Author's note: one of the main reasons it takes me so long to make chapters is because my goal for all my stories is to make each new chapter longer than the last one! Hope you enjoy the story. Also any ships you want me to write about I may do. Although I can not promise it will be exactly the way you like.
Chapter 3: But You're A Slytherin And Gryffindor?
Hermione felt so much better. It had only been the night before when she agreed to be Draco's girlfriend, yet she already felt this feeling of she had been slightly foolish, but she just felt safe because of Draco. She shut her eyes and sighed as she dressed herself slowly and looked over her figure. She was stress free for once and she felt genuinely happy. She looked in the mirror and felt both confident and radiant. She honestly felt sexy and attractive. She looked at her school outfit and slowly used transfiguration to alter it slightly. She also cast some spells on her hair to tame it a bit and her teeth and face to clean it. She then put on some light magical make up that does not ever fade unless you use a spell and a hair piece she had transfigured. It was in the form of a butterfly clip that had wings that flashed different color on that background. She than took a sip of some potion that helped improve her figure. She wanted to be Malfoy material in order to please her boyfriend plus she always wanted an excuse to do these things. She thought to herself that nothing could ruin the day she was having. She wondered if she would ever be enough for a Slytherin. In her mind they were supposed to be ambitious and she could not understand what Draco would get from her. She was not all that attractive in her mind and she was not a pureblood. No, Hermione was just a regular witch all she had was brains or that is what she believed. She was a Gryffindor and he was a Slytherin. How it could work she was not exactly sure. She then thought about an interesting and comforting fact Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor were originally best friends. They only thing separating them was their views on blood status. Was that not the only thing that had been separating her and Draco for so long? She prayed it would stop interfering and with the war coming how could it not?
As she walked down to the great hall she caught both knowing and curious looks from those closest to her including the one person she wished she was not close to. She drew in a deep breath and approached the table. She sat down next to Ginny and Harry. Who had a look of happiness and shock. This did not bug her. It was the look Ron was giving her and she could feel the gaze of Draco in her direction. She gulped hard and tried to brace herself for the obvious arguement that was about to ensue. She looked at the ground as she walked her feeling of radiance and happiness quickly fading.
Finally someone broke the ice "Hermione why do you seem so happy today? Do you have someone in your love life?". Ginny said this with a certain tone of voice that hinted her happiness at the idea that Hermione Jean Granger has a boyfriend. She got the feeling that Ginny was hoping her brother Ron was her boyfriend or at least her crush. She sighed and looked away without giving a response. Shaking her head with a shrug. She went to eating her food. Ron's gaze and Draco's increased in intensity. She felt a harsh kick to her shin and suppressed a hiss of pain. He looked at her and cocked his head at her and spoke with a rageful tone of voice that ran shivers down her spine.
"Hermione care to explain why Draco Bloody Malfoy is staring at you? Is he the one you are flirting with? Dear god tell me you have not done anything with that prat!". Hermione sat there her mouth wide open looking like a fish out of water. Her eyes so wide you would think her eyes were going to pop out her head. When she would attempt to respond a faint ehh noise or uhh sound would only escape. Ginny and Harry looked at her in horror. Ron's response was only to yell more. "You have to be bloody kidding Hermione? With that idiot? You are interested in the prat! I can't believe it! How dumb can you be! He is a..". At this point his voice dropped and he leaned forward " You and me both know he is a death eater. Look 'mione this can not be a thing anymore. It is dangerous he is just using you and he just thinks of you as a filthy mudblood. This is enough we have to put a stop to this. Don't turn yourself into some death eater's whore". Hermione shook in fear she knew worse was going to happen. What was she to do? Where was she to run? The only way to stop Ron at this point would be to kill him. He had such perfect leverage on her. How did she know Draco really cared for her?
At this Ginny had gone red in the face "Ronald! How dare you talk to Hermione like that! You should show her some respect. I may not approve, but I will not force it on her. What if it works for her and Draco? Let them worry about that all we can do is be here for her. I quite frankly just think a Slytherin and Gryffindor will almost never work as a couple". The whole great hall had heard and gone silent and then an explosion of rumors burst forth now as if Hermione was not sitting right there. Ron had to stop now a family member had interfered and the one closest to his mother too. He had not chance of argue. Harry just looked at Hermione worried and she continued to eat. She took a bite of her porridge and looked away. She would do anything to end this conversation. The bruise on her leg evident. Ron was pushing his luck and he would soon learn Draco Malfoy was not one to cross. Harry finally spoke with a voice that sounded worried, but she was not sure if it was because of Draco.
"Hermione I just want you to be careful and safe. If anyone ever hurts you know matter who it is just know you can always come to me". His gaze seemed calculating as if he may have realized Ron just injured Hermione. Perhaps suspected Ron of his assaults. That or he thought Draco was the one doing the things Ron was doing. Either way it was bound to get out to him. She just prayed it would at the right time. She then nodded slowly. Nothing was better than having a friends like Harry and Ginny. She did not want to ruin that of course or cause them heartache. She rushed out the great hall and noticed that Draco seemed to follow suit.
Hermione was by one of the staircases sobbing and she saw him. He was walking up slowly and her first instinct was to tackle him, so that was exactly what she did. She acted on impulse without thinking. She never realized that she did not need to give Draco anymore of a reason to want Ron dead. As she sobbed into his shoulder he rubbed her back and played with her hair. He looked her over and saw the large bruise. At that point it had only been five minutes and it was already various colors and shades of purple, green, black, red, and blue. It was swollen enough that it was larger than Ron's foot. She recognized the knowing look of anger and rage that reminded her of Ron, but there was also something else there. She could see it, but she was unsure what exactly it was. She did theorize the correct answer though,of course the smartest witch of her age would, she thought she could see love in his eyes. His voice came out in a hiss as he held her. After seeing the look in his eyes and expression on his face any doubt she had of Draco's love her seemed to fade fast. There was no way this much love could be faked not even by an evil death eater.
"Did he hit you? Did he hurt you? When did he and Why?" he sounded so sure as he asked. Hermione closed her eyes and began to cry again. This time silently. She felt such inner turmoil as she realized that her supposed best friend was a monster and the evil Draco Malfoy was her angel. She shock and kissed his lips and ran her hand across his face. She felt electricity course through her veins. She pulled away and muttered in a small voice.
"When he found out about you a second ago he kicked me. I-it is not that b-bad and I'll be fine". Her eyes were red and swollen as she looked at the floor with sadness. She was losing all control as she began sobbing again. She felt such pain in her chest as she thought of how trapped she felt. "I-I am... scared ...s-so... sc -scared ...Draco" she said in a small voice in between sobs. She was not moving off his shoulder as she held on as if for dear life. "I-I do n-not wa-want to be hu-h-hurt anymore" she said and he seemed to be seething with rage. She could feel it along with his over all concern. She looked up at him and paused for a second "Ginny s-said a Gryffindor a-and a Slytherin ca-can't work. D-do you th-think we wi-will work?". As Draco looked into the girl he loved eyes he let out a grunt and a nod as he dipped his head down to take her lips into a deep kiss. His tongue first brushing her lip and then entering. He would nibble occasionally and grin when she gasped. He began to explore her mouth and had to stop when it was time to go to class. He walked her to hers and smirked. He would make someone tabs on her for him 24'7. She would never be hurt by that weasily again. He already had Ron's fate planned.
Draco contemplated as well if he and Hermione would be able to make it last throughout a war. He then decided that he would do anything to be with her, so all else did not matter. He looked into her eyes and cleared his throat. His words came out stern, but still soft. His eyes full of anger and determination that burned with in him like a raging fire.
"I need you to promise that me or one of my friends can escort you everywhere. Also that you will avoid being alone with that bastard at all costs. Try not to stay out late or go anywhere by yourself until I have defused the situation. If you need to go somewhere I can buy you an owl and you can send me a letter informing me". He finished his ramble and held Hermione's face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. "I just don't know if I could live with myself if I let him hurt you". He did know actually if he could live with himself and the answer was no. Not unless it was for her. Then he could live with himself and bear the agony of knowing he failed the one girl he had ever loved. He thought back to all the empty words he had said over the years. Almost none of the things he said were true except for the ones about his love for Hermione. He remembers looking into so many girls eyes and saying I love you and never meaning it. They all had been nothing, but trash whores like Lavender. He drew in a light intake of air as he was caught off guard mid way through his thoughts by yet another kiss from Hermione. She then walked into her classroom with a soft nod of agreement and in a small and soft voiced the words.
"I understand Draco. I'll try as hard as I can". She had vanished into the classroom and Draco hurried to his. He loved her so much and could not wait to kill Ron. Who knew that his love for a muggleborn would make it so he could kill that annoying Ron with a reasonable excuse. Yes, Ron was going to suffer more than he had made Hermione and Draco was going to make sure of that. Hermione had now regained her former radiance and happiness. Maybe, things would wind up well after all she contemplated.