A/N:
Soooo sorry for taking this long, but my teachers have literally thrown assignments after me this week..
Anyway, I have TWO things to say;
firstly I've been walking around with a plot for a new fan fiction once I finish this one and I'd like to hear your opinion. I was thinking the 6th/7th book in Draco's point of view. I know there exist millions of those already, but I want to make it non-romantic (minus Pansy, maybe) meaning no Dramione / Drarry etc. Just plain Draco's view of the DE, the war and so. Would you read it?
Secondly, as a thank you to all my amazing readers I will allow you to ask me ANY question you want to about the story, etc., what will happen in next chapter, will Harry and Ginny end up together.. etc. etc. etc. And I will reply THEM ALL. Like that? Just leave question in your review (:
Speaking of review...
tiajei – princessgryffindor – xlittlemissfangirlx – thousandreasons – jen103 – densishine – theprofesor – klimi9.
Chapter sixteen
Monday in Potions Professor Slughorn revealed that they were doing great in their pairs as they were, and that they should stay in them until the term ended.
Hermione felt a bit concerned about being around Draco so much for the next few months. She had to keep her lips sealed. She would in no way tell him about their kiss. How soft his lips had been feeling.. How they tasted like cinnamon..
A loud giggle interrupted Hermione's thoughts. She turned around and took a glare at Pansy and Ron who were working on their Potion. They looked happy. In fact, Ron had been in a very bubbly mood lately. He was constantly smiling and easily got lost in his thoughts.
Ron whispered something into Pansy's ear which instantly made her crack up. Hermione was sure she'd never before seen Pansy laugh out of any thing else but evilness.
Hermione shivered.
"Are you cold?" Draco asked, interrupting Hermione's thoughts.
She turned her head away from Ron and Pansy, and focused on Draco.
"No, I'm fine. It's just.. Has Pansy ever actually laughed before?"
Draco chuckled. Hermione feared she'd said something wrong. Draco and Pansy were after all friends. With benefits.
Hermione shivered once again. She didn't like the picture that flooded her brain.
"Well, of cour-" begun Draco, but then shut himself up as to take a deep breath. "No. actually not."
They both chuckled, and with another glare over their shoulders they begun on the potion Professor Slughorn had ordered them to.
It was not nearly as easy as the last Potion they had done, but Hermione and Draco still finished with no problems.
"Are you sure nothing more happened in Hogsmeade?" Draco asked after a while of silence. They were putting in the final ingredients.
The Potion had turned into a light, buttercup yellow colour.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
Hermione was on the edge to tell him about the kiss, but she could only imagine how much trouble it could cause. Draco had been so drunk. He probably wouldn't want to kiss her sober.
Hermione quietly shook her head. No, he defiantly wouldn't.
"I just have this crazy feeling that something unusual happened -something not meant to happen. But I honestly can't figure out what!"
Draco's voice was comfortable in Hermione's ears. She'd never realised that before because she'd always listened to what he said and not how he did it.
Hermione frowned. Did he know?
"Er, you told me who you've slept with," admitted Hermione.
Draco's face expression first showed disappointment then surprise.
"Did I?" He blushed a tiny bit. "Well, I would appreciate if you kept the list to yourself."
"The list?" Hermione had lost her concentration on the conversation because Pansy once again had laughed out loud. Hermione was not the only one to send the odd pair wondering looks; Blaise Zabini and the rest of the Slytherin's, who were all used to seeing Pansy as a threat, Harry, Lavender Brown, Romilda Vane.. They were all frowning.
"My sex list," answered Draco.
"Oh," said Hermione, "your secret' i safe with me."
Draco nodded as a thank you.
After Potions Hermione, Harry and Ron walked up from the Dungeons together. They nearly ran away because they hated the place to Hell.
Harry and Ron had Quidditch practice, and Hermione could not help but feel a bit sad that she instead would be working on the paper they had just gotten from Professor Slughorn.
"I tell you, Blaise is an arse!" complained Harry.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She was getting tired of Harry's never ending complains about his Slytherin Potion partner. Could he not just suck it up?
"Well, at least someone was having fun," said Hermione, and addressed Ron who once again had lost track of his thoughts.
"What, me?" he asked, "You know as well as I that having fun with Pansy Parkinson is impossible!" Ron made sure to lower his voice so that he didn't risk Pansy eavesdropping.
"Oh, sorry I couldn't think properly from Pansy's deafening laughter."
Harry laughed loudly at Hermione's words.
"I'm only being nice to her because I have to get good grades in Potions!" admitted Ron. He was all red in the face which made Hermione doubt the truth in his words, but on the other hand, Ron was always red in the face.
"I disgust her, you both know!" continued Ron.
Both Harry and Hermione decided to believe Ron's words.
"All right, whatever you say. I'll see you at dinner."
Hermione took a turn to the Gryffindor Tower, and Harry and Ron continued out of the castle, down to the Quidditch field.
Hermione seated herself in the armchair closest to the fireplace. The common-room was nearly empty due to the most students still having classes, others watching the Gryffindor Quidditch team practice.
"Hermione?" asked a voice that Hermione would always recognize no matter time and place.
She turned her face, and looked directly into the eyes of a dirty-blonde girl.
Luna Lovegood had entered the common-room with help from a Second Year who was also about to enter.
Hermione remembered herself being a Second Year -every thing and every one were so much bigger than oneself. Looking back, time had actually flown by so fast. She still remembered receiving her acceptance letter, entering Hogwarts for the very first time, facing a troll.. The memories were never ending.
"Luna, hi!" Hermione got up from the armchair. "What are you doing here?"
"I was wondering if I could have a word with Ron," said Luna in a shaking voice. She was glaring around the common-room in search for the auburn haired boy.
"I'm afraid he's not around," answered Hermione, "Quidditch."
Luna nodded in understanding.
"I see. Will you say I've been here once he's back?"
Hermione nodded, and watched Luna walk away in small jumps.
For a while Hermione continued with her homework. Then, as a lighting, the thought stroke Hermione.
Luna and Ron had never talked much together, but all of a sudden Luna came asking for Ron who had begun taking midnight walks. The same Luna that had "grown on" Ron, as he himself had said it not that long ago.
Were Luna being loved-good by Ron?
"Where's Ron?" asked Hermione as soon as Harry entered the common-room that was now filled up with people.
Harry looked around in the common-room just as Luna had done around an hour ago.
"I don't -he was just behind me!"
"I think Ron might be sneaking out," said Hermione. She spat the words out as were they garbage.
"And why would he do that?"
"He's secretly dating Luna."
Harry began chuckling out loud, making the rest of the common-room turn their heads.
"You cannot be serious, Hermione!" But when Harry saw that Hermione was serious, he cracked up even more. "Ron and Luna? You got to be kidding me! I think I'd know if my best mate was dating Luna Lovegood."
"Well, how else would you explain his constant absence, bubbly mood and the fact that Luna came into the common-room and asked for him?"
Harry chuckled a bit, but then frowned.
"You've got a point," he admitted.
"I know. I just don't get why they want to keep it a secret."
Hermione was glad she'd convinced Harry. She'd thought that a bigger challenge. When Harry had sat his mind on something he rarely changed.
"I don't know. Maybe he's, er, embarrassed," suggested Harry. Hermione got his point; Luna wasn't exactly the type Ron would brag about dating. And maybe he was smart enough to think that showing off a new girl in front of Lavender would cause the biggest drama.
"I'll talk to him once he gets back," said Hermione. She wanted to know the truth -she got tired of secrets. Especially when it was from Ron or Harry.
"We'll do it together."
They both sat for a while and said nothing. Then, all of a sudden, Harry swung his arm around Hermione and planted her head on his chest.
"Hey, are you all right with this?" he asked.
Sometimes Hermione appreciated that Harry could see exactly how she was feeling. Unlike Ron who trusted blindly every word Hermione said, and never thought that there might be a greater meaning behind it.
Hermione nodded into Harry's chest; it was firm and well-trained. Hermione wondered how, because she never saw Harry do any other work-out than Quidditch.
"I know how it feels like -trust me," said Harry. Hermione knew he was talking about Ginny and Dean.
Ron did not return to the common-room before just around midnight. Hermione and Harry had briefly went to Dinner, and he hadn't made an appearance there neither.
"Ronald!" Hermione yelled as Ron entered. The smile that had filled his face quickly faded away at the sight of his two best friends.
"Hermione, Harry.. Hey." He did not sound very pleasured by their company.
"We know, Ron," said Harry.
Ron looked surprised, then took seat opposites the other two.
"Look, it wasn't meant to happen, okay? It's just, her hair, her eyes.. She is actually really sweet once you get to know her! I wanted to tell you, I swear, but I wasn't sure how you were going to react. I mean, after all she is kind of the enemy."
"Her dirty-blonde hair is quite wonderful, yes," Hermione admitted. She'd never understood why people found her chestnut hair beautiful.
Ron's face expression looked completely wrong.
"Dirty-blonde?" he exclaimed, "wait, who do you two have in mind?"
Hermione's jaw dropped. He wasn't talking about Luna?
"Luna Lovegood, of course!" said Harry.
Silence fell in, but then Ron cracked up.
"What, Luna Lovegood? You got to be kiddi-" Ron got caught off by Hermione's evil gaze. "I mean, she's nice and all, but I wouldn't snog her."
"Who are you then snogging?"
Ron got up from his chair in a hurry.
"Nobody, you bloody fool. Don't you think I'd have told you?"
He began to walk towards the Boys Dormitory.
"Ronald!" Hermione yelled, "we know you're seeing somebody. Why don't you just man up and tell us who?"
Ron sighed.
"All right, all right," he mumbled and walked back to his to his raven-haired friend he'd first met at the Hogwarts Express years ago. He was only addressing him, as was Hermione not there. "You're going to hate me, mate."
"Just tell me, Ron."
The looks exchanged by those two nearly frightened Hermione. They were so serious.
"Pansy. Pansy Parkinson," Ron whispered.