonagall told me in class after, er, what happened -" he pauses to look at my reaction, and I just scowl. I am not just going to explode at any moment, thanks. "She's changed me around so many times for who my partner will be because of 'compatibility issues'. She put Cho with Marcus Belby because they know each other; guess she's too shy to be with me or something," he laughs and I roll my eyes again. "So now I'm with, er, Lavender."
"Should be fun!" Lavender says, eyes twinkling at Dean, but she's ever-so-slightly glancing at me. Well what the hell for? If she likes him, she can have him. Hermione's a way better snogger.
"Hey, Harry," Dean inquires and Harry's head shoots from Ginny's attention to his. "Did Hermione tell you who she got for the music assignment? I mean I know you aren't in the class, but you're her best friend. I'm slightly curious now since nobody seems to know who she got." At Harry's quizzical expression, he corrects himself. "Erm, you don't have to say of course…"
"It's fine. And no, she didn't. I didn't really bother asking her." He shrugs. Of course it's fine for Dean to ask a question, but not me.
"Ginny?"
Ginny shakes her head. "I figured that if she wanted to tell me, she would have."
"That's weird. So nobody knows who she got?"
"Guess not," Harry says, looking around as if that will uncover the mystery of Hermione's partner.
"Maybe she has Neville?" I interject. They all look at me for a moment, and then look over to the right questioningly. I realize that Neville's been with us here the entire time; his face buried behind 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi. Been too busy eating, suppose.
"Ahem, Neville?" Seamus clears his throat loudly, and he looks up from his page, slightly dazed.
"W-what?"
"Who did you get assigned partners with for that project?" I ask hurriedly. Now it's starting to worry me.
If Harry doesn't know, and Ginny doesn't know, something's wrong. I can understand her avoiding me, but why wouldn't she tell Harry?
"Oh, Hannah Abbott," he says sheepishly.
"Nice," Seamus says, giving Neville a high five, who returns it meekly.
I guess Neville's pretty excited about it, since he's turning a deep shade of red and grinning like Peeves after a good prank. She's not bad, I'll give her that; nice bum.
Anyways wait, so Hermione isn't anybody in Gryffindor's partner?
What the bloody blowing gum, is this?
"You know, I do find it odd that she hasn't told anyone," Parvati cuts in. "I mean, if that means she doesn't have anybody in Gryffindor we know, then she has to have somebody she doesn't like, right? She won't even tell her best friend," she says to Lavender, who's smiling devilishly. How can she enjoy this kind of gossip?
"Oh goodness, you all are so clueless; it's obvious who her partner is now that I think about it."
"What do you mean?" Harry asks, apparently intrigued now too.
"She's been teamed up with Draco Malfoy, of course." Comes an airy voice behind us.
I choke on the chicken bone I was munching on, and turn around in horror; Luna.
I haven't seen her or talked to her in a while; why does she always pick the most inopportune moments to barge into our conversations?
"How do you know that, Luna?" Harry asks gently. He's always been nice to her, I've never figured out why. She's a nice person and a right laugh but I can't handle the talking about Cone-headed Gnome Robbers or whatever rubbish she spouts out via her Dad.
"Oh, I don't. But it makes sense, really."
Dean laughs, unconvinced. "It doesn't make any sense! Why would McGonagall put her with him?"
"Yeah, I mean, wouldn't she have the sense to keep all the Slytherins together?" Harry asks.
"'Fraid not," Lavender squeaks, clearly enjoying the bad attention put on Hermione. "Millicent Bulstrode was talking to that Astoria girl in the bathrooms; she said she had Theodore Nott as her partner, was really looking forward to it. So that leaves Malfoy as the only 7th year left in Slytherin, yes? I don't know who he's gotten, you don't know who she's gotten, and she hasn't told you. According to Dean, she always tells you everything. I think you can do the math."
Harry and I exchange glance of fear. "Wouldn't Malfoy have complained to McGonagall, or refused to do the project with her? I mean…they've hated each other forever." Neville says, joining in the conversation.
"Yeah, that part doesn't make sense," Harry says. "Malfoy is renowned for making a scene when he doesn't get his way, or generally has distaste for something."
"He's changed his mind on her I think," Luna states, still hovering over Harry, hands behind her back and looking at us all dreamily.
"Malfoy? Change his mind? Ha!" I say loudly.
"Well I was there you know, during that fight between you 2," she points at Dean and I, making us stiffen at the tension she's created. "Malfoy sent that Reducto spell at you, Ron, right after you accidentally hit her. He likes her." she says plainly.
Anger is boiling in my blood, how dare she say something like that! Hermione? And him? He could never like her that way! Ugh!
"That's absolute rubbish!" I exclaim.
"No….I don't think it is," Dean says suddenly out of nowhere. "I think Luna might be right."
"What? How?" I ask, enraged.
"I think that perhaps Wrackspurts have infested his brain; they're very active in the springtime, you know. Dad told me that Muggles have something called 'spring fever' where a lot of them feel happy and dazed because winter is over, and it must be the Wrackspurts taking effect because…"
"Yes, thank you Luna," Dean says, trying not to look irritated. "What I mean to say is that when I went to a bookshop in Hogsmeade with Hermione, he looked at her…like, he looked at her like he wanted to…you know." He prompts, and I feel my face flush.
"That still doesn't explain why McGonagall would purposely place them together. " Harry retorts, looking at me, silently saying Stay calm, Ron! "She shouldn't have to deal with a git who's called her names for 7 years, McGonagall must know what he's said to her in the past."
"Yes, but who is the one who tried to stop her from getting hit, and ended a fight with people who were," Lavender counters pulling a face, "fighting over her?"
Stay calm? Panic and anxiety fill up my brain; this is blasphemy is what this is! If he's her partner….we can't trust him to be alone with her!
I freeze. What if he's with her right now?
I stand up quickly, almost knocking over Jimmy Peakes who's sitting next to me in the process.
"Ron, don't even think about it!" Ginny warns me, but I ignore her.
I swivel around walk as fast as I can out of the Great Hall. I've got to find her.
"Ugh, Ron is such a prat!" Ginny exclaims. "Why can't he just leave her be?"
"I should probably go after him, who knows what he's going to say to her if he finds her. Or worse, if this speculation is true," I say exasperatedly, as I get off my chair.
"Want me to come," Ginny grabs my wrist gently to hold me back. She looks at me thoughtfully, straight in the eyes, but I just attempt to smile at her like everything's okay.
"No, it's fine. I'll see you up in the common room, okay?" She grimaces for a moment, she's not one to miss any action, but then says, "Okay well give us a quick kiss before you go."
I can't help but let a smile fall onto my face, and I give her a quick peck on the lips; I'm not really one for public displays of affection. But she's a gorgeous girl in more than just appearance, and I'm lucky to have her, so I shouldn't disappoint her wishes.
At least she asked me to come this time, instead of insisted like she normally does.
"If something happens, let them know I'll be hexing them. Whoever deserves it, not just Malfoy. Good luck, Harry."
I nod to her, enjoying her wrath demeanor and acknowledge everyone else who are still sitting there slightly roused and uncomfortable. Now I hurry after Ron.
I scurry up to the fourth floor, hoping to some deity that Hermione's up there and not on the third floor. Or at least, that Ron went that way. I think the reference section is on the 4th one anyways….
And I really hope Luna is wrong, but somehow her logic always manages to eerily make sense, even if half of it is nonsense.
Hermione didn't tell me who her partner is, why didn't I see that as a red flag? I don't remember her ever having hidden anything from me, besides girly stuff I don't need to know. If Malfoy is her partner, that is going to be a lot to handle on my part; keeping Ron separate from him, and retaining my own temper at bay.
Even if he didn't rat us out last year in his house, don't think I've forgotten, we still don't exactly see eye to eye. He's been a coward all his life, living off his parent's status in leeway of a personality, and now he has to form his own front without the connection from "Father". I have to say the difference isn't much better. He should feel right lucky he didn't go to Azkaban.
He's never apologized to me, or anyone he's verbally abused, so I should hardly feel sorry for him. How can he still be holding onto his pride after everything his family's done?
His mother is decent though, I'll give him that; she risked her life to go find him, reminds me of my Mum. But why anybody could love that spoiled little brat before he became a pathetic victim of Voldemort, I'll never know.
I round the final corner to the library, passing many questioning portraits (Hey, where you off to so fast, Hero!). Ugh, Hero. I'm quite sick of the praise, I'll tell you that much.
As I edge towards the tall oak doors of the Library, I sigh with relief that nobody is out here screaming (yet) and push them open roughly.
Madam Pince 'conveniently' is exactly at the entrance when I rush in and she scowls at me like I'm a piece of dung on her ugly old shoes. "What're you doing in here, boy? It's almost 8, the library is closing!"
"Er, just need to look up one ingredient for Potions Class," I lie, shuffling around the bend as she clicks at me annoyed, but too old to come running after me.
Okay, Wolfsbane Potion, and Wormwood. Wolfsbane Potion and Wormwood. Where the hell do I go for that?
I continue walking along the million lanes of books. I hear something rustle behind me, and I whip around. Nothing.
As I pass Section A, I hear another disturbance, but once again I am unsuccessful in discovering who or what passed me.
Suddenly, "Harry?"
I look to my left, where a towering shelf of encyclopaedias sit, for the source of the noise and…it's Hermione! Yes! She's sitting against the bookcase, and stands up slowly as I turn to face her. Luckily I've found her in time.
But as I near her, she doesn't begin to amble towards me, she simply stands there solemnly. Furthermore, she has an expression of discomfort… I hope I don't have to retract my last statement.
"Hermione, are you alright?" I ask, grabbing hold of her hand and jolting her towards me protectively.
"Fine," she says automatically. If I've learned anything from hanging around Ginny, and being taught 'girl 101' lessons by Hermione, it is that anytime a female tells you their 'fine', something big is seriously wrong. And I really hope it's because she couldn't find the right number of mixing turns for a potion, and not boys.
"Okay," I say simply, not wanting get to be angry before I ask my next question , "did you run into Ron just now?"
Her face twists into surprise. "No, I thought I heard him but…"
Hermione not giving me a straight answer? That's like Peeves giving a straight one. I swallow my pride and balls out ask her, "Is Malfoy your partner for your class project?"
Her eyes widen, and her mouth pops open in shock, "How did you-?"
"Lavender was discussing who it could be, actually everyone at the table was," I state awkwardly, and she crosses her arms fiercely, clearly upset at the idea.
"You were gossiping about me?" she says icily.
"No." I say quickly and she gives me a look. "I mean, In a way, uh yes. I mean, everyone was talking about who was matched with whom for the music thing. Nobody knew who you'd gotten, and they found it odd you hadn't told me. Then Luna came long and said that it was obviously Malfoy, and we all said that was rubbish, but then Lavender finished the speculation off with some truth. Ron got angry at this prospect so he ran off to find you, because I accidentally told him where you were, sorry. So, er," oh god she looks livid and as if she's about to cry. I don't know how to phrase this. "I ran after him because I didn't know how he'd react if it was true, and you don't need any more commotion in your life so…Yes. And so now here I am," I say lamely.
"He was here." She whispers. I become rigid. This obviously explains why she's so upset, stupid Malfoy came and said something….or touched her, I know it.
"What did he do to you?" I growl.
"Nothing, actually. But he was drunk," I squeeze her hand more firmly; a drunken Slytherin is anything but good. "And – and. Oh, please don't hate me for his," she pleads, and drops her hand away from mine, crossing her arms to cover herself while I stand in confusion.
"I thought I heard Ron coming, and I knew if he saw Malfoy with me he'd flip, so I made him come behind a bookcase with me," I stiffen. "N-nothing happened, but he got quite cross when I told him that we were hiding because I was trying to mask this partnership from Ron, that was a mistake. I suspect he wanted to rub it in Ron's face. Anyways, I'm just so riled up at the moment. He was arguing elf rights and nonsense with me, and- and respectability of all things about the wizarding world. Just – oh Merlin, Harry I really didn't want anyone to find out, but I'm so stupid into thinking nobody would be none the wiser. I thought I could keep it under wraps."
"Why didn't you tell me, though, in the first place? I want to protect you, you know. You're my best friend," I stress, attempting to hold back the urge of finding Malfoy and turning him to slug slime.
I don't think I'll ever forgive him. He's permanently on the bad list.
"He's not half as bad as he used to be. I mean, in perspective," he adds when she notes the grimace of disagreement upon my face. "He agreed to come to my house for Merlin's sake, didn't even push that hard against it. I just thought that if you knew, somehow I know Ron would find out since you're going to see Ginny during the break. I didn't want you to worry, Harry. You don't have to spend your entire life looking after other people, I'd like you to enjoy yourself once in a while. I can handle it, it's only for a few weeks. "
I soften after she expresses her concern for putting my mind at ease. I guess as long as he co-operates I can't stay mad at him, as much as I'd like to feed him to blast-ended screwts. He really hasn't done anything this year to offend any one of my friends.
But something is irking me; she's definitely hiding something, though I can't put my finger on what. She just confessed what I wanted to know…so why am I not satisfied? Just ugh, how could McGonagall pick him? Even if he did 'stop the fight'. Suddenly my thoughts saunter back to what Dean said about Hogsmeade. It makes my blood boil.
"I'm just worried that he's going to try something. Dean told us that he was looking at you, er, not like he normally does, when you went on your date."
She keeps a straight face, but her cheeks blush red. "Trust me, I'll be surrounded by family, I doubt he'll try anything. He's going to be uncomfortable enough in the Muggle world. Which I have to admit I'm quite looking forward to," she grins slightly.
"Anything to take him down a peg, huh?" I say chuckling, glad the conversation took a turn for the better. She nods smiling, and releases a breath. "Can I just ask you a favour?"
She looks up at me and nods again. I continue, "Since we probably won't see each other if you'll be busy working with, ugh, Malfoy, can you owl me a few times? Just so I can keep my anger, and Ron's I suppose, at bay."
"Of course," she says as if I'm an idiot. "I'd never forget to owl my best friend," she says coming towards me and hugging me lightly.
"Sorry for acting like your brother, but, you know how I feel about him."
"I know, Harry. I should've told you in the first place, you just have a history of taking things a bit, uhm harder than normal people." My turn to blush. "Because your heart overpowers your brain sometimes," she adds, making me embarrassed but flattered.
"I just tend to underestimate people in terms of their caring about me, I guess," she says self-consciously. "But apparently people like debating stuff about me behind my back," she finishes callously.
"Well, at least now you know how I feel after 7 years of it," I say breezily, and I'm happy that my attempt to get a chuckle out of her worked. "Should we go find Ron?"
"Yes, I suppose we might as well get this over with," she rolls her eyes, shifting her bag over her shoulder. We walk silently in unison over to the exit. Madam Pince eyes us as we leave, muttering under her breath how ungrateful all the students are, and what a dump Hogwarts would be without her. Right.
I hold the door open for Hermione, but hear a skirmish of voices. Hermione steps out to see the commotion, and we both groan.
Malfoy and Ron are standing face to face in the corridor, wands suspiciously put away, hands spread out ready for the attack.
"What's it to you what I do, Weasley? I'm not allowed to roam in and out of the library without having Potter Watch on me 24/7?" Internally, I laugh humourlessly, the 'Potter Watch' reminding me of Ron's 'Potter Police' in our earlier conversation.
"Not when it concerns Hermione, you're not!" Ron snarls.
"You don't own her, Weasel. And that doesn't explain why you're berating me!"
"It's called watching out for the ones you love, and you know very well why I'm talking to you!"
"When will you get it through your skull that she doesn't want your ginger headed ass, Weasel? She could do far better than the likes of you," Malfoy snaps right back. "And no I don't!"
"Oh, what, like you? The son of a failure, not to mention a coward Death Eater who only came on the good side to save his own hide? Yeah, a much better choice." Malfoy's jaw sets, but stands still as he fired back an insulting blow;
"Better than a snivelling poverty-stricken rodent who acts like a woman is his property and then strikes her in the head when she doesn't want him! You can't even support your woman when she gets hurt!"
"You fucking bastard!"
Hermione draws in breath as Ron pushes up his sleeves ready to strike, and I decide now is the right time to make our presence known.
"Ahem," I clear my throat, and the 2 both startled shift their attention to me. "Can you two stop acting like children for a moment, and let Hermione explain all this?" Ron stands up tall, acting like he wasn't going to punch Malfoy to a pulp. Oddly, Malfoy does the same.
"No!" she nudges me, hiding safely behind my shoulder. "Why can't you do it?"
"Come on, Hermione, it's the best way to get them to calm down."
"Fine," she says angrily. "Ron," she addresses him as she steps out shakily to make her presence more evident. "I know why you cornered Malfoy here. Harry's told me about your little Gryffindor discussion group" she says acidly. "I am his partner for this project, like you've been so hypothesizing." Ron grunts and shoots daggers at Malfoy who returns the glare right back, but let's her continue.
"A) None of this is your business as you aren't even supposed to be talking to me," she starts counting off of her fingers. "B) Malfoy is drunk, so anything he's been saying is most likely utter nonsense." Ron looks him up and down, and turns back to Hermione, inherently disgusted that anybody would even think of getting drunk when he himself hypocritically always talks about sneaking Firewhiskey out of his dads cabinet. "C) I'll be just fine thank you, I don;t need your protection. Malfoy's agreed to come to my house instead of the other way around, so I will be safe. If anything should happen he'll have to deal with my family." Ron scowls even deeper; Hermione could have used a better selection of phrases; Malfoy has to meet her parents, something Ron hasn't even done properly yet. I've never been to her house either, come to think of it. "D) I've agreed to keep in touch with Harry, so you will know if anything of mention happens, but it isn't that big of a deal. I don't know why people keep making it a big deal. I don't even know why I thought it was a big deal. It's one project. I didn't tell either of you because I knew you'd both react this way, it's not as if we've decided to elope or something." Malfoy, I notice, turns pink at this. Strange.
"Finally," she turns to Malfoy at this too, "You both are acting like idiots, so just quit talking about me like you even know what I want in a man, because you have no idea." She finishes and turns away from them, pissed off no doubt.
About a minute or so passes, the tension thickening all the while, and finally Malfoy cuts it with his blade of a tongue.
'As much as I enjoy continually bumping into you trio, I think I've had enough Granger for one night considering I'll be seeing her a lot in the next few weeks," he says bitingly to Ron, who clenches his fists. "As for you Weasel, I've had enough of you for a lifetime." With that he stomps away right past me and doesn't even glance at Hermione. I note that she stiffens at his proximity, but that's probably because she's afraid; he's quite frightening when he's drunk to be honest. I thought a drunk Draco Malfoy would've been more pathetic.
"You better watch yourself!" I call, and he stops, but gives no reply and cracks his neck before striding off again.
"Can we go?" Ron asks childishly after Malfoy's successfully out of our hearing.
"Let's please," I answer, and not even waiting for either of us he turns and starts marching towards the dorms.
"We're not going to tell him I actually was with Malfoy in the library, are we?" Hermione whispers in my ear as we saunter down the hall.
"Definitely not." I answer.
I look down at her small figure; positively livid, and even slightly hurt, but determined. She'll be fine. I trust Hermione, so no need to add an extra helping of anxiety to Ron's stupid plate, and mine. I only hope she can handle him like she says. She's definitely capable of handling most people, but Malfoy's been not right ever since we saw him in his manor. And he likes pushing her buttons. Who knows what he could possibly be thinking.
I'm going to keep watch, but not interfere. Merlin knows what I'll do if I get my hands on him.
If anything is to happen to Hermione because of that idiot, I'll be on the first Dementor trip to Azkaban for first-degree murder. Ron, too. And the less Ron has to worry about, the more I can enjoy time with Ginny, not to mention the less I have to be reminded of Hermione's predicament.
For once I'd like an inactive holiday.
So I know it's unusual loves, I just thought it would be so unlikely that Hermione could hide her Malfoy partnership from her lovely duo. And I thought it would be funny to show life from Harry & Ron's brain.