A rush of cold enveloped Hermione.
"Granger."
Hermione blinked. There was a swaying figure in front of her,
"How much have you had to drink?" the figure asked.
Hermione shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. She couldn't remember where she was.
"Granger!"
Her head snapped up and her vision cleared. It was Malfoy. Malfoy was standing in front of her and she was in the Slytherin common room. Why in the name of Merlin was she in the Slytherin common room?
"Answer me," Malfoy said angrily.
Suddenly, the whole night snapped back into place.
Unable to talk, she gestured to the bottle on the floor. Malfoy's nose scrunched. He must have spotted the vomit. Hermione smiled to herself.
"What's your problem? You've had nothing." He shook his head. "Maybe you should leave. Up you get."
Hermione shook her head and cleared her throat. "You'll make me tell you. I'm not going to do that." She touched her hair. It was wet. Why on earth was it wet?
Malfoy scoffed. "So you're just going to stay here your whole life?"
She put a hand to the side of her head. The music was still going and it was hurting. She ignored his question. "How long have I been out?"
Malfoy shrugged. "Can't have been too long. It's only midnight."
She nodded, regretting the action instantly, as it made her head spin and she sunk back into the comfortable chair.
"What are you doing, talking with her?" Zabini had joined them.
"Oh, great!" Hermione said sarcastically. "Let's all pick on Hermione Granger because she's a Muggle born. Eww! You people are so pathetic."
"Pathetic, hey? Let's see who's pathetic when we're done!" He reached for his wand.
"Seriously? Again?" She sighed and from the corner of her eye saw Malfoy's surprised expression. "I'm the best in our year at nearly everything. You cannot beat me. And I'm a girl, so have fun losing in front of all these people." Ignoring the stunned look on his face, she turned to Malfoy as she shivered. "Why is my hair wet?"
"I poured water on you head-"
"You did what?" she shrieked, standing up. The sudden movement caused her to sway and land back in the chair.
"You were out cold and I knew it'd wake you. I don't need to be accused of injuring anyone else."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, Crabbe and Goyle had joined the group.
"Yay! More friends!" Hermione said, with fake excitement. "Would you like to dance?" She batted her eyelashes.
Taking care not to get another head rush, she stood up and went to duck under Malfoy's arm which he had braced against the wall.
"I'm not done with you, Granger. Sit." Malfoy moved to stop her from being able to get away.
Hermione's plan for not being cornered hadn't worked. She folded her arms.
"What makes you think I'm going to listen to you?"
Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "I'll make you say it in front of everyone at dinner."
"That was not part of the deal," she said fiercely, but sat down anyway.
Malfoy grinned in triumph. "And that is why I think you'll listen to me."
"Blackmail," she scoffed. "Tell me, Malfoy, what is it that you'll do if I don't hold my end of the deal?"
"Oh, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. But telling me now would hurt less." He paused. "Probably. Now it's my turn to talk. You're going to tell me. Now."
Hermione shook her head.
"Alright then. Here's a few questions. First off, why exactly do you want to keep this a secret?"
Hermione huffed. "They," she pointed at the small crowd around her, "are not listening in on this conversation. That was part of the deal."
"Fair enough. Run along, boys."
Despite the glares at being treated like children, they left.
"Go on," Malfoy said.
Hopefully this would keep him off her back.
"I've kept this a secret because it's very personal to me. Not a single living person knows my secret."
"We're getting somewhere now." Malfoy perched on the arm of a nearby chair. "If no living person knows does that mean that someone who's dead does?"
"Possibly. But that doesn't mean that they're a ghost. They could be someone from the Muggle world. Good luck getting information from one of them."
Malfoy's face changed as he considered a new thought. "How personal is this? Girly personal?" he added.
"Why are you asking me this?" Hermione was horrified. Her face was hot and more than likely turning bright red.
"Is it?" Malfoy refused to give up.
"You are a sick boy. And not necessarily."
Malfoy sighed in relief and Hermione smiled at his discomfort.
"What's it to do with?"
Hermione was stumped. "I-I don't really know."
The look on Malfoy's face told her that he wasn't going to accept that as an answer.
"What do you want me to say?" she said exasperated.
"Okay, let's try a different question. Is it to do with someone other than you?"
Hermione considered the question finally answering with, "Yes. Are we done here? I want to go to bed."
"Hah!" Hermione jumped. "Far from it. Let's see. Who is this someone? Are they from the wizarding world? Or is it a group of people?" he tacked on as an afterthought.
Oh why, oh why didn't she say it was a girly issue so he'd drop it?
"It's a group of people. Some Muggles, some witches and wizards."
"And who are they?"
Hermione flung her arms up in the air. "I don't know! Believe it or not, Malfoy, even I don't know everything."
She stood up and headed for the door. Wall.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Hermione spun around to where Malfoy stood behind her.
"I'm leaving. Fuck the deal, fuck this stupid party and fuck you, you slimy git!"
She turned around, back to the door. Malfoy was following her. Behind her, a loud slap was quickly followed by a round of gasps from various corners of the room. Hermione ignored them and kept walking.
"You arse hole, Draco!" screamed a girl.
Unable to miss a scene where Malfoy was the victim, Hermione turned to watch.
"You cheated on me with her? The filthy mudblood, know-it-all, Gryffindor, Hermione Granger? What is your problem?"
A short blonde girl who, despite her height, was in sixth year, was standing mere inches away from Malfoy, yet kept up the high-pitched rant.
She picked up a handful of food from the nearest table and chucked it at him. Not satisfied with this, she picked up the platter and threw it. The group that had formed around the scene took a collective step back. The platter missed Malfoy and hit a suit of armour, knocking the helmet off. Everyone took a few more steps away from the screaming girl.
"I did not-," he was cut off by a hurt-looking Parkinson.
"You moved onto a new girl already? You don't waste any time, do you?"
The blonde girl stepped up. "It's been three months since we got together. Surely you can survive."
Parkinson's face turned a brilliant shade of red and Hermione had to stop herself from laughing.
"You cheated on me?"
Malfoy kept his face expressionless. Hermione had to admire that.
"You son of a bitch!" She grabbed an empty bottle and hurled it at Malfoy, which he neatly dodged.
"You lying, cheating, bastard!"
Parkinson punctuated each word by throwing whatever she could find, eventually using her fist. Malfoy caught her wrist before it hit him. Hermione smirked then instantly regretted it when she saw that Malfoy had spotter her. He was furious.
"Leave," he growled through gritted teeth.
Hermione put her hands on her hips. "What, and miss all the fun?"
He turned his attention back to the two girls trying to fight him. He held Parkinson's arms, stopping her from chucking anything else and was using his feet to keep the other away.
"Meredith!"
Meredith, of course. Meredith Arquette.
"I did not cheat on you with Granger. Pansy, shut up."
Parkinson stopped her whimpering and Arquette calmed down for a moment.
"But you cheated on me with her, though," she said, pointing at Parkinson. "We're ov-"
Malfoy laughed, stopping Arquette in her tracks.
"You don't get to do this, I do."
She scoffed. "Oh, so you're dumping me, are you?"
"We weren't really together were we? But if that's what you want to call it, then yes, I'm dumping you."
Arquette broke down in tears and Parkinson started her little whimpering noises again.
"What is your problem?" Malfoy let go of Parkinson as he spoke and walked out of the dungeon, scattering the crowd as he went. Hermione scurried after him, eager to get out before either girl pin-pointed everything on her.
A whole month had passed since the party and Malfoy hadn't mentioned the deal. In fact, he hadn't said anything to Hermione unless it was absolutely necessary. She put it down to his reputation. A person with Malfoy's standing and reputation couldn't have people thinking that he was together with a mudblood, much less her of all people.
Hermione shivered and curled up in her seat. She'd taken one of the seats by the window in the library and was watching the last leaves fall. Autumn was nearly over and winter was making its claim.
The quiet of the library was calming. Besides the librarian, there were only two other people in the library.
Hermione picked up her journal which she had shoved between the cushions when Madame Pince walked by.
This week has been miserable. Harry, Ron and Ginny are all practising for the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff game. I hate this time of year. They're always practising, practising, practising, so I've been stuck with Mr Embarrassed and no one to talk to. I guess I could talk to Luna or someone, but, I don't know, I guess I don't feel like being around anyone else. I just want my best friends back.
At least one good thing has come out of it. I've lost weight. I still haven't got a scale but I think it's more than a few pounds. I've got to be around 9st 4lbs by now. In just over a month. No one even notices if I eat anymore, not even Ginny. Mum might though, when I go down for Christmas. I should probably write to her, see if I am still going home. If she gives me an option I should say no. That way I'll get out of eating. Although, it is Christmas; I'm meant to be with family. But all that food! Agh! I'll have to give this some thought.
This is my plan for tomorrow:
20 push ups and 30 sit ups when I wake up.
Breakfast will be half an apple or a single slice of plain toast and a black coffee if I need it.
I'll go for a run before lunch.
Lunch will be 20 grapes.
No dinner except for a green tea. Possibly.
Hermione closed her journal and rubbed her temples. It hurt to think.
An hour later, she was sitting outside, the cold wind chapping her lips.
Not many people were around, only a few first years who playing in the leaves and they respected her space and kept their games away from her.
She'd steered clear of all the trees and had taken a seat on the picnic bench that the fifth year Ravenclaws usually occupied. It was a nice spot, out in the open, the lake to the left and, to the right, the quidditch pitch.
Hermione rested her back against the table and watched the grounds of Hogwarts prepare for winter. The big oak tree by the first years gave a mighty shudder, showering the first years in leaves. She laughed to herself when the girls shrieked and the boys jumped in the fresh fall.
"Hello, Hermione."
She turned around to see Luna walking towards her. Her bright yellow combat boots, pink jeans and turquoise cloak stood out against the walls of the castle.
Trying to disguise her laugh, she greeted Luna.
Luna brushed away some leaves and sat on the other side of the table. "Have you been having fun living with Malfoy?"
Hermione snorted. "Fun? It's Malfoy, Luna. How could anyone have fun living with him? He's completely twisted."
"No," Luna shook her head. "I don't think so. He was protecting his family and I don't think that it means he's evil. I'd say it's honourable. He wasn't going to kill anyone. I'm sure you know this. It's just like what my father did. He didn't want to hurt Harry, Ron or you, but he thought it was the only way to get me back. I'm all he has left."
More fascinating things that Luna's said to go in her journal.
Her journal! She'd left it in the library!
"Luna," she interrupted whatever it was she'd been saying. "I'm really, really sorry, but I have to go. I left my-," she broke off. "I left something of mine out and I'm going to be in so much trouble. I have to go. Bye!"
Hermione jumped off the bench and made a dash for the library, flying through the door and over to her chair.
Her journal was sitting on the floor in what she hoped was exactly the same place she'd left it. Sighing gratefully, she shoved the journal in to her pocket.
Hermione stomped up the stairs to her dormitory feeling as though all her energy had been drained. Her heart was still beating too fast from her scare.
The sound of footsteps came from around the corner and a moment later Hermione was joined by Ginny and Harry.
"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed. "We were just, um, looking for you." She turned a brilliant shade of red and tried to put a bit of distance between her and Harry.
Hermione gave a weak laugh at her friend's obvious lie. Ginny went even redder.
"Don't worry. I've been busy. Homework, Head duties, you know." She gave another small laugh, this time to hide her disappointment. Neither of her friends seemed to notice.
"Where's Ron?" she asked.
Harry coughed. "Probably with Hannah."
Ginny elbowed him in the ribs and Hermione nearly choked.
"Hannah? Hannah Abbot, the Hufflepuff?" She shifted her gaze from Harry to Ginny who nodded.
"Right," Hermione said, pulling her jacket tight around her. "Well, I have to go."
"See you later," Harry called after her.
"Why'd you tell her that?" Ginny groaned once Hermione turned the corner Harry and Ginny had come from.
Hermione let out a shaky breath. Why does it matter, she thought. It wasn't as though she liked Ron in that way anymore. He's got just as much right to be with someone as anyone does. And he was looking so much better recently. The bags under his eyes had disappeared and there was a smile on his face nearly all the time. Maybe Hannah was doing him some good.
"Fluxweed," she muttered to the chipmunk in the painting. It swung forward and she climbed in.
The common room was empty so she hurried upstairs for her books and raced back down. She paused on the bottom step. Malfoy was sprawled on the couch, one hand holding his head as though he had a headache. She considered going back to her room before deciding that he wouldn't deprive her of the warmth of the fire.
She sat in front of the fire, completely ignoring Malfoy and started her Dark Arts homework.
Halfway through a question, an owl started tapping on the window. It definitely wasn't one she recognised and was far too clean to be a school owl, so she left it to Malfoy to let it in.
After a minute, Malfoy still hadn't gotten up so she went to let the owl in.
"I'm not your slave, you know," she said, closing the window behind the slightly bedraggled owl.
"Mhm."
As she'd expected, the letter was for Malfoy.
"It's for you."
"Mhm."
Hermione felt her blood boil.
"Stop it, okay? Stop acting like I'm here to cater for your every need. Stop ignoring me. We have a job to do and you are hardly helping anymore. Got it?"
"Mhm."
She threw her arms up, startling the large brown owl.
"This is what I mean! You- Ow!"
The owl had bitten her finger to get her attention. It stuck its leg out and Hermione irritably took the letter.
"Here's your stupid letter, you foul git." She threw the thick envelope at him and it landed on his face.
Malfoy turned his head a little, making the letter fall to the ground.
Hermione went back to her homework and ignoring Malfoy.
"Hah!"
Hermione jumped.
She glared at Malfoy who was now sitting upright, tearing his letter into tiny pieces. It fluttered to the ground and he stood up and left the room.
"I am not cleaning that up!" she shouted after him.